Physical Wellness: What I Wish They Would Have Told Me

I'm 24 years-old and around 184 pounds at the time of this writing. I am also an athlete and that still boggles my mind.

When I was in school I never imagined I'd be as active as I am now. I played soccer as a child for a bit and while I did enjoy it, I absolutely hated being center and usually ended up in the wings or in front of the goal. I hated anything to do with running- how fast everyone was compared to me, the sporadic, panting breathing (and how much my throat would hurt if it was cold outside), the stitch in my side, how fast my heart raced and how long it took for it to go away afterward. The bottom line was that it was uncomfortable and painful for me. So I avoided it like the plague.

Since coming to Japan and observing how sports and physical wellness are treated here, I've learned a lot about my own physical health and I think to myself, "Why didn't I learn this earlier?!". I've realized that due to the way our health and physical education classes are structured in the US, children aren't learning enough about how their bodies work and why exercise is so important. The ones that don't conform to the accepted standard of "physically fit" are ignored and end up feeling like they have no options open to them in high school. I've come to believe that there is something active for everyone to do no matter who they are and children could benefit greatly by being exposed to more options early on in life.

Physical "Education"

Gym class is taught as something that must be done as opposed to something that anyone should do on a regular basis. Gym teachers tell you to play badminton so you play badminton. Today we're playing basketball and tomorrow we're swimming because we say so and for no other reason. At no point was any of this physical activity connected to any actual physical "education". Why is this kind of exercise good for you and what are the physical and mental benefits? What's the difference between "aerobic" and "isometric" exercise? Why are nutrition labels based on 2,000 calories a day? How do you even read a nutrition label?

At no point do I remember learning anything about our actual bodies. All we pick up is that taller and/or more muscular bodies are good at sports. Naturally this leads to the attitude that if you don't have this type of body, you just aren't ever going to be good at or enjoy sports at all. It doesn't help that football and basketball are the standard by which all athletes are measured in the United States. The result is that many adolescents feel they just aren't "built" to do sports and aren't encouraged to look for any other options outside high school.

Our laughably terrible health classes tell us about our petuitaries and how they make our bodies go bananas, but we're taught to be ashamed of them. How are we supposed to talk about the best way to develop good physical habits if we're not even comfortable talking about our own bodies? We need to educate kids about how to incorporate more movement in our daily routines and emphasize that they still have a big impact on their health even if they are not extreme changes.

The Importance of Role Models

I met three people in high school that started to change this attitude for me:

1. The first was during my strength and conditioning class when my gym teacher was discussing my progress and remarked, "You have a naturally strong body." This simple remark kinda blew me away. Whenever I looked in the mirror, I never saw "muscle" or "strength". This got me thinking that maybe there's more potential in the human body than what can be seen.

2. When I was fourteen, my dad took me to the shooting range. Soon after, the Stoughton Archery Club was formed and I began what is probably my favorite sport. Here was something I could not only do, but not feel intimidated or discouraged from doing. People of all backgrounds and body types gather at the range. Moreover, this became a family sport that my father, brothers, and I could enjoy together.

3. The third is when I was working on a large graph for math class on the hallway floor with a friend since it was too big to draw out on the desks. Eventually, we started play-fighting with the yard-sticks as dumb kids do when tasked with mundane things. As our shenanigans ensued, a teacher walked by and casually asked, "Would you like to learn how to do that properly?"

After staring like a deer in headlights for a few seconds, we giggled nervously, shook our heads and said, "Nah." This man eventually became my fencing instructor and one of the most important mentors in my life. He emphasized invaluable concepts like true discipline and critical thinking.

I stumbled into these sports by happy accident, but too many children don't have healthy role models in their daily lives outside their gym teachers. Nobody steps up to help them find a sport or form of exercise that is right for them and they can make into a life-long activity.

The majority of my students belong to sports clubs and practice every day after school for 2-3 hours. Then they have practice on weekends. Then they have tournaments. These clubs become a major part of their lives and are viewed as almost as important as academic class. In university, these clubs and social circles become an essential part of their resumes for prospective jobs.

Then there are the multitude of physical events throughout the warm seasons. There's the annual "sports day" where the whole school participates (teachers included) to split into teams and compete in various physical activities like relay races, 100m dashes, and tugs-of-war. There's a prefecture-wide track-and-field day.

Why We Do Sports

Throughout high school I hardly ever missed archery practice. Here's the thing though: I didn't understand why. For whatever reason, I just wasn't very good at it. Both my brothers and my dad were always leaps and bounds ahead of me and I found it very discouraging. But time and again, I found myself going back and I didn't know why. If I ended up disappointed at every competition, why did I keep going?

Kyudo is the complete opposite of Western archery in many ways. One of these is that the emphasis isn't on hitting on the target so much as the shooting process and proper form. Without the pressures of racking up points and "winning", I finally realized: enjoyment doesn't have anything to do with how good you are. When it came to archery, I wanted to be better than my brothers and I wanted to win and those expectations marred my experience. When it comes to kyudo, I just enjoy doing it.

Again, this has a lot to do with role models. Part of the reason I stayed in archery was because my instructors and family were very supportive and encouraging, but they also shared my goals and mindset. My kyudo instructor told me from the get-go that hitting the target isn't important and that even the highest-ranking archers can't always do it perfectly. Every time I retrieve my arrows from around the target, I'm reminded of a Japanese saying, 猿でも木から落ちる, or "Even monkeys fall from trees."

Too many children find themselves doing sports they don't like or spending more time on it than they would like. Coaches weed out the "weak links" and leave them on the sidelines. Overzealous parents force there children into sports and then get frustrated when they show no motivation or aptitude. When their team doesn't win, they're made to feel like failures. In this environment, exercise becomes something difficult, frustrating, and not enjoyable.

There are so many things that I know now that shouldn't have taken me so many years to figure out on my own.

What Do We Get Out of Sports?

I never would have started kendo were it not for my husband. I attended his first kendo class purely as a translator, but then the instructor walked out of the storage room with two shinai and handed one to each of us. Since my prevailing philosophy as a foreignor in Japan is "go with the flow", I gave it a try. Then I came to the next lesson. And then the next one.

Whenever I watch kendo practice, I marvel at how fast and fluid they are. They almost fly across the floor and each strike is fast and precise. As I watched, I felt more and more that I wanted to be able to move like that. I wanted to be that graceful, strong, and fast.

I'm not gonna lie: it wasn't all fun and games at first (I read in an article somewhere that said, "If you're enjoying kendo, you're not doing it right"). One thing I didn't notice before was how aerobic the sport is and I could barely get through the warm-up at first. I hated how hard my heart pounded and how my calf muscles hurt. But I knew that it would get better and I now had a better reason to fight through the beginning excrutiating struggle. Every time I saw my fellow kendoshi fly across the dojo I saw my reason for continuing.

Before, I could barely walk up the stairs at school without my heart pounding. Now it takes an hour at practice to do that. Before, I looked in the mirror and saw room for improvement, now I see power and muscle hiding under all that cellulose. Although I can't really say I see huge physical changes, I still somehow feel and look "better". People have tried to tell me what self-esteem is and that I should have more of it, but it took more than words for me to fully understand.

You will be surprised how much momentum you can build once you start exercising regularly. A body at rest wants to stay at rest and a body in motion wants to stay in motion. If I'm at my desk with nothing to do all day, I'll start to feel terrible unless I get up and move. Before, I couldn't get myself to exercise. Now, I can't seem to get enough. Instead of going home and collapsing into my bed after practice, I want to hit the gym instead.

Something for Everyone

People who look down on "gamers" really bug me. Everyone plays games. The only difference is what kinds of games and how much we play them. When I was little, my family used to play all sorts of board games. I loved them. I grew up playing Halo with my twin brother. The growing popularity of murder mystery games amuses me to no end since it's basically Dungeons and Dragons with a different setting and no dice. With so many different ways to play out there, I sincerely think that we are all gamers at heart and there is a game for everyone to enjoy. If you don't believe me, watch Will Wheaton's show Tabletop and tell me there isn't something in there you want to try.

In the end, games are all about make-believe no matter what medium you do it through and sports are no different. For a period of time, like-minded individuals come together to pretend that how we throw a ball around a field to reach a certain goal matters. In the end, it really doesn't. The value we put in sports besides the physical is like the value we put in money- socially constructed and meaningless in reality. A dollar bill isn't worth anything unless enough people agree that it's worth one dollar and throwing a ball around doesn't really have any value until enough people think it's interesting enough to charge money for and invest in.

With so many different options available, there has to be a sport for everyone out there.

"Sports" vs. "Martial Arts"

As I mentioned above, the problem with sports in high school and college is that the barrier to entry is pretty high. Even if you make the team, there's a chance you'll be warming the bench almost every game. This makes overweight people lacking the ideal "athletic" body extremely discouraged from joining a mainstream sport at all.

This is why I'm an archer and martial artist. These haven't fallen victim to the institutionalization and commercialization of mainstream sports (even if movies still tend to perpetuate the image that fencing is a sport for uppity rich people. Believe me, it's not!). Anyone can join, your skill level doesn't matter, and the emphasis is on your own self-improvement instead of whether you can "make the team". There can be financial hurdles, but most martial arts clubs allow students to borrow equipment until they can afford their own. Students progress at their own pace and often have more personal attention from trainers since clubs tend to be smaller.

And the rest of world's beginning to notice. The Stoughton Archery club went nuts when The Hunger Games came out and now Arrow is causing huge waves.

Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger

Since coming to Japan, I feel like I've found my niche in the physical activity world. I'm starting to drop pounds and I respect my body so much more than before. I've found ways to be active that are both enjoyable and continually motivating with instructors that are patient and welcoming. I feel so lucky to have found this great environment to start my wellness journey and I sincerely think we should fight to make something similar available to everyone.

So You Received Your JET placement...What Now?

Alright! I hope you're requests were honored, but if not, don't worry! Take it from a big city-girl in little Nikaho City- you can still have a great experience. With less than a few months to go, you should be just about done with your paperwork, starting to get your personal affairs in order, and planning some kick-ass farewell parties.

Now that you know or have a rough idea of where you're going, there are a few (more) things you should take care of. Some of you may need to wait a bit longer to find out where in your prefecture you're headed, but it would still be helpful to do the following:

-Make a for sure, final-answer, decision about your placement
This is your final chance to bow out, but keep in mind you won't be able to apply again for one year, and I would be surprised if you weren't asked about why you dropped out after placement if you were awarded an interview in the future.
You're going to be charged with some hefty fines for things such as your airfare if you decide to drop out further down the road so think carefully if you're hesitant about your placement. Do the research and make sure you can survive for a year (or longer!) in your new home.
**Things to consider when making your final decision:

• Weather and climate- hopefully, you already did some research about Japan before you decided you wanted to come live here which means you know that Japan is hot and humid in the summer months and very cold and wet in winter. Now you can see just how hot or cold or precipitous it will be for you. Weather and climate is variable dependent not only on how far south or north you are, but also how inland or near the coast you are.

**keep in mind how this will match up with your daily life. EI: residential buildings DON'T have central heating, digging out your car from 10 feet of snow in the morning, dealing with seasonal affective disorder (I assure you that it's VERY real), and it's best friend, isolation.

• Your assigned grade level (if you are a prefectural ALT, you will be assigned high schools)- maybe you aren't being assigned to the grade level you wanted.
• City population/size- we all knew going on the JET program meant risking being sent to tiny villages in the middle of nowhere, but sometimes you can't anticipate what "small" means until you receive your placement. Check out your city population, how many conveniences and stores there are, how far it is to the nearest city, and so on.
• Surrounding environment- find out just how much nature you'll have to deal with.

-Look for goups and online resources for your prefecture
Now that you know where you're going, you can start doing some serious research. All prefectures have their own wiki made and run by fellow JETs that you should look for. Furthermore, Japan and each prefecture are each broken up into "blocks". The blocks for all of Japan start in the north with 1 (Hokkaido and the northeast region) and prefectures are divided according to area (Nikaho city is in the South block of Akita prefecture). All blocks have their own "block leaders" in charge of area events, maintaining contacts, and organizing the conferences. All prefectures also have a a bunch of "prefectural advisors" (PAs) in charge of taking care of their local area and the JETs who reside there.

In essence, you will be well taken care of here!

-Read your terms and conditions thoroughly
You're going to get a package in the mail from your board of education or municipality soon which contains a generic welcome letter filled out with your specific information (board of education, supervisor, apartment details, renumeration, etc.) and a copy of the terms and conditions of your contract. Read both of them thoroughly and make sure you understand everything. If you can read Japanese, compare it to the English version to make sure there are no discrepancies (my English version had an extra 0 in the renumeration amount and one version had an error in my new address). You should also receive a brochure or something with a little more information about your location such as famous places, sights, and things to do.

-Introduce yourself to your supervisor
Send an email to your supervisor introducing yourself (contact information should be in your info packet). If they don't speak English, this is a good chance to give your Japanese self-introduction a test-run! They are going to be greeting you at whichever transportation hub your destined for at your placement so breaking the ice now should make things go a little more smoothly.

-Find your predecessor (if you have one)
There is some strange rule out there where predecessors are not allowed to speak to you until a certain time (perhaps until certain details are ironed out/made official???). Put some feelers out there on facebook groups or other message forums and see what comes back. They want to get a hold of you too so you should connect at some point.
Once you find them, drill them with questions. Go crazy and ask as many as you can. Have a skype conversation if you can or ask if they would record a short video of your new home. See if they will still be there when you arrive (if this happens, one of you will need different accomodations until they leave).
Here is a list of things to consider asking about:

• state of the apartment (new? old? house? tatami mats or wood floors? futon or western bed) *video conference sessions are extremely helpful! 
• what they're leaving behind in the apartment and what they want to sell
• rent and upfront payment
• how they get around
• whether your supervisor speaks English
• how much they spend a month on needs such as groceries and gas
• how much a typical electricity and water/gas bill are a month
• work dress code
• what you can expect from classes
• impression of your JTEs and co-workers
• any other work responsibilities
• information about any other schools or pre-schools you may work at
• how to dress for the weather and climate at work
• community activities (evening conversation classes, sister city exchanges, etc.)
• extracurriculars open to you
• the best phone service in your area

-Decide on a method of commuting
Ask your predecessor how to they get to work and whether there are any other options open to you.

I live about 15-minute's walk inland from the train station and my junior high school is located in town even further from the coast. Train wasn't going to help me at all. I can either walk 30 minutes to school or bike maybe ten minutes, but both are unpleasant in the rain and dangerous in the winter time. My choices were extremely limited.

If it turns out you'll be able to manage without a car, congradulations. Unless you have a bike that you spent a ton of money on and really really like, I would leave it at home. It'll take up a whole other checked bag in your luggage and who knows if it'll get damaged in-transit. You can buy a really simple bike here for 20,000-3,000yen. If you decide you can't live without your awesome bike, make sure whatever box you put it in is within dimension and weight limits with generous wiggle room just in case or be prepared for ridiculous overage charges.

If you need a car and your predecessor offers to sell their car to you, ask them for make, model, year, and pictures. Ask them about sha-ken (車検)- the mandatory car maintenance and compulsory insurance renewal that must be carried out every two years. Ask how much their voluntary (but your boe will make compulsory) insurance is. Ask them how much it takes to fill up the tank. I bought my car from my predecessor for about 200,000yen which wasn't a bad deal. It takes 5,000-6,000yen to fill an empty tank and on a busy month I fill it up twice. Ask if it is a kei or white-plate car (white-plate cars are normal cars that have a white license plate while kei cars have a smaller engine and have yellow license plates).

*Some notes about driving in Japan:

• DO. NOT. DRIVE. DRUNK. at all. as in, no alcohol can be in your system when you are driving. JETs are civil servants which means they fall under stricter penalites than other Japanese employees.

The penalty? Deportation. Go back to your home country. Do not pass GO. Do not collect 20,000yen (in fact, you'll end up paying quite a bit in terms of legal fees, airfare, possible imprisonment, etc).

You will hear horror stories that I hope scare the pants off you. Don't take the risk.

• There are options open to you in terms of drinking. These include: a service called daikou (代行) where a taxi drives you home while an addtional taxi driver takes your car home for you, and 0-alcohol beer.
• It's not as scary as it seems. If you're from the US, yeah, you'll have to drive on the opposite side of the road, but you'll be surprised how quickly you get used to it.
• There are a few dangerous things to watch out for: little white kei-trucks- you will know them when you see them. They're so tiny they zip around the road and in front of other drivers like they own the place, and old people- Japan is an aging society (in fact, Akita has the highest elderly population in Japan!) which means a lot of old people on the road both driving into incoming traffic and walking down the middle of the street because, let's face it, if you're that old, who gives a damn?
• There is NO "right-on-red" rule.
• Speed limits are much slower than in many other countries, but oddly, no one seems to follow them...

-Get an international driver's license (even if you don't plan on driving!)
As I mentioned before, many JETs end up getting a car even though they planned on getting by without one. You may also find yourself in a situation where it would be helpful if you drove (maybe your driver is too tired/ill/drunk?).

You can get one very easily through AAA, you get it the same day, and costs less than $20. When you apply for one, you will specify what date you will arrive in Japan and this will serve as the effective date it becomes valid.

If you're doing this last minute, make sure you're aware of your local AAA office's business hours. They tend to be open only 2-3 days a week.

-Solidify your packing situation
You probably have a good idea of what you'd like to bring and leave behind. If you find that you lack anything you need, now is a good time to do some shopping.
Unfortunately, there are some things you will not be able to find in Japan.
Some things to consider stocking up on:

• deoderant: Japanese kinds tend to be spray-on and only contain scents to cover up smell instead of preventing sweat from forming in the first place. Brands that actually deoderize tend to not be strong enough for foreigners.
• make-up: make-up here is designed and marketed towards a south-east asian complexion. There's also a trend here where super-white skin is highly desirable so people with darker skin tones will have difficulties finding something for themselves.
• clothes: seems obvious, but Japanese clothing is cut for Japanese bodies and therefore shopping for clothes here is a challenge. I was surprised to find that there are sizes all the way up to XXXL, but the cut and proportion of the clothing remains the same no matter how big it gets. If you have any hint of curves, you will find that most clothes will seem baggy in areas and tight in others.

Clothes that you definitely WILL NOT be able to fit into: bras, shoes, and pants. I've bought stretch pants that work fine since I'm usually wearing them under something, but they still fit weird.

• compatible electronics: as I've mentioned in previous posts, make sure you bring media that's compatible what you already have or what you plan to buy later. Ask your predecessor if there are any DVD players or game consoles they are leaving behind and what they are compatible with.
• any importable foods you can't live without. There are 3 main foods that I get regular cravings for: burritos, pizza, and Culver's (American style burgers and cheese curds). The Japanese countryside is extremely lacking in authentic international food. Chances are there is an international market in your closest metropolitan area, but there are things that are either not sold or too expensive to justify buying in large quantities (a box of Kraft mac 'n cheese is almost $4 a box!).
• OTC drugs that are legal to import. You can bring two-month's worth of LEGAL (no cold meds or stimulants) over the counter drugs. If you have a chronic gastrointestinal illness and don't want to visit the doctor here for a prescription, bring your own loperimides. They are a prescription drug here and most of the OTC substitutes have little affect on foreigners. Bring any pain medications that you won't be able to find here if it makes you more comfortable than going with a Japanese brand you don't know or seeing a doctor.

Get any family planning needs in order. Men find that Japanese condoms don't fit very well and probably want to bring their own or buy them online. Ladies, getting birth control in your home country will probably be less of a pain than getting it here.

For those who need to bring prescription meds, get your yakkan shoumei done! Ask your consulate for the application and instructions

• Books in your native language or an e-reader (which I HIGHLY recommend since it'll save on weight)

-Find a home for your non-Japan items
This is also obvious, but take care to store it in a place you or someone you trust can easily get to in case you need something overnighted. No matter how many times you make that list and check it twice, chances are you will either forget something or change your mind about wanting it with you.

There is a JET here who recently realized she brought the wrong display adapter for her macbook and her things are stored somewhere in Arizona (she's from southern California). Make sure a person you trust has access to your things and is willing to ship things to you! Keep things organized so your trusted person can easily find things for you if you need them.

-Finalize your budget
Hopefully you've saved up a bit of cash by now and you can finally start factoring in things like your initial rent payments, any car-related fees, and what you'll need to spend on any furnishings. Whatever your situation, over-budget. You don't want to end up broke and who knows how far you'll be from an international bank that'll take your foreign debit card (if your bank even allows it).

Ask your predecessor whether your boe will give you a loan to settle bigger payments like buying a car. They may also furnish your apartment for you, but anything the boe buys becomes their property and therefore you won't be able to get rid of it without their permission.

I wish every one of you the best in your pre-flight preparations. Keep searching for tips and tricks to make things easier for yourself and double-check everything. Hang in there: pre-departure orientation will be here before you know it!

Getting Ready for your JET Adventure!

Table of Contents:

[Intro]

[Things to do NOW]

-Join forums and support groups-
-Send in your reply form-
-Get your health check done-
-Get your government background check done-
-Get your tax Form 6166-

[Things to start doing]

-Save money NOW-
-Take care of other health-related needs-
-Study Japanese-
-Think about souvenirs (omiyage)-
-Pack-

[Conclusion]

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[Intro]
April 1, 2013 was a doozy of a day for me. I was started training for a new job after a night of stress and moving to a new apartment. On top of that I had either a terrible cold or serious allergies coming on and I was going to have to bike to work.

That morning, I also recieved my acceptance letter for the JET programme. At the time, the only reaction I was really capable of was, "Huh...", and then rush to get to work in some semblance of on time. After I'd settled in to the job, had the new apartment somewhat put together and found my hedgehog whom I thought was gone forever did I have enough mental capacity to sink into the reality that I was going back to Japan.

Whatever your story, I want to say congradulations to our newest JETs! All that work and waiting has finally paid off. I've been watching the announcements pour into the facebook group and I couldn't be more excited for each and every one of you. However, celebrate while you can, because next on your agenda is a sea of paperwork that needs to be completed by very strict and short deadlines (usually the end of April!). I hope the following tips will help you through all the beauracracy and headache while you prepare for your future in Japan!
**Please be aware that while I'm trying to provide accurate information, there may be discrepencies between this blog and other sources of information. ALWAYS go by what your coordinators and the General Information Handbook tell you over anything you read here or on any other source that isn't organized by your consulate, embassy, contracting organization, the Japanese government, or your Prefectural Advisers.**

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 [Things to do NOW] (preferably yesterday...):

-Join forums and support groups-
There are many online resources for JETs including a plethora of facebook groups. If you are fresh out of a university, there's probably a current JET or two from your university you can ask for guidance as well.
Chicago consulate JETs were required to join a Yahoo!group in order to obtain the necessary forms and instructions. Chances are your consulte will have something similar set up. This is also a good place to introduce yourself and ask questions. The liasons from the consulates are very prompt with replies and are always available during business hours. You can even email them if there's anything you'd rather keep confidential.
That being said, abide by common forum courtesy and SEARCH the forum before asking your question. Chances are you weren't the only one with that particular problem and it may have already been answered. Our coordinators are going to be super busy so let's try to make their jobs a little easier and keep your particular forum or message board as uncluttered and easy to read as possible. :)
*Consulates tend to not send confirmations for receipt of forms, but will bother you if there is something missing from you. So if you don't hear from the consulate about your forms, RELAX- no news is good news!
Try to go to as many informational meetings as you can!
In the US, there are large meetings held at each consulate as well as local ones held in each state. These are invaluable as you can meet other new JETs and get answers to your many question from past JETs face-to-face.
 Soon you will receive an official acceptance package from JET. Read the included General Information Handbook cover-to-cover. Then read it again. Keep it in a safe place and refer to it for answers and bring it to Japan. Your supervisor will also have a copy and you can even read it online. 

-Send in your reply form-
 This includes a(nother) copy of your passport and a copy of your graduation certificate if you didn't send a copy in with your application.
 At my university, we received our diploma covers but not the actual diplomas at the graduation ceremony. If this is your case, it will be sent in the mail to whatever address you have on file with the university system.
HOWEVER, some schools will not send them out to apartment addresses. They will not tell you any of this and you'll get to run to your school in a tizzy to the graduation department where they will promptly hand it over with a "Sorry 'bout that...".
If this happens to you, don't panic. Head on over to your school and they'll give it to you or call and ask them to mail it to a different address. Chances are they're nice people and want to help you.
**if you are a member of AAA, you are entitled to two FREE passport photos! While you're there, get your internatioal driver's license.

-Get your health check done-
If you are a JET applicant for next year, here's a tip: after the interview, set up your annual doctor's appointment right away for beginning to mid-April. This way, you won't have to worry about it if you're accepted. For incoming JETs, set the appointment the day you find out and hope there's something open far enough ahead of the deadline. If you have to see someone besides your primary doctor, be prepared to pay extra money...

-Get your government background check done- *process will vary depending on home country
Like everything else related to the government, this lengthy process will take over a month so you need to get the ball rolling right away. Thankfully, consulates understand this and put the deadline for these pretty late (around the end of June). However, you do need to send copies of the completed form and fingerprint card for the criminal check in to your consulate by the end of April so they know you began the process. The actual results of the background check for US citizens will be sent directly to your consulate so make sure to triple-check the address on the form. This will cost Americans around $18 just to apply for the check, $84 in total and your city may charge you extra for the fingerprint card on-site (around $5 in Milwaukee, WI).

-Get your tax Form 6166- *will vary depending on home country
If your home country has a tax treaty with Japan, you won't have to pay taxes on your foreign income for your first two years on JET, but it's going to require some work on your part. You need to obtain a form which proves your residency in your home country. When you get to Japan, your supervisor will take you to your local tax office to hand this in.
In order to obtain this form, you will need to fill out and turn in an application form to your government (in the US, it's Form 8802). Again, expect good ol' bureaucracy to take forever to get this to you so do it early and put it in a safe place where you won't forget it. If you expect to not receive it by the time you leave for Japan, have it sent to someone in your home country you trust who will be able to mail it to you. Since this is something to be turned into the Japanese government, your consulate doesn't need any forms, but they will want a copy of the application form by the end of April (8802). US citizens can expect to pay around $64 for each copy (you can order extras).

At this point, that's probably all you need to take care of paperwork-wise. However, there's a lot more involved in moving to a foreign country.

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[Things to start doing]

-Save money NOW-
As much as you can. When you get to your placement (after Tokyo), there will be necessary expenses. The amount that each JET needs will vary greatly, but things that you most definitely will need to pay for include:

• Security deposit (equivalent to one month's rent) and first month's rent- some time after you're notified of your placement you'll receive a package detailing what kind of place you'll have and how much it will cost. If you are continuing a contract from your predecessor, these two payments should be all you need. However, if you're starting a new contract, there will be extra payments equivalent to one month's rent each for things like: key money, a "gift" to the landlord, and a payment to the real estate agency. This all can add up to an exsorbitant amount of money so if you already have an apartment waiting for you, barring any safety/health concerns, DON'T MOVE. My apartment is a one-bedroom (referred to as an LDK here) for 50,000yen a month.
• Hanko fee- this is your official seal and all short-term residents with working visas are required to have one. You will not be able to sign any of the necessary documents properly without it. I think mine was 1,200yen.
• Reimbursement for luggage delivery- if you have any luggage delivered from Nartia airport, you will not have to pay right away, but you will need to pay back your board of education/municipality back. 3,000-4,000yen.
• Car Insurance- this will vary from driver to driver. If you are leasing a car, your supervisor will help you with contracts and set up monthly payments. If you own a car, it should still be covered under its mandatory check-up and insurance (called "sha-ken"), but this will need to be renewed once every two years. The payment you should consider now, is compulsory insurance. Sha-ken doesn't cover damage to other drivers so extra coverage is HIGHLY recommended (and your supervisor will more than likely insist on it). You will need to make a payment that covers the rest of the year.

*Of course, you won't know about your transportation situation until you know your placement, but remember that most JETs are rural and therefore need or find it extremely helpful to drive. Include it in your budget to be safe.

• Housing Insurance- this is voluntary, but since your boe is usually the primary on the housing contract, they may insist on it.
• Food and supplies- there are probably unperishables leftover in your apartment, but you will probably need a few things. 5,000yen is probably a good starting point to get what you need.
• Cellphone- there are a wide variety of cellphone makes and models even in rural Japan. The cheapest option would be a good ol' "gara-ke" (flipphone), but GoogleMaps and GPS will be your best friend in the countryside so I would suggest planning on an older model smartphone. Low-range smartphone would probably go for around 40,000-60,000yen (I splurged on an HTC-J >.>). If you insist on a flipphone, the one I had in Tokyo was 7,000yen from Softbank.
• Internet- prices are pretty decent here. Some people can even get fiber, but don't plan on it. I pay around 3,500yen a month.
• Bank Account- this shouldn't really cost you anything, but you'll need to put something in it when you first open it (even just 100yen is fine).

All told, I brought 200,000yen and found it to be more than enough to get me through the first month to payday. As a rough average, 150,000 is probably a good amount to budget for at this point, but don't take any one case as law. Once you know your placement, ask your pred and current JETs in your area how much needed to survive.
Since you don't want to have a large wad of cash lying around, wait until your final weeks before departure to exchange your currency. Many banks can get your yen to you within a few days. Keep your eye on exchange rates and go on a day when you'll get the most out of your currency.
*Loan payments
There is a great service you can use to send yen to your home country's bank account provided by Shinsei Bank in Japan. However, you won't be able to set this up until you are an official resident in Japan and application processing will take about a week. As a result, you'll need to have enough in your home country's bank account to satisfy about a month's-worth of loan payments.

-Take care of other health-related needs-
*Vaccinations: There is one vaccination available for Japanese Encephilitis, but you shouldn't need it unless you're going to be living on a farm or something. However, get any voluntary ones (such as HPV and tettinus) out of the way. These are expensive and may not be covered by the Japanese Social Health Insurance or even be available in your area. Keep in mind those in a series need to be taken a certain amount of time apart from each other so plan accordingly.
*For the ladies: plan for any birth control you'll need. You can only bring a certain amount to Japan after which you need to fill out a form and go through a lenghty process to get permission to bring more than the alotted amount. Japanese brands tend to also be of lower/different dosages and getting the pill here can be both expensive and time-consuming. It is not covered and therefore costs 3,000-4,000yen a month and you're usually only given 1-3 month prescriptions at a time after which you have to go in for yet ANOTHER appointment. OBGYNs are often located in the closest metropolitan location (maybe over an hour away depending on where you live).
If you choose to get a US prescription beforehand, you can legally have one-month's supply sent to you at a time. However, some post offices won't send any kind of medication no matter how legal.
I'm a huge fan of convenient, long-lasting alternatives such as IUDs and the implant. If you get one of these in the US, not only are they FREE, but will last for all or a good chunk of your time in Japan (3 years for the implant and 10+ years on an IUD) and require little to no intervention or maintenance on your part (as that old infomercial said, "Set it, and forget it!"). However, while IUDs are available in many parts of Japan, the implant is not so keep your future plans in mind.
No matter which method you choose, make sure to consult your doctor to find the best one for you with enough time to have the all-important follow-up appointments to make sure everything is working A-OK.
*Perscription medications: now is the time to do some research to see if Japan has an equivalent brand available. Most Japanese medications are affordable (covered under insurance) and very effective. However, if there isn't anything suitable and you need more than one-month's supply, you can either have one month's supply mailed every month or obtain an official document approved by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare called a yakkan shoumei to bring it all with you. You can find an explanation of the document and application process here. Your consulate should provide the application and instructions as well. If anything is unclear to you, ask your coordinators.
You can bring a two-month's supply of legal, over-the-counter meds to Japan (the Ministry calls them "quasi-drugs"). Consult the MHLW website to confirm what's specifically allowed and what isn't. However, as a general rule, if the medication contains pseudophedrine (common cold medicine) or stimulants or codeine, it is illegal to bring (or ship) to Japan! You can easily obtain substitutes with a prescription in Japan.
One more note about OTC meds in Japan: you may find that certain kinds of medications such as loperamides (Immodium) and some asprins (such as Advil) are either unavailable or are controlled as prescription medications. The only pain medication I recognized at the drug store was Tylenol and the only gastrointestinal drugs available are these strange powders that most foreignors find ineffective. However, as with other OTC meds, you can easily obtain a prescription from a doctor for loperamides (you can even get a continuous prescription for those with chronic problems) or anti-inflammatory drugs.
If you have any questions about medications while in Japan, your school nurse is a great resource. Mine has on a few occasions given me medications on the spot, saving me time and money!
If you wish, feel free to take advantage of the two-month OTC allowance for your own peace of mind. I brought the following with me: Advil, Immodium, and a pack of the pill (for the 0.0009% chance that something goes wrong with my implant).

-Study Japanese-
JET will send you a beginner's Japanese textbook FREE OF CHARGE which comes with a printout of the Japanese syllabry (hiragana and katakana). While the quality of the textbook is questionable, it is free and a good starting point. The printout is particularly handy and great to take with you and put up on your living room wall.
*Self-Introduction: a good thing to prepare for both newbies and experts is a brief self-introduction (jikou shoukai) in Japanese. You will be introduced to many people when you first arrive and first impressions are very important in Japan. Don't stress about it though- whether you can rattle it off like a pro or stumble a bit, they'll be extremely impressed and appreciative that you made the effort. You'll learn quickly that it's all about effort in Japanese culture- ganbatte kudasai!
The JET textbook has an ok crash-course in greetings and self-introductions. Here are some things to consider including in your self-introduction:

-Your name
-Your home country
-When you arrived in your host city/prefecture
-Whether this is your first time in Japan (if not, share where else you've been in Japan)
-Your major at university
-Interests/hobbies
-What you would like to do in Japan

One more thing to think about is how you will present your self-introduction to your classes. Think about whether you want to do something like a powerpoint or print-outs. When you finally contact your boe and predecessor, ask them about the technological limits of the classroom so you can plan accordingly. I had a small photo album put together at Walgreens for $20 (which is now falling apart, but you get what you pay for...). That way, I had something for class as well as for my own personal use.

-Think about souvenirs (omiyage)-
Another time-honored tradition in Japan is giving souvenirs to friends and co-workers alike for just about every small trip, house move, and job transfer. It's a small way to share the traveling experience with the group. Last November, I went on a weekend trip to Hokkaido with my co-workers and on the plane back to Akita, I was amused at the common site of people try to make room for large carry-on bags full to bursting with boxed sweets (me included...).
As a foreignor, you're not exactly "expected" to bring anything, but most JETs do and chances are your predecessor did before you. The price of the gift isn't as important as it's significance to you and your culture. Try to bring something unique to you and your home country (in the case of the US, your home state, perhaps). Since you need to have enough for everyone, something small will do just fine. The most popular souvenirs in the office tend to be small treats that come in large numbers sold in boxes for the sole purpose of being distributed to large groups. I made rice crispy treats and they went over pretty well.
*It going to be the middle of hot, sweaty summer in Tokyo when you arrive so avoid things that will melt in your luggage!
Be sure to also bring something more special for your principal and people that will be responsible for you such as your supervisor.
*A custom that you absolutely don't have to do but may want to try is wrapping your larger gifts in square cloths called furoshiki. These cloths are usually sold especially for this purpose in Japan, but any kind of cloth with a nice pattern will do. You can easily search online for the special ways to fold them depending on the shape of the gift. The Ministry of Environment even has a pdf available!

-Pack- Edited 4/4/2014
*Luggage: find out what the common luggage policies are for flights departing from your country (flights departing from Canada and the US should be allowed ONE checked bag **due to recent changes in airline policy. Jerks...**). Familiarize yourself with airport security policies (TSA regulations). Be especially careful of weight restrictions. When I was getting ready to leave, I bought a new large bag that came with one of those new-fangled built-in spring scales. While it proved to be a good guide, I discovered it wasn't very reliable in terms of telling you whether you're exactly over or under the limit. Use a reliable scale and leave yourself some wiggle room. While regional airports don't charge too much for extra, overlarge or overweight baggage (around 2,000yen), you can easily get hit with a fee over $150 per bag on your international flight.
While you may be allowed two ridiculously large checked bags on the international flight, you will be only be allowed one small checked bag and a carry-on for your regional flight from Tokyo. In this case, your international carry-on will typically become your regional checked bag and the large paper bag of books and materials you receive from Tokyo Orientation will become your carry-on (your "personal item" such as a backpack or handbag will be fine on both flights). Since there will be no room for your large bags on the regional flight, your going to want to send them to your boe from Narita airport. Therefore, it's a good idea to designate your carry-on as your professional clothes bag and include a change or two of casual clothes for after the orientation and any toiletries (that comply with TSA regulations).
*Electronics: make sure you bring any adapters you may need. Those from the US and Canada will only have to deal with the fact that almost all wall outlets are two-prong.
Voltage in Japan tends to be lower than other parts of the world so you may find your foreign devices won't work or charge as efficiently.
When deciding whether to pack large electronics, consider the fragility and weight of your devices. I would limit yourself to one large gaming console and would definitely rule out any kind of desktop computer. Keep in mind that every computer in your carry-on will have to taken out of the bag at every security gate and will take up most of the room you need for Tokyo Orientation essentials. Wrap your large devices in clothing and other soft things and put them in your checked bags.
Also, keep in mind regional compatibility.
Edited 4/14/2014
**If you have the extra cash, I would invest in a tablet or small netbook-size computer. The large laptop I bought three years ago to take to Tokyo has been banged around so much going to and from the US that my CD drive is shot and the screen is no longer reliably functional. It was also heavy and clunky to have to lug in and out my backpack at security.
All-in-ones and transformers are a great option (tablets that either attach to a keyboard or are actually dual-screen laptops that become tablets when you close them). I recently bought an Asus model that I am very happy with. It even came with a very durable sleeve and an dvi adapter!
**For avid readers: I know you want to bring your whole library with you, but it's not feasible in terms of weight. My solution- get a kindle or e-reader. Probably the best purchase made before I left.  There are various ways to get e-books and now that companies are continuing to make manga digitally-available, you don't have to sacrifice weight to indulge your inner otaku either.
*Clothes:
**cool-biz- this is a new-ish dress code invented in response to rising electricity prices and the 3/11 Great East-Japan Earthquake. In an effort to save power, workplaces are laying off the A/C in favor of allowing a more casual dresscode. This means no suit jacket and short-sleeves. When you get to your office, this policy will still be in affect, but still abide by the clothing taboos I mentioned in my post about dressing for the interview.
**most JETs are probably aware of the importance Japanese people put on removing your shoes when you enter a building. This custom extends to grade schools, rooms with tatami mats, and some public buildings such as community centers and dojos. These places usually provide slippers for guests, but for your schools, you're going to need to bring a pair of indoor shoes. Thankfully, your footwear doesn't have to be anywhere near formal. Most of my teachers wear tennis shoes and I bought myself a pair of comfy Sketchers GOWalk shoes (they even came with a drawstring carrying bag!). You may want a pair of more formal shoes for graduation- I was told my casuals were fine as long as they were black, but I felt underdressed!
Even in the winter it seems that track jackets and zip-up sweatshirts are virtually interchangeable with suit jackets in the countryside (again, saving on heat). My teachers even wear them to class. However, there are some days that require the suit jacket no matter the temperature and sometimes it can be hard to gauge what days those are. If you want to go the track jacket/sweatshirt route, I would keep an extra suit jacket in your locker at school just in case.
**depending on your placement, it could get VERY cold and snowy (and on the coasts, windy). Unfortunately, snow gear tends to weigh quite a bit. Once you receive your welcome package from the boe and know your address, I would recommend cheaply shipping them out to your new apartment over sea postage or have someone ship it all to you later.

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[Conclusion]

I hope at least a small bit of this advice has been helpful. The task before you is a daunting one, but in a few short months, you will be here starting a new adventure! If you get your paperwork in on time, ask questions, gather as much information as you can, and pack smartly, everything should go fairly smoothly. A few months may seem like a long ways away, but trust me, departure will be here before you know it!

Good luck!

History and Myth: Yamatai

It seems there are a lot of good progressive leaps forward in geek culture these days. More and more woman are given their chance to shine in the spotlight and contribute more than just a pretty face (or voice). As a result, games are starting to portray female characters in a more realistic fashion as both strong, developing people, and possible role models for a younger audience.

Naturally, I was pleased to hear Tomb Raider was getting a much-needed new coat of paint in terms of both visuals and overall content. Moreover, I was a child of the mid-90's that kind of missed the window to play the original, but was just in time to see the first movie. I was hoping for a game that was both modernized and progressive while also remaining true to the overall spirit of the original game.

I was glad to hear it didn't disappoint on all accounts. However, this game sat on my computer for the longest time. As great as it was to have another game to join the growing library for the progressive, feminist woman, I couldn't help but feel like this game was a bit too close to other series for me: Uncharted and Assassin's Creed (both of which are basically gritty versions of Prince of Persia with guns and archeology). Both amazing series in their own right, but I automatically lumped Tomb Raider together with them and put it on the backburner as something I'd get to eventually.

Until one day, when my husband was playing it, I heard one word: "Yamatai".

And I was hooked. One of the ingenuities of recent games that I enjoy is the usage of real history as the main plot or setting of games. Running through Renaissance Italy is almost a seperate game from Assassin's Creed II and could hold its own without the modern-day sci-fi parts (in fact, you spend so little time out of the Animus that I often forgot about that part of the game entirely). Uncharted takes the player to realistic settings in search of mythological locales rife with history. I am both excited and inspired by these games that compell the audience to play these games and then flock to the internet to learn more and sift through the realities and myths.

But Yamatai holds a particularly fond place in my heart.

To explain why, all we need to answer is this question, "What is Yamatai?"

In the third century, there was a region of Japan that was ruled and united by a hegemon by the name of Queen Himiko who regularly sent missions to China. The name of this region was called "Yamatai".

And that's it. That is, that's all anyone actually knows about it with any level of certainty. We don't even have solid records of Yamatai or it's ruler since the Japanese people hadn't fully adapted Chinese writing to the Old Japanese language until the eighth century. With no definite Japanese accounts to go by, scholars have to rely on the impressions of Chinese people. In Sources of Japanese Tradition by Ryusaku Tsunoda, William T deBary, and Donald Keene, one citizen recounts:

[Himiko] occupied herself with magic and sorcery, bewitching the people. Though mature in age, she reamined unmarried. She had a younger brother who assisted her in ruling the country. After she became the ruler, there were few who saw her. She had one thousand women as attendants, but only one man. He served her food and drink and acted as a medium of communication. She resided in a palace surrounded by towers and stockades, with armed guards in a state of constant vigilance.

So it seemed this Queen Himiko was an enigma surrounded by mysticism. Women play in important role in Japan's native Shinto religion. Shamans were mostly women and in most mythological stories, the victims of demonic possessions were often women. Even today, the all-female miko can be seen tending their shrines and performing ritualistic duties. The head deity of Shinto, Amaterasu, is also a woman and all reigning sovereigns of Japan are thought to be descended from her. In modern times, the emporers of Japan still act in a traditional and ritualistic role.

Himiko's mysticism and solitude are well-portrayed in popular culture. In the most excellent Legend of Zelda-style Playstation 2 classic, Okami, you play as the head deity Amaterasu herself in the shape of a pure-white wolf (okami can be translated as both "Great God" (大神) and "wolf"(狼)) playing through a plethora of Japan's colorful mythology and folk tales. In this game, you get to meet with Queen Himiko and in her grand palace, you encounter only a few hand-maidens. Then, when you make it to her throne-room (part of which involves swimming through LAVA), you find yourself in a gigantic room empty only except for Queen Himiko.

                                          Photo: IGN.com

 



                                                                Photo: SplitPlaythru

 

She likes her space...

The other part of this story that continues to elude historians is the location and size of Yamatai. If you were to follow the Chinese directions to Yamatai, you'd end up somewhere in the Pacific Ocean. However, part of the directions lead to modern-age Kyushu- a prime location from which Himiko could send her missions. In fact, a seal was found in Kyushu which fit the description of those bestowed by Emporer Kuang-wu of China to Japanese missions.

So it's probably safe to assume that the location of Yamatai in Tomb Raider is probably unrealistic considering the game takes place on an uncharted island in the middle of nowhere. Furthermore, ancient Chinese records relate that Himiko's people were "kind and peace-loving" and though she was thought of as a strong and extraordinary ruler, there is no account of her people being ruled by fear as portrayed in the game.

Besides a few minor liberties taken as expected in any mainstream media, I thoroughly enjoyed Crystal Dynamics' portrayal of a long-forgotten ancient civilization. The backgrounds and visuals are beautiful with true-to-life Japanese architecture and symbolism. The game is chock-full of references and tibits to actual history from Hanya masks to drink flasks used by Japanese aristocrats. For those looking for an excellent archeological adventure into ancient Japan, I can't recommend this game enough.

References:

Ryusaku Tsunoda, William T. deBary, and Donald Keene, eds. Sources of Japanese Tradition. New York: Colombia University Press, 1958.

Varley, Paul. Japanese Culture. 4th ed. Hawaii: University of Hawai'i Press, 2000.

Kawagoe, Aileen, Heritage of Japan. "Queen Himiko and the History of Yamatai-koku". Heritage of Japan. 31 March, 2014. web.
 

A Different Kind of Test

*Before we start here, I propose a challenge to readers. Read this entire blog entry sitting on your knees. Don't move, get up or change positions.*

I look out over a 28-meter expanse of green. The target looks so small and far away compared to the bound bail of straw I use for warm-up. It seems maybe even a bit farther than at my sensei's dojo. But it doesn't matter. Like every time before, the environment around me is so silent and empty that the one inside me seems to turn up the volume. Nothing else matters, I tell myself, now is now and everything that came before is meaningless. I focus on what is before me, on the bow in my hands and the important way in which I form my hands around it. I concentrate on each movement and make it as perfect as I am able. In between, I use slow breathing to control them.

I inhale for 6 seconds as I raise the bow high above my head and then exhale to relax my shoulders. I inhale for another 6 seconds as I draw the bow halfway and exhale again. Now for the hard part. As I go for the full draw, I push the bow and pull the string as evenly as possible to keep the arrow parallel to the ground. I pull my shoulders apart and stretch everything as horizontally and vertically as possible. I set my aim and hold it there as the clock ticks out the seconds: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, ZIP! My arm flies back at the release so that now both arms are now outstretched parallel to the ground. I anticipate the satisfying POP! of the arrow piercing the target, but it doesn't come. Instead it burys itself into the packed dirt just off to the side. But that doesn't matter, I tell myself. I hold that pose for 3 seconds and then finally lower the bow, return my gaze from the target, and bring my separated feet back together. I take 5 steps back starting with the right leg, and then turn to the right and curve left to the dojo entrance. About a bow's-length away from the doorway, I turn to the left and bow slightly to the small Shinto shrine mounted to the wall above the judges, and then finally make my exit.

And so ends the judging for those seeking their kyu levels at the Spring kyudo test in Honjo city. Next would be those seeking dan levels (more advanced than kyu). There were only 4 kyu candidates including myself- most kyudo-ka start in the spring and test for kyu in the fall since school starts in the spring in Japan. That also means most students are ready to test for dan in the spring since they've been practicing since around that time the previous year. Two kyudo-ka were testing for their third dan. Tests higher than third dan are held in Akita city.
*kyu and dan in kyudo are proficiency levels (kind of like belts in karate). kyu start at the lowest level of 5 and count down to 1. After reaching first kyu, you can shoot for first dan which then counts up to 10. My sensei is sixth-dan. This system is used in many Japanese martial arts.*

My day started almost as any other weekend when I'd head to the usual dojo in Kisakata. Today, however, I was up a bit earlier since I had to wear the formal and complicated-to-put-on kyudo uniform to the test. As the Sunday before the arrival of Spring, it was finally above freezing, but still quite cold out. From Spring onward, I will start wearing the uniform to every practice. Rain fell lightly outside as Brad and I loaded my equipment into the car and set out for Honjo just north of where we live in Nikaho City. I regret not waiting to change after I get there as the tightly-sinched obi around my waist fights with my ribcage for room.

We're greeted politely by other candidates and teachers when we arrive , and I panic a little on the inside not knowing where to put my things and what to do next. I find an empty spot in the bow-stands to put my equipment. I set up my bow and take out my arrows and huddle around the large gas burners with everyone else to wait for the opening ceremonies. Most of the others are high school students who belong to actual kyudo clubs at their schools and I admire their encouraging attitudes and matching club jackets. Most kyudo-ka start in high school and some schools even have their own dojos. I notice some of them are hastily reviewing handwritten notes since those testing for dan have to take a written examination. I'm glad that's far away for me.

Finally, we're called into the dojo for opening remarks and greetings. Some of the students push open the sliding walls separating the dojo from the range. The rain has excalated to a storm and the wind whips through the surrounding trees. We line up according to our test levels and what order we would be shooting. An MC officially announces the start the of the Spring kyudo test and calls upon the highest-level kyudo-ka to make remarks. One of the other instructors reminds us of the procedure and the flow of the testing and directs us to sit off to the side to watch the opening shooting ceremony.

And thus begins the truly hardest part of a martial arts test. In almost all formal ceremonies and places like dojos that require a high level of decorum, people are required to sit in a style called seiza (正座). It seems simple enough- just sit on your knees with your legs under you. Everyone's done it before, but when most people sit in seiza, they change positions at some point without really thinking about it. Most people think it's quite easy. Brave challenge-takers, how are you doing? Try that for almost an hour. Kyudo isn't like western archery where you go up to the line, shoot your arrows, and leave. There's even more to ceremonial shooting. To give you an idea of how slow and calculating kyudo is, here's a video I took of one line of candidates testing for dan (or cheat and just look at how long the video is).

*You'll notice that when shooting, we sit in a different style called kiza (跪座). Instead of sitting flat on your legs, you flex your ankles up and turn the toes up so that the floor is in contact with the pads of your toes instead of the tops of your feet. MUCH easier on the legs and feet, but killer on your toes!*

As you can see, each line is about ten minutes. For the ceremony, the highest-ranking kyudo master comes out on his own to shoot first. There are a couple other things in the procedure that he must do, like pausing at the sitting line to remove the left sleeve of his kimono and other ceremonial bows and things. The pain in my legs started around the first ten minutes. After he's finally done, we have to wait for him put his sleeve back on, have his arrows returned to him and watch him leave. Then they prepare for the 4 other intructors to come out and do it all in line (instead of un-sleeving, the one lady instructor ties a special white strip of cloth around her shoulders).

After the first kyudo master went, a couple of the dan candidates got up from the line to exit the dojo for some reason and we were instructed to scoot over to fill the gaps. When I put my hands on the floor to hoist myself over, I realize with amusement that my palms are sweaty and that my legs are completely numb. I lean forward on my hands to take some of the pressure off them, and awkwardly push myself over. You know that pins and needles feeling when your arm or leg falls asleep? Multiply that times a hundred and you'll get what I felt when I allowed myself that small relief as I moved over. As the rest of the instructors shoot their arrows, I realize it's actually better to sit through the pain instead of trying to relieve the pressure every once in a while because every time I do, I get another wave of needles.

After they leave and we're finally excused, I lean forward on my hands to start allowing the feeling to return to my legs. Every nerve starts to yell with pain and I try moving my legs. Still hard to feel, but I can sense the movement so I assume it's okay to stand up. Almost at once the pain multiplies and I realize my feet are useless. They literally feel like dead lumps of meat stuck to my legs. The other candidates ask over and over whether I'm okay and as I start to wobble they race forward to take my hands. They insist I sit down in kiza, but I don't think I can without toppling forward into a face-plant. The pain continues to worsen and I start to panic as I wonder whether something is seriously wrong.

At this point, the students must have thought I couldn't understand them and start simply telling me gently in English, "Sit down." Nobody seems angry, but instead look concerned and a bit amused (let's face it, I looked rather silly). Finally, the pain starts to ebb and I muster the control to sit clumsily down on my toes. I sit there a while feeling completely embarassed. When I finally feel okay enough to stand, I carefully get up and hobble out of the dojo. The needles attack my feet with each step, but they go away rather quickly.
Pro tip: if one of your limbs falls asleep, move it as much as you can or walk on it. It'll hurt, but it'll also go away faster.

For all my Google-fu and poking around the internet, I can't find anything documenting any solid evidence as to whether sitting in seiza for long periods can cause any permanent damage. The only examples of seiza-related injuries are stories of judo and aikido accidents where practitioners broke ankles from starting matches or practice too soon after seiza before they have full control of their legs and feet. Kyudo doesn't involve any fast or sudden movements, but I urge other martial artists out there to practice caution.

So finally, after the practice runs and kyu testing, I huddle around the heaters with the other students and try not to think about the results. By now, the weather has cleared and the sunlight makes me feel more at ease. We chat a little and much to my surprise they start talking about ET and touching their fingers together and I impress them with my ET voice. There's a little girl there testing for kyu and she has no idea what they're talking about. They can't believe she hasn't seen it before and they say in English, "generation gap".

Some time after everyone finishes, they gather everyone together in the dojo again for closing remarks. To my dismay, the kyudo master says how poor our technique is and how we need to consult the kyudo teaching manual and practice more. Worried now more than ever, we exit the dojo and wait for the instructors to roll out the board where our results are posted. Everyone gathers round looking for their names and the results marked next to them. Many of the dan testers have the 'pass' mark stamped next to their names.

Beside the names of the four kyu testers are numbers written in red. Unlike the dan testers who pass/fail whichever level they applied for, kyu testers receive the highest rank the judges deem appropriate for your performance. Next to the little girl's name is a '5'- fifth level. Next to mine is a '1'- first level.

Elated, I show Brad the good news and then start to pack up my things. I'm surprised that the girl got only fifth rank since she actually managed to hit the target with her first arrow. However, I remind myself that hitting the target is very low on the list of things that are important in kyudo. Once we're ready, I thank the instructors and leave feeling very happy and very hungry.

Here is a link I recommend for those wishing to read extensively about kyudo as both a sport and artform. This is the website for the International Kyudo Federation (English):
http://www.ikyf.org/index.html

Why being an ALT is the best job ever.

In the women's break room at Hirasawa elementary school, there is a couch. I've never seen anybody use it before and I never imagined myself using it considering it's well-worn and old appearance. Yesterday after my last class, I sat down on that couch for the first time and cried.

As I mentioned before, students run through and practice their graduation ceremonies hard well in advance of the real thing. Yesterday, my elementary school students had practice when I'm usually teaching my first 6th grade class. During the next hour when I'd normally be teaching the second 6th grade class, they had a combined class of both groups and instead of in the music room they had it up on the third floor in the combined space between their classrooms.

I thought I heard something about a 感謝会 (kanshakai- "Thank-You Meeting") last week so I thought maybe we'd have a class and then a few of the students would say something nice at the end.
But when one of the teachers asked me to wait by the entrance of the classroom and one student announced in front of the class, "We will now begin the Thank-you meeting for Tierra-sensei," I realized it was going to be a bit more than that. They all stood up in four rows facing each other and applauded as a student lead me through them and to a seat in front of the class.

First, we played a fun Rock, Paper, Scissors game (in English). Everybody found someone to do Rock, Paper, Scissors with and if they lost, they had to go behind the winner and place their hands on the winner's shoulders and subsequently follow them around. The leader of these chains of people went around doing Rock, Paper, Scissors with each other. As we played, the snake became longer and longer until there were two very long chains of people trying not to run into each other or themselves. The winner between the last two "snakes" won.

After our exciting little game, we all sat back down. A few students then lined up to give me hand-made cards and make a nice speech to me. The announcer then said they would now give me a present and joined the rest of the students. As I wondered what it could possibly be, they stood up straight and focused their attention on one of the 6th grade teachers who turned on a boom box and took her place in front of the class and raised her hands. At that moment I remembered that she is also the school's music teacher.

The first note from the mouths of over 65 students hit me like a tidal wave. It wasn't the sound of tired children fulfilling an obligation. It was the sound of students putting everything they have into something beautiful and full of meaning. As I gazed over them, they stood tall and didn't lose their focus. These students, some of whom barely uttered a word in class, sang with purpose and confidence.

Once the last note died away, the announcer said they would now hear a few words from me. Usually when prompted to say anything in Japanese on short notice I find it a bit difficult to come up with the right words and say what I mean. But in that moment, standing before those upturned, hopeful faces- faces that wanted nothing more than to hear what I have to say no matter how grammatically terrible it was, I found myself unafraid and unworried. There they were having sang with their hearts and souls to me and mine unashamedly exposed in turn being close to tears. In that moment, words didn't matter anymore. The communication was already done and it didn't matter which words I used to represent them.

So I expressed how I was so moved I didn't have words. I said even though I couldn't understand all the words, I think I understood the message. I told them that even though the year had been short,  I was glad I was able to teach English and play games with them. I said let's continue to enjoy English from now on and with one, loud, unified voice, they replied "Hai!" like the would to any Japanese teacher for whom they held respect and I said thank you.

The announcer then said they would be concluding the Thank-you Meeting. The students stood and formed the lines facing each other again, but this time they also raised their hands towards each other. The same student who guided me in lead me through them and to the classroom entrance.

After I reached the second floor, I went to the break room and let it out. I couldn't even look inside the cards in my hands yet. When I finally composed myself and sat down at my desk, I opened them.
One sentence that stuck out in my mind was, 「ぼくはこの外国語活動で感じたり気付いたりした事は日本人と外国人は言葉が通じなかったら、ジェスチャーで言いたい事を表現している事です。」
"One thing I felt and noticed through foreign language activities is if words between Japanese people and foreignors don't make sense, we express what we want to say with gestures." Having been able to convey something so important that can't be learned through tests and grades makes me feel like I've accomplished what I've been sent here to do. I feel like if I had to go back to the US tomorrow, coming here would have still been worth it with all I've accomplished so far.

They say that Japanese people don't express their innermost thoughts and emotions to people very often. Because of this, many foreignors and ALTs often feel left out or underappreciated. Sometimes it can even lead to frustration. Us Westerners are raised in a culture that requires constant validation and praise. We say "I love you" at the end of every parting and phone call to those we love and to not do so means that something must be wrong with the relationship. To not be praised for doing something well must mean you did it wrong or they don't appreciate the work you did.

To ALTs and indeed other foreignors in any workplace in Japan, I want to say that just because they don't say anything doesn't mean they don't appreciate you. If you pay attention, you can see it in other small ways. The way your JTEs smile and say thank you when you turn in that pile of tests you graded or they ask you a random question about you during class when the students are working or when they come to you for advice or help on an English problem. The fact that they came to you at all means you are fulfilling an important role. Don't worry, every once in a while, you'll get a special moment and believe me, when Japanese people do choose to express their true feelings, they do it sincerely and with the same level of care and thought they put into everything else.

So whenever you get that cog-in-the-machine feeling, don't focus on the fact that you are one (let's face it, most salaried people are), but the special and important role you fulfill to that machine. It doesn't need you to function, but it would be a certain amount of worse off without you. Think about the cards you got from your students or the song they sang to you or even the last time you saw a "Eureka!" moment on a students face when you helped them with a problem. Maybe a laugh, however small, you shared with a student or co-worker. If you hit a dry spell between these moments, reach into your pool of memories make them live again and remember they won't be the last.

Our time here is limited, but the impact you have on the community and the legacy you leave behind for the next lucky person to sit at that desk will be timeless. One of my friends from Tokyo is in the middle of her undergraduate studies and said she remembers her ALT from grade-school. The teachers and other citizens here recall my predecessors fondly and remember things like their favorite restaurant or what sports they did. I have found materials written by predecessors from several years back.

We are all appreciated and we will be remembered.

卒業、そして未来へ

The end of the academic year is drawing to a close here at Nicchu**. Teachers are tying up loose ends in their lessons, students are studying hard for the proficiency tests this week, and final preparations for the graduation ceremony on Friday is underway.

For those wondering why middle school graduation is such a big deal, Japan's mandatory education only extends through middle school. After that, they can either enter the work force or advance to high school. Moreover, anyone wishing to entire a high school must pass the entrance exam for that particular school so those applying to multiple schools must take multiple tests. For more prestigious schools, there may even be an interview involved. The stress and exam fees can really pile up. And once they graduate high school, the cycle starts over as they either enter the workforce or start taking exams for universities they want to get into. At either academic level, hopefuls that fail the exams become a "ronin" (literally a samurai without a master) for the year and try again the following year.

But all the stress and brain-hurt is done with and now my third-years can sit back and look forward to Friday morning. Well, besides practicing for the ceremony up to two hours a day. Starting last Thursday, all students and teachers with homerooms donned their jackets and congregated in the freezing gym to practice for the graduation ceremony during the last two hours of the day. One hour is spent on entering/leaving, sitting/standing, and bowing. They even make the first and second-year students applaude as the third-years and their teachers leave (which can take a loooong time and they do it more than once). The second hour is spent practicing the school song with the music teacher. They practice and sing it for the opening and closing ceremonies each semester.

Today, the head of the English department and I had our last lesson with our graduating third-year students. Last week, he asked me to write down two of my favorite songs so he could type up the lyrics for the students and he provided his favorite song. After we played those during class we ended playing a couple others and what we ended up with was a kind of graduation soundtrack for them.
I thought it would be fun to share it here:

The Nikaho Graduation Class of 2014 Playlist

-We Are the World, various artists

 

-Time Stand Still, Rush

-Perfect, Pink **yeah, I hate censored versions, but it's middle school...

-Good Riddance (Time of Your Life), Green Day

-卒業、そして未来へ, MONKEYMAJIK **"Graduation, then on to the future"

And that concludes our graduation playlist. We tried to find songs that had a good message for them and I feel we did a great job. They may not of understood all of it (especially Rush considering how old and abstract the song is), but I hope they got something out of it and will look into some of the lyrics later. I wasn't able to get to know them well, but a part of me is still a bit sad to see them go. At least, from what I can tell from the happy and looks on their faces that they're off to a good future no matter where it takes them.

**Japanese Mini-Lesson!
The words for elementary, middle, and high school are 小学校 (shogakko), 中学校 (chugakko), and 高校 (koko). As you can see, the kanji that differentiates between the three is the first one. 小 means "small", 中 means "middle", and 高 means "high" or "tall". The remaining kanji 学校 or just 校 simply mean "school". However, since 仁賀保中学校 (Nikaho Chugakko) is a bit of a mouthful, people generally like to abbreviate it down to 仁中 (Nicchu). Similarily, my elementary school, 平沢小学校 (Hirasawa Shogakko) is usually shortened down to 平沢小 (Hirasawasho).