 Spring 1999 John Pereira (Editor) |
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Spring 1999 John Pereira (Editor) |
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"We are the world" has become much
more than a song title or cliche. In the past five years or so, the Japanese - especially at the university level - have begun to use the language in a more meaningful way. We believe this to be a significant change since a language, to be vital, must be aggressive, in the sense that it must communicate the thoughts and ideas of the person using it. To further this development, and to contribute in a small way, we are publishing Communicative Times, a periodical we hope will grow into something more than a vehicle for Japanese writers in English. A few words, we feel, can go a long way towards explaining Japan to the rest of the world, if those words are written by a Japanese. And, as more and more Japanese reach out to the world through the written word, no doubt there will be a need for new forms, new bottles to contain the new sake'. So, it gives us great pleasure to be able to introduce in this maiden issue a new form - the poessay - a minimalistic and poetic sort of way to get your point across! |
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West Meets East and Aristotle Meets Basho These little things are not poetry but a simple marriage of the poem and essay forms Poessays in fact are opinions expressed poetically Editors |
She doesn't know Japanese or English but she has beautiful hair and a pure heart She is my friend my dog Yukari Tanaka |
The moon changes every night half moon full moon crescent moon and new moon But no the moon is always a full moon Are we also like the moon? Yumiko Toguchi |
When someone smiles at me I feel happy When I talk with my friends I feel happy |
I spend my free time with my family I feel happy Little things make me happy Keiko Yuno |
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Birds can fly but I can't I can use chopsticks but birds can't He can run quickly but she can't She can sing well but he can't Yohei Kurita |
This morning I got up late I hopped on the train The train was crowded The train shook My head swam because I was sleepy |
crashed into my neighbor I said I'm sorry After a while "Ouch!" My foot was trodden on but my neighbor pretended to sleep Yoriko Nagatani |
My darling said to me You are the best My darling said to my friend You are the best |
My darling said to her friend You are the best many best do you have? Miho Kawamura |
God can do anything except one thing He can't help people who don't believe in Him Ryosuke Saeki |
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The scientist who produced the clone said: This is the smartest man in the world He is a genius True but does he know his mother's name? Asuka Matsumiya |
tears of joy tears of sadness tears of emotion tears of anger same taste? same color? are they the same tears? Erina Tanabe |
apples always in my refrigerator body so cold and face so pink like mine Mayumi Sumi |
Remember our night in Rome We walked in the rain and you got all wet because I had the umbrella Mayuko Shigeta |
Time is a traveler who never returns Tatsuya Koshi |
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You always teach me the time Although sometimes you get out of order Anyway thank you for your hard work From now on please tell me the correct time Tetsuya Kobayashi |
The tulip blooms in spring The sunflower blooms in summer The cosmos blooms in autumn The camellia blooms in winter |
will love bloom in my heart? Yoshiko Kodani |
I'm a dreamer I always have a dream That dream may be difficult That dream may be far |
I alwayspursue my dream I'm a dreamer Takayuki Fukano |