aWa life

Olympic and Paralympic
Pre-Game Training Camps
for Germany in Tokushima

Awa Shoku:
Box Lunch on a Scenic
BoxcarOctober 2021

Ouji Shrine - A Cat Lover's # 372
Purradise (Part 2)

Gairaigo Galore:
アニメ

1

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

Since the surprisingly short and rainy summer is already over and autumn has begun, this is the perfect time to spend time outside without having to worry too much about heat stroke. Due to the nicetemperatures, October is also a very popular month for starting or continuing the Shikoku Pilgrimage,especially the second half of the month. How about visiting a few temples and discovering Tokushimafrom another point of view? The fresh autumn air and beautiful nature, combined with an intensive spiritual experience, will surely give you new energy.
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,
Sydney and Nico

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:
Sydney Bartig and Nico Bohnsack
Contributors This Month:
Alessa Peters, Akira Harada, Lance Kita, Fusa Tamaki and Anne-Marie Marker

2Contents

Pg. 2-3: Olympic and Paralympic Pre-Game Training Camps
for Germany in Tokushima
Pg. 4:Ouji Shrine – A Cat Lover’s Purradise (Part 2)

Pg. 5:

Japanese Culture and Reading Corner: 鳴門金時（甘藷・さつまいも）

Pg. 5:

Gairaigo Galore: アニメ

Pg. 6:

Awa Shoku: Box Lunch on a Scenic Boxcar

Pg. 7:

Japanese Lesson

Pg. 8-9: Farewell Messages
Pg. 9:
Events and Memoranda
Olympic and Paralympic Pre-Game Training Camps for Germany inTokushima
By: Alessa PetersA

fter the postponement of the Tokyo Olympic
and Paralympic Games, three German
National Teams held their training camps in
Tokushima: men’s handball, canoe sprint, andpara canoe. The German Judo Team was not able
to hold their camp here due to entry restrictions.

local culture and nature. Some of the training
units were open to local schools and handballteams, and the children waved flags and cheered.
The team was sad that they weren’t able to see
more of Tokushima, but they focused on training,getting used to the time difference, and the hot
and humid weather. They greatly enjoyed the food

In July, the Men’s Handball Team arrived atHaneda Airport where we picked them up. The
entry process into Japan was long and we had
to rush to get on our flight to Tokushima after
waiting for the test results. The team stayed in
Naruto, where they trained at Amino Value Hall.
The restrictions were quite strict, and there was
no exchange with locals and no sightseeing. A
few years ago, some of the players had alreadyvisited Tokushima and had an impression of theat the hotel, often made with local ingredients,
and the view of the ocean from their rooms.
At the end of July, the Canoe Sprint Team spent
five days in Naka. The weather was sunny
and ideal for training and getting used to theJapanese climate. Due to the restrictions, nodirect exchange or sightseeing was possible,
but many people lined the visitor’s zone, waving
flags, cheering, and taking photos. They received

3

Olympic and Paralympic Pre-Game Training Camps for Germany in Tokushima

postcards and amulets from a local shrine, andwere happy to wave to visitors from the water.
The Canoe Center at the Kawaguchi Dam Lakein Naka had been built only a few years prior forthe various canoe exchanges with Germany. A
few athletes had already visited Naka before, andwere happy to have returned.
The Para Canoe Team spent ten days in Naka at
the same facilities. One athlete and two coaches

had already visited Naka two years prior andwere excited to be back. The first few days
were influenced by heavy rainfall, but the teamnevertheless conducted their training, and theweather cleared during the last few days. The
team was excited to be in Japan, as it was thefirst time for many of them, and they enjoyedeating Tokushima Ramen as well as sushi at thehotel. Local Awa Bancha was also popular, as
well as bathing in the onsen. The two year old
son of one athlete brought smiles to everyone on
the team and the people who came to visit thetraining. The team planted a cherry tree in front of
the Canoe Center, an experience they said was

unforgettable. They also did an online exchangewith students from Wajiki Middle School.
Despite the restrictions, I am happy that thetraining camps for the German national teams
were successful and that I got to experience them.
It has been a lot of fun to work with the athletes
and to answer their questions about Japan. I
hope that they will visit Tokushima again once thepandemic is fully over.

Ouji Shrine – A Cat Lover’s Purradise (Part 2)
By: Sydney Bartig

A

little while ago I introduced Omatsu
Daigongen Shrine, a shrine that is packed
with cat statues and cat-related items sure toplease any cat lover. At the end of the article, I
briefly mentioned another cat shrine called “Ouji
Shrine”. While Ouji Shrine is certainly a bit smaller
than Omatsu Daigongen Shrine, it still has its own
unique charm and is certainly worth a visit for anyof you cat lovers out there (and even for those
who aren’t!). Compared to Omatsu Daigongen
Shrine, Ouji Shrine is also quite a bit easier toaccess, making it a nice choice for those who
don’t live in the southern part of Tokushima or
who don’t have a car.

Ouji Shrine is located in Bunka no Mori at the topof a long flight of stairs. It’s like a mini Omatsu
Daigongen – you are greeted with adorable
maneki neko cat figurines as well as someother cat related goods. Also similar to Omatsu
Daigongen Shrine, Ouji Shrine is home to a “sasurineko” cat statue. It’s said that if you touch thepart of the cat that responds to where you arefeeling unwell, you will get better. The shrine isalso affectionally known as “nekogami-san”, or “catgod” in English.

There are also ema (wooden plaques) featuring
cats, as well as a plethora of mamori charms thatyou can choose to purchase if you are interested.

4

I can’t help but want to buy all of them as they
are just so cute! I have also heard that the shrine
has “goshuin” red stamps featuring cats. The nexttime I go I’d like to check them out!

One of the best things about Ouji Shrine, however,is the real cats that you can find there! While there
are indeed countless maneki neko statues on theshrine grounds, you can also sometimes find realcats prowling around the shrine. One of the times
I went I was greeted with an adorable black cat
who was so friendly he let anyone pet him. Thatsame day as I was leaving the shrine, I noticed adifferent brown cat just lazing about on the steps
to the shrine. Some children spotted him as welland rushed to give him some cat snacks, which
he seemed to quite enjoy.

While I would say Omatsu Daigongen Shrine is
my favorite of the Tokushima cat shrines, there
isn’t really much else around the shrine, and you’ll
be waiting quite a while for a bus to come if you
don’t want to use a taxi to get back to the station.
One of the other plusses of Ouji Shrine is that it islocated in Bunka no Mori. Bunka no Mori is home
to not only this cat shrine, but also a museum,restaurant, library, and more. Sometimes there
are various events held there too, so it’s always
worth keeping an eye out!

5Japanese Culture and Reading Corner
な る と きんとき

かんしょ

鳴門金時（甘藷・さつまいも）
By: Akira Harada

とくしま

あき

徳島で

秋に穫れる

と

な る と きんときおものうさくぶつな る と きんとき

かんしょ

農作物に 「鳴門金時」という 「甘藷（さつまいも）」がな る と しまつしげちょう

きたじまちょうと く し ま し かわうちちょうあります。

とくしま ほ く と う ぶ

すなち

鳴門金時は、主に、鳴門市、松茂町、北島町、徳島市川内町など、徳島北東部の
ひょうひ

す。

あか

なか

こがねいろ

きんとき

な

表 皮が赤 く、中 が黄 金色ですので 「金 時」とつく砂地で作られまづ

ちゅうごく

名 付けられたと

いわれて

います。
（中 国

し こ く のうせいきょく

四国農政局）
や

む

た

焼いたり

蒸したりして食べたり、お菓子や

あき

か

ふゆ

し

しょうちゅうう

秋 から冬 にかけて、スーパーで

げんりょう
ぜ

よく売 られてつか

焼酎の 原料としてもひ使われてな る と きんとき

います。

あじ

います。是 非、鳴 門金 時を

味 わって

ください。

おいしいよ。

Vocabulary List
な る と きんときと鳴門金時 Naruto Kintoki
きんとき

すなち

ちゅうごく し こ く のうせいきょく

中 国 四国農 政 局
む

steam

蒸す
す

ー

ぱ

ー

スーパー

のうさくぶつ

ひょうひ

表皮

ほくとうぶ

北東部

主に mainly
north-eastern part

こがねいろ

epidermis

黄金色

golden color
やChugoku-Shikoku Regional Agricultural Administration Office
か

し

お菓子

supermarket

Anime ( アニメ )By: Sydney Bartig

おも農作物 crops

甘藷（さつまいも） sweet potato

sandy soil

砂地

to be harvested

かんしょ

red

金時

穫れる

sweetsう

売られる

しょうちゅうshochu焼 酎
get sold

ぜひ原料

是非 definitely

ingredient

あじ

味わう

taste

焼く
じ

bake

き

時期 season
おいしい

tasty

Gairaigo Galore

Whether you are interested in it or not, I’m sure most of you have heard of
the word “anime” before. In fact, it’s not too unusual for anime to be many
people’s first experience with Japanese culture, or for it to the be one ofthe primary reasons why they choose to study or work in Japan. The word
アニメ of course stems from the word “animation”.
However, what’s interesting is what people end up considering to be“anime”. In the west it’s not uncommon to use the word anime to refer
exclusively to Japanese-specific works of animation, such as Studio Ghibli Films and otherfavorites that have won over western audiences. They then often used the word “cartoons” forother types of western animation, although this may differ depending on where you are or who you
ask. For a while the word “Japanimation” was used to describe Japanese animation, but it seems
that the word has, for the most part, died out, and with more people becoming interested in anime,
this word has only grown stronger in usage.
In Japan, the word “anime” is often used to refer to animation not just produced within the country
itself, but also from animation media from other countries. It’s interesting to see just how much aword can differ depending on who/where it is being used!

Awa Shoku: Box Lunch on a Scenic Boxcar
By: Lance Kita

Brisk wind through your hair, as mountains andrivers sail past to the rhythm of steel wheelson iron rails… there’s nothing quite like a trainride in autumn, and even better when enjoyedfrom an open-air torokko traincar トロッコ列車 .
Originally used for mining, lumber, and industrial
transport, these cars are fitted with a roof andsimple benches and repurposed as sightseeing
trains. The first such torokko car in Japan actually
started operating in Shikoku in 1984 along the
Yodo Line (Ehime <—> Kochi).

6

But this is a food column, what does this have to
do with food?!?!? It just so happens that this train
affords the rare chance (in Tokushima) to enjoy
an ekiben 駅弁 for lunch. Ekiben are lunch boxes(bento) bought at a station (eki) to be eaten on a
train.
Unlike more popular areas with ekiben kiosks inthe station lobby, the ekiben for this train must
be ordered in advance. There is an Awa Odori
chicken bento for the trip to Awa-Ikeda, and agrilled eel bento available for the return trip. Theseekiben spotlight regional foods and ingredients,
so not only can you enjoy the trip with your eyes,
but with your tastebuds as well.

Tokushima recently debuted the newest member,
the Ai Yoshinogawa Torokko 藍よしのがわトロッ
コ . It runs between JR Tokushima and JR AwaIkeda
Stations(once
a d a y,e a c hw a y )
every
FridaySunday
a n dnational
From grounded to gourmet, ekiben lunches always feature local ingredients
holiday inOrderingfrom along the train line.
October/ekiben isNovember, and every Saturday-Sunday in not mandatory, and you are welcome to bring
December. You sit inside the main diesel car your own food and drink on the train. There are
between Tokushima and Ishii Stations, and then also locally-made sweets, snacks, and alcohol
move to the open-air torokko between Ishii and available for purchase. Awa-Ikeda Station is
Awa-Ikeda Stations. All seats are reserved, a center for sake production in Tokushima, so
and the fare is 2190 yen one way (Tokushima grabbing a bottle could make the return train sway<—> Awa-Ikeda), higher than the local train but a little bit more.
cheaper than the express. You can also get off at
Anabuki and Awa-Kamo Stations.
A delicious ekiben, crisp breezes, and vibrantscenery are the perfect way to enjoy a fall day, so
The scenery from the train is gorgeous, with views add this torokko train to your list of things to do.
of the Yoshino River and the Asan Mountains For more information (Japanese only), check out
beyond. I rode it in summer, but I imagine that the following link: https://www.jr-shikoku.co.jp/01_
the fall foliage will add bursts of color to the trainbus/event_train/yoshino_torokko.html
landscape. A local guide will explain the sights
and history of the area in Japanese. There evenis time at Sadamitsu Station to get out and takepictures with the train, painted in shades of indigo
blue.

7

Japanese Lesson

By: Fusa Tamaki

Keigo 2
ぜん か い

けい ご

おお

わ

まな

て い ねい ご

そんけい ごけんじょうごだれたい

前回、敬語は大きく分けて３つあることを学びました。「丁寧語」「尊敬語」「謙譲語」です。それぞれ、誰に対し
つか

れんしゅう

き ょ う

け い ご

つか

た いせつ

ていねいご

かたち

まな

て使うかを練習しました。今日は、敬語を使うときの大切なルールと、「丁寧語」の 形 を学びましょう。
けい ご□3 つの敬語て い ねい ご

い

かた

め

まえ

ひと

て い ねいはな①丁寧語…「～です」「～でございます」「～ます」をつけていう言い方（目の前の人に丁寧に話す）
そんけい ご

あい て

ぶ ちょう

けんじょうご

じ ぶ ん

も

あ

い

かた

あ い て

い

あ い て

ぶ ちょう

②尊敬語…相手（部 長 ）を持ち上げる言い方（相手がすることを言う） →相手（部長）が…なさいます
さ

い

かた

い

③謙譲語…自分（わたし）を下げる言い方（わたしがすることを言う） →わたしが…いたします
け い ご

た いせつ

□敬語の大切なルール
かんけい

おぼ

「ウチ」と「ソト」という関係を覚えましょう。
ひと

ひと

はな

け い ご

つか

「ソト」の人に「ウチ」の人のことを話すときは、敬語は使いません！
れい

例：
ほか

かいしゃ

ひと

た な か しゃちょう

他の会社の人 ： 田中社長さん、いらっしゃいますか。
た な か

で

もど

で ん わ

わたし ： すみません。田中は出かけていますので、戻りましたら電話
し ゃ ちょう

たい

けい ご

つか

させます。（社 長 に対して敬語は使いません）

×田中社長は出かけていらっしゃいますので、お戻りになりましたら、 お電話していただきます。
た な か しゃちょう

ひと

ほか

で

かいしゃ

ひと

ぶん

さ い ご

も

あら

も

はな

じ ぶ ん

でん わ

かいしゃ

しゃちょう

たい

け い ご

つか

ソトの人（他の会社の人）と話すとき、ウチの人（自分の会社の社長）に対して敬語は使いません。
ていねいご

はな

はな

たい

れい ぎ ただ□「丁寧語」とは、文の最後を「～です」「～ます」「～でございます」で話し、話している人に対して礼儀正しく、て い ねい

つた

き

こと ば

か

き

ともだち

か い わ ぶんはじあけ いさ つ かん

か い わ ぶんくら丁寧に伝える気持ちを表わす言葉です。では下記の友達との会話文と、初めて会った警察官との会話文を比べてみましょう。
ともだち

はな＜友達と話す＞ちか

わたし ： ねえ、このレストランって、ここの近くだよね。どこかわかる？
とも

いっか い

ゆうめい

友だち ： うん、あのビルの一階にあるよ。有名だよね。
け いさ つ かんはなて い ねい ごつか＜警察官と話す（丁寧語を使う）＞
ちか

わたし ： すみません、このレストランは、ここの近くですよね。どこか、わかりますか。
け いさ つか ん

いっか い

ゆうめい

警察官 ： はい、あのビルの一階にありますよ。有名ですよね。
もん だい

【問題】
つぎ

かい わ ぶんか せん ぶて い ねい ご

つか

いか

次の会話文の下線部①～⑥を丁寧語を使って言い換えてください。
あいだ

りょこう

A : この 間 の旅行、①どうだった？
て ん き

わる

けいかく

やま

のぼ

ざ ん ねんB ： 天気が悪くて、計画していた山へ登れなかったのが、②残念だった。
ちが

やま

のぼ

A ： ③そう、それで違う山に④登ったの？
や ま のぼ

りょかん

おん せん

はい

B ： 山登りはやめて、旅館でのんびり温泉に⑤入った。
A ： それも⑥いいじゃない。

①どうでしたか ②残念でした ③そうですか ④登りましたか ⑤入りました ⑥いいじゃないですか
ざんねん

答え
こた

のぼ

はい

Farewell Messages

Alessa Peters
I spent the last 2 years working as a CIR at
the Tokushima Prefectural Government. I don’t
think it’s an understatement to say that many
unexpected things have happened in the world
since then and that neither Japan nor my homecountry of Germany are thesame as they were before I
came here.
But let’s start at the beginning:
The first five months were filledwith new experiences at work
– I was able to work with theGerman Judo U21 & NT, theGerman Para Canoe NT and
the German Women’s HandballNT, as well as delegations from
Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) and the Georgian
Rugby NT. I attended these team’s training camps
as an interpreter, and I was able to meet many
people and see lots of sights in Tokushima.
After the postponement of the Tokyo Olympics
and Paralympics due to COVID-19, I found myself
stranded. My parents were unable to visit, which
would have been their first time ever in Japan,
and no delegations came from abroad. I started
an online German class, through which I wasable to have a little bit of exchange with locals
Anne-Marie Marker
After two exciting months of training camps forTokyo 2020, my time as a CIR of Tokushima
Prefecture came to an end in September and I
moved back to Germany. People who know me
may also know that I have a hard time talking
or writing about myself, so I decided to turn thisfarewell-message into a thank you-message to all
the wonderful and kind people I met during my two
years living in Tokushima Prefecture. Beginningwith the people working at my office, who always
helped me out generously and with patience at theoffice and in daily life, I received lots of supportand invaluable insights into Japanese culture.
The teachers and fellow members at the ikebana
circle showed me some skills and introduced me
into the world of Japanese flower arrangements.
At tea ceremony club, one of my wishes cameinterested in learning the language.

8

This summer, I finally worked at the training
camps for the German Men’s Handball NT and
Para Canoe NT, and visited the Canoe Team’s
camp as well. Despite therestrictions, it was a oncein-a-lifetime experience andI had a lot of fun. Before
the camps, we visited local
primary and middle schools,
and it was great to be able to
do exchange events again.
I am grateful for Tokushima
because, while I couldn’t
travel a lot, I lived in a nicecity with many local sights and nature, there wererelatively few cases, and I could walk or ride mybike to most destinations. During my time here,
I enjoyed exploring the many hiking trails andshrines at Mt. Bizan and watching the sunset atthe Yoshino River. I will greatly miss all the freshand local fruits and vegetables, especially mikan
and sudachi.
Thank you to everyone I met in Tokushima,
who supported me and who made my time here
worthwhile. I will definitely visit again one day!

true: I was kindly taught all the difficult aspectsof the way of tea. Furthermore Musouren, oneof the famous Awa
Odori groups, gaveme the opportunity
to be a memberof a real dancing
group - although
I never came tolearn it correctly due
to suspension ofpractice. At a monthly
language exchange
event, I met so many
interesting people
living in and around Tokushima, who kindly shared
their stories with me and helped me practice9

Farewell Messages

Japanese and English. Last, but not least, myfellow CIRs were always reliable colleagues,
friendly neighbors, true friends, and perfect travelcompanions for excursions around Tokushima.

hardships caused by the current crisis. It was
really hard for me to leave all this behind, but you
assured me that I can always come back and I
will!

I want to thank everyone who made this anunforgettable experience for me, despite all the

Events & Memoranda
日本語支援ボランティア養成講座 in とくしま
（オンライン【ZOOM】開催）
あなたのまわりの外国人住民の皆さんに日本語支援をしてみませんか
現在、約 6600 人、約 80 の国や地域から外国人住民の皆さんが、この徳島で暮らしています。彼らが、この徳島で、安心して過ごすための第一歩は、なんといっても言葉です。日本語の支援や教え方のポ
イントを一緒に勉強して、講座受講後は、日本語支援ボランティアとして地域日本語教室で活動しませんか？
●日時：前期 11/13・20・27,12/4・11 後期：1/15・23・29,2/5
土曜日 1:30pm ～ 4:30pm （1/23 のみ日曜日：実習）【受講できなかった日は、録画視聴可】●テキスト：「日本語教育 文法講義ノ－ト」を事前にご購入下さい。 （アルク出版・第 2 版・2200 円）●申込み：①名前 ②郵便番号 ③住所 ④電話（携帯可）⑤メールアドレスを記入の上、メ－ルにて下記までお申し込み下さい。
●定員：最大 50 名程度●受講料：無料●締切：10 月 31 日
●主催 / 申込先：徳島県国際交流協会 Tel：088-656-3303 Mail：coordinator2@topia.ne.jp＊この講座は、文化庁「地域日本語教育の総合的な体制づくり推進事業」を活用し、 徳島県からの委託を受けて実施するものです。
詳細は TOPIA のホームページをご覧ください！

Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口
TOPIA provides consultation on everyday life, education, labor, medical institutions, and disasterprevention; and information on sightseeing spots to overseas residents and visitors. When necessary,
we will refer you to the appropriate organization that can assist with your needs.Counselling is available
in English, Chinese, Vietnamese, and Japanese. Please note that although every effort will be made,we may not be able to deal with all cases.
Everyday, 10:00 - 18:00 (closed during the New Year's holidays)
Tel: 088-656-3312 or 088-656-3313 (allows for three-way conversations with an interpreter)