aWa life

July 2024# 404

Embracing the Way of the Sword:
A Foreigners Journey into Kendo

Representing Kaiyo at
Asan Circuit (2)Japanese Lesson

Nihongo Know-it-all:
Japanese Superstition

1

Awa Life is a Monthly Publication of the Tokushima
Prefectural International Exchange Association

I am literally melting as I write this. I knew summer in Japan would be tough, but nobody prepared mefor this. I hope you all have taken measures to not die from heat stroke or dehydration.
Nonetheless July in Tokushima has a lot to offer. The heat gives a perfect excuse to explore the many
beauitiful beaches of Tokushima and summer also brings along many outdoor festivities to enjoy. The
streets are already filled with the sounds of taiko on every corner, as the Awa Odori Groups get in theirlast practice sessions. Quick reminder: It’s not too late to join!
For all of those who like writing, please feel free to submit an article to us at any point in time aboutbasically anything. There are a few limitations though, such as you can’t write about religion, politics,
commercial activities or businesses or anything that we deem inappropriate. But, other than that, we
would be more than happy to receive articles about anything and everything including but not limited
to concerts, lectures, other events, culture, sports, community group information or anything cool that’s
happening in your local community.
We highly appreciate all of your articles and we love reading them. So if that writing bug of yours isbuzzing about, grab a pen or a computer and write and send away! Please send all submissions to ouremail:

awalife@gmail.com

Your editor,
RasmusTokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA)
1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi, Tokushima City 770-0831 JAPAN, Clement Plaza 6F
Tel: 088-656-3303 Fax: 088-652-0616
http://www.topia.ne.jp/
Download a PDF file of awa life or view the online version by going to TOPIA's website!

Editor:Rasmus Burgmer
Contributors This Month:
Malik Sherif, Qin Yao, Tony Lu, Junko Kimura, Yoko Aoki

Contents

Pg. 2-3: Embracing the Way of the Sword
Pg. 4:Hiking Mt. Bizan for the first time

Pg. 5:

Representing Kaiyo at Asan Circuit (Part 2)

Pg. 6:

Tokushima Reading Corner: Mt. Tsurugi

Pg. 6:

Nihongo Know-it-all: Japanese Superstition

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

2

Pg. 8-9: Events and Memoranda
Embracing the Way of the Sword
A Foreigners Journey into Kendo
By: Malik Sherif

Embarking on a journey to learn Kendo as aforeigner in Japan has been an exciting but
difficult undertaking. Immersion in the practice ofKendo, also known as the “Way of the Sword,”
is a highly culturally embedded activity that hasgiven me a unique and enriching experience.
Over the past decade, my commitment to
Kendo has been a profound experience that has
shaped not only my physical abilities but also mycharacter and outlook on life. As I reflect on thisjourney, I want to share the three most formidable
obstacles I have faced and the three greatest
benefits I have gained from persevering throughthese challenges.
The largest obstacle from the start, as a foreigner
learning Kendo with no knowledge of Japanese,
has to have been the language barrier. Particularly
in traditional dojos, a large portion of the teachingis given in Japanese. This linguistic challenge
encompasses not just the methods but also thecultural subtleties and historical background thatare fundamental to Kendo.
Fortunately, the Kendo Sensei I have trainedwith have been quite understanding and patientwith me and have taken the time to teach me
the related Japanese vocabulary required. But
outside of the dojo, I study videos on YouTubeand read online instruction manuals to make sureI don’t lag behind other pupils.

Another thing to be conscious of is that Kendo is
not just about mastering the physical techniques;
it is also a path of self-discipline and respect.
For those not familiar with Japanese customs,
Kendo etiquette can be complex and difficult tounderstand and follow.
The ritualistic greetings in particular can be quite
complex, they are still something I slip up on
even today. But I think that clothing has been
the biggest change for me. When I first beganattending class, I would do so in sweats andsocks, but I soon had to shift to wearing a keiko-gi(a coat-like top) and a hakama (a skirt like divided
pants), all while being barefoot. It took somegetting accustomed to, which led to a few blisters
and other ailments, but it was all worth it because
it made me feel like the samurai I admired in themovies I watched growing up.
The third challenge that I came across wasadapting to the Japanese teaching styles of
Kendo. This is because Japanese teaching
methods in Kendo often emphasize learning
through observation and imitation. This kind of
instruction, in which the sensei shows a techniqueand pupils are expected to absorb and duplicate
it, can take some getting used to for foreigners.
Repetition throughout practice was one part ofthis that I personally found to be rather difficult.
Having started this journey while in high school,

3

I used to excitedly jump into sparring without
taking the time to ensure that I had mastered thefundamentals, but as I got older and realized how
important practice was, I started to look forward
to the days when we would spend the entire classperiod swinging a shinai and getting corrected
for form errors as that time served to be quiet
meditative and quite helpful for self reflection.
In addition, the demanding training sessions,which are interspersed with war cries and thesound of shinai strikes, push practitioners totheir physical and mental limitations. Although
this rigorous training brought me to the edgeof exhaustion on a few occasions,
it was always energizing andoffered acomprehensive approach topersonal
growth. When combinedwith the contemplative
elements of Kendo, I
discovered that I was
progressing beyond
what I had thought waspossible when I initiallyentered a dojo.
Looking back on it now,these challenges and thegrowth that I found withinwould not have beenpossible if not for the
welcoming atmosphere of
the dojos I joined.
Studying Kendo in Japan is a special opportunity
to experience a different culture. In addition tolearning about the art, participants discover more
about Japanese culture, which deepens theirrespect for the nation’s customs. Furthermore,
Kendo has a long history because it originatedwith the martial arts of the samurai. Engaging in
Kendo practice in Japan offers a concrete link tothe art’s origins, enabling non-native practitioners
to personally encounter the historical and culturalmilieu that molded the modern form of Kendo.
Learning Kendo also opened my eyes in otherways, as it provided a unique platform for crosscultural exchange as Kendo dojos serve as a
microcosm of Japanese society, fostering astrong sense of community. A climate of support

is created through the senpai-kohai connection,in which seniors mentor juniors. Beyond linguistic
limitations, the sense of camaraderie I havedeveloped with other practitioners has enabled
me to form ties with people through common
challenges and accomplishments, as well as
enduring friendships within the Kendo community.
Speaking with other practitioners, I discoveredthat although samurai movies were a major factor
in encouraging individuals to learn Kendo, thatwas merely the tip of the iceberg. Beyond theinfluence of movies, people are driven to Kendo
for otherreasons, like a general love ofmartialarts, personal growth, physicalfitness,familial obligation, or cultural
curiosity.
P e r s o n a l l y, t h e r e a s o n
was very straightforward:
I wanted to look cool byswinging a sword about (Iwas a highschool student
at the time, what can I say).
For me, Samurai movies
came to life becauseof the traditional garb,
the ceremonial elements ofswordsmanship, and thedisciplined attitude of Kendo. I
wanted to live out and embody
the heroic journey, personal
development, and pursuit ofinternaljustice that are so beautifully
portrayed in films.
In conclusion, learning Kendo as a foreigner inJapan is a complex process that combines thedifficulties of adjusting to a new culture with thethrill of fully engaging in a rich and ancient custom.
It includes overcoming obstacles both mental andphysical, delving deeply into philosophy, taking
advantage of cross-cultural learning possibilities,
and realizing childhood fantasies. Accepting thesefacets improves the whole experience, making theWay of the Sword a rewarding and transforming
journey that, perhaps, will encourage you to get
more involved in your local community as well asJapan’s larger cultural fabric.

Hiking Mt.Bizan for the first time
By: Qin Yao

Time flies like an arrow. It’s already been 2months since I started living in Tokushima, during
which I managed to settle in and feel comfortable.
Seeing how beautiful the nature of this prefectureis I wanted to immerse myself in it and went toclimb Mount Bizan together with a friend.
Bizan rises up with a height of 290 meters rightfrom the center of Tokushima City. It is said thatno matter from what point you gaze upon it, its
shape resembles an eyebrow, which is why it
was named Eyebrow Mountain. Compared tothe mountain in my hometown it is fairly small,almost like a hill. There is a saying though, which
proclaims “even small mountains are inhabitedby gods” and thats why - despite its size - Bizan
appeared in ancient Japanese poetry (Man’yōshū)which led to it becoming a famous symbol ofTokushima.
Depending on the mountain trail you choose, yourexperiences can differ completely. My friend is
an expert in physical activities but I myself don’t
really work out. Thanks to her expertise we wereable to choose an adequate route, which would
take about 3 hours back and forth. It was a clear
day and a little hot. We did some warming up at
the foot of the mountain after which we began our
hike.
First thing we encountered was a long and steep
staircase. The trees on both sides of the pathstood facinge a c hother, theirlush green
branches
and leaves
connectingwith eachother like“parasols.”
Beneaththe trees
there werem a n yJizo statues
dressedin red scarfs
warmlysmiling at
me and I
thought tomyself“This reallyfeels like
I am in ananime.”
After reaching the top of the stairs we chosethe more difficult path and set foot on an actual
mountain trail.
The trail was narrow and slowly winding upwards,

4

lined with trees. What impressed me most was
how the roots of the trees that had grown over
the years were crossing each other vertically andhorizontally, almost forming a natural staircase.
Thanks to that, climbing the mountain became alittle easier for me. Wandering through the forestof trees and stones accompanied by the lustrous
signing of birds we got completely immersed in
the beauty of nature and reached the summit inabout 40 minutes.
...or so I thought. But myfriend explained to me that
where we stood was infact not the highest point.
After a short break weheaded toward the actual
peak of the mountain. On
our hike we encounteredmany other mountainenthusiasts, from young
students to elderly couples. I was impressed bytheir endurance, but what amazed me even more
was how they were able to run along the mountain
trails! As I myself was gasping for air while only
slowly walking, I struggled to understand how one
could run up a mountain like they did. “I guess I
have to train my body more” I grumbled to myself.
Finaly arriving at the peak we spotted a wooden
sign reading; “Bizan, 290 Metres.”
I had often heard that climbing up the mountainis the easy part compared to climbing backdown. In order to see as much beautiful nature
as possible we chose the more difficult mountain
trail on the way down too. The path turned out
to be very steep, mossy and slippery...nothing
for weak legs. Because of that I learned theexpression of “laughing legs” (if your legs shakefrom exhaustion). All in all it was a very enrichingexperience.
For this hike, we didn’t choose the easiest pathnor did we take the ropeway. The twisting andturning mountain trail allowed us to truly get intouch with the gorgeous nature. Just like in life,
there will always be a rich landscape waiting for
you at the end of a rough road.

5

Representing Kaiyo at Asan Circuit (Part 2)T

he idea of me turning my delusions of basking
in the glory of first place into a reality wasdefinitely appealing, but what if I had to give aspeech?? I dreaded the possibility of having togive impromptu comments in front of everyone.
Factoring in that the overarching goal of the day
was to have fun and get home in one piece,
getting into a tussle with another car and having
to pay for repairs to either my car or myself wasintimidating. But, I decided to pull the trigger,
since I could pull out at any time just in case I got
cold feet.
To cut a long story short, I ended up taking partin the race, and I was lucky enough to clinch
3rd place amidst the chaos - a podium finish! after one of the cars in the top three had a small
incident in the final corner of the last lap whichstrewed bits of sharp fiberglass bodywork allover the track. I swerved in panic and fear ofpuncturing my tyres, which then caused my car
to feel like it was almost about to topple over. It
was truly a heart-stopping moment, which wasimmediately overridden by a mix of confusion andadrenaline, followed by relief as I saw a waving
checkered flag.

As I made my way up to the podium, theannouncer introduced me as someone from
Australia currently living in Kaiyo, and just as I
thought, they did indeed ask me to comment on
the race to which I mentioned that I totally wasn’t
expecting to be able to place 3rd, and I had a lotof fun driving with everyone. One of the event
organizers also gave our team a small mention,
announcing that we had actually come all the

By: Tony Lu

way from Kaiyo
that morningand thanked us
for participating,which induced
some murmurs
and whispers ofsurprise in thec r o w d . We h a d
represented Kaiyo
in a way that I
would have neverimagined, and I
think we were able
to put a decent dot on the map for car enthusiasts
in Tokushima prefecture.
I was a little hesitant to take part in the race atfirst, but I was glad I did. It was a good reminderthat the quality of my experience here wasdependent on not only the effort that I put intothings, but also owed to my connections with thecommunity.
Our friend from the petrol station brought his
family along that day, and it wasn’t until thenext week that I had realized his daughter was
actually a former student that I had occasionallytaught at one of the local elementary schools.
The university student in our group was actuallyanother former student of one of our Global Kaiyo
team members and there were also a coupleof other drivers who had recognized us fromprevious random encounters along public roads
and greeted us after the award ceremony. Small
world, right?
On its face, our team was made up of people
who had almost no reason to be acquainted, but
looking deeper, I could actually uncover some
hidden connections. In a place where everyone
brings their pride and joy and every car is “special,”
I felt that it’s really the coincidental connections
through a common interest that really serve toenrich the whole “living in Japan” experience,much more than just seeing and admiring cool
cars.

6

Tokushima Culture and Reading Corner
By: Junko Kimura
がつ

はい

なつ

７月に入り、夏のこおり

かいすいよく

き せつ

はじ

季節が

始まりました。夏といえば、花火や

まつ

なつ

はな び

たくさん

か

なつ

き氷、海水浴、お祭りなど沢山あります。みなさんの「夏といえば」はなん

わたし何ですか。私の
きょ う

なつ

と ざん

うみ

夏は

登山と

海です。

つるぎさん

しょうかい

今日は、剣山をつるぎさん

紹介します。剣山はし こくとくしまけんやま徳島県にある山です。標高にし に ほんは 1955 メートルで、四国、そして西日本で
つるぎ さんうつく

剣 山 は、とても

美 しい景 色 が

けい

し

き

け しき

ゆう めい

に ばん めたか二番目に高い山です。

やま

有 名 で、山 の

か

ひょうこう

がつ げ じゅん ごろ

やま

うえ

み

ふう

上 から

見 える

風

こう ざん しょく ぶつ

き いろ

景は、四季によって変わります。７月下 旬 頃には、高山 植 物の「キレンゲショウマ」という黄色い
はな

さ

花が

咲きます。秋には紅葉で

あき

じ ろうぎゅう

み うね

ある

次郎岌や

三嶺という山などがつるぎ さん

剣山は

こう よう

あか

山が

赤く染まります。天気が

やま

そ

てん き

ひ

たの

安心して

楽しむことができます。山頂までのさん ちょうのぼと ちゅう

整備されていて、登りやすいです。また、リフトもあり、途中まで見ノ越という登山口まで

ひと

徳 島 県 の人 たちは

い

バスで

となり

み

あん しん

と ざんぐちちょう じょう

剣山の頂上から、隣に見られます。

と ざん しょ しん しゃ

み の こしとく しま けん

つるぎ さん

いい日は

登山初心者には

せい び

に

やま

みち

ある

道は

歩きやすいよう

らく

のぼ

楽に

登ることができます。

がつちゅうじゅん

うんこう

行くことができます。バスは１１月 中 旬まで

つるぎ さんひとおお剣 山 を「けんざん」という人 もなつ

多 いです。夏 に

つるぎ さん

運行しています。
のぼ

剣山を

あせ

登 って、いい汗 をなが流してください。
Vocabulary List
ひょうこう

し

標 高 elevation

四季 four seasonsき

こうざんしょくぶつ

そ高山 植 物 alpine plants

染まる to be dyedと ざん

しょしんしゃせい びと ざんぐち登山 mountain climbing

初心者 beginner

整備 maintanance

登山口 trailhead

うんこう

運行 operation

Japanese Superstition
Nihongo Know-it-all
By: Rasmus
Did you ever enter an elevator in Japan, wanting to go to the 4th floor only to realize that the button
for that floor is missing? Opposed to what you might initially think, this is not a case of the architect
being terribly bad at math, but an intenionally crafted building design.
Like every culture, Japan also has its fair share of superstition. One of the more famous ones isthe number 4, which is regularly omitted on several occasions in public or private spaces due to its
association with bad luck. Similarly, to the number 13 in western culture, most people don’t reallytake this superstition too serious, but some people go to insane length to avoid the number and“tetraphobia” (fear of number 4) is much more visible in everyday life.
But why is the number 4 considered unlucky? Different to the west, this superstition has nothing
to do with religion. Its origin can be found in the Chinese characters. The Kanji for the number 四
can be read as よん , or also as し . The Kanji for death 死 can also be read as し , connecting thenumber to the meaning of death, therefore being regarded as an omen of bad luck.
Like a lot of things in Japanese culture, this superstition also originates from china, where the sameconnection to death preexisted, which spread through all of East-Asia through the implementationof the Chinese writing system.
Looking at the Kanji for Shikoku ( 四国 ), our beautiful little island, one might start to worry if all of
us are doomed to an eternity of bad luck. After all, is this not the “Land of the Dead”( 死国 )?

7Japanese Lesson「～て」と「～たり」By: Yoko Aoki

This month, let’s take a look at a common mistake by students, the difference between connecting sentenceswith 「～たり」or「～て」.
Verb building: 「～たり」＝ た verbform +り, 「～て」＝ て verbform

れい

ひる

た

とも

あ

例 １） 昼 ごはんを食べて、シャワーをあびて、それから 友 だちに会いました「～て」is used when you talk about things you have done in the exact order you have done them.
Sentence structure: 「～〈１〉て、～〈２〉て、（and then）～〈３〉ます」
れい

にちようび

例 ２)

Ａ：日 曜 日とも

なに何 をしましたか。
か

もの

えいが

み

Ｂ： 友 だちと買い 物 をしたり、映画を見たりしました。
Ａ：そうですか。
「～たり」is used when talking about 2 or 3 acts/events specifically picked out as a representative example fora given timeframe. Sentence structure: 「～〈１〉たり。～〈２〉たりします」
れい

にちようび

例 ３）Ａ：日 曜 日

なに

何 をしましたか。

あさ お

た

よる

じはん

ね

Ｂ：☓ 朝 起きたり、ごはんを食べたり、 夜 11時半ごろ寝たり
しました。
あさ お

よる ね

「朝 起きる」 and 「夜 寝る」are acts of everyday life and therefore not something you can specifically pick out,
so using this sentence structure is incorrect. How about the next one?
れい

きのうなに

例 ４）Ａ：昨日 何 をしましたか。
だいがく

い

じっけん

Ｂ：☓ 大 学 へ行ったり、 実 験 をしたりしました。 ＊(実験する＝conduct an experiment)
If you want to say that you did the experiment at university, you have to build the sentence like this:
だいがく

じっけん

「 大 学 へ行って 実 験 しました」。

【Practice】Fix the following sentences:にちようびあさお

せんたく

にほんご

べんきょう

１日 曜 日 朝起きたり、 洗 濯 をしたり、日本語の 勉 強 をしたりしました。

ぎんこう

い

かね

い

２ 銀 行 へ行ったり、ATM で お 金 をおろしたり、それから デパートへ行きました。

かね＊(お金 をおろす＝withdraw money)
２銀行へ行って ATM でお金をおろして、それから デパートへ行きました。
ぎんこう

い

かね

い

１日曜日朝起きて、洗濯をしたり、日本語の勉強をしたりしました。
にちよう び あさ お

せんたくに ほん ごべんきょうEvents & Memoranda

8

Retra! 2024 Water City Festival
Retra! 水都祭 2024

E x p e r i e n c e t h e c h a r m o f t h e “ Wa t e r C i t y 『水都とくしま』の魅力を体感する 3 日間が今年もはじまる！
Tokushima” on this 3-day long event!
This year, in addition to increasing the size of 今年からご成婚広場に子供が大好きなゲーム屋台『とくしま食楽市』や、
ウォーター
the popular gamezone for children, we will also ゾーンを増設し、introduce the “Tokushima Soul Food Market”, パーク、水上アスレチックも登場します！
as well as a waterpark and opportunity for water メインステージではカラオケバトルやダンスコ
ンテストを開催♪今年は花火を 2 日間開催しま
sports!
On the mainstage you will be treated to karaoke す！！
battles, and dance contests. This year we will also
have fireworks going off on 2 days!!
日時 7 月 12 日（金）～ 14 日（日）10:00 ～ 21:00
場所 徳島市 藍場浜公園
When July 12th - July 14th 10:00-21:00
Where Aiba-Hama Park, Tokushima City
お問い合わせ水都祭実行委員会事務局
Inquiries: Water City Festival Comittee
Mail: info@suitosai-tokushima.com
TEL: 070-8392-7484

Mail:info@suitosai-tokushima.com
TEL:070-8392-7484

Summer School Japanese Lessons
夏休み子供日本語教室
Why not enroll your child in the Summer School
Japanese Lessons held at TOPIA? Teachers
are on hand to help your child out with their
homework, and they can learn Japanese throughlots of fun activities, like games and quizzes!!
Let’s do our best together!
Free of charge!

TOPIA で開催される夏休み子供日本語教室にお子様を参加させてみませんか？
日本語の生徒と一緒に宿題をしたりゲームやクイズをしたりしながら楽しく勉強しましょう !!
一緒に頑張りましょう！
参加費は無料です！
日時

When July 23rd, 25th, 26th, 28th and 30th
August 1st, 2nd, 3rdEach day 10:30-12:00
Where TOPIA, Tokushima Station,
Clement 6F
Application and Inquiries: TOPIA(Nomizu)
Website: https://www.topia.ne.jp/english/
Mail: coordinator2@topia.ne.jp
TEL: 088-656-3303

7 月 23 日、25 日、26 日、27 日、30 日
8 月 1 日、2 日 3 日
午前 10：30 ～ 12：00
場所 TOPIA
徳島駅 クレメントプラザ 6F
問い合わせ / 申し込み
TOPIA（野水）ホームページ：https://www.topia.ne.jp
Mail: coordinator2@topia.ne.jp
TEL: 088-656-3303

9

Events & Memoranda

2024 Tokushima Japanese Speech Contest
２０２４年度外国人による徳島県日本語弁論大会

True internationalization cannot be achieved
without first coming in touch with other cultures
and ways of life, fostering a sense of internationalawareness and gaining mutual understanding withpeople of the world to create a society in which
we can all work and live together in harmony.
This speech contest seeks to give a voice to theinternational residents of Tokushima Prefectureand engage them in a dialogue to further
discourse on cross-cultural understanding andfostering multiculturalism.
When July 21st (Sunday) 13:00-16:30
Where Awagin Hall, Small Hall (5F)
Inquiries: TOPIA
MAIL: coordinator1@topia.ne.jp
TEL: 088-656-3303

真の国際化とは、まず他の文化や生活様式に触れ、国際感覚を養い、世界の人々と相互理解を深め、共に働き、共に生きる社会を実現することなしには達成できません。
このスピーチコンテストは、徳島県に在住する外国人県民の声を代弁し、異文化理解や多文化共生のための対話を促進することを目的としていま
す。
日時
場所

7 月 21 日（日） 13:00 ～ 16:30
あわぎんホール (5 階）		
お問い合わせ TOPIA
MAIL：coordinator1@topia.ne.jp
TEL: 088-656-3303

Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口
TOPIA provides consultation on everyday life, education, labor, medical institutions, and disasterprevention; and information on sightseeing spots to overseas residents and visitors. When necessary,
we will refer you to the appropriate organization that can assist with your needs.Counselling is available
in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Please note that although every effort will be made,we may not be able to deal with all cases.
Japanese, English, Chinese: Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)
Vietnamese: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10:00 - 14:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)