The Communication Network of Temple University, Japan Campus
The results are in for the Spring 2010 Photo Contest!
Category: TUJ Activities
Traditional Arts Workshop Kimonos by Joseph Hund
Category: Traditional Japan
Rickshaws by Matt DellAngelo
Category: Modern Japan
Cat Walking by Jordan Chien
Category: TUJ Students
Observation by Chan Virginia Sealock
Thank you all again for your participation!
On March 30th, TUJ students headed off to Yokohama to watch baseball’s Yokohama Bay Stars take on the Tokyo Giants. Through an OSS sponsored event, fans of both teams headed off to the stadium with their team caps and gear close at hand. Baseball was first introduced to Japan in the late 1800s, and the Japanese baseball culture has evolved quite differently from America’s For many students it was their first time watching a professional Japanese baseball game, and needless to say, everybody enjoyed themselves. Students joined in on the cheers and joined the other fans in the stadium, experiencing first hand Japan’s most “traditional” sports.
- Kyle Korabowski, OSS Student Worker
On Wednesday, March 3, the Office of Student Services (OSS) held a group sightseeing event to Kamakura, Kanagawa! Kamakura was once the 4th largest city in the world in 1250 AD and was designated as a city in 1939. Although Kamakura today is a rather small city, its historical significance has made it a popular tourist attraction.
Being different from previous years, the day started by going to the famous Kenchoji Temple for Zazen Experience (Meditation) and Shyojin Ryori (Vegetarian Buddhist meal). The Master explained and demonstrated the proper way of performing meditation session by session. Starting off by only 10 minutes per session, the time interval gradually increased depending on participants’ condition. During the session, if one’s concentration is faltered, the master would use his stick to hit his/her upper back, not as a punishment, but to help them stay focused. After completing 5 sessions of meditation, students had the chances to taste the authentic vegetarian meal served for monks in the temple. During the meal, the master showed students the procedures and manners to eat in the temple.
The second stop of the day was the Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine. It is considered as Kamakura’s most important shrine founded by Minamoto Yoriyoshi in 1063. The shrine is reached via a long, wide approach that lead from Kamakura’s waterfront through the entire city centre (japan-guide.com). Students had two hours of free time to take pictures and purchase souvenirs. As the last stop of the day, the group visited the Great Buddha of Kamakura, which is Japan’s second tallest Buddha that was built in 1252 and exhibited a magnificent height of 13.35 meters.
In order to get a true taste of what traditional Japanese culture has to offer, paying a visit to Kamakura would certainly be a means towards this end.
- Jordan Chien OSS Student Worker
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.
Click here to keep track of Clifford’s Diversity Abroad Blog!
But enough from me, let’s hear from Clifford!
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 at TUJ is meaningful and fulfilling.
Can’t find a good burrito in Tokyo?
Why not enjoy some great food for under 1000 yen?
FRIJOLES celebrated their grand opening on November 4 with mouth-watering success. And if their delicious food and great prices aren’t enough to pursuade you, just show your TUID (or alumni card) and get a free soft drink with any meal.
Frijoles Map
I’ve been procrastinating on this post because this is probably the most difficult/uncomfortable thing that’s happened to me in Japan–well, race-related. Now that I think about it, it might very well be the most uncomfortable, race-related situation that has happened to me in my life. And instead of drawing it out, I want to get right into what happened.
It was the middle of May.
My old roommate Kira introduced my to my favorite place on earth, the bar I mentioned in my previous post. After I went there twice with Kira, the bar owner and his wife invited us and a few others to their house for an okonomiyaki party. As we stepped into their house, I noticed that the house looked a lot like their bar–full of American paraphernalia. All sorts of gadgets and toys lined their walls and shelves. Cans of Campbell’s soup, a box of Stove Top stuffing mix, figurines of the Budweiser toads, 1950’s Coco Cola bottles, a stuffed animal of Alf (the 1980’s television show), Tom and Jerry mugs, etc. If you name something American, I’m sure they have a replica of it in their house. And if not, it’s in their bar.
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