The Hyogo International Association’s Cultural Exchange Publication

Vol.97
May2019Come

HIA supports the activities of Japanese
Language Schools!
Japanese language classrooms
have been established in all of
the 41 cities & towns in Hyogo
Prefecture, and there are about
100 schools currently run by
volunteer groups or municipal
international associations. These
schools do not just serve as aplace for foreign visitors to learn
Japanese in a comfortable space
they can belong, but are also aplace where foreign residents andJapanese volunteers can meet anddeepen their understanding ofeach other’s culture. Theseschools thus play a significant
role in the front line of thedevelopment of multi-culturalcommunities.

Above: HIA Japanese language
course for foreign residents inHyogo
Left: Language support
volunteers from different
communities getting together
at a workshop

In addition to offering beginner Japanese courses,
sharing its knowledge and experience at workshops indifferent locations, and creating opportunities toexchange opinions on how to run schools, HIA also
cooperates with Japanese language schools
throughout Hyogo Prefecture to support foreign
residents’ Japanese study and interaction activities
with local communities.
Above: Students
giving a performanceof “Shovel Shamisen”
they practiced with
their classmates (TakaTown)
Right: Students
learning useful Kanji
from the things theyencounter everyday

HIA is working to create a system where every
foreign resident, wherever they live in Hyogo, canlearn a level of Japanese necessary for their everyday
lives and begin to take part in their local community.
For further information on Japanese language
programs, please contact:

HIA TEL: 078-230-3261

Friends ofHyogo

Fukusaki Japanese Language Salon—Striving for a Cozy Salon—“Ohayo gozaimasu!” The Japanese language class began with a bright voice on Sundaymorning. One day beneath a clear winter sky, we visited the Fukusaki Japanese Language
Salon, one of the groups being supported by HIA’s “Ibasho for Foreign Residents and Youth”
initiative.
The Fukusaki Japanese Language Salon, organized by the Fukusaki Japanese Language
Volunteer Society in Fukusaki Town, was established in 2014 and the salon celebrates the5th anniversary of its founding this year. The salon originally started as a Japanese language
class for non-Japanese living in Fukusaki, but in recent years the number of technical interns,
particularly from Vietnam or Indonesia, has been increasing and consequently have become
the majority of learners at the salon.
“Our salon should not be held for companies. However, we would like to meet the needs ofevery foreigner who wishes to learn with us.” A member of the volunteer group passionatelysaid. With like-minded members, the salon is held twice a month on Sunday while organizing
groups according to learners’ Japanese ability. They also have preparation classes for theJapanese Language Proficiency Test after requests from learners. The members of thevolunteer group eagerly put a lot of thought into the lesson content and have developed
tools such as records for each individual learner to tailor content. Consequently, the total
number of learners registered with the salon now exceeds 80 learners and sometimes theirclassroom is completely full. Learners we interviewed on the day said “I always can’t wait tocome to the salon,” and “I really enjoy learning Japanese,” their smiles leaving a lasting
impression.

The Fukusaki Japanese Language Salon isalways looking for volunteers willing to support
Japanese language learning as non-Japanese in
the area increase.

The Fukusaki Japanese Language Salon has already been considered “a cozy placefor foreigners” in Fukusaki. Their activities will surely continue to spread from hereon.

Fukusaki Japanese Language Volunteer Society(Inside the Fukusaki Culture Center)
TEL 0790-22-3755 FAX 0790-22-2561

OverseasOffices

The scene of Japanese
Education in the near future?
The head offices of Microsoft and Amazon, companies which everyone
knows, are in the suburbs of Seattle, Washington. Thus, a lot of IT systems
engineers live in and around Seattle. You can see people using a laptop at acafé or on a commuting bus developing program systems.
A screenshot of the arithmetic game Prodigy

Answer the quiz given by anenemy to defeat them

Their starting annual salary exceeds 10 million yen, and they accelerate theeconomic growth of the whole Seattle area. In this Seattle area, various IT
technologies are being utilized in the education front. In some school
districts, various software applications are used in class that can be played
like a game. In arithmetic classes, tablets are used by all students, wherethey play a game in which the hero solves an arithmetic quiz given by theenemy. The enrollment for school procedures is done over the internet. It ispossible to check school records or attendance via the internet.
It is thought that programing education is going to be introduced intoelementary schools in 2020 in Japan, as the relationship between education
and IT technology deepens. It may be that the current educational scene in
the suburbs of Seattle is what the what awaits Japan in a few years’ time.

HIA Friendship Party 2019

The “HIA Friendship Party 2019” was held at Kobe Club on Saturday, March 16th. A total of 140 people,including HIA members, Kansai consular members, members of international exchange organizations, andforeign community members participated.
Mr. Maeda, chairman of the HIAFriendship Society, gave the opening
remarks, while Mr. Kanazawa, Vice
Governor of Hyogo Prefecture, gave
the congratulatory address as thehonorary guest. After that, GerardMichels, Consul General of theNetherlands made a toast, and theparticipants' meals and talks began
amidst a peaceful atmosphere.
On stage, chanson singer Mio Kosekisang songs in a mix of Japanese,
French and English, and combinedwith her accompanying guitar hervoice resonated throughout the hall.
The final performance was the fourpiece female music band "Saxophone
QuartetCopain".
Duringtheperformance, they moved not only
on the stage but also throughout thehall, and gave a powerful and colorfulperformance.
Mr. Takagi, Chairman of HIA, gave
the closing remarks, calling foreveryone to join the momentum ofinternational exchange in Hyogo
Prefecture.

Left: Saxophone Quartet
CopainBelow: Guests having apleasant chat

A toast by the Dutch
Consul General

Vice Governor
Kanazawa's Address

Taiwan School Exchange
National Changhua Girls’ Senior High School - Himeji Nishi Senior High School

Exchange activities with oversea schools are strongly
promoted in Hyogo, and at these exchanges students fromboth countries have introduced their cultures to each otherthrough classes, club activities and others, for a deeper
mutual understanding.
Exchange partner schools are mainly from Japan’s
neighboring countries such as Taiwan, South Korea and China,
but we have also accepted groups on high school excursion,groups of observers, and visiting groups of elementary schoolstudents and junior high school students from countries such
as India and Indonesia.
Theatrical folklore passed down through a Taiwanese ethnic minority

On Wednesday, January 23rd, a group of 84 students fromthe National Changhua Girls’ Senior High School in Taiwan(77 students, 7 teachers and others) visited Himeji Nishi
Senior High School for an exchange initiative. The Taiwanese
students were divided into groups and, using English,
experienced some traditional Japanese games such as
hagoita, kendama, hyakunin-isshu karuta, and fukuwarai.
There was also a performance of a play that was based on anold story inherited among a minority group in Taiwan, as well
as a musical performance with the Japanese instrument ofKoto, which became a precious experience of learning aboutcultures different from their own.
Visiting the school’s Guitar & Mandolin Club

Upcoming Events
Note: These events are subject to change. Please check our website or
newsletter for any updates

MayJul

HIA Library Display•Special Feature; Finland

Events•Applications for HIA Japanese Courses•Hyogo EU Seminar: Lecture by theLithuanian Ambassador
HIA Library Display•
Special Feature: FranceJunEvents•
Hyogo Consortium of International
Associations – Annual General Meeting

Enquiries:

Hyogo International AssociationPh(078)230-3260

FAX(078)230-3280

E-mail hia-info@net.hyogo-ip.or.jp

HIA Website:
http://www.hyogo-ip.or.jp/

Hyogo International Association 2Fl. IHD Center, 5-1, 1-Chome, Wakinohamakaigan-dori, Chuo-ku, Kobe, Hyogo 651-0073