14-012
路子 (日本 秋田県)
Michiko (Akita, JAPAN)
本人が書いた文／Original text／本人原文／본인이 쓴 글
放課後の掃除の時間。まわりの人がどう思うかは、気にしないで、傘でふざけているちっちみ（みちこ）。
During after-school cleaning. She suddenly grabbed someone's umbrella and popped it open for all to see, entirely unperturbed by the surprised looks of people in the vicinity . . .
だれとでも、すぐ仲よくなれる。この日は、店員さんとしゃべる。「高校生とこんなに話したなんて久しぶり！」と店員さんもびっくりしていた。
Another one of Chitchimi (Michiko)'s charms is her ability to make friends with people, even those she has just met for the first time. The store clerk looks rather overwhelmed, commenting, "It's been a long while since I've chatted like this with a high school student."
ちっちみ（みちこ）の特技はどこでも寝られること。部活のとき、ほかの人のひざかけを借りて床で寝てしまった。すぐに「ばくすい」してしまったちっちみ。
I had heard that she was good at falling sleep anywhere . . . but in a place like that!? Snatching another club member's lap blanket during club activities, she just stretched out on the floor and fell immediately into a deep sleep!
部活のとき。机の上に足をのせて、クラッカーを手にもって、「クリスマスだあ！」とさわいでいるちっちみ（みちこ）。ふざけはじめると、止まらない。
She suddenly rushed into the room during club activities with a pop party noisemaker [party popper] in one hand, shouting, "Today is Christmas!!" She just kept celebrating and carrying on. Planting one foot on the desk, she stirred up quite an uproar.
お父さんが「雪よせ」をしているとき、手伝うちっちみ（みちこ）。つかれたからと急に雪の上に寝てしまう。子どものようで、高校生とは信じられない。
After helping her dear father shovel snow, she exclaimed, "I'm beat!!" and collapsed in a drift. She's really at home with nature. But you've got to wonder if she shouldn't try more to act her age—she's supposed to be a high school student!
写真撮影・キャプション：遠藤綾子
Photographs and captions: Endo Ayako
趣味・特技
   寝ること、食べること、いつでもどこでも寝られること

好きなことば
   ほら、ビタミン剤のＣＭに「元気はつらつ」「ファイトいっぱつ」というのがあるでしょう？何でもいっしょうけんめいやって、元気がいっぱい！

一番大切なもの
   わたしの父。何でも話せる。わたしの心のオアシス。

熱中していること
   もちろん、大好きなＭ先生。Ｍ先生の授業のときには、目をかがやかせて話を聞く。一番幸せなとき。

自分の性格
   自分ではふつうの女の子だと思っているけれども、ほかの人はわたしのことを変わっている人だと思っている。不思議だ。

将来の夢
   病院関係の仕事がしたい。おじいさんがなくなったときに決心した。

   昨年の夏、アメリカへ旅行した。アメリカに行く前の１学期は、困ったことがあったとき、「アメリカ、アメリカ」と言ってみたら、力が出てきた。アメリカは、土地も人の心も大きくて、すばらしい。日本へ帰ってきてからも、自分の心をアメリカサイズのように大きくしようと思って生活している。
   それから、友だちがとても大事だということ。２学期になって日本に帰ってきた。友だちとまた会えて、つきあえるので、元気いっぱいだ。自分をかざらないで表現（ひょうげん）するのはとても楽しい。でも、宿題がたくさんあるから、勉強は大変だ。
   今の学校生活で一番支えになっているのは、大好きなＭ先生。男の子のように見えるわたしだけれども、もう17歳だ。結婚のことも考えている。恋愛や結婚を夢みている女の子だ。
   幸せな結婚もしたいけれども、しっかり仕事をしてキャリアウーマンにもなりたい。男の子のように見えるけど、料理もできる。だれか、すてきな男の子がいないかなあ。
Hobbies, special skills
Sleeping, eating, and being able to fall asleep anywhere

Favorite words/phrases
"Bursting with energy, Oronamin C!" "Here's a shot of fight! Ripobitan D!"

What is most important to me
My dad. When I have a bad day at school, he listens carefully to my problems. He doesn't give me any special advice, but he's my psychological oasis.

What I enjoy most
That would have to be Mr. M . . . Mr. M's class is seventh heaven—I become wide awake and lose all trace of sleepiness.

What kind of person I am
I think I'm just an ordinary girl. No one I know ever says so, though. I wonder why?

Future ambition
I seriously want to take up a profession related to medicine. I decided that when my dear granddad died!!

The special event for my summer vacation last year was a trip to the United States! During the previous semester in school, every time I'd be having a hard time, I'd repeat to myself "think of America, America" and then, curiously enough, my strength would rally. And when I got to the United States, I found that the whole place and the hearts of the people were vast and open!! The entire time I was there, I was completely overwhelmed by America-power. After returning to Japan, I've tried to cultivate an American-size spirit, if not body.
      I also realized how important my friends are!! When you go a long time without seeing each other, you really start to understand the value of friends. That's why, during the semester after I got back, I've been bubbling over with even more energy! I never knew it could be this fun to live life just as I am, without any pretense or any airs. Into this delightful life, however, there are these mountains of tests and homework, bearing down on me from all sides. . . . How can I ever keep up?! Help!
      It's sad enough to make anyone cry, but what really keeps me going (though shamelessly one-sidedly and in secret) is my favorite teacher, Mr. M. He's the reason I can go to school with a smile each day. I may often be mistaken for a boy when walking around town, but this year I'm a "sweet seventeen!" If I feel like it, "I can even get married!!" Still, I'm filled with dreams of getting married and living happily ever after like other people do. But actually, I'm also giving serious consideration to my future career. You might say my dream is to be a superwoman, who considers housework important but also has a job and works hard. You might not think so to look at me, but I can cook, too. I'm currently seeking a fine young man to help me make these dreams come true!! Applications are being accepted.
コメント｜Comment ｜评语｜코멘트 2007/06/05
Title :
Name : Emily Age : 15 Country : Australia
  • (Original Text)
    Although I’ve never met Michiko, I already like her. She’s fun, interesting and spontaneous. She’s a work of art with her own rare design. Plus she’s been to America and I love to travel. It sounds as though she makes friends easily but cherishes them at the same time. She sounds like my kind of friend.
2007/06/05
Title :
Name : John Age : 16 Country : USA
  • What first struck my interest about this particular photo essay was that all of the pictures within it are black-and-white, conveying a more professional aura. Additionally, each of the five pictures portrayed emotional moments, mostly of bliss and general happiness, experienced by typical Japanese high schoolers. These emotions within each photograph seemed genuine and allowed the viewer to make an emotional connection to each moment as if they were once a part of it. Having viewed these photos, I now feel inspired to take more pictures with people in emotional moments just as Endo did, something that only a handful of photographic work is able to do.
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