KCC NEWS Vol.91 1st, November, 2023

Kashiwa Cross-cultural Center

November, 2023

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.
91

Kashiwa de International Exchange Festa 2023
Kashiwa de International Exchange Festa was scheduled for October 15 (Sun) but was cancelled due tobad weather. That was a disappointment to those who were looking forward to it. Now, an alternative
date has been set!
D November 12 (Sun) 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. P Palette Kashiwa Open Space
More details will be posted on our website soon!

Let’s use easy-to-understand Japanese

We will practice easy-to-understand Japanese to communicate with foreign residents.
D November 16 (Thu) 8:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. L Ms. Tomoe Uchida, Japanese language instructor
F FreeN 30
A At the KCC office or email to ＜ boshu- 1@ kira- kira.jp> . Please include
your name and phone number and we will send you a URL to join on the day.

Let's Learn Waste Recycling in Japan and Experience Eco-friendly Handicrafts
You can visit the Kashiwa City Recycle Plaza to observe the sorting of recyclables. Also, at its Ribbon Kan(a learning facility), you can try easy handicrafts (making of finger-knitted acrylic washcloths) and games,and enjoy shopping for used items. Let’s be a little more aware of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
D November 23 (Thu, holiday) 1:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
F 100 yen (including insurance), transportation expenses are on your own N 15 people
Please meet at one of the following locations:
1) TX Kashiwanoha Campus Station at 12:20 p.m. (20-minute walk to the site)2) Tobu Bus Stop #3 on JR Kashiwa Station West Exit at 12:25 p.m. (Board the City Loop 02
bus departing at 12:35.) Get off at Kashiwa City Recycle Plaza.
3) Meet up at the 1st floor of Kashiwa Recycle Plaza (Toyofuta 348-202, parking lot available)
at 12:50 p.m.
A at the KCC office, or email to < boshu- 1@ kira-kira.jp> . Please include your name, phone number, andpreferred meeting place.

Ukrainian Cooking
D November 26 (Sun) 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
P Amuser Kashiwa 3F Cooking RoomC Borsch, Deruny (potato pancakes)
L Ms. Voskoboinik Svitlana F 1,000 yen. What to bring: Apron. N 25.
A Directly at the KCC office or email to < boshu- 1@ kira- kira. jp> byNovember 20 (Mon). Cancellations on the day of the event will not be refunded.

Thank You For Your Donations to the Maui, Hawaii Wildfire Victims
The donations totaled 46,901 yen and were sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Chengde 40th anniversary events (12/24 in 2023, 1/7 and 1/14 in 2024),
Shadow puppet show by foreign residents (12/17).
DDate & T im e P Place F Fee NNum ber of applicants LLecturer C Contents A Application RReservation

BorschKCC NEWS Vol.91 1st, November, 2023
Visit of the Delegation from Torrance to Commemorate the 50th
Anniversary of Sister City Affiliation (10/5-10/9)
Welcome Ceremony (10/6): A total of 43 people, including Torrance Mayor George K. Chen,
visited Kashiwa. The delegation received a grand welcome by Kashiwa’ s citizens, related
volunteers, and city employees with small flags of Japan and the United States in their hands
at Kashiwa City Hall. The welcome ceremony was held for the first time at the open spaceoutside the City Hall so that everyone could join. The ceremony began with the playing of the U.
S. National Anthem by the Fire Department Band, followed by the Kimigayo. After the opening
remarks by both cities’ mayors, Mayor Kazumi Ota presented the visiting group withcommemorative T-shirts to further strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two cities.
City Tour (10/6): The visitors test-rode an automated driving bus at the University of Tokyo's
Kashiwa Campus. They applauded the cute bus as it compactly turned the corners. At the lunchin the University of Tokyo cafeteria, they had the choice of hamburger steak, fried chicken,
curry, etc. Everyone used chopsticks well, and some of them were very smooth at eating
Torrance Mayor
tsukemen dipping noodles. In the afternoon, the City Council unanimously approved theGeorge K. Chen
continuation of the sister city relationship in the future. Then, the group went toKashiwa Municipal High School. The school band was a gold medal winning team at anational competition, and the guests were captivated by their wonderful music withdancing. The performance ended successfully with the team’s specialty, “Tequila.”
Visit to Torrance Street ( 10/ 7) : The delegation visited Torrance Street in Kita
Kashiwa. The Kita Kashiwa Neighborhood Association had named the street “Torrance
Street,” because the English teachers from Torrance used to live near there. On the dayof the visit, the flags with the names of streets in Torrance were displayed, and thedelegation walked around, looking for something related to them and took many
Torrance Street
pictures. At Kita Kashiwa Dai- ni Park, the group enjoyed the field day of Warabi
Nursery School, a chorus performance by the Kashiwa Boys and Girls Choir, and a Yosakoi dance team performance,
as well as interacting with local citizens.

Cross-cultural Seminar (9/23)

Mr. Kevin Butt, an English teacher at Reitaku High School, was invited as a lecturer to discuss the culturaldifferences between Japan and the United States. He shared some examples. As an American visiting Japan for the
first time, he ate at a reputable Japanese restaurant and was satisfied with the taste but was greatly dissatisfied withbeing charged for otoshi appetizer without any explanation, or receiving a receipt showing only the total amountwithout any specifics. These examples made us think about the cultural differences between Japan and the UnitedStates. It seems that clear explanations and reasons are necessary and important in the U.S. The participants actively
spoke up and the seminar was very productive.

Barbecue Around the World (9/24)

Sixty-two people, including foreigners and Japanese parents and their children, gatheredat Mizushiro Orchard in Nagareyama City to enjoy a barbecue for the first time in four
years after the COVID-19 pandemic. The heat of recent days had eased, and a cool breeze
blew under the kiwi trellises.
We enjoyed the flavors of the world: seasoned pork, chicken, and pudding from thePhilippines; spicy vermicelli salad from Thailand; spiced beef from China and Taiwan;
quesadillas from M exico; sausages and croquettes from Brazil; and yakisoba fried noodles
from Japan.
Enjoyed the flavorsof the world
After filling our stomachs, we had a great time at the sack race and bingo game.
Many young people participated in the event and seemed to be interested in international exchange activities.

Journey Around the World- Fascinating and Spectacular Scenery Unknown to the Japanese （9/30）
A free planner, Yoichi Fukuda, was invited to talk about travel to places in SouthAmerica, Africa, and the M iddle East, which are not easily accessible by tours, including
the unusual scenery, customs, and habits on a global scale. He introduced scenes fromthe Perito Moreno Glacier in Patagonia, the southernmost tip of South America; Lençois,Brazil, with its thousands of lakes; a steam train running through Wishuaia, thefarthest point in the world; skiing in Morocco; the vast desert of Namibia; a riverbordering Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Namibia in southern Africa; and the vast
red sky at sunset of Masai Lama, Kenya. He told us that he had eaten wild oryx steak,and that he was handed WET laundry at a hotel in Syria when he answered “wet” after
being asked whether he wanted his laundry “ wet or dry. ” His episodes of surprise atcultural differences were new and interesting, and the participants enjoyed them.

A globe with travel itinerary
made by Mr. Fukuda

KCC NEWS Vol.91 1st, November, 2023

I want to help the friendship between my hometown, Chengde City, and Kashiwa City.

Ms. Shan Baisong

Please tell us about yourself. -I have been living in Japan for almost 30 years since I first came to Japan in
1994. I studied Japanese at a school in Shinjuku and worked for a Japanese IT company listed in the First
Section. I continued to work while raising two children. After my children
grew up and became more independent, I started engaging in volunteer
work and other social contribution activities.
What motivated you to join KIRA's Chengde Committee? -I am who I am
today thanks to the kindness and hospitality of everyone since I came to
Japan. And now Japan is my second home to me. I learned about the sistercity relationship between Chengde city and Kashiwa city when I wondered
if there was something I could do to help. I found out on the Internet that
Chengde city has sister cities with both Kashiwa and Takasaki, I chose
At Haneda Airport "Edo Koji”
Kashiwa as it is closer and joined the committee.
What kind of activities do you want to do in the future? -The Chengde Committee is a warm and welcominggroup, and I feel closer to my hometown, Chengde, when I am here. Currently, the Chengde Committee isdiscussing what you can do in the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the sister city relationship between
Chengde and Kashiwa. I would like to do my part, even if it is only a small contribution. I hope that this warm
association, which our predecessors have preserved, will continue for a long time. Although Japan and China aredifferent countries, in the end, human- to- human interactions are crucial. I would like to support thecontinuation of the current friendship for as long as possible.
Living in Japan, could you tell us about the good aspects of Japan, inconveniences, and areas you think
could be improved? - Japan is a very clean and safe country with a high standard of education. I found thecommunication books between parents and school, used when children attended kindergartens of schools, to betruly wonderful. Reading them helped me learn a lot, and they provided valuable awareness of my children’ s
daily lives. I was also very impressed with the way they taught how to put their clothes on and how to put themaway. I was first surprised that even in the dead of winter, children go to school in short pants.
One of the challenges when working at a Japanese company is the unspoken understanding of " ah- un”(meaning ”yes” or ”I understand”). Chinese people tend to be more explicit about their opinions and intentions,
so it is difficult to understand the subtleties of "ah-un". Furthermore, Japan places a strong emphasis on groupconsciousness, whereas China is more of an individual meritocracy. It is not necessarily an inconvenience, but I
think electronic payments are more widespread in China than in Japan. When I return to China, QR code
payments are everywhere, and I feel like a foreigner when I go back to China. I also think the usage rate of SNS
in China is probably higher than in Japan. Now I can communicate with my parents and other family members
online through SNS, and we have birthday parties and such. I am very happy to see my family in this way
because I was not able to return home for three years during the COVID-19 pandemic.
About KIRA - I was impressed that KIRA provides the Kawaraban in hiragana to make it more understandable
for foreigners who are not fluent in Japanese. I think KIRA is a very foreigner-friendly and excellent organization.
Thank you for your continued support.
(Interviews by Yoko Nakano and Kanae Omori)2023 Torrance Delegation Kashiwa Youths Return Report
Students (high school and university students) who visited the sister city, Torrance, U.S.A. this year will share
their valuable experiences with accompanying video.
D Sunday, November 19, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. (Registration from 1:30 p.m.) P Palette Kashiwa Open SpaceR Not required, please come directly to the venue on the day.

Friendship City Australia Camden Exchange Commemorative Event"Discover Australia”
The lead editor & travel writer of " Globe- Trotter Australia" will talk about theevolution, fun, diverse cultural aspects and attractions of Australia, where Kashiwa's
friendship city Camden is located.
D Sunday December 10, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Open Space L Mr. Shinpei Ito F 300 yen N 70
A Directly at the office or via email at <boshu-1@kira-kira.jp>

Uluru(Ayers Rock)in Australia

KCC NEWS Vol.91 1st, November, 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 November 22 (Wed), 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
P Palette Kashiwa Room A
R the KCC officeMembers 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 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-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)