Composition #3 Final

にじゅうねんごのわたしはよんじゅうさんさいです。Alkai BeachとMontanaにうちがあります。Alkai Beachのうちはあまりおおきくないですが、とてもきれいです。うみはあるいてにふんかかります。MontanaのうちはAlkai Beachのうちよりふるいです。でも、Montanaのほうがたくさんかわやきややまなどがあります。そしてしゅうまつつりをします。さかなはおいしいですよ。

わたしはどうぶつのいしゃです。げつようびからかようびまでじてんしゃでしごとへいきます。いしゃのせいかつはとてもいそがしいから、まいばんじゅうじにねます。でも、わたしのかいしゃはいいかいしゃですよ。しゅうまつにわたしのかいしゃのひととレストランいっしょにいきます。みんなはすしがすきですから、にほんりょうりがいちばんすきです。そしていっかげつにいっかいともだちとさけをのみます。それからスポーツをみます。

わたしとつまとこどもがふたりいます。Lily はじゅっさいです。Jackははっさい。Lillyはしんせつなあねです。ごじからじゅうじまでぜんぜんはたらきませんから、こどもとゲームをします。せいかつはとてもたのしいです。

Literary Work Final

Kazuyoshi Morita is a big deal. In Japan, the sixty-six year old comedian has been hosting the television show "Waratte Iitomo!" since 1982. Like many famous individuals he is not known by his given name. Rather, he goes by the screen name Tamori. Interestingly, Moritasan writes "Tamori" in the Japanese katakana script. It is, of course, a Japanese name. Yet, he purposely chose not to write it in the native japanese script. Why would this be? Although I was not able to find a personal explanation as to what this answer could be, a peek back into Japan's history reveals some valuable insight into this decision.

The reason behind Moritasan's choice dates back to the westernization that swept through Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Before this period, Japan had closed its borders to western culture and essentially disconnected itself from the rapid modernization taking place across the globe. When it ended this lengthy divorce, the rapid influx of western culture would serve to develop within Japanese a strong affinity for "all things western". The west became a source of trendiness; it was a rebellion from the older generation's serious, imperialistic philosophy of the past. Katakana, as the source of writing which was created to represent the foreign world, became the literary representation of this idea. With it's sharp, simple characters, katakana stands for everything the detailed, complex Kanji is not: modern, fast, and unburdened by the beliefs of the older-generation.

When Kazuyoshi Morita chose to write his name in katakana he was making a statement: he was famous, and he was cool "now". In learning the history of Japan, the clues that hint toward the origin of his intent arise. Along with this, we can begin to understand how the perception of katakana may influence the future of Japanese culture. This is a country whose decision to create a script for foreign words was symbolic of their intense desire to retain their cultural heritage in the face of outside influence. Sadly, in the end, the seeds of change may have already been sown from within.

Thanksgiving Weekend

せんししゅのもくようびからどようびに"Thanksgiving"やすみです。たくさんなりょうりをたべました。とてもおいしかたです！でも、わたしのかぞくは"Seattle"にいますから、ちょうとさびしいです。きょねんのじゅうにがつにひこうきでうちへかえります。Seattleのてふゆはニューヨークのふゆよりあたたかいです。いいですね。はたしはなつがいちばんすきですが、クリスマスはとてもたのしです。

Katakana Literary Work

A Silent End

いぬシャベル

どこきましたか

しずかかな


I chose to write the word "shaberu" in katakana to emphasize the unusual nature of human-animal communication. Although the dog cannot really speak, I am asking the reader to think of the ways that we often empathize with a childhood pet that is dying.

The Brevity of Life

あきのあめ

せかいがおもい

フルイし


In this haiku I was initially talking about the weather of a season signaling the passing of another year. The word "furui" is in katakana to show that although the passing of time does make you older in a literal sense, it does not have to be perceived as your spirit getting old too. Since katakana is often used by the younger generation of Japanese, I thought it could be used for this concept.

The Crux of Education

ダイガクや

せいかつのやま

なかわなに


The word "daigaku" is in katakana to show that attending a university is the popular choice after high school. Yet, many young students have no idea how this education will help them achieve their future goals. This use of katakana shows how an action can also be associated with a "cool" decision.

Letter to a Japanese Host Family

やまださんへ、

はじめまして！わたしのなまえはダニエルなかうちです。にじゅうさんさいです。コロンビアだいがくのがくせいです。シアトル、ワシンしゅう からきました。わたしもにほんじんです！

コロンビアだいがくはとてもたのしいですが、むずかしです。まいにちしゅくだいがたくさんあります。でも、わたしたちのせんせいはしんせつです。そしてクラスメートはあたまがええですよ。

まいあさごぜんろくじにおきます。あさごはんはなにもたべませんが、いつもコーヒーをのみます。それからはちじまでにほんごのべんきょうをします。はちじにちかてつでがっこうへいきます。ニューヨークのちかてつはきれいじゃありません。にほんのちかてつはどうですか。ごごよじにうちへかえります。きんようびとどようびはがっこうへいきません。でも、くじからはちじまでべんきょします。がくせいのせいかつはいそがしです。にちようびにちょっとやすみです。ともだちとテレビでフットボールをみます。やまださんはスポーツがすきですか。

しちがつじゅうよっかにひこうきでにほんへいきます。わたしはやまださんかぞくにプレゼントをあげます。ほんのきもちです。

よろしくおねがいします。

Don't Call Me たもり, Call Me タモリ

Kazuyoshi Morita is a big deal. In Japan, the sixty-six year old comedian has been hosting the television show "Waratte Iitomo!" since 1982. Like many famous individuals he is not known by his given name. Rather, he goes by the screen name Tamori. Interestingly, Moritasan writes "Tamori" in the Japanese katakana script. It is, of course, a Japanese name. Yet, he purposely chose not to write it in the native japanese script. Why would this be?

The reason behind Moritasan's choice dates back to the westernization that swept through Japan during the Meiji era (1868-1912). Before this period, Japan had closed its borders to western culture and essentially disconnected itself from the rapid modernization taking place across the globe. When it ended this lengthy divorce, the rapid influx of western culture would serve to develop within Japanese a strong affinity for "all things western". The west became a source of trendiness; it was a rebellion from the older generation's serious, honor-driven philosophy of the past. Katakana, as the source of writing which was created to represent the foreign world, became the literary representation of this idea. With it's sharp, simple characters, katakana stands for everything the detailed, complex Kanji is not: modern, fast, and unburdened by the beliefs of the older-generation.

When Kazuyoshi Morita chose to write his name in katakana he was making a statement: he was famous, and he was cool "now". Understanding the history of Japan reveals the origin of his intent and also offers insight into the future of Japanese culture. This is a country whose decision to create a script for foreign words was symbolic of their intense desire to retain their cultural heritage in the face of outside influence. Sadly, in the end, the seeds of change may have already been sown from within.

Pumpkin Patches

こんにちわ！みんなはげんきですか。

こんしゅうのすいよびにわたしのちちおやはひこうきでニューヨークへきます。わたしたちはちかてつでレストランとびじゅつかんヘいきます。でも、まいばんよじからじゅいちじまでべんきょします。たいへんですね。らいしゅうのげつよびにちちおやはひこうきで Seattle へかえります。

じゃあ、コヒーをのみます。はちじにちかてつでにほのごの class へいきます。サよなら！

Time to work

The past week in Japanese class has started to seem more difficult. I think that is due in large part to the fact that I haven't been studying as much!! Sometimes I feel so bored just sitting and saying things to myself while the computer bleeps out generic statements (I also hate that you have to open a new tab every time you listen to a new question). Eventually I will have to find someone in class who I can sit and practice with because it would make learning so much more fun. I mean...think about it! We could tell each other what time it is every minute, introduce ourselves as if we had never met over and over, and even pretend like we are at a shopping mall instead of sitting in a corner of the library while our levels of vitamin D drop to an all-time low! Yay!

Anyways, besides my poor study habits from last week I have really enjoyed class. It is pretty neat to think about how much we have learned in three weeks. I mean, we can read hiragana! After katakana I will be able to write letters to my grandma (even though I will not be able to share how intellectually well-rounded Columbia is making me with my child-like vocabulary). I have also realized that everyone in our class really struck gold having the sensei we do. She is always up-beat, reassuring, and keeps the energy level up in class even though I think everyone has begun questioning why they signed up for a 9am language course. If we are lucky she will be teaching Japanese 2 because I would love to remain with her.

Hopefully everyone has been having as much fun as I have. Even though there has been a lot thrown at us in the past few weeks, I couldn't be happier learning my native language at Columbia with all the great students in our class. Their ability to learn a completely foreign language honestly inspires me to work harder (which I WILL be doing this week). Good luck with your studies everyone!

Nani?

Hello everyone!

Learning how to speak Japanese for the past two weeks has been an immensely rewarding experience. I have chosen this particular language in large part because of my grandma. She is 89 years old! Although she is still doing well I know that she will not be around forever and, consequently, I feel as though I would be doing both of us a great disservice if I never made the effort to really know who she is before she passes away. To accomplish this, I must learn to speak Japanese. Hopefully, someday in the near future, I will eventually be able to speak to my grandma without saying "nani??" quite so often.

The most difficult part of class for me so far has been attempting to smoothly read lines of Hiragana characters. Identifying individual characters is not so bad but, after attempting to peer-edit my classmates introductions, I realized that rows of them look like hieroglyphics! After fumbling through this first reading (or attempted reading) of blog entries I know that I will have to study for a long time this weekend. No Sapporo and football for me!

-Nakasan

Introduction

はじめまして！

なかうちです。にじゅさんさいです。Columbia だいがくのがくせいです。さんえんせいです。Seattle からきました。

どうぞよろしく。