Volume 15, Number 2 |
You may have noticed that the February issue of the Alien Times didn't make it to your local newsstand. Tim Boyle, the usual editor, is away for a couple of months and I was asked to put together the Alien Times in his absence. Unfortunately, due to a series of mishaps, including inexperience and a computer that decided it needed a vacation, the February issue just never made it to the printer. It was decided, therefore, to put together a combined February/March issue, which is what you have in your hands at the moment. We recommend that you read this issue twice to make up for the missing February issue and we look forward to the return of Tim for the April issue. Victor Heese.
Ms. Mirela Pop studied Japanese Language at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies in 1993. She graduated from the University of Tsukuba with a BA in Economics in 1998 and also with an MBA in Management Sciences in 2000. After working at the head office of NOVA Ltd. in Osaka, she opened Shire Language School in Konda, Tsukuba in October 2000.
If you just read her promising profile, you might think she is hard to approach, but in person she's a charming, kind, humble, and a "more Japanese than Japanese people" person.
For eight years of her life in Tsukuba, Ms. Pop has been conscious of living here as a human, not as a foreigner. "My life is not different from any other Japanese person's life. If something happens, it has effects on my life as well as theirs," she says. She had to leave Tsukuba at one point for the position at NOVA and for the first time experienced homesickness.
"No matter what ethnicity they may have, people are the same. No matter what religion or customs they may practice, people feel the same inside," says Ms. Pop. In breaking down the invisible walls such as prejudice or discrimination, she will become a pioneer.
Tsukuba Information Center is offering an introductory Japnaese language class. The class is for those who have not studied Japanese before and will focus on the functional side of the language. You can hear and learn vivid Japanese.
It is open to foreign residents who live in or near Tsukuba and can attend all the classes. Classes are every Tuesday from 9:30 to 11:30am starting April 17 and running to September 25. Classes are held at the Tsukuba Information Center.
The classes are free but there are only a few openings left. For more information or to register, contact Ayako or Yoshiko at the Tsukuba Information Center. Phone: 0298-52-6789, Fax: 0298-55-8294, email: www@info-tsukuba.org.
The Ibaraki Hash House Harriers, that wacko jogging and beer-drinking club, will sponsor their next event on Sunday, April 1st. That's right -- April Fool's Day. Meet at Frontier bar in Amakubo at 2pm (please note later starting time than usual). That's 2pm. They have an exciting and scenic 6k course planned, to be followed by the infamous "down, down" ceremony, at which each participant will be asked to perform in some way (tell a joke, sing a song, strip, etc.), in other words, to make fools of themselves. It's all for some exercise, fresh air, and fun. Everyone is welcome -- you don't have to be a good runner (some people only walk the trail). For more information, check their website at ibarakih3.infoseek.ne.jp
The Tsukuba International Network (TIN) is a consortium of people representing various research institutes, city offices and volunteer service clubs that deal with the needs of the foreign community as a part of their job description or mission statement. The group meets regularly to co-ordinate group action to bring about changes for the benefit of the foreign community. It was instrumental, for instance, in finally getting the bus company to put numbers on the buses and English at the bus stops.
There are several issues TIN is presently working on. Included in this issue of the Alien Times is a questionnaire designed to get data on the educational needs of foreign children. In addition to helping Tsukuba International School with its needs (such as finding a new location), TIN is also trying to foster better understanding and additional options for foreign children in the Japanese school system.
Another area where a major push is underway is requesting the immigration office to set up at least a part-time office here in Tsukuba. Thousands of valuable work hours are wasted every year by foreign researchers and their Japanese hosts having to spend most of a day going to Tokyo or Hitachi to get simple things like visa extensions and re-entry permits. Several years ago the Alien Times drew up a petition to the city council for this purpose and it was officially adopted by the city. Since then, nothing has happened, and so now TIN is leading a new effort to put pressure on the national government to take this logical step. One branch of the national government is making a big push to dramatically increase the number of foreign researchers in Japan (with a large percentage of those being in Tsukuba), but another branch has so far refused to take this small step in facilitating that move. It is estimated that there are about 25,000 foreigners in the area that would be served by this office. Hopefully, this new push, which will also involve the prefectural government, will be effective in getting the immigration bureau to follow through.
Other actions being taken are to encourage the local cable network ACCS to include more English language information, including a brief list of available programming and schedules. Also, TIN is in conversation with the local chamber of commerce concerning the designation of stores where there is someone who can adequately function in English. They are considering having stores with English-speaking personnel put up signs saying "English Spoken Here." Hopefully, it will not say "Engrish Supoken Hair" of something like that!
TIN encourages you to let them know what other areas of concern you would like to have them work on. You can send your suggestions through the Alien Times or through the international office of the city or wherever you work.
Please return by April 15, 2001 to Tokio Ohska at the International Collaboration Office, KEK 1-1 Oho, Tsukuba, 305-0801, phone: 0298-64-5123, email: ohska@post.kek.jp
by Applewhite Minyard
There are no public baths in the USA remotely similar to Japanese onsens. Although there are hot springs (the usual translation of "onsen") in America, and even towns named "Hot Springs," it is still fruitless to attempt to find an onsen-like establishment there. The ones I've visited in the USA featured private bathing in oversized bathtubs filled with mineral-rich (volcanic) waters.
I had read about onsens before coming to Japan two years ago, but the reality, of course, is in the experiencing. For the uninitiated, onsens are scattered throughout Japan and there are even onsen guides rating them according to surrounding scenery, mineral content, and other factors. Many hotels have them, but the best ones have an outside pool, or "rotenburo." This means that although the bath ("furo") is usually inside ("onsenburo"), in this case it is outside. Many years ago there used to be mixed-gender ("konyoku") onsens in Japan where families could go and relax together, but this has become the exception rather than the rule today. Perhaps the lascivious image this brings to Western minds has had its effect on Japanese thinking as well. Americans also tend to think of nudist resorts as places where flesh is up for grabs, whereas they are actually much more oriented toward calm acceptance of nudity.
There may be other amenities at onsens in addition to the usual heated pools, such as a sauna with an outside cooling area, a Jacuzzi or whirlpool, weight and body fat monitoring, different pools with different temperatures, piped in music, or small waterfalls or waterspouts.
Before entering the soaking area, it is necessary to wash thoroughly with a hand held shower, with soap usually being provided, but not towels. Those who go should ideally take two small towels, one to take into the soaking area and another to dry off with afterward. After a thorough cleansing, and for the Japanese the emphasis is really on the "thorough" part, slipping into the warm water is like sliding into a warm bath. The temperature is usually between 39 and 43 degrees C (102 ~ 112 F), and if there is more than one pool, one will invariably be hotter than the others. At first, it seems boring. There's nothing much to do, just sit around with a towel on your head and the warm water lapping around your neck, but after awhile, the temperature and immersion in the water start to calm your spirit and at the same time elevate your heart rate as your body attempts to compensate for the increased temperature, higher than your body's internal temp.
There's a limited amount of moving around, and practically no splashing or horseplay, not even much talking. Conversations tend to be short and limited rather than long and involved. Eventually, and especially if you're at an outside pool with a cool, quiet night sky overhead, this starts to seep into your bones, into your spirit, and a sense of calm overtakes you. It's one of those things that can't be explained, only experienced.
As this calm pervades the atmosphere, it is easy to accept the occasional child of the opposite gender, and although the exact age when this becomes unacceptable isn't clear (at least to me), it seems to be about ten. Another thing that could be a distraction for Westerners is the presence of the cleaning lady who wanders in and starts cleaning the sauna or shower area while surrounded by naked men. No one seems to pay any attention to this, sort of like the cleaning ladies in public restrooms. It just becomes part of the necessary functioning of the place, nothing to get alarmed about, though the small towels are useful to cover body parts if desired.
There's also a man who comes around occasionally to check the temperature of the various pools. This always seems to be a man, even in the women's pools, but from the reports I've heard, no one there takes any notice either. One woman even told me she saw someone checking the temp, but didn't even notice if it was a man or a woman. Later she said she thought it was a man, but it didn't occur to her that she (and every other woman) was naked. None of the women took any notice, and neither, apparently, did the lone man.
If the onsen has a sauna, the temp in there is usually around 52 ~ 57 C (125 ~ 135 F), and 15 to 30 minutes in the dry heat will start sweat streaming down your body and definitely up your heart rate. This is not a place to overstay or try to tough it out. Sitting in the cool air afterward closes the pores opened by the sweating process and then a dip into the warm pools is especially relaxing.
To get the whole experience takes about two hours, at a cost of about 500 yen, and it changes your mind as well as your body. Of course your body feels relaxed, but your mind is more calm as well, more accepting, and immersion into this unique cultural experience will affect your thinking long after the actual physical experience is over.
By Joseph G. Robbie
Qantas flight #666 from Auckland touched down smoothly on Narita's second international runway, and coasted to an eventual stop near the main terminal. Ned Rollins felt alert and refreshed after the luxurious first-class service he had enjoyed on board. Coming here for a sponsored two-week stay to participate in an entomology convention was the greatest adventure of his life.
Ned was waved through customs in a jiffy, and immediately upon entering the arrivals lounge spotted his long time mentor. Walden Helmsly stood out in the crowd of otherwise comparatively diminutive greeters present at Gate 27. The kiwis warmly embraced; then Walden took control of the luggage cart and led the way to the parking lot. In the yellow plate very mini van, Ned observed that Walden was baldin'. "A sign of superior intelligence", joshed the older man, and they both had a raucous laughing fit over this clever wit.
Ned was delighted to be reunited with his old buddy, who would take care of him and show him the ropes. During the drive to Tsuchiura, Ned asked Walden to list five things that he liked about Japan and five things that he didn't. "Intelligent people, hard-working people, little crime, shabu shabu, and beautiful women - these things I like. I don't like ugly cities, discrimination, nosy neighbors, right wing sound vans, or toll roads."
About an hour later they were entering Tsuchiura. As they crossed the Sakura (Cherry Blossom) River, Ned remarked on its beauty.
"Extremely polluted" Walden pointed out. "They say if you fall in, you'll turn green."
As they cruised onto the campus of Tsuchiura Science University, Ned was impressed by its size. It even included an expansive, though somewhat aging, hospital. Walden's bachelor faculty apartment was a spacious two-story, two-bedroom affair with adequate balcony and small private garden. Everything was Western style, the residences having been constructed specifically for visiting foreign lecturers. Ned was shown to his bedroom where he unpacked and neatly stowed his clothes away. He then discretely scanned the room for cleanliness and was disappointed to find the TV screen dusty. The toilet room was small and only for that purpose. The toilet itself contained a mini computer system and did everything imaginable to enhance the user's experience. It warmed, it cooled, it vibrated, it washed, it wiped and it could be programmed to match individuals' personal preference settings. The bathroom was modern and ultra high tech. Walden explained the use of the multi-function pulsating shower and the Jacuzzi / spa / hot tub / whirlpool / traditional Japanese style bath. Ned availed himself of its pleasures. As evening approached, they headed out for Ned's first Japanese dinner.
Tsuchiura was an old city of about 250,000 steeped in history with legends and samurai and such. With its "Turtle Castle", yacht harbor, kimono shops and an extensive red light district near the train station among its attractions, the town had indeed something to offer. Yet it was toward the sister city of Tsukuba, about 10km away, that Walden guided the van. In contrast, Tsukuba was a very modern, artificial city of about the same size, population wise. Artificial because the government had created it by joining together several villages, building large research institutes and state-the-art infrastructure, then relocating cutting edge scientists from crowded and expensive Tokyo to the relatively pastoral Ibaraki area. Here one found wide, well-lit streets, numerous fine parks, a long strip containing chain restaurants and fast food joints, and many gaijin researchers.
They pulled into the parking lot of a splendid, well-landscaped, steel, glass and marble restaurant. The lovely kimono-clad hostess led them to a non-smoking table with luscious flower display where the kimono-clad waitress delivered menus and poured green tea. On the opulent stage, a single kimono-clad mock geisha, resplendent in her traditional costume and makeup, soothed the ear and soul with the gentle twangs of her koto. A complimentary tray of smoked ham and rare cheese arrived as the fellows placed their orders. Walden had recommended the large Kobe pepper and garlic steak set and a couple of Asahi Super Dry beers. It turned out to be the most delicious meal of Ned Rollins' life. Adding to his ecstasy, Walden paid the 28,000 yen final bill. Now it was time to check out the Tsukuba nightlife!!!
(To be continued)