Welcome from the Community
Japanese Language Class

February 19, 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.

< Gunma Prefecture >

Hiromi Sakamoto (born in Brazil)

Gunma University Multicultural Community Advancement Officer Training Program
Consultant Course registrant (3rd year student)
Gunma University community Japanese language instructor, "Japanese language educational support project for elderly foreigners living in Japan."

1. Nice to meet you!

My name is Hiromi Sakamoto and I am a second generation Brazilian of Japanese descent. I was born in raised in Assai City, Parana, Brazil, which bases its name on the Japanese word "asahi." This city was actually developed by the Japanese. Because of the concentration of Japanese and Japanese descendants in Assai, children were expected to go to a Japanese language school as soon as they entered primary school. There, we learned Japanese through textbooks used in Japan. As a result, I knew enough Japanese to be able to secure a job in Japan.

I came to Nagano Prefecture after the Nagano Winter Olympics as an international liaison. After being a teacher in a school for Brazilians living in Japan, I am currently the Portuguese lecturer for the public elementary school and a bilingual teacher of Portuguese.

2. Community charm and activity in the community

The first time I came to Gunma Prefecture was when I was a Nagano Prefectural international liaison, visiting places such as Ota City and Oizumi. I remember very clearly how surprised I was hearing conversations in Portuguese at the gas station and seeing a dense collection of stores from Brazil.

It has been 10 years since I became a bilingual instructor and Portuguese lecturer in Gunma Prefecture. I have been involved in educating young students with roots outside of Japan, who are attending state primary, middle, and high schools. Although I have made connections with children and young students by listening to their concerns and dreams, the one thing that concerns me is the feelings of guardians and adults with foreign nationalities. For them, making even one phone call to the school can be a challenge. I have heard about the distress caused when they realize they are illiterate in the Japanese society, and the loneliness they feel about not having Japanese friends despite having lived in Japan for a long time.

That got me thinking about multicultural cohabitation in my community and what I could do to help. Eventually, I decided to attend the "multicultural cohabitation promotions officer" training unit offered by the Gunma University. This year, I became involved in the "Japanese language educational support project for elderly foreigners living in Japan" (Practical programs for community Japanese language education B for the 2014 Agency for Cultural Affairs Japanese Language Education Program for "Foreigners Living in Japan") as a community Japanese language instructor.

In this project, I received direct feedback from students with foreign roots about how grateful some participants were to be given the opportunity to learn Japanese and gain knowledge necessary for living in Japan. I will continue to support the students learning Japanese so that those with foreign roots can be active citizens of their respective communities and societies.

3. Contact with the tea ceremony

I was invited by a Brazilian friend to try the tea ceremony classes.

I initially attended these classes as a Japanese translator for my friend. But, every practice session made me appreciate the tea ceremony even more, and now these classes have become a time for me to find peace of mind. Personally, when I have a bit more free time, I think I would like to learn kado, the traditional Japanese art of flower arrangement. In fact, my grandfather was a teacher of kado, so I feel that learning this art will connect me to my own roots. Additionally, I want to be able to tell people about the sense of awe that I feel by experiencing Japanese culture.

4. The Japanese language classroom

The people gathered for the "Japanese language education and support project for elderly foreigners living in Japan" sponsored by Gunma University, all have something to learn regardless of whether they are Japanese, foreigners, students or instructors. That something may not just be language skills, it could be benefitting from each other's habits, culture, perspectives, and outlook on life.

I believe that sharing our feelings with each other and listening to others uncovers commonalities, which is directly tied to the self-confidence of those with foreign roots, and ultimately serves as the first step toward people being more active in their communities. I would like to help support the community Japanese language classes that provide these opportunities and emphasize the importance of relationships.