My supporter

    

  

    My artifact is a charm. Its Japanese name is omamori. It is said to summon good fortune and expel evil. We can get them at shrines or temples. The shape is like a small poach. The size of this is as much as it fits in the palm of our hand. People can carry them in a bag or wallet as a smaller type of amulet. The comfort of touch is a little rough. The weight is very light. The color of the body is off-white and embroidered with golden thread. The embroidery on the surface of the charm in the photo is read as “Goukaku Kigan.” The meaning is that may you pass the exam. So this charm is said to have the effect of allowing those who have it to pass the school of their choice.

    When I was in high school, the center test was being conducted. The following year it was supposed to change to the Kyoutsuu test. The Kyoutsuu test is a difficult test that requires applied skills. So high school students all over Japan did not want to be a student to retake the entrance exam one year later, so they took entrance exams at universities below their academic ability in case they could not pass the school of their choice. However, I failed all the exams because I neglected to take measures even though I was not studying well. Not only me but my family was shocked. I resented the people around me. I was depressed that society does not need me. However, I changed my mind and studied hard for another year. My family also supported me. But last year’s events put me under pressure to become nervous and not be able to fail anymore. One day my mother called me.

“Nao, a letter was sent to you.”

“From who?” I said.

“Ahh…, from your senior student in club activities at your high school. “ my mother said.

I was surprised like this, “Really?! Give me it early!!”

    I received an envelope from a senior high school club member in Hokkaido who was also one of the students who took the exam again one year ago. Hokkaido is located on the north side of Japan. It is too far! The envelope contained a letter and a charm praying for success. They are what you saw in the picture above. The letter said, “How about you studying?”, “You can do it! Believe in yourself and hope that you can show your full potential in the actual performance!”, “I understand your feelings. If you have any problems, please feel free to contact us! I am supporting you from Hokkaido!” and so on. I am glad she supported me and I like her very much. It was encouraging to feel someone supporting me. Then I always carried the charm in my bag. I also took it to the test site. It reassured me even when I was nervous about having it. It may be no exaggeration to say that I am now living in this college because of that. In Japan, there is a custom of burning charms at the beginning of the year, but I can’t burn because it is important to me.


    Japan is a country of polytheism. A lot of shrines exist and people worship and pray for the spirits of various gods and great men. Japanese also have the idea that everything has a soul. From a global perspective, being polytheistic seems unscrupulous, but it shows the generosity of the Japanese people. I expect that the idea of valuing things will have a positive effect and lead to waste reduction. Furthermore, in Japan, the right to “freedom of religion” is guaranteed. Japan is a country that respects the freedom of each and every one of us. We can see the generous spirit of Japan in that respect as well. I like this kind of culture because Japan can enjoy their own cultures like Halloween and Christmas. I’m sure that you have seen or actually experienced such a culture and witnessed the tolerance of Japanese people compared to foreign countries. There can be any faith.


    In Japan, it is recommended to participate in club activities in junior high school and high school. There we can learn about hierarchies and make friends to expand your community. There are various reasons for recommending club activities, such as fostering sociality, gaining self-confidence in things other than studying, which will be a great plus for the growth and future of children. Certainly, there are some disadvantages such as less study time, but I’m glad I was doing club activities. There are things I couldn’t meet or get without club activities. In my case, the positiveness I gained at that time is still useful, and I still have a very good relationship with the friends I got. I think that the advantages of joining club activities are greater than the disadvantages. The sense of crisis that club activities reduce study time will make us think that we should study more.