Seisen Post & St. Mary's Diplomat: First Collaborative Edition

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the diplomat

October 2019- Vol. 62

St. Mary’s International School

November 2019- Vol. 63

Is censorship ever the solution?

Article by: Adam Zbikowski and Luna Kanagawa Photo by: Associated Press

A wave of anti-government protests arose in Iran, ignited by rising fuel prices. The protests saw 106 fatalities at the hands of government forces. On November 16th, the government shut down the internet access country-wide as a means of censorship and oppression of information concerning this violence. As of November 21st, Iranians still do not have access to the internet.

By restricting internet access, the government ultimately cuts off its citizens from the rest of the world, not allowing them to communicate, suppressing their freedom of speech.

Listed under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, freedom of speech is a fundamental and inalienable right. With this put into consideration, the “suppression or

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prohibition of any parts of books, films, news, etc. that are considered obscene, politically unacceptable, or a threat to security” leads one’s organic response to this definition of the word censorship to be one of sole dismay. Unmistakably, this take on censorship is far too ubiquitous in many regions where governments use censorship to apply the oppression of civil liberties.

Concurrently, censorship is illustrated in another manner: ironically, one that directly counters the spread of misinformation.

The protection of people from harmful opinions include, genocide denial and misleading proclamations on the Internet, which falls under the umbrella of censorship. Without this facet of censorship, fallacious and unjustified beliefs fall at risk of gaining greater prevalence.

As a repercussion of the correct, but incomplete, common rendition of the term censorship that projects images of propaganda and tyranny, one may have trouble understanding the relation between censorship and positive laws that forbid, to give an instance, Holocaust denial. However, censorship also pertains to the suppression of politically unacceptable, obscene demonstrations. It would be justifiable to state that the outright dismissal of

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Joker

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thediplomat x SEISEN POST SMIS Managing Editors FELIPE CHERTOUH ADAM ZBIKOWSKI Seisen Managing Editors LUNA KANAGAWA MIFFY HORI Sports Editor JUNICHIRO ASANO Fine Arts Editor CHRISTOPHER KIRCH Events Editor RYO MATSUKI Chief of Tech ALEX HOTTA

SMIS Reporters

MANATO MAEKAWA SEAN OLSON KEANNAN SILONG YAMATO SUIZU

Seisen Reporters

VICTORIA MIGDALSKI KAARINA SIRKKA NIDHI PONKSHE

November 2019 the systematic, genocidal wipeout of two-thirds of European Jews can be considered politically unacceptable. Nations, primarily situated in Europe, Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, to name several, have laws implemented which in one way or the other, implements laws that ban Holocaust denial.

While it may be said that this can be considered a violation of the human right of freedom of speech, the exercise of freedom of speech comes with duties and responsibilities. These duties and responsibilities extend to ensuring that speaking on a viewpoint does not have harmful reverberations on society as a whole. By denying the proven genocide of millions, an erroneous message can possibly be proliferated—one that constitutes a threat of the manifestation of harmful “opinions”.

The use of censorship to establish the truth, however, is itself a doubleedged sword.

While sometimes useful in a democratic country, it is a recipe for disaster in a police state. Take the example of the Armenian genocide, an atrocity which led to the loss of 1.5 million lives by the hands of the Ottoman empire. Worldwide, it is recognized as the first modern systematic elimination of an ethnic group. In Azerbaijan and Turkey, however, the genocide is systemically denied by the government in an effort to push forward a beneficial strategic narrative. In a country where even Wikipedia is banned, the government essentially establishes an Orwellian state monopoly over truth.

A common misconception of censorship in Western society relies on the wrongful assumption that it must be exerted by the legislative branch of a given government. Fortunately, high levels of democracy carry higher civil liberties, making blatant censorship a rarity.

One of these rarities is caused by the growing influence of social media on public opinion.

Through campaigns deeply rooted in vigilantism, multitudes of social media-based “activists” aim to suppress the views they find mildly offensive and disturbing, or “triggering”, without the critical consideration of other perspectives.

Under the guise of political correctness, a term coined almost exclusively by their movement, “social justice” is executed by ‘cancelling’ those who disagree.

Paradoxically, despite striving for equality, the opposite has been achieved.

A key principle of a democratic society, is the ability to facilitate a discourse between followers of drastically different ideologies. By suppressing one side of a valid argument, the gregarian crowd seeks to enforce their point of view. The double-standard seen in carrying this out serves to make the hypocrisy coherent. When photos of the very progressive Justin Trudeau doing blackface were discovered, the accusers moved on after a week. If not for his liberal policies and left-wing stance, there’s little chance he would have been reelected.

Blunt misinformation can create a confining dominant-subordinate relationship between the power and the people.

More recently, China demonstrated a new yet powerful form of economic censorship. When during the Houston Rockets preseason tour of China, their general manager, Daryl Morey tweeted in support of the ongoing Hong Kong protests.

In the chaos that ensued, tickets were ripped, shirts were burnt, press events were canceled, and the events were no longer televised. Despite clear ethical concerns, the NBA sided with the Chinese government out of fear. With many players and teams heavily sponsored by Chinese enterprises, they simply could not afford to speak out against their government. Through economic pressure, China was able to effortlessly silence the supporters of the Hong Kong protests making their stance on the matter crystal clear.

The use of censorship, and whether or not it can be conclusively deduced as a positive or negative means of control is open to question. The line between the use of censorship to combat misinformation and censorship as a means of propaganda is blurred, and is subjective, with the notion of a “harmful opinion” being relative to different parties involved. Evidence suggests that what sets apart ‘positive’ censorship from its negative counterpart is a very specific set of circumstances. While in a democratic society, where truth is birthed by citizens, the suppression of ‘unhealthy’ statements may foster balance, this never holds true under authoritarian rule. In the end, the severe risks of censorship far outweigh its benefits, imperiling one’s freedom of speech.

November 2019

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Message From the Managing Editors

2019, the year of the Pig.

Likewise, it is the year of fear-mongering and an uprising in the climate change movement. It is the year of Trump’s controversial impeachment proceedings. It is the year of Pope Francis’ Righteous entrance into the Land of the Rising Sun. Ladies and Gentlemen, 2019 is the year that The Diplomat and the Seisen Post finally commit to a long-awaited collab edition.

Purportedly, this edition astonishingly expounds on a wide array of perspectives— a vast majority that does not receive sufficient recognition in the media. Contrary to previous versions, the paper nose-dives into some issues from dichotomous angles. A Trump zealot meets a Trump antagonizer. A Greta Thunberg enthusiast meets a climate change denier. The debates following these fiery clashes are a sight to behold. From the conundrum of climate change to controversies sparked by “Joker,” the paper caters to all.

Sprawled across the pages of this extravagant edition are golden articles that demonstrate the talents of Seisen and St. Mary’s students alike. Not only are they fantastic writers but concurrently, broad-minded thinkers. As you will discover, they are not afraid to challenge normalcy.

Coordinated by Senior Adam Zbikowski and Juniors Felipe Chertouh, Luna Kanagawa, and Miffy Hori, the issue has sadly come to an end. On behalf of The Diplomat and the Seisen Post, we sincerely hope that you have enjoyed our first collaboration edition.

Speech - Another Championship Article by: Felipe Chertouh Photo by: SMIS

On November 20th, the St. Mary’s (SMIS) Speech team wiped the floor with its rival international schools and reigned victorious at the KPASS Speech tournament. Once again, SMIS continued its winning streak. Under the adept coaching of Mr. Pettit, Mr. Stovall, Ms. Durrett, and Mr. Lamb, St. Mary’s brought home two ALL-STARS nine golds, five silvers, and two bronzes. This year saw the introduction

of 8 new rookie members; many of them were freshmen. Consequently, several were up against a steep learning curve; however, this was no challenge for the newcomers. Hans Ameaiya brought his jocular personality to the team and performed reasonably well in the Original Informative category, earning himself a Silver.

The Multiple Team consisting of Shin Ikeda, Wonjae Choi, Tejas Mahajan, Dion Kang, and Min Thwe Thit had a tough time at the beginning of this season. They started strong, but over time they lost their energy. However, when the time came, they stepped up and rocked the Multiple stage-- earning themselves a Gold.

Coach Pettit summed up their development up perfectly, “The Multiple team was initially uncoordinated, but they managed to get their act together and gave an outstanding performance.”

Freshman Ishan Patel returned to the team this year, his second time in the Storytelling category. Patel worked on his Speech for hours on end and earned himself an ALL-STAR-- securing five points for the team. Under the expert guidance of Mr. Stovall, Surya Sriram and Sungjae Lee decided to take on the challenge of Extemporaneous Speaking. Surya, a natural impromptu speaker, exercised his vocal ability and Sungjae with his vibrant work ethic. Sriram earned himself a Gold, dishing out his best performance ever; simultaneously, Lee analyzed his topic to the ‘T.’ However, he was unfortunately docked on time management and received a bronze because of it.

When St. Mary’s was called up to the stage and presented with their well-deserved trophy, Hilarious Humorous Interpretation ALL-STAR and Captain Ji Seung Park walked onto the stage with seniors Nikita Romanov, Surya Sriram, and Krish Jajodia. Head-Coach Mr. Pettit worked closely with the captain this season. When asked about his experiences with the illustrious ‘Mafoo Park’, Mr. Pettit had nothing but praise: “Ji Seung Park had countless iterations of his performance. His hard-earned All-Star is a great example of risk-taking. He gauged his audience well.”

To wrap up another great year, all of the coaches gave their thoughts on the team’s performances and future. Mr. Stovall kicked off seriously by saying, “This was a year filled with change, but the students really pulled it together. This is the most prepared I’ve ever seen us, as a team, go into the competition. The Speech Team had a remarkable ability to rise up to the challenge.” Ms. Durrett exclaimed that “It was great to see the student’s hard-work really pay off.” Mr. Pettit concluded with a summary of the team’s performance, “Although the Speech Team hit several bumps in a shorter than usual season, it successfully defended its champion title.”

With all of this in mind, along with a fresh new team, St. Mary’s is now readying itself to dominate Speech in the coming years.

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November 2019

Trump Impeachment Two Contrasting Perspectives

Article by: Christopher Kirch Photo by: SHUTTERSTOCK

complicates. Communal cohesion erodes. Bloomberg states, “Like the Clinton impeachment, the current iteration looms as a rallying cry for both sides of the political divide. Think of the 2018 hearings

Trump’s impeachment: reasonable yet impractical. St. on Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination, but on steroids.”

Mary’s staff and students largely view the legislative hassles and the Inaugurated on January 20, 2017, Trump defeated 16 other candicontroversy of an impeachment as unnecessary, furthering radidates in the Republican primaries, becoming the oldest first-term cal viewpoints from both sides of the aisle. The consensus stands.

U.S. president and the first one without prior military or government Trump’s impeachment is needless for America and the world at service. A symbol of retaliation, tradition, and self-reliance, he emlarge. boldened himself as a man of the past.

However, as of many political discussions, the conversation Make America Great Again. is dominated by a vocal minority. Out of all the people I’ve talked

The problem is that he isn’t a representative champion. Born to, only a small percentage actually responded. Yet, why do we need into a billion family when his father serendipitously found a silver to know? Why is this important? To answer these questions, let us deposit, his wealth has been propelled hereditarily. Furthermore, his look at the status quo. antics are his sole cause of fame. He recently, requested the Supreme

The proceedings started when on September 16th, Speaker Court to block a request to release his tax filings and he has been of the House, Nancy Pelosi initiated an impeachment inquiry after subject to various legal proceedings. Apart from the political toxicity heeding allegations of Trump colluding with Ukraine. Then in early that he propagates, he’s self-victimized.

November, a set of publically “unbiased” testimonies were carried

However, including the faults of his own, democrats are out. The House Judiciary Committee are currently drafting articles reliably able to keep a country as one, preserving an already divided of impeachment in description of the crimes that the president has nation by facing Trump at the 2020 elections. committed.

However, even as we pass this current stage, voting procedure is infamously difficult. Only if half of the House of RepresenArticle by: Kaarina Sirkka tatives and two-thirds of the Senate find the president guilty of the

With the impeachment inquiry into Donald Trump already crimes laid out in the articles of impeachment is the POTUS removed from office. No president has ever been found guilty during a underway, we are beginning to gain a clearer of why the American president must be impeached. This can be traced back to the DemoSenate impeachment trial.

Support is nevertheless brewing. According to Reuters, 47% crats’ leading argument in the impeachment hearings, which was that Trump urged the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, to of adults in the United States felt Trump “should be impeached,” while 40% said he should not. About eight in 10 Democrats support- investigate a leading political rival of his, Joe Biden (according to a written summary of the conversation released by the White House), ive of impeaching Trump and eight in 10 Republicans oppose. and therefore committed “bribery”, an impeachable offense. Trump This is drastic. These proceedings carries significant cultural bageven offered to have the Justice Department assist that investigation. gage. Political lines opaques. Gridlock hardens. Foreign policy

November 2019

While Trump has undoubtedly made other errors that many argue justify impeachment in the past (such as failing to disclose or divest himself from his extensive financial interests and instead using the platform of the presidency to promote them or requiring public officials pledge their loyalty to him above their loyalty to the public), the recent events that tie into the Ukraine situation best represent the danger that would come with Trump remaining in office.

The attempted quid pro quo with Ukraine for a Whitehouse invite and for military aid is a key point in understanding why Donald Trump must be impeached. Trump has withheld a White House invitation from Zelensky. The evidence of this is clearly shown in a text conversation between Kurt Volker, Trump’s handpicked envoy for Ukraine, and top Zelensky aide Andrey Yermak. The Trump administration also froze $391 million in military and security assistance to Ukraine.

“That’s the most compelling argument why aid to Ukraine was in our national security interests,” observed Joe Lockhart, who was President Bill Clinton’s press secretary during his impeachment. “Russia is at war with Ukraine, our ally. But President Trump put his own political interests ahead of our national security interests. That’s why it rises to an impeachable offense.”

Considering this, Donald Trump has violated the oath of office, which is the president’s promise to subordinate his private desires to the public interest.

Trump deployed his attorney Rudy Giuliani to lead the effort to secure investigations from Ukraine. Multiple witnesses described to lawmakers that as Giuliani worked to make that happen, he avoided State Department channels and undermined US policy toward Ukraine. Democrats could draft articles of impeachment accusing Trump of abusing his powers and manipulating the State Department for political gain and having Giuliani do his dirty work.

Some argue that since Trump did not succeed in his attempted bribery to Ukraine, he should not be impeached.

However, this argument is invalid as you do not have to be successful at committing a crime to be guilty. Attempt in itself is a crime. Of course, impeachment doesn’t require a crime, but since, during the Mueller investigation, many conservatives argued that the President should be impeached only if he committed one, it’s worth pointing out that Trump’s conduct was likely criminal.

There are countless other reasons Trump must be impeached that date back to the start of his presidency, but what we need to focus on right now is the current situation regarding his violation of the constitution through his phone call with Ukraine and the subsequent events that followed.

This situation alone provides more than enough reason for the impeachment of Donald Trump.

Michael Gerhardt, a CNN legal analyst summarizes, “The Ukraine situation encapsulates almost exactly what impeachment was created to address when the Framers talked about impeachable offenses, they mentioned the President engaging in a corrupt relationship with a foreign power.” Therefore, there is no question that Trump needs to be impeached.

The real question is whether Democrats can convince the country that any of this matters. Democrats know they need to tell a clear story in the impeachment hearings to stand up against Trump as this may be their last chance to hold this President accountable for his actions.

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St. Mary’s Sports Rundown

Article by: Junichiro Asano Photo by: SMIS

With the 2020 Olympics less than a year away, the interest in sports is increasing at a pace faster than ever. This was the case not only at St. Mary’s but also on a global level, especially with the recent Rugby World Cup (RWC). The RWC was held over the course of seven weeks and twenty of the world’s strongest teams competed to obtain the Webb Ellis Cup. South Africa had won for their third time, but the hosting country team, Japan, made history by placing in the top eight.

Team Japan was supported by over a million fans during their games, a huge improvement compared to the previous RWC, when the majority of the population was not even aware of the World Cup taking place. The RWC is only the start, and as the Olympics approach, the general interest in sports will continue increasing on a national level. The Titans are no different, and during the first quarter many athletes competed in their respective sports: cross country, swimming, tennis, and rugby.

The Cross Country team had a successful season, with practices being held everyday through Monday to Thursday and with weekly meets on Saturdays. Many runners competed against their teammates for a higher position on the team which resulted in a successful season. The Titan’s constant dedication placed them 2nd in the Far East. The mixed relay with Seisen finished second while SMIS took third place in the Men’s 5000m. 10th Grader Matthew Inamine and 9th Grader Shunsuke Matsubayashi were awarded All Stars.

The Swim Team’s first quarter consisted of over 50 practices and five swim meets. During these copious amounts of practices, swimmers trained hard to outswim their respective teammates. The meets served as an opportunity to gauge their abilities and to compete against swimmers from around the Kanto Plains, Japan, and overseas. Many of the swimmers were satisfied with their improvement and will continue training throughout the remainder of the school year.

With a new coach and a new mentality, the Tennis team was eager to capture a spot on the podium in the Kanto League after coming in fourth last year. Many new players had joined the veterans from last year, resulting in a solid season. This year the Varsity Tennis team had won the title of Far East Champion, one point ahead of YISS. A total of four medals, a first place plaque, and a championship banner were brought home by the players.

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October 2019

“How dare you!”: Young people are rising up for a better, more eco-friendly world

Article by: Victoria Migdalski Photo by: REUTERS

With tears in her eyes, 16-year old Greta left a legacy.

She asked one question to global leaders: “How dare you?” She had become a viral sensation within a span of a few days.

On Monday, September 23, Swedish teen environmentalist Greta Thunberg grasped everyone’s attention with her fiery address to the United Nation’s Climate Action Summit. “You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words,’’ Thunberg said with a quiver in her voice.

Her short speech contained harsh criticism on the world leaders’ negligence. Thunberg made it her duty to respond to the lack of change in the world environment in regard to the climate. Her stern remarks on how “they” have burdened her generation with the apocalyptic impacts of climate change left many questioning the conscientiousness of their standing government.

In recent years, there has been a rapid increase in young people pushing for climate action, primarily in countries such as the US and Australia. Even here in Tokyo, more and more young people are marching in the streets of Shibuya with big cardboard posters advocating for change. This is because many natural disasters, such as the 2018 California wildfires, have started becoming more deadly, destructive, and too frequent to be left unnoticed. Especially since the installment of social media has helped deliver news alerts to millions of people instantly, more light has been shed on these visible effects of global warming. In addition, according to the words of UN SecretaryGeneral António Guterres, young people are extremely devoted to furthering climate resilience because “my generation has failed to respond properly to the dramatic challenge of climate change.”

Moreover, climate change denialism has also been amplifying as many climate change skeptics, largely angry middle-aged men have been unafraid to verbally attack many of these young activists. These people include Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison who phrased climate change as “needless anxiety” for teenagers. Some had even gone on to attack

Thunberg specifically, such as Conservative commentator Michael J. Knowles who called Thunberg “mentally ill” during his guest appearance of Fox News and English broadcaster Jeremy Clarkson who had described Thunberg’s UN address as a “full-on adolescent meltdown” and asked her to “be a good girl” and “shut up”. According to psychologist Renee Lertzman, seeing young activists standing up causes an emotional strain for a lot of adults since “many of us, with the best intentions, are actually triggering people’s responses to trauma by teaching climate science and ‘raising awareness’,” and because of this “it can be overwhelming, unsettling, and deeply upsetting.”

Nonetheless, global greenhouse gas emissions are increasing and temperatures are rising. The scientific evidence is undeniable and Thunberg, along with many other young climate advocates continue to demand change and fight for our planet, and are begging for you to do the same.

“Nature is angry”, as António Guterres puts it, and the young people around the world have already done their part in bringing this issue to light. Now, as Thunberg had said, all that is left to be done is for adults to realize and accept that “the eyes of all future generations are upon you”

Climate Change Fact vs Fiction Article by: Ryo Matsuki Photo by: The Economist

The Boy Who Cried Wolf. False prophets. The gingerbread man. People who feed fires for the sake of the attention it brings have been around since we first crawled out of the primordial oceans as fish with legs. We had Al Gore with his exaggerated claims of the North Pole “disappearing in 5 years”

October 2019

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Nathan Harmon

back in 2008, and Jason Momoa bellowing everywhere about how “humanity is a disease”. It seems as if global warming has become the new scapegoat for all of our troubles, just like the Commies of the 80’s and Bush’s “Axis of Evil”. However, are these claims substantiated? Are they really cause for all this widespread panic? While the bandwagon seems to find global warming a harbinger of doom, some are still skeptical and preach out against this mass hysteria.

We all have fevers. Sure, they suck. They make us all light-headed, and every second standing feels as if you’re being pressed on a Foreman Grill. But we always get over it. Every sore throat and cold eventually goes away, every bruise and rash fades out. Similarly, what we see now is just the Earth stirring in its sleep. The planet we live on is a living, breathing organism itself. It has its odd little noises and tremors, but when it comes down to it, it’s all part of the natural process. At least, that’s what some studies indicate. One commonly cited example of this is the periodical ice ages of the past. Every couple million years, the surface of our planet freezes over. This isn’t a direct consequence of oil rigs run by cavemen, or factories producing tribal coats. In this particular case, a conundrum called Milankovitch cycles, which encompasses the tilt of the planet, its orbit, and other cosmic factors, explain the natural decline of global temperatures. In other words, it has nothing to do with whatever we mere mortals get up to.

Palaeoclimatology, or the study of “past climates”, claims that the recent rise in temperatures is unmitigated and differs from whatever figures statisticians predict. In the haze of this sparked debate, we cannot forget that both arguments are entirely contingent on theories and predictions at best. Just like how the aforementioned explanation for ice ages is merely humanity’s best attempt at rationalizing something so cosmically massive, palaeoclimatology is merely a study of past events, and holds no weight for what might happen in the future. We must take both positions with a grain of salt; after all, science is just humanity trying its best to explain something actually significant on an ethereal scale.

Many among our student body are rather indifferent in regards to this issue. After all, no matter how much we discuss this within our school, it’s never going to make a difference.

Under the huge weight load of grades and college, global issues seem trivial and otherworldly. Most students view the issue as something the “adults need to take care of”, and generally perceive it to be something not worth their time. However, this isn’t something that’ll eventually go away. It will most likely be the defining trait of the next paradigm shift, and it’s up to the upcoming generation to find a way to deal with it. Winter is Coming, and Here We Stand.

Article by: Manato Maekawa Photo by: Yamato Suizu

“I wanted to impact people. I wanted the world to be more better-off. That’s why I chose to become a motivational speaker.”

On the morning of the 18th of November, the whole SMIS High School community warmly welcomed the world’s number one booked school speaker Nathan Harmon in the MPH. “This is one of the biggest events that will take place this school year” said our High School Vice President Nishad Govindarajan. Many students could not repress their excitement for this long awaited event. Before the speech, Junior Kevin Cho expressed his excitement, “I knew Nathan Harmon from last year. I admire and respect his strong will to make the world a better place. I am thrilled to listen to his story!”

Although now a globally successful and acclaimed public speaker, Harmon experienced alcoholism, drug addiction, eating disorders, and self-harming at a very young age. “Life is about experience. What you do now is what shapes your identity” claimed Harmon.

Although we should be responsible for our failures, he believed that these failing experiences must not drag us down. He claimed that we must be resilient and not drown ourselves into misery. This was the message behind his speech. After overcoming these negative experiences himself, and learning from them, he was able to develop his so-called “five pillars of life.” Live a life of transparency, be accountable for your actions, work hard, and make good choices: these were Nathan’s five essentials to live a better life.

Captivated by Harmon’s passionate speech, the St. Mary’s community was truly inspired. On behalf of the SMIS community, we would like to thank Nathan Harmon for coming all the way from America to share with us his motivational magic.

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November 2019

Flaws in the System - Standardized Testing

Article by: Luna Kanagawa Photo by: Kevin Wong

Amongst hundreds of other upper high school students, I wandered through the College Fair at Hiroo Gakuen in Tokyo, where countless universities, both international and domestic, sought to pique the curiosity of prospective students. The most important part of the College Fair revealed itself in the discourse between prospective students and admission officers. Students are gifted with the opportunity to inquire how they would be considered in terms of their transcripts, extracurriculars, and standardized testing scores. Several encounters with institutes that I had a particular interest in serves as the driving force behind my article’s perspective.

I recall asking these institutes about the manner in which candidates are examined in terms of academic performance. The International Baccalaureate program is well-renowned as the most rigorous international high school diploma program in the world, and as a student studying under the IB, I was positive that a significant fraction of my candidacy would reply on m transcripts in the IB Courses.

I was bewildered that my queries were met with one common response: a four-hour standardized test would be considered in equal value to my four years of effort in high school

The SAT and the ACT are the most prevalent of the standardized tests taken by students. These multiple-choice tests exist with the objective of assessing key areas of knowledge—as the questions presented to all students are identical, it allows for observation on how each individual is meeting the universal criterion.

International students and Americans alike strenuously prepare for these exams. While it is often with the greatest reluctance, we as students must acknowledge how critical standardized testing is during college admission. With that, I have always been opposed to standardized testing. The concept that memorizing a set of rules and strategies in both mathematics and language allegedly equates to academic excellence is unfathomable. Most fields of study in university are based upon creative thinking. The one-answer thinking that is expected in the majority of these assessments is nothing short of futile.

It is not the content of these tests that forms their limitations, but the manner in which results are considered by universities. Standardized tests are considered as a measure of academic potential. However, this has proved to be fallacious—the Bates News’ Vice President, W.C. Hiss conducted a study that demonstrated how the GPA gap in students who submitted SAT results and those who did not (who averaged at 160 points lower on the SAT) was a mere 0.05. This displays that academic potential is not truly reflected in the standardized tests. High-School performances were virtually identical between the two groups.

Superior results are often dependent on students “learning the test”. Standardized tests like the SAT and the ACT are majorly based on rules, patterns, and strategy, leaving limited room for interpretive, imaginative thinking. This presents itself as contradictory with the world we now live in, where creativity and innovation are the bases of education. Yet, millions of high school students sit these tests, often multiple times a year, with the knowledge that they are one of the greatest factors in college admissions.

Adherents to the status-quo argue that exams such as the SAT should remain a dominant, vital part of college applications, as seeing how students meet universalized criterion makes the student selection process more efficient. It makes looking through countless applications less arduous. Furthermore, it is argued that basing acceptance off of subjective interpretation of a pupil’s, for instance, essays, can also cause injustices in the selection process. This is not incompatible with my argument— I believe that standardized testing, to an extent, provides a benchmark for abilities and basic skills. Rather than banishing their role altogether, greater consideration of other matters is necessary. With the current nature of standardized tests where an individual’s ability to justify and critically think is inhibited, such high-stake tests should not hold great influence.

As flaws in the process are highlighted, I have no doubt that alternative procedures that showcase general understanding, which is the focus of standardized test’s advocates, and other skills absent in these assessments, will be implemented. In 2005, CollegeBoard introduced the SAT Essay, an optional section of the test, where students are given the opportunity to display their level of critical thinking and succinct writing. In spite of this, universities often overlook essay scores—Prepscholar stated that according to general consensus, the essay was “the least important part of the SAT overall”, and that admission offices “look much more closely at composite scores”. Nonetheless, the attention brought to other alternatives is escalating: from portfolio based assessments to modified tests that permit further critical thinking, reform is well on its way.

As you stroll around the college fair, fear not— the application process is crawling towards presenting itself as a more just, well-rounded, affair.

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November 2019

Joker Film Summary and Review

The Underlying Dangers of “Joker” Article by: Miffy Hori

Article by: Alex Hotta Photo by: DC Films

Joker portrays the story of a broken and disturbed man, constantly demoralised by the dystopian society that surrounds him. This takes you through the life of Arthur Fleck, a clown and aspiring comedian. He suffers from a disorder that causes him to laugh at inappropriate times, supposedly caused by physical abuse from his father. Early on in the film, he is seen as helpless and often abused - teenagers steal from him; business men mistreat him. Arthur’s reconciliation marks the turning point for his character in the story arc, as he shoots the drunken Wayne Enterprises’ businessmen - he stands as the renegade and representative of the class struggle. Thomas Wayne then makes a statement by labeling the poor as ‘clowns’, which instigates demonstrations against Gotham’s rich, as protesters adopt Fleck’s image.

Arthur become the catalyst of numerous riots, and embraces his infamy as social classes clash around him. Joker is a perfect origin story as the focal point of it is character development, not hollow action as expected from previous DC movies, and it is recommended to any moviegoer.

Much like the polarizing personality of the “Joker” portrayed

by Joaquin Phoenix, Todd Phillips’ film itself has bred a tsunami of discourse among critics. While Michael Moore, an Academy-Award winning filmmaker and best-selling author called the film a “masterpiece” and tweeted that “the greater danger to society may be if you DON’T go see this movie”, the New York Times described the film as “weightless and shallow” and The Guardian as “the most disappointing film of the year”.

Proponents of the film believe that it justly addresses the injustices present in modern-day society through the prominent illustration of controversial issues such as mental health, governmental corruption, destitution, and systematic oppression. To this end, Dr. Lewter, a psychologist at Stratford University claims that the film provides potent insight into the impacts of the public’s ferocity and insensitivity. Accordingly, in the film, the ill-treatment from the public and the lack of social support Joker receives is what exacerbates his mental health ramifications. Furthermore, the film’s plot, set amid a time of economic turmoil, depicts crisis under the leadership of corrupt, affluent, and callous politicians, which mirrors today’s crisis under President Donald Trump and his team. Due to the many overlaps, Crusader News believes that the film is an embodiment of our near future, “where if we don’t take action now, we could end up in a world much like what we saw in Joker.” However, these allegations prove to not be entirely true.

Society has recently witnessed great footprints of mental health awareness around depression and anxiety, with more and more celebrities opening up about their struggles with these mental illnesses. But even with sufficient knowledge, after watching the film, it is probable that certain audience members may, mistakenly, come away thinking that those suffering from mental illness are innately violent.

However, studies claim the contrary. Despite Joker being portrayed as a serial killer due to mental health, victims of mental health are more susceptible to violence from others. Instead of imposing harm on others, these victims are more likely to harm themselves. In contrast to the great leaps society has taken in regards to depression and anxiety, less-known mental health conditions, including Schizotypal personality disorder which Joker suffers from, according to Dr. Raine, a Professor of Criminology, Psychiatry, and Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, remain shrouded in prevailing ignorance. Not only does this misinform the audience but it stigmatizes those undergoing a battle with their mental health by perpetuating damaging stereotypes and fallibly portraying mental health.

To make matters worse, although fanciful, the film in which Joker turns to gun violence to cope with his mental illness can easily be undermined by gun rights advocates. After mass shootings, proponents almost always ascribe mental illness to gun violence as a way to belittle the real issue of gun laws and divert the stimulating conversation towards mental health reform. Correspondingly, in response to the mass shootings which occurred in El Paso and Dayton back in August of 2019, President Trump gave a statement that “mental illness and hatred pulls the trigger, not the gun.” The film, yet again, sends an inaccurate message.

“Joker” is more than an unsettling and disturbing film; it nosedives into a crevice of depravity, surrounded by issues that shriek attention’s name.

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Jazz Nite

November 2019

Jazz Nite Photos

By Yamato Suizu and SMIS

Article by: Kei Takahashi Photo by: SMIS

This year the St.mary`s Jazz band hosted an event that was successful. It was held in the Multi-Purpose Hall and was set up flawlessly by the parents. This year’s Jazz Nite was led by the instrumental music instructor, Ms.Tretter. The band was played by the 8th graders and High School Jazz band. Both performers worked hard for this night and the audience was very pleased with the fascinating performance. Hundred and thirty people attended this show including the headmaster Mr.Kagei.

The audience was impressed by the performance and the musicians of the Highschool Jazz band were satisfied with it. The exhausting morning practice, afterschool, and even on the weekends, they had for this performance paid off. One of the high school Jazz Band members said that it was “One of the best performances I have ever had, and this is all because of the band members practicing every weekend. I really want to thank Ms.Tretter for directing this band.” A special thanks to the generous contributions by, Cruise Club Tokyo, Jesse Club, Macoma Inc., Live JAM, International Music School, The Ryu Family, The Titov Family, The Yoshizue Family, The Fukuhara Family, The Masuyama Family, Mrs. Mamee Kaneko, Mrs. Minako Ohtsuka and Mrs. Minako Ohtsuka and Mrs. Riki Mano. Special thanks to all the parents that helped set up the event. The Diplomat is looking forward to hearing more delightful performances by the Jazz Band.

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November 2019

MUN Photos

By Yamato Suizu

VEX Regional Robotics Competition @ASIJ

By Mr Bowring

Food Science DT Team

By Mr Bowring

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The Legend of the Slit-Mouthed Woman

November 2019 only way to break this pattern, is to confuse her by answering with either “you’re okay” or “so-so”, not providing a definite answer. The confusion from these replies would buy the victim enough time to get away.

Don’t be too spooked —it’s unlikely you will be chosen as her next victim. However, in the case that you are, remember what to do to survive getting a smile like Kuchisake Onna’s.

Halloween Photos

By Yamato Suizu, Seisen STUCO, and Mr Brittain

Article by: Nidhi Ponkshe Photo by: Matthew Meyer With Halloween approaching, be sure to watch out for the ghost of the Slit-Mouthed Woman, more commonly known as Kuchisake-onna. This popular and ancient urban legend originates in Japan, during the Heian period (roughly 1200-800 years ago). Japan is known for its number of frightening ghost stories, with this one in particular being beyond chilling.

The legend commences with a stunning woman who was married to a samurai. But beware, looks can be deceiving—she was very vain and one day, went as far as cheating on herSamurai husband.

When he found out about the affair, he grew very enraged and slit her mouth from ear to ear, giving her a Glasgow smile (which is a smile caused by wounds cutting from ear to ear). Following this savage action, he asked, “Who will think you’re pretty now?” Although the original tale is a cautionary one to remind people to stay faithful, the story takes a gruesome turn.

In 2007, a coroner found records of similar shocking cases during the time of day that the story takes place, the nighttime. The records showed that many children had died at night, rumouring sightings of a woman with similar features were at the time and place of their deaths, giving a frightful realistic twist to the legend.

This apparent phenomenon can be explained:a woman wearing a surgical mask or mask of some sort who would approach people (usually children) at night and ask them, “Am I pretty?” If they said no, she would slash their faces with a pair of scissors, giving them a similar Glasgow smile. However, if they said yes, she would reveal her face and ask again. If this time, they said “no”, she would slash their faces regardless Even if they still said yes, she would follow them home and still brutally kill them. Many people believe the

November 2019

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The Papal Mass

November 2019

The Chess Tournament Article by: Sean Olson

Article by: Keannan Silong Photo by: Getty Images

An important figure arrived in Japan on November 23.

This person was Pope Francis, known for his views on world issues and the leader of two-billion people as the head of the Catholic Church. The theme of the Pope’s visit was to spread the message, “Protect All Life” from Isaiah 45:18. The verse states, “For thus says the Lord… maker of the earth who established it, Not as an empty waste did he create it, but designing it to be lived in…” Taking the words of the Earth being designed to be lived in, the message was birthed to protect the life in the world God created. The Pope traveled across Japan hosting Papal Masses in the cities of Tokyo, Hiroshima and Nagasaki due to the historical importance and loss of life that occurred in those cities.

The St. Mary’s community was lucky to be gifted tickets to attend the mass by the bishop of the Tokyo Archdiocese. The number of tickets was limited, thus the opportunity to attend the mass was announced to the students in October to determine how many students would be interested in attending the event.

The organizer for distributing tickets was Mr. Rose.

When asked about the event, he expressed his opinion that it is a very rare opportunity to see a Pope in Japan. The last time a Pope came to Japan was almost forty years ago, in 1981. At that time the position was held by Pope John Paul II. When asked about his view on the school’s Catholic community, he explained that he felt that it was disjointed, and thought the opportunity would be a good experience for the students to look back at the Catholic background of St. Mary’s.

Ultimately, whether they are Catholic or not, Pope Francis’ visit to Japan can help the students reflect on the origins of St. Mary’s as a Catholic school. Additionally, the opportunity can give students the ability to explore different ideas and worldviews. If there are people interested in seeing the event, recordings of it can be found on the “POPE IN JAPAN 2019【 公式】” Youtube channel.

The chess tournament is currently on its sixth week, beginning from October 30th, and re-scheduled to end onNovember the 27th. It is currently taking place in Mr. Kratz’s room with 13 sharp-witted contestants. The tournament is a single elimination format, with each person having 20 minutes on their clock.

The chess tournament, hosted by the chess club, was open to any student. This tournament was a great opportunity to practice and develop the contestant’s chess skills. The other contestants were: Anrug Sritharan (senior), Lavansh Singhal (Freshmen), Meiyo Hirata (Junior), Teo Lee (Freshmen), Jaewon Hong (Senior), Kshitij Singh (Junior), Danila Leyko (Junior), Jeffrey Lee (Senior), Felipe Chertouh (Junior), Adam Zikowski (Senior), Naoki Martin (Senior), and Christopher Kirch (Sophomore). Currently, the tournament is down to finals between two of the founding members, Jaewon Hong and Christopher Kirch.

Before we go on to an exclusive interview with the finalist, we must first understand the intricacies of chess.

Chess is a strategic 1 on 1 game, where the players display their strategic prowess through their handling of trading and positioning pieces, while almost simultaneously setting psychological traps. However, the biggest challenge of chess is that the player must do all of these complex strategies within an extremely short time limit. The players who show more skills in these areas, are often the victors of the game.

Here is the procedure of a typical chess match.

We start with the opening. The opening is the most important phase for a player. The majority of the players will aim to take control over the four middle squares of the board. These first few moves you play determine who will be holding the overwhelming advantage during the middle game.

The middle game requires the most strategy and can make any disadvantaged player turn the tides. Players will have to strategically deal with trading pieces, positioning pieces, and set traps, in order to maintain a good formation of pieces on your table. The middle game is usually where the winner and loser will be determined.

The end game is often ignored by players, because most of the time, their opponent only has their King piece left.

However, they still can’t relax just yet, as the opponent has the chance of managing to pull out a draw, making all the effort you spent into dominating and overwhelming the enemy going to waste.

Chirstopher Kirch, one of the chess finalists, reminiscenced in his interview how he got into chess. “My father taught me, as it was one of the few things we did together.” he said. “I got into it, and since I wasn’t a very athletic kid, it was the one thing that stuck with me. ”

When asked about his feelings towards the finals, he stated “I am very confident with my preparation, and I believe in my abilities but because I am unsure of my opponent’s skills and experience, it would surely be a challenge.”

The chess tournament is still ongoing, due to the unexpected 2 week extension of the chess finals, which will finally happen this Wednesday.

November 2019

Chess Tournament Photos

By Adam Zbikowski, Felipe Chertouh and Sean Olson

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Seisen Sports Photos

By Seisen

The Wizard of Oz Auditions Information