Issued in April 2014

Welcome to IUJ and UMEX

UMEX holds about 100 members and is supported by students, housewives, local government officials, businessmen and self-employed workers; and encompasses members from the early 20s to 80s of age. Thiswide diversity underpins various activities undertaken by UMEX, allowinginternational students to attain well-balanced understanding of theJapanese culture and society

Upcoming Events

What is UMEX?

April. 19

UONUMA Association for Multicultural Exchange (called UMEX) was set up in May
2002 by the local people and IUJ staff tofoster multicultural interaction, support foreign residents and enhance Japanese people’s awareness of foreign cultures. Furthermore, UMEX through its various activities inassociation with the local people helps IUJ
students experience “Japan” and thus enrichtheir knowledge about Japanese people, theirculture and social life.

Cherry blossoms viewing tour

UMEX events will be announced bybulletin board or e-mail periodically.
Please don’t miss it.

UMEX provides the following programs.
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Helping with your questions on
every day lifeOffering the Japanese Language
ProgramArranging the Home-stay/Homevisit Programs
Offering Japanese Cultureclasses such as Tea Ceremonyclass, Flower Arrangement class,
Calligraphy
Explaining how holidays arecelebrating in Japan, for example
New Year.
Serve as a source of informationof upcoming activities in theneighborhood.
Having Country Presentation
Series by IUJ students, and soon.

Though IUJ is located in Japan as lots of students say they cannot “feel” real Japan here.
It is the result of huge cultural diversity ofcoming students and the fact that common
language of IUJ is English. Before UMEX wasestablished lots of students left IUJ without
experiencing what is the tea ceremony, ikebana or kimono.
UMEX in short acts as a cultural bridge between the international students of IUJ andthe local community of UONUMA.
For further information, access the reportsection in UMEX homepage at
http: http://www.umex.ne.jp/E/

How to obtain information on
UMEX programs/events:★ Look at UMEX info on the bulletin board★ Drop by the UMEX salon★ See UMEX homepage at
http://www.umex.ne.jp/E/
UMEX activities will be decided at the meetingof the working committee to be held at thebeginning of every month. Please let us know
if you have any suggestions and requests.

Tea ceremony

New Year's party

UMEX salon in SD 3
Members gather once a week in the UMEX
salon located at the IUJ Student Dormitory
No. 3, first floor. The salon is open every Saturday, from 13:00 - 15:00.
The UMEX salon is a place where everyone
could meet and talk on a continuous andregular basis to foster interactions. It is anexcellent gateway for IUJ students and theirfamilies to get to know local people and community.
Conversations held at the UMEX salon areoften reflected to a variety of activities, including a bus trip, rice harvesting tour, mountain climbing, wild vegetable cooking as wellas presentation by international students orJapanese students of their traditional culture,lessons for Kado (flower arrangement), Sado(tea ceremony) or calligraphy.

Page 2Introducing UMEX activities
How to join us? Just step in the UMEX salon!

Hello! I’m Takahashi and incharge of UMEX president.
Come and see meat the salonof the evening. Based on yourJapanese Language Program

Kids & Baby Salon
The kids salon will be held once amonth at the UMEX salon, Cafe No
Problem or Tatami-room in MSA.
Mothers and children get together
and have fun. Please come and join
us with your kids.
For more details, contact:
Ms. Sumiya, Shizuko orMs. Takahashi, Kazuko

The UMEX offers Japanese tutor program which is a oneon-one conversation partner style. The purpose of ourprogram is to ease communication difficulties of nonJapanese residents by teaching Japanese and also tohelp make their life here easier and much morecomfortable. The service is free of charge.
It goes without saying that the Japanese language is already part of the IUJ official
curriculum, but those who are weak in English or those who cannot find an appropriate
level of a class might not be able to take it as part of the official curriculum. UMEX serves
as a plaza for those students as well as their families and other foreigners living in thecommunity to learn Japanese.
How to Register:
Application will be ready at the beginning of October. For more details, contact
Ms. Tanaka, Michiko

Dress up by Kimono
Cherry blossoms viewing tour

Greetings from Alumni
Relationships between IUJ students and UMEX
continue even after the graduation. UONUMA
will be your second hometown.

Bus trip for introductionof Japanese culture
Country Introduction by students

See UMEX homepage at http://www.umex.ne.jp/E/
For more details, please contact：
Mr. Moriyama, Toshiyuki at MLIC (toshi@iuj.ac.jp)
Ms. Takahashi, Kazuko (office@umex.ne.jp)

Dear UMEX members:
I spent two wonderful years in IUJ. I
had found a lot of warmth in thesmiles of UMEX members. We spenttime enjoying simpler things in life- thebreath taking nature of the place, theriver and above all the invaluable
friendships.
Through UMEX we were exposed to thecore of the local culture. UMEX offered
for us a wide range of activities.
I would like to send a big hug toeveryone in UMEX and thank them forthe great job they are doing. I know in
my heart someday I will be back to mysecond home.
Nancy