Professionally proud - speaking examiners recognised

I'm really pleased to be able to share that no less than four Cambridge Speaking Examiners have been awarded with Certificates of Excellence. These awards are very well-deserved, and are in recognition of availability & dedication to turning up to 'unfashionable' exam sessions...the mid-week ones in the middle of nowhere; the awkward ones with long lunch breaks and not allowed to step out to get lunch; the full-on ones when it's almost dark by the time you notice; the ones with the students who do not know what to do or the ones with the chemistry lab layout!

Jim with Gavin Addison

I'm pretty sure, between, them, these four champions have been there, and done that, and got the t-shirt!

Jim with Colin Malaney

I met both Gavin & Colin in 2016, at their first training session with a Centre called Z-Kai (no longer offering Cambridge exams, unfortunately). I remember one of those training sessions vividly, as I was not able to connect my laptop to the big screen as we were stuck in a hallway, and I could not grab an HDMI cable from any of the locked rooms. Awkward.

Claire Jansen & Toni O'Connor with JP026
SE Personnel Manager, Keiko Ohashi

Claire Jansen has been associated with Kawaijuku probably longer than I have - we have been working together since 2018, and was also awarded a Bronze Certificate for long service (to be honest, several other SEs deserve this recognition!). Toni O'Connor joined the team in 2020 and has been very busy ever since.

I am really proud of all the hard-working Speaking Examiners across the country, some obviously busier than others but each & every one a valued member of the team. It was very nice indeed to be able to be able to demonstrate to the team that we do notice, and we do care!

Miyuki's profile of Jaz Santos

Jaz Santos is a young football player.

She started playing when she was about six years old. She plays as a forward and loves trying to score goals. Her best moment was when her team scored. It made the team feel happy.

She didn't give up when she had problems around her. However, sometimes she had hard times. She felt it was hardest to keep motivated.

The most fun part of football for Jaz is being with her team. She loves passing, playing & laughing with her friends. Jaz playes for her team & her parents!

She will continue playing football & everyone who watches her feels encouraged.

Posted for Miyuki

Remembering Kobe - Taisei's childhood visit

When I was younger, we sometimes went to Kobe, in Hyogo in Kansai (central Japan). It is an excitingcity.

We went there by my father's car. It took four hours.

Kobe is different now. In the past, there were nice cafes. Now, there isn't the cafe.

Kobe today is a popular city to live and work. I still want to go to Kobe someday.

Posted for Taisei

When the student is the teacher - reviewing a presentation

My last couple of evening classes with one of my private students have been a revelation. She's a very dedicated mid-wife/intensive care nurse at the wonderful Nagano Children's Hospital (in Azumino).

I've had a long association with the hospital, its staff & patients, as I've taught various groups of doctors, and nurses there over the last twenty-five years or so, as well as groups of their children (some of whom are doctors themselves now!)...and also classes to long-term in-patients in the charming little school they have there. That itself was a career changing experience for me & some of my lucky colleagues.

Makiko's presentation was on zoom, to a group of about 300 Indonesian care providers/NICU professionals. In English. She was dealing with a really tender topic - tiny tiny babies' management. She really is the experts' expert, from arguably the best premmie unit in Japan - she absolutely knows what she's talking about, and presented a powerful powerpoint with excellent on the job photos & graphics to highlight her crucial top tips for managing the precarious state of very premature babies - "premmies".

I was awed by the levels of layered care required, and provided - and the nature of such often surprised me. Obviously medical - but how to provide to an infant so small who doesn't actually have a 'skin'? What parameters to heat/light/oxygen saturation? Resistance eg a small incubator with walls to press against & stimulate muscle tone? Sleeping positions & constant observation. Honestly, labour of love & devoted professionalism.

I am never going to complain when students like Makiko tell me they're tired! No-brainer. Constant shift work & emotional drain, my job is change the subject, find something to enhance her use of English...stuff she can use next year when she will present at the Premmy Conference in Jakarta next year! Yep, she did such a good job they want her to present to the BIG room. And she'll steal hearts & win minds :)

Nagano's premature babies are in very,very good hands - actually not physically, but you know what I mean!

Eric Carle - a fan club member appreciates his artwork & stories

 I'd like to talk about Eric Carle, a famous children's author & illustrator.

Eric Carle was born in the United States in 1929. When he was six years old, his family moved back to Germany.

As a child, he loved nature & animals, and he often explored forests with his father. This experience influenced many of his books later.

At school, he especially enjoyed art classes. One of his teachers secretly showed reproduction paintings such as Picasso, Paul Klee & Kandinsky whose work had been banned by the Nazis. He was inspired by this teacher & studied commercial art at an academy.

When he was twenty-three, he returned to New York. He worked as a graphic designer, art director and illustrator. After meeting the picture book creator Leo Lionni, he became interested in children's books.

When he was thirty-eight, he illustrated his first book, "Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?". This experience encouraged him to focus on creating picture books.

Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

In 1969, he published his most famous book, "The Very Hungry Caterpillar". The idea came to him while he was playing with a hole punch. Interestingly, the main character was originally going to be a worm, not a caterpillar!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar has been translated into more than seventy languages and it is loved by children around the world. Eric Carle went on to create more than seventy books.

I chose Eric Carle because I recently visited his exhibition in Tokyo. I love his artwork and its atmosphere. I was also interested in him because I remember reading about him in my English textbook when I was in junior high school. I enjoyed learning more about his life & artwork.

Posted for Nene.

Remembering a childhood place - Nishinomiya

When I was younger, we lived in Nishinomiya, in Hyogo, Kansai (central Japan). It's an interesting city.

We went there by my mother's car. It took four hours.

Nishinomiya is different now. In the past, there weren't English schools. Now there are some kindergartens. Nishinomiya now is very fun, because the annual high school baseball tournament is in the Hanshin Tiger's stadium.

Posted for Sawa

Jaz Santos vs The World - profile of the player

You may have heard the name Jaz. Her name is Jasmine Santos-Campbell. She is a famous football player who played in the World Cup.

When she was eleven years old, she approached some people and formed a team.

Their coach was Rhiannon. She taught them that the things a player does off the field are as important as the things they do on the field. Some players become role models for young people.

In the final against the Silverton Shiners, at her first tournament, Bramrock Stars FC, where Jaz is a captain, played fairly and fought as a team. The game finished 2-2, and finally they won it on penalties.

She trusts her team, building good relationships.

Posted for Ritsuko

Message to Jaz Santos

Hello Jaz, 

I read your story for Jaz Santos vs. the World.

I’ve been watching your football journey, and I really like your personality on and off the pitch.  After reading the book, I felt warm and encouraged. You are not afraid to challenge and try difficult plays. 

At the same time, you have problems in your personal life and you may struggle when things don’t go your way. 

Sometimes your choices and actions might not have been perfect, but I suppose there’s 

nothing we can do. I also made many mistakes in my life when the problems happened. In that situation, you and I did what we selected from many choices. I made choices and took action, but in the end, I often regret them and feel like I made the wrong decision. I believe that's just part of life. I’m starting to believe that we move forward through all of these experiences.

To take part in the soccer tournament, you had some problems, such as gathering members and finance. However, you overcame these by coming up with great ideas and working together with your teammates. After your great work, you were able to join the tournament. In the end, you won the matches! That’s truly wonderful!!

If it were me, I think I might have given up quickly, so I truly think what you did is so amazing.

For the future, I believe you have great potential. You can reach a high level and succeed in football.

Keep pushing forward and enjoying the game!

A profile of Yayoi Kusama - Japanese artist (& influencer!)

Yayoi Kusama is a famous painter from Japan.

Yayoi Kusama

She was born into a wealthy family in Matsumoto in 1929. From the age of ten (in 1939), she began to suffer from hallucinations, such as the surrounding landscapes being covered with polka dots and flowers, and dogs talking to her. In order to escape from fear, she maintained her mental balance by copying the hallucination into a sketchbook.

She went to New York in search of freedom. In 1958. In New York, she won high praise for her 'net paintings' which continues to draw meshes on the canvas. In addition, she presented spatial works using mirrors with electric decorations, and created many works such as body painting & fashion shows.

She returned to Japan in 1973. She was away from the front stage for a while, but she was doing activities such as writing novels and poems.

"Cosmic Nature"
 at NY Botanical Gardens

Her painting was exhibited at the Venice Bienniale, Japan pavilion in 1993 and increased its international reputation.

Even now, polka dots are called "The Shape of the Universe" and continue to send message of infinit space and peace through museums & public art around the world.

Posted for Ayumi

Yuki reminsces about Okinawa

 When I was younger, we went to Okinawa in south japan for our vacation. They are little islands in the Sea of Japan. We wnt there by plane. It took two hours.

Yanbaru, Okinawa

Okinawa is different now. There was nature. There are cities now.

Okinawa today is a popular place, but I miss the peaceful forests that I visited as a child.

Posted for Yuki

Profile of a famous footballer - Honore Sawa

 Honare Sawa is a famous football player from Japan.

Honore Sawa

She started playing when she was six. When she was little, she played with boys on her brother's team. She played as a midfielder. She was number 10 on the national team.

Her best moment was winning the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2011. She helped Japanese soccer become world champions.

She says that practice is hard, but playing with her team & winning game is fun. She wants to teach children for them to follow their dreams.  

Posted for Chinatsu

Journey in Denmark

 Late yesterday, I arrived in Copenhagen Denmark, and the hotel was comfortable for me. There was no issue with my room’s plumbing, and the area around the hotel seemed safe.

I woke up late and missed the hotel’s breakfast service. The bread I bought at a convenience store near the hotel was delicious, but tomorrow I'll take my time and enjoy the hotel breakfast. After eating the bread, I visited the canal side district of Nyhavn in the afternoon. There were fewer tourists in the afternoon, so visiting in the afternoon was probably a good decision. The houses along the canal were colorful, and I enjoyed my walk. It was a little cold today, so the walk warmed me up. The chocolate that I ate at ABC café for rest tasted so good.

Tomorrow, I'd like to go and look for a chair as Denmark is famous for its furniture. I’m looking for a chair that will make me feel comfortable and relaxed that can use for a long time and won’t get tired of.

This is what I want to do in Denmark.

* Taste various chocolate

* Go to shops where have dishes of Royal Copenhagen

* Visit Krongborg

I am going to talk to a local person to know his/her recommendations in Denmark.

Reminiscing about...Snap Cafe, HCMC, Vietnam

When I was younger, we often went to the Snap Cafe in Ho Chi Minh City, in Vietnam, for lunch. It's a
cafe which has a playing area.

Snap Cafe, Ho Chi Minh City

I think we walked there, but now I have to use the plane because I live in Japan.

Snap Cafe is not different now. The ice cream shop I loved is still there and playing area looked the same, when I went back there three years ago.

Snap Cafe today is a cool place for families. I hope it continues running.

Posted for Nanaha

Please welcome Lois, joining our staff this month

My name is Koishi, and I go by Lois. I’m originally from China, and before moving to Japan, I studied philosophy in Hong Kong and the United States. In my free time, I love reading, writing poetry, playing guitar, and spending time around plants and nature. 

I also really enjoy meeting people from different backgrounds and hearing their stories, so I’m looking forward to creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere where everyone can feel comfortable chatting together.