Finding My Way: Risa’s Endeavors in Music and Travel

By Risako Beddie ‘23, JFOU Fellow 2023-2025

This is Risa, reporting on my second year as a Shansi Fellow at J.F. Oberlin University in Machida, Japan. This year has been full of highs, especially in terms of my music, travels, and teaching. Please enjoy a glimpse of my world through photos.

Music

Since my last report, I have had the opportunity to experience many more “firsts” in my music career while continuing to work as a fellow at J.F.O. In March, I sang my first background-vocal gig. I got to share the stage with 2 singers who I consider to be the best in Japan, and my dear friends: Chloe Kibble and Mayowa. We performed at the Gemini Theater, a Showa-era livehouse box with an old-fashioned interior and great sound. We were hired by a Youtube-famous drummer, Riku Taira, for a tribute concert to Jeff Porcaro, former drummer of the ‘70s American band, Toto. It was in learning the music for this show that I was reintroduced to the magic of Toto and their wide discography, including Pamela, and Waiting for Your Love.

March 4th, 2024 at the Gemini Theater in Futako-Tamagawa. from left to right: Yusaku Yoshimura (Keys), Masa Shimizu (Guitar), Mayowa (Vocals), Chloe Kibble (Vocals), Hiroo Yamaguchi (Bass). Front: Riku Taira (drums)

In October, I participated in my first competition for classical singing. I used the training and knowledge I gained during my time as a classical voice major at Oberlin to prepare 6 German Art Songs and presented them at the 33rd National Japanese German Art Song Competition. I was shocked and delighted to place 2nd overall, as well as receive a popular choice award. Both my JFO co-fellows, Alex and Zack, came to show their support, as well as all of my family members.

November 15th, 2024 at the Bunkyo Civic Hall near Korakuen, Tokyo. receiving the second-place certificate at the National Japanese German Art Song Competition from charman Yuriko Uchida.

In my article last year, I mentioned one of my first and dearest friends I made when I first got to Tokyo, Erika. In the first half of 2024, I got to play several shows with her before she left in August to attend graduate school in New York. Most notably, we played a gig at the Hilton in downtown Tokyo, where we were fed 5-star food and paid handsomely.

Poster I made for our show at the Hilton.

To celebrate Erika and say goodbye before she moved, I hosted a “make your own sushi” night at my house joined by our band members. We shared stories of our favorite memories together, stuffed ourselves with DIY sushi rolls, and set off fireworks in my parents’ front yard.

August 6th, 2024 at my parents’ house in Meguro for sushi night. From left to right: Michael Potter, Erika Toda, Kaito Kira, and Naoya Okano from the Kokorisa Quintet.

In December, I played a duo gig showcasing some of the original songs I wrote after getting dumped. This was a first for me as well, because I had never had the confidence to perform my own music with my guitar at my shows thus far. I was joined by Michael on piano and my co-Fellow Alex as a guest singer on one of the songs. The night as a whole is a fond memory to me, because I got to reconnect with an old family friend who used to teach me ballet when I was little. She saw the poster for the show on my instagram and decided to come show her support. Afterward, she came up to me in tears and complimented me on my songs, saying they made her cry. It was rewarding to be vulnerable in sharing my songs based on my own honest feelings, and to get such a strongly positive response.

December 7th, 2024 at jazz bar Apple in Yokohama after our show. Left: Michael potter (piano), right: Alex Billingsley (voice)

My last performances of the year were as part of a short tour through Tohoku, the northern region of the Honshu island of Japan. I was invited to join saxophonist Jim Butler’s yearly Christmas tour along with a great jazz pianist, drummer, and bassist. It was enlightening to play with musicians of an older generation that had years of experience with different kinds of gigs and music. I learned a lot about how to take care of my body on the road and how to acclimate to different performance spaces and audience sizes on the fly. We drove across 3 different prefectures and played in 4 different towns in 5 days, and I got to know everyone quite well in the meantime.

December 21st, 2024 after our show at Kamaishi Civic Hall TETTO in Iwate prefecture. From left: Ryoichi Zakota (bass), Jim Butler (saxophone), Daniel Baeder (drums), Dennis Lambert (piano).

Travels

Days after I returned from the Tohoku tour, I joined some of my co-fellows for a portion of their travels through Southeast Asia. I flew to the Philippines on Christmas Day, one day earlier than my co-fellows, so I got to have a taste of what it would be like to travel solo. It was scary, but really enjoyable. Although I had not made any plans for where to visit when I got there, I happened to read the magazine in the seat-pocket on my Cebu Pacific flight, which included a 3-day sample itinerary for those on a budget visiting Manila. It detailed specific museums, cafes, and restaurants to visit, as well as what to order and how much it would cost. When I got there, I stayed one night at the “Cheese Hostel” in Makati – housed in a cheddar colored office building-turned hostel – took the LRT-1 train up to Rizal park, drank my first spanish latte, got lost, and made a few Filipino friends who were trying to find the same museum as me.

December 26th, 2024: the front desk at the Cheese Hostel in Manila, Philippines.

It was a great beginner city to try to take on alone because all the signage was in English and most people spoke English, too. However, in comparison to Japan, it felt more “lawless” and overwhelming in the way cars, motorbikes, tuk-tuks, and pedestrians negotiated the roads. I did my best to mirror how others were moving, to clump with other pedestrians and cross when they crossed, and I was able to find my way just fine.

After my day of solo traveling, I met China fellows Dina, Tiffany, and Haley, as well as Obie alum and contractor at Shanxi Agricultural University, Sidnhy. We spent the next few days exploring the city together with the help of Haley’s Tita. She toured us through Chinatown and the historic Intramuros area, and made sure we got to try all the best Filipino foods.

December 29, 2024: Exploring Manila’s Chinatown. From back left: Dina, Tiffany, Sidnhy, front: Haley and her Tita Anette

Then, joined by Indonesia fellow Ari, we all flew down to Bohol island, where we spent the next few days sharing a villa at a beachside resort.

January 1st, 2025: at the Chocolate Hills in Bohol. From left: Haley, Sidnhy, Tiffany, Ari front: Dina

On the last day of 2024, we went snorkeling with sea turtles, and I saw a coral reef with my own eyes for the first time. It was more colorful and full of life than I had imagined, and I felt an overwhelming sense of calm looking down at the vibrant ecosystem. Just as the sea turtles seemed to wave at us as they swam by, we waved goodbye to 2024 as we watched the last sunset of the year on the beach.

December 31st, 2024: sunset at the beach in Bohol.

Just a few hours later at midnight, we returned, joined by other guests of the resort, and set off fireworks and sparklers as we welcomed the new year.

After Bohol, Dina, Sidnhy, and I traveled together to Cambodia where we explored Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. The Cambodian cities were a little more difficult to navigate because most of the signage was in Khmer, the national language of Cambodia. However, in comparison to the Philippines, I found the general vibe to be much more laid back and less demanding; traffic seemed to flow in an unhurried, “everyone at their own pace” fashion.

January 4th, 2025. Tuk tuk tour to silk island and monkey temple in Phnom Penh! Left: Dina, Sidnhy

In Phnom Penh, we visited many famous destinations like the Royal Palace, which had many bedazzled icons of various Buddhas. We also visited the National Museum and the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, where we learned about the complicated modern history of Cambodia. In Siem Reap, we visited Angkor Wat as well as other temples and ruins within the Angkor park that gave us insight into Cambodia’s ancient history.

Angkor Wat at sunrise January 8th, 2025

Overall, I gained a lot of knowledge and experience on this trip. I got to spend important quality time getting to know my co-fellows and hearing about their future plans, experience and compare the cultural differences between these countries and my host country, and eat diverse and authentic foods that I wouldn’t otherwise have access to in Japan. After my 2.5 week trip, I returned home to Tokyo to teach my last few weeks of classes at JFO.

Ta Prom temple with Dina and Sidnhy January 8th, 2025

P.S.

I had the best semester of teaching at JFO so far this year, where I felt like I was able to genuinely connect with and make a positive difference in my students’ lives. One special memory is one day after class, a student of mine brought me a special limited edition Puccho candy released in collaboration with her favorite Jpop idol group. Alex also happened to be visiting my classroom at the time, so she gave us each one. Picture below:

November 27th, 2024 in my classroom at JFO in Machida. Left: Alex, and two of my students who stayed after class to chat.