Throughout my life, I’ve often been asked, “Why are you studying Japanese?” As a language educator at an art college, I frequently encounter questions like, “Why do artists need to learn languages?” My response is usually, “Why not?!”
My Nihongo (Japanese language) dreams have evolved over the years, as they should:
- Be an exchange student ✅
- Get a job in Japan ✅
- Work as an actor in Japanese ✅
- Promote Japan-US relations ✅
- Teach at the college level ✅
- Become a Brush Calligrapher… still working on that one.
What Are Your Nihongo Dreams?
It’s exhilarating when our dreams come true. However, we all have that small, negative voice that sometimes questions our pursuit of challenging goals, like learning Japanese—the most difficult language for English speakers. This negativity can feel like a nightmare.
Enter the Baku: The Nightmare Eater
In Japanese folklore, there’s a tradition of calling upon a nightmare eater known as 獏 (ばく) or Baku.
What’s a Baku?
The Baku is a type of yokai (supernatural creature) that has an elephant-ish appearance. You might have encountered one in anime and manga. Imported from Chinese folklore along with Buddhism, Bakus are often depicted in Buddhist temple architecture. For instance, you can spot them throughout Senjuji Temple, a national treasure in Mie Prefecture.
Watch this:
Senjuji Temple in Mie Prefecture
In Japanese folklore, when someone experiences a nightmare, they call upon the Baku to devour the bad dreams.
Exploring “Pink Baku” Through Music
Music is a fantastic medium to practice Japanese, regardless of your proficiency level. Engaging with song lyrics offers numerous learning opportunities. Even outside a formal class, you can apply the following activities to your favorite Japanese songs.
Check this out:
Activities to Enhance Your Japanese Skills
- Vocabulary Building
Utilize Jisho.org, a versatile dictionary tool where you can search using English, romaji, kana, or kanji. It’s also useful for looking up specific kanji characters. - Grammar Discovery for Intermediate Learners
If you’re familiar with grammatical forms like the “て form,” input lines from the song into Reverso Context to see how these structures are used in authentic Japanese. This method can significantly enhance your skills. - Writing Practice
- For Kana Learners: Copy the kana from the lyrics and read along with the song.
- For Kanji Learners: Use practice paper from Happy Lilac to write each kanji. Then, try writing all the lyrics using kanji.
- Production: Apply Your New Skills
- Write an additional verse to the song in Japanese, following the original grammar patterns.
- Create a manga or essay about the Baku in Japanese.
- Record a conversation discussing the Baku in Japanese.
- Deliver a short presentation about the Baku in Japanese.
Documenting Your Language Journey
I encourage all my students to start a blog to document their language learning journey. Many prefer Blogger because it integrates well with other Google applications used in our courses. Entries can vary from English reflections to PDFs, photos, or videos showcasing language productions, accompanied by English summaries.
Why not join me in this endeavor?
Blog/Journal Prompt: Reflecting on Your Nihongo Dreams
No matter where you are in your Japanese language journey, take a moment to reflect on your aspirations as a Japanese language user. Choose two or more of the following prompts and free-write your thoughts. Don’t limit yourself based on your current skills—dream big!
- Who are you right now as a language learner? (e.g., beginner, self-study learner, perpetual college student)
- What’s your end goal? (e.g., Japanese professor, manga translator, diplomat)
- What do you dream of doing with your knowledge of Japanese?
- Who do you want to be as a language user in the future?
Find or draw your own Baku. Imagine this Baku keeping all your doubts at bay, allowing your dream—such as speaking or reading Japanese fluently—to flourish.
To deepen your understanding of Baku and enhance your Japanese learning journey, I encourage you to explore a lesson I created a few years ago. This resource offers valuable insights and activities designed to enrich your experience. You can access the lesson here. I believe revisiting this material will provide you with a comprehensive perspective on Baku and its cultural significance.
Share your Nihongo dreams in the comments section of this post or on social media with the hashtag #nihongodreams.
Share your Baku illustrations with me, too, on social media using the hashtag #baku.
I’m looking forward to learning about your Nihongo dreams!
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