aWa life

Recap of
TOPIA's
International Forum

March 2015
# 296

Safety tips
Application
Introduction

The Big Hina Matsuri
A Sign of Gratitude
Along theShikoku Pilgrimage

1

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

Every article you send us is appreciated so please consider becoming a writer! A few rules will apply
though so please look below to see what content we encourage you to write about and what kind of
stuff we cannot publish.
You can totally submit articles about concerts, lectures, and other event information, cultural,
sporting, and other community group information, etcetera.
BUT, the following will not be posted: Religious, political, or commercial activities, businesses
searching for clients or employees, things the Awa Life editors deem inappropriate.
If you have something you would like to share with the Tokushima community, email the editors at:awalife@gmail.com!
Tokushima Prefectural International
Exchange Association (TOPIA)			http://www.topia.ne.jp/
Clement Plaza 6F					topia@topia.ne.jp
1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi				tel: 088.656.3303
Tokushima City 770-0831 JAPAN			
fax: 088.652.0616
Download a PDF file of awa life or view the online version by going to TOPIA's website!

Editors:
Jenifer Tanikawa & Till Dumke
Contributors This Month:David C. Moreton, Yoko Aoki, Kazue Inoue, Jenifer Tanikawa, Broc SewellContents2

Pg. 2-4: Pilgrims Giving the Finger – A Sign of Gratitude Along		the Shikoku Pilgrimage RoutePg. 4-5: Letter from Suketo Hoikuen
Pg. 5-6: Big Hina in Little ShimaPg. 6-7: International Understanding Support ForumPg. 7:"Safety tips" Application Information
Pg. 8:
Japanese Lesson
Pg. 9-11: Events and Memoranda

Pilgrims Giving the Finger – A Sign of Gratitude Along the
Shikoku Pilgrimage Route
By David C. MoretonI

magine if people from the pastleft no clue as to how they
lived. How would we able topiece together such aspects of
their life as their eating habits,
their customs, and their belief
systems? How would we beable to understand the joys andstruggles they went through?
How would we learn from them?
When you visit a temple along
the Shikoku pilgrimage route
what do you look at? Do you
try to find traces of people whohave visited there in the past
and when you find them are
you curious to find out when,
why, or how this was left thereby those people? One of theearliest “marks” left by pilgrimsi s g r a ff i t i w r i t t e n o n s o m etemple walls during the 16th
century. It sounds no different
from people today carving theirnames in trees, benches orother objects. However, thisoffers solid proof that people
were making the pilgrimage
more than three hundredyears ago. Other people fromthe past hundred years or sohave pasted paper or wooden
osamefuda or senjafuda (nameslips) all over the pillars or wallsof the temple buildings, andsome have left paraphernalia
such as crutches, leg braces,

or wagons at temples because
they been cured of an illness
or disability and no longern e e d e d t h e m . Pe r s o n a l l y I
like to collect old materials
about the Shikoku pilgrimage,especially photographs withpilgrims looking directly toward
the camera. Who were they?
What is their story? Why did
they decide to embark on thelengthy and arduous Shikoku

3pilgrimage?
In this article I would like to tell
you about the custom of people
giving their fingers as a sign ofgratitude. Self-mutilation seems
to be a part of Buddhism withmany examples seen in Chinaof people burning or biting theirfingers off as an offering to
Buddha as a sign of repentance,or to support a special vow.
In Japan, there are examples
in Japanese tales, plays, theyakuza (mafia) and the world ofcourtesans to show one’s loveor loyalty. Even today, children
make promises by connecting
their pinkies and saying, “yubikiri genman, uso wo tsuitara,

Pilgrims Giving the Finger
hari senbon nomasu, yubi kitta.”
If you lie, I will punch you ten
thousand times, make you
drink 1000 needles and cut off
your finger. Unfortunately it isunknown when, why, or how thisbizarre action was performed bypilgrims in Shikoku during theearly 20th century.
There are three examples in two
small books published in 1916
and 1925 about Temple 19,
Tatsueji:
1. In May 1909, Dai FUJIWARA,
age 22, from Ehime prefecture
was sick and so with a sincere
heart he prayed devotedly to thegods and completed the Shikoku
pilgrimage. He
received a blessing
from the main deity
and completely
recovered. He
was so happy
that he cut off his
finger and left it at
Tatsueji.
2. On April 24th,
1915, Hyakutaro OKUNO
from Okayama
prefecture becamesick. He believed in
Jizō with all of hisheart and received
a blessing. He cut
off the end of his
little finger andas a sign of thefulfillment of his
prayers left it at

Tatsueji.
3. Mine ISHIHARA, age 24,
from Fukuoka prefecture hadsuffered from epilepsy from ayoung age and his only solace
was to believe in Jizō and pray
for a cure. One night, the figureof Jizō appeared above her
pillow and showed her the cure.
She was so happy that on June3, 1922, she came to Tatsueji
to worship. The next day, she
cut off one finger from her left
hand and placed it in front of thegods.
Another example is found in
Shikoku Hachijuhachi Fudasho
Henroki ( 四国八十八札所遍路記 )b y S a k a e N I S H I B ATA ( p u b1964). During the Taisho period(1912-1926) a couple and theirdisabled daughter, Ai, from
Hyogo prefecture came to
Shikoku to make the pilgrimage.
When they arrived at one of
the temples the parents put avest on Ai with the words Namu
Amida Butsu written on it andAi went to the temple to pray.
She put her hands together andsaid, “Namu Amida Butsu”, but
this was the first time ever for
her to speak. Her parents were
extremely surprised and asked
her to repeat other words, which
she was able to do so without
any problem. The mother, frantic
with joy, bit off one finger andgave it to the temple. The author
states that the finger, soaked inalcohol, is still there.

Pilgrims Giving the Finger
There are also stories of fingers
in jars at temples around
Shikoku. For example, in thebook, Haikai Angya: Ohenrosan( 俳 諧 行 脚： お 遍 路 さ ん ) ,(pub. 1927), the author statesthat when he visited Temple 70,
Motoyamaji he saw a pickled
ring finger in a
jar hanging by
the entrance of
the Daishi hall.
This apparently
belonged toa forty-year
pilgrim from
Okayama who
visited herearound 1916
and purposefully
cut off his finger
with a knife. In Shikoku Reiseki
Shashin Daikan ( 四 國 靈 蹟寫 眞 大 觀 ) (pub. 1934) there
is a photograph of nine clear
bottles and five dark bottles at
Temple No. 40 Kanjizaiji. The

caption states that the fingers
have been given to the temple.
The labels above the jars state
the sickness from which thepilgrim was cured, for example,
blindness, deaf and dumbness,being crippled, epilepsy, uterine
cancer, intestinal problems, andmental problems. Unfortunately
there are no written records as
to whose fingers they were orwhen or why they were given.
Presently, such fingers are nolonger on display, but in a way

4

this is unfortunate because
viewing them demonstrates tous the strong degree of devotionthat people had a hundred years
ago. In recent years, several
temples have also removed all
the leg braces, crutches etc.
used by pilgrims of old. Why?
Do temple
owners not wantmodern-day
visitors to know
about people
who came in
the past? Arethey anxious
to sweep away
history? Whilethe custom ofgiving a portionof one’s finger
would today be considered
grotesque, it is an interesting
part of the religious history of
the Shikoku pilgrimage thatshould not be overlooked nor
forgotten.

Letter from Suketo Hoikuen
By Kazue InoueI

t’s becoming more and more
like spring with the sun
warming up. Perhaps manyfamilies will be embarking on a
new lifestyle come April. With
the arrival of spring, many
children will be starting nurseryschool or kindergarten. Starting
this new lifestyle can be both an
exciting yet daunting experience
for them. The best thing you can
do for them is to be there forthem and to try and understandwhat they are going through.
In this way, you can help them
have a smoother and quicker
transition to their new lifestyle.
<Understanding your Child>
1) Smile and provide physicalcontact (“skinship”) – importantfor babies but also great for
older children. You can show
them that you really care about
them by giving them lots ofhugs and talking to them whilesmiling.
2) Listen to them patiently –children will want to try their best
if they feel that they are being
listened to and understood.
3) Praise them for things they dowell – when children fail at doing
things or cannot do something,cheer them on by telling them“you can do it.” When they dosucceed praise them by saying“you did really well!” This will
make children happy and5their willingness to tackle newchallenges will increase.
*It is also important for parents
to praise and thank each otherin their day to day lives by tellingeach other “thanks for all yourhard work” or “thank you”!
***
This Month’s Craft
Triangle Building Blocks

Suketo Hoikuen
tape
Directions
1) Cut off the top and bottom
portion of a 1000 ml milk carton.
Cut three strips widthwise fromthe carton.
2) Fold the strip of carton up to
create a triangle. Glue down ortape down the parts that overlap

with each other to complete
your triangle block.
3) You can have more fun withit by adding construction paperor colored tape to the outside ofyour building blocks. (You canmake up to three building blocks
from a single milk carton. With
that in mind, make as many as
you need.)

Materials
1000 ml milk carton
ScissorsGlue or tape
Construction paper or colored

Big Hina in Little Shima
By Broc SewellA

re you a fan of evil spirits
trapped within dolls? Howabout painstakingly decorated
ones that often take weeks toarrange and decorate? Perhaps
hundreds if not thousands ofdolls filled with said evil spirits
surrounding you with only one
avenue of escape is more yourbag? If you said yes to any of
those questions, or if you justreally enjoy authentic, traditional
Japanese festivals full of food,live music, and steeped inculture, then Big Hina Matsuri
of Katsuura is definitely
something you shouldn’t shakeyour “nay” stick at.
Katsuura is a quiet little village
n estl ed i n a q u ai n t val l e ysurrounded by forest andmountains. It is a wildlife equal
opportunity provider, so you
are just as likely to see a wildboar or deer as you are anotherhuman being at any given
moment. Katsuurans (trademark
pending) are a humble bunch,dedicated to their local economy
and culture through the proud
production, by the “kei-tora” load, of the finest mikans
in town. There is also ample
fishing, hang gliding, and awa

odori among countless otherevents held throughout the year.
However, in the early shiveringsof spring, there is one main
event to rule them all, Big Hina
Matsuri.
Doll festivals have been present
throughout Japan for over1000 years, their origins foundduring the mid-Heian era. The
localized Katsuuran version has
been going on since the mid
80’s to stimulate economic
growth and has thrived eversince; popularity generated inequal parts by staunch locals
and the surefire eradication ofevil through the yearly burningof old dolls. An event you
can witness for yourself at the
beginning of February.

Big Hina
Despite its heavy origins andpurpose, the festival itself has
become something much morebright and spectacular. Dolls
crafted through every era, andof every size, form into towers
nearly four meters high inevery direction, festooned bystreamers, fountains, miniature
bridges and more, all arranged
with evident focus and care. It
truly is a marvel to witness
and be a part of. Tack on theplethora of events held daily,
everything from magic shows
to hula dances, the live music
and food, and you have a
festival that far exceeds thevalue of its paltry 300 yen

entry fee.
Once you have had your fill ofdolls, dances, and demonic
oppression, feel free to ask
the local help desk if you canpurchase a doll for yourself.
Who knows? You might just get
lucky. Just don’t be surprised
if you get funny looks forsuggesting the purchase of what6

could very well be a possesseddoll.
So who’s caught on yourcoattails? Why are you wasting
your time reading when you
could be walking among
thousands of beautifully handcrafted dolls that may or may notcome alive when night falls? Get
out to Katsuura, thirty minutes
southwest of Tokushima City,
starting Sunday, February
22nd and running throughMarch 22nd, to find out what
the hubbub is all about. Justbe sure to make it out before
the sun sets, I don’t think you
would want to get trapped
inside after dark.

International Understanding Support ForumBy Jenifer Tanikawa

C u r r e n t l y, t h e r e a r e a b o u t
5000 people from 70 different
countries and regions livingin Tokushima Prefecture. For
the most part, despite having
different cultural backgrounds,
they are all living in harmony
with each other, andTokushima is becoming
more and more intern a t i o n a l . H o w e v e r,
there are still individuals
who face language orcultural barriers andrequire help from thepeople around them.
In order to discuss theimportance of promoting
multiculturalism andcreating a society where peopleof all different nationalities andethnicities can live together,t h e To k u s h i m a P r e f e c t u r a lInternational Exchange
Association (TOPIA) held anInternational Understanding
Support Forum on Sunday,
February 8th.

The forum kicked off with aspeech by the Director of

TOPIA, followed by a lecture by
Takao Hasui on the theme of“creating a society where we canunderstand our differences andsupport each other.” Mr. Hasui
stressed the importance of theconnection of local support andinternational support.
With the ever decreasing
communication among
our current generation,
the connection withincommunities is decreasing as well. Before
we can start talking about
how we can support theinternational community,
we need to focus on
how we can support our
local community. Even if it is a
simple hello to your neighbors,

7

it is important to start with thelittle things, instead of fixatingon making large differences ordoing something special. This
will in turn foster the ability tocare for and to think about thepeople around you. Once afoundation is set in place, you
can apply the same ideas to the
support of foreign communities.
Whether it is greeting yourforeign neighbors or providing
help to them when possible, it isimportant to take action insteadInternational Forumof taking the backseat, as justwatching and pretending you
don’t notice anything will hinderinternationalization.
A f t e r M r. H a s u i ’ s l e c t u r e ,two TOPIA International
Understanding Support
instructors, Ahmed Ibrahim
Elhossamy (from Egypt)
and Molomjamts Enkhjargal(from Mongolia) spoke about
their life and international
understanding. During thereception that followed, Ni Putu
Ayu Komalawati from Indonesia,
performed Balinese dance anda group led by Zhang Wei sanga song in Chinese.
In total, approximately 70 people
from 12 different countries andregions filled the large meetingroom space in TOPIA to holda discussion on international
understanding.

"Safety tips" application

By the Japan Tourism Agency

T

his Application notifies
a user with Earthquake
Early Warnings and Tsunami
Warnings issued in Japan. It
is a free application developed
under the supervision of Japan
Tourism Agency. The Application
provides various functions
useful for both foreign tourists
and residents in Japan.

MAIN FUNCTIONS- Receiving earthquake early
warnings and tsunami warnings-Earthquake List
→Information on pastearthquakes of intensity 3 orhigher can be viewed.
-Evacuation flow chart→Actions to be taken during adisaster are shown in the formof a flow chart.
-Communication cards→A set of questions that canbe used when asking people
around you during a disaster.
-Links→Links to other sourcesof information that may benecessary during disastersituations (contact informationof embassy, nearest tourist
centers, etc.), and otherinformation concerning disasters
and tourism.
-Seismic intensity scale→Explanation concerning theintensity of an earthquake(according to the seismic
intensity scale).
The App provides various
functions useful for both foreign
Tourists and residents in Japan.
For more information pleasecheck:
http://www.mlit.go.jp/kankocho/
en/page03_000000.html/

8Japanese Lesson
By Yoko Aoki
こんげつ

かん じ

今月のことばはなん

１ 「この漢字はよHow do you read this kanji ?

何 と読みますか。
」
い み

What does this mean ?

」どういう意味ですか。

２ 「これはYou can use these two phrases when you don’t know what the kanji or the word means.
Now let’s take a look at the following dialogue.
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
かいわ

【会話】
にほんご

おし

マリア：すみません。この日本語が よくわかりません。教えてください。
きむら

木村：ええ、いいですよ。
こがっこう

マリア：子どもが 学校から もらってきたんです。
きむら

ぼうさいくんれん

じ しん

し①防災訓練 ( 地震 ) のお知らせですね。

木村：ああ、これは
かん じ

なん

マリア：この漢字はよ

何と 読みますか。

きむらよ

木村：「 ぼうさい くんれん（じしん）」と 読みます。
いマリア：ぼうさい くんれん・・？
きむら

じ しん

み

どういう意味ですか。

お木村：地震が

べんきょう

れんしゅう

②起きたとき、 ③どうしたらいいか、みんなで勉強して 練習するんです。

れんしゅう

マリア：練習・・するんですか。
きむら

じ しん

ゆ

木村：ええ。地震の

たいけん

④揺れを

あんぜん

に

⑤体験したり、 ⑥安全なところへ

じゅんび

やく

た

もの

みち

ある

⑦逃げる道を歩いたりする
おし⑧準備しておいたら 役に立つ物を いろいろ 教えてくれますよ。

んです。それにたいせつ

マリア：そうですか。とても 大切なことですね。
きむら

にちようび

しゅじん

こ

さんか

木村：日曜日ですから、ご主人や お子さんといっしょにマリアさんも ぜひ⑨参加してくださいね。

さんか

マリア：はい、ぜひ参加します。ありがとうございました。
・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・【ことば】
ぼうさいくんれん

し①防災訓練のお知らせ notice of an evacuation drill (earthquake)
お

②起きた
たいけん

happened③どうしたらいいか what should we do?
あんぜん⑤体験 ( したり ) experience
じゅんび

やく

⑥安全な safe

たに

ゆ④揺れ a quake, a tremor⑦逃げる run away, evacuate⑧準備しておいたら 役に立つ items that will be useful to prepare in advanceさんか⑨参加（して） take part in, participate in,・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・
ほか

べんり

にほんご

【その他の便利な日本語】
  

１「ここに
た

なん

か

何と

書いてあるんですか。
（書いてありますか。
）
」

い

きん し

「『立ち入り
かん じ

か
か

禁止』と
か

かた

２「この漢字の書き方を書いてあります。
」 It says “ Tachi iri -Kinshi (=Don’t enter ) . ”

おし

教えてください。
」 Please show me how to write this kanji ?
い み

３「このマークは」どういう意味ですか。

What does this mark mean ?
い み

「ここで

たばこを

What is written here ?

」すってはいけません、という意味です。

It means “Don’t smoke here.”9

Events & Memoranda

第21回徳島AJET英語ミュージカル

Anna

and
the

災害時ボランティア通訳 ･ 翻訳研修を開催いたします！

南海トラフ巨大地震が危惧される徳島県。災害時、避難所では様々な情報提供があります。しかし、外国人の方たちは、言葉の壁により、適切な情報を得られないことがあり、災害弱者になってしまいます。そんなとき、情報提供者と外国人を「言葉」でサポートをしたり、掲示物をわかりやすく翻訳したりするのがボランティアの方々です。
今回の研修では、時 光氏の講話、そしてワークショップを通じて地域における災害の際に多言語で情報提供を円滑に提供するため、通訳ボランティアの育成・活動促進を図ることを目指します。ワー
クショップの対象言語は英語と中国語です。対象言語以外の方たちにはやさしい日本語でのワークショップを予定しております。
（ただし、語学研修ではありません）

Snow Queen

講師：時 光 氏
特定非営利活動法人多文化共生マネージャー全国協議会事務局長
日時：3 月 22 日（日）13：00-16：00
場所：徳島県国際交流協会 会議室
参加費：無料
参加予定人数：30 名
内容：講話・ワークショップ

お申し込み：
郵送：〒 770-0831 徳島市寺島本町西 1-61 クレ
メントプラザ 6 階
公益財団法人 徳島県国際交流協会「災害時ボランティア通訳 ･ 翻訳研修」担
当宛
TEL: 088-656-3303
FAX：088-652-0616
Email：coordinator1@topia.ne.jp★ 3 月 16 日（月）までに氏名、住所、電話番号、
Email、言語を記載の上お申し込み下さい。

AJET Musical: Anna and the Snow Queen
AJET ミュージカル：アナと雪の女王
第21回徳島AJET英語ミ
ュージカル

Anna

入場は無料です!

andthe

Snow Queen

英語を身に付ける経験として
楽しんでください！

3月 1日 (日)3月 7日 (土)
3月 8日 (日)3月14日 (土)
3月15日 (日)3月21日 (土)16:00 - 18:00
石井町中央公民館
コスモホール（阿南市情報文化センター）14:00 - 16:00
ヨンデンプラザ徳島
14:00 - 16:00
北島町立図書館・創世ホール
14:00 - 16:00
吉野川市アメニティセンター
16:00 - 18:00
脇町劇場・オデオン座
18:00 - 20:00

中学生レベルの英語で行われます。（日本語の解説あり）詳細：www.ajetmusical.com
お問い合わせ：TOPIA（徳島県国際交流協会）まで (088)656-3303
フェースブックで「いいね」したら、ミュージカルについての最新情報と写真がアクセスできます！

入場は無料です!

Facebook.com/AJETMusical

英語を身に付ける経験として
楽しんでください！

Events & Memoranda

10

Medieval Music Group RANUNCULUS –中世音楽隊ラーヌンクルース
Don’t pass on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity:
The medieval music group “Ranunculus” from
Germany will tour Japan for the first time and will
also visit Tokushima for only one concert, so comeand join us for an afternoon of medieval music at
the German House.
When: April 5 (Sun)15:00 – 16:30 (Doors open at 14:45)
Where: Event Hall at the Naruto German House
Cost: Free!
Info: Naruto German House
TEL: 088-689-0099

初来日するドイツ中世音楽隊「ラーヌンクルース」の鳴門市での公演が決定！ドイツ人にとっても珍しい中世音楽を鳴門市ドイツ館で一緒に楽しみましょう！
日時： 4 月 5 日（日）、15 時～			
16 時半（開場：14 時 45 分）
場所 : 鳴門市ドイツ館、1 階ホール
入場料：無料！
問合： 鳴門市ドイツ館
TEL ： 088-689-0099

Let's Explore Joruri!
じょうるりの世界へ！
Come and enjoy the charm of the traditional
Japanese "musical story telling", characteristic forgoing along with puppet plays.
When: March 14 (Sat) & 15 (Sun)11:00 - 15:15
Where: Tokushima Awa Jurobe Yashiki (Tokushima
City, Kawauchi-cho, Miyajima Honura 184)
TEL: 088-665-2202
Fee: Adults 410 yen, High School & University
students 300 yen, Elementary & Middle School
students 200 yen

日本独自の 「語り音楽」 の魅力をじっくりと味わっていただくため義太夫鑑賞教室を企画いたしました。
日時 ： 3 月 14 日 （土）、 3 月 15 日 （日）11 時～ 15 時 15 分
会場 ： 徳島県立阿波十郎兵衛屋敷 （徳島市川内町宮島本浦 184）
問合せ ： 088-665-2202
入場料 ： 一般 410 円、 高 ・ 大学生 300 円、 小 ・
中学生 200 円

2015 Tokushima Japanese Speech Contest - Call for Participants 2015 年度外国人による徳島県日本語弁論大会‐出場者募集‐
The 2015 Tokushima Japanese Speech Contest
will be held on July 20 (Mon). Foreign residents
whose native language is not Japanese (and who
have not attended more than 3 years of Japanesemandatory education) may enter. You may
choose any topic as long as it is related to cultural
understanding and living together in a multicultural community. More information will be on
the TOPIA website starting mid-March. For further
information contact TOPIA.

2015 年度外国人による徳島県日本語弁論大会は 7
月 20 日 （月、 祝） に開催されます。 募集対象は徳島県内在住の日本語を母語としない外国人の方 （ただし、日本での義務教育を 3 年以上受けていない方）です。 テーマは異文化理解 ・ 多文化共生に関するものであれば自由です。 詳細は 3 月中旬に TOPIAのホームページに掲載を致します。 問い合わせは
TOPIA まで。 お知り合いの外国人の方に是非お勧
め下さい！

11 Events & Memoranda
Japanese Lessons 2015
Term 1 ScheduleJapanese Lessons 2015 - Term 1 Schedule■To students and instructors:*Each class has 20 sessions, and will be using the “Minna no Nihongo I” or the “Minna no Nihongo II”
textbooks (2625 yen for the book, comes with a CD). As well, there will be themed lessons on various topics
such as seasons and life in Tokushima. Classes are from 10:30-12:00.
DAY
TUE

WED

THU
FRI

TEACHERLEVELCLASS DESCRIPTION

We will study various verb forms and sentence patterns using
Elementary
those verb forms.
1
Text: Minna no Nihongo I – from Chapter 14
This is a flexible group study class split up in different levels.
*For parents of young children, a childcare worker will be on
Group
Volunteers
hand to look after your child during the lesson (please inquire in
Lessonadvance). Due to unforeseen circumstances, the rooms maychange.
We will study reasoning, causative, passive voice, and honorific
Ms.
Elementary
expressions.
Yamada3
Text: Minna no Nihongo II – from Chapter 38
Ms.
Motoki

Ms. Aoki

Beginner

From
4/7
From
4/8
From
4/9

We will take the first step towards learning basic expressions.
Text: Minna no Nihongo I – from Chapter 1

From
4/10

Elementary We will study various verb forms and complex expressions.
2
Text: Minna no Nihongo II – from Chapter 26

JTM
SUNVolunteers

Group
LessonFrom
4/5This is a flexible group study class split up in different levels.

＊Please register for Group Lessons at least a day before class (if you do not sign up in advance and show up
on the day of class, we may not be able to find you a group to study with). As the number of groups are limited
we may not always be able to form a group that fits your level.
＊If you are unable to attend class, please call and let us know.
A class for those who cannot read or write hiragana or katakana.
Special     Ms.
 
We will study the basics such as, the Japanese alphabet,
Kimura, Beginners
THU
greetings, numbers, and items. We will also be learning aboutothersClass
Tokushima.
April11, 18（Sat):
13:00-16:10
April 25 (Sat):
Intensive
10:30-12:00
JTM(4 days)& 13:00-16:10
April29（Wed / Holiday):

13:00-16:10

1. Location
2. Fee

You mayjoin atanytimeA class for those who have completed the Elementary level classes or for
those who have lived in Japan for a while and can already engage in daily
life conversations. We will review and study grammar and expressions
taught in the elementary level classes. (For parents of young children, achildcare worker will be on hand to look after your child during the lesson.
Please inquire in advance.) (Please apply until the 28 th of March. All
lessons are free of charge.)

Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association (TOPIA)
6F Clement Plaza, 1-61 Terashima Honcho Nishi, Tokushima City 770-0831
TEL: 088-656-3303
FAX: 088-652-0616

free

All classes arethis year (we would like to provide Japanese lessons to as many
people as we can).
Classes may be cancelled due to inclement weather such as typhoons, heavy rain, or
snow. Please confirm by calling TOPIA at 088-656-3303.

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)