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English Transcription
Interview with Kazuma Ono, the NPO “Beautiful World”
Ishii: Hello everyone, I’m Ishii, the representative of CHARA Corporation. I would like to introduce some people who are supporting Ukraine, and I would like to ask if we can do something together. I would like you all to know about their activities. The other day, we finished Mr. Obama from Kodaira City, and today we have NPO Beautiful World here. Hello.
Ono: Well, I look forward to working with you.
Ishii: First of all, could you tell me your name and briefly what you do as your main activity?
Ono: Yes, my name is Kazuma Ono of the NPO Beautiful World. My home is a small island called Iki City in Nagasaki Prefecture. I’m a small island in Iki City, Nagasaki Prefecture, and before the war started, I was planning to do some crowdfunding as a small NPO. So we are now working on two pillars of support for those who have been affected by the war, and those who have been affected by the war. We have been working to support the people affected by the war and the war victims. The relief supplies and money are collected from all over the world, and they are basically collected in Poland. So, if you look at Ukraine like this, there are the west side and the east side, with this side being the Borland side. The one facing Russia is the east side. My wife is from Ukraine, Zhang Shengchunju is a city on the east side of the country, but she is from here and her relatives are still here. I have heard from many of my relatives that the western part of Ukraine, near Dbu and Poland, has received a lot of relief supplies, but the eastern part has not. But in the east, there is no aid at all, and even the Red Cross is not allowed to enter the area yet. Herson’s child. My wife and I are from Donetsk, so we had connections with volunteer organizations. So, our first pillar of activities is to send money to volunteer groups and deliver daily necessities and food to those who are in need, such as the disabled, the elderly, and those who cannot evacuate. Next year, we will be supporting the Ukrainian refugee camp in Kyushu to accept people who have fled to Ukraine, and we will actually start by recruiting people who wish to come to Japan. We will recruit the refugees and we will provide them with a guarantee of their identity and we will cover all the expenses for their travel to Japan. We also cover all the travel expenses. We coordinate with the local governments and accept the refugees in cooperation with them.
ISHII: Yes, there are so many. Well, speaking about myself, about a year and a half ago, there
was a civil war in Myanmar, and I felt frustrated that I couldn’t do anything to help Myanmar people. When the civil war broke out in Myanmar, I wondered if I could do something to support the people of Myanmar, and I felt frustrated that I couldn’t. This time, I worked in Europe for a while, and I am from Western Europe. I worked in Europe for a while, and I am from Western Europe, and I was against the idea that democracy is threatened or that Japan can be attacked or not attacked. It’s more about the global situation and what we will do if we don’t protect Japan.
Ono: Yes, there is.
ISHII: After the invasion in February, I guess. The situation is changing every moment, so I think the priorities of things are changing quite a bit. So, what is it that is so difficult as of today that we have to do something about it worldwide? What is it that we have to do somehow on a global scale?
Ono: It’s been three months since the invasion started, after all.
Ono: It has been three months since the invasion began, and it will soon be four months, so I feel that interest in Ukraine has waned considerably. I think this is inevitable, but it is an ongoing situation, and I think that we should support Ukraine with our whole lives, including postwar reconstruction. I think we have to support Ukraine with our whole lives, including the postwar reconstruction. Before I started dating my wife, I didn’t even know the word “Ukraine”. I knew the word “Ukraine,” but the only thing I knew about Ukraine was Shevchenko, and the only thing I knew about Ukraine was Chernobyl. That’s the thing, isn’t it? But suddenly, the word “Ukraine” became very popular, and a huge amount of money was raised. The embassies have received a huge amount of money. We are also receiving support. We hope that people will continue to be interested in this kind of thing. I believe that this will support Ukraine, and by extension, will lead us to think about peace in the world. In the 21st century, it is unthinkable that such a clear war of aggression would be triggered, so I hope that you will continue to follow the war with great interest, and whatever the outcome, you will see it through to the end and see the postwar reconstruction in full swing. The worst thing that can happen is for people to lose interest. I think that the most frightening thing is to become indifferent to the war.
Ishii: If you really look at Japan from a macro perspective, it is as you say.
Ono: I am.
Ishii: That’s right. And when I think back to that, people in Myanmar also said the same thing, and they have already forgotten about it.
ONO: Syria and Myanmar are like that.
Ishii: So, we have to do it in the order of arrival, but I think there is a little bit of noninterference of the mind, so many people are suffering. When you see the news everyday, it is hard for those who are involved in Europe to move as if it were your own life. I think it is difficult to understand Eastern Europe in the first place.
Ono: That’s right.
Ishii: While I’m saying that, I have an idea. I used to think it was an inappropriate idea, but the point is, in Harajuku. I was thinking that it’s an inappropriate idea, but the point is, in Harajuku, Ukrainian people are doing their own club events.
Ono: Art.
Ishii: So, they danced, drank state food, and ate borscht. I was very surprised to see that Ukrainian people were doing it in this style. I personally thought that it would be good to talk about it rather than just watching TV. I think you are also right about the macroeconomics. I think it is wonderful that your organization is doing this.
Ono: I think that’s right, there are 18 of us.
Ono: Yes, we had 18 people.Mr.
Ishii: I think the fact is that these people have accepted the situation and are supporting the lives of these people, and in the midst of this, I think it is about the work that we talked about on the phone the other day, but the people who are directly involved in the support of these people are really the ones in front of us. I think that the video is stored in your head for how many hours, how many hundred hours? What is the order? For example, the top water concerns.
Ono: That’s what I mean.
Ishii: No, no, I really think so on a very large scale, but on the other hand, how about on a microscopic level in front of your eyes?
Ono: Well, to be honest, it costs a lot of money to be honest with you. And if we accept the project, we have to pay for the coffee as well. So, this time, Beppu City in Oita Prefecture has accepted us. Beppu City has been collecting donations, crowdfunding and tax payments, and they have provided the minimum necessary items such as washing machines, refrigerators and microwaves to the municipal housing. The city government has been supporting such things as municipal housing. However, each family had their own bedding, but there were some families that needed different furniture, such as a bed instead of a futon, or a desk for the children to study. So, even though we receive a lot of support from the government, there are times when we are short. We are gradually teaching them about the average Japanese household budget and how to think about how much they spend on shopping. But the cost of living was different when we first arrived in Ukraine. If we had bought rubber bands with the Ukrainian way of thinking, the price would have been very expensive. We are now receiving such donations from everyone, and when the Nippon Foundation’s support comes through, we will be able to receive the money from the refugees as if we had paid for it ourselves. But we are really in a bit of a difficult situation right now.
Ishii: I wonder if we, who pay for Bridge, can do the same thing, but it’s not on a large scale.
Ono: Shi.
Ishii: I really have nothing but respect for you, but in that sense, I wonder if the number of 18 will be increased or not, depending on the money.
Ono: The situation is that if they come, we will increase the number. We will increase the amount even if we have to pay out of our own pocket. My wife and I have already discussed the possibility of selling the real estate. However, the scale of the evacuation is now calming down a bit. We are still in contact with the families, but at one point we received as many as 30 calls in one night. But it’s calmed down a little bit and there are a lot of people who are interested, but we’re not getting as many calls as we used to. Clouds. The school building was evacuated. For example, in normal times, if it is not a time of war, if it is not a time of evacuation, we would send them a letter of guarantee and a visa application form, and then they would go to the embassy and go through the embassy procedures for about three days, and then they would get a visa for up to one week. Then you can come here in about two weeks. But since we are applying for the visa while evacuating, it may take a month to go to the embassy. Even if we send the documents, it is not easy to go to the embassy to apply for
the visa. Because the embassies are usually located in the capital of the third country. It is very difficult to get to the embassy, and it also takes a lot of money, especially if you have children with you. So, some of the people we accepted took as long as two and a half months to get there, so it’s not as if you can just go there in a week or two, as we had expected.
ISHII: That’s right. A little bit. I don’t know how much I can say on this youtube, but I did some research and called the Japanese embassy in Warsaw. Of course, it’s difficult to look clearly at official government channels. The situation in Warsaw is, for example, one town. I think it’s a big city, but how many people are waiting for it?
Ono: You know what? I think it was around the middle of March when things became quite severe. Until then, it seemed that if you applied for a visa, it would be granted immediately. But now they are able to issue visas. But there was an announcement in the middle of March, and there are rumors that the number of refugees from Ukraine decreased a little bit, but when the Ministry of Justice sent the documents to the guarantors of some 100 refugees from Ukraine, there was news that less than 20 people went missing. I don’t know if it was influenced by that or not, but suddenly there was a delay in issuing visas. I don’t know if that had an impact or not, but suddenly there was a delay in issuing visas. The people we accepted were not so much affected, but the people we are cooperating with were affected. We had a scheme that if they applied for a visa there, the visa would be issued on Wednesday and they would be able to get on the flight on Friday. Now, if you apply for a visa on time, your guarantor will be contacted by the visa office. I was also contacted many times. I was contacted by the Embassy or the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Ishii: Well, I think that once Japanese people say that they want to work there, they will be irritated because of activities like Mr. Ono’s, but once they say that, there is some kind of adult situation. I think it’s a little bit of a government thing. I think that the government should be able to see the situation from above, and if you think about the feelings of the people there, the point is that their hometowns are really in trouble and they have no choice but to evacuate for their own safety, and the people who are fleeing with their families have two objectives: to secure their safety and to secure their lives. I think that the two objectives of the evacuees are to ensure their own safety and the safety of their family members. I may have told you about this, but I think there is also the United Kingdom.
Ono: I mean to other countries other than Japan.
ISHII: How do you think about it then? I mean, you are waiting for something in average Warsaw, right? Like you said, if you have to wait for something in Japan time….
Ono: Well, I think it’s easier for them to live in countries that are closer to Eastern Europe. The Czech Republic and Hungary, for example, are the best places for them to live. However, they don’t have the capacity to accept refugees. For example, we have heard that some of the people we have accepted have fled to Western Europe, and they are in Western Europe. They are in Western Europe, which is not so poor economically, but there are many refugees who can’t make a living here either. So we can’t give them special treatment because they are refugees from Ukraine. So, it is very difficult for them to make a living financially and socially, so they come to Japan.
Ishii: I have never been to Ukraine, so please excuse me for saying this, but if you look at your own hobbies, you will find one thing that you like about the country. I think it depends on each person, for example, I would prefer Japan, or I would prefer England, and also benefits. I think it’s a multiplication of the two. I think it’s probably a multiplication of the two.
ONO: So, I’m sorry, to summarize, they would probably prefer to live in Europe. They would be better off living in Europe, but they don’t have a choice. If they want to live in Europe, they’re going to face a lot of competition. And they’re going to be lumped in with all the other refugees, so there are going to be people who can’t really make a living. If that happens, they may have no choice but to return to Ukraine or something like that. So, I think that is why Polish people, especially those who have evacuated to Beulah, are trying very hard to avoid that. So, people in Poland, especially those who are evacuated to Bora, are desperate to avoid this situation. So, they’re looking for a different country. Yes, I understand.
ISHII: I did. But Japanese key point is that the situation you just heard is not so easy to be accepted even if you raise your hand. With good intentions.
Ono: That’s why.
ISHII: I think it’s his own tension.
ONO: But what can I say? As long as you know the person, you’ll be fine as long as you’re in good standing. I mean, the guarantor, you know, they don’t check your financial situation. If you have a guarantor, you need to submit a proof of income or something. So I don’t think the
hurdles are that high, but the screening process has become stricter, which means that it takes more time for the screening process.
Ishii: Yes, well, as a Japanese, I feel ashamed. I’ve heard that there are some suspicious incidents happening here and there, so at first, the government and the Ministry of Justice are all on the same line, but gradually, I wonder if this kind of thing is gradually appearing.
ONO: While mentioning, it’s national security. I can’t help it. Hands.
ISHII: It is meaningful to keep raising it.
Ono: Yes, I think so. I think so. If it is really for a good cause, I hope that you will continue to do it without giving up.
Mr. Ishii: I understand. So, I’ll leave it to you to talk about one point and the rest in detail, but I mentioned about your job the other day. Well, to put it abstractly, if you want to come to Kyushu and make use of your skills and earn some income, you have to have a certain amount of money because of your schedule, but if you want to earn money, the obstacles are language, skill matching, and the area where you are from, Okayama Prefecture. I’m from Okayama Prefecture, so I imagine it’s Okayama Prefecture. I’m from Okayama Prefecture, so I imagine that in Okayama Prefecture. Well, I think that there are not many jobs for Japanese people depending on the type of work, so I guess these are the three main obstacles.
Ono: Yes, we are not that worried about the amount of job opportunities in the areas we have accepted. This is despite the fact that it is located in Kyushu. I wondered if it would be okay because it is an international town, but I knew that no matter what kind of work you do, no matter how simple it is, you have to communicate with your colleagues in Japanese. I think it is very important to have a driver’s license. If you want to change your driver’s license from Ukrainian one, it is easy if you just change the external one next year, but if you look at the actual contents of the license, for example, if you have an accident, the other party is Japanese, so you have to respond in Japanese immediately. That’s right. I think it is necessary to have a certain level of Japanese language ability. So, I think there is a different way of thinking. If the Ukrainian refugees need to work immediately, then they can do simple tasks that do not require Japanese language skills. I think that the people we accepted would probably want to do work that makes use of their own experience rather than simple work like this. I think that the people who have accepted me would like to work in a job where they can make the most
of their experience. That will lead to long-term employment, and if you are hired for a simple job, it would be disrespectful to say that you will go to a different place once your Japanese language skills have improved. It would be disrespectful to the person who hired you, and I don’t think it would be good for the refugees. That’s why I think it’s important to stay close to them and not be in a hurry when it comes to employment. Yes, that’s right. This too.
Ishii: I don’t know how to express it very well, but my factory is the kind of factory that people from certain Asian countries enter.
Ono: Time.
Ishii: There was a concert in Ota-ku, Tokyo. When I went to see it, there were about 20 people from Asian countries. I was making art with them because they were speaking the language of their countries. But they were going to do that, but then they closed the school and said they were going to go to a Japanese language school and graduate to work at a convenience store. So when I became a pillar of the school, I started working at a convenience store.
Ono: Like that.
Mr. Ishii: They were saying that they graduated from a certain school. I’m not mentioning the name of the country, but I heard that those people were in some Asian countries. So, I heard that they were from Asian countries. They are skilled people. It’s because you take pride in your work that I want to talk to you about your feelings right now, isn’t it?
Ono: No, they really want to work immediately. Since they have been in Japan since the beginning, they have a great desire to work in Japan, not only to receive charity, but also to make use of their skills. Everyone does. Everyone wants to work in Japan, without exception, but in order to work, at least you have to be able to communicate in Japanese. You have to be able to communicate in Japanese, and that’s the secret of a long-lasting job, isn’t it? I think that’s the secret. That’s why I think you have to be there for them. So I think it’s easy to say, “Well, I’m here to work or evacuate, so I can work at a factory or do some kind of simple work with this. If they want to work in such a way, then I think I can tell them that they can work in this job. But if you do that, I think you are not being close to the Ukrainian people. I think that would mean that I’m not being close to the Ukrainian people, that I’m disrespecting their wishes. So I would like to proceed with caution, while also discussing this with the government. If they are going to work with us, I really want them to continue for a long time. That’s how I
feel. It’s not easy when a foreigner quits his or her job, isn’t it? I would like to introduce them to workplaces where they can work for a long time after changing their visas or whatever.
ISHII: So I would like to say even though what I said earlier might have mislead you a little.
Ono: I’ll tell you what.
Ishii: Well, it’s not SDGS, but if there is a word “SUSTAINABLE”, of course, you can lean on it.
ONO: And just.
ISHII: I don’t think it’s impossible to do it the way you did it. As you mentioned before, it was a short term. It was great, but it was over in half a year.
Ono: Yeah, that’s good.Mr.
Ishii: But next time, the visa status will be quite sensitive, so I wanted to say that there is a combination which is not too much for both of us. Well, you know. I’d like to be a Russian or Ukrainian teacher, but I’d also like to be something that anyone can do. I mean, it’s not like I’m a teacher of Russian or Ukrainian, but I’d like something that anyone can do. Well, I’m sorry to sound like I’m planning a project, but what can I say? It’s not good to be looking for something that I haven’t been looking for for a long time.
Ono: For example, yes. No, I also think that I have to do it very soon, and I have to do so. However, I think that we should never be in a hurry, but if we are in a hurry, our descendants will be destroyed. It is okay to rush in other areas, but if we don’t take our time, it will affect the impression of Japan, and on the other hand, it will affect the impression of Ukrainians on the people who are employed by Japanese people.
ISHII: Yes, that’s right.
Ono: Yes, yes. Rumors spread, so do they spread? I don’t want people to say, “Oh, he quit after only about six months, he’s not very good at it.
Ishii: Yes, I want to tell you again and again so that there is no misunderstanding, I am a
student living in my hometown Kichijoji, Saitama.
Ono: San.
Ishii: I had a chance to meet with architect-designers for a while, and I felt that architect- designers have a high level of skill, a high level of mind, and a kind of tenacity, so I was very straight forward.
Ono: Rather.
ISHII: How do you say it?
Ono: I want to make the most of it.
Ishii: Yes, that’s right. I’ll try to do my best a little bit more, but, you know, I’m not so sure. Last year, there was a Head Hunt Division in our company.
Ono: people.
ISHII: Matching with the database is quite important because of the color. The size of the matching database is quite important.
Ono: That’s right.
Ishii: It became one type of occupation. So, I guess it’s not the level that you are asking if there is anything around you or not.
Ono: Well, to begin with, there are people who can even speak English, but the truth is that it depends on the person, and I don’t think they would be able to work if they only spoke Russian in Ukraine, especially in East Asia. So I think it is necessary for them to learn Japanese well. I think that’s a must. If, as a result, six months or a year later, after the war is over, they have a home to go back to, that would be fine, but I think we need to take a longer-term vision. We are supporting them with the intention of having them come to Japan, so I think that they need to learn Japanese well.
Ishii: So that is your conclusion. Then, you should learn Japanese language and get a job in
Japanese language, and also, when the future benefit is very good, the region is important.
Ono: Very much so.
ISHII: If so, it would be good if you can teach Japanese thoroughly almost for free.
Ono: Hey. That’s right. That’s right. We’re online twice a week, but we don’t have much time. We only do about a week at most.
Ishii: I can’t talk about that too much, but I have an experience. Maybe, you know, ice cream. So your wife is fluent in Ukraine. You yourself are so.
Ono: In my case.
ISHII: It’s called processing.
Ono: I’m not even fluent in Russian. I’m not fluent in Ukrainian.
Ishii: In the style, I went to England as a trainee of the company when I was a new graduate, and after that I went to Italy, which was probably a boot camp. I couldn’t even speak, but I was told that I was very quiet at first, because I went with my family.
Ono: I’ll be right back.
Ishii: After 3 to 6 months of writing, meeting and talking in English, I could get to the point where I could get along fairly well, so if you are at the bottom of the class, it’s hard to go up. It’s not easy to go up to the next level. So I think it would be good if there was some kind of system for that.
Ono: Well, since I came to Japan, when I went to Ukraine, I naturally started to speak Russian in Ukrainian, as you say, in two months or three months. It is very important to be in that environment, and they are in that environment, and to some extent they are in a Japanese- only environment, so it is invisible. I think there is a kind of speed of improvement. Oh, you’re right. Yes, I think so. I think that people who are studying Japanese in Japan because they have to, they absorb more and more than people who studied Japanese in Ukraine. No matter how old they are.
Ishii: Yes, yes, it’s something like that. I can’t speak Russian, so it’s almost impossible for me to speak Russian, but I’d like to try to talk only in Japanese with about 10 people in Zoom in a new span of time.
Ono: How about this?
ISHII: I can’t understand you.
Ono: Right. That’s why I tell them to watch the news. I learned English from the BBC and CNN. I learned English from the BBC and CNN, so I think it’s important for them to get used to the speed of the news and the use of difficult terms. That’s right.
ISHII: Right. Well, nowadays, you know. You can do podcast at double speed, right? I see. What do you think is popular as teaching materials? Other than that, other than news?
Ono: Yes, except for news. Well, nowadays, you can watch more and more on Youtube or Netflix or whatever. It varies from household to household. They just watch whatever they’re interested in.
ISHII: On the contrary, it’s not pen and paper. It’s not paper and pencil.
Ono: That’s right. I teach hiragana and katakana on paper in my online Japanese lessons twice a week, but it’s all in GOOGLE drums.
ISHII: So, even over here, it means that the teachers have to teach in Russian, not in English, or something like that.
Ono: That’s the reason. When we decided to accept the students, we received many requests from various places to support our Japanese language classes. I was really grateful to receive such requests, and I was really thankful to receive them, but when the class is based on “0”, we have to explain in gentle Japanese or gentle English. But there are people who don’t even understand the alphabet. Like the people in Hinami. Well, young people don’t understand so much, but older people can only understand the Russian Cyrillic alphabet. Many of them could only understand the 33 books that were available at the site, so they couldn’t communicate from the sounds. Even if you write it down in a hurry, it doesn’t really tell the story. That’s
why, since most of the people we received were from the eastern part of the country, we explain in Russian, and my wife is now teaching the basics of beginner’s Japanese in Russian.
Mr. Ishii: Well, I think we can translate some parts of the mechanical engineering company into Japanese, but I think it’s not so deep. But it’s a more in-depth part. I think it’s the part where we work closely with the person individually. The person’s… The personality of the person.
Ono: Also.
ISHII: There are people who are quick-tempered and those who are quicker to listen than to talk.
Ono: When there are 18 of you, you know. It’s not easy because they go in many different directions. It’s really the same with Japanese.
ISHII: Sometimes there are Americans, but there is no one who give up. It’s too hard to give up.
Ono: It’s tight. Some people joke that they’ve given up on me, but they’re like, “I’ll be there when I open all the books for the next class. Then I’ll probably be there.
Ishii: In London, I can manage somehow, but in Italy, I can’t manage at all, so I’m forced to do it. I couldn’t talk to anyone and couldn’t order anything in a restaurant. I think that I would be able to order in a restaurant because I can’t talk to anyone.
Ono: Well, well, they are desperate. They’re all desperate to make a living in Japan, so they’re very active online, and they ask questions. Even if you can’t make it, we archive all the recordings and put them in the GOOGLE drive, so it’s a pleasure to be able to catch up with them and learn from them. Yes, with sound. Um, okay.
ISHII: That’s right. I think the university student whom I am helping is also very nice, and when I told him that I remember him, he said something about a mountain range.
Ono: Gain.
ISHII: I did.Ono: So Kanji.
ISHII: It is difficult.
Ono: Yes, that’s right. They have a great desire to contribute to Japan, to build their lives in Japan, and to contribute to Japanese society. I think it’s wonderful, and I think they are the future of Japan and the future of Ukraine.
Ishii: So, I said jokingly on the phone, but it’s true and history, March 3rd, Japan was ruled by the Japanese.
Ono: Guys.
Ishii: We Japanese, including myself, are not just sitting idle, but I don’t feel that we can’t follow the example of the Ukrainian people to build Japan. In my case, I can’t say for sure because I’ve only been in the Eastern European community for a short period of time. I can’t say for sure, but there are a lot of people who I think are amazing.
Ono: I don’t know. Before the war, I thought that Ukrainians were people who enjoyed the present and didn’t think much about the future, but since the war started, I have felt the strength of Ukrainians more and more. There are many people who have different opinions about politics. There are many people who have different opinions about politics. I have my own personal opinion, but I think history will prove it. I think that the war has changed the world in many ways, and the Ukrainian people are changing too, and we Japanese need to be aware of that. Yes, I think so.
Ishii: In that sense, if I abstract it, you felt that there might be Japanese who would like to study your know-how, didn’t you? When you say “Ukrainians”, it’s a rough way of putting all Japanese people together, but at that time, what do you mean by “skills” or “way of thinking”? Is there anywhere you think it’s great that you have changed your mind?
Ono: It’s a simple story, but I think there are some Ukrainians, but there are no Ukrainians who are depressed about reflection. They are enjoying their lives, and there are many people who don’t even know the word “RIPPLE”. I don’t know how to describe it. People in the Soviet
Union have a kind of dark image. The more I get to know them, the more I see how cheerful they are. No matter what kind of difficulties they encounter, they always try to solve them. That’s a wonderful thing, and that’s exactly what I’m doing right now. They are on the verge of a national crisis, and they are trying to solve it, and they are evacuating to protect their families. They are trying to protect their families and evacuate. The Japanese way of thinking is that if this doesn’t work, we’re screwed, but if this doesn’t work, then we think of the next way to deal with it. I was impressed by the way he switched from one method to the next.
ISHII: I wonder what it is. No, this is also very rough and probably wrong, but I think it’s a kind of Latin chili in it. I think the brightness of Italy is also a little bit different from Italy, so I think it’s something different.
Ono: Bright.
Ishii: I think it would be great if you could combine the planning and tenacity.
Ono: That’s right.
ISHII: Look, these are two countries that don’t have any of those.
Ono: That’s right. I received a notice for the National Pension Plan today, and this is a fresh story. I have been exempted from the National Pension because I am a displaced person, but the exemption document says how much I have to pay until next year. The Ukrainian was very surprised and said, “Your government is already thinking about one year from now? I told him that Japan has such a plan, but he said that it is impossible in Ukraine. I told them that it was impossible in Ukraine, but they said that it was impossible in other countries.
Ishii: Yes, that’s right. My shallow memory of Ukraine is that the president was changing rapidly.
Ono: It’s about time for the president to change, and of course policies change with each new president, and there are rumors that the efficiency of the government is also changing. So, the tax rate and so on. It’s a very difficult country politically. It’s a difficult country politically.
Ishii: Also, this is a bit geeky, but there is an influencer on Twitter in London named Meiroma, and I sometimes send him messages, and he also mentioned something. He said that the
culture and the way of speaking of the Soviet Union in Japan, for example, the industrial complexes and the apartment buildings, are quite Soviet-like.
Ono: You’re right, like at lunch. You’re looking at it, aren’t you? It’s very avant-garde. Like salmon roe.
ISHII: It’s a little bit like this, like the concrete. You are walking in a material feeling. You are walking around. You don’t usually see that. I don’t see it in other countries.
Ono: I wonder if it was something like that. I wonder if there was some Soviet technology that came into the country, and if there was some kind of connection with Japan.
ISHII: Yes, and this is probably a shallow prediction. Well, after the war, the West became anti-Communist at once, so Japan was fairly neutral. It lasted until 1975, which means that when England and the U.S., which we often visit on vacation, were suddenly eliminating such things, there was an opening for us to enter.
Ono: I guess you’re right.
Ishii: I don’t mean to be rude, but that’s culture, so I think it’s fine to be neutral about it. I think it’s fine to be neutral about it, but I’d like to know that it’s the same with the industrial complex. So you are speaking Russian.
Ono: Thank you very much. I’m sorry to hear that, but I’m not sure how many Russian words you’re going to use.
ISHII: Is “幾幾幾幾” in Russian?
Ono: How much are fish roe? So caviar is called black salmon roe. Over there, red salmon roe is our salmon roe.
ISHII: I see, then on the contrary, it is so. I was also in contact with this lady, and she said, rather, teach me Russian. She is a Russian-speaking Ukrainian, so she is close to her country, but she said that she prefers to speak Russian, not Ukrainian. When I asked him to teach me something, he said he was not good at Japanese, but suddenly he became cheerful and said, “No, I’m not good at Japanese. He said, “I know Yaponski, Harasho, and one more, right? I
only have one more. But so does piroshki. Borscht is also 35 days, and today Japanese people have about 200, and I think the answer is if you learn the language.
Ono: Yes, that’s true. But it’s not so easy. I can speak a little Russian-Ukrainian, but I write on my résumé that I can speak only daily conversation. Especially since I’m from Kyushu, they don’t pay much attention to me. I’m in Kyushu, so they don’t even look at me.
Ishii: Yabukami might be different if it was in Hokkaido.
Ono: I think it would be different if you did it on the Sea of Japan side. I think there’s a lot going on in my life now that things have suddenly turned out this way. It’s really the same Russia as usual.
Ishii: I’m not sure if the Ukrainian train is thin or not, but I’m also making a translation app and I can’t read it because of the way it’s spelled. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to have a new one or not, but it’s a good idea to have a new one.
Ono: Well, I think that the basic Japanese language is the same as any other language, but if you skip over the basic grammar, it will be difficult. I think the key is to study the grammar in your head to some extent, and then have a conversation. Aoki: Yeah, it’s the same with Aoki.
Ishii: I see. When I was a university student, I was studying French, and I happened to be stationed in Italy or I went to Italy after that. It was close to Shanghai, so I could communicate with Itaya and China in a way like word talk.
Ono: verb to chat.
ISHII: I guess Russian is a language that is spoken in a rather structured way, like French liaison.
Ono: Maybe, but for example. I don’t know how to say it. I can understand to some extent, even if I make a mistake, for example. I think it’s not right, but it’s okay if you make a mistake in the nucleus, feminine nouns, or masculine nouns. Even if you make a mistake with tenses, it’s still understandable to some extent.
Ishii: I think it’s a little bit like the Japanese who are getting to know each other, even though
it’s often wrong to do so.
Ono: I’d like to make it.
Ishii: I think it’s important to speak well when you are leaning towards them, and since I was the winner here, I was having dinner with a guy who speaks English fluently and a guy who can’t speak Japanese fluently. The most important thing to remember is that you should never be afraid to ask for help from your friends and family.
Ono: To.
Ishii: I would like to create a moment that when I say I like you, you suddenly become like you are a geisha or a commoner, and the conversation about sushi becomes about geisha or commoners, and you say it’s nice. I want to create a moment like that. If you know about the other side, there is a distance between you and them.
Ono: When you get close, yes, that’s true. People are very cautious. People in the Soviet Union are especially wary. The first door is very thick, and when you open it, they become very friendly. That’s why we used to say “Russians and Ukrainians” in the old days. Now we say Ukrainian-Japanese, but I think there is something strange about it.
Ishii: This is also maniac, but it’s called “Stand with Ukraine” by Ukrainian people.
Ono: What about Lou just now?
Ishii: There are some funky people, and I sometimes feel embarrassed, but that’s the thing, isn’t it? There are some Ukrainians who don’t want to speak Russian.
ONO: We don’t have any around us, but we hear stories like that. We were in a Russian- speaking country, but we’re going to speak only Ukrainian.
ISHII: In that sense.
Ono: Yes, I am.
ISHII: I think there might be a lot of food play, but I can’t say that.
Ono: But I’ve never heard of anyone around me or my wife quitting the Russian language. So I think it’s a partial thing. I mean, I know the name of the Russian language is Russky, but it’s not a bad language, and my wife has been using it because the country is bad, but the language is not bad. She also speaks Ukrainian, but yeah. I’m sorry.
ISHII: I mean it’s not. Well, you shouldn’t use Russian flag or the above pictograms in conversation. I mean, the borderline of Ukraine is like this. I’ve never been to Ukraine, so it’s very subtle.
ONO: Not even a little bit.
ISHII: No, I don’t.
Ono: Things have changed a lot in the last ten years, but up until ten years ago, when I used to go there, it was completely Soviet. There are still some Soviet remains, such as the statue of Lenin, and some of the buildings from the Soviet era still remain. Before this manmade, I think the culture was more Russian. This is the eastern part. I don’t know much about the western part of the country. I’m talking about the eastern part of the country. So, I really do speak Putin’s language, don’t I? They are brothers, it’s not an exaggeration to say. There are very few people who had bad feelings towards Russia, including the people we hosted. It’s really sad that it’s come to this and that we’ve been divided.
Ishii: In that sense, it’s like learning about culture. For example, I had never been to this place, so I stepped on a land mine. I didn’t know whether ballet is like that or not, or whether architecture is like that or not, and I didn’t know whether borscht is from Ukraine or not.
Ono: What is it? No, this is martial arts. The point is that the Russian culture itself started in Kiev. The Ukrainians played the role of the older brother of the Russians. The Russians think that Russia has a bigger economy, more land, and more money, so they only think that the Ukrainians are acting strangely. That kind of bickering has been going on since before the war.
Ishii: I see. I think it’s safe to say that the recommended way to learn Ukrainian culture is to listen to some genre cuisine, but I don’t really like it. But the music that was playing at the club event was really cool. I also sympathize with the art that was on display, but there are a lot of people who say that it’s like looking at imported goods, so…
ONO: I think it’s interesting, though, like church architecture. Is the Ukrainian Orthodox Church still being destroyed? There is no St. Sophia Cathedral in Kiev, which was built around 1000 A.D., and it is really beautiful and majestic. I think it’s interesting to introduce people to the culture through that kind of thing. So, for example.
ISHII: That kind of thing, too.
Ono: And photos.
ISHII: It’s not rude to post. Because it’s hurtful and probably heartbreaking and there are a lot of things.
Ono: Study.
ISHII: I do, but I’m studying. If this church is destroyed by missile, after all.
Ono: You say that as courage.
ISHII: It’s a situation that I shouldn’t even post.
Ono: Hey. Yes, that’s right. Whenever we present Ukraine, we always ask the audience to look at the photos for publicity purposes. We always show them the pictures of Ukraine, and say that Ukraine used to be so beautiful, and now it has been destroyed. Many people sympathized with me and said, “Oh, such a beautiful place has been destroyed. Yes, I did that several times.
Ishii: Okay, what is the second recommendation?
Ono: Rice is also used for cooking and Cossacks, isn’t it? Yes, that’s right. There is the Cossack dance, which is based on the Ukrainian Cossacks rather than the Russian Cossacks, and there are lyrics that say, “If we are descendants of Cossacks, let’s do our best. On top of that, the Ukrainian Cossacks are saying that Ukrainians are more legitimate. I don’t know what the Russians think.
ISHII: Or music related to Cossacks. So that is Ukraine.
Ono: Yes, there is a literature called “Tarasbourg Bar Chairman’s Minutes”, and there is also a special kind of Cossack music.
ISHII: What is the exclusion?
ONO: There’s an American soldier, Mr. Louliba, Captain Louliba, and he’s a legendary Cossack.
Ishii: Ah, I see, but you mean that kind of thing. I was a trading company myself, so even in Europe, there was still a lot of undeveloped area from West Opinion to East. I think it’s good to study a little bit at a time. I think it’s good to learn a little bit at a time.
Ono: No, that’s right. I have been studying for about 10 years, but there are still things that I don’t know, and there are things that I didn’t realize. Eastern Europe has a deep history, a history of going back and forth, so I think that if you study that history, you can have a deeper conversation with Ukrainian people who come to Japan, even if you don’t speak the same language. Even if they don’t understand each other’s language, it might be a good opportunity to talk about the history of Ukraine with them. I think they will be very happy to know about their culture, history and customs. They are surprised to hear that you can sing the Ukrainian national anthem in 20 years. I thought it was a great weapon for me as a Japanese. It’s something.
Ishii: I’m with Space Shine because there was an Indonesian guy in Bali on a business trip.
Ono: To.
Ishii: I went to the beach at the end of my business trip. At night, a BBQ seafood band came and sang a Japanese song by Sakamoto 9.
Ono: I’m glad you’re speaking Japanese.
Ishii: I mean four Indonesians in Bali. It was very moving. Well, I hope you can have that kind of experience, and you have to get over the pronunciation problem.
Ono: That’s not good. You don’t have to speak perfectly. I think it’s fine if you do the Broken Ukraine thing that you mentioned earlier. But it’s a little bit difficult to Ukrainianize it, so I’m
using Russian.
ISHII: Some people who are trying to bite me on TWITTER or something say, “No, that’s not Russian. But I also tell them “No, no, no, it’s OK.
Ono: Yes.
ISHII: I’m not sure. Of course, I wonder if it is written in Ukrainian as well.
Ono: And of course, Ukrainian is the best language. But is it very difficult to start Ukrainian from zero? I think it’s better to start from Russian, even though there are not many Russian speakers who started from Russian.
Ishii: Lastly, there is the radio lecture of NHK. Later Junkudo was called “Okada Sho” very much.
Ono: open text.
Ishii: Because there were only two books.
Ono: Purple. That one in white and purple, that’s the only one. I think those are the only two.
Ishii: I see, there are only two in Japan, so those two were placed there.
Ono: That’s right. I’ve never seen two or three or three kinds. I’ve never seen two or three or three kinds of them.
Ishii: I understand. So, you are in between in that way, right? I am in Okayama prefecture, but I have to go to Hiroshima to visit the A-bomb Dome. I went to Hiroshima to visit the A- bomb Dome. When I listened to the stories of A-bomb survivors, I learned a lot of things. The Atomic Bomb Dome is either in Hungary or in the Czech Republic. The Hiroshima Industrial Promotion Hall was completed in 1904, and because of the slight curvature of the dome, it seems to have survived the atomic bombing. So that kind of architectural technology is probably a secret of the East.
Ono: There it is. Well, well, there was certainly a unique Soviet idea about weapons and so on.
I used to like them because they were nostalgic, but now they make me want to throw up when I see them. But now I feel nauseous when I see them.
Ishii: I understand. Well then, please eat during the tease time and we will continue.
Ono: Yes, I’m sorry, I’m sorry if I said something a little strange in a strange place.
ISHII: Is it an advertisement at the end? If you are watching the movie in the middle of the night, I would like to make an appeal to the audience, or to support the audience. Well, of course, it could be a donation, but I’d like to close with what you said.
Ono: I would like to say that we would like to ask you to support our NPO, Beautiful World, but there are many support groups in Ukraine, so I think it would be better if you support the one that you feel the most sympathy for. If you do so, you don’t have to support us by doing so. If you support us, it will be for the benefit of Ukraine, and I always say so. If you feel sympathy for our activities, we would be very happy if you could support us. We will use all the money for Ukrainian people and Ukraine, but I am sure that there will be an organization that you will be satisfied with. Thank you very much for your continued support.