April 26, 2012

Anzac Day in Japan

Fan bought in Kyoto, Anzac Poppy sent from home in New Zealand
As one would expect, Anzac Day in Japan was a bit of a non-event. No national holiday, no Anzac biscuits, and no getting up at 5am to attend a dawn service. I had read online about a New Zealand themed pub in Umeda that I wanted to go to today, in order to celebrate a little bit of the Kiwi spirit here in Osaka - but couldn't get hold of them to check if they were still open. If anyone happens to know anything about the fate of Kiwis Pub, let me know, yeah?

Anyway. Although everyone in Japan seems to assume I'm American (including this Japanese news website, which featured one of my blog posts and described me as 'an American woman in Osaka'... grrr) - I am a New Zealander, and I wore my poppy with pride today. I've read a lot about the Anzacs, and one of the things that has always stuck with me is that, for a lot of the young men, going off to war was like their big overseas adventure. Japan is my big overseas adventure, too - but I'm lucky enough to be doing it on my own terms. So, from the land of the rising sun -

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

3 comments:

  1. Wow. What awful "journalism". I'm not sure how much laziness it takes to simply assume you're American, but I figure a lot. D:

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  2. Such a shame you did not get to experience the fruits of my lyrical abilities this year with the national anthem.

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  3. Oh my!!! That same website also wrote about two of my posts (which got me so many hits) but they also dubbed me as an American girl!!! All my Japanese friends were so angry, they kept saying they'd get in touch with the writer etc- but I felt bad, I mean I never mentioned I'm Canadian on my blog really, but they shouldn't just use American!!

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