What's up Aichi
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Issue 1, April / May 2006 Is a Publication of the Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office What’s Up Aichi -Timely Tourist Information On Aichi Prefecture And The Surrounding Central Japan Region- Gateway to Aichi / Nagoya While gazing at the top of Nagoya Central Japan International Airport Castle, notice the dolphin-shaped gold (Centrair) -NGO decorations that adorn the edges of the roof. These “shachihoko” used to be Convenient, time-saving international to placed on the roof of the castle for three domestic connections under one roof are reasons: as a display of the castle owner's made possible at Centrair. prestige, as a symbol of beauty, and to ward off catastrophe. Today, this mythological creature is the symbol of Nagoya. Nagoya Castle Nagoya Castle Cherry Blossom Festival March 27 (Mon) - April 9 (Sun) Daily 09:00 - 20:00 Set against a backdrop of one of Japan's most historic castles and 1600 trees ablaze with cherry blossoms, this festival is where locals come to stroll and picnic under veritable pinkish white clouds and Shachihoko revel in cherry blossom viewing, or “hanami.” The original castle was built in Nagoya Castle is a five minute walk from 1612 by orders of Tokugawa Ieyasu, one of the three founding fathers of modern Shiyakusho (City Hall) Station on the Meijo Japan. It was rebuilt in 1959 after being subway line. New Centrair – Helsinki Nonstop destroyed in World War II. beginning June 3, 2006 See “Yozakura”, or hanami at night, gives the http://www.finnairgroup.com/group/group_ castle grounds a whole other feel. Adjacent to the castle is Nagoya Noh 11_2_1.html?&Id=1123743771.html Floodlights illuminate the castle towers, Theater, where spectators can see while bright lanterns placed under the traditional Japanese drama on stage. Noh New Centrair – Dubai Nonstop cherry trees create a dreamy landscape. drama has fluorished in Nagoya since the beginning June 1, 2006 Wine and spirits bring locals out of their Edo period. April looks to be an especially See shells, and add to the evening enjoyment. good time to catch a Noh performance, as http://www.emirates.com/usa/AboutEmirates there will be Saturday and Sunday /where_fly/newroutes/2006new_route.asp Both day and night time cherry blossom performances every weekend throughout viewing can be enjoyed around the Aichi the month. region. Centrair is accessible to downtown 4/1 (Sat) 12:30 - 17:00 Nagoya by train in 28 minutes. It is also 4/2 (Sun) 12:30 - 17:00 the fastest gateway to Kyoto in terms of 4/8 (Sat) 14:00 - 16:00 travel time. For more information, see 4/9 (Sun) 12:30 - 16:30 http://www.centrair.jp/en/index.html 4/15 (Sat) 14:30 - 18:30 4/16 (Sun) 09:30 - 17:30 4/18 (Tue) 18:30 - 20:30 4/22 (Sat) 13:00 - 16:40 4/23 (Sun) 10:30 - 17:00 4/29 (Sat) 13:30 - 17:30 4/30 (Sun) 10:30 - 17:00 Yozakura at Yamazaki River * Nagoya Noh Theater is a ten minute walk Once every five years, the Handa Dashi from Sengencho station on the Tsurumai Festival makes a grand spectacle of subway line, or from Shiyakusho (City showcasing all 31 dashi at once. This Hall) station on the Meijo subway line. momentous event is set for October 2007. Handa City is located 40 minutes south of Nagoya and is accessible by both JR and Meitetsu lines. The Inuyama Festival, more so than the Nagoya Noh Theater Handa Spring Festival, is a stately procession of 13 impeccably preserved wooden floats called “yama” in the local Predictions For 2006 dialect. These yama are typically larger Acclaimed Spring Festivals and heavier than those used in Handa. Similar to the Handa, however, is the The advent of spring and frenzy over dramatic element of watching the U.S. & Canada hanami coincide with two Aichi festivals, incredibly heavy wooden floats, each West Coast Cherry Blossom Festivals both of which are nationally recognized weighing several tons, turn corners by cultural assets. The Handa Spring sheer manpower. Each presents a Los Angeles Area – 5th Annual Pasadena Festival takes place from late March to “karakuri”, or mechanical puppet, show Cherry Blossom Festival, 4/1 - 4/2 early May in one of ten different townships during the day, and at night are illuminated http://www.pasadenacherryblossom.org almost every weekend. Thirty-one “dashi”, by 365 candles each (no bulbs or or handsomely decorated wooden floats electricity involved). San Francisco - 39th Annual Northern that typically stand 30 feet tall and weigh 4 California Cherry Blossom Festival, tons, are tugged by at least 35-40 people 4/15 - 4/16 http://www.nccbf.org each. The atmosphere can get boisterous, This event will coincide with the 100th as the dashi pick up speed and wip around anniversary celebration of San Francisco’s street corners to the cheer of spectators. Japantown While only a few of the total 31 dashi are http://www.sfjapantown100.org used on a given weekend, this is enough to cause a stir throughout the town. Lion Seattle - Cherry Blossom & Japanese dance performances and groups of Cultural Festival, 4/21 - 4/23 children hoisting “mikoshi”, or portable http://www.seattlecenter.com/events/festiv shrines, add to the fun. Below are the als/festal/detail.asp?EV_EventNum=4 dates and location of each township Inuyama Festival festival. Vancouver - Cherry Blossom Festival, This year's Inuyama Festival takes place 3/16 - 4/16 http://www.vcbf.ca 3/18 - 3/19 Okkawa 4/1 - 4/2. While in town, stop by the 4/8 - 4/9 Yanabe Shinden Inuyama Castle. It is the oldest preserved 4/8 - 4/9 Yanabe castle in Japan, and one of only four * Picture of Yozakura at Yamazaki River 4/8 - 4/9 Kami Handa castles to be designated a national was provided by junko's room 4/15 - 4/16 Kyowa treasure. http://www.asahi-net.or.jp/~bz4j-myjm/ 4/15 - 4/16 Narawa 4/15 - 4/16 Nishi Narawa Inuyama City is accessible to Nagoya by 4/15 - 4/16 Itayama Meitetsu railway in under 25 minutes. 4/15 - 4/16 Shimo Handa 5/3 - 5/4 Kamezaki Shiohi Aichi Prefectural Government San Francisco Office The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) provides a useful map that predicts the c/o JETRO San Francisco arrival of the cherry blossom season. Have 235 Pine Street Suite 1700 a look at the map to see how the dramatic San Francisco CA 94104 wave of pink blossoms begins in the southwest and crosses to the northeast. Phone: 415-392-1333 ex252 This year's wave is predicted to come Fax: 415-788-6927 earlier than usual. Permission to Email: [email protected] reproduce the following map was provided by JMA. Akihiro Oyaizu, Chris Fulmer Handa Spring Festival ( http://www.jma.go.jp ) .