Shippo-Yaki

Last week - thanks to Ashley and Kato Sensei - I was able to partake in the Japanese art of shippo-yaki. Shippo-yaki, or cloisonne, is an ancient technique for decorating metalwork objects. I don't believe that the craft originated in Japan; however, it has become widely popular here. 

Ashley (who is also from Kentucky and whose husband works for Toyota) began taking lessons with sensei after she saw some beautiful shippo pieces at a friend's house. She asked about the pieces - and to make a long story short - began working with sensei. Sensei has been making shippo-yaki for more than 45 years...and works out of a studio at his home. He showed us some of his pieces - which were absolutely stunning! Sensei has been learning English by reading his dictionary and asked Ashley if she would help him coordinate small group classes once per month...so that he could practice his English and also share his love of shippo-yaki with others. 

Sensei and his wife graciously welcomed seven of us into their home for almost an entire Friday (we started about 10am and finished up about 3:30pm). While they spoke little English and most of us spoke little Japanese...the dialogue flowed well with lots of pointing and demonstrating! For this particular class - we got to pick which season (winter, spring, summer, fall) we wanted to do. Since spring/cherry blossom (sakura) season is so huge in Japan...I chose the sakura tile. Here are the steps (and some pictures - of the shippo piece I made) involved.

1. The base for shippo-yaki is a piece of copper. The copper is treated, dipped into a liquid glass mixture, and then fired. That gives you the white tile you see below - which becomes the canvas (so to say) on which you create your design. 

2. Next, you draw your design in permanent marker onto the tile. The marker burns off when fired - so you won't actually see it. Sensei created these images - so this part was done for us. Phew...because my drawing repertoire is usually reserved for stick figures only. 

3. Once the image is drawn, gold/silver wire is molded and attached (with glue) to match the pattern...creating the image you see below. We were able to mold/attach our initials and it was super difficult - I can't even imagine attempting to mold an image like this out of ribbon! This is then fired in the kiln for a few more minutes to help the glue set.

4. Now you are ready to "paint." The mixtures have a paint-like appearance, but they are actually finally ground glass...which looks a lot like sand mixed with water. You use a paintbrush to fill in the "compartments" with the paint. You can add water to help make the paint easier to spread. Sensei had a model for us to follow - so that we could make our colors match his. I am learning that when doing Japanese crafts - they really, really like your product to match the model as closely as possible. They often help you to "fix" your product, 

You can see the "sand-like" consistency. 

5. Now it's off to the kiln for the first round of firing. This melts the "paint" and shrinks it down. You can see the shiny look that the glass has once it begins to melt.

6. Then you repeat the painting and firing process again - making sure to fill the "compartments" up to the top. I decided to make my background blue and white to resemble clouds and to make the colors pop just a bit more. Plus I figured that it would match the theme of my blog. 

7. Then it's time for the finishing touches - the tile gets polished, coated with one more layer of glass and then fired for the last time.

Here is the finished product! I would say it turned out pretty well! I am excited to display it - and secretly hoping that I will get to do shippo-yaki with sensei at least one more time while I'm in Japan. He's going to retire pretty soon...and I'd love the chance to learn even more from him (and also make the "fall" tile).

March Holidays - Girl's Day & White Day

Hina Matsuri/Girl's Day - March 3rd

In February, I started noticing displays of dolls in many of the stores we visited. When I asked Kaz about them - he said they were displays selling dolls for a holiday known as Hina Matsuri (or Girl's Day). 

The tradition of Girl's Day dates back to the Heian era (794-1185). At that time...and I guess now too...it was popular for girls of the court to play with dolls. Dolls then went on to be viewed as the caretakers of the girls' health and happiness - keeping bad luck away and bringing good fortune in. 

Little girls in Japan will often be given these dolls - which are traditionally passed down for generations - and the family will then display them from mid-February until March 4th. It is said that if you leave the dolls up too long after March 3rd - then the daughter's marriage may be delayed. The dolls represent the Heian court as they would have sat thousands of years ago. The emperor and empress sit on the top tier with attendant ministers, court ladies, and musicians on the lower tiers. There are usually about 15 dolls total and the dolls often look different (depending on the artist's individual style and technique). 

When celebrating Hina Matsuri several foods are often eaten. Hishimochi are diamond-shaped rice cakes with pink, white, and green layers. The white represents the snow of the waning winter, while the green represents the new growth of spring. I'm not sure exactly what the pink represents - but it seems to be tied to the sakura (cherry blossoms) and ume (plum) blossoms which bloom in the Spring. Shiro-zake is the first variety of sake of the year, which tends to be available in the early spring. Because of its sweet flavor - it came to be associated with girls. Since it's alcoholic - it's only consumed by adults. Hina arare are small balls of crunchy puffed rice which are sometimes sweetened with sugar. Because they were previously made using leftover mochi from New Year's, they came to symbolize thriftiness and creativity (said to be desirable qualities of a good wife). 

Since I wasn't in Japan on Girl's Day, I didn't witness the actually March 3rd celebrations. Hopefully I will be able to do so next year. My Japanese tutor also told me that there is a museum which features these dolls...so I'll have to check that out too. And, if you're wondering...there is not a Boy's Day. However, Children's Day takes place each year on May 5th. 

White Day - March 14th

I was surprised to learn that Japan celebrated "St. Valentine's" Day. I guess I had just assumed that it was mainly an American Hallmark-type holiday. And, even more surprised to learn that in Japan St. Valentine's Day is actually a holiday for men. Typically, women buy chocolates or little gifts for the men in their lives (and not necessarily just significant others - Kaz came home with a box of chocolates from his coworkers).  I read that gifts can be an expression of love, courtesy, and social obligation! However, a month later - on March 14th - Japan celebrates White Day. White Day is the holiday in which the men return the favor...and there is actually a "generally recited rule" that the return gift should be two to three times the price of the gift the women purchased on St. Valentine's Day. 

White Day was first celebrated in Japan in 1978 as an "answer day" to Valentine's Day. Initially, the confectionary companies sold marshmallows and white chocolate to men. However, now various types of chocolates and treats are sold. Several other East Asian countries - China, Taiwan, and South Korea also celebrate the holiday with their own little twists on the tradition. 

Me wearing my beautiful White Day scarf!

This year - I got Kaz some cookies (green tea with red bean filling - yuck!), chocolates, and a fun Star Wars coloring book (yep - the adult coloring book craze has reached Japan). For White Day, he got me a beautiful scarf - that almost seems to change color depending on how you look at it. In typical Kaz style, he gave me the scarf the day that he bought it since I would be getting back to Japan from the US on White Day...and also because it's hard for him to not give gifts as soon as he gets them! :)

I am enjoying learning about new holidays in Japan - and also about new twists on holidays that I've celebrated growing up. I am sure this is the just the start of holidays and traditions...especially as we approach the start of Sakura (Cherry Blossom) season! 

More soon! :) I have at least two more posts in the works...as I think this blog post is long enough for today! 

Month 2 in Review...And Lots About "Work"

I am writing Month 2 in Review from my dad's house in Michigan - with this furry little guy keeping me company. I sure have missed his snuggles over the past ten weeks. 

On Monday, I boarded a plane for a fourteen-day trip back to the US. Time to see family and friends in Warren and Cincinnati - sandwiched in between two conferences (one in Milwaukee and one in Columbus). I'm only three days into the trip and I am surprised how easily I just fit back into life in the US.  At this point - I am enjoying things that I don't have - or are more difficult in Japan. I have eaten cereal and enjoyed some smoothies (bringing the blender back to Japan); driven a car (and remembered how to do so); shoveled snow at 9:30pm with my dad; and, used the dryer to fully dry my clothes. Oddly, it seems normal to be able to read everything and communicate without thinking. I was imagining that this would feel odd. I realize it's only been two months in Japan - and I am probably still in that US mindset to an extent.  It will be interesting to see what the "adjustment" is like in August. I have to say though...public bathrooms in Japan are SOOOOOO much cleaner! 

And now...on to the review! :)

Places Visited

-Matsumoto (Matsumoto Castle)

-Jigokudani Monkey Park

-Hakuba Ryokan/Onsen

-Bowling (in Hoshigaoka) 

-Tokyo (the Roppongi area; American School in Japan)

-Nagoya City Science Museum

-Lots of restaurants! (including one that served "American" hamburgers and imported beer)

Cafes Enjoyed

While Kaz and I enjoy our Starbucks from time to time - we prefer local coffee shops and cafes. One of our favorite things to do whenever we are in a new place is to try explore the coffee shops. Hence cafes enjoyed being a header on these monthly reviews! This month, however, our Starbucks intake has increased as we have been indulging in some seasonal Japanese drinks and as I have come to LOVE matcha lattes (green tea lattes - which are not often on the menu but are available all year long in the US as well). During the end of March/beginning of April - the cherry blossoms (aka ~ sakura) begin to bloom in Japan. I can't wait to experience this - as people flock to Japan to see them and lots of festivals and events accompany the blooms as well. And I am quickly learning that with that comes sakura flavored EVERYTHING! Starbucks features both a Sakura latte and a Sakura frappuccino.  So, naturally - we had to try them.

I learned a few things in trying both drinks. First, the flavoring is not actual "sakura" - it is a combination of raspberry, strawberry, and caramel. Pretty tasty! I've heard other sakura-flavored things actually use the leaves from the sakura. I'll have to compare. The other is that even though the Sakura latte is called a "latte" - it doesn't actually have espresso in it. After tasting it - and thinking I was just drinking flavored milk - I Goggled a bit and found out that I really was drinking flavored mild. Apparently, a few years back...Starbucks changed the drink name from "steamer" to "latte" - but didn't add coffee. I guess you can ask to have a shot of espresso added if you wanted. That will require practicing how to do so in Japanese - and not just winging it when at Starbucks. The frappuccino also contains no coffee - and tastes like a milk shake. I would recommend the drinks to others to try...though I would rate the matcha latte and the cold match latte with chocolate (I discovered at the grocery stores/combini) as much tastier. 

And one other yummy "cafe" to mention. When in Tokyo, Kaz and I stumbled across a cafe that only sold popsicles. And YUMMY ones!! I had a chocolate popsicle (kind of like a creamsicle) that had a brownie and orange slices in it. Kaz's was cheesecake with strawberries, peaches, and some other fruit. DELICIOUS! 

Kit Kat Flavors Tasted
Adding to the list of Kit Kat flavors...

Sake

Strawberry Cheesecake

Yuzu ("Fruit" Line)

Shinshu Apple

Raspberry ("Fruit" Line)

We also found a store in Tokyo that sells LOTS of Kit Kats...so we bought many boxes and flavors to try in the coming months. I also took bags of them home with me to the US - so now family and friends are joining in on the Kit Kat tasting frenzy! :)

Victories

Over the past month - my role as a speech therapist in Japan has really been evolving. I think originally I imagined myself working with a couple of kids who had received therapy back in the US, Canada, or even England...and whose parents were doing something similar to what Kaz and I are doing. Being here for a few years due to a job placement. I was actually a little worried that I would "get a bit our of practice" as a clinician. Boy, was I wrong! 

Thanks to a ton of help from a wonderful special educator named Luci...Who helped me to get started at NIS (Nagoya International School) and who helps me on a daily basis to figure out my role as a professional in Japan. And who is amazing, dedicated, and who I am lucky to be able to learn from! ...I am quickly learning that there is A LOT more that goes into working in an international setting - with students and families from ALL over the world!

Working with the culturally and linguistically diverse population is something I had very little experience with...and I think is an area on the speech-language world that therapists are always wanting to figure more out about. I have found myself pondering a zillion questions. Questions like...Is it a difference? Is it a disorder? How do I know? How do I figure it out? In what ways does this culture view speech/language therapy? Do they know what a speech-language pathologist does? How can I explain my job in a concise way - that also makes sense? How can I get the family to trust me? What role does moving to a totally new country play in a student's struggles in the classroom? What happens when you place students from many different backgrounds together? And so much more... 

I spend my Tuesdays and Thursdays up at NIS. I am slowly building up a caseload of students. Most of my time so far has been spent observing students, talking with teachers, meeting with parents, and beginning to determine which students may benefit from speech/language therapy. I don't technically work for the school - so I have also been gaining some insight into what starting a private practice may look like...as Nagoya has not had an English-speaking therapist in a long time...and NIS hasn't had one on staff in the past.

Last weekend, I spent Saturday in Tokyo with a group of foreign speech-language pathologists from all over the world. A wonderful SLP named Marsha (who is from Ohio) has lived in Japan and worked as an SLP for the past 40 years. She has formed a network of therapists to work with the international community. The SLPs work in international schools and do private practice in the Tokyo area. They also all speak and do therapy in English. I had a great time meeting with them - and am excited to continue to collaborate and learn from them. I am hoping that with time...Nagoya will build up a network of foreign SLPs as well. I was even able to present a two-hour talk to them (the one Scott and I gave at ASHA in November). I never imagined that I would present internationally...pretty cool! 

Luci has also introduced me to an organization called SENIA - which stands for Special Education Network in Asia. SENIA is a network on educators, professionals and parents across Asia dedicated to supporting individuals with special learning needs. Many Asian countries - including Japan - have local chapters. The SENIA conference was held in Kuala Lumpur last month and the Japan chapter conference will be held in Japan this coming April. Next year - the SENIA conference will be held in Japan...which is super exciting. I am not able to go to the conferences this year; however, I am looking forward to getting involved with the group, learning from the members, and maybe even presenting next year (I've already put the bug in Scott's ear about bring some ACT to Japan). 

Goals

-Keep putting myself out there - trying new things, meeting new people...even when those "new" things seem challenging and scary.

-Continue to be willing to sit with both positive and challenging emotions about living in Japan.

-Get back into running...I think the ankle is ready!

-Continue journey with learning the language - take steps to attempt talking - even if it's a lot of stumbling and jumbling through my words. 

-Continue to grow and evolve as an SLP - and to learn as much as I can from everyone at NIS and the international SLP community. 

-Enjoy Sakura season - and all that it has to bring! :)

-Take more time - especially on weekends - to EXPLORE Japan!

Sunny Moments

In addition to the ones above...

-Meeting new people

-Growing as an SLP/professional

-Traveling to new places

-Learning more about Japanese language and culture

-Surviving 2 months in Japan (with more sunny moments than clouds)

-Successfully making it back to the US - and being able to enjoy some much-needed time with family and friends

Cloudy Moments 

In addition to the ones above...

-Homesickness

-Frustration

-Judging/being a bit harder on my self than I want to be

Much love to all! :)

~Jaime