北九州国際交流協会 K itakyushu I nternational Himawari A ssociation 春号 In this edition of HIMAWARI: Spring Edition Hanami, Kodomo no Hi, Hinamatsuri, the KIA is moving, an article 2013 by guest writer Jamina Ovbude, and much much more! Spring is a season worth celebrating in Japan. The weather finally warms after the long cold of winter, the cherry blossoms begin to bloom, and people finally come out from under their kotatsu and start to do things outdoors again. So without further ado, let’s look at two major spring cele- brations; Hinamatsuri (March 3rd) and Kodomo no hi (May 5th) Hinamatsuri Beginning in the Edo period, Hinamatsuri (lit. Doll Festival) is a day specifically to celebrate young girls. Families with young daughters will bring out a set of dolls known as “Hinaningyo” representing the Em- peror, Empress and their court in the style of the Heian Period and dis- play them somewhere within the house. And why the Heian Period? Ac- cording to one theory, while Hinamatsuri as a festival is only dated back to the Edo period, the act of displaying dolls is itself dated all the way back to the Heian Period. It should be kept in mind however that there are a number of differing theories on the origins of the tradition. The dolls are displayed during the 3rd as a sort of prayer for the safe and healthy growth of the girls in the household, though leaving the dolls out past March 3rd means the girl will have a late marriage. Kodomo no hi Kodomo no hi (Lit. Children’s Day), also known as Tango no Sekku and begun around 600AD, is a part of the bigger holiday of Golden Week. It is held each year to celebrate the happiness of all children. Spe- cial decorations known as koinobori (carp streamers) are put up outside houses, their swimming-like movements in the wind meant to evoke the Chinese legend of the carp that swims upstream becoming a dragon. Other traditions involving Kodomo no hi include setting up and displaying a suit of Japanese armour known as a “Gogatsu ningyo” (May Doll). Kodomo no hi has un- dergone a bit of change due to changing ideas in Japan. Once, it was a day dedicated praying for the strong de- velopment of boys. Nowadays, while there is still a greater emphasis on boys, the holiday has broadened to include all children. Be sure to look out for carp streamers this May 5th! 1 Kitakyushu International Association Spring Edition 2013 Spring is upon us, and that means that once again it’s time to take advantage of the lucky convergence of nice weather, blooming cherry blossom trees, and Kitakyushu’s beautiful parks. Hanami is a bit like a picnic except better. Go out to a park with your friends, sit in a spot surrounded by cherry blossom trees (or just sit under a solitary tree if you prefer), eat, drink, sing and just take the chance to relax in the sun after all those months of cold weather. Not sure where you can go to find cherry blossom trees? We’ve taken the liberty of compiling a list to tell you just that! KitaQ Hanami Spots: Check out the map on P9 for more details! Mekari Park (Moji-ku) This park boasts around 1400 cherry blossom trees and beautiful views of both the Kanmon Bridge and the Mo- jiko Retro Area. Getting there: From JR Mojiko Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus for Mekari, getting off at Mekari koen-mae. Adachi Park (Kokurakita-ku) Situated around the base of Mt Adachi, Adachi Park contains a whopping 2400 trees! Getting there: From JR Kokura Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus for Kirigaoka Sanchome, getting off at Ko- jusan. Katsuyama Park (Kokurakita-ku) While a comparatively cozy size with only 300 trees, Katusyama Park has an unbeatable atmosphere, with a good central location situated right next to Kokura Castle. Getting there: A ten minute walk from JR Nishi-Kokura Station Abeyama Park (Kokuraminami-ku) A popular spot for hanami with 700 cherry blossom trees spread about the base of Mt. Abe. Getting there: Take the JR Nippo mainline to Abeyama Koen Station. Showa Ike Park (Kokuraminami-ku) This is a truly beautiful park, circling Showa Lake with around 1200 cherry blossom trees spread around the lakefront. Getting there: Take the Nishitetsu Bus from Kokura Station to Showa Ike Iriguchi (last stop) Yomiya Park (Tobata-ku) Another beautiful park, not only does it have around 750 cherry blossom trees, but also flower gardens. Getting there: From JR Tobata Station, take the Nishitetsu Bus for Ichieda and get off at Sawami. Takami Sanjo Sakura Koen (Yahatahigashi-ku) While enjoying the park’s 180 cherry blossom trees, you can also take a look around Takami Shrine Getting there: Take the Nishitetsu Bus from Kokura Station towards Okura and get off at Sanjo. Kawachi Reservoir (Yahatahigashi-ku) Similar to Showa Ike, this park is dominated by the Kawachi Reservoir and surrounding beautiful greenery including around 1000 cherry blossoms. Getting there: Take the Nishitetsu Bus from Yahata Station for Tashiro, and get off anywhere between Entei- mae and Minami-Kawachi. Takatoyama Park (Wakamatsu-ku) Takatoyama, a formerly fortified hill, has great views over all Kitakyushu and around 1800 cherry blossom trees. Getting there: A 20 minute walk from JR Wakamatsu Station. 2 Kitakyushu International Association Spring Edition 2013 The beginning of May in Japan brings with it one of the biggest holiday periods in the country, Golden Week. Golden Week is actually a collection of 4 separate day-long holidays (Showa Day 4/29, Constitution Day 5/3, Greenery Day 5/4 and Children’s Day 5/5). Typically, Japanese people take this time off to go travelling, both nationally and internationally. This year, we’re looking at Kagoshima as a place to visit for Golden Week and finding out what there is to do. Kagoshima: How to get there The quickest and easiest way to get to Kagoshima City is by Shinkansen, which will take around 2 hours from Kitakyushu. For a cheaper option, you can also take the Sonic to Miyazaki and then get on board the Kirishima all the way to Kagoshima Chuo, tay hought this mtake upwards of 7 hours de- pending on the wait for the second train. There is also an express bus service running from Fukuoka City. Kagoshima City: What to do So you’ve made it to Kagoshima, but now what? Well as it happens, there’s plenty to do, not just in Kagoshima City but the surrounding area as well. Kagoshima City is well known for its onsen, and there are plenty to choose from dotted all around the city. The city also has some excellent shops and eateries around the Tenmon- kan area, and several museums and historical sites worth a look around the city as well, such as the Museum of the Meiji Restoration, and the Kagoshima Aquarium. Where else can I go? Once you’ve sampled the delights of Kagoshima City, it might be time to take a ferry to one of the nearby is- lands for some sightseeing. The closest is Sakurajima, and it’s technically not even an island. It was an island volcano until 1914 when a major eruption sent lava down towards the opposite shore, joining the island to the mainland. There are many attractions around the ferry terminal such as the Nagisa Lava Trail, Magma Onsen (don’t worry, it’s just hot water!), and further afield are nature walks and the famous Furusato Hot Springs. Want something more from your onsen? You’ll find the city of Ibusuki on the southern tip of the Satsuma Peninsula. If you love onsen, you might just want to head on over and have a look, as Ibusuki is probably best known for its sand steam baths, where you are bur- ied up to the neck in hot sand. Not only is it relaxing, it’s medically proven to be good for your health. I want to get away from it all. For an even more nature-centric way to enjoy Kagoshima, why not try heading over to either Yakushima or Tanegashima? Tanegashima Island is a long flat is- land with amazing beaches, friendly locals, and, perhaps bizarrely, the largest rocket base in Japan. Yakushima Island on the other hand is another incredibly beautiful island bristling with mountains and vegetation, and is even a World Heritage site, one of the first places in the world to become one in fact. One of the most impressive things about Yakushima is its jomonsugi cedar trees, some of which are up to 7200 years old. Both of these islands offer ample opportunities for nature walks, though it may be worth mentioning that Tanegashima is not as tour- isty as Yakushima and may be more difficult to navigate without some communi- cative skills in Japanese. 3 Kitakyushu International Association Spring Edition 2013 From April 2nd, Kitakyushu International Association will be moving to COM CITY! The KIA Office will, from April 2nd 2013, be moving to the 3rd Floor of the COM CITY building, situated next to JR Kurosaki Station in Yahatanishi. Due to the move, the International Lounge will be closed from April 29th (Friday) to March 1st (Mon) While the Office is moving, the International Lounge will stay where it is and be available for use as per normal after the move. We apologise for any inconvenience, but ask for your cooperation. 【How to contact the KIA after April 2nd】 Address：Kurosaki 3-15-3, Yahatanishi COM CITY 3F PH ：093-643-5931 FAX：093-643-6466 NOTE: These details are valid from April 2nd onwards Until March 28th From April 2nd onwards！ Intl.