Gairaigo Galore:アンニュイFebruary 2021 # 364 Life in Hong Kong Japanese Culture and Reading Corner:節分Awa Shoku: Styling Sushi Awa Life is a Monthly Publication of the Tokushima Prefectural International Exchange Association We hope everybody had a nice first month of 2021! After lots of snow in the more mountainous parts of Tokushima, we will enter February, the last cold month before we can look forward to spring tem- peratures. One important day, although not a public holiday, is setsubun節分(February 2nd), the day before the beginning of spring in the old Japanese calendar. It has lots of interesting traditions, such as mamemaki豆撒き(“bean scattering”) to purify the home, and eating ehomaki恵方巻, a type of makizushi. If you want to learn more about setsubun , why don’t you have a look at our reading exercise on page 5? For all of those who like writing, please feel free to submit an article to us at any point in time about basically 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 is buzzing about, grab a pen or a computer and write and send away! Please send all submissions to our email:
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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: Rie Sakai, Chie Suzue, Lance Kita, and Kayo Miyoshi
Contents
Pg. 2-4:   Life in Hong Kong: Life in Hong Kong from the Perspective of a Tokushima Resident Pg. 5: Pg. 5: Pg. 6: Pg. 7: Japanese Culture and Reading Corner:節分Gairaigo Galore:アンニュイAwa Shoku: Styling Sushi Japanese Lesson Pg. 8-9:   Events and Memoranda Life in Hong Kong: Life in Hong Kong from the Perspective of a Tokushima Resident By: Rie Sakai y name is Rie Sakai, and I currently work at the Consulate-General of Japan in Hong Kong. I was dispatched to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in April, and at the end of July I started working at t the Japanese Consulate-General in Hong Kong. for the coronavirus are strict, but because they are very clear, I am actually able to live a safer life than in Japan. Additionally, because there are many people in Hong Kong who like Japan, I am able to easily It has already been 5 months since I arrived i n H o n g Kong. Prior to arriving, I was worried as I had never been to Hong Kong before, and I worried if l would be able to settle into daily life after seeing all of the unfortunate news relating to political unrest and the novel coronavirus. However, my life in Hong Kong has been a lot more pleasant than I expected. There are no large-scale protests like last year, and the city has settled down. The government’s countermeasures When I arrived in Hong Kong at t the end of July, it was the hottest time of the year. Not only was it hot, but the humidity was high, so just going outside was enough to make you exhausted. The summer was especially harsh because masks get Japanese products which is one reason I have been able to lead a comfortable life so far. There are many Japanese r e s t a u r a n t s a r o u n d  t o w n , and many shops sell a myriad of Japanese made goods, so even if I don’t return to Japan for a while, l think I will be okay. Life in Hong Kong must be worn at all times, and they made it more difficult to breathe. Before I knew it, summer passed and it has grown colder here in Hong Kong. Now in December, there are some days where you need to wear a heavy coat. However, it’s not like the freezing cold of Japan, so it’s a bit easier to bear. The town is overflowing with the spirit of Christmas, and all of the Christmas decorations are very beautiful. There are many high-class malls in Hong Kong, and each has their own unique decorations that are a pleasure to see. There was a place with many teddy bears on display, one with a dinosaur wearing a Santa outfit, a place with multicolored butterflies flying about, and many more. I think the sheer scale and elegance are some of the unique traits of Hong Kong. Decorating giant buildings with Christmas lights has become a part of Christmas, and the large walkways are completely decorated with these lights. In Hong Kong, many people meet with their family or friends on Christmas. During a normal year, it’s popular for people to make a reservation at a hotel for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Apparently, they are so popular that it’s nearly impossible to get a reservation. Although the town is filled with the spirit of Christmas, we are dealing with the 4th wave of the coronavirus, and there are very strict restrictions put in place. You aren’t allowed to drink or dine at restaurants after 6:00 p.m., movie theaters, museums, sports facilities, etc. are closed, and other restrictions are in place. The people of Hong Kong aren’t able to have a brilliant Christmas and New Year’s like they would in normal years. It’s very unfortunate, but I’m looking forward to next year and am doing my best to help overcome the situation. One of the things I’ve been enjoying during this difficult time is eating. I think many people think of Hong Kong as a place filled with delicious foods, and indeed there are so many delicious things to eat. Cantonese foods such as yum cha or even a single shumai are juicy and wonderful. There are also many things I had never seen in Japan before. Other than yum cha, the meals available at local restaurants are cheap and delicious. You can easily go and enjoy famous dishes such as roast duck or beef noddle soup. Sweets such as egg tarts and mango pudding are delicious and
Life in Hong Kong
have a unique sweetness to them. One of the special things about the international town of Hong Kong is its collection of dishes from around the world. You can enjoy Japanese, Thai, Indian, Turkish, Peruvian, and many other dishes from a myriad of countries. Due to the coronavirus countermeasures, you can’t easily eat or drink inside of restaurants. However, many restaurants have been offering takeout services so there are many times where I order from them and bring the food home to eat. It seems that takeout was already very much an established practice in Hong Kong, even before the coronavirus. There are also many delivery services such as Uber Eats that are growing, so I often use those as well. One of the other things I enjoy is hiking. As indoor activities are limited, there are many people young and old, male and female, who head to the mountains to go hiking when they have time off. When I first came to Hong Kong, the thing that surprised me the most was how, even though it is a large city, it is very close to nature. I live in Wan Chai, which is a central commercial area, but if I walk for 10 minutes, I can arrive at a mountain trail. Being able to see the towering buildings of the city from the mountain trails is a bit of a strange feeling, but it’s also a magnificent view. There are many people who enjoy hiking, and even people who will walk 10 kilometers every weekend. I didn’t have any particular interest in hiking when I was in Tokushima, but when I came to Hong Kong, I fell in love with it. I’d like to continue hiking even when I return to Tokushima. Around the world, there don't seem to be any sign of the virus coming under control, and I’m sure the people of Tokushima are worrying about when the day will finally come when they can return to their daily lives. It’s important that we all act in an informed manner. Although it’s difficult right now, we must all work to overcome this so that we can return to our normal lives. I hope that soon the day will come when people can travel freely between Hong Kong and Tokushima.
Gairaigo Galoreニュイ(Ennui) By: Sydney Bartig This month I would like to introduce the gairaigo word “アンニュイ”. In English, this can be translated to “ennui”, which is used to express a feeling of boredom or listlessness that is the result of having nothing exciting to do. While this word also exists in English, it actually originates from French. The word ennui is a symbol for the dreary atmosphere of French literature that was published at t he end of the 19th century. The Japanese word is quite interesting and actually differs a bit from the English and original French meaning. The Japanese wordアンニュイcan also be used to express a feeling of boredom or listlessness. However, when used with a person it becomes used to describe someone who has a mysterious atmosphere. This is, of course, quite different than the French meaning. Additionally, when the word is used in French, it tends to have quite a negative connotation, while that is not always the case with the Japanese version. In fact, when used in Japanese, it can sometimes be seen as a compliment rather than a negative. This word is often used to describe women, and it can also be used to describe fashion, hairstyles, makeup, etc. Awa Shoku: Styling Sushi By: Lance Kita here is no more ubiquitous “Japanese” food than sushi (寿司、鮨). Most people think of those small rectangular blocks of rice topped with a slice of raw fish, deftly shaped by a master chef’s hands. This is called nigiri-sushi 握り寿司, originated in Tokyo, and is the most common type of sushi served. However, there’s more to sushi than just raw fish and rice, and some of it is regionally specific. Here are three more kinds of sushi: Roll it! (Maki- zushi 巻き寿司) - On February 2, we will celebrate S e t s u b u n 節節分 , and a recent popular tradition is to eat a whole roll of maki-zushi silently while facing a certain direction. (See Feb. 2018 Awa Life article) Most of the time, this sushi is served and eaten in more manageable slices. This is a great sushi for those who are squeamish about raw seafood. Everything in the middle tends to be cooked (egg omelet, cucumber, simmered dried gourd strips, carrot, shrimp powder, etc.), and rolled inside a layer of vinegared rice using a sheet of nori海苔seaweed. You can find these at your local supermarket everyday (but especially on Setsubun!). Stuff it!  (Inari- zushi 稲荷寿司) - Another “not raw” sushi may actually satisfy your sweet t o o t h .  D e p - fried square tofu pouches (abura- age油　揚揚　げ　) are simmered in soy sauce and Inari-zushi (into rectangles east of Nagoya, and triangles west of it), and then stuffed with vinegared rice. Sometimes, chopped shiitake mushroom, diced carrots, and/or sesame seeds are added. Inari refers to the Inari shrines (the most famous being Kyoto’s Fushimi Inari shrine with its tunnels of red torii鳥居gates), revering a fox deity. It’s said that foxes love the fried tofu pouches. Press it!  (Oshi- zushi 押し寿司）. In Western Japan, especially the Kansai関西region, sushi is made by pressing the rice and toppings into a rectangular wooden mold. This method is also called “box sushi” (hako-zushi箱寿司). Some say this is the original sushi method that involved eating the rice (the earliest sushi used the rice to ferment and preserve fish). In Osaka and Kyoto, common toppings are cured mackerel (shimesabaしめ鯖), grilled eel (unagi鰻), and boiled shrimp. In Tokushima, there is a unique type of pressed sushi where a whole cured fish is wrapped around a block of rice (flavored with citrus juice rather than vinegar). You can read about sugata-zushi姿寿司in October 2018’s Awa Life. What I like about these three types of sushi is that they are often made at home. While nigiri-zushi requires the skilled hands of a chef to achieve the right amount of pressure for the rice to keep its shape until it reaches your mouth, many families will make their own maki-zushi, inari-zushi, and oshi-zushi for special occasions. I hope you’ll find someone in your neighborhood who can show you how to make one of these. Good luck and happy eating! sugar, cut in half Japanese Lesson By: Kayo Miyoshi Japanese Words with Multiple Meanings Some words in Japanese have multiple meanings, which can invite misunderstandings. 1.)「すみません」has 3 different meanings. [ありがとうございます。] [ごめんなさい。」 2.)  There are 2 different situations where you would be told  [早くいってそうなとき「早く行って！」 3.)「いいですね」can have 2 different meanings: yes (positive) or no (negative). r ¥艾美」「結構です」「いいです」 are words used in a positive way, but they can also be used to decline or show restraint. Positive Meaning:「間達いない」、「確かだ」、「心配がない」、「不都合でない」 When you ask someone who doesn't seem to be feeling well「大丈夫ですか？」, they will respond with either「大丈夫です。」or「大丈夫ではありません。」. Negative Meaning: You can use 「いいえ、犬丈夫です｡」、「（もう）結構です｡」、「（もう）いいです。」、「問題ありません。」to mean「いりません」or「必要ありません」when refusing something. For example, if you don't need a plastic bag, you can say「袋は、犬美美です。」、「編す。」、 or「袋は、いいです。」 *** Saying something like「いりません」or「やらないで」can give the impression that you are being rude. Therefore,「そんなに気をつかわなくて結構です／いいです／夫です」are used for negation.
吾支援ボランティアスキルアッ゛・つながる日本語支持コロナ禍で日本語支援が対面でできない時のためにリモートでの日本語支援の仕方について勉強しましょう。講座内容: 1.リモートで日本語支援をした人の経験談を聞こう2.「みんなの日本語」をリモートで教えてみよう3.リモートでも楽しく活動する方法を体験してみよう講師：元木佳江先生(四国大学准教授)山田多佳子（TOPIA日本語教師)日時: 2月20日(土) 13:00 ～ 15:30場所：リモート(ZOOM)により開催します。リモート参加をしない方. . TOPIA会議室にお越し下さい。(申し込み時旨ご連絡ください。)申し込み：名前・所属・電話番号を書いて2月10日まで野水までお申し込んでください。野水: coordinator2@topia.ne.jp
医療通訳研究
徳島県に暮らす6,600人を超える外国人は約80の国や地域から来ており、過去最高人数となりました。彼らが抱える問題は多岐にわたり、その中でも医療に関わる問題は避けて通ることができません。今回の研修では、講師の講話やワークショップを通じて、医療通訳の際に多言語で円滑に情報提供できるよう、語学ボランティアの育成・活動促進を図ることを目指します。 (語学研修ではありません)日時: ３月６日（土）13:30 ～ 16:30会場：オンライン会議システム「Zoom」による開催講師：村松紀子氏 医療通訳研究会（MEDINT）代表対象：日本語とその他の言語で日常会話が支障なくでき、Zoomが使用できる方※研修は日本語で行います参加費：無料定員：30名（先着順）申込締め切り日：2月26日（金）お申し込み・お問い合わせ公益財団法人　徳島県国際交流協会徳島市寺島本町西1−61クレメントプラザ６階Tel: (088)656-3303申込先メールアドレス： coordinator1@topia.ne.jp氏名、電話番号、メールアドレス、通訳言語、資格をお書きの上、電子メールでお申し込みください。開催日の前日にZoom会場のURL、ID、パスワードをお送りします。
中途採用マッチングフェア2021 「働いてみたい場所」が見つかる。「一緒に働きたい人」に出会える。様々な働き方に柔軟に対応する県内企業が大集合。子育て中の方や短時間勤務を希望の方も大歓迎！ *事前申し込み不要日時: 2月8日（月) 14:00 ～ 16:00 (受付開始13:30~)場所：ろうきんホール料金:無料お問い合わせ：公益財団法人徳島県勤労者福祉ネットワー TEL: 088-655-2940 URL: https://toku-nw.com/ The first Big Hina Matsuri was held in the spring of 1988 and will now be celebrated for the 33rd time. Hina dolls that are no longer used are gathered from families all around the country, given a memorial service, and then displayed at this festival. At the center of the festival, you can find an approximately 8-meter-high 100-step podium decorated with hina dolls. Approximately 30,000 hina dolls are beautifully displayed at this festival. When: February 20th (Sat.) - April 4th (Sun.) 9:00 - 16:00 Where: Hina Doll Museum Fee: Adults: 300 Yen Groups: 200 Yen (10 people or more) Elementary Students: 100 Yen Inquiries: Big Hina Matsuri Executive Committee TEL: 0885-42-4334 URL: https://bighinamaturi.jp/昭和63年の春に始まったビッグひな祭りは、今回で33回目を迎えます。本祭では、全国より、家庭で飾られなくなった雛人形を集め、供養し、展示させていただいております。場内には、中央にそびえ立つ高さ約8m「百段のひな壇」をはじめ、約３万体もの雛人形が豪華絢爛に飾られています。日時: 2月20日（土）～ 4月4日（日） 9:00 ～ 16:00場所：人形文化交流館料金：大人　300円団体　200円（10人以上）小学生100円問い合わせ：ビッグひな祭り実行委員会TEL: 0885-42-4334 URL: https://bighinamaturi.jp/
Counselling Service at TOPIA・トピアの相談窓口
TOPIA provides consultation on everyday life, education, labor, medical institutions, and ddisaster prevention; 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)