巓洋 TENYOH
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    • TAKE ME TO YOUR MOON (2021 - present)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2019-2020)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2014-2018)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2021-present)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2017-2019)
    • SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE (2016-2017)
    • HEAR THE VOICE (2007-2014)
    • SIMPLE HAPPINESS (2006-2014)
    • SHADOWS & LIGHTS (1995-2007)
    • GLIMMER, WE SAW (1989-1992)
    • SUMI-E & DRAWING (1987-1989)
  • Art in Progress
  • My Thoughts
  • ABOUT
  • Etsy Store
  • 作品
    • 2006年 - 2014年
    • 1989年 - 2007年
  • Portfolio
    • TAKE ME TO YOUR MOON (2021 - present)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2019-2020)
    • REFLECTIONS OF BEING (2014-2018)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2021-present)
    • LITTLE BUDDHAS (2017-2019)
    • SPIRIT OF RESILIENCE (2016-2017)
    • HEAR THE VOICE (2007-2014)
    • SIMPLE HAPPINESS (2006-2014)
    • SHADOWS & LIGHTS (1995-2007)
    • GLIMMER, WE SAW (1989-1992)
    • SUMI-E & DRAWING (1987-1989)
  • Art in Progress
  • My Thoughts
  • ABOUT
  • Etsy Store
  • 作品
    • 2006年 - 2014年
    • 1989年 - 2007年

My Family and Little about Food We Ate

11/29/2019

6 Comments

 
I generally do not post private matters, but some of you have met my sister and her daughter. I've told many of you about my mother and step-father. As you see in these photos, they are doing well. Before my departure, my sister suggested that I spend most of my time with mother, as she was getting older and tired easily. That was what I did. Well, she fed me so well and so much it was like a torture. Both my step-father and I would say, "That's enough," but she kept serving us. 
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My Family and Japanese Food

12/26/2017

2 Comments

 
My impression of my last trip to Japan can be expressed in two words,"very full." My family and friends often prepared rich foods in order to welcome my return, and I also prepared rich local dishes for my hosts. Food was like a token of love in the country, where people do not verbally express it. My stomach and heart had gotten very VERY full.
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From Hoho to Her American Friends

5/31/2015

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Here is how my niece Hoho looks now at Sweet 17. Gary and Bjo Shreirer made a sheet of rice crispy bars specially for her and asked me to hand it to her in Japan. The first video is from Hoho to Gary and Bjo when she received the gift. (Sorry, I did not want to spend too much time editing the clip.)


Hoho is a senior at Osaka High School of Music, training to become an idol. In the following film, you will see her soaring to the height of her dream. It may be a very impractical field, but it is obvious she is enjoying her youth to the fullest.
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Lady Hoho on Stage: my niece's performance

10/27/2013

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Well, well, a tiny baby whose birth I witnessed (it seems only a few years ago) has grown. My niece Hoho is pursuing to become a next Japanese idol in a vocational high school in music. Most mothers would have talked her out of following the ridiculous dream, but her mother said to her, "If it's your dream, try it." Hoho, who could not bring herself to go to middle school for months, does not now miss a single day in high school. As she has to compete for leading roles with her classmates who already have years of vocal and dancing training, she practices at school every day until late. As it takes 2 hours to commute, she leaves at 6 AM and comes home past 10 PM. When I was visiting her family, she left home at 5 AM so that she could practice extra an hour before the class started. I was impressed by her efforts.

Initially I was not thrilled with her choice of high school as it seemed to limit her career options. I will take that back now. She is learning to work exceptionally hard, to take letdowns positively, and to be courteous and appreciative. With the positive attitude she is acquiring, anything could be possible for her.

Hoho's auntie is very proud of her and even a bit jealous of her having such an understandable supportive mother. I shall proudly share the photos taken during my last visit.
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Tough US Immigration Law

3/2/2013

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My niece Hoho, about whom I wrote in my last blog, is not coming to high school in the US. There were two possible ways. One was for her to immigrate here; and the other, to enter this country with a student visa. I will describe each option below.

I could have sponsored for Hoho ‘s permanent residency status. However, as a relative to an US citizen, she will be classified into the forth category and have to wait several years to acquire it. I could have adopted her, but neither her mother nor I inclined to do it. Here went the first option of her coming here as an immigrant.

A F-1 student visa is for those, who want to be enrolled in public high schools. Schools with a foreign student advisor in their staff members and ESL classes in their curriculums could issue documents for that visa. Central High School in Rapid City is not one of them. In addition, the length of possible enrollment is limited to one year. The F-1 visa holder is required to pay the entire school tuition. The US Law is making certain that the tax dollars would not be used for the education of foreign students.

A J-1 visa is for foreign exchange students. Central High School receives exchange students periodically. However, as far as Hoho’s mother has found out, they could choose countries to study in, but not schools. Students cannot live with their relatives. I thought we could still push in this option, but my sister chose not to.

The last option was a F-20 visa. Most private high schools issue it, and the foreign students are allowed to study in this country as long as their fundings last. It will cost approximately $30 grand per year. As Hoho will stay with me, the cost can be reduced significantly. However, the only private high school in Rapid City has not even been accredited yet.

My sister talked to Hoho. Her dream is to become a singer like Lady Gaga. That is why she wants to master English. Most of the teenagers would be too shy to voice such an outrageous dream to her teacher, but Hoho was not. Now, both the teacher and her mother wish to support her. She is going to be enrolled in a music institute in Japan.

The music institute is not a high school. Even if she decides later that vocal training is not for her, it will be difficult for her to transfer to a regular high school. I do not think it is a good idea to limit her future options to music at such a tender age, but I might be wrong. Time can only reveal the answer.

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My Sister and Her Daughter's Visit

12/17/2012

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Visiting me means they will have to be my models. They did a fantastic job. I cannot wait to sculpt the above expressions.
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"Taste good," they said with strong Japanese accent. My roommate blushed when they thanked in Japanese style for his cooking.
My sister and niece brought, from Japan, disaster-area products that I mentioned in the previous blog. The main purpose of their visit was to see if the 14-year-old niece, Hoho, would like American high school. She spent a whole day shadowing a student in middle school, and we had a tour of high school. We all were impressed by the freedom that American high school students enjoyed. The student teacher ratio was one half of that of Japan. The school facilities were too luxurious in my opinion. It scared me to imagine the world wanting five-star schools like the one we saw. The earth cannot sustain that.

Hoho, of course, fell in love with everything that she saw in the US. Anticipating her enrollment in American high school, we started her immigration paperwork. I am trying to do it without hiring an attorney, but it is like going through a maze in the darkness. If any of you have expertise in immigration or guardianship for the care of a minor, I will greatly appreciate your assist.

Four of us shared the 2-bedroom house for the last 12 days. As I have been accustomed to private living, my family's constant dependence on me as an interpreter was a little tiresome. I am telling myself that I have to be patient and understanding when Hoho comes to live with me next year. Although I feel happy for Hoho to have international experiences at such a tender age, I am scared to perform a mother's role for the teenager. I will take in any suggestions that you may have on how I should prepare myself for that.
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New Beginning

1/4/2012

1 Comment

 
Happy New Dragon Year! Wish you for a speedy progress toward your dream like the way a dragon climbs up into the clouds.

When I headed for Miyagi Prefecture two and half months ago, I never expected that my mission in the tsunami-afflicted area would end with a phrase “See you again.”  When the organizers of the project, which I had been involved in, asked me to return, I was indecisive. As I wrote in my previous blog, I was not happy with the fact that there was no private time. However, in the environment where all the people involved worked selflessly hard, we could not help developing respect for one another. I simply desired to continue to work with them. Collaboration is a Japanese virtue. This experience turned out to be an excellent occasion to learn the Japanese secret, which often leads to an accomplishment. When everyone works together for the same purpose, nothing is impossible. Even the restoration of the northeastern shoreline of Japan is not infeasible.

When I obtained an U.S. citizenship more than a decade ago, I automatically lost my Japanese citizenship. That meant that I needed to enter my home country as an American with a tourist visa. Its expiration date is approaching, and I have to go a Japanese embassy/consulate located outside of Japan in order to get a long-term visa. I am returning to South Dakota as scheduled. It will be nice to recuperate at my other home, while waiting for the visa to be processed.

I have been spending the new year holiday with my mother and stepfather in Akita. My sister and her children joined us two days ago, and we all came to a ski resort, so that the grandchildren could enjoy snowboarding. The stepfather is generously paying for the expenses. The gap between the poverty I witnessed in Miyagi and the luxury and wastes I am experiencing here is mind-boggling.
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In the photo, my niece is "swimming" in the ski resort. Her mother is aiming a camera at her. What do you think of this? Is this a display of unnecessary luxury or of advanced technology?

1 Comment

Little about my Family

10/18/2011

3 Comments

 
Akita: Exaggerated gestures of welcome are seldom expressed in Japan. Instead of a hug, my mother's first words to me were penetratingly painful. Referring to my gray hair, she uttered, "You look like a grandma, like me." She was not disrespectful. She was just surprised and disappointed to see her daughter having aged. By the way, in order to shut the mouth of my family over my gray hair, I spent ¥3700 ($48) to make my hair more stylish. I hate the obsession in superficial beauty, but sometimes it is easier if I give in partially.
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Another aspect that I continue to feel resentful is the clear division between the male and female roles. My step-father (center) brought back the two men after a meeting and a dinner party. They were drunk when they walked in, and they continued to drink. In between serving them, mother (second from the left) and I sat on chairs a little distance from the table and listened to their boasts and jokes. After the guests had left, mother asked me, "Weren't they fun?" I did not answer to the question. While she seemed to have enjoyed the unexpected visit, I had needed to restrain my desire to leave the obligation of accompanying the drunkards.

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It is universal that love can be expressed in nutritional meals that mothers prepare. The above left is a breakfast that my mother made for me yesterday. The above right is my niece's "bento" box. I was happy that my sister made one for me as well.

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    Links

    Yukie Matsushita
    My computer graphic teacher, who has been producing charming illustrations in Paris.

    Steven Rushefsky
    My mentor. His encouragement always boosts my energy.

    Jewish Pioneers of the Black Hills Gold Rush
    My writing in my portfolio was polished by Ann Haber Stanton, the author of the above book.

    Othmar F. Arnold
    A radical thinker, whose aspirations are similar to mine.

    My Past Photo Albums
Copyright © Yoko "Tenyoh" Sugawara          Email: tenyohcreations@gmail.com          Phone: (605) 787 - 1099