Thanks to a combination of several things (the largest being the recent Japanese Language Proficiency Test and the
editor's need to study for it, not to mention Declan's cold) the newsletter is later than expected (again).
But, four weeks is better than four months, right? Oh and um, meri-kurisumasu & akemasite omedetou gozaimasu!
(1) The first bits:
(a) April 2007 Student Visas:
Applications for April 2007 Student Visas are now closed. Thanks to everyone who applied. By now, all applicants
have received confirmation of their acceptance or rejection, so if you haven't received an email please check your filters,
and if you still haven't received notification please contact the International Office via admissions@yamasa.org
Unsuccessful applicants are welcome to re-apply. For those who missed out this time, please note that the next
application period opens in March (for October start), with the application deadline in May. As language quotas remain
tight,
especially for native speakers of Mandarin or English, early applications are advised.
Please note that a student visa is only required if you want to
study for 6 months or more. If you plan to enroll for 3 months or less there are many choices including
AIJP,
AJSP,
Acceleration,
Discovery and
SILAC.
(b) Villa 5 Construction Continues:
Along with the ever present road construction around the campus, the construction of the new Villa 5 student
residence continues on schedule for completion at the end of March. The latest progress can
be seen in the continously updating
construction photogallery
or by clicking the image on the right to view a video. The accommodation fees for the new apartment are not yet
confirmed, however as construction is proceding on-time and on-budget we expect to be able to calculate the rent
structure next month.
(c) Okazaki Has Highest Number of Fatal Automobile Accidents in Japan:
Congratulations to our very own Okazaki City is usually called for when we make the news, but perhaps not in this instance.
In 2006, Okazaki had the highest number of fatal automobile accidents in the
entirety of Japan. This may sound a bit frightening, but when you realize that Okazaki has the highest number of
cars in Aichi-ken, and Aichi has the highest number of cars in Japan, it makes a bit more sense. Still, it is a
good reminder to pay attention to the traffic around you, whether you're driving your own car, out for a walk, or
speeding down the hill towards Route 248 with only two minutes before class starts. And with the new road
being built between Aoi Hall and the Yamasa II building, everyone will need to stay even more alert, especially
new arrived jetlagged students from countries where people drive on the wrong side of the road. We don't want
any of our students contributing to next year's statistics.
(d) Population stats: One of the reasons for the amount of traffic around the city and the number of accidents is the
continued fast growth in population. On November 1st, the registered population of Okazaki City exceeded 370,000 of the first
time reaching 370,159 people in 140,686 households - yes there are only 2.63 people per household in the city, an indication not
so much of small families, but of a large number of young people who move to the city for work or study and live alone. If you are
a "demography tragic", you may wish to learn the kanji in this
photo (apologies for the quality, it was snapped by cellphone at city hall) showing that there
were 350 births & 175 deaths for a natural increase of 175 people, and 1534 people moving into the city compared to 1261
departures for a net increase of 273.
(e) Bulldozers:
Have we mentioned that there's construction going on around the campus? Because there is, and it's going to continue
for a good while yet. Besides the road being built through the campus, there's the previously mentioned
kurashi-no-gakkou that has been built between Yamasa and JR Okazaki
station. Aside from offering many different kinds of classes, it will also soon have a restaurant, expanding the
number of options our students currently have for buying lunch.
(f) Japanese Language Proficiency Test:
The 2006 JLPT has come and gone. Congratuations to everyone who took the test. You now have about two months to
relax and forget about that annoying problem on the listening section, since the results of the tests won't be sent
out until the middle of February 2007.
(g) Current Trip Schedule:
Due to the popularity of the trips already planned for this fall and winter, we've added several more destinations to
the weekend trip schedule which is now complete to the end of March.
You can book a spot for any of these trips
online.
In addition to the previously mentioned trips in January to
Nara
(visiting Horyuji and Chuguji)
and Nagano Prefecture
(mainly to see the Japanese snow monkeys
at Jigokudani, as well as
Matsumoto Castle), a tour to
the World Heritage sites of Kyoto
and more ski trips to Tsukaike
Kogen (also in Nagano) as well as
several other destinations have recently been added.
You do not need to already be in Okazaki City to apply.
If you haven't received your Student ID number yet, you can apply by using your passport number. If you don't know your
accommodation allocation yet (or won't require accommodation) just select "Off-Campus". We can change
your details after you arrive. Non-students can participate in any of the tours if a guest of a currently enrolled student.
(h) New Winter Programs in Sapporo: Starting from January 11th and February 8th, the
Hokkaido Center is offering
two Sapporo winter program modules for those who have a
proficiency level roughly equivalent to or higher than the end of Book 1 of the
Minna-no-Nihongo series (or Lesson 25 of the OCJS).
It is also possible to combine studies in both
Okazaki &
Sapporo, in a similar
way to the new summer program
offerings. In addition to the modules, the Japan Discovery Program will have a
Hokkaido tour from
February 9th to February 20th - you can do the tour only, do it after a Sapporo program
(Option B), or participate in the tour from
Okazaki. Apart from February's annual
Sapporo Snow Festival, 2007
will see Sapporo host the FIS World Ski Championships from
February 22nd to March 4th - the first time this event has been held in Asia. Improve your Japanese, and enjoy
perfect conditions for
skiing and snowboarding in Hokkaido.
(i) Other bits:
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 City during the next few months, please visit the
housing availability file (Opens new window).
Message from Rie Kawakita (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 April Student Visa intake:
Admissions for long term visas for April 2007 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 April. To download application forms
click here.
Short-term courses:
All SILAC programs have space from November 9th but due to high occupancy
rates accommodation is
very limited and early application is advised.
Contact Admissions as soon as possible for information.
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Discovery Tour starting on January 26th 2007 - itinerary at:
http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/discovery_20070126.html. Please
contact Admissions for details. There are still a few places
available - join a very small private tour: There are still a number of places available - join a very small private tour:
Includes
Okutono Jinya,
Takisanji,
Toyota Motor,
Nagano and
Zenkouji, the
Japanese snow monkeys at
Jigokudani onsen,
Matsushiro, and the
WWII Imperial HQ tunnel complex,
Matsumoto City and the famous
Matsumoto Castle, before visiting the
Japan Ukiyoe Museum,
Nara including,
Kofukuji,
Nara Park,
Kasuga Taisha, the
Isuien Garden & the Neiraku Museum as well as many other locations. |
Other Discovery Tours all have vacancies -
contact Admissions for further information.
Tour dates for next year are available at
http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/discovery_dates.html
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3. THINGS JAPANESE: "Omiyage" - The gift you keep on giving
Like anywhere else, there are a number of social obligations in Japanese society, and one of the most common ones
you'll run into is omiyage. Most easily translated as "souvenir," omiyage is somehow both more and less than that.
Any time you go on a trip or go to an unusual event, it is expected that you will return bearing gifts. However,
most of these gifts are not things to be kept and cherished, but rather food to be quickly consumed and forgotten.
Sure, there is the odd ear cleaner for your grandfather or mobile phone strap for your girlfriend, but since you
need to have something for everybody in the class or office...
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/things_japanese_43.html
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STAFF INTERVIEW: Katsuhiku Kurita - Teacher, AIJP
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| Katsuhiku Kurita |
The following was translated from the Japanese original.
Interview by
Sugita-sensei from the
OCJS and
Shin-san from the
International Office.
Sugita: Hmmm, today we'll be interviewing Kurita Katsuhiku sensei, a full time AIJP teacher. The
interviewers are myself, Sugita from OCJS, and Shin-san from the International Office. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Kurita: Hello. Yoroshiku onegaishimasu.
Su: Kurita sensei, how long have you been working at Yamasa?
K: Hmm, this year is my third year here.
Su: And you've been working in AIJP the whole time, right?
K: Yes, that's right.
Su: And what did you do before working for Yamasa?
K: Before coming to Yamasa, I taught Japanese at Kyong-buk University, in Taegu-city, Korea.
That was only for one year, though.
Su: Oh really? Actually, I also taught Japanese in Taegu-city.
K: Really? What a coincidence.
Su: So how was working in Korea?
K: Korea is a really easy place to live, and the food is delicious.
I would have liked to have stayed there, but the early mornings...
Su: What time did the classes start?
K: They started at 6:30am, so...
Shin: 6:30?!
K: Yeah, the students would call and wake me up....
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/staff_int_34.html
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5. Japan Guide: Chikubu Island (Shiga) & "Old Red Bricks" (Hokkaido)
Chikubu Island:
Chikubu Island, in the northern side of Lake Biwa,
is known as the "Island of the Gods". It is the 30th stop on the 33 Temple Pilgrimage route of the western country, and is
home to Hogonji Temple and Tsukubusuma Shrine. Hogonji Temple honors Benzaiten, one of the seven gods of good luck and
happiness.
It was built in 724 by the priest Gyouki under the order of the Emperor Shomu. The temple is located here
because it is believed that Benzaiten first came down to visit earth on this island. The story goes that the Sun Goddess
Amaterasu sent a message the Emperor telling him it would bring peace, prosperity and good harvests to his people if he
built a temple here. This is the oldest and most famous of the three temples in Japan dedicated to the Benzaiten.
In 1603, the temple and the shrine were both rebuilt.
The island itself is only 2 kilometers around and has high granite cliffs covered in bamboo, cedar and pine. It features
one of the "Eight Great Views" of Lake Biwa. To
reach the island a boat can be taken from....
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/shiga/chikubu.html
"Old Red Bricks":
Built in 1888, this building is known to
Sapporo residents as "Red Bricks" or akarenga. It has an octagonal dome the
architecture of which was borrowed from that of the Massachusetts State House in the USA. The actual design though was done
by local architects and the building was constructed utilizing of local materials - until that time most western style
buildings depended largely on prefabricated components that were expensive to import giving the condition of Japan's
economy at that time.
When completed, it was one of the largest and tallest buildings in Japan and symbolized the prestige and importance the
Meiji Government placed on the development of Hokkaido.
Unfortunately the building needed to be rebuilt in 1911 after a
devastating fire, and it wasn't until 1969 that its future was safeguarded by listing as an important cultural property.
Why the popular name akarenga ? The building is constructed from 2.5 million or so red bricks that are laid in the
French.....
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/hokkaido/sapporo_akarenga.html
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6. ABOUT THE YAMASA INSTITUTE
The Yamasa Institute is compromised of three teaching centers:
the ACJS Japanese Language School in Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture,
the HCJS Japanese Language School in Sapporo in Hokkaido and the
the OCJS, an online Japanese teaching center providing affordable Japanese education worldwide.
The Institute is committed to
providing high-quality education in the Japanese language. We are a non-profit
organization, a part of the Hattori Group. We are accredited by
Association for the Promotion of Japanese Language Education - APJLE,
accreditation number B302 - and "the only Institute in the Mikawa region with
the appropriate programs, systems, curriculum and facilities required for
quality Japanese language education" according to the Ministry of Justice.
Further, in recognition of the excellent quality of our programs, we are in the
top tier of 'Appropriately Authorized Japanese Language Education Institutes' -
in fact, the only school in the Mikawa area with this prestigious
recommendation. For full details see the accreditation section on the
homepage at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/accreditation.html
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C O M M U N I T Y M E M B E R S
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Hattori Foundation (est.1919) - The Yamasa Institute
1-2-1 Hanehigashi-machi, Okazaki City, Aichi Prefecture, JAPAN 444-0832
Tel: +81 (0)564 55 8111 Fax: +81 (0)564 55 8113 Email: Inquiries
www.yamasa.org content is created and maintained by
Declan Murphy and the students and
staff of the Yamasa Institute's Multimedia Studio. This site is Copyright Yamasa - All rights reserved.
Ní thuigim thú 
