No27

Chiba Nanohana News!!
Chiba Prefectural Government
September 2007, Ed.27

Today's Topics:

• I. Gernor Domoto back from Visits to Brazil and Costa Rica
• II. Asian Marine Film Festival in Makuhari
• III. Aloha Festival in Chiba 2007
• IV. Culinary Adventures - "Ise-ebi" (Spiny Lobsters) in Onjuku
• V. Guns in Japan exhibit opens at Otaki Museum

 

• Where to go?! - Chiba's Featured Location
• Editor's note
• Contact us

I. Governor Domoto back from Visits to Brazil and Costa Rica

http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/syozoku/b_seisui/kokusai/friendship/0708brazil.html (Japanese)

http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/syozoku/b_kouhou/topics/0708/index.html (Japanese)

Did you know? From August 21st - August 30th, Governor Domoto of Chiba was traveling abroad to Brazil and Costa Rica.

In Brazil, the governor attended the 50th year anniversary of the founding of the Brazil-Chiba Kenjinkai ("prefectural people's association"). There she expressed her congratulations and appreciation for the hardships the 400 or so families from Chiba and other places around Japan have undergone in emigrating to Brazil since Chiba's first family moved there in 1908.

In Costa Rica, the governor and her delegation sought to study firsthand the policies and techniques of a country well-known for both its impressive biodiversity and its advanced methods of protecting that biodiversity. Chiba is currently making a Biodiversity Strategy of its own, and information gained from this trip will no doubt be of great use in that process.

Welcome back, Governor Domoto!

II. Asian Marine Film Festival in Makuhari

http://www.amffm.net/index_en.htm( External link )

For those of you who like movies, there will be a film festival in Chiba this month! The Asian Marine Film Festival in Makuhari will focus on "Asian films which deal with the ocean as one of the key elements (i.e. theme, location, background)". Six films from around Asia have been chosen as candidates and will be shown at the festival as they compete for the grand prize of one million yen.

The website wasn't very informative at the time of writing, but did feature a note promising to update with more information at a later date.

Date:
Friday, September 14th - Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Time:
(see website)

Location:
Cineplex Makuhari and Hotel Springs near JR Kaihin Makuhari Station (see website for map)

Admission:
(see website)

Inquiries:
Tel. 043-231-3116
Email kumakuma@argopictures.jp

III. Aloha Festival in Chiba 2007

A Hawaiian celebration in Chiba! Or is it a celebration of Hawaii in Chiba? Regardless, it's Hawaiian and in Chiba! Features sales of Hawaiian goods and performances by students studying Hawaiian dance and music.

Date:
Saturday, September 15th - Sunday, September 16th, 2007

Time:
10:00am - 8:00pm

Location:
Chiba Chuo Park

Access:
10 minutes walk from JR Chiba Station

Inquiries:
Tel. 043-201-5515

IV. Culinary Adventures - "Ise-ebi" (Spiny Lobsters) in Onjuku

http://www.onjuku-kankou.com/event.html( External link )

The months of September and October are the season for catching "ise-ebi", or spiny lobsters, and the Town of Onjuku wants you to come down and share in the harvest! Freshly caught ise-ebi are now being sold in front of the Desert Memorial Hall by the beach in Onjuku. Various events involving ise-ebi cuisine, raffles, etc. will be held throughout this time period, with the main event (sale of ise-ebi sets) held on September 9th.

1. Yachiyo City Summer Event

Date: September 1st - October 31st, 2007

Location: The plaza in front of the Desert Memorial Hall (Sabaku Kinenkan)

Access: A 15-minute walk from JR Sotobo Line's Onjuku Station

Inquiries: Tel. 0470-68-2414

V. Guns in Japan exhibit opens at Otaki Museum

http://www.chiba-muse.or.jp/SONAN/( External link )

The Otaki Castle Annex Museum in Otaki is now holding an exhibit on guns in Japan. Featured is a collection of historical guns, as well as information on the history of guns in Japan from their introduction in the Sengoku (Warring States) Period to the present day and how this weapon has influenced the nation. Military history buffs and others may find this exhibit interesting.

Date:
July 20th - October 28th, 2007

Time:
9:00am - 4:30pm (closed on Mondays)

Location:
The Otaki Castle Annex Museum

Access:
A 15-minute walk from Isumi Tetsudo Line's Otaki Station

Admission:
Adults 200 yen

Inquiries:

Tel. 0470-82-3007

English materials (guidebook, etc.) possibly limited.

VI. Special Note: Chiba Housing Advisory Service for Foreign Students *update*

http://www.pref.chiba.lg.jp/english/dailylife/foreigner/adviser.html

The Chiba Housing Advisory Service for Foreign Students has updated the list of housing advisors on its website! The housing advisory service helps foreign students in Chiba find housing by giving information about apartments for rent, explaining rental contracts and Japanese customs related to renting and living in Japan, etc. Check it out if you are (or know) a foreign student in Chiba!

Where to go?! - Chiba's Featured Location

"Where to go?!" is an introduction of each edition's featured location. We've asked local residents of all areas in Chiba Prefecture to introduce the unique areas of their towns and we'd like to share them with you. We hope you enjoy exploring every inch of beauty Chiba has to offer.

This edition's featured location: Boso in the Fall - Kamogawa City

Since it's my very first Nanohana news, I'm going to put one of my own recommendations here this time. This one is a really interesting temple in the little town I taught in last year, Chonan-machi.

Most people think of famous places like Nikko and Hakone for observing the Autumn in Japan, but have you considered your own backyard? Kamogawa City invites you to come and experience Boso in the Fall. - Visit Tanjouji Temple for its special opening of its inner hall and be touched by a place of history and culture! - Partake in the fantastic views and the beauty of the changing leaves! - Enjoy the taste of Autumn with local dishes like "Oragadon"! - And the rest, we'll leave up to you and and your sense of adventure!

Come visit Kamogawa City and enjoy the Autumn by the mountains and the sea!

Editor's note

The heat of the summer is finally (cross my fingers) coming to an end. I'm looking forward to pleasantly cool breezes, lower electricity bills, and, of course, the various seasonal eating events that the Autumn will bring. Taking the Sotobo Line up and down the coast, I noticed this weekend that the rice has already been harvested in some places - in others, that harvest is fast approaching. Soon enough, the heat and humidity will drop, the students will go back to school, and the leaves will change colors. To all of you teachers out there, sorry that your vacation is coming to a close, but do your best in the new fall semester! I must confess that I've always lived in a place that has four distinct seasons, and am happy that Chiba, too, is a place that at a certain time of year you can see leaves floating on the wind.

One of my last acts of Summer was to make a last-minute climb of Mt. Fuji. (The plan was formulated on a Sunday night and executed the following Tuesday.) Lucky for us, the weather was generally pleasant (a few light splotches of rain, but that's almost inevitable when attempting a mountain like Fuji). We decided to take the traditional approach and climb during the wee hours of the night to reach the top in time to see the sunrise - at first, I was against this plan because I didn't want to miss the view climbing up, but my mind was changed when I saw the light from the rising sun shine from behind an array of stormclouds below and in the distance. Distant lightning combined with a clear sunrise made for a breathtaking (if chilly) panorama from the summit. I do recommend napping the day beforehand if you are going to try for the overnight climb, however, lest you end up like us, asleep in a family restaurant in the midst of lunch (to the dismay of our waitress) after finally coming down. The climb might be a bit rough for a non-habitual mountain climber, but I'd still say that climbing Fuji is a Should-Do experience in Japan.

Contact us

Your feedback, opinions and requests are essential for us in order to provide a valuable service. Please let us know your thoughts and what information would better suit your needs.

Chiba Prefecture Policy Promotion Office
Email:kokusai@mz.pref.chiba.lg.jp
TEL:043-223-2254
FAX:043-224-2631

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