Month: April 2020

Japanese Cotton Fireman’s Sashiko ‘Hikeshi Banten’ Hanten Jackets: Wearable Art

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When I came upon this antique fireman’s hanten(jacket) from the Meiji(1868-1912) or early Taisho(1912-1926)period, it prompted me to do some research on these rugged, well crafted and often whimsically decorated coats. It also prompted me to open my wallet, but that’s another story!

Sashiko hanten like this are called ‘hikeshi banten’ in Japanese, literally ‘fireman’s jacket.’ Its heavy cotton was meant to absorb a good deal of water to help protect its wearer from the fire. After being soaked in water, they were worn with the plain side facing out, with the design as the lining. It must have been quite heavy with all that water weight added to this thick fabric!

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In the days before electricity came into widespread use, it was all too common in Japan for fires to break out on account of candles and lanterns, and as Japanese houses are traditionally made of wood and paper, it’s not hard to imagine how formidable and common a foe fire was in the daily lives of the citizenry.

As such, the role of the fireman in the community was vital and the rudimentary tools that they relied on along with the factors mentioned above stacked the odds in favor of the fire more often than not. Firemen were therefore seen as courageous men of valor and honor who would without hesitation sacrifice themselves in the interest of coming to the aid of their community.

After the fire was put out, the firemen would take off their jackets and wear them inside out to to show off the elaborate designs that had been hidden from view until then. To see firemen wearing their jackets in such showy fashion was to know that the danger was past and they had come through the battle unscathed, or at least well enough to fight again.

They’d then walk through town on the way perhaps to a local drinking establishment, attracting the gaze of admiring townsfolk appreciative of their courage and envious of their distinctive jackets, in a victory lap of sorts.

The theme of the work is referred to as ‘Hi no tamashi ni mukao wakamusha’ in Japanese, which means ‘A Young Warrior Confronts the Spirit of the Fire.’

These are always a pleasure to come across, and if you’re interested in seeing a range of intriguing motifs, a quick net search should yield interesting results.

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Originally posted 2015-09-22 14:30:03.

Arashiyama Monkey Park: Wild Monkeys and a Great Kyoto View!

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Looking for fun and unique things to do in Arashiyama?

In addition to its other charms, the area offers a great view of the city if you’re willing to set aside a little time and don’t mind some climbing. And Arashiyama Monkey Park on Iwatayama Mountain is a great reason to make the hike!

When you visit Kyoto, especially if your trip comes on the heels of time spent in Tokyo, you’ll likely be struck by the low skyline. Kyoto City imposes strict regulations on construction, which has helped Kyoto to maintain its charms over the years, even as other locales succumb to development and the ‘higher is better’ mentality.

Look and you’ll notice Kyoto Tower in the top photo. It certainly stands out, whereas it would surely be lost among the jumble of tall buildings that define Tokyo!

This also means though, that finding a good vantage point from which to get the lay of the land can be a challenge.  One great way to get a memorable view of the city is to head over to the western part of Kyoto.

Arashiyama plays host to a unique center often referred to in English as Monkey Park or Monkey Mountain.  You’ll also find it if you search using the name of the proper name of the mountain, Iwateyama(yama means mountain in Japanese).  The official English website is here.

After a climb, you’ll be greeted by wild monkeys, who are fed by the staff there.  Visitors also can feed them, with food for sale on the premises. There are feeding stations that visitors enter before offering snacks to the monkeys gathered outside.  Quite a refreshing twist on the standard scenario that finds the monkey in the enclosed space!

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While this is highly recommended, it isn’t for everyone-those with leg problems or other health issues should carefully consider whether they’re up to the climb, which can feel steep at times, especially in hot weather.  Kyoto’s humid summers make it seem even steeper, so do keep the season and the weather as well as your physical condition in mind before heading up there.  As always, a bottle of water, regardless of the weather, will serve you well!

Originally posted 2015-02-17 15:07:55.

Teach English in Japan WELL: Teacher Talking Time

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Each Teach English in Japan WELL post offers up a practical tip for honing your teaching skills and work habits that can pay big dividends with students at conversation schools.

Contrary to popular belief, Charles Dickens was not paid by the word.  His books were long simply because he had something to say. And because he said it so well, the length of his works didn’t stand in the way of gaining an enduring following.

Although we as English teachers don’t get paid by the word either, you’d be forgiven for thinking that some of us are, based on the way more than a few instructors take up a significant amount of class time and oxygen with their own talking.  

This is an affliction common among, though certainly not exclusive to new teachers, and becoming aware of this tendency and controlling it can play a big part in improving the quality of your teaching.

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I’m writing this specifically for those who want to teach English in Japan at an eikaiwa conversation school or in university or other classes that happen to focus on fostering the students’ speaking ability. But obviously, there are contexts where teachers are well and truly lecturers.

In a sense, teacher talking time is one of the easiest things to address or at least hone your awareness of, in that measuring how much time you spend talking is easy to do.

Simply invite someone such as a co-worker or head teacher to observe your lessons with that along with other aspects of the lesson in mind.  Then have a frank discussion with them about what they saw.

I started the previous paragraph with the word ‘simply’ but of course opening yourself up to such a critique can be very intimidating. So cultivating an atmosphere of trust with others in your workplace such as teachers and head teachers are important and can pay big dividends in this sense.

As we all know, talking too much is easy to do in general, and there are various reasons for a teacher talking too much in the classroom.

A basic belief that leads to this is that teaching equals talking, that you are there to instruct, to explain.  That your job is to share your knowledge and opinions. Ask yourself how well this describes your own take on teaching, and if not, try to put into words your own ideas about what role you serve.

Then there’s our fear of silence.  Years ago in the states I was a radio DJ.  Dead air was our nemesis. Silence was inherently bad.

Silence in the classroom isn’t necessarily so.  Productive, dynamic silence can lead to new ideas and new language skills as students take the time to absorb new constructs and attempt to master them.

But often, silence during a lesson does signal something is off, and teacher talking is an all too easy way to address those moments when students stop talking because something is too hard, not engaging, or played out.

How much do you talk in an average lesson? If you don’t know, put some thought and effort into finding out.

Originally posted 2020-01-22 02:21:48.

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