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.”