The Japan-Brazil Alumni Association in Brasilia (ABRAEX)

Dear Colleagues,

Again, the Japan-Brazil Alumni Association in Brasilia (ABRAEX) was granted with the opportunity to write for the Study in Japan Magazine. This allows us to be in contact with you: scholarship students and alumni, who had or are now having the opportunity to study in Japan.

ABRAEX aims to maintain alive our experience in Japan and deepen our cultural and academic relationship, publicize the scholarships awarded by the Japanese Government, organize and participate of cultural events, support new scholarship students before leaving Brazil and during their stay in Japan, and welcome them upon their return helping to find positions here.

We invite you to engage in one of the local alumni associations when you get back to Brazil. There are several associations just like ours all throughout the country. Contact details are available in our website: www.abraex.org.br . Our union will help those students searching for information and guidance in this unique opportunity that is to study in Japan.

In Brazil, we are aware of the importance of integrating everyone and every association. To that end we held the Fourth National Meeting of Local Associations on March 6th , 2010. The meeting took place at the Japanese Embassy in Brasilia, and was sponsored by the Japanese Embassy in Brazil and JICA. The main outcomes of the meeting were: creation of the Brazilian Committee of the Japan-Brazil Alumni Associations, development of a portal of the associations, creation of electronic forum for discussion between members, and initial framework for the elaboration of a national database system for the Brazilian Alumni.

In Brasilia, ABRAEX congregates both MEXT Alumni and JICA trainees. Some Brazilian associations in other cities have the same structure as well. We realized we had several points in common and this union is very important to assure that the activities developed are successful.

We are discussing and trying to create a broader network. We have already structured a database of our associates and are sharing this experience with the other Brazilian associations. We aim to have a national and unified database in the future that will make easier the search of alumni professionals and their projects, courses, and speeches. We are waiting for you when you finish your studies in Japan. Please, contact us or one of the other associations closer to you.

Best Regards,

All About “Bento” Lunch-Box Culture

The word “bento” means “lunch box”. The custom of taking a boxed meal to eat on the go can be found in countries all over the world. But in Japan, bento is more than just a takeaway meal. It’s an important aspect of Japanese food culture.

Let’s look at the history of bento and some of the more recent trends.

The origins of bento can be traced back to the Heian Period (794-1192) when people began traveling with simple food that could be eaten on the go. But the more refined form of bento that we’re familiar with today evolved in the Azuchi-Momoyama Period (1573-1603) when people began packing food in lacquered boxes to eat during a flower-viewing party or tea ceremony. By the Edo Period (1603-1867), a full-scale bento culture had evolved, and with it the development of some truly refined lunch boxes.

A typical example is the “makunouchi” bento. The name, which literally means “between acts” comes from a custom that evolved among theater goers in the mid-Edo Period. People coming to watch noh or kabuki theater would order a special meal served in a box that they would then eat between acts. Hence the name “makunouchi” bento. Outings such as cherry blossom viewing parties also helped spur the development of a refined bento culture.

In the old days, when restaurants were rare, people needed to prepare a bento if they knew they had to eat out. Nowadays, in addition to homemade bento, it’s possible to buy bento everywhere, even at convenience stores, which offer a wide range of appetizing selections. The bento has become part and parcel of Japanese food culture.

The bento sold at train stations, “eki-ben”, and the ones sold at airports, “sora-ben” or “sky lunch boxes”, add to the pleasure of traveling. National eki-ben festivals held at department stores are guaranteed to draw large crowds, attesting to the popularity of bento in Japan. Convenience is but one aspect of bento.
In recent years, homemade bento have undergone a process of evolution, giving rise to the development of “chara-ben” short for “character bento”. A chara-ben is an elaborately arranged bento that features food decorated to look like popular characters from anime and manga. (Charaben is a registered trademark of Bandai Co., Ltd.)

Apples and sausages cut into rabbit or octopus shapes have long been standard bento fare. But chara-ben are something else. The lunch box becomes a canvass on which a painting is created with food.

A major factor in the evolution of chara-ben has been housewives uploading their bento art onto the Internet. Ordinary housewives are introducing various bento recipes on the Internet and are inviting people to post comments on their work. This has encouraged many housewives to submit their own chara-ben designs. Numerous books have been published on the subject of chara-ben. There are many blogs kept by housewives. So if you do a search for “chara-ben”, you’ll probably find all sorts of delightful chara-ben. Check out the following site. It will give you an idea of how popular the creation of chara-ben has become among men and women alike, in and outside of Japan.

http://wiredvision.jp/news/200912/2009122323.html

In traditional Japanese cuisine, a variety of different foods are served in small quantities, while giving consideration to the harmony between the food and the dish in which it is arranged. This may be the key to why bento culture has thrived to such an extent in Japan. Where else can you see such a colorful assortment of numerous foods in a limited space? And with the introduction of chara-ben, they’ve become fun to look at as well.

Why don’t you try your hand at making some of the chara-ben introduced on the various websites.

Communicating Japan’s Soft Power!

In the summer of 2009, the Japanese edition of Newsweek compiled a special feature on the “100 Japanese Respected by the World”. The list contained both the living and the deceased, as well as historical figures and even a humanoid robot.

The Trend Communicators of Japanese Culture, a.k.a the KAWAII Ambassadors, appointed in February of that year by the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, also made the list. The three Ambassadors are: the charismatic leader of the Lolita fashion; the leader of Harajuku-style fashion; and the advisor to a maker of high school uniforms designed by well-known designers.

In addition to introducing Japan’s traditional culture and arts, it’s important to convey the appeal of pop culture, an integral part of modern-day Japan, which in recent years has become increasingly popular all over the world. Upon appointment, the Ambassadors were asked for their cooperation in communicating the latest trends in Japanese pop culture to the world.

In 2007 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs established the International Manga Award to honor up-and-coming manga artists who are contributing to the promotion of Japan’s manga culture overseas. The award is presented to exceptional works by non-Japanese manga artists. The First International Manga Award attracted 146 entries from 26 countries and regions, with the award for best work going to Mr. Chi Ching Lee of Hong Kong. The Second International Manga Award saw a sharp rise in the number of entries—368 works from 46 countries and regions, with the best prize going to Mr. Wan Kit Lau of Hong Kong. In 2009, although there was a slight drop in the number of entries submitted to the Third International Manga Award held that year, the number of countries and regions represented rose to 55, with the Gold Award going to Mr. Ton Jakraphan of Thailand. The growing popularity of the International Manga Award proves that manga has become part and parcel of the global pop culture.

2009 was a significant year for Japanese filmmakers. “Okuribito” (Departures) won an Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film and “Tsumiki no Ie” (La Maison en Petits Cubes) won an Oscar for Best Short Animated Film. In fact, the Oscar was the 20th award presented to “Tsumiki no Ie”, which had already won numerous awards in Japan and abroad, including the prestigious Annecy Crystal, the top prize at France’s Annecy International Animated Film Festival.

Both “Okuribito” and “Tsumiki no Ie” deal in themes that depict Japanese values and attitudes towards life. The international recognition of such films suggests a growing understanding and appreciation of traditional Japanese values by overseas audiences.

“Hard power” is a term that describes the coercive power of a national government over other countries, and refers to its military or economic strength. “Soft power”, on the other hand, refers to a country’s ability to obtain support, understanding, trust and influence through its culture and values.

In addition to Japan’s conventional soft power manifested through its traditional and contemporary culture, the growing appeal of J-POP, anime and manga is helping to promote understanding of Japan throughout the world.

Global 30

In order to meet the challenges of globalization, the Japanese government believes there’s a critical need to facilitate globalization in higher education, creating competitive institutions that are attractive to students who will go on to play an active role in the international community. Acting upon this belief, in 2009 the Japanese government decided to support outstanding efforts towards this goal.

Global 30 is the name of the Project for Establishing Core Universities for Internationalization.

In April 2009, state, public and private universities were invited to apply to the Global 30 program. In July, based on the proposals submitted, 13 universities were selected as global centers.

The following seven state universities were selected:
Tohoku University, The University of Tsukuba, The University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Kyoto University, Osaka University and Kyushu University.

The following six private universities were selected:
Keio University, Sophia University, Meiji University, Waseda University, Doshisha University, and Ritsumeikan University.

Let’s look at some of the highlights of the program.

(1) The establishment of an English-only class system

Students enrolling in internationally competitive undergraduate and graduate courses will have the opportunity to study in English only, enabling them to obtain degrees.
New courses will be created to enable students who lack confidence in their Japanese to study and obtain degrees in English only. Talented instructors will be recruited to this end.

(2) Improving the system for accepting international students

Provide specialist support and supplementary education; provide students with the opportunity to enter university in a month other than April; establish job placement offices and expand Japanese language programs to help make life easier for international students; and provide internship programs at Japanese corporations to support students interested in working in Japan after graduation.

(3) The promotion of strategic international cooperation

The establishment of overseas liaison offices that will provide international students with a one-stop service for obtaining information on studying in Japan. Such offices will provide students with comprehensive information on the benefits of studying in Japan and will support Japanese universities by organizing seminars for recruitment and by carrying out interviews that will be part of the admission test.

The following eight locations have been designated as an “Overseas Office for Shared Utilization by Universities”:

• Tohoku University: Tohoku University Russia Office (Moscow, Russia)
• University of Tsukuba: North Africa and Mediterranean Liaison Center (Tunis, Tunisia)
• The University of Tokyo: The University of Tokyo Hyderabad Office (Hyderabad, India)
• Nagoya University: Nagoya Office Uzbekistan Office (Tashkent, Uzbekistan)
• Kyoto University: Hanoi Office (Hanoi, Vietnam)
• Kyushu University: Office Shared with Egypt University (Cairo, Egypt)
• Waseda University: Europe Center (Bonn, Germany)
• Ritsumeikan University: India (New Delhi, India)

Once the program has been established, it will become much easier for international students to study in Japan. The 13 selected universities are also planning on establishing a strong network of former international students with the help of the 8 overseas liaison offices. We do hope that you will take an active interest in both the network and the program.

This will be the final edition of the "Study in Japan Comprehensive Guide" email magazine. We would like to thank our readers.
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