Centre for Japanese Studies NEWS LETTER

1 C J S N e w s l e t t e r J u l y 2 0 2 0 V o l 8

Centre forJapanese Studies

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INSIDEMESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR | CJS WELCOMES THE NEW JICA EXPERT

EXCHANGE AND RESEARCH PROGRAMMES | CULTURE AND LANGUAGE

SUCCESS STORIES | SCHOLARSHIPS AND OTHER OPPORTUNITIES | EVENTS

LETTERNEWS

C J S N e w s l e t t e r J u l y 2 0 2 0 V o l 8 3 2 C J S N e w s l e t t e r J u l y 2 0 2 0 V o l 8

MESSAGE FROM THE ACTING DIRECTOR

Greetings from home!

In these extremely challenging times, I would like to convey our sincere support for, and solidarity with you and your families.

The Centre for Japanese Studies, like all other faculties and departments of the University and many places of work in South Africa, has experienced an unprecedented need to adhere to the government’s lockdown regulations. We therefore had to temporarily close the doors of the Centre for Japanese Studies and work from home.

We are continuing to work hard to provide the best possible educational experiences for our students and the public. I am proud to say that our staff have been working proactively to ensure that the students are well supported during this time of crisis, that all our systems are fully functional despite staff working from home, and that you are receiving maximum support.

If you would like to find out more about our programmes or research, please stay at home, read this issue and take a look at our website. You are also welcome to get in touch with us.

Students should also regularly check their email and ClickUP notices for updates.

Professor Hennie F StanderActing Director: Centre for Japanese Studies

CJS WELCOMES THE NEW JICA EXPERT

The services of Ms Keiko Arai was made available to the Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of Pretoria by the Japanese government to advise on the operation of the Centre through, among other things, the promotion of academic research exchanges, the dissemination of information about Japanese culture and society, and the administration of Japanese language courses.

Hello, I am Keiko Arai

I am pleased to have taken up a position at the Centre for Japanese Studies in November 2019. I was seconded to this position by JICA (the Japan International Cooperation Agency) and this is my first visit to South Africa. I am very excited about meeting all of you here at the University of Pretoria.

I have a master’s degree in Literature and Educational Development and would like to tell you something about my interest in both areas.

My graduate studies were in Japanese literature, specifically The Tale of Heike, which is based on the history of the Genpei War between the Taira and Minamoto clans in the 12th century. The Tale touches on the politics, economy, philosophy, religion and culture of that period. I focused on fatalism and how it appears to define different views of life and death in the Tale. As we all know, war stories tell about the death of many warriors, and we can tell a lot about their lives from the descriptions of their deaths and what they emphasized in extremis.

An example of this is the story of a General of the Minamoto clan, Kajiwara Kagesue, who broke a branch from a blooming plum tree and tied it to his back. There is an old poem about plum trees: ’Why you do not like windy days? The plum flowers give fragrance to the air when petals are falling off’. While the general was on the battlefield, everyone could smell the fragrance and both clans were deeply impressed by his philosophical act.

After teaching in the Department of Early Education in a junior college in Japan, I started my research on the education of girls in 2004. At the time there was much international discussion regarding the formulation of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Education for All (EFA), so I decided to conduct research into the education of girls in the Islamic Republic of Pakistan who have limited access to school attendance.

Right now we are all experiencing a difficult time, but I would like to encourage you to visit the Centre for Japanese Studies website and our Facebook page, which we will try to update regularly with interesting and useful tips!


EXCHANGEPROGRAMMES

STUDENT EXCHANGE: TOKYO UNIVERSITY OF FOREIGN STUDIESThe Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of Pretoria welcomed one student from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies for a one-year exchange programme. Fukino Akaishi is currently doing her final year of a degree in Anthropology. She was supposed to stay in South Africa until the end of 2020, but unfortunately had to return to Japan in March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Hello! My name is Fukino Akaishi.

I am a student from the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. I started my one-year exchange programme at UP in January 2020, but had to return to Japan at the end of March due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Even though I had only a two-month stay in South Africa, I had a wonderful time and would like to share two memorable experiences with you.

First, I was amazed to discover how many languages people use in their daily lives. Although English is regarded as the dominant language in South Africa, people frequently also use other local languages, such as Afrikaans, Zulu, Xhosa, Tswana and Sesotho, in their everyday conversations. One of the people I befriended at UP can speak more than seven languages and explained the connections between the different languages to me. Mr Martin, a staff member of the Centre for Japanese Studies, understands more than ten languages! I attended Zulu classes and tried to learn to make the click sounds, but found them rather difficult to master. I really experienced and learned a great deal about the multilingual South African society.

I also attended Anthropology lectures with third-year students and although it was sometimes hard for me to learn theories of Anthropology in English, many of my classmates helped by explaining things to me. In class, regardless of national origin, gender and creed, we held serious discussions on what we share as human beings and that we should appreciate each other’s cultures. The opinions of my fellow students inspired me to broaden my horizons.

It is most unfortunate that I could not continue my studies at UP, but I remain hopeful that I will be able to return to South Africa once the coronavirus threat has passed.

I want to express my sincere gratitude to all who supported me during my time there and hope that you will all remain safe during this difficult period.

RESEARCHPROGRAMMES

STUDENT EXCHANGE: TSUKUBA UNIVERSITYHello, I am Hiroyuki Suzuki from the Aichi prefecture in Japan.

There is, however, no connection between me and Suzuki, one of the most well-known Japanese car companies. In fact, Suzuki is quite a common surname in Japan. I am a biologist and my research interests are in tree health and related issues.

During my postgraduate years, I did research on rust fungi, which cause severe damage to pine trees in Japan. Soon after completing my doctoral degree in 2019, I came to South Africa to take up a postdoctoral fellowship at the Forestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI) at the University of Pretoria. When I joined FABI, I accepted a new challenge, which was to conduct research on tree canker disease. Cryphonectria parasitica is historically infamous as a causal agent (pathogen) of chestnut blight, which many centuries ago led to the near extinction of chestnut trees in America and Europe. This is a fungus that belongs to the family Cryphonectriaceae, which contains many other important tree pathogens.

FABI is the world’s leading institute involved in the study of Cryphonectriaceae. In spite of centuries of studies, new Cryphonectriaceae species are still being regularly discovered on previously unknown host trees. These discoveries have been accelerated by the advancement of molecular tools, globalisation and climate change. The study of a pathogen starts with a survey of its occurrence in the field. When it is spotted in the field, the symptomatic plant part is taken to the laboratory, where the putative causal fungus is isolated and studied to confirm its identity. This process involves both morphology and DNA sequence data. Once its identity has been confirmed, its ability to infect the host tree is tested and the ecology is studied.

The result of identification is important not only for taxonomy, but also for our understanding of the geographic distribution of the pathogen. Knowledge of the origin of the pathogen is crucial for disease management. It helps with tracking the movements of the pathogen, finding resistant hosts and understanding the genetic makeup of the pathogen, which is the focus of my current study. It is part of the discipline population genetics. If you are interested in my research, please send me a message and I will respond to your questions.

THE UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA HAS AN MOU AGREEMENT WITH SIX JAPANESE UNIVERSITIES:

• Hokkaido University• Tokyo University of Foreign Studies• Naruto University of Education• Hiroshima University• Sophia University• Ryukoku University


CULTURE & LANGUAGE

JAPANESE LANGUAGE COURSE PARTS 1, 2 AND 3The Japanese Language course is ideal for people who are keen to learn Japanese as a foreign language, regardless of whether or not they are participants in the Japanese Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme, are considering business dealings with Japanese companies/organisations, or are students participating or interested in exchange programmes between UP and Japan.

This three-part course (basic, intermediate and advanced), which introduces students to a variety of topics ranging from delicious sushi and tea to the brave samurais and beautiful geishas of ancient Japan, will provide you with the knowledge and skills you need to communicate in this exciting language.

During the course, you will be able to broaden your understanding of the Japanese language and culture while learning the hiragana and katakana (Japanese characters) for writing and reading. You will also develop basic communication skills in listening to, and speaking, reading and writing in Japanese.

ENTRY REQUIREMENTS:Prospective delegates should have at least a National Senior Certificate (Grade 12) and/or relevant work experience.

Delegates who do not comply with the minimum requirements will be considered upon submission of a motivation for enrolment.

Dates to be confirmed. Please check our website regularly.

Ikigai (生き甲斐)

The term ikigai is a compound of two Japanese words: iki (生き) meaning life or alive, and kai (甲斐), meaning effect. The word ikigai is generally used to indicate the source of value in one’s life or the things that make one’s life worthwhile. Translated into English it roughly means ‘the thing that you live for’ or ‘your reason for waking up in the morning’.

Each individual’s ikigai is personal and specific to their lives, values and beliefs. It expresses and reflects the inner self while simultaneously creating a mental state in which the individual feels at ease. Activities that allow you to feel ikigai are never forced on you, but are often spontaneous and are always undertaken willingly. They give you satisfaction and a sense that life has meaning. Have you found your ikigai? What is your ikigai?

Ikigai became widely known through Albert Liebermann and Hector Garcia’s book titled Ikigai: the Japanese secret to a long and happy life and the TED talk published on the website https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_buettner_how_to_live_to_be_100?language=en

AN INTERESTING JAPANESE WORD

SUCCESSSTORIES

MAMELODI SEWING LADIES’ BAGS NOW SOLD IN JAPANThe Centre for Japanese Studies assisted the Mamelodi Sewing Ladies’ Cooperative, which is active on the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi Campus, to export their products for sale in Japan.

The Bakonetlhakanang Women’s Sewing project was started in 2015 by the Mamelodi Business Clinic with the objective of empowering women in the township. Participants in the project design and make a range of colourful tote bags, pencil cases and cosmetic bags using traditional African shweshwe fabric.

Jobs are hard to come by in the townships and their sewing provides participants with an income that enables them to buy items that provide in their basic needs.

This group of women, who are mostly over the age of 55 years, has developed unique bags that have become popular in South Africa and as far afield as Japan.

Since its establishment, the University of Pretoria Mamelodi Business Clinic has provided resources to the project by paying for the facility and equipment, and providing training and mentorship, while the CJS assisted with the development of marketing strategies and facilitated access to markets in Japan through students at the Sophia University.

These ladies, who are very creative and passionate about their craft, love their work!


SUCCESSSTORIESORDER OF THE RISING SUNOn the 29 April 2020 it was announced in Tokyo that Abdullah Ibrahim, the world-renowned master musician and a great son of Cape Town, will receive the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Rays, in recognition of his lifetime achievement in emancipating the world through his music and his contribution to the friendship between Japan and South Africa through his works, performances and profound understanding of Japanese culture and spirituality. The conferment ceremony will be held later this year.

This iconic character, who had previously also received South Africa’s highest National Order of Ikhamanga in 2009, as well as numerous international awards, started his career at the age of 15 and remained active for more than 70 years. He consistently fought against racism and injustice.

During the difficult days of the apartheid era, his much-loved composition Mannenberg was regarded as the unofficial national anthem of the people of South Africa.

Abdullah’s long-time engagement with Budo has led to a deep understanding of Japanese culture and spirituality.

He has been conferred full mastership by the grand master Yukio Tonegawa. He used to have his own dojo in Cape Town and is the first non-Japanese master of Yakami-Ryu Taijutsu.

His frequent performances in Japan included performances at the Kamigamo Shrine in Kyoto, which was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Furthermore, in Cape Town, in bridging the heritage and spirituality of Japan and Africa, Abdullah performed at the celebration of the centenary of the Japanese Consulate in Cape Town, the oldest Japanese mission in Africa, on Heritage Day (24 September) 2018. This performance at The Fugard Theatre was reported widely by NHK (the Japan Broadcasting Cooperation) to the people of Japan.

Abdullah Ibrahim’s beliefs regarding the unity between the human mind and body and nature culminated in the concept of satoyama, which signifies the sustainable coexistence of human beings with nature. It also relates to the sentiment of awe and respect for nature that feature prominently in African tradition.

His most recent performance in Japan took place in September 2019, during the Rugby World Cup.

Source: Office of the Consul of Japan in Cape Town

SCHOLARSHIPS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

STUDY IN JAPAN AS EXPERIENCED BY ABE INITIATIVE SCHOLARSHIP ALUMNIMy name is Martin Manganye and I am an employee of the Centre for Japanese Studies at the University of Pretoria. I studied at Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University in Beppu, a famous onsen city in the South of Japan. I am also the Southern African ambassador of Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University and community builder for my rural village in Limpopo.

I was very fortunate to be admitted to the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, one of the very few business school in the world accredited by AACSB, to complete my MBA. This adventure allowed me to live the life of my dreams. I come from a very rural community where university attendance is a luxury afforded to few. Thanks to the Japanese government and APU, which gave me this opportunity to study in a unique multicultural learning environment, I was able to really understand what it means to be a global citizen. Daily interactions during company visits and contact with students and instructors from all over the globe allowed me to connect on a personal level with issues that affect our world. Even after graduation, this network of friends has continued to be an invaluable source of support and encouragement.

The Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University is a community that encourages students to dream big and constantly reminds them that dreams can be realised. This type of learning reaches beyond the boundaries of books and GPA and focuses on sharing, unlearning and relearning.

I experienced the highs, lows, fun and pressure that characterise the life of an entrepreneur by weekly participating in the start-up weekends organised by the city of Oita to assist foreigners to start businesses in Japan. I was introduced to the languages, customs and lifestyles of

more than 80 countries by participating in the Multicultural Weeks organised by the University. My internships with the railway signal system and construction companies in Japan were the best I have ever had. The aspect of the internship experience with Japanese companies that I liked the most was the collaborative nature of the work. I was intrigued by the family culture at Japanese companies. Japanese corporations emphasise quality, innovation and customer service, have a unique style of human resource management and use a stakeholder model of governance that provides an alternative to the shareholder model commonly seen in the West.


JET PROGRAMME (TEACH ENGLISH IN JAPAN)The Government of Japan is calling for applications from young South Africans who would like to spend at least one year in Japan as assistant language instructors (ALTs) under a highly successful international exchange programme for university graduates.

Deadline: Mid-November annuallyAll details here: Scan QR CodeEnquiries: Tel: +27(0)12 452 1607Email: [email protected]

See the list of available scholarships here:

AFRICAN BUSINESS EDUCATION (ABE) INITIATIVE SCHOLARSHIPS FOR YOUTH 7TH BATCH (FOR 2020)The ABE Initiative, in collaboration with the Japanese private sector, aims to foster leaders with proven ability to contribute to development in Africa. The JICA is looking for prominent young South African nationals who are involved in, or anticipate becoming involved in industrial development activities in both the public and private sectors, and who are strongly motivated to strengthen economic ties between South Africa and Japan.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS (SDGS) GLOBAL LEADERSHIP PROGRAMME (FOR 2020)Prospective applicants should ideally be middle-management government officials or academics who wish to be involved in policy formulation and political and developmental issues, and who are passionate about making a difference in public policy administration and economics.

Furthermore, participants in the programme may wish to participate in additional programmes that allow for participation in networking fairs and internship opportunities with Japanese enterprises. Participants are also encouraged to participate in the Japan Development Studies Programme (JICA-DSP), which educates participants on Japan’s modernisation, World War II and development experiences.

Deadline: 30 September annuallyAll details here: Enquiries: Scan QR codeTel: +27 (0)12 346 4493Email: [email protected]

SCHOLARSHIPS & OTHER OPPORTUNITIES

Most of these scholarships are offered on an annual basis. Please regularly check this page for updated links.

EVENTSPAST EVENTS

30–31 October 2019Public seminar by esteemedJapanese professorsThe Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) hosted a seminar and an academic session in conjunction with the Embassy of Japan.

The two participating professors hailed from the Graduate School of Economics at Kobe University. Prof Otsuka’s talk was on ‘Lessons from experience of cluster-based development in Asia and Africa’, with the subthemes innovation and learning from abroad and the automotive industry in South Africa. Prof Hashino spoke about ‘Lessons from history of catching-up development in Japan’ and included discussions of education and learning from the West and silk-weaving clusters in Japan.The seminar was well attended and the venue filled to capacity. We were also honoured to receive ambassadors from the embassies of countries other than Japan and government officials as our guests. The evening was a huge success. The following day the two Japanese professors participated in discussions with academics.

3 February– 5 February 2020 Sophia University study tour:The Centre for Japanese Studies hosted students from the Sophia University at the University of Pretoria as a part of their two-week study tour in South Africa. During their stay in Pretoria, they attended lectures on the history of South Africa presented by Prof Karen Harris, and on the politics of South Africa, presented by Dr Shangase. They also visited the University of Pretoria’s Mamelodi Campus, where they attended a lecture by the jazz music teacher Mr Jesse Mogale, and another on entrepreneurship by Ms Van Rooyen from the Business Clinic. The students also had the opportunity to engage with a group of entrepreneurs known as the Mamelodi Sewing Ladies. Finally, they paid a visit to the student dorm and interacted with undergraduate students from the University of Pretoria.


12 February 2020Visit by tourists from JapanOn 28 February, tourists from different parts of, and different universities in Japan visited the Centre for Japanese Studies for discussions with Japanese language students. Among the topics that were discussed was the cultural differences between South Africa and Japan. During their visit, they also toured the University of Pretoria museums.

14 February 2020Study in Japan information session: Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University On 14 February, the Centre for Japanese Studies co-hosted a Study in Japan

information session with the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University of Japan. More than 80 students attended. Mr Ongaria from the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University spoke about the advantages offered by studying in Japan, the scholarships available to African students and the opportunities given by APU to international students. Information kits were provided at the end of the session and students were invited to visit our Centre for more information and enquiries. Brochures from the Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University are available for students at the Centre for the Japanese Studies, University of Pretoria.

26 February 2020Haiku book launchThe Centre for Japanese Studies hosted the launch of a collection of Haiku verses with African themes written by Ms Anthea Pretorius, a member of the University of Pretoria staff, in the Merensky Library Auditorium at the University of Pretoria. The guest of honour was the Minister-Counsellor and Deputy Head of Mission, Mr Shuichiro Kawaguchi, from the Embassy of Japan in South Africa. Prof Hennie Stander, the Acting Director of the Centre for Japanese Studies (CJS) opened the proceedings and welcomed the guests. Ms Keiko Arai from the Centre for Japanese Studies gave a brief introduction on the

background and origin of Haiku. Dr Antony Goedhals, from the Department of English, explained the style of Haiku poetry, after which Ms Pretorius did a presentation and took us on a journey through her work.The event was attended by a good mix of UP personnel and members of the public. Only a few students with an interest in poetry were invited to attend.

Tuesday, 6 to Thursday, 8 March 2020 Japan Cultural Expo 2020 In early March, the Embassy of Japan in South Africa held the Japan Cultural Expo 2020 at Brooklyn Mall in Pretoria. During the three-day expo, various cultural activities were demonstrated, such as ikebana (flower

arrangement), kendo, judo, kyudo, cosplay and Japanese cuisine. Ms Keiko Arai from CJS performed a classical Japanese dance with koto player Ms Asako Okano. Ms Keiko is a member of Hanayagi Ryu, a prestigious school of classical dance in Japan and is a licensed dance instructor. Dancing in Japan has an exceptionally long history, which goes back to ancient times. The dance she performed told the story of the goddess Ame-no-Uzume, who danced a comical, lewd dance that caused the other gods to laugh so loudly that the goddess Amaterasu Omikami emerged from where she was hiding in the rock cave of heaven to return light to the earth. Originally the dance was performed by Shamanic priestesses in their rituals. Later, in 15th century, kabuki (dance-drama) was developed for performance on stage. Japanese classical dance tells a dramatic story that could include references to a particular season. For example Sakura Sakura is a song about the cherry blossoms that bloom in springtime. Keiko wore a pink kimono (uchikake) and the dance suggested a girl playing with flower petals under sakura (cherry) trees.

Tuesday, 11 March 2020 Rikkyo University study tour:The Centre for Japanese Studies acted as hosts to a group of Tourism students from the Rikkyo University on a day-long visit to Soweto. They visited the Mandela House, where a tour guide told them about Mandela’s life and South African history, and the Hector Pieterson Museum. They also visited other historical tourist attractions in the township as guests of the CJS staff. The purpose of the tour was to promote an understanding of township tourism.

Upcoming eventsIn order to prevent the spread of COVID-19, all events planned for this year have been cancelled. We would like to offer our sincere apologies to those who have been looking forward to particular events. Updates about events that can be rescheduled will be posted on our website as information becomes available.

GET IN TOUCH!If you would like to be added to the CJS mailing list, share suggestion and comments please email our Administrator Mrs Anita Devchand at [email protected] with your:

Full name, Email address, Contact number, Organisation & Position

Through the mailing list you will receive our event notifications, newsletters and any other information related to CJS!

We look forward to your email!

University of PretoriaLynnwood Road and Roper StreetHatfield, PretoriaSouth AfricaTelephone: 012 420 6488Email: [email protected]

Website: www.up.ac.za/centre-for-japanese-studies

Facebook: www.facebook.com/centreforjapanesestudies

Centre for Japanese Studies NEWS LETTER

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