HIMAWARI

北九州国際交流協会
Himawari
In this edition of HIMAWARI:
All about Christmas in KitaQ, New Year, Keeping Warm in
Japan, Ice-Skating and other Lifestyle Information!
K itakyushu
I nternational
A ssociation
冬号
Winter Edition
2012/2013
Winter in Japan, much like winter in many other countries, is dominated by two important events; Christmas and Oshogatsu (New Year’s)
Christmas in Japan is a bit different from Christmas in other parts of the world. Due in large part to the scarcity of Christianity in Japan, with the added fact of Christmas being a foreign holiday, the celebration has
taken on a life of its own here in Japan. While it is still a time to be spent with family and friends, there’s a
definite preference for spending the holiday as a couple. It’s not as if all of Christmas’ overseas traditions
have been lost however, with cake and presents still being an important part of the day. Not only that, the
putting up of Christmas illuminations is very popular, and it could be said that Japan’s illuminations are the
equals of those of any other country in the world. Below, we’ve put together a list of the best places in Kitakyushu to see the illuminations, and when you can expect them to be up.
Kokura Illuminations
November 2 – January 10
At the top of everyone’s list is Kokura’s famous illuminations. These can be
seen spread out around all the main areas such as Kokura station, Cha Cha
Town, AIM, Riverwalk etc.
Mojiko Retro Town
December 1 – February 24
Go and see the illuminations at Mojiko. Not content with simply lighting up the retro buildings, even the trees have been adorned with thousands of beautiful lights.
Kurosaki Station
November 18 – January 9
Kurosaki Station puts on a show for Christmas as well. The area around the
station is covered in lights and various other displays, and even the trees
down Fureai Doori are lit.
There are plenty of other places around Kitakyushu with amazing illuminations, such as Orio, Wakamatsu and Yahata to name a few. Many individual
families also decorate their homes over the Christmas period. Just going for a
walk or drive around should reward you with some impressive displays.
But whether you take in the lights or not this year, we at the KIA hope you have a Merry Christmas and that
you get something really nice for your family and significant other.
1
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/2013
Winter is finally here, and with its chilly winds comes the promise of a new start as we wave goodbye to 2012,
remembering the good times and forgetting the bad, and get ourselves ready for New Year’s as we greet the
promising new year.
New Year’s in Japan is quite possibly the most important celebration of the year, a time where families come
together, eat, drink and be merry. People go to Bonenkai (forgetting the year) parties as the New Year is
strongly seen as a completely separate thing from the previous, and a chance to make a new start.
Below, we’ve put together a few staples of the New Year to give you a bit of an idea what to look out for during this awesome holiday.
Kohaku uta gassen
Much like the New Year’s variety shows in other countries, Kohaku uta
gassen is a once a year event wherein the country’s most talented J-pop and
enka singers are split into red and white teams and pitted against each other
in a singing extravaganza. Typically reaching the 4-hour mark, watching
this and eating toshikoshi soba noodles on New Year’s Eve has been a
popular tradition for many years.
Osechiryori
Long ago, it was forbidden to cook during the first three days of the New Year,
and so New Year’s food was prepared in advance and made of ingredients that
lasted well. It generally includes food with coincidentally auspicious names such as
daidai (bitter orange) as “daidai” also means “from generation to generation” and
tai (red sea breem) which is similar to the word “medetai” or “auspicious”.
The Year of the Snake
Japan follows the Chinese zodiac and this year will be the year of the snake, so expect to see a lot of snake-based decorations about the place.
Otoshidama
Children are often given money in small decorated envelopes by relatives and other
close adults on New Year’s.
Fukubukuro
This is a custom where stores around Japan put out
mystery bags on New Year’s Day for extremely discounted prices. The bags can contain anything, and in
some places a few bags might contain some very expensive items or even a plane ticket somewhere. You’ll
often see long queues of people during New Year’s,
waiting for their chance to grab a bargain.
Nengajo
…are the cards that are customarily sent out during New Year’s to one’s friends,
family and other people who have had some impact on your life. As it’s unlucky
for nengajo to arrive prior to New Year’s, the Post Office stocks them up and
delivers them all at once on the same day, January 1. The cards typically show a
motif of the year’s zodiac animal along with some set phrases celebrating the
New Year.
2
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/13
Staying warm during winter in Japan can at times be a difficult task. As many Japanese homes don’t have adequate insulation, the inside temperature is often very close to the outside temperature. Thankfully there are
plenty of ways to stay warm over the winter period such as...
Ice Skating:
Nothing warms a person up quite like exercise, so why not try out the Kitakyushu Ice Skating Centre in Kokurakita-ku? It’s the only skating rink in
Kitakyushu that meets international standards at 1800m², and at 2000 for an
adult and 1500 for a child for the day, is a good deal too!
Address: 3-7-1 Asano, Kokurakita-ku (5 minute walk from Kokura Station
North Exit)
Ph: 093-513-2202
Onsen
What better place to shake off the winter blues than an onsen (hot
spring)? While nearby Beppu gets all the notice when it comes to onsen, Kitakyushu actually has quite a few very nice onsen of its own.
They’re spread over most of the different areas of the city, so no matter where you live, it’s likely you have an onsen close by. If you’re
feeling cold and in need of a bit of relaxation, why not try out your
nearest onsen?
Nabe Ryori
And don’t forget about food! Winter is the season of nabe ryori
(Hotpot cooking) and other related hearty foods such as oden.
There’s an almost endless number of nabe ryori recipes to choose
from, and all the ingredients can be easily bought at your local supermarket. Generally it simply requires you to buy the soup base and some
vegetables and meat and/or sea food of your choice, then slow heat them
together until they are cooked through.. Once you’ve finished off your
soup, the stock can still be used to cook udon/mochi/ramen in as
well! How versatile is that?
Heating your home
The most obvious way to stay warm during winter is just to heat your
home. This can be difficult due to the lack of insulation in many Japanese homes allowing heat to escape easily, but it’s certainly not impossible. Many different heaters are out there with varying degrees of energy
efficiency. Kerosene stoves for example heat a room effectively but can
be dangerous due to its naked flame and the fumes. Oil heaters on the
other hand also heat a room quickly, are safe, but require a lot of energy
to run.
Many Japanese people fix the issue of a cold house with a kotatsu however. This is a table with a built-in heater, and the heat is trapped by a blanket that is draped from the sides
down to the ground. You can’t say you’ve experienced a Japanese winter without having used a kotatsu.
3
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/2013
The KIA-organised Bus Hike Hiraodai happened on Saturday October 6th and I think it’s safe to say, the general consensus is that it
was a great success.
I woke up to a windy, overcast morning and after sorting out
breakfast, headed off to Kokura Station to meet up with the rest of
the group. We were a pretty diverse bunch, including myself (a
New Zealander), a Brazilian, someone from Taiwan, some Chinese
students, Indonesians, and a few Japanese people. We jumped on a
train heading south and soon hit our stop at Ishihara-machi Station. From there we took a bus up into the hills and soon found ourselves looking at the rocky landscapes of Hiraodai.
Now, for the uninitiated, Hiraodai is a karst plateau, a large tableland of very rocky land formed by the dissolution of soluble
bedrock such as dolomite or, in Hiraodai’s case, limestone. Or
so says Wikipedia at least. While the geographical science behind it may be a bit specialised, the reality of it is truly impressive. The entire landscape of Hiraodai is dotted with thousands
of limestone boulders of varying shapes and sizes, as well as
pockmarked with sometimes enormous dolines or sinkholes,
and gives the impression of rolling hills covered in sheep. It’s
the sort of scene you’d be extremely hard pressed to find elsewhere in Japan, certainly to the same level.
After leaving the bus, we met up with our guide, and
proceeded to head up the road into the mountains, past
sinkholes and masses of limestone boulders that looked
like rockfalls until we made it to the highlight of the
trip; Senbutsu Limestone Cavern. Within was a meandering cave system cut through by an underground
river. The water was freezing cold but the cave itself
more than made up for it. The limestone formations on
the inside of the cave were surprisingly varied, with
certain sections of the cave having what seemed to be
completely
unique types of formation, odd shapes hanging from the
ceiling and the odd low ceiling to crawl through. The experience was quite unlike anything I’ve done before, and
certainly worth a look. Afterwards, a small group of us hung
around to check out the local sake place and ended up sitting
outside enjoying a glass, watching the sun sink behind the
mountains.
Thanks to everyone who came and made it an awesome
day, and to anyone who hasn’t been, make sure you do it the
next chance you get. You won’t regret it!
4
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/13
Ask any Japanese person what they consider to be a good
example of winter sport in Japan and many people will
mention Ekiden. There are more than a few families
where it’s practically customary to sit down together over
Oshogatsu and watch the Hakone Ekiden (All Japan University Ekiden). Several people form a team, and run a
long distance relay with each member doing their own
share of the track, in a race against other teams. In Japan,
several Ekiden are held, such as the “All Japan InterCorporation Ekiden” and the “All Country High School
Ekiden”, and are broadcast live on TV and radio. Records
for relay intervals and individual runners are looked forward to, but really it’s a team event more than
a marathon. It’s about fierce team spirit and the moving drama left in the records and people’s memories.
So how about actually being on the sidelines cheering on
the athletes? Well, as it happens, the 24th Annual Kitakyushu Senbatsu Ladies Ekiden is being held on the 20th
of January 2013. The top corporations and High Schools
battle it out in a competition the likes of which is rarely
seen in Japan. The 32.8km course starts at Kokura Castle
and heads to Magari in Yahatanishi before looping back
to Kokura Castle. The track and the roads surrounding it
will be closed to traffic during the duration, but it’s a
unique chance to show your support for the athletes as
they compete against each other for victory. It may be the
middle of winter but the sidelines will be heating up as everyone cheers for their favourite teams in
this white hot race.
Both the opening ceremony and awards ceremony will be held on the 6th floor of Riverwalk Kitakyushu and can be attended free of charge.
Opening ceremony: January 19 (Sat) from 16:30
The event itself: January 20 (Sun) 10:00 start
Awards ceremony: January 20 (Sun) 13:00 (subject to change)
For more info, go to
Kitakyushu City: http://www.city.kitakyushu.lg.jp/shimin/file_7022.html
RKB: http://rkb.jp/ekiden/
5
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/2013
December
Hibiki Christmas Concert: The Nutcracker Suite
Date: December 15th; Doors open at 14:00, performance begins at 15:00
Place: Hibiki Hall
What: Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker Suite” is performed by a group of talented artists who have performed
throughout the country, with a combination of song, dance, piano and recitation.
Info: Foundation for Promoting Arts and Culture – PH: (093)663-6661
Countdown in Mojiko Retro Town
Date: December 31st; from 23:00 onwards
Place: Mojiko Retro Chiku
What: Welcome the new year with illuminations, fireworks and banana no tatakiuri.
Info: Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry Mojiko – PH: (093)322-1188
January
Seijin Matsuri
Date: January 13th
Place: Spaceworld
What: This commemorates everyone who has turned 20 in the last year, celebrates their life so far and gives
good luck for their life ahead.
Info: Child and Domestic Affairs Bureau – PH: (093)582-2392
February
Kitakyushu Art Exhibition
Date: February 5 – February 17; 09:30 – 17:30 (the 12th is a holiday)
Place: Kitakyushu Municipal Museum of Art
What: Kitakyushu artists, businesses and private citizens have come together to show off their collected artworks
in
this
exhibition.
Info: General Planning Bureau – PH: (093)582-3636
Kokura Local Food Festival
Date: February 17th – 26th
Place: Kokura City Centre
What: In order to inject some more life into Kokura’s centre, various people involved in the local shopping
street have got together and created an event focusing on gourmet food made from Kokura’s own products.
Info: Kokura Local Food Festival Planning Committee – PH: (093)521-6801
Kitakyushu 50th Anniversary Concert
Date: February 17th
Place: Kitakyushu Soleil Hall
What: Listen to chorus singing and songs celebrating Kitakyushu as the city enters the 5oth year since its establishment.
Info: Foundation for promoting Arts and Culture – PH: (093)663-6661
6
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/13
I arrived in Kitakyushu in the first week of June with a week and a half of nothing to do before my
job as an ALT began. My Japanese was terrible, I couldn’t read menus, couldn’t properly ask for what
I wanted and could read nothing, but I had something I needed; a bicycle.
In my home country and my home state, cycling was a hobby of
both my Father and mine. We would often rise early on weekend
mornings stuffing the pockets of our jerseys with peanut butter
and jelly or peanut butter and banana sandwiches and filling water bottles. Once we packed up we departed for what might become a four hour trek across a landscape I’ve known since my
childhood. We rode up and down and flat and against headwinds
and with tail winds until, eventually, we would stop at a small
dairy by my parents’ home for a litre of chocolate milk, a drink
my father swears by for recovery.
With these memories strong in my mind, I didn’t just want but
needed a bike. I walked to the nearest bike shop I knew of, having passed it on the bus a few days earlier and I bought a bike with nothing more than the power of pointing fingers (including a positive
thumbs up) and a handful of cash. Once I had pedals
under my feet it was, to use a very American phrase, on.
I’ve been all over Kitakyushu since. Climbing mountains wherever I can find them and following narrow
unpopulated roads anywhere they may appear. My first
ride, inspired by a picture of Kawachi Wisteria Garden
sent to me by a friend, took me to Kawachi from my
apartment near the Kokurakita – Kokuraminami border.
The wisteria blooms were gone and the garden closed
when I arrived, but well beyond that there was so much
to enjoy. The climb up to the reservoir was difficult,
with a winding grind of a climb that began with vast
stretches of rice paddies with varying elevations, then
narrowed under thick green bamboo groves and finally opened up into an expanse of blue. The Kawachi Reservoir appeared to me like the fruit of a long and difficult endeavour. I sat in sublime awe of
the landscape, so different from the light brown chaparral of
my home.
Since this first trek I’ve visited as many natural wonders as
my legs will allow. I’ve ridden up to the top of Hiraodai and
gazed out across the city and marvelled at the beautiful rock
structures. I’ve coursed around the reservoir near Sugao with
its emerald water and up into the beauty of Sugao no Taki,
and I’ve risen very slowly pedal after pedal to the peak of Mt
Sarakura to view a halo of dense fog. Nowhere in my life
have I ever experienced a landscape like this. In Kitakyushu
I’ve found a multitude of incredible cycling routes, beautiful
nature, and all in such relatively close proximity to my apartment. With my jersey packed and pedals beneath my feet I’m only limited by my ability to navigate
this beautiful city.
By Shane Minter.
7
Kitakyushu International Association
Time
15th (Sat), 15:00-19:00,
(Will not be affected by rain)
Winter Edition 2012/2013
Place
Kokurakita-ku
Kitakyushu Media Dome
Contact
West Japan Recycling Citizen’s
Action Group
PH: 092-752-7761
Time
10th (Sun), 10:00-16:00
(Will not be affected by rain)
Place
Kokurakita-ku,
West Japan General Exhibition
Centre, Shinkan
Contact
Kokura de Furima Executive
Committee Office
PH: 093-772-3223
Message from the Editor
Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great Autumn and are looking forward to the New Year. Thanks to everyone who went along to the B-1
Grand Prix. Heaps of people came and it ended up being a great few
days for all involved.
I would also just like to thank everyone who has had something to do
with Himawari over the last year; the translators, the article writers
and of course you, the readers.
The next Himawari will of course be coming out in 2013, and so I’d
just like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry
Christmas and a Happy New Year!
From your friendly Southern Santa.
8
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/13
6
2
3
1
4
5
7
8
Flea Market Travel Details
① Kitakyushu Media Dome:
② West Japan General Exhibition Centre:
Ride the monorail to Kawaraguchimihagino Station.
A short walk north from Kokura Station.
Others
③
④
⑤
⑥
⑦
⑧
Kokura Illumination
Yahata Illumination
Kurosaki Magical Land of Lights
Mojiko Retro Illumination
Mt. Sarakura
Hiraodai
Kokurakita Ward
Yahatahigashi Ward
Yahatahigashi Ward
Kokuraminami Ward
9
Kitakyushu International Association
Winter Edition 2012/13
FREE CONSULTATION FOR FOREIGNERS
がいこくじん
むりょうそうだん
外国人のための無料相談
●Free Consultation -Specialist
Consultation Service for Foreigners
Here we help to solve any problems or worries that foreign residents may have with life in Japan, or that Japanese people may
be having in relation to foreign citizens, by providing important
information and links to specific organizations. Consultations are
available in both Yahata and Kokura, are free of charge, and don’t
require reservation. Please feel free to visit, and be assured that
your privacy will be respected.
Yahata
Kitakyushu International Association (KIA)
Kokura
Kokura Information Office
Consultation times: 10:00 – 16:00
Consultation times:10:00 – 16:00
Languages of consultation:
Languages of consultation:
English:
Chinese:
Korean:
Japanese:
Telephone
English:
Chinese:
Korean:
Japanese:
Telephone
Tuesday & Friday
Tuesday & Friday
Friday
Tuesday & Friday
number: 093-671-2606
Wed & Thur
Wed & Thur
Wed & Thur
Wed & Thur
number:093-671-2606
E-mail address: [email protected]
Address and directions at bottom of page.
Closed on national holidays and during the New Year Period.
For more information, please take a look at Foreigner Support
Services at the KIA on the KIA homepage.
Legal Counseling
(13:30 to 16:30 every 4th Saturday)
- Dec 22nd, Jan 26th, Feb 23th
A counselor from the Kitakyushu Branch of the Fukuoka Bar
Association will help you with all kinds of legal problems
(reservation is required).
Consultation Concerning Immigration Procedures
(13:00 to 16:00 every 3rd Sunday)
- Dec 16th, Jan 20th, Feb 17th
Administrative specialists will offer advice on procedures such
as changing of visa status, extension of stay, and other issues (reservation is only required if you need an interpreter).
Psychological Counseling
(9:30 to 12:30 every 4th Saturday)
- Dec 22nd, Jan 26th, Feb 23rd
A clinical psychologist will offer counseling for people having
difficulties with relationships, cultural differences, and mental
well-being (reservation is required).
Getting to the KIA
（公財）北九州国際交流協会
Kitakyushu International Association
きたきゅうしゅうしやはたひがしくひらの 1ちょうめ
〒805-0062 北九州市八幡東区平野1丁目1－1
かい
国 際村交 流 センター３階
(International Village Center 3F, 1-1-1, Hirano,Yahatahigashi-ku)
Tel: 093-662-0055
Fax: 093-662-6622
かいかんじかん
開館時間/Open Hours：9:00 ～ 17:30
か ～ に ち よ う び
火～日曜日 / Tuesday to Sunday
休館日/Closed: 月曜日と年末年始(12/29～1/3)
Mondays & Year-end/New Year
E-mail: [email protected]
こくらインフォメーション
(Kokura Information Desk)
きたきゅうしゅうしこくらきたくあさの
〒802-0001 北九州市小倉北区浅野3-8-1
たいへいよう
かい
AIM（アジア太平洋インポートマート）２階
(Asia-Pacific Import Mart 2F, 3-8-1, Asano, Kokurakita-ku)
Tel: 093-551-0055
Fax: 093-551-1289
かいかんじかん
開館時間/Open Hours：10:00 ～ 17:30
か
ど よ う び
火～土曜日 / Tuesday to Saturday
きゅうかんび
にちげつ
しゅくじつ
ねんまつねんし
休館日/Closed：日月・ 祝 日 と年末年始
(12/29～1/3)/ Sun, Mon, Public Holidays & Year-end/New Year
http://www.kitaq-koryu.jp/en_new
こくさいむらこうりゅう
West Japan General Exhibition Center
West Japan
General Exhibition
Center
Aim Building
2nd Floor
Kokura Information
Rihga Hotel
North exit
Kokura Station
Amu Plaza
Amu Plaza
Best
Denki
Kitakyushu
International Conference
Center
Asano 2-Chome Bus Stop
Asano 2-Chome Bus Stop
Kyu- La Foret
Kokura St. Building
Kokura Station Bus Center
10