Since 2000, Professor Akira Watanabe has visited the town to learn about its history, customs, and traditions, knowledge that he later shares with his students at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he teaches Spanish.
On this occasion, the Japanese professor along with his wife, Mariko Ohashy, and his children, Satoru and Nagiusa, spent two days in Peto and later visited other communities, where over the years, Mr. Watanabe has made friends and at the same time learned new things that enrich his knowledge of traditions, not only from Yucatan but also from other states of the Mexican Republic.
Interviewed in the main Benito Juárez García park of this city, Akira recalled that the first time he came to Peto was in 2000, as part of an electoral observation team called Civic Alliance and International Civic Front.
At that time he met the town’s chronicler, Professor Arturo Rodríguez Sabido, with whom he became friends and every year he comes to visit him and they visit certain places together that allow him to learn stories.
“Since the first time I came to Peto, many things have changed and every time I come I learn new things, something that has really caught my attention is how there was a time when Peto prospered and then it stayed there,” he said in Spanish.
“I learn from the experiences of the people who share those stories and knowledge with me.
“Something that has caught my attention is the migratory phenomenon because many people from Peto are currently in the United States,” he added.
“When observing and learning about this migratory phenomenon I see that they are like the Japanese, who also leave, the world is more global.
“I would like to go to California and hear the opinion of migrants, their experiences, their anecdotes, how they see things, and although I haven’t been there for a while, I would like to go and listen to them,” he said.
Bullfight
Akira shared that last Saturday he had the opportunity to attend a bullfight.
“My wife and my son went to the bullfight, I was around and my family told me that it was something interesting and it really is because while there are people who consider it an art, there are others who think it is cruelty, but it is still a very interesting tradition,” said the Japanese.
Regarding the vaquería and the Jarana, he considered it to be something “beautiful and complicated.”
“The Jaraneros are very good, they are geniuses. I would never learn to dance like that,” he said.
He mentioned that he takes advantage of his stays in Peto to visit his friends, while he does his research work.
“In this daily process I learn many things, my discipline as a researcher is different from what people normally imagine,” he said.
He said that Yucatan looks for certain things that attract his attention and from which he wants to learn.
“I make friends with people and they teach me many things, sometimes I write articles in Japanese so that they learn about Yucatan, its people, its culture, and its traditions,” said Akira, who a few days ago was at a wedding in Ticul, of a couple who live in Los Angeles, California.
He said that at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, where he teaches Spanish classes, he addresses topics related to the culture of Yucatan, Mexico and all of Hispanic America.
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