Volume 08 Issue 01

Library Guidance Tourfor International Students:
Welcome to Tohoku University inSendai!
At the beginning of April, the cherry
blossom season, the Main Library ofTohoku University held its guidance andtour for newly arrived international students. We hold this event each semester
to help them get familiar with the Library’s
spaces and services, as well as to welcome them to Tohoku University. Amongthem there are many exchange students
who come to Japan with academic goals.

May 2024

This time we held two consecutive Guidance Tours in a row, and it was really exciting to see how students were looking
forward to studying at Tohoku University
and being able to use the library. Some ofthem were also happy to learn about Japanese learning materials that are available
in the Global Learning Room, and were
surprised that we offer services in different
languages at the concierge desk.

Library Guidance

The library guidance tour consists of twoparts: first, there is a detailed presentation
about the library history, its buildings andarchives, available services and facilities,
and how to search for materials using theonline public access catalog (OPAC).
Then, the participants are divided into
small groups, and the members of the International Student Concierge give a tour
around the library, explaining about eachspace and its particularities, such as whatkind of materials are kept in them, where
the available reading desks are, and what
you are allowed or not to do in the library.
The tour is also an opportunity for the newstudents to ask questions and get more
specific information about the library andits different areas.

The goal of the library guidance and tour
is to introduce the library facilities and services, so to help the students to get morefamiliar with it. We understand that the library can be crucial to have a successful
academic life and research, and are honored to offer the necessary support. We
are looking forward to seeing many newfaces at the library in this new semester.

Library Tour

Written by Ana Maria Simplicio

New Members!!
This section introduces new members of theInternational Student Concierge.

Yisianjiang Yumiti

You can find me at the International Student Concierge Desk in the Library. It's aplace for meeting and helping fellow students from all over the world. It's a wonderful place to support your academic life,and I'm there to assist and help.
Looking forward to seeing you all!

Maria Laura Martelli Giachino

Hello everyone,
My name is Yisianjiang Yumiti, feel free
to call me Ehsan. I come from China andam currently majoring in Linguistics. Thisis my second year in Japan. Alongside mystudies, I've been engaging in part-timejobs, which have greatly contributed to myfluency in Japanese.
Basketball is part of my life; I love bothplaying on the court and cheering from thesidelines during games. It's a passion thatkeeps me energetic and connected withothers who share the same interest.
I like talking with people and sharing experiences and ideas. So, feel free to talkwith me about anything. Whether it's about
studies, life in Japan, or even your favorite
basketball team, I'm all ears.

Hello everyone !
My name is Maria Laura but you can callme Maria. I’m from Argentina, SouthAmerica. I grew up in the Patagonia Region, in the southern part of the country,
but I moved to Buenos Aires city to study
at university, where I majored in Journalism.
After graduating, I worked in an online
magazine and a radio station with the Nikkei community in Buenos Aires. After studying Japanese language for some years, it
became my dream to come to Japan topursue a Master degree. This is my thirdyear in Japan and I will graduate in a few

months from the Graduate School of Information Sciences.
During my spare time, I like drawing, listening to music, and watching films andseries, including Japanese dramas andcomedies. One of my favorite Japanese
comedies is “Hana yori dango” and I also
love the dramas “Breaking Bad” and“Game of Thrones”. I also like reading
manga and fantasy books, such as HarryPotter. It was because of “Slam Dunk”
manga that I also became interested inbasketball. After coming to Japan, I discovered two more hobbies: karaoke andonsen! I found these especially relaxing
during stressful times.
It’s very nice meeting you! And please,feel free to come to the International Student Concierge at the Library for any questions. Ganbarimashou!

student of the International Cultural Studies. My research is on Agatha Christie's
detective novels and their movie adaptions.
I majored in Japanese in college, and after graduation, I joined IBM China DalianBranch, and engaged in economic business in Japanese and English. I gained alot from my work, but I realized that I was
not suited to a static job and wanted tocontinue with a better education, so I
chose to quit my job and came to Tohoku
University.
The first Japanese mystery novel that I
read in junior high school was “The Devotion of Suspect X”. Since then, I have been
deeply attracted to Japanese detective fiction, and I have been addicted to the stories and riddles, and enjoyed thinking logically while reading them. I also did a brief
research on Japanese detective fiction formy thesis.

Zhang Wenxin
I like to go to the library to spend myreading time. I’m satisfied with the large
number of books, and I also like the atmosphere of the library that allow me to immerse myself in reading. I gradually began
to read 20th century detective fiction from
Europe and the United States, and I got interested in the source of the detective fiction. It is the reason why I chose my current research subject.
I am an Aries, born in April, full of enthusiasm and vigor, and love to have unknown adventures and make new friends.
Feel free to come to the International Student Concierge Desk at the Library for anyquestions!
My name is Zhang Wenxin and you cancall me Neveah. I’m from Jilin Province inthe northeast of China. Now I am an M2

My Hometown: Beijing
In this column, we introduce the hometownsof our members, giving you a glimpse into
their culture and some traveling tips from locals!

Though Beijing is not my hometown, theyears I spent there have woven the city's
vibrant tapestry into the fabric of my life,
allowing me to embrace it with the warmthreserved for a second home. Beijing, thecapital of China, stands as a majestic testament to both ancient and modern
epochs, seamlessly intertwining centuriesof history with the pulsating beat of contemporary life.
At its heart, Beijing's history is a storiedjourney through time, serving as the political, cultural, and educational center ofChina for over 800 years. The city is encircled by an invisible aura of its imperial
past, most notably embodied by the Forbidden City, a sprawling palace complex
that captivated the world with its architectural magnificence and deep historical significance. Beijing's historical narrative isfurther enriched by the Great Wall ofChina, a symbol of resilience and architectural marvel that stretches beyond thecity's confines, inviting adventurers andscholars alike to ponder the stories of yesteryears.
Beijing's cultural vibrancy is palpable inits bustling hutongs, traditional alleyways
that offer a glimpse into the city's soul, andin the serene beauty of the Summer Palace, where art and nature merge in harmonious tranquility. The city's commitment topreserving its cultural heritage, while fostering innovation and modernity, is evident
in its dynamic arts scene, ranging from traditional Peking opera to contemporary art
exhibitions that challenge and inspire.

The culinary landscape of Beijing is as
diverse as its history, offering an array offlavors that tell tales of emperors, commoners, and everyone in between. Peking
duck, with its crispy skin and succulent
meat, is more than just a dish; it's a culinary journey through Beijing's imperial dining halls. Meanwhile, the humble jianbing
offers a taste of Beijing's bustling streets,a testament to the city's ability to find extraordinary in the everyday.
In essence, Beijing is more than just acity; it's a living museum, a guardian of history, and a beacon of the future. Though it
is not the place of my birth, Beijing has become a part of who I am, a cherished second home whose streets, stories, andspirit will forever hold a special place in myheart.

* All photos are taken by author.
Written by Yisianjiang Yumiti

Reader’s Choice: What to Read
Next?
This section introduces a book from our available selection at the Tohoku University Main
Library. It is intended to pique your interestand fill your grey matter with intellect and emotion. Sit back and enjoy it!

Happy spring, fellow book lovers!
April is here and it has not only awoken
the most beautiful colors in nature, butalso some deep emotions of change andinspiration within each of us. While admiring the fleeting beauty of each sakura
petal, I always think about all the past generations who have lived through manychanging seasons in Japan, and I wonder:“What was their life like? What made them
happy and what troubled their hearts?”
If similar questions occasionally come toyour mind as well, I encourage you to open
the first page of this book and make yourfirst step into the past with the guidance ofan expert on the inner life of the Japanesepeople of the past – Lafcadio Hearn.

slowly ceased to exist due to the rapid
Westernization of this society.
Kokoro was published in 1896 and it
provides a glimpse into the complex innerlife of the everyday people who once lived
in the “old Japan” – such as righteous ordinary people, pure hearted children, andtroubled monks. The title is often translated into English as “the heart of things”
and it perfectly describes these diverse existential stories. Interestingly, this book
was published some 20 years before
Natsume Sōseki’s Kokoro, yet it remains
fairly unknown among wider audience.
Lafcadio Hearn is especially famous forcompiling riveting ghost stories and peculiar legends from Japan, so you may likehis other works too!

Book: Kokoro – Hints andEchoes of Japanese Inner Life
Author: Lafcadio Hearn
Publisher: Charles E. Tuttle

Lafcadio Hearn (also known by his Japanese name, Koizumi Yakumo 小泉 八雲)
is considered to be one of the first Japanologists who spent his life serving as a skillful interpreter of things Japanese to theWestern world. Born in 1850 on the islandof Lefkada in Greece, he found his life’s
purpose at the age of 40, recognizing Japan as his home and his greatest inspiration for writing.
His contributions to the representationof Japan of the late 19th century go bothways, since Japanese people treasure hisbooks as equally as his Western readers,
because they serve as a reminder of themysterious and traditional Japan thatCompanyCall No.: KS158-6/8
Location: Main Library, Global
Learning Room

Written by Petrovikj Hristina

Editors*Petrovikj Hristina [Editor-in-Chief]
A graduate student from North Macedonia enrolled in the Graduate
School of International Cultural Studies. She has many hobbies, someof which include: singing, journaling, travelling, reading, watchingmovies, and photography. She has lived in 3 different countries so far,travelled across Europe, and is hoping to embark on an Asian tour inthe near future. Her secret dream is to be a member of a rock band,but since that has not come true yet, you can often find her in a karaoke booth instead!

Helen Li
A 3rd year PhD student from Economics and Management Department, majoring in monetary economics and financial time series
analysis. She previously lived in the USA and came to Japan in
2019. She has been playing the piano for over 10 years, and isalso a semi-professional athlete of speed skating since before she
was 14. She is an excellent female gamer of MOBA games suchas DOTA and Honor of Kings. Her dream is to become a university
professor or a diplomat, but a superior professional athlete of Esports if she was 10 years younger.

Andhika Wijaya
A graduate student from Innovative Japanese Studies Major, who wasborn and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. She never had seen snow before
she came to Japan, so she’s always going ‘wakuwaku’ when the snow isfalling down even though she has to struggle a lot with the cold temperature. She loves drawing, reading comics, travelling to scenic places, enjoying nice music, singing at karaoke, and playing with cute animals.
Please don’t mind her if she makes strange noises when she saw a photoof cute animals. Aside of those, one of her major passion is enjoying foodand making review notes about it.

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