The Bekkasei Manual - Surviving Katsuura for Gaijins

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Ok, whiners are no winners and the more you complain, the more you live in pain. Lets cut the crap and support this year's heroes and all the future champions of Katsuura. These words are for all of you out there who don't believe in the Last Samurai and want to see Japan yourself before you make up your mind on things like the value of catching shuriken, the truth about bushido, the hazard of eating miso soup after a harakiri and the ideal angle of attack with a kamikaze plane. Sharpen your machetes and follow this thread for some advise on a rumble in the jungle; hey hoo, let's kakarigeikooo!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Although it might be the very first thing the International Office wants to teach you, the words "eleven pm curfew" have absolutely no meaning at all, they probably never had and never will. Free spirits who quit school or steady jobs to leave their families and friends for a full year, who fly around half the globe to a far away country full of earth quakes and spend all of there savings to fulfil there dream of studying the martial art of their choice straight from the source, should have enough common sense and self respect to ignore petty rules like a curfew. Curfews are useful in times of war, but not in a peaceful little village like Katsuura.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Respect the guards, they are only doing their job, they are working for the same reasons as your parents. Let them close the windows and lock the sliding doors. And if they ask you to switch of the lights and the meeting room wide screen tv, don’t complain, just do it. Some guards are actually nice and funny guys, who like making jokes and have an honest interest in foreigners. Sometimes they stay a little longer to have a smoke and some will even invite you for a drink. Let the guard lock the front door and when he is out of sight, unlock the door, switch on the tv and lights, restart the music and it’s party time again!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Being drunk shows a positive spirit, being drunk is ok, being drunk is good, but being stupid is bad, so refrain from starting fights or breaking other people’s property. Although it’s a great way of stress relief, never purposely break any koryokaikan things. The trouble it would get you in totally outweighs the fun. When drunk at home don’t pee in the shoes or against the int. off. door and watch out for the glass doors near the shoeboxes, I almost broke my nose on one of them. Drinking and kendo in Japan are one. Many high ranking Japanese sensei might be considered AA-clients in the countries where you come from, but in Japan they have the status of half-gods, and why not? We mainly consist of fluids, so drinking is healthy. Drinking makes your kendo more supple and playing kendo with a hangover is an important skill which must be mastered as soon as possible. You might be surprised by unexpected parties in the middle of the week, but last night’s party is no excuse for skipping practice today. In Japan renshu never stops.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Bring your own laptop, buy a Japanese wireless card in Mobara and you will have unlimited internet access for a year, which is, except for Budai’s huge kendojo, probably the best IBU facility you can wish for. But, however friendly and sociable a kind of creature you might be, never ever share your laptop with anyone, because one night, when you will find yourself in that stressful situation of having to send that all important make-or-break-e-mail to keep your (ex-)girlfriend on the hook, you might find the whole mainframe changed to Chinese or Korean or your electronic surfing ability might be seriously halted because your computers immune system is nearly death from exhaustion after fruitlessly fighting thousands of porn viruses imported by your room mate who had been carelessly enjoying an all night session of internet hanky panky, if you know what I mean. I won’t go into detail, but one of the outward symptoms might be a dubiously stained keyboard.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

The cheapest coffee can be found in the machines in the back of the Shokudo. The best coffee is served at Skylark. You might not see coffee as one of life’s first necessities, but wait until you are a month or so into the program than you will be willing to drink more black coffee than there is salt water in that piece of Pacific Ocean in front of Hebara Beach, and that’s a lot. Coffee is the cheapest and most legal drug with no nasty side effects like hangovers or schizophrenia, so think about that.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

The best al round dinner deal is at Tomato; good quality food, big portions, not too expensive and no cockroaches. For those who prefer the simplest of dishes, the best tempura ramen and karee raisu can be had at the Shokudo. Real hamburgers should be eaten at Freshness Burger in Chiba City and Ohara’s Moss Burger and McDonalds are not bad either. Katsuura’s DomDom teriyaki burger brunch should be kept for Sunday afternoons only. Nothing beats teriyaki with fries and a soft cream after a game of beach golf to wake up from your Saturday night hang over. Bekka tradition says to have your Sunday breakfast around 3 pm.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Get a girl friend, it will make you feel at home faster and might be the best way to learn a lot of Japanese. Speak the language of love and your vocabulary will increase with the speed of a fighter plane on a sonic boom. There are two little problems at IBU though. Japanese chicks are hot, but most in Katsuura are not. And, most female students find boy friends within their own sports clubs very fast, so you will have to broaden your horizon to other cities or go online to find a pen pall. This term needs some explanation. Pen palls don’t care for writing, all they are after is your natural pencil, but they are a bit shy to say so. The pen pall scheme does work. One bekka was very successful at this. Just a few mails and he got himself a girl friend with free room and board for weeks in some nice big city far away from the koryokaikan. You won’t believe it, but there are lots of lonely Japanese girls and young single moms out there willing to teach you Japanese and experiment with cool gaijin-kendo-studs. I say: koibito gambatte kudasai.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

"While In Japan, there is the Japanese Way Only." In Japan many things are up-side- down, so when you get busted act contrary to the way you might be used to when you get caught at home. If you get caught in Japan simply tell the truth. Immediately admit everything, because somehow they always know that you did what you did and what you did was wrong! In Japan you have the right to make mistakes, as long as you admit it and say sorry. Say sumimasen many many times and write an I-am-sorry-letter and clean up the mess if they ask you to and than everything will be alright. Lay low for a few days and then just do whatever you enjoyed doing again. Analyse the reasons for getting caught, learn from your mistakes, but never surrender to the ideal-son-in-law-syndrome, you can only be bekkasei for one year.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Don’t worry about being send home until your second private meeting with Bunasawa, that’s the time to change your so called illegal habits or stop skipping class for a while, but just for a while. Deportation from Budai is like kendo, you can still win when you are one ippon behind. Like everything else in life it’s a matter of zanshin and semme. Considering deportation, the most important thing is not to worry about the empty threats from any other personnel than Bunasawa (or Makita sensei of course). As a bekkasei it is your mission to focus on having fun. Ignore bruises, blisters and black eyes, but watch out for a total knock out.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

These women look like your average friendly Japanese house wives making a few extra yen by wiping your floor and flushing your toilet, well, nothing is further from the truth. They are spies from the int. off. disguised as James Bond’s Miss Money Penny wearing rubber gloves for a change. Whatever kind of contraband you want to keep secret from the office don’t have it lying around your room on cleaning days.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Bring a load of your own deodorant. Japanese deo is not the same as what you get in the western world back home. Japanese don’t sweat so much, so Japanese deo doesn’t work on gaijins. It’s only sold in small packages and it’s really expensive.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Also bring your own pain killers, coughing and anti flew medicine. Japanese medicine is not as strong as what you might need. It’s hard to explain what you need if you are not nearly fluent in nihongo and forget about reading the labels. So, bring your own dope and for the health freaks among you, complementary vitamin pills might be handy too, since there is not as much fruit and vegetables in your new seaweed-tofu-rice-and- noodles-menu as your physical systems might be used to at home.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Most bekkasei are real men, but even the toughest criminals rather spend their free time looking at something else than the plain grey concrete walls of their rooms. Prison style living quarters are hard on any living soul, even for those with a raisin for a brain or just half an inch of sensitive inner self. Living at Budai means interior design time. Don’t throw away your empty beer cans and saké bottles, they look better in some form of modern art in your room than as trash in kitchen down stairs. Think of your kindergarten days and be creative. To cover the walls I suggest traffic signs and shop flags. The shops get the flags for free and the city buys the signs from your tax money, so they are basically yours anyway. These artefacts generally have lots of kanji’s and a colourful design, they will brighten up your boring rooms in no time and after having looked at them for a few weeks even the worst dyslexia cases will start wondering what the kanji’s on these pieces of industrial art might say. I see no crime in getting yourself some flags and signs since they will probably teach you more words than Kurowitch in a month. May the office order you to take down your "wanted" posters and "no littering" signs, put them in your closet and hang them back on your walls after you passed room inspection.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

The idea of the bekka kitchen is that it is a place to safe some money by cooking your own food, but because the kitchen is full of cockroaches and since everything you touch is infected with a mix of bacteria which is potentially more deadly than any kind of biological weapon which the US and Britain used as an alibi to invade Iraq, you might reconsider home cooking and rather spend your pocket money on having your lunches and dinners in one of the well respected Katsuura restaurants instead of spending it on a local hospital bed which are even harder to survive than the globally feared bekkasei kitchen.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

By moving to Japan for a year you left all your old friends behind, but since you brought your laptop, you are still in touch with most of them. And after many months of sending interesting mails about your Japan experiences, wouldn’t it be the most natural thing if one or a couple of your homies might want to see all of it for themselves? Sure! And you study at an "International" University promoting cultural exchange, right? So, why does chapter three section seven of the IBU book of Criminal Law state that you are not allowed to have friends sleep in your room like you normally would have guests stay at your house in your home country too? Well, I have thought about it and other bekka veterans too, but we can’t find any reasonable explanation. You see, most of you wouldn’t turn your rooms into a Spanish Costa del Sol style overbooked hotel. Your friends want privacy too and wouldn’t stay for more than just a few days, maybe a week at max. So what’s the problem? There isn’t! You officially rent a room from IBU, so feel free to invite friends to see Japan and spend some time with you in Katsuura. It’s good for you, it’s good for your friends and it’s good for Katsuura’s micro-economy. Borrow some blankets and mattresses from the guest rooms and make your buddies use the sliding doors. And unless your room is totally spy free, because of bribing the cleaning ladies with boxes of expensive Swiss chocolates, avoid high hotel bills for your friends by putting the extra night gear under your bed during the day.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Many of you North American bekkasei who were broad up in strictly automotive cultures might not think highly about owning a bike now, but as a bekkasei it’s a matter of mental survival. Those who have a bike have freedom. They can leave Katsuura at no costs at any moment and that’s a priceless asset if you want to keep your sanity through change of scenery therapy every now and then. As a Dutch I am totally at ease with using a bike for transportation, but for those who are not, you better make the switch fast. Japanese taxi’s and trains don’t move very much late at night and cost money which is better spend on snacks and sochu and beer. Cycling is perfect training for your legs, which is great for your kendo and a bike takes you further then you would think at first. Walking to Onjuku Beach is no fun, but on your bike it will only take you about fifteen minutes. During my last three bekka months I cycled for an hour to McDonalds in Ohara almost every other day. Just think of it, you are young, you have people to meet and places to see. Bekkasei are not allowed to ride a scooter or drive a car, so in Katsuura you need a bike as much as you need a shinai in jigeiko. Get yourself a bike and defend it with the biggest meanest lock you can find.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

It can be done people. Yes, it’s possible. Reaching the top of Smurf Hill on bike without touching the street with my feet even once nearly blew out the battery of my pacemaker, but after months of trying I managed to reach the top on bike without walking even one step! A few days after my record breaking attempt I even reached Katsuura’s Mount Everest for a second time. Start with a swift attack, but switch to a more relaxed pace of peddling in the middle. Don’t even think about getting all the way up, keep your mind empty and your hearth beat low, try to relax your upper body, breath slowly from the stomach and only use the power of your lower legs. The last twenty percent of the ride is worse than all of kangeiko’s kakarigeiko, but when you already got so far your self confidence will have reached such a temporary high that you would even be able to trip an elephant if you had to. Believe me, it can be done. It’s an enlightening zen experience and the world will never look the same to you. Smurf Hill was in my year the name of the steep hill after you pass by the running track. I mean the one going down to the AU-shop, the surfshop and the Oranda Ie, not that long road to City Hall.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Fireworks are fun and you can get them quite cheap in Katsuura. If you would only be willing to remember a few of all these well mend words of wisdom, please remember the following: "Don’t wear nylon pants, shirts or jackets when you play Cowboys and Indians by shooting at each other with bottle rockets, roman candles or heavier stuff." Don’t, cause nylon burns even faster than magnesium and leaves extremely ugly black and purple scars which girls won’t appreciate as cool at all. Plastic surgery is not cheap, wear your fireproof gi when playing hide and seek! Don’t shoot fireworks from your windows or anywhere near the bekka home during office hours and during week nights always check if Fujita is really gone home. You don’t want to be caught in a room filled with smoke from wall to wall having to explain that you "didn’t" shoot a couple of packs of bottle rockets just moments ago. Only legal eagles or kings of liars poker will survive such a bust, amateurs need not apply.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

So kids, this was a little bit of bekkasei kihon for you. There are many more secrets to be found, but like in martial arts, the biggest secret is in the basics and these are all right in front of you now. Not all techniques can be taught in words, many things can only be understood through practice. You must practice hard and master all arts; practice drinking, practice with fireworks, practice with girl friends, practice Japanese, practice not getting caught, practice cycling on Smurf Hill, practice surfing at Hebara, practice kendo everyday, don’t skip natsu gashuku and kangeiko and than maybe one day you will tell your half-Japanese offspring: "Life is a bitch, but once I was a BEKKASEI."

[Mikeyprime]

Well,


Thanks for this information i suppose. If I ever go there, ill keep this in mind.

I will certainly continue practicing with girlfriends here.

[chidokan]

I always take chocolate... the bars I find in Japan are tiny. Biggest so far was a Kitkat. The first trip I would have been prepared to go 10 rounds with Mike Tyson for a Mars bar. And I would have kicked his £$*$ for it.

[Andoru]

What a top thread! Let's sticky it!

[hamish]

My scooter barely made it up smurf hill, let alone biking it!!

Required reading for all thinking of going to Budai.

[Danny Boy]

Excellent work, kind stranger.
If only I had seen this before i came here.

P.S.

Pen Pals, eh ?

[Gonzo Nakayui]

That kind stranger was an Oranda bakka bekkasei who got wiser by lots of trials and many errors, by fooling around with the authorities(what authority?) and trying to screw up the system to his own advantage. You still have three more months to go, squeeze out of it whatever you can, practice lots of drinking in the holidays, be creative with fireworks and don't skip kangeiko! Kangeiko means waking up damn early, but your first kangeiko is an important experience in your kendo carreer. Spread the kihon from the Bekkasei Manual, never give up, always gambatte and don't forget that you'll only get one try at being bekkasei. Next year when you get home, you won't be "special" anymore, you'll have to be normal again, think about that. Lots of luck and most importantly: "Have FUN Danny Boy!!!"

[Gonzo Nakayui]

7Eleven city? I love 7Eleven! The 7Eleven(I mean Katsuura's 7) crew became my family overseas and thought me more Japanese, than I ever learned in class.

Drunk at dawn
Spaghetti with meat balls
Breakfast at 7Eleven
(7Eleven iiiiii kibun!!!)

[Gonzo Nakayui]

uuuh, I mean ... "taught" me ... it's that damn sochu again!! I must practice more! Practice, practice, iki iki, chachacha, chachacha, nome shine bakka aho! Countury gamu .... Amerika! Korea! Nippon! Canada! Finlando! Tjechoslowakia! Suweden! Chili! Nippon?? Chachacha, chachacha, Oranda! Oranda! Chachacha, nonde, nonde, nonde! Oranda! Oranda! Iki iki, iki iki!!!!! Natsukashiiiiii, beybey and kampai!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

One last thing about bekkasei life, the following is an example of the way to become best friends with your language teacher.

G: I have Japanese class and I am bored to death.
K: Abuses about half an hour giving some kind of totally unstructured explanation about some super polite form of Japanese grammar which you will never use in daily life.
G: Kuro-chan, Kuro-chan, I have question.
K: Quiet!
G: But, I a question have!
K: Shut up!
G: Question arimasu, hontooooo!
K: NANI??
G: Shitsumon suru daijobu?
K: Shut up! Quiet! Shut up!
G: "Serious" question arimasu!
K: What do you want?
G: Ok, listen to this: "What is the difference between Chinese teriyaki and Korean teriyaki?
K: BAKA YAROO!!!! STUPID QUESTION!!!! SHUUUUUUT UUUUUPP!!!!
G: Baka yaroo nan desu ka?

[mkomoto]

Gonzo-sama,

My only question to you:

Were you sane before coming to Japan and driven crazy by participation in the bekka?

Or were you crazy and ultimately driven sane?

Your illuminating articles will surely become the essential reading for those who fall into the bekka-vortex.

M

[Gonzo Nakayui]

I am not a psychiatrist, I don't know about sanity or insanity. I only know that before joining the bekkaseis I occasionally wore a cowboy hat while doing my daily putting practice on my personal mini-golf course at the law firm. I know that I took my boss's girl friend to Paris for Valentines Day. I know that I faked my way into meetings which I was not supposed to attend. I know that I practiced semme by pranking everybody who was not my in corner. I know that I broke the ceiling in one elevator with a hiki-men. I know that one client sent me a 'thank-you-card' and cash for advising her to find another lawyer. I know my department was practically dead whenever I had a day off. I know that I improved my negotiation skills by having meetings with the personel department about getting fired almost every three months and I certainly know that all of this foreplay prepared me reasonabily well for joining the madness of being bekkasei.

[Light Samurai]

What does bekkasei mean? (god, I'm such a n00b.)

[mkomoto]

Hi Light Samurai,

Yours is not an odd question at all. Actually, the words bekka, and consequently bekka-sei are unusual, and the average Japanese won't even recognize them: The unusual program that the International Budo U and a handful of other colleges and universities in Japan are conducting is a one-year introduction course for foreigners (the intention is to prepare them for further study in Japan, a kind of preparatory course.)

The full name of the one at IBU is the "bekka budou senshuu katei" it translates roughly to: the separate special curriculum for budo". IBU terms it the Budo Specialization Course.

It is usually referred to there as the bekka, which means "the separate section". The students are called "bekka-sei", '-sei' being the same suffix that describes a college student, as in "gaku-sei."

Hope this is helpful.

MK

[Light Samurai]

Thank you very much, it has been a greta help ^^

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Bekka means "seperate"? That explains a lot!

[Danny Boy]

I always though that Bekka meant "special" or "different".....
It kinda made sense to be the "different" student...or the "special" student.

34 days to go.

*does a happy dance* :smiley:

[Gonzo Nakayui]

It always made me feel "special" to bear the title of bekkasei, but basically any gaijin is a sort of special or seperate person. As a gaijin you are in and out at the same time. You have to be in (Japan) to be an outsider.

Since I am back in Holland I always tease the few Japanese who are playing kendo over here by saying: "Konbanwa gaijin san!" They are Japanese in Japan, but gaijin over here and when I tell'em, it really pisses them off! Which is good, cause it makes them stronger motodachi; "Gaijin san, gaijin san, gaijin, gaijin; waaaattaaaaaaaaah!" Shit, I really miss being a bekka gaijin!

[nodachi]

I would be careful throwing the word gaijin around. Granted they are your friends so you know what's appropriate. As a gaijin in Japan, it's nice because you have a little bit of room for social blunders because you may not know any better. I am not saying be rude, but it is nice to have a bit of immunity to social customs, especially when you really don't understand, but you don't want to offend. However, gaijin can have a negative connotation, or at least that is what it can feel like depending on who is saying it. One of my sensei in Japan would call me gaijin-san until he learned my name, but his tone and intent was friendly. However, I have heard it in other situations where gaijin is not something you want to be.

Basically my point is that I wouldn't throw that word around. Sometimes it is not so nice.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you are right, I know what it is like. I was a gaijin for a year, but now I am back in the west and now I am the boss, so I call them gaijin whenever I want. Of course they beat the living day lights out of me for doing so, but that is my way of getting the best out of them. Tell a rokudan Japanese he is a gaijin and he turns into the reincarnation of Miyamoto Musashi himself! And, what more can you wish for? First piss'em of, than the respect will come later; I call it reverse diplomacy and believe me, it works just fine!

[Kikuchiyo]

Hmmmm. This Gonzo seems like a really cheeky fellow. But it does make me wish I could be a Bakkesei (?). I don't really like talking to people anyway. It could be a year of deprivation and peace. *sigh*

[Fonsz]

Hmmmm. This Gonzo seems like a really cheeky fellow. You have no idea how cheeky he is and can get when tempted. Actually you don't want to know. Just be glad that you are all the way in Canada, and not here in Holland where you might stumble upon him. :rolleyes:

[kendokamax]

You have no idea how cheeky he is and can get when tempted. Actually you don't want to know. Just be glad that you are all the way in Canada, and not here in Holland where you might stumble upon him. :rolleyes:

its not like he will never come to canada either......

[Gonzo Nakayui]

That's right Fonszy!!! You know what you are talking about. I shot down our national kendo forum this summer and it took'em six weeks to repair. I say: "Let's geiko; any time, any place, any where!"

Hooossu Kendokamax!!!! I will come, I wiiiiil certainly come and visit you when the hockey is back. I will jigeiko with you and also hunt down and beat that other little Canadian bastard.

[Kikuchiyo]

You're....going to beat me up? I am so sad now. What a cruel and horrid world.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Hahaha, that's the kendo way. Musahsi said it best, when he said: "Kendo is about beating the opponent, nothing more and nothing less!"

[Fonsz]

Just to be clear, you can be compared with a lot famous people, but..........Musashi is not the first one that springs into my mind.
By the way did you tell the people in Japan that you have turned your back to them and that you now practice Kumdo? I wonder what they will say when they find out.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

I don't say I am Musashi, I just quoted him. I don't do kumdo, I do kendo in Korean Team outfit to fool guys like you into believing something else. Strategy desu, semme starts with your hakama and gi. And the Japanese senseis will laugh with joy when I show up like that, they are far less strict and have a bigger sense of humour than you think. I don't fear their opion, fear is something to be conquered, not something to be followed.

[Fonsz]

You sure got me fooled again. The only thing I fear is getting blind when I look too much at your new outfit, but I suppose this is all part of the plan.

[nalogg]

Gonzo this thread reminds me of some other "personal account of japan" litterature i've read. Namely the now-abandoned "24fightingchickens.com" and the book "angry white pyjamas".

The former is about an englishman who is kinda stuck living in japan who decides to study aikido in Tokyo and eventually chooses to join the senshui, a year-long full-time aikido course designed to train Tokyo riot police.

I think threads like this are really important to read especially for the non-japanese "samurai wannabes" out there who have pre-concieved notions about what japan is like.

Reading stuff like this not only makes me respect japan as an interesting yet possibly "less-than-ideal" place (like most places in the world) but it also makes me value my own country more.

Thanks for your awesome thread!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Arigato Nalogg! Robert Twigger's "Angry White Pyjamas" was one of my main inspirations to do the IBU Bekkasei Program. I wanted to experience the madness of a daily dose of Japanese kamikaze kendo and got a lot more than I ever paid for. Before I went there I expected to get totally killed, but I never felt more alive than during this very special year and I am working on it to go back to Japan for more. Much more!!

[nalogg]

Arigato Nalogg! Robert Twigger's "Angry White Pyjamas" was one of my main inspirations to do the IBU Bekkasei Program. I wanted to experience the madness of a daily dose of Japanese kamikaze kendo and got a lot more than I ever paid for. Before I went there I expected to get totally killed, but I never felt more alive than during this very special year and I am working on it to go back to Japan for more. Much more!!
cool cool
That was a great book. I liked how he'd tie his experiences into snipits from hagakure and stories from various samurai's lives.

In a way I envy you.
As much as all that adventure is exciting, I enjoy my life exactly the way it is.

[Anjin-san]

What I mean is, is it feasable, time wise, to do two practices per day and still be able to do some part time work, and study? Also, what kind of part time work is available to gaijin, if any?

Thanks in advance,

Ali

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Unless you work (late) at night there is no time for arbaito (part time work) during the week for bekkasei. Best time to work is on weekends and during the summer and winter vacation. If you are lucky you can find an arbaito in teaching English (there is not much of that around though), in working in a supermarket (but for this your Japanese has to be advanced), in carrying fish in the Katsuura harbor and I heard of some who worked in construction and in agriculture. But you must realise that as a gaijin finding an arbaito in Japan is not as easy as it is at home.

[JSchmidt]

Arbaito?..they must have borrowed that word from the Dutch?


Jakob.

[Anjin-san]

Thanks for the advice... I guess I'm going to have to start saving then :),

and yeah I'm pretty sure arubaito is from dutch.

[webjunkie401]

Arbaito?..they must have borrowed that word from the Dutch?


Jakob.

I've heard that it is German.

[JSchmidt]

Well, it's germanic in origin and just means 'work'..I'm just curious of how it ended up as a Japanese word for part-time work :)

Jakob

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Arbaito comes from the German word "Arbeit" which means work.

[tamaki]

what about the scholarship?which people are eligible to it?do you have to attend every class to get it??and IF you cannot get scholarship,how much money do you need? I wrote to them about it but no answer,they just ignored the question:confused:

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Everybody who gets accepted into the program gets the scholarship. What the scholarship means is that you basically get your school fee back in 12 months. And yes, you must attend the classes, if you skip too mucht they can take away your scholarship and eventually send you home. The idea is: not in class, not a student, not worth a student visa, no title to stay, go home! The scholarship is minimal, it's only for room rent and (a little bit of) food. Everybody who finished high school and is in good health can apply for the bekkasei program. Most sought after bekkasei quality is a very good sense of humour and a stable mind.

[chidokan]

a stable mind? thats me out then..... :smiley:

[tamaki]

Everybody who gets accepted into the program gets the scholarship. What the scholarship means is that you basically get your school fee back in 12 months. And yes, you must attend the classes, if you skip too mucht they can take away your scholarship and eventually send you home. The idea is: not in class, not a student, not worth a student visa, no title to stay, go home! The scholarship is minimal, it's only for room rent and (a little bit of) food. Everybody who finished high school and is in good health can apply for the bekkasei program. Most sought after bekkasei quality is a very good sense of humour and a stable mind.


what do you mean,good health??:old_man: I have various foot and kneecap problems.(sometimes i do old woman style -kendo :redface: ) sometimes i cannot practice from the pain,and of course,no fumicomi.is it worth for me going there ,you think?
and,how much do you need(apart from the scholarship money) per month?

thanks in advance for your precious information!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

IBU is a sports university, sports is what they do every day. So if you are not in excellent or at least a good health, you have nothing to do over there accept for drinking shochu and beer. You go to IBU for kendo or judo, not for the academic studies. Making a chest x-ray, a health check by your family doctor and providing a medical rapport signed by your doctor is standard procedure for applying to IBU. You will also get a health check at IBU soon after your arrival. They probably just don't want you to drop dead, because of a hearth attack during practice.

[NorthernKendoka]

Thanks for the Bekka Manual Gonzo. Looking back at my first 28 days I can really say it has helped. Beeing prepared for the worst has made the problems I have encountered easyer. The second year exchange students tells me this has been a trouble free year so far. I thought call the cockroaches in the bekka itchen was a myth since nobody had seen the this year, but to night the invasion started

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Thanx! The cock roaches have their own season, just like the hurricanes. Don't worry they will come, they will come and than they will never leave. But, as your lawyer, I advice you to make the best of it and turn this dramatic situation around into good old fun. Buy a bb-gun at the hyuaku-en store down town and shoot the little bastards into pulp! Nothing beats the joy of stepping into the kitchen late at night (early morning) armed with a fully loaded high power Dessert Eagle or Colt 1911, switch on the lights, stemp the floor and than: Hello, hello, it's Jigeiko!

[Danny Boy]

Heh,

Last year the american just bought 10,000 yen worth of chemical agents and sprayed the entire kitchen, nothing survived.


Until he did that though, I had tons of fun running in there at 5am, drunk as a polish sailor, cooking ramen and wackin' the 'roaches. It was a great stress-relief.

[LarsCW]

Do you mean you were doing haya "cockroach" suburi in the morning :=)

Wonder if the neighbours would apreiciate the kiai:P

[Gonzo Nakayui]

What a waste to kill the roaches with poison! I killed them with anything I had, pans, lighters, shinais, news papers, bb-guns, slippers and sometimes I chopped them in two with a big chef knife, just practicing for the perfect cut! I wish they cock roaches in Holland, but we don't. I have to get back to Japan!

[Donkey]

What the hell are you talking about? I've been looking all over the internet for this IBU you speak of. Any suggestions on how I can get more info?

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Here it is: http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/index2.html , and nihongo gambatte!

[Donkey]

hmmmm... i was under the impression that i didnt need to know any japanese. thanks anyway.

[Echo]

Gonzo, my hat's off to you for surviving. What a great thread!!!!!!!

I just wish I was able to go and try it for myself. Domo arigato gozaimasita.

[Fonsz]

Gonzo, my hat's off to you for surviving. What a great thread!!!!!!!

I just wish I was able to go and try it for myself. Domo arigato gozaimasita.
At last the qualities of the initiator of this thread are being valued for his perseverance. The moment he will read this his head will grow and grow. Pity that we have to deal with it and not you guys. Just wait until you meet him and his bone breaking waza. You have been warned!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

My "cracking-tree-waza" I presume? Just wear an extra men and you will be fine!

[Danny Boy]

6 months havent even passed since i left that evil evil place (of doom, evil, more evil) and im going back again.

Maybe i ought to smuggle something inside ?

[NorthernKendoka]

Explosives is allways a good gift for bekkasei. We could have used it last week when the entire office had thier vacation, well I guess disconnecting the intercom just will have to do.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

During the vacation you should have broken into the office and kidnap both laptops to enjoy 24/7 internet access for free. Just peel off the office stickers and the Koreans who might bother you about it (Is this one really yours??) can't beat you on that. Be carefull, don't screw up the sticker glue. Stick the stickers on a plastic plate so you can stick'em back easily and keep the machines all to yourself and your room mate. Even if you have your own laptop using the one from the office is a good idea, cause it doesn't matter to you if that one fills up with hanky panky viruses and stuff. Have fun, there is still the long winter vacation to come!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

6 months havent even passed since i left that evil evil place (of doom, evil, more evil) and im going back again.

Maybe i ought to smuggle something inside ?

What is wrong with you Danny Boy?? Are you a jackass masochist? You were the one on this forum last year who hated it so much. Japan is a very good idea, and I congratulate you on that, but you should go to Todai, Kindai, Tokai, Tsukaba or Osaka Dai instead. Don't waste your time again. One year filled with sochu and beer is enough. Life is short, and you never know when your bekka bike with no brakes crashes straight into a concrete wall!

[Danny Boy]

LOL fair enough dude, im actually going to spend one week in Tokyo chilling out, but i gotta get down to Katsuura and see couple of friends i left behind. 2 of the bekkasei stayed, and one was my roomie. I cant pass up on the opportunity of seeing him taken to a hospital on alcohol poisoning :P :wink: .

Not to mention, i get to see the bekka suffer...and i can make fun of how they have to stay there for like 6 more months while i'll be leaving in a week etc. My emotional jiving and poking around is bound to break one or two of them. The ones that survive shall be made stronger and upon graduation will be drafted into my super-secret evil empire.
Say i do have a need of a lawyer...if you happen to know anyone who is capable.
Lack of moral fibre and/or sane mind is preffered.

Love (saying that to NorthernKendoka whose name is Love)
As to explosives, cant you just buy one of those huge fire-works bags from 7-11 ?

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Psychooo da yooo! You still got the right spirit, you are my hero Danny Boy! As their bekka senpai you have the moral obligation to mental coach this year's foreign legion of future kendo leaders into a smouldering plate of mashed potatoes! Keep up that beautifull tradition and the world we be a better place. Forget about fireworks, after six months of bekka course your kohai will be explosive enough. The ones that are still there by now have already passed the point of no-return, not even a ton of dynamite can succesfully compete with them!

[Yiu Fai]

you are my hero Danny Boy!

You are my hero Gonzo! Top thread this one, I read every single post and loved it!

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Arigato, Arigato!

[Yiu Fai]

I'm curious to know Gonzo, how old were you when you survived Katsuura? Did you do the 1 year course when you were of freshman age or older? Just wanting to see what chance someone a little older than freshman years has in surviving Katsuura...

[kendokamax]

I'm curious to know Gonzo, how old were you when you survived Katsuura? Did you do the 1 year course when you were of freshman age or older? Just wanting to see what chance someone a little older than freshman years has in surviving Katsuura...

hahaha
let's say gonzo is younger than a freshman at heart
kokoro ichiban!

[Fonsz]

I'm curious to know Gonzo, how old were you when you survived Katsuura? Did you do the 1 year course when you were of freshman age or older? Just wanting to see what chance someone a little older than freshman years has in surviving Katsuura...
He's really 52 years old but has a rare disease that makes him look younger. You'll be surprised when you see him in the flesh. Looks nearly like a normal young man.:old_man:

[Gonzo Nakayui]

I'm curious to know Gonzo, how old were you when you survived Katsuura? Did you do the 1 year course when you were of freshman age or older? Just wanting to see what chance someone a little older than freshman years has in surviving Katsuura...

I was 31 when I started in the bekka course and became 32 later that year. My secret is watching Sesame Street every day, it keeps me young at heart, which is in the end the most important thing to succeed at any thing in life. And, I skipped kindergarten, that might be the reason of my everlasting youth too!

[Yiu Fai]

I was 31 when I started in the bekka course and became 32 later that year. My secret is watching Sesame Street every day, it keeps me young at heart, which is in the end the most important thing to succeed at any thing in life. And, I skipped kindergarten, that might be the reason of my everlasting youth too!

My secret to eternal youth is watching Doraemon everyday lol

[tamaki]

just came back from japan.I am still considering of doing the ibu thing.BUT I loved tokyo...is it cheap and convenient and possible to go there in the weekends when living in budodai?
and..did you really like japanese women???

[Gonzo Nakayui]

Hai, Japanese women are the most attractive to me!

Convenient?? Nothing much in Japan is convenient, that's why it's so much fun. The only convenient thing is, that the trains run on time, the rest is ganbatte, ganbatte!

[tamaki]

uhm...I thought EVERYTHING in Japan is convenient!super convenient!

PS.1( I live in Greece)

PS.2 (Nothing is convenient or working right in greece)

[NorthernKendoka]

School started today and the first thing Kurobane did was threaten us saying that we have to go to class. Then she explained how much regrets she have over giving Danny his diploma and how much she hates him. It feels so good to be back in school.

[Gonzo Nakayui]

What the hell!!!! Is Kurowitch still there??? You bekka guys are not doing a very good job, come on boys: "Kote, men, do, tsuki, tsuki, tsuki!!!." I already gave two colleagues a burn out on my new job and I am not even a bekka any more. Anyway, there is (probably) nothing wrong with Danny Boy. When she hates you, consider it a compliment; she only likes sheep. It's a total miracle that, after more than ten years of bekka teaching, she never drew any conclusions from the fact that almost all bekka's have highly allergic reactions to her behavior.

[Danny Boy]

LOL ! I cant believe she actually said that ! Ah that stupid bitch.

[Danny Boy]

Another funny thing is that I was one of the 3 guys that learned actual japanese while doing the budai thingie and she still regrets giving me the diploma.

No regrets Gonzo, i dont even worry about it. If it was Makita or Iwakiri saying that then i would pause to think, but BlackWing-Commendant can suxxor me :P.

On additional note, i've just come back from a 2 week visit to Japan. Yes i stopped over in Katsuura for a while, but i managed to stay at an apartament of a pal and not the Koryukaikan.

I worried about Love and Taylor and their sanity. But after spending a few days with them, doing kendo and a few nomikais together i can say without a doubt that they will make a great addition to the Brotherhood of Bekka.

I had a good time with You guys, Gambatte Onegaiitashimasu !

[Gonzo Nakayui]

That's right, only the real sensei count. Compare Kuro's lame: "You have to go to class!" With, Makita to me during a party at his house: "Oranda, Oranda, iki iki!! Give Oranda more beer, no stop!! Moo ikkai. I have a thousand beers in the house. Iki iki, hayaku, hayaku!!!"

[Danny Boy]

Hate to be resurecting this thread and all...but seeing how we have had a rotation happen at Budai, can the guys who just finished it (tyler and Love) give us a few words about how it went down for them ?

And congrats on finishing it, everything still in the right place i hope ?

[NorthernKendoka]

It's good to be home in the real world again. Budai had it's ups a downs but I don't regret going there, it made me a stronger person both mentally and in kendo. The last two months were terrible no classes and no kendo club, those months was mostly a waste of time. Fortunately my mother and brother came to visit so we spent 5 days in Kyoto and 3 in Tokyo. The budo seminar was great and proved once and for all that being a bekksei isn't about the place its about the people. Right now I'm trying to find a summer job so I can save enough money to go to the world championship in Taipei.

Danny the Bekka Manual had been passed on to the next generation, my cousin is the new guardian. He know I will kill him if he doesn't find a way to give it to the 2007-2008 bekkasei. Tyler managed to find a job as an english teacher in Toyohashi, Aichi-ken so he will stay for at least another year.

[von]

Hi All,
I have been reading on the posts in this thread. The more I read about the life in Katsuura, the more interesting and enthusiastic I become(with the exception of the cockroach smashing incident in the kitechen. :P) I am interested in the one year specialization budo course conducted by International Budo University (http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/) . I have visited International Budo University (http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/) . I realise that all of the site information are in Japanese. I have a list of questions and I hope that I could get answers from the helpful kendokas here.

1) How should I seek further information regarding the admission of the specialization course?
2) Is there any age limit for this course?
3) Is the course open for females?
4) How much do you actually spend entirely for this course? Any sponsorships?
5) What is the minimum academic qualifications required for this course?
6) Is the course conducted in English?


Thanks for the kind replies.... ^-^

[von]

Hi All,

I have been following this thread for some time. I have to admit that the more replies I read from you guys, the more enthusiastic I become. I am interested in the one year specialization budo course conducted by International Budo University (http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/)

I have visited their website and to my dismay, I couldn't find an English version of the university. Hence, I am left with no choice but to post a reply here, seeking help from the graduates regarding the admission for this one year specialization course.

I have a list of questions here and I sincerely hope that it can be answered as I do not know of any other means of getting the information.


1) Where can I get further information regarding the admission for the one year Budo specialization course?
2) What are the minimum requirements for the entrance to the university? Any minimum academic qualifications or you need to be a Dan holder in order to study Budo(in this case, I am interested in Kendo)?
3) Is this course open to females?
4) How much does the school fees and living expenses come to? I understand that it's not cheap to live in Japan. Is there any form of sponsorships for the course?

Thanks for the replies....

[nodachi]

It IS cheap to live in Japan!

Rent is cheap if you don't live in the middle of Tokyo, although some people can't let go of that. Katsuura should be in the cheap range and you have to use dorms there I think.

Food, stick to Japanese grown food and it is dirt cheap.
Alcohol, don't drink your money away. People lose HUGE amounts of money because they can't control their drinking budget.
Utilities, electricity is expensive, but only when you use your heating from electric appliances. Use a touyu heater (kerosene heater) and heating is dirt cheap.
Transportation can be cheap if you find the discount, monthly passes if you can.

So these are just a few examples. Japan is so cheap to live in, but your average individual can't control their budget. Clothing things are expensive here so that is one place where you will take a hit, but other things are quite manageable if you live as a Japanese person and change your habits to fit the lifestyle.

Another random note, grocery stores at department stores are expensive, but you can buy dry goods there, fruit/veggies at the smaller fruit/veggie stand in town (all towns have em), and do your shopping in bits and pieces like this and you can save a ton.

So basically, don't let the money deter you, but be ready to change your habits if you want to make it work.

[NorthernKendoka]

For some general info try my homepage www.bekka-world.tk (http://www.bekka-world.tk). My cousin who is a bekkasei right now should be able to send you some broschures and application material. His email adress is; sommi3@hotmail.com. I'm not sure how intressed he's in answering questions though.

[MiChuhSuh]

Just a few mails and he got himself a girl friend with free room and board for weeks in some nice big city far away from the koryokaikan. You won’t believe it, but there are lots of lonely Japanese girls and young single moms out there willing to teach you Japanese and experiment with cool gaijin-kendo-studs.

um... isn't this somewhat... exploitive?

[NorthernKendoka]

Who is exploiting who? Gaijins are hard to come by in Japan especially thoses that stay longer then a couple of weeks.

[tamaki]

hi!I am a female bekkasei at the moment and of course the course is open to females too!this year we have 2 chinese girls for judo and me for kendo.
as for further info and material you can just send them an email in english and they shall send you I think.or give us your adress and somebody can send the info.
you dont need to be a dan holder,though a relatively high level is important to go through the club practice.the senseis know that in europe we cant take examinations so easily so they dont judge us only by dan.and the level is different anyway.many senseis laugh when many of us tell them that we are national team members in europe...:bored: kendo is a whole different thing in Japan.
the school fees are about 3.500 euro for the year . you get a scholarship of 350euro every month(so you get back all your money and more).if you can have another 300euro from your parents back home then you will be fine!living in japan is cheap,even if you sometimes go clubbing and shopping in tokyo!(And since you re a girl,try shopping for clothes at shimamura in katsuura,its sooo cheap!)
the food at the cafeteria kind of sucks in means of being unhealthy and fatty.(it's made for japanese 20yr old boys only,I think!)but you can find cheap daily made food in the supermarkets or the convenient store.there are so many kinds of food to choose of!
the sake is also cheap,and kind of a necessity!everybody get together and drink in the weekends coz theres nothing else to do in katsuura:grin:
and of course a level of japanese will do you wonders.even the japanese who speak english have a horrible accent so you better stick to japanese!
if you are a beginner I dont think they can help you learn a lot but if youre alrealy a 3kyuu,the night kurobane classes can really get you pass 2kyuu,contrary to popular belief!
thats all from me!feel free to ask anything!

Hi All,

1) Where can I get further information regarding the admission for the one year Budo specialization course?
2) What are the minimum requirements for the entrance to the university? Any minimum academic qualifications or you need to be a Dan holder in order to study Budo(in this case, I am interested in Kendo)?
3) Is this course open to females?
4) How much does the school fees and living expenses come to? I understand that it's not cheap to live in Japan. Is there any form of sponsorships for the course?

Thanks for the replies....

[MiChuhSuh]

Who is exploiting who? Gaijins are hard to come by in Japan especially thoses that stay longer then a couple of weeks.

Just something about using lonely single moms and young girls seems very, very wrong and un-budo. Musashi's budo would not approve.

You won’t believe it, but there are lots of lonely Japanese girls and young single moms out there willing to teach you Japanese and experiment with cool gaijin-kendo-studs.

[von]

For some general info try my homepage www.bekka-world.tk (http://www.bekka-world.tk). My cousin who is a bekkasei right now should be able to send you some broschures and application material. His email adress is; sommi3@hotmail.com. I'm not sure how intressed he's in answering questions though.

thanks for your information, NorthernKendoka.

I am reading your homepage now. Thanks for providing your cousin's email address. I will try to contact your cousin for more information and I hope that your cousin is willingly to answer my enquiries.

[von]

It IS cheap to live in Japan!

Rent is cheap if you don't live in the middle of Tokyo, although some people can't let go of that. Katsuura should be in the cheap range and you have to use dorms there I think.

Food, stick to Japanese grown food and it is dirt cheap.
Alcohol, don't drink your money away. People lose HUGE amounts of money because they can't control their drinking budget.
Utilities, electricity is expensive, but only when you use your heating from electric appliances. Use a touyu heater (kerosene heater) and heating is dirt cheap.
Transportation can be cheap if you find the discount, monthly passes if you can.

So these are just a few examples. Japan is so cheap to live in, but your average individual can't control their budget. Clothing things are expensive here so that is one place where you will take a hit, but other things are quite manageable if you live as a Japanese person and change your habits to fit the lifestyle.

Another random note, grocery stores at department stores are expensive, but you can buy dry goods there, fruit/veggies at the smaller fruit/veggie stand in town (all towns have em), and do your shopping in bits and pieces like this and you can save a ton.

So basically, don't let the money deter you, but be ready to change your habits if you want to make it work.

thanks for your information, Nodachi.

I will try to find out more from NorthernKendoka's homepage.

I am living in Singapore, it's part of Asia so I guess my lifestyle won't change that much :D

You mention that it's cheap to live in Katsuura. May I know how cheap it can be?

[von]

hi!I am a female bekkasei at the moment and of course the course is open to females too!this year we have 2 chinese girls for judo and me for kendo.
as for further info and material you can just send them an email in english and they shall send you I think.or give us your adress and somebody can send the info.
you dont need to be a dan holder,though a relatively high level is important to go through the club practice.the senseis know that in europe we cant take examinations so easily so they dont judge us only by dan.and the level is different anyway.many senseis laugh when many of us tell them that we are national team members in europe...:bored: kendo is a whole different thing in Japan.
the school fees are about 3.500 euro for the year . you get a scholarship of 350euro every month(so you get back all your money and more).if you can have another 300euro from your parents back home then you will be fine!living in japan is cheap,even if you sometimes go clubbing and shopping in tokyo!(And since you re a girl,try shopping for clothes at shimamura in katsuura,its sooo cheap!)
the food at the cafeteria kind of sucks in means of being unhealthy and fatty.(it's made for japanese 20yr old boys only,I think!)but you can find cheap daily made food in the supermarkets or the convenient store.there are so many kinds of food to choose of!
the sake is also cheap,and kind of a necessity!everybody get together and drink in the weekends coz theres nothing else to do in katsuura:grin:
and of course a level of japanese will do you wonders.even the japanese who speak english have a horrible accent so you better stick to japanese!
if you are a beginner I dont think they can help you learn a lot but if youre alrealy a 3kyuu,the night kurobane classes can really get you pass 2kyuu,contrary to popular belief!
thats all from me!feel free to ask anything!

I have a question here. Do you have any basic Japanese? If not, how are you able to source for information regarding IBU? They don't have an English website, so I guess it's unlikely that they will reply me if I give them a mail.

I have been learning Kendo for 8 months. I know that I am still new to Kendo but I am determined to do it for life because I have been considering it for a long time before I pick up. Most probably, I will go for this program in 2008 but I need to do some plannings ahead. If I were to stay in Katsuura for a year, I will be using my own money(not from my parents) so I need to make sure that nothing goes well and I have to assume that nothing screw up on the way.

It will be 2 years away from now, so I am trying to practice hard to improve as much as I can.

I do agree that the standard of Kendo between Japan and other countries is heaven and earth difference but I am just a newbie...:cry:

As for the language, I only know a little. Well, is that considered as alright?

After reading all the posts here, Kurobane seems to be a :evil: Haha.:D

[NorthernKendoka]

Acctually they have a english homepage but to find it you have to know japanese. http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/gakubu/gakka/bekka.html. As for language skills mine were non-excistant and I didn't have any problems.

When to apply is up to you but i think you should get some more experience then that before you go. I had been doing kendo 4 years when I went and that was too early. They only have one beginners class each week and the rest of the time classes are for japanese people that have practiced kendo for at least 10 years. It can be hard to get partners for keiko even if you are as good as the students, if you (like me for example) are no way near their level of kendo it gets even harder. Where you're at now you would probably learn more from practicing back home for a couple of years. You can only be a bekkasei once so you have to try to pick the best time.

[tamaki]

If you are planning to go in 2 years time and you are studying japanese already,until then you will surely have passed nihongo 3 kyuu !so when you go to japan you can really learn more advanced japanese.
As for kendo,try your best and practice hard until then,there's no other way!As northern kendoka mentioned,its difficult here to get partners for keiko.(although us girls have it easier because the 1st year girls will probably make you motodachi sometimes and thats super for you!)And you can always ask the koreans to play with you,they kick ass!(most of them got into the university being school kendo champions or something like that in korea)
and,they WILL reply you if you send an english email.
and,I really dont think kurobane is anything of a bad person.She has been really nice to us,I think.She's like,letting go and forgeting everything people do or say to her.I enjoy her night classes in fact.:ermm:


I have a question here. Do you have any basic Japanese? If not, how are you able to source for information regarding IBU? As for the language, I only know a little. Well, is that considered as alright?

After reading all the posts here, Kurobane seems to be a :evil: Haha.:D

[von]

Acctually they have a english homepage but to find it you have to know japanese. http://www.budo-u.ac.jp/gakubu/gakka/bekka.html. As for language skills mine were non-excistant and I didn't have any problems.

When to apply is up to you but i think you should get some more experience then that before you go. I had been doing kendo 4 years when I went and that was too early. They only have one beginners class each week and the rest of the time classes are for japanese people that have practiced kendo for at least 10 years. It can be hard to get partners for keiko even if you are as good as the students, if you (like me for example) are no way near their level of kendo it gets even harder. Where you're at now you would probably learn more from practicing back home for a couple of years. You can only be a bekkasei once so you have to try to pick the best time.

I couldn't access the webpage that you provide....The error message was "The parameter was incorrect" :bored:

[von]

If you are planning to go in 2 years time and you are studying japanese already,until then you will surely have passed nihongo 3 kyuu !so when you go to japan you can really learn more advanced japanese.
As for kendo,try your best and practice hard until then,there's no other way!As northern kendoka mentioned,its difficult here to get partners for keiko.(although us girls have it easier because the 1st year girls will probably make you motodachi sometimes and thats super for you!)And you can always ask the koreans to play with you,they kick ass!(most of them got into the university being school kendo champions or something like that in korea)
and,they WILL reply you if you send an english email.
and,I really dont think kurobane is anything of a bad person.She has been really nice to us,I think.She's like,letting go and forgeting everything people do or say to her.I enjoy her night classes in fact.:ermm:

I was studying Japanese(for a year) in a language school 2 years ago. I dont remember much of it but I guess I could do some revision on my own. Hopefully, it helps when I go there.

I am glad that there are female bekkasei in this forum. At least, I get to know better about the curriculum(from a girl's point of view).

Is it get Japanese friends in Japan(not just within Katsuura)? I guess the fastest way to improve in a language is to get into environment and mix with the people.

If we are able to speak simple Japanese, are we able to get partners for keiko? because it seems that Japanese are strong in their kendo.

Ok, I will try to send an email to IBU, provided I can access their website. Their website seems to be down.

Ok, I will remember this name "Kurobane" :devious:

[NorthernKendoka]

i'm not having any problems opening budai page from the link I posted. The site doesn't really contain anything useful anyway.

Being able to speak japanese helps you to get more keiko but in the end the thing that matter most is how good your kendo is. If you're not good enough some japanese just feel they are wasting thier time and will try to fight you as little as possible, there are exceptions of course.

[Kiso Tatsu]

Hello,

It is very interesting and useful what you have written. But could you writte step by step what should average person do to get to budo uni, when I should start attempting if I want to start "studing" (for one year) from september next year.
Just informations for newbe.

thank you :)

[tamaki]

You can get some japanese friends in Katsuura,thats for sure!As for other places,I really dont know.I have a lot of friends but I knew them from when I was in Greece so it doesnt count,I didnt meet them here!Going to clubs is a way of meeting people,but its like,ALL sorts of people so you should be a little bit careful.
As for keiko,dont really need japanese.Just go to the person you want and say "Onegai shimasu".None of the girls has ever refused that.
But as northern kendoka mentioned,its your kendo that counts the most.



Is it get Japanese friends in Japan(not just within Katsuura)? I guess the fastest way to improve in a language is to get into environment and mix with the people.

If we are able to speak simple Japanese, are we able to get partners for keiko? because it seems that Japanese are strong in their kendo.

Ok, I will try to send an email to IBU, provided I can access their website. Their website seems to be down.

Ok, I will remember this name "Kurobane" :devious:

[NorthernKendoka]

There are so many steps to it I don't remember them all. Here are few I do know

1) Read everything you can find about budai (at least twice) so you know what you are signing up for.
2) Send an email to my cousin and ask for application material or broshures. His adress is; sommi3@hotmail.com. They contains all the info you need and they are up-to-date.
3) Start saving money
4) Practice kendo like a madman.
5) Apply
6) Go there???

And as I wrote on Bekka World you can only study between April 1 and March 25. You can't start your studies in September since that's half-way through the japanese academic year.

[von]

There are so many steps to it I don't remember them all. Here are few I do know

1) Read everything you can find about budai (at least twice) so you know what you are signing up for.
2) Send an email to my cousin and ask for application material or broshures. His adress is; sommi3@hotmail.com. They contains all the info you need and they are up-to-date.
3) Start saving money
4) Practice kendo like a madman.
5) Apply
6) Go there???

And as I wrote on Bekka World you can only study between April 1 and March 25. You can't start your studies in September since that's half-way through the japanese academic year.

By the way, I have read your website FIVE times right after you gave me the link. I am sure that I know what I am doing. Don't worry! :grin:

[NorthernKendoka]

I was refering to some of the previous threads on kendo world. Like this one http://www.kendo-world.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5073 and there are other just like it that might be useful.

[tyler]

If I could weigh in momentarily here, I was around last year with Northern Kendoka and saw what he saw. For people considering applying for the program, what I would emphasize is that you`re going to get absolutly NO love in that place.

When I first thought about going, I read the program`s description and it sounded like a great place to improve my kendo, right in the thick of things. But in reality you really have to look after yourself, and nobody is going to take you under their wing and tutor you in kendo. In the massive club practice (about, what, 140 people or so?) which is heavily ji-geiko oriented, you`re alone in a sea of kendoka all milling around joining lines to face various motodachi. As Northern Kendoka said, some people will give you the time of day and play you seriously, some people will ask for ippon shobu off the bat, blow you away inside ten seconds, and you`re left wondering why you stood in line for him or her for ten minutes. The first few months can be tough, while you suss out who is worthwhile and who isn`t.

Specific facts aside, the overall feeling of the place is that you`re on your own as far as your training goes. The more experience you have going into it the better off you will be, but this is simply NOT the place to begin learning kendo. There is relativly little basics re-inforcement and if your kendo is in the early stages of its development, a year at budai might actually make it worse. All of this flies in the face of the course`s official spiel, which is that they will accept beginners, but in my opinion, the place chews beginners up and spits them out.

Reading the official school package, you get the feeling that there is a special program at this school that will take care of you and teach you kendo. The reality is that, aside from one basics class a week (optional), you`re thrown into the frying pan with high level university students whose major is kendo, who have gone through a selection process just to get in (who knows, they may even scout a few people, it wouldn`t surprise me), some of whom are bound for careers as kendo teachers and players for companies, and nearly all of whom are interested in developing their own kendo, not yours. If you expect to get something out of them, you`d better be able to play on their level, or many of them simply won`t have that much time for you.

Sounds a bit harsh, but that is my feeling after spending a year there. And of course, there are exceptions - I can think of many people in the club who were kind to me, who took the time to show me things and put effort into teaching me - but speaking generally, these people are few and far between.

Sorry to go on at length, but I`ve said what I wanted to get across, which is that you pretty much get dropped into the kendo ocean, sink or swim, and staying afloat on a daily basis is totally up to you, so be ready for that, whatever the school writes in their advertising or says to you in communication. That aside, goodluck!

[yohed55]

I am a little young to be contemplating this, but I will be able to go in 5 years if I want to. Do you think somebody in the shodan-nidan level would be able to cope with the kendo players at IBU?

[NorthernKendoka]

It's not your grade doesn't really tell you if you are ready to go, it is all about how good you are. Speaking in general terms shodan-nidan should be enough if you have the dedication.

[Kenshi]

I cant believe that there are still people wanting to go to this despite what has been written here. Its pretty clear to me that its not an ideal place to learn kendo. I was warned by people about this before cos I contemplated it too. Well not 'warned' per se, I think the words that were used were 'dont do it.'

"A Japanese university student whos speciality is kendo" .... 99% of the people on this forum have no idea what skill level this is. Im sure most of the ex Bekka people didnt have a clue either. Frankly speaking, its better than [insert your name here]... by a long shot.

If you want to learn Japanese and do kendo, then come to Japan and find a job or find a job and come to Japan. Rather than spend money and sort of do kendo, earn money and do kendo. Thats what I do, and I have brilliant teachers and an excellent kendo life.

Another option is that you could always take the money you were going to spend on budai and study Japanese at a different institution, and do kendo at the same time.

[conbob]

gonzo... when you were in japan where you locked in a cage or something?? who are these guards you speak of... and whats the international office :confused2:confused2 :confused2

[nikozamo]

hello ... jajaja y read the firts post. im a bekka sei now.... and maybe the things are a little different now.... fujita san maybe now is taking drugs or something because is not a great problem.... the trainings are really good and until now y have a nice life here.... really when i read the firts post i really fall to the floor only laughting... the only real thing is.... you never learn japanese from the classes , and is sunviving because only you arent in your home... :D :D :D

[von]

I cant believe that there are still people wanting to go to this despite what has been written here. Its pretty clear to me that its not an ideal place to learn kendo. I was warned by people about this before cos I contemplated it too. Well not 'warned' per se, I think the words that were used were 'dont do it.'

"A Japanese university student whos speciality is kendo" .... 99% of the people on this forum have no idea what skill level this is. Im sure most of the ex Bekka people didnt have a clue either. Frankly speaking, its better than [insert your name here]... by a long shot.

If you want to learn Japanese and do kendo, then come to Japan and find a job or find a job and come to Japan. Rather than spend money and sort of do kendo, earn money and do kendo. Thats what I do, and I have brilliant teachers and an excellent kendo life.

Another option is that you could always take the money you were going to spend on budai and study Japanese at a different institution, and do kendo at the same time.

Is it easy to look for a job in Japan for a foreigner like me? If I am given an opportunity, I would like to experience working overseas. Any recommendations?

[NorthernKendoka]

At first budai doesn't seem that bad but thrust us it gets worse. Fujita might seem like a nice guy but has allways been and allways will be an asshole, don't let your guard down.

[kendokamax]

fujita is a retard

[Fonsz]

If you follow this link you will find a book written by the initiator of this thread.
I only read some pages, but I think you will find the full story, or his story in it.
http://www.lulu.com/content/316593
Maybe this will enlighten you guys who are contemplating to go there or spend their sabbatical some place else.

[Awooga Guy]

Haha! Gonzo wrote a book?? Totally sweet :D Awooga Guy is gonna get this...

Cool :)



That is all

[nikozamo]

i think the most difficult thing is in the dojo... when you can see you are not well wellcome (jajaja) and you need to fight by your respect.

[Awooga Guy]

Awooga Guy's copy of Gonzo's book turned up today! Two chapters in, and it's pretty darn good. Awooga Guy recommends it to you all.

Pic here:

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/2404/dsc003770bt.jpg



That is all.

[kendokamax]

Very good book.

It really was amazing to remember all these great moments.

Thank you stefan!!

[tamaki]

This half year so far in Budai is like,one of the best times and experiences that I recently had.And the kendobu and the kendo itself can be REALLY good if you go every day.
And its nice living like,next door to your friends.Or next street anyway.
The dojo is 3 min.walk from your bed :o !!!
And Katsuura is a very beautiful green place,easy to concentrate on the kendo and study.
Kurobane is very helpful and cant find a reason not to like her.As is everybody in the international office.
Why did everybody focus on the bad parts of the bekka thing?
I fell lucky and happy that I got accepted here.
I am in fact thinking of continuing as a research student next year.

[sid]

I am in fact thinking of continuing as a research student next year.

guys am already 24 n graduated engineering in 2005....may sound too late for katsuura...but i still wanna do it...can u suggest if its ok i bekka-sei for a year nex yr n then do my post grads there itself....in that case i can be there longer....

what u suggest i take up for post grads?? does techincal stuff sound good from tokai uni or.......something else??

plz help

thanks in advance........

[tamaki]

guys am already 24 n graduated engineering in 2005....may sound too late for katsuura...but i still wanna do it...can u suggest if its ok i bekka-sei for a year nex yr n then do my post grads there itself....in that case i can be there longer....

what u suggest i take up for post grads?? does techincal stuff sound good from tokai uni or.......something else??

plz help

thanks in advance........

I came here at 24,too.Its never too late for the bekka thing.Its an unforgettable experience and I still feel lucky for getting accepted here.So,if you come for your bekka year,I guess you can talk with the kendo sensei about what you do next year.But if you want to continue at Budai,it has to be sports/budo orientated.
As for the second year,if your main concern is kendo,then you can visit the kendobu of many different universities,and see which you prefer( if you don't want/can't continue at budai).But there's the examinations problem,too.You have to test on japanese(pretty advanced level,I think) and other stuff,if you want to take a post grad course,so its not like you can always be accepted to the place you want.I dont know so much about the post grads,though,because I am continuing as a research student probably,which doesn't need exams.

And if you continue at budai for second year,its gonna be easier for you concerning the kendobu,you will already be friendly with the kids and the sensei,everybody will know you and play you,etc,while if you change university you have to go over this ugly first period again.And especially the kendobu kids,they're not the friendliest crowd in the first months, if you miss practices and stuff.From my experience,when I first went to the kendojo here,I felt so alone,in spite of being with 200 ppl ,because many of them dont pay attention to you in the beginning and dont play seriously.(and other bekkasei felt the same ).But now its so good ,I can't wait to go practice everyday.It seriously makes my day,makes me smile everytime after practice.(In fact I was thinking today that we have to stop for 2 weeks (xmas) and got me down )So,there are many things you have to think of,if you want to stay second year.Especially kendo issues.I guess the best thing is come here and see for yourself,what you can do and how much patience you have :p


As for the stuff written on Fujita,I feel kinda sorry for him.He's been really annoying/bad/strict/etc to me and everybody here,to the point that I had to try not to lose my temper and scream at him.But I heard that he's got some serious problems at home( I dont think I should talk more about his personal stuff on the net),so,I can't say I hate him even after all this.I mean,I wouldn't like to be in his position and with the same problems.:down:
One of the things I learned here,there is so much good AND bad in (almost)everyone.:normal:

[hamish]

I mean,I wouldn't like to be in his position and with the same problems.:down:
Putting your own petty concerns above the welfare of the students in your care is never excusable. I know one foreign student who quit his job to study at Budai, with wife and kids in tow, and was denied a considerable scholarship because Fujita never got off his ass to process the request he received, despite repeated requests.

The fact that he is in the position he is in reflects the importance to the university of the foreign students...very little.

[sid]

I came here at 24,too.Its never too late for the bekka thing.Its an unforgettable experience and I still feel lucky for getting accepted here.So,if you come for your bekka year,I guess you can talk with the kendo sensei about what you do next year.But if you want to continue at Budai,it has to be sports/budo orientated.

:
thanks a lot tamaki for those valuable lines n i must tell u i can see a lot more clearly now. although the test in japanese really hit me hard, cause i never thought they wanted foreign students to pass entrance test (post grads)in japanese.

on a very personal front , the truth is my parents are totally against it. so i thought of a good excuse to go there saying i go for post grads n the first year is 'introduction to japanese culture';-) hope that works. n then when i am there its all my choice....

i dunno if i should get my personal stuff into this forum, am sorry if i deviated the main topic here....

anyways tamaki thanks again for all the wise stuff....



sid

[tamaki]

thanks a lot tamaki for those valuable lines n i must tell u i can see a lot more clearly now. although the test in japanese really hit me hard, cause i never thought they wanted foreign students to pass entrance test (post grads)in japanese.

on a very personal front , the truth is my parents are totally against it. so i thought of a good excuse to go there saying i go for post grads n the first year is 'introduction to japanese culture';-) hope that works. n then when i am there its all my choice....

sid

:wink: yeah the japanese test is over 2kyuu level I think.I actually talked with some people here, told me to consider master course too.But actually,I just wanna continue in the same kendobu,research on kendo and work.Master course actually needs you to study:tired:

As for your parents,I know what you mean (sign) my dad doesn't even know that I 'm here for kendo.He thinks its a japanese culture thing.He'd never give me money to study just kendo.And he doesn't know for my plans next year.I should meet him when I go back in my bogu and earplugs,for safety ;p

[nikozamo]

mi father just prefer to go to study in another place like somethig ``for real`` like medicine in europe (for example) but he understand me and give me the choice to come to japan TO MAKE KENDO.

and i think come here like bekka sei, in a perspective of learn more japanese language than kendo or judo is a wrong idea. at last its very clear you are ``KENDO bekka sei`` and ``JUDO bekka sei``, not ``NIHONGO bekka sei``.

[Anime12478]

It's something that I would love to do. It just seems like it would be an interesting experience to partake in to really get some great experience in Kendo.

The only problem is that I don't see how people could fit that in one's life if they live outside of Japan. I really don't know the curriculum well, but it might be easier to do if you had a job within Japan or something. The way that my life is going, I really don't see how I would have the time to go until I retire in about 50 years or so as I don't know if I would be able to just suddenly take a year off and go.

I do agree with Hamish that one shouldn't let their personal lives bleed into your overall performance anywhere. If it gets that bad, then you just need to take a break or something. This fact kinda affects my willingness to go. I don't know if it's because they underestimate foreigners or something, but I would hope that the welcome would be more receptive.

[sid]

when anybody reads the bekkasei manual ...anybody would wan to be there and experience all that!!! but 1 needs real love for kendo!! like peopl in this forum!!!!
guess every1 would have the impulse in life to quit everything in life and just go there!! for those who are there its heaven....

but for the others...have to b patient enough.... everybody has his own karma......

[Kenshi]

so - just out of interest - who were the non-japanese guys at the gasshuku at IBU this weekend? KW Forum people I guess?

[nikozamo]

:ninja: this weekend??? im in ibu and have just no notice of that... and its sunday... x___X

[Kenshi]

:ninja: this weekend??? im in ibu and have just no notice of that... and its sunday... x___X

thats cool. my kohai called it a gasshuku, but i guess he means for his dojo in tokyo. there were 4 non-japanese people who attended (IBU people I - and he - assumed) plus university kids.

no fear.

[Kenshi]

:ninja: this weekend??? im in ibu and have just no notice of that... and its sunday... x___X

It was at IBU I might add........ heh heh

[nikozamo]

OMG... no problem... because the budo seminar is coming!!! muahahahaha

[Kenshi]

the budo seminar is coming!!! muahahahaha

is this the highlight of the year for you or something?

[nikozamo]

actually is one of the best one in this part of the bekka sei year... now is so ***** boring the ibu and the only thing that can take us from this situation is the periodical trainings with michael in kamowaga or the ``little dojo``.

[Kenshi]

i suspect that normal informed people like me actually get better training than you.... no offense

[nikozamo]

its not offense... its true... but sometimes happen.. you know how is to be a bekka sei... in like 20 days i will be in home so... no problem. and the information problem here is horrible.... specially with the kendo guys, because you know the budo speciallity of the head of the program...a se

[Danny Boy]

Totally true Kenshi, but if you get dropped into the middle of country side in Japan with little or no contacts, it is hard finding these things out.

Of course the kendo-bu members (both...high and low "echelon") travel all the time for seminars, training sessions and what-nots and I do not think it would take a lot of effort informing the foreign students.

The only regret over my year in Japan is the fact that we did not do as much kendo outside of the university as we could have. If it were not for Michael Komoto in fact, i dont think i would do _any_ outside of Budai.

I will be joining the Kyushu University in September as a foreign research student, and I reckon that the experiances I gained at IBU will help me a lot.

[Kenshi]

I will be joining the Kyushu University in September as a foreign research student, and I reckon that the experiances I gained at IBU will help me a lot.

look forward to your trip to Osaka.

[tamaki]

Of course the kendo-bu members (both...high and low "echelon") travel all the time for seminars, training sessions and what-nots and I do not think it would take a lot of effort informing the foreign students.
I will be joining the Kyushu University in September as a foreign research student, and I reckon that the experiances I gained at IBU will help me a lot.

As far as I see,most of the kendobu kids right now(vacation) are just slacking at home/working part time to save money,or visiting their hometown dojo,nothing too big.(except for some of the 4th years who already started working in companies with strong kendo teams and are getting ready for some company shiai soon or something like that)
Everybody who hears that we(the bekkasei) train so often in vacation gives the face of "why do you train in vacation??'
so I don't think there's anything kendo-related that we're not invited.
On the contrary、 after June I didn't get any feeling that we're not welcome in the dojo (of course there are the exceptions,and then everybody takes what they gave in terms of 参加).Theyre just shy jap.kids who waited from us to do the first joke.But they wanted us to be friends.
And
Congrats for the university,gambatte ne!

[nikozamo]

and now a refreshing non-keiko bekka sei activity....

some videos during the curfew of the bekka sei program, real documentarys of the time at 12 in the night aprox, nothing too do at that hour...

please enjoy (is very stupid, but be respectful)
the first one... rock in budai...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=peIMj93szo4
a not to good but whatever...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoRvvANWO4Q
and this one was famosus in the youtube category.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BN-t27Toxcs

[Aldebabram]

Hi, I´m new, and I´m writing cause I want to train in the IBU, but I have to say I´m kind of scared reading all this posts, cause my ideal is to go and train in a healthy enviroment, but I just see bad opinions about the university, in mexico is like hell, we have problems with the presidents corruption, and with the self centric dojos arrond, and all my planns and eforts are in going to the IBU, next year, so know I´m uncertain about going now. Still I have another question, I´v heard that theres the bekka one year plan, but also that theres the possibility to train for four years, hope some one can inlight me and help me with my doubts

[xvikingx]

Well, like Kenshi wrote before you can (and will probably be better off):

A) Take the money you were going to spend on IBU and put it towards a normal University. Study something worthwhile there and train at the Uni kendo club

or

B) Find work in Japan and join a local dojo. It maybe difficult though as the majority of the foreign language teachers in demand are native Korean, Chinese, or English speakers. Unless you speak Japanese very well you are not likely to find a job other than language teaching.

[Aldebabram]

So, is it really that bad, my greatest hopes are to train in japan, you may think I´m a retarded or something, but there is nothing else I wan´t to do exept kendo, and I was thinking that IBU was a good idea, till now

[xvikingx]

I'm not saying it's bad. I've never been to IBU. I've only heard about it. If IBU offers education in whatever it is you want to major in then IBU maybe a good choice for you.
If you simply want to train in Japan then you will probably be better off with the other options I gave you.

[nikozamo]

So, is it really that bad, my greatest hopes are to train in japan, you may think I´m a retarded or something, but there is nothing else I wan´t to do exept kendo, and I was thinking that IBU was a good idea, till now


to be a bekka sei you just need to get in there... there is no restrictions, some comments are bad... but you will grow in kendo a lot. experience of a just graduated bekka sei .... y just come back to my home.

[Aldebabram]

yesterday I talk about this with my dad, cause he support me in this, knowing kendo is what I love the most, even my girlfriend knows that, and he told me that I´m going to train, not to do friends, hope to do some any way, and I think also, that all of you guys live in first world countrys, so you practice in a good enviroment, I´m mexico we don´t, that Fujita-san you talk about, he sound like mexican´s federation president, only some senseis are good people, and others are part of the burocraci and they aloud presidents corruption, so I´m use to be misstreated by non important people, and also, all my life I have studied in private schoolls, till the las three years of high schooll, and men there I wasn´t just misstreated, ther my live was at risk, the bastards where delincuents, some of them have been in jail, and you know, when anyone stand in mi way, I beat the crap out of them, so I still thinking of going, and as my dad said, "if they arent to YOUR standars, tell them that, and leave", so I apreciate your warnings, but I apreciate more the advissing. Cause how I tell to my girlfriend, kendo is everything, life, life is just a hobby.

[Danny Boy]

I think you misunderstand the purpose of this thread. All the comments posted were done not to disuade people from going to IBU. Rather, they were written to prepare anyone wishing to go there in the future for the reality of the place. It is not a happy, friendly, pink and fluffy kendo camp. There is a lot of crap one has to deal with in order to get through it.
Mr F. is a good personification of all these problems. They make life there harder, just for the sake of making it harder i suppose. (And to add to that, he has no real...power, most of the threats he makes are empty and pointless).
Is it worth it ? Pretty much every bekka I talked to so far told me that it is.

Further more, keep in mind that the purpose of kendo is to enrich your life.

[nikozamo]

is a kendo hell you want to go!!!... is a good experience... with some bad stuff! nothing can be perfect!!! like danny boy sais is not a happy, friendly, pink and fluffy kendo camp.... BUT every kenshi need to do it... its ``the bekka sei experience:cyclops: :cyclops: :cyclops: ``... hahahaha

[tamaki]

I say give it a try and go,if you are ready to face both good and some bad stuff.Of course certain ppl will make your life difficult but just ignore them,they have no real power.As for the rest,the kendo is superb,you will really get better(if you train),all the senseis and a lot of kids there try A LOT to help you improve.Of course its not a happy fluffy place.You go there for kendo,not to dance school!You should be prepared for some hard stuff.Even if there was a happy, friendly, pink and fluffy kendo camp ,why should you go there?
just finished the year here,I m so sad its over..Too many good experiences and memories and friends and good kendo.The good memories almost eliminate the bad.
and if you choose the other option(which I will do now since I have no other option)-> working in japan and training keep in mind that not being in a university enviroment means a different style of training,probably no shiai-ren,no pressure,not 3 gashuuku a year,no exhausting kakarikeiko,not everyday multiple practices etc.its a whole different style of training outside university clubs.my opinion is if you're young (physically speaking) and want to give yourself for one year 100% to it,try the univ.kendo.there are always the 8dan and 7dan in universities like budai so its not like you'll miss the mental kendo,too.

[Aldebabram]

Hi, its me again, here comes nothing, the time has come, so abusing of your good intentioned hearts I ask for your guidance again, I´v been told to write a e-mail to this direction: kokusai@budo-u.ac.jp, if that´s so, could some one suggest me or explain me how does this letter must be written, or what does it have to say and so on, please help me cause as far as I know, time has come on me so I have short time, I was told to write the letter to be send starting from August´s first week, so pleeeeeeeeease help meeee. =) Regards my good fellows

[tamaki]

just send an email saying that you want to apply for next year's bekka program,and that you want the informative material.the female staff at the office are lovely,they re gonna reply and send you asap



Hi, its me again, here comes nothing, the time has come, so abusing of your good intentioned hearts I ask for your guidance again, I´v been told to write a e-mail to this direction: kokusai@budo-u.ac.jp, if that´s so, could some one suggest me or explain me how does this letter must be written, or what does it have to say and so on, please help me cause as far as I know, time has come on me so I have short time, I was told to write the letter to be send starting from August´s first week, so pleeeeeeeeease help meeee. =) Regards my good fellows

[Aldebabram]

Thanks for your help, but does it have to be formal or anything, and is that the right e-mail address

[tamaki]

its the correct address,just write an email,doesnt have to be too formal,just say what you want.its not such a big deal,as long as you aren't rude :)

Thanks for your help, but does it have to be formal or anything, and is that the right e-mail address

[tamaki]

The time has come again:laugh: the IBU summer gasshuku for this year begins this Thursday!C u there Bekkasei gambarimashou!!

[Aldebabram]

Hi, unfortunately I haven´t receive an answer to my inquiry yet, so I ´m still lost in my little world of ignorance, what will you suggest, should I write again,or shoukld I keep waiting? and thanks =)

[skilled]

I've been following this thread since i started watching kendo world..

i thought more than 100000 times to go to japan...

im 17 and dunnow what else to do other than going there :P , i don't necesarily mean going to katsuraa .


Got any advices? all are welcome ...

[nodachi]

I've been following this thread since i started watching kendo world..

i thought more than 100000 times to go to japan...

im 17 and dunnow what else to do other than going there :P , i don't necesarily mean going to katsuraa .


Got any advices? all are welcome ...

Homestay program with no academic connection
Exchange student or some sort of college year abroad program when you are in college
Intensive language program that requires living there and studying japanese full time

Worst case scenario, teach English. I advise the top options first. The last is a last resort. You can still have a great experience, but the top options definitely create a better experience.

[nikozamo]

you must think if you want something like go and work or ''something like'' one year kendo holidays: in this case go to budai

[skilled]

Homestay program with no academic connection
Exchange student or some sort of college year abroad program when you are in college
Intensive language program that requires living there and studying japanese full time

Worst case scenario, teach English. I advise the top options first. The last is a last resort. You can still have a great experience, but the top options definitely create a better experience.

Are there many jobs for English Teachers? ^^

[tamaki]

you must think if you want something like go and work or ''something like'' one year kendo holidays: in this case go to budai



"kendo holidays" :laugh: hehe that rocks~ its a good definition for the budai year!!

[nodachi]

Are there many jobs for English Teachers? ^^

Too many, to the point where the job gets a bad reputation because lots of useless people end up in the jobs and many of the companies don't actually teach and as long as customers are happy and paying then it doesn't matter what people are learning. It's a last resort. Search the forum, search the net. "teaching in Japan" on google will bring up too much information for you to handle. And be prepared to filter through what complaints are real and which are not.

Budai still sounds cool to me... and the other options are still better than teaching, but take the option that is the best fit for you...

[Aldebabram]

Hi !!!!!!!!!! it's me again, I get into the program for next year, yeahhh!!!!!!!!!!!!, and I just wanted to thank all of you guys (especialy Tmaki-san) for helping me with the warnings, the cheers, and the answers to my sometimes stupid questions, regards.
.

[nikozamo]

felicitaciones!
well the bekka sei experience starts with the first paper you need to fill. good luck!

[Aldebabram]

Gracias, si así es, hay que ir a la embajada y luego pagar, eso es lo dificil LOL

[skilled]

you must think if you want something like go and work or ''something like'' one year kendo holidays: in this case go to budai

nice =) , how much money I need aprox. ? 10 000 $ ? how much =)! so I can start saving

[nikozamo]

something like that... but always if you can get some more money will be great because japan its a little expensive in this side of the world. :D

[Docile]

Too many, to the point where the job gets a bad reputation because lots of useless people end up in the jobs and many of the companies don't actually teach and as long as customers are happy and paying then it doesn't matter what people are learning. It's a last resort. Search the forum, search the net. "teaching in Japan" on google will bring up too much