Chiba Nanohana News (July 2019)

 Index

　I.News       II . Festivals and Events      III. Exhibitions & Concerts

 I.News

 1) The Olympics and Paralympics are Coming to Chiba! ~Tokyo 2020 1 Year to Go!~

An event celebrating 1 year until the start of the Games will be held in the Prefecture in collaboration with the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, municipalities where Games events will be held, economic organizations, and other parties.

• Dates: July 27 (Sat), July 28 (Sun)
• Location: Aeon Mall Makuhari Shintoshin (1-1 Toyosuna, Mihama-ku, Chiba City)
• Organizers: Chiba Prefecture, Chiba City, Ichinomiya Town
• Contents:
  《1》Opening Ceremony (July 27(Sat) 11:30-12:15 at the Grand Mall 1F Grand Court)
  Appearances by 4 consecutive wrestling medal winner Saori Yoshida, Hanae Ito of the Organising Committee (former swimmer for the Japanese women’s team), among other guests.
  The MC will be Ryota Yamasato from the Nankai Candies comedy duo.
  《2》Various Stage Events (July 27 (Sat), July 28 (Sun) Grand Mall 1F Grand Court)
  An introduction to events that will be held within the Prefecture by Tokyo 2020 mascots Miraitowa and Someity, Chiba Prefecture mascot CHI+BA-KUN, and Olympians/Para-Athletes, an “All-Chiba Hospitality Team” stage (guest: Kei Yasuda) among other events
  《3》Other planned events (July 27 (Sat), July 28 (Sun) 11:00 - 18:00 throughout the Grand Mall among other locations)
  The making of a support flag for events being held in the Prefecture by participants, a sports experience corner using state of the art technology, a description of and an application to be an Olympic Torch Runner in Chiba Prefecture, host town PR corner, a stamp rally for Prefecture held events, among other attractions.
• Inquiries: Olympic and Paralympic Games Bureau, Chiba Prefecture TEL043-223-2442
• URL:https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/oripara/pre-camps/press/2019/tokyo2020-1year-to-go310624.html

2) The Chiba Advisory Service for Foreigners Has Been Updated

The Chiba Advisory Service for Foreigners now Enhanced to 13 Languages 

Chiba Prefecture runs a consultation service for foreign residents. Due to a large variety of people using the service, the amount of available languages has been increased. If you are troubled by anything in your daily life, please do not hesitate to contact.

• Languages
  Japanese, English, Chinese, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Korean, Nepalese, Thai, Portuguese, Indonesian, Russian, Hindi
•  Consultation Hours
  Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) 9:00 – 12:00, 13:00 – 16:00 
• Method of Consultation
  By phone or in person
  TEL: 043-297-2966
• Location: Chiba International Convention Bureau/Chiba International Center, WBG Malibu East 14F, 2-6 Nakase, Mihama-ku, Chiba City
  2 minutes on foot from Kaihin Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line

Free Legal consultation Service for Foreign Residents

A free legal consultation is also being run by lawyers and notaries, where you are able to consult with a professional over legal troubles and visa problems, among other issues. (Reservation required)
Reservation in advance is required. Please contact Chiba International Center in advance if you require an interpreter.
TEL: 043-297-0245
Please see the homepage for the schedule.
https://www.mcic.or.jp/ja/support_for_foreigners/free_legal_consultation/index.html
( External link ) 

 II.  Festivals and Events 

 1) Mobara Tanabata Festival (Mobara City)

The Mobara Tanabata Festival, is a huge summer festival which welcomes over 800,000 visitors every year.

Celebrating the 65^th anniversary and the start of a new era, the theme of this year’s festival will be “Reiwa Restoration: The First Step to Achieving Your Dreams”. Amongst the colorful tanabata decorations, there will be a variety of events for everyone: Mobara Awa dancing, yosakoi dancing, and much more. At nightfall, all of Mobara comes alive in brilliant color with over 2,000 lanterns to celebrate along the nearby Toyoda River, dubbed "Amanogawa" (Milky Way), named in honor of the Tanabata Festival. 

• Date: Friday, July 26-Sunday, July 28,10:00-21:00(10:00-20:00 on Sunday)
• Location: JR Mobara Station Shopping Arcade, Takashi, Mobara City
• Access: By train, directly in front of Mobara Station (JR Sotobo Line), or by car, 20minutes from Mobara-Chonan IC on the Ken-O Expressway
• URL: http://www.mobara-tanabata.com( External link )
• Inquiries: Mobara Tanabata Festival Planning Committee TEL:0475-22-3361

 2) 2019 Asahi Sand Sculpture Exhibition (Asahi City)

Amazing sand sculptures of all sizes, including some made by world famous artists, will be displayed along the beach. At nightfall, the sculptures will be lit up, creating a mystical atmosphere.  

• Date: Ongoing-Sunday, July 28
• Location: Iioka Beach, 1356Yokone, Asahi City
• Access: From Iioka Station (JR Sobu Line), take the Asahi City Community Bus and get off at “Shokusai no Yado Iioka Iriguchi” and 3 minutes on foot
• Fee: FREE       
• Inquiries: Asahi City Tourism and Local Products Association TEL:0479-62-7537

 3) Fireworks in Chiba

Nothing embodies the excitement and joy of summer like fireworks. The explosion of color ignites the night sky and brings smiles to the audience below. Many places across Chiba Prefecture will shoot off fireworks over the water. It’s a beautiful sight you won’t want to miss this season! Light up your summer at one of these fireworks shows. Some of the most famous shows are listed below.

Makuhari Beach Fireworks Festa (41st Chiba City Fireworks Show)

• Date: Saturday, August 3,19:30-20:30
• Location: Makuhari Seaside Park
• Access: 15minutes on foot from Kaihin-Makuhari Station on the JR Keiyo Line
• Number of fireworks: 23,000
• Inquiries: Chiba City Fireworks Planning Committee Office TEL:050-5542-8600 

35th Ichikawa City Fireworks Show (Ichikawa City)

• Date: Saturday, August 3,19:15-20:30(postponed to August 4 in the event of rain)
• Location: By the Edogawa River near Osu 3chome, Ichikawa City
• Access: 15minutes on foot from Ichikawa Station south exit on the JR Sobu Line, or 20minutes on foot from Konodai Station on the Keisei Line
• Number of fireworks: 14,000
• Inquiries: Ichikawa City Fireworks Planning Committee Office TEL:047-711-1142 

Funabashi City Festival Fireworks Show

• Date: Wednesday, July 31,19:30-20:20
• Location: Funabashi Harbor Water Park, Funabashi Fishing Port area
• Access: 25minutes on foot from Funabashi Station on the JR Sobu Line
• Number of fireworks: 8,000
• Inquiries: Funabashi City Festival Planning Committee TEL:047-436-2473 

Fireworks Celebrating the 75th Anniversary of the founding of Matsudo City ~Dream Fireworks Fired by All of Us!~

• Date: Saturday, August 3,19:15-20:20(postponed to August 4 in the event of rain)
• Location: By the main library near the Edogawa River, Matsudo City
• Access: 15minutes on foot from Matsudo Station west exit on the JR Joban Line or Shin-Keisei Line
• Number of fireworks: 10,000
• Inquiries: Matsudo Fireworks Planning Committee TEL:047-366-7327 

59th Sakura City Fireworks Show

• Date: Saturday, August 3,19:00-20:30
• Location: Inbanuma Lakeside near Sakura Furusato Square
• Access: 30minutes on foot from Keisei-Usui Station, 40minutes on foot from Keisei-Sakura Station
• Number of fireworks: over 20,000(18,000last year)
• Inquiries: Sakura City Tourism Association TEL:043-486-6000 

Asahi Iioka You-Yu Festival 2019 Beachside Fireworks

• Date: Saturday, July 27,19:30-20:30
• Location: Iioka beach (1356 Yokone, Asahi City)
• Access: From Iioka Station (JR Sobu Line), take the Asahi City Community Bus and get off at “Shokusai no Yado Iioka Iriguchi” and 3 minutes on foot
• Number of fireworks: 10,000
• Inquiries: Asahi City Iioka You-Yu Festival Planning Committee TEL:0479-62-5338 

56th Tateyama Tourism Festival Port Fireworks

• Date: Thursday, August 8,19:15-20:45
• Location: Hojo Beach area
• Access: 3minutes on foot from Tateyama Station west exit on the JR Uchibo Line
• Number of fireworks: 10,000
• Inquiries: Tateyama Tourism Festival Planning Committee TEL:0470-22-8330 

Futtsu City Fireworks Festival

• Date: Saturday, July 27, 19:30 - 20:30 (Pre-event 15:30 - 19:30) *postponed to either Sunday, July 28 or Sunday, August 11 in the event of bad weather
• Location: Futtsu Beach(Futtsu, Futtsu City)
• Number of fireworks: 10,000
• Inquiries: Futtsu City Fireworks Festival Planning Committee office TEL:0439-80-1291

 4) 55th Minamiboso Shirahama Ama Festival (Minamiboso City)

This summer, the yearly Shirahama Ama Festival is collaborating with Maru-Gourmet ’19, a relief event for victims of the Great East Japan Earthquake, to create a 3-day event with tons of activities sponsored by the Shirahama Ama Festival Planning Committee and Marugomi JAPAN.
The Ama Festival honors women in the fishing industry, and serves as an event to pass on the tradition of ama (female diver) fishing techniques, and prayer for the safety and success of those who work at sea. There will also be performances of the Shirahama Ondo Soodori (the local folk dance), the dance of the dragon god, fireworks, and more.
The headlining event, the ama swimming performance, will be held on the 13th and 14th. 100 ama wearing white uniforms and bearing bamboo torches will enter the water and create a mystical vision on the water. 
The excitement continues all weekend long with the Maru-Gourmet ’19. Keep your stamina up at the Ama Curry Festa! Then, to revitalize areas affected by the 3/11 disaster and areas connected by local revitalization project Maru-Gomi Japan, two groups of 200 people each will face off on the 15th as they pull a 1 ton, 150-meter-long giant fishing net; there will also be a picture scroll that weaves together historical facts and figures.
Start off your summer with Minamiboso! 

• Date: Saturday, July 13- Monday, July 15 (Holiday) 11:00 - 21:00
• Location: Nojimazaki Lighthouse Park/630 Shirahama, Shirahama-cho, Minamiboso City
• Access: From Tateyama Station (JR Uchibo Line), take the bus bound for Awa-Shirahama. It is 5minutes on foot from the “Nojimazaki Todai guchi” stop.
  35minutes by car from the Futtsu Tateyama Road Tomiura IC
• Inquiries: Minamiboso Tourism Association TEL: 0470-28-5307

 5) Yatsurugi Hachiman Shrine Festival (Kisarazu City)

This traditional summer festival, dubbed “Hachiman Sama’s Festival” by the locals, celebrates the transferring of a 1.5 ton giant mikoshi (portable shrine). Made in 1850, this mikoshi is considered one of the top 3 largest mikoshis in the Kanto region. Come see hearty young people from various towns place this divine object on their shoulders and parade around the town. The traditional festival music, “Kisarazu Bayashi”, is also registered as an intangible cultural asset of the Prefecture.

• Date: Friday, July 12 Main Festival
• Saturday, July 13 - Sunday, July 14 Giant Mikoshi Parade
• Location: Yatsurugi Hachiman Shrine/1-6-15 Fujimi, Kisarazu City
• Admission: Viewing Free
• Access: 6 minutes on foot from the JR Uchibo Line Kisarazu Station
• Inquiries: Yatsurugi Hachiman Shrine TEL: 0438-23-8881

 III. Exhibitions & Concerts

 1) Chiba Citizen's Music Festival: Let's Reach for the Future! Hometown Chiba Harmony ~A Journey to the World of Music Vol.2~ Chiba Prefectural Cultural Center (Chiba City) 

The Olympics/Paralympics are not only a festival of sports, but of culture as well. In Chiba Prefecture, we consider citizens as bearers of culture, so we will be holding the “Chiba Citizen’s Music Festival” in which anyone can participate and mingle with others.

Amateur instrumentalists, groups of persons with disabilities and choir groups from Chiba, who have been selected by audition, will perform alongside a professional orchestra, Chiba’s pride, the Chiba Symphony Orchestra. A dance group which actively performs in Chiba will also join the stage. All of the performances will be conducted by Kazufumi Yamashita.

Furthermore, as a special guest, violinist Narimichi Kawabata, who is visually impaired but enthusiastically performs across borders, will deliver you fascinating harmonies.　

You will also be able to enjoy a wide variety of experiences such as boccia, sport wheelchair riding, orchestral instruments, as well as “Kotsuzumi” (Japanese small drum). We are looking forward to seeing all of you!

*The 2019 Chiba Citizen’s Music Festival is an authorized “Tokyo 2020 Certified Cultural Olympiad” event. 

• Date and time: Sunday, August 25, 2019, Performance starts at 2:00 p.m., doors open at 1:00 p.m.
• Location: Chiba Prefectural Cultural Center: Large Hall
• Admission:　Free
  ※Pre-registration is required.
• Registration Period: until July 31
  Registrations are accepted through a reply-paid postcard or registration form.
  In the event of an exceedingly large amount of applications, a lottery will be held.
  ※Infants are not permitted to attend.
  (A childcare service (paid) will be provided)
  For those wishing to use the childcare service, please inquire beforehand.
• Inquiries: Chiba Prefecture Cultural Promoting Foundation TEL: 043-222-0077
• Details:
  (Japanese)https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kkbunka/olypara-m/2019chibakenminongakusai-1.html
  (English) https://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/kkbunka/olypara-m/r1chiba-citizens-music-festival.html

 2) Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba (Chiba City)

The theme of this year’s special exhibition is “Mammals”. Stuffed versions and the bones of your favorite mammals that live around the world, in Japan, and more closely, in Chiba will be on display: from animals near you, stars at the zoo, to slightly strange rare animals. Information on these animals, their lifestyles, etc. will be showcased.

Further, events that can be enjoyed from children to adults will also be held, including touchable animal models, the latest research information on Chiba Prefecture’s endangered mammals and invasive species, and a small exhibition of nature photographer Michio Hoshino.

Please see the website for the full list of events.

• Time period: Saturday, July 13 - Monday, September 23 (Holiday) 9:00 - 16:30 (entry until 16:00)
• Closed dates: July 16 (Tue), September 2 (Mon), September 9 (Mon), September 17 (Tue)
• Admission: General 500 yen (400 yen) High School/University students (250 yen) (200 yen)
  ※Prices in parentheses are group prices.
  ※Middle school and below, aged 65 and older, those with a disability handbook and 1 caretaker free
• Address: Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba/Chiba City Chuo Ward Aobacho 955-2 (inside Aobo Park)
• Access: 15 minutes on scheduled bus from JR Chiba/Soga Stations or 20 minutes on foot from Chibadera Station on the Keisei Chihara Line
• URL:  http://www2.chiba-muse.or.jp/NATURAL/
• Inquiries: Natural History Museum and Institute, Chiba TEL: 043-265-3111

 

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