Turning Japanese －日本人になっていく－

Congratulations to Japan for beating Germany at the football World Cup last night. 

I sat up and listened to the commentary of the match.  And I noticed something interesting. 

I got very emotionally involved in the match, pumping my fist in joy when Japan scored and getting nervous when Germany attacked.  Until now, I have only become emotionally involved for my club side, Celtic, and my home country, Scotland. 

It is about 19 years since I first came to Japan.  Now I am finally turning Japanese.  I wonder what caused the change in my attitude.  Was it having a son here, who will probably identify more with Japan than with Scotland?  Did I finally eat so many Meiji chocolate covered almonds that it has affected my d.n.a.? 

Gambare, Nihon!

 

Strong Enough － 十分強い －

I recently visited my six year old son’s nursery, to listen to the children playing and to chat to my son’s teachers.  The nursery invites all the parents to come in for a visit one by one. 

My son was very excited about my visit. 

“Be strong, Daddy,” he told me. 

“Why do you want me to be strong?” I asked. 

“Because I told everyone that my Daddy is so strong,” he said.  “So, if you are not strong, they will call me a liar.” 

I hope I looked strong enough.  I didn’t perform any impressive feats of strength.  I just sat at the side of the class, shook the hands of a few children who came up to me, and said “Hello” or “Good morning” to a few of his classmates who take English lessons. 

My son’s classmates were interested in comparing the shade of my son’s skin to mine.  They were convinced that my skin was a little whiter. 

That seemed to worry my son a little.  Later he asked me, “Daddy, if I go to Scotland, will my skin become whiter?” 

It is quite awkward to answer a child’s innocently asked questions about skin colour.  It made me wonder if I would have to worry about my son encountering racism if we ever did go to live in Scotland.  Or maybe he will have problems in Japan for having a foreign parent.  I told him that light and dark skin tones were both beautiful, and I would be happy whether he had dark or light skin. 

My son’s elementary school backpack arrived in the post recently.  Today he is going on a visit to the elementary school he will join next year.  I hope we are both strong enough for the challenges ahead.

 

Vocabulary:

a feat – an achievement that requires great skill, courage, or strength (eg., “The Forth Bridge is an impressive feat of engineering.”)

the shade of something – how light or dark something is

  

The Politician and the Kangaroo Penis －政治家とカンガルーのペニス－

“Matt Hancock isn’t a celebrity.  He’s the former Health Secretary who oversaw the UK having one of the highest death tolls in the world from covid 19 whilst breaking his own lockdown rules.”

The campaign group, Covid 19 Bereaved Families for Justice

I wonder if Japanese readers will remember the former British Health Secretary, Matt Hancock.  He made embarrassing headline news around the world during the height of the covid 19 pandemic when he was forced to resign for having an affair and being seen kissing his girlfriend in his office when people were not supposed to meet except for vital work. 

The same Matt Hancock has now just agreed to appear on the reality tv show, “I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!” 

On that reality tv show, various celebrities are taken to the Australian jungle and forced to perform difficult or disgusting tasks, such as eating bugs.  Matt Hancock will appear on the show while he is still working as a Member of Parliament.  Many British voters are not amused at this use of their MP’s time, especially after his past mistakes. 

Matt Hancock defended himself by saying that he would donate “some of” his fee for appearing on the show to charity, and saying that it was a good opportunity to connect with people who are not normally interested in politics. 

Matt Hancock’s own party, the Conservative Party, has not been impressed by his explanation.  They have suspended him from the party.  And here are what some of his colleagues have said of his latest actions: 

“Matt Hancock has been an absolute prat and [being suspended by the party] is the least he deserves.  I am completely disappointed and disgusted that he has put himself and his so called celebrity career ahead of serving his constituents.”

Conservative MP, Tim Loughton

 

“I am looking forward to seeing Matt Hancock eating a kangaroo’s penis.”

Andy Drummond, Deputy Chairman of the West Suffolk Conservative Association

 

Britain has been struggling to find a new role in the world since Brexit.  We have always been good at comedy.  Is our new role to be that funny little country with the ridiculous politicians and news stories that makes the rest of the world feel good about itself?  Are Boris Johnson, Liz Truss and Matt Hancock competing to become the new Silvio Berlusconi?

 

Vocabulary:

a death toll – the number of deaths from a particular cause (eg. “The death toll from the recent violence has risen to 12.”)

bereaved – of a person, suffering the loss of a loved one through death (eg. “She is taking time off work at the moment, since she is a recently bereaved widow.”)

a prat – This is British slang for an incompetent idiot. (eg. “He turned up at a wedding celebration in jeans and a t-shirt?  What a prat!”)