KCC NEWS Vol.92 1st, December, 2023

December, 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.
92

“Discover Australia”:Exchange Commemorative Event with Friendship city, Camden, Australia

The lead editor and travel writer of “ Globe- Trotter Australia' ' will talk about the country’ s
evolution, fun activities, diverse cultural aspects, and attractions. The city of Camden, Australia
is a friendship city of Kashiwa.
DSunday, December 10,1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. PPalette Kashiwa Open SpaceLMr. Shinpei ItoF￥300 N70
Shinpei Ito:
ADirectly at the office or via email at <boshu-1@kira-kira.jp>
A lecturer

40th Anniversary Fair of Affiliation with Kashiwa and Chengde, International Friendship City
November 1, 2023,marked the 40th anniversary of the international friendship city affiliation between
Kashiwa and Chengde. The commemorative fair will be held as follows.
DSunday, December 24, 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m.
PPalette Kashiwa, Multipurpose Space A
CIntroduction of Chengde, exchange activities, sale of local specialties,and roundtable discussion. FFreeIn addition, as Chengde has been designated as a world cultural heritage site forpaper-cutting, we will hold digital paper-cutting workshops（ 3 sessions). Details are Paper-cutting workshop
as follows.
D1. Sunday, December 24,3:15 p.m.-4:45 p.m.
2. Sunday, January 7, 2024, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
3. Sunday, January 14, 2024, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
PMeeting Room A for all sessions N20F￥1,000 (for all 3 sessions)
ADirectly at the office from 9:00 a.m. on Friday, December 1st, or via email at <boshu-1@kira-kira.jp>

Christmas Party: Shadow Puppet Show "Three Bears"

KIRAKIC, the international group, will hold a Christmas party. Why not enjoy the English tale of " ThreeBears" through a shadow puppet show? Let's share an exciting time with adults and children!
DSunday, December 17, 1:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. PPalette Kashiwa Meeting Room A, B
FFree N20 ADirectly at the office or via email at <boshu-1@kira-kira.jp>

Call for Presenters for the 13th English Speech Contest

DSunday, February 4, 2024, 2:00 p.m.-4:30p.m. PAmuse Kashiwa Plaza
Eligibility: Residents, employees, junior high school students or above who live in the vicinity of Kashiwa
city, whose native language is not English.
Speech outlines:
1.Duration: More than 3 minutes to less than 5 minutes. 2.Theme/Title: Free choice 3. FFree
N10 (first come, first served)
AFriday, December 1 to Thursday, December 14 by email to <gaikokugo@kira-kira.jp>.
Please be sure to include your name, address, phone number, email address, and age.
Inquiries: KCC OfficeUpcoming Events (January 2024-)

Japanese Speech Contest (2/11 in 2024)<Request> When applying via email, please be sure to include the event name,your name, and phone number.
DDate & Time PPlace FFee NNumber of applicants LLecturer CContents AApplication RReservation

KCC NEWS Vol.92 1st, December, 2023
Kashiwa de International Exchange Festival 2023 Held! (11/12)
The festival, which was previously postponed due to rain,
took place at Palette Kashiwa Open Space. Performances
included " Tsugaru Sukoppu Shamisen," " Balinese Dance," "Toad' s Oil Seller, " and " Dance by KIRAKIC. " In " Tsugaru
Sukoppu Shamisen," the audience also participated in hands- on performances. In addition to booths from various
committees, " Japan- Southeast Europe Economic Exchange
Association" introduced Bulgaria and Serbia and sold theirproducts for the first time. Also, “ Lumbini” , a Nepaleserestaurant, offered curry bread and other items at the foodBalinese danceand beverage booth. Despite the winter cold and the concern
about attendance for an indoor event, calls were made for participation inperformances at the entrance of Day One Tower. Also, a seal rally was held forpeople visiting each booth. Many citizens, including families, participated. Thefinale saw a lively dance by KIRAKIC members and many participants.

A bustling boothTsugaru Sukoppu Shamisen"Perspective of a German Exchange Student - Earth-friendly Vegan Diet" (10/19)
This event explored the concept of veganism, which may be unfamiliar in Japan. Mr. Joshua E. Schmidt,
who came to Japan as an exchange student at Reitaku University, has been a vegan for seven years, andjoined the event from Germany. Veganism considers not just dietary habits but also societal structures andthe protection of animals and the environment. Veganism is different from vegetarianism as it represents
an ethical lifestyle aiming for a better life for humans, animals, and the Earth. It's important to note that avegan diet may require supplements like vitamin B12. While vegan restaurants are limited in Japan, Mr.
Schmidt would like people to try vegan food. You can find recipes for vegan food on the Internet(searchfor "Easy Vegan Recipes").
As the 25 participants viewed the prepared PowerPoint presentation in both English and Japanese,many were shocked to learn facts about subjects like animal cruelty that they were unaware of. The Q&A
session created a friendly atmosphere, making it easy and enjoyable for participants. Vegan foodreminded us of Japanese vegetarian cuisine.

2023 International Exchange Bus Tour (10/28)
This year' s International Exchange Bus Tour included visits to the JAXA
Tsukuba Space Center and the Tsukuba Expo Center. Of the 23 participants,
three were foreigners. The tour quickly reached full capacity after theregistration opened, indicating the high level of interest in these facilities.The
guided tour by JAXA staff included a visit to the astronaut training facility andthe Kibo operation control room, which are not open to general visitors. We
were deeply moved to think that astronauts are training here, and that part of
the International Space Station is operated from this control room. In the The Kibo Operation Control Roomafternoon, we moved to the Expo Center. While having lunch in a reserved room, we had a pleasant chatwith each other. Following a free exploration of the exhibition hall, we enjoyed watching "Today's StarrySky" at the world's largest planetarium, making it a fun and meaningful day for all.

Halloween Party (10/29)
The children, dressed in cute costumes, went around Palette Kashiwa saying"Trick or Treat" while receiving candies from the staff.As the party started, thechildren cheerfully responded to the staff's English calls, and both adults andchildren danced merrily like a skeleton to a Mexican Halloween video on thescreen. Next, they divided into two groups, blindfolded themselves, and playeda game where they placed bones on a board to create a skeleton. In the fashion
show, even the children who didn' t win awards happily received handmade
Colorful costumes
medals from the staff. Finally, they broke a piñ ata ( similar to a Japanesekusudama, filled with candies, hung from above, and broken by children with a stick), sharing the candies.
It was a day where everyone spent a joyful time together, with smiles all around.

KCC NEWS Vol.92 1st, December, 2023

On the 50th Anniversary of Sister City Friendship between Kashiwa & Torrance

President of Torrance Sister City Association Donna Dunlop

I have been looking forward to the TSCA/ KIRA 50th celebration fornearly 40 years. TSCA formed our 50th committee in 2021 and after twoyears of planning we were able to showcase a stage production at theJames Armstrong Theater in February 2023. Mikko organized pastdelegates from Torrance and Kashiwa representing delegate years from1977 to 2019. The Mayor of Torrance hosted a restaurant dinner while
the other Kashiwa delegates visited TSCA homes for dinner. We enjoyeda huge picnic in Wilson Park with nearly 200 people attending, allwearing the new yellow commemorative T-shirts that were designed by a1986 Torrance delegate. To commemorate the 50th, pins and tote bags
were made as gifts using her tree design. The weekend ended with aMs. Donna Dunlop
formal Sayonara Banquet. The evening included the exchange of gifts andthe Kashiwa Odori sung by two past delegates: Tami Ooka, Kashiwa 1981 and David Contreras,
Torrance 2019 and Alex Ito, Torrance 2015 on Taiko. What a special treat!
In October, 43 delegates from Torrance visited Kashiwa for the 50th Celebration. Anotherexciting weekend of activities had been planned by KIRA. The unveiling of a sign post next tothe commemorative 50th cherry tree in Furusato Park. Walking down the newly named
Torrance Street was a dream come true for me. We enjoyed a festive party in the park. Great
meals, especially at the formal Welcome Banquet and ending at the entertaining Sayonara Party,
once again with Tami and David singing the Kashiwa Odori.
These two weekends were a huge success, especially seeing old friends and meeting new ones.
Our family has been involved with TSCA since 1983 when I was chosen as the 1984 adultleader. My husband, Butch, went in 1990 as the adult leader and tradition continued with Stevenand Cara being adult leaders in 2013 and 2022, respectively. Cara was also a student delegate
in 2006. Our family has grown thanks to TSCA. When Steven was responsible for finding
presenters for the 2015 student orientation, he called a 2007 Kashiwa student delegate who had
just recently moved to Torrance. This began a friendship that resulted in their marriage in 2017.
In July, we were blessed with their daughter, Emma. The first baby born to two past delegates,
one from Kashiwa and one from Torrance. The bonds are growing stronger between themembers of TSCA and KIRA and the two cities as well.
I am sure that with our tradition of volunteering, Emma will be a part of the next generation tocarry on the family’ s legacy, and she will be celebrating the 100th Anniversary between TSCAand KIRA. All our annual student delegates will also be the generation to continue to make thebonds stronger between the two cities. I see no end to this relationship: the student exchanges,the exchange teachers, or the five-year anniversary celebrations. Once friends are made, noteven an ocean, can keep us apart.

♪Let’s Enjoy Singing Christmas Songs together!♬
We will do vocalexercises with Christmas songs.
D December 21 (Sun), 8:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.
LMs. Naomi Yamazaki (Voice Trainer)
FFree
NFirst 30 people
ADirectly at the KCC office or email to <boshu-1@ kira-kira.jp>. Please include your name andphone number, and we will send you a URL to join on the day.

KCC NEWS Vol.92 1st, December, 2023

Japanese Shonan Classes (2nd term: Saturday 9/2 -)Online Classes
Sat 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

Minna no Nihongo , Primary II

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

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

Minna no Nihongo ,Primary Ⅱ (Unit 35 - )7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

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

Conversation Intermediate

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

hiragana/katakana

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

Beginners

In-person Classes (Palette Kashiwa)

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

Notice of KCC office closure during the year-end and New Year holidays: 12/29 (Fri) to 1/3 (Wed)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 December 27 (Wed), 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Room A
R the KCC officeInformation 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 your area 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-JAPANQuestions?
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)