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ALC Newsletter No. 064 07/18/07
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By the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
http://www.alc.co.jp/international
Contents:
1) The "Dear Readers" Column: Messages from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press
2) Topics in Japan #24: "Tecchan" and "Tetsuko" ─ Japan's train scenes
3) Quiz on Japan #3: "What do cat sculptures represent?"
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Greetings from Tokyo!
Today, we would like to introduce our new correspondence course to
you. It is a three-month course to train JAOS-certified study abroad
counselors.
JOAS stands for the Japan Association of Overseas Studies, and it is
an NPO founded in 1992 by major study abroad agencies for the
purpose of promoting educational exchanges between Japan and
other countries.
http://www.jaos.gr.jp/english/index.html
The course's texts are written by experts in the area of international
educational exchange. Fields of study include geography, history,
sociology, and the educational systems of commonly visited countries.
In addition, this course covers issues relating to legal affairs when
studying overseas, and methods of providing counseling and placement
services, and much more. During the course, students have to score 60
or more points out of 100 on three tests. After successfully completing
the course, students are supposed to attend a two-day on-site
workshop, and take a test for a certificate. Those who successfully
satisfy the requirements will be certified by JAOS as a study abroad
counselor.
Before now, there hasn't been a system to certify study abroad
counselors in Japan; if you had experience studying abroad, you were
hired by a study abroad agency and were considered a "counselor." Of
course today some agencies do have their own training programs.
However, we expect that the JAOS course will enhance the quality of
study abroad counselors and the services they provide, which will then
broaden the study abroad market in Japan.
We would like to suggest to principals and English teachers in secondary
schools in Japan to take this course so that they will be better able to
give useful advice to students who wish to study abroad. Don't you
agree?
Best wishes from the International Marketing Team at ALC Press.
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Topics in Japan #24: "Tecchan" and "Tetsuko" ─ Japan's train scenes
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The word "otaku" has become widely known in English-speaking
countries, but did you know that there is an otaku category called "tetsudo otaku," which means "train otaku"? Tetsudo otaku people
are those who love trains so much that they can even remember all
the station names of certain train routes, and the models of train car
bodies. They take photos of trains with expensive cameras, and never
fail to join important events such as the celebration of a new train
model, or the retirement ceremony of an old train model.
Japan's train history began in 1872, and now there is a widespread train
network throughout the country. Train fans have long existed, but they
have been recognized as another form of Japanese otaku culture in the
last several years, and now they are also called "Tecchan" ("-chan"
is added to the end of someone's name with affection). According to
one study, there are about 20,000 "Tecchans" in Japan, and their
market size is said to reach ￥4 billion (about $33 million).
There is even a "Tetsu-Cafe" (Tetsudo Cafe, or Train Cafe), where
people enjoy operating miniature but realistic trains on railways that
are spread throughout the three-story building. Opened in Osaka in
September 2005, the Tetsu Cafe used to be a noodle restaurant where a
lot of Tecchans came and socialized together. The owner then decided
to change the place into a more comfortable playground for train fans.
The Tetsu Cafe has become so popular that it opened the second store
in July, and will open the third one in August.
There are also several popular comic books, which feature Tecchans.
And although trains have long been recognized as something that
interest guys, more and more women seem to be getting interested in
trains. These female train fans are called "Tetsu-ko" (-ko is a common
suffix on Japanese females' names). Looking at people's interest in
trains, there may someday be a new type of culture generated from
Japan's train scene.
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Quiz on Japan #3: "What do cat sculptures represent?"
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How much do you know about Japan? We'll give you a quiz in each
issue, so try to find the right answer!
［Answer to last week's quiz］
Last week's quiz question was "What is done at a Japanese-style
funeral?" The answer is: (c) After the body is cremated, relatives
collect the bones with chopsticks. In Japanese, the word, "chopsticks"
and "bridge" have the same sound: "hashi". So, by collecting the
bones with chopsticks, people wish that the soul of the dead will be
sent peacefully over the bridge to heaven.
［Quiz for this week］
Quiz #3: Sometimes, you can find sculptures of a cat in front of
stores in Japan. What do these sculptures signify?
(a) To wish that there will be more and more customers
(b) To show customers that the store will honor any request
(c) To show that the store is currently taking a break
(d) To show customers that they can bring pets inside the store
Check out the correct answer in the next issue!
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Thank you for reading!
*Back issues of the ALC Newsletter are available at:
http://www.alc.co.jp/international/Newsletter.html
*If you wish to be removed from this newsletter or change the e-mail
address to which it is sent, please let us know by e-mailing us at:
intl-mag@alc.co.jp
Publisher: ALC Press, Inc.
2-54-12 Eifuku, Suginami-ku, Tokyo 168-8611 Japan
Writers: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press / Ayako Ishimoto
Editor: The International Marketing Team at ALC Press
Copyright (c) 2007 ALC Press, Inc. All rights reserved.
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