It’s been a while since my last newsletter! I hope you are all well, as much as one can be in these difficult times. I haven’t been able to write my newsletter as frequently these days because I have been focusing on my new language and cultural project Patreon. However, I am happy to continue writing here too, and have a goal of sending out quarterly updates.
On my Patreon, I like to say I’m creating omakase for linguistical and cultural explorers. I share not only Japanese topics, but also French and Latin related posts. I love to offer fun details about all the languages and cultures I am teaching to all my students.
I’ve also started a series of interviews with my language students. As I am constantly inspired by their passion and motivation for learning, I wanted to talk with my students about their language learning journeys, and inspire others. My first post of this series is with Anandamayi, a Berkeley-based artist whose work I absolutely love and who exhibited few times in Japan. In our conversation, I asked her if Japanese language or culture had any creative influence on her work, and her reply totally made sense as to why I love her work so much. This interview is public, so check it out if you are interested!
Don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions. Hope to see you there!
I am super excited that Mademoiselle Yulia, a Japanese fashion sylist/model/DJ, just started a YouTube channel about kimono mostly in Japanese and some English. Putting a kimono on correctly is not easy, and even Japanese people have to take at least few classes if they want to wear them properly, because they include so many layers and subtelties. That’s why there are even professional kimono dressers and teachers—including one of my Japanese aunts! Wearing kimono is an art on its own. In her first video, Madamoiselle Yulia explains how kimono allows you to express yourself more than Western clothes, as well as how she started to become drawn to kimono. She also talks about how Japanese traditions and art are all intertwined together, which I found fascinating. If you are interested, check out her video in Japanese (with English subtitles). She also said that she is waiting for requests, so if there’s anything you would like to learn about kimono, you should ask her directly in the comment section!
SAKURA ／ 桜
Because Japan closed its borders to foreign nationals for the last two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of you haven’t been able to go back to Japan. So many lives are on standby. While Japan still hasn’t fully opened its borders, the country is finally softening restrictions by opening its doors to foreign nationals such as students. Unfortunately, tourists are not allowed yet. However, this is a first step, so let’s hope you’ll all be able to go back there soon! Meanwhile, for all the people who miss seeing sakura (cherry blossoms- 桜), an online viewing service is available. A Japanese company has been posting drone images of sakura captured all over Japan. The company just posted its latest cherry blossom video as a live stream on YouTube, which you can see on the link below. The perk is that it allows us to see sakura from all regions across the country.
MANGA x FASHION ／ 漫画ｘファッション
Lately, a few luxury brands have released collaboration lines with Japanese manga and anime. Last year, Loewe released a line featuring Studio Ghibli’s iconic animated movie “My Neighbor Totoro,” (となりのトトロ) and this season they offered a capsule collection with another Ghibli anime, the mega hit “Spirited Away” (千と千尋の神隠し)
A year ago, Gucci presented a capsule collection that featured Doraemon (ドラえもん), the national hero of the “Showa era” (昭和時代), which was 1926 – 1989. Although I am always happy when Japanese culture gets featured overseas, I am not a huge fan of either line. I don’t feel that Miyazaki’s anime or Doraemon’s spirit fit the fashion world well. Doraemon and Ghibli paint a very sober world and innocent approach, very far from the consumer and luxury world. In my opinion, these anime are too sacred to be mixed with a flashy world and commercialized in this way. For example, the collaboration line between Balenciaga and the manga “Jojo’s Bizarre Adventure” few years ago work together better, as Jojo’s world is very colorful and crazy, suiting extravagant fashion. That said, it is true that mismatching is also part of fashion, and the Loewe sneakers with the susuwatari (ススワタリ) creatures from “Spirited Away” are very cute!
FASHION ／ ファッション
Louis Vuitton just opened a new shop in Kobe and it looks amazing. If you like high fashion, you should check out brand stores when visiting Japan because they are often the most gorgeous in the world and a pure pleasure just to wander in. There are architectural masterpieces with exceptionally beautiful interiors, usually mixing Japanese cultural aspects. The picture above of the Louis Vuitton Kobe’s shop sakura cat is a great example. Also, the pre-opening event was held in the historical Japanese garden Sourakuen (相楽園), another cool idea. I just love to see these international cultural mixes!
UKRAINE ／ ウクライナ
The world is in shock about the invasion of Ukraine, and Japan is watching carefully. I personally do not recall Japanese media featuring a foreign war so much. One reason is the fact that the Russian invasion has also brought the worry of a potential nuclear war. Japan is the only country in the world that has been the victim of a nuclear bomb, so this threat has a particular resonance and consciousness among people. For example, when former US President Barack Obama came to Hiroshima (広島) in 2016 to make a speech about peace, many people appreciated it and were moved by his message. At the same time, many people also expressed mixed feelings after seeing a soldier carrying the briefcase containing nuclear weapon codes and following Obama. While understanding the necessity, some felt it appeared contradictory to Obama’s message of peace, and was also painful to see the briefcase in the very place where over 80,000 died from an atomic bomb.
After the invasion of Ukraine, a group of Japanese students* dedicated to A-bomb survivors started a protest in Hiroshima and was followed by other student protests all over the country. The student protestors handed a statement to the Russian Embassy in Japan, which requested Russia to not to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine. Many Japanese companies and politicians expressed solidarity with Ukraine too. Prime Minister Kishida (岸田) also announced joining international sanctions on Russians, and the metropolitan government in Tokyo illuminated its building in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, blue and yellow. Japan’s largest online fashion retail website ZOZOTOWN released charity t-shirts with the messages #戦争反対 (sensou hantai – against war) and #NOWAR.
*If you would like to learn more about these students, you can check out this article in English.
