awa life "TOPPY"

A monthly newsletter for inter na tion al resi dents of Tokushima, produced by TOPIA, the Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association. May 2007 No. 203

by hiroko kimura the origins of [email protected] olden Week is the ratings are the highest are constitution was introduced longest string of public known as 'Golden Times'. on May 3, 1948. Constitution holidays in the entire Thus the name Golden Week is called ॕၓ (kenpo) in gyear. But where does was taken from this. At the Japanese, so there were many the name come from? This beginning it was called Ougon babies in that year named with time I'm going to write about Shuukan which means the character for ॕ such as the origins of the name golden week in Japanese. ॕજ (Kenji) or ॕત (Noriko). 'Golden Week'. But the name was lacking It originally began in 1951. in impact so it was changed People's Day: A holiday Everbody assumed that the into English. We used to have set for people of today government was responsible Silver Week as well, which working too hard. In 1985 for naming the holiday period, also had a holiday and some the government decided they but actually it wasn't. Do events including , would make this weekday a you know who it was? It was but never became firmly holiday between two other the executive director of a established. holidays and give the people a filming company. In those chance to rest. Now people's days, the most popular form Green Day: This day is to day is on May 4. However, in of entertainment was going respect and give thanks for 2009, there will be another to the movies. In 1951, a being blessed by nature. Also, people's day on September movie 'Jiyuu Gakkou' that we cultivate warm hearts. April 22, since the 21st and 23rd was originally shown at 29 was originally the Showa are already public holidays the time became a greater Emperor's birthday, but it was ( and success than other movies changed to Green Day in 1989 ). shown during the New Year's following his death. Holiday's and Obon. So the Children's Day: A day when executive director, Hideo Constitution Day: It is we value children's personality, Matsuyama, hoping that many on this day we hope for the and hope for their happiness. people would watch movies nation's growth in honor of A long time ago, this day was during these holidays, named enforcement of the Japanese only for celebrating boys in them 'Golden Week'. But why constitution. The Japanese the family, but in 1948 the 'Golden'? The times when audience the origins of golden week ... con't on page 3 inside awa life this month

the origins of golden week - 1, 3 ... yellow sands rising - 4 fl ying fi sh and holidays - 5 ... staff introductions - 6 martin's manga corner - 7 ... letter from suketo hoikuen / shin mai mama nikki - 8 japanese lesson - 9 ... memoranda - 10, 11, 12 awa life Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA) is a monthly publication of the Tokushima Clement Plaza 6F Prefec tur al International Exchange Asso ci a tion 1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi (TOPIA) Tokushima City 770-0831 tel: 088.656.3303 fax: 088.652.0616 Andrew Dahms & Claire Tanaka [email protected] http://www.topia.ne.jp/ Contributors This Month: Andrew Dahms, Jody Godoy, Kazue Inoue, Hiroko Download a PDF fi le of awa life or view the Kimura, Isao Nishitani, Martin O'Brien, Tetsuo online version by going to TOPIA's website! Onishi, Smitha Prasadh, Claire Tanaka, and Noriko http://www.topia.ne.jp/e_index.htm Osaka from the editors fter a warm winter and a cold spring, it y the time this May edition has arrived, looks like the seasons are fi nally getting Golden Week will be over for another on track. Pedalling through the city is year and everything will be back to aa joy, with the scent of fl owers and the bnormal. Did you go someplace interesting sound of birds in the air. The May edition of this year? I've begun to find that while trying Awa Life is always sort of a time for refl ection to get out as much as possible, most of my because it's made during April, which is the travelling tends to happen long away from first month of the new fiscal year. You can the popular holidaying times. I often end up see this year's staff introductions on page going out for just the day or a weekend, and six. As for me, I am in my fourth year in my only rarely outside the prefecture. In another position here, and I've only got a few months realisation I have found that with all my camera left until my contract ends at the end of July. gear I seem to carry more luggage than some With the National Culture Festival happening in do travelling overseas. Perhaps these two Tokushima this year, it looks like there will be things are related? To each their own, however a lot of fun events to get involved with in the - we all have different ways in which we enjoy coming months, so I hope to see some of our spending time, and I hope you've been able to Awa Life readers out on the town! do a lot of that over the past Golden Week. Love, Claire Cheers, Andrew

a view from the beautiful park area and lookout surrounding kawashima castle (photo by andrew dahms)

-2- the origins of golden week ... con't from page 1 government changed the day to Children's Day and it became a day to celebrate both boys and girls. The government considered which day would be best, and the ideas came forth to put it on March 3rd, April 1st or May 5th. In the end they chose May 5th as March 3rd is too cold in Hokkaido and April 1st is also set aside already for April Fool's Day. During Golden Week many people go abroad or to tourist spots and collectively contribute over one trillion yen to local economies. That writer hiroko (left) with her elder sister on the fateful walk means some people have days off but some people have town by the sea. At the time climb). My dad told my sister to work even harder during our eldest son was five years and I that it would be a long Golden Week. old, and he wanted to go day but it would be fun. So fishing so much, so we took my sister and I were very Memories of Golden Week him to a nearby fi shing pond. excited. We left home early We all have memories of the After a while without any in the morning. I guessed we holidays, and the adventures bites, all of a sudden there wa could get there at least around we sometimes find ourselves s a loud splash and I turned noon, but around noon we in. Here are a few of those... around thinking a fish had were still walking. My sister struck the boat. But there in and I began to wonder when Noriko: I often used to the water was our son! We we would get there. At some spend the entire GW at quickly tried to pull him in, point we saw some signs my grandma's old house in but the distance to the water saying how long we had to Miyoshi-shi (west Tokushima). was too long to reach so we go in kilometers, but we were All my cousins would gather had no choice by to try and too young to understand. My and we enjoyed fishing eels pull him in with the fi shing line dad kept encouraging us so and crabs in the small river. back to the shallows, where we kept walking, but then it They were eventually doomed we got him safely. started getting darker and to turn into delicious tempura And I have to say, he's the darker. On the way we made by grandma. Tokushima is biggest catch I've ever had! walking sticks from what we blessed with beautiful nature We gave him some food and found by the roadside, and and scenery, and I hope now he's grown up to be an I almost cried. We couldn't you enjoy staying here in adult. Everyone, take care if make it and ended up eating Tokushima for the whole you go out on the water this riceballs we had brought in Golden Week as much as you Golden Week! the wood. can. Yesterday I took a look at Hiroko Kimura: When I was the walk on a map and it Tetsuo Onishi: Everytime we a child, my family decided to said 10km just to get there, come to Golden Week there do a walk from #13 to #12 but over an eight hour walk. is a moment our family looks in the 88 temple pilgrimage I wonder if my dad did any back on with a good laugh. A (#12 is known as being of the research beforehand? But it long time ago we went with highest altitude for the entire was an adventure for me, for the whole family to a pretty pilgrimage, and a difficult sure.

-3- by smitha prasadh yellow sand rising [email protected] he night before my friends and I left for Seoul, South Korea during spring break, tI went online to double- check the weather forecast there—and I was shocked to see that the current weather condition was listed as “widespread dust”. It’s this time annually that Korea, Japan, and much of east Asia are subjected to strong bouts of the weather phenomenon known as kousa ( ܯ਱) in Japan, which translates directly to kousa obscures an overhead view of seoul, south korea “yellow sand”, but is known There are some very telling were greeted with a khaki- in English as Asian Dust. This photos online of Chinese cities colored sky. It resembled phenomenon occurs most during severe dust storms smog: it totally obscured frequently in spring, starting from the past 10 years—the faraway buildings and made in March. It originates in China air was reddish-brown and everything very hazy. When and central Asia, in regions astonishingly thick, with very we went to the top fl oor of the such as the Gobi Desert and little visibility. 63 Building, one of the tallest Loess Plateau. Springtime Additionally, besides just buildings in South Korea, we weather creates strong wind dust, these clouds can also had barely any view at all. systems that kick up dust carry bacteria, germs, and The dust had a tangible particles from these arid a variety of pollutants and impact on everything. The air regions, sweep them into the carcinogens. On especially bad quality felt different—I could atmosphere, and carry them kousa days, it’s probably best actually taste the dust on the across the Asian continent. to stay indoors if possible, air. I also found it tough to These eventually arrive in since people can catch breathe deeply after climbing a eastern Asia, and they have colds, have sore throats, or long fl ight of stairs outdoors— annual effects on China, even experience asthmatic this had nothing to do with Korea, Japan, and sometimes symptoms. physical fi tness—but I was fi ne Russia. With especially strong However, there are efforts after I went inside. In general, systems, these clouds move underway to combat the the quality of the air felt still on to affect the US. kousa. The Chinese, Japanese, and heavy, like the calm before Over the last few decades, and Korean governments have a storm, and the sunlight felt human actions have been doing much research and like it was coming through a aggravated this phenomenon. implementing plans to reverse faint fi lter. All my photos from Poor agricultural practices this desertifi cation by planting that morning looked as if I’d have ruined the land, to the trees to prevent soil erosion applied a slight sepia tint to point that now 18% of China through reforestation, and them. is a desert. China burns a neighboring countries have As memorable and interesting lot of coal but has not been been sending groups to China as the kousa phenomenon filtering it properly, and to help, including a non-profi t was, we were relieved when it the dust clouds pick up the group from Tokushima. dissipated by mid-afternoon. pollutants released by this We experienced the kousa We were able to fi nish the day, process. Industrialization has firsthand on our last full day and our trip, with a really nice also increased greatly, at the in Seoul. When we left our view of the Seoul cityscape expense of the environment. hostel in the morning, we under real sunlight.

-4- by andrew dahms fl ying fi sh and holidays [email protected] ay 5th in Japan is a public holiday, and third in the string of mpublic holidays that makes up the famous Golden Week. It is called Kodomo no Hi (Children's Day) and is closely related to the tradition of koi nobori - carp-shaped windsocks.

Kodomo no Hi May 5 was originally a day to wish for the wellbeing and prosperity of young boys, and was known by the name of ൾঙѢಉࣣ(). In this it is often paired with the hina matsuri on March 3, for celebrating girls. However, shortly after the end of WWII in 1948 the holiday was changed to Children's Day and while many traditionals of the old festival still remain it is in fact slightly different. One thing Kodomo no Hi koi nobori over the oboke gorge, miyoshi city (photo by jody godoy) has in common with the Hina Matsuri is the displaying of boys in them sport colourful streets to supermarkets. dolls and other objects. More windsocks in the shape of A short song of only four specifi cally, families with young carp on the roof of their house lines in length, the lyrics are as boys bring out dolls wearing for the duration of the festival. follows: traditional warrior's attire and In Tokushima you can even also helmets (called kabuto) see a large collection of these ܴਠѼѾ৸и̛঩ѢѰѾ to put on display. And, last but koi nobori flying over many ോсиఉ঩ѣ̛о࿙щ҇ by no means the least, there rivers in the prefecture, such சщи྄঩ѣ̛ત࢝൥ are the koi nobori. as the Yoshino River pictured ნ༬ёкџ̛۱ићѿ above. Koi Nobori Koi Nobori fly higer than the When set alongside dolls in The Koi Nobori Song rooftops, the large black carp armor and samurai helmets, Many traditional events in is the father, the small red carp a fish may seem a strange Japan and Tokushima have are children, enjoy swimming bedfellow in celebrating accompanying songs, such as in the sky. this tradition. However, the the Hina Matsuri, the Tanuki If you get the chance, why reason behind this is that Matsuri and many others. Koi not try and see if you can koi are a popular symbol of Nobori are no exception to find any koi nobori in your strength, admired for their the rule, and around mid-April local area! Take a snap, write ability to swim upstream in onwards you can hear the down the location in the even strong currents. Taking song being played in many prefecture and send it on in to after this, families with young different places, from town [email protected] !

-5- submitted staff introductions [email protected] s april comes and goes staff changes, but I have the Hiroko Kimura for another year, once feeling this is going to be a Hi everyone! Are you enjoying again TOPIA welcomes good year. your time in Tokushima? Is anew members to its everything OK? When I went staff. Here is our annual page Yukie Matsumura to America on study a lot of of staff introductions. A poem, inspired by a present people helped me out, and I got from China: "Always with now I'd like to think it's my Noriko Osaka a peaceful heart, and a lucky turn to be the one to lend a Hello everyone, my name is life!" That's what I'll use for helping hand. If you ever have Noriko Osaka. I'll be working my motto for this year's work. any worries then don't hesitate as a trainee here at TOPIA for to ask me! a year, starting this April. I like Fumie Murasawa pilates and flamenco. Please One year passes by so quickly! Wang Xuan come by TOPIA for a chat - I'll This year I will be in charge Hello everyone. I'm Wang be waiting! of TOPIA's Japanese lessons Xuan, from Guangzhou, and the volunteer training China. I'm a Coordinator for Chiho Miyagi program. I'm looking forward International Relations. If you I'm the advisor in charge of to chatting with you all! have anything you'd like to foreign residents so if you ask me, please contact me have any questions about life Akira Harada anytime. in Japan, please feel free to I've been at TOPIA for come talk to me. eight years now. Lately, my Isao Matsushita work has been shifting to Hello everyone. I work in the Kawakami Toshiyuki management of the internal passport center next to TOPIA, Hello, I'm the director of workings of the organisation, and am now in my third year. TOPIA. This spring Mr. so I have less and less My work is in issuing passports Noguchi left us to go work opportunity to talk with that have come to the center, at a local Elementary School, visitors, but please, give me and I hope that through this and Ms. Osaka joined us a holler! And if you have I will have the opportunity from Tokushima Chuo High any ideas or thoughts about to contribute to international School. We'll have some TOPIA, please tell me about relations in Tokushima. adjustments to make with our them!!

the staff at topia, left - from the left: noriko osaka, andrew dahms, chiho miyagi, toshiyuki kawakami, yukie matsumura, akira harada, hiroko kimura, and fumie murasawa, right - wang xuan and claire tanaka (absent: isao matsushita)

-6- by martin o'brien martin's manga corner [email protected]

Title: Darren Shan ҲӞӥ̠ manga, with an emphasis on complicated setting and fills ҩӕӥ short chapters used to keep it with characters embodying Author/Illustrator: Darren the action rolling forward at a many of the hopes and dreams Shan / Takahiro Arai breakneck pace. that youngsters usually have. Publisher: Shonen Sunday The first comic Darren The need to standout and be Comics Shan: Cirque du Freak is set special but at the same time First published: Japan in a small village in Ireland. be a normal school kid with (2007) Darren is a normal soccer lots of friends is something No of volumes: 2 obsessed teenager whose that is evident throughout world is changed forever when the Darren Shan books. Arai's he Darren Shan saga is he sets foot into the dark adaptation doesn't distract one of the more curious world of the supernatural that from this in the slightest. manga releases in recent exists in the Cirque du Freak, Arai depicts the characters ttimes as the series is a a traveling freak show cum in the typical Moe drawing collaborative work between circus which has set up shop style most commonly used manga author Takahiro Arai in an old mansion outside by Japanese manga authors. and Darren Shan, a successful Darren's home town. Being This means that the characters Irish writer of popular curious teenagers, Darren and are a little too cute and children's horror novels. Such his best friend Stephen go friendly for a horror series, but collaborative work between to great efforts to sneak out their realization in this way western authors and Japanese and see this Cirque du Freak, does obviously make it very manga authors, has been where they are amazed by accessible for a mainstream traditionally somewhat rare, the performances of a host Japanese audience. Arai's however these days there of terrifying characters such backdrops are excellent appears to be a number of as the wolf-man, the snake- however; he manages to successful children's books boy and the mysterious Larten capture adequately some of that have been adapted. It's Crepsley and his giant spider, the detail of the particular likely that the Darren Shan Madame Octa. After the show setting of a small Irish town, series appealed to its Japanese Darren witnesses a discussion yet nevertheless there is publisher primarily because between Mr. Crepsley and nothing too culturally specific of its potential for success. Stephen. Darren overhears that might confuse or alienate With sales in the millions, the Stephen professes his desire the Japanese readership. Darren Shan books are popular to join the Cirque du Freak Originally serialized in weekly with teenagers all over the and become a vampire. Later comic Shonen Sunday, the world. This manga adaptation that night the spider-obsessed series is now available in is mainly aimed at capturing Darren also manages to steal two compiled volumes of the attention of the Japanese Madame Octa's Spider so manga. These are Darren youngsters whose recreational he can keep her as a pet, Shan: Circus du Freak and reading time is solely devoted an act that will have deadly Darren Shan: The Vampires to manga comics. The writing consequences for Darren and Assistant. As there are 12 style employed by Shan is his friends. books in the series it's likely in many ways similar to the Shan's macabre vision of a that more Darren Shan manga conventions that exist in the young teenage vampire has adaptations will be released in manga world. In much the gained a great deal of attention the months ahead. Hopefully same way that a manga story worldwide much in the same the success of this series will will be available in several way as that other supernatural pave the way for more works volumes, The Darren Shan preteen, Harry Potter. Like the of this nature, which combine Saga series is spread over Harry Potter series, the Darren the talents of Japanese and twelve books. Shan presents Shan Saga is popular among Western writers and comic the narrative in a way that young people as it provides book artists. will be familiar to readers of readers with a sophisticated,

-7- by kazue inoue letter from suketo hoikuen suketo hoikuen staff ello everyone! This is a produced while children sleep, I hope this information is great season for playing so it is important to go to bed helpful to you. outside, isn't it! Golden early. This month's toy: Spinning hWeek is the perfect 2. It is sunlight which helps to Cat: Make two round cutouts time for parents and children reset the brain and body every of a cat's head, and tape to spend time together out of morning. By getting up early them together, putting a doors. In Japan, May 5th is and taking in the morning chopstick between the two Children's Day, a day where light, the body's rhythm can sheets and stabilising it with carp fl ags and warrior dolls are be regulated. tape. displayed in the wishes that 3. Breakfast helps to wake up Draw a cat's eyes and nose the children grow up strong a child's brain in the morning. on one side, and the mouth and healthy. We all hope that It's important to eat a good on the other. Spin the paper our children can grow to be breakfast in order to play well with your hands to animate strong like the carp swimming and learn well. the face. in the blue sky. The National Ministry of Culture, Science, and Education recommends following these three points to raise a healthy child: 1. Early to bed, 2. Early to rise, and 3. Eat a good breakfast. 1. Growth hormones are

by claire tanaka shin-mai mama nikki [email protected]

finally made the leap went into core meltdown and puts the anonymous ballot and got the childrearing we had to take a little tantrum in a box. It's not a matter of accessory that seems break in the greenhouse of volunteering - it's more like i ubiquitous to every family the local gardening center. As a conscription system. I'm in Japan - the bicycle-mounted if my neighbours didn't notice hoping I will escape thanks child carrier. Now I have to me enough already, now they to Sofie's name being written ride my bike bow-legged to all know for sure I am a crazy in hard-to-read kanji - people make room for the child seat foreign woman who can't tend to think it says "Saki" - so clamped to my handlebars. control her child. Well, since maybe I won't be singled out Sofie likes it most of the my newly implemented policy out of sheer virtue of being time, but it is scary trying to of being at home for naptime hard to identify on the list. ride when she has made up between the hours of 1:00 and Our kanji last name helps to her mind that she wants to 3:00, the weekend shopping camofl age me even further. disembark NOW, twisting and has gone a lot more smoothly. We went up to the Doitsu- squirming in the seat. I had the unpleasant kan recently to check out their Now that we are free to experience the other day of Easter celebration and I was travel further afi eld without the having to select three of my really most interested in the assistance of an automobile, I fellow daycare moms for PTA little play area up the hill - have had to learn an important committee duty. The names there is a tree fort, a home- lesson about naptime. Last of all the kids in the class are made basket swing, and an weekend I tried to take Sofie listed on a ballot and each old van to play in! It reminds along to all my favourite shops family chooses three kids me of the kind of rough and and it was going fi ne until we whose parents they would tumble places I used to play in hit 1:30 or so, and then she like to elect for the PTA and when I was a kid.

-8- japanese lesson by isao nishitani

n conversation, the expression ̻ьѷўићэп! is used to seek confi rmation from another person about the speaker’s opinion, or to ask for agreement. In this usage, the end of the isentence always carries a rising intonation. Male usually use this expression as follows. उѓѕѣఁ໚ౠьѷўип̝ Female!use this as follows. жўѓѓѕఁ໚ౠьѷўи / ьѷўиѢ These expressions are often used among young people as an colloquial alternative to ̻ћѣўи ћэп̝ For example, жўѓѓѕѣఁ໚ౠћѣўићэп /

If this expression is used when a speaker talks to himself, this means it is his guesswork.̛ And ̻пўж ̈́Male̻ͅпыѽ̈́Femaleͅwould be added. In this case intonation after ̻пўж̠̻пыѽ usually goes fl at. ΂̛But some people make it go down. ླྀѽѣఁ໚ౠьѷўи пўж΂̠ླྀѽѣఁ໚ౠьѷў ипыѽ΂̝

અโ : жҀѣโඨщ҇ьѷўипўж̝΂̛ ̛̛̛ He would be Mr. Tanaka. I presume. ᆷცщ̜҇жѢగโඨщ҇ьѷўићэп̝ Say, Suzuki, Isn’t he Mr. Tanaka? ᆷც : โඨщ҇ѣѶкѕѻїќ༒р৸и҇ьѷўипыѽ̝΂̛ Well, I think Tanaka is a little bit taller? ౸โщ҇ьѷўићэп̝Isn’t he Ishida? What do you think?

In case this expression is used with falling intonation ̻ьѷўићэп . Meaning changes to affi rmative expression. Connotations also are changed to criticizing others, forcing your opinion to others and your surprise. Sometimes ̻ћэп̛is abbreviated.

ииѢѼ̛̜શрошѿїњॸїѓьѷўи↑ (Female) ииѼ̛̛̜ၿрошѿїњॸїѓьѷўип̝↓̈́Maleͅ Don’t worry; I said I will pay for you. I meant it.

Ѳж̜чѢढഷใᇭ̜ҸӞӅрॣѽҀѿьѷўиѢ̝↑̛̈́Femaleͅ к̶̜҃чѢढഷใᇭ̜ҸӞӅрॣѽҀѿьѷўип̝↓̈́Maleͅ What? We can watch T.V. on this mobile phone? Cool!

؍ Let's practice: are the next questions... ؋ Asking agreement/confi rmation̛، Guesswork , or criticizing/pushing your opinion? Are they female or male (F/M)? And is the accent rising ↑̛fl at ΂̛or dropping ↓ ? Mark each with a circle. ͅ↓M F̜↑ ΂̜؍ ، અโ̡ ਗ๗Ѣࣞᄹ໘ખࣄржѿ҇ьѷўипўж!!!!Your answer̈́؋ ,1 ͅ↓ M F̜↑ ΂̜؍!،!ଚ฿їњуҀѿ҇ьѷўипыѽ Your answer̈́؋މჾ̡жѽёк̜ћѶܰ ,2 ͅ↓ M F̜↑ ΂̜؍ ، ჾ̡ѡм̜ᆷცщ҇ѣଚ฿їњуҀѿ҇ьѷўи Your answer̈́؋ܰ ,3 ͅ↓ M F̜↑ ΂̜؍ ، અโ̡ўж҇є̜чѢ໘ખࣄѣўиьѷўип!!!!!!Your answer̈́؋ :4

Answers

↓ ↑ ↓ ;G΂0 !G!΂ ، -!!!Ϩ; !N!΂ ، ϧ ;Ϫ; !G! ؋ ϩ ؍ N! , , ,

-9- memoranda Speech Contest ໘ႎতုᇪോݵ

Participants Wanted! ୞௘଄ျ୆̤

ਇగџѼѿຝ๥ॡ໘ႎতုᇪോݵޒTokushima Prefecture ဓౖ 2: ໩๗ 2007 Japanese Speech Contest For Foreign Residents

୿ᆬ௽ਮџњ 21.23 ჎ธ๗҆ರৣыѲэ̝ਇੑ௱ၟпџэ Around 10-12 contestants will be selected based ѿѓѵϧпਇϧ჎ธ๗̝ܤျ଄рണиਇџјињѣϨ჎ธ on country of origin, ensuring that a wide variety of оസѕыњ҆܍౤̠܍ܤnationalities are able to participate. There will be an event ๗ќыѲэ̝ോݵ๴໘ѣ̜ണాѢ " প߹ݵѶо޼ыѳџॣڝfollowing the contest, where contestants will be available иѲэ̝ཇླ଄ќѢ to answer questions from the audience. ໘̛ૐ̡ဓౖ 2:໩8ै27໘̈́ै̠୙໘ͅ Date: Monday, 16 July, 2007 (a public holiday) ! 24;41.27;41 13:30-16:30 ! !௘̛୸̡ຝ๥ॡࢻ๘ဌ݁ݵࠛ Place: Tokushima-ken Kyodo Bunka Kaikan ഴ̛௉̡ຝ๥ॡ੓୉Ѣޒਇగ! ! for: Foreign Residents of Tokushima !!Ҹ̶Ӑ̡ਇੑᅫݶ̠ਇੑপᅺ̠ࢤᆛџ࠘эѿѶѢўѽ૛ᄡ Theme: A topic of your choice relating to Japan, ! ! !!຾ڒinternational affairs, international cultural exchange, and ૐ̡̛ࠖϭက cooperation. ఇ̛ਔ̡̈́੖ͅຝ๥ॡਇੑপᅺࢤݵѲћ̝ Time limit: under 7 minutes !!!!!!!!!!!!!୸ชѢఇਔᄿસ҆оํыыѲэ̝! !!!Applications: TOPIA !!!!!!!!!!!!!ை੍ѣ๴ࢤݵѲћоჴи৽҃я݀щи̝ Applications accepted while places are available. ! For more info: TOPIA. ! !ჴ৽я̡̈́੖ͅຝ๥ॡਇੑপᅺࢤݵ TEL: 088-656-3303 UFM;!199.767.4414!! FAX: 088-652-0616 GBY;!199.763.1727

Joruri & Gagaku ௠ᆨᅬͯၠ޼ Performance র܏

٬༂Ѣగछ௠ᆨᅬќၠ޼ѢҹҕҫӉӞҖр஍۠෎Ѣਗࡺ See a display of traditional puppetry and Japanese gagaku music in an outdoor theatre located at Katsuura-cho's ఊଂࢩ຾џжѿ໺ഠ࿧ൊћލпҀѲэ̝ Imamiya Shrine.

໘ૐ̡! 6ै2:໘ When: May 19 ! 25̡11 ̻ Starts at 2pm Where: The Katsuura-cho Imayama Noson Butai ௘୸̡! ஍۠෎ਗࡺఊଂࢩ຾џжѿ໺ഠ࿧ൊ ৪ͅूۑWill not be cancelled in the event of light rain.) ! ̈́஛) Cost: Entry is free. ࣞ޽̡! Ⴥᆍ Contact: Call the Hozon-kai Jimukyoku at 0885-42-3275 ჴ৽я̡!ေജݵૈჃࣅѲћใᇭ 1996.53.4386

-10- memoranda Doitsu-kan Events һҖҶࠛҖӋӥҺ

German Wine Festival һҖҶѢӡҖӥੋѾ Come along to see a concert and a fair of various German ҥӥҧ̶Һ̜һҖҶӡҖӥӇҙҔ̶ўѝ̜޼ыщиїѥ wines! и̤ When: Friday, May 4 to Saturday May 5 ໘ૐ̡! 6 ै 5 ໘̻̈́ࣞͅ 6 ै 6 ໘̈́๘ͅ 10:00 - 16:00 ! ! 21;11.27;11 Cost: Free! ࣞ޽̡! Ⴥᆍ̤ For more details and information on the Doitsu-kan, take a look at the Doitsu-kan homepage for more seasonal һҖҶࠛѢҘҙӈҧҖҺџѶࡆಉѢҖӋӥҺ௜၇ўѝ event information and other details, here at: http://www. ржѾѲэ̡iuuq;00xxx/djuz/obsvup/uplvtijnb/kq0̛ city.naruto.tokushima.jp/germanhouse/index.html hfsnboipvtf0joefy/iunm Awa Connection ж҃ҥҿҡҩәӥ Japanese Classes ໘ႎতࢱ૬

When: Every Wednesday ໘ૐ̡ႚୃయᄹ໘ 1) Beginner’s Class (5:00-6:00 p.m.) ϧͅ୷ࢇҡӛҫ̈́ϫ̡ϦϦ̻Ϭ̡ϦϦͅ Approx. JLPT Level 3-4, J-Test Level E-F ̛̛໘ႎত໷ᆛી५Ϫ̻ϩࢇธ๗̠Ѐ͗ uftu!F.G ӞӋӝ 2) Advanced Beginner – Intermediate Class (6:45 – Ϩͅ୷ࢇঝབ̻ඨࢇҡӛҫ̈́Ϭ̡Ϫϫ̻Ϯ̡ϧϫͅ 8:15 p.m.) ̛̛໘ႎত໷ᆛી५ϩ̻Ϩࢇธ๗̠K.uftưB.E ӞӋӝ Approx. JLPT Level 2-3, J-Test Level A-D ̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̛̛ Where: Tokushima Communication Center for People with ௘୸̡ຝ๥ॡᅵ௏ޔ଄পᅺӉӛҨ̛ϩϼ̛ж҃ҥҿҡҩә Disabilities (“The Plaza”) ӥૈჃ୸ຝ๥દ۪ӂҫ ) ୩ࠄӂҫ * ๥โ౸ࢲ৪с̛িࣄ ଆ๊̛ံϧϫက̛̛݀۾3F, Awa Connection Offi ce ৸৑ಶ݀ଆЀЈટਇ̛ആႎ Take the City Loop Bus (Shimada Ishibashi- bound), get off at Kougyou Koukou-mae ܅઄݇ྉ̡̛Ϫݷ̜Ϩ಑ JR Kuramoto station, walk 15 min. ʹʹЀ͗ЊϻЉЊ̛ఇыਔѳଥ࿋ඨ̛ϬैϧϦ໘ᄫช̈́ఇ Fee: 2000 yen for 4 lessons **Now taking reservations for the J-Test (June 10) – ਔนಂϫैϧϫ໘ͅ deadline: May 15 ʹைыуѣ̛ж҃ҥҿҡҩәӥૈჃࣅѲћ More Info: Awa Connection Offi ce ̛199.744.3353!)GBY* 088-633-2242 (FAX) ̛iuuq;00xxx/hfpdjujft/kq0bxbdpoofdujpo3116 HP:www.geocities.jp/awaconnection2005 ̛̈́f.nbjm*̛bxbdpoofdujpo3116Azbipp/dp/kq̛ e-mail: [email protected]

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Rose Festival in ᅣ୉෎Ѣ Aizumi ୣѢӂӛੋѾ

Come for a display of over 1,000 roses from more than ᅣ୉෎Ѣӂӛ܆ћѣ 381 ଟᆬѢ 2-111 ߖѢӂӛр੝сঐ 270 varieties in this festival, as well as markets, sale of ѾѲэ̝ёѢഢ̜ӂӛѢྺცѢས༞Ѹຟઌ࿀๷Ѣས༞ў rose seedlings and more. ѝѶ৪҃ҀѲэ̝

When: Early to mid-May ໘ૐ̡! 6 ै௑୪пѽඨ୪ 9:00-17:00 Where: The Rose garden in Aizumi-cho, ! :;11.28;11 Cost: Free. ௘୸̡! ᅣ୉෎ӂӛ܆ Contact:Call the Aizumi-cho Construction and Industry ࣞ޽̡! Ⴥᆍ Division at 088-637-3120 ჴ৽я̡!ᅣ୉෎॔ಇઌࣄݡѲћใᇭ 199.748.4231 Living in ຝ๥ॡౠߊ௜၇ Tokushima ҘҚӈҧҖҺ

In need of information for daily activities? Come and ໘௛ౠߊџоињ௜၇҆о൷ыћэп̝ѐѦ̜ຝ๥ॡр take a look at the Living in Tokushima website hosted ӍҫҺыњиѿ͐Living in Tokushima͑ౠߊ௜၇ҘҚӈҧ by Tokushima Prefecture, home to information such as ҖҺ҆шᅥуєщи̤чѢҘҚӈҧҖҺпѽඑఖ̠ൊ࿭ earthquake and typhoon-related messages, tv and movie џјињѢ௜၇̜ҸӞӅѸۭݬѢҞҖһ̜ҖӋӥҺ௜၇ guides, events, contact numbers and more. ўѝрѢ௜၇џҔҡҭҫћсѲэ̝Ӄүҥӥ̠ढഷཟᆊ

Available from computer and mobile phone alike! ၑณ࢝ыњиѲэ̤

Living in Tokushima Computer Website ӃүҥӥҧҖҺ http://our.pref.tokushima.jp/e_living/index.php http://our.pref.tokushima.jp/e_living/index.php

Living in Tokushima Mobile Website ढഷҧҖҺ http://our.pref.tokushima.jp/e_living/m http://our.pref.tokushima.jp/e_living/m

Counselling Service at TOPIA ҺӆҔѢ೰ඎೱ঵

TOPIA offers a counselling and advisory service to all foreign residents to help with issues involving accidents, working conditions, housing, visas, international marriage, and more. Counselling is available in English and Japanese. Please note that although every effort will be made, we may not be able to deal with all cases.

Monday to Friday, 10:00 - 16:30 tel. 088-656-3303 or 088-656-3320 (allows three-way conversations with an interpreter)

గग़ଙїњࡏуა໘

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