STUDENT INTERVIEW: David Chart (AJSP)

David Chart

Declan: You know, the problem with these interviews is that I'm never sure where should I start?

David: (Silence)

Declan: Umm.. Which part of England are you from?
DC: I was born in Manchester, and I was living in Cambridge before I came here.
DM: And you were at the University?
DC: Yes.
DM: Teaching?
DC: Teaching.
DM: Teaching what? I had a quick browse through your homepage on my way here and read about the theory of understanding, the bit about feminist bank tellers and the ineffability of a certain deity, but what were you actually teaching?

DC: I was teaching the history and philosophy of science.
DM: Which I guess is called the Faculty of History and Philosophy of Science or something like that?
DC: Department yeah.
DM: Which I would hope has absolutely nothing to do with Sailor Moon?
DC: Absolutely not (laughing).
DM: I must confess that when I came across the err, Sailor Moon bit of your homepage, well er I was a bit worried about it to be honest.
DC: (laughing) Although perhaps not as worried as I was.

DM: Now were you teaching at any particular college?
DC: Across all colleges.
DM: From memory I think you did your doctorate there as well?
DC: Yes. Actually I did my Bachelors right through to PhD there.
DM: Thats a long time in one place...
DC: 13 years all up including work. Cambridge is an easy place to get stuck in after a while.
DM: And before that you were over in Manchester?
DC: Yes, Manchester until then.

DM: Now before coming to Yamasa you had learnt some Japanese. Where were you studying or how?
DC: Um I studied mostly by myself with textbooks and my Japanese friends.
DM: You had quite a few friends to practise with?
DC: Yes. Um there are quite a few English language schools in Cambridge, and there is the Anglo-Japanese society. Its um, ancient. I think its been around since the Meiji Period or something. Anyway they put up a few notices in the English language schools to ask Japanese people to come along to the events and I met people there.
DM: Sounds like good practise for both sides.
DC: It was, yes. And you had a good measure of progress - you knew you were getting somewhere if the language in use switched from English to Japanese because your level of Japanese was better than their English.

DM: And how long roughly were you studying like this?
DC: Umm, about 3 years I guess.
DM: 3 years is good.
DC: Well I took a few "this language is stupid" breaks in between.
DM: Ahh, everybody gets those.
DC: Thats good to know.
DM: I still do actually. And did you have any access to teachers of Japanese as a foreign language?
DC: No I didn't.
DM: Or the chance to visit Japan at all prior to enrolling at Yamasa?
DC: Nope this is my time here.
DM: OK. When did you arrive? It was what? October 2003?
DC: Yes last October. October 1st. Its funny actually because I was in Tokyo in Ueno Koen and a guy stopped me because he wanted to practise his English or something. He asked me "How long have you been in Japan?" So I looked at my watch.
DM: Ahh how Tokyo!
DC: Yes.
DM: Lucky you were coming to Okazaki.
DC: Yes. Its good that most people here don't speak English. When you want to practise your Japanese, you actually can.
DM: So why Okazaki? When we were talking before about friends, you seem to have friends in different parts of the country.
DC: Partly it was because my friends were everywhere so the actual location of my program didn't really matter. And Okazaki is very convenient for travel too. So I mainly chose Yamasa because of the information on the website and also because I'd actually met people who had studied here and they confirmed that it was good, so compared to other schools it seemed like the less risky choice.

DM: When you started at Yamasa you began in the AIJP?
DC: Yes the AIJP.
DM: What level were you placed into?
DC: Um, I went into AIJP C class.
DM: And what was the main text back then?
DC: Um I think it was called Nihongo chukyuu bunka, the err, the purple book.

DM: The purple book?
DC: Well um, yeah. It is purple.

DM: I'm trying to think of it's name. That is one of the "No more furigana" texts isn't it?
DC: Um, there are still some I think, but not many.
DM: And you started at the beginning of it or at some point midway through it?
DC: We got into that one from the beginning. With lots of additional prints and materials. I have a mountain of prints really.
DM: How large was your class for that first quarter?
DC: On the first day 14, so we were close to Yamasa's maximum limit of 15. Next day was 13. At one stage we were at 3 which was very nice, but that was when a lot of people were in the Japanese Language Proficiency Test preparation.
DM: And how many nationalities were there in your class?
DC: Six I think. USA, Vietnamese, Taiwanese, French, Swedish, UK.
DM: Including you?
DC: There were 2 English people in the class actually.
DM: Thats surprising. Were you surprised?
DC: Yes.
DM: Who was the other Englishman?
DC: Michael.
DM: I take it you sat separately as I advised at the orientation?
DC: As far away as possible (laughing).
DM: Good.
DM: Actually we had no choice. Haruki sensei made us choose hashi from a box each day as we came into the classroom so we had a different seat each day, different person to practise with.
DM: Clever teachers. Who were the teaching team for the Autumn Quarter?
DC: Haruki, Nozaki Nana, Kitabora and Takahara sensei.
DM: Did you have the same team in the Winter?
DC: Um, no it the next teaching team was Sakai, Yamada Saori, Umemura sensei, and err, Kondo and Hayashi sensei.
DM: And in this quarter?
DC: Imase, Kuroda Hiroko sensei, Kato and Tsuruta and Haruki sensei again. Its good to have variety, different styles of teaching. It is good to hear the way men speak as well. To have a male voice in the mix to compare.
DM: And what is the current class size?
DC: There are 12 of us at the moment.
DM: The nationality mix is?
DC: 2 from Taiwan, 2 Koreans, 1 each from Australia, Brazil, the UK, France and Vietnam, and 3 Americans. all serious students which is good.
DM: What is the average age?
DC: About 28, 29. Grownups. The teachers are serious too. You get advice, but not told what to do. Its good.
DM: And what is the current main text?
DC: At the moment we are doing joukyuu nihongo te-ma betsu
DM: The orange one from memory?
DC: Yes.
DM: And how is that?
DC: Its pretty good.

DM: Now, umm you living in student housing right?
DC: I live in Residence U.
DM: Are you living by yourself or do you have a flatmate?
DC: Just me, I chose a single.
DM: And are you upstairs or downstairs?
DC: I'm on the ground floor.
DM: Any noisy neighbours upstairs?
DC: Not any more. The previous student seemed to run around a bit at night from time to time.
DM: Are you making use of the new optional internet connection?
DC: Definitely. Makes the place even better.
DM: What is it like living in Residence U?
DC: Its pretty comfortable. I think its a nice place to live. Only 15 minutes away.
DM: Most of the students living there are fairly long term. I think in April only 4 rooms became vacant. Do you talk much with the other students living there?
DC: Not a lot no. Only really to people I meet at school because there is no common area at Residence U. Its very private.
DM: How do you get to the campus? Bike?
DC: No I just walk down. 15 minutes walk.
DM: You don't ride?
DC: Sometimes I ride. The road up to Residence U has a bit of a hill.
DM: Not a steep one though?
DC: Not steep no, but noticeable. For me anyways (laughing)
DM: Any problems at all?
DC: The bathroom door is a little low.
DM: Oh? How tall are you?
DC: 185cm (6 feet 3 inches). So the top of the door is about nose height.
DM: I think the student village, the new Residence Hane and on campus have the only tall doorways.
DC: Yes. The student village ones are nice and high.
DM: Though nothing ever seems to happen just as planned. When I was designing the student village with the architects I asked for very high door clearances. It never occurred to me that I'd need to specify door widths as well.
DC: Where?
DM: The doors to each of the shower rooms on the 2nd floor in the shared rooms wing. If we get a sumo wrestler enrolling there will be problems.

DM: Now since last October, have you had any visitors? Family or friends coming over to stay?
DC: Yes my family has sort of been coming over in shifts. My parents and sisters.
DM: At the same time?
DC: Not at the same time fortunately. But I get to go to Kiyomizudera down in Kyoto many times.
DM: Well there are many other things to see of course....
DC: Yes we go to them too but usually always start with Kiyomizudera.
DM: It is a nice temple. Crowded at times but nice.
DC: It is. Kind of a nice place to start too. And there is that interesting little shrine around the corner. The name I forget. With the two rocks....
DM: Jishu shrine.
DC: Yes. I really like that place.
DM: Where else do you go?
DC: Well I don't take visitors to Kinkakuji because I think its tacky.
DM: The "bright shiny thing syndrome"?
DC: Yes.
DM: Tacky?
DC: Well it is.
DM: I think the trick there is to take a good look at the golden pavilion and then when thats done, have a look at which way everybody is facing and starting looking for things in the opposite direction. There are a few gems everybody seems to miss because of the "bright shiny thing syndrome".
DC: Good idea. I enjoy Ginkakuji more. Even if the actual pavilion is a bit tatty.
DM: Well it isn't bright and shiny, but asthetically I think its better. Plus at least with Ginkakuji it is the original building instead of something from the 1950's.
DC: And the Ginkakuji's garden is very nice. And so is the Path of philosophy along the edge of the Higashiyama and the temples.
DM: Can you visualise the tigers crossing at Nanzenji?
DC: I haven't been in there yet actually, saving it up for a special time. I've been into the one with Buddha looking back over his shoulder, not Nanzenji.
DM: Is Kyoto your favourite Japanese city?
DC: One of them. I like Okazaki too.
DM: Have you seen much?
DC: I've been to Okazaki Castle of course to Iga Hachiman once, and up to Daijuji.
DM: That isn't much. Takisanji or Hozoji?
DC: Not yet. Just those 3. Really its quite surprising how big Okazaki is. Surprising how sprawled out it is.
DM: What are some of the other places you have visited?
DC: Well I went with you to Nara on one of Yamasa's school trips, and I've been to Tokyo, Takayama, Fukuoka desai tenmangu, and to Kamakura.
DM: Where did you go to in Kamakura?
DC: The big Buddha.
DM: The Daibutsu.
DC: Yes.
DM: And the beaches too?
DC: It was spring, so it was still too cold for the beaches. I saw them though. Quite nice.
DM: Did you head down the coast to Enoshima?
DC: No, not enough time. I went to the big shrine at the top of the road leading up from the beach.
DM: Tsurugaoka. Thats usually worth seeing. A pretty major shrine. Any others?
DC: I went to the shrines at Ise during the New Year. An overnight stay on the second, not quite as insane as it would have been the day before.
DM: It certainly is quite busy.
DC: The way they catch the money is incredible.

DM: What aspects of Japan fascinate you? What I'm asking I guess is what grabs your imagination? I mean its the Heian period in my case. What is it for you?
DC: Heian is good. The split between executive and political power partly of the basis of proficiency in poetry versus smelly warriors. Um but I like contemporary Japan too. The way it is different from the west is fascinating.
DM: The way even a place like AEON has the Gap, Tower records and Starbucks and yet is still quintessentially Japanese as soon as you scratch the surface?
DC: Yes. And the thing is that you don't need to scratch hard either. Take a place like Tokyo. It doesn't look like a western city, it doesn't look like an Asian one either. Okazaki too. The gaps between houses, the rice paddies here and there.
DM: Have you seen the two meter wide house down towards Okazaki station or the montrous one up near the ponds?
DC: I haven't seen the small one yet no. I have seen the one near the ponds though. Its interesting. The lack of zoning by wealth. Come to think of it, the lack of zoning really.

DM: Where can we punters buy your books?

DC: http://www.davidchart.com/books.html
DM: There is a secure server?
DC: There are handy links to amazon so people can buy them.
DM: Everyone in the Yamasa community, please buy David's books.
DC: Buy my books please.
DM: Such as the "theory of understanding" one, the book based on your thesis?
DC: Yes. Unfortunately I didn't get paid for that one. So it didn't make any money.
DM: Thats the problem with academia.
DC: Yes. Thats why I'm not in academia anymore (laughing)

DM: Now many of these books involving roleplaying. What exactly is roleplaying?
DC: Well, essentially you sit around with your friends and make up stories.
DM: And the books provide rules, pointers, guidelines and on?
DC: Yes. They help people do this even if they're not this generations Tolstoy. Set behaviours, limitations, what you can do, what you can't.
DM: So far all in English but I've heard you are trying to write in Japanese too?
DC: I let myself be talked into writing one in Japanese last quarter.
DM: How?
DC: Sakai-sensei asked me to create one for class. I think it was because she saw me constantly heading down to student services to pick up my postal mail and got curious. It was a short game, only about 2 hours. Most games are more complicated.
DM: And it went well?
DC: I think it went well. And it was good practise for me. Constantly speaking and on. The teachers and Che-san participated a bit more than some of the other students.

DM: You wrote a review of Yamasa on your website.
DC: Yes. I originally wrote that at end of first quarter, and then revised it later.
DM: Will the link change?
DC: Probably not.
DM: It was one of those pleasant surprises. Why did you decide to write a review?
DC: Partly because when I was looking for a Japanese language program, it was the sort of thing that I wanted to read. Even after I was pretty sure that I wanted to study at Yamasa, I wanted to read somebody's review. For re-assurance in part, and for preparation as well.

DM: How long will you be with us?
DC: Originally 1 year was the plan, but now I think I am going to do the entire period of stay of the visa.
DM: And work afterwards?
DC: Yes. I would like to work in Japan when I finish at Yamasa. Its a nice country and not as expensive as people make out, not compared to Britain at least. Especially Cambridge. In Okazaki I pay less than half the rent I paid in Cambridge for roughly the same sized flat.
DM: Any idea what kind of work?
DC: Hopefully I'll still be working as a freelance writer. What else I might be doing I'm not sure. Getting a work visa as a freelance writer in Japan might be a bit tricky. I'd like to do something using my Japanese. One of the advantages of freelance writing is I can write about Japan.

30 seconds of silence.

DM: I have a bit of a mental block.
DC: Your not sure what to ask next?
DM: It happens.
DC: Normally in these circumstances the weather becomes particularly fascinating doesn't it?
DM: Yes. It does. Yes.

10 more seconds of silence. Not an awkward silence, but very silent nevertheless.

DM: So how was that typhoon?
DC: Just rain.
DM: It was a bit of a let down wasn't it?
DC: So far Okazaki has been fine. In Manchester it rains all the time.
DM: The wettest month here is usually September. Winter is fairly dry around here. Did you bring plenty of winter woollies? Buying winter clothes might be a bit of a challenge here with your height.
DC: I came here via California so I have a lot of warm weather clothing. Will have to do something soon.
DM: What were you doing in California.
DC: My father lives there. I went over the 3 months before I came here to shamelessly leech off my parents. Helped me save money before coming here. When I go back to England I'll try to go the other way to finish the circumnavigation.

DM: Have you made many friends in Okazaki?
DC: A few. There's Mieko. I'm teaching her son English because he is 6. And so I spent New Year's Eve and day with that family. Drank the sweet stuff with beans in it. She was volunteering at the local shrine.
DM: How did you meet them?
DC: Eikaiwa teaching. They put a poster up about a tea party. Then I went along to a Halloween party. Participated in a few informal language exchange meetings in Denny's and things.
DM: And things are pretty comfortable in Okazaki?
DC: Yes. Okazaki is actually a good place to live because its convenient for visiting just about anywhere. Its large enough to have pretty much any shop or facility you need.
DM: Except the nightclubs I guess.
DC: Except night clubs but then thats not really my scene, and only 30 minutes away in Nagoya in any case. And there are no skyscrapers, but you also don't spend 1 or 2 hours commuting to school. And places like Seiyu are never so packed that you feel you can't get your shopping done.
DM: True. True.

10 more seconds of silence. This is getting silly.

DM: Umm.
DC: Yes?
DM: So err, read any good books lately?
DC: Oh I er, just finished "A modern history of Japan" by Andrew Gordon.
DM: The Reischauer bloke?
DC: Umm, I think so.
DM: What period does his history cover?
DC: It starts at the Meiji restoration and goes through to Koizumi.
DM: Read anything else?
DC: Also the Tale of Genji.
DM: Really?
DC: Well, in translation.
DM: Ahh yes. This is the new one by Royall Tyler I hope?
DC: Yes. I think it is better than Seidensticker, his Genji really irritated me.
DM: In which cas lets not talk about Waler. So how did you find Tyler's Genji?
DC: Tyler made him more interesting. I guess the relationship with Murasaki came out better. But its such a long book. I mean its a loooooong book.
DM: How long did it take?
DC: At a chapter a day, a book a day, about 2 months or so. I'd like to read it in Japanese but mine isn't quite there yet.
DM: Have you studied any of the classics in class yet?
DC: I studied some in the nihongaku class I chose as an elective. We read bits of Genji in the original. I think my Japanese wasn't quite good enough to have been allowed into that module so I skipped it for the last quarter. However if it is offered again I think I'll have another go at it.
DM: Have you been in to Nagoya to see some of the illustrated versions kept in the Tokugawa Art Museum?
DC: Not yet.
DM: Worth a gander I think. Unfortunately you only get to see reproductions most of the time, but on special days or exhibitions you get a quick glimpse of a small part of it. Kind of like seeing a fragment of the Book of Kells.
DC: When would be a good time?
DM: November 3rd, the Culture day holiday is usually a good time. There is usually a special showing then. Throughout the year there are a few other special events and opportunities. Need to check the website.
DC: I'll have to keep an eye out then.

DM: OK. I think that is about it for the interview.
DC: No problem.
DM: Many thanks. I'll let you get back to your drink.
DC: Cheers.

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