Japanese clubs and circles （部活とサークル）
There are two kinds of extra-curricular groups here: club activities (bukatsu) and 'circles' (saakuru). They are distinctly different. Clubs are serious business; probably because they represent the university. For example, the Kendo-bu, Kyuudou-bu, Soccer-bu, etc. practice everyday and are very strict with attendance. On the other hand, circles are much more relaxed. Circles are more like a group of friends who like the same thing, and gather twice or three times a week. Both are a good way to meet people, and it seems both types go out together to drink and karaoke.
***Clubs***
Kendo, Kyuudo, Brass band, Volleyball...
The Volleyball club practices in the other half of the gym from the Kendo club. It's funny: on one side you have people in Kendo armor and masks, striking each other with bamboo swords (shi'nai 竹刀) and crying out "Kyaaaiii!". And on the other side you have the boys and girls volleyball teams chanting and jumping about. Anne and Sarah have dubbed them the "volleyball choir".
In Kendo, you're meant to use your left arm to strike, which is opposite to most sword arts I know. Usually, don't you use the right hand to hold the sword?... or maybe that is Western style. Also there is a string running down one side of the shi'nai, and you're meant to look at the little wad of cotton just above the handle.
The stance is a bent right leg which is forward, and a straight back left leg, with the foot slightly lifted.... But that could be wrong. I haven't learned anything properly, since I haven't joined the club (yet).
If I don't join Kendo, I could just walk around and listen to the free outdoor concert a.k.a. the music ensemble practices. Each instrument seems to practice in the same spot each day. I've spotted the cello (double bass?) outside the gym a few times. It's so weird that the brass instruments practice outside though... at night... when it's dark and cold... can't be too good for tuning.
***Circles***
山口大学漫画同好会 (Manga dou-kou-kai) - I went to check out the manga circle on Monday. They sat on the tatami mats and had chips and drinks on the table. At first there were only about 4 girls in one room and maybe 5 guys in the next room... and then DAAA! Suddenly there were about 15 girls, all coming in with new CDs and passing stacks of manga to someone. A few had some laptops... there was some fighting video game on one, and another was showing some anime. I saw the opening to XXXholic and DEATH NOTE ANIME!! mwahaha. In other anime news, it seems Satoshi/Ash will no longer be the main character of Pokemon!! Sadness. What will become of Rika Matsumoto? She has been like 'the voice of Pokemon' for so long now (from 1998?).
After a while, blank paper was spread out and people started drawing a bit. They also make a doujinshi manga anthology, which they will sell at a big event in Tokyo. Manga seems to be the main focus of the circle, more so than anime. I think the group may be a bit like Oztaku.
You can look at the anthology covers and some of their artwork at their homepage (click the second and third links in the side menu).
ESS （English Speaking Society) - Haven't been yet, but my sempai from my uni (Michael) has been there a few times, and so have the American guys. May check it out today.
*Sports*
Soccer circle - After Kendo, Anne and I went to have a look at Matthieu's soccer group. It had a lot of international students. We talked to them a bit, as they had to wait for the soccer club (the serious people) to finish practicing.
I tried to explain netball, but I couldn't remember all the positions for the life of me. "C, WA, WD, GA, GD, GK... GS?" And I couldn't remember where each position is allowed to go. (I finally worked it out last night at like 1am, hahaha.) Anyhow, apparently netball is only in Commonwealth countries, so that would explain why no-one from Germany, Japan, Korea, China... has heard of it. They have handball instead, which I don't really know about. Nor do I know much about soccer, which is very popular in Germany, and in Japan too. So I can't follow those conversations that well. Oh well.
***Clubs***
Kendo, Kyuudo, Brass band, Volleyball...
The Volleyball club practices in the other half of the gym from the Kendo club. It's funny: on one side you have people in Kendo armor and masks, striking each other with bamboo swords (shi'nai 竹刀) and crying out "Kyaaaiii!". And on the other side you have the boys and girls volleyball teams chanting and jumping about. Anne and Sarah have dubbed them the "volleyball choir".
In Kendo, you're meant to use your left arm to strike, which is opposite to most sword arts I know. Usually, don't you use the right hand to hold the sword?... or maybe that is Western style. Also there is a string running down one side of the shi'nai, and you're meant to look at the little wad of cotton just above the handle.
The stance is a bent right leg which is forward, and a straight back left leg, with the foot slightly lifted.... But that could be wrong. I haven't learned anything properly, since I haven't joined the club (yet).
If I don't join Kendo, I could just walk around and listen to the free outdoor concert a.k.a. the music ensemble practices. Each instrument seems to practice in the same spot each day. I've spotted the cello (double bass?) outside the gym a few times. It's so weird that the brass instruments practice outside though... at night... when it's dark and cold... can't be too good for tuning.
***Circles***
山口大学漫画同好会 (Manga dou-kou-kai) - I went to check out the manga circle on Monday. They sat on the tatami mats and had chips and drinks on the table. At first there were only about 4 girls in one room and maybe 5 guys in the next room... and then DAAA! Suddenly there were about 15 girls, all coming in with new CDs and passing stacks of manga to someone. A few had some laptops... there was some fighting video game on one, and another was showing some anime. I saw the opening to XXXholic and DEATH NOTE ANIME!! mwahaha. In other anime news, it seems Satoshi/Ash will no longer be the main character of Pokemon!! Sadness. What will become of Rika Matsumoto? She has been like 'the voice of Pokemon' for so long now (from 1998?).
After a while, blank paper was spread out and people started drawing a bit. They also make a doujinshi manga anthology, which they will sell at a big event in Tokyo. Manga seems to be the main focus of the circle, more so than anime. I think the group may be a bit like Oztaku.
You can look at the anthology covers and some of their artwork at their homepage (click the second and third links in the side menu).
ESS （English Speaking Society) - Haven't been yet, but my sempai from my uni (Michael) has been there a few times, and so have the American guys. May check it out today.
*Sports*
Soccer circle - After Kendo, Anne and I went to have a look at Matthieu's soccer group. It had a lot of international students. We talked to them a bit, as they had to wait for the soccer club (the serious people) to finish practicing.
I tried to explain netball, but I couldn't remember all the positions for the life of me. "C, WA, WD, GA, GD, GK... GS?" And I couldn't remember where each position is allowed to go. (I finally worked it out last night at like 1am, hahaha.) Anyhow, apparently netball is only in Commonwealth countries, so that would explain why no-one from Germany, Japan, Korea, China... has heard of it. They have handball instead, which I don't really know about. Nor do I know much about soccer, which is very popular in Germany, and in Japan too. So I can't follow those conversations that well. Oh well.