KCC NEWS Vol.89 1st, September, 2023

September, 2023

Kashiwa Cross-cultural Center

Kashiwa Cross-cultural Center,Palette Kashiwa
1-7-1-301 Kashiwa,
Kashiwa,Chiba,Japan 277-0005■TEL: 04-7157-0281 ■FAX: 04-7165-7321■E-MAIL: kcc@kira-kira.jp■URL: https: //www.kcc.kira-kira.jp

Vol.
89

Kashiwa de International Exchange Festa 2023 will be held！

D October 15 (Sun) 11： 00 a.m. - 4：00 p.m. (canceled only in case of heavy rain)
P Howdy Mall at Kashiwa Station east exit (pedestrian street in front of Ito-Yokado.)
C The introduction of activities to support and coexist with foreign residents, as well as international
exchange activities with Kashiwa’s sister and friendship cities. Visitors can enjoy international
dances and performances on the event stage. In addition, there will be sales of foreign
products, food, and beverages. Come and experience the “world" from the streets of Kashiwa!
(You can see the scenes from last year's Festa here.)“Introduction of Exchange Activities between Kashiwa and its Sister and Friendship Cities”
Presentations on Torrance (50th Anniversary) and Kashiwa’s three friendship cities

D September 21(Thu) 8:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
F FreeL Sister and Friendship Cities Committees
N 30
A At the KCC office or by email to ＜ boshu- 1@ kira- kira. jp＞ . Include your name and phone
number. We will send you a URL to join on the day.

Cross-Cultural Seminar

Cross- cultural experiences felt by Americans. “Japan is good. No, America is better! " Let's get together
and talk about it!
D September 23 (Sat) 10:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Multipurpose Space A
F FreeL Mr. Kevin Butt (English language instructor)
N 20
A At the KCC office from September 1 (Fri), or by email to ＜ boshu-1@kira-kira.jp＞

Barbecue around the World

D September 24 (Sun) 11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
P Mizushiro Kajuen Orchard(Nagareyama City, Mukaikogane 3-179 Telephone: 04-7174-4451 http://www.orchard-garden.com/)
F 1000 yen for junior high school students and older, 500 yen for elementary school students, and freefor preschoolers
A At the KCC office from September 1 (Fri), or by email to ＜boshu-1@kira-kira.jp＞

Journey Around the World - Fascinating and Spectacular Scenery Unknown to the Japanese

D September 30 (Sat) 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Multipurpose Space A
Contents: Travel locations in South America, Africa, and the
Middle East which are not easily accessible by tours.
L Yoichi Fukuda (freelance planner)
Number of applicants: 27
F 400 yen
At
the
KCC
office from September 1 (Fri), or by email to ＜ Mr. Yoichi FukudaAboshu-1@kira-kira.jp＞

The Perito Moreno glacier, Argentina

Delegation from Torrance to Kashiwa: 10/5 - 9 (There will be opportunities to interact with citizens on the 10/6- 7)International Exchange Bus Tour: 10/28
Halloween Party: 10/29
DDate & Tim e P Place F Fee NNum ber of applicants LLecturer C Contents A Application RReservation

KCC NEWS Vol.89 1st, September, 2023
Torrance Youth Visit to Kashiwa (7/12-8/1)
Due to the Corona pandemic, Kashiwa did not send a delegation to
Torrance last summer, while the adult leader and five students from
Torrance visited Kashiwa without a homestay. After a three- year absence,
the youth exchange with Torrance was back this summer in full scale. The
delegation leader Maureen Ortega and eight high school students (two boys
and six girls) stayed with two host families each during their stay. The hostfamilies received the students as if they were their own family members,
providing them with genuinely international exchange experiences. They
With the Atomic Bomb Domein the backalso had the opportunity to interact with students of their own age, paid
courtesy calls to the mayor of Kashiwa and the city assembly, took
excursions to Kyoto and Hiroshima, and experienced day trips to Nikko andTokyo. In a questionnaire given to them, they said that they were very
impressed by the opportunities to experience Japanese culture (taiko, kendo,
origami, calligraphy, tea ceremony, Japanese archery, school lunch, making
bento lunches, etc. ) with the students at Kashiwa Municipal High School,
Nittaidai Kashiwa High School, Kashiwa Chuo Prefectural High School,
Kashiwa Daiichi Elementary School, and Kaichi International University. They
had two bus tours of Kashiwa City, which were good opportunities to get toParticipating in Kashia Matsuri
know the new and old Kashiwa. The student delegation from Kashiwa willdepart on August 1 and return on August 25. Both experiences are wonderful, once-in-a-lifetime events.
And we have met many past student delegates who have said that these experiences changed their lives.
The volunteer activities of TSCA and KIRA members have contributed greatly to the 50-year history of thisyouth international exchange program. We hope to continue these long- lasting international exchanges
for many years to come.

Happiness from the Sea #1 - Charm of the Sea (7/20)
We enjoyed the charms of the sea discovered through diving with the underwater images taken by thelecturer. The images of the sea were a pleasant refresher during the intense heat of the summer days. The
images showed fish and coral reefs that can only be seen by diving, and we were again impressed by thebeauty of the seas around Japan. The lecturer, Shogo Saeki, said that he had uploaded more than 500
videos to YouTube. He hopes that people would appreciate the beauty of the sea and that those videos
would be shown in hospital waiting rooms, etc. to help comfort the people who watch them. You canwatch these YouTube videos by searching for " Shogo saeki" or " DivingSaeki" . He said, " The oceans areconnected and united, and if we think about how wonderful they are, there should be no more wars. ”
These words left a strong impression on us.

Yukata Wearing and Tanabata Bamboo Decorating Experience (7/24)

Six of the 12 participants were foreign nationals at this event held at Palette Kashiwa. As theparticipants put on their yukata with the help of the instructor and staff,
they interacted with each other through Japanese culture, which was thevery purpose of the event. Gradually, the participants began to mingle
with each other, enjoying conversation and taking photos together.
After everyone finished dressing beautifully, they wrote their wishes ontanzaku strips and decorated bamboo branches with them. They took
photos of themselves as keepsakes with the decorated bamboo branches
in the background.
The participants enjoyed the event very much and commented that they
were happy to be able to put on the yukata by themselves.
Everyone dressed beautifully!

Congratulations to Hoshoryu!
Hoshoryu from Mongolia (real name SUGARRAGCHAA BYAMBASUREN), a graduate of Nittaidai Kashiwa
High School, won the Nagoya tournament in July and was promoted to Ozeki. He had participated in the“1st Japanese Speech Contest for Foreign Residents" hosted by KCC. Yumiko Okada taught him Japaneseat high school and said, “ He was a student who wanted to win at everything. He was very disappointed
when he did not win the contest after working so hard to study Japanese. I think it was his competitive
spirit that enabled him to win the Ozeki title.” We look forward to his future success.

KCC NEWS Vol.89 1st, September, 2023

Japan, the Country I Have Long Wanted to Visit
Ms. Maureen Ortega, 2023 Torrance Youth Delegation Adult Leader
Please introduce yourself. ―I was born in the Philippines and moved toTorrance with my parents and two brothers when I was two. I started dancing at
the age of 12 or 13 and was a jazz, ballet, and hip- hop dance teacher during mycollege days. I have been working in accounting for a company that makes batteries
for electric recliners. My favorite food is sushi, especially salmon sushi, andspaghetti. The price of sushi in restaurants in Torrance (Kura-zushi) are three times
higher than those in Japan. I also like curry and often go to Coco- Ichibanya in
Torrance with my family. I do not drink alcohol at all, though it is not for religious
reasons. My favorite pastime is reading, and I often read romance stories. My family
consists of my husband and my 13-year-old son.
What made you to apply for the youth delegation adult leader position? ― I go to
Ms. Maureen Ortega
the same church as Donna Dunlop, the president of Torrance Sister City Association(TSCA). As a Torrance resident, I had known about TSCA for a long time and had heard a lot about it from
Donna, and I thought the exchange program was a great idea. She encouraged me to apply, and since I
myself was interested in Kashiwa and Japan, I applied to be the leader of the delegation. I needed twoletters of recommendation. Since I volunteer at my son's school, I received letters of recommendation fromthe school principal and my boss at work. I have been a member of TSCA since 2022, and both myhusband and son have helped me by participating in the TSCA cultural festival.
Is this your first visit to Kashiwa or Japan? ― I have been to Alaska, Hawaii, Canada, Hong Kong, thePhilippines, and the Maldives, but this is my first visit to Japan. It has been on my list of countries to visit
for a long time, so I am very happy to be here. I would love to come back to Japan in a different season.
What are your impressions of Japan and Kashiwa? ― Kashiwa is very peaceful and clean, with no litter on
the streets. And the people of Kashiwa are really kind. When I used the restroom
at the Kashiwa City Hall, I left my bag there. I realized that and went back to therestroom, feeling worried. To my surprise, I found my bag was right where I left it.
If you were in the U.S., it would have been taken immediately.
Are the delegates enjoying their stay? ― The students are enjoying their stayvery much, with no health problems. They seem to get along very well with their
host families and talk to each other a lot. They are having so much fun every day,so they are sorry to see time goes by so quickly. I feel that I have been welcomed
as a member of my host family. I enjoy chatting with them over meals. We also
cook together. Yesterday, they taught me how to make Kabuto (Japanese warrior's
helmet) out of spring roll wrappers. I hope that the students will learn a lot during
their stay in Japan by experiencing the differences in environments, cultures, andKabuto made of spring
traditions compared to their own country.
roll wrappers(Interviewed by Yoko Nakano and Sachiko Nakano)

Hawaiian Bon Dance Group Visited Kashiwa (7/29)
Fourteen members of the Ko'olau Sakura Odori Kai came to Kashiwa to participate
in the Kashiwa Matsuri festival and met with 14 members of KIRA at Palette Kashiwa.
The group members, mainly Japanese Americans living in Hawaii, saw the Kashiwa
Odori dance on YouTube while practicing Bon Dance. They wanted to dance it andcontacted the KCC office four years ago. Since then, they had been practicing thedance, hoping to dance in Kashiwa someday. This year, they finally came to Kashiwa.
At the meeting with KIRA members, after introducing each other and enjoying
conversation, all participants danced the Kashiwa Odori under the guidance of Mr.
Fusen Kyokuren of the Kashiwa Folk Dance Federation. When Mr. Fusen introduced
the " Keihoku Ondo odori, " they immediately looked it up on YouTube andenthusiastically said they would add it to their repertoire.

Maui (Hawaii) Wildfire Relief Donations!

Kashiwa Odori

There has been a massive wildfire on the island of Maui. We have set up a donation box at KCC and would
appreciate your cooperation.

KCC NEWS Vol.89 1st, September, 2023

Japanese Shonan Classes (2nd term: Saturday 9/2 -)Online Classes
Sat

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Sun 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary II
Minna no Nihongo , Primary I and Intermediate II

In-person Classes (Shonan Community Center)
Thu 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I(2 classes)

Sun 10:00 a.m. -12:00 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I

Japanese Kashiwa/Kashiwanoha Classes (2nd term: Friday 9/1 -)Online Classes
Tue 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I (Unit 8 - )Wed 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Conversation Elementary 2B（Level 2）

Wed 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary II (Unit 37 - )Thu 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Conversation Elementary 2A (Level 2)

Fri

7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo ,Primary Ⅱ (Unit 35 - )Sat

9:30 a.m. - 11:20 a.m.

Conversation Intermediate
In-person Classes (Palette Kashiwa)

Tue 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

hiragana/katakana

Tue 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Beginners

Tue 10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I（Unit 14 - ）Sat

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I（Unit 10 - ）Sat

10:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary I（Unit 28- ）In-person Classes (Kashiwanoha Service Center)
Thu 10:00 a.m .- 11:30 a.m.

Conversation Elementary, Introductory and 1

Thu 10:00 a.m .- 11:30 a.m.

Conversation Elementary 2

Free Legal Advice and Administrative Procedure Support for Foreign Residents
To foreign residents. Are you in need of help? Lawyers and administrative procedure specialists areavailable for consultation. You can ask for specialists’ advice on issues such as family or partner
violence, divorce, visa procedures, and problems at work. Reservation necessary.
D September 27 (W ed), 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Room A
R the KCC office

Announcements from Other Organizations

Members Wanted! Kashiwa International Relations Association (KIRA)

Why don' t you become a member and join us in international exchange activities? Let' s interact withforeigners by planning and organizing various events. You don' t have to speak English. You can also
make friends. For more information, please visit our website. (Inquiries: Office)Information for Foreign Residents from Kashiwa City

Consultation for Foreign Residents

Email distribution service from Kashiwa City

Sign up to receive email announcement from the city,
Available in English (Thu), Chinese
such
as information on natural disasters, crimes, and fires(Wed and Fri), Spanish (Mon), andof
yourarea in the language of your choice. Scan the QR
Korean (2nd and 4th Tue) from1: 00 p. m. to 5: 00 p. m. at the code and register!
Consultation Counter for ForeignMultilingual “Koho Kashiwa,” monthly official city bulletin
Residents ( City Hall Main Office
Building, 3rd floor).
Scan the QR code and select your language underTel: 04 - 7168 – 1033
“Foreign Language” to read the official city bulletin, “KohoNo reservation required.
Kashiwa,” selected and translated for foreign residents.

Links for Multilingual News & BOSAI INFO (Disaster prevention and Coronavirus)
NHK WORLD-JAPAN

Questions?
Please contact the office ofKashiwa Cross-cultural Center (KCC)

Tel: 04-7157-0281
Fax: 04-7165-7321
Hours: 8:30 a.m. - 5:15 p.m.
Closed on Sundays and national holidays

KCC Newsletter Edited and Published by: Public Relations Division of General Affairs Committee in Kashiwa International Relations
Association (KIRA), the specified non-profit organization and the designated administrator of Kashiwa Cross-cultural Center (KCC)