(１) Fashion Frontiers

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2022

The NUFS Times
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies
57 Takenoyama, Iwasakicho, Nissin, Aichi 470-0197 JapanThe 10th edition

A Land-Mine Style Ready for the World
Zooming in on Jirai-kei fashion
By Beatrice KING, Georgina
F. BRIGGS, and Eiko KOJIMA

Weaving our way between a maze ofalleys in Osu, filled with candy-pink
clothing stores and bubble tea
stalls, we notice an overlapping
theme: the Jirai-kei fashion boom
has spread everywhere. It’s hard topass a minute walking through thestreets without seeing a girl dressedhead to toe in Jirai-kei, with a dusty
pink short dress, twin-tail hairstyles tied in a myriad of lacy black
ribbons, and a backpack to matchthe look.
It’s not exactly a new fashion
trend, having emerged within thepast three years, though it’s unlike
the bright and colourful trends before it. Jirai-kei literally translatesas ‘Landmine Style,’ a former mockery of emotional girls prone to dramatic behaviour and violent breakdowns turned aesthetic and lifestyle.
The style originated in thestreets of Kabuki-cho, Tokyo, a district known for adult orientatednightlife, rock performances andhost clubs. It’s almost hard to imagine such a cutesy style juxtaposed
against the electric background of
the city, but Jirai-kei has spread
across Japan, even attracting dedicated followers overseas.
There’s no short supply of tutorials on how exactly to dress Jirai-kei
either – mannequins display thelatest looks, and magazines provide Jirai-kei, a fashion style that is cute at
detailed instructions regarding cute first glance but harbors a darker permakeup styles that pair well withsonality on the inside, continues tothe fashion. Accessories sell for as
gain popularity.
cheap as ¥100, so it’s really no wonIllustration by Beatrice KINGder that the once adult-orientatedstyle has found its way into the
We asked students at Nagoya
wardrobes of teens and young womUniversity of Foreign Studies what
en alike.
their impressions were regarding
However, Jirai-kei’s sudden en- people who wear Jirai-kei fashion.
trance into mainstream fashion has 67% of respondents answered thatbeen met by widespread social prej- they find people who wear Jirai-Kei
udice, directed towards those who
hard to approach and talk with.
wear Jirai-kei and their lifestyle
One interviewee specified: ‘I associchoices.
ate Jirai-Kei with people who are alittle sick or menhera. This makes
One common stereotype surme nervous to talk to them–theirrounding Jirai-kei and other alterpersonalities seem cold or distant.’
native fashion styles, such as YamiAnother claimed: ‘I imagine Jiraikei, is that people interested in thekei people as being surrounded by astyle are menhera, a Japanesedark atmosphere. They seem scaryslang term referencing people withwhen I talk to them.’
mental health struggles. Due tonegative stigma around such strugDespite social bias, in recent
gles, the term can have derogatory years, fashion subcultures haveconnotations.
pushed to transform negative stigmas around fashion and menhera,“I was initially influenced by myfriends, who had been experimenting with the style, and after seeing
more and more on the internet, I
decided to give it a try. Before I
knew it, I was dressing like thisevery day. It just represents mypersonality,” we’re told by the pair.
“But sometimes people are easy
to judge and think it’s hard to communicate just because of your fashion choices, especially when thestyle is darker and edgier. When
you wear this fashion, people might
think you’re crying out for attention. But, when it comes down to it,
I think the effect that clothes haveon your life depends on who you are
as a person.”
No matter what negative perceptions society may have regarding
alternative fashion styles like Jiraikei, wearing clothes because you
truly love them and want to express
yourself seems important.
Next, we head to our main destination, Spinns, a store that has acted as the hub for various alternative fashion trends in Japan. The
store invites us into rows of black
lace and chains. Under labels that
identify Jirai-kei and illustrationsof twin girls in matching Jirai-kei
outfits, we find an abundance of
hair-clips and key-rings, featuring
various motifs from cute cat characters to pill shaped medicine.
‘Fall into darkness’; ‘Afternoon
nap-time’; ‘Magical girl’; ‘Great job
for staying alive’ – the messaging
being sold is clearly scrawled on thereclaiming the term to raise mental products in Japanese. The wording
health awareness.
expresses an intimate relationshipwith one’s feelings–the desire to live
Bearing this stigma in mind, we
freely and express oneself, even if
head to Osu to investigate. In front
that makes one a dangerous andof a fashion store lining the street,
unstable ‘landmine’ in the eyes ofwhich boasts an impressive range ofsociety.
fashion pieces in entirely pastel
The Spinns staff are incredibly
pinks and black tones, we find two
helpful,guiding us through the
girls browsing for clothes. Matching
black sweaters decorated withpieces anyone would need to pull off
brightly coloured bears, neona Jirai-kei look. “For people who arecoloured contacts, and highlighted
getting to know the style,” the staff
hair to finish off the look–their style advises, “gothic lacy collars, loose
socks and chains are an easy way tois just as impressive as the storetransform a regular look into Jiraithey’re browsing. What inspires
their looks? And why are girls onkei.’ Cute mascots also add to thethe streets choosing these styles to style’s unique atmosphere. ‘Kuromi
express themselves?
and My Melody are popular mascotsof Jirai-Kei,’ the staff adds. These‘What I’m wearing today would
two Sanrio characters are synonyprobably fall under the label ofmous with Japan’s ‘Kawaii’ mascot
Yami-kawaii fashion,’ one of theculture, themselves receiving a Jirai
girls shares. Yami-kawaii is a sister-kei makeover for a recent series ofstyle of Jirai-kei, trading Jirai-kei’s
original products marketed to young
signature ribbons and lace for a
girls.
fearless, bold look.

Continued on Page 6

(２) Society

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2022

Sexual Equality

Sexual Minorities in JapanThe deficiencies and possibilities of same-sex marriage support
in the rest of Aichi prefecture.
In fact, Nisshin City stated thatplans to introduce partnershipsystems are currently being
considered in Nagoya. Given
the size of Nagoya, this plan
could have a wide-reaching impact on the LGBTQ+ community.

By Connor L. GIBSON, Ellie
MCELWAINE, and Haruna
KOMATSU“I feel that many people don’t realize that same sex marriage isn’t
recognized. That's why it makes me
depressed. I'm still underage and I
don't have a partner, but I wantpartnerships to be recognized anddiscrimination to be reduced. I want
to be treated the same as heterosexual couples.”A member of a local LGBTQ+
group in Nagoya shared thesestruggles, lamenting the lack ofmarriage equality in Japan. Manysame-sex couples are unable to havetheir relationship legally recognized, hindering their ability to pursue a future as a family. The heartache and frustration our interviewees express regarding marriage inequality remind us exactly why an
official structure is necessary tosupport same-sex couples in the
LGBTQ+ community.

The actions of city hall and other governmental organizations
is key to implementing partnership systems and granting
more rights to same-sex couples
and the LGBTQ+ community.
However, without public support, fully mobilizing same-sex
rights and marriage equality
will be difficult. Though theJapanese public exhibits a positive attitude toward same-sex
marriage, their knowledge ofthe partnership system is minimal.
This certificate grants access to varParticipants waving rainbow flags inious social services, which had prea parade in Sakae, Nagoya (Partiallyviously only been granted to marmodified image)ried heterosexual couples.

When we interviewed Japanese
students on campus regarding theirknowledge of same sex marriage
and the partnership system, all the
Photo: Provided by the Chunichi
participants knew that same sex
Some benefits of the system inSociety's tolerance to difference
Shimbun on May 14, 2022.
marriage was illegal in Japan,
clude: familial hospital admission
has fluctuated throughout history,
The responses we received corre- while only half were aware of thewhich is especially prevalent when privileges, the ability to apply for
public housing as a family, the abil- late with a national survey conduct- partnership system. Participants
looking at LGBTQ+ rights, where
were also unable to clarify what
ed in Japan in 2019. The results
ity to designate one's partner as astories of discrimination and oppartnership systems may entail for
revealed that 87.9% of women andpression remain a constant concern. life insurance beneficiary, and pri69.2% of men are in favour of legal- LGBTQ+ communities. Moreover,vate family discounts. These beneExploring current affairs at theall participants were unaware ofizing same-sex marriage¹. Our inforefront of Japanese national news, fits make partnership systems interview responses from Nagoya Uni- future plans to introduce same sex
it becomes clear that the subject of credibly important for LGBTQ+
partnerships in different municipalversity of Foreign Studies suggest
people throughout Japan, who are
LGBTQ+ rights and the many
ities.
that students are supportive of
unable to achieve marriage under
struggles and concerns thatsame-sex marriage and same-sex
LGBTQ+ communities face are not the law.
Our survey results suggest apartnerships, and agree that partadequately addressed and discussed
generalapathy towards the subject
While the introduction of samenership systems should be implein Japan.
ofsame
sex marriage, marking one
sex partnerships marks a milestonemented in Nisshin City and Japanofthereasons
why same-sex marOne problem that LGBTQ+ com- for the LGBTQ+ community, many as a whole.
riage
may
remainillegal in Japan.
issues remain unsolved. For inmunities across Japan currently
If
there
existedmore
public mobiliCurious about the status of partstance, if one partner dies, the surface is the lack of marriage rights.
ty,astrongerforce
pushingfornership systems in Nisshin city, we
Many same-sex partners find them- viving partner cannot inherit any
LGBTQ+
rights,thenpartnershipdirectly interviewed Nisshin City
selves unable to live a normal, hap- property in the name of the desystems–and, in the future, imHall to clarify their stance regardpy life like their heterosexual peers, ceased. Moreover, if the deceased
proved marriage laws–may develop
has a biological child, the surviving ing same-sex marriages and partdue to the non-existence of samemore rapidly and widely.
nerships.
partner would not be considered asex marriage legality in Japan.
legal guardian. It is also difficult toSome cities in Japan have impleWithout a structure like the
Nisshin city undertook researchmented a same-sex partnership sys- adopt children because adoption
partnershipsystem, same-sex couin the 3rd Nisshin City Gender
may require the parents of the childtem over the years to tackle this
ples
face
many
limitations. The
Equality Promotion Plan (April
to be married.
issue.
emotional
andphysicalramifica2021-March 2031) to explore the
tions
of
not
being
able
to
marry haspossibilities of a partnership oath
Despite this, partnership sysCertain cities in Japan have imdeep
implicationsforhowsame-sextems mark a large step in the direc- system in Nisshin. The city plans toplemented same-sex partnershipcouples
carry
out
their
futurelives,
tion of marriage equality. Encourag- introduce a partnership system forsystems, sometimes referred to as
and
their
freedomtopursuehappiresidents, however, city hall musting discussion about further legal
partnership oath systems, which
ness. Nonetheless, unable to offerand systematic improvements that complete multiple steps before imoffer certain marital benefits tothe full benefits of marriage, theplementing the system, beginningsame sex couples. Partnership sys- can grant same-sex couples thepartnership system is only a temposame rights as their peers, partner- with partnership surveys. Aftertems ease some of the emotionalrary solution, with the end goal bethis, city hall will establish an imship systems improve the prospect
and physical ramifications thating complete marriage equality.
of marriage equality in Japan’s fu- plementation policy and create ansame-sex couples suffer due to theGreater public support might offer
advisory council for the promotion
ture.
illegality of same-sex marriage.
of gender equality. Finally, they will the mobility required to make this a
To gain further insight about the
The first partnership system wasreality in the near future.
conduct research and study otherintroduced in 2015 by the council of opinions of the Japanese public re- municipalities, conducting an exgarding this topic, we interviewed
Shibuya Ward, Tokyo. Since then,ploratory meeting².
participants for their thoughts rethe same system has been imple¹YAMASHITA, TOMOKO (2019) Survey: 78% of Japanese in 20s to 50s
Nisshin City Hall has a promisgarding the introduction of samemented by 233 municipalities,
legal gay marriages, The
ing action plan to implement a part- favor
sex marriage. Most respondents
which constitutes approximately
Asahi Shimbun. Available at:https://www.asahi.com/ajw/
stated that they agree with the im- nership system in the area, which
62% of the population.
articles/13053805 (Accessed: Noplementation of same-sex marriage. will be open to anyone who meets
vember 13, 2022).
Operating in local governments, Nonetheless, some remained impar- the requirements, regardless of sexpartnership systems issue certifi² https://www.city.nisshin.lg.jp/
ual orientation and gender identity.
tial, and others expressed worries
department/seikatu/kyoudou/3/12/
cates that recognize same-sex rela- that it might affect the declining
Cities like Nisshin could jumpstartplan/11305.html
tionships as equivalent to marriage. birth rate.
the spread of partnership systems

December, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(３) Gaming

Esports

Digital Spaces in the Real World
Exploring AICHI IMPACT
Reflecting on the pandemics impact, Kobayashi said “…the LAN
party world has not been able toevolve as much as we would have
liked. Offline activities are the best
part of our events, but we have notbeen able to hold them due to pandemic restrictions.”

By Zoe A. HOPWELL, Nicholas
T. SULLIVAN, and Shion TAKATEYAMA
More than half of Japan’s population plays some sort of video game,with Japan’s video game industry
bringing in close to 22.1 billion USD
in 2022. The attraction of large cash
prizes has turned esports into a billion-dollar industry and interest is
constantly growing. Hooked by theboundless innovation of gaming,
Japanese gamers have developed arich gaming culture, both online
and offline.
Japan’s gaming culture is at an
all-time high, but as people’s lives
suddenly transitioned online during
COVID-19, gamers began to revaluate the importance of physical spaces. Ranging from Pokémon Centers
to arcades, Japanese players have a
wealth of opportunities to unplug
and enjoy games in person. Gaming
conventions, in particular, offer
gamers a chance to meet face-toface, experience technology thatthey cannot normally afford, andimmerse themselves in a community that cannot be replicated in an
online world.

The appeal of conventions istheir relaxed nature. Conventions
show the face behind the avatar andhumanizes people, building a morepositive atmosphere based on mutual passions without fears of being
catfished, scammed or harassed.
People can see behind the screens,challenge their preconceived ideas
about who is online, and meet openly in a safer environment.

Esports team members participating at AICHI IMPACT look at thematch results, 18-20 Nov. 2022, at
Tokoname city, Aichi pref.

battled each other in front of a live
audience. Esports is a type of competitive gaming where competitors
challenge each other in organizedmatches.

Like any other sport, spectators
As one of thousands of people
flood to conventions, eager to watch
who discovered a love for gaming intheir favourite teams compete.
the pandemic, I was excited by the
However, in recent years, due to theopportunity to meet other fans andrapid rise of streamers, the main
see what the gaming community
mode of spectating has transitioned
had in store at my very first convenonline.
tion, AICHI IMPACT 2022.
While it may be easier to access
AICHI IMPACT is a chance forthe competition through a streamgamers and businesses to come toing platform, to see it in person is agether and connect with one anothunique experience. Watching theer without a Wi-Fi connection. Heldteams in person, experiencing theevery November at Aichi Sky Expo,oohs and aahs of the crowd–a palpathe three-day event is free to enterble sense of comradery develops beand hosts teams that play populartween fans. The excitement of seegames such as VALORENT, APEX,
ing one’s favourite streamers live,
and PUBG. Approaching its third
just as when watching any otheryear, AICHI IMPACT seeks to prolive sport, cannot beat that feeling.
mote E-sports and gaming acrossJapan by offering programming
Behind the main stage, in theclasses for kids, providing compashadow of the big screen, thenies a public platform, and holding event’s Novice LAN party trantournaments where students canspires amongst a small row of comcompete and showcase their skills. puters. LAN (local area network)
parties involve many people gatherHearing so much about the eye
ing in the same place to play games
catching conventions Japan hosts
together offline. In the early days offor anime and manga, I decided toLAN, gamers would lug their comexperience AICHI IMPACT for myputers, consoles, and party snacks
self. Compared to similar events in
to a mutual meeting place to show
the west, where gamers would aroff their tech. The parties have
rive in full costume, watch fierce
since evolved into a professionallycompetitions, collect merch, and buyplanned event, where people meetthe latest tech, I was surprised to
to chat, share food, and most imfind only a few patchy crowds mullportantly, game!
ing around the event. Despite many
brands and sponsors, attendanceThis activity differs greatly fromremained moderate and more laid
Esports. Kobayashi Kuno, a repreback than I expected. I felt a little
sentative of Chubu Student Efoolish wearing a cosplay jacket,
sports Association and organizer ofwhich I had thought would help me the LAN event, explains: “Esports
blend into the crowd.
are for players who hone their gameskills to compete in tournaments.
Located at center stage, the star
LAN parties, on the other hand, areof the convention was the Esportsa type of event where players comtournament, where pairs of teams
pete offline simply to enjoy the

In contrast, online gaming canbe serious, and players harsh. It
game.” In fact, Kobayashi adds, “It allows for anonymity, a mask thatis further said that the term ‘Ecan easily become a breeding
sports’ was first coined by LAN par- ground for toxic behaviour, such as
ties.” While esports can seem inac- cyber bullying, making gaming unpleasant for some. Many players are
cessible due to the large skill gap
between amateurs and professionafraid to use popular communicaals, LAN parties welcome anyone to tion features online for fear of harmeet offline, in a more personal,
assment.
interactive environment.
But Japan and the surrounding
world is transitioning towards a
Kobayashi has been organizing
LAN parties in Japan for 14 years
culture of convenience, and the abilnow. “I can't say that the scale inity to simply pick up a console andJapan is very large…It isn’t very
go has resulted in the loss of offline
popular in Japan, but it is populargaming communities. LAN parties,
among gamers in other countries,
arcades, and other opportunities towith some schools even having LAN play in person are powering downclubs.” Kobayashi reflected fondly
across the globe.
on how LAN parties have acted as a
Walking around Aichi Impact, I
springboard for streamers, withwas warmed by the potential the
many recent attendees using theevent represented. When the live
events to build their own online cagames commenced, staff beganreers. “I am working to make morehanding out cheer sticks. People
people aware of LAN events, and I
made noise to support the teams,
think we can increase their popularchance acquaintances blossomed
ity by participating in local gaming,
throughout the stadium, and face-to
as we did this year with AICHI IM-face encounters overflowed everyPACT 2022. We are also organizing
where I turned my head.
LAN parties in various prefectures… so that more people will be able
The unique atmosphere that conto participate regardless of disventions engender mark somethingtance.”
special, and have the potential to
become a part of Japan’s universalSo as the world rushes down thely loved gaming culture. However,path of digitalization, why are local
they have a lot to compete with, andevents like AICHI IMPACT still
to continue attracting players, they
relevant? In an industry built andmust capitalize on what sets them
thriving online, what more can ofapart.
fline events offer?
As esports finds its path in JaSince the pandemic, online compan, feeding off the increasingly
munities have become a crutch fordigital nature of the world, it ismillions, keeping the world interhard to say how offline events willconnected and modern society turnfair. The social, community building
ing. A recent influx of communicapotential of gaming will always betion features in online gaming has
an important factor in the market,
opened many alternate routes forbut conventions will need to levelmeeting people and playing with
up if they wish to achieve future
friends. With online social features
success.
becoming central to a games appeal,
conventions and other offline spaces
Kuzuhara, T. ( 2021, December 2)
must offer something new if they
The Gamers Powering Japan’s $22.1
want to achieve growth. People no
Billion Games Market: Consumer
Motivations, Behaviour & Data,longer need to travel to play games
Newzoo.
together, making it important for
https://newzoo.com/insights/
the offline community to tap into
articles/the-gamers-poweringjapans-22-1-billion-games-marketsomething that the online universe
consumer-motivations-behaviorfails to offer.
data

(４) Education

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December, 2022

COVID-19
Rebuilding International Exchange
The education crisis of COVID-19
By Zeph S. M. HOLDEN , Naho YAMAGUCHI, and Simon
P. R. LE GUAYNUFS has been a dynamic university for many years. We see this in
the university’s unique learning
atmosphere, where international
and Japanese students study together on campus, share experiences, and learn about each other’s culture and history. Many NUFS students share the same objective: tolearn about the world and open
their mind to other cultures.
The sudden appearance of
COVID-19 has profoundly, if notcompletely, altered teaching andlearning methods. To limit the
spread of COVID-19, one of the firstdecisions enacted by many of theworld's countries involved closing
borders. This decision had a profound impact on the global flow ofpeople, preventing students acrossthe world from studying abroad.

atmosphere, students also lost theopportunity to study at partner universities. The lack of opportunities
to study abroad have caused many
students to drop out of NUFS. In
In a regular year, without thefact, over the last three years, 275
influence of COVID-19, NUFS
students ceased studying at NUFS
boasts a very attractive exchange
because they lacked the ability toprogram for both Japanese and for- participate in overseas university
eign students. Maintaining partner- exchange.
ships with 180 universities in 30
NUFS stands out as an educadifferent countries and regions, thetional institution for linguistic anduniversity offers scholarships tocultural studies, offering the ability
both inbound and outbound stuto both interact with foreign students. 30％ of scholarships go todents at home and study abroad.
students who study abroad. In
However, when the pandemic ar2019, 973 NUFS students studied
rived, this ceased to be an option.
abroad, marking the highest numFor example, programs such as theber of students in the Chubu region
Language Lounge, a weekly proand placing NUFS 5th in all of Jagram that students attend to develpan.
op their language skills with native
However, like many universities, speakers, could no longer take
NUFS implemented online courses place. In an interview, the Head of
the International Office, Philipduring the pandemic, and had to
adapt to government directives, no- Rush, commented that the quality
tably reducing exchange opportuni- of student language development
has greatly declined. NUFS stuties with partner universities. At
dents gain more confidence in lanNUFS, as in many universities
around the world, the general quali- guage fluency by travelling abroadty of learning declined with the in- and interacting with foreigners andnative speakers. In the wake of detroduction of online courses. As auniversity of foreign studies, NUFS clining exchange, NUFS managed
to provide a limited number of inrelies on its robust exchange proternational students with online
gram, and the reduction of exchange opportunities between Japa- lessons. However, online courses
cannot replace the unique experinese and international students
ence of not only studying, but also
deeply affected the university’s
living, in a foreign country.
unique atmosphere.

Top: Japanese students enjoying
English conversation with international students in NUFS Language
Lounge.

exchange, if not in the most ideal
form.

It is important to note that
NUFS continues to focus on teaching its students how to work, collabBelow: The graph is based on datafrom 35 NUFS students.
orate and communicate with people
around the world. Having opened
this question. Finally, we asked: onthemselves to international tradea scale of 1 to 5, to what extent do
and business, many Japanese comyou think the return of classes topanies operate on a global level andcampus will have a positive impact
therefore seek to recruit people withon your studies? All students, exan understanding of global systems,
cept one, responded that it would
foreign cultures, and foreign lanhave a “positive” or “very positive”
guages. To meet the demands of thiseffect on their studies. Students
ever more interconnected world,clearly value the in-person, internamany students in Japan feel it estional atmosphere at NUFS.
sential to learn foreign languages
Professor Shogo Sakurai, a Japa- and understand the unique worknese teacher at NUFS, stated thatings of different cultures.
he was nervous at the start, but
As a university of foreign studfound online teaching better thanTo hear students’ voices regardies, NUFS may be attractive to stuNUFS markets a unique campus
he had initially expected. Professor
ing the issue, we conducted a survey
dents far and wide, but this is preatmosphere and opportunities for
Philip Rush shared this sentiment,
towards 35 Japanese students at
cisely what makes it vulnerable tointernational exchange to attract
stating that the first few months
global pandemics. To maintain its
students with an interest in foreign NUFS. We first asked students how
were difficult, but “online lectures
important interaction with internarich exchange program and robust
countries. In other words, many
worked reasonably well.”
population of on-campus internastudents apply to NUFS specifically tional students was to the development of their English language
In fact, student test results retional students, NUFS must notseeking international exchange.
skills. 17.14% of students answered mained unaffected during the pan- only overcome the lingering chalOne student claimed they stopped
demic, thanks to the university’s
lenges of COVID-19, but also lookstudying at NUFS precisely because it was “important” and 82.85% anhigh quality of online teaching. This ahead. How will NUFS tackle fuit lost this unique atmosphere dur- swered “very important.” We thenallowed NUFS to offer limited exture situations differently and more
ing COVID-19: "I felt it was a little inquired whether the students
think that COVID-19 negatively
change opportunities, where stueffectively? This could be the key to
bit of a waste of time, because theimpacted their studies. More thandents could learn online at NUFS.
become a leading model for univeruniversity lost half of its uniquethree-quarters (77.15%) of the reDespite COVID, there was stillsities of foreign studies across thecharacteristics during COVID-19."
spondents answered positively tosome semblance of international
world.
In addition to this international

December, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(５) Industry

Covid-19
The Post-COVID Playbook: It’s all about telework
This new work style allows the company freedom
By Teionnah N. MATHIS, Julius
E. KLIEL and Mao AOSHIMACOVID-19 involved extensive timespent locked inside houses andwearing masks outside. I also recall
the many people who lost their jobs
or began working from home. My
mother, who works in an HR office,had to bring a company laptop
home and sit in our dining room onzoom calls all day. This resembles
the work life of many throughout
COVID-19–stuck at home, blurringlines between work and personal
life. However, it is only one side of
the story: for many companies, thechanges heralded by the pandemic
represented new chances to work
efficiently and freely.
Japan enacted many changes toprevent the spread of COVID-19,
including mask mandates, immediate school closures, travel bans, andstay-at-home advisories. Throughout 2022, the government began tolift and relax such measures, but
one initiative still lingers: telework.
Prime Minister Shinzo Abe promoted teleworking during COVID-19,
and while it was voluntary, both thegovernment and Japan’s workforce
saw it as an opportunity to preventthe spread of COVID-19.

wider range of students, including
those studying abroad, have beenable to apply to CROSS PLUS.
Online recruitment processes havemade the company more accessible
Many employees benefited fromto those unable to apply in person.
the changes implemented by
The only con, Mr. Sugimura notes,
CROSS PLUS, gaining more flexiis the inability to detect physicalbility at work. Mr. Arimura also
and social cues, such as facial exmentioned that, before the pandempressions and body language. Theseic, he visited offices and apparelcues are important to managing
production plants in other countries
human relations in any company,
almost two times a month. Later, he
but are difficult to detect in an
realized that this kind of operation
online environment.
was not working, and implemented
a web system that allowed them to
CROSS PLUS changed their sysTo delve deeper into COVID-19 hold meetings online.
tem of recruitment online in 2020.
telework, we interviewed CROSS
They decided against hiring recruitWith that being said, the changPLUS employees, Mr. Masaaki Ariers and used the year to finetune
es implemented by CROSS PLUS
mura and Mr. Kazuhiko Sugimura.
their online recruiting systems, aldid not come without their difficulMr. Arimura and Mr. Sugimura
lowing students from around theties. The online switch required
highlight that telework, while iniworld to apply online. In the end,
that all employees have access totially imposed to fight COVID-19,
CROSS PLUS decided that the final
stable internet connections. With
has nonetheless had an overall posiinterview needed to be in person.
such a rapid transfer from online totive effect on the well-being of the
While they are taking gradual steps
offline, the company did not havecompany and its employees.
to switch from online to in-person,
enough time to test and offer thethe overall system has not changed
Mr. Sugimura mentioned thatnecessary facilities. CROSS PLUS
between 2020 and 2022. Across thisCROSS PLUS immediately
mentioned that providing devices
period, the online system has ofswitched to teleworking when
and a stable, fast internet connecfered more flexible recruitment opCOVID-19 cases steadily rose from tion was difficult. Some employees
portunities to the company and fuApril to May of 2020 and the govresorted to “join[ing] meetings fromture employees. CROSS PLUS
ernment declared a state of emerconvenience store parking lots justseeks to continue developing a mangency. The company worked hard to to get an internet connection.”agement system that maximizes
develop a non-location-based teleMr. Sugimura claims that thisbenefits for both employees and ofwork environment, providing mobile
new work style allows the company fice workers.
phones and new software for online
freedom: workers can attend meetmeetings. To avoid close contact,
Even though the COVID-19 panings without worrying about space
they also limited the number of peodemic only surfaced in the last coulimitations; the company can saveple able to attend in-person meetple of years, it will likely remain amoney; and recruitment can spreadings. Further, employees were alpart of our lives for many years tobeyond Aichi’s borders. In fact, a
In my third year of university, I
joined different company sessions
for job hunting. In these sessions, I
realized that companies were making great efforts to embrace telework in the pandemic, altering how
they conduct business and reorganizing their work environments.
CROSS PLUS, a Japanese apparelcompany that also began selling
daily necessities during the pandemic, made great efforts to adapt
to COVID-19 and foster a more flexible work environment.

lowed to flexibly alter their desired
work schedule, or switch meetingsfrom offline to online as theypleased.

Top: NUFS students interviewing
Cross Plus employees. Clockwisefrom top left, Julius Klier, Mao Aoshima, Teionnah Mathis, Mr. Masaaki
Arimura, and Mr. Kazuhiko Sugimura.

come. Many countries seek to return to a pre-pandemic normality,with Japan itself lifting regulations
even as it continues to fight COVID19.
What can we expect of the postpandemic business world? Mr. Sugimura stresses that efficiency has
been a focal point of the businessworld for time immemorial, andthat the pandemic has only amplified this reality. The idea of attending meetings in person and traveling long distances for work alreadyfeels like something of the past. In
the name of efficiency, companies
may opt for a telework or hybrid
work style, where employees canwork flexibly from anywhere.
Japanese companies and theiremployees must deal with a newnormal and a different working environment. This new normal mightfeel unpleasant for some, but it offers new possibilities with positive
potential. As highlighted by CROSS
PLUS, the new working conditionsof COVID-19 have benefited thecompany’s operations, leaving an
indelible mark on its future.

(６) Special Page

An English-language newspaper born from the voicesof students
A Japanese proverb came to mind
when The NUFS Times publishedits 10th edition: "Hyoutan kara koma" ("a horse from a gourd"). It is
used do describe the occurrence ofsomething unexpected. The birth of
The NUFS Times befits this saying.
Around the spring of 2018, in mysecond year of employment at Nagoya University of Foreign Studies, I
served as an advisor to the Mass
Communication Industry ResearchGroup. This group consists of students who are interested in working
in the media industry, including
newspapers, television stations, andpublishing companies.
One of the students in this group
approached me and said, "There aremany international students on
campus, but we don't have many
opportunities to interact with one
another." I responded with the suggestion that they develop an English-language newspaper with theinternational students–an idea fromwhich blossomed forth this very
newspaper.
The NUFS Times has reached its
10th edition thanks to the help of
many. I thank Dr. Hiroko Tokumoto, my co-teacher, who coordinateswith international students. I also
extend my gratitude to Dr. Masako
Umegaki, who wrote the congratulatory note on this special page. Of
course, the NUFS Times would nothave come to fruition if not for the
initiative of the students who took

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December, 2022

part in the Mass Communication
Industry Research Group.

Looking back, five years ago,
Japanese companies and local govProfessor Kojima, the advisor of the ernments requires not only JapaMass Communication Industry Re- nese language skills but also basic
The newspaper medium has
search Group, requested that I
knowledge of the necessary field,
been struggling around the world,
gather potential authors fromand an even deeper understanding
with the number of readers decreasamongst the university’s internaof what one wants to convey in theiring ever year. “News vacuum aretional students, and I have been
article. Put simply, this class is aas,” where no newspapers exist, dot
watching over the newspaper everhigh hurdle for both undergraduate
the United States. In such areas,since.
and international students. Neverthe heads of administrative agentheless, seeing the results of hardcies have increased their compensaFor the first and second issues, I
student work come to fruition intion to twice the president's annual recruited international students toprinted form never fails to instill mesalary. Indeed, when there are no
write articles, and undergraduate
with a sense of pride. The newspareporters to monitor institutions of members of Nagoya University of
per is quietly gaining recognition,
power, nothing but trouble awaits. Foreign Studies’ Mass Communicafinding its way to entrance ceremotion Industry Research Group supI conclude with a direct address
nies, local government offices andported their interviews and reto students. To create an edition ofeven movie theaters in Nagoya stasearch activities. Although it was
the NUFS times, you become stution.
not a class and no credits were givdents of the world, imitating a reen in return, both the international
Although it has only been fiveporter and writing an article. Fromand undergraduate students found years since the publication of thesuch a small experience, you develthe experience very fulfilling.
first issue, students' interests andop a strong grasp of current events.
awareness of issues are constantly
It is a small step, but it challenges
The article regarding plastic entransforming. It is extremely interyour ability to see the world fromvironmental pollution in the Fujiesting how, even from such a small
multiple, critical angles, far andmae Tidal Flat, which graced theactivity, one can feel the everwide.
front page of the second issue, waschanging pulse of Japan and thecovered extensively by TV andYour valuable experiences andworld. In their work, NUFS stunewspapers. The two international
contributions to the NUFS Times
dents synthesize a myriad of inforstudents who wrote the article evenwill surely herald a rich future bothmation, puncturing national boundparticipated in a TV interview.
on and off campus.
aries and grappling with the interThanks to this, the newspaper retwined nature of our globalizing
Editor in Chief: Kazuhiko KOJIMA ceived recognition from the univerworld. The NUFS Times offers stusity, and from the third issue, it wasdents the opportunity to collaboraincorporated into a Japan Studies
tively develop stories that, syntheWriting the World Hand-in course, wherein both undergraduate sizing international narratives,and international students could
Hand
sprout from comparative analysis.
learn hand-in-hand.
We hope to continue this activity inSince its first publication in SepStudents invest an extensive
the future, and together with ourtember 2018, The NUFS Times has
amountofeffortandtimetoconstudents, we will continue to enrichbeen published every semester
duct interviews and write articles,
the distinctive educational activities
without missing a beat. As a faculty
making it a difficult task to keep
available at Nagoya University ofmember, I am overjoyed to publish
them motivated. In addition, many Foreign Studies.
the 10th issue and even more proudof the international students whoof the students who have worked so
Adviser: Hiroko Tokumoto
participate in this program lack fluhard to write their articles.
ent Japanese skills. Interviewing
achieved international famethrough such magazines.

photo booths. In Japan, it would beverging on the impossible to findany girl under the age of 30 that
Jirai-kei, however, finds its pophas never taken purikura photos
ularity in a different medium. The
with her friends. These Purikura
Spinns staff continues: “These days,
Photo booth are fronted by images
a lot of our customers come hereof girls clad in Jirai-kei. It’s here
after being inspired by influencers
when we immediately realise thatsuch as Ano-chan and trends on
the Jirai-Kei trend has reached atiktok.” This comes as little surpriseubiquitous level of popularity,
for a fashion style that is gaining
where little has been spared of its
popularity with young girls, who go
influence.
to the app to search for their idols
Cute Jirai-kei items.
and their community. The hashtag
It is clear that Jirai-kei style isbeginning
to shed its negative con#Jirai-kei(#地雷系)
hasbeen
From Page 1
viewed over 342.9 million times on notations, emerging as a form of
The darker characteristics of Jiraifashion that accentuates the indikei clothes and accessories suggest tiktok, and a quick search reveals abustling digital community of girls viduality of its wearer. Dressing
a sense of danger and rebellion,
sharing make-up tips and where to how you like–on your own terms,
while pink tones and cute mascots
find affordable items related to the unfazed by how society may label
maintain a ‘kawaii,’ girly presentayou– is at the core of Jirai-kei’s risestyle.
tion. This balance between dark andin popularity, leading it from thelight, dangerous and sweet, cute
Unlike other Japanese fashion
backstreets of Japan’s red-light disand scary, is what completes a Jirai trends–birthed forth from city
trict all the way to an international-kei look.
streets and fostered in magazines
stage.
like Kera–Jirai-kei finds its fame in
The staff in Spinns pull off their
online social platforms, increasing
looks effortlessly, and one of them
From Page 8
both the scope of its audience andshares the start of her fashion jourStudio
Ghibli’s international andits accessibility. This plays no small
ney. “I’ve been interested in alterdomestic
popularity, however, Mr.
role in addressing the style’s neganative fashion since I was in middle
Tanimuraand Mr. Hiraiwa predicttive stereotypes. Onlookers can exschool. I used to read Kera magathat
GhibliPark will attract fansperience the style online, watchingzine a lot, but lolita style was alandrevenuefrom across the world.
real people express themselves andways a bit too unaffordable, so I
their unique relationship to thefound other similar styles to emuMany fans eagerly await the
fashion.
late instead.”chance to enter the park, however,tickets have been frequently sold
It’s hard to miss the many arKera magazine, a cornerstone ofcades seen throughout Osu, and we out. Due to excessive demand, tickJapanese alternative fashion that
decide to head in as the last step of ets are sold according to a lottery
was published from the late 90’s tosystem, making access to the park
our investigation. An incredibly
2017, is synonymous with the rise ofdifficult. The official Ghibli Park
popular pastime trending amongstyles like Lolita, Gothic, and JapaJapanese youth for the last two dec- website provides information renese style punk and grunge. Alterades, the back wall of the arcade is garding raffle submission dates andnative and street fashion in Japan
times, so if you are hoping to visit
filled with purikura, or ‘print club’the park, be sure to refer to thisahead of time.
Though a hefty economic venture, Studio Ghibli fans and locals
from Aichi prefecture have welcomed the park with open arms.
Those who visit the park feel elatedby the chance to see their favorite
Ghibli movies come to life, appreciating the minute details recreatedin the park. Fans that have yet tovisit are just as excited to experi-

The writer (left) surveys visitors at Ghibli Park, Nagakute City, Aichi.

ence the secrets hidden inside, andare willing to wait as long as it
takes to acquire a ticket. To ensurethat it remains a welcomed addition
to Aichi, the park has greatly considered the local environment andtourism industry. Ghibli Park will
no doubt be visited by many for theforeseeable future, but only time
will tell whether the venture will
mark an economic success for Aichi
prefecture.

December, 2022

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(７) Special Page

Commemorative 10th issue

Post-Truth Era

and the results of their efforts arewidely disseminated in English.
Considering the fact that exchange
students spend up to only one year
at NUFS, it is very precious thatboth exchange and domestic students, hand in hand, have successconcept of humanity itself. The only fully passed the writing baton to
one another, maintaining the paway for us to avoid being affected
per’s high standards in a limitedby this lamentable collapse is fortime period. I understand that all
the younger generation to do their
this has been made possible thanksutmost in developing the criticalthinking skills that will allow them to the tremendous support andguidance of Professor Kojima, edito firmly discern the difference betor-in-chief, and Professor Tokumotween truth and falsity. At theto, adviser to The NUFS Times, tosame time, let me add, criticalwhom I express my deepest apprethinking skills alone do not necesciation.
sarily guarantee a rich life. In thisage of "100-year lifetimes," critical
Nagoya University of Foreign
thinking must be nurtured hand in Studies accepts approximately 200
hand with a sensibility for empainternational students each year.
thy.
At first, the publication of The
NUFS Times was planned as partThe students who produce the
NUFS Times will likely become the of the extra-curricular activities ofthe Mass Communication Industry
leaders of Nagoya University of
Research Group, under Professor
Foreign Studies, training their capacity to confront the contemporary Kojima’s tutelage, with the aim ofpromoting exchange between interworld and paving their way towards journalism. I sincerely hope, national and domestic students.
too, that through their engagement
The first edition was published

The importance of critical thinking

Ikuo KAMEYAMA
President of NUFS
This year marks the 34th anniversary of Nagoya University of Foreign Studies (NUFS), andthe university is on its way
to becoming one of Japan's
leading private universities
in terms of international
openness. The bonds of international exchange were
temporarily shaken by the
COVID-19 disaster, butsince the beginning ofApril, 2022, they have been
restored all at once, like thesudden flowering of cherry
blossoms, and the campus
has begun to regain its former liveliness. It may comeas no surprise, then, that
we express a renewed vigor
towards the publication of
The NUFS Times, as one of
the university’s most outstanding projects.
Launched in 2018, at
the initiative of Mr.
Kazuhiko Kojima, a journalist for the Chunichi Shimbun,
this English-language newspaper
has steadily accumulated issues,reaching its 10th issue this year.
Most gratifying is that this project
has developed jointly through thecooperation of Japanese and international students, as part of theirclass activities. Last year, Professor
Hiroko Tokumoto joined the staff asa new supervisor, and the paper
has taken a step forward from being an internal bulletin to a publication that pursues a more universal theme.
Our world is currently in the
midst of an unprecedented crisis,being hit by consecutive catastrophes. The COVID disaster, the war
in Ukraine, natural disasters on a
global scale, and the accelerating
polarization of peoples are just a
few examples. But perhaps mostcritical of all is the confusion andmisuse of information, and the advent of the post-truth era. Everyday, we experience the collapse not
only of the once revered notions ofright and wrong, but of the veryin the production of this newspaper,
they will not only become the representative intellect of the student
body, but also the leaders of a newgeneration, who can truly contribute to humanity’s peaceful coexistence.

Ranging from traditional
Japanese culture to industrial structure and social issues
60 articles published in 5
years
Congratulations on the tenth edition of The NUFS Times. We would
like to express our gratitude to all
those who have been involved in
the publication of this newspaper.
We truly appreciate the excellent
articles that students have delivered to us twice a year for five longyears. The NUFS Times is uniquein that domestic and exchange students cooperate to create articles,(GJP)," launched in April 2019,
where international and domestic
students could study together. At
this point The NUFS TIMES wasclosely tied to one of the Japan
Studies Courses (JSC903), one of
the Category 4 (experiential courses) of the GJP. Thus, The NUFS
Times, since its third edition, became not only an informative medium for people on and off campus,
but also an eloquent result of collaborative coursework.
Over the past five years, morethan 60 articles have been published in The NUFS Times. The
articles cover a wide range of topics,
from traditional Japanese culture
to industrial structure and social
issues. Students have publishedinsightful essays on topics such as
minorities and gender, film andanime, religion, environmental issues, and social welfare, all with ahigh level of awareness of the issues. But what is most impressiveis the paper’s ability to continue
despite the crisis of the COVID-19
pandemic. On the front page of thefifth edition, we read: “the world
has changed completely”
and “The NUFS Times is
not immune to its influence,” with all the writing and editing sessions
unavoidably held online.
However, with the helpof former exchange students and domestic students writing independently, The NUFS
Times has continued
publication without asingle break. Finally, inthe 9th edition of 2022,
the jointly-named articles returned, exactly as
before the pandemic. I
express my deep respect
to everyone involved inovercoming these difficulties.
Since the COVID-19
pandemic, face-to-facecommunication has drastically declined, and we are unsure
whether daily life will return to its
former shape. Amidst this, people
have become more and more uneasy
with recent military conflict, economic problems, and an increasingly divided world. It is during suchtimes that cross-cultural communication becomes essential. In thissense, the publication of The NUFS
Times and all that it represents is
indispensable: students from various countries reach for the samegoal, discussing and collaboratingin order to produce novel information.

I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate all the stuMasako UMEGAKI
dents who contributed to the paper’s publication, the editor-inVice President, Director of Acachief, and the advisors and proofdemic Management Promotion
readers for their outstanding efforts
Office; Professor, Department ofand achievements in maintaining
British and American Studies,
the spirit that has guided The
School of Foreign Studies
NUFS Times since its inception. We
would like to congratulate you onin the summer of 2018. Around thatthe 10th issue of The NUFS Times
time, the university decided to deand wish you continued success invelop the "Global Japan Program
the future.

(８) City Topic

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2022

Reaching Beyond the Screen
The wonders of Ghibli in the third dimension
By Amy L. MORGAN, Karla
MAYNARD, and SHEN Yunchieh
Ghibli fans across the globe havedreamed of being a protagonist
within the fantastical world of
Ghibli. If not, they dream of tasting
the magical world’s delicious foods,
basking in the sun on Totoro’s huge
belly, or flying on Kiki’s delivery
broom. All those aspirations, which
once seemed impossible, have become a reality at the new GhibliPark located in Aichi Prefecture,
Japan. Ghibli Park aspires tostretch beyond two-dimensions andbring the world of Ghibli to life forits viewers.
We interviewed members of the
public to gather their perspectives
on Ghibli, Ghibli Park, and how it
met their expectations. How has
Studio Ghibli gained its prominencein the animation industry and why
are its works so loved worldwide?
Since Studio Ghibli’s first debut
in 1985, with Nausicaä of the Valleyof the Wind, the franchise hasachieved success domestically. On
the other hand, because Studio
Ghibli prioritizes high quality production over advertising, it was not
until the twenty-first century thatStudio Ghibli gained international
praise for its work. For instance,
Spirited Away was awarded an Oscar for Best Animated Feature in
2003, the first non-English movie tobe recognized for this achievement.

ceeding to create impactful female
protagonists in films such as Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind andPrincess Mononoke. These social
efforts have not gone unnoticed.
One visitor of Ghibli Park told us:“While other animations portray
female protagonists in superhero or
princess roles, [Ghibli] portrays thelife of real girls outside of their traditional roles.” This ability to go
against the social grain contributes
greatly to Ghibli’s popularity, andwe hope to see the same courageousness reflected in the park’s
operations.
We surveyed the public to see
how they view Ghibli. 96.1% of participants found Ghibli personally
important to them and Japaneseculture, many describing the Ghibli
franchise as offering a “sense of
comfort,” and “a nuanced portrayalof nature, love, and Japanese culture.” The key responses to our surveys and interviews situate Ghibli
as a representative of Japan, andJapanese culture. Mr. Tanimura
and Mr. Hiraiwa of Chunichi
Shimbun added that, while Ghibli
films are “influenced by many countries, ... [they] can only be createdin Japan.” Ghibli, indeed, seems tohave become the “Disney of Japan”– catered to a diverse audience, it
offers a gateway into Japan itself.
Nevertheless, will the park beable to cater to the vast intentions,nostalgia, and curiosity of a diverse
audience? Enjoyed by fans of different age groups, Ghibli Park mustfind a way to entertain both adults
and children. Our interviewees describe how the park has done so.
One park visitor stated that certain
areas cater to adults by capturing
the subtle details of different Ghibli
movies. The Hill of Youth exhibit,
they added, portrays intricate details from Whisper of the Heart, butlacks entertainment for children.
On the other hand, the park boasts
a section for children known asChildren’s town, which “is a mini
replica of the Higashi-Koganei
Train Station.” Adults and children
from around the world should besatisfied with their visit to thewhimsical world of Ghibli.

Even though Studio Ghibli
states that popularity is secondary,
their name has always suggested
the intention to cause a stir. The
word Ghibli comes from an Italiansaying used during World War Two,
which means “hot wind blowing
through the Sahara Desert.” In thesame manner, one of Ghibli’s creators, Hayao Miyazaki, intended
Ghibli to blow a sensational wind
into Japanese animation. This realiTop: Students (right), Mr. Tanimura (left) and Mr. Hiraiwa (second from left)
ty gradually came to fruition as
discussing Ghibli Park at the Chunichi Shimbun office, Nagoya city.
Ghibli gained worldwide recogniBelow: The Ghibli park’s renowned elevator tower surrounded by nature attion. Part of the franchise’s success
Nagakute city, Aichi.
is thanks to its relatability: Ghibli
tells stories that explore the depth
shop, dedicates itself to the film
ing values that set the franchiseof human emotion and deal with
Whisper of the Heart.
apart from its competitors – ofreal life issues.
Creating a park for such athese, a general appreciation forWith more attractions alreadyunique movie franchise and a diThe Ghibli Park provides a sense
nature. In fact, Ghibli, an avid supin the works for the upcoming year,
verse fanbase was no small feat.
of nostalgia for its viewers, children
porter of environmental awareness,
The cost of creating Ghibli Park
such as Witch Valley and Mononoke
and adults alike from all over therejected amusement park plans that
Village, the park will only continue
currently stands at 34 billion yen, aworld. Some of the franchises mostrequired deforestation. Thus, while
to grow. We conducted an interview
large amount of which has been inpopular films, including My NeighGhibli Park will never become awith Mr. Yuji Hiraiwa and Mr.
vested into artisans, who use theirbor Totoro, Spirited Away, and“theme park” in the traditional
Takuya Tanimura, the editor andexpertise to add a touch of magic
Howl’s Moving Castle, have beensense, its appreciation for nature
deputy editor of the Chunichi
and whimsy to the park atmosincorporated into three separate
engenders a unique whimsicality,
phere. Mr. Tanimura and Mr. HiShimbun’s Cultural Section, to get a
attractions. The first attraction,
and a special immersive experienceclose look at Ghibli, its future intenraiwa claim that this is ultimately
Ghibli’s Grand Warehouse, covers
for park visitors.
tions for the park, and its collaboraan investment in the region, as theseveral films and, according to thetive efforts with Aichi Prefecture.
Alongside its appreciation forpark is expected to generate a largepark website, positively “bursts
whimsy and nature, Ghibli has also amount of revenue, and also placewith Ghibli.” Surrounded by a vast
According to Mr. Tanimura andnever shied away from issues of so- Aichi on the map outside of theforest, the second attraction focuses Mr. Hiraiwa, Ghibli strove tocial justice. In the 1980s and 90s,
business and industrial sectors.
on the renowned film, My Neighbor “create a park where visitors canduring the franchise’s inception,
Previous attempts to improve theTotoro, including a five-meter tall
explore and immerse themselves inwomen's rights movements in Jatourist industry in Aichi have been
Totoro, and a fully functioning rep- a Ghibli-esque environment of
pan had been gathering wide social unsuccessful, with projects such as
lica of Mei and Satsuki’s home. The whimsical fantasy.” Ghibli's whimattention. In response, Studio Ghib- Lego Land failing to attract a subpark’s final attraction, standing as sical, fairy-tale-like attributes growli asserted that “women and Ghibli stantial number of tourists. Due toa world emporium and antiquehand-in-hand with other long lastwill move forward together,” pro-Continued on Page 6

Editor in Chief: Kazuhiko KOJIMA, Adviser: Hiroko TOKUMOTO, Adviser & Proofreader: Jacob TEICHRIB