Naoshima: a getaway for contemporary art lovers

An outdoor sculpture on Naoshima

         
Topic:

      

This article is about a small Japanese island that has become the home of a world-class art collection.

        

Before reading:

       

General Knowledge:

• Can you find Japan on a map? How about the island of Naoshima?
• What is public art?
• What are the characteristics of places that rely on tourism?

       

Speculate:

• This article tells us about a large company that built museums on a small island. How do you think this affected the people who live there?

        

       

Click on the embedded link below to read the article and see photos on the NPR website. Word count: 819

      

How Art Transformed A Remote Japanese Island

After reading:

        

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• What might have happened to Naoshima if Benesse Holdings had not decided to house its collection on the island?
• What do you think it is like for the local people of such a small island to live in a place where so many tourists come to visit?
• If you were a member of Naoshima's tourist board, what would you do to attract tourists that aren't interested in art?
• What do you think Naoshima might be like 20 years from now? 50 years? Explain your answer using information from the article along with your own ideas.
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

             

Reflect and evaluate:

• Mr. Okuda says that some Naoshima residents were initially skeptical about the project, but over time they have been able to see the benefits. Has anything like this ever happened in your country or community? Can you think of a time where something changed, but it was hard to see the advantages until after some time had passed?
• People who live on Naoshima are surrounded by art in their daily lives. How about you? How often do you have the opportunity to appreciate works of art?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

         

Beyond the page:

• Learn more about Naoshima by visiting one of these pages: Benesse Art Site Naoshima, Naoshima Travel Guide, or Naoshima Travel Information.
• Is there any public art in the area where you live? Find out.

              

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below. And don't forget to share this post with your friends!

Summer photo exhibition: Week of July 11th

Our first photo was sent in by Megumi, from Japan:         
                      

           
Category: Festivals
      
Location: This photo was taken in my hometown
          

Comment:

           

This picture is from a summer festival ("Natsu-Matsuri") in my hometown. There is a shrine in my hometown and annually the summer festival is held.

           

In the morning, people go to the shrine with portable shrines (called omikoshi). In my town there are two omikoshi. One is for adults and the other is for children. They hold the ceremony to move the god to get on the portable shrine.

          

People carry it on their shoulders and walk around through the town.  Many spectators walk along with them. It takes around a half day to go through the town. At every stop, some foods and drinks are served to the people, including spectators. Matsuri is open to everyone!

                 

         

*****

Our second photo was sent in by Nao, from Tokyo, Japan:
         

          
Category: Culture
     
Location: My home

Comment:      

The Chinese Peony is one of my favorite flowers. It's an elegant, graceful flower. In floral language it means compassion and bashfulness, according to some websites. In Japanese, there is an expression to describe a beautiful woman:

Tateba shakuyaku, suwareba botan, aruku sugata wa yurinohana.

("She stands like a Chinese peony, sits like a peony, and walks like a lily.")

This expresses an elegant woman's style. Ladies, if you are told that, you will be happy, won't you?

         

From June to the beginning of July is the season for this flower. It's so popular in season: flower specialty shops sell a few kinds of colors such as red, pink and white. The supermarket has them in stock as well.

          
If you buy it as a bud before it opens, you can enjoy seeing the peony blooming at home. They show several kinds of faces until they bloom. This is my favorite point. I also recommend you buy it in a supermarket if you want to get it, because it's affordable. The price in the supermarket is half or two thirds less than in the flower shop.

         

About three years have passed since I started to decorate with fresh flowers in my home as much as possible. I began to feel more seasonal than before. Now flowers are essential for my life.

          

***
       
Thanks to Megumi for sharing a glimpse of your hometown, and also to Nao, for teaching us something new about Chinese peonies!
         
        
(Would you like your photo to be featured on the blog, too? Get information about the Summer Photo Exhibition here: Get Your Cameras Ready!!)

When 'temporary' feels permanent

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

This article is about efforts to recover from the 2011 disasters in Japan. Word count: 846

Before reading:

 

General Knowledge:

• What happens when an earthquake hits?
• How can you prepare for an earthquake? What should you do during and after an earthquake?
• What happened in Japan on March 11, 2011?

Speculate:

• Many of the people who evacuated during the disaster five years ago are still living in temporary housing. What might be some of the obstacles to providing them with permanent housing?

After reading:

  

Review and discuss:

• Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".
• The article says that the temporary houses are "about the size of a king-size mattress". What do you think life is like in a space this small?
• What are the difficulties of living in temporary housing for so many years? Use examples from the article as well as your own ideas.
• The article says that many people are not returning to villages even after they have been deemed "safe". What are some possible reasons that they are choosing not to go back?
• In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

Reflect and evaluate:

• What helps people to rebuild their lives and communities after natural disasters strike?
• What might the disaster in Japan have taught people about disaster preparation, emergency response, and warning systems?
• Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?
• What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

Beyond the page

• Do an internet search to find out more about earthquakes and earthquake-prone regions in the world.

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!

The tiny Japanese village preserving a traditional art form

Click on the embedded link above to read the article, watch a video, see photos, and listen to or download the audio file on the NPR website.

  

This article is about a small village in Japan with a long tradition of kabuki theater. Word count: 777

  

Before reading:

  

General Knowledge:

·Can you find Japan on a map? How about the village of Damine?

·What are some of the advantages that might come with life in a small village? How about disadvantages?

  

Speculate:

·In Japan, the populations of many smaller towns and villages are shrinking. What might be causing this?

  

After reading:

  

Review and discuss:

·Write a 3-4 sentence summary of this article. Begin your summary with "This article is about…".

·Why might large cities be more attractive to young people than life in a small village?

·Why do you think Damine's remaining families have stayed? In addition to kabuki, what might be a reason for choosing to stay even though many others have left?

·Imagine that you are part of the Damine community. What could you do to help save your village?

·In your opinion, what was the most interesting thing mentioned in this article? Why?

 

Reflect and evaluate:

·If the government where you live offered incentives like cheap land and thousands of dollars for home furnishings, would you consider moving to a rural area?

·In your culture, what are some traditions that children are encouraged to participate in? Is there anything similar to the kabuki tradition in Damine?

·Is there anything else you'd like to know about this topic? Do you have any questions that weren't answered in the article?

·What vocabulary words were new to you in this article? Make a record of what you have learned.

 

Beyond the page

·Search online for information about or videos of the traditional Japanese performing art of kabuki. What is your impression of it?
    

Join the conversation: add your thoughts about this article in the comments section below!