Weather and judo class with Yamashita

The weather in Japan is like a rollercoaster. Up one day, down the next. One day, we'll have beautiful summer-like temperature with the sun in the sky and a nice breeze. Then the next day, it'll rain for the entire day. Then, back again to the nice sunny day. Like today. It's so nice out today, neither too hot or too cold, just the way I like it. But then tomorrow, it might rain all day again... so I'll just enjoy today and not worry about tomorrow, because I don't have any control over the weather.

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On Saturdays, before our usual practice, we have a one-hour judo class. Yasuhiro Yamashita is in charge of teaching the 3rd-year students (that's me) so I get to be taught by him once every week. When you're at Tokai, being around judo legends and training with upcoming Olympic gold medallists is nothing out of the ordinary. But for a small-town Canadian girl like me, it's quite amazing : )

Today, Yamashita taught us osotogari, a technique that has won him many of his matches. Personally, before today, even though I like the technique and I find it spectacular to watch when it's done properly, it wasn't a technique I used very often. Shorter fighters don't usually tend to use it. It's preferred by tall and long-limbed fighters. But after today, it's now a technique I want to work on to add to my repertoire. I used to feel awkward doing it because I knew my technique wasn't exactly how it should be. But after our lesson with him today, after he pointed out the major points of the throw (ex. where to push, how to make all his weight shift to one leg, etc), I already feel much better practicing it. And I'm looking forward to next week's lesson. : )

Being prepared

... in Japan means mainly one thing: carrying an umbrella with you at all times. You never know when it's going to rain.

In Canada, before leaving for university, my dad would remind me to bring an umbrella with me if it was supposed to rain that day. I used to find his precautiousness a bit excessive at times. "Yeah, yeah" I'd often think to myself. For me, it wasn't such a great deal if I got rained on a bit. I usually spent my days sheltered from the rain (in university, riding in the bus or in the car with my dad) anyways so an umbrella wasn't of much use.

But now, being in Japan, it's something I almost always carry with me. If it's raining extremely hard, I can be completely drenched by the time I get home (a 5 min bike ride from school). I've also been told that the worst month is June. It rains excessively that month. I'm crossing my fingers that it doesn't rain on the 9th... my birthday.

Annual precipitation in Japan ranges between 1200 and 4000 mm, depending where you're located. And in Japanese, there are so many different words and expressions to describe the rain, which shows how geographic location helps to shape the inhabitants' language. For example, here are three different degrees (or stages if you like) of downpour: (The answers are taking from the Japan Forum, they were so poetic that I didn't want to rephrase them in my own words)

Potsu-potsu : the dripping sound and appearance of scattered drops of rain falling, such as when it begins to rain.

Shito-shito : the sound of the long, steady rains that fall all day; continuous, fine precipitation almost without sound. A cloaking, enveloping quiet rain.

Zaa-zaa : Rain that beats down with a fierce pounding sound. Downpour.

Classes and my best friend the Internet

I'm really enjoying my Japanese class. At first, I felt a bit overwhelmed because the pace is fast and some of the other students have quite a larger vocabulary and are better able to express themselves. But now that I've gotten used to it, I really enjoy going to class. We have four different teachers which really helps to keep things from getting boring. I haven't fallen asleep which is a miracle. Last semester, I dozed off at least once every class. This time, my class is either so interesting or so packed with material that I can't afford dozing off, even for a few minutes. The other students all have great personalities so it's fun to exchange our ideas and opinions during discussions. I come back from school feeling uplifted. I had forgotten how stimulating it is to learn something new, even if it's just a new grammar rule. It just opens so many opportunities because with that grammar for example, I can say so much more. Soon I won't be able to stop talking : P

Now, sometimes in class, the explanations given by the teachers are not clear enough for me or not sufficient. So since I've been here, I've been searching the Internet for resources to help me. And I've fallen in love with the Internet. There are so many great resources on the Internet, it's incredible! I've found several great English-Japanese dictionaries. I've found many websites explaining grammar points, including example sentences and conjugation forms. I've also found a cool website that allows you to research kanji by drawing them in a little box on the website (using the computer mouse). That's really great when I don't know how to read the kanji. Because I've got the image of the kanji, I can draw it, and as I draw it, the website will narrow down the possible kanjis for me to choose from.

Now yesterday, I discovered two other great resources:

- Vocab Bubble: a program I installed which appears as a little icon along with the other icons at the bottom right of my screen. Every minute or so, a text bubble will pop out with a new vocabulary word, along with its definition in English and what function it serves in a sentence (ex. adjective, noun, verb, etc.) Great to review vocabulary without having to concentrate very hard. The word that just popped up now is : いただきます: Itadakimasu, which is an expression of gratitude said before meals.

- Flashcardmachine.com: a website that allows you to create your own flashcards. Recently, there have been tons of new vocabulary in class and it really hinders my learning if I don't know what they mean. I can't even  begin to understand the grammar that's being explained because I can't even make sense of the sentence. So I thought, what better way to remember the vocabulary than using good old flashcards. Writing them would be tedious... so I googled "create your own flashcards" and came up with this website. I can input the kanji characters on one side of the flashcard and then the definition on the other. Then I can have fun testing myself over and over. You can also choose to study flashcards from their database that have been submitted by users. This can be useful for anybody wanting to memorize data (like naming all the presidents of the United States! Good luck! ; )

Second semester

Last week, I took the Japanese placement test again. The test helps to decide which class is best suited for the student's current level of Japanese knowledge. Last semester, I was in 7A class. And this semester... I'm in class 3!!!! (There are 8 classes, class 1 being the highest). I'm quite proud of myself. It shows how much my Japanese has improved. I had asked my teacher at the end of last semester which class she thought I could enter, and she had answered class 3. I hadn't believed her. But here I am, in class 3!

But it is not going to be easy... It's only been two days since school has started and I already have so much homework. There is a lot of vocabulary I don't know so I'm often unsure in class. We have kanji tests 3 times a week. Today we studied how to write on Japanese writing paper (which looks like the paper used for graphs, full of squares). Every character has to occupy one square but then there are certain rules about where to place commas, periods, parenthesis, etc. Some characters also take up only a half or a quarter of the square. It's going to be hard keeping up. Not just keep up, but teachers also expect students to prepare for the lessons ahead. If I only had studying to worry about, it would already be a challenge. But with judo, it's near impossible. But I think I'm going to be ok. With good time management and good work efficiency, you can accomplish a lot. And the upside is that my Japanese is going to improve a lot : )

Sakura time!

Finally, just a few days after my brother and father left, the sakura (cherry blossoms) have finally decided to come out!

Japan: my brother's impressions

My brother's impressions are perhaps a bit different from mine since it was his first time to Japan. I thought it would be interesting to share his thoughts with you. Here is a little text he prepared:

Japan, Here I Come!

                Japan for me was like an apple that looks so good but when you take a bite, it’s not what you expected. You turn the apple over and you see the same thing you saw before but when you dig your teeth in deeper, you are constantly surprised. I had a certain perspective of what I thought Japan was going to be. Now that I’ve seen Japan, that idea has changed. Some things surprised me, while others disappointed me but most kept me asking for more.

                Most of what I encountered was new to me. Seeing my Japanese relatives for the first time was great. I also met a lot of my father’s friends. I visited new places: the Kodokan, the Budokan, and different parts all over Tokyo. The food is great in Japan although it can be somewhat odd at times. Apple juice, okonomiyaki, salads (even in the morning), rice, curry, eel, fish, soup, and noodles are some of the delicious foods I tasted. The overwhelming crowds were also something new. And using the train as the main mode of transportation was an experience on its own. The people and the constant bows along with the language all seem strange to me. The more I saw, the more I was intrigued.

                Tokyo is huge! From the top of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building, all I saw were endless buildings. And it’s packed. There are a lot of people. It can be very easy to lose yourself or the ones you are following. My sister, who’s been there for six months, often had to rely on my internal GPS systems to get us to our destination. The amount of people can become overwhelming at times but it taught me to remain calm and keep the goal in mind.

                Some things are unique to Japan and had a big impact on my trip. There are convenience stores on every block with so much selection it’s unbelievable. My sister brought me to a photo booth that turns your face into a manga, to karaoke and to her university. I saw the university I will probably be attending in three years. I even practiced judo a few times with both the women and the men. In three years, I’ll be living here.

                I learned a lot from Japan and I loved the experience. As I dug my teeth into the culture, people and lifestyle of Japan, I tasted part of my future and what awaits me… and I liked it! I will never forget the last thing everyone told me as they say goodbye. “Ja matakimasu. Ganbatte. Faito.” This means : “Until next time. Good luck and fight well.”

Why do all good things come to an end...

We had a great time in Yaita. But then, it was time for my father and brother to go back home. It was really hard saying goodbye. During their stay here, I became used to being able to see them everyday. In Yaita, I woke up next to my brother still sleeping and to the delicious smells coming from the kitchen where my grandmother was cooking and talking with my father. I felt at home and at peace. I think there's a saying that says "Home is where the heart is". Even though I've gotten used to my life here in Japan, my home will always be with my family and the ones I love.

But I'm glad I was able to see them, even for the short two weeks they were here. It was great to be able to show my brother all the cool things you can do and buy in Japan. It was also great to share my experiences with my father because he understands probably more than anyone else what it's like to live in Japan. He's Japanese so he understands Japanese culture and the Japanese people's way of thinking. But he also knows what's it's like to be living in a foreign country and learning a foreign language and so I always value his advice.

In front of the Shinkansen

P.S.: to allow even better things to enter your life (answer to the title, which is the title of a song by Nelly Furtado)

Visit to Yaita

On the 6th, I met my brother and father in Shinjuku. After a quick stop at my aunt's, my father, brother and me, along with their two big suitcases, took the train to Ikebukuro, then transferred onto the train bound for Utsunomiya. At Utsunomiya, we only had to transfer one more time before arriving in Yaita, (in the Tochigi prefecture), where my grandmother lives. Since I came to Japan last year, I didn't get the chance to go see her. And I didn't know how to get there either. So now I know and I'm planning to go visit her during the summer.

It was a bit colder in Yaita but it was great to be able to relax and spend some quiet time with my family. The house is very small and there isn't much to do in Yaita, but just being with people I love is enough. On Saturday, my father's brother and his family came over to visit. Together, we also went to visit my grandfather, who is now living in a nursing home. His memory isn't so great and he often can't recognize people, even his own family but I'm glad we got the chance to see him.

Back row: (from left to right) Vincent, me, my grandmother, Mayu (my cousin), Noriko (my aunt)
Front row: my father, Tetsuro (my grandfather), Shoji (my uncle and dad's brother)

Supper time

Decorated my phone with stickers bought at the dollar store

The most memorable incident is probably what happened on our last night at Yaita. My brother and I found these cool do-it-yourself bead keychains at the dollar store near Tokai. So we wanted to buy some more at the dollar store in Yaita. Our uncle dropped us off at at the dollar store before going back home. We found the keychains easily and bought a few of each different kind. After our shopping, we started walking back together. But at one point the road forked and I was absolutely sure that left was the way to go. So I took the left while my brother continued on the right. I thought the roads joined together after but I was wrong. I will let you know that I'm very bad with directions. Unless I pay especially close attention to where I'm going, (ex. turn right at the 3rd light, then turn left at the post office, etc), I have a hard time finding my way back. Even in Shinjuku, my brother who was there for the first time in his life was the navigator. So... Yaita is definitely not as big as Shinjuku... but it doesn't have to be big for me to get lost. I walked about 10 minutes in one direction, then another 10 minutes in the other direction... It was starting to get dark and I knew my father would be angry that we had separated. I was tempted to ask a pedestrian where the Ashikaga bank was located because from there, I knew my way. But maybe to prove my brother wrong, and to prove to myself that I could, I decided I would get back home by myself, without asking for help. So I kept walking. And then finally, (Allelujah!) I stumbled across a familiar landmark (by pure chance), the shop near my grandmother's house. My dad was not happy. My brother had arrived minutes before but since I wasn't there, he set out to look for me. But finally, he came back and everything was ok. Except that I really need to improve my sense of direction...

Rain, kareoke, and working out in Tokai

Sorry everyone for not updating in... how long has it been... about 2 weeks or more? But as you'll soon see in my posts, I was pretty busy these last two weeks.

So I have to go back a bit in time to be able to write all this. Last week, after staying for two days at the Iwasa's house (my father's friends), my brother and father came back to Tokai for three days. During that time, we had the chance to go to kareoke, which I think they both enjoyed a lot. Maybe I'll upload a video later : P My brother had the chance to practice with the men's team, which gives him a glimpse of what he might do in three years time. It also rained on Tuesday that week (April 3rd) and because the weather predictions were so bad, judo was cancelled. Instead, I brought my brother and father to Sazanka, the hot spring that I visit about once a month. And guess who they met in the change room? None other than Kosei Inoue, a gold medallist at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney and current coach for the men's judo team at Tokai. lol

Brooding in the rain

My brother and me working out together

From left: Nishiyama sensei, Vincent (Mamoru) and my father

Two Canadians on the loose

Saturday, after practice, I took the train to Shinjuku to meet my dad and brother. My dad went to have supper with his friends from ICU (International Christian University), some of whom he hasn't seen in about 30 years.

In the meanwhile, my brother and I had about 3 hours to ourselves in Shinjuku. First, we went to Kinokuniya, my favorite bookstore.

Walking in Shinjuku

Then, we did some purikura, which was a lot of fun.

Outside the purikura booth

Then, we went to eat supper, a very traditional Japanese meal... just kidding. We had some delicious pasta.

Finally, we returned to the station to meet my dad, who brought us to the restaurant to introduce us to his friends.

After saying goodbye to everybody, along with the Iwasa's (my dad's good friends and my new "family"), we took the train back to their house to stay for the night. Everyone was pretty exhausted, especially my father.

Campus tour

I felt like a Tokai University representative last Friday, someone who shows the possible future students around campus to try to win them over. I took my dad and brother all around campus, showing them the sports facilities and administrative buildings.

The cafeteria

The training center for sports teams



In front of the dojo



Archery practice

The archery practice was probably one of the most interesting things of the day. It was something even I hadn't seen yet. The archery range is right beside where I live. A while ago, I was just walking around trying to find shortcuts and I came across two boys who were shooting. They looked at me a bit strangely at the time, probably wondering what was I doing there.

Anyway, I told my brother I had seen them and he loves Japanese bows (which are a lot longer than normal bows) so he asked me to show him their practice range. So, after our little campus tour, I brought my brother and dad there, thinking there wouldn't be anyone shooting. But when we got there, there was a practice going on. After explaining that we just wanted to watch a bit, they welcomed us and let us enter so we could watch them shoot. It was a great experience. I thought judo practices were loud because everyone shouts and screams to encourage one another. But during the archery practice, they scream and shout a lot louder and all at once. Shikkari ike! (Shoot steadily) Jikkuri ike! (Take your time). You're probably wondering how they're able to focus with all that noise. As the archer is starting to bring the arrow down, everything goes silent. And then, everyone watches the archer make his shot. Talk about pressure. They shoot one at a time, so everyone's attention is fully focused on the archer who's taking his shot.