marks to facilitate reading of kanbun: My name is Dotoko. I live in London and go to university. I live in London and go to a university called "CULTURE, CRITICISM AND CURATION" at "Central Saint Martins". I was born and raised in Berlin, went to high school and junior high school in Tokyo, and now I've been living in London for a little over a year. 20 years old.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI'm in the process of getting my BA (Bachelor of Arts) in Art History, Art Studies, and also Curation. It is a new department, and the only one of its kind in the world for a BA (Bachelor of Arts). But it's not only about art history, I often write essays on philosophers and other topics to deepen my ideas. Fashion, art, politics, music, movies, etc. are all included in the course, so it is very interesting to see how many things are linked together. I don't want to focus on just one thing, I like all kinds of things, so I took this course because I thought it would be perfect for me.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI'm learning a lot of things and the teachers are very nice. I like that all the teachers are artists and curators, and they all have careers in other fields. The library is great, and you can borrow cameras and computers right away. Also, you can use the dark room. Anyway, it's very well made for students, and I'm doing my best to make sure they can take advantage of it. However, there are some students who go to the school just because the school itself has a great image, and there are also many children who wonder why they go to the school. The image is good, but sometimes I wonder if the actual content is keeping up with the image. There is no one in my class that I find interesting. I don't know why, but there is no one I can get along with. When I went to college, I expected that everyone would have the same ideas because we are all here to study the same things, but I was totally wrong (laughs). They are shallow in their thinking, and the things they like are really lame, and there are a lot of people who don't make any sense (laughs). But I think it's a good chance to mix with people from other faculties. There is fashion, art, and photography, and there are interesting people in the school, so I think it's nice to meet those people.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI was in elementary school in Germany first and then moved to Japan. When I first went to elementary school in Germany and then moved to Japan, I really felt the difference. I was most surprised in the health class (laugh). (Laughs.) The textbooks were like, "Is this from the 1950s? For example, when talking about drugs, it said that marijuana and heroin are all the same. It says that if you do marijuana, you will die, and there are letters from people who smoked marijuana, and they were really stupid. It was absolutely false (laughs). (Laughs.) It was all written in hiragana, "I can't do anything after smoking marihuana," which I thought was very interesting. Also, in separate classes for men and women in health, the text says that girls are emotional when they want to have a relationship with boys, but boys are physical when they want to have a relationship with girls. I have to write that on the test. You have to write "physical" and "emotional. If I learn it that way, if it's a more emotional boy, I think I'm doing something wrong, and I shouldn't learn it that way. I don't think I should learn that. Some girls might not like boys because of that. If it is written in a text book, some people will really believe it. Also, girls only want to have sex after marriage, but boys want to have sex before that. It's a stereotype, and it's not something that should be written in a text book, but it's on the test, and you have to answer that way even if it's not true. Even if I don't think so. I thought it was really weird. The teacher probably knew it wasn't true, but because it was in the textbook, it had to be on the test.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI think it's amazing that the education system doesn't allow for teacher input. Politics makes the textbooks and we have to follow them. I think it is nonsense. I had a cool history teacher who taught us about what Japan did to China and what they did in Manchuria, even though it was not in the textbooks. He was a decent teacher. But he often said to himself, "It is very difficult for someone like me to teach in the Japanese educational system. I think that kind of propaganda exists in every country, and I don't think you can learn everything that is true. You only learn about how great things they did. But in the German education system, they learn about Hitler and what he did to the Jews was really, really, really bad. The great thing about Germany is that everyone understands that what their grandfathers and grandmothers did was wrong, and they recognize it. This is because they learn this in their education. I don't think all of Germany is like that, but when it comes to Jews, the only thing they learn is "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI think it is a very difficult question, but I think it might be surprisingly London. London feels like home. The reason is that in London, no matter who you are or where you come from, if you live in London, you are a Londoner. When I lived in Japan, I was always treated as a gaijin. I had some good things to say about that, but they said, "You are Japanese, but you are half-German, so you are half-half-Japanese. Even in Germany, people always thought I was Japanese, not German. But when I came to London, I was never treated as a gaijin because the country has a long history of immigration. I thought that was amazing. So in that sense, this is the first place where I feel like I am not a foreigner. Another reason is that I live by myself, away from my parents. For the first time, I can build a house the way I want to, and it feels like home.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI think: It's easy. Of course I miss my mom a lot, but it's pretty hard when you live in a small house together all the time and you're 19 years old or something. So it's easier, and our relationship is better now that I'm here and away from my mom. We used to fight a lot. Now I think it's great that we can talk normally. But it's sad to think that it was too soon and that she's not coming back, it's sentimental. Also, I might have been able to do more of my own thing before. My mom used to do everything for me, like cooking meals. But now I have to think about many things at the same time, and it is surprisingly tiring. I don't have time to think. Maybe it will get easier once I get used to it, but it hasn't been that long since I came here.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbun: It's difficult... When I lived in Japan, I did not have many high school friends. Even if I did, I had to adjust to them to have a good conversation with them. Most of my friends were adults. Maybe it was because I didn't find the right scene...I don't know. But even when I was in Berlin, I didn't have many close friends. Maybe it was because my education and my upbringing were a little different from other friends. So it wasn't so much that I didn't like my generation in Japan, but rather the environment was so different that it was difficult for me to make friends. When I was in Japan, I was in the fashion scene, so I made friends in that scene. I made more friends in London. Most of the people here are older than me. London is more art oriented. My fashion friends are also more art oriented, so I am happy to talk with them. Also, many of the Japanese people who come here are interesting because they are different. Some people may have an image of London as glamorous, but it's actually the opposite. I think it's very underground. Even if they are not my friends, just because they live in London, there is a sense of closeness, like we are all thinking the same thing.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI thought: when it was decided, this is all going to be like falling dominoes. But I wasn't shocked by the make-sense of it. Everything that is happening in Europe right now is in that direction. I don't really feel it yet, but if it really happens in two years, and after I graduate in another year and a half, I won't be able to live here, then I don't want to live here. If you don't want me to live here.... I just think it's very sad. If there are many people who think that way and they win. But many of those who think that way are old people, and I think that will change again someday when their generation grows up, and that kind of thinking will disappear. I don't feel sad for myself because I don't have much to do with my life right now, but I do feel sorry for other people. I think about people who come to London to work and send money home, and why they have to go that far to get kicked out when that's the only way they can afford it. I myself am spoiled because I can live in Tokyo, I can live in Berlin, I can live in other countries in Europe. The UK is a very mixed country, and I can't imagine that going away.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI haven't thought about it at all yet. I don't think it makes sense to think about it, because it will change anyway (laughs).

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI'm tired of doing nothing today because there is something going on every day in London. There are opening events, performances by friends, movies, live music, and clubs. There's just so much to do. I've finally found a scene I like, so it's fun. The amount of money is also free or about £2. I'm making things for students, so that's really fun.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI've always found it interesting: that there's always something interesting going on. Also, it's the first time I haven't been treated like a gringo, which is refreshing. I think people are used to being mixed race. I thought Berlin was mixed too, but when I came to London, I realized that Berlin is not mixed at all. Also, when I go to the supermarket, I can buy things from many different countries. I like cooking, so I can buy anything and make anything. I think Japanese supermarkets are wonderful, but they are a bit expensive if you want to buy foreign food. Also, I think it is wonderful that there are so many free museums in London. I think London is great because there are so many free museums, and they want to show their work to everyone.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI often think: prices are too high. For example, rent and trains. Things that I wish were cheaper are sometimes very expensive. Also, when I want to do something more adult, I think it is very expensive. For example, going to a concert at the Royal Academy. Also, maybe I just don't know, but I don't think there are many good restaurants. What I also really dislike is the lack of proper medical care. Basically, it's free, but at the same time, it's not done properly. If that's the case, I'll pay a little and I want it to be done properly.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunThere are many things to choose from. First of all, there is a lot of delicious food. Also, everyone is very nice and you can always relax. I also feel safe. I have family here, which also makes me feel at home. I also really like the onsen and the water in Japan. In London, my hair is very dry. I think the quality of life in Japan is very good.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI think politics is very bad. Even in the case of textbooks, there are so many rules. Politics also likes to make rules for people, so I don't mean to make fun of people, but I think this is a country where people are shut down and told to think in this way. In Japan, even if you want to write or say something in the media, there are many rules against it, and it is cut off. It is good to be safe, but I am surprised at all the things that you are not allowed to say because it would cause people to panic, lie, or cheat. Even about Fukushima, the truth was not told. It's not everyone's fault. They are trying to keep people away from politics, on purpose.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI had a hard time making something when I came to London. I felt like I was building a house all the time. But I always say I want to do events. I met many interesting artists and performers when I came to London, so I want to organize, find a space, invite people, and do something. I want to connect people with each other and create a place to showcase them. In Japan, I will hold an event with my friends for New Year's. We are going to rent a karaoke room and use it for the event.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI can find artists I like and show them. For example, there are times when I go to an exhibition and think, "I don't like this," but if I do it all myself, I feel good about it. Also, as I have done for a long time, I really like to connect people. I like to bring together friends who are not related to each other and do something together. If I think this person is good, then all my friends will think so too.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI think you should come to London. You don't have to be scared at all. People come to London from all over the world, so no one will think, "You're from Japan, are you okay? They will be interested in you. The reason why I think it is so difficult to leave Japan is because there are so many good things about Japan, such as the delicious food. I think it's because people are spoiled by such things that they feel sad when they come to London. I worry about that. I think it must be very depressing for someone who doesn't know anything about other countries, who has lived in Japan for a long time, to suddenly come to London and have to eat beans in this cold, dark winter. But it can be fun.

marks to facilitate reading of kanbunI'm thinking: I can't go on like this. Many days I wonder how we can change that. Socially speaking, I know things are not going well right now. But everyone around me knows that. That's why I feel safe, and I think that there are a lot of people like us, and they are all telling us to come here more and more. People don't say, "I'm going to do something unless it goes in the wrong direction! So I think a lot of interesting things will be created in the future. I think the same is true for Japan. Up until now, the country has been so peaceful that people may have been indifferent, but I think that from now on there will be many more people who are interested in politics.