2021 Activity Report

May News from the Yangon Japanese Classroom

31 May 2021
Global Japan Office Coordinator
IMAI Michiko

As of today, Myanmar has been under the rule of the Myanmar military, and we see nothing but dark news every day. Today, I would like to leave the topic of current Myanmar and GJO, and talk about my experience with fortune-telling, which is the favorite of the people of Myanmar.

Nearly 40 years ago, when I was still a university student, I visited the then city of Rangoon, Burma, for the first time. Of course I was taken to Shwedagon Pagoda, which is said to be the centerpiece of Rangoon tourism. There are 4 entrances to Shwedagon Pagoda, and you climb up the grounds using stairs, escalators, and elevators. On the way to the shrine, there are many ornaments, flowers, candles, incense sticks and souvenir shops. Besides the shop, there is also a shop of fortune telling.

When I went there about 40 years ago, the fortune teller lady was sitting at a desk on the approach to the temple, not inside the shop. Now I am almost 60 years old, I think it’s useless to spend money on fortune telling, but at that time I was a naïve and “Papparapaa (means stupid in Japanese slung in 1980’s)” at the age of 21 or 22. Of course I and my friends decided to have the fortune told.

My first and second friends were overjoyed to hear that they would “marry a good person, have children, be rich, and be very happy”. She said to the third friend, “You will be teacher,” and to the fourth friend, “You will marry a man with a bad personality.” Now we all burst out laughing. The fifth was my turn. The first thing she said to me was “သင်လက်ထပ်မှာမဟုတ်ဘူး”. While the Burmese people around me were laughing, the tour guide shouted, "Everyone, Imai-san was predicted that she would miss a chance to get married.” The tour guide translated for the tour participants who did not understand Burmese at all. They all burst into laughter, leaving me standing there in a doze. The fierce laughter of the Burmese and Japanese people echoed along the approach to Shwedagon Pagoda. This fortune teller went even further and said, "You will drown."Heee. Drown? What will I drown in? Drink? A man? I couldn’t think of anything either way, but actually I love swimming, so I became very realistic and scared to drown. After hearing the tragic predictions of fourth friend and me, the other two friends were completely frightened and gave up asking her to see the future.

My Thai friend who likes fortune-telling says that fortune-telling in Myanmar is good, and she often goes to fortune-telling shops when she come to Yangon on a business trip. The fortune-telling in Myanmar has such a good reputation, but in fact, the fortune-telling I got at that time was fairly successful. As the fortune-telling tells, the first and second friends are married to good men (Aside from the question of what a "good men"), blessed with children and living well. My third friend was told that she was going to be a teacher, but due to circumstances, she had no plans to become a teacher after graduation. For this reason, everyone inwardly thought, “This fortune-teller never hits.” But after many twists and turns, she became a teacher, just as the fortuneteller had said. This was a surprise to me. Next prophecy to my friend was, "She marries a man of bad character." she said, "I was told that I would marry a man with a bad personality, but the prophecy was a big hit." and I think her husband is a good husband from my point of view. And the fifth is me. The ominous prophecy is another big hit. My friends say, "No, you might still have a chance to get married." but I won't get married anymore in this world. Being single is not bad, but I'm not happy with the prediction that I'm going to drown. Every time I swim in the pool, that prophecy crosses my mind and I feel a little uneasy. It is actually difficult to drown in the pool.

It is a popular fortune-telling in Myanmar, so please try it when you visit Shwedagon Pagoda. But I don't know if a fortune teller makes a bad prediction.

(In Shwedagon Pagoda, December 1982)

April News from the Yangon Japanese Classroom

30 April 2021
Global Japan Office Coordinator
IMAI Michiko

The wonderful digital certificates of participation was issued to the students who, attended tandem studies held about twice a month since last year's fall semester, and students who attended intensive lectures in February. I sent email to students whose address I knew, and sent certificate on Facebook Messenger to students whose address I didn’t know. Students often use account names that are not their real names, and some students have even changed to unknown names in these times, so it was difficult to find them.

Some students gave me reply right after I sent messages, others didn't after they read it. Some students replied that they finally got online on that day. The students were very happy to receive the certificate. I'm glad that it helped them.

In early April, I had a chat with some of the students who replied to my messages. I'd like to tell you a little bit about the students' current situation and feelings. It's not just the original text, but I summarized it a little more concisely or translate it into English.

Student 1: I have prepared an emergency bag and put Japanese books inside, but when something happens, where should I go?I don't know if I can escape. I have rented my neighbor's fiber Wi-Fi, and I can't use it for a long time. I can't wait to meet you at the university's Taungoo Hall.

Student 2: I believe the victory of the Spring Revolution is soon. I'm looking forward to coming to Japan after the revolution. Ethnic minorities have had terrible experiences. We have to win federal democracy to defend their rights. I also do my best not to be arrested. I want to see the teacher after the revolution.

Student 3: I’m not okay. I was so anxious every day that I couldn't do anything. Terrorists come every night, and everyone is worried day and night. I'm scared to hear the sound of guns all the time. I'm more afraid of losing that much. I am always grateful to all the Japanese who support us. We never give up!

In addition, there are students who support my study of Myanmar language and teach me current events Myanmar language.

I was happy to be able to interact with them, but I was depressed when I thought about the days when they were making emergency bags and living in the midst of hearing the sound of guns every day, and when I was living in the sunny spring of Japan, I could not imagine that they were on the same earth. It's been three months since the coup began. I hope it will end as soon as possible.

PAGE TOP