国語国文　２年
When I entered this room, I saw the woman with blond hair wearing ‘kesa’ and I thought “Someone so interesting is coming!!” The hunch proved right. Yoshimura san’s presentation was so humorous. At the start of the talk, she said “Merry Christmas!!” In the presentation, she talked about the prejudice that foreigners experience like that. I know that Japanese have prejudice against not only foreigners, but also other Japanese. In another class, I learn about how to teach foreigners the Japanese language, The teacher said “Don’t say Japanese do so, say I do say so.” Most Japanese think how I do things is how Japanese do them.

英米　１年
Thank you for your presentation today. I was really impressed by your braveness when you married your husband. I think Japanese people are more negative regarding international marriage. So I think you had many hard times being his wife and memorizing all the Japanese traditions. It is hard to get used to different traditions and cultures, so I really respect your braveness. Next time when you came here as a speaker, please bring your handsome sons with you, too!!

英米　１年
Thank you for your very deep and honest presentation. Listening to all of the racism you have experienced as a female foreigner was heartbreaking. Though, what caught my attention was that even though you were treated very poorly, instead of leaving Japan, you stayed and even become a Buddhist priest, getting absorbed deeper and deeper into Japanese culture. I admire your strong will not only as a female, but also a foreigner.

英米　１年
Thank you for coming and your presentation. I am a female but not a foreigner, so I can’t feel sympathy to the problems you have as a foreigner. However, I know the occasions as a female. My mom often says to me “How about making your and your dad’s lunch boxes as a girl” or “Serve some teas for our guests as a lady.” I don’t like the words “as a girl.” We are all humans. So I’m glad to hear “主夫” these days. I think it would describe our equality.

英米　１年
Today’s topic was so meaningful for me. It is very difficult to start to live in a completely different place from your hometown, however, she has overcome a lot of difficulties and is spending a wonderful time. Actually, I am planning to study abroad, so I will face a lot of difficult problems in a completely different place from Japan. In order to get over those difficulties, I need to find something to protect myself. It is family and robe for the speaker. I have to acquire some abilities other than English skills to get along with people outside Japan.

英米　２年
Thank you for your presentation. I thought what you said makes a lot of sense, as a mother and a priest. Firstly, I was impressed that you don’t force your son to be a priest at Shoneni, because I have an image that most of the children whose parents are priests become priests like their parents. However, you don’t do that. You respected your children’s ideas. So, I think you are a model of a good mother. Secondly, you have your own self-respect as a woman. Most of the women become to have a modest personality when they get married. I want to be a woman like you.

英米　２年
I have never focused on woman priests in my life. So when I saw you at first, I was really surprised because I think most of us already have an image of Buddhist priests being men. You said that when Japanese people are asked “What is your religion?”, most of us answer “I don’t know.” And so do I. I am not sure what my religion is, but I think it is strange that Japanese people go through various religious ceremonies like Omiyamairi and chapel weddings in their life. Maybe we don’t actually mind about religion. We can see this fact in Halloween, Christmas, and some other holidays that are celebrated by Japanese people. They don’t mind about the religious parts of these holidays, but they just want to have a party. From this point of view and your presentation, I thought Japanese people are kind of different and unique from other countries. Thank you for your presentation.

ドイツ　２年
I enjoyed Mrs. Yoshimura’s presentation. It was very fun and made me think about gender roles in Japan. I’m always told by my father that you should do housework and take care about your appearance, because I’m female. I know what he wants to tell me, but I feel disgusted a little. I think, why should I do it, only because I am female? My brother should also do it. So, I thought Mrs. Yoshimura is strong because she stands up against what other people say about her gender. And recently, the sense about gender roles is changing in Japan. I think it’s good.

国際関係　２年
Thank you for your presentation, and your story reminds me of my mother. My mother also had similar experiences to you because she’s Chinese. My grandparents are very conventional, so they wanted my mother to do all of the house work and look after us, but she had her own beauty house in China and she loved her job and wanted to continue it in Japan. And also, Japanese people often say “Chinese people are all around there” in a mordant way and even now she’s really careful about that. She never says she’s Chinese to new people and tries to hide it. Actually, I’m proud of having a Chinese mother but she also doesn’t want me to say it to anyone. I really hope that Japanese society will be more tolerant.

国際関係　２年
Thank you for your presentation. From you, as a priest, I could listen and learn many things. Also, thanks to your kind description, for example comparing cows’ pedigrees and tea ceremony, it was easy to understand what you said to us. I was surprised that there are gender problems in priests’ society. However, I was also impressed that you survived and have been walking your own way even though Japan has such a confusing culture and way of thinking. Actually, I want to work, but also want to have children and raise them in the future. Though doing both is difficult in this society, I do not want to give up on the hope that women and men will be seen as equals. I want to live my own life, not as just a “woman”.