Deaf World Japan Spring 2014

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VAOJ Spring 2014 Virtual Student Film Festival

The VAOJ Student Film Festival has gone virtual! You can view the efforts of the class of Spring 2014 at your convenience and leisure from May 16-23. Scroll down to see all the films (films arranged in random order). Comments and feedback are especially appreciated. Enjoy!

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Pawsionate
(2014, 11:40)
Jordana Valverde

Short film about passionate people working for/with animals in Japan. The aim of the film is to find out why these people are dedicating their lives to work with animals.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ltzBy8fxD1s

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天下一餃子:テクテク (The Best Gyoza Under the Heavens: TekuTeku)
(2014, 11:00)
Scott Steffes

Take a trip to TekuTeku, a gyoza restaurant located in Hirakata, Japan, and meet its owner Keita Shigematu. Keita serves up a combination of great food and fun conversation everyday so please consider stopping by.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZ9XZZokiuU

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Make-up Fake-up
(2014, 10:02)
Keiichiro Soeda

Why do Japanese people wear makeup? Makeup in Japan is now almost its culture. This film focuses on the Japanese makeup style, which seems quite distinctive in many senses.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UMrJYUnDJw8

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Honen Matsuri
(2014, 7:25)
Mitchell Plumer

This video explores the spectacular Honen Matsuri, held each year in Komaki, Japan, and attempts to make an in-depth explanation of the festivals intriguing elements. Japanese subtitles can be selected in the YouTube window.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoBgU93UEdM

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Tamago Kake Gohan ~its popularity and safety~
(2014, 6:51)
Yu Adachi

This film is about a Japanese dish called Tamago Kake Gohan consisting a hot bowl of rice and a raw egg (optionally with soy sauce). It is a very popular dish among Japanese people. Fieldwork was done at Kansai Gaidai University and a restaurant in Osaka which specializes in Tamago Kake Gohan.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74EmP1oSSAQ

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うめぼしっ
(2014, 8:23)
Yumi Ueda

Most study abroad students have never eaten Umeboshi, so I want to tell them "what is Umeboshi." Even if people had it, they can enjoy Umeboshi film!

Access: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_O3C6muiHo

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The Meaning of Sakura
(2014, 5:20)
Bettina Angela Sta. Ana

What does the "Sakura" mean to The Japanese as well as to the non-Japanese? I was curious to see whether or not the age gap would reflect the growing difference in values which are being shaped by Japan's growing gap between the 'Traditional' and the 'Modern.' Questions such as, "What does the Sakura mean to you? Why do you watch view them?" will be explored.

Access: http://youtu.be/2a6mokB-Iiw

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Hakuba
(2014, 8:54)
Andrew Polenske

This film is an observational documentary about Hakuba, Nagano, a small ski town in Japan. I wanted to show the audience what my experience in traveling there was like, and for them to be able to compare Hakuba to ski towns where they are from as well.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lTQvuSJKJYU

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Japanese Karaoke Culture
(2014, 10:39)
Ritsuki Inada

In this film, Japanese people's ideas about human relationships and entertainment are shown through karaoke, which is an important activity within Japanese culture. Karaoke culture is ingrained in Japan, and various ideas can be considered through this film. Observation and interviews toward young people and elderly people were conducted in Hirakata city.

Access: http://youtu.be/wm6oS3bSzOk

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BENTO
(2014, 8:36)
Kaori Matsumoto

Bento, Japanese style packed lunch, is now spread around the world. You can see the deep connection between bento and the life of Japanese through this film.

Access: http://youtu.be/qtcae19FyYI

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Food Sample!!
(2014, 8:17 minutes)
Sayoko Bando

This film is about Food Sample in Japan.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XwBOSHzovGU&feature=youtu.be

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Handwriting in Japan 〜綺麗な字〜
(2014, 10:34)
Shin Akazawa

This film is about the role of handwriting in Japan. I am focusing on 3 aspects of Japanese handwriting in this film.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NNQJvjgv_uw

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'the neko cafe'
(2014, 9:33)
Dylan Woodward-Cross

This film is about exploring the cat cafe as a Japanese tourist attraction. The main focus is the interaction of foreigners and cats in the cat cafe. There are lots of cute cats in this, so enjoy!

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPHyXvwzRls

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English in Japan
(2014, 11:07)
Hillary Hui

This film shows a range of locations where English can be learned in Japan. There are also interviews of different English speaking staff at Kansai Gaidai.

Access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VETXQeOe51g&feature=youtu.be

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Kansai Gaidai Fashion Craze
(2014, 14:27)
El Ouardi Aabir

This film is exposing the Japanese girls way of perceiving beauty relying on different concepts of the Japanese culture as the "Kawai" culture. This project also shows how do Japanese people perceive the perfect woman.

Access: https://vimeo.com/93504144

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VAOJ Spring 2014 Student Photo Exhibition

The Spring 2014 VAOJ Student Photo Exhibition has begun! Check out the prints in the CIE lounge. And you can check out more of the students' work below. Please scroll down to see all 20 projects (projects are presented in random order). Both print and on-line exhibition run May 16-23. Comments and feedback are greatly appreciated.

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The Way of Tea
Catherine Lambert

This project on the Way of Tea, or sadô, is rooted in Japanese culture. Throughout this project, I have tried to grasp the feeling and understanding of Japanese culture by researching on and experiencing the Way of Tea. My Japanese host family, who is involved in this practice, made this project possible. I came to have special access to precious knowledge and unique experiences at both Daitokuji temple and Nijô jo in Kyoto. Far from being easy as it might look from an outsider’s point of view, sadô is very complex and filled with gestures of precision and strict behavior models to be followed. The amount and extent of knowledge related to the numerous but precious objects used during the tea ceremony exceed imagination and are continuously perfected by participants. Yet, complexity contrasts with simplicity, peace of mind and harmony of human relations.

See more: http://s1067.photobucket.com/user/catoulapuce/library/The%20Way%20of%20Tea

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Riverbed
George Foster Pearson

Rivers have a strange relationship with the world we live in today. They are one of the more stubborn forces of nature; they cannot be easily altered or destroyed (as a tree can be cut down) without the consequence of disastrous flooding. Ergo, they cut through the most urban, industrial, and thickly-developed areas indiscriminately. Centuries ago rivers were essential to the community and living; compared with then their utility is now limited. Trucks have replaced boats carrying cargo, and power-plants have long since replaced water-powered mills. And yet, on a different and more personal level, rivers still maintain a special and equally important usefulness in Japan. In a country where nearly everything seems to be crammed together in the smallest space possible, riverbeds provide a refuge to the community in large, flat, relatively open spaces. Friends and couples have a quiet place away from the home to spend time together and chat. Kids have a place to play sports after school, and old men spend all day fishing. I photographed the Yodo, Uji, Kizu, and Neya rivers, as well as many other smaller rivers and streams, from the mountainous northern Kyoto to the industrial Osaka bay. My goal was to visually document the interaction and complex relationship between the Japanese and their rivers.

Print display only.

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わびさび
Nina Goldman

For this project I sought to explore the concept of wabi-sabi, a Japanese aesthetic that emphasizes finding beauty in imperfection and impermanence. I interviewed a range of Japanese people in an attempt to understand wabi-sabi through their eyes. These interviewees ranged in age from college students to retirees, and they came from not only Kyoto and Osaka but also Okayama, Nagano, and more. While some held professions related to traditional Japanese culture, including a calligrapher, tea-shop owner, and ryokan manager, others were engineers, musicians, and homemakers. The common denominator here is that when I asked, "What is wabi-sabi?" they all responded with some variation on "難しい！" or "That's difficult!" However, when I asked for a suggestion of what to photograph in order to visually depict wabi-sabi, they had a much easier time answering. It was with these suggestions in mind that I took the photos for this project.

See more: http://wabisabinoshashin.tumblr.com/

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Dog Goes Woof: What Does My House Say? Pets and Work in Japanese Homes
Molly Dyer

During my stay with my host family, my family has a more unique situation than other Japanese families. It is normal to see maybe 1 or 2 pets in a family, if they choose, but my host family proudly owns around 10 dogs. Along with this more than typical number of pets, my host mother is also a pet breeder, where she brings her work into our home everyday. Through this project, I wanted to highlight two points from within my host home. First, I wanted to show the sort of lifestyle it’s like to have so many pets living with the family each day. Second, I wanted to show the sort of work my host mother brings into our home each day. Since she works a good majority of the day inside the house, there are different and amazing situations, from pet grooming to the birth of animals, that can occur. Pets and animals bring my host mother a great amount of joy and stress relief, where the passion about her lifestyle influenced me to focus on the amazing work she accomplishes.

See more: http://s621.photobucket.com/user/cheezer87/library/Dog%20Goes%20Woof

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Mini Japan
Nicole Purpora

Mini Japan, a collection of thirty six photographs shot with miniature polaroid film, presents not only my experiences in Japan over the course of four months, showing Japan though my eyes, but a deeper meaning as well. Back in my hometown in New York, USA, when people are asked how they feel about their home state or country, the response is not always a positive one. My objective was to, along with photographs of my time in Japan, ask some of the Japanese I encountered, “What does Japan mean to you?” Some of their answers were genuine, but others thought too long or hard about the “perfect” answer. They no longer gave a genuine response but rather a response that they might have though was expected of them. Through my photographs I want to not only show Japan on a much smaller scale, but also show a Japan that is accompanied by the country’s people and their impressions of their home.

Print display only.

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トラキチ "Torakichi" - "Hanshin Tigers Fans"
Dustin Clark

To be "Torakichi" is more than just crazy outfits and uniforms. To have the utmost loyalty to the Hanshin Tigers Baseball team is to truly be a "Torakichi". Being with them to the bitter end, win or lose, rain or shine, knowing every song and making every game your career allows you. This loyalty, respect and honor seems to be rooted in many Japanese traditions. These cultural aspects have been apart of the Japanese for many centuries and has now taken form within the fan base of the Hanshin Tigers. This has helped create "Torakichi".

See more: http://s1290.photobucket.com/user/djclark2/library/#/user/djclark2/library/?sort=9&page=1&_suid=13989191313400011476322119738646

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The Shaku- what?
A Brief Study of Japanese Traditional Instruments
Briana Buchholtz

Because I major in Music Education in America, I wanted to find a way to maintain my studies while in Japan. This project helped me do just that. I was extremely curious about Japanese traditional instruments and even more so in how they were being used today. With only a few exceptions, most people practice these arts in the same traditional way, in order to keep it alive. My subjects had varied answers as to why they enjoy playing, such as wanting to teach it to international students, or because it was habit, but most of them mentioned that when they play, they feel Japanese. They feel happy. I hope that this is demonstrated in my collection of photos.

See more: http://s1283.photobucket.com/user/mirrorbutterfly/library/A%20brief%20study%20of%20Japanese%20traditional%20instruments

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花見? Flower Viewing?
Chan Lok Tung

It is obvious to me that sakura (cherry blossom) has a very important place in Japanese culture. In spring, the most popular celebration and social event seems to be hanami (flower viewing). When it comes to hanami, there is a certain image established, which involves people sitting under sakura, feasting and having fun. However, for this project, I would like to show that hanami is much more than just that. Go into a local community and you can find many different amazing activities that people do to celebrate the beauty of sakura, and more importantly, spring, the season of life.

See more: https://plus.google.com/photos/109132330297900866198/albums/6008529867353509489?authkey=CNvLuLKck-K3CA

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Kendo and Japanese Tradition
Nobu Shioyama

My project is about Kendo. I try to illustrate kendo objects, rules and mentalities. Kendo is a traditional Japanese martial art like karate. Kendo was a training method for Samurai, but it has grown to include mental training like Bushido. This is today's Kendo. I hope audience are interested in Kendo and feel Samurai Spirit.

See more: http://s1048.photobucket.com/user/Nobu_Shioyama/slideshow/

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Full Contact: Sumo in Japan
Hillary Osborne

My project focuses on the sport of Sumo wresting in Japan. The photos in my gallery are arranged in the order in which a typical Sumo wrestling bout takes place. I wanted to show not only the wrestling bouts themselves, but also the process surrounding the bout which involves more than just the wrestlers. I tried to capture the most important parts of the process, though some were difficult to get without a camera capable of high speed functionality. However, I am overall satisfied with the quality and kinds of shots I was able to take. I hope that anyone who looks at my photos is able to see and understand the sequence of a Sumo match.

See more: http://s1284.photobucket.com/user/hosborne2/library/Full%20Contact%20Sumo%20in%20Japan

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"Wandering Near Gion"
Jade Hodge

Through my images I wanted to capture my struggles, adventures and fun of traveling through the Gion area of Kyoto. I focused on temples and areas that contribute to Kyoto’s quaintness. I also feel like through my photographs, I embodied a collection of images in a random order and this randomness represents the movement of my eyes because as I journeyed through Kyoto, I would stop and look at other things that also gave off an ancient feel. My intentions were to display how one can still see the beauty of Kyoto even when one is lost. The prefecture blinded my eyes with beautiful greenery and ancient images that captured my vision and never let it go. I portrayed that beauty and quaintness work together as if they were synonyms.

See more: http://s1375.photobucket.com/user/jade2009/slideshow/Visual%20Anthropology%20Class?sort=3

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Robo Japan?
Linda Gorman

Robots play an important role in Japan, in terms of both pop culture and the economy. For my project I wanted to learn more about this topic by observing and photographing some of Japan’s most famous robots in action. To accomplish this, I went to a variety of locations, including the Miraikan Museum on Odaiba Island, several robotics stores in Akihabara, and the Toyota Commemorative Museum in Nagoya. A few highlights included an adorable therapeutic robotic pet seal, Toyota’s massive automotive welding robots, and a demo of the humanoid Asimo robot’s dancing skills. I expanded my research by having conversations with a variety of people, including the proud owners of a Roomba robot vacuum cleaner and a journalist who has been reporting on Japanese robots for over five years. In my research into the topic, I’ve only noticed one reaI consistency -- in general, robots tend to produce a strong reaction in those who encounter them, whether it be admiration, discomfort, or something slightly more complicated. After getting to see quite a few robots for myself, I can see why. In the most advanced robots, we can see just a little bit of ourselves reflected.

See more: http://s1308.photobucket.com/user/lggorman/library/

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Fan's Support: The Eye-Catchers
Riina Jordan

I took photos of Japanese fans at pop concerts with the focus on their ways to be seen and their love for the artist. Whether is it cosplay, uchiwa-fans or eye-catching clothes, the goal is to show their support and to get noticed by the artist at the concert. Getting to know people and meeting new friends on the way is a bonus!

See more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124275583@N07/sets/72157644047150918/

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UFO Catcher
Pichaya Sadudeechevin

This project is very fun. I took a lot of photos in many game centers, mainly in Namba, Shinsaibashi, and Nipponbashi. One challenge was that some game centers did not allow photography. But I could find other game centers where I could take photographs. I took many shots of claw crane machine itself, overview of the game center, the attractive prizes, and the most important thing which is the facial expression of players. It is so interesting to capture their faces during playing this game. The players had never realized about that until they saw their photos. Everyone laughed at their photos and asked “Are we too serious about this game?”

See more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124053959@N02/sets/72157644439674763/

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PURIKURA: The Artificial Beauty of Japan
Esther Lam

Photobooths first appeared in the United States before they were brought over to Japan. Today, you can see PURIKURA photo booths almost in every game centre in Japan, a mark of its popularity among the Japanese people. These machines were also used to propagate "Kawaii" culture, with the features of automatic Photoshop and decorative computer stickers. In my project, I aim to focus more on the users of the machine instead of the machine itself. I put my photos in a "step by step" order, such that the flow of viewing my photos would be smooth. I hope users of PURIKURA machines can be more self aware and realize that taking PURIKURAS create only superficial beauty.

See more: http://s63.photobucket.com/user/esthercoolcookies1/library/?

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Japanese Service
Mako Sakitani

Japan is one of the countries which have great qualities of service in the world. The reason why I choose this topic is because I realized that it is not natural to receive good service when I saw foreigners were surprised at Japanese quality of service. Then, I decided to research on Japanese service and divided into two parts. In the first part of the project, I focused on Japanese technical service including useful machines or devices for people to live comfortably. In the second part, I researched on Japanese service offered by people.

See more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124344946@N08/

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“Kimono in Kyoto”
Azusa Yamazaki

I searched for Japanese people who wore kimono in public on a normal day. This project was conducted through fieldwork and interviews in Kyoto. Most of the people wore kimono cosplay for the first time. There are several reasons why they decided to wear kimono. It is to make a special memory with best friend, to be inspired from people who enjoy kimono cosplay or to adjust into the atmosphere in Kyoto as much as possible. They hesitated or became shy when they received attention from other people at the beginning, but they gradually got used to that situation. Nobody regretted to do kimono cosplay and they spent a really good time in Kyoto. The most interesting point was that they definitely went to a couple of shrines or temples in Kyoto and ate Japanese foods like *odango*. Actually they didn’t know how they explain what Japanese culture is.

See more: http://s1375.photobucket.com/user/azup_qsa/library/?sort=2&page=1

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庭
Flora and Dooryard Gardens in Suburban Japan
Emily Scholz

My project shows the relationship between suburban Japan and nature, focusing on the greenery created through human influence, as well as the natural flora of the suburbs. My motivation for choosing this topic stemmed from my almost daily walk to class through a Japanese neighborhood known as 山本ハイツ (Yamamoto Heights). I noticed while strolling through, that where the foliage is sparse, Japanese homeowners create a green space through the use of potted plants as well as roadside trees and bushes. The amount of yard space is very little, leading to a phenomenon known as dooryard gardens. This idea is not uniquely Japanese, but is deeply rooted in the Japanese suburban lifestyle following the industrialization of post-WWII Japan. However, rather than focusing solely on these small gardens, I also explored the little natural green space that is available, and how homeowners utilize it. Through my research, I have found that greenery in Japanese suburbs is a topic that is scarcely documented, and because of this I would like to shed light on it through this photo project.

See more: http://fotologue.jp/emilyscholz/#/15469560/15471573

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Mottainai
Makiko Tsujimoto

My project is the Japanese mottainai spirit. Mottainai means that things are wasted and not used as much as they should be. When we say mottainai, we think we have to treat things with more care and gratitude. For this project, I conducted a literature review, talked with an old man at flea market and went to my hometown to find something related to mottainai. Through these methods, I felt that the word mottainai tends to be used when people do not want to lose something, especially among young people in the present. Also, I thought that each person had mottainai spirit before, though mottainai has become a social movement, boom, event or even performance now.

See more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/124279905@N08/

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Proprietors of Hirakata
Edward Byrom

Having lived in Hirakata for nine months now, and preferring the local scene to many places in Osaka, I have become friends with many of the local bar owners here. I`ve got to know their personalities, their friends and customers, their hobbies. I started this project as a way to increase the relationship between the local businesses and students of Kansai Gaidai, both exchange and domestic. By showing these proprietors, I hope that their personalities will shine through, and help to bring more people to these small bars and restaurants, and to increase integration between Kansai Gaidai and the rest of Hirakata.

See more: https://www.flickr.com/photos/oxford2osaka/sets/72157644072733130/

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Announcement: VAOJ Virtual Student Film Festival, May 16-23, 2014

The VAOJ Student Film Festival is going virtual! This semester, fifteen students have made short ethnographic films on a variety of Japan-related topics. As the last week of class is not the most convenient time for a film festival (especially with 15 films!), people in the past have requested that the student films be made available on-line. So from May 16-23 you can access all of their films here at the VAOJ site. Check them all out at your leisure and convenience. Coming soon...

Announcement: VAOJ Student Photo Exhibition, May 16-23, 2014

Twenty students from the Spring 2014 Visual Anthropology of Japan class will hold a photo exhibition beginning next week. Each student has been researching a particular topic dealing with Japanese culture and its representation, ultimately coming up with 10-15 prints as their final projects. The exhibition is in two parts: Students have chosen their 3 favorite prints and they will be in display at the Kansai Gaidai University Center for International Education student lounge. And then all of their photos will be displayed in a virtual exhibition on this VAOJ site. Check it out!

May 16-23, 2014