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Today's Contents:

1. New Editor, Airport Pickups, new classrooms completed, Villa 5 Jichinsai, Halloween Party, Winter in Sapporo, Roadworks
2. Course and accommodation information: Winter 2006-07 Applications, Discovery Tours
3. Things Japanese: "Solar Energy" - Japan's solar energy boom.
4. Staff Interview: Rie Kawakita (Housing)
5. Japan Guide: Mount Hiei and Enryaku-ji (Kyoto) & Numazu (Shizuoka)
6. About The Yamasa Institute

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we need a new Editor. And now we have one. Introducing Chris...

Intro from the New Editor: Hi, I'm Chris Wright. From next week through to March I'll be filling the editor role as best I can. I like natto and Sumo, though the big guys smell way better than the fermented beans. I started my studies at Yamasa just under two years ago in the Discovery Program visiting Hokkaido. After the first week I was enjoying myself so much that I decided to apply for long term studies in AIJP, where I continued to study until last quarter when I graduated into the AJSP. So, I've seen a lot of what Yamasa has to offer, including taking part in many of the weekend tours. Hopefully all this Yamasa related experience will serve me well in editing this newsletter, starting with the next edition. Yoroshiku!

And so hopefully this will be Declan's last newsletter until April. Here we go... (1) The first bits:

Airport Limousine Bus
Airport Limousine Bus
(a) New Airport Transfer System: The new airport transfer system explained in the last newsletter has so far worked well. All students arrived safely (though one jet lagged soul left his luggage on the limousine bus...) and were transferred to their accommodations. Improvements will be added to make it as easy as possible.

The two minivans drove a total of 1073 kilometers in total, including airport, station, and intra-city shuffling, which was slightly more than half of what we drove for the same period last year despite a significantly larger (and record) student intake. Overall cost was higher than last year as the 1700 yen bus fare reimbursement cost more than the fuel cost savings, but the good news for Japanese language school managers with guilty consciences is that total gasoline consumption was about half what it was to do the same job last year.

For a smallish specialist school, Yamasa has an embarassingly large environmental footprint. We use a lot of fuel (airport pickups, city use, tours, business trips and commuting staff) and power (lighting, IT & radio, heating and airconditioning), do not purchase carbon offsets, currently have no grey water recycling, no rainwater harvesting, our campus currently has almost no trees and very high rainwater runoff, and we produce a fairly large amount of trash ranging from disposal paper cups (vending machines) to plastic & wastepaper. The trash is separated and recyclables sent to the appropriate places, but a lot of the trash is probably unnecessary in the first place. Its way too early to say we've gone green(ish), or even started leaning towards a more sustainable structure, but cutting fuel consumption was the first step in the right direction. There is a lot of work to do.

(b) New Classrooms: In the last newsletter we explained how at the end of the AIJP Summer Quarter, we moved SILAC to the Yamasa II Building and set construction crews to work on Aoi Hall. The 6 new classrooms are now finished and in use.

Unfortunately there was a stuff up, rendering 2 of the rooms useless. Despite the specifications requiring extra sound proofing, double pane glass, reinforced and insulated metal doors - all expressly with the intention of making noise from outside the classroom inaudible to students concentrating on their lessons inside, the builders took leave of reality. A gap (in the case of one classroom some 8 centimeters wide) was left between the end of the sound insulated wall and the glass windows - so that a curtain could be drawn around the sound proof wall. This is Japan, and Japan sometimes just doesn't do logic. Have a look at the photos, half the staff of the international office keeled over in laughter (the other half were absent). The builders came back to fix the problem last weekend and all is now officially "done".

Main Entrance to Kurashi-no-gakkou
Main Entrance
(c) New School - "Kurashi-no-gakkou": As mentioned in the last newsletter we have a new neighbour. The Hattori Foundation has opened a new Institute called Kurashi-no-gakkou, with the main structure a Taisho Period traditional Japanese House that has been freshly renovated for its new role. It has a small Japanese garden that will take some time to re-establish itself. Yamasa will be cooperating with the new school and aims to incorporate cultural events and classes, along with more opportunities to mix with the local population. A photogallery will be online shortly.

(d) New Trip Schedule: As published in the last newsletter, the weekend trip schedule is now available in Chinese. The trips completed so far this term have been well attended and of the remaining trips all have been booked out with the exception of the first Hakuba ski and snowboard trip of the season, scheduled for December. Due to the high demand, an additional trip has been added for November 18th going to the Battlefield of Sekigahara and the Hikone Castle area. Trips for the January to March quarter are also being made available for advance bookings, with online bookings for the January tour to see the snow monkeys at Jigokudani already open.

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.

Campus roadworks
Campus Roadworks
(e) Bulldozers again: Avid readers of the fortnightly newsletter may recall the demolition job performed on Fuji Hall mentioned back newsletter #104. In January the end of the building was basically sliced off. 9 months later, the road the building was shortened to make room for is finally being built, with large amounts of mud and the usual suspects. This means that since there are now going to be 2 public roads passing through the campus, so those of you who come from countries that drive on the wrong side of the road will need to look each way twice. There is some good news, a DOMY supermarket is going to be built right next door, so you won't need to worry anymore about waiting for lunch, or having to travel 500 meters in search of calories - thats if you are here next year of course. The supermarket won't be ready until summer at the earliest.

The bulldozer action isn't limited to Yamasa's campus. Practically everything between Minami Hospital and the JR Okazaki station is a construction site, as are many other areas of Hane-cho. A new cinema multiplex is being built about 400 meters from the Student Village, a natural onsen will open in spring near Route 248, closer to us than the existing Wakamatsu Onsen, and there are also our own construction plans...

(f) New Accommodation: On October 10th we had a Jichinsai ceremony for the new apartment building to be called Yamasa Villa 5. If you haven't seen a Jichinsai ceremony before please have a look at the video and the Jinchinsai photogallery. Drawings of the building will soon be online. To view progress please check out the construction photogallery.

(g) Halloween Party: As usual the Halloween party will be held on the last Friday night of October, this year the 27th. It is a little more casual than in years past, with a free BBQ (free as in there are BBQs and cooking implements, but you need to bring your own food) and prizes for the best costumes. Happy Hour prices apply all night, and the venue will stay open until dawn, or whenever the last person leaves. Click for photos from last year's party.

Sapporo Snow Festival
Winter Snow Festival
(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 combined 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 the Sapporo Snow Festival in February, 2007 will see Sapporo host the FIS World Ski Championships take place 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) Coming Events: There are a few things on the calendar coming up that are worth seeing:

  • Nintendo World 2006: If you are into games, Nintendo World 2006 will be taking place in Nagoya at Port Messe Nagoya on November 3rd from 9am to 4pm. Details (in Japanese) are available from the Nintendo website. Many thanks to Lars-Erik Svensson for the tip.
  • Kaiou-maru visiting Nagoya: If you are into tall ships, go and see the Kaiou-maru. This is a 4-masted steel barque maintained by Japan's National Institute for Sea Training (Kaiou is Japanese for "Neptune") and it will be making its first visit to Nagoya in 5 years when it docks at Nagoya Port (take the subway from Kanayama) on Sunday October 29th. You can board the vessel between 9am-11am, and 1pm-3pm. Usually overseas, this is a rare opportunity to visit the vessel and meet Japanese people interested in sailing.
  • Okazaki Jazz Street: If you are into jazz and good music, November is brilliant. Due largely to the efforts of "Doctor Jazz", Okazaki has the most extensive collection of rare jazz recordings in Japan and an excellent live music scene. From November 3rd to 5th, some 300 musicians will be participating in a festival called "Okazaki Jazz Street", with performances ranging from somewhat expensive venues to jams on random street corners. One week later is the increasingly famous "Hilltop Jazz" concert. Held in the Budokan at Chuo-sogo Park in eastern Okazaki on November 12th, this year headline performances are Terumasa Hino with his quintet, followed by the fantastic Yosuke Yamashita and his 12 member Panja Swing Orchestra. The cheapest tickets are 3000 yen (eat instant noodles that day), available from the Okazaki Civic Center near Yamasa's campus.

    Japanese WWII Tunnel Complex   Hotel Nuts   Sanzenin, Kyoto   Shirakawa Doburoku Festival
    WWII Tunnel Complex
         		 
    Hotel Nuts, Tokyo
         		 
    Warabe Jizo, Sanzen-in
         		 
    Oni at Doburoku Festival

    (j) Other bits:

    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 Nagano 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: "Solar Energy" - Japan's solar energy boom.

    Solar Energy, Japan
    Solar cells in Okazaki
    Click to enlarge
    One of the most noticeable "booms" recently is one that will probably extend a lot further, and become permanent. Using solar power to heat water has long been common in Japan. However in the last few years arrays of photovoltaic cell panels are starting to appear everywhere, from the rooftops of the terminals at the airport, to those of local schools and factories. However the most noticeable growth has been the large number of new houses incorporating solar energy into the design, or households retrofitting solar panels to their rooves.

    In 1997, Japan took the lead as the country generating the most power from solar energy, a lead it has extended in the year's since. As was the case during the rapid growth years of the 1960's, it is the exports that are grabbing the headlines, while it is domestic demand that is actually underwriting the boom. Sharp Corporation is the market leader, and although they have reinvested heavily in their production capacity, other manufacturers are moving into the industry as demand continues to increase exponentially, at growth rates now approaching 20%. The vast majority of the solar panels produced in Japan are installed in Japan. In 2006 more than 100,000 households installed solar panels, the first time that sales surpassed 100,000 in a calendar year. Manufacturers of prefabicated houses (houses made to order, then assembled on site) such as Sekisui Heim, have reported than more than half of their annual sales in 2005 incorporated homes that included solar energy generation. In the case of Sekisui, that was 53% of more than 11,500 houses.

    The reason behind the boom is a simple matter of economics. The retail price of electricity...

    Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/things_japanese_41.html

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    STAFF INTERVIEW: Rie Kawakita (Housing & Homestay Coodinator)

    Rie Kawakita
    Rie Kawakita
    The following was translated from the Japanese original, interviewed by Sugita-sensei from the OCJS.

    Sugita: Hmmm, today I have with me Miss Kawakita from Gakuseika (Student Service) for an interview for the coming newsletter.
    Kawakita: Hi
    S: A very good afternoon to Miss Kawakita.
    K: Good afternoon. Yoroshiku Onagaishimasu.
    S: First, how should I address you? I mean, what is your full name?
    K: Oops sorry. I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Rie Kawakita.
    S: And where do you live?
    K: I'm in Okazaki.
    S: Which part of Okazaki?
    K: Near the Civic Centre. It is only about 3 minutes away from campus, so very close to Yamasa.
    S: I see. Are you living with your family?
    K: No. I'm alone.
    S: You are renting an apartment?
    K: Yes, that's right.
    S: So in that case, where is your hometown?
    K: I was born in Mie prefecture, in Tsu City.
    S: Tsu-shi? (city)
    K: Yes, thats correct.
    S: Just out of curiosity, how would you describe Tsu -city?
    K: It is very similar to Okazaki. Not a very big city, but near to the sea. It is a very nice place.
    S: Tsu-city is the capital of the prefecture right? And yet, it is similar to Okazaki?
    K: The size of city is pretty much the same. Yokkaichi-city is bigger.

    S: I see. So, how long have you been with Yamasa?
    K: This is my 4th month with Yamasa.
    S: Oh, this means you started in April this year?
    K: Actually it was from July.
    S: Oh, sorry, 4 months ago, that's July.
    K: Yes, I started working....

    Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/staff_int_33.html

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    5. Japan Guide: Mount Hiei and Enryaku-ji (Kyoto) & Numazu (Shizuoka)

    Mount Hiei and Enryaku-ji temple:

    Enryakuji, Mount Hiei, Kyoto
    Mount Hiei
    For many centuries, the Japanese have considered Enryakuji temple, situated atop Mt. Hiei to the northeast of Kyoto overlooking Lake Biwa to be one of the spiritual centers of their culture. A stop here would be an ideal way to spend a morning or afternoon hiking, exploring temples, and enjoying the atmosphere of one of Japan's important historical sites.

    The temple, which is the headquarters for the Tendai sect of Buddhism, was founded more than 1,200 years ago by the Chinese priest Saicho (767-822), who at the request of the Emporer Kanmu, built the complex atop Hieizan to protect Kyoto City from the evil spirits believed to come from the northeast. Because police were barred from entering the temple grounds, criminals began to gather here, supposedly to seek religious enligntenment. The temple even raised its own army for the purpose of self protection. By the 16th Century, the temple had grown to a complex of more than 3,000 buildings and its military force was powerful enough to threaten Kyoto, the city it was originally responsible for protecting. Most of the structures were....

    Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/kyoto/hiei.html

    Numazu:

    Numazu City
    Numazu City
    Numazu is a small city of about 200,000 people on the coast of Shizuoka. On clear days you have good views of Mount Fuji from the beaches, and the hills surrounding Numazu offer good hiking opportunities with terrific view over the town and the bay. Most people who visit Numazu do so because of its convenience to the Izu Peninsula, but there are several destinations here which are worth visiting.

    Cape Osezaki is a lovely sandy peninsula that despite storms, tsunami and tourism still stretches about 1 kilometer into Suruga Bay. It is fairly close to town and easy to get to. There is a good walking path (the hike isn't strenous) to the end of the peninsula where there is a shrine (Ose Jinja) dedicated to the gods of the sea. The shrine is popular with families involved in the fishing industry, a major local employer. There is an excellent swimming beach, very clean on the bay side of the cape. It has good views of Mount Fuji and excellent scuba diving conditions. The conditions on the other.....

    Continued at http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/shizuoka/numazu.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

    C O M M U N I T Y    M E M B E R S
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    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

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