Vol.007 July 2018

4 | Kaleidoscope MEGURO July 2018

Preventing Heat Stroke
During Tokyo’s sweltering summer season, it’s
possible to get heat stroke either outdoors or in hot orhumid indoor areas. To prevent heat stroke:
1. Avoid hot places. When going outside, wear a cap
and stay out of the sun.
2. Wear loose-fitting, water-absorbent clothes madeof natural fabrics.

Meguro City General Disaster Prevention Drill:
Date and Time: Sunday, September 2nd, 2018,
9:00–11:30 a.m.
Place: Higashiyama Junior High School(1-24-31, Higashiyama, Meguro-ku)Swimming Pools

Meguro municipal pools are open to the public andcan be reserved for groups. Swimming classes are
4. Avoid intense physical activity when you’re tired or also available
low on sleep.
<North District> Komaba Swimming Pool
5. Be especially careful when the temperature*25m indoor heated swimming poolsuddenly increases after repeated cool days.
2-19-39 Komaba TEL: 03-3485-7761 FAX: 03-3485-3926
Symptoms<East District> Meguro Citizens Center Swimming
Common symptoms include dizziness,Poollightheadedness, headaches, nausea, fatigue,*25m indoor heated swimming pool
fever, seizures, and confusion.
*50m/Children’s outdoor swimming pool
In case of heat stroke
2-4-36 Meguro TEL: 03-3711-1139 FAX: 03-3711-2594
 Move to a cool place immediately. Drink sports
drinks to replenish water and sodium.
<Central District> Gohongi Elementary School
 Loosen your clothes, and cool down your body
Indoor Swimming Poolwith water or ice.
*25m indoor heated swimming pool
2-24-3 Gohongi TEL/FAX: 03-3714-8511
 In case of serious symptoms such as seizures,unresponsiveness, or being unable to drink water
on one’s own, call an ambulance and seek medical <South District> Ishibumi Elementary SchoolIndoor Swimming Poolattention immediately.
*25m indoor heated swimming pool
1-18-4 Himonya TEL/FAX: 03-3793-2606

September 1st is Japan’s national Disaster Prevention
Day (防災の日, bōsai no hi), and each year around thistime Meguro City carries out a “Meguro City General
Disaster Prevention Drill”. The drill includes handlingof equipment and materials, provision of emergency
foods, rescue operations, experiences in anearthquake simulation truck and fire simulation
house, and other exhibitions. Interpretation will beavailable. As it may be quite hot on that day,participants should wear a hat and drink plenty ofliquids.

Meguro CityNews Letter
5 languages are now
supported on an e-bookversion!
Read in your own language!
Supports Text-to-Speech!

1.

Culture2, 3. Nature
4.

Information*In case of bad weather, the event may be suspended. Pleasecheck Meguro City’s website to confirm whether it will be held asplanned.

3. Drink plenty of water and sports drinks to replace
fluids and electrolytes you lose when you sweat.

Disaster Prevention DrillCONTENTS<West District> Midorigaoka Elementary School
Indoor Swimming Pool
*25m indoor heated swimming pool
2-13-1 Midorigaoka TEL: 03-3718-3130 FAX: 03-3723-8744

Outdoor pools are open July 1st–September 10th.
*Opening hours and fees for each pool are available
on the Meguro City website atwww.city.meguro.tokyo.jp.
*Telephone inquiries at the above numbers can bemade only in Japanese. For help in English, please call
03-3715-1111.

Life in Tokyo

Site for Foreign Residents of Tokyohttps://www.lifein.tokyo.jp/en/Foreign Residents Information Desk

Main Building 1F, Meguro City Office 2-19-15Kamimeguro Meguro-ku Tokyo
http://www.mifa.jp/mifa2/gaikokujinsodan2/2E.htm

Published by Culture & Exchange Promotion Section, Meguro City Office
Edited by Edit Group in MIFA
Meguro City Office Annex 5F 2-19-15 Kamimeguro, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-0051
TEL 03-3715-4671 FAX 03-3715-4672 E-mail:info@mifa.jp URL:http://www.mifa.jp
The bimonthly newsletter Kaleidoscope MEGURO is intended to make a multi-cultural society embracing and diversity.

Star Festival
Tanabata Matsuri

Midsummer Day of the Ox
Doyo-no Ushi-no Hi

On either July 7th or August 7th, we celebrate theStar Festival (Tanabata), by writing wishes, often in
the form of poetry, on strips of paper that are in 5
different colors and hanging them on bamboo. In
Meguro City, you can
see these decorations inpublic areas such as
Suzume no Oyado
Ryokuchi Park (スズメのお宿緑地公園),
gymnasium and some
private houses.
Let's enjoy the star festival which marks thebeginning of summer!

Is there a custom of eating eels or unagi (うなぎ) inyour country?
Japanese people love eels. It is said
that Japan’s eel consumption
accounts for about 70% of theworld’s total. Midsummer Day of theOx is widely recognized as a special
day for eating eels, though they areeaten through the year.
On this day, various boxed lunchesof eel and rice are sold at
supermarkets and convenience
stores and many eel restaurants arecrowded with customers.

The Star Festival is derived
from a romantic myth that
God allows the two starcrossed lovers, Altair ofAquila and Vega of Lyra, tomeet just once a year on
the night of July 7th.

Doyo refers to the period between
two seasons and ushi means theday of the ox. Both terms derivefrom the ancient Chinese calendar.
Doyo and ushi fall on the same
day several times a year.
Then, why has only the day of the ox inThis celebration is customary in many parts of Easternmidsummer doyo become an eel-eating day?
Asia, such as China, Taiwan, Korea, and Vietnam. In
There are many sayings but this is the mostJapan, the Star Festival is thought to have started infamous one. Gennai Hiraga, an Edo-period
the Nara Period (8th century) when Chinese tradition
genius inventor called Japan’s Leonardo da Vinci,
and Japanese faith combined, and later spread
wrote the catchphrase “Today is Midsummer Day ofthroughout the country during the Edo Period.
the Ox” to advertise an eel restaurant suffering low
sales in summer, which received a high reputation
Today, large scale star festivals are held all overamongst the people. In those days, it was alreadyJapan, mainly targeting tourists and shoppers into
said that eating something with u (う) on the day of
local stores. Famous ones are in Sendai in Miyagi
the ox makes people energetic, which Gennai might
Prefecture and in Hiratsuka in Kanagawa Prefecture.
have paid attention to. As other eel restaurants
The following star festivals are held near Meguro City:
copied this catchphrase, Midsummer Day of the Ox
gradually became a special day for eating eels, which
Asagaya (阿佐ヶ谷) Star Festival:
has continued up to the present.
Place:
Around JR Chuo & Sobu Line Asagaya
Station, Suginami City
Eels are cooked inAccess:
JR Chuo & Sobu Line Asagaya Stationdifferent ways, but
Date:Around August 7thJapanese people’s mostShitamachi (下町) Star Festival:
popular style is kabayaki.
Place:
Kappabashi hondori (合羽橋本通り)
The aroma it gives off
Taito Cityfrom the char-broiled
Access:10 min walk from JR Ueno Station,
salty-sweet sauce is so
5 min walk from Tokyo Metro Asakusa
stimulating to our sense
Stationof smell that we cannot
Date:
Around July 7th
resist the temptation of eating it.
Since July 7th is a rainy season, the festivals are often
In 2018, Midsummer Day of the Ox comes on July
postponed to August. If you plan on attending,
20th (Fri.) and August 1st (Wed.). Why don’t you try
please visit the website in advance to confirm theit out?
exact date of the festival.

2 | Kaleidoscope MEGURO July 2018

Morning Glory Market& Lantern Plant Market
Morning glories or asagao
are large flowers of various
colors that bloom insummer morning. It is also
enjoyable to grow and view
them in pots. In Japan,
many children experience
growing them inelementary school. So,
morning glories are one of
the flowers people feelmost familiar with.
These days, more people use them as greenerysunscreen curtains for summer by letting their vines
grow on window nets.

Kaleidoscope MEGURO July 2018 | 3
Kagurazaka Lantern Plant Market:
Date: July 25th – 26thfrom 5:30 to 10:00 p.m.
Place: Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji Temple(5-36 Kagurazaka Shinjuku-ku) &around the temple
Seven minutes walk from West Exit ofJR Iidabashi Station

Marine Day
Umibiraki (Opening the Beach)

Iriya Morning Glory Festival(Morning Glory Market):
Date: July 6th – July 8th from 5 to 11 a.m.
Morning glories – as the name suggests - bloom earlyin the morning and wilt in the afternoon.

Place: Kototoi-dori Street, centered around Iriya
Kishibojin (1-12-16 Shitaya, Taito-ku)

Recently in Tokyo, swimming has become an all-yearround activity, such as at our local public swimming
pools, or at private fitness clubs. However, not toolong ago, we used to have to wait until the summer toswim in the swimming pool of our school, in the sea
Chinese lantern plants or or in the river. Many of us have fond memories ofhozuki are also seen ingoing swimming in the sea with our families. Beaches
summer. Their orange
near Tokyo, such as Shonan Beach or beaches in theclusters, which are not
Miura Peninsula in Kanagawa Prefecture or Chiba
flowers but inflated seed Prefecture, are very popular, crowded spots in thepod, contain orangesummer. How about creating some fun memories bycolored fruits. Lanternenjoying swimming in the sea?
plants, just like reallanterns, are decorated
Marine Day is now recognized by law as a national
during the Bon period
holiday, observed on the third Monday of July, for the(when the souls of thepurpose of showing gratitude for the third Monday ofdead are believed toJuly, for the purpose of showing gratitude for thereturn home). In
bounty of thesummer, lantern plantsea and wishingmarkets are opened infor theprosperity ofmany places in Japan: In Tokyo, one held at Senso-ji
Japan, ain Asakusa is well-known; another held at
Bishamonten Zenkoku-ji in Kagurazaka is tied up with maritimenation. This law
Kagurazaka Festival in the neighboring shopping
was passed instreet.
1995, and cameSenso-ji Lantern Plant Fair:
into effect in 1996. Marine Day was first enacted toDate: July 9th – July 10th
be on July 20th, but in 2003, the date was changed tofrom morning to late at nightthe third Monday of the month in order to create a
Place: Senso-ji Temple (2-3-1 Asakusa, Taito-ku)
three-day weekend in accordance with the "Happy
Three minutes walk from Asakusa Station
Monday System". July 20th is well-grounded inof Tokyo Metro Ginza Linehistory, being celebrated as Umi no kinenbi (theAnniversary of the Sea) before it became an official
The origin dates back to the Meiwa Period (1764 – 1772). The
date of July 10, called shiman rokusen nichi (46,000 days), isnational holiday. On July 20th, 1876, the Meiji
the most virtuous one of the twelve merit days set in a year
Emperor returned to Yokohama Harbor, not on hisbecause visitors on this day are said to have 46,000 days’ worth
usual warship, but on a lighthouse patrol ship called,of merit.
The street is lined with 60 morning glory vendors and 80 stalls.
The festival bustles with an average of 400,000 visitors everyyear

Meijimaru. Thus, "The Anniversary of the Sea”, wasestablished in 1941 to commemorate his return.
Umibiraki (opening the beach) marks the start ofswimming season as the ocean beaches open to thepublic. On Umibiraki, religious Shinto rituals are heldon various shores, praying for the safety ofbeachgoers. As the Japan Islands stretch a long way
from the north to the south, the day of Umibiraki
varies from place to place. It is generally held on July
1st in Honshu, but in Okinawa, where the climate iswarm, Umibiraki is held in March or April.
The earliest
Umibiraki is heldon January 1st,and has been
held on that day
since 1982, inthe Ogasawara
Islands, small
southern islandsin Metropolitan
Tokyo. When the beaches open, various safetymeasures are taken, such as stationing safety guards
and lifeguards and setting shark or jellyfish-deterringnets. Crowds of happy beachgoers congregate in
temporary cottages, or what we call, Umi-no-ie, torest, change clothes, and to purchase and enjoy foodand drinks.

Mountain Day
Let’s Enjoy Japanese Nature!

If you’re abeginner, it isrecommended togo for a walk at
the country side,or go on a hikein mountains
with a lower
altitude. Thenyou could
Ushiro-Tateyama-Renpo
challengeclimbing higher mountains. Even for people who are
not confident with their stamina are able to approach
the summit by ropeway; enjoy a hot spring and local
gourmet food after the hike. You can definitely feelthe great mother nature when you are standing infront of the magnificent view of mountains andbeautiful alpine plants.
Here we would like to introduce Mt. Fuji which webelieved many people would like to climb at least oncein their life. It is located near Tokyo and can be seenfrom Meguro City in good weather condition. Mt. Fuji
has been a symbol of Japan for a long period time, as
it is the highest mountain in Japan with an altitude of
3,776 meters (12,388ft) above the sea, and has themost beautiful shape of a composite volcano.
Mt. Fuji attracts around 250,000 to 280,000 climbers
each year and is also the most popular mountain in
Japan. Since altitude between the starting point andthe summit is more than 1,200 meters (3,937ft), it isnecessary to have sufficient physical strength andbeware of mountain sickness. Climbing Mt. Fuji
without the proper equipments and a climbing plan isextremely dangerous, please prepare well in advanceAs there is a 20℃ (68F) temperature gap between theground and the summit, the temperature on thesummit may fall to 0℃ (32Ｆ) at night time in August.
Therefore, cold protection is mandatory even insummer. Before departure, make sure you have all
you need to survive, such as trekking boots, rainwear,
alpine hat, head lamp, water, easy-to-take snacks,etc.
Mt. Fuji is accessible in 2018 as follows:

Kashima Yarigatake

August 11th, do you know what day is it? It’s anational holiday in Japan called “Mountain Day”. It
started in 2016 to provide opportunities to come close
to and appreciate blessings from the mountains.

Yoshida Trail:
Period: from July 1st to Sep 10th
Fujinomiya/Subashiri/Gotenba Trails:
Period: from July 10th to Sep 10th
*The above may change subject to weather and trail conditions.
The trails and huts are closed for the remaining of the year andclimbing is prohibited.

Mountain hiking can maintain and enhance yourFor further details and latest information, please access the website
below.
overall health; it is also believed that immersing
oneself in nature has a relaxation and stress reduction http://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/index.html
effects. In Japan, around 70% of the land isMt. Fuji is not the only mountain in Japan. There are amountainous, which means just a short trip away
lot more attractive mountains all the way fromfrom downtown, you can find yourself in the heart of
Hokkaido to Kyushu. Use this opportunity and enjoy
nature and enjoy mountain hiking.
hiking on “Mountain Day!”