Today's post will be focused on the AIU campus, my classes and activities, some brief information about Akita Prefecture and the surrounding sights, and many, many pictures. I am hoping to make up for the incredible amount of text in the previous posts with an incredible amount of pictures in this post.
I have also decided that, in addition to my weekly Sunday overview posts, I will also be posting a Wednesday "Feature" post where I will highlight a specific location, event, person, or theme. This will hopefully make the overall blog a bit more balanced, as my Sunday posts won't be as long (hopefully) and you won't have to wait a full week for more news.
With that said, let me get on with today's main attraction - Akita International University and the surrounding location.
Akita-ken (Akita Prefecture)
Looking down a small avenue of apartments in "Global Village." The apartments are two-story, each set of double doors leading to two apartments (one on the ground floor, one on the second). The apartments are for two people, though the size of the room is comparable to a single bedroom in a Circle Apartment back at Ithaca College. The facilities are quite new, with cedar as the main building material.
The Global Village Courtyard. It has only recently become nice enough to be outside to enjoy the weather, so I expect we'll see more people here in the coming weeks. In the background, you can see a couple of fully bloomed cherry trees. These will be in bloom for about a week.
A few things to note: The unusually high tub, the drain in the corner near the tub, the shower head on a hose (and not over the tub), and the small stool on the left corner of the picture. (For those curious, the toilet is in a separate closet-sized room behind me, which is actually a very sensible set up all in all). In Japan, traditionally baths are much more common than showers. In a family setting, what would normally happen is someone would fill the tub with hot water. The highest ranking member of the family (or the guest) would get the bath first. Before stepping into the bath, you use the shower head to rinse yourself, lather, then rinse again standing outside the bathtub. The stool is for those who find it more comfortable to sit while doing this (actually, there is another rack for the shower head higher up but it's cut off in this picture). Once you are nice and clean, then you can step into and soak in the hot water for a while. Dry off, and you're done. Needless to say, I was a bit confounded about the whole process the first day or two, but I've developed a system that works. I am still not used to showering standing on the floor so I usually stand in the tub. The tub itself is actually quite large and I fit very comfortably in it, and I have rediscovered how soothing it is to soak in a tub full of hot water.
Audio/Video stations for watching DVD's, listening to music, or watching satellite TV.
Behind the A/V stations are three small conference rooms.
A small section of the library with pocket books (very popular in Japan).
On the second floor of the library is this small room with a bench and windows overlooking the yard and some road. Not a very comfortable place to sit and read, but it provides a nice break.
The main library rooms with its semi-circular shelves. There are approximately four or five rows of shelves, with desks built into the back of them. In the front you can see tables with lamps for reading and studying. To the right (and off the picture) are computers for the library database and for personal use. Also to the right are a few tall windows, providing the room with intense sunlight and giving it an airy feel.
This picture was taken from the second-highest level of the main library room. You can see the circulation desk on the left side of the picture about halfway up.
The desks built into the backs of the library shelves. There are lights under the shelf as well for reading.
This is the central pillar to the library and is quite beautiful. Below are pictures of where it connects with the roof.
Akita-ken is in the northern area of Honshu, in the Tsugaru area. Aomori-ken, the northernmost prefecture, is just north of Akita-ken (map). Unlike the more developed prefectures in the southern parts of the island, Akita-ken is still primarily an agriculturally based prefecture, with endless acres of rice paddies, and still plenty of old-growth forests on the mountain slopes. It is also one of the poorer prefectures in Japan, but it is not without it's charms. Akita-ken is known for still retaining a bit of the more wilder aspects of Japan, and is home to quite a number of onsen (hot springs). It is home to Tazawa-ko (Lake Tazawa), Japan's deepest lake. Kakunodate is a historic town famous for its samurai-style houses and numerous cherry blossoms, and draws many visitors during the hanami (flower viewing) period in late April. Follow this link (also on the sidebar) for more info on Akita-ken.
Akita International University (AIU)
AIU is still in its infant stages. The school was established in 2004 and enrolls approximately 600 students every year. It is a revolutionary school in that almost all of its classes are taught in English, making the school one of the hardest to get into for native Japanese students. It is a school focused on international relations; English is currently the most powerful international language hence classes in English. It is structured around a liberal arts curriculum, and most importantly it is heavily funded by Akita-ken. This fact makes AIU's academic situation pretty interesting in my eyes, for the following reason: As I mentioned, AIU is trying to model itself around a Western/U.S. liberal arts ideal, focusing on international relations and international business. However, there is some political friction within the (older) Japanese mindset when it comes to US style business and economics, and so the prefecture is very reluctant to see AIU introduce a lot of western-style economics classes. The flip side of this is that because there is a hesitation to offer these more rigorous courses, many AIU business and international relations classes pale greatly in comparison to similar courses found in Europe and the US, and are therefore not nearly as useful in the global scene as they should be. Fortunately for me, I don't really have to worry about this since I am focusing my studies on Japanese culture and language, but this has been a source of frustration for many international students coming here to study for a semester or two. Here's a link to AIU's home page (also on the sidebar).
But enough of politics, on with the tour. Here are some pictures of the AIU campus taken just a few days ago. I'll talk a bit about each building/facility, and then give a short overview of campus life as a whole. First, some pictures of the campus buildings and entrance:
This is the center of the main complex. The building in front of you is the cafeteria. On the far left you can just make out some of Komachi Hall.
Komachi hall the the left and the cafeteria to the right (more on both below).
On the right third of this picture you can see a green bus. There is a shuttle that runs from AIU to the nearby Mall and shopping complex pretty regularly (once every hour or so), and a second shuttle that runs to the nearby train station, where you can take a short train ride into Akita-shi (Akita city). More on transportation in later posts.
This is the center of the main complex. The building in front of you is the cafeteria. On the far left you can just make out some of Komachi Hall.
Komachi hall the the left and the cafeteria to the right (more on both below).
On the right third of this picture you can see a green bus. There is a shuttle that runs from AIU to the nearby Mall and shopping complex pretty regularly (once every hour or so), and a second shuttle that runs to the nearby train station, where you can take a short train ride into Akita-shi (Akita city). More on transportation in later posts.Residence Halls
There are two residence "halls" available at AIU. Komachi Hall is a standard dormitory-style residence hall, housing mainly underclassmen. The "Global Village" is a set of small two-person apartments directly adjacent to Komachi Hall, and usually houses upperclassmen. Most of the international students this semester are living in Global Village, though I live in Komachi Hall.
Komachi Hall lounge. There are usually a handful of people hanging out in the lounge at most times of the day, especially in the evenings. In the very back ground, you may notice the glass enclosed room, which is the smoking room. At most times of the day, peeking your head into this room will most likely reduce your average life expectancy by at least a year, thanks to the incredible amount of second hand smoke that permeates every cubic inch of this room.
Looking down a small avenue of apartments in "Global Village." The apartments are two-story, each set of double doors leading to two apartments (one on the ground floor, one on the second). The apartments are for two people, though the size of the room is comparable to a single bedroom in a Circle Apartment back at Ithaca College. The facilities are quite new, with cedar as the main building material.
The Global Village Courtyard. It has only recently become nice enough to be outside to enjoy the weather, so I expect we'll see more people here in the coming weeks. In the background, you can see a couple of fully bloomed cherry trees. These will be in bloom for about a week.My room is in Komachi Hall, as I stated previously. It's pretty small, but serviceable. I don't think it's necessary to show you a picture, however I do want to make a culturally significant note, which is in regards to Japanese bath rooms. In Komachi Hall, two dorm rooms share a single bathroom, which sits between the two bedrooms. The bathroom is designed in the traditional Japanese fashion, which I want to highlight here. Below is a picture of the bath:
A few things to note: The unusually high tub, the drain in the corner near the tub, the shower head on a hose (and not over the tub), and the small stool on the left corner of the picture. (For those curious, the toilet is in a separate closet-sized room behind me, which is actually a very sensible set up all in all). In Japan, traditionally baths are much more common than showers. In a family setting, what would normally happen is someone would fill the tub with hot water. The highest ranking member of the family (or the guest) would get the bath first. Before stepping into the bath, you use the shower head to rinse yourself, lather, then rinse again standing outside the bathtub. The stool is for those who find it more comfortable to sit while doing this (actually, there is another rack for the shower head higher up but it's cut off in this picture). Once you are nice and clean, then you can step into and soak in the hot water for a while. Dry off, and you're done. Needless to say, I was a bit confounded about the whole process the first day or two, but I've developed a system that works. I am still not used to showering standing on the floor so I usually stand in the tub. The tub itself is actually quite large and I fit very comfortably in it, and I have rediscovered how soothing it is to soak in a tub full of hot water.Main Building/Cafeteria
Connecting Komachi hall to the lecture halls is the "main building" as I call it, which houses the cafeteria, the small campus store (SunSun) and another student lounge.
Cafeteria. To the right are ceiling-to-floor length windows which make the room very bright and airy. There are two plasma-screen TV's set up, one usually on a Japanese station and one on a US station (usually CNN). Meals are cafeteria style, and you have to pick one of three main dishes. The food portions are noticeably smaller than in the west, which is probably not a bad thing. You can get unlimited amounts of white rice and miso soup. There is also cold water and hot green tea available at all times of the day, as well as a microwave and toaster oven. The food isn't too bad, though almost anywhere off campus is better (which is true of University food anyway). Now that I've been here for a few weeks, there are two major which I miss in the food department: breakfast and dessert. They only serve breakfast at lunch, and it is always jello. Breakfasts are depressing since there's no cereal, oatmeal (or most anything that requires milk), and the eggs are not the same (though not necessarily bad). There is only white toast. I remember the second breakfast I had on campus was a traditional Japanese style breakfast which consisted of: cooked salmon (cold), white rice, miso soup, a hard boiled egg and a slice of white bread. Some days I dream of pancakes and waffles and giant omelettes and hash browns and lots of syrup. Heck, even cereal would be just dandy. Anyway, aside from the usual fare, there is a little restaurant that's run out of cafeteria where you can order other dishes and desserts (like chocolate torte!) for a small price. I've been pretty cheap up to this point until my money from home is wired over, but I'll start exploring a bit more in the coming weeks.
This is a student lounge just past the university convenience store. You can see a raised platform of tatami mat in the background. The TV is equipped with a DVD and VHS player, as well as Playstation, Nintendo Super NES, Nintendo 64, and many games. There are also many manga (Japanese comic books) and other goodies. It is a nice place to hang out and watch a movie, which I have done on a couple of occasions with friends.
Lecture Halls/Administration Buildings
Lecture Hall (C)
Courtyard and Lecture Hall (B)
Administration Building
The old Library. The new library just opened this semester (more on that below). This building will be refurnished as a Student Union and community center in the coming year, and is ideally situated in the center of campus. 
These cherry trees are fully bloomed, and are just beyond the administration building (you can just make the buildling out in the background behind the sakura). The sakura began blooming about Wednesday last week and are fully bloomed. They will stay like this for about a month before shedding their beautiful white petals.
Library
You can see the balcony where you can enjoy the warming Akita weather.
This is the main entry way into the Library.
One of three computer labs, all installed with Microsoft Vista OS (sorry Mac users).
The entrance to the actual library.
Circulation desk.
Cafeteria. To the right are ceiling-to-floor length windows which make the room very bright and airy. There are two plasma-screen TV's set up, one usually on a Japanese station and one on a US station (usually CNN). Meals are cafeteria style, and you have to pick one of three main dishes. The food portions are noticeably smaller than in the west, which is probably not a bad thing. You can get unlimited amounts of white rice and miso soup. There is also cold water and hot green tea available at all times of the day, as well as a microwave and toaster oven. The food isn't too bad, though almost anywhere off campus is better (which is true of University food anyway). Now that I've been here for a few weeks, there are two major which I miss in the food department: breakfast and dessert. They only serve breakfast at lunch, and it is always jello. Breakfasts are depressing since there's no cereal, oatmeal (or most anything that requires milk), and the eggs are not the same (though not necessarily bad). There is only white toast. I remember the second breakfast I had on campus was a traditional Japanese style breakfast which consisted of: cooked salmon (cold), white rice, miso soup, a hard boiled egg and a slice of white bread. Some days I dream of pancakes and waffles and giant omelettes and hash browns and lots of syrup. Heck, even cereal would be just dandy. Anyway, aside from the usual fare, there is a little restaurant that's run out of cafeteria where you can order other dishes and desserts (like chocolate torte!) for a small price. I've been pretty cheap up to this point until my money from home is wired over, but I'll start exploring a bit more in the coming weeks.
This is a student lounge just past the university convenience store. You can see a raised platform of tatami mat in the background. The TV is equipped with a DVD and VHS player, as well as Playstation, Nintendo Super NES, Nintendo 64, and many games. There are also many manga (Japanese comic books) and other goodies. It is a nice place to hang out and watch a movie, which I have done on a couple of occasions with friends.Lecture Halls/Administration Buildings
There are two main lecture halls (denoted "C" and "B") and a large administration building. The halls all have small classroom style rooms and faculty offices. The administration building houses, surprisingly enough, the administration offices, as well as some of the larger classrooms and labs for chemistry and physics. The university's only auditorium is on the fourth floor, and there is also two rooms equipped with tatami mats for practicing tea ceremony, flower arrangement, and other traditional Japanese arts.
Lecture Hall (C)
Courtyard and Lecture Hall (B)
Administration Building
The old Library. The new library just opened this semester (more on that below). This building will be refurnished as a Student Union and community center in the coming year, and is ideally situated in the center of campus. 
These cherry trees are fully bloomed, and are just beyond the administration building (you can just make the buildling out in the background behind the sakura). The sakura began blooming about Wednesday last week and are fully bloomed. They will stay like this for about a month before shedding their beautiful white petals.
Library
The new Library just opened this semester, and is in my opinion the jewel of the campus. The building is made almost entirely of native Akita cedar, and it still (three weeks later) smells faintly of freshly cut wood. The facility is obviously brand new, and it is very well designed. It houses three small computer labs upstairs, as well as a large language learning center and small balcony. The lower floor has a very large computer lab, and the actual library itself. The interior is absolutely gorgeous, and it is a very comfortable and inviting place to be. Although the Ithaca Library has a much, much wider selection of material, it pales greatly in comparison to the sheer delight and comfort that this library affords.
Exterior of the new Library. Construction ended just a week or so ago, and it will be some time before the entryway is finished and seeded, but the building itself is pleasant to look at.
Exterior of the new Library. Construction ended just a week or so ago, and it will be some time before the entryway is finished and seeded, but the building itself is pleasant to look at. 
You can see the balcony where you can enjoy the warming Akita weather.
This is the main entry way into the Library. 
One of three computer labs, all installed with Microsoft Vista OS (sorry Mac users). 
The entrance to the actual library.
Circulation desk.
Audio/Video stations for watching DVD's, listening to music, or watching satellite TV. 
Behind the A/V stations are three small conference rooms.
A small section of the library with pocket books (very popular in Japan). 
On the second floor of the library is this small room with a bench and windows overlooking the yard and some road. Not a very comfortable place to sit and read, but it provides a nice break. 
The main library rooms with its semi-circular shelves. There are approximately four or five rows of shelves, with desks built into the back of them. In the front you can see tables with lamps for reading and studying. To the right (and off the picture) are computers for the library database and for personal use. Also to the right are a few tall windows, providing the room with intense sunlight and giving it an airy feel. 
This picture was taken from the second-highest level of the main library room. You can see the circulation desk on the left side of the picture about halfway up. 
The desks built into the backs of the library shelves. There are lights under the shelf as well for reading. 
This is the central pillar to the library and is quite beautiful. Below are pictures of where it connects with the roof.
Akita Sports Park
AIU doesn't have a school owned sports facility yet, so instead they partner with the very large (and new) sports facility directly across the street from campus. This facility is simply enormous, and is really a campus of several fields and buildings. I spent an hour or two on Wednesday taking pictures of the fields and facilities; you can see a slide show of the album here (it is also on the sidebar). I'll narrate a few notes though. The campus includes a large indoor gym for basketball/indoor soccer/futsal/volleyball. In the main building are administrative offices as well as the weight room which, I have been told, has some out of day equipment, which is a shame considering the rest of the facilities. I also believe there is an indoor pool here. Outside there is an enormous track stadium, as well as a smaller one directly adjacent to it. There are fields for soccer, rugby, baseball and American football. There are numerous tennis courts, and a field for throwing sports. There is even a small practice field for archery. On the far end of the campus is a cycling track that extends for some kilometers...I haven't fully explored it yet, but intend to in the coming weeks. The campus itself is large enough to have a nice run, and couple that with the cycling path and you have the opportunity for some rather length runs without leaving AIU very far behind.
In the album you will notice some yellow track that is alternatively striped or dotted, and are raised above the ground (I labeled them "Blind-Aid Track"). You can find this kind of track in almost any public area, including the city, inside train stations, in the mall, and at the sports facility. Even the AIU library has it. I asked someone about these tracks and was told they are to help guide blind-persons, and it's pretty easy to figure out the system of lines and dots (a kind of braille for your cane/feet). Apparently service dogs are not nearly as common in Japan as in the US. These tracks seem to well enough. I found it to be quite interesting, actually.
In the album you will notice some yellow track that is alternatively striped or dotted, and are raised above the ground (I labeled them "Blind-Aid Track"). You can find this kind of track in almost any public area, including the city, inside train stations, in the mall, and at the sports facility. Even the AIU library has it. I asked someone about these tracks and was told they are to help guide blind-persons, and it's pretty easy to figure out the system of lines and dots (a kind of braille for your cane/feet). Apparently service dogs are not nearly as common in Japan as in the US. These tracks seem to well enough. I found it to be quite interesting, actually.
Concluding Remarks
All in all, I find AIU to be quaint but comfortable. It is definitely smaller than I am used to, but I am adjusting just fine. I am really excited about the library and the nearby sports complex. I am also excited for this coming week of intense cherry blossom sightings and will try to take as many pictures as possible. For now, you will find albums of the Sports park and AIU campus on the sidebar (including some pictures I didn't post here).
On Wednesday I'll be talking about Senshu Park, matsuri (festival), cherry blossoms, and maybe a bit on Shinto. Next Sunday you can look forward to information on clubs, friends and the so on campus. In the meantime I hope you are all well and look forward to hearing from you!
On Wednesday I'll be talking about Senshu Park, matsuri (festival), cherry blossoms, and maybe a bit on Shinto. Next Sunday you can look forward to information on clubs, friends and the so on campus. In the meantime I hope you are all well and look forward to hearing from you!
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