More retirees accommodating foreign students on homestay programs

By Kenichi Yamashita

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Latest 15 of 17 Total Comments Show All

Betting at 08:51 AM JST - 3rd June

"...who is enthusiastic about English education for her son". You'd think this would be about helping the homestay guy with his Japanese as he is going to a university here, but as always everything revolves around these homestay providers getting free English lessons for themselves.
DeepAir65 at 09:10 AM JST - 3rd June

You'd think this would be about helping the homestay guy with his Japanese as he is going to a university here, but as always everything revolves around these homestay providers getting free English lessons for themselves.

Sounds like a win-win for both sides. A heart warming story for a change and not about suicides and murders that seem to lock up the rest of the stories...
Altria at 09:18 AM JST - 3rd June

One such household, in Saitama City, is that of Kanji Yanagida, 70, who retired from the liquor-selling business several years ago.

Free booze, but you have to live in Saitama to get it...
borscht at 12:00 PM JST - 3rd June

I too wonder why the individual always is urged to 'promote Japanese culture to the world' when in fact every individual is different and enjoys life differently. Maybe Yanagida doesn't like natto. Should he force Tucker to eat it because it's 'Japanese culture?'

Hogwash. Let Yanagida promote what he wants and let Tucker learn about a real person rather than a front man for 'Japanese culture.'
Ah_so at 04:47 PM JST - 3rd June

Sounds great, but imagine if you are that 21-year old. Bang go your plans for all-night parties and bringing girls back from bars as you settle into existence with the elderly Tanakas. Sure they are great, but not my cup of tea. Unfortunately we do not get Tucker's point of view.

Probably good for learning Japanese, I suppose.
blvtzpk at 05:32 PM JST - 3rd June

Unfortunately we do not get Tucker's point of view.

Don't we? What about this:

‘‘I’ve been practicing [using chopsticks] every day,’’ said Tucker, who hails from Iowa, in rudimentary Japanese. He is studying Japanese history at a university in Tokyo and teaching English to Kento.

‘‘As individualism is strong in the United States, a closely-knit family atmosphere is quite refreshing. I’m often a bit puzzled by their bathing practices and other different customs, but they always help me,’’ he said.
Ah_so at 06:55 PM JST - 3rd June

Don't we? What about this

Sorry, I meant his view on having to live with old folk in relation to what I was saying about, rather than banal comments about chopsticks, "individualism" and bathing. Perhaps people who come from Iowa really do say such things, but it sounds like the polite things that foreigners say to Japanese. I bet he can use chopsticks already. I wonder if he also expressed his amazement at Japan having 4 seasons.

No offence, Jerritt, if you are reading.
smithinjapan at 09:12 PM JST - 3rd June

I don't see why anyone can come on here and complain about this situation. While I've no doubt that Tucker does indeed have to give a number of 'free lessons', but I'm sure he gets more than a fair return.

Most important is the experience for the Japanese people, I think; they'll get more out of it than the students, in terms of grassroots exchange and learning about foreign cultures.

I just hope this company does a very thorough screening job of both the homestay families and the kids who come over; too many companies around the world do a terrible job when choosing host families, and it can be not only a nightmare, but turn both parties against each other in terms of learning about culture.
KitsuneYoukai at 01:58 AM JST - 4th June

I agree. Sounds to me like it is a give give situation. What's wrong with giving a few English lessons. The boundaries being crossed is wonderful. Misconceptions and perceptions about both culturals are being bridged and that is all the better for the future. Promoting Japanese cultural is also good. I would guess it is because of the seclusion aspect of what was once Japan and today to some degrees still is. I believe it's great!!!!
rizaric at 06:43 AM JST - 4th June

blvtzpk at 08:47 AM JST - 3rd June

‘‘We want to provide opportunities for grandfathers and grandmothers to help promote popular Japanese culture to the world and for their grandchildren to experience different cultures,’’ said a company official.

I hear this regularly - why is there this need to 'promote Japanese culture to the world'?

Betting at 08:51 AM JST - 3rd June

"...who is enthusiastic about English education for her son". You'd think this would be about helping the homestay guy with his Japanese as he is going to a university here, but as always everything revolves around these homestay providers getting free English lessons for themselves.

Did you people even think before you wrote what you wrote?
netrek at 11:29 AM JST - 4th June

Can people who are not students sign up for this? Like could I visit Japan for 1 month and stay with one of these families? Any websites?
stanoue at 09:49 PM JST - 4th June

As an 18 year old exchange student I got a host mama, papa, little brother and live-in obaachan. Couldn't understand (a) half of what she said or (b) the tensions between her and daughter in law but it was awesome -what a way to actually experience Japanese life! Don't think I would have experienced karinto without a host obaachan and definitely wouldn't have got to know someone that age through a work holiday living it up in Tokyo or Jet, etc. So I disagree with Tucker's opinion that all-night parties and girls are the epitomy of a good Japan time. Granted, 17 is more age-appropriate for homestay than 21, though...
blvtzpk at 09:51 PM JST - 4th June

rizaric, yes I did think, and I asked a legitimate question.

What about you? Did you think? I'm not so sure, because your point is particularly unclear.
Betting at 05:52 PM JST - 5th June

Yes Riz, I certainly did. After my experiences of living in Japan I think it was a fair comment I made. Considering the amount of people I've met in Japan saying they wanted homestayers so they could practice their English. I often get the feeling certain people misunderstand what "international" really means (even if there should be such a word).
rizaric at 03:25 AM JST - 6th June

As a whole, I think this initiative is fairly positive. Yes, there may be some questionable ideas, but what it does is get the 'retirees' active, and involved, while providing the student with a cultural experience.

@blvtzpk

I did not mean to appear offensive, but I had thought that your point was rhetorical. At a basic level, promoting one's 'culture to the world' is good for any country. Why do countries bid for the Olympics? Why does this website exist for that matter?

@Betting

I agree with you that people misunderstand what 'international' means. Certainly, it is one way to view it, and the 'grandson' in question will get some experience in English. However, do you think the student's communications with the rest of the family will be in English as well? What about the rest of his experiences, eating, traveling, etc., with the family? However, is Japan the only country with people that do homestays? And with people that want to learn English?