awa life "TOPPY" A monthly newsletter for inter na tion al resi dents of Tokushima, produced by TOPIA, the Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association. November 2005 No. 185 by matthew lindsay sticking around for mochi-tsuki [email protected] ou may have noticed that known as mochi-gome is there are many festivals used rather than ‘normal’ rice. at this time of year. Not On the day prior to making the yonly are these festivals mochi, this rice is soaked in an avenue for asking the gods water overnight. The following for favour, they also serve morning the rice is steamed as a means for promoting for a couple of hours until it community spirit. One such takes on a soft texture. Once festival exemplifing the co- the rice is cooked thoroughly operation required for building it is then placed into a large morale is that of mochi- mortar (a stone bowl) in tsuki, the making of sticky readiness for the mochi rice cakes. making event when it comes Since mochi-tsuki is along. typically a community event, If you studied chemistry at it is most commonly held school or have prepared spices at a focal point within the for a curry, you will probably neighbourhood such as a be familiar with the mortar pounding the rice to make mochi-tsuki kindergarten, school or shrine. and pestle combination. The It is held every year at various to as daifuku. It contains an - mortar used for mochi- times throughout November red bean paste, an acquired tsuki is so big, however, that and December in preparation taste it seems judging by the rather than a pestle, a large for the New Year rites and many foreigners that don’t like mallet is used for the process celebrations (more on this it! The mochi from mochi- instead. Technique is very later). tsuki however is usually just important for the handling of For those of you unfamiliar plain sticky rice and has no this mallet. It should hit the with mochi rice cakes, they special fi lling. mochi dough evenly, and if it have a gooey, doughy-like The preparation required for hits on an angle, it might also texture. Mochi also comes making mochi is relatively hit the mortar. If this happens in many different forms, and simple. Glutinous or sticky rice splinters could come off the can be both sweet or savoury. Sweet mochi is often referred mochi-tsuki... con't on page 5 inside awa life this month sticking around for mochi-tsuki - 1,5 ... nengajō - 3 ... autumn leaf viewing - 3, 8 yoga - utkatasana - 4 ... travel tokushima - whirlpools - 6 martin's anime corner - 7 ... letter from suketo hoikuen, shin mai mama nikki - 8 japanese lesson - 9 ... memoranda - 10 - 12 awa life Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA) is a monthly publication of the Tokushima Clement Plaza 6F Pre fec tur al International Exchange Asso ci a tion 1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi (TOPIA) Tokushima City 770-0831 JAPAN tel: 088.656.3303 fax: 088.652.0616 Andrew Dahms & Claire Tanaka [email protected] http://www.topia.ne.jp/ Contributors This Month: Andrew Dahms, Fumiko Kanematsu, Matthew Download a PDF fi le of awa life or view the Lindsay, Martin O'Brien, Kaoru Sakamoto, Claire online version by going to TOPIA's website! Tanaka and Jon Teakle http://www.topia.ne.jp/e_index/e_index.htm from the editors ovember in Canada is always regarded he weather has well and truly started as a rather boring month - the only to cool down, and I find myself out and holiday we have is Remembrance Day about in the evenings sporting a jacket n(commemorating the end of World War tto keep myself warm and to try prevent I) which is kind of depressing, and it's right myself from catching a cold. The leaves on after Halloween but still quite a ways before the trees sport an orange tinge, and every so Christmas. The leaves have already fallen, but often the skies bear a clear and beautiful blue, the snow hasn't started yet, so the dominant followed by a crisp breeze. Autumn is here. colours tend to be grey and brown... However I This month in Awa Life we have a selection of personally love November, because my birthday articles celebrating the colder months in Japan, is in November, and November in Japan is including a look at the making of traditional lovely! The leaves reach their peak of colour, rice-cakes at new years, a recap on how to and the temperature is just right for walking make nengajō, and also some information around outside, helping build an appetite for on where to see the autumn leaves this year all those tasty Autumn nabe (hot pot) dishes! in Tokushima. I hope you enjoy this month's I hope this issue of Awa Life helps you get the edition, and keep warm as the temperature most out of your November. Love, Claire. continues to fall. Cheers, Andrew. the cosmos fl ower - symbol of the Japan Small Kindness movement begun in 1968 with the aim of spreading kindness across Japan through a variety of activities such as cleanups and community work (photo by Andrew Dahms) -2- by claire tanaka nengajō [email protected] ell, it has come around to that time of the year again. In last November's edition, we showed you how to make Japanese nengajō - cards that are sent out at year-end much wlike Christmas cards are in the west. Let's have a recap of how to go about it. сїњ ᄧ̛̛ာ̛̛ѣ̛̛р̛̛с ಂଚ ① kitte / stamp ① 7 700831 ̛̛̛̛ ⑥ nengajō sold by the ცഠ ຝ๥ॡຝ๥દ્๥ႎ෎౦⇀∤⇅⇀ 50 ④ post offi ce already have a stamp printed on ② ໩ݰ them. If you make your ≏⊈⊀⊎≧̠≶⊅≖⇅ގ own, you'll have to buy a 50 yen stamp to put ! on it. There are some ୱત with special New Year's designs that include put otoshidama lottery ̛ numbers. your ѡ҇р ② ໩ݰ address ᄻ nenga / New Year's ᑚ Card ⑤ here This will let the post- man know to post your ̜̫̱̤̠̮̰̞̳̀͛́͂͘͘ ③ A7777 ೎ о໩ࣈ 777777 card on January 1st. ࡓ౞ ќыєѲ ⑥ о໩ࣈ ③ The address ④ When you address ⑤ ᕴ otoshidama / New is written on the your nengajō, make inu / dog sure you write the Year's Gift right hand side, щѲ starting with the honourifi c ᄻ!(sama) People usually decorate their cards with The otoshidama prefecture, then at the end of the an illustration of the Chinese Zodiac lottery is held around city, getting recipient's name, animal for the coming year, or the kanji January 15th every year smaller until but be careful not to for that zodiac animal. There are no hard - check your numbers the apartment write it at the end of and fast rules, though, making it the at the post offi ce to see number is at the your own! perfect opportunity for you to express if you won a prize! end. your creativity! There are lots of different ways to wish someone a 'Happy New Year' in Japanese. Aside from the above, you сѻѡ҇ я҃ чќы ѡр could also write ࢌ໩ѣоౌᇭџўѾѲыѓ̝ਗ໩ѶѼҁыуоࠪиыѲэ!)kyonen wa osewa ni narimashita. kotoshi mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu - Thanks for all your help in the past year. I'm depending on you р҇ѓ҇ again this year). Don't forget to include the date - January 1st has its own special kanji: ७൸ .!gantan. by andrew dahms autumn leaf viewing [email protected] he turning of the leaves Miyoshi - Minoda no Fuchi Oboke / Koboke in Autumn is a very When: Early to late November When: Mid to Late November beautiful sight, and there Where:The Minoda lake in Where: Yamashiro-cho, tare several places around the Prefectural Nature Park, Miyoshi-gun. Tokushima that are known Miyoshi-cho, Miyoshi gun. Access: 20 miniutes walk for their beauty as the leaves Access: 5 minutes by car from from the JR Oboke station, change from green into deep the JR Tsuji station, or 4 km Dosan line. reds and yellows. Here is a along the Tokushima Ikawa - Information: Call the short list of where you can Ikeda expressway (IC). Parking Yamashiro Industry find some of these places, as is available. and Finance section at: well as information on when is Information: Call the 0883.86.2432 the best time to go, and how Miyoshi Industry and Finance to fi nd more information. section at: 0883.79.5339 ...con't on page 8 -3- by jon teakle yoga - utkatasana [email protected] 1. 2. jon demonstrates the chair pose tkatasana actually arms up, keeping the shoulder return to the centre as in means powerful, but blades firm and open, the picture 1. On the next exhale this pose is often given tailbone should be pushing repeat on the other side. Uthe nickname of 'chair downwards as you lengthen pose'. It helps to strengthen the spine. Important the ankles, thighs, calves and 4. Looking forward, hold this Make sure you don’t lean spine, and it also produces a pose for 30 seconds, breathing forward too much, as it will good stretch in the shoulders evenly. To release, straighten shift the weight onto your and chest. the legs as you inhale and toes. Your heels should be then bring the arms down as firmly down - if they aren’t, Step by Step you exhale. you'll strain your thigh muscles 1. From standing position and they will quickly tire. (Tadasana), feet together, Twisting Chair Pose Don’t stay in this pose too toes spread, raise the hands If you want to push this pose long.