Japanese books about selective mutism

Here are famous Japanese books about selective mutism.

Keiko, K. (Eds.). Kanmokunet (2008). Bamen Kanmoku Q&A --Youchien ya gakkou de oshaberi dekinai kodomo tachi (What is selective mutism? --How to help children who can't talk in school). Gakuensha: Tokyo.

At present this is the newest book about selective mutism written by Japanese. Kanmokunet, the author, is a non-profit organization for children with selective mutism. This book seems to be written for parents rather than professionals. This book comprises of three chapters. Understanding selective mutism, dealing with selectively mute children, and practice of overcoming selective mutism. A lot of columns by parents and former or current sufferes are inserted in the book.

McHolm, E.A., Cunningham, E.C., and Vanier, K.M. (2007). Bamen Kanmokuji he no Shien -- Gakkou de Hanasenai Ko wo Tasukeru tameni (Eiko, K and Keiko, Y, Trans.). Taken Publishing: Tokyo. (Original work published 2005)

This is a Japanese translation of Helping your child with selective mutism.

Yoshifumi, K., & Eiko, K. (1994). Bamen Kanmokuji no Shinri to Shido -- Tannin to Fubo no Kyoryoku no tameni. Taken Publishing: Tokyo.

This was a standard book of reference on selective mutism in Japan until Bamen Kanmokuji he no Shien was published in 2007. And this book is the first Japanese book available to many people on the theme of selective mutism. This book seems to be written for various kinds of people, especially teachers. This book comprises of four chapters. Characteristic of mutism, cause of mutism, diagnosis of mutism, and guidance on dealing with children with selectively mute children. The title of the book can be translated into English as The psychology and guidance about children with selective mutism.

Socially withdrawn children

I recently made a Japanese blog about socially withdrawn children.

http://swjournal77.blogspot.com/

Social withdrawal is "the consistent (across situations and over time) display of all forms of solitary behavior when encountering familiar and/or unfamiliar peers.(Rubin, Burgess, & Coplan, 2002)"

According to earlier studies, some children withdraw from peer interaction because they are shy even though they would like to engage in social interaction.

I guess many selectively mute children also have social withdrawal. They are too anxious to interact with others. In fact, I have seen many former or current selective mutism sufferers who didn't or don't have friends. And I was not an exception. But I have also seen many former or current sufferers who made friends. Even if they are shy, they don't necessarily avoid interacting with peers. I want to know precisely peer interaction of selectively mute children.

[Reference]

Rubin, K. H., Burgess, K. B., & Coplan, R. (2002). Social inhibition and withdrawal in childhood. In P.K. Smith & C. Hart (Eds), Handbook of Childhood Social Development. London: Blackwell.

New class

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

New class

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[I moved up to SPC]

At the end of the school year, my homeroom teacher told me that I would move up to Special Preparatory Course next school year.

As I wrote earlier, my high school consisted of three courses. Career Course, Preparatory Course and Special Preparatory Course.

Before I entered the high school, I wanted to study in SPC. But my wish was not granted.

But after I enrolled in the school, I studied hard in PC and got good grades on my exams many times. I guess that teachers appreciated me.

[New homeroom teacher]

I was acquainted with two teachers in SPC. One was Ms. O, a young English-language teacher. She was famous as a beautiful teacher. The other was Ms. H, a senior Japanese-language teacher. She had a stern look on her face. Honestly, I liked Ms. O rather than Ms. H. I wanted Ms. O to become my next homeroom teacher.

At the first of the school year, teachers announced new class composition. I was shocked. My homeroom teacher was Ms. H!

While I was afraid of her, I thought I could concentrate on my study to enter college.

[New Classmates]

I hardly saw any familiar faces in the new class. But I found M. M was my former female classmate. When she and I were in the sixth grade, there was a rumor that she loved me. When I entered the classroom, I was surprised. My desk was next to M.

My desk was in the corner of the classroom. The next seat to mine was M. The front seat was S, a male student I first became acquainted with.

S sometimes spoke to me. I managed to whisper to him. As it was the start of the school year, I had drive to speak and change myself. And the episode shows that I began to overcome selective mutism.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Selective mutism dependence

Children with selective mutism need support.

But one Japanese selective mutism sufferer said, "People around me do everything instead of me." According to Fujio Araki, M.D., selectively mute children think it's comfortable and advantageous to be mute rather than speak.

[Secondary gain from illness]

If someone suffer from illness or mental disorder but enjoy benefit (receiving kindness or avoiding responsibilities), the benefit is called "(secondary) gain from illness."

According to Araki, when selective mutism motivate people to do something for selectively mute children, children become less anxious and stable in mute. I think that is a gain from illness peculiar to selectively mute children. Araki calls this phenomenon "selective mutism dependence."

For this reason, Araki thinks selectively mute children can't speak as well as don't speak. But I'm a little skeptical about that.

[Motivation to overcome selective mutism]

I guess some selectively mute children lose their motivation to overcome selective mutism. If they remain mute, people around them do everything instead of them. Some people may forgive their mistakes because they are children with special needs. To overcome selective mutism in that situation, they need a strong will power.

* I guess many selectively mute children suffer from lack of understanding, though.

For parents and teachers, it may be difficult to deal with selectively mute children. In order not to lose children's motivation to overcome selective mutism, parents and teachers should be very unkind to to children...? But that may worsen their symptoms.

Of course, I don't believe all selectively mute children are satisfied with gain from illness.

[reference]

Fujio Araki (1979) A classification of mutism originating in childhood.
Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(2), 60-78.

Fujio Araki (1979) Some psychopathological observations on mutism originating in childhood. Japanese Journal of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 20(5), 290-304.

Do you make an effort to overcome your selective mutism?

When Japanese people with selective mutism or former sufferers gather on the Internet, they sometimes argue about whether they made an effort to overcome selective mutism.

People who think they conquered selective mutism by themselves sometimes blame selective mutism sufferers. They think sufferers can't speak because sufferers don't make enough effort. I don't know what they call "effort" but I suppose they meant to say sufferers can overcome selective mutism by themselves if they try hard to speak or mingle with peers.

If people use selective mutism as an excuse for not speaking, some Japanese people say it's amae with contempt. Not only people who don't understand selective mutism, but former sufferers also do.

I'm also a former sufferer. But I don't think sufferers don't make enough effort. I think it's too much to encourage them to speak. They can't speak rather than don't speak because of anxiety. So, it's inappropriate to label them as amaeteiru with contempt. In addition, if someone force sufferers to utter words, sufferers get more anxious, and their symptoms worsen.

Index of SM in Japan

Famous people who once suffered from selective mutism?

I don't know famous people who once suffered from selective mutism well.

I guess the most famous person is Cho Seung Hui, a South Korean man who committed mass murder at Virginia Tech and suicide in 2007. I have a mixed feeling. Because of the event, a former sufferer of selective mutism became famous and the term "selective mutism" appeared in the media over and over again. But it's mass murder. Massacre.

But in Japan only one newspaper reported the fact that Cho suffered from selective mutism. So, the event didn't raise awareness of selective mutism in Japan.

* * * * * * * * * *

Why don't we know famous people who once suffered from selective mutism?

One possible reason is simply that there are no former selective mutism sufferers who become famous. That means it's extremely difficult for them to become famous.

Another possible reason is that there are many former sufferers who become famous, but it's virtually unknown for some reason.

* * * * * * * * * *

If we know famous people who once suffered from selective mutism, we may be relieved our worries about the disorder or be encouraged.

Selective Mutism Awareness Week in Japan?

Selective Mutism Information and Research Association (SMIRA), a UK based support group for selective mutism, run Selective Mutism Awareness Week from October 5th to 12th.

According to the website of SMIRA, it did many activities to raise awareness of selective mutism. One effort is working on the media to cover selective mutism. Thanks to the effort, many news articles about selective mutism were published in the UK. You can find articles at http://news.google.com/.

* * * * * * * * * *

A Canadian support group for selective mutism coincided with the campaign. It held a Selective Mutism Awareness Walk.

But no Japanese support group coincided with the campaign, because there are no support groups in Japan that have enough power to run such massive campaign yet. I expect Japanese support groups to conduct such big campaign someday.

Index of SM in Japan

Han note, Eye contact, Majime

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

Han note, Eye contact, Majime

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[Han note]

My homeroom teacher made us write Han note. Han note is a notebook. Han is a Japanese that means group. Our classmates were divided into, as I remember, 5-7 groups. Each members of the groups wrote a diary in rotation.

Although I had selective mutism, I could express my thoughts and feelings in writing. I was a talkative man only in the Han note.

[Eye contact and nodding]

I had been in the habit of keeping eye contact with teachers when I listened in class since early times. Because of the habit, I didn't avoid eye contact although I had selective mutism. That may be a kind of behavioral therapy.

In addition, I began to nod at them. Keeping the habit, an English grammar teacher foud me and got close to me. After I became a sophomore, I still nodded at teachers in class. Similarly, an Engilsh teacher and a Japanese history teacher found me and got close to me. In this way, thanks to my habit of nodding, I could get acquainted with teachers although I hardly spoke.

[Majime]

I was viewed as a very Majime (serious, earnest) person. One former classmate said, "I've never seen such a Majime man!" I don't know whether my selective mutism caused me to be Majime or not.

Here is one story about my Majime personality.

I don't know who clean high school in the US, but in my Japanese high school, students were supposed to clean their school (I guess most Japanese high school students also were). Our classmates were divided into some cleaning groups, and I was assigned to a school entrance group.

I cleaned school entrance eagerly. But other members of the group didn't. They gradually neglected their work. One day I cleaned school entrance by myself. A senior teacher found me and said, "Why do you clean by yourself?" That caused trouble.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

You're not the only one

I once asked my mother's advice for my selective mutism. But she said, "I'm also not good at talking. (So, you're not the only one who're not good at talking)"

She didn't understand my selective mutism. She was a reticent person, but hasn't suffered from selective mutism. She confused a reticent child with selectively mute child.

In Japan, when someone is troubled by something and whine about that, people sometimes said to his or her, "You're not the only one who're troubled by such things. Everyone is troubled by and has patience with such things." Some people may add, "Don't be a big baby!"

Such words sometimes ease his or her mind or encourage his or her to bear the hardship. But they also may trivialize his or her difficulty.

In terms of selective mutism, I guess a small proportion of children suffer from such difficulty. So, it's inappropriate to say to selectively mute children, "You're not the only one ..."

But few people understand selective mutism. So, some people may say such a thing to selectively mute children.

Mutismus im Kindes-, Jugend- und Erwachsenenalter

I bought a German book about selective mutism, Mutismus im Kindes-, Jugend- und Erwachsenenalter. It's a thin book. Only 64 pages.



I have an interest in German literature on selective mutism. As far as I know, German has the longest history of research on selective mutism. In addition, there is a self-help group in German. I guess German specialists have unique know-how on selective mutism.

I bought this book because

a) It's affordable.
b) It's only 64 pages. So, it seems to be easy to read.
c) It deals with adults with selective mutism.

But I can't read German. This book is the first German book I bought. So, when I read the German book, I use Babel Fish to translate German into English. Babel Fish is very useful. But it's a rough translation by a machine translator. It's difficult to read. :(

The book seems to contain fundamental knowledge about selective mutism. It includes many photographs and illustrations, so it's easy to read.

A student with selective mutism was elected class president

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

A student with selective mutism was elected class president

* * * * * * * * * *

We held an election for class president in the midst of the school year. In my school the term of a class president is a half year. But no one ran for the election. So, we decided to recommend someone to class president.

To my surprise, one classmates recommended me! Except me, about five classmates were recommended.

I had no confidence in my ability to fulfill my responsibilities as a class president. I was a student with selective mutism.

After that classmates voted candidates, and ballots were counted. As a result, I was elected class president!

It was unbelievable. I thought my classmates must be a poor judge of human character. They elected me probably only because I was at the top of the class.

What was worse, my homeroom teacher said, "I can leave this school without worry as Tomishige was elected class president." She was pregnant and was going to leave school soon.

But anyway, I was elected class president. I vowed I worked hard to fulfill my responsibilities as a class president.

* * * * * * * * * *

Class president had to say "Kiritsu"(Stand up,) "Rei(Bow your head to teacher,)" and "Chakuseki (Be seated)" at the beginning and end of a class. But It was a tall order for a student with selective mutism.

I managed to say Kiritsu, Rei and Chakuseki in a small voice. For instance, if I said "Kiritsu(Stand up,)" classmates near me could hear my small voive, but others couldn't. So, classmates near me stood up first. Then, others noticed me saying "Kiritsu," because classmates near me stood up. So, others stood up next although they couldn't hear my small voice. It was odd.

I managed to carry on duties as class president. Fortunately, two vice class presidents supported me well.

But after I became class president, my classmates got slack. I blamed myself. I guessed they elected me probably because they thought I would not be able to show leadership if I became class president. If I can't show leadership, they can slack off.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Selective mutism and Taijin kyofusho

Taijin Kyofusho is a "culturally distinctive phobia in Japan." (DSM-IV) It resembles social phobia or anthrophobia.

I guess many Japanese children with selective mutism are comorbid with Taijin Kyofusho. According to the literature in the West, most children with selective mutism have social phobia. In addition, I've seen former mutism sufferers who seem to have Taijin Kyofusho on the Internet.

But as far as I know, few Japanese researchers point out the relationship between selective mutism and Taijin Kyofusho.

Unlike researchers in the West, Japanese researchers aren't interested in the relationship between selective mutism and anxiety disorder very much. Some Japanese researchers cite the literature in the West and argue most children with selective mutism have anxiety disorder or selective mutism is an anxiety disorder. But as far as I know, none of them research on them by themselves.

Index of SM in Japan

Mazakon

Mazakon is a Japanese slang originated from a psychological term Mather Complex. Generally infant boys have an attachment to their mothers. But when they arrive at puberty but had an attachment to their mothers yet, they' are viewed as Mazakon with disdain. Most Japanese girls and young women hate Mazakon males.

When boys arrive at puberty, they avoid their mothers. They don't want their mothers to meddle in their affairs. They are at a rebellious age. In addition, if they have close relationships with their mothers, they may be viewed as Mazakon and be disliked by girls. And they may be teased by boys.

As a boy, I also disliked my mother interfering in my affairs when I was in poverty. When she did so, my self-esteem was badly damaged. And I was anxious about my future because I thought my mother's intervention might hinder my independence.

* * * * * * * * * *

I don't mean to say Japanese adolescent boys with selective mutism receiving some support from their mothers are Mazakon. But generally they don't want their mothers to interfere with them.

I think they also need some supports from their parents. Children with selective mutism can't encourage people to get proper support by themselves. I suppose they also realize they need supports from their parents although they may resist it.

If possible, it's preferable to lend a helping hand to boys while give attention to their sense of independence. But it's not easy.

If early intervention is made and they overcome selective mutism early in life, mothers don't have to worry about such a thing.

Index of SM in Japan

My teacher

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

My teacher

* * * * * * * * * *

In terms of studying, I got good grades in my high school. A few months after I entered the school, I got 100 marks in an English grammar test. About 600 students in my high school took the test, but only 2 students (including me) got 100 marks. In addition, I most always reached the top of my class.

As far as studying goes, I was an outstanding student in my high school. Many students were good at sports but not studying.

But there was another reason. My homeroom teacher unlocked my potential. She believed my potential and often praised me. I'd never met such a teacher before. Under her direction, I got better grades.

I had a good relationship with her. She appreciated me. I made an effort to live up to her expectations.

One day in Chinese classics class, she taught us a proverb Shutsuran no homare. That means students surpass their teachers. She said, "I want someone to surpass me in future like the proverb." I determined to study hard and to surpass her in future.

But she didn't seemed to see my selective mutism as a problem. One day she had an interview with students' guardians. She also interviewed with my mother and said to her, "Tomishige is no problem!" Being quiet is a virtue in Japan. I guess she thought Tomishige was a good student who was bright and quiet.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Sentakusei Kanmoku, Bamen Kanmoku

I sometimes envy people in English-speaking countries.

In Japan we call selective mutism Sentakusei Kanmoku or Bamen Kanmoku. They're very difficult words to spell and read.




I guess even many native Japanese can't spell or read these words. That's one reason why few Japanese know selective mutism. These words appear on a Japanese book Can you read these Kanji? -Check your degree of Japanese-.

It's difficult to change the words, because these words take root among child psychiatrist, educational psychologist, educator, etc.

On the other hand, people in English-speaking countries call selective mutism "SM." How simple!

Index of SM in Japan

My Japanese accent

I study English every day. But learning English is not easy.

One learning method is "shadowing." While I hear someone speaking English (for example, from radio, CD, etc.), I repeat the same sentences I heard. One merit of shadowing is correcting my pronunciation.

I can't pronounce English correctly. I pronounce English with a strong Japanese accent.

But that means I had Japanese accent, although I didn't speak Japanese very much because of selective mutism.

My selective mutism disappeared later. I overcome selective mutism when I was around 20 years old. So, I didn't speak Japanese at school for a long time. But I also got selective mutism later. I spoke normally in kindergarten and school until I was 9 years old. Maybe I grew up with Japanese accent at that time.

Four girl students

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

Four girl students

* * * * * * * * * *

After the first homeroom, four female students came to me and said, "Tomishige is kawaii! (cute!)"

During the homeroom period, I introduced myself. Although I had selective mutism, I managed to do so. Maybe they thought I was cute at that time. Or maybe they found me cute before homeroom.

They were the most active girls in the class. They usually said "Tomishige is kawaii!" and tried to make friends with me. They seemed to find me interesting.

I went through the same thing when I was the eighth grade. As an adolescent boy, I was happy at the time. But this time I felt unpleasant. I thought it was rude to say kawaii to a 15 years old boy even if they did so without malice. So, I sometimes gave them the cold shoulder. They sometimes got angry with me. But generally we were on good terms.

I didn't understand why girl students thought I was cute. When I wrote about that on my Japanese weblog The Selective Mutism Journal, a few readers of my blog said to me I looked cute, so they called me cute. But I guess the girls called me cute because they thought my behavior (such as my mute behavior, nodding and shaking my head, etc.) was cute.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Lack of conversation and brain development

A growing number of 20- and 30-somethings suffer from juvenile amnesia in Japan. According to the Japanese media, lack of conversation is a risk factor for amnesia. Does lack of conversation affect development of brain?

Children with selective mutism don't talk while they are in school or kindergarten. They spend a lot of time there. As their mutism was prolonged, they advance to more upper grades, and they spend more time in school. For example, if they are in the fifth-sixth grade, they go to school around 8:00 and return home around 15:00 (in Japan's case). So, they spend around 7 hours in school. That's nearly a half of their waking hours.

Of course, most children don't talk at school all the time. They are not allowed to chat in class. But on the whole selectively mute children talk much less frequently than usual ones.

If growing selectively mute children's symptoms are prolonged and they continue to be mute at school for a long time, what effect does that have on their brain development? If negative effects are observed, early intervention is important.

I have an interest in it but I've not found the literature that discusses selective mutism and brain development. Doesn't it matter?

Counseling organization on selective mutism (Japan)

These Japanese institutions provide support for children with selective mutism.

[Education Center]

Education Center is under city, prefectural or university management. EC offers several services. For instance, teacher training, research on education, educational counseling, etc.

Parents and children with selective mutism can receive counseling and psychotherapy at EC. EC sometimes publishes researches on selective mutism.

[Child Consultation Center]

Child Consultation Center is mostly under prefectural management, and partly under city management. CCC provides consultation services for guardians who have children with various problems, including selective mutism. In recent years an increasing number of Japanese people have consulted CCC about child abuse. Children with selective mutism can receive counseling and psychotherapy at CCC.

[Special Speech Class]

SSC is established for children with speech impediment, emotional disturbance, amblyopia, hearing impairment, etc. Children with selective mutism can also enroll in SSC (See Emotional disturbance).

As far as I heard, there's a lot of competition for enrollment in SSC. In addition, not all parents know SSC. So, I guess only small number of children with selective mutism enroll in SSC.

[Residential Treatment Center for Emotionally Disturbed Children]

RTCEDC is an institution that aims to treat mildly emotionally disturbed children, including selectively mute children. Sometimes they live in the center to treat disturbance. RTCEDC is under public or private management. According to the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, there are 31 RTCEDC in Japan, and 1,131 children lived or went there as of October 1, 2006.

Index of SM in Japan

Three courses

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Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

Three courses

* * * * * * * * * *

I entered η high school.

η high school consisted of three courses. Career Course, Preparatory Course and Special Preparatory Course. CC incorporated vocational training into its curriculum. PC incorporated preparatory classes into its curriculum.

SPC also incorporated preparatory classes. But unlike PC, SPC aimed to help students to go to prestigious universities. Many freshmen wanted to enrol on SPC. But not all of their wishes came true. SPC recruited only about 160 students. On the other hand, students who wanted to enroll on the course exceeded 160 every year. School selected 160 students by the marks they obtained in entrance exam. So, only high-achieving students could enroll on SPC.

I wrote my will to study in SPC in documents I submitted to the school. But when I first went to school, I realized my class was PC, not SPC.

And I was surprised to see M. M was my former female classmate. When she and I were in the sixth grade, there was a rumor that she loved me. Her class was SPC.

[First meeting of the class]

At the first meeting of the class, my homeroom teacher appeared in front of us and begun to talk about her and the class. According to her, she was a Japanese language teacher. Her age was 26. She had a husband.

She said this class was "semi SPC". First, students in the class had good academic ability next to students in SPC. Second, she had an experience of taking charge of SPC. Third, the classroom was located near SPC.

And she added we had a chance to promote to SPC in the next school year if we achieved high grades this school year. She said so because many students in the class couldn't enroll on SPC.

[Introducing myself]

A few days after I entered the high school, we students in the class introduced ourselves during homeroom. As I had selective mutism, I worried whether I could introduce myself smoothly. But I managed to do. After I finished introducing myself, my homeroom teacher said, "Tomishige once took part in the national
Shogi (Japanese Chess) Championships for junior high school. I hear Shogi players are clever. I hope you get good grade." I felt she fully expected me to get good grade. About 40 students introduced themselves, but she said such things only to me.

After homeroom, several female students came to me and said, "Tomishige, kawaii! (cute!)"

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

New book about selective mutism (Japan)

A new Japanese book about selective mutism was published on March.

The title of the book is Bamen kanmoku Q&A -Youchien ya gakkou de oshaberi dekinai kodomo tachi- (What is Selective Mutism? -How to help children who can't talk in school-)

The author is Knet, a nonprofit organization of selective mutism established in 2007. The editor is Keiko Kakuta, a clinical psychotherapist and the leader of Knet (and an acquaintance of mine).

This book is based on information exchange on the Internet. It includes many colums written by parents. Of course, it also includes information I provided on my Japanese web site The Selective Mutism Journal.

This book is written for the general public rather than specialists. So, it's easy to read. I guess this book will become a standard reference for Japanese parents, teachers and professionals who are interested in selective mutism.

Index of SM in Japan

Earning redemption

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Chapter 5 Selective mutism and my high school years

Earning redemption

* * * * * * * * * *

The first time I went to η private high school was when I attended tentative entrance ceremony.

We freshmen of η high school were supposed to attend the ceremony. Along with the ceremony, orientation session, school uniform sales, etc. are scheduled for.

η high school was a mammoth school, so I saw hundreds of freshmen in the school. Wandering in the school, I happened to meet my former classmates. They also failed the entrance exams for their first-choice high school. In my region most junior high school students' first choices were public high school rather than private high school. I attended the tentative entrance ceremony with them.

When I attended an orientation session, one teacher said to us, "Even if you failed entrance exams for public high schools, you can earn redemption in university entrance exams."

I was very impressed by what he said. I decided to study hard to go to prestigious university at the moment. Instead, I got the thought of overcoming selective mutism out of my head.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Picture book about selective mutism 2 (Japan)

Another picture book about selective mutism is Rika chan ga waratta (Rika laughed).

To put it more precisely, a photograph book. Kazuo Kashima, the author of the book and a former elementary school teacher, took a lot of photos of his class. This book includes many photos of Rika, a first-grade girl with selective mutism. This is a non-fiction book about Rika in his charge.

* * * * * * * * * *

In the story, Rika overcomes selective mutism.

But no professional intervenes in her. Her parents also don't help her.

She is helped by her classmates. Her classmates discuss how to reduce her anxiety and give her a helping hand.

* * * * * * * * * *

School is a place for learning. School children learn many subjects such as arithmetic, science, etc. But they also learn a lot through their daily activities, including how to care for a child with selective mutism. I thought that probably because this book is written by a former teacher, not a doctor or a counselor.

But I think it it better to see doctors or counselors rather than to make children think how to help a classmate with selective mutism. Even if teachers make children think, it needs to be based on teachers' understanding of selective mutism. Kashima was an experienced teacher at that time. I think he must understood selective mutism well.

Index of SM in Japan

Picture book about selective mutism 1(Japan)

There are many picture books about selective mutism written in English. For instance, My Friend Daniel Doesn't Talk, Understanding Katie a Day in the Life of Elisa Shipon Blum Co and Cat's Got Your Tongue?.

Also in Japan, there is at least two picture books about selective mutism.

One of them is Banzai! Nakayama Kun (Hurray! Nakayama). The author is Kyoko Ota. She has written many children's books including: Hito ha Kuma to Tomodachi ni Nareruka? (Can Human Being Become Friends with Bear?), Mama, Daidaidaisuki! (I Love My Mom very very very much!), etc. The illustrator of the picture book is Tadao Miyamoto.

The hero of the book is Nakayama, a first grade boy. He gets into an elementary school, but can't speak in school. One day, he becomes to be able to speak in an empty classroom. And finally, he utters words in front of his classmates in the classroom.

The word "selective mutism" is not found in the book. But the story must be the story of selective mutism. The process of overcoming selective mutism is similar to desensitization.

Unlike fiction, it's not necessarily easy to overcome selective mutism, but this story might give moral support to children with selective mutism.

Index of SM in Japan

Uchi benkei

Uchi benkei is a Japanese word that means people who are bossy at home but submissive outside. So, selective mutism may be an extreme form of uchi benkei (Many children with selective mutism are not so bossy at home, though).

Some Japanese people use a slang net benkei. Net benkei is people who are bossy on the Internet but submissive in the real world.

What is benkei ? Benkei is a warrior monk in 12th century. He served Minamoto no Yoshitsune, a leading general. He was a brave warrior, so people today use the word benkei as an analogy for bossy people.

Saito Musashibō Benkei (Wikipedia)
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (Wikipedia)

Index of SM in Japan

My graduation

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Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

My graduation

* * * * * * * * * *

[Entrance exam of ε public high school]

I already passed entrance exam of η private high school. But I wished to go to ε public high school rather than η private high school. So, I studied hard to pass the entrance exam of ε public high school.

Before the exam, my junior high school hold assemblies for students to explain what to prepare for exams. I joined an assembly of applicants for ε public high school. I was surprised to see that M was also joined the assembly. M was my former classmate. When she and I were in the sixth grade, there was a rumor that she loved me. If she and I passed the entrance exam, we would go to the same high school.

The next day, entrance exams were held. The exams included a English listening comprehension test. After the exam, I felt a sense of accomplishment.

[Graduation ceremony]

A day after the exam, graduation ceremony was held. I graduated from junior high school. But to me, true graduation was when my future course was decided.

[Failed exam]

About a week ago, application results were announced at each public high school. I went to ε public high school to know whether I passed the exam. Examinee's numbers of successful candidates were presented on a bulletin board at the school. But my examinee's number was not listed. I failed the entrance exam.

When I stood in front of the bulletin board, a classmate of mine approached me. "Tomishige, you failed? Me, too." My face remained impassive, although I failed the entrance exam. As I have selective mutism, my face always impassive. But the classmate got angry when he looked at my face. "Aren't you frustrated, Tomishige? I'm so frustrated!"

[Leaving ceremony]

At the end of month leaving ceremony for teachers was held in my public junior high school. Attendance at the ceremony was optional. I attended the ceremony, because my homeroom teacher would leave the school. After the ceremony, I saw and greeted my teacher. She said to me, "I'm sorry you failed exam, Tomishige. I think you should be greedy." That was the last day I visited the junior high school.

* * * * * * * * * *

I graduated from junior high school. Although got to be able to smile slightly in school settings, I couldn't overcome selective mutism completely in this three years.

(To be continued to the next chapter)

Index of SM story

My first entrance exam

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

My first entrance exam

* * * * * * * * * *

I had a parent-teacher-student meeting around the middle of the school year. The purpose of the meeting was to decide which high schools I applied to.

Under the local regulations we junior high school students could apply to only one public high school and one private high school. Most students' first choice was public high school. They applied to public high schools just to be on the safe side. I was not an exception.

At the meeting, my mother and I told my homeroom teacher which schools we wanted to apply. We wanted to apply to ε public high school and ζ private high school. My homeroom teacher agreed to apply to ε public high school. But she recommended us to η private high school, not ζ private high school. It was easier to pass the entrance exam of η high school than ζ high school.

My mother said to the teacher, "I worry that η high school is failing school." "Many parents who experienced entrance exam long time ago have negative image of η high school. But recently η high school makes a strong effort to raise the academic achievement of students. η high school is not a failing school now."

In the end, we decided to apply to ε public high school and η private high school. My first choice was ε public high school.

* * * * * * * * * *

Two month before the end of the school year, many private high schools hold entrance exams. That was the first time for me to take an entrance exam. I was quite nervous about my first entrance exam.

Before we students took exams, we were allowed to look at exam stations in advance. But when I went to the exam station, I got lost. So, I visited to Koban(police box) to ask policemen the way to the exam station. It was tough for me to ask directions, because I had selective mutism. But I managed to ask a policeman. When I arrived at the exam station, most students had already looked at the station and gone to home.

After that, exam day came. I could go to the exam station and take exams smoothly.

A few days after, test results were announced. We heard our test results from our homeroom teacher after school.

All students went out into the corridor. Our homeroom teacher called students one by one to enter classroom and told him or her test results. When I waited for a while, our homeroom teacher called me. I entered classroom. There was nobody except her and me in the classroom. She told me that I passed the entrance exam. But I showed no expression. I had selective mutism. "Aren't you happy? I heard from your mother that you worried a lot about your test results." I nodded in silence. "Just as I thought. Good thing you passed the exam."

In this way, I passed the entrance exam of η private high school. But my study was not over. I must pass the entrance exam of ε public high school. My first choice was ε public high school.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

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Selectively mute child in a Japanese video game

I found a selectively mute child. But he is not a real person. He is a character in a Japanese video game.

His name is Marc Brown. He is a character of Policenauts, a Japanese adventure game released in 1994.

Policenauts (Wikipedia)

The word "mutism" appear on the official website of Policenauts.

I'm surprised to know that producers of the game knew such an unknown disorder.

But I think that the producers misunderstood about selective mutism. Traumatic incident don't usually cause selective mutism.

The director of Policenauts is Hideo Kojima, a famous game designer. He was listed on Newsweek magazine's "10 most influential people to shape the future" in 2001.

Although I played video game in my childhood, I don't know Policenauts. I played Nintendo Entertainment System in the '80s.

Index of SM in Japan

Emotional disturbance

Many Japanese involving selective mutism view that selective mutism is an "emotional disturbance."

I guess that view derives from government's policy on special education. Director-General, Elementary and Secondary Education Bureau, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) notified "About school children and students with disabilities" in 2002. In the notification, children with selective mutism is an object of education of emotional disturbance children.

* * * * * * * * * *

Children who can benefit from special speech classes

1 Autistic Children, etc. who can mostly study in normal classes and partly need special guidance.

2 Children with selective mutism, etc. mainly due to psychogenic factors who can mostly study in normal classes and partly need special guidance.

(from "About school children and students with disabilities")

* * * * * * * * * *

The authorities included selective mutism in emotional disturbance at least 41 years ago (1967), as far as I know. In 1967 Education Ministry conducted "An investigation on school children and students' psychosomatic disorder" and defined emotional disturbance as school refusal, neurosis, selective mutism, autism, mental illness, organic brain disorder, etc.

Index of SM in Japan

Severe bullying

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

Severe bullying

* * * * * * * * * *

The ninth grade was one of the most important period of school life. We needed to decide our future course. Most students wished to go to high school and studied hard to pass entrance exams. I also studied hard to go to high school.

At such an important period, I was bullied by some male classmates almost every day. Fortunately, some kind female classmates helped me. But that aroused jealousy of male bullies, and their bullying got severe. One teacher told me that bullies were irritated because they had to study hard every day.

My self-esteem was damaged. I felt that I didn't deserve of going to junior high school and studying with classmates.

In addition to that, I had a problem at home. That also bothered me.

My grades were falling. My distress from bullying and family problems may have caused my academic failure. But that's no excuse.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

I got to know selective mutism through the Internet! (Japan)

I got to know selective mutism through the Internet in my early 20s. I was surprised to read diagnosis of DSM-IV first. My childhood odd behavior meets the criteria of selective mutism very well. Until then, I hadn't known why I couldn't speak in unfamiliar settings. I had thought that I was the only strange child in the world.

But I was not an exception. I've met a lot of former or current Japanese SM sufferers or their mothers who get to know selective mutism through the Internet many years after the children present symptoms of selective mutism first.

That suggests how selective mutism is not known also in Japan. When teachers finds selectively mute children in elementary school, they don't always realize the children suffer selective mutism. So, they don't always tell the children or their parents about selective mutism. Parents, and of course, their children also don't know selective mutism. After many years, they happen to get to know selective mutism through the Internet.

Index of SM in Japan

Club (3)

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

Club (3)

* * * * * * * * * *

As I mentioned earlier, I belonged to Igo and Shogi club. Igo is a strategic board game. Shogi is Japanese chess. But no club members played Igo. All members liked Shogi.

[Senpai, Kohai]

Senpai Kohai relationship is one of the most important element in club in Japan. Senpai is Kohai's upperclass student(s). Kohai is Senpai's underclass student(s). Kohai have to respect Senpai.

But some Kohai of mine didn't pay due repect to me.A Kohai of mine usually called me Tomishigekun. Kun is a Japanese title used towards one's juniors and contemporaries. Another Kohai sometimes insulted me and said, "I don't like Tomishigekun."

Indeed, in our club, members didn't traditionally stick to Senpai Kohai relationship very much. But even so, they were rudeness.

I guess that's because I was looked down on by them due to my mutism.

[Shogi Championships]

We took part in a team competition of Shogi Championships for junior high school in summer vacation. First, we challenged the local competition. But only two schools (including my school) participated in it. We won and advanced to the national competition. But we were beaten by natinal-class players.

When summer vacation ended and new school term began again, our club received a commendation from principal at all-school assembly. For some reason, I received the commendation as a representative of our club. My classmates and homeroom teacher were surprised to see that. "Tomishige took part in the national competition of Shogi!"

I was overestimated. We defeated only one team and advanced to the national competition. But I couldn't explain that. I had selective mutism. I was misunderstood.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story

Poem book of former SM sufferer (Japan)

I found a Japanese poem book by former SM sufferer, Hana ni nosete ISBN 978-4286035819.

The author was Yui Natsukawa. According to her book, she was born in 1985. When she was the fifth grade, she was diagnosed as selective mutism. When she was the ninth grade, she refused to go to school due to emotional distress and became Hikikomori. She suffered from auditory hallucination, and When she was 17, she was hospitalized. But she overcame mental illnesses at 19.

One day, she contributed her poems to a poem contest and received an honorable mention. Publishers asked her to publish her poems. That changed her life. She has published two poem books.

* * * * * * * * * *

Although I only read her poems using Amazon's "search inside," I'll give my impression of her poem book Hana ni nosete.

Many of her poems seem to be written to provide encouragement to readers. I guess she and the publisher target those who are troubled about something, especially mental health problems.

I feel that her encouragement poems have persuasive power. That's because she also suffered many mental illnesses but overcome them.

Although the author is a former SM sufferer, this book is not well-known among Japanese former or current SM sufferers and their parents. So, I added this book to my website about selective mutism to show them.

http://smjournal.com/books1.html

Index of SM in Japan

Shugaku ryoko - School trip in Japan

* * * * * * * * * *

Chapter 4 Selective mutism and my junior high school years

Shugaku ryoko - School trip in Japan

* * * * * * * * * *

Shugaku ryoko is one of the biggest school event in Japan. Shugaku ryoko, literally means "trip for learning", is school trip that aims to broaden students' horizons and to let students learn cooperation.

Shugaku ryoko was one of the most popular school event among students. Students are released from schoolwork and can enjoy trip with their friends. But for me, it was depressing event. I had no friends. I couldn't cooperate with students. I had selective mutism. Rather than Shugaku ryko, I liked schoolwork.

* * * * * * * * * *

Soon after I moved up to the ninth grade, my junior high school planned Shugaku ryoko for ninth grade students.

As part of preparation for trip, we students made Hans. Han is a group that belonged to classes. We had to travel in units of class and Han.
Almost all students had friends, and they grouped together and then made Hans. But I had no friends. When I was about to be left alone, two male classmates invited me to join their group. Han had to be composed of 3 male and 3 female students. But only 2 male students joined their group. So, they invited me. I joined their group.

* * * * * * * * * *

Our Shugaku ryoko was a trip of three days and two nights. Our destination was Kansai region, including Osaka and Kyoto.

I enjoyed school trip with no serious problems.

But I suffered from trouble when we reached the final destination Expoland, an amusement park in Osaka. Teachers accompanied by we students permitted to play freely in the park. So, almost all students began to play with their friends. But I couldn't. I had no friends. What I could do was wandering around rides and attractions alone and wait waiting for time to pass.

(To be continued)

Index of SM story