(1) The first bits:

(a) Sapporo deadlines: Due to heavier than expected demand for course places, I will be closing the applications for the new Sapporo Japanese programs for the 2006 summer at the end of January. Accommodation in Sapporo is extremely limited, as are places. If you wish to apply for these programs you will need to submit your application and deposit payment no later than January 30th (Monday).

(b) Yamamoto House: As explained in the previous edition of the newsletter, due to an on-going accommodation shortage we have obtained a 5 year lease for a newly renovated building called Yamamoto House. This is a new dormitory containing 11 private study bedrooms, each with refrigerator, TV, desk, broadband internet connection, bed, shelving etc. All to have natural light, airconditioning & heating. The remaining facilities (kitchen, 2 showers with private changing areas, 3 toilets, recreation room etc) are shared. It is the closest accommodation to Yamasa's campus (6 minutes walk) and to the station (4 minutes walk - so no more stolen bicycles - students lock their bicycles up at the train station at their own risk).

(c) Tuition Fees: From April 2006, there will be a small tuition fee increase in some of the Academic Programs, the first increase since 1999. The overall average increase in fees is 3.81% for a 12 month period, 3.16% if enrolling for 3 months. In recent years, these programs have been consistently recovering less than 95% of costs, in part due to increased salary costs, our smaller class size rules and improved facilities such as the campus connectivity and other infrastructure. Extension programs are unaffected by the changes and will continue with fortnightly modules and the same small class sizes. The new fee structure will not quite be enough to cover our costs, but with the on-going support of the Hattori Foundation will ensure that we can continue to invest in improvements.

(d) "Big Snow": It is mid-winter, and Okazaki has lovely clear skies today. From the rooftop parking lot of the Aeon shopping mall you could see all the way across Okazaki, make out JR Nagoya and see the snowcaps of the Suzuka mountains in Mie on the other side of the bay. Not too shabby a view. We are having an unusually cold winter. On December 19th, Nagoya received 22cm of snow, the heaviest snowfall in 58 years. Okazaki received a heavy snowfall on December 23rd, disrupting the travel plans of some of our students. The January 7th-9th field trip to the snow monkeys in Jigokudani involved some heavy snow conditions, with our tour group diverting to the comforts of onsens, sake, kaiseki banquets etc between the traditional snow ball fights. Productivity wise, it has also been pretty hard to keep some Yamasa staff from going snowboarding at every opportunity...

Student Village Snow Man		Very Cold Bicycles (Villa 4)		Warm Snow Monkeys		Disappearing Yamasa Staff

...speaking of which....

Skiing/Snowboarding: Keep January 20-22, February 18, and February 24-26 free if you want to go skiing or snowboarding in Hakuba in Nagano Prefecture. Ski, snowboard, or try throwing snowballs at faculty. Retaliation is guaranteed. All details now online.

Demolishing part of Fuji Hall

(e) Demolition Job: For those not in town right now, here is another story of bulldozers. The lovely cherry blossom (sakura) trees next to Fuji Hall have been chainsawed and their roots dug out of the ground. Fuji Hall itself, is being "reduced" (now you can guess why I haven't written and translated that file yet...) The end of the building has been sliced off like a cheese cake, with a new wall to be built about 5 meters in.

Why? A new road is being built through the campus. Only 6 meters wide, and not actually connected to anything that would appear logical in any world other than that of a Japanese urban planner, or at least those dreaming of more ugly apartment building like the unfortunate and tragic sample in the background of the photo. Fortunately the old sakura trees just in front of our radio station will escape destruction, so if you are here in Spring bring along a few drinks and celebrate in our cherry blossom party, which will take place as usual as nature intended.

(f) Other bits:

• Make a little bit of money by writing articles for the newsletter. See the contributions page for details.
• Find a course: see the program catalog.
• Contact Admissions if you have any questions.
• See below for information regarding course deadlines.

The Editor
Yamasa News
The Yamasa Institute - Aichi Center for Japanese Studies
1-2-1 Hanehigashimachi Okazaki
Aichi Japan 444-0832

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(2) Course Information

Accommodation

If you are coming to Okazaki during the next few months, please visit the housing availability file (Opens new window).

Message from Yukiko Iijima (Housing Officer): Please also note that it is extremely important that you rank your accommodation preferences clearly. Upgrades are possible in the event of cancellations - so if your first preference is a single room in the village, select "Village single" as first choice, "Residence U" as your second choice and so on.

Long-term Courses:

Applications for October Student Visa intake: Admissions for long term visas for October 2006 are now open. Early application is advised due to the selection process and the limited number of visas we are allocated by the Immigration Bureau for October. To download application forms click here.

Short-term courses:

All Extension programs have space while accommodation is available. For Academic programs, the next available start date for AIJP, AJSP and Acceleration Format 1 is April 5th 2006. For applicants for 1 academic quarter only, using a short term tankitaizai (tourist) or other appropriate visa, applications close February 22nd.