Library Kicks Off Teens & ‘Tweens Program

By Laurie Borst

On the afternoon of June 26, the C.H. Booth Library’s meeting room was the scene of a journey into the Japanese art of anime. A few dozens teens and ‘tweens sat on the floor and listened to storyteller Steve Long tell tales from Japan that have come down to the American public through anime, a form of cartooning. Mr Long described anime as a way of telling stories.

Mr Long, who is registered with the Connecticut Storyteller Center, first became interested in Japanese culture when, as a college student, he made friends with a few Japanese students. After college, he visited Japan, eventually living there for more than ten years and falling in love with Japanese art and performance art.

Mr Long delivers stories in the “champon style,” which refers to the blending of Japanese and English in telling the tale. Mr Long regaled the audience with several tales. As he told the stories, he added snippets of Japanese culture.

Through the story, “Jizo and the Old Man,” he introduced the idea of “jizo-sama,” protectors of travelers and little children. Mr Long showed the audience an origami version of a jizo. In Japan, jizos are statues made of stone.

In the story, the old man and his wife are poor. The old man is a weaver of straw hats. He takes the few he has made to town to sell. Mr Long imitates the street vendors’ songs that they use to attract customers. Unfortunately, the old man cannot find buyers for his hats. He heads home, encountering a snowstorm on the way.

He trudges on until he reaches a place where six jizo-sama statues stand. The old man feels bad for them and puts his hats on them, even giving up his own hat. The old man returns home with no money. He and his wife drink some boiled water and go to bed.

During the night, they hear noises outside. They go to investigate and, in the distance, they see six silhouettes with straw hats. In front of their house stand several barrels of fish, rice, and other foods. The jizo-sama helped the old couple in return for the old man’s caring for them.

Mr Long’s entertaining delivery style had the audience laughing. There was much excitement when he started speaking Japanese and using some hand motions. The audience members quickly realized he was making the gestures for Rock, Paper, Scissors. Mr Long said, “While this is a popular children’s game in America, in Japan adults play it. I’ve seen grandmothers doing it to decide which teahouse to visit.”

He related the anecdote of an art dealer who was in possession of an expensive painting. Both Sotheby’s and Christie’s auction houses wanted to sell the painting. To decide which house to choose, the art dealer played the Rock, Paper, Scissors game.

Mr Long continued with a few more stories from Japanese folklore. The audience recognized many of the characters’ names. “Stories come from stories,” Mr Long said. The tales American audiences see on television come from the folklore.

The teens and ‘tweens were regaled with colorful stories told by a gifted storyteller with creative sound effects and facial expressions.

Nicole Lang, a rising seventh grader, said, “I watch anime on the internet. It’s in Japanese with English subtitles.”

Emily Ashbolt, also a rising seventh grader, described anime. “It’s basically cartoons. They are not computer-generated. Anime is simpler.”

Brandon Luxkaranayagam explained anime further. “The people have big eyes. The artwork is different. The voices are higher pitched. My favorite show is Naruto.”

“I did [the summer reading program] last year,” Luke Shearin said. “It was fun. I enjoyed it.” Luke had a thick book in his hand titled The Golem’s Eye.

“It’s the second book in the Bartimaeus trilogy. It’s a fantasy series set in London with demons and stuff. It’s awesome,” Luke added.

Sarah Potter enjoyed the afternoon’s presentation. “His stories were awesome. I watch [anime programs] Kiki’s Delivery Service and MuMu Power.” Sarah said it was her first time in the reading program. “I’m going to read Ink Spell, the sequel to Ink Heart, another fantasy series.”

The summer reading program encourages students to read over the summer vacation. Incentives of food and prizes are offered. Students interested in the program can contact the Young Adult librarian at 426-4533 or online at biblio.org/yawebspot.