GABE – Study in Shiga Japan – from United States

2024-04-24

Meet Gabe, a passionate Japan enthusiast who bridged his love for JRPGs, anime, and music to a deeper understanding of Japanese culture. From playing exclusive videogames to studying abroad in Hikone and becoming a bboy with K’Crew, Gabe’s journey reflects a profound connection with Japan, aiming to work there someday.

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Interview – Study in Japan

WHERE ARE YOU FROM?

United States

WHY DO YOU STUDY JAPANESE?

I study Japanese because it links me to so many things I currently enjoy. I used to play a lot of JRPGs as a kid and some of the series I was invested in had title exclusives in Japan that were never localized in the States. I eventually acquired some Japanese videogame titles and looked up English translation transcripts online and learned gradually from there. Anime and music of course soon followed afterward until I finally was able to formally study Japanese in University and later abroad for a Fall semester in Hikone, Japan.

WHAT DO YOU LIKE ABOUT YOUR SCHOOL?

Study at「Japan Center for Michigan Universities」in Shiga.

I went to the Japan Center for Michigan Universities in the Fall 2012. JCMU was a unique opportunity for students enrolled in universities throughout the state of Michigan in America. Ann Arbor (city of the University of Michigan) in Michigan happens to be a sister city to Hikone in the Shiga prefecture, so the collaboration was pretty cool to allow so many Michiganders to study abroad (I didn’t even attend UofM or Michigan State University). Outside of formal Japanese language education, we had so many cultural outings in the community, especially with the University of Shiga Prefecture and Shiga University. We also had field trips to Osaka and Kyoto, homestays with host families, and opportunities to join local clubs at the local universities. My favorite experience with JCMU was that they linked me with a dance circle at the University of Shiga Prefecture. From there I became a bboy with their dance group called “K’Crew,” and participated in battles and performances at local “jams” and neighboring school festivals. It was awesome!

WHY DID YOU CHOOSE TO STAY IN THIS CITY?

JCMU’s campus is based in Hikone. Apart from the association with the school, I also chose Hikone because it wasn’t one of the big well known cities like Osaka and Tokyo. In fact, it was somewhere between them. There were so many opportunities to grow on my own and get to know the community (you can bike anywhere in Hikone), yet Osaka, Kyoto, Nagoya etc. weren’t too far away either by train for me to explore if I wanted to get away for the weekend.

WHERE IS YOUR LOCAL RECOMMENDATION IN THIS CITY?

For sure check out JCMU itself. It shares a building with Coco’s (not the curry restaurant, but similar in style to Denny’s) where a lot of the foreign students dined and studied. The staff was very kind to us, we even threw them a party at the end of the semester. Another great recommendation is to see Hikone Castle which is nestled in the center of town. It looks so beautiful at night! I also really enjoyed the local home bakeries in town. Hikone is “small,” so restaurant owners and the bakers will recognize you when you visit often. It is a nice “homey” feeling.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY THE MOST WHILE LIVING IN JAPAN?

I think the funnest thing is having or renting a bike. Sure, the local trains can get you where you want to go, but if you want to adventure out there into the deepest parts of the neighborhood (especially if you live with a host family or commute to a local university) having a bike is so convenient. In the stations around Hikone, they had bike garages where you could park your bike for a small fee and pick it up when you return. Just don’t leave your bike unlocked, they can get stolen.

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE BEING IN JAPAN?

The biggest challenge being in Japan is being constantly aware of cultural/societal rules. For me, that was focusing on not sticking out or inconveniencing others. There’s a popular saying in Japan: “The nail that sticks out gets hammered down.” So being a foreigner, you are constantly attracting attention to yourself and as much as you want to blend in, Japanese people (especially in more rural and not very diverse cities) will stare at you and treat you differently. But Japanese are always very kind and shy, once you talk to them a second time, they will grow to understand.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN JAPAN AND YOUR COUNTRY?

Americans enjoy a lot of freedom (Yeah I know it’s a meme at this point 🦅🇺🇸). So much so that having a lot of rules in Japan can feel a little excessive. I think being from a Western country like the US, you feel very independent and can get whatever you want and need by yourself. Comparatively, Japan is very collectivist and you sometimes need to rely on others to get accomplish what you want. Also, America is very informal when it comes to social interactions, especially in the workplace. In Japan, hierarchy and respect are capital amongst colleagues, and yes, even dance crew members. Can you imagine dance battles in Japan?! They are actually quite peaceful haha!

DID YOU EXPERIENCE ANY CHANGE IN YOUR LIFE AND FUTURE PROSPECTS?

Being a bboy (breakdancer) gives you a lot of expression, especially in a country where you hardly speak the language. It instilled so much more confidence in myself and helped me grow closer to my dance crew members. It’s cliché, but true that in those anime shows and videogames about friendship- bonding as a team during school festivals and dance competitions in afterschool activities- you get to feel part of a found family. They look out and take care of you. I learned so much more colloquial Japanese with them, and in exchange, they learned so much more English from me. K’Crew was my crew. These “bonds” gave me a rich sense of community and helped me understand Japanese in a very friendly way that I still hold dear to me today.

WHAT IS YOUR DREAM?

I don’t dance anymore… But someday I hope to work in Japan, to follow up on my Japanese, and hopefully reunite with my dance crew members again. Perhaps we can have another friendly dance battle or showcase like we used to.

MESSAGE TO OUR FRIENDS WHO WILL GO TO JAPAN.

Studying Japanese like any skill takes investment outside of the classroom or Duolingo App. Find ways to make Japanese learning more intrinsic, part of your everyday life, and deeply meaningful to you. Volunteer with some Japanese locals, watch anime, read manga, play those Japanese video games, DO something supplemental to your formal studies to get you into the mindset that Japanese is a functional part of your life. It is so much more than just a language.