Iwate International Exchange

Autumn2016.9〜 Friends with the World 〜Contents

Published by: Iwate International Association

2016 One World Festa in Iwate ………… p.1

Oh My Iwate 〜 My favourite mountain

Information ……………………………… p.2

and a scandalous festival 〜 ………… p.4

Thinking about Japanese Study Support … p.3

Iwate Quiz ……………………………… p.4

Aiina 5F 1-7-1 Morioka-eki-nishi-dori, Morioka, Iwate 020-0045
TEL: 019-654-8900
FAX: 019-654-8922 E-mail: iwateint@iwate-ia.or.jp
URL: http://iwate-ia.or.jp/ Opening Hours: 9:00 am- 8:00pm
Closed: New Year holidays (12/29 - 1/3), other scheduled dates

2016 One World Festa in Iwate
November 20th (Sun.) 10:00 - 16:00

KAKEHASHI
KAKEHASHI ClubCl b

Last year’s
L’ One
O World
W ld FestaF

World
W ld Area
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It’s the one we’ve all been waiting for! “One World Festa in Iwate” is back for another year.
Anyone can attend! Come along and enjoy yourself!! We’re planning “KAKEHASHI Club” (a discussion group for young
people), “World Area”, “World Stage”, “World Cafe” and “Kids Corner”.
* When the details are confirmed, they’ll be announced on our website.

★Goeie dag, South Africa and Namibia! 7.18.2016

Event Reports

Anita, Megan and Justin, natives of South Africa and

The association runs regular international exchange events.

Namibia, introduced us to the amazing things in their

Here are some of the most recent.

country, and taught us simple phrases in Afrikaans.

★The Environment in America and China 6.18.2016★Participating in the Morioka Sansa Odori Festival
8.3.2016

Mr. Akihiro Sasaki from the Iwate Environmental Studies
Center hosted talks by Anna (USA), on “The Introduction

Our first group of

and Comparison of Long Distance Trails in the US andparticipants in 4 years,

Japan”, and Chin (China), on “The Water Pollution of Dian

which included 117

Lake in Yunnan”.

people from 17 countries,★Yunnan Kids in Iwate 2016 7.16.2016

earned a performance

10 Junior High students visit

prize.

Iwate from Yunnan. This year’s★World of Haruki Murakami 9.2.2016

group showed us traditional

We invited Nicholas , Dean and Zhang as guests to talk about

etiquette and hip hop!

the internationally popular author, Haruki Murakami, and his
appeal in their home countries. They also read some of his
work aloud in English.
−1−Information:Organizer ／:Venue ／:Date ／

:Sign up ／:Admission fee ／Events◆Sunday Funday! International Exchange for Familiesnd：October 2 (Sun.) 10:00 – 15:00
th：Aiina 5 floor, Conference room 501
Featuring foreign language picture books, African dances,songs from Doraemon in Thai, and English songs anddances. Booths from the US, Thailand and Africa.
---------------------------------------------◆New Zealand Programth：October 8 (Sat.) 10:00 – 16:30
th：Aiina 5 floor, Conference room 501
Lecturer：Takanobu Oikawa (Kiwi J Ana Ltd, CEO)
Iwate International Youth Workshop
・New Zealand Classroom Experience
A (English) B (Japanese)：10:00 – 10:40
10:50 – 11:30
C (English) D (Japanese)
Participants：30 per class：Adults ¥500 (TBC)
・Introduction to a New Zealand School：11:45 – 12:15：Free・Study abroad advice session：15:00 – 16:30：Free Pre-booking recommended
Iwate “Glocal” College
Lecture: “New Zealand’s Global Education, and a society thatputs families first.”：13:30 – 15:00：Adults ¥200 (TBC) Participants: 80---------------------------------------------◆Iwate “Glocal” Collegeth：November 12 (Sat.) 18:00 – 20:00
th：Aiina 5 floor, Conference room 501
Lecture: Religion in a Multicultural Society
Lecturer: Toru Aoyama(Professor of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies)：Free Participants: 80：Iwate International Association：019-654-8900：iwateint@iwate-ia.or.jp ：http://www.iwate-ia.or.jp/:Phone number ／:FAX ／:E-mail ／:Website：Kitakami Lifelong Learning Center
Theme: (TBC) “How We Can Implement A Multicultural Society”：Kitakami International Association：0197-63-4497：kiah@kitakami.ne.jp――――――――――――――――――――――――――rd◆26 Japanese Speech Contest for Foreigners:
Recruiting Participants!
th：November 9 (Wed.) 18:00~
rd：Plaza Odette, 3 floor, Odette Hall
Application deadline: October 28th(Fri.)：Morioka Zonta Club
：0195-62-2307(Shibata)Language Classes◆English Interpretation Coursendth：February 2 – March 9 (Thursdays; 6 classes) 18:30 – 20:00：Plaza Odette Conference room 1 and 2
For: People with at least conversational English ability.
：Morioka International Relations Association Members¥2,000, Non-members ¥3,000
Application period: Cards should be postmarked between
December 15th and January 13th (Fri.)：Morioka International Relations Association：019-626-7524――――――――――――――――――――――――――◆Start Learning Spanish!!
stth：January 21 – February 25 (Saturdays, 6 classes) 14:00 – 15:30：Plaza Odette Conference room 1 and 2
For: People interested in learning about the Spanish
language and Paraguayan culture for the first time.
：Morioka International Relations Association Members¥2,000, Adults ¥3,000：Morioka International Relations Association Members,
apply by telephone from 10am on December 19th (Mon.). Nonmembers, apply by telephone from 10am on the 20th (Tues.)：Morioka International Relations Association：019-626-7524

Living Information――――――――――――――――――――――――――◆Getting to Know Iwate’s Food Cultureth：October 9 (Sun.) 11:30 – 13:30：Hanamaki Exchange Center
For: Foreign residents of Hanamaki, plus friends and family.
：Free Participants: 15---------------------------------------------◆Hanamaki International Fair 2016
Reports from students who have spent time abroad, a miniconcert, a kids’ corner and a game corner.
rd：December 3 (Sat.) From 10:00：Hanamaki Exchange Center：Hanamaki International Exchange Association：kokusai_staff_b@ext.city.hanamaki.iwate.jp：0198-26-5833――――――――――――――――――――――――――◆Kitakami One World Festa & you-YOU Festival 2016
Including the usual haunted house, a World Bazaar and thefirst Vietnam Cafe.
th：November 19 (Sat.) 13:00 – 16:00
November 20th (Sun.) 10:00 – 15:00：Kitakami Lifelong Learning Center---------------------------------------------◆Kitakami Multicultural Society (workshop)
A lecture from Professor Megumi Yuki of Gunma University,a leading expert on the coexistence of multiple cultures.
th：November 26 (Sat.) 14:00 – 15:45 (TBC)◆A website for non-Japanese parents and guardians.“Writein the renrakucho notebook at your child’s kindergarten!”
A website to help you write in the renrakucho notebook at your child’s
kindergarten, preschool, nursery or daycare. There are example
sentences you can copy directly. Supports English, Chinese and Korean.
：http://www.renrakucho.net/

A Word From The JICA Iwate Desk△▼ JICA Volunteer Recruitment in Fall ▼△We’re holding information sessions regarding the JICA volunteer
recruitment period between September 30th and November 4th.
This time, rather than simply recounting personal experiences,
we’ll be running a full program! If you or any of your friends
are interested in volunteering, please come along.
：②10/13 (Thurs.) 18:30 – 20:30
th：Malios 18 floor Meeting room 187(Featuring a guide to passing the entrance exam, by thehead of the JICA Nihonmatsu Training Center)：②10/23 (Sun.) 10:00 – 12:00
th：Malios 18 floor Meeting room 181(Featuring a workshop for the first time)*You can participate from part-way through, and prior application isn’t
required.

−2−：019-654-8911(JICA Iwate Desk Noguchi)

Listening to the head teacher of the village’s
elementary school talk about the challenges they
face (Uganda / Village Development Ofcer)☀Thinking about Japanese Language Study Support
On August 27th, the “2016 Japanese Language Support Network Meeting” was held in Morioka. On the following day,the rst “Japanese Language Supporter Training Course” was held.

●Japanese Language Study Support
Networking Conference 8/27

The Network Meeting is
an annual informationexchange event for people
all across Tohoku who are
involved with Japanese
language support. It began in
2005, so this is its 12th year.
The discussion looked at how to train more skilledworkers, how to teach young, non-native children, andmulticulturalism associated with the ILC. It covered
common problems like the ageing of Japanese language
support workers and the training of successors. The
attendees got a renewed sense of the importance ofJapanese language study support. We’re extremely gratefulfor everyone’s cooperation.
……………………………………………………………………

●Japanese Language Supporter Training
Course #1 8/28

This series of courses, which willcontinue until March next year,
is for “Japanese Supporters”,
who teach Japanese to nonnative speakers. The first session,
which took place on August
28th, included lectures by Takahiro Oizumi, from the Miyagi
International Association, and Yoko Matsuoka, from the
Iwate University Global Education Center.
Mr. Oizumi spoke about his own experiences as a volunteer,
and told some stories about “Oshaberi no Jikan”, a Japanese
course in Miyagi. Japanese Supporters also have a role inconnecting people with the community. This connection
was especially important during the Great East Japan
Earthquake and Tsunami, when Japanese Supporters acted
as a safety net for non-natives.

You can’t read the papers on your desk. The words use
Roman letters, but what on earth do they mean? The teacher
starts gesturing, and speaking in a language you don’t
understand. She mimes chewing, and says “makan”, thenmimes drinking and says “minun”. Ah ha, you think, “makan”
must mean eating, and “minun” must mean drinking. The
teacher says the words again, and you make the appropriate
gestures. Learning’s a gradual process.

We received many comments, including “I gained a deeper
understanding of teaching methods, and what it means to
be a “supporter”, and “I learned a lot about non-Japanesepeople’s impressions of Japanese culture, common
understanding, and communication”. You can join this seriesof courses part way through, so anyone with an interest inJapanese language instruction is welcome to attend.

◆Upcoming Course Schedule◆#3 10/30 (Sun.) 14:00 - 16:00
Teaching basic grammar 1#4 11/17 (Thurs.) 18:00 - 20:00
Teaching basic grammar 2#5 12/10 (Sat.) 14:00 - 16:00
Teaching conversation 1
Venue: Aiina 6F, Community Room 2[About Japanese Supporters] (We’re currently registering new Japanese Supporters)
Japanese Supporters are volunteers, who teach Japanese to non-native residents of Iwate.
We’d like to register people with Japanese teaching experience, people with Japanese teaching qualifications andpeople who have undertaken Japanese teaching courses. We can register people without experience or qualifications as“Conversation Supporters”. Please contact us for further information.

Consultation for Foreigners◆General Support
When: 9:00 am – 8:00 pm every day
Languages: Japanese, English, Chinese※English and Chinese speakers might beabsent at certain times.

◆Consultation in Foreign Languages
Chinese: Tuesday - Friday
0:30 pm - 6:30 pm
Korean: Wednesday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm
English: Thursday 3:00 pm - 5:00 pm◆Consultation with a Legal Administration Expert
Date and Time: Every third Wednesday, 3:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Place: International Exchange Center (5th floor, Aiina)
Reservations: Iwate International Association※Prior booking is essential⇒Tel: 019-654-8900

Now Recruiting Supporting Members
The Iwate International Association is recruiting supporting members to assist with our activities and contribute towards our goals.
We would very much appreciate your help. The membership fee provides invaluable assistance towards non-profit international
events and multicultural activities.
<Annual Membership Fee> (one single payment)

Adults 3,000 yen−3−Groups 10,000 yen

Students 1,000 yen

My favourite mountainand a scandalous festival...
My name is Sarah Forsyth and when I think of Iwate, I thinkof mountains and onsen.
I’ve been in Iwate for more than three years now and I haveclimbed many different mountains and visited many different
onsen. Both of these are new hobbies for me since I moved
to Iwate. I’m from the prairies, so we have no mountains,
and only 1 hot spring near where I live.
Hiking is one of my favourite Iwate hobbies. Since moving

Osawa Onsen
Sarah and Morgan (sister)here I have climbed a lot of Iwate’s mountains, including
Hachimantai, Goyo, Himekami, Hikami, Rokkoushi,

Hanamaki-Minami Hot Springs Area. It has many different

Azumane, and of course Mount Iwate, among many others.

baths that you can enjoy, including a famous mixed bath:

My favourite mountain in Iwate (no, in Japan, no, in themen and women share the same bath, but still no bathing

world!) is Mount Hayachine. It is the first real mountainsuits! Not for the faint of heart. If you visit Osawa Onsen onthat I ever climbed- now I’ve climbed it 5 times. (Wow, even

April 29th you can witness a fertility festival called Konsei

I can’t believe it!) I heard that Kawaranobou Trail is not

Matsuri where a giant wooden phallus is paraded about andpassable anymore, but I still recommend you to try climbing

then bathed in the mixed bath. After being properly cleaned

Odagoe Trail. Both are beautiful, especially in June when allup, young ladies hoping to conceive ride the honourable

the flowers are blooming. Hayachine Usu Yuki So, a type ofphallus around in the bath. Quite the sight. If you can’t makewhite edelweiss, is particularly famous because it only grows

it for that day, don’t worry! You can visit the phallus in his

on Mount Hayachine.

shrine in front of the building the other 364 days a year.
My other Iwate hobby

Mt. Hayachine and Osawa Onsen are also beautiful in theis going to the onsen-

autumn, so why don't you check them out?

usually right after hiking!
It’s the best to soothe tired
muscles after a long day

Sarah Forsython the trail, or just any

Place of birth: Regina, Canada
Occupation: ALT Prefectural Advisorday. My favourite onsen to
EdelweissEdl i on H
Hayachine
hivisit is Osawa Onsen in the

We asked Yumie (USA) and Chin (China), Coordinators forInternational Relations in Iwate Prefecture, to set some quiz
questions for us. Can you ﬁgure them out?

1. Which of the following is Iwate Prefecture named after?
① Mitsuishi Shrine② Morioka Hachimangu Shrine③ Sakurayama Shrine④ Iwate Shrine
Photo: Morioka Tourism Convention Association

2. Sobacchi is the main character and representative of the
Wanko Kyoudai (wanko brothers). Which of the brothers
represents the southern part of the prefecture?
① Unicchi② Kokucchi③ Omocchi④ Tofucchi
わんこきょうだい・おもっち

Answers:1…①…Iwate's name comes from the legend of a demon's handprint, left in the three rocks of Mitsuishi Shrine.(Iwa=rock, Te=hand) 2…②…The object inside the bowl (the head of the character) is mochi, or rice cake.

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