Konnichiwa everybody,
A lot has happened in Japan since my last newsletter! I was in Tokyo most of July, and as some of you have heard on the news, there was a record-breaking heatwave. Of all the summers I’ve spent in Japan since my childhood, it definitely felt the hottest. With its high humidity, Tokyo is already hot enough in the summertime, so you can imagine how intense it was! Just after one minute standing outside, you were already sweating like crazy. However, Tokyo was still amazing and beautiful, as usual, and I was excited to go check out more Tokyo gems for my clients, to curate their next Tokyo travel plans.
TOKYO GEM ／ 東京ジェム
During my last trip, I went to see and try many special places in Tokyo so I can recommend them to my clients. One of them was a new highend sushi restaurant that just opened few months ago. All the seats are at the counter in a small beautiful room, with a prix-fixe omakase course menu. It is always fun to be able to talk directly with the sushi chef, and chat with other customers in an intimate ambiance. Unlike most omakase that usually provide 10-15 pieces, this place’s course included 30 pieces of sushi. So it felt a bit challenging to eat it all, but all was definitely delicious. With their esthetic, secluded atmosphere, and special omotenashi(hospitality), these kind of places are a whole experience that you can get only in Japan. If you want to try this restaurant too, ask me during our session!
ANIME MOVIE ／ アニメ映画
The animated movie “Night Is Short, Walk on Girl“ (夜は短し歩けよ乙女 – yoruwa mijikashi arukeyo otome), by Yuasa Masaaki (湯浅政明), will screen starting August 21 in the Bay Area. This romantic comedy follows the heroine on a long night of strange adventures through Kyoto. It is based on the novel of the same name by Morimi Tomihiko (森見登美彦), who also wrote another movie directed by Yuasa, “The Tatami Galaxy” (四畳半神話大系 – yojouhan shinwa taikei).
ART ／ アート
California-based Japanese artist Harumo Sato is exhibiting “Puku Puku Bubbles” at the Art Attack SF gallery until September 2. As posted on her website, Sato “translates old mythological analogy and allegory imagery into modern, colorful, and unique visual images. With various colorful materials like screen prints, Japanese watercolor, sumi ink, and acrylic, she seeks visual pleasure and vivacious energy to open the viewer’s mind.” You should check it out too!
https://www.artattacksf.com/
SCANDAL ／ 波紋
A gender discrimination scandal (性差別- seisabetsu) has just erupted at prestigious Tokyo Medical University (東京医科大学). During a bribery investigation into the admission of the son of an education ministry official, lawyers found out that the university had been systematically excluding women by deducting points on their entry exams – and for about a decade. University officials aimed to keep the number of female students to around 30 percent. The former board chairman, who has resigned after the bribery was discovered, explained the reason behind this manipulation was “women leave the workplace to start a family, therefore impacting the university’s hospital, which needs male doctors who can work more than women.”
This scandal sheds light on the way that Japanese women are still expected to focus on their family only or make a choice between family and career. Indeed, the work environment doesn’t facilitate women returning to work after maternity. So people criticize the university for not working on creating the proper environment for female doctors after maternity leave, rather than manipulating the exams’ results. And despite many people being outraged by this news, the Japanese media aren’t covering this scandal as expected by its gravity, especially compared to recent sports scandals, for example.
The university is still under investigation. People are now wondering if other universities have been practicing the same kind of discrimination. Some of the rejected medical school applicants might also sue for gender discrimination, since it is against the law. To be continued…
CASINO LAW ／ カジノ法
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Momota Kento (桃田賢斗) won the Badminton World Championship this month and he is the first Japanese man to do so. Momota had been a contender for the 2016 Olympics, but he wound up being banned from competitions a few months before the Olympics after it was revealed that he and another teammate had been spotted at illegal casinos. I featured this in my April 2016 newsletter. However last year, Momota was allowed to train again, so people are very happy to see him come back and earn a second chance. He will likely compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.
The reason why Momota has been suspended back in 2016 is that casinos are illegal in Japan. Except for horse racing and motor sports, gambling is generally forbidden. It is also often tied to the local mafia. However, last month, a bill legalizing casinos passed, despite a strong opposition, which was mainly concerned about encouraging new addictions. Also, Prime Minister Abe has been criticized for focusing his efforts on the casino law, rather than supporting the victims of last month’s deadly floods in Hiroshima. Up to 3 venues are expected to open by 2020, and some people are excited to see the first casinos in Japan.
SPORTS ／ スポーツ
In May and June of this year, wrestling and American football scandals shook the sports world. This month brings us boxing and cheerleading news. The Japan Amateur Boxing Federation President Yamane Akira (山根明) announced his resignation on Wednesday, after weeks of media coverage about his “power harassment,” allegedly fixed matches, misuse of grant money, and ties to the Japanese mafia. The scandal has started after 333 people from the boxing world filed complaints against Yamane for his actions. People now worry that his ties with the mafia could cost the participation to the Tokyo Olympics.
I mentioned in my last newsletter that Nihon University (日本大学) had been widely criticized after a scandal of “power harassment” was unveiled in the American football world. Just few days ago, another case at the same university has been uncovered by the media. A cheerleading coach has been fired for “power harassment” over a student. The student kept requesting the help of the university for 6 months, but it didn’t take any action until few days ago — despite its promise in June to “protect their students” after the American football incident.
In Japan the power dynamics of hierarchy, especially in sports, have a long tradition of being very strict. A lot of people say it is time to change this. After the wrestling scandal in May, people started to be more inspired to raise their voice against it, and we might see more cases unveil in the future, hopefully leading to a change.
That’s all for today—thank you for reading. Looking forward to seeing you soon at our next lesson!
最後まで読んでいただき、どうもありがとうございます。皆さまにまたお会いできるのを楽しみにしています。よろしくお願いいたします！
★MY PREVIOUS NEWSLETTER CAN BE SEEN HERE
■ Aug 15 & 16 / Screening of Anime “Cowboy Bebop” in SF
■ ~Aug 16 / Art show: “Strange Forest” group exhibition with Masako Miki in Richmond
■ ~Aug 19 / Art show: “When Pictures Speak: The Written Word in Japanese Art” in SF
■ Aug 21 ~ 30 (TBA) / Screening of Anime “Night Is Short, Walk on Girl” in the Bay
■ Aug 23 / Screening of “Goke, Body Snatcher from Hell” in SF
■ Aug 26 / Origami Palooza in SF
■ Sep 15-16 / Sumo Exhibition in SF
■ Sep 28- Oct 6 / Japan Film Festival in SF
■ Sep 30, Oct 1 & 3 / Screening of Anime “My Neighbor Totoro” in the Bay