Apologies for the long silence. The combination of dissertation writing and preparing for conferences has kept me occupied for the past weeks. I promise to do another Immersion Reading Project (probably『コンビニ人間』this time) mid June.
Today, I wanted to share something nostalgic. It is already 20 years ago that I realized I wanted to study Japanese. I was 15 back then and had the opportunity to visit Japan for three weeks, as friends of ours lived in Tokyo at the time.
Serendipitously, right before our departure, a Japanese course made by the BBC was broadcasted on Dutch television. In Holland it was called もしもし but its original title was Japanese Language and People. It was my first real acquaintance with Japanese language and it was love at first sight.
To my delight, I found the entire series on YouTube. Looking at it now, I realize it paints a very formal and overly romanticized image of Japan, as it blatantly caters to some of the expectations people unfamiliar with Japan might have. Although it feels like you’re looking at something recorded in the early 90s, I was surprised to learn the course is actually from 2002.
Perhaps this peek into the past only serves to satisfy my own feelings of nostalgia, reminiscing about my first encounter with a language I still practice every single day, but I wanted to share it anyway. It’s fun to watch, but also to be taken with a big grain of salt.
I’m sharing episode 6 here, as about 11 minutes in, Alan Booth (one of the best writers of travel literature I’ve every read) makes an appearance. If you’re unfamiliar with his work, I recommend his acclaimed The Roads to Sata to get you started.
I’m curious to hear what first got you into learning about Japanese language and culture. Let me know in the comment section below!
My partner is Japanese. He and I have been together for 12 years and I consider him my solemate. I truly believe that learing the Japanese language has given me unique insight into his point of view and cultural background. How the language is constructed very much reflects the Japanese mindset. A difficult mountain to climb but truly amazing!
Completely agree. Having a partner from a different culture makes learning the language all the more intimate. And as with most things, a never ending process.
Totally agree re Alan Booth - I first read him after coming back from Japan in the late 90s ... was missing Japan a lot and reading The Roads to Sata made me feel like I was still there. Such a shame that Alan died so young.
I got into studying the language after finding myself on the JET program in a remote part of Yamanasahi prefecture back in 1990! I try to keep up with nihongo currently via my job in the kitchen of a Japanese restaurant in London. I get to say "hai" a lot (normally after having made some mistake with a dashi or something).
Great to hear from you Bunsuke and all the best with the dissertation. Something Japan related, I'm guessing..
Hi Cole, indeed a shame! Think of all the books he might have written if he had still been with us. Perhaps his works, and the very dated clip I uploaded, can help you relive the old Yamanashi days!
The BBC book and TV series actually WERE published/released in 1991, as you guessed from hairstyles and fashion. The show must have been re-released ten years later. My good friend used the book to study in 1992, and I used it as a crash course a month before moving to Japan in 1997. We had the VHS tape. I watched so many times that I can still hear Yuka Nukina’s voice in my dreams sometimes, introducing me to the Kamikawa family from the Ono Valley, Kyushu, as the pastoral flute plays.
I can only reiterate what you have said about Alan Booth’s writing. The Roads to Sata and Looking for the Lost are among the best examples of travel writing about Japan that I’ve ever come across. They hold pride of place on our travel bookshelf. When I found out about his death (years after the fact), I felt a deep sadness, like hearing that an old dear high school friend had passed away. He had a great ‘voice’.
Hi Arjay, yes that makes a lot of sense! It feels way too 90s to be a 00s show. I also remember purchasing the books, including the audio cassette tapes. I'm also very happy to see that so many people here are familiar with Alan Booth's work. Completely agree that he had a great voice, as you say. His words really transport you to Japan.
I really got hooked on Japanese in college. I had a series of great Japanese teachers who really understood how to inspire and fascinate us with Japanese culture while teaching us the language. Back then, there was a weekly CNN show called “This Week in Japan” that our teachers played in class when lessons were done. At the peak of the bubble, the show featured regular reports of statospheric Ginza real estate prices alongside travel reports from exotic locations in Japan. It really caught my interest and eventually led me to study in Japan for a year.
I have Road to Sata on my bookshelf but haven’t read it yet. With your recommendation and those of others here, I’ll now relish diving in to read it.
Great to hear from you Bunsuke and indeed all the best with your dissertation. I have also watched the TV series on VHS, way back. It's fun to watch again and see how perception and times have changed. Thank you for posting this. It's a shame I haven't heard of Alan Booth, but now that I do, I really want to read: "The Roads to Sata". How is "Hitchhiking with Buddha"?, Mischa. I also look forward to an other immersion project. I have also been very busy, so I'm glad it will be in mid June, because I'm able to join.
My partner is Japanese. He and I have been together for 12 years and I consider him my solemate. I truly believe that learing the Japanese language has given me unique insight into his point of view and cultural background. How the language is constructed very much reflects the Japanese mindset. A difficult mountain to climb but truly amazing!
Completely agree. Having a partner from a different culture makes learning the language all the more intimate. And as with most things, a never ending process.
A difficult mountain to climb but some great views to be had !
After reading Hitchhiking with Buddha I have had Roads to Sata sitting around for years. I'll definitely make an effort to start reading it soon.
It's definitely worth the investment of your time! Let me know what you thought of it when you have time to dive in.
Totally agree re Alan Booth - I first read him after coming back from Japan in the late 90s ... was missing Japan a lot and reading The Roads to Sata made me feel like I was still there. Such a shame that Alan died so young.
I got into studying the language after finding myself on the JET program in a remote part of Yamanasahi prefecture back in 1990! I try to keep up with nihongo currently via my job in the kitchen of a Japanese restaurant in London. I get to say "hai" a lot (normally after having made some mistake with a dashi or something).
Great to hear from you Bunsuke and all the best with the dissertation. Something Japan related, I'm guessing..
Cole
Hi Cole, indeed a shame! Think of all the books he might have written if he had still been with us. Perhaps his works, and the very dated clip I uploaded, can help you relive the old Yamanashi days!
Do you have an idea yet on which date the next reading project will be? So that I can make sure I'm able to join. I'm really looking forward to it.
I'm thinking around 24/25th of June
Thank you for your quick answer. 24/25th of June will be no problem. And good luck with your PHD.
The BBC book and TV series actually WERE published/released in 1991, as you guessed from hairstyles and fashion. The show must have been re-released ten years later. My good friend used the book to study in 1992, and I used it as a crash course a month before moving to Japan in 1997. We had the VHS tape. I watched so many times that I can still hear Yuka Nukina’s voice in my dreams sometimes, introducing me to the Kamikawa family from the Ono Valley, Kyushu, as the pastoral flute plays.
I can only reiterate what you have said about Alan Booth’s writing. The Roads to Sata and Looking for the Lost are among the best examples of travel writing about Japan that I’ve ever come across. They hold pride of place on our travel bookshelf. When I found out about his death (years after the fact), I felt a deep sadness, like hearing that an old dear high school friend had passed away. He had a great ‘voice’.
Thanks for posting that.
Hi Arjay, yes that makes a lot of sense! It feels way too 90s to be a 00s show. I also remember purchasing the books, including the audio cassette tapes. I'm also very happy to see that so many people here are familiar with Alan Booth's work. Completely agree that he had a great voice, as you say. His words really transport you to Japan.
I really got hooked on Japanese in college. I had a series of great Japanese teachers who really understood how to inspire and fascinate us with Japanese culture while teaching us the language. Back then, there was a weekly CNN show called “This Week in Japan” that our teachers played in class when lessons were done. At the peak of the bubble, the show featured regular reports of statospheric Ginza real estate prices alongside travel reports from exotic locations in Japan. It really caught my interest and eventually led me to study in Japan for a year.
I have Road to Sata on my bookshelf but haven’t read it yet. With your recommendation and those of others here, I’ll now relish diving in to read it.
Best of luck on the dissertion, Bunsuke!
Great to hear from you Bunsuke and indeed all the best with your dissertation. I have also watched the TV series on VHS, way back. It's fun to watch again and see how perception and times have changed. Thank you for posting this. It's a shame I haven't heard of Alan Booth, but now that I do, I really want to read: "The Roads to Sata". How is "Hitchhiking with Buddha"?, Mischa. I also look forward to an other immersion project. I have also been very busy, so I'm glad it will be in mid June, because I'm able to join.