http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/hotel.html (for accommodation description)
http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/tankisei.html (for price list of accommodation)

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:

Student Visa: Applications for the October 2002 student visa have closed and we are now accepting applications for the April 2003 start. Please note that we will take into account a number of factors when considering a student visa application including age, academic background, nationality and so on - automatic acceptance of a student visa application is not guaranteed. If you need more information about dates, please check the deadlines for the student visa listed in each course in the program catalogue. If you wish to apply for the April 2003 start please contact Admissions for more information.

Short-term courses:

Discovery Tour starting on October 18th - itinerary at: http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/discovery_20021018.html 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 Includes Okutono Jinya, Tsumago, Tenryu Gorge, Takisanji, Asuke, Nara - Todaiji, Nara Park, Obara Washi, Kii Peninsula, Kino Matsushima cruise, Ise Grand Shrines, Atsuta Jingu, Tokugawa Art Museum, Kyoto - Ryoanji, Nijo Castle, Kunizakari Sake, Tokoname, Yoshihama Ningyou, Denpark, Sekigahara battlefield site, Hikone Castle, Genkyo-en Garden, Lake Biwa cruise - Chichibu island, 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

All SILAC programs have space from October 3rd but accommodation is very limited. Contact Admissions as soon as possible for information.

The AIJP, AJSP, and Acceleration Format 1 and 2 programs are all full until January 2003.

Return to top of page

3. Student Interview: Karon Saito (Acceleration)

Karon Saito

Karon started in the Acceleration Format 2 recently.

Jon: First of all, how did you find Yamasa?
Karon: Through the homepage.
J: Did you find it by yourself or did someone else recommend it to you?
K: It's a long story. I was supposed to come to Japan and then look for a school but I didn't like the idea of having to look for one after I arrived so I checked on the internet. Yamasa had by far the most informative web site. Others would have one page of information and then a mailing address where you could send enquiries. As I didn't have much time I thought Yamasa would the best choice.

J: How is the course going?
K: So far, so good.
J: And the CALL seminar lessons?
K:They give me a good chance to practice my conversation with the teacher at the end of the lesson and rather than practicing set sentences and structures it's more natural. It's still difficult. When I go into a shop I usually say whatever is necessary to get me out of the store as quick as possible!!

J: Is the program intensive enough for you?
K: It thought it was too fast at the beginning, but there's a bit of review during next week so that will slow it down a bit.

J: How do you find the teaching faculty?
K: All the teachers are very patient, and it's a good thing they don't................

Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/student_int_34.html

Return to top of page

4. In the News: Murakami Haruki

"In the News" aims to help you improve your understanding of articles in contemporary Japanese print and web media. Articles are from a wide range of sources including business, fashion, music, lifestyle, entertainment, crime, politics, international relations and so on. All articles are printable, and are accompanied by streaming audio files of the article being read at normal speed by male and female native speakers. Furthermore there are questions from the OCJS faculty that will help you confirm your reading or listening comprehension skills. (If you are an advanced learner, you may wish to attempt the questions after first listening to the audio link only, and then read the article to test your listening comprehension skills).

In addition, by using the link generator of the OCJS online dictionary with its definitions and kanji animations, you can easily check the meaning of new words, and also the stroke order of any Kanji that are new for you. The titles of the links below ARE NOT translations of the headline accompanying the article (we don't want to give beginner level students too many hints to the answers), but are indicative of the subject field.

Article for this edition is...

"Murakami Haruki, worries concerning first novel in 7 years"

Return to top of page

5. Japan Guide: Muro-ji

Muroji temple is one of Nara's best temples, an absolute gem. Yet due to its location it is one that very few foreign visitors to Nara have the opportunity to see. If you have the chance to visit - grasp it! Located in Muro village in the Uda district of Nara Prefecture. Constructed in the Enryaku era (780 - 805), Muroji stands in a mountain valley, buried in the midst of large cryptomeria groves.

This temple has a strong connection with the Shingon sect (Esoteric Buddhism). At that time, a Buddhist monk named Kenkyo, practiced religious austerities here to pray for the recovery of the Crown Prince. It was his disciple Shuen, who made the plan of the temple. Ever since the late Nara.....

Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/nara/muroji.html

Return to top of page

6. 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

Return to top of page

7. 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.

Return to top of page

(c) 2002 The Yamasa Institute Aichi Center for Japanese Studies
1-2-1 Hanehigashi-machi Okazaki Aichi Japan 444-0832
Tel: +81 (0) 564 55 8111 Fax: +81 (0) 564 55 8113
URL: http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/
Email: Admissions