Events

'Vegetarianism & Japan' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in May 2019. 「菜食主義と日本」5月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

20/5/2019

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The topic of the month was 'Vegetarianism and Japan'. Currently, there are 7% of vegetarians in the UK and 4.7% of them in Japan, according to Wikipedia. Japanese vegan food called 'Shojin ryori'' was spread when Buddhism was introduced to Japan in 6th century with the teaching of no killing and purifying and improving mind and body. But I am happy that it has been more popular among foreigners in Japan. This a great movement because I used to be a vegetarian for three years. I had 'Shojin ryori'' in Kyoto last winter and I felt my body and mind were purified!

今月のトピックは「菜食主義と日本」でした。ウィキペディアによると菜食主義者は現在イギリスで７パーセント、日本で４．７パーセントだそうです。日本では6世紀ごろに仏教が伝来し、その不殺生や純粋な心身を磨くという教えともに「精進料理」が発達したそうですが、現在では外国人のベジタリアンやビーガン向けに精進料理が人気が出てきているというのは面白いと思います。去年の冬、京都で精進料理をいただきましたが、とてもおいしく、心と体も健やかになったような気がしました。以前3年間ベジタリアンだったこともあり、日本でのこの傾向が大変嬉しく思います。

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'Tipping culture VS Non-tipping culture' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in Japanese Garden 「チップをあげる文化VSあげない文化」4月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

20/4/2019

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Thank you very much for attending the Speaking Sessions last Saturday. It was the perfect day for the outdoor sessions! It was great to have the old member who has come back to London from Japan and a new member introduced by the regular member. Lauren-san, thank you for the French doughnuts and Duncan-san, thank you for your handmade biscuits!

I am sorry for those who had to miss this time but I hope to see you all another time. And thank you very much for your kind donation for running cost of the sessions and for Japan.

I am glad you enjoyed the topic this month. My student and I discussed it and I found it very interesting that the concept of the 'job' in service industry is different. For example, waiter job in Japan includes both basic work such as serving food and service in order to make customers happier. However, some countries separate these two and the wage is only paid for the work of serving food and service is not included as the job. It is considered as an extra work. It is very interesting to understand different ways of thinking and as a result, different systems of service jobs.

　今回はイースター休みの中、ご参加いただき誠にありがとうございました。快晴で温かく、屋外での話す会としては最高の天候に恵まれ、会話も楽しく弾んだことと思います。また、帰国されていたメンバーが来てくださったり、新しいメンバーのご紹介があったりと交流もさらに深まりました。それから、ローレンさん、フランスのドーナツ、ダンカンさん、手作りのクッキーをご馳走様でした！また、運営資金と日本への寄付金もありがとうございました。今回ご参加できなかった方々、またの機会を楽しみにしております。

　さて、今月のトピック「チップをあげる文化VSあげない文化」ですが、イギリス人の生徒によるとチップをあげる国では、サービス業の「仕事」の概念が違うようです。日本では例えばウェイターの仕事はお客様に満足してもらうことをするためのサービスが含まれますが、イギリスでは仕事は料理を運ぶことであり、その給料は雇用主からもらえますが、気持ちよく過ごしてもらうためのサービスは別扱いで客からのチップが必要なんだそうです。サービス業の「仕事」の範囲やそれに対する給料の違い、とても面白いですね。

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'Personal development through language learning' & 'the value of relationships in your country' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in March 3月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

18/3/2019

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Thank you very much for participating the Speaking Sessions last Saturday. It was so lovely to meet you all! Some Japanese people attended for the last chance before leaving the UK, some new members have joined the group and my old student turned up after a long time. And thank you very much for your donation for the event. This is my volunteering work and I appreciate for your kind support.

About the topic this month, I had to change myself a lot when I wanted to master English. I was a very shy person before, but now, everyone knows I am not! Also, I have gained a strong will to achieve my goals, as language learning is not an easy path. I hope more and more people learn a foreign language and get benefits from the journey.

It was a pity we missed some people who could not come this time, but I look forward to seeing you all next month!

今回も話す会にご参加くださり、ありがとうございます。今回が帰国前最後の会だった日本人メンバーの方々とも会え、また新しいメンバーもご紹介いただき、久しぶりに私の生徒も参加してくれました。当会へのあたたかい寄付もどうもありがとうございました。ボランティアで運営している上、大変助かります。

今月のトピックの一つ、「言語学習を通しての自己成長」に関して言えば、私の場合はシャイだった性格を一変せざるを得なかったこと、また目標達成のための根気が備わったような気がします。今後もより多くの人々が言語学習を楽しみ、人生に新たな変化があったら幸いに思います。

今回残念ながら来られなかった方々も含め、次回また皆様と深く楽しいディスカッションができるのを楽しみにしております。

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TOPIC: Tradition, mentality and values in your country - 2月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会　Japanese & English Speaking Session in Feburuary 2019

18/2/2019

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今回も大勢の方々のご参加、誠にありがとうございます。お忙しい中、わざわざ駆けつけてくださった方々もいらっしゃって、本当に感激しました。また、日本語学習者、英語学習者が互いにサポートし合い、刺激し合える場となったことは本当に嬉しい限りです。今回のトピックでもいろいろと学びが多かったようで良かったです。また、日本への支援金もどうもありがとうございます。
Thank you very much for attending the session this month! It was very nice to meet you all and we had a great energy of support and encouragement. I am very happy to hear that everyone learnt a lot from the members and the session was fulfilling. I am glad to hear that you enjoyed the monthly topic as well. Thank you very much for your kind donation for Japan!

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'About 2019' - The first 'Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session' in 2019 今年初「日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会」

20/1/2019

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Thank you for coming to the first session this year! It was a great start with your great energy! Thank you very much for introducing your freinds. I am very happy to meet them and we enjoyed our cutural talk as well as the language practice.

I hope the session gave you higher motivation and confidence at the beginning of the year. It would be wonderful to learn and encourage from each other!

Thank you very much for your donation for Japan too!

今年の初話す会にご参加くださりありがとうございます。新しいメンバーもご紹介いただき、とてもいいスタートが切れました。お陰様で楽しく有意義な会話と意見交換できたことと思います。

今年もお互いに刺激し合え、交流を通じて多くを学んでもらえたらたら幸いでございます。

日本への支援金もどうもありがとうございました。

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'Seasonal events and its value in your country' - Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in December 2018 12月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

10/12/2018

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Thank you very much for attending the Japanese speaking Session, English Speaking Session and the end of the year party last weekend. It was the last event this year. I am very happy that everyone loved the Japanese Christmas cake! I made it with my full of love and appreciation for all the members of Arai Academy of Japanese Studies. Through 2018, I hope that many of you have learnt a lot from each other, have made language exchange mates, have improved your target language and socialise more. Thank you very much for each of you for contributing to this language and cultural learning platform this year. In today's golobalising society, I believe that globalisation in our mind is crucial in order to live in peace and will continue working hard for this change to the future world. Thank you very much again for your great support in 2018!

皆様、今回も日本語を話す会・英語を話す会にお越しいただき誠にありがとうございました。愛と感謝を込めて作った手作りケーキも大変好評で頑張った甲斐がありました。今年最後のイベントとなりましたが、この一年を通して、「話す会」での会話練習みならず、お互いの国について学び合ったり、毎週会話練習する友達ができたりと、より深い異文化同士での交流の場となったならば大変嬉しく存じます。皆様のご支援あっての「話す会」であり、この一年間誠にお世話になりました。今後もグローバル社会に向けて、一人一人の心のグローバル化も進めていくべく努力して参りますので、どうぞよろしくお願いいたします。

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'Taboos in your country' - Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in November 2018 11月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

18/11/2018

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Thank you very much for participating the sessions yesterday! The topic of the month was 'Taboos in your country'. It was very interesting to know that giving a watch is not a very good present in China. The reason is that they feel like their life is limited and counting down starts with the watch. In Japan, it is nice to receive a watch as it is normally an expensive present and many people feel they are valued. I hope you had a great time to discovver your own culture and others.

先日は「日本語を話す会」「英語を話す会」にご参加くださり、どうもありがとうございました。今月のトピックは「自国のタブー」についてでしたが、興味深かったのは中国では時計をプレゼントするのはあまりいいことだと思われていないそうです。これはもらった側が余生をカウントダウンするイメージがあるからだそうです。逆に日本では時計をもらうと嬉しい人が多いのではないでしょうか。値の張るものをいただくというのはある意味大切に思われていると感じる人が多いかもしれません。今回も日本について、また他の参加者の国々についてより多くのことを学ぶ機会となったなら幸いでございます。

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Geisha World -JAPAN FOCUS 2018

15/11/2018

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Thank you very much for joining JAPAN FOCUS yesterday.

I am glad to hear that the topic was fascinating and you learnt a lot about Geisha world. It was also good for Japanese people to have gained more knowledge about the culture which is one of the most interesting topics for foreigners. The presenter, Lesley Downer, explined the high standard of the skills of entertaining and the dresses and hair styles of Geisha. They are well-trained in dancing and playing music.They always make sure that they make their customers feel absolutely pleased by providing high standard service. Lesley said that Geisha are very strong women and I can believe that people who are trained so hard must have strong mentality.

I am very pleased that Lesley is happy with contributing to JAPAN FOCUS more in the future.
Next topic will be on 'Traditional Japanese food'. I will inform you the details next year!
I really appreciate for kind support from Lesley.

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The Photos of Speaking Sessions in October10月の「話す会」の写真

15/10/2018

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JAPAN FOCUS 2018 - The geisha and their world

17/9/2018

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I am delighted to inform that one of the members of Arai Academy, an English journalist specialised in Japan, is happy to share her deep observations and hands-on experiences of Japanese culture and society. I appreciate for this opportunity and I am sure that deeper understanding on Japan will facilitate your language learning for the learners. Japanese people will also get benefits if you will be able to explain about one of the most curious cultures for your foreign friends.

Topic: The geisha and their world

Speaker: Lesley Downer - Her profile is as below.

Date: Wednesday 14th of November 2018

Time: 18:00 - The door opens
          18:15-19:10 Presentation by Lesley Downer (in English)
          19:00-19:30 Group discussion
                          (Two groups; one in Japanese & the other in English)

         You can join the event any time you can.

Venue: City Business Library, Guildhall, London EC2V 7HH
           (Nearest Tube stations-Moorgate, Bank & St Paul’s)

Price: £5 for the room charge + donation for the speaker (at the event)
         Please pay £5 by cash or bank transfer to Arai in advance.

Booking: Maximum 25 people. Your friends are welcome!
             Please book by 'Contact'.
            *Your booking will be completed once you make a payment.

Ms Lesley Downer - Journalist and writer

Lesley Downer is one of the very few westerners ever to have broken into the closed and mysterious world of the geisha. Even Japanese know very little about who the geisha really are and what they do. To research her books Lesley spend six month living among and befriending geisha in Kyoto, Tokyo, Kanazawa, Fukuoka, Atami and other cities. She talked to geisha and their customers, attended geisha parties, hung out with maiko (apprentice geisha) and geisha house owners, and learnt how to distinguish a geisha from a Japanese woman in a kimono, what happens when you take a geisha to Disneyland, what becomes of geisha when they grow old and much else. She also met and became friends with male geisha (taikomochi). She will talk about her experiences and illustrate her talk with many pictures.

Lesley Downer first went to Japan more than thirty years ago and her life has revolved around Japan ever since. She is the author of many books on Japan, including Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World, Madame Sadayakko: The Geisha who Seduced the West and a quartet of novels set around the Meiji Restoration: The Last Concubine, The Courtesan and the Samurai, The Samurai’s Daughter and The Shogun’s Queen.

Geisha: The Secret History of a Vanishing World: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Geisha-Secret-History-Vanishing-World-ebook/dp/B013SY90NM/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=

Official website: https://www.lesleydowner.com/

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<<Previous

'Vegetarianism & Japan' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in May 2019. 「菜食主義と日本」5月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

'Tipping culture VS Non-tipping culture' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in Japanese Garden 「チップをあげる文化VSあげない文化」4月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

'Personal development through language learning' & 'the value of relationships in your country' Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in March 3月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

TOPIC: Tradition, mentality and values in your country - 2月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会　Japanese & English Speaking Session in Feburuary 2019

'About 2019' - The first 'Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session' in 2019 今年初「日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会」

'Seasonal events and its value in your country' - Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in December 2018 12月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

'Taboos in your country' - Japanese Speaking Session & English Speaking Session in November 2018 11月の日本語を話す会＆英語を話す会

Geisha World -JAPAN FOCUS 2018

The Photos of Speaking Sessions in October10月の「話す会」の写真

JAPAN FOCUS 2018 - The geisha and their world

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