Photo credit: @unsplash

Christmas is the most important holiday of the year in the United Kingdom. It has many traditions that help to make the time special. People decorate their homes, and many of the themes of decorations will be familiar to people in Japan. Two of these are: snowmen and Father Christmas. Both of these are also well-known because of the work of the British illustrator and author, Raymond Briggs. 

Like Japan, in many parts of the UK, it snows in winter, and children enjoy building snowmen in their gardens. In his picture book, The Snowman, Briggs tells the story of a boy who builds a snowman that magically comes to life. As the book has no words, only pictures, it is easy for everyone to enjoy.

The Snowman was also made into an animated film, and the song, “Walking in the Air” from the film is now a classic in the UK at Christmas time. Many families watch the film every year, and it has become part of British Christmas culture.

While the story of The Snowman is quite simple, Raymond Briggs is also famous for another character – Father Christmas, who is a bit more complicated. His Father Christmas is a little grumpy and doesn’t like the cold – he's very human. You can also find this book in Japan: the original title “Father Christmas” has been translated as 『さむがりやのサンタ』. It, too, was made into an animated film which has also long been a favourite on TV at Christmas. Interestingly, when the film was shown in the USA, the voice of Father Christmas was changed – he was no longer grumpy, but jolly. He didn’t say “Blooming Christmas” but “Merry Christmas”, and he certainly didn’t drink too much when he went on holiday. 

Both of these characters show how old traditions can be updated and renewed, keeping the spirit of Christmas alive. 

Merry Blooming Christmas!

 Questions

1.  Which book(s) mentioned were made into films?

2.  What is unusual about Raymond Briggs’ book The Snowman? 

3.  How is Raymond Briggs’ Father Christmas different from the traditional Santa Claus?

Scroll down for answers

1. The Snowman, Father Christmas

2. It has no words.

3. He is grumpy and doesn’t like the cold.

Photo credit: Djamel Ramdani (pexels)

Recently, I visited an exhibition about the French fashion house Louis Vuitton. With a 170-year history, the brand is well-known around the world. In this blog, I’ll introduce a few of my favorite parts of the exhibit, focusing on the topics of travel, fashion, and art.

To enter the exhibit, visitors passed through an arch made of Louis Vuitton travel trunks before entering a room about the history of the fashion house. When the first trunks were sold, they were primarily bought by wealthy people traveling by sea or rail. However, I was surprised to see some unique trunks in the exhibit. One was a library trunk from the 1940s which was full of books and even a typewriter! Another trunk folded out into a writing desk. It made me imagine what it was like to travel with these trunks long ago.

In another section of the exhibit, visitors could see dresses that had been worn by celebrities. One of my favorites was a dress worn by Cate Blanchett. The long black dress had white fabric draped on both sides, and she wore it to the Cannes Film Festival in 2023. At that time, she was promoting a movie set in Oklahoma in the 1920s called Killers of the Flower Moon. It was an unforgettable experience to see so many beautiful dresses that had been worn on the red carpet.

Of course, Louis Vuitton is also known for its luxury handbags which come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and designs. To create unique bags, accessories, and other goods, they sometimes work with other brands or artists. For example, they partnered with the brand Supreme and the artist Takashi Murakami to create attractive designs. In 2023, they collaborated with artist Yayoi Kusama. Around that time, I remember seeing some pictures online of the main store in Paris. It was decorated to look like the artist was painting polka dots on it! Also, at that time, there were robots designed to look like Kusama at some of the stores in major cities around the world.

By collaborating with Japanese artists, LV created fresh, new designs that people loved. In fact, there is another interesting connection to Japan—the LV monogram flower was inspired by Japanese designs! As you can see from these examples, cultural exchange between Japan and France has been an important at different times throughout the history of Louise Vuitton. 

Comprehension Questions

1. What was the company’s original product? Who bought it?

2. Which artists collaborated with Louis Vuitton?

3. What influenced the design of the logo?

Scroll down for answers

Answers

1. Travel trunks. Wealthy people who travelled by ship or train

2. Takashi Murakami and Yayoi Kusama

3. Motifs from Japan

People often tell me a burger & fries is their idea of traditional food in the US. It reminds me of how I thought every restaurant in Japan was a sushi shop before I arrived. On the contrary, American cuisine is a melting pot of influences, traditions, and innovation.

One of the most notable aspects of U.S. cuisine is its regionalism. In the South, for example, comfort food reigns supreme. Dishes like fried chicken, cornbread, and macaroni and cheese are beloved staples. But the South’s food culture is also defined by bold, smoky flavors. Barbecue, particularly in states like Texas, Tennessee, and North Carolina, is a revered art form with each region boasting its own style of cooking meat over wood or charcoal, often with a signature sauce that reflects the area’s unique palate. Carolina barbecue, for instance, is known for its vinegar-based sauces, while Texas barbecue tends to focus on the meat itself, often beef brisket with minimal sauce.

Moving up north, the cuisine takes on different characteristics. The Northeast, particularly around New England, is renowned for its seafood, especially lobster. Lobster rolls, where sweet, tender lobster is served on a soft, buttery bun, have become a quintessential part of the region’s food culture. Clam chowder, both creamy and briny, is another dish synonymous with this area, often served in a bread bowl. The influence of early European settlers, especially the English and Dutch, is still felt here with hearty stews and baked goods remaining common.

On the West Coast, fresh, seasonal ingredients are at the forefront. The farm-to-table movement, which emphasizes locally sourced organic produce, has its roots here. California cuisine, which draws on a mix of international flavors—especially from Mexico and Asia—has produced iconic dishes such as avocado toast, fish tacos, and the California roll sushi. The influence of Asian cuisine is also prevalent in the Pacific Northwest, where dishes like salmon teriyaki and poke bowls reflect both local ingredients and cultural fusion. In the Bay Area, particularly San Francisco, sourdough bread is a signature product with the tangy, chewy loaves being a staple of local bakeries.

The Midwest, often called the "heartland" of the U.S., has a cuisine based on hearty, filling dishes that reflect the agricultural heritage of the region. Staples include casseroles, pot roast, and dishes like deep-dish pizza from Chicago, which has a loyal following. This pizza with its thick, buttery crust and layered fillings is far removed from the thin-crust styles seen in other parts of the country and is a point of local pride.

In addition to these regional specialties, the U.S. has a long history of borrowing and adapting international dishes to create something distinctly American. The hamburger, hot dog, and pizza—each originally imported from Europe—have evolved into beloved symbols of American cuisine. Similarly, Tex-Mex, a fusion of Texan and Mexican flavors, has become its own unique culinary identity with tacos, fajitas, and nachos enjoyed nationwide.

Photo Credit: Israel Albornoz @ Pexels.com

Blog Quiz

Q1. The word “revere” in paragraph 2 is most similar in meaning to:

A.  revenge

B.   adore 

C.   reverse

D.  daydream

Q2. Which best summarizes the writer's description of US cuisine?

A.  no competition among regional characteristics

B.   regional specialties based on foreign influences

C.   primarily derived from Mexican cuisine

Q3. True or False: US cuisine culture has a tendency to borrow and adapt from other countries.

A.  True

B.   False

Scroll ↓ down for answers

Quiz Answers

Q1. B

Q2. B

Q3. A (True)

Photo Credit: Dawn O’Day (author)

As an architect and a designer, Antoni Gaudí has, for many years, spoken to countless people through his many creations, most of which can be seen in Barcelona. Do you know that one of the people who used to attend a university in Kyoto and to whom Gaudí’s work has spoken quite loudly and eloquently? This person is the Japanese stone cutter, Etsuro Sotoo.

Sotoo, a graduate of the Kyoto City University of Arts, traveled to Europe in 1978, which was one year after he graduated. As you can see, he was not much older than most of the students at Ritsumeikan University when he did that. Isn’t that amazing?

After arriving in Barcelona, he was so moved by what Gaudí communicated through his masterpiece, La Sagrada Família, that Sotoo chose to stay and learn about him, his genius, and his work. He said, “I just came to Europe to carve stone. I was looking for stone and stone introduced me to La Sagrada Família, and La Sagrada Família introduced me to Gaudí” (National Geographic, 2013).

Sotoo strove to understand Gaudí and honor him through his own stone cutting work. In so doing, he has, for more than 40 years, made significant contributions to the construction of La Sagrada Família. This includes the work Sotoo did on the east façade (side) of the basilica. It is there, in the Nativity scene, that we can see fifteen statues of angels that Sotoo created. He even created a few of them with Asian faces. After all, according to Sotoo, angels from the east are needed, too (Public Relations Office, Government of Japan, 2012). (A photo of Sotoo’s angels can be seen above.)

Sotoo’s passion for Gaudí’s work caused him to reconsider his values and to become Catholic. As you can see, art can be a very powerful language. Does it speak to you? If so, which medium (language) do you prefer to listen to, or with which one do you prefer to create?

References

National Geographic (2013, Dec. 14). Unorthodox sculpting. [Video]. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6MW5Us3E--0

Public Relations Office, Government of Japan (2012, Dec.) Realizing Gaudi’s Unfulfilled Wishes: Etsuro Sotoo (Spain). https://www.govonline.go.jp/eng/publicity/book/hlj/html/201212/201212_05.html

Blog Quiz

Q1. What is one reason Etsuro Sotoo traveled to Barcelona?

a) To attend a university

b) To visit family

c) To study modern art

d) None of the above

Q2. Which famous work of Gaudí deeply influenced Etsuro Sotoo?

a) Park Güell

b) Casa Batlló

c) La Sagrada Família

d) Casa Milà

Q3. What motivated Etsuro Sotoo to stay in Barcelona after his arrival?

a) He wanted to pursue a degree in architecture.

b) He was inspired by Gaudí's work, particularly La Sagrada Família.

c) He had family living in the city.

d) He was invited to participate in an art exhibition.

Scroll↓down for answers

Quiz Answers

Q1. d

Q2. c

Q3. b

Photo Credit: Dawn O’Day (author)

“Each art speaks an idiom that conveys what cannot be said in another language and yet remains the same (Dewey, 1934).”

Certainly, there are many ways to communicate. For example, we can communicate with our voices, through writing, and through body language as well. I love to communicate through writing, but I also love to express myself using photography.

What do you think about language and art forms, such as photography? Do you want to learn more about them? Are you inspired to create great works of writing or art? What do you think that art and language have in common? Think about these questions; then I will attempt to answer the last question.

Just as language has a three-way relationship, so does art. According to the American pragmatist, John Dewey, the act of communicating language involves a speaker, words that are spoken, and a person to whom the words are spoken; therefore, if we think of an object of art as words that are being communicated, then we have an artist who is communicating, the object of art, and the person who is looking at the art (Dewey, 1934). As you can see, one thing that language has in common with art is that they are both expressive forms of communication.

There are countless artists throughout history who have used numerous forms of media to express themselves. (You can think of a medium as a language.) Antoni Gaudí, a famous Spanish architect, is one such artist who expressed himself while he created art using various media (e.g., stone, ceramic, iron, and glass).

Perhaps Gaudí is most famous for his design of La Sagrada Família, which, as you probably know, is in Barcelona. Designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site, La Sagrada Família is a basilica that has been under construction for more than 140 years and will likely continue to be under construction for many years to come. (Please see the photo above for a view of the inside of the basilica.)

Please look forward to reading next week’s blog, Part Two: Language and Art.

Reference

Dewey, J. (1934). Art as experience. New York: Berkeley Publishing.

Blog Quiz

1. According to the reading, what is La Sagrada Familia?

a. A museum.

b. A park.

c. A basilica (a church).

2. According to the reading, what kind of media did Antoni Gaudi use when creating art?

a. Marble, ceramic, concrete, and glass.

b. Stone, ceramic, iron, and glass.

c. Stone, marble, wood, and steel.

3. According to the reading, what is one thing that language has in common with art?

a. They are both primarily used for scientific documentation.

b. They both require formal training in mathematics.

c. They are both expressive forms of communication

Scroll↓down for answers

Quiz Answers

Q1. C

Q2. B

Q3. C

Photo Credit: Rodolfo Quirós @ Pexels.com

As we approach the middle of the spring semester, I thought it would be interesting to share some of the things that I noticed while I dropped my daughter off at an American university last summer. Some of the differences were quite expected, but also some caught me by surprise. I hope after reading this blog entry, you will know a bit more of what to expect if you study abroad or choose to do graduate studies in the US.

First let me talk about diversity. On all the campuses we visited two years ago when she was choosing a university, there was a talk of diversity, but it wasn’t until we had the orientation and visited the campus at length that I could see this in real practice. Diversity is not just acknowledged but very celebrated on campuses. A real effort is made to make students feel as comfortable as they can not only with their environment but also with themselves. This ranges from numerous clubs, offices, and facilities available, as well as communities that can assist students in their daily lives.

Second, I want to talk about a business mindset. American universities seem to be always thinking about setting students up for a chance to turn their ideas into practical business applications. Most students have access to funding as well as tools such as 3D printing to take any design ideas they have and try to make prototypes out of them. On top of this, many opportunities exist to collaborate with other students or outside businesses to create working models.

Last, I would like to talk about class workload. American students read a lot for their classes. Often time it is common to get 100 or more pages to read a week. Classes often are conducted two to three times a week so the amount of information that students receive is enormous. Students must manage their work and lives well in order to handle this. Instead of just listening to a lecture, students are expected to discuss the content and form an opinion on their own. This takes time to think about and consider well.

In conclusion, there is, in general, a different mindset to how American universities operate and what their end goal is. Students are given the tools to think independently while pursuing their future careers. While there are also several downsides, to certain students, the upsides may be very appealing.

Blog Quiz

Q1. What is the first difference between American and Japanese universities that the author noticed?

Q2. What is the end goal of university life in America?

Q3. How much reading does an average American university student do in a week per class?

Scroll down ↓ for answers

Quiz Answers

Q1. More diversity.

Q2. To pursue your own ideas.

Q3. 100 or more pages per week per class.

Photo Credit: Ken Uemura

(dancers pictured are Heidi S. Durning and Mikayo Mori)

On September 28th, 2024, I had the opportunity to dance in the Eiun-in temple garden. Eiun-in temple is a Jodo Buddhist temple located in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto. Usually, it is a private temple, so it is not open to the public. However, I have had the opportunity to dance there for the past 30 years. Every two or three years, I collaborate with other dancers and musicians to create a performance appropriate to show in the beautiful inner garden of Eiun-in temple. For these performances the temple opens to the public and it is enjoyed immensely by everyone.

This year’s dance, music, and garden collaboration performance was titled “Sorara”. Dance performers Mori Mikayo and I created new works inspired by nature and feelings. Original music was composed by percussionist, Watanabe Ryo and Noh flutist, Nonaka Kumiko. We were inspired to create by the resonating sounds of the temple bells, the seasonal plants, the sky above us, and the various shapely clouds. The audience members were seated inside the temple with the musicians surrounding them on either side. The dancers appeared and moved within the garden visualizing the nature images using the arms, legs, and torso enhanced by facial expressions. Costumes were worn to compliment the color of the trees, sky, and seasonal plants blossoming in the garden. These colors were shades of blue, green, white, brown, and orange.

On this day we had good weather but several times before, I performed in the rain which was quite refreshing. Dancing in a temple garden is very different from dancing in a theater. We can feel our feet touch the moss, the costumes flow with the wind, and the air soothes us. The audience members watch the dancers melt into the garden scenery while the live music mixes with the natural sounds made by the birds and crickets.

We always feel lucky to perform in the Eiun-in temple garden as we share the space with everyone present there.

Blog Quiz

Q1. Where was the performance held?

Q2. What inspired the creation of the performance "Sorara"?

Q3. How is dancing in the temple garden different from dancing in a theater?

Scroll down↓for answers

Quiz Answers

Q1. At the Eiun-in Temple, in Sakyo-ku, Kyoto.

Q2. It was inspired by nature and feelings.

Q3. It is different because the dancers can feel the moss under their feet as they dance and the breeze as they move around the garden, and the live music mixes with the sounds of nature in the garden.

Photo Credit: Ravi Kant @Pexels.com

How much do you care about the weather in your everyday life? Do you usually check the Internet for the latest weather forecast, or are you the type of person who takes your folding umbrella with you regardless of the weather? Some people might change their schedule depending on that day’s weather and even postpone or cancel their plans.

In terms of weather in Japan, there are roughly four seasons: spring (March - May), summer (June - August), fall (September - November) and winter (December - February). Summer in Japan is also known as a rainy season, which is very hot, wet, and humid. Typhoons often come in fall, and some places can be so stormy that you are not able to hold your umbrella while you are walking outside. Japan is an island that stretches from north to south, so each region has different climates. For example, Hokkaido, which is in northern Japan has relatively cooler and comfortable weather in summer though it has a lot of snow in winter and the temperature can be below freezing.  

When it comes to the weather in the UK, you can probably imagine that there are a lot of rainy days throughout the whole year. As a person who was born and raised in Japan, the weather in the UK was one of the biggest culture shocks I experienced when I was studying there. In terms of explaining about rain in the weather report, there are a variety of expressions to describe it since they have many rainy days. You probably get used to hearing like “it will be sunny, cloudy or rainy tomorrow” in the Japanese weather report. However, you will often hear like “there will be a fresh shower during the day” or “it will be a windy morning tomorrow and blustery shower but clearer later of the day” in the British weather report.

What’s more, the time when British people start to use their umbrellas is slightly different from Japanese people. Japanese people tend to take out their umbrellas even if there is a light rain, leading to one of my British classmates often making fun of me saying “where are you HIDING your umbrella today?”, which made me feel like I was a typical Japanese in the UK.

Blog Quiz

Q1. When is the rainy season in Japan?

Q2. What is another word British people use to talk about “rain”?

Q3. Why did the writer feel like a typical Japanese in the UK?

Scroll down ↓ for answers.

Quiz Answers

Q1. In the summer.

Q2. A shower/ Showers.

Q3. Because the writer was always carrying an umbrella.