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Today's Contents:
1. The first bits: Halloween parties, Suzuka F1 Grand Prix, Tomei expressway roadworks, day trip to Kyoto
1. The first bits.
(a) Suzuka F1 Grand Prix:
A Day at the Races:
My day started at 6am being woken by fireworks! My suburb is called Jinba, literally "battlefield".
Fireworks were being detonated all over Okazaki, as I walked to the local station it truly sounded
like a battlefield. With recent events in Afghanistan it was a very surreal experience. I met my
friend Chieko in Nagoya at Kintetsu station, a private railway company that has a line that runs
close to Suzuka Circuit. The station was jammed with people carrying all the paraphernalia you would
expect - flags, portable chairs, Eskies (an Australian word meaning a cooler box), and of course cameras.
There were also extra staff and lots of signs to help people make their way to.....
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/mie/suzuka.html
(b) Halloween Parties:
Take your pick of the numerous Halloween parties that are coming up at this time of year:
ii) Okazaki International Association (OIA) Halloween party: On Saturday November 3rd at Okazaki Kozan Kaikan OIA will be
holding their own Halloween party within walking distance of Higashi Okazaki station. Another good opportunity to meet
Japanese people and other foreign residents from in and around Okazaki, it's 1300 Yen to join and snacks and drinks are
free - party time is from 19.00 - 21.20. There are a limited number of places available, so if you would like to take
part please contact Ken Uchida at Student Services as soon as possible.
iii) Hippo Family Club Halloween party: Also on Saturday November 3rd and also at at Okazaki Kozan Kaikan is the Hippo Family
Club's Halloween party. For the younger generation (and a little bit earlier in the day so the little ones can go to bed
early) it's from around 14:30 - Everybody welcome.
(c) Day trips to Kyoto:
On Sunday November 4th there is a trip to Kyoto.. The fee is only 4900 Yen (including all transport to and from your door - and all admission fees).
To reserve your place pay Ms Yoko Hikosaka
at Student Services on the ground floor of the Yamasa II building.
(d) Shodo (Japanese calligraphy) lessons:
Nowadays most Japanese people use pencils, pens and often computers to write
letters and documents. But the art of shodo (calligraphy), where an ink-dipped brush is used to create Chinese kanji
and Japanese kana characters, remains a traditional part of Japan's culture. If you would like to learn more about shodo then
come to the Student Village every Monday night at 7.00pm - 8.00pm where Kato Erina sensei will be taking a shodo lesson.
There is no fee (if you would like to buy a shodo writing set then this can be purchased for 1,500 Yen) and anybody is
welcome to join. Please come to the International Office before Thursday if you wish to register to take part.
(e) Course cancellations:
The Acceleration 2 month modular programs E (from November 30th) and F (from February 1st 2002) have been cancelled due to
a lack of available accommodation for new students enrolling on these dates. We apologise for any inconvenience this might
cause. The next start date for the Acceleration program is 2002/01/07, please contact Admissions for more
information.
(f) Tomei expressway roadworks:
For those of you who are planning to travel anywhere by bus or car on the Tomei expressway, BEWARE! Roadworks on the
expressway, from Tokyo to Kasugai (north east of Nagoya), will mean that travel will be restricted from
October 22 - 27 (06.00 - 18.00) and from October 29 - November 2 (06.00 - 15.00). Only one lane will be open
on the expressway and there are limit controls on the number of vehicles that will be allowed onto the road
during these times. If you plan to go to Nagoya or Tokyo by car or highway bus, don't! Take the train to Nagoya and transfer to the airport bus from there.
It might be more costly but it will be worth it in the time you save.
(g) Jobs:
Recruitment ongoing for the following positions:
see http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/careers.html for details and other
vacancies, and contact
careers@yamasa.org if you are interested in applying. Most are connected
with web publishing and translation. Study Japanese for free
in exchange for part-time work in the International
Office. These are ongoing positions - we need people all year round, so please
contact us if you are interested in positions later in the year as
well.
(h) Other bits: Jon Walden Tel: +81 (0) 564 55 8111
2. Course information.
3. Staff Interview: Tatsuya Kato (International Office) Marketing manager
4. Things Japanese: Zen Buddhism
5. About The Yamasa Institute for Japanese Studies
6. Subscription Information
Intrepid International Office employee Brett Robson wrote the following report about the
Formula One Grand Prix held at Suzuka 2 weeks ago. Just in case he got lost we made sure he
had a Japanese friend with him at all times. The event affected him so much he felt to moved
to write to the Daily Yomiuri newspaper about his experiences. His letter was printed in the
October 20th edition of the newspaper.
Michael Schumacher, winner at Suzuka and the 2001 Drivers Champion
i) Yamasa English School (YES) Halloween party: The only party to actually be held on Halloween and a great opportunity to
meet many young Japanese people and practice your Japanese. YES will be holding their Techno Rave party in Aoi Hall at
Yamasa on Wednesday 31st of October from 9-12pm. Tickets are 1,000 Yen in advance or 1,500 on the door (including one
free drink). Please contact YES English school on the first floor of Yamasa II (on the left hand side as you enter the
building) in person or call (0564) 55 8257. There is a prize for the best costume! Everybody welcome.
www.yamasa.org
Designed by Roger Fung.
Click for details...
Director of Studies for the Online Center
Japanese teachers for the Online Center (2 positions filled, 1
remaining)
Native-speaker Korean speaking interns
Native-speaker German speaking interns
Native-speaker Spanish speaking interns
Contact Admissions if you have any questions.
Admissions Coordinator
The
Yamasa Institute Aichi Center for Japanese Studies
1-2-1 Hanehigashimachi
Okazaki
Aichi Japan 444-0832
Fax: +81
(0) 564 55 8174 (admissions)
Fax: +81 (0) 564 55 8113 (student
affairs)
Email: Admissions
Email:
URL: http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/
URL: http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/
2. Course Information
Accommodation:
From November Yamasa Villa Studio Apartments 3 and 4 are full, there are small number of vacancies from December. Residences U, K and L are all full during November and December. There are a limited number of rooms available in the Student Village. Students applying for courses from November/December and wishing to stay in accommodation which is currently unavailable will be placed on a waiting list. There are usually some last-minute changes, so check with Admissions for information or see the availability file for details. Please note that accommodation is not reserved until we have received the tuition fees for your chosen course in full.
Accommodation in apartments in the annexe of the Rec World Hotel (near Daijuji Temple) will be used whenever Yamasa's accommodation becomes full. The prices for the "1K-Single" and "2K-Shared" room options have been discounted and are now the same price as the Student Village. For more information on the apartments in the Rec World Hotel annexe, please see the following pages:
http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/hotel.html (for accommodation description)
http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/tankisei.html (for price list of accommodation)
New accommodation. Its already full and there is a waiting list for January - but please have a look at...
"Residence L" 
Includes video
Message from Housing Office: 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, the "Hotel single" as your second choice and so on.
Long-term Courses:
Student Visa: Applications for April 2002: Applications for the student visa beginning in April 2002 are now being taken. (Applications for the October 2001 student visa have now closed and no more applications can be accepted). If you are not sure about the deadlines, please check the deadlines for the student visa listed in each course in the program catalogue. If you wish to apply for the next start-date of April 2002 please complete an application form online (see program catalog for details: http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/apply.html) or contact Admissions for more information. The application deadline for the April 2002 student visa start is December 20th 2001.
Short-term courses:
|
Discovery tour starting on October 19th - Contact Admissions for details. There are still a few places available - join a very small private tour: Includes Kunizakari Sake, Tokoname, Tenryu Gorge, Komagane-take, Tsumago, Nakasendo route, Magome, Obara washi, Toyota Motor Factory tour, Asahi Brewing company, Tabata Jinja, Uji's Byoudoin (Phoenix Pavilion), then up to Kyoto to visit Kinkakuji, Ryoanji, Nijo Castle, Gion, Pontocho, Hiei-zan, Ohmi Hachiman, Hikone Castle, Genkyo-en Garden. Tour concludes with Mount Fuji, Narusawa Ice Cave, Lake Shoujiko, Shiraito-no-taki waterfalls. We also visit many other locations. |
Other Discovery Tours all have vacancies - contact Admissions for further information. Next tour start date for this year is December 14th.
All SILAC programs have space but accommodation is limited. Contact Admissions as soon as possible for information.
3. Staff Interview: Tatsuya Kato (International Office)
 |
| Tatsuya Kato |
Jon: As I work with you in the same office and you often provide help for students when they have questions and so on I thought I'd interview you for this weeks Newsletter.
Kato: Okay, but I'm going jogging in a minute so can you make it quick?
J: No problem, it'll be over before you can say 'owatta'...........
K: Good.
J: When I was student studying at Yamasa, on the rare times that I
plucked up the courage to venture into the International Office and talk to the mysterious bearded one, I
remember seeing this person, quitely tapping away on his computer - I had no idea who you were, where you
came from and what you were doing there. I'm sure a lot of the students feel the same when they come here - can
you tell all these people what you do?
K: My official title is Vice president of planning, but I am also
the liason officer between Yamasa and other organsations such as Okazaki City Hall.
As well as that I am the marketing manager so I'm in charge of all communications with Yamasa's
overseas offices and...
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/staff_int_16.html
4. Things Japanese: Zen Buddhism
Japan's two main religions are Shinto and Buddhism, which cover over 80% of the population. Around 90 million people consider themselves Buddhists in Japan and the religion, which originated in India in the 6th century BC, consists of a number of different sects. It was brought over to Japan in the 6th Century AD from Korea and over the years sects were founded including the Tendai (805) and Shingon sects (806), from China.
After the Jodo sect (Pure Land sect), founded in 1175, came the Zen sect, again introduced from China, in 1191. Its complicated theories were popular particularly among the members of the military class. Zen Buddhism's central theories are that human life is full of suffering due to illness, death and the loss of loved ones. By getting rid of desires and attachments, one can achieve a state of enlightenment and escape suffering and the circle of reincarnations. It is said that one can achieve self-enlightenment through meditation and self discipline - sometimes it is called a religion and other times a philosphy.
Historically, Zen Buddhism originates from..........
Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/things_japanese_20.html
5. ABOUT THE YAMASA INSTITUTE'S AICHI CENTER FOR JAPANESE STUDIES
The Yamasa 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
6. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION
You are being sent this newsletter because at some time you contacted the Yamasa Institute's Aichi Center for Japanese Studies through email, or you contacted an internet-based Japanese language information service which forwarded your email to us. If you do not want to receive further issues of this newsletter, please send a message to unsubscribe@yamasa.org with the word "unsubscribe" in the title. We apologize for any inconvenience.
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