For many years, Osaka Ali tried and tried to get a foot on a plane, sailing ship, canoe or leaky rubber raft headed for Japan. Although he put forth his best efforts, he couldn’t seem to find a way. The frustrating search ended when he had forsaken all hope and finally surrendered his will to providence. Somehow at that moment, he found a way to Kansai and he hasn’t looked back since.

However, dear readers, he wouldn’t wish his frustrating journey on anyone else. This article is written to perhaps spare you the same misfortune. There are many other ways to find your way to the land of the rising sun without all of the heartache. One of those ways is through the many international organizations that seek to build bridges between Japan and the world. Yes, people in Japan are as interested in meeting and sharing their wonderful world with you as much as you are to experience it first hand.

Hiro Nishimura, World Campus International Inc.’s CEO and Chairman with World Campus participants and supporters, past and present, in Osaka, Japan …

My friend Hiro Nishimura wants to help you discover Japan’s wonderful people and culture through his exciting and dynamic organization “World Campus International”. They have been helping students experience Japan first hand through exchange programs for decades and plan to do so for many more. Participants get to engage in activities that touch on the areas of culture, community welfare, business and politics. The people of Japan are waiting for you to share your talents and culture as well.

World Campus International Incorporated is a non-profit organization registered in the US as well as Japan.

Participants have come from 41 countries and have visited sites throughout Japan from Ibaraki prefecture to Nagasaki in Kyushu island.

Check out their website at http://www.worldcampus.org

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Thousands of runners, almost 30,000, and thousands more spectators descended on downtown Osaka this weekend to participate in the 2^nd annual Osaka Marathon. Osaka Ali was on the ground near Intex by the bay in Osaka to watch the finish. The weather was perfect, the winds light and the course relatively flat. The start was located just beneath Osaka Castle in Osaka Castle Park and the course followed a path that passed several scenic landmarks including the National Bunraku Theater, Osaka City Central Public Hall, Osaka City Hall, the Kyocera Dome, Tsutenkaku Tower and finally Intex Osaka. Ser-Od Bat-Ochir of Mongolia won the race in 2 hours, 11 minutes and 54 seconds. Romanian Lidia Simon was the top woman runner with a time of 2 hours, 33 minutes and 14 seconds. Vast sums were raised for charity and the race’s rainbow logo lifted the city’s mood during this chilly November.

Now for the really important news: Aina Fukumoto of sexy-cute supergroup NMB48 took to the streets in her running shoes and lit up the track with a not too shabby finish time of 4 hours, 8 minutes and 45 lovely seconds. On top of that showing, she recently had to recover from an injury that halted her performing while on tour. Gentlemen, tune your engines because a pace like that will be difficult to keep up with.

Focus, determination, perseverance …

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Recently Osaka Ali sat down with Watanabe Hitosuji, an instructor and staff person at a unique downtown Osaka art school called OZC. Your intrepid downtown Osaka reporter had passed the school many times on travels through the Umeda neighborhood. After a while, curiosity got the better of him and so he went inside. The interior contained an intimate gallery and cafe space ornamented with deeply personal and highly crafted artworks by a variety of painters, illustrators, sculptors and designers.

OZC stands for Osaka Zokei Center (大阪造形センター) and was established in 1978. The founder (who’s still involved in the school to this day) was very interested in all aspects of design, especially graphic design. However, he did not like the education systems’ standards and didn’t want to work for an existing design school. He decided to start his own school instead, at first only providing instruction in graphic design. Later the curriculum and programs expanded, as did enrollment.

Osaka Ali was graciously invited to visit the school’s studios where, after overcoming the language barrier, (びじゅつ が すきです) he was able to meet various students and staff. Not only was he given the chance to tour the studios but was also able to see students working as well as interacting with their teachers.

One student shared her richly detailed illustration work in progress. The variety of media used in the works is wide and the subject matter original. It was exciting to see the process of creation guided by experienced art practitioners as witnessed in the moment. Elsewhere, commercial art projects decorated the space providing students with the motivation to excel and devote themselves to their studies. Ahh, to be in school again! While speaking to the staff, O.A. had the presence of mind to ask the critical question: does OZC accept students from overseas? Watanabe-san supplied the answer readily: “Of course, we welcome students from other countries, however, all classes are given in the Japanese language.” Time to revisit those portfolios and brush up on 日本語!

For more information, visit http://www.ozczokei.com/index.html

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I got this nice message on my receipt for checking out a book at my local library here in Osaka. It really made my rainy day much better … (the book is a page-turner by the way). It is a little thing like this encouraging quote that makes living in Japan all the more worthwhile. So, have faith in yourself, be grateful  and pursue your dream! がんばって!!