February 3, 2015
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.
< Minato-ku, Tokyo >
Nonnon, manicurist, Arusha Inc.
My name is Non-non and I am from Myanmar.
I was actively involved in the democratic movement in my home country. For this reason, I had to flee the country. I spent one year in Thailand, and in 1992 I moved to Japan.
I was in my 20s at the time, had no friends, did not understand the language, and was getting by on the Japanese I heard and learned at work. To this day, I still feel like I am learning more Japanese. Refugees like me must overcome many barriers to living.
For example, there is the barrier of language, barriers of nationality, and barriers of visas. As a result, working and studying can be difficult, and can lead to discrimination. I believed that learning Japanese would make my job more fun. So for me, a Japanese language class that I could attend was like a light at the end of the tunnel.
During breaks at work, we all studied Japanese.
Textbooks in Burmese were an invaluable source of information.
My favorite word in Japanese is mochiron, which means "of course." I like this word because good words often follow this word, and it is a word that doesn't exist in Burmese.
This is me at work. I am happy when my clients are happy because I was able to do their nails exactly as they imagined.
I currently work as a manicurist at Arusha, while studying Japanese. My life has not changed significantly, but I was working part time at a restaurant, so I feel that being a manicurist is a definite step up.
Every day, I am busy with my children and nails. But I am happy that I can work doing what I like.
This is my work. I pour my heart into these creations.
My dream is to open a nail salon. I would like to be a person with her own career, wherever I live and however old I get.
I would also like to see my family, who are scattered throughout the world, at least once a year. For that, I would like a passport that will let me enter any country I want in the world.
I need to study Japanese and learn kanji so that I can get my Japanese citizenship! I know that hard work will lead to many happy endings... but my body sometimes doesn't allow it. I wish I was younger so that I could study even more!
< Arusha Inc. >
- Association policy: "You can be the light."
You support everyone and everyone supports you
Together, we hope for a society where we can coexist
For refugees struggling through their daily lives, living in a country with a different language and culture, without friends, family, work or plans for a future, every day is a struggle: you can be their ray of hope.
- URL: http://www.arusha.co.jp/company/
- 2014 Agency for Cultural Affairs Trust Organization for Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan"
Japanese Language Class Special Seminar "Japanese Language Learning in Foreigners Living in Japan"
Date and Time: February 20, 2015 18:30 to 20:30
Location: 5-11-11 Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Toranomon MK Building, 2nd floor
Arusha Inc.