GUAM NIKKEI ASSOCIATION: Thank you message from GNA President Monte Mesa

Purpose

The Guam Nikkei Association was chartered in 2012 with the primary purpose of perpetuating the history and lineages of those born from Japanese ancestry who are presently bona fide residents of Guam; educate the community about the impact and contribution of first generation Japanese and their descendants on the social economic fabric of Guam and to inculcate Japanese culture, art, traditions and history to succeeding generations of Japanese-Chamorro-Guamanians. The Association shall also conduct classes, lectures, demonstrations, performances, seminars, exchange programs, travel to Japan and elsewhere, and organize community events as a means of promoting the purposes of the organization. Additionally, the Guam Nikkei Association shall seek grants, contributions and to operate fund raising activities that will provide the necessary resources to achieve the purposes of the organization.

Okayama Student Exchange Program

Okayama Student Exchange Program A Success!

The Okayama Student Exchange program allowed students from Okayama, Japan, to come to Guam to help students learn about Guam’s culture and to improve their English skills. Thank you to the host families! The students were able to participate in a variety of meaningful cultural activities, such as visiting the Consul General and going to CHamoru Village, Three Squares restaurant, Karera cultural show at Sand Castle, Inarajan Falls, Mt. LamLam, Vitale’s Italian Restaurant, Cetti Bay, Tao Tao Tasi show, Two Lovers Point, Meskla Dos, the beach, jet skiing, water park, Underwater World, Jeff’s Pirates Cove, shopping, GPO theaters, special airline flight, and more. They made great new friends and learned so much about Guam’s culture! Enjoy the following Okayama Student Exchange snapshots!

Congratulations, GNA, on your 10th Anniversary!

GNA Chairman Frank Shimizu Conferred with Imperial Decoration

JET PROGRAM

Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program Opportunity

The Japan Exchange & Teaching (JET) Program offers graduates with exciting professional opportunities to work in Japan as Assistant Language Teachers or Coordinators for International Relations. Since 1987, more than 60,000 JET Program participants from over 40 countries have lived and worked in cities, towns and villages throughout Japan.

Interested applicants can visit the JET Program website at http://jetprogramusa.org to review eligibility criteria and application procedures. The application period is open in the fall of each year and selected candidates depart the following spring or summer.

JET Program Roles

There are two positions available:

Assistant Language Teachers (ALTs) work in public elementary, middle and high schools supporting Japanese teachers of English. Beyond using their native English ability to improve students’ English fluency, they serve as cultural ambassadors in their local communities. ALTs make up 90% of all JET Program participants. Their duties can include preparing lesson plans, carrying out classroom activities, providing language training for teachers, leading English clubs and summer camps and participating in events at school and in the community

Coordinators for International Relations (CIRs) work in local government offices promoting internationalization efforts at the community level. From organizing events to teaching adult education classes, CIRs provide essential services to Japanese and foreign residents alike. CIRs must have a high proficiency of Japanese language fluency. CIR duties can include creating, editing and translating official documents, planning and implementing international exchange programs, interpreting for official guests and assisting with language instruction in the community

A Strong Jet Community: During and After

Being active in their Japanese community is a vital part of the JET Program. Through travel, volunteer and social opportunities, JETs find diverse and fun ways to get involved with their local communities and with other JETs. This enriching experience is an important part of being a cultural ambassador while in Japan.

During their tenure as JETs, the Association of JETs (AJET) hosts social, volunteer and professional development activities throughout the year, and provides online resources to support daily work and life in Japan. Additionally, AJET offers JETs valuable resources for learning the Japanese language. Upon returning home from Japan, JETs can get involved with JET Alumni Associations (JETAA) to help with transitioning to life at home. JETAA groups offer valuable opportunities to network professionally and to preserve their connections to Japan and the JET Program.

Benefits: Direct and Indirect

JET Program participants enjoy a well-rounded remuneration package that includes:

· Airfare to and from Japan

· Orientations before and after arrival

· Enrollment in National Health Insurance

· Minimum ten days of paid vacation

· Starting annual salary of 3.36 million yen

The JET Program provides a true immersion into Japanese culture. Living and working in the country, JETs gain a rich understanding of Japan so far beyond what one gains as a casual visitor. On many levels, JETs leave the program with so much more than they came in with; they leave Japan fundamentally transformed, with a new understanding of themselves and the world.

KENDAMA

History

A kendama approved for use in competition by the Japan Kendama Association

The kendama today are made from a stick with a point at one end, three attached cups, and a ball with a small hole in one end. The cups on either side of the stick are called the big cup and small cup. The ball is connected to the stick by a roughly 40-centimeter (16-inch) piece of string. At the end of the stick is a point with which the player can attempt to spear the ball. At the other end of the stick is a cup called the medium cup.

The game is basically played by tossing the ball and attempting to catch it in one of the cups or to spear it with the point of the stick. Although it may sound simple, there are a nearly unlimited number of specific techniques for doing so.

A recreation of a bilboquet based on historical documents, and a Nichigetsu ball (photo provided by Maruishi Teruki, a member of the board of directors of the Japan Kendama Association)

Many people may think that kendama was invented in Japan, but this is not actually the case. While many different theories exist, there are records indicating that kendama originated in France in the sixteenth century. There are also theories that this game was developed in Greece or China, and the absolute truth is not known.

In France, this game was called bilboquet. Bilmeans "ball," and boquet means "small tree." This word expresses the fact that the game involved playing with a small wooden ball. The game as it was played then was different from what we know as kendama today; there was a large cup and a small cup on either end of a stick, to which a ball was attached with a string. The player would continually toss and catch the ball, alternating between the two cups.

Kendama is believed to have come to Japan via the Silk Road during the Edo period (1603-1868) into Nagasaki, the only Japanese city open to foreign trade at the time. While it may have entered the country around the middle of the Edo period in around 1777 or 1778, the exact date is uncertain. At the time, kendamawas apparently enjoyed by adults as a sort of drinking game. A player who made a mistake was forced to drink more.

As Japan entered the Meiji era (1868-1912), the Ministry of Education introduced kendamain the report on children's education that it put together in 1876, and the game gradually began to catch on among young people. In 1919, during the Taisho era (1912-1926), the forerunner of today's kendama went on sale. It was called Nichigetsu Ball (Sun-and-moon ball), because the ball looked like the sun, while the shape of the shallow carved cups was like a crescent moon. This toy became a huge hit, and from this time into the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), a variety of different types of kendama appeared, including a ball attached to a kind of paddle.

After World War II ended in 1945, kendama were sold in candy stores along with other popular toys, such as menko, bidama, and beigoma. In 1975 children's author Fujiwara Issei founded the Japan Kendama Association, which standardized kendama for competitive use and created standardized rules for the purpose of allowing a greater number of people to play the game together the same way.

The Fifteenth Cup of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, which was held in August 2003 (photo provided by the Japan Kendama Association)

With a set of rules and specifications for the equipment in place, kendamabegan to grow in popularity as a competitive sport. In addition to the Award of the Minister of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology, which is given to the winner of a kendama competition for elementary school students, there are tournaments for both students and adults held around the country, andkendama enthusiasts are working to increase the popularity of the game overseas.

The Japan Kendama Association is hopeful that kendama will become known around the world one day, and its members are making efforts to foster international exchange.

Source: http://web-japan.org/kidsweb/virtual/kendama/kendama02.html

Sunday 2 March 2014

Thank you message from GNA President Monte Mesa

Hafa adai GNA members and perspective members,

We would like to thank all the following GNA family members who had
participated on exhibiting their Chamorro-Japanese family heritage display
at GPO on Saturday, February 22, 2014.

The event had a great turn out from GNA families and their younger
generation members signing up to become new GNA members.

We had several great positive comments from the community visiting our GNA
exhibits and complimented the all families for sharing their interesting
Chamorro-Japanese family tree displays and for those families who have
maintained their family connections with their Japan-side families. Like the
Shimizu, Fujikawa and Tajima families.

1. Shimizu - Chairman Frank & Paul's Family

2. Fujikawa - Sister Jeanette & Jesse's Family

3. Noda - Ben, Mae and Monte's Family

4. Okada - Monica's family

5. Tajima/Tayama/Sugiyama - Gloria, Julie & Angie's family

6. Kimura - Florence's family

Also a special thanks to the following support organizations:

1. Office of Japan Counsel General - Kikue Cepeda

2. DPR Japanese Historical Exhibit - Tony Ramirez

We are compiling some pictures taken during the GPO event for our GNA
website and if you have some photos you would like to share please send them
to me, Vice President David Okada or to Dr. Matilda Rivera (via email) so we
can include them on the GNA website accordingly.

In addition, we've already submitted some photos of the GNA family exhibit
event to the PDN and MVN and are pending publication soon.

Thank you again to all the GNA families who participated.

Best regards,

Monte Mesa

GUAM NIKKEI ASSOCIATION

GNA logo

GNA Group Photo

Purpose

Guam Nikkei Association’s 10th Lantern Floating Ceremony 🇬🇺 🇯🇵🕯️

2024 Lantern Floating Ceremony Snapshots

Okayama Student Exchange Program

Okayama Student Exchange Snapshots

Congratulations, GNA, on your 10th Anniversary!

2022 Lantern Floating Ceremony

IMPORTANT

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

GNA Monthly Snapshot:

GNA Chairman Frank Shimizu Conferred with Imperial Decoration

2021 VISE STUDENT PRESENTATION

Congratulations, Kimie!

Consul General Snapshots

GNA Pope Visit Snapshots - Nov. 26

GNA Donation

JET PROGRAM

Marianas Business Journal Feature

2018 Lantern Floating Ceremony

2017 Lantern Floating Ceremony

Featured GNA Video

Lantern Ceremony Snapshots

KENDAMA

History

GNA Awards Cepeda for Design & Construction of Proa Lantern

Sunday 2 March 2014

Thank you message from GNA President Monte Mesa

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