Photo Credit: Hai Nguyen @ Pexels.com

 

A former graduate student of Ritsumeikan University wrote me an e-mail from the London School of Economics (LSE) in England. She was coming to Kyoto for a visit and wanted to come by the campus to say hello. A few years ago, when she was going through the application process, another graduate of Ritsumeikan University who was already there studying took her under her wing and showed her the ropes. Now, here she was already about to graduate and very willing to help her kohais who were curious about their own future after Ritsumeikan. I felt proud and happy that she wanted to keep this magic chain going.

 

Often many students are divided between going immediately to graduate school and working after graduation. Some feel that they want to expand their knowledge and study further. Others, for various reasons, want to work and gain experience in the “real world.” More often than not, those who choose the latter path of working immediately say that they may also like to eventually go back to school for a higher degree. I wanted to share the pros and cons of these two paths for my very active and ambitious students this semester and knew that she would be perfect to give a talk to her kohais.

 

Just in time, a message came to my Linkedin account. It was a former student, now a career woman working her way up the corporate ladder as a bilingual human resources consultant. She wanted to inform me of how her consulting session went with an advanced student of mine who was at the moment looking for employment. The young, vibrant, and smart international consultant of Bangladeshi and Japanese heritage, and the passionate, savvy, and cosmopolitan graduate student of sociology of Indian ethnic background from LSE volunteered their time, knowledge, and experience on May 24, 2024, during the Senpai Kōhai Network Connection Spring 2024 Event titled “Graduate School and Corporate Life: Advice from Senpais.”

 

I sat in the back watching these two young, powerful, and energetic women, full of life and passion speak and share their experiences, knowledge and wisdom with their kohais who listened carefully to their every word with awe and respect. They confided that they, too, felt unsure and insecure during their first year but through the help of their senpais who reached out and lent a helping hand, they eventually also found their best path – one that has brought them to where they stood now. I felt proud – not only of their brilliant shine but also because they were solidifying the circular connection of the “Magic Chain” by never forgetting to give thanks to the outreach of helping hands.

 

Questions:

 

Q1. Who came for a visit and from where?

Q2. How many speakers were there and who were they?

Q3. What is the "Magic Chain"?

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

 

A1. A graduate student from England and a consultant from Bangladesh

A2. Two. They were former Ritsumeikan students.

A3. The practice of receiving knowledge from those who have come before and passing knowledge on to those who come after.

Photo credit Andrea Piacquadio @ pexels.com

 

I am a sloth. When the morning alarm rings, I stay cocooned in my bed, stretching those “just five more minutes” into eternity. No matter how bright the light streaming through the window, I revel in the soft warmth, savoring the continuation of my dreams.

 

Being called lazy may sound like a criticism, but within this idleness, I find life's little pleasures. Amidst the rush of daily life, I often pause to watch the clouds drift across the sky or to enjoy the fragrance of flowers in the garden. This, too, is a privilege of being a sloth.

 

Household chores are frequently postponed. Laundry piles up, and dishes accumulate in the sink, but I view this scene as a “challenge for another day.” Without self-reproach, I whisper to myself, “Well, I’ll do it tomorrow.” This ease alleviates daily stress.　Yet, one might wish to say so; curiously enough, I manage to tackle household tasks with thoroughness.

 

Work follows the same pattern. As deadlines loom, I calmly brew a cup of coffee and take a deep breath before I start. Rather than rushing for results, I proceed slowly and surely. Although others may urge me to be more diligent, I believe in maintaining my own pace.

 

This slothful nature is, in fact, the wellspring of my creativity. In those moments of doing nothing, sudden ideas emerge, and solutions present themselves. What remains unseen in the rush of busyness often becomes clear in the quiet moments.

 

I am a sloth. Yet, these lazy times are precious to me, enriching my life in their own way. No matter how fast the world spins, I will continue to savor these leisurely moments. This is my way of living.

 

 

Questions:

Q1. How does the author react when their morning alarm rings?

Q2. How does the author feel about being called lazy?

Q3. What does the author believe helps their creativity?

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

 

 

Answers:

A1. The author stays in bed, for longer and (probably) goes back to sleep again.

A2. The author acknowledges it might sound like criticism but finds things he enjoys in his idleness.

A3. The author believes that moments of doing nothing (being idle) are important for their creativity.

Photo credit: Satoshi Hirayama @ pexels.com

 

Kyoto, especially Gion Kobu, has been in the news a lot recently. Two typical headlines are: “Tourists banned from private alleys in Kyoto’s geisha district” (The Japan Times) and “Kyoto bans tourists from parts of geisha district amid reports of bad behavior” (The Guardian). The tourist ban that all these stories talk about was supposed to start at the beginning of April. I walked through Gion Kobu in early April, when the cherry blossoms were still in bloom. These are some of the things I saw that day and my thoughts about them.

 

Since you study at Ritsumeikan University and spend at least some of your time in Kyoto, I hope my thoughts will help you develop your own ideas about the over-tourism in Kyoto issue. When I go to Gion Kobu, I get off the subway at Sanjo Station and walk down Hanami-koji towards the district. Hanami-koji is the main artery through Gion, and is often jammed with tourists, but just a few minutes north of Gion (near Sanjo Dori), the street is mostly deserted. All the shops on the East side are shuttered and have been for years. The buildings are dilapidated.

 

Once you cross the Shirakawa River, things begin to change. Hanami-koji is lined with bars and restaurants. There are some new hotels, too. Who stays in hotels? Tourists! As I get close to Shijo Dori and Ichiriki, the most famous tea house In Gion Kobu, I start to see tourists dressed in kimono. Some men are dressed in hakama (wide-pleated pants). There are couples and groups of friends. Many of these tourists are not Japanese, but some are.

 

There are quite a few of these kimono rental shops. I just googled “kimono rental shops Gion Kobu” and found 16 shops within a five-minute walk of the Hanamikoj-Shijo intersection, the center of Gion. People who dress up in kimono are going to want photos of themselves in their costumes for Instagram and other social media sites. And since they are dressed in traditional attire, it stands to reason that they want to take these photographs in front of traditional buildings. And where are the most photogenic buildings and alleys? Gion Kobu, of course!

 

In addition, many of the mom-and-pop shops on Shijo Dori (a bookstore, a shop that sold authentic maiko and geiko hair ornaments) have disappeared over the years. What replaces them? Convenience stores, souvenir shops, and the like. Who goes to souvenir shops? Tourists! This is cause and effect. If businesses that cater to tourists open in an area, tourists are going to come to that area, especially an area as beautiful as Gion Kobu.

 

What do you think? Do you think there is too much tourism in Kyoto? Is the bus or train you take to Ritsumeikan too crowded? If so, what can be done, especially since Kyoto needs the money tourists bring to the city?

 

 

 

 

Questions:

 

Q1. What does dilapidated mean?

a. in good condition

b. in poor condition

 

Q2. Only foreign tourists like to dress up in kimono and walk around Gion Kobu.

True or False

 

Q3. The busiest part of Hanamikoji Dori is near the Sanjo subway station.

True or False

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

 

Answers

Q1. b

Q2. False

Q3. False

Photo Credit: Vallentin @pexels.com 

 

As an English teacher living in Japan, experiencing the seasons here has been quite different from what I’m used to back in the UK. Both countries have four seasons—spring, summer, autumn, and winter—but the way each season feels and is celebrated can be very different.

 

Spring: Cherry Blossoms vs. Daffodils

In Japan, spring is famous for the beautiful cherry blossoms, or sakura. People in Japan love to have picnics under these pink and white flowers during the cherry blossom festivals. In the UK, spring is also a lovely season, where flowers like daffodils and bluebells cover the parks and gardens. While we don’t have big picnics under the trees, the blooming flowers are a cheerful sight after the cold winter.

 

Summer: Festivals and Rain

Japanese summers are hot and full of lively festivals. People wear yukata, which are like light kimonos, and enjoy fireworks and street food. In the UK, our summers are usually cooler and, let’s be honest, a bit rainy. We do have music festivals and barbecues whenever the sun decides to shine, which makes for a fun time too.

 

Autumn: Leaves and More Leaves

Autumn in Japan is as stunning as the spring, with the leaves turning bright red, orange, and yellow. People go to parks and mountains just to see this colorful display. In the UK, autumn is also beautiful with the leaves changing color, but it’s generally more subdued. We enjoy cozy evenings as it starts to get colder.

 

Winter: Snowscapes vs. Dark Days

Winters can be quite different. In Japan, places like Hokkaido are famous for their snow festivals with huge ice sculptures. In other parts of Japan, New Year is a big celebration where families come together. In the UK, winter is more about short days and long nights. We get some snow, but it’s not as common. Christmas is a huge deal, and cities light up with decorations and markets.

 

Living in Japan has shown me how differently seasons can be experienced and celebrated in another culture. While the UK seasons are more about subtle changes and quiet beauty, Japan’s seasons are full of vivid colors and festivals. Both places have their unique charm, making each season special in its own way.

 

 

Questions:

Q1. What season do British people associate daffodils with?

Q2. What is one problem with summers in England?

Q3. Which of the countries gets more snow?

 

Scroll down ↓ for answers:

 

 

A1. Spring

A2. It is too rainy.

A3. Japan

Photo Credit: Oz Art @pexels.com

 

Here, I will introduce a powerful technique to improve both your listening and speaking skills at the same time! It's a method called shadowing, where you practice repeating the English you hear, as if you are its shadow.

 

Let's take The Beatles' "Let It Be" as an example for our explanation.

 

The Beatles - Let It Be

You can find the song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDYfEBY9NM4

 

When you hear "When I find myself in times of trouble," you immediately repeat "When I find myself in times of trouble." As you repeat this, the next phrase, "Mother Mary comes to me," will play, so you quickly start repeating that phrase. You continue in this way with "Speaking words of wisdom..." and so on.

 

Shadowing is an excellent exercise for both listening and speaking practice. It is great for listening because it trains you to hear and understand English directly, without translating it into Japanese in your head. Additionally, being able to shadow well means you can accurately mimic the unique rhythm of English.

 

For example, if you can pronounce "When I find myself in times of trouble" in sync with the audio, that means you are able to follow the rhythm rules of English: You stress and elongate content words (words that carry meaning) like "find," "myself," "times" and "trouble," while pronouncing function words (words that indicate grammar) like "when," "I," "in" and "of" weakly and briefly.

 

If you take too long to pronounce function words like "when" or "I," you won't be able to say the line in sync with the audio. Now, let’s actually try shadowing this song.

 

As you shadow, avoid looking at the text as much as possible, and focus only on the audio. It might feel difficult at first, but it’s important to practice the same material repeatedly until you can do it.

 

Observing the rhythm of English in songs and mimicking it is a highly effective learning method. You can practice shadowing with other pop songs, nursery rhymes, and even jazz when you've gotten the hang of it. However, not all English songs are suitable for shadowing, so be selective.

 

Here, we used a song for shadowing, but anything can be suitable as long as it matches the learner’s vocabulary level and an English script is available for reference if needed. You can practice shadowing with things you enjoy, like dramas or movies. Be sure to incorporate this into your English learning!

 

Questions:

 

Q1. What skills improve with shadowing?

 

Q2. What is the typical rhythm in the English language?

 

Q3. What tips are given for shadowing?

 

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

 

A1. Listening and speaking skills.

A2. Content words are pronounced strongly and are longer, while function words are pronounced weakly and are shorter.

A3. Focus only on the sound/ Repeat the same material multiple times.

Photo Credit: Maitree Rimthong @pexels.com

 

Savings and Investing

 

Children often learn their money skills from their parents. For example, parents often tell their children to make a habit of saving money.

 

The problem is that many parents have very poor money management skills. Studies show that in America more than 25% of people have less than $1000 savings.

 

This situation is obviously stressful for the individual, as any job loss would spell disaster. The individual is locked into a job that they may not like, and they, and their family, are in a financially precarious situation.

 

The importance of saving and investing, and teaching these skills to our children, cannot be overemphasized. The power of compounding interest shows that a person who invests $10,000 at the age of 20 and leaves it in an ETF paying 7% would have over $210,000 if they retire at the age of 65 (and almost $300,000 if they retire at 70!!) with no additions!

 

Do you save? Do you have a part time job?

 

What are your financial goals for your 20s? For your 30s?

 

What age would you like to retire?

 

What does financial stability mean to you? How much money do you need to reach financial independence?

 

Recently, the idea of financial independence and even early retirement has taken hold in American and many western countries. What financial independence means to one person will, of course, be different from another person. One person can live a simple life surfing and playing guitar in a small beach town, and live very frugally. Another person may wish for boats and sports cars.

 

Neither preference is better or worse than the other. The important point is, however, to be true to yourself, and know what will make you satisfied with your own life.

 

How much do you need to retire (or become financially independent)? The question is not one of values, but a simple mathematical equation. When your income from passive investments (or “passive income flow”) exceeds your outgoing expenses, you have reached a position of financial independence.

 

The art of learning to save money (and learning to invest our savings) is a skill fundamental to our daily life. Unfortunately, this skill is very poorly taught at schools. The necessity for schools (and parents) to instill the mental requirements for saving and investing in children has many additional positive effects.

 

Questions:

 

Q1. What percentage of US citizens have less than $1000 in savings?

 

Q2. Who teaches kids about money?

 

Q2. What is the main problem when parents teach their kids about money?

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

A1. Over 25%

A2. The parents

A3. The parents are poor money managers, so they do not know how to teach good habits.

Photo Credit: Ivan Samkov @pexels.com

 

Risk is an essential part of our human journey. We take risks all through our lives as we grow up. Think about how you learned to speak your native language. You experimented with sounds and meanings all the time. You used humor and emotion and wild ideas. You took risks. And it felt natural to do so.

 

How can you imitate that natural risk taking in your learning of a new language?

 

Firstly, think about the environment you have cultivated around your language learning. Do you study alone? Do you mostly read or listen to the target language? Are you a passive learner in this sense? Or do you prefer to interact with others in the language and use it primarily to communicate and connect and share? In this way, you might be a more active learner.

 

Everyone is different in their approach to learning, but what is essential is that you take a risk by stepping out of your comfort zone and challenging yourself to use the target language in new settings and in new ways as much as possible. Join a discussion circle in the BBP Communication Room on campus, make friends with students from other countries, set up a social media account in the target language and chat with other accounts in real time online (chatting during live sports matches is a great way to do this). All these activities involve a certain amount of risk taking.

 

Secondly, set challenging goals. Use one of the many online level checks for a language proficiency test. If it’s English, there is EIKEN, IELTS, TOEIC, or TOEFL. Ideally, target a level that is a little beyond your current ability. As extra motivation, register for a test at the same time as a friend for some friendly competition. Set achievable and measurable goals that push you harder. If it’s within your ability to remember 10 new words a week, try 10 new words a day. If it’s easy for you to write 100 words without pausing, try writing 1000 without looking at a dictionary or erasing any words. Using an official language test as a goal and targeting a level that is currently a little above your ability is a great way to add more risk to your language learning.

 

Adding an element of risk is a great way to become a better language learner. And maybe it’s easier than you think.

 

Questions:

 

Q1. True or false: it is unnatural to take risks in life.

 

Q2. True or false: commenting online in a foreign language about a soccer game is a fun way to interact.

 

Q3. True or false: language learners should only take aptitude tests that match their levels.

 

Scroll down ↓ for the answers

 

A1. False

A2. True

A3. False

Photo Credit: Styves Exantus@pexels.com

 

 

Lacrosse, often hailed as Canada's national summer sport, has a rich history and has seen significant development over the years. Originating as a game played by Indigenous peoples, lacrosse has grown into a beloved sport across Canada and is now gaining popularity in countries like Japan.

 

Historical Roots and Evolution in Canada

Lacrosse has deep roots in Canadian history, tracing back to Indigenous tribes who played early versions of the game. These tribes, including the Iroquois and Algonquin, used lacrosse for more than just recreation; it was a spiritual and community activity, often referred to as "the Creator's Game." The game played an essential role in their culture, serving purposes from training warriors to settling disputes. European settlers in the 17th century observed these games and started to play lacrosse themselves. By the mid-19th century, lacrosse had evolved significantly, and in 1856, William George Beers, a Canadian dentist, founded the Montreal Lacrosse Club. Beers is often credited with modernizing the game by setting standard rules and equipment, which transformed lacrosse into an organized sport. Lacrosse gained immense popularity, becoming Canada's national game in 1867. The first national governing body, the National Lacrosse Association (now the Canadian Lacrosse Association), was established in 1867. Since then, the sport has continued to thrive, with various leagues and teams forming across the country. Canadian lacrosse now includes multiple forms, such as box lacrosse, field lacrosse, and women's lacrosse, each with its own unique rules and playing styles.

 

Lacrosse Today - A Global Perspective

While lacrosse remains a significant part of Canadian sports culture, it has also started to spread internationally. One of the surprising new hotbeds for lacrosse is Japan. Over the past few decades, the sport has seen a remarkable rise in popularity. Lacrosse was introduced to Japan in the 1980s by exchange students returning from North America. The first official lacrosse team was established at Keio University in 1986. Since then, the sport has grown rapidly, especially at the collegiate level. Today, Japan has a robust lacrosse community with numerous teams and leagues for both men and women. Japan’s national teams have also made impressive strides on the international stage. The men's team first competed in the World Lacrosse Championship in 1994, and since then, Japan has consistently been a strong competitor. The women's national team is also competitive, often ranking well in international tournaments.

 

The Future of Lacrosse

Lacrosse's development in Canada and its spread to countries like Japan highlight the sport's global appeal. With ongoing support and promotion, lacrosse continues to grow, fostering international camaraderie and competition. As the sport evolves, it remains a testament to its roots, celebrating both its Indigenous heritage and its modern incarnations around the world.

 

 

Blog Quiz

 

Q1. Who is credited with modernizing lacrosse in Canada?

 a) John A. Macdonald

 b) William George Beers

 c) James Naismith

 

Q2. When did lacrosse become Canada's national game?

a) 1867 

b) 1900

c) 1980

 

Q3. When was the first official lacrosse team established in Japan?

a) 1976

b) 1986

c) 1996

 

Scroll down to see the answers below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

1.         b

2.         a

3.         b

Photo Credit: Julian Jagtenberg@pexels.com

 

 

When you are younger, you usually do not spend time thinking about what it means to be “old” because you’re too busy doing the things that will become your life as you get older. When you’re older, you can get caught in the trap of looking back and wondering “what if I did this” or “what if I didn’t do that.” Both have very innocent reasons behind them, but have their strengths and weaknesses, positives and negatives.

 

At a younger age, you are (hopefully) full of inspiration and focus and in the pursuit of possibilities. There should be any number of things for you to pursue and consider, and only your willingness to explore may decide your path. A negative side of this freedom is you could get lost in the labyrinth that life can become sometimes, ever wandering and not sure how you got where you are. Sometimes that part of the journey and the deeper lesson have value, but it can also lead to restlessness in not knowing what you’ll find.

 

Once you get “older,” your life has (hopefully) balanced itself out and it’s easier to settle yourself on the things you want to do and not be thrown off by the events that don’t seem to go your way. You can afford to be content with what you’re doing and how you got there. On the other end, though, some people settle too soon and the comfort of predictability can narrow your vision of other things. You may question those who have made different choices than yourself, or, over time, begin to question your own choices. This can still lead to a positive path and some people get a new lease on life by reinventing themselves despite the challenge in doing so, but it can also push someone into the famed mid-life crisis.

 

The “why’s” and the “what’s” that life tests you with are not the same as other people, but they’re not meant to be predictable or avoided. Young or old, some people would try to minimize or soften the bumps by making the ride as smooth (and uninteresting) as possible. Wherever the destination may be and however you choose to get there, don’t worry about what you might leave behind or how difficult it may be to get there. The world is full of people who traded ambition for safety.

 

Don’t be afraid to be a little careless as your explore possibilities for yourself, and on the other hand, do not doubt yourself if you think you found what you want to do. A truly dangerous person is someone who knows what they want and are willing to give it their all once they found it.

 

 

Blog Quiz:

Q1. What decides where a person can be when they’re younger?

Q2. How can someone overcome problems when they’re older?

Q3. According to the author, what does he think the world has too much of?

 

Scroll down to see the answers below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

 

1.         A willingness to explore

2.         Reinventing themselves by choosing something new for their life

3.         People who have traded ambition for safety

Photo Credit: Tom Fisk@pexels.com

 

 

What do you think is the best job? There actually existed a multi-award-winning campaign, “The Best Job in the World” in 2009. The Australian government launched the project globally. It offered a six-month dream job as a caretaker of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef, tasked with spreading the beauty of the islands via social media. Its goal was to raise Queensland’s international profile as an attractive holiday destination. The campaign predominantly targeted the international youth market in the UK, Europe, USA, New Zealand, South Pacific, Ireland and Nordic regions, South East Asia, China and South Korea, and of course, Japan. The campaign attracted unprecedented levels of global attention and saw about 35,000 applications submitted from over 200 countries.

 

The main location for this job was Hamilton Island. According to some travelling websites, Hamilton Island is one of Australia’s most desirable holiday destinations. It is the largest island in the Whitsundays, an archipelago of 74 scenic islands that make up just one part of the Great Barrier Reef. Luxury resorts, scuba diving, beautiful beaches and scenic flights – this is a place with remarkable beauty both above and beneath the water. It has a high reputation, suggesting that Hamilton Island just may be paradise. So, what is the job on the island actually like? As it is a caretaker, the person needs to do some chores. However, the main job is “enjoying the life on the island and the Great Barrier Reef.” For example, the person can visit nearby islands and enjoy marine sports like snorkeling or swimming. It is even fine if the person just lies on the beach, relaxing some of the time there. And the person posts pictures and videos via social media to showcase the charms to the rest of the world. That’s it. The government covers fees for such activities and they also offer the accommodation. The contract is for about six months, and you can earn around 15,000,000 yen! This is indeed a dream job, isn’t it? To apply for the job, all you need to do is create a short video (about one minute) for self-promotion. Out of 35,000 people applying, 16 final applicants, including one Japanese woman, were selected. In the end, a British man got the job.

 

During his six-month role, he visited almost 100 Queensland destinations, fielded more than 450 media interviews, posted more than 60 blogs and generated 2,000 photos, 47 video diaries and more than 1,000 tweets. According to his interview, he did enjoy his life on the island, engaging in various activities every day. The job was indeed the “best” job for him. The campaign increased international awareness of the islands of the Great Barrier Reef and delivered more than $430 million in estimated global public relations value thanks to global news coverage and an 8th place ranking on the list of the world's top 50 PR stunts of all time. If there is such a campaign again, would you like to apply for it?

 

 

Blog Quiz

True or False?

Q1. Only Australian residents could apply for this job.

Q2. The main job was to enjoy life on the island.

Q3. This job contributed a lot to tourism in Queensland.

 

 

Scroll down to see the answers below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Answers:

1.         F

2.         F

3.         T