aWa life

Naruto Kintoki
Fries Recipe

Japan Overseas
Cooperation Volunteers
Introduction

Awa Shoku:
Thinking IN the Box for
New Year Cooking

Gairaigo Galore:
アップ

December 2020
# 362

Kakejiku

1

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

What a year 2020 has been! We are sure nearly everyone has felt some stress throughout the year
due to having to adjust to a completely new situation, but we still hope that you can have a quiet year
end and that you will be able to take some time for yourself. In Japan, it is common to have some kindof “mind reset” at the end of the year in order to start the new year in a fresh way. This is also why parties at the end of a year are called bounenkai 忘年会 (literally “forget the year gathering”). In this sense,
let`s look forward to 2021 and have hope that it turns out to be a more positive one.
How about starting the year with hatsumoude 初詣 (first shrine visit of the year) at
your local shintou shrine?
Merry Christmas to everyone and see you next year!
For all of those who like writing, please feel free to submit an article to us at any
point in time about basically 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 andeverything 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,
Sydney and Nico
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:
Qing Liu, Alessa Peters, Yukari Nagata, Shoko Nomizu, Lance Kita, Kayo Miyoshi, Atsushi AbeContents

Pg. 2:

Kakejiku

Pg. 3:

Naruto Kintoki Fries Recipe2

Pg. 3-4: Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Introduction
Pg. 5:

Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: お正月

Pg. 5:

Gairaigo Galore: アップ

Pg. 6:

Awa Shoku: Thinking IN the Box for New Year Cooking

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 8-9: Events and Memoranda
Kakejiku
By: Qing LiuIn J a p a n , p aintings and works of calligraphythat have been drawn on cloth or paper, affixedwith jiku attachments on both sides, and hung on
the wall are known as kakejiku. Vertical kakejiku
are called tatejiku or jofuku, and horizonal works
are known as yokohaba. Kakejiku that are hungin a reception room often feature images such as
9 koi or a magpie welcoming spring, with theseimages representing luck and wealth. If there
is an elderly person living in the house, then apicture featuring pine trees and cranes is also agood choice as these represent longevity.
When you enter a Japanese tea room, the firstthing that will catch your eye is the kakejiku.
Japanese tea ceremony, or sadou, has an
inseparable relationship with kakejiku, and its
roots lie in zen. Often in the middle of the tea
room, you can find profound zen-related proverbs
written on kakejiku such as “ 一期一会 ” (once-ina-lifetime encounter), 和敬静寂 (harmony, respect,purity, and tranquility), or 日々好日 (every day is agood day).
The “magpie welcoming spring” and “pine andcrane” kakejiku featured in this month’s Awa Life
were hand-drawn by Shinobu Watari-san. Watarisan enjoys and excels in ink paintings, and thesetwo paintings truly express his wishes.

3

O

Naruto Kintoki Fries Recipe
By: Alessa Peters

ne food that has always been used in Japan,
but has only recently gained popularity in myhome country Germany, is sweet potatoes. While
the available varieties differ, I enjoy preparing
them as a soup in the winter in Germany and as
Daigaku imo, a sweet snack, here in Japan.
In Tokushima, there is a regional variety called
Naruto kintoki that I’m sure you have seen at thesupermarket or souvenir shops where they feature
various sweets made from them. As I mentioned
in a previous article, what I like about Tokushima
is the ability to buy lots of local produce, andNaruto kintoki is one of them.
Since sweet potato fries are popular and easy
to make at home, I decided to try my hand at
my own recipe using two local products: Naruto
kintoki and sudachi. I hope you enjoy them!

Ingredients(Makes one large portion):• 1 medium-sized sweet potato
For the dip:
• 2 tbsp. of peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)• 2 tbsp. of canola oil• 1 tbsp. of soy sauce• ½ tbsp. of maple syrup• 1-2 sudachi, to taste
Optional:• Minced garlic and/ or ginger, to taste• Chopped welsh onion, to taste• Salt, to taste
Instructions:• Rinse the sweet potato and dry off with a paper
towel. Cut off the end pieces, then cut the potato
into sticks without peeling the skin. (Make surethat the inner part does not change color too
much. If it gets green spots right after you cut it,
it’s bad. Use the potatoes as soon as possible
after buying).
• Transfer the sweet potato sticks to a bowl andpour a little bit of canola oil over them, then mix
well. Put them onto an oven grate, making surethat they do not overlap. Bake in the toaster ovenfor 10-15 minutes until soft and golden brown.
The exact time will vary depending on your type ofoven. (You can also prepare them in a frying pan
with a little oil if you prefer a crunchier texture).
• In the meantime, prepare the dip. Mix the peanutbutter, canola oil, soy sauce, maple syrup, andthe juice of the sudachi in a measuring jar untilsmooth. If using minced garlic and/or ginger, add
them too.
• When the sweet potatoes are done, transfer
them to a bowl or a plate and serve warm with thedip. If using, sprinkle the chopped welsh onion
and/or salt on top.

Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Introduction: Striving
to Share a Better Tomorrow with the People of the World
By: Yukari Nagata, JICA Shikoku, Tokushima DeskI

n this world there are many issues such as poverty, discrimination, global warming, etc. that
can’t be solved if we don’t work together. In developing nations, where approximately 80 percentof the world’s population lives, these issues are particularly evident. As an implementer of Official
Development Assistance (ODA), JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency) utilizes JapaneseJapan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers Introduction

4

experiences, knowledge, technology, and resources to help support developing nations with
development. Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers are Japanese citizens between the age of 20 –69 who wish to make the world a better place, and they apply with the intent to utilize their skills. Afterbeing accepted, they study the language and culture of the country they will be dispatched to, as wellas the fundamentals of international cooperation, for roughly 70 days in Japan. They are dispatched
to a country for roughly 2 years, and they live in the same environment as the local people. They work
together with their coworkers (at a government organization, NPO, etc.) to try and find solutions for
issues.

Introduction of Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers from Tokushima

The work for Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers is largely broken down into 9 categories such as
health preservation/medical care, agriculture, forestry, and fisheries work, etc., with over 190 smaller
categories. To date, over 50,000 Japan Overseas Cooperation Volunteers have been dispatched to 98
different countries to assist in a variety of fields.

Ayana Oki
Ayana took a break from teaching at a
middle school in Tokushima City in order towork as a “science education” volunteer in
Ethiopia. She worked to support elementary
school teachers in the area by helping themraise their experimental techniques andclassroom skills.
(Picture: Together with students from thescience club.)Koshiro Sawaguchi
After working for the Tokushima Prefecture
police for 36 years, Koshiro worked as a“traffic safety” volunteer in Nepal. At theMetropolitan Traffic Police Office, he worked
on traffic safety measures and proposals.
He also gave traffic guidance on the streetsand created traffic safety leaflets. Throughthese activities, he worked to reduce traffic
accidents and improve traffic manners.
(Picture: Together with university students
working as traffic volunteers.)

Manami Takimoto
After working at a university for 8 years
doing work related to study abroad students
and PR, Manami worked in Brazil as a“Japaneseteacher”
volunteer.
She
conducted classes at a Japanese promotion
center in Aracatuba and worked to improvestudent’s conversational skills.
(Picture: Celebrating Hinamatsuri (Girls’Day))

Sachiko Miwa
After working for 5 years as a physicaltherapist at a hospital, Sachiko worked in
East Timor as a “physical therapist”
volunteer. She worked to improve access toproper physical rehabilitation in the area
and to improve the techniques of local
workers.
(Photo: Helping a patient with theirrehabilitation at their home.)5Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: お正月を迎える
準備をしましょう！

By: Shoko Nomizu
がつ
しわ す
し
ぼう
せん せい
がつ
日 本 では、12 月 のことを「師 走 」といいます。
「師 」とは、お坊 さんや先 生 のことで、「12 月 は、
に ほん

ぼう

せんせい

お坊さんや先生が
がつ

はし

いそが

走りまわるほど忙しい」という意味です。

ねん が じょうか

い み

おおそう じはじ

12 月になると、年賀状を書いたり、大掃除を
い

と

あと

ひと

ねんまつ

しょう がつ

むか

し ごと

ひ

し ごとおさ最後の仕事の日を

か ぞく

あ

ふる さと

家族に

会 うために、故 郷 にとお言 います。その後、たくさんの人 が、遠 くにいる

そして、お正月をさい ごし始めます。年末の

りょう り

つく

迎えるために、おせち料理を

かざ

かど まつ

作ったり、しめ飾りや

仕事納め

き せい

帰 省 します。

じゅん び

門松を

ひと

準備する人もい

ます。
がつ

にち

おお み そかとし こた

12 月 31 日の 「大晦日」には、年越しそばをかね

ひゃく やっ つ

鐘が

百八つ

な

はじ

むか

かんしゅう

迎えるための

慣習が

りょう り

おせち料理
Vocabulary List
ねん が じょう

年賀 状
おおそう じ

大掃除
ねんまつ

年末

じょ や

鳴り始めます。これをたくさん

End-of-Year

し ごとおさ仕事納め Last Work of the Yearアップ (Up)
By: Sydney Bartig

じ

い

てら

はさんで
がつ

お寺の
しょう がつ言います。このように、 12 月には、お正月を

あります。

じょ や

かね

除夜の鐘

年越しそば

Major Cleaning

かね

除夜の鐘と

とし こ

New Year's Card

しん や食べます。そして、深夜０時を

ふるさと

故郷
き せい

帰省

Home Town

かざ

しめ飾り
い み

意味

かどまつ

門松

Meaning

Return Home

ひゃくやっ

百 八つ 108

かんしゅう

慣習

CustomGairaigo Galore

Today we have a very simple yet versatile gairaigo to introduce you to: ア ッ プ . In English thisis of course the word “up”, and it has a myriad of uses such as describing direction, serving as anoun such as in “the ups and downs of life”, or in slang with “what’s up”, etc. In the same way, アップ has many different uses in Japanese, although these are not always the same as they are in
English. Let’s take a look at some examples!
It is often added after another word to show that something has been increased
or improved. For example, you may be familiar with the words レ ベ ル ア ップ (level-up) and パワーアップ (power-up), which can often be found in video
games in English. However, if you were to hear words such as イメージアッ
プ (image-up) or ベ ー ス ア ッ プ (base-up), it might be a little more difficult toimagine the meaning. イメージアップ means to literally raise/improve the imageof something. ベ ー ス ア ッ プ means to raise wages. While based on English
words, they aren’t used in quite the same way you would use them in English.
Additionally, it is also sometimes used as an abbreviation. For example, it can be used as anabbreviation of アップロード (to upload something), アップスタイル (upswept hairstyle), or for ク
ローズアップ (close-up). As you can see there are a variety of words related to アップ !

Awa Shoku: Thinking IN the Box for New Year Cooking
By: Lance Kita

There’s a flurry of activity in kitchens acrossJapan at the end of the year as families
prepare osechi-ryori お節料理 , foods chosen forboth preservation and for their symbolism as goodluck foods packed into lacquered boxes to beeaten January 1-3. It was believed that no work
should be done on the first days of the new year,
so cooking was finished in the final days of the old
year.

6

cooking wine), and a pinch of salt. Adjust the
texture with a few tablespoons of water. Add
chopped kuri kanro-ni 栗 の 甘 露 煮 (sweet boiled
chestnuts, found bottled in stores) and mix.

3. Chikuzen-ni 筑前煮 (simmered root vegetables
and chicken)
One of the classic dishes is nishime 煮 し め ,simmered root vegetables and meat in a lightsoy broth. Many of the ingredients have lucky2020 has been dominated by the coronavirus connotations based on wordplay, and are cut into
pandemic, and many of you may be avoiding decorative shapes. Keep it simple with a similar
travel over the holidays. This is the perfect chance dish called chikuzen-ni. Soak 4 or 5 dried shiitake
mushrooms in 150
to have some osechi
ml of warm waterat home. Full setsfor 20 min. Tear a
can be reserved
block of konnyaku
at supermarkets,
into bite-sized
convenience stores,
pieces and blanchor departmenti n b o i l i n g w a t e r.
stores, but many
Cut half a carrotof the dishes canand 100-200g eachbe prepared quite
of lotus root andeasily. Here are mygobo root (scrape
top 3 recipes if you
off skin) intowant to try cooking
Lucky food in boxes for the new year... try making some ofirregular bite-sizedosechi dishes:these osechi dishes at home!
pieces. Chop 300g
1. Kohaku Namasu 紅白なます (Red and White chicken thighs into bite-sized pieces and season
with a 1 Tbsp. soy sauce. Sautee chicken in oil
marinated salad)
Red and white are auspicious colors in Japan, in a medium pot. Add vegetables and konnyaku,
especially at the new year. This salad uses kintoki cooking for a few minutes. Add mushrooms andninjin 金時人参 , reddish carrots sold only in late soaking water, 5 Tbsp. soy sauce, and 4 Tbsp.
December. Shred or julienne daikon radish and each sake and mirin, and simmer with a drop lid
kintoki carrots (8:2 or 9:1 ratio is best). Sprinkle for 10 min. on medium heat. Remove drop lid andwith salt, toss well, and let sit until water starts to continue to cook and stir until the liquid almost
come out of the vegetables. Squeeze out lightly disappears.
and add vegetables to marinade (rice vinegar and
You can buy other lucky foods like red and whitesugar, 4:3 ratio). Best the next day.
kamaboko 蒲鉾 (fishcake), tazukuri 田作り (glazed
2. Kuri Kinton 栗 金 団 (mashed chestnuts and dried sardines), konbu-maki 昆 布 巻 き (rolledkelp), shrimp (their bent backs suggest long life),
sweet potatoes)
The yellow color of mashed chestnuts and sweet and kuromame 黒 豆 (sweet black beans) at the
potatoes are symbolic of gold and wealth. This supermarket or department store to round out
is the perfect locavore dish to use Naruto Kintoki your assortment. I hope these foods will usher in
鳴 門 金 時 sweet potatoes. Peel and cut sweet a luckier 2021 for all of you. Yoi otoshi o! 良いお年
potatoes into chunks. Simmer until tender. Mash を！
or push through a sieve with a wooden spatula toremove lumps. Add sugar, mirin み り ん (sweet7Japanese Lesson

By: Kayo Miyoshi

Year-end Phrases
し ご と おさ2020 is nearly at its end. When finishing up your final work of the year ( 仕事納め ), you should convey
your appreciation to your teachers, colleagues, etc. who have helped you throughout the year.
こ とし

たいへん

せ

わ

らいねん

ねが

「今年も大変お世話になりました。来年もどうぞよろしくお願いします。
」
At the end of December, make sure to also speak with the people you won't meet until the new year.
You can express hope that the other party has a good start to the new year by saying:
よ

とし

むか

「良いお年をお迎えください。」とし「よいお年を。
」
ほんねん

せ わ

When
someone says thesethings to you, you can respond with「本年としはたいへんお世話になりました。
らいねん
ねがむか
来年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。
」and then add「どうぞよい年をお迎えください」.

Words for Greeting the New Yearね

しょう がつDuring the New Year's holiday, you will begin to hear thesong「もう～いーくつ寝 ると～お正 月 ♬」.
とし だまlook forward
For New Year's,
children look forward to receiving お 年 玉 (New Year's gift), and adults
ねん が じょう
ねん が じょう
to receiving 年賀状 (New Year's cards). At the year's end, why don't you try sending a 年賀 状 to thepeople who have supported you, expressing your appreciation and greetings for the new year? When
writing, it's important to be humble and show respect to the person you're writing to.

Events & Memoranda

8

Kamiyama Onsen Candle Night & Shishi Yuzu Bath
神山温泉キャンドルナイト＆ししゆず湯
Kamiyama Onsen has once again prepared a"Shishi yuzu bath", a symbol of the winter season.
The lights will be dimmed, and a "candle night"
will be prepared as well. Take this chance to enjoy
a wonderous onsen bath. ♪

今年も神山温泉の冬の風物詩、ししゆずを湯船にAbout Yuzu Baths…
In addition to enjoying the colour of the yuzus
floating in the bath, the fragrance is said to help
people relax and stimulate the skin to improveblood circulation. Entering a yuzu bath is also a
way to pray for good health.

ゆず湯について・・・

About Shishi Yuzu…
Shishi yuzu are a jumbo type of yuzu that area size smaller than a volleyball. They are alsoa specialty of Kamiyama. Due to their size andinteresting shape, they are used as decorations.
You can also make candy from the cooked peel.

バレーボールをひとまわり小さくしたくらいの

When: December 19 (Sat.) - 20 (Sun.)
Shishi Yuzu Bath: All Day
Candle Night: 17:00 - 20:00 (Planned)
Where: Kamiyama Onsen
Tel: 088-676-1117
URL: http://kamiyama-spa.com/

浮かべた『ししゆず湯』をご用意！浴室の照明を落とした『キャンドルナイト』温泉も実施されます。幻想的な入浴をお楽しみください♪

柚子の実を浮かべることで、その色を楽しむほか、その香りによるリラックスや皮膚が刺激されて血行がよくなるといわれ、無病息災を願います。
ししゆずとは・・・
ジャンボゆずで、神山町の特産です。大きさ、形の珍しさから装飾に用いられますが、皮を炊いて砂糖菓子にもできます。
日時 : 12 月 19 日（土）～ 20 日（日）
ししゆず湯

終日

キャンドルナイト 17:00 ～ 20:00（予定）場所 : 神山温泉
Tel: 088-676-1117
URL: http://kamiyama-spa.com/

Shinmachi Countdown 2021
新町カウントダウン 2021
It’s time again for the Shinmachi 2021 Countdown! 「 今 年 も や り ま す！ 新 町 カ ウ ン ト ダ ウ ン
Let’s enjoy the countdown to 2021 together with 2021 ！！」家族やカップル、友人と一緒に 2021 年のカウン
family, friends, or our significant others! ♪
トダウンを楽しみましょう♪
※ You can find more information about this event※イベント情報は公式 Twitter にて順次公開してon the official Twitter page.
いきます
When: December 31st (Thur.) – January 1st (Fri.)
日時 : 12 月 31 日（木）～ 1 月 1 日（金）Where: Tokushima City, Around Shinmachibashi
場所 : 徳島市新町橋東公園周辺
East Park
料金 : 無料
Fee: Free
お問い合わせ : 新町カウントダウン実行委員会
Info: Shinmachi Countdown Executive Committee
URL: https://twitter.com/shinmachi_cd?lang=ja
URL: https://twitter.com/shinmachi_cd?lang=ja

9

Events & Memoranda
Christmas at the Zoo
どうぶつえんのクリスマス

If you come dressed as Santa, you get freeadmission to the zoo! Children who arrive early
will also receive a present.
When: December 20th (Sun.) 9:30-16:30
Where: Tokushima Zoo
Fee: Adults: 600 Yen
Middle School Students & Younger: Free
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 20 日（日）9:30 ～ 16:30
場所：とくしま動物園
料金：大人 600 円、中学生以下は無料
Tel: 088-636-3215
URL: http://www.city.tokushima.tokushima.jp/zoo/
event/top.html

Solving Worldwide Issues Together
By: Atsushi Abe
he other day, for the first time in a while, I
went to a concert and listened to Beethoven’s
symphony. This year is the 250th anniversary of
Beethoven’s birth. During a normal year, there
would have been so many concerts featuring
Beethoven’s music that you would get sick ofhearing it, but due to the novel coronavirus, being
able to attend a concert has become a precious
experience.

T

The lives of people around the world havechanged in ways that no one could have imaginedat the end of last year. There was a sharp
decrease in foreign visitors, people were unable
to gather and meet, and everyone had to holethemselves up at home. It was almost like we had
made a wrong turn somewhere and wandered
into a different world. Now the novel coronavirus
is spreading all around the world.

In order to stop the spread of this virus, are thevarious countries of the world working together?
Borders have been closed, everyone has been
scrambling to secure medical equipment, andit seems each country is only thinking about
itself. However, on the other hand, there has
been cooperation. China sent many masks toJapan, Germany took in critically ill patientsfrom surrounding countries, and the EU createda COVID-19 recovery fund for its members.
Joint development of a vaccine has also been
progressing.
Once the coronavirus situation in your own
country is under control, you shouldn’t thinkthat it doesn’t matter what is happening in othercountries. I think we should all work together sothat the situation can be under control world-wide.
If we do, I think the situation will be under control
by next year.

**TOPIA will be closed from December 29, 2020 (Tue.) - January 3, 2021 (Sun.)

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)