(１) World

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2019

The NUFS Times
Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

57 Takenoyama, Iwasakicho, Nissin, Aichi 470-0197 Japan

This ⋾4 edition is the collaboration of JSC903 exchange students and domestic students.

宓完宆宗宒宊宕宄宐宖孽 定宲宵宧宯宨家家季宆宲宰宰宸宱宬宦室宷宬宲宱季季季季 定宫室宷季宧宲季害宨宲害宯宨季宷宫宬宱宮季宲宩季宷宫宨家宨季害宵室宦宷宬宦室宯季害宬宦宷宸宵宨家宂季季季季季季季季季季季季from a distance thanks to the pictograms.’
A notable discussion was thefrequency of pictograms and signage in general throughout Japan.
While many students and tourists
who had spent time in Japan had
noticed the various signage in larger cities such as Tokyo, Osaka, andKyoto, it was different for those who
visited smaller locations, where
signage is minimal at best, and pictograms are hardly seen. Despite
the great changes so far in the capital and major cities, the system of
pictograms has not found a place inthe whole of the country.

Pictograms in practice - Fujigaoka Station, Subway Higashiyama Line.(Nov, 10, 2019)

Pictograms or ‘pictographs’ are useful pictures resembling some physical objects or actions.
They are the small images that accompany the various signs for bathrooms, bus stops, andvarious other public services. They convey the image quickly and easily, being recognizable
at a glance. One can recognize an image of a bus, bathroom or bank with ease, almost subconsciously. As a result, pictograms can allow for ease of access for signage, notifying themeaning without a necessary translation.

mindset also shared by Japanese
residents when discussing Japan’s
use of pictograms. A common point
between all involved was that an
Even with these advanceunderstanding of both the language
While the current developments, Japan’s current pictograms
It is not the easiest transition for aand the country, in general, lessare not without flaws—with somements are a great step in the right
tourist coming into Japan. If one isened the reliance on signs and pictoinconsistencies or anomalies within
direction, it would be beneficial to
not familiar with the language, theygrams. However, it was noted that
their application. For example, thesee a push for these small quality-of
may find themselves at a loss whenin some instances, the text is comgeneral pictograms for ‘bathroom’-life adjustments outside of the exit comes to reading signs, notices orpletely missing in place of pictoare mostly consistent. However,clusivity of a large world event. As
directions. Without the ability tograms for some facilities like public
it stands, pictograms are a useful
those used within the various appliread the language, tourists would
transport, so recognizing the releances, sinks, and toilets are inconaid for visitors but have yet to be
have difficulty, especially for nonvant pictograms is useful.
sistent between manufacturers,
fully realized in their application.
English speaking tourists.
causing difficulties for both resiOne international student
This is where pictograms are dents and tourists alike.
commented: ‘I don't notice pictomost useful. With the Tokyo 2020
grams on signs much at home beAn example of the seWe took the time to ask for
Olympic games on the way, Japancause I know my way about, but
the opinions both international sturies of new pictograms
is working towards making thewhen I travel abroad, I find myself
dents and Japanese domestic stucreated for the Tokyo
country more accessible to theneeding to rely on them if there isdents. We asked about their views2020 Olympic Games.
world. The use of pictograms has
not always an English translation’.
and experiences with pictograms inThis one represents
developed over the past few years,
Japan or further afield.
There was a drastic increase
Athletics.
to better serve the increasing numin the level of reliance when asked
The previous
ber of tourists coming into the counMost were familiar with what
about Japan. The international stutry. The aim is to overcome the lan- a pictogram was, having seen andJapan Standdents we asked expressed how theyguage and cultural gaps. Suchencountered them in their daily
ard pictogram
found pictograms to be very usefulmeasures include:
lives, while not always paying atfor ‘First Aid
when traveling around Japan, espetention to them. However, some
Station’’ (left)-Introducing a new series ofcially when they are not familiar
and the current international standwere not wholly familiar with thepictograms specifically for thewith the Japanese language.
term ‘pictogram’ from the beginard pictogram (right). The ‘Green
Olympic games;ning.
A Japanese student comment- Cross’ is a symbol that is recognized
ed: While tools such as translator
worldwide as a representation for-Expanding the list of existing
We found that people wereapps and maps are available forFirst Aid.
standardized pictograms to be used
not usually very reliant on pictotourists, they can spot the destinaacross the country;
grams in their home country – ation like a subway or bus station

By Yuki Hata and Oliver Pinder,
Quentin Payet, Alexandru Visan-Replacing existing pictograms with those more in line withinternationally recognized systems.

The development of pictograms attributed to the coming
Olympic Games is not something
new to Japan or the rest of theworld. This dedicated drive to
streamlining the signs has been
seen plenty of times before, notably
in the lead up to the 2012 Olympics
in London. The city introduced aseries of new pictograms into thecity – some to be representing the
Olympic sports, and others to beincorporated into regular signage.
This too was done in preparation for
the increase of tourism for the country and to better accommodate theincrease of visitors. The same ishappening in Japan. With the current trend, this focus of making
navigation easier for foreign visitors
may be seen again with the next
Olympic Games set for Paris 2024.

(２) Education

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2019

宍室害室宱宨家宨季守宧宸宦室宷宬宲宱季宖宼家宷宨宰
An Outdated Approach, Unhappy Students?
To get a better understandingof the way things are done, and how
people feel about it all, interviews
were conducted with several highschool teachers and their students.
When it came to the students, theyagreed with each other on mostthings. First of all, they really enjoy
working on special events for theschool. Plus, school is the place
where they can meet and socialize
with their friends. And although
they disliked doing homework, they
did really care about their grades
and wanted to enter a university.
On the other hand, a common complaint about the homework the students have to do is that it is too
hard and also that they could not
spend the time studying something
they actually care about. The
amount of homework also seemed
quite excessive with several of thestudents mentioning sleep deprivation as a result.
Generally speaking, school regulations are also quite strict in Japan, and some of the students thatwere interviewed brought this up.
Things such as the complete restriction of the use of mobile phones
on school grounds; even during
school events, or the regulation
against any kind of dyed hair.
The teachers were asked about
the curriculum, such as whether
they were satisfied with the way
things are done, and how they felt
about how things are done in general.

By Mai Yen NGO, Rogier Frederik
ZAPPEIJ and Nao YAMAUCHI

Above: English class of a normal day
at Tajiminishi High School, Tajimi city.
Below: Students’ practice writingsfrom calligraphy class.

Photo: by Nao YAMAUCHI on OctoWhen looking at the Japaneseber 18, 2019education system, there seems to
be a very drastic difference in
how it is viewed within Japanand outside of it. Outside of Japan it is often praised, yet within Japan’s borders what is mostly heard appears to be critiquing
the system.

No system ever made has been
flawless, but the disparity in opinions regarding this in particular isquite curious. The Japanese system
is quite old, it originated in the Meiji era and was purely focused onacademic results. The optimal way
to achieve these results was deemed
to be memorization of facts. Now
although most educational systems
around the world work in a similar
fashion, when one combines thismethod with the Japanese collectivist approach, and pressure for results that many Japanese students
feel, one can begin to see why inJapan they might feel differently
about it than those looking from an
outsider’s perspective. Especiallyaround the final terms of highschool when students are busy stud-

When asked the question: ‘Areyousatisfiedwith the Japanese sysvelopment of their personalities,
tem?’itquicklybecame evident thatand there can be no doubt thatindeedthey
also
had foreseen somemany of these are important. But
problems
withhow
it all functions.
are they really courses for the develA
commonalityoftheanswers was
opment of the student personally?
that
thestudents
could
not develop
Something that can help themthemselves
wellindividually,sinceachieve exactly what it is they dethe curriculum is tailored towards
all students. This puts
everyone on an equal
standing, but also
halts the progress of
individual talents thatmight otherwise develop.
The answers forquestions about theeffectiveness of thesystem and theamount of homework
required for the university entrance exam
were really short andgeneral: “It depends
on the student”, “Itdepends on thecourse”.

ying for university entrance exams,
where there days are filled with trying to memorize all they need of
their long list of subjects one cansee the peak of why, at least thestudents themselves, are unhappy.
Every subject on the long list thatstudents have to study for, isclaimed to be essential for the de-

The students and teachersthen, seem to agree on one thing.
Most textbooks are perfectly
There is still room for improvegeneralized, require no criticalments. However, Japan as a nation
thinking nor are any kind of worth- scores considerably high on global
while analyses required to be made. ranking lists measuring education,
Can such a curriculum and way of
so whether or not much will change,
studying really be considered aonly time will tell.
“success”?
sire?

December, 2019

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(３) Science

Fridays for Future

Is Japan aware our house is on fire?

A glimpse into climate change activism within Japan.
bring more attention to various topics around the world, that she became more aware of climate change
and its effects. Ms. Hasegawa was,at first, mainly concerned with theamount of plastic pollution in ourwaters. However, as her awarenessof climate change grew so did her
activities to help battle climatechange.
On the 20th of September 2019,
people all over the world including
people in Nagoya held a march inprotest of climate change. However,Ms. Hasegawa expressed her disappointment that although 160 people
joined the march, a large number ofthe participants were foreigners.
“While marching in the street, onlookers were really not doing anything. People were taking pictures
and we were telling them to join thecrowd, but no one was, they were allvery hesitant and distant.” she said.
Although participation was limited,
Ms. Hasegawa understands thatstrikes, even though powerful, areProtestors at a recent climate change rally in Nagoya.
not the only way to achieve newpositive climate change policies.
By Cagle Su OZBEK, Mairead Dan- participated. However, when this is mate change activism we conducted She believes small changes in individuals’ lives can have a huge effectielle TENNISWOOD, Rodion SOScompared to the masses that havea survey, and out of 101 people,
on companies and the government.
NAand Mirai AKAHORI
been seen in places such as London, 52.5% of the participants were inMs. Hasegawa admits the Japanese
New York, Berlin, and Melbourne;
terested in the topic of climate
government needs to make climate“We’ll go to school when the One should ask is Japanese climate change activism. However, onlychange their priority.
change activism lacking? Why
31.7% of the participants were faEarth is cool” screamed proHowever, Ms. Hasegawa feels
should Japan join the protest?
miliar with the organization Fritestors on the streets thisthat even in Japan, “Fridays for
days
for
Future.
Furthermore,
Concerning the latter question,
Future is not only about climateyear during a Fridays for Fu- it has become evident that the issue 66.7% of the participants hold thechange but about being a part of a
view
that
the
climatechangeproture protest.
of global warming is a universal
global community that is trying to
tests
are
not
doing
enoughtoacthreat not only to the biodiversity of
do something good for the future.
complishaconcretechange.
Surlife but will also start to interrupt
People who are a part of the group
Fridays for Future is an organiprisingly,
91.1%
of
the
participants
daily life and will cause severe ecowill feel more united with thezation which was started in August
have
never
attendedademonstranomic implications. According to aworld”.
of 2018 by Greta Thunberg, a 16tion
regardingclimatechangeandclimate change report issued in
year-old Swedish girl, who has gal44%
of
them
have
no
intentionto.
Ms. Hasegawa has confidence
2018 by the Japanese Ministry ofvanized millions in taking a standEnvironment, the global mean surTo gain a better understanding that if the Japanese people were toagainst climate change. The moveunite and fight together against
face temperature has risen by about of these results and why, perhaps,
ment’s aim is to have governments
0.72°C in the last 100 years. In Ja- climate change activism is not gen- climate change that they would bearound the globe follow the goals
powerful enough to garner change.
pan, the mean temperature has
erating enough attention in Japanoutlined in the Paris Agreement
The strength of the united Japanesedrastically risen by 1.19°C in the
we interviewed Kanae Hasegawa.
rigorously. The impact of the Fripeople has been seen both after thelast 100 years. The effects of thisShe is a member of the Nagoya
days for Future movement seems totragedies of 2011 (Great East Japan
radical rise in temperature can be
branch for the Fridays for Future
have erupted in Europe and Ameriseen when looking at the increasing movement within Japan, agreed to Earthquake followed by the nuclear
ca, but can the same be said for Janumber of natural disasters such as talk to us about the movement and power plant disaster in Fukushima)pan?
and more recently after typhoon
typhoons and storm surges and the climate change activism.
Hagibis and the effort to help Chiba
Japan, like many countries,
quality of rice and crops drasticallyMs. Hasegawa, a newer addiprefecture. Therefore, if the Japastarted to hold larger protests in its degrading.
tion to the FFF movement, started
nese people were to become morebiggest city, Tokyo. At the latest
So, should Japan be more wor- her climate activist journey threeproactive in the fight against cliprotest in September 2019, it is said
ried about our house being on fire? years prior.
mate change then perhaps, theythat approximately 2,800 people
In order to get a sense of what
It was while working on Peace could be a leading force in the fightthe Japanese populace think of cli- Boat, an organization that aims toagainst climate change.

(４) Subculture

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2019

Animation
Animania: Global Appeal of Anime
Entry point learn more about Japanese society
these movies, there is this tendency
to love this nerd culture, and also
anime and manga.” Because of thispopularity, there’s no reason foranime fans to stay quiet about theirlove for it, so they express their fandom in a variety of ways. NUFS
students reported attending anime
conventions, wearing cosplay, writing and reading fanfiction, and consuming others’ fan works as ways
they participated in anime fan communities. Some students even took
the opportunity to cosplay their favourite characters during Halloween events here at NUFS!

By: Esme (Xenon) Elizabeth Kelsey TYNER, Henrik DIELS and
Yumeka MATSUYAMA

Anime: Where kaidan meet
vampires and medieval
knights meet feudal samurai.
Where a Victorian mansion
stands amidst the marshlands of Hokkaido. Where thesensibilities of Nihonga painting are meshed with European-American comic artistry,
all ornamented with the eyesof Betty Boop.
Stories set in Düsseldorf, set in
Paris, set in London and set in themagical world of Jewel Land, and,of course, all over Japan. Stories
derived from Japanese folktales,
Russian literature and American
films, with some German andFrench philosophy thrown in forgood measure. Anime: Where European and American cultures meshwith Japanese culture, creating
something foreign… but not too foreign, and very accessible.

For international anime fans
at NUFS, anime is an aspect of Japanese culture that they love – butthey’re sure to make it clear thatit’s not the only aspect. While manyof these students cite anime as theirfirst introduction to Japanese culture, they agreed that it was only
an entry point into learning more
about Japanese society. Anime iswhat first got some students interested, but it wasn’t until they had
done more of their own study thatthey made the decision to come to
Japan. They were sure to value
what they had learned in academic
settings above cues taken fromAbove: Collecting goods featuring
anime, but this sometimes had surnational students at NUFS, who aretheir favorite characters is one way
prising results for them. British
fans of anime, can begin to shedfans show their love for anime.
student Lincoln Scott said, “havingsome light on this question.
already studied Japanese quite a
When asked how they firstlearn more about Japanese culture, bit, I already knew that there was abecame interested in anime, many
and after that it’s not that confusbig difference between what you see
students pointed to anime exported ing.”
in anime and how Japan was. I wasto their home countries and dubbed
As to why they’d rather watch actually more surprised by certainin their native language. In thesethings that I have seen portrayed ininterviews, students made reference anime than a show produced inanime that actually are very similar
their home countries, many stuto watching anime on television as
to how they are in Japan.”children, sometimes with influence dents stated that they simply enjoy
animation over live action television
All this information combinesfrom older siblings. Some of themand pointed to its unique art style
to paint a clear picture – anime alpointed out that they neverand diversity of genres as selling
lows people all over the world toacknowledged what they werepoints. Fans appreciate that anime foster a love for Japan’s rich culture
watching as a unique, culturally
is able to explore darker topics,
and history, while offering a small
specific type of television. Instead,window into Japanese daily life.
they viewed these shows as cartoons something uncommon in EuroAmerican countries, where animaRather than confusing viewers, thecomparable to other animated setion is often viewed as inherently
prevalence of Japanese culture inries produced in their home counchildish.
anime is a big part of what makes
tries or elsewhere in the world.

The diversity of stories that
The regional localization ofare
told
in anime makes it appealanime, then, is a large part of what
ing
to
many
audiences internationgot people interested in anime. But
ally.
Intervieweesfrom various
these dubs can both hinder and help
partsofEuropeandNorth America
people’s understanding of Japan.
agreed
that
anime
is
now very popOn some occasions, foreign netular
in
their
home
works have been known to censor
countries. As one poand replace information related toJapanese culture. In one controver- tential explanation,
Gaetano said,
sial example, 4Kids Entertain“nowadays there’s
ment’s dub of Pokémon often had
this tendency that
Since their humble origins in voice actors refer to onigiri as donerds and nerd culthe 1960s and 70s, international
nuts or popcorn, and on one occature is okay... soaudiences of anime have exploded
sion replaced an image of onigiri
many more people
in number - today, fans on every
with that of a sandwich. However,continent come together to discusssubtitled anime is not typically edit- become interested inand display their passion for it. It
ed in this way, and can even help to this culture. For example, with the Marcan be hard to understand why,
aid in international audiences’ unvel movies, they
though - many anime are deeply
derstanding of Japan. As Italianrooted in Japanese cultural norms
student Elettra Di Gaetano said, “in watch these movies,
and then they readthat may at first glance appear almany anime, there are subtitles
ienating and uninteresting to forwith some notes about the cultural the comic books. I
think that thanks toeign audiences. But talking to inter- aspects. Just reading that, I canthem love it.

Below: Cassandra Virtue showed heranime fandom by cosplaying
Umaruchan from Himouto! at the
NUFS Global Village Halloween party.

December , 2019

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(５) Social issue

Decreasing population in JapanAre Government Benefits the Best Solution?

By: Efim SHILIN, Eliz YUSUF, BriceFranck Bertrand BENNEHARD
and Karin HONMI

The decreasing population in
Japan is one of the most significant and critical societal
issues which has become increasingly worse over a number of years.

ty. In addition to this, with current
statistics there is a high possibility
that in the year 2060 there will besignificantly less people included in
productive class of the population,
which will take a toll on the pensions system.

Japan has overall continued to
decline in population for the eighthconsecutive year. By 2030, the population is expected to decline in all
prefectures and by 2045 Japan's
Causes of such phenomenon
total population is expected to reachhave already been well researched
106.42 million (as stated by The
in addition to surveys with the lo- National Institute of Social Security
cal citizens who have been asked a and Population Issues). It is exnumber of questions, with the aim
pected that there will be a 30% reto obtain data from a first handduction in rural areas. There aresource. Key features and important problems which may arise from thisstatistics are vital to consider when including the collapse of the social
reviewing the population in Japan. security system, shortage of fullnumbers in schools and a lack of
The Japanese Ministry ofcareers. On the other hand some
Health, Labour and Welfare has
solutions may include improving
stated that only 941,000 babies
work productivity and AI, in addiwere born in 2017 while the population to accepting immigrants fromtion in the same year had decreased
abroad to increase the population.
by 1.3 Million. As of 2019, statistics
suggest that Japan is losing more
While there may be advantages
than 300,000 people every year. In
and disadvantages, according to
addition to this, those that fit into
statistics mentioned before, in futhe 65+ category represent 27.2% of ture this may cause serious issues
the population which suggests that for the state prosperity. There are
the elder population makes up aseveral amounts of research andsignificant amount of the overall
articles which are dedicated to the
public. From this, several problems decline in population, however it is
may arise and have already arised. also important to review the probThis includes the fact that there islem from a different angle, in order
an increase of the monetary spend- to understand it from the view ofing which is put into Social Securi- members in the Japanese communi-

ty. An example of this includes the sidered as unusual for other counability to review first-hand source
tries, in Japan it might may be an
opinions. In order to do that, 39 lo- idea to promote marriage, to prompt
cal Japanese citizens were interyoung people to think about theirviewed. Interviewees have been di- future life and having a family.
vided in two categories: young peoImmigration as a possible soluple (early to mid-20s) who do nottion, reached almost 16% and inhave any children and adults (30fact fits with assisting other counyears of age or older) who do. Aptries cases by solving immigration
proximately 70% were female andpolicy and making it easier for imthe rest were male. It is notablemigrants to migrate. Reducingthat all of them are aware of thishousehold expenses and creatingproblem that Japan faces and thisbetter working conditions were othsupports its importance in Japanese
er popular responses and occupysociety. When asked about reasons
about 18% of overall results. Furfor the decreasing population, thethermore, there were several othermajority of interviewees referred toanswers such as the idea ofa lower fertility rate and, thus, de‘enhancing medical treatment ofcreasing the number of infants.
infertility’ and ‘laying taxes on peoThey were given a number of key
ple who do not have children’.
reasons for these issues: Different
life priorities and lifestyles, personIt is remarkable that the bigal problems with relationships and gest part all of interviewed mature
finally career preference. Furtherpeople had at least 2 children andmore, 16% of the responses reflected the young people mainly said theyon the aging population and 16%
want to have 2 children. It can
prove the fact that decreasing popualso reflected on the decreasing
number of married people. A signifi- lation in Japan is not only aboutcant number of interviewees consid- low birth rate, but there is a comered large household expenditures plex number of problems as young
being a possible reason. In addition people have specific ideas about
to this, 14% of all answers suggest- how many children they would like.
ed different factors such as inappro- Furthermore, it may be seen as difpriate working conditions, healthficult to rely on only one solution.
problems and a lack of awareness of The immigration solution is effecthose in a younger generation about tive immediately, but it may be difthe process of starting a family.
ficult to be used as on an ongoingsolution. It is believed that subsiAccording to the data collected,
dies are also effective, but small
Japanese people are currently conamounts will not continue to solve
cerned about the decreasing populathe problem. Moreover, longer polition in their country. Moreover,cies need to be introduced. For exthey put a great emphasis on theample, depending on the number oflow fertility rate which has beenchildren they have, they can getcaused by numerous problems. Desubsidies and material assistancespite this, people mostly stay optifrom the government. Others inmistic and gave a variation of opinclude free schooling and reduced
ions of how these low fertility rates
tuition fees.
may be solved.
However, it should be aimed
The majority of the answers
not only at the market in Japan but
reflected on the idea that receiving
also on new markets overseas withgovernment benefits to bring up
the increase in a population such as
children for those with a lower inAfrica and Asia. Moreover, it can become, which may be more beneficial
said that Japan, which has a highfor families who have or would likepopulation density so far, may haveto have multiple children. The secan appropriate number of people inond highest position of replies isthe future.
occupied by the ‘marriage promoting’ answer. While this may be con-(６) Pets

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December, 2019

Shops, Shelters, and Strays
Is adoption too great a challenge?
new homes seems to be related tothe age and health of their owners.
One of them, named Kuromame,
came to the Nagoya shelter because
her owner is being hospitalized.
Similarly, a ten-year-old cat, currently in Ms. Asano’s care, was taken in because its previous ownerbegan to suffer from dementia andcould no longer look after it.
In an effort to understand if
the number of stray animals collected and killed was linked to Japanese people’s perspectives on theirpets, survey-takers were also
prompted to describe their own petowner relationships. Overwhelmingly, they considered their pets asmembers of the family. Responders
from other countries, including Australia, France, the U.K., and the
U.S., instead described their relationships with their pets in terms of
its nature (e.g. loving or affectionate).
Another survey, taken by people who have never owned a pet,commonly attributed the absence ofAbove: The shelter is searching for new owners for their many stray dogs andBy Leah Salome BOGERT, Kiraa household pet to a lack of timecats. Adoption flyers are posted on this board just inside.
Taryn AINDOW, and Momoka
and funds to care for an animal.
Below: One of the handful of cats at the Nagoya shelter that await adoption
KAWAAI
every day.
Those who responded from Japan
mainly expressed the desire to purThe maneki-neko, or beckonas well, the chase a pet from a pet shop, withing cat, may be a symbol ofvisitors had only one mentioning shelters as anluck in Japan, yet for many of
the chance option.

the country’s stray cats, they
are hardly fortunate enoughto find new homes.

In 2017, nearly fifty percent ofdogs and cats collected nationwide
were killed. In this count, Japan’s
Ministry of the Environment includes animals with both known
and unknown owners, as well as
natural deaths while in containment.
Although this number mightseem disconcerting at first, it is actually an improvement from previous years. In 2007 and 2012, approximately 89% and 77%(respectively) of all cats and dogs
were killed. From this, we’ve seenin the decade between 2007 and2017 a significant decline in killings.
Despite this recent positivechange, however, the question muststill be asked: why are so many animals being killed in the first place?
More pressing, why are cats themore frequent and major victims?
Of the fifty percent of killingsin 2017, 80.1% were cats. This number is proportionate to the overall
amount of cats collected compared
to dogs, and yet, it is still cause forwonder why cats fill the majority(~62%) in that case as well.
More often than not, a visit to
the mall or other major shopping
center will give you the chance to
see tiny, young kittens and puppies,
either resting or bouncing about into hold andplay withthe cats
who hadcaptured
their attention.

Towards the end of our interview with Ms. Asano, we asked her
what can be done to better address
the number of stray animals in Japan, but she soon remarked on the
counterintuitive implications ofsuch a what-can-society-do typeIn a survey question. “It has no independence,”
she said, suggesting that if
taken by“everyone is to rely on everyone”,
NagoyaUniversity change is not guaranteed. “ ‘Let’sof Foreign work together’ may be a beautiful
statement, but the location of retheir individual box-like pens. Any- Studies (NUFS) international andsponsibility is ambiguous.”
one will take a break from theirdomestic students as well as visishopping to smile and laugh at the tors to the Nagoya shelter’s adopMs. Asano is just one of five Ki
antics of the adorable, lively anition event, 67.5% of the survey-chanchi volunteers working to help
mals behind the glass wall.
takers bought or adopted their pets rehome stray cats, but with theirwhen the cat or dog was less thancollective efforts from April to OctoAnd usually, these pet shops
ber of this year, 100 cats have been
will only have a handful of puppies one year old.
rescued. More importantly, theirand kittens in total, each sold for no“We vaccinate kittens two
small price.
months after they are born and try adoption process -- which includes aquestionnaire to determine suitabilOn October 20th, an event was to find them owners, but we usually ity between cat and owner, followed
held at a Nagoya City Animal Wel- cannot find a new owner for older
cats,” explained Ms. Asano, a mem- by a week-long trial period -- enfare Shelter, targeted on the adopber of the stray cat rescue group Ki- sures that the cats that are eventution of the facility’s many cats. In
chanchi and other volunteers at the ally adopted are also finding permacomparison to these pet shops,
nent homes.
there were easily ten times as many recent adoption event.
“If Nagoya can become a zerocats and kittens, awaiting to findAs previously mentioned, the
new homes.
October 20th event was focused on culling city,” she says, “I hope to
influence the spread of similar acthe adoption of the shelter’s many
Yet, in both instances, thetion in surrounding areas.”straykittens.
Meanwhile,
inanaryoung kittens were by far the most
ea
just
off
of
the
main
room,
cats
popular.
that are up for adoption at all times
On that day, many families
slept peacefully as people walked in
Nagoya City Animal Welfare Shelterwith small children came to the cen- and out, perhaps more accustomed
ter and crowded around the multito seeing visitors. Most of them are 〒464-0022
ple tables where pairs and trios ofover ten years old.
2-106 Heiwa-Kouen, Chikusa-ku, Nafew-month-old cats moved anxiously
goya City, Aichi
Receiving older cats in need ofin their cages. On the second floor
Tel: 052-762-1515

December, 2019

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies(７) Sexuality

LGBT Rights

Japan’s Silence vs. America’s Division
1 in 13 sexual minority/ 39% of Americans in opposition
while medically transitioning areunaware of potential health risks
due to a doctor not providing theinformation for their patient or because the doctors themselves areunaware. Additionally, the price ofhormone treatments and surgery
for those transitioning is quite expensive, as many health insurance
providers do not cover genderreassignment surgeries or hormone
treatments. Despite poor
healthcare, there are many doctors
fighting for transgender people toreceive the care they need at affordable rates. On the opposite side ofthis, however, are the conversion
camps present throughout America
where angry and abusive parents ofLGBT teenagers and children send
them to be “reformed” from being
LGBT through what can be considered the practice of pseudoscientificmethods. LGBT identity can be perceived by many people in America
as a mental illness or detrimental
condition rather than a state of being. In the 1950’s, many LGBT individuals were lobotomized as an attempt to “cure” them, leaving theminstead heavily disabled.

By Madeline E. NEWSOME,
Brooke(Jason) S. MORSE, andAsuka KAI

Japan is often regarded as
one of the most developed
countries in the world. However, LGBT rights have received little recognition in Japan, and progress has beenmostly slow.
Currently, same-sex marriage
remains unrecognized in Japan,
with 1 prefecture and 26 municipalities offering legally non-binding“partnership certificates.” There islittle in the way of an outward opinion on this topic in Japan, whether
positive or negative. A quote froman anonymous student at NUFS
who identifies as a lesbian states,“Many people simply do not care,they consider it to be an issue that
doesn't affect them. They don't hateus, they just don't know us.”America, on the other hand, isa country that has had same-sex
marriage legalized since 2015, and
the American people have a loudAbove: A rainbow board where atand divisive voice on this topic. Un- tendees of Nagoya Rainbow Pride in
July could write messages expressing
til the 2015 Supreme Court rulingthat legalized same-sex marriage in themselves.
all states, each state had varying
Below：Performance stage at Nagoactions against or for same-sex
ya Rainbow Pride.
marriage, some with no future insight for its legalization. According
to a poll conducted in 2019 by Pew
Research Center, 61% of Americans
support same-sex marriage rights.
31%, however, still oppose it. Additionally, hate crimes in America are
still prevalent, rising and fallingthroughout the years as social positions change. From 2014-2017,
1,130 anti-LGBT incidents werereported by the FBI, most of whichwere targeted towards homosexualmen. Additionally, in 2019 alone,
18 transgender individuals (manyof whom were transwomen of color)
discrimination and from his family
have been fatally shot or killed.
from finding out. Even as the term
Japan, a country where approx- “LGBT” becomes more widely-usedimately 1 in 13 people are a sexual and accepted, there are those whominority, has very few reported in- still would rather not openly identistances of anti-LGBT hate crimes.
fy themselves as such. Additionally,
However, this does not mean thata member of NUFS faculty whoLGBT people living in Japan do not identifies as a transwoman reportexperience any negativity or dised that, “I’ll get the occasional probcrimination in their lives. In thelem at the sports club. Even thoughinterview with the anonymous
I’ve had my top and bottom surNUFS student, she claimed that
gery, every now and then somewhile in high school, “people were
woman will come up to me asking,generally supportive, but I felt like ‘What are you doing in this locker
an outsider to some friends; nobody room?’” On more rare occasions, sheoutright bullied [me] but it felt like will have security called on her;I didn't belong.” Many relationships generally, security personnel takeare also left hidden due to fear ofher side, something that occurs insocietal opposition. A reporter who America quite often for transgenderwrote about a lawsuit led by a pro- individuals, though often without
LGBT group, Marriage For All Jathe support of the officials.
pan, states that the partner of one
Due to laws regarding partnerof the plaintiffs keeps their relaship,same-sex couples in Japan
tionship a secret to avoid societal

face many hardships. According toMarriage For All Japan, same-sex
couples, due to lack of legal recognition of their partnership, are often
left in difficult situations after disastrous situations. The partnershipcertificates that have been introduces are not actually legally binding certificates like that of a marriage certificate. Since same-sex
couples are not legally recognized,
if one of the partners passes away
suddenly without a will, their loved
one could be evicted and left without their partner’s possessions.
Additionally, same-sex partners in Japan are not permitted to
be at a critically injured or ill partner’s side, as they are not seen as alegal couple. Thanks to America’s
recognition of same-sex partnership, these problems can often be
avoided in a legal-sense, though
they still may face difficulty by
openly biased staff members. Japanese same-sex partners are also notable to legally adopt a child together; that is, in legal terms, only oneof these individuals will be the documented parent. If the legal parent
has passed away without a will,
this would mean that the“unofficial” parent will no longer beallowed to care for that child, andthe child could potentially be sent
back to an orphanage.
In terms of healthcare, quality
is incredibly varied throughout
America for LGBT individuals, particularly transgender people, often
depending on the social progressionof the area or the quality of thehealthcare facility. For example,
many transgender individuals

In Japan, healthcare for LGBT
individuals is also lacking. When
talking about her gender reassignment surgery, the NUFS faculty
member explained, “Japanese doctors will not sign a health insurance form saying that this is medically necessary. That was the difference between me keeping or losing my job and my home.” So she
went to Taiwan for her surgery. “I
was getting my estrogen here [inJapan] for a while. When theyfound out that I wasn’t going to get
my surgery done in Japan, they
immediately shut me out.” This wasillegal, and she had to involve alawyer.
However, not all is negative on
Japan’s side of LGBT issues. The
lawyers working for Marriage For
All Japan are forming lawsuits andfighting for LGBT rights within
Japan. Despite the hardships andsecrecy, the previously mentioned
accuser in the Marriage For All Japan lawsuit was noted to look at his
partner with love and support. Unlike in parts of America, where outward hate can vary throughout theyears, many people seem to increasingly support and accept LGBT people over time in Japan. One of ourinterviewees states, “It's getting
better, our treatment. My motherhas recently come to a pride eventand she is learning our terms so
she does not sound ignorant. I
think people want to be better, because it’s becoming unacceptable tobe ignorant of these issues in thelarge-scale world.” Even with that
positive statement, however, sheseemed uncertain of the future forboth Japan and the world.

(８) City Topic

Nagoya University of Foreign Studies

December , 2019

Car Upgrading ǫ

By Benjamin Richard COWELL,
Moritz Benjamin WEBBER, Iris NIJENHUIS and Nanae Ando

Above: Modified Toyota GT86 in
GR Garage, Nisshin-City, Aichi prefecture.

way to personalize the characteristics that will distinguish the car forthe hundred thousand other different cars from the same kind of
brand that come off the conveyor as
the same.

Walking through the streetsof any city in Japan it isclearly visible that car tuning
is a big thing in Japan, but
why is that the case in a
A big influence on the popularcountry that usually tries toity of the tuning of cars was themanga that later became animatedstick to the rules and not“Initial D.” This cartoon’s mainstand out?
And what is car tuning? Mr.
Yukawa, a mechanic working at GR
Garage in Nisshin, Takenoyama,
had answers.
Tuning a car is the act of installing upgrades that improve its
performance and fitting bodywork
parts that change the car’s appearance to make it look sportier. Mr
Yukawa stated “People tune cars todrive fast, to look sportier; changing
the wheels, bodywork, exhaust andengine parts.” The love for car tuning in Japan originated in the
1980’s according to Mr. Yukawa.
“They started tuning cars as a way
to express themselves and to rebel
against social pressures.” Tuning
was mainly used as a way to act
out. Over the years, the reasons
why people tune their cars havedeveloped from a means of purely
improving a car’s performance, to,in recent years, a method of expressing one’s personality and theirtaste in cars. Tuning is done as acharacter’s car was a Toyota AE86,
which at the time, was a relatively
affordable car that was easy to upgrade. This car’s feature in the
anime lead to a trend of buying theAE86 and tuning it like they did in
Initial D.

Other media that hugely influenced the growth in the interest in
car tuning in Japan and around theglobe were the well-known movie“The Fast and The Furious: Tokyo
Drift” (2006) and the popular “Needfor Speed” game series. Thesebrought great attention to the Japanese sports cars and they caused
the popularity of those cars to increase.
What is interesting, is thattuning is not only popular among
young people but with many age
groups. There is a difference between these age groups, young people tend to buy used sports cars because of their limited funds andtune those. Older people on the oth-er hand can afford to buy a newer oreven factory new car and then they
use those to tune.
Popular cars among all tuners
are sports cars like the Toyota
GT86, Nissan GT-R and the
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution. Compared to western sports cars those
do not appear to be expensive but
Above: Modified Toyota Supra Mk.3
with a price tag in the one hundred The work which won the Grand Prix.
thousands they are not affordable
The design which emphasized Sfor people that just started theircurve is original.
career. Accessories though, both forinterior and exterior, are very accessible and the selection is basical- of advanced drivers would ventureout onto Tokyo’s Highways at midly unlimited. This makes it very
affordable to tune. According to Mr. night, to make the most of the quieter roads. The club was made up of
Yukawa besides Initial D, the release of popular cars like the Nissan a group of wealthy businessmen,
who each owned a very fast modiGT-R and Nissan SILVIA in ‘89
helped tuning become more popular fied car. Rumour has it, their comand that is also a big contribution to mon meeting place to begin their
speed runs, was Daikoku Futo.
why car tuning now is still very
Their legend has continued to draw
popular.
car enthusiasts to this spot for more
People who tune their cars
than 15 years.
have adopted some places to reguThis culture is still very popularly meet with fellow car enthusiasts to enjoy their passion together. lar among the young and the older
A notable example of this is Daiko- generation in Japan: Tuning, occasional organized street racing andku Futo Parking Area in Yokohama, where over the past 15 years, gatherings of like-minded car encar tuners have arranged meet ups thusiasts can be ways that people
with hundreds of other enthusiasts; in Japan express themselves andit has become its own tourist attrac- enjoy a little bit of freedom.
tion due to its popularity in the
global car culture.
Editor in Chief: Kazuhiko KOJIMA
In the 1990s, there was a mys- Adviser: Hiroko TOKUMOTO
Adviser & Proofreader: Jakub
terious street racing clan called
MARSZALENKO“The Midnight Club”. Their namedenotes that this small, select group