Mission: Osaka
For the Red Cross, it isn't all disasters and wars. You can find
them hard at work in Osaka helping the local expat community in
unexpected ways. KS meets the volunteers.
Since it's establishment in 1863 the Red Cross has been involved
in providing humanitarian aid to victims of all major wars and
disasters from the two world wars to the tsunami in Indonesia.
This is the work it is known for worldwide and the work it trains
thousands of volunteers to do. The Osaka branch in Tenmabashi,
however, has been offering weekly free Japanese classes for the
last four years attracting a friendly group of Japanese volunteers
and a multinational mix of students.
One of the group's leaders Dai Matsuyama explained how the
idea was proposed by one volunteer in the language department
who had attended free English classes in Australia. At that time
the language department had little to do apart from occasional
translation and interpreting for foreign visitors. A weekly class
started on Thursday night and the first one attracted four students
and seven volunteers. From there numbers grew leading
to the establishment of a second class on Tuesday nights.
The Thursday class is for conversation. The classes are taught
one to one or in small groups. Participants can attend whenever
they wish and bring any material to study with. This flexibility
provides a great opportunity for anyone to drop by for conversation
practice when it suits them. The Tuesday class is more structured.
Members are expected to use a textbook and attend
every week. Participants study with the same volunteer where
possible and this enables good student-teacher relationships to
form. Whilst it requires more commitment, this class offers more
for those serious about studying.
 The group tries to avoid the terms teacher and student, as the
classes are taught by volunteers. Whatever the teachers lack in
experience they make up with enthusiasm. Their dedication is
admirable and their efforts put many 'professional' English
teachers in this country to shame. Volunteers come from all over
Osaka and beyond to share their language and culture. In fact,
there are often more volunteers than foreign participants.
Predictably one reason for this is the desire to make friends with
foreigners but most are also genuinely eager to teach Japanese.
One of the regular volunteers Yuka was inspired to join after her
experiences trying to learn to learn English in Australia. Another,
Megumi, has a Taiwanese mother who had to learn Japanese
as a second language. Both can relate to the difficulties of living
abroad and not being able to speak the local language. All the
volunteers find it rewarding to see the students progress and
enjoy making friends from many different countries.
The class is not designed as a social club but parties and other
social activities are arranged from time to time. For regular
members the social side is a big bonus. 'I can meet my friends
here every week' says Lillian, a member from France. 'It's a
great community, everyone's here because they want to be.'
Yuka, Megumi and Lillian are among a number of volunteers
who have become involved with the Red Cross's other activities
including taking first aid courses, translating, and volunteering at
events. Last year a number of volunteers worked at the Expo in
Aichi. Nobody is pressured to join the Red Cross but the fact
that many people have chosen to do so has added enormously
to the group's success. After four years the original organisers
are ready for a break but there are plenty of eager volunteers
ready to take over.
On the face of it the classes appear to be separate from the
work The Red Cross is known for, yet helping people and building
good international relations is very much a part of the organisation's
philosophy. By branching out The Red Cross is drawing
new blood to help its worthy cause.
Classes run from 7-9pm on Tuesday and Thursday. For more info
contact osakagoho@hotmail.co.jp / osakagohou.hp.infoseek.co.jp
Text & Photo: Patrick Widdess
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