We are pleased to shine the spotlight Clifford Cohn, a Study Abroad student at TUJ. Clifford is with us for the Spring 2010 semester and has already been involved in a lot of the activities and events organized by the Office of Student Services. Clifford, recipient of the Diversity Abroad Scholarship, is also chronicling his time in Tokyo on their official website.
My name is Clifford Cohn, and I grew up just outside of Chigago, Illinois. I am currently a junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and expect to graduate in May 2011. I am majoring in Economics with minors in Finance and Japanese Language and Culture. I am spending the 2010 spring semester studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan.
I am fortunately one of the recipients of the Diversity Abroad Scholarship. Diversity Abroad is a forum for students interested, currently, or have just returned from studying abroad. The application was primarily merit based and included an essay. The prompt was, “What does it mean to be a global citizen?” In order to receive the scholarship I am required blog about my experiences while I am abroad.
Thanks for your contribution to the TUJ family, Clifford! We hope the remainder of your time with us TUJ is meaningful and fulfilling.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On February 17, OSS held a Samurai Workshop where about 20 students joined and experienced Japanese traditional sword action taught by a professional group of teachers. The teachers were a group of sword performers called “Kamui,” who also choreographed and acted in the movie Kill Bill. The workshop was held at a community center near Tamachi Station where the students were very enthusiastic about learning the Japanese sword action. The students learned several basic moves as well as a choreographed routine in which they each performed at the end.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
The students were very excited about experiencing how to make the most traditional of Japanese food – sushi. A group of students visited a famous sushi restaurant – Bikkuri Sushi, where the Sushi Shokunin, or sushi chef, went very carefully in teaching the foreign students the art of making sushi. The students made a variety of sushi, which they later got to eat. They also learned about the history and the usage of traditional Japanese knives used to cut fish in making sushi. All of the students did a very good job in making sushi for the first time and impressed the chef.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On a cold and snowy day in Tokyo, you wouldn’t expect anyone to be crazy enough to go out walking around, but when the location is Akihabara and you are an Otaku, a little snowflake or two couldn’t possibly keep you away.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
When considering Japan, the colossal image of the sumo wrestler is one of the concepts that comes to mind. However, when closely examined, one finds that there is much more to the sumo wrestler than the stereotypes. TUJ students who attended the event were fortunate enough to be able to experience sumo for themselves in Ryogoku, an area in Sumida, Tokyo that is often considered the heartland of sumo. While watching the event, many questions were raised. What is it that the wrestlers toss into the air? Why do they stomp the ground with their feet? Simply watching sumo is one thing, but to truly appreciate this ancient art of Japan, a knowledge of the rich tradition that lies within it is needed.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On Monday, February 2, 2010, OSS held a Koto workshop at Mita Hall. This workshop’s primary goal was to teach students about Koto, a traditional Japanese musical instrument. So, what is the Koto? First, check out this video of my fellow students in action!
Are you thinking of staying in Japan after graduation?
Are you currently or will you be looking for employment in Japan?
Then come and listen to some non-native speakers of Japanese talk about…
The Importance of Learning Japanese NOW
Dates/Times/Locations
Tuesday, February 9, 2010 / 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM / Mita Hall 503
Wednesday, February 10, 2010 / 12:30 PM – 1:30 PM / Azabu Hall 212
Target Students
All non-native speakers of Japanese
Sponsors
Career Development Office and the Office of Student Services
Content:
Learn from the experiences of Makenzie (Computer Services), Erica (Career Development) and David (Office of Student Services)
Tips for studying Japanese in and outside the classroom
Advice about the JLPT exams
Chance to informally ask questions/receive advice from Makenzie, Erica & David
Sign up at the Office of Student Services (1st Floor Azabu) or the Career Development Office (6th Floor Azabu)
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
On January 26th, 2010, OSS hosted a basketball sports night at the Higashimachi Elementary school gymnasium. We focused only on basketball for this sports night so that we could attrack all of TUJ’s basketball lovers to come and enjoy some good-hearted competition.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
It was a very pleasant almost spring day and everybody was looking forward to meeting Ms. Akagi and experiencing Japanese traditional arts for their first time. Ms. Akagi’s house is a very traditional Japanese-style house with a very lovely garden.
First, we received a warm welcome and were sat down on the Japanese tatami mat. The workshop started with an explanation about the Shinto religion and we all prayed together, then Ms. Akagi played two traditional songs on the Japanese koto, which is like a harp. One was a very famous song about sakura cherry blossoms, which reminded us how quickly spring is approaching Tokyo this year, when we will be able to do hanami, or cherry-blossom viewing.
Hey TUJ students! Check out our webpage to find out how to get involved in TUJ Activities, Events and Workshops.
The purpose of the Language Partner Program (LPP) is to pair up native Japanese speakers who wish to improve their English language skills with native English speakers who wish to improve their Japanese language skills, though we have a number of participants with neither Japanese or English as their native language. It is also a great way to know people outside of your classroom.
The first meeting for this semesters’s LPP took place on Friday, January 22 in Azabu Hall. Close to 70 students, both Japanese and international (including some friends from Musashi University), registered and showed up to meet their new language partners. We had snacks prepared for our likely hungry students, and it wasn’t long before we started to get things rolling…
My name is Clifford Cohn, and I grew up just outside of Chigago, Illinois. I am currently a junior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee and expect to graduate in May 2011. I am majoring in Economics with minors in Finance and Japanese Language and Culture. I am spending the 2010 spring semester studying abroad in Tokyo, Japan.
