AWA LIFE April 2007[PDF：408KB]

awa life "TOPPY" A monthly newsletter for inter na tion al resi dents of Tokushima, produced by TOPIA, the Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association. April 2007 No. 202 by andrew dahms no strings attached [email protected] fter last year's success in Peter Pan, this year the Tokushima AJET acrew tackled the big project of putting the classic tale of Pinocchio on stage. The Long Road Ahead It was a cold morning in December when I hopped on a train heading west out of Tokushima City and made my way to the Kamojima Community Hall to see the practice set to take place there. Upon arrival I found the building almost empty, and everything silent but for the sound of a few voices that lead me into the main hall where I found the cast practicing their lines. The lights were down except for the stage, the theatre seats empty, and the heating was off, everyone wearing jumpers and gloves to ward off the cold. But there, a full three months in advance of the fi rst performance, the cast was assembled and running the arrival of pinocchio! no strings attached ... con't on page 3 inside awa life this month no strings attached - 1, 3 ... fl owers and awa odori - 4 racoon dog's battle in awa / letter from suketo - 5 ... staff farewells - 6 martin's manga corner - 7 ... 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 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, James Disley, Cho Gun, Kazue Download a PDF fi le of awa life or view the Inoue, Toshihiro Noguchi, Martin O'Brien, Claire online version by going to TOPIA's website! Tanaka and the Hanoura-cho English Conversation http://www.topia.ne.jp/e_index/e_index.htm Class from the editors was very lucky in this past month to have a pril is one of the most beautiful times box seat at the Osaka Sumo Basho on day in the year, with the cherry blossoms in two, when Asashoryu lost his second bout full bloom, and nice warm days and cool Iof the tournament. I know it's not good aevenings in which to spend the time. manners to throw your cushion after a sumo Roadsides and parks, rivers and mountains match, but I have to admit, I did it. I've always alike are dressed in a myriad of colours and wanted to try it. Later, I noticed something everywhere about the trees sport a new growth interesting while watching the tournament on of green leaves. As you may know, April is TV. After a particularly cushion-throwing-worthy also a time for changes and new beginnings, match, the camera would cut to a close-up of coinciding with the start of the new fiscal one of the wrestlers and cushions would only year, staff changes, a new school year and be visible if they passed between the wrestler's much more. While it can also be a busy time, face and the camera. In the past, cushion- I hope you have something new and exciting coated dohyo were common on TV at the end to look forward to this spring, and also have of a good match. Could this be an attempt the opportunity to enjoy the lovely warm to try reduce exposure to this undesirable temperature outdoors. behaviour to help curb it from happening? Cheers, Andrew during april, the rice-planting season begins and within a few weeks tokushima is lush and green (photo by james disley) -2- pinocchio ... con't from page 1 over their lines in preparation The Show Goes On wins out, saving his father, for the big day. The script for Pinocchio was lost at sea, from a giant killer Fast forward to early March, written by veteran musical shark. And as for the end? and while the weather was script writer Chris Riedl, once Well, no giveaways, but let's little improved, the engine again mixing a classic tale just say Pinocchio will have behind the musical had with references to modern a lot of time now to get the pushed on into full production. society and Tokushima as well. crinks out of his neck. A lot of effort was also placed But of course the best critics A Tale of Five Cities on making the English easy to are the audience. Let's see As in past years, the musical understand, and much of the what some of them had to has not been contained to just humor in the play was given a say: one location in the prefecture little help from the occassional but has instead moved around Japanese and plenty of sight "It was my first time, and to many different regions. In jokes. I came with my son. I total it saw fi ve performances As for the story itself, it don't think he was able this year, with the entire cast follows the tale of Gepetto, to understand everything, and crew moving all the way who after a dismal blind but it was easy to follow from Hiwasa on a Saturday date organised by his friend and understand by simply evening to Mikamo in Miyoshi Antionio, decides to make his watching, so we both enjoyed City the next morning on the own little boy out of a block of it. I think it was really opening weekend. And, after magic wood. And after making interesting to have references a huge performance in Ishii a wish on the wishing star, to Tokushima and modern day Town attracting an audience Pinocchio is brought to life society in it as well - I was of over 300 people, on and is told that if he is brave quite surprised!" Sunday March 11 the musical and honest, one day he can returned to Tokushima City become a real boy. However, "It was kind of fun, and it was for the first time in several life is not so simple and easy to understand. You could years. As always, the last troubles await Pinocchio at really feel in touch with the performance in the run was every turn - the wiles of a fox characters and the story." held at the Odeon-za theatre and tanuki who try to trick him in the town of Wakimachi, into show business, and being "I think anyone who watches with a very warm and opening taken along by the school the play will be able to enjoy atmosphere that really lets bully who tries to tempt him it. While being aimed primarily the audience be a part of the into joining his ways. However, at the younger members of story as it unravels on stage. in the end it is Pinocchio who the audience, some of the humor and topics raised are aimed at a more adult audience. It offered a view of some parts of Japanese society from a different perspective, thus providing a good insight as well." While the madness and mayhem of the AJET musical has seen its end for another year, who knows what will await us in 2008? Only time can tell, but one thing I can say and say with confi dence is that the show this year will be jiminy cricket (far right) interferes in mrs. fox and mr. tanuki's plans to trick pinocchio into a life of show business a hard act to follow. -3- by andrew dahms fl owers and awa odori [email protected] hile thoughts of Awa The Shinmachi Bridge Odori most commonly The Shinmachi Bridge and conjure up images of Aibahama Park where the wthose four hot and festival is located are places of sweaty nights in the streets some historical note for Awa of Tokushima each year in Odori. In olden times, it was August, there is another option forbidden for people to dance available - the Hana Haru outside of the district in town Festa. in which they lived. But people being people, ways around Flowers and Awa Odori this ruling were found, and the In 2007 the Hana Haru Festa Shinmachi Bridge was one of sees its 10th year running as those. Back then, the bridge one of the larger festivals held lay at the edge of two districts, in Tokushima City throughout and people from either area the year. Combining the would come together to dance usual festival fare of markets there and enjoy the festival and local produce, the main together. Even now the an awa odori dancer in full dance defining feature of the Hana Shinmachi Bridge is a major costume Haru Festa is that it provides site for the dance as one of cold of winter and get outside the chance to see Awa Odori the main dancing stages. for some fun by the riverside! during the daytime, the only time in the year when this is Just the Occassion All Year Long possible! While prime viewing season Don't forget, you can see However it is not all just for cherry blossoms is around Awa Odori all year long at the about Awa Odori. The Hana the start of April this year, the Awa Odori Kaikan found in Haru Festa is also home to a timing of the Hana Haru Festa Tokushima City.

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