4 | Kaleidoscope Meguro November 2017CONTENTS

Meguro UNESCO Bazaar
Meguro UNESCO Association organizes a bazaar to‘Remember Areas Affected by the Great East JapanEarthquake’.
The sales from this bazaar will be donated to thedisaster areas, and your donations and participation
will be highly appreciated.
Date: Sat. November 11, 2017 13:00-15:00
Place: Gohongi Elementary School Lunch Room
Address: 2-24-3 Gohongi Meguro-ku, Tokyo
For more details, please visit the website;
http://meguro-unesco.info

Tokyo AIDS Prevention MonthNovember 16 - December 15 is ‘Tokyo AIDS PreventionMonth’, and December 1 is ‘World AIDS Day’.
* AIDS・Sexually Transmitted Diseases（Chlamydia・Syphilis） Test
＜Temporary test services＞
Date/Time: Dec. 4 (Mon) 09:00-11:00
Venue: Meguro City Hall main building 3 rd floor Health
Department＜Normal test services＞
Date/Time: The third Monday every month (20 th forNovember, 18th for December) 09:00-11:00
Venue: same as above
Note:
Tests are free of charge, but a booking in advance isrequired.
For queries, please call a representative (Tel: 03-57229896), or visit Meguro City Hall main building 3 rd floor
Health and Infection Prevention Department counter.

* Meguro City Hall Panel Exhibition ‘Red Ribbon’
Date/Time: Nov. 27 (Mon) - Dec 1 (Fri)
Venue: City Hall main building 1st floor west gate lobby

Life in Tokyo

Site for Foreign Residents of Tokyo
https://www.lifein.tokyo.jp/en/

Meguro City Run- Special Interview …. 1
- Year End &New Year ..…… 2

The 2nd Meguro City Run ~Health Marathon~ will beheld on Sunday November 26 which starts at 8:30 am(rain or shine). During the events, traffic restrictions
will be applied to Yamate, Komazawa, Jiyuu, andMeguro streets.

- Autumn View ……… 3- Information ………… 4Vol.003

MIFA Festival Volunteer

Interview with Mr. Cheikh Niang

Volunteers are wanted who can help organize the 13 thAmbassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of theRepublic of Senegal to JapanMIFA International Exchange Festival taking place atMeguro Persimmon Hall and Meguro Kumin Campus
Park on Sunday Feb. 11, 2018.
Festival committee meetings will be held at MIFA onOct. 7 (Sat.) 13:30-15:30, Nov. 4, Dec. 9, Jan. 13,Jan. 20, Jan. 27, and Feb. 3 10:00-12:00.

Your participation to the festival committee meetings
would be highly appreciated!

Year End & New Year
Meguro City Services Not Available
The office will be closed from December 29, 2017 till
January 3, 2018.

Introduction of our new editorial staff
I am Reiko Suzuki. I have lived in Meguro for nearly
50 years since I got married. I think I have been
involved in MIFA activities for nearly 20 years, helping
producing MIFA newsletter, attending the JapaneseConversation group, attending the MIFA Festival, andenjoying the volunteer job of translation andinterpretation. I’d like to enjoy my life taking part ofMIFA activities.
Foreign Residents Information Desk

Main Building 1F, Meguro City Office 2-19-15
Kamimeguro 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.

We would like to thankMr. Niang and Mr. Ndiaye(First Counselor) for theirtime and valuable inputs
hoping their insights andexperiences would help
develop a more matured
multi-cultural community
in Meguro City.
[Mr. Niang and his family on stage：
Jiyugaoka Bon-odori Festival］

Tori no Ichi (Cock Festival)

For application:
Please inform MIFA via email (info@mifa.jp) of your name,nationality, address, phone number and your preferred activity.
For inquiries:
Meguro International Friendship Association (MIFA)
Tel: 03-3715-4671 / Fax: 03-3715-4672 / Email: info@mifa.jp

November 2017

Meguro Ootori Shrine

Mr. Niang has been working and living in Meguro Cityfor three years, and was the honorable guest to theBon-odori Festival held in Jiyugaoka early August.
Being a fan of Japan and Meguro City, he kindly
accepted our request for the interview.
Q1. What surprised you the most in Japan?
What he thinks stands out the most in Japan is thesafety on the street which is secured 100% even at
midnight, and the sense of freedom which is assured
through respect for differences Japanese people
present to foreigners. Also it is amazing for him tofind how warm Japanese people can be, though they
are shy and withdrawn like any other islanders he isfamiliar with.
Q2. What would you like the most in Meguro
City?
The places he recommends foreigners to visit would be
Sugekari Park in Aobadai for cherry blossoms, Ryusenji
Temple in Shimomeguro, and Japan Folk Crafts
Museum in Komaba. His favorite is Jiyugaoka where
his home is and where he enjoys friendly atmospherewith cozy little shops, restaurants, and bars. He loves
Jiyugaoka so much that he calls it “a microcosms ofTokyo and Japan”, as everything is condensed there.
Q3. What message would you like to convey toforeigners living in Meguro City?
During the interview, Mr. Niang continued to suggest‘we should open up’. For those who come fromoutside Japan, he says not to be too cautious andafraid of talking to local people. If you get them tounderstand what you need, they will help you and you
will get to know and love Japan more...

Tori no Ichi is a festival organized on the days of thecock in November every year. This festival is held twoor three times a year, as the day of the cock comesaround every twelve days. The first festival is called
Ichi no Tori, the second Ni no Tori, and the third Sanno Tori.
Tori no Ichi held at Meguro Ootori Shrine has a long
history in Tokyo, which started in the Edo era. Thisfestival has been very popular, as it is the first eventfor the people to prepare for the coming new year, andto pray for good luck and business prosperity. During
the festival, many stalls are lined up to sell kumade
which is a bamboo rake decorated with various lucky
charms. Kumade is believed to rake in fortune to thehouse. And when a customer decides to buy akumade, the seller performs rhythmic hand clapping tocelebrate, and this gesture is called tejime, a very
unique Japanese custom.
2017 Tori no Ichi Schedule

Ichi no Tori: Mon. November 6, around 6 am-11 pm
Ni no Tori : Sat. November 18, around 6 am-11 pm
San no Tori : Thu. November 30, around 6 am-11 pm

2 | Kaleidoscope Meguro November 2017

Illumination
Flowers of Light Bloom along Meguro River“NAKAMEGURO JEWELDOME 2017” will beheld this year again
from Friday December
15 to Sunday
December 24. Half amillion light bulbs on
about 110 cherrytrees will illuminate
along the Meguro River between Horai Bridge andAsahi Bridge.
Baccarat Chandelier
Shines“Baccarat ETERNAL
LIGHTS”, an annual
illumination event, will beheld in Yebisu Garden
Place from earlyNovember through earlyJanuary.
One of the world’s largest chandeliers made by
Baccarat, a company with a 250-year history, always
attracts many visitors with its overwhelming presence
and dazzling light. Please enjoy the illumination ofTokei Hiroba and other lit-up attractions.
Illumination of Jiyugaoka
The Marie Clair Christmas Tree, located in front of thesouth exit of Jiyugaoka Station, brings people’s wishes
together. The charity plates containing people’s
messages are placed on the tree as ornaments. The
light-up ceremony will be held on Saturday November
25 at 16:00. The station masters of Tokyu Line will be
there to view the lighting. The Christmas tree will
illuminate the street until Monday December 25. Afterthe event, the fir tree will be returned to the forest andthe ornaments will be buried in the soil.
Meanwhile, in front of the main exit of the station is
the Megami Hiroba Plaza where the annual Christmas
tree lighting will be held on Sunday December 3 at
16:30.
This illumination willcontinue until Wednesday
February 14 (St.Valentine’sDay). This year’s theme is“Motto Jiyugaoka (Can’t Get
Enough of Jiyugaoka)”. Itmarks the 88th anniversaryof the opening of Jiyugaoka
Station.
Please also enjoy the events
to celebrate thisanniversary.

Kaleidoscope Meguro November 2017 | 3

The Events ofYear End & New Year’s Day
Azuki-gayu (Red bean porridge) etc.
on Toji (Winter Solstice)
On the day of toji (winter solstice), red bean porridgeand pumpkins are customarily eaten and people take a
hot bath scented with yuzu (aromatic citron) in orderto prevent catching a cold.
Toshikoshi-soba (Year-crossing noodles)
In the evening of oomisoka(the last day of the year),people eat soba (buck wheat
noodle), called toshikoshisoba, wishing that life belong like the noodles andthat misfortunes be severedfrom them, just like soba
noodles are easily cut apart.
Joya-no-kane (New Year’s Eve bell)
In the Buddhist temples, just in the beginning of New
Year’s Eve and continuing into New Year’s Day, thebells are rung 108 times because of the Buddhist belief
that human beings are plagued by 108 earthy desiresor passions (bonno).
You can experience tolling a bell during the night ofoomisoka at such temples as Enyuji in Himonya,
Gohyakurakanji in Shimomguro (fee charged),and Megurofudoson in
Shimomeguro (fee charged,reservation required).
At Enyuji, you can also enjoy
project mapping on the wallsof the temple as well as
various games to play byyourself.
Hatsumoode (First shrine or temple visit)
On the New Year’s Day, people pay the first visit toShinto shrines or Buddhist temples wishing for good
fortune and peaceful life during the new year. People
clap hands at the Shinto shrines but not at theBuddhist temples when making a wish. Sweet sake orrefined sake is served for purification at the Shintoshrines.
Osechi ryori (New Year’s Food)Special foods calledosechi ryori are servedon New Year’s Day (oron the New Year’s Eve
in some areas of thecountryside) tocelebrate the New Year,wishing for goodfortune.

Shichi-go-sanSeven, five and three years old Children's Day on
November 15
The closest weekend to
November 15, at Ootorishrine, Kumano shrine, andHimonya hachiman, you cansee lots of children in
traditional kimono
accompanied by theirparents and grandparents.
It is Shichi-go-san, which isliterally seven five andthree. It is a festival forchildren. It is a celebration
for girls of seven, boys offive and boys or girls whoare aged three.
You might wonder why the ages are seven fiveand three. In Japan, odd numbers such as 7, 5 and 3
have been considered as lucky numbers. So theseages have been symbolized as milestones to pray forvulnerable children to grow up safely.
Court nobles in the Heian Period (A.D.794-1185)
began to celebrate the growth of their children. Thenin the Edo period (A.D.1603-1868), common people
adopted the practice and started visiting shrines topray for their children. On the other hand, samurai
went through various rites of passage. Boys and girls
aged three started to let their hair grow long. Boys
aged five started to put on hakama. Girls aged sevenstarted to wear obi. Those practices are thought to be
the origin of Shichi-go-san.
These days, children are all dressed up and are taken
to, Ujigami, a local shrine god. Parents give thanks fortheir children’s growing up in good health. And they
pray for their children’s good fortune.
Boys and girls are so adorable in their best costumes.
Many girls put on colorful kimonos and beautiful hairaccessories. Many boys wear haori and hakama. There
are also lovely children in western style dresses orsuits there. Parents are always busy with taking
photos of their beloved children.
They all have long rectangle paper bags,
which are decorated with Japanesetraditional good luck pictures such as pine,bamboo, plum, crane, and turtle. There arelong, thin, red and white stick type candies
called Chitose-ame inside those bags.
Chitose means a thousand years. Amemeans candy. Chitose-ame is believed tohave a special spiritual power for healthand longevity. Parents give their children
Chitose-ame in the hope that they wouldlive a long and happy life.
Shichi-go-san is one of the most thanksgiving andmemorable days for Japanese parents.

Famous Sights for the Ginkgo
in Meguro City
What is the tree of Tokyo? It is ginkgo! Ginkgo at Meiji
Jingu Gaien (Outer garden of Meiji shrine) in Minato
city is very famous. In Meguro city, there are manysights for the ginkgo and among them, Higashiyama
Park and Komaba campus of the University of Tokyo
are the most famous locations and open to the public.
The most beautiful season is from the end ofNovember to mid of December. How about going there
during late fall and enjoy beautiful ginkgo for a day?..
Higashiyama Park and its surrounding
Address: Higashiyama 2 chomeLines of ginkgo
trees can beviewed from
Higashiyama Parkand the street
along
Higashiyama
elementary school
to the SelfDefense Force’s camp. (Access: 10 minutes walk fromIkejiriohashi station of Tokyu Denentoshi line)
Komaba campus of University of Tokyo
Address: Komaba 3-chomeLines of Ginkgo
trees glitter atsunset on the mainstreet of thecampus. Komaba
sai (campus
festival promotedby the students)
will be held on theNov. 24(Fri)through 26(Sun). You can enjoy numerous research
exhibitions, food stalls, and performances by student
clubs if you visit there at the right timing. The
affordable gakushoku cafeteria and restaurant areavailable and they will be busy with many people
coming from the neighborhood. (Access: 1minute walkfrom Komabatodaimae station of Keio Inokashira line.
Rinshinomori Park
Address: Shimomeguro 5-chome
Besides ginkgo,
beautiful maple
trees and various
types of giant treesof over 100 years
old can be viewedat Rinshinomori
Park (Access: 10minutes walk fromMusashikoyama
station of Tokyu Meguro line)