aWa life
Happy Holidays!

NEW Collumn:
Let's Talk Story!

December 2016
# 317

Tokushima Photo Contest:"The Yoshino River and its Bridges""Discover Tokushima"as you Surf the Web!

Awa Shoku:
Bonenkai Basics

1

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

Wow, in the flash of an eye, it is the end of the year! In this month's Awa Life, we have a new collumn
called the "Let's Talk Story" Collumn. Please take a look and feel free to share your stories as wecome together as an international community. The holidays can be a difficult time abroad, bringing
back memories of spending time with family at home. However, though some of us may not be able toreturn back to our countries during this time, let's try to create new memories together here during thisseason! Wishing you a Happy Holidays here in Tokushima!!!
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:

awalife@gmail.com

Your editors,
Daralyn and Franzi

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:
Daralyn Yee and Franziska Neugebauer
Contributors This Month:
Danielle Yarbrough, Shintaro Inoue, Kazue Inoue, Haruko Miyoshi, Lance Kita

Contents2

Pg. 2-3:"Discover Tokushima" as you Surf the Web!

Pg. 4-5:

Photo Contest: "The Yoshino River and its Bridges"

Pg. 5:

Letter from SUKETO NAKAYOSHI

Pg. 6:New Column: Let's Talk Story!

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 8:

Manners for Visiting a Temple

Pg. 9:

Awa Shoku: Bonenkai Basics - A Guide to Year-End Parties

Pg. 10-11: Events and Memoranda"Discover Tokushima" as you Surf the Web!
By Daralyn Yee

W

hen I found out that I would be heading toTokushima, I scoured the internet to learn
about what type of place it would be, and knowwhat there was to do here. One of the many
pages that I came across of was the “DiscoverTokushima” Facebook Page, managed by ourvery own International Planning Division. I had
the opportunity to interview Mr. Satoshi Emotoand Ms. Reiko Matsuo who manage this page.
Next year, it will be 4 years since the page wascreated.
P l e a s e
introduce
yourselves:
E: Hi myname isE m o t ofrom theInternational
Planning
Division.
M: Hi my name is Reiko Matsuo from theInternational Planning Division. Mr. Emoto is incharge of managing the page, while I sometimes
write and send out articles.
Please introduce the Discover Tokushima page.
E: It is a tourism information transmission page.

The prefecture has a few websites such as Awa
Navi which is our Japanese tourism site, andour multilingual site Toku-Navi, which we are in
charge of, that acts as a one-way informationtransmission website. A lot of the information on
the pages do not change that often. Thus withthe creation of the Facebook page, DiscoverTokushima, we can update the page frequently
and give out timely information to our viewers. We
are also able to send and receive messages fromour fans, giving us the opportunity to hear about
the types of things they would like to see on thepage.
It seems like a big job to manage this page.
How do you choose the content for it?
E: When we manage our page, we are able
to receive data from Facebook called “Reach
Numbers" for each post. These numbers show us
things such as how many people are looking at
our posts, which posts received a “like”, etc. and
we are able to use it as reference to create new
posts. In addition, we also send out information
about events happening around Tokushima duringcertain seasons through this page. We also try
our best to use messages from our viewers, whowish to see certain pieces of information on our
Facebook page, as reference when we choose
the content of our posts.

3"Discover Tokushima" as you Surf the Web!

Do you have any examples of a post thatreceived a lot of “likes” recently?
E: It was a bit of a surprise to me, but we recently
posted something about flowers and it actually
received a higher amount of “likes” than expected.
In general, it seems that we receive a lot of likes
for things that are related to nature. When we
hold events for others in other countries, a lot of
people like our page and the reach numbers end
up higher than usual. It depends on ones usage ofFacebook. I have heard from a private entity that
Facebook analyzes the preferences of its users
and shows content that would most likely appear
as a post on their own timeline (profile page). In
this sense, when we post, our hope is that thecontents that we post, and the preferences of ourusers match accordingly.
What types of messages are you receivingfrom your fans?
E: A lot of the time, we just receive likes, but
recently we just got a message from one of ourfans requesting that we write a post about Awa
Washi (Awa Paper making). Coincidentally, theday before we were already looking up some
information about Awa Washi to write up a post on
Facebook, and we were able to post something
about it and fulfill the user’s need for information.
Usually when we receive an inquiry, we do someresearch, write up a post, and then post it on to
our page to respond to the messages.
What is the most enjoyable part of managing
this page?
E: There are a lot of enjoyable things about
managing this page, and I am sure that Ms.
Matsuo also has a few things to say here, but
first, it has given me the opportunity to get toknow Tokushima better. I don't have the time tovisit every single spot here, but having the chance
to know that there are so many different ways
to enjoy the prefecture is a great opportunity.
The thing that makes me glad is the opportunity
to learn new things, and relearn things about
Tokushima that I had learned previously.
R: The same goes for me as well. It is such agreat thing to be able to introduce many new
things about Tokushima and its tourist spots. In

addition, we found that posting even about ourdaily lives in Tokushima receives a high rating.
Lastly, is there any messages that you would
like to give to the international community
here in Tokushima?
E: I think that it would be interesting to know whattypes of places are enjoyable to our audiencefrom overseas who are living in Tokushima, andhave roots abroad. Since living here, there areso many things that I have come to know of andenjoy. However, we would like to hear more input
from those who are in the international community
through the message function on Facebook.
Also, if there is any advice to improve this page,please feel free to contact us. We would like tohave more information from people coming fromdifferent perspectives.
R: The thing that I would like to recommend to theinternational community is to take part in activities
in which one can create something, like Awa
Washi. I believe that creating things with one’s
own hands has to be something quite enjoyablefor everyone.

In January 2017, it will be 4 years since theDiscover Tokushima page was first established.
If you have any suggestions for Mr. Emoto or Ms.
Matsuo, please message them at the DiscoverTokushima Facebook page. They look forward to
your feedback and comments.

Photo Contest: “The Yoshino River and its Bridges”
By Daralyn Yee

4During the past year, the Roads Infrastructure
Division at the Tokushima Prefectural Officeheld a Photo Contest based on the many bridges
that cross the Yoshino River. They collected over
226 entries from 96 people, in which 18 pieces
have been selected as contest winners. As I
looked at the winning photo contest entries, I
was moved at how each picture captured various
scenes from different areas of the river. It mademe think that there must be a unique reason to
hold a photo contest like this, so I decided to ask
for myself.
Please introduce yourselves.
O T: H e l l o , I a m O m o r i f r o m t h e R o a d s
Infrastructure Division.
OH: Hello, my name is Okabe, also from theRoads Infrastructure Division.
O T: W e a r e i n c h a r g e o f t h e H a s h i n o
Hakubutsukan (The Bridge Museum, online
website featuring bridges of Tokushima). There
are a lot of rivers that flow through Tokushima.
There are about 500 of them in the whole
prefecture. Accompanying the rivers are
numerous bridges that go across of it. From a longtime ago, these rivers have existed and a variety
of types of bridges that have been built across ofthem. As for the Yoshino River, the bridges haveunique structures depending on when they wereconstructed. With that information and knowledge,
we are working to promote the bridges to thosearound the rest of Japan and also overseas.
Why did you decide to hold a photo contest?
OH: We have many initiatives in order to promote
the bridges, like having a bus tour, conducting
bridge clean ups, and such. This contest is one of
the initiatives to promote the bridges even further.
How many years have you conducted thisphoto contest?
OT: This is our first year holding this contest. We
accepted photo entries from October 2015 until
the middle of January 2016.
How were the winning photos chosen?
OH: There is a club called the Tokushima
Bridge Sharing Club in which the members

Masaru Onishi "Collaboration of the Bridge"
helped us decide on the winning pieces. Also, aphotographer named Mr. Miyatake assisted us
with the judging this year.
How many bridges are there that cross overthe Yoshino River?
OH: There are 46 bridges that go across the mainarea of the Yoshino River. With this photo contest
we decided to focus on these bridges.
I heard that you held a photo exhibit with thewinning pictures in Tokyo, why was it decided
to have the photo exhibition in Tokyo?
OT: The exhibition is being held in the heart ofTokyo in a place called Shiodome. There are a
lot of people in Tokyo, and since there are also
people from abroad that frequent the area, wethought it would be a great idea to have a photo
exhibition there.
Do you plan tohave anotherexhibition forthese photos inTokushima or inother prefectures
across Japan?
OH: After this weare planning to
put the pictures
on display ateach of the Michino Eki (RestTomoyo Nakayama "My
Stops) around theHappy Friends on a Bridge"
prefecture in order.
OT: We also have been creating videos of the

5bridges, not only with thewinning pieces, but alsowith the pieces that wereentered into the contest. If
you type in the words “Hashi
no Hakubutsukan” in to the
Yo u Tu b e s e a r c h b a r, y o u
can watch 6 different videos
showing the pictures in aslideshow.
Is there anything you would
like to share about the photo
contest, Yoshino River, or thebridges that cross over it?
OT: Yoshino River is a river vastin size. It is the largest in thisprefecture, and is quite large
compared to other rivers in Japan.
As we mentioned earlier, from along time ago about 46 different
bridges have been built across the

Photo Contest: "The Yoshino River and its Bridges"

Kiyoshi Shirota "Nostalgia"

Kazuhito Akita"The Big Dipper & Yoshino
River Ohashi Bridge"

river. At each of the bridges,
there are different types ofsceneries and each has its
own beauty. The river spansfrom the East to the West.
From the East, the sun risesin the morning, and in theevening the scenery of thesun setting can also be seen
well at the bridges. We hopethat everyone can have a lookat the bridges, each with its own
characteristics.
The Hashi no Hakubutsukan can befound online at www.pref.tokushima.
jp/bridge/. According to Mr. Omori
and Mr. Okabe, there are tentativeplans to hold the contest again nextyear, so grab your cameras andtake in the beautiful scenery thatsurrounds each of the 46 bridges.

Letter from SUKETO NAKAYOSHI

By Kazue Inoue (Center for Early Childhood Education and Care SUKETO NAKAYOSHI)A

fter the month of November, the temperaturesuddenly drops and winter arrives soon after.
It is the period when infectious diseases such as
colds and Influenza start to spread around. Be
sure to remember to have your family habituallywash their hands and gargle as preventative
measures.
In December, there are days in which theamounts of daylight during the day are sparce.
Those days are called winter solstice (toji 冬至 ),and in Japan people eat kabocha (pumpkin 南瓜 ) and take a hot bath with yuzu (citron 柚子 ).
During this period where the cold is harsh, if you
let some yuzu float on top of the water of a bath,it can improve blood circulation that makes yourskin look healthy. Also, it is said that kabocha isfilled with carotene and many different vitaminsthat can prevent colds. Back in the day, it wasalso said that it was a valued produce since it was
known for being effective in warding off evil spirits
and protecting the body from illness.

This year’s winter solstice is on December 21st.
What about having some kabocha for dinner?
＊＊＊
Handmade Toys: Paper Cup Blocks

Materials: Paper Cups, Markers
Directions:
1. Prepare paper cups and draw pictures on themwith a magic marker. (You can even paste yourfavorite picture or place stickers on it!)
2. Put the top and bottoms of the cups together
and build a pyramid.
*In this season, you can decorate the cups with
Santa Claus, Reindeer, and other designs tocreate your own Christmas tree pyramid!

6

New Column: Let's Talk Story!
By Daralyn Yee

Aloha! “Let’s talk story” is an expression usedin Hawaii to invite someone to spend timeand share stories about the happenings of eachother’s lives. Within the international communitythat reads Awa Life, everybody has their own
story, whether it is travelling overseas, meeting
new people from abroad, or living abroad for the
first time.
We at Awa Life would like to ask you, what is yourstory? Please share in 100-200 words with us
your experiences, whether it be stories of living
Black Bullet by Danielle Yarbrough (Atlanta,
Georgia, USA)One late night, I turned on my air-conditioner
and heard a rattling noise inside thepipes. I stood underneath the unit for a
moment, perplexed by the sounds. The
rattling slowly got louder and louder andintuition told me to step back. Suddenly, avery large black foreign object shot out ofthe vent as fast a bullet. Startled, I raced
to turn on my fluorescent lights, silently
praying that it was just a pebble. I scanned thefloor and saw nothing there. My stomach dropped
and I knew…It was a bug. I looked around for fiveminutes and didn't find anything. Reassured, I
Sleepless Nights in Illinois by Shintaro Inoue(Tokushima, Japan)
When I was in university, I studied abroad in
America for four months. At the time, I ended
up living in a dorm and was roommates with a
Korean guy. From the time he finished classes
and returned home, to the time he went to sleep,
he played online games on his computer all night
long. I was worried because all he did was playgames every day, but I couldn’t say anything
because he still attended classes. However,as the days went on, the noises from his game
became louder and louder. To top it all off, he wasso loud that I could hear the sound of his games
from down the hall!!! I couldn’t take it anymore!

abroad, culture shock, unforgettable moments inTokushima, or things that left an impression onyou. Be sure to follow Awa
Life’s submission guidelines
posted on page 1 ande-mail your submissions toawalife@gmail.com. I believethat sharing our stories will
help us, as the international
community of Tokushima,bond together as a wholecommunity. Happy Writing!
turned to use my cellphone for a moment. WhenI turned around, the biggest cockroach I had everseen emerged from its hiding place and crawled
on top of one of my couch pillows. I quickly closed
my living room door, locking both me
and the roach inside. One of us wasgoing to die that night and it was
not going to be me. The struggle
took about thirty minutes and myapartment looked like a hurricane hit
it. I swept it out onto my patio, before
dousing it repeatedly with bug spray.
Although I managed to kill it, a word of caution to
all who read this: If you hear your pipes rattling,grab your bug spray because something's about
to go down tonight!
So, I just had to tell him:
Me: The sound from your game is so noisy. Can’t
you turn it down a little bit?
Him: Aren’t you the one who is making a lot ofnoise?
Me: When I listen tomusic and watch videos,
I use HEADPHONES,and even leave the room
when I take a phone call!
Him: No, that’s not it. It’s
your snoring!
After that day, he started to use headphones, andI went to sleep after he did.

7Japanese Lesson
By Haruko Miyoshi

ねんまつ ね ん し

あいさつ

End of the Year Greetings「年末年始の挨拶」
2016 (Heisei Year 28) is coming to an end, and it will soon be 2017 (Heisei Year 29). In Japanese, the
ねんまつ

ねんし

end of the year is called nenmatsu「年末」, and the beginning of the new year is called nenshi ｢ 年始 ｣.
ねんまつWhen we talk about the end of the old year and a start of a new one, we call it Nenmatsu Nenshi「年末ねんしねんまつ ね ん し

あいさつ. This month I will be introducing end of the year and New Year greetings called「年末年始の挨拶」.
年始」
ねんまつ ね ん し

あいさつ

These greetings「 年 末 年 始 の 挨 拶 」are used many times during this period. I hope that you canremember these phrases and are actually able to use them.
＜ Basic Greetings ＞
ねんまつ

ことし

				年末： 今年もありがとうございました。
らいねん

ねが

					来年もよろしくお願いします。
よ

				
ねんし

				

とし

むか

良いお年をお迎えください。
あ

年始： 明けましておめでとうございます。
ことし

				

ねが

今年もよろしくお願いします。

These basic phrases can be used with anyone. First, let’s remember these basic greetings. Next,
if possible, depending on who you are speaking with, try to change it up according to the following
information.
For those who are your friend or

For those who are your superiors,

are younger than you.

teachers, or are older than you.

ねんまつ

ことし

ねんまつ

年 末 … 今年もありがとう。
		

ことし

年 末 … 今年もありがとうございました。

らいねん

らいねん

来年もよろしく。

来年もよろしくお願いいたします。

よ

とし

よ

		 良いお年を。

ねが
とし

むか

良いお年をお迎えください。

ねんし

ねんし

あ

年始 …

明けましておめでとうございます。

年始 …

おめでとう。
ことし

ことし

		

今年もよろしく。

今年もよろしくお願いいたします。

ねんまつ

ねが

ねんし

You greet people with the「年 末」year-end greeting when you part with them, while the「年 始」newyear greeting is used when you see someone right when you meet them during the new year. Be sure
ことしto add「こちらこそ」(Same to you as well) in front of「今年も～」in your greeting, if someone greats
you first.

ことしExample: 「こちらこそ、今年もありがとうございました。
」
ことし

		

ねが

「こちらこそ、今年もよろしくお願いします。
」

8

Manners for Visiting a Temple
By TOPIA staff

T

okushima is full of beautiful and historic
temples and shrines. Do you know the right
way to enter a temple and pray there? Here isa little lesson on manners for visiting temples.
You will need these skills especially in January,
when Japanese traditionally visit the shrines andtemples to welcome the new year. Or you canpractice this month when going to an event at
Yakuouji temple which is mentioned in the event
section of this issue.
But be careful: the manners at shrines andtemples differ. We will introduce the appropriatemanners for visiting a shrine in next month's Awa
Life.

① Bow to the main temple gate
② Walk on the outsides of the worship pathway③ Purify yourself at the chouzusha ( 手水舎 Purification site tocleanse your hands and mouth)
1) Hold the ladlewith your righthand and cleanse
your left hand.

2) Hold the ladlewith your left handand cleanse yourright hand.

3) Hold the ladle inyour right hand again.
In your left hand, takein some water and use
it to rinse your mouth.

4) Stand theladle up to wash
the handle of theladle.

5) Return theladle back in to
its original spot
faced down.

④ Strike the bell
※ Ringing the bell acts as a greeting to Buddha.
※ Depending on the temple, it may be forbidden to ring the temple bell.
Please confirm with the temple beforehand.
⑤ Offer incense※ Purify your body by fanning the smoke towards your body※ Sometimes you can light up a candle.

⑥ Worship at the temple
1) Bow, give an offering, and ring the bell.
※ Ringing the bell is to cleanse one’s self frombad spirits.
※ Because it is an offering to Buddha, throw theoffering gently.
2) Put your hands together in front of yourchest and pray.
※ Do not clap your hands.
※ It is acceptable to pray with prayer beads.
3) Bow one last time.

9I

f you felt that 2016 was a rough year, aJapanese tradition has you covered: Bonenkai
忘 年 会 , year-end parties whose name literallymeans “party to forget the year,” clear the slate
to start the new year fresh. Whether it’s for yourworkplace, school, or just a group of friends,
Bonenkai (or for that matter, any enkai 宴 会 orformal party) can be a daunting experience for a
foreigner worried about the myriad of rules andmanners in Japanese society. So here are a few
keywords and tips!
Where and What?
Most formal Bonenkaitake place at a hotel
or a banquet hall.
Informal parties willusually happen at antavern (izakaya 居 酒屋 ) or restaurant. Mostof the time, the foodw i l l b e a s e t c o u r s e When accepting a drink,(koosu コ ー ス), served use both hands to holdindividually or family you glass (and tip it forless beer foam).
style, accompanied
by an all-you-can-drink (nomihodai 飲 み 放 題 )system. Sometimes the food is all-you-can-eat(tabehodai 食べ放題 ) as a buffet (baikingu バイ
キング or byuffe ビュッフェ ) or placed on tables
around the ballroom, cocktail party-style. The fee
for the party is collected at the event or takenout of the social clubdues you pay at yourworkplace.
From Start to Finish(and Beyond)You’ll either meet at
Chopsticks should be placed the place, or someon the hashi-oki (chopstickrest) when not being used hotels/banquet halls(make one from the wrapper will arrange a shuttle
if there aren't any).
bus service to pick up
guests at designated points. When you arrive, findyour group’s room and sign in at the receptiontable. You may be assigned a seat, or given one
by random lottery. The night will probably start off

Awa Shoku: Bonenkai Basics –A Guide to Year-End Parties

By Lance Kita

with a few speeches by your boss/coach/leader,followed by an official toast (kanpai 乾 杯 ). Just
raise your glass, say “kanpai” together, and takea sip. Now, it’s eating/drinking time! At the end of
the night, there will probably be a closing remark
and some sort of ending ritual. The most common
are iccho-jime 一 丁 締 め (say “yo 〜 ” and clap
once in unison) or ippon-jime 一 本 締 め (saying“yo~” followed by a rapid “clap-clap-CLAP, clapclap-CLAP, clap-clap-CLAP, CLAP!” three times).
Sometimes banzai-sansho 万 歳 三 唱 (raisingboth hands and yelling “banzai” three times) isdone. After the first party is over, there is often an
optional pre-arranged or spontaneous after-party(nijikai 二次会 ) at another bar or izakaya.
How to Drink (Any Beverage)
Drinking etiquette is an important part of the
Bonenkai. Perhaps the most important is thatyou should always pour someone else’s drink.
Drinks are the social lubricant to smooth the way
to conversation and camaderie, so no one should
drink alone. Accept a drink by holding the cup
and supporting the bottom with your other hand.
Gently push up to “say when.” Often, people will
go around the room to co-workers and higher-ups
they know and pour drinks for them as a greeting
and a sign of thanks for everything in the past
year, so feel free to grab a bottle of beer and walkaround. Also, if you can’t drink alcohol, simply say
arukooru nomemasen アルコール飲めません (Ican’t drink alcohol). People can pour oolong tea
or cola for you instead of beer. Although it may
cost some yennies, Bonenkai are a good chanceto (re)connect
with the people
around you andenjoy some great
food. Use thesetips and have
fun forgetting
t h i s y e a r. S e e
you in 2017 with
Kanpai! Most people toast withbeer poured at your party table,
more food-related
but choose oolong tea/cola/orange
stories!
juice if you can't drink alcohol.

Events & Memoranda

2016 International Understanding Forum
平成２８年度 国際理解支援フォーラム

日時： １２月１１日（日）１３時３０分～１６時２０分
場所：（公財）徳島県国際交流協会 会議室（徳島駅ビル クレメントプラザ６階）
内容： 第一部 上田 勝久氏 による講話
		「私の歩んできた道」
		

10

料金： 入場無料
お茶やお菓子を準備しています。ふるってご参加ください。
申し込み・問い合わせ：
TEL: 088-656-3303
FAX: 088-652-0616
E-mail: coodinator3@topia.ne.jp～あなたにもできる国際協力支援～

第二部 協会登録在住外国人講師による
		
国際理解プレゼンテーション
アルンソリヤ アリー氏（ラオス）		
シリプグリ キラム氏
		（中国・新疆ウイグル自治区）
第三部 意見交換 交流会

当日参加大歓迎ですが、準備の都合上できれば事前にお申し込みください。
詳細については、当協会のホームページをご覧ください。http://www.topia.ne.jp※当日参加も大歓迎ですが、できれば事前に電話か FAX またはメールでお申し込みくだい。

TOPIA Japanese Intensive Conversation
Course: “Japanese New Year”
From January 1st to January 3rd, we celebrate
the New Year, called Oshogatsu (New Year’s).
When: December 11 (Sun) 10:30-12:30
Where: TOPIA
We will learn about Japan’s New Year culture andstudy about how to write a Nengajo (New Year’s

Greeting Card) to the people who have helped us
this year. We will provide brush pens and color
pencils, so that you can write and draw someillustrations. (Please be sure to bring the addressof people you would like to send Nengajo to. Eachcard is 52 yen and will be passed out.)

TOPIA Japanese Language Open Course:
Come and Experience Pressed Art!
Would you like to create a Oshibana (Pressed
Flowers) chopsticks holder or a postcard?
Yoshinogawa High School students will teach you!

When: December 21 (Wed) 10:30-12:00
Where: TOPIA
Fee: FREE

Please apply in advance for both events so that we can prepare enough materials.
E-mail: coordinator2@topia.ne.jp TEL: 088-656-3303 FAX: 088-652-0616*This event is run by TOPIA under the auspices of the Agency for Cultural Affairs.

Ward off Evil Spirits at Yakuoji Temple
薬王寺 厄除越年会
Every year at Yakuouji Temple, the general public
is allowed to ring the 108 Joya no Kane (Newyear’s bell) for ring number 2 through 107, a totalof 106 times, to bring in the New Year. It is firstcome, first served, so if you would like to strike
the bell, come early. There will be a lot of booths
lining the temple grounds. Please come and enjoy
the festival atmosphere.
When: December 31 (Sat) New Years Eve
Where: Yakuoji Temple
Info: Yakuoji Temple TEL：0884-77-0023

薬王寺では毎年、一般の人が２回目～１０７回目
までの１０６回の除夜の鐘をつくことができます。先着順なので鐘をつきたい方はお早めにどうぞ。露店も並ぶので、近くで除夜の鐘を聞きながらお祭り気分を味わって下さい！
日時：１２月３１日（土）大晦日
場所： 薬王寺 海部郡美波町奥河内寺前 285-1
お問い合わせ：薬王寺
TEL： 0884-77-0023

11 Events & Memoranda
Tokushima LED Art Festival
徳島 LED アートフェスティバル
Team Lab: Luminous Forest and River Tokushima
Digitized City Art Night.
The city of Tokushima will be the stage for multiple
events, with a focus on Digital Art by Team Lab
and will also be featuring LED art created by the
public. There will also be other events in which
you will also be able to meet with and talk with theartists themselves.
When: December 16 (Fri) - December 25 (Sun)
Where: Central-Tokushima City
Info: Tokushima City Economic Strategies 		
Division, Tokushima LED Art Festival 		Committee Office
TEL: 088-621-5225

チームラボ★光る川と光る森
アートナイト

徳島ライトシティ

芸術監督 猪子寿之 ( チームラ

ボ )。チームラボのデジタルアート作品展示を中心に、一般公募の LED アート作品の展示や参加・交流イベント等、徳島の街中を舞台に多彩な催しを開催します。
日時： １２月１６日（金）～１２月２５日（日）場所： 徳島中心部
お問い合わせ：徳島市経済政策課内 徳島ＬＥＤ
アートフェスティバル実行委員会事務局
TEL： 088-621-5225

Anan Luminous Town Project 2016 X'mas
阿南の光の冬イベント

This winter, there will be an event to show thecity of Anan dressed in illuminating lights. The
collaboration of bamboo and LED lights will bringa variety of spectacular pieces to the event.
Ushikijoushi Park, the main event area, is also
known as a sacred power spot for lovers.
When: December 23 (Fri, Holiday) - 25 (Sat)
Where: Ushikijoushi Park, Hikari no Machi Station,
JR Anan Station
Info: Anan City Tourist Information Center
TEL: 0884-24-3141
Correction:
The name in the caption of the picture on the bottom of Pg.4 was
misspelled. The correct spelling of the name of the photographer is
Tomoyo Nakayama. We apologize for the error.

阿南の光の冬イベントが開催されます。竹と LEDがコラボした素敵な企画が盛りだくさん。メイン
会場は“恋人の聖地”として知られる、牛岐城趾公園です。ぜひ遊びにいらしてください。
日時： １２月２３日（金・祝）～２５日（日）場所： 牛岐城趾公園、光のまちステーション、
ＪＲ阿南駅
お問い合わせ：阿南市観光案内所
TEL： 0884-24-3141

訂正・お詫び：4 ページの下の写真の見出しの名前に誤りがありました。誤：Tomoya Nakayama 訂正：Tomoyo Nakayama
関係者の皆様、読者の皆様にご迷惑をお掛けしたことを心からお詫びいたします。

TOPIA will be closed from December 29, 2016 (Thur) - January 3, 2017 (Tue)Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口
TOPIA offers a counselling and advisory service to all foreign residents to help with issues involving
accidents, working conditions, housing, visas, international marriage, and more. Counselling isavailable in English and Japanese. Please note that although every effort will be made, we may not beable to deal with all cases.
Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)
Tel: 088-656-3303 or 088-656-3320 (allows three-way conversations with an interpreter)