あいうえお News - Michigan State University

あいうえお News
The voice of the Michigan State University Japan Club
Volume 1 Edition 1
September, 2011
Kaicho Corner
By: Shohei Ueno
Hello, everyone. Thank you very much for reading this edition of the あいうえお News. Hopefully, this section will provide you
with a better understanding of Japanese culture and some interesting facts, as well. Let me briefly introduce myself. I am the president
of MSU Japan Club for the 2011~2012 year. I am currently a junior and majoring in Genomics & Molecular Genetics. I came to East
Lansing 6 years ago, and I graduated from Lansing Catholic High School.
So what does MSU Japan club actually do? Our mission is to introduce Japanese culture to the MSU community, to provide people
an opportunity to meet Japanese or people interested in Japanese, and to support students in being successful in learning the Japanese
language. We will have big annual events such as Island Bazaar and the Curry Party, where we serve serveral types of Japanese food,
dance, and play games. We also have a weekly Conversation Hour to help students learning Japanese. Finally, this upcoming Friday,
Japan Club will hold it’s annual Orientation at 6pm- 8pm in 103 McDonel Hall. Please come out to meet new people and learn more
about MSU’s Japan Club.
Thanks again for reading this edition, and I hope to see you guys all in our several fantastic events!!
Japanese Culture You Never Learned
By: Nathan Bynum
You have just made your first trip to Japan. You want to visit
a Japanese コンビニ（convenience store) because you have
learned all about how amazing they are in Japan. So you walk of
to the door of 7-11 and read a sign that says 自動 (automatic)
on the door of the 7-11. And you wait for the “automatic” door
to open but it doesn’t. What do you do? Jump and waive your
arms like I did for the first time—hoping that it would sense my
motion? No! Simply push the sign/button that says 自動 and
the door will open.
Have you checked out
our new website?
http://www.msu.edu/~japan
ジャパニーズでトライしてみよう
By: Yuji Kaihara
Now I know what you may be thinking. What’s the point of
having an automatic door if you have to do something to open
it? Well, in Japan—especially now because of Setsuden—
electricity is expensive. And if Japanese automatic doors opened
like the American ones, every time a person walked by the
doors would open—letting out tons of air conditioning, etc.
Since walking is a more feasible method of transportation in
Japan, there are a lot more people walking on sidewalks.
Convenience store doors would stay open for practically the
whole day without this button.
自分が一番楽しみにしている日本の番組はなんでしょ
う？答えはダウンダウンのガキの使いやあらへんで！
この番組は基本的にお笑い芸人、ダウンタウン、ココリ
コ、山崎邦正（やまさきほうせい）の五人でおもしろお
かしく番組を盛り上げていきます。一番自分が楽しみ
にしている企画は芸人による七変化(しちへんげ)コーナ
ー。芸人たちが自分たちの好き勝手でほかの芸人を
笑わせようとするその姿に毎回吹いてしまう自分がいま
す。少し、いやたまにかなり下品ですが、笑うこと必至
です、Ｙｏｕｔｕｂｅで検索してみてみてはどうですか！
ユーウィルライクイット！
Onomato-‐WHAT!?!?
By: Naoki Willgus
Out of the many onomatopoeias in the Japanese
language, だらだら (Dara-dara) is my personal favorite.
「だらだらするな！(dara-dara-suru-na)」or 「だら
だらしているとふっとっちゃうよ！(dara-dara-shiteiru-to-futto-chau-yo)」are probably the most common
phrases that I have heard over my childhood. だらだら
describes the act of being sluggish. During my annual
summer vacations in Japan, I had always found that doing
absolutely nothing was the most logical and practical way
of keeping myself cool. My parents on the other hand, felt
that being sluggish everyday would turn into a bad habit.
So as a young child, I was often scolded for being lazy.
Thirsty for some Japanese on your
Thursday evening? Check out Japan
Club‟s Conversation hour!
Every Thursday from 7:30pm-9:00pm in
the Owen Cafeteria
Come for a great time and to practice
some Japanese
J-POP Junction
By:Danny BenSalem
The world of J-POP brought us quite the comeback
from Masaharu Fukuyama (福山雅治) and his single,
“家族になろうよ(Let’s Become a Family)/Fighting
Pose.” The single hit the top of the Oricon charts,
ranking number one this week after its release just a
week ago. Overseas, Fukuyama is mostly known for
being an actor, rather than a singer. In Japan, however,
he’s best known for being a singer since the 1990s.
The Singer/Actor/Songwriter had numerous lead roles
in many Japanese drama shows—such as 龍馬伝
(Ryōmaden) and Galileo.
Being away for a year from the J-POP scene,
Fukuyama made his comeback on August 31st with a
balanced single album, which is composed of two
main songs: a soothing song, and an energetic one.
“Let’s Become a Family” is a slow, calm song, with
very touching words that would surely move anyone.
On the other hand, “Fighting Pose” is a rock song that
encourages strength and a “fighting pose” during the
hardships of love, and is a song full of energizing
passion. Overall, Fukuyama’s single is one that is
filled with vibrant emotion.
We‟re on Facebook!
Search for “MSU Japan
Club ‟11~„12”
Study Abroad Connection: A Summer at JCMU
By:Joe Canty
Hi, my name is Joe Canty. I’m an MSU sophomore and I studied
abroad this past summer at the Japan Center for Michigan
Universities (JCMU) in Hikone, Japan. In the two months I spent in
Japan, I was able to complete the whole third year level of Japanese
classes, as well as have the greatest time of my life! The train
system in Japan is fast and efficient, which allowed me to go just
about anywhere I wanted to. I was able to see the famous temples in
Kyoto, shop in Osaka, see a great view from the top of Tokyo
Tower, and eat the greatest grilled meat in Kobe. On the days I
wasn’t sightseeing around Japan, I was spending time with my host
family, eating dinner, having conversations in Japanese, and
watching hilarious Japanese game shows on TV. One of the most
fun things to do in Japan was to go to McDonald’s! The burgers
were stacked as perfect as the pictures shown on the menu! And I
can’t count how many times I went back to eat the Shrimp Burger
and the Shaka Shaka Chicken.
Through the classes and opportunities given to me through
JCMU, my Japanese improved tremendously, and I was able to
experience what everyday life is like there. I can confidently say
that studying abroad in Japan this past summer was one of the most
fulfilling and exciting experiences of my life!
Asian Invasion
Have an idea or suggestion for the あい
うえお News? Have a question about
Japan or the Japanese language?
Let us know at
[email protected]
For two hours of your favorite
J-Pop and K-Pop music
Every Monday night from 8pm to
10pm on 88.9 the Impact

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