Kinko Bay Tidings ~ Winter 2020 Edition
Hirakawa Zoological Park Organises Fund Raising Activities for Australian WildKoalas
Australia is currently being ravaged by one of the worst
wildfires seen globally in decades, with large areas of thecountry being devastated since the fire season began as
early as August in 2019, within the winter season in thesouthern hemisphere. To date, more than 2,100 houses havebeen destroyed and 28 people have died. In total, more than
18 million hectares have been burned across Australia andthis number is only expected to increase as the drought andheat persists throughout the summer. As many as 1 billion
animals in Australia are believed to have perished within
this natural disaster, including thousands of Koalas, and approximately 80% of their habitat has
been destroyed due to the fires.
In response to this the Hirakawa Zoological Park in Kagoshima City, which keeps more koalas
than any other zoological park in Japan, has set up fund raising activities to assist withAustralia`s wildlife protection. According to the Hirakawa Zoological Park Breeding and Display
Section Manager, the money will go towards the forest renaturation and for the treatment andrehabilitation for koalas who have suffered burns throughout this crisis.
A donation box has been set up at theentrance gate of the Hirakawa ZoologicalPark. Registered mail for sending cash is also
accepted at the following address:

Koala Fund Raising, Hirakawa ZoologicalPark, 5669-1 Hirakawa-cho Kagoshima City
〒891-0133

Christmas Illumination in Kagoshima City.
Kagoshima City was once again beautifully decorated with Christmas lighting over the winterperiod. Among many illuminated areas throughout the city over the winter period, the top twosites recommended for those residing in or visiting Kagoshima are as follows:
Shiroyama Hotel Kagoshima
Situated on Shiroyama Mountain 108m above sea level, Shiroyama Hotel overlooks Kagoshima
City and offers a commanding view of Sakurajima, the symbol of Kagoshima and Kinko Bay.
It is not only one of the best hotels in all of Kagoshima, but also hosts some of the best displays offestive lighting over the Christmas period, including the “Fantasy of Winter Illumination lights”
and “Hill of Happiness”, which are held on the outside premises of the hotel. An approximate

170,000 various coloured lights and fountain streams are set up to match the rhythm of popular
Christmas Carols. For those looking for romance, anyone would be entranced by the atmosphere.
The “Fantasy Garden” has a fountain thatchanges into seven different colours and its
main tree, 10 meters in height that is wrappedin blue and cyan decorations. Other decorated
areas include but are not limited to the Horse

Carriage of Happiness and Happiness Clover.
The must see “Gold Garden” entails a tree inthe centre that is wrapped with golden
decorative lights, while the stairs sparkle withbeautiful ball-shaped lights. What`s more, these beautiful illuminations will continue for anentire 4 months! Every evening from Sunday, October 27th 2019 until February 29th 2020, every
night between 17:30 and 23:00.
Special accommodation plans are also on offer at Shiroyama Hotel during the winter period.
For more information contact Shiroyama Hotel on 0570-07-4680
Minato-Odori ParkThe Christmas illumination began on the first day of December at Minato-Odori Park in
Kagoshima City, in front of the main building of the Kagoshima City Hall. The trees, fountains
and sculptures throughout the park that are lightened up with an incredible 120,000 lights,
offering a truly wondrous spectacle.
Onlookers including families and couples enjoyed the excitement of music and performances,prior to the official beginning of the illumination period after which cheers and applause began as
the entire park was illuminated simultaneously. Every evening the Minato-Odori Park goes dark
before the lights are turned on all at once at 19:00, 20:00 and 21:00pm. The Minato-Odori Park
illumination will be on display every evening from December 1st 2019 between 18:00 to 22:00.

The Japanese Odyssey results
The cycling event “The Japanese Odyssey” Took placefrom Saturday, October 12th 2019 for the 5th edition,
this time starting from the Sakurajima Peninsula in
the Kinko Bay of Kagoshima. The event entails
passing

through14

mandatory

checkpoints

throughout Kyushu, Shikoku and the Japanese Alps,
finishing 10 days later in Tokyo after more than
2200km of riding.

The Japanese Odyssey is stated to be an
endurance cycling event, not a race. It`s about
discovery, exploring and challenging yourself.
Founderoftheevent

Emmanuel

Bastianreported it to be a brilliant experience giving theentrants fantastic memoires of their time biking
through Japan. Mr. Bastian also thanked thestaff of the Kagoshima City Hall and theRainbow Lodge for organising the pre-event anddeparture ceremony at Sakurajima.
“Kagoshima City`s support, contribution and help were invaluable. For many of the entrants it
was their first time in Japan, and talking with them you could feel their joy of being theirastonishment and surprise at discovering a country different to what they expected from theusual clichés associated with Japan. In Europe the country is often associated with huge
tumultuous cities, but it has so much more to offer.”
Of the 53 riders, 22 made it to the final destination Tokyo and through the imposed control points
on time, while 30 riders arrived at a later date or had to get to Tokyo by train to be on time for thearrival party. One rider completed the event in as little
as 7 days. Mr. Bastian has already begun discussing
the plan of once again beginning the TJO inKagoshima for the 2020 edition. “After speaking withmy partner and some other riders, we really wanted tocome back to Kagoshima as the City is Japan`ssouthernmost major city, it`s the perfect choice for thestart of the event. I am really looking forward to it.

*Japanese Odyssey photos by Tonegawa Yukihide

About Kinko Bay Tidings
Produced by: Kagoshima International Exchange Foundation
Editors: Nathan Talbot (English), Songhui Lee (Korean), Xingmin Ji (Chinese) (Coordinators for International Relations, Kagoshima City)
Kagoshima International Exchange Foundation
15-1 Yamashita-chō
Kagoshima City
892-0816 *Japanese Odyssey photos by Tonegawa YukihideJAPANTel: +81 (0)99 226 5931 Fax: +81 (0)99 239 9258
kokusai@kiex.jp http://www.kiex.jp/
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