KCC NEWS Vol.88 1st, August, 2023

Kashiwa Cross-cultural Center

August, 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.
88

Please Help Us Sort Out Used Stamps and Miswritten Postcards!
Date & Time: Monday, August 7, 1:00 p.m.

Place: Exchange Space in front of the KCC officeHappiness From the Sea #2: Protecting the Sea From Marine Pollution
Date & Time: Thursday, August 17, 8:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Fee: Free
Lecturer: Mr. Shogo Saeki (Dive Master)
Number of applicants: First 30
Application: Sign up at the KCC office from Tuesday, August 1, or by email to < boshu- 1@ kira- kira.jp> .
Please include your name and phone number. We will send you a URL to join on the day.

Disaster Prevention Study Session: Supporting Foreign Residents

You never know when a disaster will occur!
- Do you know where to evacuate?
- Are you prepared with emergency supplies?
Learn how to prepare for and cope with disasterfrom the Kashiwa City Disaster Prevention and
Safety Division staff.
Date & Time: Saturday, September 2, 1:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Place: Palette Kashiwa Open Space
Fee: Free. Please come to the venue directly.

Stage Performers Wanted for International Exchange Festa!
Why not join us and show your special talents at Kashiwa de International Exchange Festa 2023?
Date：Sunday, October 15, 10:30 a.m. - around 3:00 p.m.
Place： Howdy Mall at the east exit of Kashiwa Station
Content： Dance, songs, entertainment, performances, etc. from overseas and Japan ( anynumber of people in one group, about 20 minutes for each group).
Application: Sign up at the KCC office from August 1 (Tue) through 10 (Thu), or by email to<boshu-1@kira-kira.jp>. If there are many applications, we will inform you of the selection result.

Project Staff Wanted for “the 8th Japanese Speech Contest by Foreign Residents in Kashiwa”
Event Date: Sunday, February 11, 2024
Place: Palette Kashiwa
Contents: Planning and organizing a contest for foreigners living, attending schools, or working in theTokatsu area.
Inquiries: The KCC office

8/7～8/25 Kashiwa Youth Delegation Visit to Torrance
9/30 Cross-cultural Teatime: Going Around the World
10/15 Kashiwa de International Exchange Festa

9/24 Barbecue

Please be sure to include the event nam e in addition to y our nam e and phone num ber when apply ing by em ail. The events m ay be cancelled or changed depending on the CO V ID-19 infection status. P lease contact the office for details.

KCC NEWS Vol.88 1st, August, 2023
Kashiwa International Exchange Week 2023
Foreign residents and international students in Kashiwa interacted with citizens over snacks from around theworld. The event was held in cooperation with organizations in the city such as Girl Scouts Chiba Troop 17,
Kashiwa City Tourism Association, ITC- J Tokatsu, Yosakoi Team Senjin, Reitaku University, and Kaichi
International University.

Monday, July 3

The first day was a social event with people from Ukraine and Sri Lanka. The participants were especiallyinterested in talking about food. It was interesting to learn that miso and soy sauce are very popular seasonings
in Ukraine, and that Sri Lankans are accustomed to eating spicy food since childhood. The conversation was heldin both Japanese and English, and the participants were very friendly, using easy-to-understand language.

Tuesday, July 4

We heard that a Japanese language class participant from the Congo, a country with which we are not familiar,
would be attending the event. So, along with a person who wanted to speak French, we were ready to have aconversation in French using a phone translation app and PocketTalk. Unfortunately, the Congolese person was
absent on the day. Instead, we started English conversations with two people, one from the Philippines and theother from the United States. We had interesting discussions, such as what kind of souvenirs from Japan theywould like to get. We also sang an English song accompanied by one of the participants, who brought a musicalinstrument called a “guitalele.”

Wednesday, July 5

While enjoying delicious snacks such as Mexican empanadas and Brazilian churrasco sausage, we heard about
the exciting tourist attractions of Cancun, Mexico, and the Christ the Redeemer statue on Corcovado mountain in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. We also heard that Mexico City was severely damaged by the 1985 Mexico Earthquake. In
Brazil, they do not have earthquakes, so they were really scared at the time of the Great East Japan Earthquake in2011. Because of this, we felt the need to conduct disaster drills with foreign residents to prepare for disasters.

Thursday, July 6

People from Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, and the Philippines spoke
about their countries. One of the most asked questions from theparticipants was about the languages in the Philippines. At school, English
textbooks are used and classes are held in English. Tagalog is studied as aclass subject. As for Taiwan, the participants asked about Chinesecharacters in Taiwan and how they differ from those in mainland China.

Friday, July ７

We had a Chinese guest. As it was the day of Tanabata, we asked about
the difference between Tanabata in China and Japan. We learned that
Tanabata falls on August 21 in China because of the lunar calendar, andGetting to know Indonesia, Thailand,that it is a day like Valentine's Day rather than a day to make one's wishes.
the Philippines, and Taiwan.
While eating Chinese snacks, we had friendly Q& A exchanges. Somequestions were about senior people's jobs, China's My Number Card, the popularization of electric cars, etc.

Saturday, July 8

The social event with International Students started with a Chinese student who had participated in a Japanese
speech contest. A German student made a presentation about Germany with his friend as an interpreter,
showing pictures on a PowerPoint presentation. Two students presented information about Indonesia, and thelast Vietnamese student used background music for their presentation, which was very amusing. The audience
asked various questions and had an enjoyable exchange with the international students.

Sunday, July 9

The final day started with a Yosakoi dance performance by Yosakoi Team Senjin, followed by a craft experienceby Girl Scouts Chiba Troop 17, in which participants made cute black catsout of toilet paper cores. After that, the presentations by Kaichi
International University students from Myanmar and China made us want tovisit their countries. At the final presentation by Reitaku University students,
we were impressed with their ongoing support for children in Cambodia.

Sunday, July 9,

Online Event

The final event of the International Exchange Week was the Online
Refugee Workshop. First, the participants learned basic information about
refugee issues, which we often hear about in connection with the recent
revision of the Immigration Control Act. Then, we discussed in groups "What would be the biggest problem for you if you became a refugee?” andYosakoi dance“ What kind of support do you need to solve it? ” After that, based on thediscussion, we learned from the lecturer about the settlement support systems and what support is available.

KCC NEWS Vol.88 1st, August, 2023

Life-changing Experience as a Delegate to Torrance
Ms. Yukiko Hirai; an Exchange Student to Torrance in 1981
W hat was the reason for applying for the delegate program ?
- I considered it a great opportunity to w ork overseas in the future, and because I had experience as ahost family at home, I became interested in foreign cultures.
Please tell us about your im pressions in Torrance; what surprised you,impressed you, or troubled you.
- I could feel the presence of Japanese Americans and immigrants close to me,
and I w as able to directly hear their stories. I w as also inspired w ith profoundrespect and emotions, know ing that many predecessors had challenged
themselves abroad.
T he w ay the host parents engaged in conversations, treating each other as
equal partners, w as very impressive. It w as rare in Japan at the time to see thecouples communicating w ith each other like this, even about trivial matters, andit w as very refreshing compared to the norms in Japan.
Ms. Yukiko Hirai
How do you th in k the d elegate program h as affected your life after th at?
-The host parents shared stories about losing their son in the Vietnam W ar and their ow n w ays of living
until late at night. It allow ed me to see different aspects of America that I had previously admired simply
as the land of dreams, and it became the foundation for my subsequent choices in studying abroad andcareer.
Please tell us about your overseas experien ce.
-I studied abroad during my student days and later w orked for a publishing company related to studying
abroad. I had many opportunities for overseas business trips from my tw enties. At that time, it w as rare
for a w oman to be entrusted w ith overseas business trips, and I had many opportunities to attend
international conferences on education in the United States and Canada, w here I learned about
entrepreneurship and many new concepts. Afterw ard, I w orked for a foreign education company. Afterbecoming the president of the Japan branch, I visited various Asian countries, learning about online
education, distance education, and education systems using technology, w hich are still relevant to mycurrent w ork. Subsequently, in 2000, I set up a company specializing in early entrepreneurship educationand expanded its services to Middle Eastern countries and South Korea. In addition, I studied at graduate
school, and obtained a doctorate degree in Japan's first
Time for food education.
early entrepreneurship education program in 2011,
We are preparing organic
w hich served as a basis for validating the effectivenessingredients, considering
nutritional balance. All cookingof my company' s educational programs and further
is done within the facility. Eat
triggered our expansion into overseas markets.
plenty and grow big!
In 2016, w e established a subsidiary in Vietnam andhave been running kindergartens and educational
facilities. As Vietnam is a socialist country, everythingfrom business concepts, and contractual concepts, toparental values is different from Japan. Through suchdifferences, w e discovered that there is a significant
demand for " Japanese education methods” . During the
COV ID-19 pandemic, w ith just a single notice , both thekindergartens and educational facilities w ere subject tolockdow n, w ith no government guarantees or support.
W e are grateful to our Vietnamese staff w ho w orked so
hard to overcome the situation w here more than 100
A Kindergarten in Vietnam
local kindergartens closed. T his year, w e are finally on
the road to recovery, and currently have 250 children attending the kindergartens, w ith thousands ofchildren visiting the educational facilities each month w ith their parents. In the future, I hope to export "Japanese education methods” to many more countries, starting w ith Vietnam. The foundation of such amindset is rooted in my experience in Torrance. I w ould like to express my gratitude once again for having
had such an opportunity.
W hat do you hope for studen ts who will be chosen as delegates or are con siderin g applying ?
-I hope they w on't fear failure and w ill challenge themselves in everything they do. Experiencing not only
different languages but also diverse values w ill enrich their lives significantly, so I encourage them to give
their best effort.

KCC NEWS Vol.88 1st, August, 2023

Japanese Shonan Classes (Summer vacation: Monday 7/17-Surterday 9/2)
Online Classes (2nd term)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 (2nd term) (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 (Summer vacation: Tuesday 7/18-Thursday 8/31)
Online Classes (2nd term)
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 (2nd term) (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 (2nd term) (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.
Date & Time: Wednesday, August 23, 1:00 p.m.- 5:00 p.m.
Place: Palette Kashiwa Room A
Reservation: 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
with foreigners 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(Wed and Fri), Spanish (Mon), and such as information on natural disasters, crimes, and firesof 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)