Gakushu (Studying)
In a corner of his chilly living quarters, an uchideshi sits hunched over his desk until the wee hours of the morning. As well as being an uchideshi, he is a full-time college student. Trying to achieve both of these goals at the same time is a worthy challenge.
We are all given a life to live. No matter what we do with it, just living it day by each second is hardly a waste, since living is in itself quite wonderful. But part of the joy life can offer us is in the challenge of searching for the true path each of us needs to find and follow. Those who use their time while they are young in this pursuit are well worthy of respect. Even to most Japanese people today, having the experience of living in a traditional Japanese dojo is unique.
For someone to undergo this training, pursues his academic studies, and even hold down a part-time job, all at the same time is very difficult. Surviving the experience will make a very unique kind of individual, one who holds the world in his hands. In the spring of 1993, one of our uchideshi graduated from college with honors and simultaneously completed four terms of uchideshi training. He went on to teach English for one year at the Nippon Kan Cultural exchange center in Naruse Village in Akita Prefecture, Japan.