Hyogo Goodwill Envoy Newsletter October 2012

Hanshin Tigers

Hello Goodwill Envoys, UK CIR Ben Preece here, bringing you the Hyogo Goodwill envoy news for October. The seemingly endless heat of summer has finally subsided and autumn, probably my favourite season in Japan, has taken its place.

This month I’d like to talk a little bit about a very important Hyogo-related past time that I recently took part in – watching a Hanshin Tigers (HT) baseball game.

Game day

Growing up in the UK, my only exposure to baseball came through watching The Simpsons. As an exchange student, several years ago I attended two installments of the infamous Soukeisen –matches that take place between Keio University (that I was attending at the time) and its arch-nemesis, Waseda University. What shocked me most was how typically well-mannered and polite everything was. Teams took it in turn to sing strictly regimented songs in their specific order, no one booed or swore or made fun of the umpire. Although I’m not a huge sports fan, I am well aware of how crowds of rowdy supporters act back home and in other countries. Here in Japan, it is quite literally, an entirely different ball game.

Around mid-September, just as the new ALTs were settling into their new workplaces, a friend suggested we go to see the Tigers play the Yokohama Baystars. Remembering the fun I had several years ago at the university matches, I was eager to check out a professional match, especially a home game of our region’s most famous team.

Tiger Spirit: Atsukunare!

After arriving at the stadium, my friends and I finished buying HT merch and snacks just in time to find our seats for the start of the match. The HT fans soon lived up to their reputation for being rather “rowdy” (by Japanese standards). Most of the songs, drumming and more lively support seemed to come from the stand on the far side, around 1^st base where the cheaper seats are. The rain did nothing to dampen their spirits and I’m sure that these seats would be perfect for those who wish to be right at the heart of the action.

Throughout the match, something I personally came to realize is that baseball matches (in Japan at least) are as much as about the pageantry as they are about the match itself, which wasn’t exactly a nailbiter the whole time (5 innings without a single point scored?!) Fans who were cheering at the top of their lungs while the Tigers were batting retired quickly to the food court for what seemed like hours during the other team’s innings. I suppose it’s more about having a fun evening at the game rather than watching every minute development of the game, (although I’m sure there are many die-hard fans that do just that).

The highlight of the evening, when the HT fans showed their true colours, came at the end of the 7^th inning. Suddenly, as if from nowhere, everyone in the stand started to inflate long, colourful balloons. My friends and I looked on bewildered until a nice old man sat behind us gave us some balloons and indicated that we’d need to inflate them soon. We followed suit, joining in with a special balloon chant before everyone in the packed stadium let their balloons fly up into the rainy sky. This was a hilarious and almost touching moment, when all the rigidity and formality of Japanese life seemed to evaporate completely, even if just for a minute or so. This is in fact a well established custom that takes place at every home game, and even some away games. Overall it was a very entertaining evening that turned me and my friends into some die-hard, albeit rather clueless Hanshin Tigers’ fans.

The moment everyone in the stadium let off their balloons

Take me out to the ballgame
Like nearly every other supporter, you’ll probably want to deck yourself from head to toe in HT paraphernalia before hitting the stands. This couldn’t be simpler, there are souvenir stores scattered around the stadium complex that sell everything from pencils to whole replica kits. The tickets were fairly simple to get hold of; you can order them online or just buy them at a Loppi terminal at most 7/11 stores. Not knowing where the best seats were, we decided to just go for the more expensive ones at 3^rd base, which at only 4000 yen, were actually very reasonable. Not only did we have a great view of the action, we were sheltered from the sporadic but rather heavy downpours of rain that punctuated the match. As an added bonus, we were well out of range from the foul balls that were frequently pelted into the crowd, much to the amusement and excitement of everyone in the vicinity (except the poor guy the ball hits of course!). The game itself ended as a disappointing draw as the Baystars snatched a cheeky last minute homerun, but this didn’t detract from the great fun we all had experiencing this very Japanese pastime.

Awesome mini cars to bring players on to the pitch

Arigato, Aniki
Another memorable moment was the cheer that accompanied the arrival of Tomoaki Kanemoto to the field. The infamous wearer of the number 6 jersey retired earlier this month, so the match that we saw was one of his last. Affectionately nicknamed Aniki or “big brother” by the players and fans, his 21-year career that took him from his home town of Hiroshima to the Tigers made him one of the sport’s best-loved personalities. I was glad we were able to see him play so soon before his retirement.

Access: Koshien Stadium
By train: Take the Hanshin line to Koshien. Koshien Stadium is a 5 minute walk from there.

Bus: Take a Hanshin bus bound for Hanshin Koshien , get off at Hanshin Koshien (210 yen).

Located opposite the stadium is Lalaport, an up-market shopping center that is well worth a visit if you are in the area.

Upcoming Events: Kobe Luminarie
As I’m sure all of you former Hyogo-ites know, every year in December, the streets of Kobe are decked with a beautiful light installation called Luminarie, in order to commemorate those who died in the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. You may not know, however, that the hand-painted lights that make up Lumiarie were originally donated by the Italian government and put together in collaboration with Italian artist Valerio Festi.

This is by far one of my favourite events. While the lights aren’t Christmas decorations in the strict sense, the wintry atmosphere mixed with the hot food and bright lights all contribute to giving Luminarie a noticeably holiday feel. The details for this year’s event are as follows:

Date: Thursday 6^th December – Monday 17^th December 2012/10/19

Lights are turned on 6pm-9pm Monday-Thursday
                   6pm-10pm Fridays
                                5pm-10pm Saturdays
                                5pm-9.30 pm Sundays     (weather permitting)

Location: Former Foreign Settlement of Kobe & Higashi Yuenchi

Official website (Japanese): http://www.kobe-luminarie.jp/

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News September 2012

Bonjour everyone! French CIR Lionel Ackah here, bringing you this month’s newsletter.

 

Today is my first time writing the newsletter, so let me introduce myself briefly.

I come from Nantes, a city in western France which is known as being really easy to live city and one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

My life changed when I was 16 years old. I read a manga called “Hikaru no go” and I got interested in the Japanese thinking game of igo. In the same year, I participated in an igo seminar and met a professional Japanese player. Unfortunately, at that time I could not speak Japanese. So, I decided to learn this beautiful language so I that I could have more exchange with him in the future.

I was in final year of secondary school when I started to study Japanese language. I began this pursuit in University in France and finished my bachelor degree in Niigata University in Japan. When I came back to France, I used the experience that I had in Japan to build an exchange cultural center where everyone who has  interested in French or Japanese culture could use freely. Even though I am away from France, my friends continue to make this exchange possible. 

Now, as a Coordinator for International Relations and I will do my best to improve Hyogo prefecture's international exchange.

Thank you !

  I’d also like to introduce the Kobe French Party, which is managed by the France Kansai Association. This association works to improve the exchange between France and Japan.

KOBE-FRENCH-PARTY－神戸の日仏会話会

　The KOBE-FRENCH-PARTY is a meeting which takes place once per quarter. Anyone who has an interest in French or Japanese culture gathers at the Gastro Pub Park.

No matter how old you are, what your job is or where are you are from, as long as you are eager to participate, you will be inspired by this incredible chance to enjoy cultural exchange.

About France Kansai and the KOBE-FRENCH-PARTY

  

France Kansai’s Site

http://www.francekansai.com/about/

France Kansai’s Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/kansai.france

KOBE-FRENCH-PARTY’s Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/events/509172375766575/

MAP
http://www.spark-kobe.jp/map.html

http://www.spark-kobe.jp/

ADRESS
〒651-0097
Kobe Chuo-ku Nunobiki-Cho 3-2-1 Ground Floor
TEL&FAX 078-242-7805

OPEN / 17:00 - 24:00 (Wednesday to Sunday）
【Public transport users】
Get off at Sannomiya station, go to the North gate and follow Flower Road for 5 to 8 minutes on foot.

【Car or taxi users】
 It is on the south-east corner at the intersection between Yamatekansen and the Flower Road. (It might be difficult to find from the road because it is underneath  a pedestrian bridge.) There is  no free car park for the bar, so please use the car park nearby.

Feel free to come！

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News

Maido, everyone!  Brazilian CIR Luciana here, bringing you the latest Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News.  How have you all been dealing with the summer heat this year?  Brazil has a mainly tropical climate, but I still haven’t gotten used to the humidity of Japan, even though one year has passed since I arrived here.  As soon as I finish taking a shower, I find myself sweating again!  In light of this situation, I would like to talk about some interesting places and cool spots in Hyogo to enjoy during the summer.

I know many of you are interested in Japanese history like me, so I’d like to introduce some historical spots.  This year, leaflets about “Kobe de Kiyomori” are to be found in stations in Kobe, Osaka, Kyoto and other places in Kansai.  This is because an NHK period drama “Taira no Kiyomori” has been running since this January.  In Kobe, two attractions related to the show have opened – the Drama Museum and History Museum.  When I saw them, I started to wonder, “Who was Kiyomori?  How is he related to Kobe?”  To solve the questions, I visited several places in Kobe. 

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Starting early in the morning, I bought a highly economical “Kiyomori 1-day pass” in Sannomiya Station.  With the pass, I could ride subways and some other trains freely.  Attached to the pass were a ticket to the two Museums above, a gift coupon, and a railway map.  I got off at the Harborland subway station and headed for the Drama Museum.  On the way, the “Street Dance Festival in Kobe Harborland” was going on and I saw some girls doing some pretty awesome dances.  In the Drama Museum, some handsome men welcomed me and let me take pictures with them (I was really glad!).  A full-scale figure of Ken’ichi Matsuyama, who plays the role of Kiyomori in the drama, stands in the lobby and visitors can take pictures with it.  The plot of the drama, dresses, and inside stories are also introduced in the museum.

The History Museum tells us about Kobe 800 years ago, and Kiyomori’s achievements are introduced in an animation.  Excavated objects from those days are on display as well.  There were various outdoor events, such as a stage performance and guided historical tours.  It was too early for the starting time, so I decided to look around by myself.  The History Museum is located just in front of the central wholesale market, so I enjoyed a sashimi set meal. It was a generous portion and cheap, too (only 500 yen)!  I feel like I would like to have it again.
After lunch, I visited Wada Shrine and received a small gift. Then, at a transfer station, I stopped off, went through a large shopping street and dropped in at Nagata Shrine. Then I moved to my final destination, Sumaura Sanjo Amusement Park.  I bought a set ticket for the ropeway, “carlator” and revolving observatory.  The scenery was of course wonderful, but what impressed me most was the carlator, which I had never seen before.  Very shaky but really fun!

The view from the top was simply gorgeous.  I could see the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, the cities of Kobe and Akashi, and Awaji Island. Next I got off at Sumadera Station. The day fell on July 7, so I saw events related to the star festival.  Japanese communities hold larger annual events in Brazil as well, but they are a little different from those in Japan.  Here children in yukata enjoy goldfish scooping, receive toys and eat Japanese food.  It was a uniquely Japanese scene.

With its long history, Suma-dera Temple is a very unique temple.  In addition to the treasure house, there were interesting items and monuments.  “Shichifukujin Manikoro”: Roll the seven deities on the back of a turtle, and pray.  You can get on the back of the turtle, but if you ride on the deities, you will be punished by them.  “Buji Kaeru”: If you want to be surprised, touch its eyes, and if you are in trouble with loans, turn its neck around.  “Misia Guma”: If you pat its head, the tune of “Ikoku-no-oka” (an old Japanese popular song during WWII) is played by a simple-stringed Japanese zither.   

Then I visited Hyogo Sumiyoshi Shrine to see Kiyomori-zuka (a memorial tower dedicated to the soul of Kiyomori).  It is a 13 storey stone tower with an inscription of the year 1286.  At the shrine, there was also a statue of Kiyomori that was constructed during the Showa era.  I concluded my tour by seeing the Great Buddha of Hyogo.

On my way home, I lost my pass.  But thanks to a kind member of the station staff, I managed to get home safely.  I’m really grateful, thank you!  There are many other Kiyomori-related historic sites to be seen in Kobe, Kyoto and Miyajima (Hiroshima).  Each of them may have their own unique features, but I believe Kobe is very special.  I will continue my adventure, as I have still a wealth of places to visit!  I recommend that you also try Kiyomori tours!

【Kobe de Kiyomori 2012 Project】

Period: Jan. 21, 2012 (Sat.) – Jan. 14, 2013 (Mon.)

Venue: various locations in Kobe

(1) Drama Museum & History Museum

Special sites established at the Kiyomori-associated harbor area of Kobe as a venue to learn about Taira no Kiyomori and the history of Kobe.

(2) Promotion of Taira no Kiyomori

Spreading information in and out of Kobe concerning the city’s historical value, with a focus on Kiyomori.

(3) Citizen’s involvement

Promoting historical and cultural events, especially those featuring Kiyomori, in the city of Kobe by involving citizens and local communities at the History Museum and other places.

Events in Hyogo this September

1. “Charms of highlands in Kamikawa” 2,500 yen/person

(A tour around locations of the movie “Norwegian Wood” and TV drama “Taira no Kiyomori”)

In the morning, participants will visit the majestic Tonomine Highlands, a filming location for “Norwegian Wood” and “Taira no Kiyomori.”  This is an ideal place to enjoy Kamikawa’s romantic atmosphere.
Afternoon events include an introduction of inside stories during filming, performance by Kiyomori Chaya Osettai (café Kiyomori hospitality team) from Kobe, live performance of Heike-biwa (a type of Japanese lute) by Mr. Tsutomu Arao, and a lecture by Mr. Atsuro Kawauchi to retrace the life of Kiyomori.  The day is concluded with a mini concert by Kami Fusen.

Date and time: Sep. 29, 2012 (Sat.) 11:00-16:30

Venue: Tonomine Highlands and Kamikawa Central Community Center Grindel Hall (located in the town hall premises)

Access: (by car) An 80 min. drive from Chugoku Expressway Suita IC to Kanzaki-Minami ramp via Bantan Renraku Road.  The town hall is a 5 minute drive from Kanzaki-Minami.
(by public transportation) 40 min. from JR Himeji Station to Teramae Station via Bantan Line.  A 3 minute walk from Teramae Station to the town hall.

What is the "eco cap campaign"? 

Through recycling caps of PET bottles, the eco cap campaign provides opportunities to learn, consider and take action against environmental problems, poverty and other problems that the world is facing.  CO2 emission is reduced by collecting and recycling bottle caps*.  The profit gained through recycling is contributed as vaccines for children in developing countries**.

*If 400 caps are incinerated instead of being recycled, 3.15 kg of CO2 will be emitted.

**With 800 caps, one polio vaccine can be purchased.

Collection place: Mizuno Square in Hanshin Koshien Stadium

Collection day: On the days of Dream Link festivals (5 times/year, 10 games at Hanshin Koshien Stadium)

Let’s go and participate in this great project!

Summer in Hyogo

Hey, all! American CIR Liz reporting in again. I thought I would let you know a little bit about some of the most fun events I've worked on this summer.

I love working at the Hyogo International Association (HIA), because it gives me lots of opportunities to get out into the community and do some firsthand international exchange.

June

The highlight of my June was helping out with the Washington-Hyogo Teacher Institute tour, which I wrote about in this blog post.

July

In July I was busy!  On the 13th I visited Mikage High School to give a talk about Seattle to a group of students who would be visiting Seattle as part of a school trip!  I'm always happy to talk about my hometown, and the kids at Mikage H.S. were great.  They asked me tons of questions and even gave mini-presentations in English on Seattle topics they had researched.

On the 18th, I took part in a festival near my apartment - Nagata Matsuri, the summer festival held at Nagata Jinja, one of the three great Shinto shrines in Kobe.  I dressed up in a summer kimono made of ro, a lightweight type of silk.  I stood on the festival stage and helped select prize drawing winners, and I also told the crowd a little bit about the myself and the HIA.  I'm always looking for more opportunity to raise awareness of who the CIRs are and what we do.

On the 29th, I helped put on a tea ceremony event for foreign residents of Hyogo - another opportunity to dress up in kimono for work!  (I love my job.)  I interpreted while the tea master performed an abbreviated tea ceremony for all the guests and then explained the history of this Japanese art.  Finally, all the participants got a chance to try making tea themselves.

August

August is a time I look forward to every year - it's when all the new ALTs arrive in Japan.  The new ALTs are always so excited and full of enthusiasm, and of course dying of curiosity about their placements in Hyogo.

First, I go up to Tokyo to pick all the ALTs up after their three-day Tokyo Orientation.  My Japanese colleagues and I then accompany them on the shinkansen and bus ride to central Hyogo.

There, it's the moment they've all been waiting for - they meet their Japanese coworkers for the first time and head off to cities and towns all over Hyogo, where they will live and work for the next one to five years.

They regroup later in August for orientations, where we try to give them information on everyday life in Hyogo and hints on how to make the best of their time in Japan.  From then on, each of them will have a completely distinct and individual experience.  Sometimes I find myself jealous of them.  I don't think I would be particularly good at teaching, but I always wonder what it would be like to be suddenly plunked down into a rural area of an unfamiliar country where no one else spoke my language.  It sounds like an adventure.

And, with that, I'll sign off for now.  Hope that gave you an idea of some of the things I've been doing lately.  September is on the horizon, but here in Kobe the heat is showing no signs of letting up.  Enjoy the rest of your summer!

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy Newsletter

 Annyeong haseyo, Hyogo Goodwill Envoys! Another humid summer is well under way. To improve my health and overcome the hot and humid summer in Japan under the severe setsuden (energy saving) policies, as well as to prepare for the summer dress season, I joined a gym near my office and promised myself that I would go to the gym (preferably) every day. However, due to the cool winds that invite me to drop in different places after work, this promise to myself is being broken all the time. In this issue, I will talk about a great day for me and my stomach after I pledged again that I would refrain from overeating and do some exercise. Two events related to food were held on that day in June in Kobe.

By a series of accidents I learned about “Kobe Oktoberfest 2012” from the posters in Hankyu stations during my commuting hours, and was looking forward to the event. Then coincidentally, a colleague of mine asked me if I wanted to go to the event with them, so we decided to go there as a group on Sunday. I was also informed by my friend’s friend that another event called “Kobe Fiesta” would be held on the same day at a park just across from the site of the Oktoberfest. How could I miss this opportunity, where I could eat to the point of passing out in a single day? We changed the schedule – first, go to Kobe Fiesta to eat something, then walk to the Oktoberfest to quench our thirst. I couldn’t wait!!

 

Kobe Fiesta 

In a light rain, we headed to the Minato-no-mori Park, the venue of Kobe Fiesta. At the entrance, we bought a 500 yen wristband which is required to buy stuff there. We also received a paper tray for the food and an official guidebook. OK, let’s start eating! But with so much delicious-looking food, it was difficult to choose which stand to visit first. About the event Kobe Fiesta was started in 2008 by people from the food industry. It is an annual “gourmet & bazaar” event to introduce food and goods made in Kobe to help hand them down to the next generation. There are many other events that feature food stalls, but this particular event with its cool atmosphere is only possible in the stylish town of Kobe! Thank God I’m living in Kobe! Salad bouquet from the kitchen garden/Black wagyu en papillote with roasted onion Confit de canard from France with whole-grain mustard/Homard poele with Ako shio-negi sauce Pudding/Crepe Suzette with strawberry parfait (mango & framboise sauce) Oktoberfest

After having a snack, we moved to “Kobe Oktoberfest 2012 in Sannomiya,” held in Higashi Yuenchi park just across the road. The Oktoberfest is an annual beer festival held in Munich, which is the biggest of its kind in the world, attracting over six million visitors singing and dancing together. As a cultural exchange event to enjoy German music and food, it has also been taking place in various places in Japan. Kobe, in particular, developed as a center for Japan-Germany exchange in Kansai. Visitors to Kobe can take in historical sites like Kyu-kyoryuchi (old foreign settlement) and Ijinkan (old foreign residences).

Enjoying Oktoberfest


 When you choose a beer, you pay for the beer itself, together with a deposit for the glass (1,000 yen). This is an eco-friendly system to stop using plastic cups and prevent damage to glasses. The deposit is reimbursed when you return the empty glass. The shops served beer in each brand’s beautiful glass, so some people just took them home without getting a refund. During the 10-day event, stage performances were put on every day. A band from Germany played folk music, and we sang and danced to the music, hand in hand, and shouted “Prost! (=cheers)” Are my photos conveying the festivities? Thanks to these two events, I had a great early-summer day. I’m sorry the next chance will be a year from now (still a long way to go!). I believe this is the best opportunity to enjoy delicious and cool Kobe, so I hope you'll get a chance to take a look at these events next year!

☆　Hyogo Event Info　★



 　

 Flower viewing (hanami) parties are not only for spring. How about doing hanami in summer? Vibrantly-colored flowers are waiting for you under the strong sunshine of summer.

Sunflower festival at Himawari Yuyu Noen (farm) Date: July 29, 2012 (The farm is open from Jul. 22 through Aug. 5) Place: Himawari Yuyu Noen (Yuzu, Kasuga-cho, Tamba City) Access: 15 min. by car from JR Fukuchiyama Line Kuroi Station, or 7 min. by car from Kasuga IC on Maizuru-Wakasa Expressway This is a large farm with an area of over five hectares, located in the Yuzu area, known for Tamba matsutake mushrooms. Here visitors can enjoy a huge maze of sunflowers, local sweet corn (freshly picked and boiled), spray sunflowers, lotus park and rural scenery.

 For more event information, please refer to: http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp

Washington-Hyogo Teacher Institute

Hey all, Liz from Seattle here! I’m so excited to get this new blog up and running. On the blog, I’ll be sharing news about the work I do as a Coordinator for International Relations here in Hyogo, Japan.

I hope I can help readers learn what it’s like to be a CIR, how our work contributes to Hyogo, and what makes Hyogo such a great place to visit – and live!

Last month, I had the opportunity to help out with a really fun project as part of my work at the Hyogo International Association. Every other year, a group of teachers from Washington State (Hyogo’s sister state in the US) come to Hyogo for an educational tour as part of the Washington-Hyogo Teacher Institute. They visit elementary, junior high, and high schools in Hyogo, where they have the opportunity to observe and learn about the Japanese education system. They also participate in homestays in order to gain an understanding of Japanese daily life and culture.

For many of the teachers, this trip was their first time to Japan! When they return to the US, they will teach their students what they’ve learned about Japan and Hyogo to strengthen community ties between the two regions.

I spent three days very worthwhile days with the teachers visiting schools in Tamba, Kobe, and Akashi. The teachers enjoyed observing classes in a variety of subjects, eating school lunches, watching after-school club activities, and getting lots of one-on-one interaction with the students. They were fascinated by the similarities and differences between Japanese and American schools, and were full of questions for the teachers and administrators.

My duties on the tour were mainly interpreting. When I first arrived in Hyogo, interpreting made me nervous, but I’ve gained a lot of confidence in my two years here and really enjoy it now. On this tour, I interpreted speeches by school administrators, presentations by students, question-and-answer sessions, and more.

I felt very honored to be part of the tour – it was one of the most worthwhile projects I’ve ever worked on here in Hyogo. I always enjoy work that means going out into the community, meeting new faces, and promoting intercultural exchange on the person-to-person level. The teacher exchange celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, and over 100 teachers from Washington have participated. When you think about all those teachers passing on their knowledge and enthusiasm for Japan to their students, you start to get an idea of what the impact of the program is.

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy Designation Ceremony 2012

        

On Friday 6^th July, the annual Goodwill Envoy Designation Ceremony was held at Hyogo House in Kobe. The 32 new envoys (32 in one year being a new record!) received a certificate of designation from Governor Ido and had a rare opportunity to meet him and other officials from the local government at a reception afterwards.

At the start of the ceremony, Sifton Anipare a 3^rd year ALT and Jeremy Pichot, a 5^th year CIR each gave a presentation on their time in Hyogo. Whether it was memories of the people they met or the interesting places they had been, both gave some great accounts of what it is like to live in Hyogo and revealed some of the far reaching and long-lasting relationships they, and I'm sure everyone present, have formed with this wonderful prefecture.

Reception with Governor Ido

 After the new envoys had received their certificates from the Governor, Miriam Rollason, a 2^nd year ALT gave an aisatsu (words of greeting) to the governor as a representative of the Goodwill Envoys. Her story was both funny and moving and I’m sure everyone was in agreement with her concluding words; “we can never completely leave”. 

I hope the ceremony provided the new Hyogo Goodwill Envoys with a chance to reflect on their time in Hyogo alongside their fellow JETs and that Hyogo and Japan will continue to play a part in their lives in future.