Farewell messages April 2015 of leavingaWa TOPIA life# 297 staff members

JLPT Experiences

Studying up on the history of the Pilgrimage Awa Life is a Monthly Publication of the Tokushima 1 Prefectural International Exchange Association

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Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA) http://www.topia.ne.jp/ Clement Plaza 6F [email protected] 1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi tel: 088.656.3303 Tokushima City 770-0831 fax: 088.652.0616 Download a PDF file of awa life or view the online version by going to TOPIA's website!

Editors: Jenifer Tanikawa & Till Dumke Contributors This Month: David C. Moreton, Sachiko Muramatsu, Kazue Inoue, Jonathan Le Roux, Fukumi Sai, Yui Fujiwara, Mio Morimoto Cover Art: Ken Lee (Picture), Junko Kimura (Cherry blossom photos: Cover & Page 1) Contents 2 Pg. 2-4: The Maeyama Ohenro Kōryū Salon – A Place to Learn About the History of the Shikoku Pilgrimage Pg. 4: Letter from Suketo Hoikuen Pg. 5-6: Japanese Lesson Pg. 6-7: The Road to the JLPT: The History and the Changes to the JLPT Pg. 7-9: TOPIA Staff Goodbye Messages Pg. 10-11: Events and Memoranda

The Maeyama Ohenro Kōryū Salon – A Place to Learn About the History of the Shikoku Pilgrimage By David C. Moreton hroughout Japan there Nagaoji and Temple 88, Okuboji oldest stone path marker is Tare countless museums in ! from 1781 and there are many and reference libraries where The Maeyama Ohenro Kōryū items from the 19th century. one can see historical and Salon ( 前山おへんろ交流サロ Admission is free and the facility cultural artefacts, but do you ン ) (“a place where pilgrims is open from 9am to 4pm every know of such a place on interact”) opened in November day, but the last entry is at Shikoku that focuses entirely 1999 and has a very large 3:30pm. Kenshi KASHIHARA on the Shikoku pilgrimage collection of henro (Shikoku ( 樫原憲史 ) who is the Assistant route? At some places there pilgrimage) related goods. priest of Temple 75, Zentsūji, is a visitor center where one According to the staff more than became the Director a couple of can listen to commentary 350 items and 150 books and years ago. He and a handful of from knowledgeable staff and/ other materials are on display staff manage the facility, answer or view objects on display and/or stored here. The oldest questions, and provide ex- related to that site. However, guidebook is from 1687, the planations about the displays. in the case of the well- Many pilgrims stop here known and very popular on their way to Okuboji eighty-eight temple for some tea, to use Shikoku pilgrimage route, the washroom, and/ surprisingly there is no or perhaps to chat with such facility near the other visitors. Across the starting point Temple street is a michi-no-eki 1, Ryōzenji. In fact, the (road station) where you place that I recommend can buy vegetables or visiting is near the end have a meal at the café. between Temple 87, Just inside the entrance 3 The Maeyama Ohenro Koryu Salon there is a visitor guestbook, to China in 804 (red line) and pilgrimage 280 times between which gives a very accurate when he returned to Japan in 1845 (age 22) to 1922 (age 78). number of how many people 806 (blue line). In 804, a storm He erected 240 stone markers have come here since it opened blew his ship off course and along the entire pilgrimage fifteen years ago. The total that is why he landed so much route. number of visitors is more further south than the point from 5. A large 1:40 model of the than 200,000 people, of which which he departed from in 806. temple, Seiryūji ( 青龍寺 ) where approximately 30,000 are those who walked the pilgrimage. Last year 160 foreigners left their name, of which 128 were people who made the pilgrimage by foot. When a pilgrim arrives, a staff member will ask that person if he or she has finished or just about to finish the entire 2. In the main room there Kūkai studied at in China. route by foot and if the pilgrim is a large topographical model 6. Maps of each of the 47 says, “Yes,” the staff member of the island with little huts prefectures in Japan that have will present a certificate entitled, marking the places of each of a small box attached to them “Shikoku 88 Temples Pilgrimage the eighty-eight temples. If you containing fuda (name-slips) of Henro Ambassador.” Between press a button by the photo of pilgrims. There is also a world 2004 and 2013 the number the temple, that place will light map with the title, “International” of foreigners who received up on the model. Behind the and in that box there are fuda this certificate increased ten model there is a machine from from people from such countries times with a grand total of 630 which you can get some hot tea. as the United States, Australia, during this ten-year period. The Visitors are free to use the sofas Switzerland, Brazil, and Korea. certificate, states in English, “We and chairs. 7. Touch-panel computer wish that the interaction with 3. Inside the exhibition rooms, screens that list the legends the people, the culture, and the there is a display about a priest about Kōbō Daishi from around nature of Shikoku enriches your called Gyōki Bosatsu ( 行基菩 Japan. There life and that you will spread the 薩 )(668-749) who performed are no tales Henro culture worldwide.” various public work projects about him from While there is much to see here, for the local people such Okinawa, but let me point out some items of as constructing roads, river there are three possible interest: embankments, and reservoirs. from He also was the overseer of and four from 1. As you walk the building of the great Todaiji Kagoshima. in the main temple in Nara. It is said that he 8. Pilgrimage door, you will founded thirty of the eighty-eight books (nōkyōchō) see a map of temples. including one the route that 4. There is a display panel about which has red Kūkai took Mr. Mohei NAKATSUKASA, ( 中 pages. This is when he went 司茂兵衛) who completed the from someone The Maeyama Ohenro Koryu Salon 4 who made the pilgrimage over begging bowl with a broom. from Tokushima is by car, which 300 times and used the same will take about 75 min from the book over and over. There is a lot to see and much Tokushima bus/train station 9. Wooden boxes that hold to learn at the Ohenro Kōryū area. Take the expressway to paper fuda as well as straw Salon, but it is very unfortunate Wakimachi and then head north bales (tawara) that on Route 193. The were stuffed full of closest train station fuda and hung in at which only the people`s houses as a local train stops is protective amulet. the unmanned Zoda 10. A display about station that is 8km Emon Saburō ( 衛 away. 門三郎) from whose (Website: http:// eight children died as www.geocities.jp/ a punishment against sanukimaeyamanet/ Emon when he got angry with that it is in such an inconvenient ohenro/) Kōbō Daishi and smashed his location. The best way is to go

Letter from Suketo Hoikuen By Kazue Inoue ute little flowers are coloring between your fingers, or enjoy Scissor Cthe park in spring colors all the taste of different foods. at once near our nursery school. Stimulating your five senses Directions The insects have come out of will lead to brain development. 1) Using a water-based felt tip hiding and the children can see And as the head and heart are marker, draw a picture on a and feel the herald of spring all connected, developing the brain piece of paper. (The brighter the around. means it will also develop your color of the pen, the better the Up to three years of age, the feelings and emotions. As well, final product will be.) development of a child’s brain when you spend time with your 2) Pour a small amount of water is said to be heavily affected by child and experience various into a Styrofoam tray. Cut up how much the sensory system new things together, you can sponges into sizes that fit your (five senses) is stimulated. foster a deeper bond and it will child’s hands, then wet with The five senses include vision, help with emotional stability. water. hearing, smell, touch, and taste. ＊＊＊ 3) Sponge over your picture and With the weather warming up, This Month’s Craft allow the ink to bleed. You can the upcoming season would be Pen Watercolor see your picture and the color perfect for taking your children Materials change before your eyes. outdoors to train their five Felt tip marker (water-based) senses. So, why not go enjoy Paper the beautiful outdoor scenery, Styrofoam tray listen to the chirping birds, Sponge smell the flowers, feel the sand Water Japanese Lesson 5 By Sachiko Muramatsu his month we will be learning how to relay information you heard from one person to another (third- Tperson narrative).

Mr. Lao calls the Awa Office. Mr. Lao works for the Awa Office.

あわじむしょ ラオ：もしもし、阿波事務所ですか。 じむしょ やす ラオですが、きょうは事務所を休みます。 さとう 佐藤：ああ、ラオさん。どうしたんですか。 かぜ あたま いた ラオ：風邪をひいて頭が痛いんです。 すずき つた 鈴木さんにも伝えてください。 さとう だいじ 佐藤：わかりました。お大事に。

さとう すずき でんわ 佐藤：鈴木さん、いま、ラオさんから電話がありました。 じむしょ やす い ラオさんはきょう事務所を休むと言っていました。 すずき 鈴木：ああ、そうですか。

い *Referring to the dialogue above, you can see that the form「ラオさんは～と 言っていました。」is used じ む しょ やす to relay Mr. Lao’s message to the others. Mr. Lao used the polite form,「 事務所を休みます」but when you are relaying a message to someone else (third-person narrative), replace the 「～」 in the sentence い じ む しょ やす 「～と言っていました」with a sentence in the plain form「事務所を休む」.

い Let’s practice changing the polite forms to the plain form with the third-person narrative「 ~ と言ってい ました」.

やまだ かいしゃ やす 山田さん：あした会社を休みます。 (verb) やまだ かいしゃ やす い → 山田さんはあした会社を休むと言っていました。 やまだ いそが 山田さん：わたしはあした忙しいです。 (i-adjective) やまだ いそが い → 山田さんはあした忙しいと言っていました。 やまだ とくしまちゅうおうこうえん さくら 山田さん：徳島 中 央 公園の桜はきれいです。 (na-adjective) やまだ とくしまちゅうおうこうえん さくら い → 山田さんは徳島 中 央公園の桜はきれいだと言っていました。 やまだ とくしま しず まち 山田さん：徳島は静かな町です。 (noun) とくしま しず まち い → 山田さんは徳島は静かな町だと言っていました。

Practice Questions Mr. Suzuki contacted Mr. Sato. Mr. Sato relayed the message to the rest of the office staff. Please change the word underlined in the sentences below to the plain form and fill in the ( ) with your answer. Japanese Lesson 6 Example すずき かいぎ しょうかいぎしつ さとう かいぎ しょうかいぎしつ い 鈴木：あしたの会議は小会議室であります。→ 佐藤：あしたの会議は小会議室で（ある）と言ってい ました。

かいぎ じ はじ かいぎ じ い （１）あしたの会議は２時から始まります。→ あしたの会議は２時から（ ）と言っていました。 かいぎ しりょう おお かいぎ しりょう い （２）会議の資料は多いです。→ 会議の資料は（ ）と言っていました。 かいぎ じ お よてい かいぎ じ お い （３）会議は４時に終わる予定です。→ 会議は４時に終わる（ ）と言っていました。 かいぎ しゅっせき （４）ラオさんはあしたの会議に出席できません。 かいぎ い

→ ラオさんはあしたの会議に（ ）と言っていました。

（スリーエーネットワーク） Ⅱ 新日本語の基礎

Reference 初級日本語文法と教え方のポイント（スリーエーネットワーク）

始 （１） できない 席 出 だ （４） 定 予 い （３） 多 まる （２）

しゅっせき よてい おお はじ Answers

The Road to the JLPT: The History and the Changes to the JLPT By Jonathan Le Roux o, I failed the JLPT. Again. The JLPT is a standardised was slotted between the old SI have lost count as to how test that began in 1984. It was third level and second levels. many times I have attempted it created by two organisations, The reasoning for this was to but I am always drawn to it for the Japan Foundation and the allow a smoother transition some reason, and now, even as Japan Educational Exchange between the two levels, as it I look back on my results that Services, as a means to was reported that the difficulty desire to attempt it once more measure the language ability of gap between the two was far has not at all diminished. students of Japanese around too wide. The second change For anyone who has attempted the world. In that year 7,000 was an emphasis on testing the JLPT ( students took the test, and 2013 communicative competence Proficiency Test) you may saw over 650,000 attempt it. It based on performing particular nod your head in recognition has certainly grown since then, tasks while testing language of the hard work, frustrations with the annual tests being and grammar knowledge. This and desires that come with written not only in Japan but in is especially true in the way the this mammoth task. For those over 40 countries. tests are laid out, with listening who haven't, perhaps I should questions related to work explain myself as to why I The test has also evolved with environments or reacting to daily keep with the studies and, time. Originally, there were only life situations. The final change if the editors at Awa Life are four tiers of the test, from fourth was modifying the first level to willing, expand it into a series of level (beginner) through to first test more advanced abilities articles, starting with the history level (advanced). But in 2010, than it originally could provide. and purpose of the JLPT. the new and current version Thus, the levels are now of the test was implemented. referred to as N5-N1, with N There were three major changes standing for both “Nihongo” and to the test. The first was the “New”. Overall, the differences introduction of a new tier, which between the tests are: 7 The Road to the JLPT N5: The same as the original is needed for foreign medical specialized situations, whether level 4 professional wishing to work in it be extracting vital information N4: The same as the original Japan. N1 can also allow foreign from a business setting, level 3. students entry into academia, or examining an article on N3: In between the original level particularly allowing students to Japanese society. In our daily 3 and level 2. enter senior high school without lives here in Japan it's easy to N2: The same as the original needing to take the national get stuck in a language rut, and level 2. Japanese language exam. by testing my metal against N1: Slightly more advanced Depending on the university, the fires of the JLPT, I can see than level 1, but more or less N1 is also accepted in lieu of where I need to improve, and the same passing rate. the Examination for Japanese take the steps from there to University Admission for foreign achieve it. How important is the JLPT students. though? Certification in the For those of you who have JLPT can open a lot of doors in Clearly, there are a lot of perks never taken the test, but are Japan. Typically for foreigners, to doing the JLPT, but to me interested in taking it, the JLPT employment with a Japanese the greatest benefit in taking has a sample test you can try company requires N2, which is the JLPT is twofold: firstly to measure your current pool quite difficult to get. However, for cramming in words and of knowledge. You can find it N1 opens far more doors: expressions in daily life that I at http://www.jlpt.jp/e/samples/ having N1 contributes 15 points may never encounter normally. forlearners.html. The next test to the government's Point-based By studying and preparing for date is July 5th, 2015. Will you immigration treatment for highly the test, the constant cramming be ready by then? skilled foreigners. Essentially, allows one to absorb all kinds it makes immigrating to Japan of vocabulary, which not only Next month, I'd like to continue easier, especially in granting a boosts your ability but also your by going into detail of the longer period of stay as well as confidence. The second reason different components of the test, making it easier to own property. is that the JLPT is a great as well as recommending some N1 is also essential to having means to measure my overall good textbooks to use. a career in the medical field: it ability in high stress, highly Good luck with your studies!

TOPIA Staff Goodbye Messages By Fukumi Sai, Yui Fujiwara, Mio Morimoto Farewell Message great sadness. experience for me. As a CIR By Fukumi Sai My experience working for I translated, interpreted and the Tokushima Prefectural taught Chinese, and through ello everyone. It feels like Government as a Coordinator work, I was able to experience Hit was only yesterday that I for International Relations (CIR) a lot that I otherwise would not arrived in Tokushima, but alas, a will be an experience that I will have been able to do in China. year has already flown by. While treasure forever. Thanks to my Also through international the beautiful blossoms bloom, warm and friendly coworkers, I exchange events, participating I will have to bid everyone was able to enjoy my work life in the Awa Dance and in the goodbye and this fills me with and everyday was a learning 88 Temple Pilgrimage walk, I TOPIA Staff Goodbye Messages 8 was able to meet many people also like to continue being the please do come and visit Hunan and have made many fond bridge that connects Japan and Province in China! Zai jian ( 再 memories. China, and would like to do all 见 see you again)! Though a year passed quickly, that I can to help promote the I had a fulfilling year full of friendly relations that Hunan challenges and new lessons Province and Tokushima learned. I will never forget this Prefecture has. I would like to treasure island and the kindness thank everyone from the bottom of everyone. As the proverb of my heart for everything goes “a meeting is a beginning throughout this past year. I am of a parting,” saying goodbye a firm believer in the words is hard but I am forever grateful “goodbyes are not forever” for all of the friendship that I and would like to bid you all a have formed here in Tokushima. “let’s meet again” instead of I would like to hold this memory “goodbye.” I look forward to close to heart and will promote seeing you somewhere again. Tokushima in China. I would If you do have the chance,

I Love TOPIA to begin, and so I was full of single word and pretending to By Yui Fujiwara hesitation and worry. One thing be tough. There were tough I did know for certain was when times or times when I was I moved to Japan in my second discouraged, but more than year of middle school, TOPIA’s anything, I wanted to relay as Japanese classes and all the much information as I could staff there had helped me and to have them realize the immensely, and this is a fond importance of living with two memory of mine to this very day. cultures. Because of this experience, I Aside from the school visits, I thought it was my turn to give also helped edit Awa Seikatsu back and help, so I tried to get (Chinese language newsletter), in touch with many foreigners. interpreted at monitor tours When I was told that I was an and at charter flight projects ime went by so fast, I important and necessary part with Hunan Province, all of Tcannot believe it’s already of TOPIA, I was so happy I was which made the job even more time to say goodbye. I would like brought to tears. As part of my fulfilling. I no longer just want to to begin by thanking everyone work I visited schools to help help the foreign community, but I for all their support over the translate for students who just want them to like Japan and the years. moved from China. From this people of Japan. Going through When I first started working experience, it made me want all these emotions and looking for TOPIA, I just wanted to do to understand them more and back at my past five years, I will what I could to help the foreign I wanted to be there for them. treasure all these experiences community. But, I didn’t even The children reminded me of and it is an indispensable part of know what to do or where my young self, not knowing a my life. 9 TOPIA Staff Goodbye Messages In life you have many that I have gained. To everyone to me, I honestly don’t know encounters but will also have at TOPIA and to those I met how to feel. But, I would like to many goodbyes, and of course along the way, we laughed extend my heartfelt gratitude to it’s sad to say goodbye, but I will and cried together and every you all. Thank you so much for never forget all the experiences single moment is so important everything! Let’s meet again.

Interning at TOPIA programs aimed at junior Hasui and the International By Mio Morimoto high school, high school and Understanding Support university students, it was my Instructors spoke on the started working at TOPIA a duty to arrange various lectures topic of multiculturalism. Iyear ago in April and through for the students with the staff at The event finished off with a the year, I was able to gain TOPIA. It was a new experience networking event where cultural many valuable experiences, for me working with different age performances such as traditional different from those when I was groups as I normally only work dancing and a song from China, teaching in elementary school. with elementary school students. were held. Overall, there was First of all, my day to day work Through my involvement with much to take away from the at TOPIA was very different. I the different programs at TOPIA, event and it was a lot of fun as was in charge of a wide variety it made me realize how much well. of duties, such as providing support TOPIA provides to Lastly, all of the staff I worked tourist information, lending everyone and that they are truly with were so kind and warm. out and returning books from an unsung hero. Coming into a completely new the TOPIA library, providing Thirdly, I took part in the Japan workplace, I tried the best I photocopying services, International Cooperation could but there may have been paperwork for the Japanese Agency (JICA) Teachers parts where I may have fallen Lessons, and more, so it took Overseas Training Program short. But, the staff supported me a while to get used to in Ethiopia. Through this me in any way they could and everything. experience I learned about it is thanks to them that I was Secondly, I was in charge of school life in Ethiopia, visited a able to successfully finish off the International Understanding coffee and honey farm, learned my year here. Looking back at Support Instructor Dispatch and about the experiences of JICA all of these experiences, I am Work Experience programs. participants and experienced full of happy memories, ones Through the International first-hand what life is like in a that I will treasure for the rest of Understanding Support developing country. I realized my life. Thank you so much for Instructor Dispatch program, then that it is my duty to relay everything. foreign residents will sign up to what I experienced to children become an instructor and my and to work with them job was to coordinate the school brainstorm ways in which we visits for the instructors. I was can improve the world and to able to visit the schools with the eventually turn it into action. instructors and had the chance Fourth, I took the initiative to see what their international and organized the understanding classes were International Understanding like. As for the Work Experience Support Forum. Takao Events & Memoranda 10 Participate in the Japanese Speech Contest 2015 2015 JAPANESE SPEECH CONTEST

1. PURPOSE True internationalisation cannot be achieved without first coming in touch with other cultures and ways of life, fostering a sense of international awareness and gaining mutual understanding with people of the world to create a society in which we can all work and live together in harmony. This speech contest seeks to give a voice to the international residents of Tokushima Prefecture and engage them in a dialogue to further discourse on cross-cultural understanding and fostering multiculturalism.

2. DATE & PLACE July 20th, 2015 (Monday/Holiday), 13:30 - 16:30 Awagin Hall (Tokushima Prefecture Kyodo Bunka Kaikan) Small Hall (5F)

3. ELIGIBILITY Only foreign residents whose native language is not Japanese are eligible to apply. (However, foreign residents who have had over three years of compulsory education in Japan and those who have previously won the Grand Prize or the Tokushima Prefectural Assembly's Chairman of the Federation of  International Exchange Assembly Members Award are not eligible to apply.)

4. SELECTION Application will be open to all foreign residents of Tokushima Prefecture that fulfil the eligibility requirements. We will ask all applicants to submit an outline of their speech (between 800 words), and after reviewing all of the applications, roughly 10 or so applicants will be chosen to proceed to the final contest.

5. THEME The topic is left to your discretion, but it should relate to the event's purpose of fostering cross-cultural understanding and multiculturalism.

6. LENGTH Speeches should be no more than 6 minutes in length.

7. AWARDS Grand Prize --- one person (Prize: 50,000 yen gift certificate) Runner Up Awards --- two people (Prize: 30,000 yen gift certificate) Special Awards --- to be decided (Prize: 10,000 yen gift certificate) Special Effort Award --- to be decided (Prize: 5,000 yen gift certificate) *All participants will receive a participation award.

8. HOW TO APPLY Please fill out the application form available at TOPIA and mail it to the above address or fax it to the above number. Alternatively, you may submit your application in person.

9. DEADLINE June 1st, 2015 (Monday) Applications must be turned in by 17:00.

10. SPONSORED BY Tokushima Prefecture International Exchange Association (TOPIA)

11. CO-SPONSOR Tokushima Regional Conference for Promotion of Student Exchange  (TBA)

12. WITH THE Tokushima International Association (TIA) SUPPORT OF Awa Bank  (TBA) Tokushima Bank

  13. ADDITIONAL NHK Broadcasting, Tokushima Bureau, JRT Shikoku Broadcasting, FM Bizan, SUPPORT FROM FM Tokushima, Tokushima Newspaper (TBA)

14. WHERE TO APPLY Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association. (TOPIA) 〒770-0831 Tokushima-shi, Terashima-honcho, Nishi, 1-61, Tokushima Clement Plaza 6F TEL: 088-656-3303 FAX: 088-652-0616 Application forms can be found online at: http://www.topia.ne.jp/english/docs/2015031600035/ 11 Events & Memoranda Toastmaster 15th Anniversary 徳島トーストマスターズ 15 周年 Our meetings are normally, two hours long, but for 通常２時間余りの例会を１時間で行うなど、米国 our anniversay we will be offering various actvities 生まれのトーストマスターズの素晴しさを地元徳 such as a one hour preview of our meetings so 島のトーストマスターたちと一緒に体験していた you can get a taste of what our meetings are like. だきます。

When: April 5 (Sun), 13:00 - 16:30 日時： 4 月 5 日（日） 13 時～ 16 時半 Where: TOPIA Tokushima Prefectural 場所： 徳島県国際交流協会 クレメントプラザ International Exchange Association 6 階 Clement Plaza 6F Terashima Honcho 参加費 : 無料 Nishi 1-61 Tokushima City URL: http://tokushima-tmc.org Fee: Free URL: http://tokushima-tmc.org 問い合わせ : Contact Information: 岡本：090-1170-9004, [email protected] Okamoto: 090-1170-9004; [email protected] 田村：090-1329-5668, [email protected] Tamura: 090-1329-5668; [email protected] Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT) 日本語能力試験 Test Information 試験について Test Date: July 5 (Sun) 試験日 : 7 月 5 日（日） Start Time: 12:30 試験開始時間 : 12 時 30 分 Test Sites: Tests will be administered in 45 開催地：日本全国 45 都道府県で開催される予定 prefectures, including Tokushima です（徳島も含む）

Application Information 申込み手続きについて Application period: March 30 (Mon) - April 30 (Thu) 申込期間 : 3 月 30 日 ( 月 ) - 4 月 30 日 ( 木 ) Online application: Please submit by 17:00 インターネットの場合 : 17:00 まで提出 Mailed application: Postmarked by April 30 郵便の場合 : 4 月 30 日付け消印有効 Test Fee: 5,500 yen 受験料 : 5,500 円

*Application Guide is available for 500 yen at * 受験案内は 1 部 500 円で全国主要書店にて販売中。 bookstores nationwide. For more information visit: info.jees-jlpt.jp 詳しくは : info.jees-jlpt.jp

Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口 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. Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays) Tel: 088-656-3303 or 088-656-3320 (allows three-way conversations with an interpreter)