Japanese Punishment

There are many ways to live in Japan. Some people marry into the country, while others find employment through their company. However the path many choose is that of the English Teacher. Being hired as an English Teacher almost inevitably requires some sort of orientation program before you shift into the duties of your Job, no matter what company you choose. The truth is, many who enter through the instructor profession have never been to Japan before nor do they speak the language, so the week of “how to survive in Japan 101” is ultra necessary. So as you’ve might have guessed, as a future teacher of English, I too had to endure the “orientation”. 

If there is one thing the Japanese truly love, it is ceremony. Ceremony ceremony ceremony! There is an opening and closing ceremony for EVERYTHING whether it is important or not. As a result, our orientation was filled with ceremony. There was an opening ceremony in which half a dozen little old Japanese men were escorted on stage by white gloved butlers in meticulously pressed suits, so they could give their inspirational speeches to the incoming teachers all in broken English (dubbed Engrish due to the Japanese’s’ inability to pronounce L). 

These little old men ranging in importance (and seated in corresponding order) oversaw parts of the orientation, and as a result of their presence, certain topics regarding the Japanese educational system became embarrassing to explain for the foreigners in charge of the orientation. One topic in particular stood out, as I watched Caucasian speaker after speaker bring up the Japanese disciplinary rules for students and then quickly skirt around the issue. Let me give you an example of how the speeches about culture shock usually went.

“When I first started my Job teaching in my local middle school certain things were hard to get used to because of cultural differences, especially in regards to how the Japanese deal with discipline. You almost feel like you’re going crazy when you see it, because no one else seems to notice the problem with what is happening. Just remember they handle things differently here, and it isn’t your responsibility to discipline students, so just stay out of it.” Subject dropped. The term “feel like you are going crazy” and “I still don’t really get it” permeated the speeches that attempted to tackle the issues, but never were specific examples raised, nor advice dispensed except “just stay out of it”.

I was truly puzzled. What are the Japanese doing to their children? Are they boiling them alive or something? Luckily, upon arrival to my town my question was answered. 

The other thing the Japanese love is the learning experience, especially when it comes to tragedy. The area I’m stationed in suffered a catastrophic earthquake back in 1995 that destroyed the city completely and killed over 6,000 people, so of course a museum was erected to teach the Japanese all about how they fell out of harmony with nature and that’s why so many people died. But thanks to the tragedy they were reminded of the importance of working with nature so they were able to re-build the city with buildings that won’t fall down. 

After about an hour or so of graphic footage, life size walk through displays of earthquake devastated cityscape, and photo after photo of the reconstruction effort, I began nearing the exit and was waiting for my orientation group to catch up for me. (Nothing makes you want a one way ticket back to the states more than watching footage of the very city you’re living in get leveled over and over again). I was loitering near the exit when a little old man in charge of that area of the museum hobbles over to me and initiate conversation, all in Japanese.

Curator: Hello, Where are you from?

Me: I’m from America.

Curator: America is very big, what state are you from?

Me: Connecticut

Curator: Connecticut?........That really doesn’t mean anything to me.

Me: Oh, sorry, it’s near New York.

Curator: Ah, Near New York…..Why have you come to Japan?

Me:  I’m going to be a, English teacher

Curator: An English teacher? What school?

Me: XXXX Middle School.

Curator: Ah, that’s nice isn’t it. Is this your first time in Japan?

Me: No actually I studied at Kansai Gaidai University in Hirakata for one year before this.

Curator:  Ah, that’s nice…….(awkward silence…..I look around at the photos) Are there earthquakes in Connecticut?

Me: No, not at all. 

Curator: Well, Japan has lots of them so don’t be surprised when everything starts shaking!

Me: Ah, that’s so scary!

(long pause)

Curator:  Well…If the kids give you any trouble, you know…(he makes a hammer motion with his fist and utters “Bon!” the Japanese onomanipia for hitting something and grins ear to ear). Okay? Please try your hardest!

Me: I will! (with a bow)

(He hobbles off the attend to his duties)

Disciplinary question answered.