CA  Girls  Soccer,  2010  

BY KATIE MEIKLE

   

   

Some  recent  examples:    

Shanghai  American  School,  2009,  Girls  Soccer  APAC:  4th  place  

Concordia   International   School   Shanghai,  2009,  Girls  Volleyball  APAC:  4th  place  

Seoul   Foreign   School,   2010,   Girls   Basketball  Super  APAC:  9th  place    

   last   game   of   the   tournament,   landing   us   an  unfortunate  fourth  place or  worse.       But  this  year  that   is  going  to  change  with  the  girls  soccer  team.  APAC  is  at  Canadian  Academy,  our  home   turf,   and   it   is   the   last   APAC,   in   any   sport,   for  seven  players  out  of  the  eleven  in  the  starting  lineup.  None  of  the  athletes,  one  of  whom  has  participated    

               

 of  high  school,  have  won  a  medal  for  volleyball,  basketball,  or  soccer.  This  is  a   last   chance   for  many  of  us and  the  pressure   is  on.    have,   in   previous   years,   had   the   mindset   of   losers.  When   it   comes   down   to   that   crucial   set,   important  

confidence,   started   bickering   amongst   ourselves,  fallen   apart   as   a   team   and   missed   the   shots   that  count  the  most.  Something  has  been  seriously  wrong.  

ut  have  never  won  a  medal.       In   years  past,   the  taken   seriouslyshiny   new   uniforms   every   few   years,   and   they   can  wash   their   uniforms   in   the   washing   machine  conveniently   located   in   their   locker   room,   which   is  nearly  way.   They   used   to   have   cheerleaders   at   basketball  games the   cheerleaders   never   once   cheered   at   a  

devoted  girl  managers  that  clean  up,  pump  up  balls,  fill   water   bottles,   laundry,   or   do  whatever   needs   to  be   done   to   keep   the   team   in   working   order.   The  managers   take   the   biggest   bulletin   board   in   the   PE  hallway   and   cover   it   with   inspirational   quotes   and  

ever  have  managers.    

matter:   that  a  good   team   is  a  good   team  regardless  of   the   size   of   their   locker   room,   or   whether   or   not  they  have  managers  or  a  nice-­‐looking  bulletin  board.  But   this   favoritism   takes   its   toll   on   our   teams  nonetheless we   had   no   publicity,   we   had   no  support,   and   we   had   no   legitimacy   because   we  thought   like   losers,   played   like   losers,   and   no   one  really  cared  about  us  anyway.      

This  year,  this  APAC,  things  are  finally  going  to  be   different.   The   reason   is   simple we   have   two  driving  forces  that  will  take  us  all  the  way  and  finally  

               

win  us   the  medal   that  we   all  want,   and  many  of   us  have   been   wanting   for   years.   Those   two   things   are  strong  leadership  and  self-­‐belief.  

Compared   to   other   sports   and   other   years,  has   strong   leadership   and   the  

will   to   win.   We   have   brand   new   uniforms   with  customized  names  and  numbers.  We   look,   and   feel,  like  a  team.  We  have  organized  locker-­‐room  clean  up  duty,   team   water   bottles,   and   team   lunches   before  important   games.  We   are   organized   like   a   team,   so  we  act  like  a  team.    

Secondly,   we   have   self-­‐belief.   We   have   at  least   five   girls   on   the   team   that   would   each   be  capable   of   and   happy   to   be   captain.   And   that   gives  our   entire   team   confidence.   We   won   the   Dodds  Tournament   in   Iwakuni,   defeating   several   tough  teams   in   four   exhausting  matches   over   two   days   in  

satisfying  victory.  We  won  every  other   season  game  up  until  our  final  match  in  the  Nagoya  tournament,  in  which   we   fought   hard   and   came   in   an   admirable  second   place   anyway.   This   year,   we   are   a   winning  team.  We  know  we  can  fight.  We  know  that  we  can  

hungry  for  another.  We  made  our  own  damn  bulletin  

purely   invidious  teams  to  come  out  on  top  time  and  time  again.    

APAC  Soccer  2010  is  a  chance  for  us  to  finally  

are  in  it  to  win  it  just  as  much  as  the  boys.  This  APAC,  this  year,  we  have  the  power  to  get  a  medal,  and  we  are  going  to  work  as  hard  as  we  can  to  do   just  that.  We  own  the  field.  We  can  pass,  we  can  shoot,  and  we  can   work   the   ball.   We   need   a   win   at   APAC,   a   win  being   a  medal,   so   that  we   can   show   ourselves,   our  coaches,  and  our  school  that  CA  female  athletes  have  come  a  long,  long  way  these  past  years.      

Think   like   a   champion,   play   like   a   champion.    

 

P.E.  hallway  to  know  our  starting  lineup.      

The  Good,  the  nothing,  and  the  bad:  what  the  U.S.  healthcare  bill  means  long  term  

BY DAN WESSON

 Source:  http://urlifeblog.com/content/wp-­‐content/uploads/2009/08/healthcare.jpg  

   passed   through   the   House   with   a   vote   of   219-­‐213.  Republicans   at   the   time   shouted   bloody  murder   upon  its   passing,   with   House   Representatives   like   John  Boehner   saying   that   this   healthcare   bill   is  

of  Republican  rhetoric  has  been  on  an  upward  swing  in  recent   months   with   not   only   politicians,   but  conservative  political  pundits   like  Glenn  Beck  and  Rush  Limbaugh.  They  enjoy  flinging  accusations  at  Democrats  and   President   Obama.   Outside   observers   like   myself  enjoy  making  fun  of  their  ridiculous  claims.    

Numerous   people   have   accused   the   healthcare   plan  Obama  pushed  for  as  communist  or  fascist  or  even  evil  on  some  other  level.  Consider  this  Sarah  Palin  quote:    

"The  America  I  know  and  love  is  not  one  in  which   my   parents   or   my   baby   with   Down  Syndrome   will   have   to   stand   in   front   of  Obama's   'death   panel'   so   his   bureaucrats  can  decide,  based  on  a  subjective  judgment  of   their   'level   of   productivity   in   society,'  

   

 death   panels   in   it.   Actually,   the   plan   is   neither   the  beginning   of  Nazism  nor  Communism.  On   the   topic   of  misinformation,   Obama   is   not   a   fascist   or   racist,   and  Democrats   are   not   seeking   totalitarian   control   of   the  United  States.       So   we   clearly   see   that   the   Republicans   and  Democrats   do   not  work  well   together.   The  Democrats  have   been   trying   to   push   for   a   nationwide   healthcare  bill  for  decades  now  and  this  bill  almost  failed  too  after  being   on   the   debate   floor   in   the   Senate   and   in   the  House  for  the  past  year.  The  Democrats  breathed  a  sigh  of  relief  because  they   just  passed  expensive   legislation  that   would   insure   over   30  million   Americans   who   are  currently   uninsured,   eliminate   inefficiencies   in  Medicare,   and  make   it   illegal   for   insurance   companies  to   deny   care   for   pre-­‐existing   conditions.   All   this   was  accomplished   in   addition   to   the   creation  of   the   public  option a  non-­‐profit  company,  run  by  the  government  that   would   keep   the   market   for   healthcare  competitive that   caused   immense   controversy  because  Republicans  said  it  would  lead  to  state  control  of  healthcare.  Yet   the   truly   impressive   thing  about   the  bill   is   that   out   of   the   219   votes   in   favor,   not   a   single  vote   came   from  a  Republican.  Not  only   is   this  political  suicide   for   the   Republicans,   who   will   be   ridiculed   for  being  out  of   touch  and  propagating  extremist   rhetoric  when,   in   the   coming   months,   Americans   reap   the  benefits   of   the   healthcare   bill.   But   this   bill   is   also  testament   to   a   rather   unnerving   fact:   bipartisanship   is  not  required  to  pass  law.     What  if  this  healthcare  bill,  or,  if  it  were  another  piece   of   legislation,   were   actually   seriously   flawed?  Imagine   this:   a   Republican   President   is   sworn   in  

Republican   two   thirds   majority   in   the   Senate   and   a  strong   Republican   majority   in   the   House.   The  Democrats   just   did   this   in   2008,   and   the   U.S.   has   a  history  of  swinging  from  party  to  party  every  few  years,  

so   it   is   not   at   all   a   possibility  with   negligible   risk.   The  Republicans   introduce   a   bill   Democrats   find   ridiculous  for  whatever   reasons   (much   as   the   Republicans   found  this   Democrat   bill   something   ridiculous).   The   bill   is  muscled   through   legislation   because,   as   evidenced   by  

easier  and  it  actually  gets  stuff  done.  What  if  the  bill   is  actually  a  mistake?   It  passes  anyways.  Essentially,  with  

system,  the  U.S.  can  become  a  one  party  state  for  a  few  years   at   a   time.   As   evidenced   with   the   hypothetical  situation,  it  can  be  problematic.  As  evidenced  with  what  just  happened  in  the  U.S.,  the  situation  is  quite  feasible.  As   evidenced   by   the   fact   that   the   government   is  

trying   to   solve   the   problem   any   time   soon   with   the  obvious  solution  of  ceding  power  to  independents.    

 Source:  http://thesituationist.files.wordpress.com/2007/07/democrats-­‐republicans.jpg  The   traditional   symbols   of   American   bipartisanship:   the  elephant  representing  Republicans  and  the  donkey  representing  Democrats.       So  essentially,  healthcare  has  shown  us  that  the  U.S.   legislative   system   is   at   times   capable   of   great  reform,  costly  inaction,  and  possibly,  bad  mistakes.  We  are   basically   flipping   a   coin   until   bad   legislation   is  muscled   through   the   system   and   the   country   realizes  that   we   have   to   do   something   about   the   two-­‐party  system.        

       

Miley  Cyrus  pregnant?  

BY AVU CHATURVEDI  

Just   weeks   after   Justin   Bieber   allegedly   died,  fifteen  to  sixteen-­‐year-­‐old  Caucasian  upper  middle  class  girls   face   the   invisible   hand   of   fate   destroying   yet  another   one   of   their   idols.   The   aforementioned  demographic   of  Miley   Cyrus   fans   are   shocked   to   hear  that   the   young   and   talented   superstar   is   pregnant   at  the  tender  age  of  seventeen.  

At   this   point   in   time,   the   facts   and   figures   are  unknown,   and   most   of   the   completely   accurate   and  flawless   information   we   have   is   from   YouTube   video  comments.   Enraged   fans,   most   of   whom   were   under  the   impression   that   Cyrus   was   a   magnanimous  benefactor  of  the  Catholic  Church  and  other  abstinence  groups,  attacked  her  music  videos  with  comments  such  

unintelligible  grammar  or  are   far   too   obscene   to   be   repeated   on   a   monthly  

[expletive  deleted]   little   [expletive  deleted]   I  wish   that  the   [expletive   deleted]   father   would   take   [expletive  

father  to  reveal  himself.  

known,  but  Internet  pundits  suggest  that  it  is  likely  Nick  

other  one.  No  one  really  cares  except  for  the  five  or  six  million  fans  Cyrus  has  retained  through  her  adversity.  

Neither   Miley   nor   the   Cyrus   family   has   made  appearances  to  comment  on  the  issue.  As  such,  Cyrus  is  facing   a   far   higher   drop   in   respect  when   compared   to  other   pregnant   or   druggie   teen   stars   such   has   Chris  from  Family  Guy  and  that  girl  in  Little  Miss  Sunshine.  In  a  similar  situation,  another  teen  prima  donna  with  her  own   TV   show   and   endorsements   came   out   with   a  heartfelt,  public  apology  that  neared  Tiger  Woods  when  it  came  to  passion  and  sincerity.  However,  the    

             disgruntled   Disney   star   chooses   to   remain   aloof.   One  must  wonder  whether   that   dictatorial   hand   of  Mickey  Mouse,  I  mean  Walt  Disney  Productions,  is  keeping  her  quiet.  Not  even  her  father,  famous  by  his  own  right,  has    

t   is   under  surveillance   for   any   tweets.   The   CEO   of   Disney,   Bob  

claiming   that   if   the   rumors   are   true,   then   all  connections   with   Cyrus   will   be   stripped   by   May.   Iger,  like   the   rest   of   us,   could   not   care   less   about   the  factuality   of   the   event;   he   simply   worries   about   the  gossip  side  of  it.  

Cyrus   has   a   glimmer   of   happiness   in   all   this  moroseness,  as  her  CD  sales  have  skyrocketed.  Until  the  rumors  surfaced,  the  only  people  who  listened  to  Cyrus  were  members   of   the   demographic  mentioned   above.  The  majority  of   these  people  would   illegally  download  

more  edgy  side,  emos,  Goths,  and  other  social  outcasts  without  friends  are  pouring  the  money  usually  saved  for  Nickelback,   Slim   Thug,   and   Alanis   Morissette   into   the  newest  pieces  from  Cyrus  and  her  father.  The  last  Miley  Cyrus   album   has  moved   200,000   units   within   the   last  two   days   alone.   This   gives   the   Cyrus   family   a   pretax  profit  of  six  million  dollars.  Cyrus  will  surely  revel  in  her  successes  as  her  face  remains  off  the  map.  

At   this   time,   news   stations   and   paparazzi   can  only  hope   to   catch  Cyrus  at  an  A-­‐List  party   in  a   clever  disguise,  such  as  a  Lady  Gaga  costume.  One  thing  is  for  sure  though.  With  the  death  of  Justin  Bieber,  the  falling  out   between   Drake   and   Lil   Wayne,   and   the   abrupt  pregnancy   of   Miley   Cyrus,   Middle   America   has   never  been  weaker.  Seriously,  this  is  like  the  Great  Depression  with  star  power.   If  only  we  could  wake  up  to   find  that  these   rumors  were   just  made  up  by  a  bunch  of  single,  thirty-­‐five-­‐year-­‐old   FunnyJunk   users   out   of   their  anathema   for   success   and   beauty.   For   now,   one  must  quote   the   timeless  words   of   Juno   to  memorialize   this  historic,   once-­‐in-­‐a-­‐

         

       

Turning  Japanese  Part  Five:  FUJI  ROCK!  

BY SEAMUS BELLEW  

   

 Fuji   Rock-­‐-­‐Any   true   music   fan   in   Japan   has  

heard   of   those   words.   Just   ask   any   one   of   its   past  

that   cannot  be  missed.  To   serious  music   lovers,   it   is  something   of   a   Mecca a   place   where   you   are  surrounded   by   people   who   share   the   same   love   of  music.  A  place  where   your   life   362  days  of   the   year  

get   to   let   go   and   let   the  music   take   you   away.   You  

Augusgloating  about  just  how  great  it  was.    

Fuji   Rock,   the   largest   music   festival   in   Japan  attracts   120,000  people   annually.   It   takes  place   at   a  ski   resort   in   Niigita   prefecture.   This   picturesque  setting  gives  the  music  a  certain  sense  of  quirkiness;  a   uniqueness   that   includes   having   to   ride   a   ten-­‐minute  ski   lift  to  arrive  at  one  of  the  venues,  as  well  as   a   stream   that   runs   straight   through   the   site,  allowing   hot   and   sweaty   music   lovers   to   cool   their  feet.    

Venue  aside,  this  event  certainly  delivers  what  the   fans   really   travel   to   Niigita   for:   the   music.   Fuji  Rock   consistently   brings   in   top   international   acts  spanning  all  genres.  It  also  pulls    in  some  local  acts  for  all   those   Japanophiles   out   there.   Last   year,   acts   like  Oasis,   Weezer   and   Franz   Ferdinand   were   in  attendance,  all  of  which  have  considerable  fan  bases  all   over   the   world.   This   year,   MGMT,   Vampire  Weekend   and   Massive   Attack   are   all   confirmed  attendees,   with   the   Gorrillaz   likely   to   play   there   as  well.    

Fuji  Rock  is  undoubtedly  going  to  put  a  dent  in  

doubt   leave   many   memorable   memories.   The  possibilities  are  endless  when  top  class  musicians  and  their   diehard   fans   collide   in   the   forested   area   that  surrounds  this  beautiful  ski  resort  in  the  mountains  of  

let  you  go!    

 

 Source:  http://www.higher-­‐frequency.com/j_special/j_fujirock06/fujiintro/                            

Source:  http://yu-­‐topian.com/archives/cat_12.php  

Photos  from  a  past  Fuji  Rock  concert  off  a  Japanese  blog  

       

Uncovering  the  God  particle  

BY GRACE MEIKLE

 

 Source:  http://blogs.physicstoday.org/industry09/2009/08/frontiers-­‐in-­‐physics-­‐particle-­‐accelerators.html    Illustration   of   what   the   LHC   would   look   like   if   it   were   above  ground.      

You   may   or   may   not   have   heard   of   a   giant  circular  tunnel  3.8  meters  wide  and  27  kilometers   in  circumference   buried   between   50   and   175   meters  beneath   the   Franco-­‐Swiss   border   near   Geneva,  Switzerland.   That   would   be   the   Large   Hadron  Collider,  an  enormous  machine  that  holds  the  title  for  

-­‐energy   particle  collider   ever   built.   Its   mission:   to   confirm   the  predictions  of  The  Standard  Model  of  particle  physics.    but   is   really   quite   complex.   In   a   nutshell,   it   is  

compose   the   atom   and   the   forces   that   govern   it.  Ultimately,   it   is  what  gives  all  matter   in  the  universe  its   diverse   properties.   For   instance,   consider  electrons,   a   basic   particle   with   which   we   are   all  familiar.   Electrons   are   composed   of   various   sub-­‐particles,   each   giving   the   electron   its   different  characteristics.  There  is  a  particle  within  the  electron  that  gives  it  charge,  another  that  gives  it  density,    

             yet   another   that   gives   it   its   mass,   and   so   on.   The  same   is   true   for  protons  and  neutrons.   The  purpose  of   The   Standard  Model   is   to   describe   each   of   these  sub-­‐particles  and  their  interactions  with  one  another  through   the   three   of   the   four   known   fundamental  forces   (electromagnetic,   strong   nuclear,   and   weak  nuclear).   Every   high-­‐energy   particle   physics  experiment   carried   out   in   the   past   fifty   years   has  been   consistent   with   The   Standard  Model.   It   is   the  reigning   theory   of   modern   physics   that   explains  everything  from  the  most  complex  to  the  most  basic  occurrences  in  our  universe.     Among   the   dozens   of   particles   predicted   by  The   Standard   Model,   there   is   only   one   that   has  eluded  observation  during  the  countless  experiments  that   have   been   performed   over   the   years.   That  particle   is   formally   called   the   Higgs   Boson,   and  

fundamental   to   The   Standard   Model.   Basically,   it  explains  the  origin  of  mass   in   the  universe,  and  why  

 thought   to   have   a   large   mass   and   subsequently  requires   higher   energy   accelerators   to   detect   than  have   heretofore   been   available.   So,   as   you   can  imagine,  nobody  is  quite  sure  whether  it  exists;  or  for  that  matter,   if  all  of  the  high-­‐energy  particle  physics  experiments   in   the  past   fifty  years  have  been  worth  beans!     This  is  where  the  Large  Hadron  Collider  comes  in.   It   is   supposed   to   be   capable   of   performing   the  sorts   of   atom-­‐smashing   experiments   that   cause  atoms   to   instantaneously   split   into   all   of   their   sub-­‐particles,   and   what   should   reveal   this   elusive   and  quite   crucial   particle   to   our   understanding   of   the  universe.   I   have   been   tracking   its   progress   over   the  past   couple  of   years,  ever   since   its   first  experiments  in   2008.   There   have   been   numerous   setbacks,  preventing   the   collisions   from   occurring   at   the  

in  fact,   just   a   couple   of   days   ago,   on   March   30 the  accelerator   managed   to   smash   two   proton   beams  

 

together,  at  a  combined  energy  level  of  seven  trillion  electron  volts,  traveling  at  99%  of  the  speed  of  light.  

-­‐energy,  fastest,  and  potentially  most  lucrative  atom-­‐smashing  experiment  conducted  to  date.  

Well,  did  they  find  the  Higgs  Boson?  They  are  still  analyzing  the  data.  What  is  important  here  is  that  this   incredible   machine,   the   LHC,   is   critical   to   our  understanding   of   the   universe,   and   that   it   is   now  functional   and   capable   of   performing   the   type   of  experimentation  for  which  it  was  designed,  and  from  which   we   hope   will   give   us   some   answers.   Maybe  over   the   next   couple   of   days,   the   500   physicists  working  on  this  epic  project  will  be  able  to  fill  in  that  looming   blank   in   their   theory.   Maybe   the   current  data   will   not   be   sufficient,   and   it   will   be   weeks,   or  even   months   before   some   satisfactory   conclusions  can   be   drawn.   Or   maybe,   within   that   span   of   time  these  physicists  and  theorists  will  uncover  something  entirely  new  and  quite  surprising.    References:  Khan,  K.  (2010).  Large  hadron  collider  rewards  scientists  watching  at  caltch.  Los  Angeles   Times,   Retrieved   from  http://articles.latimes.com/2010/mar/31/science/la-­‐sci-­‐hadron31-­‐2010mar31/2  Large   Hadron   Collider.   (2010,   April   1).   In   Wikipedia,   The   Free   Encyclopedia.  Retrieved   13:44,   April   1,   2010,   from  http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Large_Hadron_Collider&oldid=353320302  Standard   Model.   (2010,   March   31).   In   Wikipedia,   The   Free   Encyclopedia.  Retrieved   13:44,   April   1,   2010,   from  http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Standard_Model&oldid=353182418  

     

Such  great  heights  

BY SAKI SHIMADA

-­‐understatement.   The   word   barely   encompasses   the  

challenge,   taking   human   endeavor   to   a   whole   new  level in  fact,  to  an  atmospheric  level.     Some   may   gesture   with   an   index   finger  pointing   towards   their  ear   in  a  circular  motion  upon  hearing   how   the   presumptuously   daring   Austrian  Felix   Baumgartner   plans   to   embark   on   a   challenge  that  is  just  out  of  this  world,   literally.    This  challenge  

is   to   spacedive.   No,   not   skydive;   I   mean   spacedive.  Baumgartner   will   plummet   38,000   meters   from  beyond   the  edge  of   space,   from  which  point   gravity  will  do  the  rest  of  the  work  to  bring  him  back  to  the  ground.   Say   what?   This   summer,   the   man   plans   to  eclipse     years   ago  from   31,300   meters   high   from   E surface.  

eefall   will   last   for   more   than   five  minutes   and   will   require   him   to   wear   a   specially-­‐made  pressure  suit  and  helmet  to  protect  his  body  in  the  extreme  cold  and  thin  air  he  will  encounter  upon  re-­‐entry  into       Contrary  to  what  most  people  may  think,  this  insanely   risky   challenge   actually   holds   much  significance   to   scientific   research   and   will   provide  answers  to  many   important  space-­‐related  questions.  It  sounds  like  just  some  crazy  stunt,  but  there  is  more  to  it  than  that.  Assisted  by  former  NASA  and  U.S.  Air  Force   engineers,   Baumgautner   is   hoping   to   use   his  stunt  to  gather  data  about  the  stratosphere  and  how  the  body  copes  with   the  most  arduous  and  extreme  conditions  ever  experienced  as  it  enters  this  area.  His  fall  will  cause  him  to  reach  speeds  of  over  1100  km/h  (Mach  1)   in   just   thirty-­‐five   seconds.   This   freefall  will  allow   safety   experts   and   engineers   behind   the  experiment   to   test   and   refine   pressure   suits,  parachutes   and   life-­‐support   gear   necessary   if  commercial   space   travel   is   ever   to   become   routine.  The   data   that   can   be   gathered   to   create   enhanced  equipment   that   could   one   day   save   lives   of   space  travelers  in  emergencies  that  prevent  normal  reentry  to  Earth in  essence,  Baumgautner  and  his  team  will  be  developing  the  lifeboats  and  life-­‐vests  of  the  space  age.     So,   at   first   thought,   we   may   think  Baumgartner   is   some   crazy  man  attempting   to  have  his  share  of  fun  by  performing  the  ultimate  stunt.  But  he   is   in   fact   a   significant   asset   to   bettering   the  technology   of   space   travel in   one   fell   swoop,  he   is  making   it   safer   for   astronauts   to   explore   the  mysterious,  alien  realm  of  outer  space.    Reference:  

 supersonic  freefall  from  The  NewScientist  on  February  1,  2010  from:  http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn18427-­‐space-­‐diver-­‐to-­‐attempt-­‐first-­‐supersonic-­‐freefall.html  

     

       

Wagashi  and  Tea  

BY AZAR KHOSROWSHAHI

 

 March   1-­‐7   of   2010   was   the   week   of   tea  

ceremony   demonstrations,   an   annual   event   during  which   most   high   school   students   have   the  opportunity   to   experience   a   style   of   tea   ceremony  performed   for   them   by   their   fellow   classmates.   Tea  ceremony   demonstration   week   is   always   a   magical  part  of  the  year,  as   it   is  the  only  time  when  one  can  see  students  walking   the  halls  of  Canadian  Academy  dressed   in   Japanese   kimonos   that   come   in   a   wide  variety  of   colors,   textures,   and  patterns.  Many  of  us  enjoy   attending   the   tea   ceremony   demonstrations.  We   are   enticed   by   the   warm   room,   the   hot   and  delicious  green   tea  and,  best  of  all,   the   scrumptious  tea   sweets.   These   colorful   delicacies,   or  wagashi   as  they   are   called,   come   in   a   diverse   array   of   shapes,  designs,   and   colors,   not   unlike   the   kimonos   also  gracing   our   halls   during   this   time.   When   I   hear   my  friends   and   classmates   talking   about   the   tea  ceremony  demonstrations,  it  is  not  the  presentation,  nor   the   tea   itself   that   usually   is   the   topic   of  conversation.  Instead,  almost    

             always,   I   hear   people   talking   about   the   amazingly  tasty   tea   sweets.   These   sweets   are   delightfully  flavorful,   but  many  of   us   know   very   little   about   the  ethnic  origins  of  these  heavenly  delights.      When  were  wagashi  created?  

During   the   Nara   Period   (from   710   to   794),  many   Chinese   ambassadors   brought   aspects   of   the  Chinese   Tang   Dynasty   culture   to   Japan.   Part   of   this  cultural   influx   was   the   Chinese   sweets.   The   sweets  were  brought  to  the  Japanese  court  and  later,   in  the  Heian   period,   presented   as   offerings   within   the  temples   and   shrines   of   Japan.   Over   time,   Chinese  sweets   increased  in  popularity,  especially  among  the  Japanese  aristocrats.  Eventually,  Japanese  flavors  and  styles   were   added   to   the   confections,   which  transformed  them  into  the  uniquely  Japanese  sweets  we  know  as  wagashi.  Wagashi  became  a  part  of   tea  ceremony   when   the   art   of   preparing   tea   was  introduced   to   the   Japanese   royal   court   of   Kyoto   in  the   year   1191,   and   sweets   were   served   along   with  the   tea.  The  arrival  of   the  Portuguese   in   Japan  after  1522  introduced  new  types  of  sweets  to  Japan,  such  as   kompeito   and   castella.   Later,   when   sugar  production  began  in  Japan,  wagashi  makers  began  to  create  the  wide  variety  of  wagashi  we  can  find  today.    How  are  wagashi  made?  

As  Mizushima-­‐sensei  may  have  mentioned   in  the   Tea   Ceremony   demonstrations   that   some   of   us  were   fortunate   enough   to   attend,   the   wagashi   that  are  served  at  Canadian  Academy  are  handmade  each  evening  by  Seihu-­‐san,  who   is   in  his  seventies.  Seihu-­‐san,   the   proprietor   of   his   namesake   shop   in  Aotani,  had  planned  to  retire  several  years  ago  but  agreed  to  continue  his  craft  of  making  wagashi  for  the  students  of   Canadian   Academy.   Wagashi   are   traditionally  handmade   by   confectionery   craftsmen,   who   make  the   traditional   wagashi   but   also   create   their   own  types   of   sweets   for   different   events   and   seasonal  celebrations.   The  wagashi   used   in   tea   ceremony  are  usually  handmade,  but  there  are  other  types  of  more  

 

sugary  wagashi   that   are  made  using  wooden  molds.  During  the  Muromachi  Period  in  Japanese  history,  tea  ceremony  became  a  Japanese  art,  and  as  a  result,  the  wagashi   became   more   polished   and   sophisticated.  Another   reason   for   this   refinement   in   wagashi-­‐making   was   the   use   of   higher   quality   materials,  

wagashi   to   an   entirely  made  Kyoto  a  center  for  wagashi-­‐making.  To  this  day,  the   city   remains   famous   for   its   superb   and  scrumptious  wagashi.      

This   year   I   began   taking   tea   ceremony   at  Canadian  Academy,  and  I  have  truly  enjoyed  learning  about   all   of   the   different   aspects   and   intricacies   of  chado,  tea-­‐making.  One  of  the  reasons  that  I  chose  to  join   tea   ceremony   was   because   of   the   heavenly-­‐tasting  wagashi.  Through  my  studies,  I  have  learned  a  great   deal   about   these   sweets,   and   have   gained   an  extensive  appreciation  for  them.  With  the  change  of  seasons,  the  wagashi  also  change   in  their  colors  and  styles.   There   are   wagashi   with   orange   leaf   patterns  for   the   autumn;   pumpkin-­‐shaped   wagashi   with  orange   centers   for   Halloween;   New   Year   wagashi;  wagashi   for   setsubuDay   festivities;   and   the   list   goes   on.   This   special  connection   between   the   seasons   and   the   types   of  wagashi  served  is  very  subtle,  but  these  extra  touches  are   part   of   what   make   the   wagashi   and   the   tea  ceremony  presentation  so  unique  and  wonderful.    

   

 Interested  in  wagashi?  

If   you   walk   in   many   of   the   older  neighborhoods,   you  may  discover  wagashi   shops.  At  Classe,  the  department  store  located  next  to  Hanshin  Mikage   station,   you   will   find   a   branch   of   Fukujudo  Hidenobu  on   the   first   floor.   Fukujudo  Hidenobu  has  

their  home  store  in  Tezukayama  and  they  have  been  offering  a  selection  of  sweets  since  1948.  This  shop  is  a   favorite   of   mine,   not   only   because   they   have  delicious  wagashi,  but  also  because  they  sell  a  variety  of   other   types   of   traditional   Japanese   sweets.   Their  helpful   staff,  Ms.  Matsumoto,  Ms.   Hyuuga,   and  Ms.  Hayashi,   are   very   friendly   and   speak   conversational  English.   If   you   travel   to   Kyoto,   you   can   visit   the  sweets  shop  Tawaraya  Yoshitomi  and  right  next  door,  

Yoshitomi   began   making   sweets   in   1755   and   is  famous   for   serving   the   Japanese   Imperial   Family.   If  you  are   interesting   in  making   jo-­‐namagashi

can   take   a   class   at   another   famous  sweet  shop  in  Kyoto  called  Kanshundo,  and  learn  this  art  from  their  craftsmen.        Thank   you   to   Ms.   Maiko   Honda   and   Mizushima-­‐sensei  for  their  help  and  information  for  the  article.    Fukujudo  Hidenobu  Classe   Hanshin   Store   at   Hanshin   Mikage   Station,  Mikage  078-­‐330-­‐8000  www.fukujudo-­‐hidenobu.co.jp    Tawaraya  Yoshitomi  Karasuma-­‐dori,   Kamidachiuri   agaru,   Kamigyo-­‐ku,  Kyoto  075-­‐432-­‐3101  www.kyogashi.co.jp      Kanshundo  Lesson  Fee  2000  yen  per  person.  075-­‐561-­‐4019  www.kanshundo.co.jp      References:    Ishihara,   Y.   (2009).   Kyoto   Confectionery   Museum   [Pamphlet].   Kyoto,   Japan:  

Tawaraya  Yoshitomi.      Wagashi.   (2010,   March   7).   Wikipedia.   Retrieved   March   10,   2010,   from  

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wagashi  

         

     

   

for  you  this  month?    

BY SONIA NESTOROWA

 

Rat  

You  will  be  strongly  tempted  to  speed  things  up  in  order  to  reach  your  aims  and  achieve  your  dearest  

with  family  and  friends,  which  will  make  you  very  

envisage  the  future  with  confidence  and  assurance.  

 

 

 

 

Ox  

 

effective  outbursts.  You  will  experience  some  paranoia  this  month.  

 

Tiger  

You  will  look  for  balance  in  all  domains,  giving  priority  to  material  and  financial  aspects.  To  succeed,  be  

more  confident!  

 

Rabbit  

You  will  often  find  yourself  in  a  very  good  mood.  You  will  have  a  sense  of  diplomacy,  which  will  

be  very  useful  to  you  when  solving  the  various  problems  that  will  present  themselves  this  month.  Petty  problems  may  come  your  way,  but  be  aware  that  they  might  persist  longer  than  you  expect.  

 

Dragon  

concessions  and  compromises.  For  once,  gossip  will  

superbly  competitive  mind.  Life  in  your  home  will  be  subjected  to  many  turmoils.  

 

 

 

 

Snake  

tly  unrealizable  plans.  Instead,  satisfy  yourself  with  more  modest  and  

reasonably  accessible  projects.  Be  vigilant,  and  avoid  huge  commitments.  

 

Horse  

succeed  in  forcing  your  entourage  to  accept  the  plan  

serene.  

Goat  

Take  time  to  fully  consider  a  situation  before  the  

present  actions  and  reactions  that  your  destiny  and  

mistrustful dship  relations  in  terms  of  possible  material  profit.  

 

Monkey  

necessary!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rooster  

Talk  though  problems  rather  than  ignoring  them.  Profit  off  the  dynamic  influence  of  the  stars  to  solve  

able  to  repay  an  old  debt.  If  you  must  travel,  expect  delays  of  trains  or  planes,  or  mechanical  breakdowns.  

 

Dog  

t  to  profit  by  the  joys  of  existence  and  savor  all  pleasures  without  delay.  It  must  be  said  right  

encounter  considerable  obstacles  in  overcoming  your  problems.  

 

Pig  

On  the  professional  plane,  your  hierarchical  superiors  will  be  little  satisfied  with  your  work,  which  they  will  bluntly  make  known  to  you.  A  serious  person,  clearly  one  that  is  older  than  you,  will  show  you  how  to  get  out  of  your  personal  problems.  It  is  advisable  that  you  follow  his  or  her  counsels,  as  they  are  quite  

judicious.  Ideas  of  vengeance  will  constantly  torment  your  mind;  drive  them  away  if  you  want  to  recover  

your  serenity.  

 

 

REFERENCE:  (2009).   Chinese   monthly   horoscope   [Electronic   Version].   Astrologizeme.  Retrieved   March   26,   2010,   from  http://www.astrologizeme.com/monthly_chinese