Category Archives: Education

Life In Japan: Music Education

Posted on December 18, 2023 by johnrachel

I continue to be amazed at the level of education here in Japan. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Teaching Peace

Posted on May 29, 2023 by johnrachel

I had to write about my wife’s trip to Hiroshima with the entire 6th grade of her school, over eighty students. They’re on a field trip to visit the Peace Park and the Peace Museum. Continue reading →

Posted in Deconstruction, Education, Japan, Social Commentary, War and Peace | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Life In Japan: Excellence Begins Young

Posted on April 27, 2023 by johnrachel

My wife Masumi loves to show me success stories she comes across, examples of how the educational system in Japan serves the real needs of students and doesn’t abandon its core mission by pandering to the latest technological fads. We have here two such examples. Continue reading →

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Brainwashing Is Not a Form of Personal Hygiene

Posted on December 30, 2022 by johnrachel

Can we develop the presence of mind and resolve to STOP DRINKING THE KOOL-AID? Continue reading →

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Are you pro-choice?

Posted on December 27, 2022 by johnrachel

Enough is enough. Tyranny under the smiley-face of fake democracy must be stopped IMMEDIATELY! WE THE PEOPLE MUST HAVE A CHOICE — the decisive choice — whenever anything of consequence affecting our nation comes up for consideration. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Excellence

Posted on October 24, 2022 by johnrachel

Whether you like, love or hate classical music. Please watch at least one of the videos here. I have things to say about them which I think will astonish you. Continue reading →

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January 6 Gave Revolution A Bad Name

Posted on March 22, 2022 by John Rachel

The sad thing about January 6 — and everybody knows what I’m referring to because the Alice in Wonderland narratives around are still being milked by pundits and politicians alike — is that it had both sides working to make sure it flopped, that instead of representing an actual challenge to power or a wake-up call to the public or a warning label for the buffoons and criminals now holding office, it was a huge embarrassment, an unfunny joke, a reminder that politics is Pro Wrestling, only without sexy ring girls. Continue reading →

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Shameless Self-Promotion Redux

Posted on December 21, 2021 by johnrachel

Why should I be ashamed to let people know about my books? I worked hard on them, am proud of my work, and honestly didn’t write them for glory and money — though I admit I certainly wouldn’t turn away either — but merely put a smile on some sad faces out there or a twinkle in a few eyes dulled by bad TV and too many computers and smart phones. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: A Generous Spirit

Posted on November 24, 2021 by John Rachel

We have a nickname for our friend Keiko Iwashita. My wife and I call her “Bangladesh Lady”. There’s a very inspiring story behind this. Continue reading →

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Life In Japan: Japanese School Kids

Posted on July 15, 2021 by John Rachel

There are a hundred ways I could write about the kids here. But I’m going to focus on only elementary school students and one very particular aspect of their education, because it so perfectly illustrates the overall relationship between students and their schools, their teachers, adults and other authority figures, their communities, and most important of all, to one another. It is also extremely revealing why Japanese are so obsessively considerate of others and so community minded, later in life. It also is illustrative of the extremely high dietary standards and nutritional awareness of Japanese society. Continue reading →

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