International Relations

SAIJO
Vol. 6
March 2015
Through this new organization, Saijo’s residents will beable to take an active role in promoting international

CONTENTS
Saijo’s new International
Exchange Association

1

Motoko Fujiwara, abridge to China

2

Tanbara Speech Contest

2exchange and make Saijo a fun place to live. We are eagerly
awaiting the chance to work with you to improve Saijo!

2015Start!

By joining the Saijo International
Exchange Association, members canparticipate in events from the planningstage onward and will also receive a

Valentine’s Day inVietnam

3

Disaster Readiness:
Comprehensive Drills

3

Eigo de Go!

4

copy of this newsletter, event announcements and other benefits.
The association’s activities will beseparated into four categories.
● “International Understanding” Work

with foreign residents to promote comShikoku on the WorldStage

4

Plan language courses●“Lifestyle Support” Help foreign resi-

dents of Saijo with their daily lives.
●“Economic” Help promote local eco-nomic development through exchange
Saijo is a quarterly
newsletter published inJapanese and English bythe International Affairs
Section of Saijo City. We
welcome your comments,questions and submissions.

tional relations, what do you imagine?
Now is your chance to turn your visionand other seminars.

International Relations

said enthusiastically.
When you hear the phrase interna-munication.
●“Education”

CIRs Truong Dinh Le and John Wheeler

into reality here in Saijo!
【Annual Fee】
Individual: 1,000円

and information distribution.

Student（HS and younger): 500円

Using the skills and knowledge of ourOrganization: 10,000円

members, we aim to broaden the scope【How to Join】

of international activities in Saijo.

Fill out an application form andLesubmit it to the association’s office(Vietnam) and John Wheeler (America)in the International Affairs Section

will also participate as members.

of Saijo City Hall.

“As a CIR I am delighted by the estab-(Application forms are available atlishment of this association. There will

public facilities across Saijo andbe more chances to work with Saijo’s

online at www.city.saijo.ehime.jp/residents to improve our city,” Johnkhome/somu/kokusaikoryu/)

Saijo’s

CIRs

TruongDinh

Saijo City International Affairs Section 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

2International Relations Saijo

Interview: Motoko Fujiwara, a bridge to China
In commemoration of Saijo’s 20-year friendship withBaoding (Hebei Province), a display of 100 works ofChinese calligraphy from the collection of Motoko Fujiwara was held at the Saijo Cultural Center from Dec.
11-18. Ms. Fujiwara, who has worked for over 50 years
to improve Sino-Japanese relations, also gave a lectureon the Dec. 14 entitled “Energizing my two homelands.”
Q: Why did you decide to go to China directly after the war?
A: I was studying at the Tokyo University of Education (nowthe University of Tsukuba) in 1952 when there was a SinoJapanese friendship boom. I was swept up in that, and I

Profile: Motoko Fujiwara (Chinese name: Teng Ying)

loved Tang Dynasty poetry, so not caring whether I lived or● 1931 Born in Himi District, Saijo City
● 1953 Departs for the new Republic Of China

died I left on a ship departing Maizuru for China carrying
mostly Chinese passengers. I planned to study abroad forWorks at middle schools and universities in Baoding● Uses her connections to promote Sino-Japanese rela-tions

three years.
I applied to university in China twice, but failed bothtimes. At the same time, I began working as a librarian at a

● Currently resides in Nagoya● The calligraphy on the left of the above photo was gift-

ed by Pujie, brother of “Last Emperor” Puyi

middle school in Baoding and was able to remain in China,
where I decided to study at the “university” of Chinese socie- like a female Urashima Taro.
ty. It would be 22 years before I returned to Japan.

Q: Do you have any advice for young people?

Q: What surprised you when you returned home ?

A: Japan and China are neighbors and can’t very well

A: At that time, information in China came onlychange that, so they must try to get along. Japanthrough state newspapers, which were restricted, so

received kanji from China, and Chinese students visit-

when I was first exposed to a mountain of new infor-

ing Japan during the Meiji Period took new kanji suchmation through sources like Japanese television I felt

as “education,” “theory,” and “ethics” home with them.

like I was sitting on top of an erupting volcano. I was

There is a lot to be gained through cooperation.(大)Tanbara International Speech Contest

to express myself,” commented Peri on his experi-

The Tanbara International Exchange Association

for their speeches. The first four weeks were spent

held its 15th Annual International Speech Contest on

writing drafts, and the last two were speech practice.

Dec. 14 (Sun.) at Tanbara Community Center. A total[Peri] is devoted to studying Japanese, and it seemsof 26 foreign residents, elementary/middle school stu-

like he has started really enjoying the languagedents and adults gave speeches in Japanese, English,

because he writes me often asking me to look over

Chinese and Korean. Topics included homestay

Japanese compositions,” said Itaru Saeki, the head ofexperiences, dreams for the future,

the Tanbara Japanese Language Association who

automobiles, and human rights.

teaches foreign residents every Sunday.

ence. “The participants spent six weeks preparing

Indonesian resident Mr. Peri gave

Peri wants to get to know more people in Saijo. Ifa speech in Japanese entitled “Theyou see him around, say “selamat siang” (hello)! For

Indonesian Heart” about his coun-more information about the speech contest, please see

try’s culture and religion. “I wasthe Tanbara Japanese Language Association website:

nervous, but I’m glad I was able

Mr. Periwww.geocities.jp/tbrjpns/index.html （大）Saijo City International Affairs Section 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

International Relations Saijo

3Culture Note: Vietnamese Valentine’s
Valentine’s Day customs and images differ fromcountry to country.

Men who give flowers towomen are regarded fond-In Japan, Valentine’s Day is a chance for womenly as romantic types.

to confess their feelings. They give chocolate not justMoreover, giving flow-

to romantic partners, but also to friends and col-ers or chocolate to the op-

leagues, and are rewarded by gifts from men on

posite sex on Valentine’s

White Day (March 14). I have received “obligation

Day is a confession of romantic feelings. It meanschocolate” (giri-choco) on Valentine’s Day and re-“let’s go on a date” and “let’s be a couple.” For thisturned the favor on White Day. At first I was sur-reason, Vietnamese people will never give Valentine’sprised by this tradition, but I found it interestingpresents to family members, coworkers, or friends —once I understood it was a part of Japanese culture.

doing so would invite misunderstanding.

But what about Valentine’s in Vietnam? In myStill, presents differ by generation. Young couples

country, Valentine’s Day is a “couple’s day.” There-exchange chocolate and flowers. Spouses give pre-fore, young couples and spouses

sents they know their partner will like and use. Fur-exchange presents on this day.

thermore, many people think that a romantic evening

In particular, men don’t stop at

date at a café or restaurant is the best way to spend

presents for their partners, they

Valentine’s Day.

Saijo CIR
Truong Dinh Le

Series: Emergency
Readiness Saijo
No. 6

give flowers as well. The ideal

For men, Valentine’s in Vietnam is the luckiest

flower is a red rose. Even if wom-

day to confess love. Doing so through roses is popu-

en only receive this red symbol oflar. Whether or not their flower is accepted is an im-love and nothing else on Valen-

plicit answer to their proposal.（レ)tine’s Day, they will be delighted.

1/17 Comprehensive
Disaster Exercises

On January 17 at 9 a.m., sirens sounded and a text

a chance to practice absorbing vital information andpresenting it in an easy-to-understand manner.
However, I know that this will not nearly be enoughpreparation in the event of an actual emergency.
During the drills, I was contacted by a foreign resi-

message was delivered to my phone, signaling thedent who wanted to participate in the exercises but

commencement of Saijo’s comprehensive disaster read-

didn’t know where to go. She is not a member of her

iness drills, my first such experience in Japan. I imme-

neighborhood association, so she never received evacu-

diately departed for city hall.

ation information. ALT’s are taught this information

Once at the 5F Disaster Management Division, I

when they arrive in Saijo, but what about the rest ofparticipated in drills as a Coordinator for Internation-

Saijo’s 850 foreign residents? We have to make sureal Relations, preparing so that I could be a resource forthey know where to evacuate in case of an emergency.

our city’s foreign residents in case of an emergency.

They must receive the information they need quickly

My fellow CIR and I translated mock emergency

and concisely. Saijo City must work with local busi-bulletins into English and Vietnamese. These werenesses employing foreign workers to be emergency-

tsunami reports, so time was of the essence. This wasready. This is everyone’s responsibility.（J）Saijo City International Affairs Section 〒793-8601 164 Akeyashiki, Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture
TEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp URL: http://www.city.saijo.ehime.jp

4International Relations Saijo

Eigo deGO!

John Bull or Uncle Sam?
British English vs American EnglishEnglish),theprogram

Microsoft

Word is doing a lot to spread American English across the globe. This is

It is common knowledge that English vocabulary

because Word displays the British

and slang differ by country. The differences between

spellings of words (such as “maths”)

American and British English are especially famous,as errors.

thebest-known

examplebeing

thewords“elevator” (USA) and “lift” (UK).
Saijo’s ALTs (Assistant Language Teacher) comefrom all over the world, and so I am constantly ex-Moreover, the program even automatically changes
some words from their English spelling to American
spelling. Try typing “organisation,” and Word willchange it to the American “organization.”

posed to different versions of English. Sometimes thiseven causes minor misunderstandings.
America and the United Kingdom are said to have a“special relationship,” yet sometimes there is light
friction caused by the differences in our languages.
We may even make fun of these differences. Sometimes my English students tell me “British English iseasier to understand than American English,” whichslightly wounds my American pride.
As with the “elevator” example, there are places
where words are completely different between theAs non-native speakers, I encourage you to experiment with how you use English. The nuance differs
depending on the what words you choose, so try both
US and UK versions. (J）JapaneseUK Englishアパートflat
数学maths
フライドポテト chips
果肉入りwith juicy bits
携帯mobileUS Englishapartmentmath
french fries

with pulp
cell phone

Source: Oxford English Dictionary

countries, but differences in spelling are more common. According to one of my Australian friends (UK国際交流 INFO

ロ ー チ ュ樂趣！！ Chinese Quiz

JICA四国よりお知らせ ～平成27年度JICAボランティア募集～
あなたの技術・経験を開発途上国で活かしてみませんか？現地の人々と協働しながら、人づくり・国づくりに協力します。
募集するボランティア●青年海外協力隊／日系社会ボランティア（対象年齢：満20～39歳）●シニア海外ボランティア（対象年齢：満40～69歳）
愛媛県内の募集説明会
日時：4月5日（日）・18日（土） 13時半～17時
場所：コムズ（松山市男女共同参画推進センター）5階大会議室（松山市三番町6丁目4番地20）
その他：参加費無料、事前申し込み不要、入退室自由問い合わせ：087‐821‐8824（JICA四国）
募集期間：4月1日（水）～5月11日（月） 当日消印有効

What do the following words mean?
シェンユーピェン

シーファージ

ハンユエン

一．生 魚 片 二．洗髪剤 三．韓 元バンチョウ

ワンチョウ

ユーマオチョウ

四．棒 球 五．網 球 六．羽毛球ジェンチャオ

七． 剣 橋 （The name of a town in England）

Shikoku on the World StageA year and a half has passed since I moved to

Shikoku was featured in The New York Times’ an-Saijo, but with our new International Exchange
Association, my job begins anew. I look forward

tion. As a result of English-language PR like this,to working with everyone in 2015 and beyond. (J)the number of foreign visitors to Ehime will likely
increase in 2015. We are excited for the chance toshow more and more people what we love about ourhometown!

中国語クイズ解答：1.刺身2.シャンプー 3.ウォン ４.野球 5.テニス 6.バドミントン
７．ケンブリッジ

nual “places to go” as Japan’s only tourist destina-編集
後記

Staff：
Sachi Kawaguchi （か）Hiroyuki Ochi （大）Truong Dinh Le （レ）John Wheeler （J） (English translation)

Published by the Saijo City International Affairs Section

Read online inTEL(0897)52-1206 FAX(0897)52-1200 E-mail: kokusai@saijo-city.jp

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