Indigenous Ainu in Hokkaido (and an Onsen)

One of my goals in traveling around Hokkaido was to learn as much as I could about the indigenous people. We've visited several Ainu museums in Asahikawa, Niikappu, Sapporo, and now Akan. Perhaps that's my intention wherever I go, so as to be respectful to the history of those here. In some ways Japan is similar to the US, particularly in relation to the native indigenous population.

Last month was an interesting Ainu awareness event. Designed to coincide with the G8 Summit, many Ainu people, local Japanese, foreign residents, and even some Native Americans joined in a Walk across Ainu Mosir (Hokkaido)

This past weekend Nick and I and some friends visited Lake Akan on the eastern side of Hokkaido. There is an "Ainu Village" built for the millions of tourist who visit this lake each year. Lots of trinkets, hand-carved wooden gifts, and crap. Nick bought a cool t-shirt. We took some shots of the Ainu-ish buildings...




And then I discovered something truly remarkable. Among the many souvenir spots was the simple, jumbled shop of a truly talented artist, Masamitsu TAKIGUCHI. I was struck by the beauty of his carved statues. Upon entering his shop I met him and two of his friends, who were conversing in sign language. They were immediately friendly and we spoke mostly in gestures and smiles. It felt freer to be relieved of my language barrier. He did lipread so I was able to communicate the essential information in Japanese (my home country, my current job, my town in Hokkaido). He is a kind man with absolutely beautiful sculptures.






And then, incredibly, we went to THE MOST BEAUTIFUL ONSEN IN JAPAN, at Hotel Tsuga. I think it's officially listed as #5 in the country, but... wow. Most of my friends know how I love spas, spa products, and long showers. Onsen in Japan are like a fabulous combination of all three. The onsen was in this awesome luxury hotel. Tellingly, the incredible hotel lobby was decorated with huge sculptures by Takiguichi-san. And the onsen was just amazing, looking out over beautiful Akan lake. The dressing room had free massage chairs! And the onsen had an indoor cave, several hot and cold pools, two different massage pools (with special seats where you can relax while the jets work into your back muscles), a wooden pool inside of a giant hallowed-out California spruce tree, and of course the outdoor rock rotembero. Oh I love onens.

And I heart good art and learning about indigenous peoples. (What a conclusion!?!?)

Fun

Lots of great Engrish.

And the funniest menu translation I've ever seen, from Chinese to Engrish.

And my own addition, from Sapporo. You know how I like spas. And beer!

Suprise!

びっくりしました！
I may have been chosen for an amazing gig!

In the summer of 2008, Japan will host the G8 Summit in Hokkaido at Lake Toya. G8 is an international conference of the eight most powerful/wealthy countries on the planet. This year`s focus is on the environment. I recognize there are divergent views of the existence of this conference, but I hope that my involvement in it can somehow inspire greater environmental sensitivity.

http://www.mofa.go.jp/policy/economy/summit/2008/index.html This, I believe, is the official website of the summit.

My roles are threefold.
1) I will help to translate a/the themesong for the Summit into English lyrics. The song, "To Make a Forest" was written by a local Yamabe/Furano composer. He saw my performance with The Horse Bones in November and chose me for this opportunity.
2)I will record the song for distribution at the Summit, although I am unsure of the details about the publishing.
3) In June I will perform the song onstage at a HUGE Furano music show. http://www.furanofes.com/

All of this is rather overwhelming and exciting! My first plan is to seek a good vocal teacher get my chops into shape. Next, learn how to write lyrics. . .

Mistranslations

Warning: the following post may contain offensive words.

Apparently it is cool, in Japan, to wear clothing with English words on it. Or American icons. Doesn`t matter what is says, or even if you understand it. If you google other blogs of gaijins living in Japan, you can find many humorous examples. http://www.engrish.com/category_index.php?category=Clothing Lots of awkward Engrish with cutesy words like `smile love is happiness`. But we`ve also seen some horrifying/shocking/embarrassing examples of this:

• All junior and senior high students wear uniforms. The girls` uniform sweaters have small embroidered emblems on the chest. Many choose a dolphin, or the Statue of Liberty, or the Playboy Bunny. Huh!?! Apparently the bunny does not have the same cultural connotations here?
• One American told me he saw a toddler girl dressed in a t-shirt that read "F#$& This" with an arrow pointing down. . . He of course pulled the parents aside and told them what the shirt read. The were shocked and very grateful to know, and covered up the child immediately.
• You know that icon often found on the mudflaps of Confederate trucks? The one of two curvy naked ladies sitting back-to-back? Well, you can buy tracksuits with that icon all over it. One of my teachers wore that to work yesterday, much to my amazement. I indicated my surprise to my English teacher/friend, explaining that that emblem is considered both sexual and sexist in America, and certainly inappropriate for school. Things are different here. . .
• A student wore a t-shirt for a band, or maybe a fake band in the style of concert tees. The band was called "The Mothaf#$%&ing Group" with a list of songs such as `I Will Drill Your Heifer` and worse.
• Perhaps worst of all, there are t-shirts that mix languages and colloquialisms so that even fluent speakers of English might be tricked. We saw a high school girl wearing a shirt that said "Esta puta will give you the shirt off her back for $19.95"

It seems that some t-shirts are designed by well-meaning Japanese designers with limited Engrish skills. And surely, some foreigners are designing shirts to fool and insult. Ouch.

Two Dudes: Astonishing Sexism in Nebraska

The setting: Poolside, on a hot summer day. A maintenance crew takes a smoke break nearby. The crew consists of four men and one woman.

The action: A young mother struggles with her toddler, who does not want to leave the pool. She quickly looses patience and yells, yanking her child by the arm. Toddler yelps in pain and talks back to mother.

The conversation, after the crew goes inside:
Female maintenance worker: "If a mother is so quickly gonna get in an argument with her two-year-old, she is probably not mature enough to be a mother."
Male coworker #1, 19 years old: "That's why I'm glad my baby-momma is good. If she ever treated my kid like that, I would knock her out."
Male coworker #2, 18 years old, shadow/sidekick to #1: "That's damn right". (punching fist into opposite hand)
Female worker, shocked: "I was talking about maturity, not violence."

What female worker COULD have replied: "Is that demonstrating mature conflict-resolution skills, to beat your child's mother?", or "You'd previously demonstrated your sexism, but we didn't know until now that you also commit domestic violence.", or "You are a sexist idiot and will be a terrible father if that's how you treat your child's mother."

SO, TELL ME, DEAR READERS? WHAT ELSE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SAID? WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IF YOU WERE THERE?



Note about the title of this post: I shouldn't necessarily blame Nebraska for these two dudes, as these sorts of comments probably come out of the mouths of many undereducated, macho, insensitive blue-collar workers, regardless of their state of origin.

Judge Jeffre Cheuvront: Astonishing Sexism in Nebraska

A student at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln was raped. The rapist, Pamir Safi, had been tried for multiple previous charges of sexual assault. During the trial in a Nebraska courtroom, the victim described in detail what happened. But in the retelling, the judge barred her from using words like "rape" and "sexual assault". The jury was not informed of this limitation and the trial ended in a hung jury. Sadly, this victim must be further victimized by taking the rapist back to court. A retrial begins this month.

Prayers of gratitude for her strength and courage. Exclamations of outrage at Cheuvront and Safi. I am, again, ashamed of Nebraska.

http://www.slate.com/id/2168758/

http://badcopnews.com/2007/06/20/nebraska-district-court-judge-jeffre-cheuvront-bans-the-r-word-at-womans-rape-trial/

Very good blog
http://sexinthepublicsquare.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/why-we-need-more-explicit-sex-talk-in-courtrooms/

You can listen to an interview of the victim here:
http://www.cbc.ca/radioshows/AS_IT_HAPPENS/20070622.shtml

A note about my choice to publish the names of the sexist judge and the rapist: Like "the gallows", I think there is something to be said for public humiliation.

Something to consider: your language

I'm reading CUNT by Inga Musico. The title of the book raises a few eyebrows, but DO READ (all you men and womyn). The book is refreshing and beautiful and powerful; I feel awakend and renewed.

A related story: I recently had an argument at a restaurant. My good friend, an evolved and women-loving man, used the word 'pussy' to refer to someone who was weak, and I told him that word is offensive when used in that way.
I think we all need to take responsibility for our words, even if historically they were considered socially acceptable. Some words are no longer are ok. For example, I'm really trying to break the habit of using the word 'lame', in consideration of less-able-bodied people. It is painful to challenge myself in this way. It also takes courage to identify and admit how the negative aspects of our culture penetrate even the most open-minded, women-loving of people. It takes courage to be responsible for the words that come out of MY mouth, whether or not others acknowledge them as oppressive.

Soapbox: It is not okay to insult someone by calling them a girl, or saying that they have bad girl parts. Just because everybody does it doesn't make it right.

That being said, I'm wondering how I can challenge my friends, my culture, in ways that inspire (rather than forcibly insist upon) positive change. I like that I am opinionated and intentional with my words/actions; at the same time I don't want my expression of opinions to be oppressive to those around me. Judge not!