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  • Seniors
    • Bento Program
    • Smartphone/Tablet Class
    • TNK Classes
    • Tomo Cafe | 友カフェ
  • Events/Programs
    • Upcoming Events
    • Japanese Language School >
      • JLS Graduates
    • The Bridge: GVJCI Heritage Center
    • Day Of Remembrance >
      • DOR 2023
    • Meditation & More Class
    • GVJCI Scholarship
    • TANOSHII Fun Camp >
      • Camper Registration
      • Counselor Registration
      • Testimonials
      • Camp Supporters
      • Activities
      • FAQ
    • Past Events
  • Organizations
    • Bando Hidesomi
    • Boy Scout Troop 683
    • Boy Scout Troop 719
    • Evening Optimist Club of Gardena
    • Gardena JCI Kendo
    • Gardena Judo Club
    • Gardena Kendo
    • Gardena Naginata
    • Hawaiian Music Class
    • Kyudo Renmei
    • LA Men's Glee Club
    • Meito Calligraphy
    • Sansei Baseball League
    • South Bay F.O.R Junior Sports Association
    • South Bay Youth Basketball
    • Taiko
  • Support Us
    • Become a Friend of the GVJCI
    • 2023 GVJCI Raffle Drawing
    • Become a Bento Buddy
    • Donate Your Car
    • Shop on Amazon
    • Purchase a 2023 Calendar Ad
    • Volunteer
  • Reserve our Facilities
  • Donate

GVJCI Blog
ガーデナ平原日本文化会館ブログ

Baseball & Japan

4/30/2019

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​
Shohei Ohtani, one of Major League Baseball’s exciting new players, has created buzz all around the league with his play on the field so far. A humble Japanese baseball player who has caused a fan frenzy among the Japanese American community here in the states. Many Japanese Americans are filled with pride watching Ohtani succeed as a pitcher and designated hitter for the Los Angeles Angels. If he continues at a high level, Ohtani could have a greater impact on how Japanese baseball, and in some ways Japan itself, is perceived than even pitcher Hideo Nomo did during his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the mid-90s.

People can’t stop talking about him. Ohtani is not the first Japanese baseball player to come to the states and cause buzz with their on the field play. Nomo, Ichiro (Suzuki), (Hideki) Matsui all got a lot of attention. (Daisuke) Matsuzaka too. But, Ohtani may be the most hyped and talked about Japanese player of them all. As far as respect as a player, the respect that Americans will give to a Japanese player, it certainly looks like Ohtani will be the most respected when all is said and done.

Ichiro has over 3,000 hits and combined hit record if you count Japan, but he’s good at hitting ground balls to second base and running them out. This is something different. This is an entirely new category. What else can you say but Babe Ruth?
Baseball may be the American pastime, but Japan has taken it and shaped it in its own image. When NPB was viewed from afar as little more than a minor league, Nomo, Ichiro and the rest proved that was a myth.

This is the same with Ohtani, who was met in Spring Training with doubters who said his high level of play in the NPB couldn’t translate to the MLB. But those doubters were quickly silenced once the season started. Born, bred and molded in Japan, Ohtani has the potential to change the way Japanese ballplayers are regarded in terms of their own skill and the skill of the players they compete against before heading to MLB.

​Ohtani’s success represents something bigger than just the game of baseball. He is playing for the respect of Japan.

​
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Power of the Cherry Blossom

4/11/2019

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Picture
Spring is finally here! Spring is one of the most beautiful times of the year, and also signifies the blooming of the cherry trees! Cherry blossoms, or sakura, are a symbol of the spring time in Japanese culture. Cherry blossoms symbolize renewal and a fresh start. The Japanese fiscal and school year begins in April, the season of sakura, to celebrate and welcome a brand-new start.

On Japan's southern, subtropical islands of Okinawa, cherry blossoms open as early as January, while on the northern island of Hokkaido, the flowering can be as late as May. In most major cities in between, such as Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka, the cherry blossom season typically takes place in early April.

During this season in Japan, people like to have cherry blossom parties with colleagues, friends, and family. A cherry blossom makes people merry. They enjoy eating, drinking, and barbecuing underneath the cherry blossoms. This custom is called hanami. Hanami literally means “watching blossoms,” and the tradition can be traced back at least a thousand years. People will bring cooked meals, alcohol, snacks, and sweets, like a potluck party. Schools and offices hold welcome parties during hanami, a chance for people to bond and meet new friends.

Even at night time, the cherry blossom viewing spots are crowded with couples enjoying the blossoms in a romantic atmosphere. Hanami at night is called yozakura.

Cherry trees have spread throughout the world to other Asian country, the United States, Canada, Brazil, Germany, Turkey, Spain British, Australia, and beyond. We’re lucky to have thousands of cherry trees around the Tidal Basin in Washington, D.C.

​
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A Start of a New Era

4/2/2019

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By: Nicole Sato, GVJCI Program Manager
On March 31st, the name for the upcoming era in Japan was announced. Reiwa (Or Leiwa...apparently that's up for debate as well). Getting it's name from Manyoshu, the oldest collection of Japanese poetry, roughly translates to "beautiful harmony", but is not a direct translation. 

Gengou, or the name of the era, it's length defined by the ruling of each Emperor. Up until April 30, 2019, was Heisei, ruled by Emperor Akihito, before that Showa, which went until 1989 under Emperor Hirohito.  In 2016, Emperor Akihito announced his request to step down, creating a wave of commotion in Japan, since traditionally, an Emperor is an Emperor until his death. However, a ruling was decided for an exception to be made to let Emperor Hirohito step down, and for the Crown Prince Naruhito to take the throne, officially changing the gengou from Heisei to Reiwa. 
Being Japanese or living in Japan, you're acquainted to the gengou.  You're often asked "What year in Showa were you born?"  or "This brings an end to the Heisei Year 30 (Heisei 30-Nen) school year." A tradition that's deep-rooted in Imperial Japan, even with the  Imperial Family holding no power, per say, anymore, the tradition of gengou has continued to this day. 

Japan celebrated the start of Reiwa a little earlier than us. And boy, did it come with celebration. There were countdowns around the country, products such a Coke bottles, cakes, and keychains were being sold with Reiwa printed on them,  and overall was a marketing opportunity for companies, as well as, an excuse for citizens to bask in the joyous mood.  The transition from Showa to Heisei back in 1989, when Showa Tenno (Emperor Hirohito) passed, came with a less celebratory mood, as the country mourned the loss of an emperor. The beginning of Heisei came with sudden anxiousness riddled with the relief of the end of  an era that was painted with war. 

Many Japanese citizens have an identity attached to the gengou they were born in.  While it's "just a year" any other day, parting with something you've gotten used to has become a bittersweet thing for many Heisei born folks. It's almost how Americans are proud to be a "90s baby", attributing an era of culture and history to when they were born. 
Even with Reiwa beginning almost halfway through the year, many Japanese folks celebrated the "new year" as if it's the traditional new year in January by eating toshikoshi soba, or (roughly translated) New Year's Eve soba -- treating this gengou start as a new year, a chance to restart, both for the citizens and for Japan. 
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