From learning a language to making it their passion, four women in the city and their army of students are not just in awe of Japan and its culture, but have made Japan a part of their soul. From regularly conversing in Japanese to singing songs, 42-year-old S Shanmuga Priya says, they also sit and watch films and television series on the language together.
"My father worked in Tokyo University when I was 19 years old. At that time, I studied at Kamakura near Tokyo for a year. After that I got hooked to the language and continued to learn the language. I decided to start ABK AOTS DOSOKAI, a place where people can learn Japanese language and culture in 2009 in Coimbatore exclusively to share this passion and knowledge about Japan," said Shanmuga Priya. Everything about Japan fascinated her. "From food to people, transportation to cleanliness, Japan is inspiring. Its culture is something very similar to ours," she said.
Chitra Sivakumar, a teacher at the organisation, said she was introduced to the language by her school friend. "I visited Japan a few years ago and I just did not want to come back. We wanted to share this passion with the younger generation and we try to make it as interesting as possible for them. So, instead of teaching it as a language, we try to create a slice of Japan in Coimbatore. We play videos and watch Japanese films together. We converse and sing in Japanese language as well. We also teach how to make Japanese green tea, eat with chopsticks, besides other cultural aspects of Japan through which they can understand the heritage and history of the country," she said. The students share the passion of their teachers equally as one can notice them singing Japanese songs and discussing its culture even during breaks. Some students' parents often complain to teachers they are worried their children may run away to Japan.
But why so much love for Japan's culture? Shobha Ramprasath says it is because their culture is similar India's. "They pray like us. They talk like us. Their family ties and values are also very similar to ours. Beyond all this, it is their civic sense we should learn from. In Japan, nobody enforces laws or restricts people. The citizens themselves follow rules and regulations. I was amused to see that on my visit," she said.
S Janani Rajeswari quips that it is definitely not an easy language to learn. "The language has three different scripts. It is very similar to Tamil and other south Indian languages so it will be easy for us. But for others it is tricky to learn," she said.
Most of them are awaiting a chance to visit the country and many want to settle there. "If given an opportunity, I would settle there only. I am just waiting for my children to get settled in life," said Shanmuga Priya.
The group has set up a manga (means comic in Japan) library on Bharathi Park Road in Saibaba colony. "This library is filled with Japanese comics as they are very famous. We have English versions as well. It is open for all. We also hold several cultural events such as dance, troupes and exhibitions to introduce Japan to the residents of Coimbatore," said Shanmuga Priya.
"My father worked in Tokyo University when I was 19 years old. At that time, I studied at Kamakura near Tokyo for a year. After that I got hooked to the language and continued to learn the language. I decided to start ABK AOTS DOSOKAI, a place where people can learn Japanese language and culture in 2009 in Coimbatore exclusively to share this passion and knowledge about Japan," said Shanmuga Priya. Everything about Japan fascinated her. "From food to people, transportation to cleanliness, Japan is inspiring. Its culture is something very similar to ours," she said.
Chitra Sivakumar, a teacher at the organisation, said she was introduced to the language by her school friend. "I visited Japan a few years ago and I just did not want to come back. We wanted to share this passion with the younger generation and we try to make it as interesting as possible for them. So, instead of teaching it as a language, we try to create a slice of Japan in Coimbatore. We play videos and watch Japanese films together. We converse and sing in Japanese language as well. We also teach how to make Japanese green tea, eat with chopsticks, besides other cultural aspects of Japan through which they can understand the heritage and history of the country," she said. The students share the passion of their teachers equally as one can notice them singing Japanese songs and discussing its culture even during breaks. Some students' parents often complain to teachers they are worried their children may run away to Japan.
But why so much love for Japan's culture? Shobha Ramprasath says it is because their culture is similar India's. "They pray like us. They talk like us. Their family ties and values are also very similar to ours. Beyond all this, it is their civic sense we should learn from. In Japan, nobody enforces laws or restricts people. The citizens themselves follow rules and regulations. I was amused to see that on my visit," she said.
S Janani Rajeswari quips that it is definitely not an easy language to learn. "The language has three different scripts. It is very similar to Tamil and other south Indian languages so it will be easy for us. But for others it is tricky to learn," she said.
Most of them are awaiting a chance to visit the country and many want to settle there. "If given an opportunity, I would settle there only. I am just waiting for my children to get settled in life," said Shanmuga Priya.
The group has set up a manga (means comic in Japan) library on Bharathi Park Road in Saibaba colony. "This library is filled with Japanese comics as they are very famous. We have English versions as well. It is open for all. We also hold several cultural events such as dance, troupes and exhibitions to introduce Japan to the residents of Coimbatore," said Shanmuga Priya.
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