Japan Exchange Schedule for November 1 – 7, 2009
(as of noon. Oct 29)
Nov. 1, 2009
Sunday
16:07 Osaka group arrives at O'Hare airport(NW7350)
Chartered bus to Walter Payton College Prep—
hosts pick up Osaka group at Payton
Osaka group arrival Walter Payton by bus -- met by Payton host families in parking lot of school around 5 p.m.
Sensei’s cell phone: 七七三の八三三の七八二三
Nora M. cell phone: 三一二の三三九の七二八七
Mike S. cell phone: 七七三の四五八の〇八七六
Karen Y. cell phone: 七七三の二〇九の六三三五
Nov. 2, 2009
Monday
all guest students attend classes with host students
Guest students and teachers will receive Payton I.D.’s
breakfast in room 110 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.
Osaka guests return to homestay homes after school
Nov. 3, 2009
Tuesday
all guest students attend classes with host students, except for 8th period/4th block
during 8th period/4th block, guests go to cafeteria for activities
(activities: art, poetry, charades, film, journal writing)
3 to 4 "Meet and Greet" event sponsored by Asian American Club
5 to 7 open house party at Thieling home (Ray is a sophomore in Japanese 2 class)
Mr. and Mrs. Thieling 312-337-3832
1822 N. Orleans, Apt. 2
Chicago 60614
Nov. 4, 2009
Wednesday
field trip including all Osaka guests and Payton host students and teachers
coach bus to Mus of Sci and Ind., U. of Chicago, Millenium Park, etc.
depart Payton 8:30 and return to Payton 4:30
Nov. 5, 2009
Thursday
all guest students attend Payton
cultural presentations in Japanese language classes by Japanese guest students
Chicago's City of Osaka Office personnel will join us
last evening of exchange is dedicated to guest time with hosts
Nov. 6, 2009
Friday
a non-attendance day for Payton students -- teacher meetings at Payton
Payton students will bring guests and their luggage to school by 8:15
Osaka guests and Payton teachers will visit Consulate General of Japan and Japan Information Center
Visit to Chicago Sister Cities downtown
lunch as a group
bus picks up Osaka guests at 3:00 for trip to hotel
Nov. 7, 2009
Saturday
Osaka guests return to Japan
09:08 Depart Chicago for Minneapolis(NW2183)
12:40 Depart Minneapolis for Narita(NW321)
[will arrive Sun. Nov. 8th 21:20 Osaka group arrives at Kansai airport(NW-327)]
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Parent Meeting for Japan Exchange October 14, 2009
日本 日本 Payton Japan Exchange Meeting 日本 日本
大阪 大阪 Incoming Group from Osaka 大阪 大阪
October 14, 2009---Wednesday
6:00 p.m.---Room 110
Notes
Representatives of the following families attended:
Cambron, Chan, De Avila, Forman, Futris, Goldberg, Hernandez, Lake, Mascarenas, Minor, Molasky, Perez, Reischl, Tenorio, Yamasaki, Zhuang,
1. handed out hosting list (corrections and some parents)
2. hand out info on incoming Osaka guests
3. schedule as of today:
a. Sun. Nov. 1st 14:40 Depart Minneapolis for Chicago(NW7350)
16:07 Arrive at O'Hare airport(NW7350)
Chartered bus to Walter Payton College Prep—
hosts pick up Osaka group at Payton
b. Mon. Nov. 2nd - Thr. Nov. 5th Stay at Walter Payton College Prep
(Tuesday – meet and greet with Asian-American Club?)
c. Wed. Nov. 4th, field trip (guests and hosts) to Museum of Science and Industry, (Museum of Science and Industry ： 773-684-1414) plus drive-through of U. of Chicago campus, Millenium Park Hancock Tower Watertower Place
d. Thurs., Nov. 5th Osaka group makes cultural presentations in Japanese classes
e. Fri. Nov. 6th Deliver guests and luggage to Osaka in the a.m. -- Osaka group only, official City of Chicago activities during the daytime, then Osaka group moves to the hotel (schedule has been cut short by one day – budget decision on the Osaka school district side)
f. Sat. Nov. 7th 09:08 Depart Chicago for Minneapolis(NW2183)
12:40 Depart Minneapolis for Narita(NW321)
g. Sun. Nov. 8th 21:20 Osaka group arrives at Kansai airport(NW-327)
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR GUESTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF THERE ARE ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THE EMAIL ADDRESSES, SEND EMAIL TO KIMMEL SENSEI AND SHE WILL SEND TO ONE OF THE OSAKA TEACHERS.
大阪 大阪 Incoming Group from Osaka 大阪 大阪
October 14, 2009---Wednesday
6:00 p.m.---Room 110
Notes
Representatives of the following families attended:
Cambron, Chan, De Avila, Forman, Futris, Goldberg, Hernandez, Lake, Mascarenas, Minor, Molasky, Perez, Reischl, Tenorio, Yamasaki, Zhuang,
1. handed out hosting list (corrections and some parents)
2. hand out info on incoming Osaka guests
3. schedule as of today:
a. Sun. Nov. 1st 14:40 Depart Minneapolis for Chicago(NW7350)
16:07 Arrive at O'Hare airport(NW7350)
Chartered bus to Walter Payton College Prep—
hosts pick up Osaka group at Payton
b. Mon. Nov. 2nd - Thr. Nov. 5th Stay at Walter Payton College Prep
(Tuesday – meet and greet with Asian-American Club?)
c. Wed. Nov. 4th, field trip (guests and hosts) to Museum of Science and Industry, (Museum of Science and Industry ： 773-684-1414) plus drive-through of U. of Chicago campus, Millenium Park Hancock Tower Watertower Place
d. Thurs., Nov. 5th Osaka group makes cultural presentations in Japanese classes
e. Fri. Nov. 6th Deliver guests and luggage to Osaka in the a.m. -- Osaka group only, official City of Chicago activities during the daytime, then Osaka group moves to the hotel (schedule has been cut short by one day – budget decision on the Osaka school district side)
f. Sat. Nov. 7th 09:08 Depart Chicago for Minneapolis(NW2183)
12:40 Depart Minneapolis for Narita(NW321)
g. Sun. Nov. 8th 21:20 Osaka group arrives at Kansai airport(NW-327)
PLEASE EMAIL YOUR GUESTS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. IF THERE ARE ANY DIFFICULTIES WITH THE EMAIL ADDRESSES, SEND EMAIL TO KIMMEL SENSEI AND SHE WILL SEND TO ONE OF THE OSAKA TEACHERS.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Japan Exchange Seminar 2009/10/08
Japan Exchange Seminar
2009 October 8
All Present:
Elizabeth Alexander also attended.
Class Activities:
1. we assigned incoming guests to hosts, by name
2. hosts will now communicate with guests by email, except that Sally C. will send a regular letter to Osaka Sr. High School for Tomoko Ito, who does not have an email address listed
3. must check on availability of D.J. and Sofia as hosts for Takumi and Nozomi
4. hosts for teachers?
5. art committee starts on banner
6. communication for Mr. Tsukada tells us that visit will be cut short by one day
a. bring guests and their luggage to school on Friday the 6th
b. give up idea of Ed Debevic on the 5th? Payton students want more “family time” with guests
c. zoo? Boring? Weather?
d. “welcome” breakfast will take place the morning of Nov. 2, in room 110? In greenhouse?
7. meeting with parents to take place October 14th at 6 p.m. – host parents must sign hosting-responsibility form for CPS
8. importance of hosts and families being with guests at all times
9. Mike S. did research on contact information and schedule for Mus. of Sci. and Ind.
10. with questions or ideas, contact Kimmel Sensei at
crkimmel"at"cps.edu
or
carolruthsings"at"gmail.com
or
her cell phone
2009 October 8
All Present:
Elizabeth Alexander also attended.
Class Activities:
1. we assigned incoming guests to hosts, by name
2. hosts will now communicate with guests by email, except that Sally C. will send a regular letter to Osaka Sr. High School for Tomoko Ito, who does not have an email address listed
3. must check on availability of D.J. and Sofia as hosts for Takumi and Nozomi
4. hosts for teachers?
5. art committee starts on banner
6. communication for Mr. Tsukada tells us that visit will be cut short by one day
a. bring guests and their luggage to school on Friday the 6th
b. give up idea of Ed Debevic on the 5th? Payton students want more “family time” with guests
c. zoo? Boring? Weather?
d. “welcome” breakfast will take place the morning of Nov. 2, in room 110? In greenhouse?
7. meeting with parents to take place October 14th at 6 p.m. – host parents must sign hosting-responsibility form for CPS
8. importance of hosts and families being with guests at all times
9. Mike S. did research on contact information and schedule for Mus. of Sci. and Ind.
10. with questions or ideas, contact Kimmel Sensei at
crkimmel"at"cps.edu
or
carolruthsings"at"gmail.com
or
her cell phone
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Seminar meeting 2009/10/01
Japan Exchange Seminar
October 1, 2009
Students who attended the seminar today:
Alisa A.
Tori A.
Lucas B.
Kashawna B.
Melisa C.
Sally C.
Monica C.
Alexy C.
Devin deA.
Dimitri F.
Rachel G..
Xiaoyue (Joy) G.
Sergio H.
Naomi L.
Taylor M.
Colin M.
Yasmin P.
Nicole R.
Stephanie Alexisw S.
Esmeralda T.
Ray T.
Camille Lynn W.
Karen Y.
Amy X.
Amy Z.
Candy Z.
(absent, Nora M. and Mike S.)
Students who say they will be able to host (we need to host 19 students and 2 teachers):
Melisa C.
Sally C. (maybe)
Devin deA.
Dimitri F.
Rachel G.
Naomi L.
Colin M.
Yasmin P.
Stephanie Alexis S.
Mike S.
Esmeralda T.
Ray T.
Camillel Lynn W.
Karen Y.
Amy Z.
A. USEFUL JAPANESE PHRASES requested by host students:
Is [thing or action] OK?
[Thing or action] wa Ii desu ka?
＿＿ は いい です か。
Are you hungry?
Onaka ga sukimashita ka?
おなか が すきました か？
Where would you like to go?
Doko ni ikitai desu ka?
どこ に いきたい です か。
Do you understand?
Wakarimasu-ka?
わかります か。
Are you tired?
Tsukarete imasu ka?
つかれて います か。
What’s your hobby？
Shumi wa nan desu ka?
しゅみ は なん です か。
Would you like to go to the bathroom?
O-tearai ni ikitai desu ka?
おてあらい に いきたい です か？
We will leave the house at ___ o’clock.
＿＿＿ ji ni uchi wo demasu.
＿＿＿じ に うち を でます。
Do you need anything?
Nani-ka irimasu ka?
なにか いります か。
Are you OK?
Daijoubu desu ka?
だいじょうぶ です か。
When is your birthday?
Tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?
たんじょうび は いつ です か。
B. Handout on Osaka Dialect from Japanesepod101.com--We read this in English before listening to it from the online site, in Japanese.
“Hello everyone, and welcome to Yuri's audio blog.
“Today, I'll be talking about the Kansai Dialect's "severed endings."
In the Kansai dialect, the endings of some words are "cut off" and go unpronounced. For example, we pronounce gakkou ("school") as gakko, and sensei ("teacher") as sense. We abbreviate the words and they become gakko no sense ("school teacher"). I've heard that this started as a result of the impatient nature of people in the Kansai region. It is said that someone started cutting the endings off words and eventually it just spread.
“I think I also quite casually cut the endings off words, but I first realized I was doing it when I spoke with people from Tokyo or other regions, and got comments such as, "So that's how they say it in Kansai? Interesting."
I chose a few words that I'd like to share.
“First there is benkyou ("to study"). We pronounce this benkyo. You can use it in sentences such as Kyou wa benkyo shiyo ("Let's study today").
Senkou ("incense") is Senko; senbei ("rice crackers") are senbe; koohii ("coffee") is koohi; and shinbou ("patience") is shinbo.
“Here are some example phrases; senko ni hii tsukeru ("to light incense"). Kobe no omiyage wa kawara senbe ya de ("A good gift from Kobe is kawara senbei."). Koohi demo nomi ni ikoka ("Shall we get some coffee?")? And, Moo chotto shinbo shii na("Try to be just a little more patient.").
“Since I began living in Tokyo, I don't use Kansai-ben all day anymore, but I think it's interesting that I still unconsciously cut off the ends of some words.
“Today, I discussed the Kansai Dialect's "severed endings."
How did you like it?
“This has been Yuri's audio blog.
See you next time!”
関西弁4・語尾を切る言葉
皆さん、こんにちは。
ユリのオーディオブログです。
今日は関西弁の「語尾を短く切る言葉」についてお話します。
関西弁では、語尾を短く切って発音する言葉があります。例えば、「がっこう」を
「がっこ」、「せんせい」を「せんせ」と言い、「がっこのせんせ」という風に最
後の言葉を省略するのです。これは、関西人の気質がせっかちであることから、誰
かが語尾を切りはじめ、それが広がっていったといわれています。
私も、ふだん何気なく語尾を切って話していたのですが、東京や違う地方出身の人
と話していると、「関西弁ではそういう風にいうんだ。面白いね」といわれて、はじめて意識しました。
いくつか言葉を選んでみたので、紹介したいと思います。
まず、「べんきょう」。これは「べんきょ」と発音します。「今日はべんきょしよ」、こんな風に使います。「線香」は「せんこ」、「煎餅」は「せんべ」、「コーヒー」は「こーひ」、「辛抱」は「しんぼ」。「せんこにひぃつける」、「神戸の
みやげは瓦せんべやで」、「こーひでも飲みにいこか」、「もーちょっとしんぼしぃな」、などのように使います。
私は東京に暮らしはじめてから、一日中関西弁を使うことはなくなりましたが、こうしてみると、
無意識に使っている言葉の語尾が切れているのは、面白いなあと思いました。
今日は、関西弁の「語尾を短く切る言葉」についてお話しました。
いかがでしたか？
ユリのオーディオブログでした。
それでは、また！
C. Handout on Japanese Bears fan
www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0930-steve-dahlsep30,0,1232748.column
A deep love for the Bears that spans 14 time zones
Steve Dahl, September 30, 2009
The next time that you're feeling put out about being stuck in Bears traffic, just remember, it could be worse. Shu Katahira often commutes all the way from Tokyo to see his beloved team play on Chicago's lakefront. We have season tickets in the same section at Soldier Field.
"This weekend is a tight one," Katahira confessed via e-mail. "I'm flying back to Chicago Saturday morning and fly back to Japan on Tuesday, so I will be in Chicago a little over 72 hours. Except one crazy trip I did for the NFC Championship game vs. New Orleans (his favorite Bears experience) in 2006 where I came back the morning of the game day and headed back to Japan that evening, I normally stay at least a day or two with my family and my business."
My sons and I used to call him the Japanese Lance Briggs before we got to know him. He wears the number 55 proudly, but these days the "Briggs" on his back has been replaced with "Shu." He is exempted from my decree that grown men shouldn't wear jerseys because he is an anomaly. His war cry is "D! Come on, D! Defense!" and Katahira knows what he's talking about. He played weakside linebacker (just as Briggs does) for the Big Unicorns at Keio College in Tokyo.
Katahira grew up in Yokohama, where there was a U.S. Navy base with a football field.
"I could see games through wired fences," he said. "For me, the other side of the fence was America. Since then, I love the football and America."
The third-generation owner of a company that manufactures springs for the automotive industry, Katahira is mindful of the expenses incurred by his trips to and from the U.S. in this economy and flies coach unless he can get an upgrade. He's a big guy, and I have a feeling that it's a tight fit on a JAL aircraft.
When the Bears aren't playing at home and Katahira is in Japan, he is relegated to watching them at odd hours. When he is forced to watch the games at work, he leaves his office door open and turns the sound down or off because he wants to be a good boss and not set a bad example.
"Last season, I flew four times during the regular season to attend six games," Katahira said. "Please remember even though my main and personal objective of these above travels is for attending Bears home games, I come back to Chicago to see my family and take care of my business (KHC Corp., which has an area location in Woodstock), and those three work just perfect."
How can you not love this guy? He's the best Bears fan ever!
Katahira and I really bonded down in Miami during the rain-soaked Bears 2007 Super Bowl XLI debacle. We had dinner Saturday night at Morton's. It was the perfect spot for Chicago fans to celebrate, and Katahira looked resplendent in his sport coat and Devin Hester jersey. We weren't sitting next to each other at Dolphin Stadium, but somehow we ended up waiting in line in the men's room together and totally missing Prince's halftime show. Hester and Prince were the best parts of that game. Timing is everything. Katahira had predicted the future with his 23 jersey, just like Hiro on "Heroes."
He's always cheerful and loves Buffalo wings. He doesn't miss Rex Grossman. Even when he arrives the morning of the game, he never complains, and he never misses a play or handing out a high-five. Before the Pittsburgh home opener, I had just driven in from a weekend in Michigan that included a wedding in Grand Rapids. I wasn't about to complain. I had only traveled across one time zone, not 14.
Steve Dahl is a Tribune special contributor. Read and listen to more Steve Dahl at dahl.com.
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
D. In class activities
1. Art Team chosen for making banners and signs for visit: Alisa A., Tori A., Kashawna B., Rachel G., Joy G., Yasmin P., Nicole R., Camille Lynn W., Amy Xie
2. Students planning to host began writing descriptions of their homes, neighborhoods, and families. These will be handed in next week, typed and double-spaced, for faxing to the sister school.
3. Discussion of enjoyable activities for guest students
a. viewing movies at the theater – very hard to understand if they don’t have Japanese subtitles
b. attending stage plays – same as movies, hard to understand
c. attending dance concerts ( no language necessary for enjoyment)
d. attending music concerts (no language necessary for enjoyment)
e. live sports events (fairly easy to understand – minimal language necessary)
f. DVD’s at home, if they have Japanese subtitles
g. if your student is interested, participatory sports like bowling are good entertainment
h. Chicago’s Osaka City Office has suggested visiting college campuses – we will probably drive around the U. of Chicago campus on the day we visit the Museum of Science and Industry
E. Tentative schedule for visitation week – corrections? Additions? Suggestions?
Nov. 1 Sunday arrive Chicago, host families pick up guest students at Payton
Nov. 2 Monday attend school – welcome breakfast
Nov. 3 Tuesday field trip of Japanese and American students to Museum of Science and Industry, Millenium Park, and Navy Pier
Nov. 4 Wednesday attend school
Nov. 5 Thursday attend school, and guest students give cultural presentations in classes – Chicago’s Office of the City of Osaka will sent representatives to join us
Nov. 6 Friday Japanese group only makes official visits – Chicago Sister Cities organization has chosen destinations
Nov. 7 Saturday all day with host families
Nov 8 Sunday families deliver Japanese guests to Payton, and Japanese group goes to O’Hare
October 1, 2009
Students who attended the seminar today:
Alisa A.
Tori A.
Lucas B.
Kashawna B.
Melisa C.
Sally C.
Monica C.
Alexy C.
Devin deA.
Dimitri F.
Rachel G..
Xiaoyue (Joy) G.
Sergio H.
Naomi L.
Taylor M.
Colin M.
Yasmin P.
Nicole R.
Stephanie Alexisw S.
Esmeralda T.
Ray T.
Camille Lynn W.
Karen Y.
Amy X.
Amy Z.
Candy Z.
(absent, Nora M. and Mike S.)
Students who say they will be able to host (we need to host 19 students and 2 teachers):
Melisa C.
Sally C. (maybe)
Devin deA.
Dimitri F.
Rachel G.
Naomi L.
Colin M.
Yasmin P.
Stephanie Alexis S.
Mike S.
Esmeralda T.
Ray T.
Camillel Lynn W.
Karen Y.
Amy Z.
A. USEFUL JAPANESE PHRASES requested by host students:
Is [thing or action] OK?
[Thing or action] wa Ii desu ka?
＿＿ は いい です か。
Are you hungry?
Onaka ga sukimashita ka?
おなか が すきました か？
Where would you like to go?
Doko ni ikitai desu ka?
どこ に いきたい です か。
Do you understand?
Wakarimasu-ka?
わかります か。
Are you tired?
Tsukarete imasu ka?
つかれて います か。
What’s your hobby？
Shumi wa nan desu ka?
しゅみ は なん です か。
Would you like to go to the bathroom?
O-tearai ni ikitai desu ka?
おてあらい に いきたい です か？
We will leave the house at ___ o’clock.
＿＿＿ ji ni uchi wo demasu.
＿＿＿じ に うち を でます。
Do you need anything?
Nani-ka irimasu ka?
なにか いります か。
Are you OK?
Daijoubu desu ka?
だいじょうぶ です か。
When is your birthday?
Tanjoubi wa itsu desu ka?
たんじょうび は いつ です か。
B. Handout on Osaka Dialect from Japanesepod101.com--We read this in English before listening to it from the online site, in Japanese.
“Hello everyone, and welcome to Yuri's audio blog.
“Today, I'll be talking about the Kansai Dialect's "severed endings."
In the Kansai dialect, the endings of some words are "cut off" and go unpronounced. For example, we pronounce gakkou ("school") as gakko, and sensei ("teacher") as sense. We abbreviate the words and they become gakko no sense ("school teacher"). I've heard that this started as a result of the impatient nature of people in the Kansai region. It is said that someone started cutting the endings off words and eventually it just spread.
“I think I also quite casually cut the endings off words, but I first realized I was doing it when I spoke with people from Tokyo or other regions, and got comments such as, "So that's how they say it in Kansai? Interesting."
I chose a few words that I'd like to share.
“First there is benkyou ("to study"). We pronounce this benkyo. You can use it in sentences such as Kyou wa benkyo shiyo ("Let's study today").
Senkou ("incense") is Senko; senbei ("rice crackers") are senbe; koohii ("coffee") is koohi; and shinbou ("patience") is shinbo.
“Here are some example phrases; senko ni hii tsukeru ("to light incense"). Kobe no omiyage wa kawara senbe ya de ("A good gift from Kobe is kawara senbei."). Koohi demo nomi ni ikoka ("Shall we get some coffee?")? And, Moo chotto shinbo shii na("Try to be just a little more patient.").
“Since I began living in Tokyo, I don't use Kansai-ben all day anymore, but I think it's interesting that I still unconsciously cut off the ends of some words.
“Today, I discussed the Kansai Dialect's "severed endings."
How did you like it?
“This has been Yuri's audio blog.
See you next time!”
関西弁4・語尾を切る言葉
皆さん、こんにちは。
ユリのオーディオブログです。
今日は関西弁の「語尾を短く切る言葉」についてお話します。
関西弁では、語尾を短く切って発音する言葉があります。例えば、「がっこう」を
「がっこ」、「せんせい」を「せんせ」と言い、「がっこのせんせ」という風に最
後の言葉を省略するのです。これは、関西人の気質がせっかちであることから、誰
かが語尾を切りはじめ、それが広がっていったといわれています。
私も、ふだん何気なく語尾を切って話していたのですが、東京や違う地方出身の人
と話していると、「関西弁ではそういう風にいうんだ。面白いね」といわれて、はじめて意識しました。
いくつか言葉を選んでみたので、紹介したいと思います。
まず、「べんきょう」。これは「べんきょ」と発音します。「今日はべんきょしよ」、こんな風に使います。「線香」は「せんこ」、「煎餅」は「せんべ」、「コーヒー」は「こーひ」、「辛抱」は「しんぼ」。「せんこにひぃつける」、「神戸の
みやげは瓦せんべやで」、「こーひでも飲みにいこか」、「もーちょっとしんぼしぃな」、などのように使います。
私は東京に暮らしはじめてから、一日中関西弁を使うことはなくなりましたが、こうしてみると、
無意識に使っている言葉の語尾が切れているのは、面白いなあと思いました。
今日は、関西弁の「語尾を短く切る言葉」についてお話しました。
いかがでしたか？
ユリのオーディオブログでした。
それでは、また！
C. Handout on Japanese Bears fan
www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0930-steve-dahlsep30,0,1232748.column
A deep love for the Bears that spans 14 time zones
Steve Dahl, September 30, 2009
The next time that you're feeling put out about being stuck in Bears traffic, just remember, it could be worse. Shu Katahira often commutes all the way from Tokyo to see his beloved team play on Chicago's lakefront. We have season tickets in the same section at Soldier Field.
"This weekend is a tight one," Katahira confessed via e-mail. "I'm flying back to Chicago Saturday morning and fly back to Japan on Tuesday, so I will be in Chicago a little over 72 hours. Except one crazy trip I did for the NFC Championship game vs. New Orleans (his favorite Bears experience) in 2006 where I came back the morning of the game day and headed back to Japan that evening, I normally stay at least a day or two with my family and my business."
My sons and I used to call him the Japanese Lance Briggs before we got to know him. He wears the number 55 proudly, but these days the "Briggs" on his back has been replaced with "Shu." He is exempted from my decree that grown men shouldn't wear jerseys because he is an anomaly. His war cry is "D! Come on, D! Defense!" and Katahira knows what he's talking about. He played weakside linebacker (just as Briggs does) for the Big Unicorns at Keio College in Tokyo.
Katahira grew up in Yokohama, where there was a U.S. Navy base with a football field.
"I could see games through wired fences," he said. "For me, the other side of the fence was America. Since then, I love the football and America."
The third-generation owner of a company that manufactures springs for the automotive industry, Katahira is mindful of the expenses incurred by his trips to and from the U.S. in this economy and flies coach unless he can get an upgrade. He's a big guy, and I have a feeling that it's a tight fit on a JAL aircraft.
When the Bears aren't playing at home and Katahira is in Japan, he is relegated to watching them at odd hours. When he is forced to watch the games at work, he leaves his office door open and turns the sound down or off because he wants to be a good boss and not set a bad example.
"Last season, I flew four times during the regular season to attend six games," Katahira said. "Please remember even though my main and personal objective of these above travels is for attending Bears home games, I come back to Chicago to see my family and take care of my business (KHC Corp., which has an area location in Woodstock), and those three work just perfect."
How can you not love this guy? He's the best Bears fan ever!
Katahira and I really bonded down in Miami during the rain-soaked Bears 2007 Super Bowl XLI debacle. We had dinner Saturday night at Morton's. It was the perfect spot for Chicago fans to celebrate, and Katahira looked resplendent in his sport coat and Devin Hester jersey. We weren't sitting next to each other at Dolphin Stadium, but somehow we ended up waiting in line in the men's room together and totally missing Prince's halftime show. Hester and Prince were the best parts of that game. Timing is everything. Katahira had predicted the future with his 23 jersey, just like Hiro on "Heroes."
He's always cheerful and loves Buffalo wings. He doesn't miss Rex Grossman. Even when he arrives the morning of the game, he never complains, and he never misses a play or handing out a high-five. Before the Pittsburgh home opener, I had just driven in from a weekend in Michigan that included a wedding in Grand Rapids. I wasn't about to complain. I had only traveled across one time zone, not 14.
Steve Dahl is a Tribune special contributor. Read and listen to more Steve Dahl at dahl.com.
Copyright © 2009, Chicago Tribune
D. In class activities
1. Art Team chosen for making banners and signs for visit: Alisa A., Tori A., Kashawna B., Rachel G., Joy G., Yasmin P., Nicole R., Camille Lynn W., Amy Xie
2. Students planning to host began writing descriptions of their homes, neighborhoods, and families. These will be handed in next week, typed and double-spaced, for faxing to the sister school.
3. Discussion of enjoyable activities for guest students
a. viewing movies at the theater – very hard to understand if they don’t have Japanese subtitles
b. attending stage plays – same as movies, hard to understand
c. attending dance concerts ( no language necessary for enjoyment)
d. attending music concerts (no language necessary for enjoyment)
e. live sports events (fairly easy to understand – minimal language necessary)
f. DVD’s at home, if they have Japanese subtitles
g. if your student is interested, participatory sports like bowling are good entertainment
h. Chicago’s Osaka City Office has suggested visiting college campuses – we will probably drive around the U. of Chicago campus on the day we visit the Museum of Science and Industry
E. Tentative schedule for visitation week – corrections? Additions? Suggestions?
Nov. 1 Sunday arrive Chicago, host families pick up guest students at Payton
Nov. 2 Monday attend school – welcome breakfast
Nov. 3 Tuesday field trip of Japanese and American students to Museum of Science and Industry, Millenium Park, and Navy Pier
Nov. 4 Wednesday attend school
Nov. 5 Thursday attend school, and guest students give cultural presentations in classes – Chicago’s Office of the City of Osaka will sent representatives to join us
Nov. 6 Friday Japanese group only makes official visits – Chicago Sister Cities organization has chosen destinations
Nov. 7 Saturday all day with host families
Nov 8 Sunday families deliver Japanese guests to Payton, and Japanese group goes to O’Hare
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