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About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (Nov. 3, 1998)
ke Battalion Aggielife Page 3 • Tuesday, November 3, 1998 rt to disci ^ftraged) fonaut Robert Cii[i Challenger sf tonight at 5itf tation is spons® ioquium Series the Department inanities andtt« ! schanical Engines) ivestigat assault ssexuallyassauf. of Southwest Pa'] may after atterd ne address, is been made ad suspect isnotte ; Station Police Criminal Investip 3 D is currently!') se as chosen to pej rolice depferte) Tgram, and inf her identity is n ators find corder )— Federal ind iday recovered corder and the f om an AirTrana* nto an embank r, I emergency larw] orders were sen analysis, Natiti safety Board rcf said. nical, chemii d States, liverse n both vfth the our resume j »morial Stucie' :ome. Culture from the Land of the Rising Sun Culture Day recognizes benefits, achievements of Japanese people TIM KANG/Tniy Battalion MARIUM MOHIUDDIN The Battalion T he number of holidays that come and go can be mind-numbing. Different reli gious days, birthdays and seasonal holi days are among the top contenders for being officially recognized. Many times, holidays are a celebration of the past. Today, however, marks a celebration of the fu ture — Japanese Culture Day. The day is set aside for celebrating and recognizing Japanese culture, freedom and equality. Before 1946, it was the birthday of the Em- pirial Meije, the emperor of Japan from 1868 to 1912. Today, it commemorates the promulgation of the Japanese constitution of 1946. The Japanese government prepares the program for the day and recognizes citizens for their achievements. Those chosen for recognition are honored by having stamps made of them. Ronjeet Lai, a member of the Japan Club and a graduate student in electrical engi neering, said Japanese Culture Day is a na tional holiday. “It is equivalent to President’s Day in America,” he said. “Everybody gets the day off of work, but it is not a highly cele brated holiday.” Tatsuki Ohashi, president of Internation al Student Association and a senior interna tional studies major, said the Japanese cul ture is different from American culture, but the two have found a happy medium in Western society. “There are 88 Japanese international students on campus,” he said. “We don’t even make up .04 percent compared to the 45,000 [students] on campus. On a daily basis things are pretty much the same, but there are the differences.” One aspect of daily life that can be different deals with clothing. Katsura Kawamoto, vice president of Japan Club and a senior agriculture development major, said the Japanese dress has become westernized, but the traditional outfits are still worn on special occasions. “It has become the same, we wear jeans and shirts,” she said. “We wear kimonos on special occasions like New Year’s Day, graduation ceremonies and funerals. “It is a long dress with long sleeves, and it is usually made out of silk. They are made of bright colors, and they are really gorgeous.” Ohashi said Japan has a politeness-oriented culture which is reflective of their past. “Our ancestors are from China, while most Americans are descendants of western Europe,” he said. “This so ciety is based upon Christianity, and we are composed of Buddhism, Shintoism and Confucius. We have more temples and churches. This is where the politeness and respect comes from. “It can be seen when we talk to elderly people. We have a lot more respect. We could never say, ‘hey what’s up’ to someone who is older. That would real ly offend them.” Ohashi said in the Japanese culture there is a bigger personal space. “Hugging and touching are not typical,” he said. “In business dealings, Americans shake hands while we bow to each other.” Differences can also be seen in the diets of the two cultures. Kawamoto said she tries to prepare as many Japan ese dishes as she can but finds it difficult because of her hectic schedule. “We prepare our dishes from the real ingredients and don’t use instant foods,” she said. “This is why it is hard because sometimes I don’t have time.” America is the melting pot of the world and cul tures come, merge and produce something for every one to experience. Kawamoto said she knows many who had problems adjusting, but for her, the transition has been easy. “The first year, I thought it was so weird that there were so many different students,” she said. “In Japan, 99 percent of the population is Japanese. But I have found it generally easy to adjust, because this society is a lot looser, so it was not hard to live here.” International students find their niche in a new home indent organizations ensure Japanese '^dents’ time U&M is fulfilling. BY TRAVIS IRBY The Battalion tying to learn in a foreign country ^nd deal with its alien culture and , language can be a daunting task. a Panese students not only face . s a odds, but overcome them, meld- ty^ir native culture with their new- a T do Pted one. 0 help ensure their time at Texas 18 pleasant, departments and or- l^ons such as International Stu- Services an( l JaP an Club help j) Se students adjust. err ick Weingartner, international ent adviser for International Stu dent Services, said the department helps the students with financial and organizational dealings. “We assist with financial matters,” Weingartner said. “We help the Japan Club officers, students and former stu dents gain a familiarity of the system.” Weingartner said most of the students knew of A&M through the now closed Koriyama satellite campus in Japan. “It created publicity in Japan for the University,” he said. “Subsequently, many came to A&M for a degree.” Weingartner said the Japanese cul ture is radically different from Ameri can culture. “The country’s history goes back thousands of years, with a strong sense of tradition,” he said. Weingartner said those traits help Japanese students relate to Texas A&M. “A&M also has that strong sense of history and tradition, even though it isn’t as long,” Weingartner said. Ken Kato, Japan Club president and a senior sociology major, said the Japan Club gives students a chance to remember home. “They can meet other Japanese stu dents,” Kato said. “It gives them a way to keep in touch with home. “In Japan, 99 percent of the population is Japan ese. The diversity in America helps you learn to accept others and their ideas." —Katsura Kawamoto Japan Club vice president “It can be tiring to talk in English all the time, [but] we can talk in Japan ese here.” Kato said there are 60 to 70 Japan ese students involved with the club. He said there are two main func tions of the club. “We offer help to Japanese stu dents and the opportunity to com municate with non-Japanese stu dents,” Kato said. The Japan Club also offers conver sational-style class in Japanese once a month. This attracts many American students in the club. Kato said Americans wanting to learn more about Japanese culture are welcome at club functions. The club meets once a month in addition to functions held every se mester, such as bowling tournaments and barbecues. Katsura Kawamoto, Japan Club vice president and a senior agricultural de velopment major, said she enjoys in troducing others to her culture. “I get excited to see others get in terested in Japanese culture,” Kawamoto said. She said the Japan Club has much to offer to more than just Japanese students. “It is a great opportunity to get to know Japanese culture,” she said. While Japanese students have op portunities to enjoy and embrace the culture of their homeland, they are still affected by their time in America. Kawamoto said the diversity of America surprised her. “In Japan, 99 percent of the popu lation is Japanese,” Kawamoto said. “The diversity in America helps you learn to accept others and their ideas.” Whether Japanese students decide to return home or stay in America, they both affect and are affected by the campus. Kato said many Japanese students are grateful for their time in America. “They are thankful for the campus and community’s acceptance of them,” he said. Weingartner said the Japanese stu dents are a valuable asset to A&M. “They take Texas A&M half way around the world,” Weingartner said. “It spreads the word and helps A&M develop into an international university.”