aWa life

December 2021

Go Kick Rocks

Welcome Messages

Gairaigo Galore:
ラフ
Awa Shoku (Last Column):
We Are WHERE We Eat

# 374

1

Awa Life is a Monthly Publication of the Tokushima
Prefectural International Exchange Association

It’s finally the end of the year and the time for the holiday season! With how cold it is outside it’s theperfect time to sit under your kotatsu and have a chat with friends and family. You can also start thinking about your New Year’s resolution. Perhaps you want to eat healthier? Or maybe learn a new skill?
Or maybe even start studying Japanese? The possibilities are endless!
For all of those who like writing, please feel free to submit an article to us at any point in time aboutbasically anything. There are a few limitations though, such as you can’t write about religion, politics,
commercial activities or businesses or anything that we deem inappropriate. But, other than that, we
would be more than happy to receive articles about anything and everything including but not limited
to concerts, lectures, other events, culture, sports, community group information or anything cool that’s
happening in your local community.
We highly appreciate all of your articles and we love reading them. So if that writing bug of yours isbuzzing about, grab a pen or a computer and write and send away! Please send all submissions to ouremail:Your editors,
Sydney and Nicoawalife@gmail.com

Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA)
1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi, Tokushima City 770-0831 JAPAN, Clement Plaza 6F
Tel: 088-656-3303 Fax: 088-652-0616
http://www.topia.ne.jp/
Download a PDF file of awa life or view the online version by going to TOPIA's website!

Editors:
Sydney Bartig and Nico Bohnsack
Contributors This Month:
Samantha Harris, Joelle Seggert, Gail Chua, Shoko Nomizu, Lance Kita and Fusa Tamaki

2Contents

Pg. 2-3: Go Kick RocksPg. 4:

Welcome Messages

Pg. 5:

Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: 冬至

Pg. 5:

Gairaigo Galore: ラフ

Pg. 6:

Awa Shoku (Last Column): We Are WHERE We Eat

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 8-9

Events and Memoranda

Go Kick Rocks
By: Samantha HarrisNo matter where in the world I find myself, theriver always finds me.

I grew up surrounded by the brackish estuaries
and wide rivers of North Carolina in the southeast
United States. Whole summers stretched out
on the riverbanks, where my friends and I built
fortresses out of driftwood and old beach chairs.
Even as an adult, the river is where I go to escapethis world and create my own.
I count myself lucky I ended up in Tokushima, aprefecture featuring one of Japan’s three “greatrivers”. The vast Yoshino River and its tributaries
make up Shikoku’s natural waterpark. And justlike any good waterpark, there are thrill rides--firstclass rapids, crystal blue canyons, spectacularwaterfalls (if you haven’t had your breath taken by
Amagoi no Taki in Kamiyama, make it a priority).
Some days, though, I just want to sit and think.
On those days, I grab my foldable camping chairand head to my closest river bank--the Akui River
in eastern Kamiyama.
It’s an overcast Saturday, the air still holding onto
summer in late September. Up here, though,the mountain coolness cuts through the usual
humidity, leaving me shivering at night if I’ve
forgotten to bring a jacket. I’m standing up to mycalves in the gentle, not-too-hot, not-too-coldwaters of
the Akui.
I’m holding
a small,flat rock,which I
know to be
the perfectshape andsize forskipping. It
fits right in
my hand,cool fromthe waterand readyt o f l y. I
rear backfor the pitch, then hurl the rock full force. I can’t
remember the technique for skipping, which
explains why it crashes artlessly into the waterwith a tiny splash. I wince as the river swallows it
whole.
Well, if I found one good rock, I can find another.
It takes almost an hour before I’ve recovered myrock skipping ability. Not that I was hard at work
practicing throws. It’s easy to get distracted out
here, though not in the modern sense. It should
go without saying that a good river day does not3like a neon jet.

Go Kick Rocksi n v o l v escreens.
There’s somuch to see:a particularlys h i n y ,pinkish rock;schools oftiny fish thatnibble onyour ankles
if you standstill longenough; akawasemi,
or kingfisher,soaring over
the water

On the hunt for skipping stones, I bend down
to pick up a rock that turns out too spherical fora good, fast skip. It has an interesting cerulean
sheen. I toss it to my husband.
“Check out this cool rock.”“Wow,” he says, holding it up to the faint sunlight.
“It is cool.”
He tosses it back. I decide to throw it up in the
air granny style, from between my legs, and see
where it falls. It flies up, then drops back down
to crash against the rocky riverbed, scrambling
about until it finds its new home.
I don’t really have a reason to be doing any ofthis. There is a nagging voice in my brain tellingme I could be doing something productive withthis time. Skipping rocks isn’t exactly a marketableskill. How am I benefiting from this?
It may not be obvious, but this time spent picking
up cool rocks and seeing how far or high I
can throw them is not wasted. I am practicing
an important skill, one often neglected in ourendlessly busy, “rise and grind” world.

“We are not self important [...] We are not worried
about competence,” Maria Lugones describes
in her article “Playfulness, ‘World’-traveling, andLoving Perception.”
The objective of play time is to abandon
objectives. As a child, these impulses wereencouraged. But free play has no age limit. In
fact, studies have shown that “playing as anadult can [...] reduce stress, promote optimism,
and strengthen one’s ability to take on otherperspectives”*.
Have you been feeling tense lately? I’m sure I
don’t need to list all the reasons you might befeeling a bit extra stressed with a side of dread.
Concerts, parties, festivals, izakaya outings,
karaoke--many acceptable grown up ways to play(or “blow off steam”) aren’t available to us or are
severely restricted in this time of constraint.
It’s in these times where we can foster a true
appreciation for nature, where every season hosts
an array of events. From cicada concerts to fallcolor festivals, there’s always a way to find playoutside. (Unless there’s a typhoon, in which caseit’s probably best if you stay inside).
If you aren’t sure where to start, find a river. The
river teaches us the basics of play. There’s plenty
to find, pick up, throw, all before you even get to
the water.
Just like skipping rocks, if we practice enough, we
can recover our innate playfulness.
One important note: when out playing by rivers
and streams, avoid moving rocks in the water!
These rocks provide shelter for many plants
and animals, from fish and insects to even theendangered giant salamander. Moving them could
destroy their homes, nests, or hiding spots. Be
kind, leave no trace, and, when playing with rocks,
stick to the smaller stones found on dry land.
*psychologytoday.com/us/basics/playWelcome Messages - New CIRs!
Joelle Seggert
ello everyone! My name is Joelle Seggert
and I am happy to introduce myself as the
new CIR of the Sports Promotion Division at theTokushima Prefectural Office. Even though I am
from Germany, I have a French name that you
might find difficult to pronounce so feel free to callme Joey.

H

After my first solo trip to Japan in 2015, I was so
fascinated by the nature, language, culture andthe kindness shown to me even by complete
strangers that I decided to major in Japanesestudies at the University of Trier. The city of Trier,as well as my hometown Idar-Oberstein, aresituated in a National Park with many beautiful
forests and mountains, so if you ever find yourself
in that part of Germany, I highly recommend you
go hiking or enjoy other outdoor activities. Besides
the stunning nature the area is also rich in history
and there are many regional dishes that I would
like to introduce to you once I get a chance.

4

After two
weeks ofquarantine I
finally arrived
in Tokushima
and thanks
to the kinds u p p o r t
and warm
welcome,
I've alreadysettled inand now feelpretty muchat home. I am
an outgoing
and active person who loves to meet new people,
learn new things and discover new places, so I
am looking forward to all kinds of experiences
Tokushima has to offer. If you want to know more
about me or are interested in German language
or culture feel free to talk to me anytime!

Gail Chuaello, beautiful people of Tokushima~ My
name is Gail Chua, and I'll be working as a
Coordinator for International Relations (CIR) at
the Tokushima Prefectural Office. I come from
Manila, Philippines. An archipelago with morethan 7000 islands to explore, you can find a lot of
beautiful beaches and an abundance of nature in
general. It would be great if everyone can get tovisit my home country in the future.

H

Japanese dramas and Arashi (Yes, the idolgroup in hiatus) became the window for me tobecome more interested in Japan during my highschool days. I got so interested that I took up
International--Japanese studies for my bachelor`s
degree at my university. While there, I was lucky
enough to get accepted for a one-year exchange
program to Hokkaido University. Not only was I
able to study Japanese, but I also got to immerse
myself more in the Japanese culture by travellingaround Hokkaido and Japan and meeting all kindsof people. The experience left me wanting to go
back even after graduating, and got me visiting

once or twice a year, until I got accepted to be a
CIR here.
It's actually my first time in Tokushima andShikoku, so I`m very much excited to explore andmeet new people, intensified by the fact that myarrival got delayed for more than a year becauseof COVID. That said, I would like to be active in
helping promote international exchange, and thePhilippines, as I take on various challenges during
my time here. Hope to meet you all at some point!

5Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: 冬至
By: Shoko Nomizu

とう じ

ねん

冬至は、1 年で

ひる

いち ばん

みじか

昼が

一番

短い日です。寒い冬の

ひ

いくので

この日から

ひ

さむ

ふゆ

ひ

この日を

さかい

ひる

境に

昼の時間が

うん き

あ

い

こ とし

運気が

上がっていくと言われています。

今年の

じ かん

なが

長くなって

とう じ

がつ

にち

冬至は、12 月 22 日

すいよう び水曜日です。
に ほん

むかし

ひ

日本では、昔からねんかん

からう」とか、「1 年間
できる

ゆ

この日に

ず

う

ふ

柚子を浮かべた

ぜ

ろ

つよ

かお

わる

うん き

お風呂にはいると、強い香りが 「悪い運気を

い

なつ

しゅん

風邪をひかない」 と言われています。このほかに、 夏が旬で
げん き

す

は

ふゆ

ほ ぞん

冬まで

保存

えいよう

た

えん ぎ

栄養いっぱいの 「カボチャ」を食べると、元気に過ごすことができ、縁起がいい

い

とも言

ため

われています。ぜひ

試してみて

せ かい

おお

くに

世界の

多くの国で

とう じ

この

ください。
ひ

ふう しゅう冬至の日には

いろいろな

風習が

くに

あるようです。みなさんの国です

はどんなことをして過ごしますか？

Vocabulary List
境

Turning Point

風邪をひく Catch a Cold

運気

Fate/Fortune

旬

Season柚子

Yuzu (Citrus)

保存

Preserve

栄養

Nutrition

運気をはらう Drive Away (Bad things)

Rough ( ラフ )By: Sydney Bartig

縁起がいい Good Omen
風習

CustomGairaigo Galore

As you’re probably already aware, there are some gairaigo
whose meaning differs from the original. Some are only
slightly different than the original words, while others havea completely different meaning. Naturally, these words cancause problems for those who don’t know their real meaning inJapanese. One of these such words is “ ラフ ”.
For English speakers the word “rough” immediately comes tomind, with images such as something that is uneven or in thecase of a person, someone who is violent and harsh.
However, the Japanese translation of this is much different. If
someone were to say to you something such as “ ラフな服装 ”, “ ラフな髪型 ”,” ラフな人 ”, whatcomes to mind? Probably not a very good image, right? What this word in Japanese means though
is closer to the word “casual”. Unlike it’s English counterpart, this word in Japanese doesn’t havea particularly bad image attached to it, so make sure not to get confused when someone uses thisword with you!

Awa Shoku (Last Column): We Are WHERE We Eat
By: Lance Kita

Debuting in February 2016, the first Awa
Shoku column featured the Tokushima
Marche, full of farmers and vendors who care
deeply about produce, seafood, and meat grown
and foraged here in Tokushima.
Over 6 years and 65 articles, this column has
also strived to introduce readers to all of the great
local foods and food culture here. The culinary
journey was alsoa trip through thegeography, history,
and culture of ourprefecture.

6

common foods and events that you will encounterin your daily life.
Other articles highlighted what makes
Tokushima’s food culture unique and special.
Sushi can be made with an entire fish (Oct.
2018), and sugar is sprinkled over rice in Naruto(June 2016). Children have picnics with little
wooden boxes (Mar. 2019), while coffee is thebeverage of choiceserved to guests athomes and businesses(Nov. 2021). And who
knew that soba-gomesoup may have been
invented by homesick
exiled samurai (Jan.
2018)? I’ll always
remember talking
to the owners of theobanyaki shop in frontof the former Sogo
Department Store
about theWe grilled potatoes
in miso on a
hot rock in themountains of Iya(Nov. 2016), fishedfor sea bream in
the swirling waterso f N a r u t o ( A p r.
2018), picked
winter tea leaves
sweet that has people
down south (Dec.
lining up every2017) and ate
weekend (Oct. 2020)
street food at theand being invited
Ebessan Festival
into the kitchen of ain the city (Jan.
This is the final column for Awa Shoku, and we’re looking
restaurant started in2020). From theback at everything delicious in Tokushima.
the Edo Period to see
mountains to the sea
and rivers in between, a sense of taste comes the clever technique to make the bony filets ofpike conger edible (Aug. 2016).
from a sense of place.
Each season brought different delicacies, fromwinter oysters (Feb. 2017), bamboo shoots inspring (May 2016), summer watermelons (July2020), and Naruto Kintoki sweet potatoes inautumn (Nov. 2018). No matter what time of year,
there is always something to be harvested orgathered.
Some of the information about oden (Nov. 2017),
yakitori (July 2019), aemono (May 2018), andbonenkai (Dec. 2016) were written as guides toTruly, we are WHERE we eat, and our stomachs
are influenced by what is available in a certain
region, when it is available, and how we prepare
dishes. I hope this series of article has given you
a flavor of what feeds Tokushima’s people. Thankyou to everyone who has been reading thesecolumns. Yes, there is still more to explore, from
Katsuura’s mandarin oranges to Komatsushima’s
bamboo fishcake, so I encourage all of you to goout, talk to people, and find out what’s cooking inyour part of Tokushima. Gochiso-sama deshita!

7Japanese Lesson

By: Fusa Tamaki

Keigo 4
けい ご

おお

わ

まな

て い ねい ご

そん けい ごけんじょうごけ い ご

敬語について、まず大きく分けて３つあることを学びました。「丁寧語」「尊敬語」「謙譲語」です。そして、敬語
つか

たいせつ

かんけ い

ていねいご

かたち

まな

ぜんかい

そん けい ごべんを使うときの大切なルール「ウチ」と「ソト」の関係と「丁寧語」の 形 も学びました。前回は、「尊敬語」ついて勉
きょう

き ょ う

けんじょうごまな

強 したので、今日は、「謙譲語」について学びましょう。
けい ご□3 つの敬語て い ねい ご

い

かた

め

まえ

ひと

て い ねいはな①丁寧語…「～です」「～でございます」「～ます」をつけていう言い方（目の前の人に丁寧に話す）
そん けい ごあい てけんじょうご

じ ぶ ん

ぶ ちょう

も

あ

い

かた

あ い て

い

あ い て

ぶちょう

②尊敬語…相手（部 長 ）を持ち上げる言い方（相手がすることを言う） →相手（部長）が…なさいます
さ

い

かた

い

③謙譲語…自分（わたし）を下げる言い方（わたしがすることを言う） →わたしが…いたします

き ょ う

けんじょう ご◆今日のトピック「謙譲語」
ぶ

ちょう

部

じ かん

長 ： あ、もうこんな時間か。
ぶ ちょう

し りょう

せい り

わたし ： 部 長 、よろしければこの資 料 の整理を①いたしましょうか。
ぶ

ちょう

部

長 ： ありがとう。
しょ こ

も

き

じゃあ、まず、このリストのファイルを書庫から持って来てくれないか。
わたし ： わかりました。
しりょう

リスト：List

も･･･リストの資料、②お持ちしました。
け ん じょう ご

ファイル：File
し ょ こ

書庫：Storageかたち◇「謙 譲 語」の２つの 形と く べつかたち

け ん じょう ご

れい【１】 特別な 形 の「謙 譲 語」

例① ： いたします
け ん じょう ご

け ん じょう ご

謙譲語
い

き

た

の

うかが

行きます・聞きます

き

伺 います

食べます・飲みます

いただきますみは いけ ん

見ます

拝見します
けい

れい

【２】 「お・ご（V ます形）します」
おく

おくと く べつかたち

け ん じょう ご

まい

来ます

参ります

い

もう

います

おります

言います

申します

します

いたします

もらいます

いただきます

知ります

存じます

も

よ

読みます→お読みしますも謙譲語

例② ： お持ちしましたよ

送ります→お送りします

け ん じょう ご

謙譲語

どう し

案内します→ご案内します

けい

かたち

＊特別の 形 の謙 譲 語を持つ動詞は、「お（Ｖます形）」します」の 形 をとりません。
もんだい

【問題】
つぎ

かい わ ぶんか せん ぶとくべつ

かたち

けんじょう ご

つか

い

か

ねんまえ

に ほ ん

次の会話文の下線部①～⑥を特別な 形 の謙譲語を使って言い換えてください。
かいしゃ

めんせつ

＜IT の会社の面接で＞
かいしゃ

ひと

つぎ

かた

会社の人： 次の方、どうぞ。
き

わ た し : はじめまして。 ヤンと①いいます。 2年前に日本へ②来ました。
ねがどうぞ、よろしくお願いいたします。
かいしゃ

ひと

こんかい

とうしゃ

めんせつ

う

だいがく

そつぎょう

いま

とくしま

めん せつ

面接： Interview
とうしゃ

当社： This Company

おも会社の人： 今回、どうして当社の面接を受けようと思われたのですか。
くに

IT： IT

だいがく

おう ぼ

べんきょう

わ た し : 国の大学を卒業して、今は徳島の大学で IT の 勉強をして③います。
み

はたら

おも

応募: Apply

おう ぼ

こちらのホームページを④見て、ぜひこちらで 働 きたいと思い、応募⑤しました。
かいしゃ

ひと

とうしゃ

し ごと

ぞん

会社の人： ああ、そうなんですね。当社の仕事についてご存じですか。
しわ た し : はい、⑥知っています。
①申します ②参りました ③おります ④拝見して ⑤いたしました ⑥存じております
もう

まい

はいけん

ぞん

Events & Memoranda

8Santa’s Coming from the River! 2021
川からサンタがやってくる 2021
During the event, Santa Clause will ride on a boat イベント期間中、川から船に乗ったサンタクロー
on the river and pass out around 2,000 presents スが子供達に約 2000 袋のプレゼントを持って
to children!
やってきます！ 18:00 ～ 21:00 ごろ新町川河岸
The event is from 18:00 – 21:00 at the（ひょうたん島周辺）で配布！
Shinmachigawa river side (around Hyotanjima).
When: December 24th (Fri.) – 25 (Sat.)
18:00 – 21:00
Where: Tokushima City, Shinmachigawa River/Tamiya River/Suketo River
Inquiries: Shinmachigawa River Protection
Assembly
TEL: 090-3783-2084
URL: http://www2.tcn.ne.jp/~nposhinmachigawa/

日時：12 月 24 日（金）～ 25 日（土）18:00 ～ 21:00
場所：徳島市

新町川・田宮川・助任川流域

問い合わせ：新町川を守る会
TEL：090-3783-2084
URL：http://www2.tcn.ne.jp/~nposhinmachigawa/Chrismas at the Zoo
どうぶつえんのクリスマス
If you come dressed as Santa Clause you get freeadmission! Presents will be passed out to children
who come early.
When: December 25th (Sat.) *Planned
9:30– 16:30 (Last admission is at 16:00)
Where: Tokushima Zoo
Fee: 600 Yen for Adults, Free for Middle Schoolers
and Younger
Inquiries: Tokushima Zoo
TEL: 088-636-3215
URL: http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/zoo/
event/top.html

サンタクロースの姿で来園すると、入園料が無料になります！
先着で子どもたちにプレゼントの配布もあります。
日時： 12 月 25 日（土）※予定
9:30 ～ 16:30（最終入園 16:00）
場所：とくしま動物園
料金：大人 600 円、中学生以下は無料
問い合わせ：とくしま動物園
TEL：088-636-3215
URL: http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/zoo/
event/top.html

9

Events & Memoranda
Tokushima Illumination Map
徳島イルミネーションマップKamiyama
Orono Light Art

Where: Fields around Orono
Community Center
When: December 24th/25th,
January 2nd

NarutoShimada Elementary School
Illumination

Tokushima City
Kencho Pier Light Up

Where: Former Shimada
Elementary School

Where: Boat harbor in front of
the Prefectural Office

When: November 1st –January 31st

When: December 12th – 25th

Tokushima City
Bizan Ropeway Evening Ride
Where: Mount Bizan
When: December 1st – 25th

Miyoshi
Ikeda Winter Light Art

Ishii
Ishii Winter Illumination

Where: Hesokko Park

Where: OK Ishii Park

When: December 1st–
January 10th

When: December 13th –January 3rd

Itano
Happy X`mas 2021 Smile
Where: Asutamu Land
Tokushima
When: December 4th - 30th***Important***
TOPIA will be closed from December 29th (Wed.) - January 3rd (Mon.)Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口
TOPIA provides consultation on everyday life, education, labor, medical institutions, and disasterprevention; and information on sightseeing spots to overseas residents and visitors. When necessary,
we will refer you to the appropriate organization that can assist with your needs.Counselling is available
in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Please note that although every effort will be made,we may not be able to deal with all cases.
Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)
Tel: 088-656-3312 or 088-656-3313 (allows for three-way conversations with an interpreter)