Brendan in Japan: BBC and the London Embassy

Monday, July 21, 2008

BBC and the London Embassy

I got a call from Mr. BBC today. They wished to do an interview on morning radio about the relationship between China and Japan. Unfortunately I only saw the email 20mins before they planned to broadcast, so I'll have to leave my insightful analysis for another day. Anyway it was nice to be asked!

I got back to the UK last Friday, and on Wednesday I found myself at the Japanese embassy for a drinks do. Sushi and white-wine. I shamelessly hobnobbed with the Minister for Trade and we chatted away in Japanese about Japan's nuclear policy. At least, I think it was about Japan's nuclear policy. (If you're just saying, "Yes... I agree... that's right...", I find it's hard to go wrong.)

Many have asked me since I got back whether I'm going to do a job using my Japanese. Probably not, is the answer. It's nice to use a skill, especially after having spent so long learning it, but you learn skills to give you more choices, not less. I don't want to limit myself by saying "I must have a job where I use my Japanese". At the moment, other things looks more interesting.

That's it: my last post. Thanks for reading!

1 comment:

Clarity said...: Hi Brendan,

Thanks for the visit and welcome back to the old smoke, hasn't changed much has it?

Drop me a post when you start writing a new saga :)

Clarity; 9:52 am

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The story

I arrived here in Japan in 2005 on a scholarship. I was gleefully ignorant about the country, ill-prepared and basically only came because I wouldn't have to pay a thing and well... it seemed cool.

At first I hated much of it: the food, the accommodation, and the prospect of being blown away by an approaching Typhoon. But now, two years later, I love it.

I have spent my time learning Japanese (fascinating in numerous ways), frivilled away too much time in the time-warp capsules of Japanese style internet cafes, camped it up with some barbershop, and been to lots of festivals - some beautiful, some with lots of fire, and some with lots of fire where I got drunk and joined in.

There's been the odd bit of travelling around Asia too, with trips to China, the Bridge over the River Kwai in Thailand, Korea and the homeless snows of Northern Japan.

During my time I've had some surprises: professors that find it de rigeur to start a scholarship with an organized boozing session; a nation of women that are enchanted by the western male; or a the cultural-muddle that is a Japanese Christmas. (Especially hearing about how - in a particularly inspired feat of confusion - a department store once presented a Chrismas scene with Santa nailed to a cross.)

I 've also been baffled by the odd gadget, impressed by the odd bit of Japanese design (confused by others) and been delighted by the warped incorporation of English into Japanese.

Started as a "day job" my teaching position at a local primary school has turned into my daily pleasure. Though part of the Tsuzuki Gakuen (a kind of Microsoft of Japanese education), which means even regular school events like Sports Day are a bit odd, children are simply the most fascinating and amusing category of human being alive. (See above.)

Two years since arriving, I now enjoy reflecting in words or pictures more generally on Japan: Everything from Japan's sex industry, its unique approach to religion, to its vending-machine fetish.

In April 2008, I finished teaching and moved to Tokyo, where I am currently interning for a Japanese MP, deep in the heart of the Japanese political system. Which is another way of saying I clean cups and answer the phone.

All Over

Monday, July 21, 2008

BBC and the London Embassy

1 comment:

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Brendan at School

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