Learning Armenian in Japan

I've never posted anything about myself except perhaps a link to my sustainable tourism project, Zangezur Ashkhar. However, I thought it would be worth posting about my Armenian language class here in Tokyo. Yes, you read that correctly, you can study Armenian in Japan. There is a language school in Tokyo that offers Armenian classes, complete with a native Yerevantsi teacher, Melanya Baghdasarian.

The school offers a one year beginner's course. There were eight students when I started last year, but that whittled down to four by year's end. When the first year came to an end, we all wanted to continue, but Melanya didn't have time to teach the first and second year classes, so we settled for once a month at Melanya's home. I am the only non-Japanese in the class, which is conducted in Japanese. I am surely the only British person who has studied Armenian in Japanese.

It's been great fun, and we will be going back to a once a week schedule from October as this year's beginners course has fallen below the minimum level fo four students, so the school is creating a beginner/intermediate class and inviting us back.

Why are Japanese people studying Armenian? For very different reasons than me. They are all linguists, and this seems to be a hobby. None of them have plans to actually visit Armenia - which seems a bit sad to me. Maybe if Kocharyan comes to Japan we will be invited to ceom and speak Armenian to him. Japan does not have an embassy in Armenia. There is a Japanese ambassador to Armenia but he is resident in Moscow.

Melanya, our teacher, has lived in Japan for about nine years, is married to a Japanese man, and is involved with Japan's small Armenian community. When I say small, I mean small enough that I have met them all. There is a Japan-Armenia Friendship Association, with a quarterly newsletter.

Posted by Matt on July 12, 2004 | TrackBack | Email to a friend