On Young People's Minds

Today I went to an English speaking contest in Tsu, a town close to my home town of Matsusaka. It is also the capital of Mie prefecture. The setting, Tsu cultural centre or Town hall,  is beautiful (as you can see from the photo below).

The contest today had a category for speeches, where the topic of the speeches was decided by the students. For this reason I believe, the topics they discuss are very much a reflection of what these students think about, and in some cases may even be a reflection of the Japanese people themselves.

Race, Language and Prejudice

My students, being of some Filipino descent, and living among the more-or-less homogeneous Japanese population spoke about their experiences.

One student spoked about difficulties of living apart from her parents, for years at a time, as her parents sought to provide her with a better future by working in Japan. (Later she was brought to Japan and came to realise how hard her parents worked, and came to appreciate sacrifices that they parents made for her future.)

Another student wrote about his difficulties in learning 3 languages as he moved from country to country, following his parent's work prospects. He is now studying English as a 4th language. He no longer fears nor resents language as he once did; but rather, he sees languages as a door to opportunities, and windows to the thoughts of the global community.

Our last student tackled the mature topic of prejudice in Japan, and how some foreigners felt discriminated against to the point that they no longer felt comfortable shopping. It's a powerful thing to hear a 16 year old say that everyone should have the right to shop without the fear of being discriminated against.

The Heavies

The most meaningful and emotional speech for me was about the repercussions of the 11 March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami.

The Personal Touch of Science

One student mentioned how he was now inspired to become a scientist, because during the crisis, he was impressed at how scientists stepped up to the plate during the crisis, providing support and expertise, probably in the analysis of the earthquake, prediction of the tsunami and affected areas, as well as the handling of the nuclear disaster that followed at Fukushima. He believes that science and scientists stood as pillars in society during those difficult times, and in the future, he wants to be an active member of this solution orientated niche of our society.

Unfulfilled Dreams

A second student mentioned that she lost 8 friends that dreadful day. She told the story of how her mind and her body rejected the news that so many of her friends were dead. She spoke about how she was unable to eat and cried everyday. She despaired, and wanted to cease to exist.

She went on to challenge the audience by saying that on that day, 16 thousand people died, leaving 16 thousand unfulfilled dreams and ambitions. It was the opinion of this girl that the Japanese people should accept these 16 thousand ambitions as their own, and try to work towards realizing the unfulfilled dreams of these people prematurely taken. Now, that is how she find meaning in life, by living her life with the purpose of accomplishing another persons dreams.

Conclusion

So yeah, it's quite a weighty topic for a Sunday night, but undeniably important and undeniably powerful. That is why I am here, on the opposite side of the world from my home country, South Africa. 

Japanese people are different. There is something special about their culture, and while I may be too foreign to understand them, I am mesmerised by their attitude and resilience.

I am so grateful for this opportunity.