Photo Credit: Erik Mclean @pexels.com 

You probably know “The God of Manga”, Tezuka Osamu, but do you know “The King of Comics”?

You may not know who this King is, but you might know many of his characters. Over the past 15 years, superhero movies from Hollywood have become very popular worldwide. The most popular of these superhero movies were the Avengers movies of the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). These box-office hits featured characters such as Iron Man, Captain America, Thor, the Hulk, and Nick Fury. All of these characters were created or co-created by Jack “the King” Kirby.

Kirby started working in American comics when he was about 20 years old. A few years later, he met up with his creative partner Joe Simon, and together they created Captain America in 1940. On the cover of the very first Captain America comic, Captain America punched Adolph Hitler, This was a year before the United States entered the Second World War. It established Captain America as an ideal of America: the very best that America could be.

After joining the American army and fighting in Europe during the war, Kirby returned to drawing comic books. By this time, superhero comics had become less popular, so Kirby and Simon created a new genre of comics: romance comics. In 1947, their comic magazine Young Romance was the first and most popular of over 100 different romance comics published until the mid-1950s.

But it is from the 1960s that Kirby became the King. He joined Marvel Comics, and in 1961, Marvel published The Fantastic Four with art by Kirby. In a period of about ten years, Kirby helped create some of the most famous superheroes of American comic books. Not only did Kirby create the characters named above, he also was the original artist for the X-Men (made into their own series of movies) and helped co-create Ant-Man and Black Panther. In all, 21 of the MCU movies feature Kirby-created characters as the main heroes of the story.

By this time, Kirby had developed his own dynamic art style and innovative storytelling techniques that changed the way comic book stories were told. His art had a sense of movement and energy when many other comic artists drew stiff figures that seemed motionless in comparison. The stories that he told through his art were often at a cosmic scale. With these stories, he made the reader think about the meaning of being human in a universe that was so vast. Kirby’s work set new standards for visual storytelling that still influences artists today.

Questions:

Q1. Kirby co-created Captain America in 1940. Who was his co-creator?

Q2. When did Kirby do his famous work for Marvel Comics?

Q3. What was special about Kirby's art?

Scroll down ↓ for answers.

A1. Joe Simon

A2. During the 1960s

A3. It was very dynamic with a lot energy. He told stories that were on an epic scale.

Photo Credit: Element5 Digital@pexels.com

Last time, I wrote that extensive reading is the best way to improve your English in Japan and explained what it is by comparing it with “intensive reading.” Just to make things clear, let me add that what I meant was "the best way to improve English BY YOURSELF.”

It goes without saying that language learning should be done through interactions with others whenever possible. (That’s why it’s really important to speak in English with your classmates and teacher as much as you can in class! When you have a chance, you should use the stopwatch function on your smartphone and time yourself and check how many minutes you’re actually speaking in English in one class. Then, you can multiply that time with the number of English classes you have in one semester and calculate the estimated total time. I think a lot of you will be appalled by how short the time is! That’s why you should come to the communication rooms! Sorry, I got carried away. Let’s go back to our topic.)

Outside your English classes and communication rooms, and after you graduate and start working, what can you do to keep on improving your English? Since trying to master a language is a life-long endeavor and challenge, you need something that is easily accessible so that you can continue for a long time. That’s why extensive reading is the best way to go. As long as you have a book with you, you can do it anytime and anywhere. Nowadays, you might even be able to find extensive reading books at your local libraries. Therefore, if you’re lucky, you can do extensive reading for free! Yes, free! Isn’t that amazing?

Another key word that will keep you motivated and help you pursue the long-term goal is “fun.” As I wrote in the last blog, extensive reading is also called “pleasure reading,” and it should be something that you enjoy doing. This is the other reason why extensive reading is a great way to develop your English skills. How could you ever continue doing something if you can’t enjoy it?

I have written the two main reasons why extensive reading is the best way to enhance your English ability in Japan. For more specific reasons why you should do it, here is a list of benefits that extensive reading researchers have found in their studies:

If you do a lot of extensive reading …

- you will gain confidence,

- you will be able to read English faster,

- you will learn more vocabulary,

- you will improve your overall English ability (= grammar, listening, writing, and speaking),

- and you will get higher scores on tests.

I hope you have enjoyed reading this blog and hope that you are more interested in doing extensive reading. I have written the “why’s” this time, so next time I would like to write the “hows” so that you understand how you can actually start and do extensive reading. To be continued!

Blog Quiz:

Q1. Why does the writer suggest that you check the time you speak English in

 your English classes?

Q2. How can you do extensive reading for free?

Q3. What are the two main reasons that you can continue doing extensive

 reading for a long time?

Answers:

A1. So that you can realize how much you are actually speaking in English.

A2. You can do it for free if you can find a library that has extensive reading

 books.

A3. It’s easy to do and fun!

Photo Credit: Engin Akyurt @Pexels.com 

The ancient Greeks told stories about their gods and heroes. These stories, or myths, helped to form western culture. There are many English words that come from Greek mythology. Two such words come from the story of Narcissus and Echo. Below is a retelling of the myth based on the writing of Ovid, a Roman poet. 

Once there was a youth named Narcissus, who was 16 years old but appeared to be a man. He was so handsome that others fell in love with him. However, Narcissus cared only about himself and spurned the many youths who sought his attention and love. 

Hera, the queen of the gods, was looking for her unfaithful husband, Zeus. She saw the nymph Echo playing in the woods. Hera was envious of Echo’s gaiety, or cheerfulness, and so she cursed her by making it impossible for her to speak except for repeating what others said. 

Echo would often see Narcissus walking through the woods alone or with friends and, like all the other maidens, she fell in love with him. 

One day, when Narcissus was in the forest alone, he heard Echo step on a branch. “Who is there?” he called out. Echo could only respond by repeating his words, “Who is there?” 

Narcissus responded, “Come to me.” 

And Echo replied, “Come.” 

“Why?” replied Narcissus. “Why are you avoiding me?” 

“Avoiding me,” replied Echo. 

“Come and introduce yourself,” said Narcissus, “I wish to meet you.” 

“Meet you,” replied Echo. 

She came out from behind a tree and up to Narcissus. She put her arms around his neck and looked him in the eyes. But Narcissus pushed her away and ran. 

Echo disappeared into the forest and found a cave where she hid herself--her heart still loved Narcissus. Eventually, Narcissus’ arrogance angered the gods. One day, he grew thirsty and found a small pond. One of the gods made the pond silvery bright so that, when Narcissus bent over to take a drink, he saw his own reflection, which was so beautiful that it matched that of the god Apollo. Narcissus fell in love with the image of his own face. He stared into the pond and forgot all else, including food. He remained for days until his body grew weak. Narcissus knew he was close to death and called out, “Farewell.” 

Echo heard him and responded, “Farewell.” She went back to her cave and lived there all alone. Her body wasted away and shriveled up until it was gone. The only thing that remained was her voice, which still repeats back what is said. 

From this story, we get the English words narcissist and echo. What do you think they mean?

Glossary 

myth: a traditional story often involving supernatural beings, such as gods, faeries, and nymphs.

spurn: to reject because you think the other person is unworthy

nymph: a nature spirit

arrogance: thinking that you are better and more important than others; overbearing pride

reflection: the image of something in a mirror or clear body of water 

Questions: 

Q1. After reading the story, what do you think the word narcissist means?  

a. a handsome young man

b. someone who thinks about or admires only him or herself

c. someone who enjoys walking in the forest  

Q2. What is an echo?  

a. someone who lives in a cave 

b. a young woman who is in love 

c. the sound that repeats back to you when you call out 

Q3. Why did Narcissus die?  

a. He didn’t eat because he couldn’t stop looking at his own reflection 

b. Because Echo no longer loved him 

c. He had nothing to drink 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers 

Answers

A1. b

A2. c

A3. a

Photo Credit: Martin Pechy @Pexels.com 

“What is the best way to improve your English in Japan?” If someone asked you this question, what would your answer be? My answer is simple: “BE ACTIVE AND STUDY HARD IN YOUR ENGLISH CLASSES!” 

… Alright, alright, I see the fed-up look on your face, so I will stop joking around and give you another answer. (Oh, but I am NOT joking about being active and studying hard in your English classes. Please be active and study hard!) Whenever I’m asked that question, my answer would always be “extensive reading.” Do you know what extensive reading is? Some of you might be disgusted by the thought of reading in English. Have no fear. Extensive reading is very different from what you did in high school and maybe what you are doing now in your reading classes. In fact, the reading done in a lot of English reading classes in Japan is the opposite of what extensive reading is. That kind of reading is often called “intensive reading.” 

Intensive reading is about … ・reading difficult reading passages, ・reading in detail, ・reading with a dictionary, ・translating a lot into Japanese, ・trying to understand 100% of the reading passages, ・and focusing on learning grammar and vocabulary. 

Are you feeling sick and about to throw up? Again, don’t worry. Extensive reading is completely different. 

Extensive reading is about … ・ 

reading a lot, ・reading easy books, ・reading enjoyable books, ・understanding 80~90% of the book, ・reading without using a dictionary, ・and reading without translating. 

As the name suggests, extensive reading is about reading a lot. But also, it’s about reading books that are easy and interesting for you. That is why another name for extensive reading is “pleasure reading.” 

I hope you have become interested in extensive reading. Next time, more about why we do extensive reading and how to do it! To be continued! 

Q1. What is intensive reading?  

Q2. What is extensive reading?  

Q3. What is another name for extensive reading?  

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

Answer

A1. It is reading difficult passages and trying to understand everything by using a dictionary and often translating. The focus is learning grammar and vocabulary. 

A2. It is reading a lot of easy and enjoyable books without using a dictionary and without translating. The focus is enjoying reading the books.  

A3. Reading for pleasure

Photo Credit: Karolina Grabowska @pexels.com

Anime are one of the most popular aspects of Japanese culture, and have attracted a wide audience not only within Japan but also in foreign countries. Why are Japanese anime so popular? There are several reasons, such as high-quality artwork, great music, and a wide variety of stories. Additionally, one cannot overlook the crucial role of voice actors who greatly contribute to anime.

A voice actor’s main duty is to read and record scripts for TV programmes, but they also work on anime, films, radio shows, commercials, audiobooks, video games, and more. While they primarily work behind the scenes, voice actors have gradually gained recognition. These days, becoming a voice actor is considered a dream job, particularly for younger people.

What are some appealing aspects of this profession? First and foremost, a voice actor brings anime characters to life. For example, when an original manga or a comic book is adapted into anime, the character becomes more vibrant and lively, as additional details like breathing and laughter are portrayed. While some people may have their own image of a character, passionate performances can strongly captivate the audience, and even enhance the original story. Another appealing aspect is that a voice actor can provide a relaxing effect through their voice, potentially offering encouragement to those feeling down.

However, being a voice actor comes with its own set of challenges and difficulties. For instance, some voice actors mention the inconsistency of job offers. Moreover, it requires endurance and a strong mindset to persistently audition for roles. Those who have overcome these challenges and difficulties cultivate professionalism, which ultimately contributes to the production of better anime.

As the roles of voice actors gain prominence, their popularity has been steadily growing overseas as well, both among the audience and foreign voice actors. For example, there is a story of an American voice actor expressing admiration for a Japanese voice actor. When a Japanese anime is dubbed in English, the American voice actor pays homage to the Japanese voice actor by copying aspects of the style to ensure that the anime’s essence remains intact.

Overall, voice actors play a pivotal role in supporting anime. Their tireless efforts have remained largely hidden behind the popularity of Japanese anime, which bring joy and entertainment to numerous people.

Questions: Read the blog and decide if each sentence is T (true) or F (false).

Q1. Spending a lot of money on creating anime is one of the reasons for the popularity of Japanese anime.

Q2. Voice actors can cheer people up by their voice.

Q3. Voice actors have gradually become popular only in Japan.

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

A1. F

A2. T

A3. F

I have two major passions in life. One is English education, and the other is baseball. These two passions cross paths quite often, but never more than in one particular individual: Shigetoshi Hasegawa.

If you do not recognize the name, let me introduce him a little. He was born and raised in Hyogo Prefecture and graduated from Ritsumeikan University several decades ago. After being drafted by the Orix BlueWave (who are now the Buffaloes) and having a successful pitching career in Japan (Rookie of the Year, All-Star), he spent nine years playing Major League Baseball for the Anaheim Angels and Seattle Mariners. Because his name is so difficult for many non-Japanese to pronounce, he was given the nickname “Shiggy” which I will use the rest of this article.

Shiggy actually did not go to the major leagues because of his baseball aspirations. He went there because he had a fascination with America, and wanted to live there and experience the culture. During his time there, he gained proficiency in English, but also deepened his understanding of the national culture. As such, he was able to understand his own culture better, too. In fact, he has written several books about his experiences in America, plus his methods of learning English. I have not read all of Shiggy’s books, but what I have read, I have thoroughly enjoyed.

A book called {素晴らしき！メジャーリーガーの人生}. is a collection of the monthly columns he wrote for a Japanese newspaper while he was playing baseball in America. He also has one called {メジャーリーグで覚えた僕の英語勉強法}, and most recently, he put one out called {好かれる英会話}. In fact, last year during the pandemic (and online classes for many of us), he did an exclusive “webinar” for Ritsumeikan students and staff based on this book, which is about how to really enjoy speaking English. The webinar was truly enlightening and helped me see that Shiggy has transcended nationality and culture in his life. He is able to objectively see America for what it is, and the same is true of Japan.

This nation of ours (Japan) has a lot of TV shows that focus on how foreigners view Japan. While I enjoy programs like “YOUは何しに日本へ？” It feels a little superficial at times. It also comes across (to foreigners) as Japan tooting its own horn. The show seems to be declaring, “Look at how awesome the world thinks we are!” Shiggy kind of does the opposite in his writing: how does Japan view America? What I enjoy about Shiggy and his writing is that he does not put his own country OR his adopted country on a pedestal. He promotes understanding and acceptance while encouraging people to learn and love English. Oh, and of course, he loves baseball, too.

I highly recommend that you check out Shiggy’s books and aim to emulate one of your fellow Ritsumeikan graduates.

Photo credit: Pixabay

Quiz

Q1. Which baseball team did Shiggy not play for?

a) Orix BlueWave

b) Orix Buffaloes

c) Anaheim Angels

d) Seattle Mariners

Q2. Why did Shiggy want to play Major League Baseball?

a) He wanted to live in America

b) He wanted to challenge his baseball abilities

c) He wanted to teach Japanese to his teammates

d) He wanted to write books about learning English

Q3. What does the writer of this blog appreciate about Shiggy?

a) He loves Japan so much

b) He loves America so much

c) He can see Japan and America without bias

d) He watches TV shows like YOUは何しに日本へ?

Scroll down for answers

A1. b

A2. a

A3. c

I have been reading a lot recently, now that I have more time stuck at home… I have been wanting to be a better person and make good use of the time I have now. I am sure my old self would have been stuck in front of the TV watching Netflix or locked on the computer screen, stuck on the latest YouTube videos. A book that is changing my life is “Atomic Habits” by James Clear. I recommend you pick it up, it is an easy read, but it can change your life.  Here are a few of the many good ideas in the first chapter, but that is just the beginning… 

Everyone has habits, and did you know that the habits that you have now, whether they are getting up early, or turning off the lights when you leave a room came to you without effort? Of course, your bad habits, like procrastinating or eating an unhealthy meal come very easy too, but did you know that those little decisions make up who we are? These little decisions, good or bad add up. These “1% decisions” are not noticeable but are very meaningful. As you repeat and do small things, day by day, those habits will have an impact on the way your life will be heading. If you stay up late and finish up work you were putting off, sure you can survive on three or four hours of sleep that next day, but one day in the future, you will wake up late and miss something important or make a mistake because you were sleepy. The author says, “Success is the product of daily habits – not once-in-a-life-time transformations.” 

You might be thinking that you need to change every little thing in your life… no… start with one thing that will make your actions successful. Just like when you chop a tree down, you pick up your axe, and start swinging, you cannot cut down a tree with one blow, it takes many strikes at the tree to bring it down. Just like starting a new habit, it takes many times of doing something to start a new habit, or stop a bad one. At first, it is exciting to start something new and you can see wood chips flying, but after a while you get tired and you hit and hit but you do not see change. When you finally fell that tree, the whole world will look at you and say how great your achievement was, but you know it was the work that you did when you did not see any results was the work that made things possible. Fighting on through hard times will make future success. “All big things come from small beginnings. The seed of every habit is a single, tiny decision.” 

It is a new year now and people talk about “New Year’s Resolutions” (新年の抱負) . More than making a goal this year, plan on making a “system” that will make your goals, reality. Just like every Olympic athlete has the goal to win the gold medal, if you improve the way you train and make the environment easy for you to get better, improve your training system… you will have a better outcome. Also, achieving that goal will be good but the result of meeting that goal is nothing if your life is not changed. If you diet and lose those kilograms you wanted to lose but go back to eating as you did before the diet, you will just rebound back. You need to change your eating and exercise system so you will have those great results (lost weight and fitting into those jeans) for the rest of your life. These are just some of the great ideas waiting for you in the book. Please read it and come to the BBP and let’s talk about it. Everything counts. 

Reference: Clear, J. (2018) Atomic Habits. Penguin Random House LLC, New York.

Go to jamesclear.com

Photo Credit: Andrea Piacquadio@pixels.com

Blog Quiz

1. What did the author do this past year?

a- watch a lot of TV and YouTube videos

b-sleep a lot

c- read books

2. What is the book "Atomic Habits" about?

a-making good habits

b-studying atoms

c-a boy named "Tom"

3. The book's author said, "All big things come from ___________"

a-big things

b-small beginnings

c-once in a lifetime events

Scroll down ↓ for the answers to the quiz.

Quiz Answers

Q1. c

Q2. a

Q3. b