aWa life
Gairaigo Galore:
バリアフリー

October 2022

Golden Opportunity

Introduction to the
Miyoshi International
Japanese Culture andReading Corner: 日本の秋Exchange Association

# 384

1

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

It’s now October, and the temperature/weather is finally nice enough to spend some time outdoors
without being drenched in sweat. Why not take some time to enjoy the outdoors and head to some ofTokushima’s sightseeing spots? It’s the perfect weather to visit some of the temples if you haven’t taken
the chance to yet. If you wait until next month then you can also enjoy some beautiful autumn leaves.
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:
Abby Beers, Shoko Nomizu, and Akiko Tsuji

2

Contents

Pg. 2-4: Golden Opportunity
Pg. 5:

Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: 日本の秋Pg. 5:

Gairaigo Galore: バリアフリー

Pg. 6:

Introduction to the Miyoshi International Exchange
Association

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 8-9: Events and Memoranda
Golden Opportunity
By: Abby Beersn my time in Japan I have found that the mostimportant word you will need to know during
your time here is ‘yes’. Sure, ‘hai’, ‘arigatou’, and‘toire wa doko desu ka’ are up there, but when it
comes down to it, your time in Japan will be mostheavily influenced by your ability to say yes.

I

T h e
biggestfear I
had, andthat mostpeopleh a v e ,beforecomingto Japanw a sfear ofisolation.
That youwill bespending
the next
year ofyour life
alone ina country far from home with nothing to do but
watch netflix and complain on reddit is an all too
real possibility. I like to think that I have avoided
that fate, and have made quite a nice little life
for myself here in Tokushima. When reflecting

on just how I managed, in the hopes that I mightoffer some advice to others looking to avoid the
dreaded JET loneliness, I have come to one wordand one parable that hopefully I will be able to
make into a cohesive piece of advice.
The word, I am sure you have guessed, is ‘yes’.
T h eparable is
one that
you mayor maynot befamiliarw i t h ,is theparableof theb a g sof gold(Matthew
25:14-28
if you’recurious).
In thisstory arich mangives three servants bags of gold, one gets fivebags, another gets two bags, and the last guy
gets just one. The first two guys take their gold,
put it to work, and double their money; the last
guy just buries his gold in the ground for safe

3
keeping. After a while they are called back to therich man and they tell them what they did with themoney and return what they were initially given.
The first two guys get to keep what they earned.
The last guy gets called lazy because really evenputting the money in a bank would have earned
some interest.

In the bible this is a metaphor for God given
gifts, but whether you thank Allah, Jesus, or theJapanese Government for the opportunity, ourtime in Japan is definitely a bag of gold. It's very
easy to bury ourselves in the routines of work andforget what a unique and formative experience
this truly is. It might be easy to cast yourself as
the guy who only got one bag of gold when soand so got placed where you wanted and now
here you are miles away from the nearest Taco
Bell. What we have to remember is that every
single one of us has been given the gift of a life
in Japan. We can’t just bury it a hole and forget
about it. We have to use it and engage with it,even if it seems like less than you thought it wouldbe, or conversely if it seems overwhelming andyou don’t even know where to start. We have ourgold, now it’s time to put it to work.
If the last guy was upset about only getting one
bag of gold, burying it in a hole was a sure fireway of making sure that he stayed with one
bag and one bag only. No matter what, nothingchanges unless you work for it. You can’t becomeless lonely by sitting in your house thinking about
how lonely you are. I know how appealing thatcan be. I know how tempting it is to sit in your life

Golden Opportunity
as it is, waiting for something to change, or maybe
hoping that you will just learn to live with it andjust survive until your contract is up. But I don’t
recommend that. Trust me, that was my strategy
in college and it didn’t work.
The true purpose of our time in Japan isn’t justto be in Japan, that is only the starting point; theoriginal bag of gold if you will. Eventually most of
us will have to go back to our home countries, wewill return this gift we have been given just likethe men in the story. The good news is that wewill also get to keep all the extra gold. The extra
gold is memories, experiences, omiyage and in
my case a rapidly growing supply of decorative
socks. This brings us back to ‘yes’ because theway we make the most of our lives in Japan, andcollect that sweet sweet metaphorical gold, is bysaying yes to things even if we aren’t quite surewhy. Honestly I think this strategy works almost
anywhere.

In May I made the decision to sign up for the
AJET touch rugby tournament. I said yes when
asked to join the team, even though I had literally
never touched a rugby ball before my first practiceand the tournament was in two weeks. If you
know me, you know that on paper I am about
as far from a rugby player as you can get. If you
don’t know me; Hello, my name is Abby and I am
uncoordinated, relatively short, pretty weak, andfairly slow. Despite all that, I took the chance andnow the Rugby Tournament is one of my favorite
memories here on JET. I got to spend a weekend
with friends out in beautiful Miyoshi enjoying

4Golden Opportunity
the fresh air, meeting new people, eating good
izakaya food, and relaxing in an onsen. I should
also mention our team was undefeated on thesecond day of the tournament! Now, I always
look forward to our weekly practices (we practicewith Shikoku
University
on Mondays
if you areinterested).
Practicing with
the AJET teamhas helped
me build
friendships
and helped
give me theconfidence
to join the
tag rugby
practices at
one of myelementary
schools, something I was originally too shy to
do. I ultimately ended up joining tag rugby bysimply walking up to some fourth graders andasking them to throw me the ball (via gestures
my Japanese is still not good enough to practicewithout charades). In case you didn’t believe myearlier assessment of my skills, you should know I
still practice with the fourth graders and they often
score on me. I would be holding back the 6th
graders if I joined them.
The initial ‘yes’, that to be clear I was hesitant to
give, has led to so much more than I had originally
thought. It has helped give form and fun to my life
here in Japan, and this is just one example. It's no

coincidence that in the parable both our investors
doubled their money, metaphors, of course, exist
outside of the volatility of real world economies.
The more you get involved the more opportunities
will present themselves and the more confident inyourself you
will become.
To be honest,
my Japanese
a n d
m y
coordination
have notimproved allthat much,
but when I
first arrived
I let those
things stopme from trying
things that I
wanted to try.
Now, even if
I struggle tounderstandsome instructions or drop the ball, I feel
comfortable enough to laugh it off and justhave fun. I’m comfortable because I risked, andsuffered through, the discomfort.
While you are here, there will be so many things
for you to do and see, in truth saying yes to all ofthem would be impossible. However, I really do
encourage you to say yes as much as you can.
To reach into your bag of gold and pull out a yes,even if you are worried or scared. It is quite often
the things that are the scariest that are the mostimportant and most rewarding. This is a golden
opportunity to try new things and to grow. All you
have to do is say yes.

*NOTICE*
Check out the Tokushima 2022 Japanese Speech Contest that is now available forfree to view on Youtube!
Congratulations to all of the winners!
Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lWwm8MO271Q

5

に ほん

Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: 日本の秋
By: Shoko Nomizu

しゅん か しゅうとう

し日本には、春夏 秋 冬の

き

がつ

がつ

四季があり、9 月から１１月があき

いのにならないくらい○○の秋という

だい ひょう てき

みの

あき

あき

あき

秋です。

秋は、ほかの季節とは

き せつ

くら

比べも

かた

言い方をします。

しょく よく

あき

どく しょ

あき

あき

げい じゅつあきこう らく

代 表 的なものには、「実りの秋」や「食欲の秋」、「読書の秋」、「スポ－ツの秋」、「芸術の秋」、「行楽
あきの秋」などが

あります。

き せつ

さくもの

しゅうかく

この季節には、たくさんの作物がす

じ き

また、過ごしやすい

ひと

もの

どくしょ

たの

おんがく

たの

さまざまな芸術をえ

りょこう

楽しんだり、 旅行や

しば い

が

ハイキング、キャンプ、もみじ狩りな

たの

どの

た

食べたくなります。

時期になるので、読書や、スポ－ツを 楽しみます。 そして、音楽や絵、芝居、
げいじゅつ

ミュ－ジカルなど

おお収穫できるので、多くの人が、おいしい物を

アウトドアもあき

楽しんだりしますね。

あなたは、どんなあき秋にしたいですか？

秋を

ぜ

たの

ひ

楽しんでください。

Vocabulary List
し き

四季
き せつ

しょくよく

Four Seasons

食 欲 Appetite
どくしょHarvest

収穫す

読書 Reading

過ごしやすい Pleasant

くら

げいじゅつ

しば い

だいひょうてきこうらく

季節

Season

しゅうかく

比べものにならない Can't Compare To
代 表 的なものみの

実り

Representative
Harvest芸 術 Arts
行楽 Excursion

Play

芝居
が

もみじ狩り

Autumn Leaf Viewing

アウトドア

Outdoors

さくもの

作物 Crops

Gairago Galore
バリアフリー (Barrier Free)
By: Sydney Bartig
When I first came to Tokushima, many of the people at the prefectural office were preparing for
the Olympics and Paralympics in one way or another. There were also some pregame training
camps for Paralympic teams. During this time I heard the word バリアフリー (barrier free) comeup quite a lot. I didn’t think too much of until one day a coworker asked me if バリアフリー was an
English word. My immediate thought was “yeah, of course it is”, but when I started to think about it,
I couldn’t remember any cases of hearing it in English.
If you haven’t heard the word before, barrier free means tomake or design places so that they are accessible to thosewith disabilities. This can be used for things such as wheelchairramps, or with making places such as bathrooms at a hotel, oreven entire locations, accessible. Naturally with the Olympics andParalympics taking part in Japan, this word came up quite a lot.
When I looked into it to see if it actually was an English word, I didfind a fair number of cases of it being used in English, although
there were quite a few times where it was used and then an
explanation was added. What about you? Did you know this word
before reading this article?

Introduction to the Miyoshi International Exchange
Association

6N

ow that I think about it, it has been 37 years!
We started with some small activities in1980 and then founded the “Miyoshi-gun YouthInternational Exchange Association” in 1984.
Afterwards we ended up changing the nameto the “Miyoshi City International Exchange
Association”. We’ve then since continued ourvolunteer activities.
A t t h e t i m e , I k e d a To w n h e l d t h e a n n u a l“Jumbo’s English Seminar” and was known as
an English town. However, we didn’t see many
foreigners walking around the town, and we had
few chances to speak English with foreigners.
Our association was formed with the hope ofsomehow creating more chances to interact withforeigners, use native English, and learn about
foreign cultures. At the time we visited China, theeast coast of the US, Southeast Asia, Europe,
etc. to continue cross-cultural exchange. Whilecontinuing our activities, we decided to take thenext step and search for a sister city in order tofoster long-term cultural exchange. In 1986 we
met The Dalles, Oregon, which is very similar in
topography to us, and began annual, reciprocal
sending and receiving of adults, middle schoolers,and high schoolers.
In 2016, a 1 month, short-term study abroadp r o g r a m
for middle
schoolers in
Miyoshi City
began, andwe worked
to provide
full supportt h r o u g h
a d v a n c eChildren listening to a
training andpresentation abbout Myanmar c o o r d i n a t i o nwith the host city The Dalles. It brings us great joy
to help foster a sense of internationalism in the
middle school students of Miyoshi City.
Many foreigners have had the chance to enjoy
traditional Japanese culture such as karate,
kendo, ikebana (flower arranging), sadou (tea

Enjoying Myanmar cuisine
ceremony), Japanese food experiences (making
Iya soba, udon, natto, konnyaku, etc.). They havealso enjoyed Japanese New Year events suchas learning hagoita (battledore) and otedama(beanbags) games from the local people, as well
as beigoma (spinning top), menko (card game),and koma (spinning top).
Additionally, we have had a French artist comeand work with local kindergarten students tomake a joint project using large sheets of Awa
washi paper, cooperated with the Daiwa AngloJapanese Foundation on a project to help nurtureskilled British personnel, and held a “Course to
Foster Japanese Volunteer Instructors” in thewestern part of Tokushima after being asked by
TOPIA in 2011.
In a small way, we worked to help at the World
Rafting Tournament through interpretation andknowledge about lodgings. This year the World
Wakeboarding Tournament will be held, and there
should be many chances to talk with foreigners.
In 2020 we started an English class for adults andchildren with the help of an American teacher.
While continuing their work, I’m sure there havebeen many troubles for our volunteers, but we’revery grateful that we have had the help of somany people and have been able to continue ouractivities.
We hope to continue moving forward for Miyoshi
City, Tokushima, and to a larger extent, Japan.
We hope for everyone’s continued guidance andsupport.

7

Japanese Lesson

By: Akiko Tsuji～ています／～てあります
あめ

ひ

いえ

き

へ

や

まど

み

い

雨の日、A さんが B さんの家に来ました。B さんの部屋の窓を見て A さんが言いました。
まど

あ

なか

はい

A：あ、窓が開いていますよ。
あめし雨が中に入るかもしれません。閉めないんですか。
あつあ

B：ええ、暑いから開けてあるんです
A：そうですか。
Both A and B talked about the condition of the window.
What did each of them say?
まど

A

B

あ

A さん「窓が開いています」
A looked at the window and spoke about how they were surprised that it was open.
まど

あ

B さん「
（窓が）開けてあるんです」
B talked about how it was hot and he wanted it to cool down, which resulted in the current state of
the window.

まど

あ

まど

あ

窓が 開いています
窓が 開けてあります

じ どう しN が 自動詞＋います

The current state of a noun when it is seen.

た どう しN が 他動詞＋あります

Used when someone did something for a reason,
resulting in the current state of something. Not
used for bad things.

れんしゅう

なか

<練 習 ＞（

ただ

ほう

えら

）の中の、正しい方を選びなさい。
あ

１．A：あのう、かばんが開いて（います・あります）よ。
B：あ、ありがとうございます。
け

２．A：パソコン、消さないの？
し ごと

B：（ついて・つけて）あるのよ。まだ仕事するから。
み

うけ つけ

はな

かざ

３．A：見て！受付にきれいな花が飾って（いる・ある）よ。
ほん とう

ぽん お

B：本当だ。でも 1本折れて（いる・ある）よ。
かい ぎ しつじゅん び

４．A：会議室の 準 備はできましたか。いすは？
なら

なら

B：
（並んで・並べて）あります。
つくえうえ

A： 机 の上は？
ふ

B：拭いて（います・あります）。
つくえよご

A：でも、あの 机 は汚れて（います・あります）よ。
ふ

B：すみません。すぐに拭きます。

Answers

１．います

２．つけて

３．ある

いる

４．並べて

あります

います

8

Events & Memoranda

We want YOU to tell TOKUSHIMA about yourcountry!
在住外国人の国際理解支援講師を募集しています！
★ 内容

日本語を使って、自分の国の文化紹介・日本の印象や徳島での生活 などについて

プレゼンテーションや

デモンストレーションをしませんか？内容についてアドバイスもします。

Give presentations or demonstrations to people in Tokushima. Talk in Japanese about topics suchas your country's culture, traditions, language, etc.. If you need help planning a presentation, ourcoordinator will give you guidance.
◆ 民族衣装や民芸品◆ 食べ物や料理◆ 音楽や踊り◆ 美しい風景や人々◆ 子どもたちの遊びや学校の様子◆ 伝統行事や祭り◆ お国のあいさつや かんたんな言葉

Talk about your country's food, music, dance, traditional events and festivals, beautiful views, etc.!
★ 対象

学校の子どもたちや、国際交流のイベント参加者

Presentations will be given to school children or people at international exchange events.
★ 日時

学校や団体から TOPIA に 希望の日時や国など 連絡が来たら みなさんの都合を聞きます。

活動は 年に数回で、移動を含めて 午前か午後の３～４時間です。

We will ask you when we receive requests from schools or organizations.
Each event takes takes 3~4 hours including travel time, and you will be asked to participate a few times
a year.
★ お礼

１回\4,000.- ぐらいと交通費が別にでます。

Honorarium is about 4,000 yen, plus transportaiton expenses.
★

問い合わせ先Contact Information

公益財団法人 徳島県国際交流協会 TOPIA
E-mail: coordinator3@topia.ne.jp
TEL: 088-656-3303*Notice*
Enjoy African Music! B.B. Mo-Franck アフリカ音楽を楽しもう
When: October 30th (Sun.) Experience Class: 10:30 -11:30
Concert: 13:30 - 15:00
Where: Bunka no Mori 21 Seikikan, Event Hall 1F
Please check out TOPIA's website for more details!

9

Events & Memoranda
Autumn Awa Odori
秋の阿波おどり

For two days (November 5th & 6th), you can

11 月 5 日（土）・6 日（日）の 2 日間、入場無料

enjoy Awa Odori performances for free. There will

で阿波おどりを楽しむことができます。

be splendid joint performances by famous groups,

有名連による豪華共演や、学生連の演舞、阿波木

performances by student groups, performancesof Awa deko sanbaso mawashi, and many other

偶三番叟まわしと盛り沢山の内容です♪

events. ♪ On the 5th (Sat.) there will be a concert

5 日（土）は三好市観光大使・北山たけしさんに

by Takeshi Kitayama, the tourism ambassador for

よるコンサートもお楽しみ！

Miyoshi City.
日時：11 月 5 日（土）・6 日（日）When: November 5th (Sat.) & 6th (Sun.)
10:00 – 16:00
Where: Asty Tokushima

10:00 ～ 16:00
場所：アスティとくしま

Fee: Free

料金：無料

Inquiries: Asty Tokushima

お問い合わせ：アスティとくしま

TEL: 088-624-5111

Tel: 088-624-5111

U R L : h t t p s : / / w w w. a s t y - t o k u s h i m a . j p /U R L : h t t p s : / / w w w. a s t y - t o k u s h i m a . j p /docs/2022062200011/

docs/2022062200011/*Notice*
Rakugo in Simple Japanese! やさしい日本語での落語会
On October 30th (Sun.) from 14:30 - 15:45, a Rakugo in simple Japanese event will be held at
the Anan Himwari Kaikan.
Please check out TOPIA's website for more details!

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.
Japanese, English, Chinese: Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)
Vietnamese: Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, 10:00 - 14:00
Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)