Hanabi - Fall 2009

ContentsEditor’s note Pg. 2

How to talk like a drunk and influence people Pg. 3

Comics Pg. 7

The making of a god Pg. 8

Fall haiku selection Pg. 11

Crossword Pg. 12

Hanabi StaffDirector Dan DooherEditor Leslie Lynn-HealyArt Director Michael Sammler

Unless otherwise noted all art is the creation of Michael Sammler.

Editor’s NoteChange. It happens every fall. Not permanent change, just the

shifting of seasons. But sometimes we take actions that lead to irrevocable change—having a baby, getting married, hitting on that cute guy at work only to learn he’s not available but then it’s too late since the whole office knows. Awkward. Especially if you are also married.

So yes, irrevocable changes. They can happen in the blink of an eye or in the length of time it takes to perform a drunken strip-tease at an enkai not realizing that all of your co-workers will recognize you, even if you are wearing a paper lantern on your head (I’m looking at you, Mr. Cacali). And some change happens over time. Living in Japan, for many of us, will cause irrevocable change, hopefully the good kind.

Here at Hanabi we’ve been thinking about change quite a bit. We’ve made several changes to the Hanabi this issue. We’ve added comics and a crossword, changed some formatting, and we’re bring-ing you new articles. And we want you to know that these are not irrevocable in any way…unless you like what we’re doing.

We’ll be sending out a survey this month about the Hanabi. Ask-ing what you like, what you don’t and what you want to change.　There’s that word again. Seems a year ago I couldn’t turn on American Television without hearing about change and the now ubiquitous “Yes, we can!” And now it still haunts us. Japanese elementary school students can’t say, “I like big burley hippo-potamuses that dance in the night in tutus”, but each and every-one can say “Yes, we can!” So here at the Hanabi we’ve decided that you won’t mind hear-ing it again be-cause clearly you haven’t heard it enough. We’re going to say it one last time. “Yes, we can change…or at least try.”

Dear Readers,

How to talk like a drunk and influence peopleWhy telling filthy jokes in Akita-ben can help your social life

By Pat Costello

I’m going to be straight up with you here. You don’t need to know one word of Akita-ben to survive here. Hell, some people don’t learn any Japanese at all and have a great time (although I really wouldn’t recommend that.) My point is, you can have an awesome few years in Akita without ever learning one word of the dialect. So if you don’t want to deal with the hassle, you are totally within your rights to leave that puzzle palace unexplored. After all, Akita’s dialect is ranked the 2nd most difficult in the country. In addition to that, Akita-ben varies distinctly by area, even to the point that people in bordering towns or cities will describe the same thing using completely different words. However,

learning your area’s dialect and using it around your friends and co-workers shows them that you’re interested in their area enough to try anyway. It shows them that you want to be part

of a community, a community of people who sound drunk all day, every day. Which is just my kind of community.

The use of Akita-ben in the prefecture fluctuates. I live in what one might call a “high-use area.” This is true of most of the more isolated ALT positions. Akita-ben is

used exclusively in my Board of Education, almost always in the teachers’ room and to a degree in the classroom. Outside school, it’s all I hear. This will vary given your location. The amount of Akita-ben used is usually

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inversely proportional to the number of modern conveniences close by, and can be classifies into six categories.

1. Do you have a movie theater, Round One, some clubs, tall buildings, universities? Easy access to an airport? Zoos, aquariums, and other attractions? After a year you may wonder what Akita-ben sounds like.

2. A few of those? You might have the occasional run-in with Akita-ben.

3. One of those? You’ll certainly hear some Akita-ben.

4. You don’t have much more than a train station? Everyone probably speaks Akita-ben, but will Tokyo it up for you, especially in the office.

5. No train station? Maybe, if you’re lucky, some buses and a Lawson? It’ll be all hougen all the time.

6. One baba hera that shows up once every other month? Good luck, my friend.

For people who fall into the last 3 categories, if you already speak a decent amount of Japanese, it might benefit

you to learn some Akita-ben. Many people in your workplaces and towns will use it, and it could help you to understand what’s being said. It will certainly make your co-workers feel more at ease, since they won’t have to check and make sure you understand everything. Even if you speak no Japanese

learning a phrase or two will certainly help.

I was in C group orientation, so I missed the prefectural orientation and the entire month A&B groupers (the ALTs, not the fish) had to get used to things. I assumed I was

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already way far behind. I had this gut feeling that one of the orientation lectures included a portion in which everyone had uploaded some Matrix-style Akita-ben program to their cerebral cortex and were having super-intense verbal sparring matches with local obachans. I was hoping that I’d be alright, and then I had my first day at the Board of Education office. My three years of college Japanese amounted to me understanding next to nothing. I didn’t even hear an “ohaiyo gozaimasu.” Instead, I heard something along the lines of “aeeuuusshhhhh.” Which was also used for goodbye, thank you, excuse me and what seemed like a million other nebulous situations. I decided that the only way to survive would be to bust my ass, double-time. I listened and imitated. Then I would ask JTEs or my favorite bartenders what it all meant. I did as much research as I could (admittedly most of this “research” consisted of endless drinking and socializing with locals, but I was willing to make that sacrifice.) I asked my students. There is no better place to learn insults than from a smart-ass third grader (however, a drunk 32 year old science teacher with a dirty mind makes an appallingly good stand in.) I practiced with

my friends when we were out drinking. I would chat up random people at restaurants, fruit stands, festivals and other such events. Most importantly I always talked with taxi and daiko drivers (if you can understand those guys, you can understand anything.)

However, all this time, I never really stopped to see where anybody else was along the Akita-ben michi. I had been booking it down the dialect expressway pushing a buck twenty and keeping my eye on the prize. So imagine my surprise, when I found that I was kind of alone. Most people had pulled into the first michinoeki they saw and were taking a nap, or they had stopped at the Lawson 2 miles from the start and were eating an onigiri and twirling around in circles in the parking lot. But hey, that’s fine with me. I don’t think many people come here with the intention of learning a weird dialect of Japanese. I certainly didn’t. However, I’m glad I did.

There are some pretty nice bonuses should you choose to stay on the Akita-ben michi. If you can understand Akita-ben, you will certainly have a leg up when talking with old people, and let’s face it... Akita is almost exclusively old people. Asking directions when you get lost in the middle

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of nowhere won’t be a game of Charades or Pictionary. Seriously, who hasn’t gotten lost in the middle of nowhere due to confusing signs or a lack of them altogether (Dewa green road, I’m looking at you.) Plus you’ll finally be able to understand what the school maintenance guys are saying. After that, it’s just a small step from understanding to using, and what a step it is. I can’t count the amount of free food and

drinks I’ve gotten after telling someone that the food they served me was “nnmegattass.” I’ve had a few bar tabs paid by people I just met in the bathroom. One guy gave me a fictitious name and insisted to everyone else in the establishment that I was born in Saitama, or Nagoya

or something like that. Most importantly you can make people laugh. People around you will be more comfortable when they know they can chill out and relax when you’re around. Am I 100% sure that my Akita-ben caused all of these things to happen? Well, no...not really. But I’ll leave you with this question to ponder: You’ve had a long week which consisted of six 12 hour days, and you want to go have a few drinks with some old friends at the neighborhood bar. Who would you rather run into there, the guy who always needs stuff explained to him, or the guy who laughs and jokes right along?

Oh yeah, there is a caveat. Just like on non-metaphorical roads in Japan, there are certain things to watch out for, and certain times when you have to change tires. In a formal setting you might want to stick with standard Japanese, at least until after the kampai. Also, be aware of your use of Akita-ben when outside of Tohoku. Although I’ve used it and been understood as far south as Fukui prefecture, I wouldn’t push it too far. People in Kyoto would certainly be confused and freaked out if they were approached by some random Australian who was speaking basic Japanese with an Akita accent. Other than those 2 exceptions, knock yourself out and enjoy, or don’t. It’s up to you.

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comics

By Michael Culler

By Michael Sammler

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The making of a godMt. Chuokai and the Shinto religion

Essay and photos by Tadaya Iwaya

On the border between Akita and Yamagata Pre-fecture towers a god, a mountain, Mt. Choukai. At 2,236 meters high, it also enjoys the title Dewa Fuji (Dewa is the old name of the Akita and Yamgata district). In Aki-ta Prefecture, Mt. Chou-kai can be seen from the southern and central parts but not from the north. Can you see Mt. Chou-kai? What shape does it? From the Yuzawa, Yokote and Daisen area, it looks like Mt. Fuji. In fact, many school anthem have the words of Choukai-san, Choukai or Akita Fuji in them.

Mt.Choukai being an active vol-cano last erupted in 1974, giving us a shower of steam. This was a gentle reminder of Mt. Choukai’s history. It has erupted 10 times that we know of. The first recorded eruption occurred between 810 and 823 AD, but in 1982 fossilized re-mains of a Japanese cedar were dis-

covered under ground in Nikaho-shi. After 14 years, scientist found that Choukai erupted in 466 BC.

Despite Mt. Choukai’s temper, it is beautiful and magnificent. It has brought water, animals and plants to nourish the people of Akita since ancient times. Long ago the mountain was called, Omonoimi-No-Kami (god). Peo-

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ple worshipped Mt.Choukai as the god of bumper crops and especially fruitful harvests.

Incidents and disturbances of-ten foreshadowed and followed eruptions, so the Court believed eruptions were an omen of com-ing calamity. They also believed it was a manifestation of Omono-imi-No-Kami’s authority. To ap-pease the god’s anger, the Court in-creased Choukai’s rank every time he erupted. Between 838 and 1736 AD Choukai managed to earn sev-eral promotions. He moved from Junior Grade to a Senior Grade, First Rank. Not a bad title for a god.

On the top of Mt. Choukai resides his main shrine, but he also has several satellite shrines dispersed as far as Fukura, Wrabigaoka and Yamagata prefectures, clearly a re-sult of his god-like reach. In 1995 all the shrines were renamed Chou-kaisan-Omonoimi-Jinjya (shrine),

and later several shrines became national historic sites. In addition, several of Choukai’s shrines, Aki-ta Prefecture’s Moriko-Omonoi-mi Jinjya in Takizawa, Kizakai-Omonoimi Jinjya in Yashima and Kinpou Jinjya in Kisakata, serve as climbing points. These were set up, hundreds of years ago, by follow-ers of Shugendou, a form of Shinto mountaineering asceticism. It was a mixture of nature worship, Bud-dhism and Shinto. It is said that a mountain ascetic belonging to this sect handed down Bangaku, a form of sacred Shinto music and danc-ing, at the foot of Mt. Choukai be-tween 1624 and 1644. Today this dance in performed several times a year to honor Choukai and the past.

Buddhism was introduced to Japan sometime between 538 and 552 AD. The Court, seeing an op-portunity, utilized Buddhism to govern the country despite the em-

peror having to defy the gods of Shinto to do so. It is guessed that the mix-ing of Shinto and Bud-dhism began around the end of the 9th century. The theory was that each Shinto god had origi-nally been a Buddha in India, and that Buddha became a Shinto god.

Bangaku Performance Dates Yamagata areaMay 3 Warabigaoka Ennen-No-MaiAug. 6, 15, 20 Sugisawa Hiyama

Bangaku Performance Dates in Nikaho area2nd Sat. Jun EnnenChukurairo-MaiAug. 13 Kotaki-BangakuAug. 13-15 Choukaisan-HitachimaiAug. 14 Sakanoshita-BangakuAug. 14-19 Toshi-BangakuAug. 14-20 Kamagadai Bangaku

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Omonoimi-No-Kami was wor-shiped as a Shinto god, and it was also worshipped as the Physician to the Soul Buddha, yet another step up the god ladder. In fact, remains of the mixture persist even though this mixing of religions was abol-ished by law in 1868. Today the festival of Akada Great Buddha (Yurihonjo-Shi) a portable shrine marches towards the Great Bud-dha, and there are statues of Bud-dha at two of Choukai’s shrines.

If you’re planning to visit this god, there are beautiful waterfalls to enjoy around the foot of the mountain. In the Nikaho area, there are Hottaino-Taki, Nasono-Shirat-

aki, Moto-Takiand and Kameda-Fudo-Daki. The Shonai area has Tamasudareno-Taki, Ichino-Taki, Nino-taki and Doubarano-Taki.

Also one can drive up to the fifth stage of the mountain, but from that point, it takes four or five hours to hike to the top of the mountain. There are huts at the fourth, fifth, seventh and the top stages. The huts on the last two stages close at the beginning of September. From June to Au-gust, there are alpine plants to see, and the fall colors come in Sep-tember and October. The ski re-sort of Choukai-Kogen- Yashima awaits your arrival in the winter.

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ACROSS1.The best prefecture6.Place money on9.Of the sun14. Table-shaped hills15. Form of "is"16. Still kicking17. Took umbrage19. Old form of skilift21. Pounds (abbr.)22. Esteemed23. Female sheep24. _____ upon a time25. Ireland28. VERY old computer game32. Full of alcohol35. ___ maria (song)36. Affectations, haughtiness

39. Not light41. Implores43. Type of fish45. Lion's home47. Fictional private eye (3,5)50.Before noon51. Check out52.Monster53. Something irritating54.Raised sores56.Not a lie57.Genuine59.Ancient “the”60.Object64.Otherwise65. In a decisive manner66. Poem 67.Notices

Crossword

Submitted by Blake Baguley

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DOWN2. Edge of pavement (Brit.)3. Egyptian goddess4. A little5. C.S. Lewis lion6. Honorary decoration7. Medical drama8. Abrupt9. Tree blood10. Spanish cry11. “Low in fat/calories”??12. Swear to13. Attach again by heat18. Christian celebration20. Milo and ____ (movie)24. Sign26. Staff27. When will you get here? (1,1,1)29. Overeaters Anonymous (1,1)

30. Cooking apparatus31. Orchestra section33. Dark liquid like molasses34. Scraped by, _____ out a living37. For example (1,1)38. Motionlessness40. Adjust to environment42. Some like it? (1 & 1)44, _____ of two evils46. Board for polishing nails48. Planted seeds49. Go before51. Has eaten55. City famous for horse58. Motels60. Belonging to something61. Golf start point62.Before 63 Measurement (abbr.)

Do you have something interesting to say? Do you know a hot spot in Akita that everyone should know about? Have hints and tips about living in Akita?

HanabiAkita’s Quarterly English Magazine

is now accepting reader submissions

What we’re looking forTips on shopping and eating in Akita

Original artwork and comicsTohoku Travel Stories

Editorials, Essays, Stories

Submit your work at

[email protected] deadline is December 18, 2009

The Fine Print:The Hanabi staff make all editing and printing decisions. Submission does not guarantee publication, but it does help your chances. Also, when submitting visual work, please keep in mind that we publish in black and white.

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Yes, we can!

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