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10 .04Japanese AtlantisThe Ryukus are a chain of islands that stretch from Kyushu to Taiwan. They are a popular diving area and attract divers from around the world who often come to observe the hammerhead sharks that populate the clear blue waters.In 1986, while searching for dive sites in the area Japanese diver Kihachiro Aratake came across a very unusual site; the straight lines and regular angles of what appeared to be a manmade structure. The structure was massive in size and covered a wide area, yet it was 26 meters under the sea. What was this strange place and who or what had created it? Located off the coast of Yonaguni Island at the southernmost point of the Ryukyu Island chain this monolith soon became known as the Yonaguni Monument and began to attract many divers and sightseers. However, it also began to attract a lot of controversy. Was it in fact manmade or just a natural outcrop of rock?Professor Masaaki Kimura from the University of the Ryukyus and writer Graham Hancock firmly believe that the structure is man made. They claim that the monolith is too regular in shape to be of natural origin; pointing out what they allege is clear evidence of stairways, terraces and even a gateway. They argue that during the last ice age sea levels would have been much lower, at which time this would have been an ocean side settlement. Perhaps even more controversially, they believe that it points to evidence of an ancient but advanced civilization.However, there are many who oppose this theory calling it pseudoscience. Geologist Robert Schoch argues that the monolith is merely a geological outcrop. He says that the many earthquakes and strong currents in the area have resulted in the sandstone taking on these unusually symmetrical formations. Others have pointed out the similarity of other structures nearby.Earlier this year National Geographic, using advanced imaging techniques and cutting edge graphics reconstructed the monolith in 3D. For the first time this gave a clear picture of the formation that had lain submerged for thousands of years. Their conclusion was that it was more likely to be a natural structure. Usually ancient sites show some evidence of human habitation, such as tools or utensils. However, in there research they found no such evidenceNevertheless the debate continues on both sides. With some academics and writers continuing to argue that mainstream archeologists are just reluctant to accept the theory of an ancient advanced civilization. Who do you think is right?1 What is a monolith? A A large animal that is now extinct B A massive structure C An underwater dwelling2 Why do some people think it is manmade? A There is evidence of human habitation B It looks like it was purposefully made C The sea levels were lower in the past3 What is pseudoscience? A belief that is not based on the scientific method B An ancient religion C A method of fortune tellingScroll down below for answers1. B2. B3. AChris Pond
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09 .13Women's Empowerment in India - Part 2
This is Part Two of Women’s Empowerment in India.
You can read Part one here.
In Visakhapatnam, we were introduced to very positive and active women. When we interviewed them, we tried meta-facilitation skills to find out the truth. They were eager to talk about how much effort they made to become independent. Many of them were from the poorest families and were not educated at school. Some of them could not even read or write when they first came to Mura no Mirai. They did not know how to calculate either. They never had a bank account. They never made any decisions by themselves. They did not have confidence. However, after being involved in the activity of the NPO, they learned not only how to read, write, and calculate, but also got a job at their own community bank called VVK.
Those poor women got higher self-esteem little by little though an opportunity to borrow a small amount of money from the bank. They borrowed and paid back money again and again. All the small loans were used for their living expenses and their children’s education. They sent their kids to college and finally returned their debts. Their lifestyle was very simple, and they seemed not to have many possessions. However, they looked very happy. What they were proud of was not what they had, but their children’s education and their efforts for that. They showed us their passbooks which proved completion of their repayment. They seemed to gain confidence by paying back all the money they borrowed, making decisions by themselves, and becoming independent financially and psychologically. Moreover, this confidence inspired them to learn how to read, write, and calculate, and even to manage their bank by themselves. Most of them were once just customers at the bank for their microcredit, but they became indispensable workers there. They keep challenging themselves, and their bank is growing and helping more poor women.
What is happiness for human beings? Can people feel happy when they are able to own a lot of things? When supporting people in need, giving something might be a common idea. However, through communicating with them, these Indian women made me realize what is important in life. I will never forget their happy smiles.
Photo Credit: jeswinthomas@pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. Where did the writer visit in India?
Q2. How did the Indian women use the money they borrowed?
Q3. What is important for the Indian women the writer met?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
A1. Visakhapatnam, India
A2. They used the money for living and educational expenses.
A3. Becoming independent, getting confidence, making decisions, (children’s) education
Kahori Kobayashi -
09 .06Women's Empowerment in India - Part 1
Empowered women in India taught me what happiness means. I visited some women in the southern part of India with an NPO called “Mura no Mirai (Future of Villages)” in February 2018. I was interested in world cooperation, but not sure about how to find out the real needs of people in developing countries. The NPO has been active in several countries and successful in supporting underprivileged people. They gave me a chance to learn about the precious things in life from the Indian women in the slum.
Mura no Mirai offers a special way to communicate called meta-facilitation, which means to ask only fact-questions when trying to find someone’s needs. From his experiences in world cooperation, Mr. Wada from the organization found that when answering fact-questions, people gradually recognize what they really need and start to think about what they should do for their future. This NGO never gives money or things, but through meta-facilitation, they help people in need empower themselves and become independent financially and psychologically. Their goal is not to do everything for the people, but to guide them to stand up and walk by themselves at their pace. When I attended their seminar about meta-facilitation, I became very much interested in communicating with people using the method.
One of their great projects was to support poor women in Visakhapatnam, India. They asked fact-questions to find their needs and succeeded in leading them to manage their own community bank for small loans by themselves. I read their reports and books about their activities, but I could not believe what they have done and really wanted to see and listen to the local women’s groups. I joined their study tour to visit them in India.
Photo Credit: Still@pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. What is Mura no Mirai?
Q2. What is the communication method used by Mura no Mirai?
Q3. What project was the writer particularly interested in?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
A1. An NPO that helps underprivileged people
A2. meta-facilitation
A3. The writer was impressed by the women who managed a community bank for small loans.
Kahori Kobayashi -
08 .16Pontocho Kyoto - Where does the name come from?
Whenever I have visitors from abroad and we are in Kyoto, I invariably take them to Pontocho in the evening. I love that this alley is narrow enough to easily cross from side to side. The proximity of the facades lining the street lets me inspect the displays and menus of every restaurant on my left and right. By now I have done this tens of times, and even though not much changes, I do not tire of it. I find it a great place to spend time with a friend.
Since I have been going to Pontocho for over 10 years, I have gradually learned some of its history, not all of which I believe.
The history of Pontocho that I find hardest to accept concerns the supposed origin of its name. If you google “Pontocho history”, Wikipedia and most travel websites will tell you that “Ponto” is thought to be derived from a Portuguese word, most likely “bridge” but perhaps “destination” or even “dot”. While this could be true, it seems unlikely.
To begin with, when Japanese borrows words from abroad it is usually for something that originally did not exist in Japan, like computers or pumpkins, but Japanese has long had its own words for “bridges”, “destinations”, and “dots”. Why the need for a foreign alternative, especially during that era? The timing is important.
When Pontocho was created in 1670, Japan was already 31 years into what would become its 214-year stretch of self-isolation. Would a culture that is in the midst of turning inward really choose a foreign word for a new street? Also, how many Kyoto denizens from the 17th century knew Portuguese well enough to linguistically borrow from it?
Finally, there is the kanji itself, 先斗町, which using my Heisig language book translates to something like “The town (町) before (先) the Big Dipper (斗) ”, which seems to have little to do with a bridge, although I guess “destination” would still be valid.
Even if we eliminate its supposed Portuguese origin, Pontocho is still a charming name. Using the Big Dipper (Ursa Major) as a proxy for North, a translation for Pontocho could be “The town just before the North end”. As Pontocho does lie at the Northern terminus to the 15-kilometer-long Takasegawa Canal, this is in fact true.
Photo Credit: satoshi-hirayama @pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. What does the author find hard to accept?
Q2. Why does he find this hard to accept?
Q3. Why is it appropriate for Pontocho to have a character for “North” in its name?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
Q1. That the name “Pontocho” was derived from Portuguese.
Q2. Because of Japan’s isolation at that time, the likely small number of Portuguese speakers, and the lack of a need to borrow a word.
Q3. Because it is at the Northern end of a famous canal.
Robert Perkins -
08 .02Fluff Spinning in Circles
What do you usually do before you go to bed? Googling a video of spinning Pomeranians on the smartphone is my routine. I am utterly aware of the negative impact of staring at an electronic screen on the quality of my sleep, but I cannot help it. A random Pomeranian spinning in circles makes me so happy I feel like I can fall asleep in a better mood. I wish I could live with one, but unfortunately, pets are not allowed in my apartment building.
Pomeranians are so fluffy and adorable I could watch them spinning all day, not that I do. Do they not get dizzy? Do they like the dizziness? When they spin, they look happy and excited, but have you ever wondered why they spin in circles? A friend of mine, who is a veterinarian and a Pomeranian owner, gave me some answers.
Here are some possible reasons why Pomeranians spin in circles: Pomeranians are happy and excited to see you. Spinning in circles is one of the ways for Pomeranians to show their affection. Pomeranians are said to be lapdogs and want to be with their companions, therefore, they also spin in circles to get your attention. In addition, Pomeranians engage in this activity for the joy and pleasure that spinning brings. Human toddlers also enjoy the experience of spinning in circles. It is not unusual to see them keep spinning in circles for a long time. However, Pomeranians can be alert when they spin as well. They are checking their surroundings before they become vulnerable. For example, they spin before going to sleep and potty. They make sure that no predators are around or close. Finally, if you have a Pomeranian, there is one thing that you might want to keep in mind. Pomeranians spinning in circles can be a sign of their discomfort or issues. They might be suffering from a compulsive disorder. In this case, their spinning is like a human child biting their nails or other animals pacing repetitively from stress. Please do not worry too much because they are likely to show more signs such as twitching and a loss of appetite if they are sick.
I guess I was not wrong about Pomeranians looking happy and excited when they spin in circles, but I did not know the same behavior can mean other things. Whatever the reasons why they spin, fluff spinning in circles helps me ease my tension and fatigue before bed.
Photo Credit: Kateryna Babaieva from pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. What is “fluff” in the title?
Q2. Does the author watch videos of Pomeranians spinning in circles all day?
Q3. Why do Pomeranians spin in circles?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
A1. A Pomeranian.
A2. No.
A3. Because they are happy and excited; they enjoy the feeling of spinning; they also check their surroundings by spinning; they might be sick.
Sachiko Aoki -
07 .05Binge Watching, a.k.a. Stop Living in the Past!
I’ll admit it. The older I get, the older I feel, and the less I feel “in touch” with what’s cool. You see, when I was your age, today’s internet did not exist. You know what else didn’t exist? Streaming. Netflix. Binge watching.*
Having a favorite TV show meant watching it every week on the same day, at the same time, on the same channel. That has changed, though. Now if I want to watch Game of Thrones, for example, I can sit down at 6:00pm and watch episode after episode until either I fall asleep, or I finish watching five whole seasons.
I had never tried doing such a thing before. I didn’t understand the appeal of speeding through multiple episodes in one sitting. I mean, when you talk to friends about the show, you can only ask, “How far have you gotten into the show? Oh, so you don’t know what happens to… oh, never mind...” Then the conversation is over. When I was younger, we could simply ask, “Did you see the Simpsons last night?” and then have a conversation about the whole show. Then repeat again six days later.
Instead of boring you with how boring I have become, let me introduce a show to you that I recently binge-watched. It’s called Cobra Kai, and it is available on Netflix. It is based on a 1984 movie that was a childhood favorite of mine: The Karate Kid (ベストキッド in Japan).
In the original movie, a teenage boy named Daniel moves to California with his mother and tries to fit in with others, but instead gets bullied. He learns karate, and eventually beats his enemies.
Cobra Kai has the same main characters in it, but 35 years later. Daniel is now 50 years old, a successful businessman, and has a wife and two teenage children. Johnny (his enemy) has just lost his job and has to figure out what to do with his life. I will not spoil anything except to say that both men take up karate again, and their rivalry starts over... but not in the way you would expect.
There are so many twists and turns, unexpected new (and old) characters, and it is highly entertaining. As an old guy myself, I can relate to Daniel the father, the husband, the career man. For young people, I think the appeal will be connecting with the high school students that take over as sub-characters.
You might want to take up karate after watching Cobra Kai, or like me, you might really get into binge-watching other shows. What are you waiting for? Go watch the first three seasons of Cobra Kai! Season 4 is currently being produced!
* Binge watching means watching multiple episodes of a TV show (often drama or comedy) one after another, and quickly finishing an entire season (or series).
Photo Credit: Cottonbro@pixels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. What did not exist when the writer was young?
a. TV shows
b. Netflix
c. The Karate Kid
Q2. What is the name of the TV show the writer wants to introduce?
a. Game of Thrones
b. The Karate Kid
c. Cobra Kai
Q3. What does the writer think will be interesting to young viewers of the show?
a. The main characters, Daniel & Johnny
b. The sub-characters, high school students
c. The skill of the karate fights in the show
Scroll down for the answers.
Quiz Answers
A1.b
A2.c
A3.b
Trevor Raichura -
06 .28A traditional Japanese art form: Rakugo
How much do you know about Rakugo? I think some of you might know about the Sunday evening TV program called Shouten. All of the performers are Rakugo storytellers. They tell witty stories while wearing a kimono. Performed since the Edo period, Rakugo is a performing art that has become part of Japanese culture. The Rakugo performer kneels on a cushion (zabuton) that is placed on a raised platform (koza) in the center of the stage. Without the use of stage effects, sets, or costumes, the storyteller's goal is to make the audience laugh while using a fan or towel as his or her only prop. This simple yet unique and sophisticated narrative art does not exist anywhere else in the world. The key points of Rakugo are (a) the story should include a punch line; (b) the story unfolds as a form of dialogue; (c) the performer changes the character through facial expressions; (d) a Japanese fan and towel are the only props; and (e) slight changes to their posture, mannerism, and tone of voice give life to many different characters.
Rakugo used to be a cultural practice unique to Japan. However, as its merits have become known worldwide, foreigners have begun to perform Rakugo in Japanese, and Japanese have started to perform Rakugo in English. The problem here is translation. Some of the situations in the stories and even some of the punchlines can be difficult to translate. I will give one example. Newcomers to anything have to take the first step, and in the world of Rakugo, a beginner starts by telling a story called Kuchinashi. The story begins with a customer entering a flower shop and asking the florist if the shop has any flowers. The florist says, “Yes, I have many different kinds of flowers.” The customer asks, “Do you have any flowers that talk?” The florist says, “Yes, I have flowers that talk.” The customer begins asking the flowers their names. The flowers answer by saying, “I'm Rose.” or “My name is Tulip.” Eventually, the customer finds a flower that doesn't answer his question. The customer angrily asks the owner, “Why doesn't this flower talk?” The florist calmly answers, “Because that flower is a Kuchinashi!” This punchline is easily understandable and funny to Japanese speakers because Kuchinashi literally means “no mouth.” How can you express the same thing in English and make the audience laugh? Some performers of English Rakugo will use the words “dried flower” or “wallflower.” Which one do you like better?
Photo Credit: Miguel Á. Padriñán@ Pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. When did Rakugo begin?
Q2. What are the two props?
Q3. How do Rakugo performers bring different characters to life?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
A1. Edo period
A2. A Japanese fan and a towel
A3. They slightly change to their posture, mannerism, and tone of voice.
Rika Takeda -
06 .21The Joy of Vinyl Records
Many people today listen to music using streaming services like Apple Music or downloaded mp3 files played through smart phones. When I was a child in the early 1970’s, we mostly listened to music with vinyl records. Then cassette tapes became popular because they were more portable, and you could record your own music onto them. Later in the 1990’s, CDs became the most popular medium for music.
My favorite way to listen to music is the vinyl record. In recent years, records have become trendy again, partly due to their popularity with DJs. I am not a DJ, but I have several other reasons why I like vinyl best.
If taken care of properly, records last a long time. I have several hundred records; most of them I bought in my youth or came from my father’s even older collection. Today I listened to the very first record I ever bought—Led Zeppelin IV. It still sounds great, even though the vinyl record is over 40 years old. None of the cassettes from my childhood work at all now, and even some of my CDs from the 1990’s don’t really work well anymore. My old records; however, have become some of my most prized possessions.
I believe the analog format of vinyl records provides a better, warmer sound than digital formats. Even the pops and crackles you hear on scratched or dusty records can have some nostalgic attraction for people of my generation. Many audiophiles think analog records contain a wider range of sound waves and give a rich, truer, more authentic sound.
Finally, and most importantly, listening to music with records is a more involved, satisfying experience. First, I have to physically find a record by looking through my record collection. The artwork on the record covers trigger memories and helps me choose what I want to hear. Then I have to take out the record from it's sleeve, decide if I want to hear side A or B, put the record on my turntable, and manually place the needle at the song I want to hear. Often, I will start from the beginning using the automatic function. This makes me listen to all of the songs in the order the artist intended, something I think is mostly lost today when we skip through and just pick single songs from our mp3 collection. As I listen to the record, I usually spend some time looking at the artwork and the information printed on the album sleeve, and sometimes I can read the lyrics to the songs if they are printed on the sleeve. I think listening to music with records is a more focused, complete, artistic experience than using other formats. When I play vinyl records, I can most fully appreciate what I am listening to.
Photo Credit: Alina Vilchenko@Pexels.com
Blog Quiz
1. Which of the following is the oldest music medium?
A. CDs
B. Streaming Services
C. Vinyl records
2. In paragraph 4, what is an ‘audiophile’?
A. A professional musician.
B. A notebook with notes about music.
C. A person who is enthusiastic about high-quality sound.
3. Why does the author like vinyl records?
A. Because they are very convenient.
B. Because the author thinks they provide a better listening experience.
C. Because the author is a DJ.
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
A1. C
A2. C
A3. B
Brett Morgan -
05 .17The small hometown that led to a big world
When I tell people that I came from California, various famous locations frequently come to their minds. Of course, you’ve probably heard of Silicon Valley being the innovation heartland of the world and about the beaches around Los Angeles where surfers gather. Maybe you’ve also gotten the chance to visit Yosemite National park and appreciate its beauty. But I can guarantee that you’ve never heard of my small hometown of Auburn, located 20 minutes east by car from the state capital Sacramento.
Truthfully, Auburn is not a town that I recommend going to, and yet it has provided me with the inspiration to be curious about the international world. For Americans who never want to experience culture shock in their lives, Auburn is the perfect little town for them. Its population is just over 14,000 residents, which is shockingly small compared to cities like San Francisco. Its diversity is also minimal with similar like-minded Americans who have almost no contact with the international community. Every time you go to the grocery store, you are guaranteed to run into at least one person you know. Growing up in this environment makes one believe that the world is small.
Fortunately, I received my first cross-cultural experience upon graduating from high school and entering university. My college’s student demographic was significantly diverse, and it felt like I was thrown into a whole new world. It was almost like experiencing culture shock within my own country. Additionally, my professors taught me that the world is quite vast, with many perspectives and interesting people and places. I quickly understood that I wanted to pursue international knowledge as my life passion. Eventually, this led me down the road to studying Japanese and finally moving to Japan six years ago.
Looking back at my experiences, I can honestly say that Auburn helped me understand my path and what I wanted out of life. But instead of providing me with the foundation for cross-cultural knowledge, it deprived me of what I truly wanted. And once that barrier was lifted, there was no chance of me ever going back. Therefore, without this background, I would not have been motivated to seek the unforgettable experiences that have come from me pursuing an international career.
Photo Credit: Kampusproduction@pixels.com
Blog Quiz
Question 1: What is the author’s hometown?
Question 2: Why did the author move to Japan?
Question 3: How did the author’s hometown create the opportunity for a global life?
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
Answer 1: The author’s hometown is Auburn, California.
Answer 2: The author experienced diversity in university and learned that there are many perspectives and people to meet in the world.
Answer 3: Growing up in Auburn deprived the author of cross-cultural knowledge and experiences. The author discovered this after entering university.
BBP Staff -
04 .12Freewriting fun!
Would you like to be able to write faster and more freely in a language you are learning and perhaps in your native language too? Students have often told me that they find writing to be a slow and tedious process, mainly because they worry so much about spelling and grammar rather than just getting their message across on paper. Today, therefore, I would like to introduce the concept of freewriting, an easy writing activity that can be done at home and can make writing practice fun.
So … what exactly is freewriting? Basically, it involves grabbing a piece of paper and a pen, setting a time limit, choosing a topic of interest to you, and then writing as quickly as possible without stopping and without worrying about spelling or grammar. Let’s go through the steps one by one.
First, after securing some paper and a writing tool, you will need to set a time limit. Most people I know who practice freewriting set a limit of 10 minutes, although some people write for 15 or 20 minutes. Next, you will need to choose a topic. Many people just choose to write about whatever is in their head at that moment: recent experiences in their lives or specific interests such as sports, books, movies, or music. However, my favorite way to practice freewriting is to link it with video material. This means watching an enjoyable YouTube, movie, or TV program and then writing about it. Whatever topic you choose, freewriting is a good way to get facts, memories, and personal feelings down on paper. Last, take a minute of silence to think about what points you would like to write about and then start the timer and write, write, write very fast, without stopping. Just enjoy the process of getting words down on paper rather than on style or grammar. If you always write in the same notebook, it will act as a kind of a personal journal, and you will be able to see your progress.
Freewriting on a regular basis can help to promote writing speed, fluency, creativity, organizational skills, confidence, and overall enjoyment of writing. Although freewriters are not meant to worry about grammar, most of my students find that it naturally improves after several weeks. You can hasten this improvement by, for example, consciously practicing verb tense by writing about a past event one day and a future event another day. You can also focus on new vocabulary by making a short list of perhaps five words that you would like to use that day while writing.
If you can spare 10 or 15 minutes each day, I highly recommend picking up a pen and trying some freewriting fun!
Photo Credit: Lisa Fotios @pexels.com
Blog Quiz
Q1. According to the article, which of the following should students do when they practice freewriting?
a. Stop writing and check how to spell a word
b. Write quickly about a topic
c. Spend at least one hour per day writing
Q2. What are the author’s preferred topics for freewriting?
a. Television programs and films
b. Books and comics
c. News articles and podcasts
Q3. According to the article, what is one benefit of freewriting?
a. Planning future tasks
b. Improving test scores
c. Gaining confidence
Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.
Quiz Answers
Q1. B
Q2. A
Q3. C
BBP Staff