In early December, I was occupied with all about basketball. I practiced a basketball game with Filipinos. And, I saw a basketball tournament for Mongolian students. Both took place sub-urban areas of Osaka city, Japan - how internation a ball gets!
Filipino basketball practice
Filipino community in Kansai is preparing for annual basketball tournament. My friend, Romero invited me for practicing in his team. So we met up Sunday and then joined six other Filipinos on way to a sport hall.
When we got there, it was already busy a place, children runing happily, people hanging around the basketball court. One could easily note that there was general excitement of playing basketball and inspirations to American NBA fashion. Mix of tall and short, fat and thin, good and bad players, and a few wanted to act as coach and some cheered happily.
They seem to follow basic rules accordingly and most keep their roles. There was no dispute nor confrontation. In short it was a happy practice.
Mongolian Student Tournament
Mongolian students in Kansai organized an annual basketball tournament. By school and area, they formed teams. Each team put up a cash bid and the winner gets most chunk of that.
Just as Filipinos, there was mix of tall and short, fat and thin, good and bad players, and a few wanted to act as coach and some cheered out well. For victory, players got fierce sometimes with disputes nearly close to fight. On top of good rule keeping, teams equipped with strong defense. Overall it was an interesting play.
Tuesday, December 14
Thursday, December 2
Mongolian literature event in Osaka
On 27th November 2010, my friend invited me to an event. The event was an autumn meeting of the Association for Mongolian Literature. On outskirt of Osaka city, the meeting was held at a classroom of Osaka University School of Foreign Studies. Audience consisted of eight Japanese scholars (two young and six elders), one professor from Inner Mongolia ( Dornod Tenger ), one Mongolian professor (Sarantuya), her assistant (PhD student from Inner Mongolia), four people ( two Mongolian and two from Inner Mongolia).
For me, it was an update of Mongolian literature. I liked very idea of people from different countries coming together under Mongolian literature. Also, I have to admit that meeting was a little technical for me. The professors had their own presentations – usually long tedious talks about their subject. Japanese professors always spoke Japanese and sometimes they would discuss how to write a Mongolian word in kanji. A professor from Inner Mongolia would participate in their talk of Kanji writing. Of out those presentations, two talks were interesting for me.
Dornod Tenger
He spoke about literature and surrounding issues in Inner Mongolia. According to him, the modern literature in that land took root in 1921’s and continues to this era. He cited lists of numbers on how many people work for literature sector and how many books published etc. One interesting point he raised was that writers producing their work in Mongolian language were cut their retirement benefits. If one wishes to produce in Mongolian language, one needs to support alone. That is how it works in PRC.
Sarantuya
She talked about works of Batjargal. Batjargal is a writer for children. Sarantuya read out Batjargal’s works and praised them from her point. She also displayed recent Mongolian books for children. I thought this poem was cute. Here, I must apology for such poor translation.
So I came out humming children’s poetry in my mind. There needs so much more to do for Mongolian literature. I will do my part someday soon. More about this event, go here
For me, it was an update of Mongolian literature. I liked very idea of people from different countries coming together under Mongolian literature. Also, I have to admit that meeting was a little technical for me. The professors had their own presentations – usually long tedious talks about their subject. Japanese professors always spoke Japanese and sometimes they would discuss how to write a Mongolian word in kanji. A professor from Inner Mongolia would participate in their talk of Kanji writing. Of out those presentations, two talks were interesting for me.
Dornod Tenger
He spoke about literature and surrounding issues in Inner Mongolia. According to him, the modern literature in that land took root in 1921’s and continues to this era. He cited lists of numbers on how many people work for literature sector and how many books published etc. One interesting point he raised was that writers producing their work in Mongolian language were cut their retirement benefits. If one wishes to produce in Mongolian language, one needs to support alone. That is how it works in PRC.
Sarantuya
She talked about works of Batjargal. Batjargal is a writer for children. Sarantuya read out Batjargal’s works and praised them from her point. She also displayed recent Mongolian books for children. I thought this poem was cute. Here, I must apology for such poor translation.
So I came out humming children’s poetry in my mind. There needs so much more to do for Mongolian literature. I will do my part someday soon. More about this event, go here
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