THE TOMBO

Oita’s English Newsletter

July, August, September 2016

Issue 83

A Taste of Europe in Oita City
Getting lost on the narrow, cobblestone streets of Napoli, Italy, you’ll
find yourself gazing at more than just the beautiful architecture andthe colorful houses. Around every street corner, guided by the warm
smell of fresh bread, you’ll traverse a city framed with local markets
selling ripe vegetables, cured meats, and a wide variety of cheeses;
ingredients that exemplify not just a style of cuisine, but a way oflife. Pizza and pasta are no less essential to Italians than the air thatthey breathe or the aqueducts that have acted as the lifeblood of
their cities since as early as 312 B.C. Simple, fresh ingredients havealways been the basis of Italian cooking, leaving the rest up to ourimagination.
So what does this have to do with Oita City? You ask. Well, as a newcomer in this beautiful up-and-coming
metropolis on the eastern shore of Kyushu, I sought only to immerse myself immediately in the culture—which, as afoodie of sorts, meant to sink my teeth into the best native dishes I could find.
My discovery in this crusade was that the Japanese take cooking very seriously. From sashimi to tempura to all kindsof seasonal vegetables, my taste buds were consistently satisfied on a completely new level. However, it wasn’t until I
started branching out to foreign-inspired eateries that I really discovered the beauty of this city’s dining. I found somegreat Italian restaurants that brought me back to the old country and learned about a delightful French meal for any
time of day just around the corner from my apartment.
A friend of mine from back in the U.S. once asked me how I’m going to go without good pizza for a few years while I’m
in Japan, and thanks to the first restaurant on this critical endeavor into western cuisine, I can answer excitedly that I
don’t have to.
On the sometimes quiet streets of Funai, just a 2-minute walk from Oitajoshi Park, there is a quaint, little restaurant
called Pizzeria Da Teo that looks as if it were ripped right out of a Napolitano painting. As charming as it is authentic to
Italian culture, I was more than pleasantly surprised upon my first taste of the Pizza Siciliana. Real dough, handmade
daily, topped with flavorful tomato sauce, buffalo mozzarella cheese, fresh basil, a splash of olive oil and somedelicious anchovies to appease my salty side, all cooked at 500 celsius in a matter of seconds. As it stands, a recipe of
perfection, but to top it all off, each and every one of these ingredients imported from Napoli to ensure that famous
Mediterranean taste.
Inspired by the look on people’s faces during a 3-year apprenticeship in Nagoya, owner and operator of Pizzeria Da
Teo, Tetsuya “Raffaelo” Shiraishi set out to Napoli to complete his training. Upon returning, he opened his own shopand has since shown that his passion for making pizza can only be matched by his love of family and friends. All over
the world, pizza brings people together and with now 8 years in the pizza making business, Shiraishi has seen his shareof satisfied customers, brought closer by the power of this simple dish. I can’t be more enthusiastic with the hope thatreading this article might bring even one more person to Pizzeria Da Teo so they could experience the phenomenon

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THE TOMBO

July, August, September 2016that keeps me coming back. Sit at the bar, have a few drinks and watch the master at work as he tosses the doughbefore your very eyes in this most nostalgic experience.
Furthermore, Da Teo is not the only restaurant from west of the Himalayas that has peaked my interest these days.
In fact, just a 3-minute walk, northeast of the station, in what used to be a flower shop under the stairs, you’ll findthe most spatially efficient restaurant in the city, Bistro Shun. Taken from the name of the owner and only employee,
Shun Fujiwara, you’ll find that this tiny, solo-piloted, literal hole-in-the-wall, has a huge personality. After learning
everything he knows about cooking from his teacher, Emico Suga of Osteria Bucio (an establishment I look forward
to trying) Fujiwara opened his own place with the intention of “making people happy, with the most delicious, fresh
ingredients of Oita”. With just 6 months in business, Bistro Shun has accumulated quite a following, due much in partto the whimsical nature of not only Fujiwara’s always changing menu (which exists only in his head) but Fujiwara
himself as well. Each dish he creates is designed from no only what is in season, but as a specific pairing to the organic
wines of the moment. Even the house special, lasagna, is always changing depending on the season, providing an
opportunity to experience something different with every visit.
Whether you’re stopping by for a quick drink amongst witty conversationalists, or closing down the shop with theowner and his regulars, you are bound to have a good time at Bistro Shun. Even if you don’t come hungry, let Fujiwara
know how much you think you can eat and he’ll make a plate of any size for you. My advice, stay long enough to havea great meal and a few glasses of wine. Come on a Friday for lasagna and you might get lucky enough to be front row
to some great opera singing.
Last, but certainly not least, from the other side of the French Alps, my most frequented restaurant of all, a creperie
called Bon App. Located in Omichi, just a 5-minute walk southwest of the station, owner and operator Mat Garillon
dazzles his local customers with his unique interpretation of the traditional French dish, the galette. Born in Africa,
Garillon has always had a knack for cooking, but he really came into his own when he moved to Paris at 18. He
learned the craft of making crepes at a place called La Creperie Bretonne, and it was in Paris that he discovered for
himself, the galette, a classic dish from the western part of France. Each creperie in France will feature The Complete,
the traditional galette consisting of egg, cheese, and ham, served in the thin pancake that we all associate withcrepes, salted to perfection. My personal favorite from the sprawling menu at Bon App, is the La Bolo, Garillon’s own
interpretation of a Bolognaise sauce.
Only open on weekends, you won’t be able to make this your everyday spot, but come often and find a uniquetaste in each of Garillon’s over 25 options. Among these options, the Mafe (a peanut butter based dish originatingin the Ivory Coast) and the Yassa (a dish from Senegal) are two curries that will change your life. Not for those with aweek stomach for spicy food, these two dishes will keep you coming back for more. Together with the food, Garillon’s
personality and general kindness are sure to make this a great destination for young, old, foreign, and Japanesealike. Mat has said that most of his customers have never heard of a galette and he only wishes to bring people of
all backgrounds closer to the amazing food of French culture. The perfect place for any occasion, just walk in on
a Saturday afternoon, or treat yourself to an extremely well priced bottle of fine French wine one night, and feeltransplanted into the golden age of France.
So, as my quest for the best that Oita has to offer continues, I look forward to seeing some new faces around town.
With Osteria Bucio on my horizon and after my first visit to The ReQ last weekend (an Italian restaurant north of thestation which I’ll definitely be giving another try) I leave you and invite you all to enlighten your sense of taste at someof Oita’s finest Euro-inspired destinations.
--- Joey Del Re

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3

Date
Jul. 29th –Sep. 11th
Jul. 15th –Sep. 25th
Aug. 5th –Oct. 4th

July, August, September 2016

EXHIBITIONS & SCREENINGS

Description
The Splendor of the Kataoka Tatsuichi Collection –Chikuden and Shoen, Elegance of Japanese Art
Team Laboratory Island – Dance! Learn with Art
Galleries! Amusement Parks of the Future

Place
Oita Prefectural Art
MuseumCost

Contact #¥600☎ 097-533-4500

Oita City Art Museum¥1,500☎ 097-554-5800

2016 Collection Exhibition III

Oita Prefectural Art
Museum¥300☎ 097-533-4500***Most Museums and Centres are closed on Monday, or Tuesday if Monday is a public holiday. Student admissions vary, highest cost shown***

STAGE & MUSIC EVENTS
DateJul. 2ndTime

Artist/Event

Venue

Cost

Contact #18:00 Summer Concert 2016
iichiko Otonoizumi Free
12:15 Against - 2016
T.O.P.S BittsHall¥4,000 +drink
18:30 Kodo – One Earth Tour - Chaos
Patria Hita
Prices vary
The Kyushu Symphony Orchestra – Oita Performance
17:00 – Kamioka’s True Worth, the World of Germanic iichiko Grand Theatre Prices vary.
Music☎ 080-3184-1540☎ 097-533-7592☎ 0973-25-5000

Sep. 3rd

18:00 Miyuki Tango

Brick Block¥4,000 +drink☎ 097-536-4852

Sep. 8th

20:00 Ginji Ito – I Stand Alone 2016 in Oita

Cantaloop II¥3,800 +drink☎ 097-548-3563

Sep. 9th

15:30
Yukari Ito – Sentimental Jazz Journey
18:30

Brick Block¥8,000 w/drink☎ 097-536-4852

Jul. 18th
Jul. 12th
Jul. 30th☎ 097-533-4004**Ticket prices range from student to most expensive general admission. Prices shown otherwise indicate price for purchase on the day of the event, they may be cheaper if purchasedin advance. “w/ drink” prices include a drink, “+drink” prices require the additional purchase of a drink. Times shown indicate start times, doors usually open 30 minutes beforehand.
VENUES

Brick Block= 5-7-5 Ikushi, Oita City
Cantaloop II=3-2-30 Miyako-Machi
Nakayama Dai 5 Building 6F Oita City

VENUES

Patria Hita= 1-8-11 Sanbonmatsu, Hita City
iichiko Grand Theatre= Oasis Tower 1F Oita City
iichiko Otonoizumi=Oasis Tower 1F Oita City

T.O.P.S BittsHall.= Ikushi 5-783, Oita City

Stand Up Paddle Board (SUP)
Itogahama SUP Terrace
If you’re looking for a way to be active this summer, Itogahama SUP Terrace is offering bay cruising on stand up paddle boards.
Participants can enjoy beautiful views of the coastline while paddling in the sea.
Itogahama SUP Terrace
Tel: 080-5252-7744 (Yuichi Tsuno), 080-6446-9181 (Daphne)
E-mail: itogahama@cosmode.com
Address: Itogahama Beachfront Park, Oga, Hiji-machi, Hayami-gun, Oita
Prefecture.
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/itogahama
Supporting organisation: Hiji-Town, Hiji Tourism Association.
Opening Hours: 10:00~5:00pm
Walk-ins are accepted on holidays. Weekends require a reservation.
Tuition is ¥2,000 per person. Rental fees are separate. For more information,please contact the business owners or visit the Facebook page.

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4July, August, September 2016

Festivals and Events
Date~Jul.31st
Jul.1st~Sep.30th
Jul.2nd
Jul.9th
Aug.6thSep.10th
Jul.11th
Jul.15th~
23rd
Jul.16th
Aug.20th
Sep.17th
Jul.16th~
17th
Jul.22nd~
24th
Jul.23rd~
24th
Jul.24th~
25th
Jul.29th~
31st
Jul.31st
Aug.21st
Aug.5th~
7th

Event Description
Location
Kokonoe "Yume" Grand Suspension Bridge FREE entrance - Enjoy majestic Kokonoe-Machi
views of Shindo-no-taki falls and green leaves! (8:30 – 18:00, get free Tano
entrance tickets at ticket counter)
Taketa Soft-serve Ice Cream Rally - Grab a map and start eating delicious Taketa City
Various locations
ice cream to collect stamps to go in the draw to win one of many prizes!
Tanabata Festival decorations making workshop - A hands on event for Oita City
children and parents to enjoy. Participation fee is free (Incl. admission fee, History Museum
9:30- / 14:00- ), reservations necessary.
Yufuin Onsen Kagura - Traditional Kagura dance performed by local groups Yufu City
Kuaju Yufuin(Participation fee is 500 yen, 20:30 – 21:30).

☎ 0973-73-3800☎ 0974-63-0585☎ 097-549-0880☎ 0977-85-7667

Kuju Furusato Shizen Gakkou rice growing - Participants can experience Kokonoe-Machi
weeding barnyard millet from rice fields by hand whilst learning about the Kuju Furusato Shizen ☎ 0973-73-0001
Gakkoulocal wildlife. (participation fee 1500 yen, 10:00 - 17:00)
Usuki Gion Festival - A traditional festival that started in 1643. There are 3 Usuki City
☎ 0972-64-7130
Castle town
portable shrines and 2 floats paraded from Owatari to Okaeri.
Kimono Appreciation Day - Held on the third Sa turday of each month, Kitsuki City
with special offers and discounts for kimono rental and professional Jyouka-machi☎ 0978-63-0100
photography.
Tsukumi Port Festival - A “Soiya Tsukumi” traditional dance on the 16th, a Tsukumi City
☎ 0972-82-5111
Chuou-machi area
fireworks display on the 17th, and much more!
Nakatsu Gion Festival - This prefecture-designated “Intangible Cultural Nakatsu City
Property” has 580 years of history. Highlights include shrine processions Nakatsu Shrine Area ☎ 0979-22-1111
and more!
Hita Gion Festival - Hita Gion celebrates over 300 years of history. Hereyou can see a portable shrine that is 10meters tall! On the 21st from 19:00- Hita City
, all the floats will gather in front of JR Hita Station for a taste of what is to Mameda & Kuma Area ☎ 0973-24-6453
come.
Tenjin Festival - Portable shrines will be carried throughout the city, and Kitsuki City
on the evening of the 25th there will be a shrine against shrine hitting Tobimatsu Tenman
Shrinecompetition.
Beppu Summer Early Evening Festival- over the two days there will Beppu City
markets, local food stalls, performances and a fireworks display on the Spa Beachevening of the 31st.
Uki Uki Flea Market- come and take a look at the stalls of clothes, Oita City
Oasis Tower 1st Floorbooksand more. You might just find some bargains. 11:30 - 15:00
Oita Tanabata Festival- this exciting summer festival takes place across Oita City
Downtown Area
downtown Oita, and features parades, performances, and dances.

Oita River Fireworks Festival- to celebrate the last day of the Oita Tanabata Oita City
Oita River
Festival, there will be a fireworks festival along the river.
Bon-Odori Festival- Himeshima Bon-Odori dances are said to
VillageAug.14th Himeshima
have come from Nenbutsu folk dances. Come see traditional local dances Himeshima
Chuo-Hiroba~15thsuch as the ‘fox dance’, recreated and performed each and every year.
Festa - 1.2 million sunflowers are in bloom, approx. 11.5ha of Bungotakada City
MidAug.~ Sunflower
theNagasakibana
campsite. Enjoy flowers and artworks (Yoko Ono’s Nagasakibana
EarlySep. “Invisible Benches”Resort
and Choi Jeong Hwa’s “Iro Iro Iro”)!
Haniwa (clay images) making workshop - A hands on event for children
City
Aug.20th and parents to enjoy. Participation fee is 230yen (Incl. admission fee, 9:30- Oita
History Museum/ 14:00- ), reservations necessary.
Sensu Dance Ceremony - 1000 dancers will dance with Japanese Tsukumi City
Aug.20th Tsukumi
Tsukumin Park
fans.
Usuki Stone Buddha Fire Festival - 1000 torches will be lit around the Usuki City
Aug.27th ancient stone Buddha carvings which are nationally designated treasures. Fukata
It is the biggest fie festival in West Japan!
Earthenware bell making workshop - A hands on event for children
and parents to enjoy. Participation fee is 60yen (Incl. admission fee), Oita City
Sep.3rdreservations necessary.
Free onsen entrance - September 9th is Kokonoe’s designated hot spring
day and designated facilities marked with posters let customers bathe for Kokonoe-machi
Sep.9th
Various locations
free!
Sep.10th~ The Ajimu Fair “Wine Festival 2016” - Various events such as Ajimu wine Usa City
11th
sampling, and bazaar. You can have your fill of Bungo Beef, wine and more. Ajimu Area
Aug.7thSep.17th

Contact #Rice field exploration - An outdoor exploration activity for adults to learn Kokonoe-Machi
about the harvest and how to cook rice. (Participation is FREE. Reservations Kuju Furusato Shizen
necessary. Bring clothes and shoes suitable for outdoors and bring side Gakkou
dishes).

☎ 0978-63-0100☎ 0977-24-2828☎ 097-538-7411☎ 097-537-5959☎ 097-538-9647☎ 0978-87-2111☎ 0978-54-2200☎ 097-549-0880☎ 0972-82-9521☎ 0972-64-7130☎ 097-549-0880☎ 0973-73-5505☎ 0978-44-1111☎ 0978-44-0381☎ 0973-73-0001

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What’s Going On?

5

July, August, September 2016

From the PlazaJapanese Lessons

Free Legal Consultations for International Residents
The Oita International Plaza is holding free legal
consultations for foreign residents on the third
Wednesday of every month.
●When:July 20th, August 17th, September 21st●Time: 13:00-16:00●Consultant: Sei Ito (Administrative Solicitor)●Venue: Oita International Plaza (iichiko Culture Center,
B1F)

Himawari Japanese Volunteers

Free Consultations in Chinese
The Oita International Plaza is holding free consultationsin Chinese every Thursday.
●When: Every Thursday.
●Time: 10:00-13:00●Consultant: Wenyu Kodama●Venue: Oita International Plaza (iichiko Culture Center,
B1F)
Free Consultations in Tagalog

The Oita International Plaza is holding free consultations in
Tagalog. *Please note that the times for the consultation on
April 30th are different to the usual times.

●When: July 2nd, August 6th, September 3rd.
●Time: 13:00-16:00 (*except April 30th, which will be
9:00-17:00)●Consultant:Rhodora Yoshitake (President of the Oita
Philippines Friendship Association)●Venue: Oita International Plaza (iichiko Culture Center,
B1F)
Free Consultations Regarding Immigration,
Residency, and Citizenship
The Oita International Plaza is holding free consultations
regarding immigration, residency, and citizenship on thefirst Sunday of each month.
●When: July 3rd, August 7th, September 4th.
●Time: 13:00-16:00●Languages available: Japanese and English●Interpretation into languages other than Japanese andEnglish may be available with a reservation (there areno guarantees). The reservation must be made 2 days
prior to the consultation day.
●Venue: Oita International Plaza (iichiko Culture Center,
B1F)

Support for people learning Japanese in order to help themenjoy their lives in Oita, now at three different locations.
Wasada Public Hall Wed. 10:00-11:30
Meiji Akeno Public Hall Wed. 14:00-15:30
Tsurusaki Public Hall Sat. 10:00-11:30
For more information contact Ms. Fukata TEL: 097-527-2614
E-MAIL: nihongo_himawari_oita@yahoo.co.jp

Nihongo Rakuraku-talk
Beppu City Hall offers free Japanese lessons every Monday
from 14:00-15:30. For more information contact Mr. Kii in
the Beppu International Affairs Division
TEL: 0977-21-6133 E-MAIL: int-ma@city.beppu.oita.jp
Sakura Japanese Class
Come study Japanese with friendly volunteers and teachers
in a pleasant atmosphere. Sakura Japanese Class is held
every Monday from 10:15-12:00 at the Oita University
International House in Nishiki-Machi, Oita City. Classes arefree of charge. For more information call Ms. Ohashi
CELL: 090-7866-2486
AIUEO Japanese Lessons
Volunteers offer free Japanese lessons on Tuesday andFriday from 10:20-11:50 at I-NESS near Oasis Tower as wellas Thursday nights at Compal Hall from 18:30-20:30. Lessons
are also offered in Beppu at the Beppu Foreign Tourist
Information Office on Tuesday mornings from 10:00-12:00.
For more information contact:
Ms. Miyase CELL: 090-8353-2485 (day lessons)
Ms. Kato TEL: 097-532-5940 (night lessons)Community Classes and Events
Happy Talk
Come practice speaking Japanese with other learners andnative speakers. Reservations not required, just show up on
the day.
Please bring your own drink if you like. Participation is FREE.
For more details and information on when Happy Talk isheld, please visit the Facebook page:https://www.facebook.com/HappyTalkOita

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6July, August, September 2016

The 2016 Kumamoto and Oita Earthquakes
As readers of the TOMBO will be aware, in April Kumamoto
and Oita were struck by a series of large earthquakes thatcaused a loss of life and a great deal of damage. Many readersof the TOMBO will have been affected by these earthquakes
and/or are involved in helping Kumamoto and Oita recover.
Living in Oita, it makes me proud to see the prefecture’s
strength in the face of adversity, and its efforts to recoverafter the tragedy. The TOMBO would like to extend its support
to everyone who was affected by the disaster. I hope that both
Kumamoto and Oita are able to quickly recover.
--- With warm regards from the editor.

おおいた国際交流プラザ

公益財団法人 大分県芸術文化スポーツ振興財団
大分市高砂町 2−33 OASIS ひろば 21（B1F）☎ 097-533-4021 FAX:097-533-4052

YOU ! !

Oita International Plaza

Oita Prefecture Arts, Culture & Sports
Promotion Foundation

OASIS Hiroba21（B1F）2-33 Takasago-Machi, Oita-Shi 870-0029

THANK

A special thanks to all those who co-operated with us for

The International Plaza is located on the basement floor of OASIS
Hiroba 21（iichiko Culture Center）.

this issue. Your help was very much appreciated.
THE TOMBO is produced by:

Oita International Plaza
Oita Prefecture Arts, Culture & Sports
Promotion Foundation
2-33 Takasago-Machi
Oita-Shi Oita-Ken 〒 870-0029☎

097(533)4021

Fax 097(533)4052
E-MAIL: in@emo.or.jp
http://www.oitaplaza.jp/english/
HOURS: Monday-Friday

9:30am-7:00pm(closed weekends and the 2nd and 4th Mondays of each month. We
are open on the Saturdays before these Mondays)
Closed national holidays & Dec 29th - Jan 3rd

大分県立美術館 OPAM
Oita Prefectural Art Museum