This is a project which hits the exact pulse of where we are today: people moving from country to country, cultures to cultures, in a world that appears to be getting smaller by the minute. Concepts such as transnationalism and globalisation comes to mind. But these words are not just concepts. They are real to so many of us that live in places other than our place of birth. Whether it be temporarily or permanently is no longer the question. Like it or not, we are on the move.

Participants, Japanese on the Move by Ingrid Piller and Kimie Takahashi

http://www.languageonthemove.com/japanese-on-the-move

I had the honour to be interviewed by Kimie Takahashi and Ingrid Piller, along with 49 other participants, and to share my thoughts at the launch of their project at Japan Foundation, Sydney. Here is what I said at the launch:

I grew up in Tokyo, going to the American School in Japan. The Americans taught me that to make a good speech, we can either start the speech with a quote from someone famous and or with a rhetorical question. When I arrived in Australia back in 1981, I quickly learned that in Australia, good speeches begin by telling a joke. But in Japan where I was born, speeches begin with one great apology. I am very sorry to take your time in making this speech….  even if no one had mentioned the war.

But then again, in Sydney where most of us live, today, we begin our speeches by acknowledging elders past and present of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, on which land we gather today.

This is Sydney 2012.

When Kimie Takahashi first approached me with her project Japanese on the Move with Ingrid Piller, both linguists, I wondered how the study of linguistics related to issues of transmigration. I think I was one of the first of the fifty people to be interviewed, and I wasn’t quite sure what to say in answers to their seemingly simple  questions such as why did you come to Australia and where is home. I say seemingly, because although they appear simple, to someone like me – like you –  these questions are loaded with our individual day to day struggles and endevours to find our own identity, our community (which community?), our own voice in the wider world and within ourselves. We do this through our day to day lives with our partners, our children, our parents, our siblings, our life–long friends – those we love who may not necessarily be living within the same borders as us –  borders, national and or cultural, real, or sometimes imagined.

It is about finding a sense of belonging, then letting it go.

Now that this project is launched, and I have watched all 50 stories, – all very different, yet all deeply resonant within our collective experiences of being Japanese on the move – I now understand why this project lies in the realm of linguistics. If linguistics is a study of  human language, and if language is a complex system of communication, and if communication is to do with its original meaning of the word to share, then sharing, we have done. Complex, it is.

We have not only shared our individual stories, but somehow in this process, we have found a common voice. The voice of all of us who have crossed borders, moved and are moving throughout our lives between different cultures and places  – and constantly negotiating and re- negotiating how we may be and how we may become in this ever-changing world.

I want to thank everyone who participated in this project for sharing your stories with me. I know how difficult it is to commit yourself on a recording for all to see and remember, when your views on subjects such as Japan, Australia, home, citizenship, cultural differences are all in itself on the move. Our views are bound to change. They are meant to evolve.

Strangely enough, I feel a sense of belonging with all of you – you, like me, have from time to time – if not constantly – travel in the space between belonging and not belonging.

Thank you to Kimie and Ingrid for empowering us with this knowledge. And thank you, especially for getting our stories out of academic texts inaccessible to many of us or in specialized documentary productions, often losing itself in the maze of obscure film festivals. It is out there on the net for many people to view and share. We are in Sydney and cyberspace in 2012.

Thank you for giving us all a voice.

-Posted by Mayu Kanamori

Carriageworks

245 Wilson St, Eveleigh

13 & 14 April (Registration $70 / $50). Mayu’s Open Session scheduled 16:20 on 13 April.

Self Portrait at Naoetsu Peace Park - Mayu Kanamori

Carriageworks

245 Wilson St, Eveleigh

４月１３、１４日（会費＄７０／＄５０）金森マユのセッションは４月１３日１６：２０より。

直江津平和記念公園自画像　ー　金森マユ

ブルームの日本人墓地には真珠貝産業に従事していた日本人919人が眠っています。真珠産業の盛んな時代にはお坊さんが供養を行っていたのですが、最近その習慣がなくなり、日本人と地元アボリジニ達との間に生まれた子孫達が仏教供養を強く望んでいます。法要だけではなく、日本人が残していった盆踊りなどの行事を子孫に受け継いで欲しいとも願っています。

ブルーム日本人墓地　撮影、金森マユ

アーチストという職業は時折アーチスト・レジデンシーという形でよそのコミュニティーに入り込み、アートを創らせて頂き、それを展示し、そして自分の住む場所へと帰って行きます。しかし何度も同じコミュニティーで創作活動をさせて頂くことにより、自分の創作活動以外の部分でコミュニティーに貢献しようと思う時が来るものです。アーチストだけではなく報道をするジャーナリストも、調査をする学者も、橋を創るエンジニアも、自分の快感帯を離れ，今まで支持してくれた人達に恩返しをする時がくるはずだと思います。

自分の快感帯から離れることによりはじめて得る教訓は様々で、自分の今までの欠点や未熟さに気がつき、恥じらい、そして今後その教訓を身につけて行く一種の人生の曲がり角のようにも思えます。

多くの参加者やファンドレージングのためのオークションに作品を寄付してくださったアーチストの方々、ボランティアで公演をしてくださったミュージシャン達、茶道のデモンストレーションを行って下さった裏千家の皆さんや沢山のボランティアの方達に助けて頂き、感謝の気持ちでいっぱいです。

アーチストの皆さん：

Hayley Anderson, Satomi Aoki, Hiromi Ashlin. Fred Aw. Alfonso Calero, Kazuko Chalker, Felicity Clark, Hideo Dekura, Sandy Edwards, Katy Fitzgerald, Luke Hardy, Amanda James, Jumaadi, Miyuki Kishida, Michele Mossop, Yukie Ota / Koto Music Institute of Australia, Vienna Parreno, Moshe Rosenveig, Deborah Ruiz Wall, Yutaka Sawasaki, Lisa Sharkey, Roslyn Sharp, Mitsuo Shoji, Peter Solness, Maree Stenglin, Mary Van Den Berk, Kay Watanabe, Tom Williams, Tomoko Yamada, Yuko Yamamoto / Koto Music Institute of Australia, Setsuko Yanagisawa, Ren Yano と私、(Mayu Kanamori).

茶道デモンストレーションやおにぎりを作って下さった良子フリーマンさんをはじめとする裏千家シドニー協会の皆様。

協賛、広報をしてくださったシドニー日本クラブJapan Club of Sydney の皆様。

お皿やナプキンをご提供くださったSydney Packaging Pty Ltdさん。

クリップボードとワインを寄付くださったFDC Fitout さん。

広報のお手伝いをしてくださった Pop Up-Publicityの Cassie Frenchさん。

アドバイズをしてくださった Images of Life Force Auctionの Katy Fitzgeraldさん。

ためになるお話とお経をあげてくださった宗本願寺派（西本願寺）オーストラリア渡部重信先生。

そして会場やお料理を提供してくださった私の昔からの親友柳沢勢津子さん、パートナーの Ben Crisafulliさん、そして Yuga Floral Cafe & Galleryのスタッフのみなさん。

人は自分を差し伸べることにより、それ以上に与えられるということを改めて感謝と共に感じております。

金森マユ

Holding a kuyo is only one of the things that the Indigenous-Japanese community in Broome would like. They would also like to see their children carry on the Japanese traditions, handed down by the Japanese pearlers, such as bon odori and bon festivities, which were held during the full moon in August when the pearl luggers came in, bringing the crew back to town. Bon is a custom in Japan to honour the spirits of one’s ancestors with its origins in Buddhism.

Japanese Cemetery, Broome photo by Mayu Kanamori

So often as artists, we visit a community and work as artists in residence. There we do what we do best – create art, show art, then we leave. But I wonder if  making  art is all we can give. Sometimes as visiting artists we learn so much more by giving what the community wants  –  other than just making our own art.

This idea is not only confined to artists, but to all of us who benefit from working in a community other than our own. Journalists who report, academics who research or engineers who build bridges, all contribute to a community with their own expertise, but over a period of time and repeated visits, surely there comes a time when we listen to what else the community wants, then leave our comfort zones to do something other than what we normally do in order  to give back the support they have been giving us.

Organising a fundraising event of this kind was a humbling and learning experience. As we leave our comfort zones we realise our past mistakes, overcome our embarrassment, and resolve to change for the better.

My sincere thanks to everyone who attended the event, those who could not attend but sent in donations, helped out in the organising, and to all artists who generously donated their artworks for auction and performances for the guests:

Hayley Anderson, Satomi Aoki, Hiromi Ashlin. Fred Aw. Alfonso Calero, Kazuko Chalker, Felicity Clark, Hideo Dekura, Sandy Edwards, Katy Fitzgerald, Luke Hardy, Amanda James, Jumaadi, Miyuki Kishida, Michele Mossop, Yukie Ota / Koto Music Institute of Australia, Vienna Parreno, Moshe Rosenveig, Deborah Ruiz Wall, Yutaka Sawasaki, Lisa Sharkey, Roslyn Sharp, Mitsuo Shoji, Peter Solness, Maree Stenglin, Mary Van Den Berk, Kay Watanabe, Tom Williams, Tomoko Yamada, Yuko Yamamoto / Koto Music Institute of Australia, Setsuko Yanagisawa, Ren Yano and me (Mayu Kanamori).

Ryoko Freeman and members of Uraasenke Sydney Association for donating their time for the exquisite tea ceremony demonstration, their donation from the tea tasting and for making delicious rice balls.

Japan Club of Sydney for valuable promotion and support.

Sydney Packaging Pty Ltd for perfect plates and napkins.

FDC Fitout for clipboards and donation of wine and leather carrier.

Cassie French from Pop Up-Publicity for her expert publicity.

Katy Fitzgerald from Images of Life Force Auction for expert advice.

Thank you also to Reverend Shigenobu Watanabe himself for taking on this task to give kuyo in Broome and his meaningful talk and soul moving sutra chant.

Finally,  I thank my long time good friend Setsuko Yanagisawa, her partner Ben Crisafulli and the hardworking staff at Yuga Floral Cafe & Gallery for their generosity, hard work, dedication, flair and fun.

We find that when we give, we gain so much more in appreciation of those around us that gave so much.

-Mayu Kanamori

昔東北地方で井戸のことをゆうどと言ったそうです。水神を祀る『ゆうど』まで甲州からの地下水がゆっくり流れてくると聞きました。『ゆうど』には不思議なエネルギーが流れ、 オレンジ色の電球の灯りに包まれ ながら後で頂くことになるお茶を入れるためのお湯が灯油ストーブの上におかれたやかんから湯気をだしている。私はゆみちゃんの家族と縁側に座りました。パフォーマンスが終わる頃には会場にいた私達皆がトランス状態になったようにゆみちゃんと一緒に踊り、まるでシャーマンの儀式に参加しているよう。終わると皆でお茶とおにぎりを頂き、一人づつ自己紹介をし、その晩の経験を語り、そしてそれぞれ寒い東京の夜の中へと帰って行きました。

うみうまれゆみと京子アースヴォイス。目白の『ゆうど』にて。撮影・金森マユ

Mysterious energy seemed to surround us in orange glow of naked light globes and kerosene heaters with a kettle on top, steaming spring water for our tea after the show. I sat by one of the heaters at the engawa next to Yumi’s family. By the end of the improvised performance, we all danced trance like, much like what I would imagine a shamanistic tribal ceremony may be like. When the performance ended, we sat in a circle, drank tea and ate rice balls, introduced ourselves, talked about what we had just experienced, then we all went our separate ways into the cold winter night in Tokyo.

Yumi Umiumare and Kyoko Earthvoice at Yudo. Photo by Mayu Kanamori

YUGA Floral Cafe & Gallery

ph 02 9692 8604　0413 781 622  

172 St. Johns Road, Glebe

３月１７日（土）５時−８時

入場＄２５＋オークション

金森マユとYUGA Floralの柳沢勢津子主催のファンドレージングイベント。

オーストラリアンアーチスト達のスピリチャル作品をオークション。 Felicity Clark の尺八、 Koto Music Institute of Australia のメンバーの箏演奏、Urasenke Sydney Association　の茶道デモンストレーションや精進料理サービス等。

浄土真宗本願寺派（西本願寺）オーストラリアの渡部重信ご住職が西オーストラリアのブルームの日本人墓地で供養を行うための資金集めが目的。

ブルームの日本人墓地には真珠貝産業に従事していた日本人919人が眠る。真珠産業の盛んな時代にはお坊さんが供養を行っていたが、最近その習慣がなくなっている。日本人と地元アボリジニ達との間に生まれた子孫達が仏教供養を強く望んでいる。

参加アーチスト

Luke Hardy,   Peter Solness,  Sandy Edwards, Amanda James, Roslyn Sharp, Hiromi Ashlin, Katy Fitzgerald,Hayley Anderson, Tomoko Yamada, Ren Yano, Deborah Wall Ruiz, Kazuko Chalker, Michele Mossop, Jumaadi, Vienna Parreno , Tom Williams , Kay Watanabe, , Lisa Sharkey ,  Moshe Rosenveig  Miyuki Kishida, Satomi Aoki, Mary van den Berk and Mayu Kanamori.

ご予約、お問い合わせは：

setsuko@yugaflora.com.au

後援 Japan Club of Sydney (JCS)

for the Japanese Cemetery in Broome, Western Australia

SAT 17 March 5 – 8 PM $25 + AUCTION

YUGA Floral Cafe & Gallery

ph 02 9692 8604　0413 781 622  

172 St. Johns Road, Glebe

Mayu Kanamori and Setsuko Yanagisawa from Yuga Floral is hosting an art auction and fundraising event to support Reverent Shigenobu Watanabe to conduct kuyo in the Japanese Cemetery in Broome.

Spiritual artworks by Australian artists whose work reflects a spiritual nature will form a silent auction. Guests will also be treated live shakuhachi by Felicity Clark and koto music by members of Koto Music Institute of Australia. There will also be a traditional Japanese tea ceremony demonstration by Urasenke Sydney Association ,  followed by vegetarian Japanese temple finger food and drinks.

The proceeds from the event will enable  Reverent Shigenobu Watanabe (Hongwanji Buddhist Mission of Australia) to travel to Broome, Western Australia to give a buddhist kuyo for those at the Japanese Cemetery in Broome. Kuyo is Japanese for ceremonial offering and prayer for the deceased.

The Japanese Cemetery in Broome is the final resting place for over 900 Japanese pearlers who contributed to the Australian pearl industry from the late 1800’s to 1970’s. Many of the Japanese married local Indigenous women and the cemetery continues to service their families and descendants. During the pearling heyday, a Buddhist kuyo was held at the cemetery during August every year. It has been a strong wish of the local Indigenous-Japanese community to reinstate this spiritual custom.

Artists:

Luke Hardy,   Peter Solness,  Sandy Edwards, Amanda James, Roslyn Sharp, Hiromi Ashlin, Katy Fitzgerald, Hayley Anderson, Tomoko Yamada, Ren Yano, Deborah Wall Ruiz , Kazuko Chalker, Michele Mossop, Jumaadi, Vienna Parreno, Tom Williams ,Kay Watanabe, Lisa Sharkey ,  Moshe Rosenveig  Miyuki Kishida, Satomi Aoki, Mary van den Berk and Mayu Kanamori.

BOOKING & ENQUIRIES:

setsuko@yugaflora.com.au

Supported by:  Japan Club of Sydney (JCS)

ダンサーの浅野和歌子と私はマルチアートプロジェクト『イン・リポーズ』で４年間コラボを続けていました。一緒にタウンズビル、ブルーム、木曜島等、オーストラリア各地にある日本人墓地でサイトスペシフィックパフォーマンスを創っていたアーチスト仲間です。

『イン・リポーズ』をはじめたばかりのころ和歌ちゃんは人間の死、そして土に帰ることについて考える私達のプロジェクトは人間として子供を産むための一つの大切なプロセスだと言っていました。

しかし一緒に仕事を共にした４年間、努力したにも関わらず彼女は子供を授かりませんでした。４年の月日が経ち、私達が『イン・リポーズ』の最後のパフォーマンスをアデレードのオズアジアフェスティバルで終えた直ぐあとに和歌ちゃんとたっちゃんは詩穂子ちゃんを授かったのです。

浅野和歌子の出産　撮影金森マユ

木曜島でのイン・リポーズの様子はここからご覧ください。

金森マユ