It already has been seven months since I started teaching Japanese as a heritage language for kids somehow linked to Japan in this heavily Japanese/Japanese-American populated area. Before the school year started, I researched about the heritage language education, went to see the experts in the area, made my own curriculum and everything. Yet actually teaching them was really different from the desk theory. As expected, of course. Through such an experience, a poem came along. I would have not written, or could have not written such a poem if it wasn’t for this job. Special thanks to my students!
I am shy about reading aloud my poem to people, but I read it to my kids yesterday. They were so quiet like they have never been. I’ve been looking for good reading materials and being picky in choosing them too, but this made me realize it’s so important to send out my own voice sometime. Again, thank you kids!
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Is Japan a Far, Far Country?
Is Japan a far, far country?
A whole half day away by a plane
A whole half month away by a ship
Returning less than once a year
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it on a dish or in a bowl
Then you can eat it every day
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it in a pocket or in a bag
Then you can play with it every day
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it on a tune or on a verse
Then you can sing it every morn
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
See it in a book or in a picture
Then you can visit it every eve
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Talk with it over the phone or a letter
Then you can befriend it every week
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Wear it on Shogatsu or in Obon
Then you can wear it every year
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Hold it close when the August comes
And pray for peace every year
Is Japan a far, far country?
Just a second away in your mind
A generation long with your child
Though away, not far, far away
I am shy about reading aloud my poem to people, but I read it to my kids yesterday. They were so quiet like they have never been. I’ve been looking for good reading materials and being picky in choosing them too, but this made me realize it’s so important to send out my own voice sometime. Again, thank you kids!
＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Is Japan a Far, Far Country?
Is Japan a far, far country?
A whole half day away by a plane
A whole half month away by a ship
Returning less than once a year
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it on a dish or in a bowl
Then you can eat it every day
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it in a pocket or in a bag
Then you can play with it every day
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Put it on a tune or on a verse
Then you can sing it every morn
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
See it in a book or in a picture
Then you can visit it every eve
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Talk with it over the phone or a letter
Then you can befriend it every week
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Wear it on Shogatsu or in Obon
Then you can wear it every year
Is Japan a far, far country?
No, no, it’s not really so
Hold it close when the August comes
And pray for peace every year
Is Japan a far, far country?
Just a second away in your mind
A generation long with your child
Though away, not far, far away
