The Editor
Yamasa News
The Yamasa Institute - Aichi Center for Japanese Studies
1-2-1 Hanehigashimachi Okazaki
Aichi Japan 444-0832 Return to top of page

(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.

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

Return to top of page

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

Return to top of page

STAFF INTERVIEW: Katsuhiku Kurita - Teacher, AIJP

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

Return to top of page

5. Japan Guide: Chikubu Island (Shiga) & "Old Red Bricks" (Hokkaido)

Chikubu Island:

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":

Red Bricks + snowman

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/tokyo/toshogu.html

Return to top of page

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