Japan Journal
A collection of Norm Ibuki's writings from 1995 to 2004 about his experiences while living in Sendai, Japan. Originally published in the Nikkei Voice (Toronto) newspaper.
Stories from this series
Talking With A “Returnee” - Part 1 of 2
July 25, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
One of the most interesting and obscure chapters of Canadian Nikkei history is the one of the “returnees” to Japan, prior to, during and, mostly, after World War Two. I have no idea of actual numbers of these so-called returnees. Regretfully, I haven’t had the chance to hear many of their stories. From those that I have heard, Nikkei with well-positioned families here had a much easier time of fitting in than those who had to start from scratch with …
Banana, Banana, Banana
May 27, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
Are you a “banana”? Do you want to be one? What is a banana, anyway? When I read Wayson Choy’s article in the Globe & Mail (July 18, 1997), entitled, “I’m a banana and proud of it,” I was once again exasperated by what seems to be a campaign by the G&M to indoctrinate Asian Canadians into a prescribed way to be “Canadian”—accept your colour difference (you can’t do anything about that), but, at heart, be Anglo-Canadian, white, at least, …
Learning Japanese
March 5, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
Aikido, reading, and learning Japanese are the main ways I try to understand the complicated cartography of being Nikkei. I’m now enrolled in the beginner Japanese class at the Miyagi International Association here in Sendai. We all seem to be “false” beginners since most of us can read hiragana, katakana, and even kanji. As is usual in Japanese classes here, there are a lot of Russians, Koreans, Chinese, a Mongolian, and a Thai woman, most of whom are married to …
Kannagara no michi: "Musings from Mister Donut"
Feb. 26, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
So far. The Mister Donut where I’m sitting has been a good metaphor for my experience in Sendai. It was the music, the Golden Oldies that were so important to me when I was growing up in the ‘70s, that lured me into here, like a siren call. “Kohi, kudasai” (coffee, please)…it has taken me a while to get used to looking at faces like my own. I like it! We are a good-looking people. I am still dealing with …
Jazz in Sendai with Kei Akagi
Jan. 7, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
I recently met jazz pianist Kei Akagi quite by chance. My school recently got a distinguished new student, Masao Honma, a Sendai-based classical music composer. He wants to improve his English so he can communicate better with his English-speaking peers. The other teachers said Mr. Honma, despite being middle-aged, was a quick learner. So I wanted to make his acquaintance. I was impressed by how quickly he picked up new grammar structures. I’d just arrived from a short tour of …
The Joys of Eating Soba
Jan. 1, 2013 • Norm Masaji Ibuki
“Noodle dishes are very popular, as they make a delicious and filling simple meal. It’s all right to make slurping noises while eating them—the extra intake of oxygen is said to add to the taste.” —Berlitz-Japanese Phrase Book and Dictionary “Haiku and soba match the spirit of Tokyo.” —Basho (1644-1694) If there is a time of year when I long for the tastes and smells of my youth it’s around December, amidst the annual onslaught of holidays with …
