When I used to sing Japanese Sumo-Jinku 相撲甚句を歌っていた頃

聖心インタナショナルスクールで、日本文化のスペシャリストとして、日本語も含め世界中からの生徒に、日本文化を紹介しました。　その中で日本の国技とされる「相撲」がありました。

When I was a full time teacher as a specialist of Japanese Culture & Japanese Language at the International School of Sacred Heart at hiroo, Shibuya-ward, Tokyo. Children from all over the world got interested in Japanese Sport called Sumo wrestling very much.

子どもたちを、春日野部屋や、千代の富士親方の九重部屋などに、朝稽古見学に引率しました。その頃、両国相撲甚句会に通い、「相撲甚句」のお稽古に励みました。ちょうど、JazzをFemale Jazz Singers で歌っていた頃です。　この２つ、私の中でとてもいいバランスでした。

I coordinated a tour to the morning session at some Sumo Stables like Kasugano Stable and Kokonoe Stable ( the head of the latter was Ciyo-no-Fuji who got grand championship many times.)  At that time, I took lessons of "Sumo-Jinku　on a regular basis at Ryogoku where Kokugikan Sumo Arena is located. Sumo-Jinku is a traditional "a　cappella" songs that Sumo wrestlers sing.  This combination of Jazz & Japanese Sumo-Jinku was well balanced in my life and I enjoyed it very much.

上の写真はその頃の私です。　最初のは、発表会で。　２番目は、亀戸天神の藤祭りで（中央が私）。　３番目は、九重部屋で、朝稽古見学後、千代大海に子どもたちが質問している場面。　最後の甚句の記念パーティで、稀勢の里とご一緒に。

Above are the pictures at that time.  They include me with Chiyo-Taikai when I took children to morning session and Kise-no-Sato at the Jinku Party. 

 

Female Jazz Singers かつて、ジャズ・コーラスを楽しんでいた頃

The Eve Concert of Roppongi Jazz Cruising, 10th UMÜ, TV Asahi, Roppongi Hills 2004年10月25日(月)

	２００４年度、２回目のステージは、第10回六本木ジャズクルージングの前夜祭、レギュラー出演です。今回の会場は六本木ヒルズのテレビ朝日本社イベントホール”ウム”です。今年の後半に新加入のメンバーが増えました。新メンバーから６名が初出演しました。 ＦＪＳコーラス：青木、石井、河野、古賀、小針、角、田中、仁和、福井、平田、松井、安田、山川、山村、行正の１５名でした。 ２回のセットに分けてステージが組まれました。遅れて来るお客様にもＦＪＳをぜひ聴いてもらおうという配慮です。
森タワー		UMU
今宵のミュージシャン

KAMIHO Kazue SAKAI Ichiro IMAZEKI Kazuhiko PROGRAM 1st Set 　　　　　　1. TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING/THE WAY WE WERE 　　　　　　2. SERMONETTE　 　　　　　　3. BLUE SKIES 　　　　　　4. TO YOU 　　　　　　5. WHISPER NOT 　まくわうり・しすたーず 2nd Set 　　　　　　1. MR. SANDMAN 　　　　　　2. TOUCH ME IN THE MORNING/THE WAY WE WERE 　　　　　　3. BLUE SKIES 　　　　　　4. TO YOU 　　　　　　(encore)　MEAN TO ME

りハーサルの真剣な顔

Soprano Mezzo-soprano Alto

出番前の緊張感の中で

カメラマンはメンバーに撮影漏れがあるといけないのです。 ところが一人漏れました。愛する旦那様の席にいたのです。さぁ誰でしょう？     早くからお客様が始まるのを待っていました     これは特権です FJS Directorは美女に囲まれてしまいました。 いくつになってもいい気分です。

そして本番

嬉しそうな笑顔が素晴らしい FJSのピックアップ３人組です。今年の夏から課題曲の練習に取り組みました。今夜がはじめてです。 編曲のリクエストは”Wisper Not”という難曲です。ジャズメッセンジャースのBenny Golson(ts)の書いたテナーサックス向けの曲です。 ３人は死に物狂いで練習しました。FJSをおろそかにするとみんなに叱られます。ですから、FJSの練習も人一倍練習しました。 今夜は忙しい前夜祭でした。指揮者はニュージーランドで開催されるバーバーショップ・コーラスの汎太平洋コンテストに出かけてしまいました。いつもＭＣをやってくれるメンバーは仕事で他所に行ってしまいました。 ディレクターは、すべてを一人でやらなければなりません。これらの写真も、本番指揮の合間にシャッターを押していたのです。 アンコールの声が掛かりました。予定通りです。 ＦＪＳをバックにわかＧソロとコーラスの掛け合いをやらせてもらいました。大変幸せでした。「また、やろっと」   縁の下の力持ち ジャズクルージングの事務局です。 代表の金城さんも受付で。 ＰＡは唄うものにとって命です。お陰様でいいバランスを保ってくれました。 今夜の出演者にはクルージングのチケットが配られています。どうぞ明日からの３日間、クルージングを楽しんでください。

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 上の写真は、かつて私が入っていたFemale Jazz Singersのコンサートの様子です。土曜日、六本木のAll of Me　というJazz Live Houseで、若山先生のご指導でレッスン。　メンバーの、３分の１はプロのジャズシンガー。他の方々も、お医者様、フランス語の先生、学芸員、薬剤師など、女性だけのコーラスグループでも、とても品格のあるメンバーでした。　２０代から４０代が、楽しく協力してのレッスンでした。

アレンジは、全て、若山先生がなさり、私はアルトでしたが、パートごとのCDを作成して下さり、本当に優しくきめ細やかなお心遣いのレッスンでした。大学教授でもあり超多忙な先生の、献身的なご指導に心から感謝しています。ハートのある、教養深い、ウィットに富んだ先生のお人柄・・・先生の周りはいつも温かな空間・・・世界中のミュージシャンとの絆の広さにも驚くべきものです。http://www.oszons.com/

ペルーのマチュピチュインカ帝国への一人旅 The Inka Empire "Machu Picchu"

ペルーのマチュピチュインカ帝国への一人旅　

３月１０日から６月２４日まで、上野の国立科学博物館で、「インカ帝国展ーーマチュピチュ発見１００年ーー」が、開催されています。　The Inka Empire Revealed: Centuary After the Machu Piccchu "Discovery"

先日、私も、上野のお花見がてら参りました。　桜も満開で上野公園も、やっと春の訪れに人々も安らいだ明るい笑顔で一杯。　暖かくなって、新年度を迎え、夢や希望を胸に、それぞれの人生の新しい生活があちこちで始まっているのだと感じました。

「インカ帝国展」では、昔、私が訪れた時の写真や、博物館に展示されていた総点約１６０点・・・その多くが日本初公開。　アンデス文明後の国家、インカ帝国の人々は、文字を持たなかったため、インカ帝国の全貌は謎に包まれていました。展覧会では、考古学、人類学、歴史学などの分野の最新研究をもとに、インカ帝国の始まりからスペインに支配されたその後まで紹介されています。私が行った時に、解らなかった事が今回の展示でとても良く解り、大変勉強になりました。皆さんも、お時間のある時にでも、寄ってみてはいかがでしょう。　

私が行った時は、ペルーのリマからクスコへ飛行機で行き、その後、クスコから川沿いに電車でのぼり、バスに乗り換えて、ジグザグ運転で山頂、標高２４００ｍのマチュピチュに到着しました。　クスコは標高３４００ｍ。　クスコ大学教授宅に一泊させて頂きました。高山病で、その日は吐き気と頭痛で辛かったのを覚えています。　クスコの町は、インデオの親しみのある笑顔やアルパカが歩いていたりと、とてものんびりとした街でした。　私が最も驚いたのは、巨大な石垣の石組みが、カミソリの刃一枚も入らないほどの精密なことでした。　車輪のない１４，１５世紀に、そのようにして、あんなに大きな石を標高３０００ｍ以上の地に運び、石組みしたのか・・・・驚愕しました。　今回の展示で、その謎が解明されて映像で観る事が出来ました。

当時、アメリカのワシントンDCのジョージタウン大学の大学院生で、２３歳。クリスマス休暇に、南米のブラジルのブラジリア・サンパウロ、ボリビアの首都のラパス（平和という意味で、世界で一番標高の高い首都）、それからペルーへと、女一人旅でした。　若かったのですね・・・体力もあったし、好奇心旺盛で、女一人旅も全然怖くはありませんでした。　そんな風に、北アメリカ大陸を横断６０００ｋｍや南北にも、一か月旅行したり、ユーレルパスでやはり長い夏休みを利用してヨーロッパも貧乏道中２か月など・・・・・。　途中でスリにあったり、航空会社のストライキでフライトが飛ばなかったりで、トラブルやハプニングは一杯あったけれど、命さえ残ればちっとも怖くも寂しくもなかった。　旅の途中でいろんな方々との出会いや暖かさに触れ、どんな経験も私を鍛えてくれました。

若いうちに、世界を自分の目で見て、耳で聞き、様々な伝統や文化に触れる事で、本当の意味で人間の本質はひとつだと確信しました。それは、どんなに文化や宗教が違おうとも、人と言うのは「愛し、愛されたい」という事です。　それが、私を「世界平和」に貢献したい、「世界平和」は夢ではないと確信する所以です。

下の写真は、マチュピチュの他、ボリビアのラパス、ブラジルでの写真です。あの頃は、若かった（笑）写真をダブルクリックすると、拡大した写真でご覧になれます。

 

The visit to The National Sience Musuem at Ueno in Tokyo JAPAN

The Inka Empire Revealed:Century After the Machu Picchu "Discovery"

While I was a graduate student at Georgetown University in Washington D.C., I took a tour to South America during the Christmas break, such as Brasil, Bolivia and Peru by myself. I quickly learned minimum Portuguese & Spanish before the venture.

One of the unforgettable trip to The Inka Empire "the Machu Picchu" reflected back to my mind by visiting the museum the other day.

The reason I decided to visit there was simple.  One day just before Christmas Break, I was at the bookstore at Georgetown trying to decide where to travel during the break.  At that time, I used to teach Japanese to undergraduate students on campas. One of my students in my Japanese class found me accidentally, and asked "What are you looking for, Noriko-Sensei?"  So, I answered, " I am trying to find the rarest place to travel for Christmas Break."  Then, his eyes wide-opened and said, " I know!!  I suggest you to visit MACHU PICCHU.  You feel like as if you were in Heven there!!"  At that time, I have never heard of it and no idea where it is.  But the magic word "Heaven" triggered my curiosity.  He explained me about it in details and it was stimulating enough to decide to visit there!

I am so glad I took a tour in South America then after many years later now. It was a kind of rough trip to the top of the mountain "Machu Picchu" but it was worth going so much!  After visiting Brasil and Bolivia, I arrived in Lima, Peru.  I took a domestic flight to Cusco.  I stayed overnight there and then ride a train along the river and a bus to the top.  The view was just magnificent exactly just like in Heaven, watching the clouds under the eyes. There were no Japanese touists then, but it was such an exciting experience without any fear nor danger....I was so CURIOUS.

I was so lucky to have friends in each and every cities I visited.  I feel deeply grateful for their friendship which is my only and one great treasure.  I owe them so much!!  That is why I would like to dedicate my life for World Peace. 

By traveling all around the world when I was young, I found one thing common no matter how different their traditions, foods, cultures, religions etc.  That is: "Each one of us would like to love, and to be loved." With that in mind, I believe in World Peace.  It is not just a dream. 

The below are the pictures of me when I visited there.....oh I WAS so young then..LOL  By double-clicking, you could get them enlarged. 

 

 

Noriko's World Library The article in 1997

I　was amazed to found in Google this old article which was on the Linguistics Association Paper in 1997 the other day.  This tells many things about my library such as why I started it, how events were held, why reading stories from other cultures is important and effective in opning childrens's world to global understanding and world peace, how teachers make their own classrooms come alive stories and activities which introduce other cultures etc.

先日、何気なくGoogleで、検索していたら、１９９７年７月の言語学会誌に載った、私へのインタビュー形式の記事が出てきました。  本当にびっくりしました。それには、私がNoriko's World Libraryを始めたきっかけ、どのようなイベントをしていたか、絵本で異文化に触れる事がいかに国際理解教育や平和教育に役立つか、英語の先生方が絵本を使って楽しく英語を教えられるかなどを述べています。２０１２年の今、１５年前、私が言っていた事を読み返し、初心に戻れました。このころ、ベストセラーになっていた、The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Coveyにも言及しています。というのは、「効率よい人々の７つの習慣」と言う本の、７つの習慣が、絵本を通して、大人がくどくどとお説教するより、子ども自身が色々な事を想像したり考えたりして、身に付いていけるのではと考えていました。それを具体的に深めて、実践していくのがこれからの私の課題だと考えています。

下がその記事です。

　　Teaching Children NSIG Newsletter 2(2), July 1997, pp. 8-11
Noriko’s World Library
An Interview with Noriko Inoue by Michelle Nagashima
神戸市内で世界中から集めた4000冊以上の蔵書をもつ私設の図書館を運営されている井上典子さんがインタビューに応じてくださいました。井上さんは、子供の頃から図書館に住むことが夢で、英語を通して社会に貢献しようということで３年前に約500冊の本を揃えて “Noriko’s World Library” を開設しました。そして本を通して子供達に諸文化を紹介し、お互いに共通点があることを気付かせ、世界平和と国際理解の種子を子供の心に植えることを目指しているとお話しされています。井上さんの図書館は、毎月第２土曜日に３時間開館しますが、本を貸し出すばかりでなく、日本語によるお話し、ボランティアによる音楽や演劇の上演、各国からのゲストによるその国その国の言葉での本読みなどのアクティビティーを行っているそうです。また、私たち語学教師に対して、特に幼い心に、物語は相互理解を成し遂げるために効果的な道具であり、物語を通して諸文化を分かち合うことで子供達をより理解力のある読者に育て、世界をより思いやりのあるものにしていくことへ貢献できるとアドバイスしてくださっています。
By the time children enter junior high school and high school their free time is precious and limited. They generally have little time to indulge in reading or studying in their own areas of interest, and asking them to do extra work, beyond the set curriculum is usually met with a chorus of groans and moans. Introducing children to the world while they are still in elementary school is a challenge, but one which forms a very important basis for young people who will grow up in the next millennium.
One lady who has dedicated much time and effort to bringing children the world and opening their minds and hearts to other people and cultures is Noriko Inoue. She has a private library at her apartment in Kobe which holds over 4,000 books. The library is open to the public and teachers may find Noriko is a valuable resource when they are in need of ideas for good books to use.
Noriko’s schedule is extremely busy. She works at Kobe Shoin Women’s College, Kobe University and manages her library on Saturdays. We managed an interview by fax and mail. We are grateful for her time and cooperation.
Could you tell us a little about yourself, please. How, when, and why did you start your library?
When I was a child, I wished I could live in a library. If I made the wish on a falling star then it would someday come true. Every year on my birthday, I made the wish before I blew out the candles on my cake. At home and at school, books have been my food for thought.
Now I am a mother of two boys, Ryo and Jun. One day, my younger son asked me, “Which do you like better: reading or eating, Mom?” I am relieved it was not the question “Which do you like better, me or reading?”
My wish traveled far out into the universe where stars and dreams go and one day, 3 years ago, returned with many stories of all nations. Today my dream is reality and I have called it Noriko’s World Library.
What made it all happen? Well, it is very simple! English is the only way I felt I could contribute to our society. One day I was watching a program about a refugee camp in Southeast Asia on TV. A Japanese female was being interviewed. She was asked the question, “What makes you stay here?” She answered, “I am needed here. I never would have experienced that by working in an office in Japan.” This answer was like a gigantic blow to my head. I asked myself, “Am I needed?” My heart and mind pondered this. By opening the library I am beginning to answer that question. If my longtime dream were a candle, I could say I have now lit the flame. It was time to take the first step. My dream is worth actualizing. My inner aspirations should be materialized. One action is far better than hundreds of words. I now have a network in the community through my children and the energy they inspire, combined with my own dream and the thought of “now or never,” were the impetus to begin the library.
At the time of starting the library, 3 years ago, I had only about 500 books. The collection increased by donations of book from friends all over the world. I went to the States to buy at used bookstores or ordered by mail for new publications. Mrs. Judy Nelson, who is an owner of Mrs. Nelson’s Toy and Book Shop, LaVerne CA, helps me a lot. I have over 4,000 books now. Also, over the past 25 years I have been fortunate enough to cultivate a very special friendship with Ms. Ruth Currie, (my best friend and mentor) and Ms. Miriam Berge, a now retired librarian, both of whom have helped me a great deal in working towards my dream.
Friendship is not acquired; it’s something to be cultivated. I believe friendship is its own culture. A favorite story of mine titled The Carrot Seed illustrates my point. True friendships are not cultivated on the basis of nationality, gender, age, or physical ability. Friendships thrive and are nurtured through the sharing of hopes and dreams. Naturally and gently, I would like to weave a global web of love and understanding in my small corner of the world. My goal is world peace and understanding through children’s books and reading. The seed of peace was planted in my heart by my grandmother in Hiroshima and further cultivated by my mother. This library is now my life’s work and a symbol of good will. I hope my library fosters among our children an appreciation of the diversity and commonality around the world and promotes the richness of the world’s cultures and traditions.
Why do you think that reading stories from other cultures is important and effective in opening a child’s world to global understanding and world peace?
We find common ground when we share our cultures. When the children of today grow up they will know people of another country and understand them through these simple children’s stories. If we personalize culture, children will develop an understanding of the common threads of humanity and not be so nationalistic. Books are excellent resources from which to teach children and which teach on their own. I have decided to plant seeds of peace in the minds of these future world leaders.
My library is my small effort toward contributing to world peace and international understanding. I believe friendship between individuals of different nations will ultimately remove discrimination and may help avoid war and other such intolerable international incidents. It is important that children be given many opportunities to meet with people from other nations and different cultural backgrounds from a very early age. Lack of understanding can lead to fear and prejudice and stand in the way of possible friendship. Helping children to grow up without prejudice or discrimination against other nationalities and cultures is a first and vital step to a better tomorrow.
You can give children an education at school but you can’t teach them to open their minds.
Could you tell us a little about your program there at the library.
The library is open every second Saturday of the month for 3 hours. People may borrow up to three books for up to 3 months. During the summer and winter vacation periods up to 10 books may be borrowed at one time. During the time the library is open there is a special bilingual program of activities. The library is not run as a regular classroom.
A variety of events takes place during the program: storytelling in Japanese, music and drama performances by volunteers, English-language nursery songs, and a variety of other activities depending on the volunteers.
A guest from another country usually reads a book in their native tongue and this is alternated with the reading of the Japanese version by a Japanese speaker. Sometimes songs and games associated with the stories are enjoyed by the children, or alternate activities are enjoyed. Songs are taught with a number of gestures and movements so that parents and children can enjoy singing and dancing together.
In my library I avoid follow-up questions after the reading because it is not a classroom. I just invite them to come and listen and enjoy and the children find their own way to understanding and sharing. I never impose strict classroom questions on them as a means of getting them to understand and analyze what they have just seen and heard.
How can teachers make their own classrooms come alive with stories and activities which introduce other cultures?
Teaching language is not enough. That’s only the “hardware.” We need to install “software” which is solid and sound. Stories can be a most effective and vital tool in achieving greater understanding—especially for young minds.
Teachers who make the effort to incorporate literature from various cultures into the curriculum can contribute to making tomorrow’s world a more humane and considerate one. It doesn’t have to be a big project, but simply to share stories, and inevitably other cultures, with children and inviting them to become an interpretive community of readers. The 21st Century is almost here. It is up to teachers to educate for a more peaceful and meaningful century.
What are some of your favorite stories?
From so many it is very hard to chose a few. Each book has a special message and is enjoyable. To select a few I would choose:
Bishop C. H. (1938). The Five Chinese Brothers. (ill. by K. Wiese.) New York; Coward, McCann.
Coerr, E. (text) & Young E. (illustration). (1993). Sadako. Putnam.
Hamanaka, S. (1990). The Journey: Japanese Americans, Racism and Renewal. New York: Orchard.
Hamilton, V. (1985). The People Could Fly: American Black Folktales. New York: Knopf.
Paterson, Katherine. (1992). The King’s Equal. Harper-Collins.
Rylant, Cynthia. (1982). When I Was Young in the Mountains. Dutton Children’s Books.
Say, Allen. (1993). Grandfather’s Journey. Houghton Mifflin Company.
Uchida, Y. (1971). Journey to Topaz. New York: Scribners.
In the future what do you see as your goals for your library and yourself?
I will continue to build my library and to work towards educating for peace and understanding. I hope to increase the number of foreign language books in my library beyond English. I also hope to introduce a selection of specific stories from around the world to build the seven fundamental principles found in The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, from a book by Stephen R. Covey of the same name.
Habit 1: Be provocative.
Habit 2: Begin with the end in mind.
Habit 3: Put first things first.
Habit 4: Think win-win.
Habit 5: Seek first to understand, then to be understood.
Habit 6: Synergize.
Habit 7: Sharpen the saw.
The main idea is that through children’s books children are able to learn what they need to about the world. Choosing the right book at the right time for the right reasons is vital. What we teach our children and students today will have a direct impact on the world of tomorrow.
“Good books do their own work in their own way so it is not necessary or wise for adults to explain the ‘moral’ in each story.” (page V from Bowman, J. Bonnie’s Listen My Children). A good story explains itself. Children will always be prompted to ask questions and adults should be very careful to provide answers that lead children to thinking about things for themselves, rather than providing concrete answers which need no further consideration.
I believe that children are the potential ambassadors of tomorrow. They are 100% of our world’s future. The responsibility for educating them to best lead tomorrows generations rest with us, today. Good stories make a world of difference!
I hope to see many children’s libraries like mine all over Japan and overseas in the future so that we can all network with each other.　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

Happy Easter イースター

Here's one of the Easter Greetings that I got from one of my best friends.  I would like to share it because it is the time of rancor and distrust world-wide. 

In Japan, on March 11 in 2011, Huge earthquake & Tunami hit the northern Japan and the damage of the nuclear plant caused a great deal of disaster.  It is just beyond description how much the people that area have been suffered.  The effect of radiation and economy is tremendous.  However, the helping hand and hope/courage to recover is offered not only nation-wide but also world-wide. Now that spring has come and cherry blossoms are so gorgeous here in Tokyo!!

I would like to share this Easter Greeting from my precious friend with you.

Happy Easter!

May the beauty of the season fill our minds with grateful thoughts.

It's a time to reflect on how fortunate we are as a nation and a people, even in these times of rancor and distrust.

I hope that compromise becames a reality and not a dream, so that nation may more forward.

Happy Easter!

４月８日、日曜日。　イースターです。　私に届いたイースター・カードの一つを載せたいと思います。　去年の３月１１日の、東北大震災、津波、原発事故による被害・・・それは、言葉では表せないものです。被災者の方々への苦難、放射能汚染や経済の影響も多大です。

しかし、日本中だけでなく、世界中の復興への応援は、希望や勇気を与えてくれています。やっと、春が訪れて、東京でも桜が満開です。

これが、私の親友からの、イースターカードの文面です。

イースター、おめでとう！

新しい季節の訪れは、私たちの心に感謝の念で満たします。

怨恨や不信のこの時代でも、国として、国民として、なんと恵まれているという事を深く感謝します。

譲りあいによって、夢は現実となり、前に進んでいく事を願います。

イースター、おめでとう！