Vol.005 March 2018

4 | Kaleidoscope MEGURO March 2018

Photos and information Exhibition of
The Great Tokyo Air Raids

CONTENTS
1.

Photo Exhibition to support recovery of
Kesennuma City, Meguro’s friendship city

2.
3.
4.

Hanami (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
On March 10th of 1945, 73 years ago from now, estimated
100 thousand precious lives were taken in the Great Tokyo
Air Raids in just one night.

Seven years has passed by after the Higashi Nippon
Daishinsai (Great East Japan Earthquake), which occurredon March 11st 2011.

Meguro City will hold the Photos and information Exhibitionof The Great Tokyo Air Raids to hope that peace will never
be lost again due to wartime confusion and wish for
perpetual world peace and happiness of the citizens inMeguro.

Meguro City will hold the “Photo Exhibition to support
recovery of Kesennuma City, Meguro’s friendship city” toremind people about the Great East Japan Earthquake, andcontinue providing support to Kesennuma of Miyagi
prefecture, Meguro’s friendship city, prays for its earliest
recovery.

Date:
Tuesday March 6th through Thursday March 22nd 2018
Time:
8:30am to 5:00pm
Address:
2-19-15 Kamimeguro
Location:West exit lobby 1st floor of Meguro City Office mainbuildingExhibition:
The panel of the Great Tokyo Air Raids painted by Mr.
Mitsuo Kano, who experienced the horror of the Air Raids.
Photos of The Great Tokyo Air Raids taken by Mr. Koyo
Ishikawa
Inquiries:
General Affairs Subsection of General Affairs Section(Tel: 03-5722-9205)

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

Date:
Friday March 2nd through Friday March 16th 2018
Time:
8:30a.m. to 5p.m. (to 4p.m. on March 16th)
Location:
Refreshing area , 1st floor of Meguro City Office mainbuilding
Photo Exhibition :Kesennuma city before the Earthquake and interaction
with citizens of Meguro
Kesennuma city right after the Earthquake
Current recovery situation panels provided by Kesennumacity.
Inquiries:
Exchange Promotion Subsection, Culture & Exchange
Promotion Section (Tel 03-5722-9291)

Sakura Hanami MAP
in Meguro City

Life in Tokyo

Site for Foreign Residents of Tokyo
https://www.lifein.tokyo.jp/en/Meguro CityNews Letter
5 languages are now
supported on an e-bookversion!
Read in your own language!
Supports Text-to-Speech!

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.

Hanami,
Sweets Festa 2018
Cooking Class,
Tea Ceremony
Boy’s Day, Park/Cycling
Information,
Hanami Map

Let’s enjoy hanami in Meguro!
* Please refer to page 4 “Sakura Hanami MAP”.

Bessho-bashi near Nakameguro Station

Literal translation of “Hanami” is “flower viewing” butit usually refers exclusively to viewing cherry
blossoms. It is one of the most popular events ofspring from late March to the end of April. People
enjoy outings and picnics while hanami in the park, inthe garden, or in the suburbs, with dango (dumpling)or bento (picnic lunch), sometimes with sake or wine.
People love to have hanami parties under the cherrytrees in full bloom with families, friends, orcolleagues, eating, drinking, singing, and dancing. Inthe past when cherry blossoms started to bloom,farmers started preparing for rice planting. They used
to believe when cherry blossoms bloomed, the gods ofrice came down, so the farmers offered the gods saketo wish for a good harvest. In the Heian period, 7941183, hanami parties were popular among
aristocracy. By the Edo period, 1600-1868, thecustom of hanami had spread to the common people.

Sakura spots in Meguro
To enjoy the beautiful cherry blossoms in Meguro,
there are many places to visit for hanami. Please findyour favorite hanami spot to enjoy the highlight ofspring. How about walking along the Meguro River(from Meguro dori to Route 245, and up to theSugekari Park and Saigoyama Park)? How about
Nomigawa Ryokudo Green Walk (from Jiyugaoka andKakinokizaka or to
Komazawa Area or toMidorigaoka Area) orvisit Meguro Fudo andRinshinomori Area or
Komaba area?

Meguzo River near Nakameguro Station

Meguro river

Jiyugaoka Sweets Festa 2018
Jiyugaoka Sweets Festa,
held annually during theMay holidays, will takeplace in 2018 fromThursday, May 3 to Sunday,
May 6. The festival, now in
its fourteenth year,
celebrates the charm of
Jiyugaoka Sweets Town.
Many unique events areplanned to help satisfy yoursweet tooth. Dozens of
popular Japanese andglobal cake shops will
participate in a “sweetsstamp rally”. Live concerts, talk shows, and a “houseof cakes” exhibition will be held on a stage in front of
Jiyugaoka Station. In Jiyugaoka town, stores will offer
workshops and sell sweets in an open-air market.
From noon to 6 p.m., streets around the Jiyugaoka
station square will be closed to car traffic to create apedestrian-only zone, and sweets lovers of all ages
can join safely.
Inquiries to:Jiyūgaoka Shōten-gai Shinkō Kumiai (Jiyugaoka Shopping
Street Promotion Association, 自由が丘商店街振興組合),
Tel: 03-3717-4541
Jiyugaoka Information Center,
Tel: 03-5731-7274, 10:30am to 6:30pm
http://www.jiyugaoka-abc.com

2 | Kaleidoscope MEGURO March 2018

Kaleidoscope MEGURO March 2018 | 3

MIFA’s Japanese Food Cooking ClassA sample from last year

Let’s enjoy cooking in a pleasant atmosphere.
Date and Time:
March 17th (Sat.) 10:00am to 1:00pm
Venue:
Midorigaoka Bunkakaikan Room No.9 (2-14- 23,Midorigaoka, Meguro-ku) 7 min. walk from Tokyu
Jiyugaoka station
Menu:- Diamond shaped pressed Sushi- Rolled Pork with Nanohana- Clear Soup with Turnip and Thin Fried Tofu
Fee:¥700 (MIFA members), ¥1,000 (visitors)
Capacity:
Non-Japanese 15; Japanese 10 (FCFS)
Applications:- Please contact MIFA by e-mail (info@mifa.jp)- Please provide your name, nationality, address,
Ph No., and MIFA membership.
Languages:
English and JapaneseNotes:
Recipes in English and Japanese are available.
Please bring your own apron.
Please clean your fingernails.
Dishes:
One main dish and two or three side dishes
The instructors are very friendly and knowledgeable.
We will use typical Japanese seasonings andingredients. It tastes very good. Participants will also
have the chance to communicate with each other.
Why don’t you come and join us?

Taste of Tradition in the City Building
The Meguro City Office Complex (former Headquarter
Building of Chiyoda Life Insurance.co.) was
passionately designed by the famous architect Togo
Murano during the high economic growth period inJapan. It is unique for modern office buildings to havetraditional Japanese
inner spaces such astatami rooms,
an inner courtyard,a pond, a tea house,or even a tea garden(roji).

Hagi no Ma
There are three Japanese tatami rooms in thisbuilding. One is called Hagi no Ma, which is located on
the first floor. It is a big room of 34 tatami mats.
Above is a beautiful coffered ceiling with parallel crosspatterns of wood and cross shaped ceiling lights. Thewall called Juraku Kabe is finished with a smooth,high-quality soil that was produced in Kyoto where
the luxurious mansion Jurakudai, built by Hideyoshi
Toyotomi in the 16th century, once stood. Juraku
Kabe has been used for tea ceremony rooms though
any walls made with fine soil and dirt is also called
Juraku Kabe these days.
Tea Ceremony at Hagi no Ma
MIFA organizes
Japanese tea
ceremonies for foreign
residents and tourists
at Hagi no Ma.
Japanese volunteers
demonstrate andintroduce the Way ofTea to participants.
Even beginners can enjoy tasting two types of green
tea with delicious Japanese sweets. Participants learn
the spiritual aspect behind the tea ceremony as well
as experience its custom.
Date and Time:
Every 3rd Thursday from 10:00am to 12:00
Venue:
Hagi no ma, 1st floor, Meguro City Office Complex
Fee:
MIFA member ¥600, Visitor ¥1000(including fee for tea, sweets)
Notes:
Interpretation is available in English.
Please bring a pair of white socks
and a handkerchief.
Application:
Please apply by e-mail (info@mifa.jp) and provide
your name, nationality, Phone No., and the date you
would like to join. Application must be received bynoon of the day before the event.
There will be a ¥500 cancellation fee if you cancel
less than 22 hours before the event.
Any applications from tourist agencies will not beaccepted.

Children’s Day (Boys’ Day)
May 5th is Japan’s Children’s day. People wish fortheir children’s health, happiness and express
gratitude to their mothers on that day.

Moreover May 5th is called Tango no sekku (Boys’Day) and the day especially for boys. People pray forboys’ growth by putting decoration such as armors,helmets, swords, samurai dolls in their houses. Mayfestival dolls like Kintaro and Musashibobenkei areplaced on decorative shelf and parents place carp
streamer (carp-shaped windsock) in front of theirgardens. These are the common traditions tocelebrate this day. There is also acustom to eat Kashiwa (Oak) mochion this day. Oak tree is believed to
be a lucky charm to maintain familylines because the old leaves won’t
fall until the new bud begins to bloom. We also haveanother custom of taking a bath with Shobu (irisleaves). Originally iris was handed down from ancientinhabited by large flocksof sparrows, so people
called the trees suzume
no oyado (house ofsparrows), giving thepark its name. Yearround, visitors can comeenjoy the tranquility of
the grounds, now surrounded by quiet residential
neighborhoods, and tour a mid-Edo-era folk housethat has been relocated and reconstructed in a cornerof the park. In April, you can see bamboo shoots
breaking through the earth — but no digging, please,to preserve the greenery for everyone!
Park:
Open 24 hours. Free.
Folk house:
Open Wed.–Sun. 9:30am–3:30pm, closed Mon.–Tues. Free.
Address:
Tokyo, Meguro-ku, Himonya 3-11-22 (碑文谷 3丁目11-22)
Access:12 minutes from Toritsudaigaku Station (都立大学駅), 1 minutefrom the Himonya 3-chome bus stop (碑文谷三丁目バス停), or 2
minutes from Himonya Hachimangu Shrine (碑文谷八幡宮神社,Himonya Machimangu Jinja).

Let’s go cycling inKomazawa Olympic Park!

The most beautiful season is just around the corner.
Why don’t you go outside, take a deep breath, andChina for an exorcism ceremony.
enjoy a bike ride in Komazawa Olympic Park.
Between the Kamakura to EdoThis park had been used as one of the first golf
period which is ruled by Samurais,
courses in Tokyo since 1914, and was reborn as theShobu (iris) was compared to words
second stadium of the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. Since
like 「勝負(battle)」 and 「尚武(warlike sprit)」 which have then, the park has been open to the public as an allthe same pronunciation ‘shobu’ and was used toround sports facility.
celebrate Boys’ Day hoping them to grow up healthily
The main cycling course,and strong.
which is 2,080 meters long,
These customs still remain and Children’s Day(Boys’goes around the parkDay) is still celebrated until now.
counterclockwise along thejogging course. Riding under
Bamboo Shoots in Meguro
the zelkova trees will help you
get away from the stress of
Suzume no Oyado Ryokuchi Park
the city life. If you visit there
Spring is the season forlate March through early April,delicious bamboo shoots you can enjoy cherry blossoms.
(竹の子, take no ko) inFor preschool children, “Tinkle Field” and “Tinkle
Japan, where freshly dug Course” is available to ride bicycles for kids. “Familyshoots are especially
Course” offers a four-wheel bike with two pairs ofprized for their flavor and pedals and a special seat for a small child, which istexture. From the midmeant for either a family or a group of four or five.
Edo era to the early
Rental bicycles are available for a fee.
Showa era (around 1790–1930), the Meguro area was
You can visit the park as follows:
famous for the cultivation of bamboo shoots.
A unique cultivation method called “Meguro style” (目By train:
黒式, Meguro-shiki) was developed, and the area’s
15-minute walk from Komazawa-Daigaku Station (TokyuDenentoshi Line)bamboo shoots were known for being especially
By bus:plump, tender, and delicious.
Komazawa-Koen-Higashiguchi (駒沢公園東口) Bus Stop
Bamboo shoots are not cultivated in Meguro anymore,(Tokyu Bus #11 from Shibuya Station)
but the bamboo groves in Suzume no Oyado Ryokuchi
By bus:Komazawa-Koen Bus Stop (Tokyu Bus #32 from Ebisu Station)
Park (すずめのお宿緑地公園, Suzume no Oyado
By car:Ryokuchi Kōen) are a window into Meguro’sToll parking facilities available
agricultural past. The area’s bamboo trees were