ÿþ<html> <head> <title>Yamasa Newsletter - Issue #67 - December 6th 2002</title> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> <meta name="description" content="The Yamasa Institute - Okazaki, Japan"> <META NAME="KEYWORDS" CONTENT="Japanese Language School, Study in Japan, Japan studyabroad, nihongo, Japan,Aichi, Okazaki, Yamasa, Hattori, scholarships, homestay, home stay, homestays,Japan scholarships, kanji, Japanese language proficiency test, working holidays"> <META name="description" content="Newsletter for Aichi Center for Japanese Studies, Japan's leading Japanese language school."> </head> <body bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <table border="0" width="100%"> <tr> <td width="58%" valign="bottom"> <table width="91%" border="0" cellspacing="4"> <tr> <td width="19%"> <div align="center"><img src="../../../images/hand3.gif" width="90" height="90"></div> </td> <td valign="middle" width="81%"><font color="#0000A0" face="Verdana" size="5"><b><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="4" color="#000066">The Yamasa Institute</font> <font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br> <font face="Tahoma" size="2"> <font color="#FF9933"><i>S</i></font>&nbsp;<font color="#000066">tudent</font>&nbsp; <font color="#FF9933"><i>N</i></font>&nbsp;<font color="#000066">etwork</font>&nbsp; </font></font></b></font></td> </tr> </table> </td> <td width="35%"> <div align="center"> <img src="../../../images/arch-col.jpg" width="200" height="100" ALT="Yamasa"></div> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" width="100%" bgcolor="#FFEEEE" height="20" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="middle"> <td width="47%" height="20"><a href="../../../english/index.html">Center Homepage</a></td> <td width="23%"><p align="center"><a href="../index.html">Student Network</a></td> <td width="17%"><p align="center"><a href="../contribute.html">Contribute</a></td> <td width="17%" ><p align="center"><a href="../../../english/search.html">Search</a></td> </tr> </table> <br> <table border="0" width="165" align="left"> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/newsletter_e_sel.gif" width="160" height="28" alt="Newsletter" border="0"></a><br> <a href="issue.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/issue_e_sel.gif" width="180" height="27" alt="Archive by issue" border="0"></a><br> <a href="things_japanese.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/things_japanese_e.gif" width="160" height="27" alt="Things Japanese" border="0"><br> </a> <a href="student_interviews.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/student_interviews_e.gif" width="160" height="27" alt="Student Interviews" border="0"><br> </a> <a href="staff_interviews.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/staff_interviews_e.gif" width="160" height="27" alt="Staff interviews" border="0"><br> </a> <a href="inthenews.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/inthenews_e.gif" width="160" height="27" alt="In the News" border="0"><br> </a> <a href="japan_guide.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/japan_guide_e.gif" width="160" height="27" ALT="Japan Guide" border="0"><br> </a> <a href="other.html"> <img src="../../images/buttons/other_e.gif" width="160" height="27" alt="Other" border="0"><br> </a> </td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../student_photos/index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/photos_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Photos" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../homepages/index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/homepages_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Student Homepages" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../email.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/email_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Email" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="http://www.okazaki.cc/" target="blank"><img src="../../images/buttons/guidebook_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Okazaki Guidebook" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../library/index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/library_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Library" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../alumni/index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/alumni_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Alumni" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../../../../ocjs/" target="blank"><img src="../../images/buttons/ocjs_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="OCJS" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr valign="top"> <td> <a href="../competition/index.html"><img src="../../images/buttons/competition_e.gif" width="160" height="28" ALT="Competition" border="0"></a></td> </tr> <tr><td align="center">Help us improve!<br> <a href="../../english/suggestion.html">Suggestion Box</a><p> </td> </tr> </table> <table border="0" bgcolor="#ffffff" height="20" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr valign="middle"> <td width="33%" height="20"><a href="issue66.html">Previous</a></td> <td width="34%"><p align="center"><a href="issue01.html">Next</a></td> <td width="33%"><p align="center"><a href="issue.html">Menu</a></td> </tr> </table> <p> <b>Today's Contents:</b> <P> <A href="#1">1. The first bits: Spanish language homepage online, JLPT, Friendship party, travel destinations, red leaves, OCJS Passwords, Origami and free Japanese Classes.</A><BR> <A href="#2">2. Course information.</A><BR> <A href="#3">3. Student Interview: Christian Ramirez.</A><BR> <A href="#4">4. In the News: "Bunraku" & "Correct Japanese" </A><BR> <A href="#5">5. Japan Guide: Okutono Jinya.</A><BR> <A href="#6">6. About The Yamasa Institute for Japanese Studies.</A><BR> <A href="#7">7. Subscription Information.</A><p> <HR> <FONT face="Times New Roman"> <P> <b>1. The first bits.</b> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=180 align=right border=2 hspace="10" valign="top"> <TBODY> <TR> <TD><IMG alt="JLPT test day" hspace=0 src="../../../images/JLPT_2002_250.jpg" width="250" height="148" align=baseline border=0></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align=middle>Outside the JLPT test center</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <p> <a href="../../../spanish/index.html">La version en Espanol</a> del sitio Web del "Centro en Aichi para estudios japoneses" de Yamasa ha sido actualizada. <p> Congratulations to everyone who took the Japanese Language Proficiency Test at Meijo University in Nagoya on Sunday the 1st of December. More than 60 students from Yamasa took the test, and based on past year's results nearly everybody will pass the level that they took. You can all now take a rest and enjoy Christmas and New Year! <P> <b>(a) Things to do:</b> <P> <li><EM>OIA Friendship Party:</EM> Okazaki International Association is sponsoring their annual Friendship Party due to be held on Saturday 14th of December from 6:00pm - 9:00pm at the Kouzan Kaikan next to Okazaki Citizens Hall (Okazaki Shimin Kaikan). There will be plenty of food and drink for all, with entertainment dancing, games and prizes. Entry is 1,000 Yen and tickets are 1,000 Yen per person. Please contact Ms. Sumiko Yamamoto at <a href="clara116@sun-inet.co.jp">clara116@sun-inet.co.jp</a> for more information. <P> <li><EM>Classical music concert:</EM> Beethoven's 9th symphony will be performed by the Nagoya Philharmonic Orchestra at Okazaki Citizens Hall on Sunday December 15th from 3:00pm. Reserved seats are 4,000 Yen, and unreserved are 3,000 Yen and can be purchased by calling (0564) 23-6432. Former student, and ex-FM Okazaki DJ, Joseph Huang will be one of those taking part in the concert.<P> <li><EM>Free Japanese Classes!</EM> Okazaki International Association holds free Japanese lessons taught by volunteers to non-Japanese living in Okazaki. Every Saturday from 2:30pm to 4:30pm at Tatsumigaoka-kaikan (3rd Floor), a 10 minute walk from Higashi Okazaki Station to Higashi Myodaiji cho. And also every 2nd, 3rd and 4th Thursday and Sunday of the month in Aoi Hall at Yamasa from 10:00am - 12:00am. Call 0564-45-5778 for more details. <P> <li><EM>Origami Classes!</EM> Every Friday from 3:00pm the Cross Culture Circle (ICCC) volunteers group holds origami classes in <a href="../../../english/aoi.html">Aoi Hall</a> at Yamasa. Anyone interested in transforming a piece of paper into an object such as a box or a crane please contact 0564-21-6180 or 090-9906-4396 (email <a href="clara116@sun-inet.co.jp">clara116@sun-inet.co.jp</A>) <P> <b>(b) Travel:</b> <P>The <a href="../../../../ace/english/index.html">full tour schedule</a> for Autumn is online. There are day trips as well as overnight runs to various locations throughout the region. Each trip is offering at a lower cost than trains and other transport options, some are "well beaten paths", but many destinations are included that are difficult to get to by public transport and frequently missed by foreign visitors to Japan. <P> <li> There is a 3 day trip running from December 13th to 15th. On the 13th you will go to Shiraito-no-taki waterfalls, Kamakura and Enoshima. On the 14th you will begin at Kamakura Daibutsu and make your way to Tokyo, taking in places such as Ueno Koen, Shitamachi Museum, Ameyoko Arcade, Imperial palace, Akihabara Electric town, Harajuku and Shinjuku. On the 15th of December is a trip to the recently opened Tokyo DisneySea and also a stop at Hamanako. Cost is 29,800 yen including tax. Departure from Yamasa Institute campus Aoi Hall on December 13th at 1445, returning to your accommodation on December 15th around 1930. (Includes all transport, admissions fees, accommodation on the 13th and 14th and dinner and breakfast. Does not include lunches.) <P> Please <a href="../../../../ace/english/index.html">check the schedule</a> for more details. Space is limited, for bookings/inquiries please go to the <a href="../../../english/guide_gakuseika.html">Student Services</a> office, Level 1, <a href="../../../english/guide_y2building.html">Yamasa II Building</a>. <P> The full WINTER SCHEDULE and SPRING SCHEDULE for tours from January will be <a href="../../../../ace/english/index.html">online</a> soon. <p> <b>(c) The long awaited Online Center:</b> <P> The Online Center for Japanese Studies is up and running and can be accesssed at <a href="../../../../ocjs/english/index.html">http://www.yamasa.org/ocjs/</A>. Passwords can now be obtained through our new secure server. A big thank you to <a href="../../../../ocjs/english/20020410.html">everyone who assisted</a>, for full information on updates to the Online Center <a href="../../../../ocjs/english/updates.html">please click here</a>. <p> <b>(d) Other bits:</b> <P> <LI><EM>Job opening at Aichi Steel Corporation:</EM> Aichi Steel Corporation in Tokai-shi, Aichi-ken is currently looking for new staff to assist with the overseas sales and business development of the products in their Electro-Magnetic Division. They are particularly looking for someone with Japanese speaking and writing ability (intermediate or advanced is preferred, although they are flexible) and native-level English and/or Chinese is required. Applicants with a university degree in any discipline are welcome, and knowledge of magnetic engineering, electrical engineering, business or marketing is advantageous. The company is interested in meeting students who would be available to begin full-time work anytime between now and next summer, and who intend to stay in Japan for at least 2 to 3 years. If you would like more information about the job please contact Jennifer Hill, Electro-Magnetics Division, Aichi Steel Corporation, at <a href="j-hill@he.aichi-steel.co.jp">j-hill@he.aichi-steel.co.jp</A> or telephone 052-603-9859. <P> <UL> <LI>Make money by writing articles for the newsletter. See the <a href="../contribute.html">contributions page</a> for details. <LI>Find a course: see the <a href="../../../english/programs/index.html">program catalog</a>. <LI> <DIV>Contact <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</A> if you have any questions.</DIV> <LI>See below for information regarding <a href="#2">course deadlines</a>.</LI></UL> <P>Jon Walden<BR> Admissions Coordinator, International Office<BR>The Yamasa Institute - Aichi Center for Japanese Studies <BR>1-2-1 Hanehigashimachi Okazaki<BR>Aichi Japan 444-0832 <P>Tel: +81 (0) 564 55 8111<BR>Fax: +81 (0) 564 55 8174 (admissions)<BR>Fax: +81 (0) 564 55 8113 (student affairs)<BR>Email: <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org"> admissions@yamasa.org</a><BR> Email: <a href="mailto:newsletter@yamasa.org">newsletter@yamasa.org</A><BR> URL: <a href="../../../../acjs/index.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/</a><BR> URL: <a href="../../../../acjs/network/index.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/</a><P> <a name=2></a> <P> <a href="#top">Return to top of page</a> <P> <HR> <P align=left> <b>2. Course Information</b> <P> <i>Accommodation</i> <P> All of Yamasa's accommodation apart from the <a href="../../../english/village.html">Student Village</a> is full until the end of December unless there are cancellations and accommodation. Accommodation from January is available in nearly all areas except for <a href="../../../english/resl.html">Residence L</a>. There are usually some last-minute changes, so check with <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> for information or see the <a href="../../../english/availability.html">availability file</a> for details. Please note that accommodation is not reserved until we have received the full tuition fees for your chosen course. <P> Accommodation in apartments in the annexe of the <a href="../../../english/hotel.html">Rec World Hotel</a> (near <a href="japan_guide_15.html">Daijuji Temple</a>) 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 <a href="../../../english/village.html">Student Village</a>. For more information on the apartments in the Rec World Hotel annexe, please see the following pages: <p> <a href="../../../english/hotel.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/hotel.html</a> (for accommodation description) <BR><A href="../../../english/tankisei.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/tankisei.html</a> (for price list of accommodation)</FONT> <P> <HR> <P> <I>Message from <a href="staff_int_20.html">Yukiko Iijima</a> (Housing Officer):</I> 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. <P> <HR> <P> <i>Long-term Courses:</i> <P>Student Visa: We are now accepting applications for the April 2003 student visa 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 <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> for more information. <P> <i>Short-term courses:</i><P> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 bgColor=#ffffff> <TBODY> <TR> <TD bgColor=#fefaa3> <a href="../../../english/programs/discovery.html">Discovery Tour</a> starting on January 24th - itinerary at: <a href="../../../english/programs/discovery_20030124.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/discovery_20030124.html </a> Contact <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> for details. There are still a number of places available - join a very small private tour: Includes Okutono Jinya, Toyota Kaikan, Hakuba valley, Skiing - Hakuba valley plus outdoor Onsen, Tokoname, Yoshihama Ningyou, Denpark, Atsuta Jingu, Tokugawa Art Museum, Tabata Jinja and other locations.</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P>Other Discovery Tours all have vacancies - contact <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> for further information. Tour dates for next year are available at <a href="../../../english/programs/discovery_dates.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/programs/discovery_dates.html</A></FONT></P> <P>All <a href="../../../english/programs/silac.html">SILAC</a> start dates have space from December 12th but accommodation is limited. Contact <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> as soon as possible for information. <P> <a href="../../../english/programs/acceleration.html">Acceleration Format 1 </a> and <a href="../../../english/programs/aijp.html">AIJP</a> are both full for the Winter quarter beginning on January 7th. There are currently still places available on the Spring quarter beginning in April. <A name=3></A><A href="#top">Return to top of page</A> <P> <HR> <P><b>3. Student Interview: Christian Ramirez (AIJP)</b> <P> <TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=200 align=right border=2 hspace="10" valign="top"> <TBODY> <TR> <TD><IMG alt="Christian Ramirez" hspace=0 src="../../../images/christian_ramirez_180.jpg" width="200" height="150" align=baseline border=0></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align=middle>Christian Ramirez</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE> <P> Christian, from Mexico, entered <a href="../../../english/programs/aijp.html">AIJP</a> on a student visa in October this year. <P> <B>Jon:</B> Thank you for taking time out for this interview.<BR> <B>Christian:</B> No problem.<P> <B>J:</B> How is everything going?<BR> <B>C:</B> Fine, the course is good, interesting.<P> <B>J:</B> Are you finding the speed of the program okay?<BR> <B>C:</B> For me that's a tricky question as people learn at different rates. I think it is normal, it's not fast and it's not slow.<P> <B>J:</B> How did you find Yamasa?<BR> <B>C:</B> I asked my family in Mexico to search for some information on Japanese language schools but they weren't able to find any. So I searched the internet and found 5 or 6 schools. I contacted them all and got information from 3 or 4. The only school that kept in touch with me during this time was Yamasa.<P> <B>J:</B> The big question - why are you studying Japanese?<BR> <B>C:</B> Well, I have a dream...................... <P> Continued at <a href="student_int_38.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/student_int_38.html</a> <p> <A href="#top">Return to top of page</A> <a name=4></A> <P> <HR> <P> <b>4. In the News: New articles</b> <p> In this edition we have two more articles to help you practice. The first concerns an <a href="../../../../ocjs/english/programs/itn0011.html">Osakan boy entering the world of Bunraku</a>. The second an article from the women's magazine "Style" extolling the virtues of <a href="../../../../ocjs/english/programs/itn0012.html">speaking good Japanese - as a means to better English</a>. <img src="../../../images/ganbatte_hir.gif" alt="ganbatte!"> <p> <b>About "In the News":</b> This section 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). <p> 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 <b>ARE NOT</b> 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. <p> <A href="#top">Return to top of page</A> <P> <a name=5></A> <P> <HR> <P> <b>5. Japan Guide: Okutono Jinya</b> <p> Okutono Jinya is a little difficult to get to, however combined with a visit to Asuke it gives a glimpse into life in rural areas of Japan during the Tokugawa Shogunate. A <i>Jinya</i> was the name usually given to the headquarters (barracks) of a small landlord, or in the case of Takayama Jinya, of an administrative unit directly ruled by the Tokugawa Shogunate from Edo. <p> Throughout the shogunate, the key currency unit was a measure of rice called <i>koku</i> (or <i>goku</i> depending on the reading) which was approximately 180 kilograms (396 pounds) of rice. The value of a feudal domain (and the taxes due from it) depended upon how much rice the domain could grow. Only a landlord with a domain exceeding 30,000 goku was allowed to build a castle (and only one per domain), and some landholdings were extremely large. Okutono Jinya was the headquarters of the Okutono branch of the important <i>Ogyu Matsudaira</i> family - one of the main relatives of the ancestral family of the Tokugawa. However the territory.......... <p> Continued at <a href="../../../../japan/english/destinations/aichi/okutono_jinya.html">http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/aichi/okutono_jinya.html</a> <P> <A href="#top">Return to top of page</A> <P> <a name=6></A> <P> <HR> <P> <b>6. ABOUT THE YAMASA INSTITUTE'S AICHI CENTER FOR JAPANESE STUDIES</b> <P>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 <a href="../../../english/accreditation.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/english/accreditation.html</a> <P> <a name=7></A> <P> <a href="#top">Return to top of page</a> <P> <HR> <P> <b>7. SUBSCRIPTION INFORMATION</b> <P>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 <a href="mailto:unsubscribe@yamasa.org">unsubscribe@yamasa.org</a> with the word "unsubscribe" in the title. We apologize for any inconvenience. <P> <a href="#top">Return to top of page</a> <p> <HR> <P align=center> (c) 2002 The Yamasa Institute Aichi Center for Japanese Studies<BR>1-2-1 Hanehigashi-machi Okazaki Aichi Japan 444-0832<BR>Tel: +81 (0) 564 55 8111 Fax: +81 (0) 564 55 8113<BR>URL: <a href="../../../index.html">http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/</a><BR> Email: <a href="mailto:admissions@yamasa.org">admissions@yamasa.org</a> <P> </BODY></HTML>