SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+10/376）Ramen

One of the things I long wanted to have in Japan is Ramen

After coming back to Japan, I went to several Ramen restaurants. A restaurant near Ginkakuiji temple in Kyoto, for example, had been one of my favorite restaurants. After visiting Neesima’s graveyard, I alone went there to taste my favorite one.

The manager of the restaurant was kind as usual enough to offer me a complimentary bowl of rice as it suits the soup of ramen there. However, I felt a sense of discomfort that I had not had before; it was too salty.

Because I got used to foods with almost zero salts in the UK, I taste salty in any food in Japan: ramen, udon, grilled fish.

Although it is not a story whether it is good or bad, it might be true that Japanese people are eating food that contains many salts.

At the same time, it is surprising that at any age our sense of taste will be accustomed to the new environment and change.

(2019.4.7)

★One more thing：I happened to meet my former seminar student today, who stayed and taught Japanese in Australia for one year. In her case, she was not accustomed to less salt food there and often went to restaurants of Asian cuisines.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+09/375）Cherry Blossoms

Cherry blossoms, Sakura, are now in full bloom

Especially, those in the Philosophers’ Path, are lovely. I saw them after two years of absences. At this moment last year, I was busy searching for a flat in Oxford and just imagining the beautiful cherry blossoms in Kyoto.

While walking through the path, I thought that these blossoms should be one of the most beautiful things in the world, and it is worth visiting from all over the world.

(2019.4.6)

★One more thing：Beauty is vital for our life.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+08/374）An oath at the founder’s grave

I went to Joseph Hardy Neesima’s grave with freshmen

He was buried in the graveyard of Doshisha in the middle of the low mountain in the eastern section of Kyoto city. This would be my 22 times to pay respect at the gravesite of Neesima. As widely known, he went abroad when it was strictly forbidden, and founded Doshisha in Kyoto after coming back to Japan. The surprising thing is that although he passed away before turning 50, he made quite a few intresting and valued things.

Every time I come to this site, I feel some passion of his, receive the inspiration of making something new, and revive courage to face difficulties.

The new academic year starts soon.

(2019.4.5)

★One more thing：Founding something is a challenge, but cast seed for the years coming.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+07/373）It is time to start something!

I had a chance to talk to freshmen at the closing ceremony of the orientation. The following is the transcript of my talk.

*****
Forty years have passed since I started university life. I also studied at a university in Kyoto 40 years ago! It is a long time ago, but, looking back on it, I think my university days were one of the best times in my life.

Why?

Is it because I was younger? Yes!
Is it because I was more energetic? Yes!
Is it because I had good friends? Yes!
Is it because I had a girlfriend? Yes!
Is it because I visited many places? Yes!
All are true.

I received an essay written by my student, M-san and R-san, who graduated from this college two weeks ago. She mentioned that in Japanese “同志社女子大学で学んでよかった。わざわざ遠くから京都まで出て来た甲斐があった” I was delighted to find this phrase.

Then how can you be a student like M-san or R-san who can confidently say that it is worth paying high tuition fees and worth attending classes for four years?

I will tell you the secret of successful college life.

It is simple.

Don’t waste time.

We are living on borrowed time. Borrowed time. You are just borrowing time from someone. From your parents, From someone really great, probably from the Gods.

And your borrowed time in college is limited. Just 4 years or 1460 days or 35, 040 hours

Don’t waste time by just wondering whether you should do something or not. Just do it, if it seems like a good idea. Of course, you have to be careful about issues related to your life. There are also potentially dangerous things in college life. You should not drink until you turn 20. Even when 20 years old, you should not drink too much, and smoking is also bad for your health.

You have to find a potentially good boyfriend. You have to be careful about choosing places to visit in foreign countries. There are many dangerous places in the world.

However, in our college, almost everything is safe to try. Try to use English with many teachers and friends. Don’t hesitate to speak English in class. It is your time. In proportion to your use of English, your English proficiency will improve. Try to have as many friends as possible. If you have many friends, your college life will be much more enjoyable. Try to talk to professors here as much as possible. They are specialists in some field or other. They have a so-called office hour when you can freely visit their office and talk. Read as many books as possible. The library has so many interesting books. Try to stay in college as long as possible. There are many chances to be had in our college. You can practice English by using computer programs, and you can discover hints to be a successful language learner.

Again, it is your time, and don’t waste your time by just working part-time or goofing around in circle and club activities. I do not deny the benefits of working part-time or enjoying sports in circle activities. But they are not the main event of your college life.

Part-time or Circle activities alone will not give you high satisfaction like M-san or R-san when you graduate.

It is the time to make many friends.
It is time to use English.
It is time to see many films.
It is time to write a journal every day.
It is time to help someone.
It is time to smile.
It is time for you to shine.
It is time to understand what the most important thing in life is.
We are happy to help you enjoy your college life.
Again it is your time, not mine.

Let’s start something new. Thank you.

*****

(2019.4.4)

★One more thing： While talking, I realized again that starting something new is really important. For that purpose, I need to clean up my surroundings, i.e., my office.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+06/372）Orientation for the freshmen

We had an orientation program for newly entered students

One hundred and fifty. This is the number of freshmen this year. In the next four years, what college life they will have? In Oxford, college students will spend only three years with three semesters, which consist of just eight weeks. Instead, Japanese college students have two semesters, which contains fifteen weeks.

With the proliferation of classes, the point is whether students can learn by keeping their initiatives and independence. For that purpose, teachers need to spend time on their own thinking and should not teach too much. After all, students cannot remember what they learn in class. Success in college life in Japan heavily depends on whether teacher can ingeniously prepare “take-home messages” for them.

(2019.4.3)

★One more thing：Not to teach too much. This might be the most important thing for teachers in Japan.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+05/371）The ceremony of entrance

Our college held the enrollment ceremony of today

Although commencement is held in universities/colleges in UK/Europe/North America, the ceremony of entrance is not usually held there. However, in Japan, both ceremonies are held, and today is the day for my college.

April arouses our special feelings. It might be because of the arrival of spring or because of the full bloom of cherry blossoms. We feel a start of something new in April, which is a contrast with March, which symbolizes farewell or the end of the academic year.

Quite a few foreigners come to Japan to see cherry blossoms blooming, and their choice is right. Cherry blossoms are so beautiful with a slight pink, or slightly white with a mixture of pink, which is difficult to describe in Japanese.

I also saw cherry blossoms in Oxford, but the ones in Kyoto seem more sophisticated and worth flying from far-away countries like the UK.

(2019.4.2)

★One more thing：It is the best season to visit Kyoto. Please come to see beautiful cherry blossoms here in Kyoto.

SSK (SunnySide of Kyoto)（+04/370）Apple Store Kyoto

I went to an Apple Store in Kyoto

I had long wanted to have an apple store in Kyoto, and it opened in Kyoto last year while I was away in Oxford. I was so sorry that I could not go there at the opening day. Actually, I went to Apple Stores in various cities and countries. When compared with those Apple Stores, the one in Kyoto is less spacious but seems to include every necessary element.

I needed to have a new keyboard for Mac Pro. I looked around the store in the ground and 1st floor and bought the keyboard and an accessory for connecting Mac to HDMI without looking them so closely.

When I opened the package and connecting the keyboard to Mac in my office, however, I found out that I bought a US keyboard instead of a Japanese one, which does not have Japanese-English language switcher. I bought a wrong one! Even I discovered the same accessory in my office; I purchased the same device twice!

Although I doubted if I can return accessary or change the US keyboard with the Japanese one (I opened the package!), I decided to revisit the store and ask them. When I arrived at the store, it was around the time when commuters or high school students came home. The store was crowded with people. I was told to wait for 20-30 minutes.

Finally, my turn came, and I explained the reason for replacement or return. Surprisingly, a shop assistant accepted my request without asking any further questions.

The only problem was his understanding of my name. I used Quick Pay (Apple Pay), and he needed information about the credit card I used for payment. When it came to my name, he mentioned in a small voice that I was writing the name of my daughter. I insisted that it was my name, but he did not seem to believe it: Natsumi is usually a girl’s name.

I appreciate the kindness Apple store showed me by agreeing to replace the keyboard or accepting the goods return.

(2019.4.1)

★One more thing：Apple store Kyoto is within 20 minutes distance from my office.