aWa life

Summer Edition

Introduction of New
TOPIA Staff

Enjoying Summer
in Tokushima

Awa Shoku: Fish Katsu

Check out the Events
for this Month!

June 2017
# 322

1

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

We are back from our hiatus! Did you enjoy the beautiful flowers and greenery of spring? Though
we are entering the rainy season, we can use this time to make plans for the beautiful sunny days ofsummer ahead of us!
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:
Kazue Inoue, Lance Kita, Yasuo Kuroishi, Nan Zhang, Kiyomi Fujii,
Yoko Takahashi, Kyoko Kamura, Yuki Manabe

2Contents
Pg. 2-3:

Enjoying Summer in Tokushima

Pg. 4-5:

Warm Welcoming: New TOPIA Staff

Pg. 5:

Letter from SUKETO NAKAYOSHI

Pg. 6:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 7:

Awa Shoku: Fish Katsu		

Pg. 8-9:

Events and Memoranda

Enjoying Summer in Tokushima
By Daralyn Yee

Being from a tropical atmosphere, summer
has been one of my favorite seasons since
I was a child. The long sunny days and beautiful
scenery seems to make life more joyful thanusual. Though the humidity can be much tohandle, here are some of the many ways uniqueto Japan and Tokushima to make this summer amemorable one!

Hang a furin Outside of your House
A furin( 風 鈴 ）is a windchime. Most are made withglass, and can also be madefrom other materials likemetal, ceramic, wood, etc.
, each giving off a unique
comforting sound. As thewind blows, the chime gives
off a melodic high pitchsound that makes one feelcool. The glass furin that is common today dates
back to the Edo Period. Though the sound of the
furin can be delightful, if you live in an apartment
or a condominium, it can easily become anuisance to your neighbors so be sure to take it
down in the evening and on stormy/windy days.

throughout Japan are the genji-botaru and heikebotaru (it is said that they are named after the
famous Japanese literature piece Tales of Heike).
Many of the events to see them run until the 18th.
Check the event section for more information.

Light Up Your World with Fireflies
Going out to see the fireflies light up in theevening is one of the popular beginning-ofsummer activities here in Japan. This month there
are a couple of viewing spots in Tokushima where
you can see the fireflies including Yoshinogawa
City, Naruto, Katsuura, and Miyoshi! The twomain types that can be seen in Tokushima and

Find out What’s SUP in the Oceans and Riversof Tokushima

Have you heard of SUP (Standup
Paddleboarding)? SUP is a new sport where
people stand on boards that look similar tosurfboards while paddling on the surface of a flatbody of water. You can spot people practicing
and enjoying SUP on their boards in the rivers

3and beaches in Tokushima. I’ve done SUP sitting
down back home. It was a unique way to travel onwater, but maybe one of these days I will manage
to actually “stand-up” as its name implies!

Raft your Way through the Prefecture
Tokushima offers the ideal conditions to partakein rafting. In fact, the 2017 World RaftingChampionships will be held in Miyoshi City in
October. While rafting you can experience thebeauty of the pristine waters of the Yoshino
River. Why don’t you try to enjoy this sport before
watching the championships?
Cool Off Near a Waterfall
Keep cool in the humidity by visiting a waterfall

Enjoying Summer in Tokushima
within the prefecture. There are many to see ineach region of the prefecture. Here are a few of
the top places to visit: 1) Ogama Falls 2) Todoroki
Falls 3) Amagoi Falls. All three waterfalls are listed
under the distinction of “Top 100 Waterfalls inJapan”. Ogama Falls and Todoroki Falls are in thesame vicinity, while Amagoi Falls is in Kamiyama
Town. Though you can’t swim in them, be sureto embrace the cool breeze that the waterfall
produces!

I hope that you can integrate these ideas in to
your summer plans and have a great summer!
More ways to enjoy your summer are coming
soon, so stay tuned.

Warm Welcoming: New TOPIA Staff

M

y name is Yasuo Kuroishi and from thisyear on April 1st, I took office as the chief
director of TOPIA. I was selected at
the Regent’s meeting for this positionin March. I look forward to working
here.
Before I came to work in my current
office located on the top floor of
Clement Plaza inside of Tokushima
Station, I worked at the Prefectural
Office about 24 years ago in thegeneral affairs office doing budget
work. At the time, I remember that
there was international related
work in the office and I was able to be involved
through creating budgets for those activities.
Also, I belonged to an international exchangeorganization, and throughout the year we did
activities such as a Christmas Party, sakura

viewing party, bamboo picking, beach events,
exchange events with those from foreigncountries, and also courtesy visits
when foreign ambassadors to Japanvisit Tokushima. It was quite a while
ago, but these are the activities that
I have done so far in the field ofinternational exchange.
As I have been employed as theexecutive director for TOPIA, I feela considerable connection withinternational exchange.
In the year 2020, Japan will host theTokyo Olympics and Paralympics. Also, it willsoon be TOPIA’s 30th Anniversary. The amount offoreigners from overseas has sharply increased
at a speed greater than expected, and I believethat the importance of the work at TOPIA has

Warm Welcoming: New TOPIA Staff

4

been raising increasingly. Also, the occurrence ofthe predicted Great Nankai Trough Earthquake
has grown a sense of urgency and being able
to support residents and visitors from overseas
is a pressing challenge. We hope to be able tostrengthen our efforts looking forward to the year
2020.

Lastly, I hope that through internationalization weare able to put towards efforts in the developmentof regional revitalization, and that we are able toexpand our work in order to be able to grow as
the core of regional level internationalization. I ask
for your guidance and cooperation as I enter in to
my new position as Executive Director.

N

performance of Awa Odori. I felt deeply that it issuch an amazing town filled with life.

ice to meet you. My name is Nan Zhang andfrom April I started working as a Coordinatorfor International Relations. During this year, asa staff of TOPIA, I will be involved in the editingof “Awa Seikatsu” (TOPIA’s Chinese Newsletter)and international exchange. At the same time, I
would like to challenge myself, without hesitation,in the things that I want to try and face and tackle
many different challenges. In my day-to-day life I
also hope to be able to see and experience manythings, and be active outside of work.
Up until now, I have come to Japan manytimes for travel and to participate in events, but
unfortunately I was not able to fully experience
the charms of Japan because my time here wasshort. This time, it has been less than one weeksince I have arrived in Tokushima, and I havealready eaten Tokushima Ramen, have watched aN

I hope during my time here that I will be able totaste delicious foods, experience new sceneries,
and dance the Awa Odori with the local people.
Through deepening my understanding of thehistory and culture of Tokushima, I hope to beable to tell the people of Hunan Province and in
China of the charms of Tokushima. At the sametime, I also hope to be able to tell the people ofJapan about the charms of Hunan Province andmy hometown Anhui Province and that I will beable to bridge two countries together throughgrass root exchange.
I will try my best in hopes that I can be useful asa personnel in the international exchange fieldright away. I look forward to working with you all.

ice to meet you.
through international
My name is Kiyomi
exchange. Furthermore,Fujii. I have been mainly
the fulfillment of a career
teaching English at junioreducation to help develop
high schools, but from thischildren’s future visions areyear I have been added tobeing established.
TOPIA as an interning staff
member. I will mainly be inWithin that, in the English
charge of the International
education field, it is hoped
Understanding Lecturersthat the ability to promoteand Workplace Experience
multi-cultural understanding
L to R: Takahashi, Zhang, Fujii
Program, and will be thethrough language learning,
liaison between the education field.
development of identity, and communication
ability can be fostered at a higher level. Looking
Now, school education is at a new stage. In forward to 2020, the English education curriculum
order to raise up global personnel, efforts that at elementary schools will be transformed in ways
aim at deepening intercultural understanding, such as teaching English as a formal subject
heightening a sense of human rights in order for from 5th grade and by creating activities involving
a diverse group of people to live together, and English from 3rd grade. Along the same lines,
the mastering of communication skills in order to middle schools, high schools, and university
accomplish those efforts, are being developed entrance exams are also slowly changing to adapt

5to this new curriculum. From now on, English
skills that have been mastered will not be utilized
just as a tool for written communication, but asa way to build up personnel who will be able todeepen the connection with other people. Thatfoundation can develop a rich international sensefrom a young age. Lessons about internationalN

ice to meet you. My name is Yoko Takahashi
and I have started working at TOPIA sinceApril. One month has passed since I have worked
at TOPIA, and there are still a lot of things
that I do not know. Though I may cause someinconvenience in the office, I am trying my best.
My hobbies are driving, taking pictures,
performing the guitar, cooking, and of course
traveling. In addition to traveling domestically,
I also go to Korea often. The first time I went, I
didn’t know anything and just followed my friends,
but after travelling there numerous times, I wanted
to speak more and know more about the culture,

Warm Welcoming: New TOPIA Staff
understanding in the classrooms are importantlearning opportunities.
At TOPIA, I hope to support the developmentof new learning while being able to acquire
more professional skills and apply them to theeducational field. I am looking forward to working
with you all.
and began to study Korean. I still can’t have aconversation, but I want to study more to be able
to give information to those who come to TOPIA.
I had a vague image of “International Exchange”
up until now. I thought “One day”, “If I have thechance”, but never thought that I would be able tobecome involved up until now. I hope to see, hear,
and take in various experiences during my timeworking here.
I am still not used to things, but I will try my best
every day. I look forward to working here witheveryone.

Letter from SUKETO NAKAYOSHI

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

his spring, two guinea pigs have come to theSuketo Nakayoshi Center for Early Childhood
Education and Care. The children are filled withexcitement and take care of and give the guinea
pigs grass every day. In the beginning of April,
new infants were separated from their mothers
for the first time, and this calmed the feelings ofanxiety that they had. We don’t only have guinea
pigs, but also raise other small animals such as
turtles, goldfish, and Japanese rice fish. We aim
to create an environment where the children cangrow an interest in living animals.
When children are infants, they are full of
curiosity. They love to play and search for avariety of insects and creatures such as pillbugs, frogs, and lady bugs when playing in theyard or at the park. However, sometimes they
commit mischievous acts such as step on andsmash ants, and pick the wings of butterflies. This
is not meant to be inhumane, but it is due to alack of experience and an undeveloped sense ofjudgement. Use those moments as a opportunity
to think together about the importance of life,and how to interact with animals. For children,
an interaction with a small animal can become achance to learn how precious and how transient
the life of an animal is. What about trying to raisea small animal in your home with your children?
＊＊＊
Let’s Make a Snail!

1. Cut a strip of colored paper in the dimensionsof 3cm x 40cm. Fold the strip 10cm in from theedge.
2. Curl the paper on top of the fold with a felt pen.
3. Cut the bottom strip as shown in the diagram,and fold it upwards 4cm from the edge.
4. On the portion that was cut out in the last step,
stick on some eyeballs and draw a mouth, thenyour snail will be complete.

6Japanese Lesson
By Kyoko Kamura

Verb in -te form + くれますWe will learn how to express when someone has done something for us that made us happy.
こんげつ

ほか

ひと

ひょうげん まな

今月は「他の人にしてもらって、うれしかったこと」の表現を学びましょう。
れいぶん

Example:

例文 :
にちようび

なに

A: What did you do on Sunday?

A：日曜日、何をしましたか。
か

もの

い

B：買い物に行きました。

B: I went shopping.

A：そうですか。

A: Is that right?

とき けいたい で ん わ

B: At that time, I lost my phone and it was awful.

B：その時、携帯電話をなくしてしまって、
たいへん

A: What?

大変でした。

B: But, the person who picked it up took it to the

A：えっ？
ひろ

ひと

こうばん

とど

B：でも拾った人が交番に届けてくれました。

police box for me.

A：そうだったんですか。よかったですね。

A: Is that true? I’m glad.

① How to make the sentence pattern:<Person> が / は + Verb in -te form + くれます
ひと

どうし

けい

〈人〉が / は ＋ 動詞て形 ＋ くれます
② Definition:

Used when Speaker B is saying that another person did something with good intentions for Speaker B.
As an example, the good intentioned act done for Speaker B is the fact that someone took their cell
phone to the police box. Speaker B feels that this was a kind action, and is telling Listener A.
③ Practice Questions:みちまよ1. 道に迷いました。 (I got lost on the street.)
けいかん みちおし(The police officer showed me the way.)→警官が道を（教えます→）
せんしゅう ひ

こ

ひ

こ

たいへん

2. 先 週 、引っ越しました。引っ越しは大変でした。(Last week I moved. It was a difficult task.)
ともだち

てつだ

(My friend helped me.)

→友達が（手伝います→）
とくしま

はじ

き

3. 徳島に初めて来ました。(I came to Tokushima for the first time.)
ともだち まち

あんない→友達が町を（案内します→）
じてんしゃ

こわ

ともだち

しゅうり

(My friend showed me around.)		

4. 自転車が壊れました。(My bicycle broke.)(My friend repaired it for me.)

→友達が（修理します→）
あめ

ふ

かさ

も

5. 雨が降りました。傘を持っていませんでした。(It rained. I did not have an umbrella.)
ともだち かさか(My friend lent me an umbrella.

→友達が傘を（貸します→）にもつ

6. 荷物がたくさんありました。(I had a lot of bags.)
も(My friend held it for me.)かも

1. 教えてくれました 2. 手 伝 ってくれました 3. 案内してくれました
おしAnswers:

て つだ

あんない

にほんご

参考：できる日本語
Reference: Dekiru Nihongo

4. 修理してくれました 5. 貸してくれました 6. 持ってくれました

さんこう

しゅうり

ともだち

→友達が（持ちます→）

7

Awa Shoku: Something’s Fishy, and Soooo SatisfyingAfter 12 years, I can say that if you live here
long enough, you fall in love with…fish katsu( フ ィ ッ シ ュ カ ツ ). Many locals, especially inthe eastern part of the prefecture, don’t thinkof “katsu” as the abbreviation for the deep-friedbreaded pork cutlet “tonkatsu”. Around here, it’s
short for “fish katsu,” a flat oval of fish paste,
flavored with a hint of curry and chili powder,breaded and deep-fried. Supposedly created by afish paste store in Komatsushima, it’s only sold insupermarkets and souvenir shops in Tokushima,
though a few supermarkets and specialty storesin Kansai and Kanto carry it for homesick expats.
What makes fish katsu so beloved? First of all,the value. Fish katsu (also called katsu-ten カツ
天 ) checks in at around 90 yen for a 100 gramoval (also can be rectangular or round, dependingon the maker).That’s cheaper than most meats
and seafoods by weight. It makes an economicalsnack for kids, and a simple yet versatile meal.
Since fish katsu is pre-cooked and flavored, thiscan be used in a variety of ways. You can eat it
as is, enjoying its irresistible spiced flavor andchewy texture. Crisp it up in a dry frying pan or
the toaster oven, then cut into slices for a quick
snack or a side dish alongside a cold beer. It goes
well with any sauce, like ketchup, worcestershiresauce, mayonnaise, ponzu, or just a squeeze of
sudachi. A friend recommends melting cheese
over the top.

Fish Katsu comes in flat oval pieces,but snack size packs are also being sold.
It’s a great protein addition on top of curry rice,or with a bowl of udon or soba noodles. I like to

By Lance Kita

make a breakfast (or lazy dinner) sandwich witha fried egg, fish katsu, cheese, mayonnaise, andSriracha sauce between toast. Another quick
dinner idea is to sauté sliced fish katsu with Asian
chives (nira ニラ or onions, then pour beaten eggs
over it until half-set, and serve over rice. You canalso find it in okonomiyaki (order katsu-tama カツ
玉 and you will be in with the locals).

My favorite way to eat fish katsu, as abreakfast sandwich with a fried egg and mayo
The invention of fish katsu in the mid-1950s
coincided with the opening of Nankai Ferry’s line
between Komatsushima Port and Wakayama
Port, a crucial link to Kansai In the days before the
Akashi Straits Bridge. Many of my older Japanese
friends have memories of eating fish katsu andtake chikuwa ( 竹 ち く わ fish paste moldedaround a bamboo tube and roasted) while on theboat, as both can be eaten without warming up.
This nostalgia could be another reason for thesefoods’ continued popularity. Though ferry service
has been reduced and moved to Tokushima
City, shops near train stations and express bus
terminals also stock these two products in singleserving portions for travelers.
I encourage you to travel with a few packs of fishkatsu and spread the word about Tokushima’s
not-so-secret but oh-so-yummy soul food. Better
yet, make it a pantry staple in your refrigerator
and save some money at the same time. You’ll becooking and snacking like an Awakko in no time!

Events & Memoranda

82017 Tokushima Prefecture Japanese Speech Contest
徳島県日本語弁論大会

Foreign residents whose native language is not
Japanese will be giving a speech in Japanese on
various topics such as cultural differences, theirexperiences with life in Tokushima, and more.
Please come watch and cheer on the participants!

When: July 23 (Sun) 13:30 - 16:30
Where: Awagin Hall (Tokushima Prefecture Kyodo
Bunka Kaikan) 5F
Info: 088-656-3303 TOPIA
Admission Fee: FREE

36th Beethoven Ninth Symphony Concert
第 36 回ベートーヴェン「第九」交響曲演奏会
When: June 4 (Sun), 13:30 - 15:30
Where: Naruto City Culture Hall
Admission Fee: 1) Advance tickets: General 		
Admission 2,000 yen; Students 500 yen,
2) Tickets at the door: General Admission
2,500 yen; Students 500 yen
Info: NPO Hojin Naruto Daiku wo Utau Kai Office
TEL: 088-686-9999

日時： 6 月 4 日（日）13 時 30 分～ 15 時 30 分
場所： 鳴門市文化会館ホール
入場料：前売：一般 2000 円 学生 500 円

		

当日：一般 2500 円 学生 500 円
問合せ：NPO 法人鳴門「第九」を歌う会事務局
TEL:088-686-9999

Hahagawa Firefly Festival
母川ほたる祭り
You'll be able to catch a glimpse of the fireflies
dancing across the surface of the Hahagawa
River. There will be lots of events planned forthis festival, such as a boat cruise down the riveror a bamboo leaf boat making class. Please
note, depending on the condition of the river, thefestival may be cancelled, so please inquire about
it before heading down.
When: June 3 (Sat) - 10 (Sat), 20:00 - 21:30
Where: Hahagawa Riverbanks Takazono,
Kaiyo Town, Kaifu-gun
Info: Kaiyo Town Tourism Association
TEL: 0884-76-3050

母川の水面を乱舞する幻想的な蛍の光を見ることができます。高瀬舟の遊覧や笹舟づくり教室などのイベントも行われます。
※天候・河川状況により中止する場合がありますので、必ず事前にお問い合わせ下さい。
日時： 6 月 3 日（土）～ 10（土）20 時～ 21 時 30 分
場所： 海部郡海陽町高園 母川河川敷
問合せ：海陽町観光協会
TEL:

0884-76-3050

Hisayabu Hydrangea Festival
久薮あじさい祭り
This festival is held at the Hisayabu Amida Hallevery year during June when the hydrangeas arein full bloom.
When: June 18 (Sun), from 9:00
Where: Amida Hall Hisayabu, Ichiu, Tsurugi Town
Admission Fee: Free
Info: Tsurugi Town Commerce and Tourism
Division
TEL: 0883-62-3111

毎年、あじさいが咲く 6 月に、久薮阿弥陀堂であじさい祭りが行われます。
日時： 6 月 18 日（日）9 時 ～場所： つるぎ町一宇字久薮 久薮阿弥陀堂
お問合せ：つるぎ町商工観光課
TEL:

0883-62-3111

9

Events & Memoranda
31st Misato Hotaru Festival
第 31 回美郷ほたるまつり

In 1970, Misato area in Yoshinogawa City was
designated as a national monument, and the fireflies in the area became a protected species. It is
known nationally as a prominent area for the sizeof the basin area where the fireflies fly, amount offireflies, and period that the fireflies can be seen.

吉野川市美郷地区は 1970 年に地区全域が「美郷When: Runs until June 11 (Sun)
Where: Yoshinogawa City, Misato,
Kawata River Area
Contact: Misato Hotaru Museum
TEL: 0883-43-2888

日時： ～ 6 月 11 日（日）のホタル及びその発生地」として国の天然記念物に指定されており、ホタルが飛ぶ流域面積、数、期間とも全国でも有数の地域です♪

場所： 吉野川市美郷

川田川周辺

お問合せ：美郷ほたる館
TEL:

0883-43-2888

Digital Art: Team Lab Tokushima Prefecture Bunka no Mori
デジタルアート：チームラボ 徳島県文化の森
You can enjoy different exhibits of digital art:
① Graffiti Nature - Still Mountains and Movable
Lakes
When: Runs until June 30 (Fri), 9:30 - 17:30
Where: Bunka no Mori Park
Admission Fee: Adult 300 yen, Elementary-High
School Students 100 yen, Infants Free
② Crystal Universe
When: Runs until June 30 (Fri), 9:30 - 17:30
Where: Bunka no Mori Park
Admission Fee: Adult 200 yen, Elementary-High
School Students 100 yen, Infants Free
③ Universe of Water Particles on Bunkanomori
Park
When: permanent exhibition, 19:00 - 21:00
Where: Bunka no Mori Park
Admission Fee: Free
Contact: Tokushima Prefectural Office Commerce,
Industry, Labour and Tourism Department;
Corporate Support Division
TEL: 088-621-2147 (Weekdays 9:00-17:00)

デジタルアート作品に関する様々な展示を楽むことができます：① Graffiti Nature - 動かない山、動かせる湖
日時： ～ 6 月 30 日（金）9 時 30 分～ 17 時 30 分
場所： 徳島県文化の森総合公園
料金： 大人 300 円 , 小中高生 100 円、幼児 無料② クリスタルユニバース
日時： ～ 6 月 30 日（金）9 時 30 分～ 17 時 30 分
場所： 徳島県文化の森総合公園
料金： 大人 200 円 , 小中高生 100 円、幼児 無料③ 文化の森に憑依する滝
日時： 常設 19 時～ 21 時
場所： 徳島県文化の森総合公園
料金： 無料

お問合せ：徳島
県商工労働観光部企業支援課
TEL：088-621-2147 ( 平日：9 時～ 17 時 )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)