MIA NEWS 181ed., Jun. (4)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

New Years in April - Neshan (Exchange Student at Minami Kyushu University)
Unlike Japan,
face are decided by a soothsayer, and changes each
SriLanka’syear.
New Year falls
After this, we take the snacks that we made, and headon April eachto our friends’ and relatives’ homes. After heading toyear. It is said
their home, it is customary to exchange the snacks
that the sunthat you made at your own home with the snacks thattravels its way
your friends and relatives made at their homes. Chilaroundthedren will also receive a gift of money from their elder
twelve constelrelatives, so there’s no chance that I would ever misslations, and asout on this! Thanks to exchanging snacks with friends
it travels theseand relatives, you get the opportunity to try many flaconstellations,vours and varieties of snacks, so you will always get towill eventually
eat your fill on New Year’s Day.
Neshan in traditional New Year’s
leave Pisces toarrive at Aries;
clothing.
it is this pointthat marks the New Year for Sri Lanka. The exact datethat this occurs varies from year to year, but is generally near to the middle of April. This year, in Sri Lankan
time, our New Year begins Thursday April 14th, atMilk Rice
Kokis
8:41:17AM. When it comes time to greet the New Year,
it is customary to place a clay pot on the hearth, add
milk to the pot, and boil themilk. It is said that it is goodluck for the milk to overflow as
you enter into the New Year.
The 13th of April marks theOld New Year (the period from
Boiling milk over the which the transition to the New
Kaum
Aluwa
hearthYear begins, while the previous
year continues through to the14th), and one of the major traditions at that stage isthe cleaning of one’s body. For this year’s New Year’sEve, the leaves of the Indian Lilac are crushed in water,
and the mixing of its fluids with water is said to herald
a good year to come. The exact type of leaf used whenwashing one’s body changes from year to year. Additionally, there is food that is cooked as tradition on the14th of April at 9:05AM. Making Milk Rice is a part ofPani Walalu
AggalaSri Lankan culture. Milk Rice is made by first cooking
rice, then adding coconut milk & dairy milk, and allowing it all to stew for a short while.
This year marks my 6th year since coming to Japan as
At 10:17AM, we eat. This is the time I always look for- an exchange student, and hence New Year’s Day hasward to. We always eat this milk rice in addition to a passed six times as well. All of these things feel very
number of traditional snacks. All of these snacks take nostalgic.
quite a while to make, so they are made well ahead oftime. We make traditional snacks such as Kokis,Kaum, Aluwa, Aggala and Pani Walalu. When eating,
we wear gold-coloured clothes, face east, and eat together as a family. Additionally, on the 18th of April at
6:51AM, it is customary to wear white clothes, facesouth, and leave the home for work. For each of theA typical table spread after
customs above, the time at which they take place, theexchanging snacks
colour of the clothes we wear, and the direction that weMIA NEWS 181ed., Jun. (5)Miyakonojo International Association

Miyakonojo International Association
6-21 Himegi-cho, Miyakonojo-shi,
Miyazaki-ken, Japan 885-8555
TEL 0986-23-2295
FAX 0986-23-3223
http://miyakonojo-mia.com
E-mail mia@btvm.ne.jp

Aussie Bites! (Comfortable Countryside by George Goonan, Australian CIR)

Colac Memorial Square, both when it was built, and now.

150 Year celebration for Colac Botanic Gardens

Having previously introduced the Great Ocean Road,
it’s only fitting I talk a little bit about my home just tothe north, Colac! The epitome of comfy countrysideliving, Colac is now home to just over 20,000 people,
and sits slightly inland from the Great Ocean Road. In
fact, because of its semi-circular shape, Colac is rough-ly an hour away from every point along that route!
Colac is also home to an art gallery, botanic gardens,
fusion cuisine restaurants and more! If you’re looking
to get away from the hustle and bustle, especially during the summer holidays, Colac might just be the perfect spot for you!

Information & Notices◇ Community Safety Workshop
Learn about Japan’s road rules, garbage separationand other useful information for daily life in Miyakonojo
City, all taught through easy Japanese. Please feel free
to invite any international residents you know!
Date:
June 26th (Sun), 2022, 10AM - 12PM
Location: Okimizu Community Center (Kominkan)
Available to all International Residents
Capacity: 15 Participants
Cost:
Free
Apply by: June 17th (Fri) *First come, first served
You can apply over the phone or by e-mailInquiries: Miyakonojo International Association,(Located in Miyakonojo City Hall’s Regional Promotion
Division)
Phone: 0986-23-2295, FAX: 0986-23-3223
E-mail: mia@btvm.ne.jp*The Okimizu Community Center (Kominkan) is located just across from the Okimizu Branch of JA Miyakonojo, and just down the road from Okimizu Elemen-Movies info

tary School. Attached is a map of the area surrounding
the Okimizu Community Center (Kominkan), which ismarked with the large green pin.

C-Plaza Cine-port (Tel: 0986-24-2571)

17-9 Nakamachi, Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Map-Code (GPS): 117 488 540*55●Doctor Strange: Multiverse of Madness (Japanese Dub)
●Fullmetal Alchemist: The Final Chapter – Scar the Avenger(Japanese)●Shin Ultraman (Japanese)●Bubble (Japanese)●Top Gun: Maverick (Japanese Sub)
●Meitantei Conan: Halloween Bride (Japanese)●Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (Japanese Dub)
*The 1st of every month is ¥1,100 for everyone.
*Every Wednesday is ‘Ladies’ Day’, all ladies ¥1,100.
*The cinema is closed every Tuesday.
*For session times visit: http://movie.walkerplus.com/th286/
schedule.html (Japanese)