Feb 10 Hydrogen Powered Trains / Summary of Jan 13 meeting

Dear friends and members of the U Fellowship of Tokyo,

☆Next meeting is February 10

Heather Steele (Ph.d in Engineering Birmingham University, Daiwa Anglo scholar in 2018)

 Now at Railway Technical Research Institute, Tokyo 

"Transport: The World's Needs vs. Global Warming--Future Fuel: Hydrogen Powered Trains" " 

Place:  As usual--International House of Japan

Time:  :3:00 to 5:00 with light dinner afterwards if you care to stay.

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＊Our January 13 meeting had a good turnout.

Stan Yukevich mentioned the death of another personally inspiring writer and liberal statesman, the Israeli, Amos Ox. His writings include "A Tale of Love and Darkness." 

Matt and Susan Smith led the lighting of the chalice.

Susan  gave a reading about the importance of artistic creativity and its process. 

Peggy added a passage about having beauty in our daily lives-- for everyone (no matter our circumstances). And another (from the Church of the Larger Fellowship newsletter) that when looking at our acts of making or creating (for example weaving) let us think about the difference between happiness and joy. Happiness comes as  a gift, or something beautiful and "sparkling,"  from the outside. Joy is created from within us  and is thus more lasting (like the woof threads in our life fabric that hold together all our many experiences no matter the tears and holes).

Then Zuse Meyer, artist originally from Germany, talked and showed slides about her years teaching art thru"liberating"  art projects (primarily until recently to young people who identified as scientists or engineers NOT artists at Tokyo Institute of Technology). 

After her talk we all did three drawing projects:

1)A soft pencil still life of some of the diverse objects on the table

2)Same objects but drawing with one continuous line (more spontaneous)

3)Using two chosen colors to draw the objects using both left and right hands at the same time (no way to be self-conscious or pre-determined)

 From her summary--  the effects of making art (under the direction of a teacher of "free art" like herself, in small and diverse groups (she mentioned classes with Japanese and non-Japanese, with toddlers to 90 year olds), and above all doing art in supportive groups with clever encouragement and no competition  allows us to

>>Step out of our every-day patterns

>>Connect with our hearts and feelings

>>Find our individual modes of expression

>>Open up to the NOT YET known

>>Find Joy

And she rephrased the quote:

In Life learn from [making]  art, and in our art,  learn from our Life [lived experiences].

Zuse Meyer will hold an art exhibition at Kagurazaka, Gallery "Session House",  from March 27 to April 4.

Peggy Kanada, moderator

Jan 13 Zuse Meyer - Learning, Life, Art

Prof Zuse Meyer (our speaker for the 13th) sends us a quote from the German poet Hoelderlin:

"Learn from Art for your Life/ Learn from Life for your Art."                 .

Join us for an interesting discussion on the role of visual arts  in life and self-discovery that will include a hands on workshop.

Usual Place:International House (国際文化会館)

On Toriizaka between Azabu-Juban and Roppongi subwastations

Time:3:00 to 5:00

Light dinner afterwards at I House cafe for those who care to stay.

Your moderator,

Peggy Kanada

Upcoming and December review

UP~COMING 

January 13 2019

Zuse Meyer--artist and professor originally from Germany

On " Insights thru Visual Experiences"

February 10 

Heather Steele (Ph.D Engineering from Birmingham U)

2017 Daiwa Anglo Scholar/ Now at Railway Technical Research Institute, Tokyo 

"Transport: Needs vs. Global Warming--Future Fuel: Hydrogen Powered Trains "

 

W.E.L.L. Annual Conference and Retreat (for women)

February 8 thru 10 (noon)  Theme: Empowering Women thru Creativity

Registration open until Dec 22 ( bilingual) http://welljapan.org

   

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      Our last meeting of the year (Dec 9) had your moderator and members making a few remarks about Christmas being a season of the happiness that comes from giving to others.-- with an  emphasis on  family ties and returning to one's hometown (especially for expats) or relatives gathering together.  

Even as we get older (as quoted from Dickens) when we sadly remember all those no longer with us at Christmas, those memories too bring a special kind of joy. However, many people who are estranged or without family can find these holidays a particularly miserable time.       

      Did you believe in Santa (the plump guy with whiskers as well as a "symbol" of giving) , if so (as we shared) when did you stop?

And  finally I passed on a true story about sibling concern and the magic of Christmas gifts for children (see bottom of page).

 

      Then  Chuck Olson in part from recent experiences visiting with his temporarily dislocated young grandson (and family)  who have just moved,  and traveling with his magician Trump-supporting brother in their ancestral Norway, made a presentation about gaining self-awareness thru trying to understand recent research on the neuro/endocrine/evolutional/environmental/biological basis for our behavior and interactions with others. He provided a handout and presented some of the ideas especially in the books by  Daniel Siegel and  online courses by Robert Saplosky.

It is hard to do justice to Chuck's various points but i include here the web links to his major sources. One idea he mentioned when talking about  the frontal cortex (in various parts) --which we now know is the location of emotional control and rational future planning-- is that it does not fully develop until around age 25. Dana as a teacher and counselor echoed some of Chuck's comments and mentioned some of her strategies for defusing confrontations  and helping guide elementary school kids. 

Daniel Siegel’s Mindsight web site is at

https://www.drdansiegel.com/about/mindsight/ 

a link for the Mindsight book is at

https://www.drdansiegel.com/books/mindsight/

For the 'No Drama' Discipline at

https://www.drdansiegel.com/books/no_drama_discipline/

A link to Robert Sapolsky’s Human Behavioral Biology lectures is at

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL150326949691B199

      Finally, Stan Yukevich spoke and lamented the growing lack of "adult" restraint  of many Americans (indeed in contrast to many Japanese)  as he examined some of the finer (also weaker) characteristics and legacy of GHW Bush--who now we most agreed looks better in comparison to those (not only Trump) who have come after.  Bush died November 30,2018.

      Using a handout, Stan pointed out he was a patrician not a self-promoter, a Republican with compassion  and with a  traditional conservative "less is better" approach to government.  Although not agreeing with some of his positions/actions (such as Bush's reluctance to support AIDS research and GLBT rights) Stan mentioned Bush's war record in WWII--at 94 the last statesman/politician of his generation. Bush showed willingness to work across party lines and  to sacrifice reelection by raising taxes in order to preserve programs and hold down the deficit. 

 

 

      In the end we did not have time to sing any carols (which is probably just as well as we did not have a leader this year who can carry a tune). Next year maybe we can also delve more into other religious traditions of this holiday time.

      At dinner some of us video-chatted with former member Bonnie McClure who is doing well in Berkeley.

 

      Join me in  thanking all who have contributed to this year at fellowship, especially FUKAI Naoko who has stepped in to help TAKAMATSU Yasuyo  with membership and setup.

 

      Again best wishes to all for  a happy and safe holiday season and a good coming year.

 

Peggy Kanada, moderator

 

 

A Christmas Story

 

        Because of my father’s poor health during World War II, our family moved from a tenant farm in the Virginia hills to the city of Harrisonburg so my mother could work in a silk mill making parachutes for the boys overseas. On Christmas Eve, I felt lonely and misplaced as I listened to the strange city noises, so different from the familiar sounds of the countryside. Much to my dismay, the family had been so busy moving that we had no tree to decorate. As a 5-year-old, I yearned for a real tree; my older brothers had always enjoyed selecting a cedar or pine from the nearby woods when we lived on the farm.

My brother Gary sensed that something was bothering me and asked, “What’s the matter, Janie? Why are you so sad?”

“We don’t have a tree and It’s Christmas Eve,” I replied. “Where will Santa leave our presents?” To soothe my nostalgic tears, my older brother found a large paper grocery sack, upon which he drew a  beautiful green Christmas tree with big red and blue bulbs and bright yellow tinsel.

      “This will have to do this year,” Gary explained. “I’m sure Santa will understand.” The next morning, I received a tiny toy phone from Santa and homemade popcorn balls from Mother and Daddy, but my special gift was my brother’s work of love: the paper tree hanging on the wall. — Jane Allen, Alabama. 

Nov. 11 Talk : Matthew Smith "Unitarians Outside of North America"

Matthew Smith "Unitarians Outside of North America"

Time: 3:00-5:00 (with dinner afterwards if you care to stay)

Usual Place: International House of Japan 国際文化会館

Near Roppongi and Azabu-Juban stations. Parking available.

See their website for directions.

Our new member Matthew Smith will give a talk  "Unitarians Outside of North America."

Matt (with his wife Susan) have been active for many years not only in Unitarian churches in the United States but with several overseas and expat fellowships during his assignments abroad.  He has been a religious educator and teen leader, as well as as a small group facilitator. Matt led the executive committee of the large UU expat Congregation of Paris. He will share some of his personal and family experiences.   And he will include some of the lessons he has learned about how to nourish and perhaps grow our UFT. Groups like ours he says have unique challenges around theological identity, lay ministry and how to build a connected community.

Join us for the talk and under Matt's leadership to sing "Spirit of Life" and to explore some widely practiced Unitarian rituals of autumn--the season of giving and thanksgiving-- and together to  share briefly our  joys and concerns.

Your moderator,

Peggy Kanada

October 14 CHANGE to Norway Talk/Chuck Olson

Last minute change of the speaker:

"Finding an unknown home - Norway”.

Dear friends and members of UFT,

Despite efforts, Tet Gallardo, our planned young Unitarian minister guest (from Manilla) was unable to obtain a visa for Japan.

☆☆Meanwhile our member Chuck Olson has graciously stepped in and will give his talk with slides about his recent trip to NORWAY.

More than just a travel log we expect he will share some of his insights about modern Norwegian society as well as what it means to go "home" to the land of your ancestors.

Please join us.

Sunday October 14 (3:00 to 5:00)

Usual venue: International House of Japan (国際文化会館).

See their website for map. Near Roppongi and Azabu Juban stations.

☆Our speaker will stay for dinner afterwards.

Peggy Kanada,
moderator

Oct 14 Meeting and Sept. 9 review of Kate W. Nakai speech on the 1932 Sophia U vs Yasukuni Shrine Incident

Dear friends and members of the Fellowship,

Our next meeting on October 14th we have invited the Rev. Tet Gallardo from the Unitarian church in Manila.
The exact title of her talk will come a bit later.

On Sept 9 we had a very scholarly paper read by Kate W Nakai (professor emerita of Jochi/Sophia University).
By giving us a detailed and reasoned account of the 1932 incident as well as the earlier background from the Meiji period we learned much about religion and the state in Japan.
There was never in the 1932 confrontation of the small Catholic men's college (Sophia/Jochi) and nearby Yasukuni shrine (flush from ceremonies memorializing the dead in the preceding years' Sino-Japanese war) any discussion of anti war or anti-imperialist ideas/beliefs or even actual theological debate.
In broad strokes to summarize, the Catholic church bent to accommodate the Japanese state in joint declarations that visits especially by school groups to "show reverence at shrines including Yasukuni" was a civil and educational act of patriotism NOT a RELIGIOUS activity. Such sampai visits would not impinge on Catholic values or beliefs. Before this catholics had been prohibited to take part in any shrine/temple events or household ancestor worship.
Jochi Uniiversity in order to attract students to survive financially (only 10% of its student body were catholics at the time) needed (like every school wanting to be accredited) the Military presence of a training officer (equivalent of the American ROTC program). In the incident of 1932 he had been removed after the college protested about his taking a student group to Yasukuni..After the Catholic change he was reinstated a year later ensuring the college could continue..
The accommodating idea/language of "civil not religious" (encouraged it appears by the shrewd Apostolic Delegate (1934-48) to Japan, Paolo Marella, without pre-approval from his superiors in Rome) actually was pushed through on the government side mainly by competing bureaucrats especially in the Ministry of Education who did not want to lose power to the Military or Home Ministry.
Tied up in all of this were issues of state control over shrines under competing government ministries including the Education Ministry which had come to consider them "civil" entities. Under 1900 regulations and certainly by the 1930's, shrines were considered by the bureaucracy to be local community and educational organizations for patriotism and social cohesion not "religion")..

At first in the Meiji period, shrines were favored over Buddhist institutions which in the 1870's were seen by most in government as corrupt and impeding the growth of a modern nation state. As Buddhist institutions re-grouped and western missionaries came to Japan the government sought not only to regulate them but also to re-control shrines (prohibiting them for example from holding funerals).But from 1900 (eventually taken completely into the Ministry of Education hands) there was a Bureau of Shrines and a Bureau of Religions.
From early Meiji , Article 28 of the Meiji Constitution had, by the way, while ensuring "freedom of religious belief" excluded shrine worship from "religion" and included it under "duties as citizens".
Discussion veered off on the intertwined nature of shinto and buddhist beliefs and institutions (where every temple has had a corresponding shrine(s) and honjisuijaku meant every kami had a form as a Buddhist god and vice versa).
Most shrine complexes since the 1870's have lost their Buddhist temples-- Yasukuni and Meiji shrines never had a visible buddhist affiliation to begin with. Most Buddhist temples/institutions still encompass shinto shrines and gods within their precincts or at least next door.

What is civil? what is religious? are still part of debates about Yasukuni.
Nakai noted that "State shinto" as a term/concept only developed post WWII and is seen by many scholars as being implemented from the 1930's.
In the prewar years (as appreciated by more scholars today) many in the shinto world had actually resisted being considered "nonreligious".
Yasukuni, Meiji and Ise Great Shrines (jingu) however, in part because of their civil, or "nation-building" roles, as well as wealth, continue outside of the Shrine Association that supervises and supports all other shinto establishments today.

September 9 meeting Kate Wildman Nakai, on 1932 confrontation of Church and Shrine, Oct 14 Unitarians in the Philippines

Dear friends and members of the Unitarian Fellowship,

   I trust your summer was good despite the terrible heat and humidity for most of the time here in Tokyo.

Personally I am looking forward to having a lot more energy in a cooler September.

Please bring a friend or encourage an acquaintance to come this Fall. 

Date: Sunday September 9

International House of Japan

(see their website for bilingual directions/ free parking available/near Roppongi or Azabu Juban stations)

3:00 to 5:00   

(Please join some of us if you can  for a light dinner in the International House cafe to continue the discussion afterwards)

Our speaker will be Kate Wildman Nakai, professor emerita long at Jochi/Sophia University, and  specializing in Japanese intellectual history especially of the Edo and  modern periods.  

She will focus on the big confrontation in 1932 between the government and Sophia University over the Church's prohibition of Catholics participating in shinto events especially at Yasukuni (Yasukuni sanpai). Her topic grows  out of her research on different stages  in the interaction of Catholic institutions (often  in background and agenda unlike that of  Protestant missionaries with Anglophone "progressive" ideas) and the Japanese state and society  after the  mid 19th century Meiji restoration.  The evolving catholic response to shinto provides a different perspective on the nature of "State Shinto" which is usually examined  thru government policy and promulgation imposed from above rather than its reception and people's response.

Yasukuni shrine is as ever in the news, recently about politicians non-attendance at ceremonies and the Heisei Emperor's  comments marking  the August end of  WWII. Yasukuni  should prove  stimulating  for discussion. 

How have people in the recent past aligned their religious and ethical beliefs to the legal and group demands of their community? Where do each of us stand on important  issues today?

Please join us  and spread the word to others who might be interested.

Peggy Kanada, moderator

PS 

As our October 14 UFT speaker we have invited the Rev. Tet Gallardo, from the only Unitarian church in the capital Manila of the Philippines.  Your moderator met this  young and energetic  woman at the International Council of Unitarians and Universalists conference in Kathmandu in February.

In a conservative (even repressive) society what happens to Unitarian progressive ideas?  How do Unitarian values offer something to people  when the religious environment was traditionally Catholic but is  increasingly fundamentalist evangelical  -- especially values about human dignity and rights  for all, including women and those of different sexual orientations?