the
ryukyu star Editor
Kathryn Strong
Visual Editor Jd Banks
1-2 Contributors 3-4 Editors’ Notes Kathryn Strong Jd Banks
Prefectural Advisors
5-6 Notes from the Kencho
Published by
7-8 PA Journal
Grant Minagawa Elizabeth Reuter
Okinawa Prefectural Government
Contact us at
ryukyustar@ajet.net
Grant Minagawa Elizabeth Reuter
Grant Minagawa
9-12 Gumball Rally John Mark Wiginton
13-16 Thriving in the English-Only Changeover A.R. Nakama
17-18 Karaoke Etiquette 101 Tom Becskehazy
spring 2013 19-20 Kokuto Benjamin Martin
21 A Northerner in the Spring Gina Panozzo
22 A Spring in My Pants Step Michael King
22 Where in the World is Rekio the Lion? Grant Minagawa
23-30 fotoShisa Photography Review ReBekha Smith
31-32 Nina - An Okinawan Irish Band Virginie Beaudoin
33-34 Tofu-ya Tom Becskehazy
35-36 Rize
ReBekha Smith
37-38 Announcements
contributors Grant once wrote the "Secret Adventures of Rekio the Lion" a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. When not serving time in the building nicknamed "the Deathstar", he enjoys taking pictures and traveling with his little wooden padawan.
grant minagawa
Benjamin Martin is author of the YA novel Samurai Awakening and runs the blog http://morethingsjapanese.com. He lives on Kumejima.
benjamin martin
ReBekha is a fourth-year JET working at Koyo High School and living amongst the sugar cane of the southern inaka. Loving Okinawa culture, photographs, food, and friends, she plans to cherish her final months on the island by embracing them and discovering a few more.
rebekha smith 1
A writer herself (urban fantasy, Demon of Renaissance Drive, as of November 2011), Elizabeth is a big fan of storytelling in its varied forms and has liked Takarazuka for about a decade now, which makes her feel depressingly old, so don’t mention it.
elizabeth reuter
Gina is 22 years old and a proud English major of Illinois State University. She came to Okinawa to start a new life after graduating. She keeps a blog (ginabearsblog.blogspot.com/) so please visit and comment on her adventures in Okinawa and traveling.
gina panozzo
Tom B. is a first year JET from Arizona, although he's been living in Okinawa since January, 2009. He loves scuba diving, hiking, and drinking beer on the beach. Or on a boat. Or pretty much anywhere, really. You can find him at Shuri HS doing bingata between classes.
tom becskehazy
To be a contributor, email ryukyustar@ajet.net! Virginie is a second year ALT teaching in Kadena Highschool and Mirai High Tech. She is from Quebec, Canada and can speak French, English, Spanish and some Japanese. Her degree is in ESL and Spanish teaching. She loves traveling, learning languages, scuba diving, painting, dancing, camping, hiking, playing violin and sanshin, cooking, etc. よろしくね。
virginie beaudoin Michael King is a poet. He has been writing poetry on and off for 23 years now. Last year, he made the long and savage journey into avant-garde poetry. Anything goes!
year ALT in is a second a m ka a N m Ada ng-time onHe also is a lo riter. y. it C a w a n w Oki ain freelance again off-ag
michael
king
a.r. nakama John Mark Wiginton is a fifth year JET from Alabama, USA. After studying psychology, religion, and sociology at Austin College, he worked at a psychological clinic in Dallas before moving overseas to teach English. He came to Okinawa in January 2009 and will finish his JET career this August.
john mark wiginton 2
editors' notes Welcome to the spring issue of the Ryukyu Star.
editor kathryn strong While much of the country spends this season on picnic blankets under blushing cherry blossoms, in Okinawa, we spend it indoors in the rain. That’s right, it’s rainy season, a true time of transition in the archipelago. Seemingly overnight, the crisp, cool winter air is engulfed in smoggy (thanks China) grey rain clouds, emerging a few months later as hot, humid summer weather. Debates on when is the ideal time to begin air conditioning dominate conversation. I only managed to hold out until March this year. Construction abounds, as the islands once again batten down to resist the impending typhoon season. When the sun does peek out, the days are beautiful, the islands glistening with emerald green new growth. Bird song wakes you in the morning, and the days nearly demand to be spent outside. Spring doesn’t just usher in changes in weather. It’s a time of transition for almost all aspects of Okinawan life. I hope you’ll find some of the articles in this issue helpful in navigating these changes. The old school year ends and the new one begins, during which time your co-workers may be shuffled from one school to another. This transition is covered in depth by the PAs’ “Notes from the Kencho”. New educational policies are enacted at this time as well, as AR explains in his article. Teacher parties abound. (Check out Tom’s article if you need to brush up on your karaoke etiquette). Spring is one of the main growing seasons, which means local supermarkets and farmer’s stands will be flooded with new options. Ben’s article on kokuto, or brown sugar candy, describes one food item that I will certainly be keeping an eye out for. If you’re on the lookout for things to do during this season, checking out this issue will give you some great ideas, including restaurants to try, shows to see, and events to look forward to (I’m already excited for next year’s Gumball Rally!).
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editor Finally, some brave JETs decided to share their own personal stories of rebirth with the community. I think we’ve all witnessed internal changes due to the unique challenges and opportunities afforded us by the JET Program. It’s always nice when people share their experiences. Our theme this time is “Spring to Life,” an admittedly weak attempt at a pun, but one that, as I wipe away the last traces of winter hibernation, seems applicable. After months spent dreaming about the outdoors, it’s finally time to wake up and get out! I know for me this means not just more time spent exploring the island, but also more trips off island. Only a few short months after watching my students graduate, I’ll be in the United States for the first time since I came to Okinawa, watching my little brother graduate from college. For me, his impending metaphorical blossoming into adult life is the most poignant incarnation of this issue’s theme. It also raises questions for me of how I too can continue my personal development. My situation here is so comfortable; it’s tempting to stagnate. So I’m letting this spring serve as a personal reminder to live my life to the fullest. If you’re ever up north and looking for an adventure, let me know! I hope you enjoy this issue of the Ryukyu Star. I’d like to take some time to thank everyone who contributed to its success—our readers who make it all worth the effort; our writers who make sure we have something to print; our PAs without whose support this would not be possible; and of course, my fantastic co-editor, Jd, whose talent and flexibility, not only putting together a beautiful magazine, but also catching my own editing errors, never ceases to amaze me. Thank you all, and please enjoy!
visual editor jd banks
Since Katie and I don’t like rehashing clichés in themes, coming up with the cover and this issue’s visual theme was harder than the winter issue. I sat down with paper and pen, and brainstormed—something I only do when I’m at the edge of a cliff with no turning back. I circled “spring”, and somehow, the idea of a real spring came to mind. It was probably my absorbing Roald Dahl’s The Umbrella Man (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory) and Don Freeman’s Corduroy that led me to draw a spring and a shisa coming out. “Toys” branched off from that, and later, a toy shelf was added to the background of the shisa-in-the-box. Unlike the winter issue, most of the images (excluding the photographs, of course) were drawn by hand before scanning them and turning them into vectors. The computer did the rest. Many of the articles lent themselves to this visual process. Grant’s exchange between his younger self and his self now, along with Tom’s karaoke etiquette guide, needed a more comical (and I mean, comics) look; John Mark’s Gumball Rally article simply asked for a bubble-gum theme; and Michael’s poem was all about spring and pants steps, so the visuals as a whole take on a more child-like edge (though the poem deserves a more adult look). Through the whole process, I still managed to work in the spring theme into the visuals.
! t z z P Can you find all of the bees, bears, and birds in this issue?
4
notes from the kencho from grant minagawa and elizabeth reuter Dear OkiJETs, Welcome to the official Heisei 25 school/fiscal year! April is busy with the start of the work year in Japan. Like all new beginnings, it wouldn’t be complete without change. For some people, it’s an exciting chance to start fresh, but for others it can be difficult to say goodbye. Here is a brief explanation of what you can expect.
It’s not a teacher’s meeting (probably). Across Japan, public servants are transferred to new positions every three years. Most teachers in Okinawa are transferred after five, though it varies. Temporary/Substitute teachers can stay anywhere from a month to several years, depending on the school’s needs. After a public servant has been formally hired (for teachers, that means passing the grueling teacher’s exam) and has completed their first post, they will more likely be transferred to an outer island or another distant area. Teachers up for a transfer are allowed to put in requests, but with few exceptions must accept the post they are assigned. Kochos and Kyotos general serve for two-year terms. They may request to stay an additional year if they are in their final year, and those who will be retiring after their next school are usual-
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ly placed at their alma mater or the first school where they taught. Some people don’t move on to another school; they may be transferred to an education office or BoE. Why is this happening? To be honest, we’re not quite sure. One of the reasons that past PAs have given is that it allows people to get a broad base of experience in many different kinds of jobs. This makes them more flexible and valuable. Ambitious people looking toward promotion can learn about the many positions that they might be responsible for managing in the future. It also ensures that no one person can dominate a job over the long term, which keeps things open and prevents corruption. Additionally, this allows everyone the chance to refresh and occasionally try something completely new, even without changing employers. This can help them maintain motivation and interest in their work.
negative impacts for JETs
positive impacts for JETs
-It’s time to say goodbye. You might be losing some great coworkers and close friends, but be sure to stay in touch with those who really mean something to you. -You will also have to start from scratch in building relationships and trust with your new coworkers. Think about when you first arrived and use that experience to help you get to know the new staff. -You may hear rumors (good and bad) about the incoming staff, but remember to keep an open mind! Everyone’s different, so you may get along very well with someone a fellow ALT did not. -Be prepared to get sick. “May Sickness” or “go gatsu byō (五月病)” refers to the health problems that often occur after the buzz wears off and people start to settle into their new roles. You may notice that your coworkers get tired and frustrated during this time, or you may even feel it yourself. New students (the new germ pool) and all of the welcome events may start to take their toll. Be sure to rest when needed and take care of yourself during this time. -Remember that the JETLINE (M to F 9:00AM to 5:45PM, (03) 5213-1729) and the AJET Peer Support Line (daily 8:00PM to 7:00AM, 0505534-5566) are always available, as are the PAs and the Support System here in Okinawa.
-Remember that coworker that you weren’t so fond of? The good part about transfers is that it provides fresh faces, ideas, and energy. It will also give you a chance to meet new people, make new friends, and learn new teaching methods. -Now is a great time to get yourself involved in the school calendar. The major events of the school year will be set during this first month, so this is your chance to jump on board (or start something yourself!). -This can be a great opportunity to try out your communication skills, or even some Japanese, on some fresh faces! First impressions are important, so now is the time to make your mark and see what you can achieve. -One of the best parts about the start of the school year is that you will now be senpai (先 輩) to the new teachers at your school. Help them get adjusted around school, show where things are in the teachers’ room, and help them when they stand puzzled over the copier. The new teachers will appreciate the kindness, and it will make them feel more comfortable in their new work environment.
This is a great opportunity to do something differently or start fresh! You’ll have to wait a whole year to do it again. While you’re not obligated to attend every social function, an appearance here and there will go a long way in developing good relations with your new coworkers. Don’t miss this chance!
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pa journal
by grant minagawa
Hello, readers! I’m sure you’re getting tired of reading all the junk I write, but I wanted to take some time to talk about the support system. Since the PA Journal seems to be taking a less and less serious route, I’m going to present this by having a conversation with my past self.
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ALT Grant: Hey, Grant of the future. Grant PA: Hello, me from 2 years ago. ALT Grant: I have a bunch of questions about the support system… Grant PA: You ask too many questions. You should give Gibo (Chris, PA two years ago) a break! ALT Grant: So can I bother you then? Grant PA: You already are. Ask away. ALT Grant: What exactly is the support system? Grant PA: Well, the support system is still pretty new (even in 2013), so it’s been changing a little every year. Basically, it’s an extra layer of support for you as a JET. It’s a network of other JETs who are available to help you with problems (I know you have many) and prevent small things from getting big. ALT Grant: Wow, thanks a lot. When and why was it started? Grant PA: It was started by Chiye, the great OkiJET goddess of wisdom and lore, in 2010. There were a bunch of incidents with Ken JETs leaving early in previous years, and the Kencho wanted to do something about it. The support system was a way to make sure that everyone has someone that they could talk to about their problems or issues. Hopefully, someone would be there to listen and help before it was too late. ALT Grant: There are a bunch of people organized by area… do I have to talk to the person in my area? What if the person who’s an expert in cars, for example, isn’t in my area? Grant PA: It doesn’t matter what area the person is living in if you’re more comfortable talking with them. Actually, I just learned recently that the support members didn’t originally come with those designations (like vegetarians or special needs schools, etc.). That stuff was added in later. No one told me that, so I made my system this year based solely on those fields of expertise. ALT Grant: Wow, you really messed up then. How’s it supposed to be done? Grant PA: The PA’s supposed to pick people in different parts of Okinawa who are responsible, reliable, and available to talk. It should be someone who gets along with a lot of people, is respected in the JET community, and is able to work with the PA in case something becomes serious. I think this year’s members pretty much fit the bill. ALT Grant: So then here’s the million dollar question: how come Municipal ALTs aren’t in my year’s
support system? Grant PA: Hmmm, well, that’s a tough one. The reason they weren’t put in originally is because the system was made in response to an issue with the Ken JETs. It was an order by the Ken BoE, and there’s even paperwork at the Kencho for it (Chiye actually said that it had a Japanese name before an English one). It’s a Ken hierarchy, and things go up with severity (to the PA and my boss if it’s huge). If a Muni is involved, it throws a whole new BoE into the mix and makes things really messy. ALT Grant: Wait, but didn’t you add Munis into your system? Grant PA: Yeah, I didn’t know that when I made it. I wanted to make something that everyone could use, and it seems to have worked to some extent. But we’ve been really lucky that nothing major’s happened (yet… knock on wood). One thing I can’t do with this system is call the members in for counseling training. Now that I know how this all works, I can integrate it into next year’s system and make something that functions better than the previous systems. ALT Grant: Ooooh, so there’s something new happening in 2013? How could you possibly screw up this system more? Grant PA: Wow, I should have never let you interview me. Well, for one thing, I want to add the Ken-only aspect back into the system (see diagram). On the lower level, it’d be the same as this year, with individuals representing different fields of expertise. Everyone can use this part. The middle level will be only for Ken JETs, and it’ll be more for general or work related stuff. These people will get training, and will be regionally located so that they can address things and be available when the Ken PA isn’t. On the upper level are the PAs and the people we work with every day. The Muni PA is only connected to the bottom layer, while the Ken PA’s connected to all layers. This shows all the layers of support for Ken JETs in our BoE. ALT Grant: And what about Munis? Grant PA: Well, they’re not in our BoE. But seriously, they have their own support at their respective BoEs, and there’s always the Municipal PA if things get serious. (I’m going to quote my predecessor here… wait for it…) “Let me put it this way”: the Munis have more support than they did before in terms of specialist representatives. The Ken JETs have access to the specialists, and they also have someone higher up in their area and all the benefits of the older versions of the system. It’s not perfect, but it’s better than shutting the Munis out completely, right?
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l l a b m gu y! l l ra by
9
a m n joh
n o t n i g rk wi
An event like the Gumball Rally is only as good as the participants. One can devote hours and hours to creating and perfecting a mighty task list – but if there are few, unwilling, or un-genki participants, then that task list means nothing. When we took on the responsibility of planning Gumball, we had two goals in mind. The first was to have as many people participate as possible, and the second was for those people to enjoy themselves. So, right from the beginning we tried to infuse a sense of silliness and genki into our emails to everyone and into our own private planning meetings. We also gave participants (and non-participants) a chance to contribute their own ideas for the task list. Through those things, we hoped to incite excitement and participation. In the end, we were lucky to have 7 teams of 30 participants compete in the Gumball Rally, with three volunteer judges (aside from the organizers). We were very happy and satisfied with those numbers. Writing a list of this nature – silly, ridiculous tasks for our mostly non-Japanese foreigner friends to do in Japan – is not as easy as one might think, simply because it is actually difficult to stop adding to it. Whether we were having actual brainstorming sessions to create the list, or we were going about our day-to-
day lives, ideas just kept coming. But as they would come and as we would review them, we would always have to ask ourselves: “Is this really a good idea? What about this one? Will people do it? Can they do it? Will they enjoy it? How can we make it better? Do we have too many?” We reflected on past Gumballs (from which we also borrowed a few ideas for the task list), and realized that they generally consisted of approximately 100-105 tasks with about a 4-hour time allowance. Our task list was up to 170-180. So, we decided to give a 6-hour allowance and reduce the task list to the 150-160 range. Though still daunting and perhaps overwhelming due to the sheer length, we hoped that participants would be able to work with it well. And thus it was decided, our 7 teams made up of 30 participants would work from a list of about 160 challenges over the course of 6 hours. Some of our favorites from the almighty list were (for those of you who missed it): [Things to collect] a chewed up ball of gum, balls, cake, zeri on gumi, picture of a team member’s niinii, team uniforms reflecting the team’s name, something awesome; [Things to photograph] owling at an intersection or shopping mall, team members forming kanji, team member kabobs, manwhole manhole, do it like a dude, an assortment of mufflers on your bonnet,
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team members stretching at a construction site, more than a six-pack of abs, team members wearing capes at a cape; [Things to video] team members chugging something big, dance dare, speaking Japanese with a Southern accent at a farm-y location, joining a pick-up game, American Idol in American Village, frolicking in a meadow, public declaration of love followed by a proposal, eating a natto-covered raw goya in between two pieces of spam, conversation with non-JET foreigners using only the lyrics to the chorus of ‘Call Me Maybe,’ and participating in a flash mob. Seriously, we were so amazed and impressed with how much everyone was doing / trying to do. Everyone was so game for anything. It was great. The list being as long as it was and the teams doing so many of the things on it resulted in an unfortunately long judging process. Luckily, everyone was understanding and patient with us, and spent that time relaxing, chatting, and munching on delicious pizza provided by
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Kozy’s Pizza, our dinner and awards ceremony venue. After seeing such great footage from everyone and after hearing so many complimentary things from all of the judges, we regretted that we could not give a nice prize to all of the teams – everyone truly did that great of a job! However, this was a contest, and there were three top teams. In third place was Team Tofu Fighters with Katie Strong, Justin Goodman, Tiffany Brothers, and Peter Claus. In second place was Team Let’s Gumball with Scott Trujillo, Dawn Trujillo, Jude Trujillo, Tom Becskehazy, and Michael King. In first place with just a few hundred points’ edge over Team Let’s Gumball, was Team Sexy Southern Shisas with Neave Kathy, MaryAnn Talavera, ReBekha Smith, and Gillian Rendahl. Congratulations! As we mentioned previously, this year’s Gumball would have been nothing without great participants like you all. You guys made it a success. We thank you and congratulate you! See you next year!
1
Sexy Southern Shisas 2 3
Let’s Gumball ts!
gra Con
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thriving
in the
English Only changeover a.r. nakama
13
This coming April, high school teachers will deal with a major change: the Okinawa Board of Education has mandated that high school English classes be taught in mostly English. This has caused a panic amongst many Japanese co-teachers here (JCTs), and while most of us ALTs won’t see this directly, that doesn’t mean it won’t impact us. But rather than just trying to weather the storm, it’s a good chance for those of us with an eye to improve English education to try and make some practical suggestions for how we can be used in the classroom. With a major classroom shift to English becoming the language of instruction, you would think that we would see a sudden shift of interest towards more ALT involvement in the classroom. In some cases, that will absolutely happen—but if you haven’t had teachers talk to you about it already, it’s safe to say that hardly anyone is thinking about how you can help them with their responsibilities. And why would they? For the most part, activities with ALTs are seen as supplemental to instruction rather than a necessary part of the curriculum. The most natural thing to do in a period of great change is to leave alone the things that don’t have to change. Still, if you want to take a more active role in your school life, now—before everyone gets comfortable and settled into a new way of doing things—is the time to do it. Once new plans and techniques start to become habit, it will be harder to enact change if things aren’t working for you. Even if you’re leaving in August, it’s still a good time to be proactive. For one thing, you still have four months to make it through, but more importantly the way you do your job will set the tone for your successor. Plus, if you take that time to put in extra effort, you’ll find these last few months to be more memorable than you expected. So, we’re going to tackle two topics. First, what kinds of changes can you make? And second, how can you go about making it happen?
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What do you want to change?
The Follow-up Teacher
That’s the first thing you need to decide. There’s a lot of ways we can be useful in the classroom. I’ve got a few suggestions, but you are by no means limited to them. The best thing to do is think about how you’re being used in your school and how you’d like to be used. Here are some ideas to think about, from the perspective of an ALT who has mostly students who are pre-conversational.
Time with ALTs in high school is generally seen as distinct from “normal” class time. I know that many JCTs at my own schools see it as a time to “take a break” from normal classes and “build motivation for English” by letting the students have fun. Playing games that require English does have value—but a huge opportunity is lost by not integrating ALT activities more tightly into the normal curriculum.
Regular lesson support Although the first ALTs fought a long, hard battle to get away from this kind of lesson, modeling dialogue might be something you want to do if you are also able to make active suggestions in how a lesson unfolds and feel like an equal partner during class. Since JCTs will be trying to find a way to teach using mostly English, having us actually in class during that time, even in a support role, means we also get to shape how things go. Since a lot of ALTs feel exiled to the Wastelands of Pointless Game Lessons, this could go a long way towards alleviating those feelings. If you have the time, you may even want to volunteer to come along during extra free periods. For example, I recently did this for a third year high school reading class. The teacher likes to introduce a lesson by quickly glossing over it in what she calls a “speed reading” technique. First, we introduced new vocabulary verbally—nothing written. We gave the kids a few minutes to try and study it on their own. Then we played a short quiz game using tateyoko. We followed that with my reading the passage at a relatively normal speed, interspersed with quick comprehension questions every page or so. Finally, we finished with a quiz game based on the material covered. I improvised most the questions and I ran most of the activities. My co-teacher provided the lesson structure and classroom support, but much of the implementation, such as which games to use and how to use them, were left to my discretion. It was a good bit of teamwork.
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One way to approach this is for you to come in at a regular, specified point in the lesson sequence. For example, you may choose to spend a class at the beginning of a chapter playing a game that introduces ideas without spending time explaining them. Assuming you made the game accessible enough, the students should have an intuitive idea of the main points in the chapter when the teacher explains them in a later lesson. Or you could have a summary activity at the end of the chapter, where students have to use what they learned. You may reinforce the lesson, or you may bring it into new territory by allowing the students the chance to try out what they learned through speaking activities. No matter how you implement it, the goal here is to get more integrated with the normal curriculum by including your work in a regular rhythm to complement what the students are learning from the JCTs and from the textbooks.
Make Your Own Curriculum
How do you change it?
This one is the most work, but it can be the most rewarding. Basically, you plan a set of lessons to use with students in successive classes. Ideally, they build off of each other to create a solid set of skills that you can develop either independently from the core curriculum, or in tandem with it.
Whatever you plan to do, you need a plan to enact it. The first thing you need to do is float the idea by a few of the other English teachers. I would first bring it up in conversation with a few of the ones you know are most interested in trying new techniques in the classroom and who you are on good terms with. Don’t describe it as something you want to do so much as something you are thinking about. Bring it up a few times casually without seeming pushy. Hopefully, they will warm to the idea. As you do so, expand the circle of people who you’re talking to.
I did this last year, building a curriculum based on phonics to improve both the listening and pronunciation abilities of my students. I knew that I wanted the students to build a stable set of skills and I wanted to work on their conversational abilities somehow, but I was forced to work with a number of constraints. I only see most students once a month; the material couldn’t depend on the wildly varying skills of the students in more traditional areas (vocabulary, grammar, etc.); it needed to be something the students could learn through mostly English, as my JCTs all provide varying levels of support, but all get grumpy if I use too much Japanese in the classroom. While you can always do these things, it might be easier to sneak them in with the other major changes to the English classroom. This also has the advantage of making it easier to tie them into regular classroom studies. For example, you could build a conversational curriculum based around the textbook lessons, or you could make a curriculum based around classroom and everyday English to help ease the transition to an all-English classroom.
Eventually, someone will ask you for some details. It will help to have prepared a brief summary as an elevator pitch (a 60-second summary), or a concise document that they can read on their own time— no than two pages, and one is probably better! If you’re going for something official, you’ll need to pitch it to the department, but I wouldn’t go that far. Mostly, once the idea is firmly implanted, I would negotiate with your teachers on an individual basis to see how they are interested in working with you. Make sure you emphasize the role you can play to help them with this transition to something they see as more difficult and a bother. Since they will be stressed over this, and your intrusions will likely be seen as another stressor, always keep the focus on how you’re going to make their lives easier. After you get the chance to go into a couple of classrooms, talk about your successes with other teachers. This will help convince them that your ideas will help them. In the end, patience and persistence is the key to not only weathering this change but thriving in it. Good luck!
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karaoke
etiquette
101
tom becskehazy
It’s midnight on a Friday. You’re at Karaoke Box 123 and it’s time to sing. You raise the mic to your lips, pause, and proceed to gently tongue the grill. STOP!
PUT
THE
MICROPHONE
DOWN.
Yes, navigating the ins and outs of karaoke can be tough. That’s why we here at the Creative Organization for Casual Karaoke have come up with a basic guide to help you get through those all-night singing marathons. The Pre-Game
You want your voice in peak singing condition. This involves three basic steps: 1)Don’t speak. Ever. Given that you are (most likely) a teacher, this may create a unique challenge. Embrace it. Use your silence as an opportunity to teach your students about the difficulties faced by speaking-impaired individuals. If you must speak then try singing whatever you want to say. This will put a smile on people’s faces, especially in a culture that values individuality and self-expression. 2) Massage the front and back of your neck. Slather honey on a carrot* and use that to coat the insides of your larynx. Don’t be afraid to really work the carrot down into the lower recesses of your throat. Trust us; simply swallowing a spoonful of honey DOES NOT have the same relaxing, calming effect on your throat muscles. 3) Drink heavily. This energizes your vocal cords and allows you to hit those Mariah Carey/Freddy Mercury high notes. If it worked for Janis Joplin, it’ll work for you.
The Karaoke Box Finally! You’ve chosen the 4-hour nomihodai plan. You’re in the box with your pants unbuttoned and your creative juices flowing. Beer, awamori, and assorted cocktails are scattered about the room. It’s time to sing, dammit. Just follow our guide and you’ll be receiving rapturous applause in no time! * A cucumber is also acceptable.
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1) You must commit to the song. Hemming, hawing, and mumbling your way through “I Want It That Way” is a great way to lose your audience, alienate your friends, and cause the death of someone you love. Don’t worry if you have the vocals of Nick Nolte after a night of binge drinking. Committing to a song draws the listener in and makes romantic liaisons** all the more likely. Have you ever witnessed someone with a terrible voice give their all to “Copacabana”? We have, and it was as beautiful as a doe giving birth under a rainbow during a sunrise at the Grand Canyon on Christmas morning.
2) Don’t sing more than one song at a time (duets don’t count, of course). You’re not Hall & Oates***, and even if you are, no one wants to sit through your back-to-back renditions of “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Seven Nation Army”. Bad form!
3) Do not cancel someone else’s song before it is finished! This is most likely the actual cause of several wars, venereal diseases, the plague, divorces, and the eventual black hole that will swallow the Earth and all evidence that humankind ever existed. ****
camera cell phone
4) Remember, many karaoke boxes have cameras in the rooms. These cameras “record things” that could be used to “prosecute you” in a “court of law”.
5) Keep your cell phones and other valuables off the table. Many drinks are spilled during particularly frantic renditions of “Party Hard” or “The Humpty Dance”; your personal belongings shouldn’t have to suffer as the result of vigorous thrusting, kicking, and/or fist-pumping.
We hope that this guide is invaluable in all your future karaoke adventures. Good luck singing, and remember, when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with “Sweet Caroline”. ** Witness Billy Joel and Christie Brinkley, Mick Jagger and Jerry Hall, etc. *** Studies have shown Hall & Oates to be one person. **** See also “Bieber, Justin.”
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kokuto benjamin martin Okinawa has its own history and culture, which is reflected in the foods you'll find here. Since the islands lie in the warm and humid subtropical, many fields are filled with satokibi, or sugarcane. It might not surprise you then that one of Okinawa's local treats, kokuto, is a kind of black sugar candy made directly from the juice of sugar cane plants. The name of the treat comes from the kanji symbols for “black” and the second half of “sugar”, 黒糖. Making Black Sugar Essentially, the candy is a distillation of sugarcane juice, but in practice, a lot more goes into it. I was invited to a local factory to observe the creation of some of the delicious candy. The locals create batches of kokuto twice a week during sugarcane season (January through April). They begin at six in the morning with around 600 sugar cane stalks. The harvested stalks are cut from a field and the leaves are removed. The sugarcane juice is extracted by a large rolling press. The stalks yield around 400 liters of juice that is then placed in large pots over a fire to boil. Since the sugarcane juice is acidic, bases are used to bring the liquid up to a palatable PH level. Then the solution is left to condense over the flames for around five hours. As the liquid evaporates, the residue is consolidated into one pot. In the last hour, the liquid is stirred as it begins to coag-
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ulate into a cross between sugar and molasses. The dark liquid bubbles and must be constantly agitated. When the workers determine that the process is finished, they transfer the liquid to large pots to cool. The liquid is stirred vigorously to introduce air pockets into the cooling sugar candy so that it will not be too hard to bite. Once the liquid is nearly cool it is transferred to pans to rest. Just before it becomes completely hard, the cooling kokuto is scored so that it will be easier to cut into blocks later. The most delicious kokuto is said to be the thin wafers that cool on the sides of the final pot, since they are the most aerated and are layered from the stirring of the liquid. I got the chance to try them, and I can say that I definitely agree. More on Kokuto Most large scale operations will involve more steps and chemicals, and produce more uniform results. The process I describe here is the local method used on a small island in Okinawa. The Oyatsumura factory and shop started making kokuto in their garden for family and friends. Over ten years, it has developed into the popular operation it is today. Their handmade black sugar candy is delicious and special. You can order by calling 090-985-8115, or stop by Kumejima to try some yourself!
Watch a video on how black candy sugar is made at Oyatsumura, brought to you by Benjamin Martin’s More Things Japanese blog. Yummy!
おやつ村 久米島 Oyatsumura Address: 88 Higa, Kumejima, Shimajiri District, Okinawa 901-3108 Located off of Route 89 Phone: 090-985-8115 (Japanese)
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a
northerner in the
spring gina panozzo
I am what one would call a “Northerner”. I was born in the city of Chicago and, until this year, had lived my entire life in the state of Illinois. Winter is long there; just when one believes it is ending, a fiercer cold begins. Snowstorms ransack the state. Sunlight is limited. Lethargy is hard to shake. Thinking back to last March, I clearly recall the month being cloaked in darkness. I fought to overcome many struggles, most particularly those of a broken heart, during the final haul of my senior year at Illinois State. Memories of frosty nights spent smoking cigarettes out on the back porch of my college apartment linger. Joe, my professor of non-fiction creative writing, once said, “One of the best things about spring semester is it starts in darkness and snow and ends in light and growth.” When I think of spring, I think of life and new beginnings. In 2012, my life was about to move again. I was slowly closing the back cover on my “story of love” and quickly writing the beginnings of the “spring of my youth”. Back then, I walked in darkness, trying to find peace of mind. Things are a little different now. One March morning this year, I walked to school, deeply breathing fresh morning air. I could taste the remnants of the salty sea lingering in each breath. I looked at the cloudless blue sky. I watched the bank moving its money into a guarded truck. I saw the Yakult ladies on their scooters cheerfully making milk deliveries. I live in Okinawa, seven thousand miles away from my cozy city of Chicago—and that’s fine. In Okinawa, I am living my dream as a JET. I will soon travel to Miyako for the MTV bash, then Taiwan, and later Osaka. I plan to bask in the spring as I become more comfortable in my own skin. Summer is coming as I make good memories in the company of unforgettable friends.
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a
spring
in my
pants step michael king
There is a spring in my pants step, There is a spring in the mountain, There is a spring on my face, And a spring from a fountain. Spring is an onion whose leaves are tasty, Spring is my wife snapping pictures in lacy, Nickers, then sending to men I don’t know, Spring is when you find out your wife is a ho, Spring goes the trigger and ping goes the gun, Ring goes the phone, “Hello, 911?” Spring is an American emergency number, If spring were a veg, it would be a cucumber.
Spring is the blossom of a bud into a flower, Spring loaded, the buttons of those sit in power, Spring is for dogs with faces of curry, And all of the creatures with faces of slurry. Spring is when words make no sense, Spring is a curtain, and Borris, fish, yogurt. Pot.
Egg.
where in the world is rekio the lion? grant minagawa Rekio the Lion is a clever little Shisa Ninja from Hong Kong. When the going gets tough, the not-so-tough go on vacation! The little lion spent the cold Okinawan winter relaxing on warm beaches full of hula dancing She-Shisa, and big waves! Cowabunga! Where is he this time?
Please see page 38 for the answer!
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fotoShisa photography review
reBekha smith
photos by fotoshisa I recently got engaged, and one of the major things on my "Post-Engagement To-Do List" was to get photos. I love looking up engagement photo shoots online, and photographs in general are very important to me, so right away I started searching for professional photographers in Okinawa. When I found Pete Leong (www.fotoshisa. com), I knew he was the man for the job. The photos on his Facebook page are not just professional and beautiful, but often highlight the silly side of his subjects. Just what I had in mind! We met on an overcast January day at the Nakagusuku Castle ruins. From the first spot that he found, a gorgeous old banyan tree, to our final destination, the haunted royal hotel, Pete was smiling, open to suggestions, and full of great ideas. Our first set of photos had an Okinawan theme, because my fiancĂŠ and I met here and love this island. Our second set was inspired
by the location and all the graffiti on and in the hotel. There were so many fun backgrounds! If you need proof of Pete's flexibility, creativity, and skill, just check out our final set of photographs: a paint fight! Even though it was windy and cold, and we'd already been at it for over an hour, Pete had the same great energy that he had at the beginning of the photo shoot, and gave us great suggestions to get the best photos possible. In the end, I can't believe how many unique, gorgeous, fun photos he sent us. It was the best experience, and I wish we could do it over and over again--despite the three-hour shower it took to get all that paint off! If you get engaged, married, or need a professional photographer for any reason, I highly recommend fotoShisa Photography. Don't think any of those will happen while you're in Okinawa? You're in luck--he travels! Finally, if you appreciate great photography, check out his website (fotoshisa.com) and like his page on Facebook. You won't regret it!
The author would like to express that although she is no longer engaged, she still values the photos and experience working with this photographer. Her enthusiastic recommendation stands.
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photos by fotoshisa
photos by fotoshisa 27
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The greenest and most fun holiday of the year is definitely St. Patrick’s Day. Every spring, I look forward to this Irish celebration. Everybody wears my favourite color and drinks Guinness beer. Last year, I wondered what I would do on March 17. Why not organize a St. Patrick’s Day party in Okinawa? I talked about it with Eriko-san, the owner of Global Village (an international center in Ginowan). She thought it was a great idea to host a party with live Irish music.
Nina an okinawan irish band virginie beaudoin
Whe n vers did cloget s o big ?
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I play the violin with Nina, an Irish band based in Okinawa. Rachel, another JET, first introduced me to Atsuko (a.k.a. Acchan) more than a year ago. She is an energetic kindergarten teacher who plays violin and ukulele. Atsuko told me I should join her band Nina with my fiddle*! I met the other members, Takako (violin), Suke (guitar) and Bebichi (Cajon – a box-shaped percussion instrument). I was so happy to be able to play Irish music again. I had never thought I would join an Irish band in Okinawa! Everything seems possible on this island. I learned classical violin when I was a child, but later on, I became more interested in folk music. During this time, I learned French-Canadian folk tunes, similar to Irish music. Many Irish immigrants settled in Quebec during the 19th century and about 40% of Quebecers have Irish ancestry; traditional Quebec music was greatly influenced by Irish folk music. If you are interested in listening to cheerful and lively Irish music, you should definitely come hear one of Nina’s live performances. Nina will play for the St. Patrick’s Day Party in Global Village and at Takuji Matsuri on April 23. In addition, Nina performs once a month at Heart of Earth Cafe in Chatan. This cafe features a delicious organic vegetarian bento that I highly recommend. During the show, dancing and clapping is encouraged and appreciated! At Heart of Earth Cafe, children often play along on violin or djembe during our last number. If you can’t make a performance by Nina, The Islanders is another excellent Irish group that usually performs on Saturday nights at the Smuggler’s Irish Pub in Naha. If you can play Irish musical instruments, such as bodhrán**, flute, or banjo, please join us for a jam session! I’d love to share my music with you! * Fiddle is a synonym for violin and it is often used in folk music. ** Bodhrán is an Irish frame drum.
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tofu-ya tom becskehazy
I think we can all agree that yakiniku is one of the best things ever, right alongside that first hot shower you take after a week-long camping trip, the snorkel, and the 3-day weekend. But sometimes our gastrointestinal systems need a break, right? When I’ve had just a little too much grilled beef I head on over to Tofu-ya Beans in Shuri. Their approach to food is quite simple: they provide five tofu-based dishes, each with its own unique flavor. These five are: 1) 自家製ゆし豆腐 (jika-sei yushi dofu) – Homemade “fluffy” tofu 2) マーボーゆし豆腐 (mabo yushi dofu) – Spicy Chinese-style tofu 3) トマトチーズゆし豆腐 (tomato chizu yushi dofu) – Tomato cheese tofu 4) 魚介トマトゆし豆腐 (gyokai tomato yushi dofu) – Seafood tomato tofu 5) 八宝豆腐 (happo doufu) – Chop suey-style tofu All five are delicious, though my favorite has to be the トマトチーズゆし豆腐. It’s the healthier cousin of my mom’s lasagna, meaning I still experience post-prandial bliss without the accompanying “lasagna paralysis” my mom’s dish induces. The tofu itself is excellent, with just the right amount of tenderness, a hint of sweetness, and a mild beany flavor that adds subtle depth to each dish.
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As with most café-style places in Okinawa, you can order the food as a single dish or as a set. I highly recommend the set, as it includes a well-presented little dish with four bite-sized morsels, usually a combination of sesame oil-seasoned noodles, pickled vegetables, smoked ham, etc. It also comes with a small (exquisite!) piece of cake and (melt-in-your-mouth!) tofu pudding, with your choice of iced/hot coffee/tea. In addition to the above five tofu dishes, Tofu-ya Beans also offers a few non-tofubased items. I’m not going to include those here because: A) I’ve never tried them. B) You can eat those same things at any Family Mart, izakaya, etc, so why would you order them at a place that specializes in tofu? What’s that? You don’t like tofu? Why the hell did you walk into a place called “Tofu-ya Beans” then? Stop reading this immediately! Or better yet, go there and get your mind blown. Googling this phone number (098-9274849) will get you their address. It’s about a 10-minute walk on Ryutan-dori from Shuri monorail station, a few stores down from the Family Mart and across the street from the Lawson’s. The Okinawa Prefectural University of the Arts is near there as well. Also, Shuri Castle. They only take cash, and parking is a bit limited, but it’s in the heart of a super-touristy area, so there are paid lots everywhere.
とうふ家 Beans Tofu-ya Beans Address: 沖縄県那覇市首里当蔵町 ２−１５−２４ (2-15-24 Shuritounokura-chou) Phone: 098-927-4849 (Japanese)
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If you're a JET in Okinawa, there's a good chance you've visited this restaurant at some point. However, if you haven't been there recently, you might not know that Rize got a bit of a makeover and has reopened even better than before! I was lucky enough to catch the re-opening party and check out their new tapas menu while enjoying some live music from The Rooftop Allstars, a jazz band that regularly hosts events in the restaurant.
RIZE reBekha smith
The evening was cool and comfortable, so my friend and I enjoyed a table outside on the (now covered) terrace as dish after delicious dish were delivered to our table. We filled ourselves with their new tapas menu, signature pizza, and to-die-for tiramisu. Unfortunately, I was driving that night, so I had to ignore the siren song of the wine menu, but I intend to go back armed with a DD or daiko money and sample their selection. Before the revamp, Rize was my favorite date night spot, and I would definitely still consider it as one of the most romantic spots on the island. With the new menu, it’s even more budget-friendly for a night out with friends, especially considering their Happy Hour deals from 18:00-20:00! The most exciting change for me is their new breakfast menu. I haven't been there to sample it in person, but the photos I see flooding my news feed on Saturday and Sunday mornings cause my mouth to water with longing. Pancakes! Sausage! Fruit! Oh my!
RIZE Address: Taiei Building, 6F. Asato 1-160, Naha-shi Phone: 098-868-4770 Website: https://www.facebook.com/ okinawarize Payment: Cash and Visa are accepted
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You can like their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/okinawarize) to stay up to date on the latest menu changes, jazz events, and hours. Directions: Rize Rooftop Terrace Restaurant is in Naha, located near Makishi Monorail Station, across the road from Saion Square and the shopping center with the Red Lobster and Cargoes. If you are walking from Makishi Monorail Station at the end of Kokusai Dori, you will see Sand’s Burger Restaurant. It has a large cactus and sign out front. Take the elevator in that building to the sixth floor, which houses Rize.
photos by paul patry, rize owner
photos by paul patry, rize owner
announcements April Arrivals
In April, we’ll be saying farewell to our Chinese CIR, Ms. Fu Lei Na; and our Chinese ALT, Ms. Sun Ying. We’d like to give them a big 谢 谢 for all their hard work over the last year and wish them both 再 见! That means we’ll be welcoming two new OkiJETs among the April arrivals! If you get a chance, please give them a warm 你好 (or a more conventional めんそーれ！).
Next Theme: The Longest Season
Summers in Okinawa are interminable. Normally, when you think of seasons, you think “four seasons, twelve months, four divided by twelve...three months a season.” In Okinawa, summer stretches out far longer. It’s not just the actual time span that makes summer seem longest though. There are more hours of daylight, giving us longer days to idle away. Summer can be season of long good-byes and hellos as our old friends leave and new friends come. Finally, summer, offering the longest school break, gives us the best time to take an extended trip off island. How are you going to spend this longest season?
Call for Contributors
Have something you want to share with the Okinawa JET Community? The Ryukyu Star is accepting submissions for our next issue until Friday, June 7th. All formats (photos, articles, comics, games, recipes, videos) are encouraged. Email all submissions to ryukyustar@ ajet.net. We look forward to seeing what you send us!
Contact us
Comments? Questions? Feel free to contact us at ryukyustar@ajet. net. We always welcome and encourage your feedback.
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Calendar
April 11 – Toky o Orienta tion for A 12 – Toky pril Arriva o Orienta ls ti on for Ap 29 – Show ril Arrivals a Day May 3 – Consti tution Me morial Da 4 - Green y ery Day 5 - Childr en’s Day 6 - Childr en’s Day O bserved June 20 – PA C onferenc e 21 – PA C onferenc e 23 - Okin awan Me morial Da y
! t z z P
Did you find all of the bees, bears, and birds in this issue?
is Rekio d rl o W e th in re e h W the Lion? Answer Honolulu, Hawaii
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