Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News Jan/Feb 2013 part two

Hello, everyone!

Brazilian CIR, Luciana here. Seeing as it’s still only February, I’d like to wish you all the best for 2013!

In Japan, the cold weather shows no signs of ending, but in my home country it’s summer right now – the exact opposite.  In Brazil, a four-day carnival is held every February (this year it was from February 9^th through 12^th).  Did any of you manage to watch it on T.V? It’s only short, but the fact that it has become this famous all over the world is amazing.  Seeing as these four days are a public holiday, we Brazilians often say that the New Year really starts after the carnival.

(Here in Japan,) you can enjoy the New Year atmosphere right up until February.  This month, I’d like to introduce somewhere in Hyogo where beautiful decorative lights will be on until February 17^th.  I actually went to this particular place in August or September, but I’d love to go there again.

Kobe Municipal Fruit & Flower Park

Kobe Municipal Fruit & Flower Park is easily accessible from Kobe (JR Sannomiya) by local train, but I think bus is probably the easiest way to get tere.  Why don’t you try heading there on a sunny day?  It’s the kind of place that can be enjoyed as a family, with friends, in a couple or alone!  You can go there as a day trip, or stay at the park’s beautiful and spacious hotel if an overnight stay takes your fancy.

As the name suggests, the focus of this large, idyllic park is fruit and flowers. Different flowers bloom depending on the season, so make sure to take a look at the park’s “flower calendar”.  There are also loads of greenhouse plants, and you can see fancy cacti like the ones in these pictures.  You’re not limited to just taking pictures; if you are particularly fond of any of the flowers you see in the park, you can buy them in the shop.

The fact that you can try delicious fresh fruit right there and then is probably what I like best about this park.  It’s really great!

Fruit Picking
Why not try your hand at fruit picking? It’s all you can eat fruit for a separate fee, so you’ll be heading home feeling more than satisfied!  It’s worth noting that the times for each fruit are different.
Peaches – early August
Grapes – mid August – early September
Pears – mid August – early September

Hands-on sessions

 

Visitors to the park can take part in all sorts of hands-on taster sessions, for example, gardening, preserving flowers, flower pressing, pottery and making butter.  Outside the park, there is also a theme park aimed at children. Inside you’ll find slides, putt-putt golf, go-carts and much more.  It’s a huge park and you’ll no doubt see crowds of happy-looking children running around freely inside.  It’s definitely a great place for creating some happy memories! For when you get hungry, there are restaurants and a canteen so no worries there! But that’s not all:  What surprised me was the park is fully equipped with tables and barbecue facilities.  Using these, large groups can all eat together, which is a relief.  After lunch or dinner, if you still feel like getting some dessert, there are shops selling ice cream and sweets.  My personal recommendation is the wine and dried vegetable snacks sold at the shops.  These are all products made from fruit and vegetables grown in the park.  Knowing it was all grown on site makes it all the more delicious, don’t you think?

Hot springs & pool

The photos below are of the pools for adults and children respectively. There is also a hot spring.

Animals

The park also features a free monkey show, a sheep petting area, horse riding taster sessions and even an exhibition of beetles!  There’s also the chance to run around with your dog!  Why not give it a go?

Event Info

Upcoming exhibition: Ancient Remains of Hyogo, vol.5
Introducing results of investigative studies

This is an exhibition that publicizes the results of archeological excavations and artifact research carried out by Hyogo Prefecture.  The exhibition will feature select materials unearthed from ruins all over the prefecture from Paleolithic times to the Middle Ages and visitors can see the results of the latest studies carried out in this field.
Place: Hyogo Prefectural Museum of Archeology
Opening times: January 26, 2013 – April 07, 2013, 9:30 – 17:00. Closed Mondays, except      national holidays (closed following day). April Opening times: 9:30 – 18:00
Fees: Adults 200 yen
     University Students, 150 yen
     High School Students, 100 yen
     Junior High School Students and younger, free of charge.
Website http://www.hyogo-koukohaku.jp/events/p6krdf00000018fx.html
Phone: 079-437-5589

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News, Jan/Feb 2013, part one

Hi everyone, it’s been a while hasn’t it?  Korean CIR, Kim here, wishing you all a belated Happy New Year! (I thought it might be worth a mention that in Korea, where we celebrate the older Chinese New Year and the Gregorian one, we say “Happy New Year” twice a year.)

I used the Japanese end of year holiday period to go back to Korea and lo and behold, came back a year older.  I can imagine that there are plenty of you out there wondering how on earth this could happen so I’ll explain a little bit better.  In Korea, everyone gets one year older on January first every year.  Of course Koreans also celebrate their actual birthdays as well, but these are just parties with no other meaning; the day everyone grows older is January 1^st.  People born on New Year’s Eve, like everyone else, get a year older on January 1^st, the day after their actual birthday.  What has made me really happy is that while I’ve been living in Japan, I’ve been younger than if I was in Korea, which really makes me feel like I’ve gained something!

Even when I returned to the supposedly warmer Kobe from the -14 degree temperatures of Seoul, I had grown used to Korean style under-floor heating or Ondol, so every day is a battle against the cold.  Tired out, both mentally and physically from this battle, I went on a trip to an onsen (hot springs) as a present to myself.  Out of all the hot spring resorts located in Hyogo Prefecture, this time I chose Yumura Onsen.

 

Heading North on the Hamakaze!

From Sannomiya station in Kobe, I boarded the limited express train, Hamakaze and after a journey of around 3 hours, arrived at the station closest to Yumura Onsen, Hamasaka.  This train stops at Kinosaki Onsen and Kasumi, two stops famed for their hot springs and crab on the way to its final destination of Hamasaka.  As such, in winter it’s bustling with visitors from Hyogo and beyond with hot springs and crab on their mind.  Some may think that a traveling time of 3 hours is a little too much, but if you head out with good company and spend the time chatting at your leisure, the time will go by in a flash.





On the way to Yumura, this Matsuba crab waved a friendly claw from the platform of Kasumi station.



Hamasaka e yo-kinsatta!! or “Welcome to Hamasaka” in the local dialect.

From Hamasaka station, you can get to Yumura Onsen by bus or taxi.  I arrived on a Sunday, when there were only a few buses running, and went by taxi rather than wait. It was far, far more refined than I expected.  Feeling very excited I headed inside and was shown to a lobby with a view of a stylish garden. I ate tochimochi cake and drank green tea while waiting for the serving lady.

tochimochi and green tea, yummy!

After taking a short break in my room, I almost wanted to just stay chilling out right there, but seeing as I’d come all that way I got myself together and set out to the hot springs street.  First of all, I stopped off at Arayu, the symbol of Yuruma Onsen and boiled an egg from a nearby shop in the hot spring water.  I recommend having a walk around the area while you wait for your egg to boil.

Arayu, the symbol of Yumura Onsen

Let`s boil the eggs!

You can also enjoy the footbath, Ashiyu

I finished my walk and after enjoying my boiled egg snack, went back to my room to await the crab dinner I’d been looking forward to so much.

Wow! This crab is ex-shell-ent!

I’m really sorry to any hungry people out there!

It’s pretty much photos of different crab dishes from here on.
The course comprised seven kinds of starters made from crab, Matsuba crab from Hamasaka bay, complete with tag of authenticity, and then finally crab sashimi.  The whole course is crab, but with each different method of preparation comes different flavors so you’ll be able to enjoy it right to the end.

After this came crab miso soup and crab porridge; the crab dishes just kept on coming. But I can’t keep subjecting you hungry people to all these pictures of delicious food any longer so I’ll leave it there.  

Being pretty clumsy, I had a hard time scooping out all the crab from the shell, but to let me forget about that, let me just say the crab was tender, juicy and delicious.  I was perfectly content and full up!

This time, the weather wasn’t snow but rain, meaning that my dream of going in the outdoor hot spring in the snow did not come true.  However, on the way home the next day, I saw some really pretty snow covered scenery from the window of the Hamakaze so overall it was a lucky end to my trip.

Northern Hyogo is the perfect place to enjoy winter crab and the romantic atmosphere of hot springs.  I hope you all get to go there!

 

Hyogo Event Information
Kasumi Crab Thanksgiving Festival Regional specialties, such as Matsuba crab and other seafood goods.
Fun games, competitions and much more!

Date: Sunday, March 3^rd 8:30-12:00
Place: Shibayama Port (911-8, Okinoura, Kasumi-ku, Kami-Town)
Enquiries: 0796-37-0301

Hachi Kita Ski Festival 2013This event, held during the second half of the ski season can be enjoyed by families and groups as a chance to enjoy the winter snow.  At the main event, “Hachikita white tower” visitors can compete for lavish prizes such as LCD T.Vs in a competition to stack softball-sized snowballs as high as possible.  Firework displays

the night before create a fantastic atmosphere in the clear winter sky, contrasted against the white snow.

Place: Hachikita Highlands Ski Slopes
Enquiries: 0796-96-0732 (Hachikita tourism association)

Hyogo Goodwill Envoy News December 2012

Nimenhao, Goodwill Envoys!  Chinese CIR Lu Zan from Guangdong here.  Seven months have already passed since I started working in Hyogo – how fast time flies!  As my term will expire in April, I am feeling somewhat lonely at the end of the year.  But I must serve the rest of my term in good spirits.

What is the weather like in your country?  Kobe is pretty chilly.  In Guangdong, it is still comfortable with an average temperature of 15℃, but in Kobe, we need to put the heating on.  As the cold climate stimulates our appetite, this is a season, especially for girls, of a conflict between appetite and dieting.  I don’t care and eat a lot, and recommend that you also enjoy the delicacies of winter to the fullest.

I will introduce a place in Kobe, which is very familiar to me.  Many of you will have also visited there at least once – Nankinmachi.  As Kobe Buta-man Summit took place from November 10 through 12, I visited there with a Chinese CIR in Nara (who has never visited Kobe before), and a Korean friend of mine.

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Nankinmachi

Nankinmachi is one of the three greatest Chinatowns in Japan, together with those of Yokohama and Nagasaki.  Being a gourmet and shopping spot that represents Kobe, about 100 shops and restaurants line the streets – Chinese restaurants, Buta-man (steamed pork bun) specialty shops, Chinese dumplings and roast pork, grocers that sell Chinese spices and seasonings, tea shops and variety stores.  Food stalls stand in front of those shops, selling dim sum, sweets and other goods.

Nankinmachi is located between Motomachi Street and Sakaemachi Street in Chuo-ku, Kobe, a 5 minute walk to the south from JR/Hanshin Motomachi Station.  The Changan Gate stands at the eastern end, which faces Daimaru Department Store.  The Xian Gate stands at the western end, and the Nanlou Gate at the southern end.  The northern end is connected to the Motomachi shopping street.

This is a square at the crossing point of the cruciform Nankinmachi.  Here at the Azumaya, Chinese New Year Festival and mid-autumn festival take place. 

Go to Buta-man Summit

The Buta-man Summit started last year.  Limited edition Buta-man are sold at Buta-man master’s shops, so I couldn’t miss this opportunity as a Buta-man lover.

 In addition to the main festival period, the pre-event took place on the 9^th.  On this day, the Buta-man girl contest was held.  The winner appears at the opening ceremony on the 10^th, and participates in PR activities at Buta-man shops during the festival.  So even if you miss the pre-event, you can see the year’s Buta-man girl on the 10^th.

Soon after the ceremony, I headed for the Buta-man shop I was looking for, but a long line had already formed there.  Wondering how tasty the Buta-man would be after such a long waiting time, I joined the line in front of a Buta-man shop called Roushouki, which sold Buta-man for the first time in Japan.

This is what I had expected from Roushouki!  This limited edition Buta-man contains portini mushrooms and truffles, and has an excellent aroma of mushroom.
Can you imagine that portini mushrooms and truffles are added to the already tasty Buta-man from Roushouki?   The dough was soft enough, and I felt very happy as I tasted real Chinese Buta-man.

　

　　

This is the limited set of Buta-man, only available at the Summit.  With this, I was able to taste Buta-man from three master’s shops at one time.  Otherwise there were black Buta-man and pretty pig-shaped Buta-man, and I enjoyed the taste of my hometown with a full belly. 

Epilogue

Not only perfect Buta-man with juicy fillings and soft dough, but also other delicious Chinese food is always served at Nankinmachi, attracting a large number of tourists.  I truly recommend that you visit Nankinmachi in Kobe, and fully enjoy Chinese food culture.

☆　Hyogo Events Information　★　

As the New Year is approaching, there will be many events and festivals held throughout Hyogo.  Come and experience them at New Year’s holidays.

1. Saitansai (New Year’s Festival)

Venue: Izanagi Shrine

Phone: 0799-80-5001

Enshrining the god, Izanagi, and the goddess, Izanami, the shrine is one of the most prestigious in the nation.  On January 1, the annual New Year’s Festival takes place.  Shinto music is dedicated to the shrine on the day.

2. First visit to the Tajima Great Buddha

Venue: Choraku-ji Temple

Phone: 0796-95-1270

On the New Year’s Day, the gate opens at 0:00 a.m. and no entrance fee is required.  The first 800 visitors will receive a small gift, and children can enjoy a lottery (Jan. 1-3).  This is a good place to pray for good luck in the New Year.  (Charms, first prayer service and prayers against bad luck are also available.)

3. Kite-flying Festival

Venue: Ichinomiya Health and Welfare Center

Phone: 0790-72-8787 (Shiso City Council of Social Welfare)

This is an annual festival held on the New Year’s Day.  Applications will be accepted between 13:00-14:00 with a participation fee of 300 yen.  In addition to the prize for participation, special prizes are offered to excellent works.

For other information about the New Year’s visit to shrines, refer to: http://www.hyogo-tourism.jp

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/