WACO Elementary students get a lesson on Japanese culture

The sixth grade students of Brittany Kinzler’s class at WACO Elementary were given a special lecture about Japan from guest speaker Greg Pelster on Feb. 16.

Pelster recently retired to Crawfordsville from Chicago. In Chicago he worked for 35 years for THK America, a Japanese company based out of Tokyo.

“Thirty-five years is a long time to be working for a Japanese company, said Pelster to the class. “They demand perfection in everything that they do. Anything less than that is kinda frowned on.”

Pelster explained to the students that working for a Japanese company afforded him many opportunities to explore and learn about Japan and its culture.

Pelster was the first American that the company hired, and to the company it was an honor to have an American working for them. At the time that Pelster was hired, he told the students, it was rare to have Americans working within the Japanese companies.

The company that Pelster worked for, THK America, makes linear motion products. Some of the products are used in robotic arms for the space systems and medical applications such as X-ray machines. They manufacture all over Japan and the world.

“I wanted to teach the kids about Japan,” said Pelster. “It is a fascinating country, their customs, etiquette and the way that they treat you is really quite different.”

Pelster taught the students what it was like to meet a Japanese businessman, and what it was like to go out to eat in Japan. He also taught them about what it was like to ride the subway system and to drive and ride in a car. He also showed them travel videos about Japan and then talked about the content.

“When I first started traveling to Japan, the people would be so very fascinated with where I was from and where I lived,” said Pelster. “I had some very unique experiences with them.”

Pelster told the children that he had several opportunities to travel to various places around the Japanese islands. He showed them what the islands had to offer as far as sites to see and things to do.

“I traveled the inland Sea of Japan by ocean vessel,” said Pelster. ”I had an opportunity to visit several sites along the way including the area of Beppu, where there hot springs are at.”

You would not believe it,” said Pelster to the students, “They paid more than $20 for a bag of unpopped popcorn!”

“I really enjoyed the class today,” said Pelster of his visit. “I enjoy being with the younger people of today. They revitalize me. I enjoyed working with the young people at trade shows all over the world.”

Contact Michelle Hillestad at michelle.hillestad@southeastiowaunion.com