Real Reporter Online – Page 9 – We have the courage to make mistakes.

Nobunaga Oda, Game Changer

July 13, 2020

by　Shouya Ajiki

Nobunaga Oda is a Japanese samurai who is well-known for his unifying Japanese lords during the period called Sengoku Era, which means “the era of battles.” He was born in 1534 and died in1582. He was a man who introduced new ways of battles and politics.

It is considered that he changed how warriors fought at wars in Japan. In 1575 a battle called “Battle of Nagashino” took place. At that time samurai soldiers on horsebacks used swords. However, in this battle, Nobunaga used guns and achieved an overwhelming victory against his enemy.

He also invented new ways to evaluate his men. He considered the talent of a man, not the birth of a man. For example, he appointed men of a lower social status to his close aids when he spotted talented people.

One of such examples is Hideyoshi Toyotomi, a son of a farmer, who rose up to the ruler of Japan after the death of his lord, Nobunaga. It was revolutionary to favor men of a low status family in the time influenced by the family background.

Nobunaga’s adventurous attitude of trying new things may be something the modern people should learn in this time of great social change.

Hideyo Noguchi, Bacteriologist Saving the World

July 13, 2020

by　Reina Yamane

Hideyo Noguchi is well known as an important bacteriologist. He saved a lot of people and countries from germs. In 1911, he is the first person in the world to find a germ in the brain with progressive supranuclear palsy.

This germ was revealed as syphilis by Hideyo Noguchi. Thanks to this discovery, doctors became able to treat the sick.

In 1918, he found a germ of Weil’s Disease only nine days since he arrived at Ecuador. Then he developed a new vaccine to cure the disease, and this pandemic was stamped out by this vaccine in Ecuador.

In 1925, he also found that two illnesses were in fact the same disease in Peru and Columbia. This theory was scientifically proven by him. As a result, his services were appreciated by Harvard University.

Even now, his theory is still used in the health care entities. As a result, his face is reprinted on a Japanese bill to praise his achievement.

Hayato Ikeda, Prime Minister Reconstructed Japan

Hayato Ikeda, Prime Minister Reconstructed Japan

July 13, 2020

by　Yoshihiro Hara

Hayato Ikeda is the 58th, 59th and 60th Prime Ministers of Japan. He changed Japanese economy and society. His famous policy is Income Doubling Plan. This plan is　to double the gross domestic product within ten years and to promote economic growth centered on tax cut, social security and public investment.

In fact, the plan succeeded in the doubling gross domestic product in just four years, which greatly enriched the life of people. In addition, he decided change the Japanese economy to an open economic system. For example, he raised the trade liberalization rate from 42 percent to 93 percent, adapted IMF’s Article 8 and made Japan a member of the OECD.

These encouraged positive participation in Japan’s free trade system. The biggest international event that took place when he was prime minister was the Tokyo Olympic in 1964.

Along with that, the transportation network, cities and living environment were improved and people’s lives became more fulfilling. He is one of the most successful prime ministers of Japan.

He made major renovation to bring Japan into a member of the developed world. I want to work on new things without fear of failure like him. His policy then greatly developed the Japanese economy and society.

Uniforms in Japan

Uniforms in Japan

July 6, 2020

Uniform maintains disciplines

By Ryosuke Tanaka

What kind of clothes did you wear when you were high school students? In Japan most students wear uniforms. A typical high school uniform for a boy looks like this. A male student wears a white shirt and a tie, trousers and a blazer.

Wearing school uniforms is a Japanese school tradition. When we go to school, we can’t go in any clothes. We need to wear uniforms that is decided by each school. Basically, we wear uniforms from elementary school to high school.

By wearing the same uniform, the school’s discipline is maintained. There are a lot of rules regarding the dress codes. Students always need to wear uniforms properly, especially, on special occasions such as graduation and entrance ceremonies.

I think it is a good idea for students to wear school uniform, because the school is a place to study. Wearing proper clothes helps students focus on study. If students wear anything they want to wear, they will wear inappropriate clothes and that will be distracting.

Uniforms gives a sense of belonging

By Chio Yamamoto

The school uniform is adopted by most Japanese schools. Students wear it in junior high school, high school, and even elementary school and kindergarten. I think school uniform gives a sense of belonging to their schools.

The school uniform has a different design depending on the school. So, wearing that school uniform represents you as a student of the school. Also, the school will be a memorable item for students.

By looking at their uniforms after graduation, uniforms become a reminder of their student life. Thus, the school uniform is plays important fuctions for high school students.

Photo by Ryousuke Tanaka and Chio Yamamoto

Celebration of First Birthday

Celebration of First Birthday

July 6, 2020

By Saki Suyama

The Japanese first birthday celebration is unique. It is called “isshyou mochi.” On the first birthday,a baby is humped with a very big rice cake on her back and encouraged to stand up.

The rice cake is made from an isshyo of rice, which is about two liters of rice, so it is very heavy for a one-year old baby. Some babies and stand up others fall down by the weight of the rice cake.

Ishyou has double meanings: a volume of rice which is approximately two litters, and “as long as one lives.” Parents and grandparents make a wish so that their children will be able to eat rice as long as they live.

After the celebration, parents distribute the rice cake used in the event to their relatives. Proud parents let many people know that they have a healthy child in their family. This event symbolizes the love of parents, and I think we should continue to celebrate the festival in the future.

Photo by Saki Suyama

Traditional Umbrella to Pray for Rain

Traditional Umbrella to Pray for Rain

July 6, 2020

By Reina Yamane

This traditional umbrella was used to pray for rain in Tottori Prefecture in the Edo Period. This umbrella is called “shan-shan gasa’’ because of a lot of bells are attached on the umbrella and it sounds like ting-a-ring. At end of the Edo Period, villagers in the Tottori region experienced a record drought.

So, one man started to dance to pray for rain. His name was Gorosaku. This incident is believed to be the origin of the traditional umbrella. Being passed down to the current generation, this umbrella reminds the connection between gods and the people in Tottori Prefecture.

For example, children in Tottori Prefecture dance spinning this umbrella in summer. Children make their umbrellas themselves by using glue stick, paper, and wire. The umbrellas in the photo are made of bamboo and cardboard.

Once their decorative umbrellas are made, they dance for fun. There is a big festival, called Shan-Shan Festival, has been held every year in Tottori since 1965. The festival is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the world’s biggest umbrella festival.

Photo by Reina Yamane

Mirror rice cake and Japanese Spirituality

Mirror rice cake and Japanese Spirituality

July 6, 2020

By Masato Kusakari

Japanese families display enormous rice cakes called kagami-mochi, namely, mirror rice cake, during the New Year Holiday. The kagami-mochi is as large as a volleyball, but it is flat like a pie.

The kagami-mochi is a sacred food for Japanese. The New Year Holiday is for Japanese to welcome the god of the incoming year, and the god must be welcomed to their houses and entertained by the special rice cake.

The incoming year god is called Toshi-gami-sama, namely, Mr. God of the Year. The god visits everyone’s house on January 1, and after a few days the god leaves back to the mountain. Then people are allowed to eat the rice cake. People eat it on a certain day, which is called “the day to open the mirror.”

They believe the rice cake has special powers: they will not get sick and can avoid disasters by eating the mirror cake on the mirror opening day. To sum up, kagami-mochi represents traditional beliefs that have been passed from generation to generation.

Photo by Masato Kusakari

Meaning of Osechi

Meaning of Osechi

July 6, 2020

By Kotone Muraki

Osechi a dish that can be eaten during the New Year in Japan. There are 20 to 30 types of side dishes in osechi. I think osechi is a gift from ancestors who have wished for good health. The reason is that each side dish in the osechi has its own meaning.

For example, shrimp symbolizes longevity because a shrimp is bent, which is similar to the back of an old man who lives long until the waist is bent. Black beans have the meaning that they work hard until they get a black tan. In addition to this, osechi also has wonderful meaning that each side dish can be healthy for one year this year.

Also, osechi has a very long history of 1000 years. These are inherited from the generations of ancestors. Therefore, osechi is a present from forefather who is connected to the past and the future.

Photo by Kotone Muraki

Craftmanship in Stone Walls

Craftmanship in Stone Walls

July 6, 2020

By Kohei Nozaka

Japanese castles are built on stone walls, called Ishigaki, namely, walls made of stone. Although a lot of Japanese wooden castles are destroyed, the stone walls are still standing proudly on mountain tops overlooking downtown areas in many cities in Japan after being constructed during 10th century.

The magnificent ancient stone walls give modern people a glimpse of craftmanship: passion, expertise, and creativity. In order to build stone walls, a tremendous number of heavy stones must be carried from various parts of Japan. Unlike today powered by modern machinery, they needed to procure materials by sea.

Only passionate lords and dedicated servants were able to accomplish such a difficult task. Another amazing thing about the stone wall is how stone wall builders figured out the combination of variously shaped stones into a perfect wall.

The stones had various shapes and sizes, and some were good for the top and others were good for the bottom part of a wall. The builders were able to find out how to balance the pieces like solving a difficult puzzle.

In addition, the ancient builders developed a creative solution for water to flow through the gaps between stones. That is why the ancient stone walls remain unchanged even today. Thus, the stone walls of Japanese castles are filled with the wisdom of old architects.

Photo by “Matsue Castle” by Clay Gilliland is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0

Calligraphy in Japanese education

Calligraphy in Japanese education

July 6, 2020

By Ryuya Nozaki

This is a calligraphy set which I used when I was an elementary school child. In this bag, there are brushes, ink, paper wait, pieces of thin paper, and felt mat. This smells like the ink that reminds me of my calligraphy experiences.

Calligraphy was brought to Japan from China in the 11^th century and Japanese started to learn how to write. Since then calligraphy has been an important subject of education. Japanese children take calligraphy lessons in elementary school and junior high school as a required subject.

Currently Japanese do not use brushes and ink for regular writing, but letters drawn by a brush has special meanings. For example, Japanese perform kakizome, the first writing of the year, to show their new year resolutions on long sheets of paper in January.

Such letters are displayed on the wall because Japanese feel something spiritual in the brush drown letters. There are so-called a shodo performance, an exhibition where writers wearing white kimono and traditional black trousers draw powerful letters using an enormous brush on a sheet as big as a carpet, among calligraphy clubs at high schools.

The audience enjoy watching the exciting process of brush-drawn lines and dots turning to something spiritual. I am glad I took calligraphy lessons because I am able to admire the beauty of calligraphy.

Photo by Ryuya Nozaki