June 20, 2014
In this series of publications, we will have foreigners who are learning Japanese across the country and are active in their respective communities talking about the charms of their region, the language, the culture, and learning the Japanese language. We hope to shed some light on how people of various backgrounds learn Japanese and experience life within Japanese society.
< Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture >
Earthling Club 2000 and Coconico, a club for multicultural child-rearing
(2012, 2013 Agency for Cultural Affairs Trust Organization for Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan")
Dulam Tashiro (born in Mongolia)
I studied Japanese while I was in Mongolia and worked as a sightseeing guide. In 2007, I met a Japanese man in Mongolia, we got married, and moved to Japan.
We have a daughter in first grade, and we are expecting a fourth member of our family in July.
- My contributions to the community (1) - Challenge School
Dulam teaching at the primary school
One of my roles is to introduce Mongolia to students at Japanese primary schools. The students are always very interested in Mongolian clothes and the shagai, a toy made from bones. They always ask many questions.
I felt a strong sense of familiarity when I learned that the Mongolian legend, Suho's White Horse, is taught in Japanese primary school classrooms. I always bring the morin khuur (horsehead fiddle) with me, which is an instrument that appears in this story. Seeing the real instrument, listening to its sounds, and hearing the main character's lines in Mongolian, allows the students to experience the story in a very real way.
Reading the students' descriptions of their impressions on these classes always puts me in a good mood.
This is the horsehead fiddle that the children can play with.
Reading Suho's White Horse with the children
- My contributions to the community (2) - Coconico Discussion Group
Dulam using Mongolian hand gestures with the children
Several times a year, I coordinate a multilingual Story Time at the community library. I read popular children's books such as The Very Hungry Caterpillar and The Alligator and the Dentist in Mongolian and introduce Mongolian life through stories like My House is Gel.
Of course, the people listening do not understand the parts in Mongolian. But the children learn the greetings and songs in Mongolian very quickly.
My daughter is the only one that understands Mongolian in these classes so she feels proud. I also know that she is proud that her mother is reading to people in her own language, which makes me very happy.
- My contributions to the community (3) - Pre-school Lectures
Earthling Club 2000 Project
"Let's talk about school, moms and dads from foreign countries!"
Mothers talking about school as a group.
Dulam at the table in the front.
The Pre-school Lectures enable mothers to talk about schools in their own countries, while trying to make sense of the Japanese school system. I participated with my daughter as a mother with more experience raising a child in the Japanese school system. School is always difficult for foreigners to understand, and I hoped to be of assistance to anxious mothers.
- My contributions to the community (4) - International Fair
Dulam introducing Mongolian home cooking at the International Fair
(second from left)
The International Fair sponsored by the International Communications Association (ICA) allowed me to introduce Mongolian cooking to a large number of people, alongside foods from other parts of the world. Many people came back to buy more of my cooking, saying they enjoyed the food. It was very fun, and a time full of laughter.
- What Japanese Language Classes mean to me
When my daughter was born, I did not have friends to ask about child-rearing in Japan, and I went through many hardships. Eventually, I was able to make friends when I found out about Coconico, the club for multicultural child-rearing. The children in attendance also became friends and I am now able to enjoy this club with my daughter. All parents, regardless of their nationality, face the anxieties and joys of child-rearing in the same way. By being able to talk about it, I felt very comforted.
The mothers and children living in the community gather to read picture books to each other, sing songs, cook food from our home countries, and help each other out through exchanging information about child-rearing, families, and hospital and school documents.
Earthling Club 2000 and Coconico members
I talk about my child-rearing experiences and feelings as an experienced mother in Coconico, and I am happy to be able to help. As a non-Japanese mother raising a child in Japan, this group taught me the importance of interacting with your child in your mother tongue. By doing so, you can convey your feelings to your child directly, and increase your interactions with them naturally. The child is also exposed to two different languages. In our family, we communicate in Japanese and Mongolian. I hope that my daughter will learn to treasure both cultures.
The always-smiling mothers and members of the Earthling Club 2000 and Coconico
- Message
I feel a stronger connection to my community through the introduction of my country, language, culture, and food to the people living here. I also have a renewed pride in Mongolian culture.
I think that you can discover an amazing world, full of wonders, if you try to understand the culture and habits of those outside of Japan. My wish is for the people of this community to come into contact with as many different cultures as possible, starting with my own. I hope to introduce even more people to the wonders of Mongolia!
< Earthling Club 2000 >
< Coconico, a club for multicultural child-rearing >
- Association Policy : Be yourself in Japan! Fabulous mothers!
- Association URL : http://chikyukkoclub2000.com/
- 2014 Agency for Cultural Affairs Trust Organization for Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan"
Volunteering to preserve nature at Minuma rice field, Saitama City