Let’s enjoy Akaoka with our Ryoma Passports!

Kochi Prefecture CIR Valerie Teo

 

   We’re off to Akaoka Station! Akaoka used to be called Konan’s “Commercial Town”, and nostalgic scenery can still be seen in its streets even now. Following on from a discovery in Nankoku City, this time we will be exploring Akaoka in search of eateries and facilities that display the Ryoma Passport banner.

 

 

Tosawo Shoten Chirimen Chuunichi Soba

  First, with our eyes on the “Chirimen Chuunichi Soba”, we headed to “Tosawo Shoten”. After a five minutes’ walk from the station, we spotted the banner!! “Tosawo Shoten” was written on the outer walls of the store in huge letters.

   Upon passing through the entrance, many fresh foods were laid out before our eyes, and to our left were tour pamphlets of the region.

   The eatery was located at the end of the room. Their menu had many food items—in addition to what we were intending to eat—that looked particularly delicious. We decided to go with the garlic-chive filled gyozas in addition to our chirimen chuunichi soba. The soba is made from a collaboration between Japanese style local chirimen fish soup stock, and Chinese noodles. Small fish, spring onion, fishcake, fried fishcake, shredded kombu made up the ingredients. It usually goes for 600 yen, but we got it at 550 yen thanks to the Ryoma Passport!

 

Invitation to the Shikoku Pilgrimage Experience

   The Junior Chamber International Japan, Shikoku Area Kochi Block Council is planning to hold a mini Shikoku Pilgrimage event. And Nankoku-shi International Association will be supporting it.

 

   If you participate in this pilgrimage event, you will learn a lot about henro, pilgrimage, culture through the members of JC and the English guides.

【Date】

   August 28, 2016 (Sun)

【Time】

   8:00（in front of the Nankoku City Office entrance）～ 17:00

　　　　　　　
【Itinerary】

   5km walking pilgrimage from Dainichiji to Kokubunji

   Dainichiji, Konan City: Worship Etiquette・Temple Explanation・Worship（Offerings)
   Kokubunji, Nankoku City: Worship (Offerings)・Temple Explanation
   Transportation to Chikurinji will be by bus
   Chikurinji, Kochi City: Worship (Offerings)・Temple Explanation・Sutra Transcribing

 

【Fee】

   Free

 

【Accident Insurance】

   Participants are insured against accidents

 

【Lunch】

   The Junior Chamber International will provide tomato curry

 

【Clothing】　　　

   Clothes and shoes that are comfortable to walk in

 

【Things to Bring】

   Water bottle・change of clothes (if necessary)・towel
　If you suffer from car sickness, please bring motion sickness medication.

 

【Deadline for Entry】

   August 10th.

 

【Inquiries】

   Sachi Nagano, Nankoku-shi International Association
   TEL: 080-3162-2310
   Email: mumsachi@yahoo.co.jp

 

Enjoy an Organic Lifestyle at “English Garden House”

The roses bloom from early spring to
October, with their peak in early May.

   The scent of roses warmly enveloping the area, colorful and vibrant flowers, the faint sound of insects going about their business, and creative cuisine made from naturally farmed ingredients—you take peaceful refuge from the day-to-day and treat your five senses to something special. At least, that’s what we felt when we visited English Garden House in Kagami-cho, Konan City in search of an organic lifestyle.

Tosa Masters - Takeshi Yoshikawa (The Dyed Goods Craftsman from Konan City)

He says the most difficult brushwork for the face is the nose.

   Around the time of Children’s Day (May 5th), originally a celebration of the birth and growth of boys, large furafu flags decorate Kochi’s skies in addition to the traditional koinobori carp-shaped banners. Takeshi Yoshikawa, a Tosa Master of dyed goods, says that, “One of the draws of furafu is the feeling of bravery one gets when they see a furafu swimming in the sky.”

 

   Yoshikawa, who makes furafu flags, nobori banners, and tosa-dako kites as a fifth generation owner of his family business Studio Yoshikawa, has been helping make furafu since he was a child. He started with washing furafu (which can take 1 hour per furafu!), and gradually moved on to painting colors. However, his young self didn’t enjoy the intensive labor, and his father explicitly asked him to succeed him in the family business, so he sought employment at a semi-governmental corporation in Kagawa Prefecture after graduating college. Then one day, while visiting home, Yoshikawa saw the happiness of a customer who ordered a furafu, and realized that he wanted to do a job where his personal efforts could directly make others happy. That’s when he decided to carry on his family’s craft.

Experience Kyōgen!

Watch live kyōgen and learn about traditional Japanese entertainment with foreigners!

GENKI Seinenkai Tosaben Musical 2014 - Hogwarts Tosa Style School of Witchcraft and Wizardry -

A dance scene

Genki Seinenkai Tosaben Musical 2013 “Tosa Wars”

A scene from Tosaben Musical 2012 "Ekin in Neverland"

This year’s theme is “Star Wars”!
   Luke has been forced to do strict study by his workaholic father so he can get a good job. One day, he decides to run away to his grandfather’s house in Kochi. Luke’s grandfather decides to show him “Star Wars.”
   When he falls asleep, he dreams that he is in the Star Wars universe. There, he joins the rebel forces, who are fighting against an evil corporation working to destroy the countryside. In order to become stronger, Luke must become one with his roots and master the “Tosa” power. Will he be able to save the countryside?

Museums of Ryoma

Here are brief explanations about three museums in Kochi about Ryoma.

 

Sakamoto Ryoma Memorial Museum
Houses easy-to-understand exhibits of valuable historical documents about Ryoma and explanations of his personality, achievements and his visions. The building is located near the Katsurahama beach and the observatory lends a panoramic view of the horizon and Pacific Ocean.
Open: 9a.m- 5p.m.
Directions: Get on a Kenkotsu bus bound for Katsurahama, then get off the Ryoma Kinenkan-mae stop and then walk one minute.
Entrance fee: ¥500 for 18 and older, free for high school and younger students, ¥400 for groups of 20 and over
HP: http://www.ryoma-kinenkan.jp/en/ (in English)

TEL: 088-841-0001

 

The Witch in the Cauldron

   Once upon a time there was a man named Asakichi living in Yasu Town. One day on a winter’s evening, as he made his way home with a bunch of freshly-picked radishes strapped to the back of his horse, he suddenly noticed that a witch with long, white shoulder-length hair was clinging to his horse’s hindquarters.

Manga characters for railway stations

Noichindonman

   Did you know that each station along the Gomen-Nahari line has its own manga character? Each character was designed byYanase Takashi – who is famous as the creator of Anpan-Man – and reflects something of the culture or produce of the area around the station. Let’s take a look at two characters that I find interesting. First is ‘Noichindonman’ at Noichi Station.

 

 

Shiokaze Burger & Dappan Dog

Shiokaze Burger

  

   The “Shiokaze Burger” is made from ground dolphinfish (or mahi-mahi/dorado). In Kochi,  dolphinfish are caught mostly in summer and are hard to keep fresh. A limited 20 dolphinfish burgers are sold at ¥400 each from around 10 am every Sunday at Yasuragi Market at the Michi no Eki (roadside station) in Yasu, Konan City.

 

Log House Hao Ogama-so

   It’s a quiet village and has beautiful turf sites and an excellent log house. You can use the bath and laundry free. (Check-in 16:00 / out 10:00 )

Enjoy Indonesia !

Date:
   1:30pm - 4pm, May 3 (holiday)

Place:
   Bentenza, Akaoka-cho Konan City

Performances:
   Folk Dance (Sumatera, Kalimantan, Jawa, Bali, Papua Dance)
   Indonesian Traditional Musical Instrument (Angklung Show)
   Sing Indonesian songs
   Indonesian Culture Exhibition
   Fashion Show (Indonesian Traditional Clothes)
   Quiz

Ticket Fee:
   900yen (includes snack and souvenir)
   Tickets have been sold out!

Inquiries:
   Ameria Bernadethe TEL 090-1170-1980

Genki Tosaben Musical 2012 – “Ekin in Neverland”

Tosaben Musical 2011

   Formed in 1996, GENKI Seinenkai has produced the Tosaben Musical every year, with proceeds from donations supporting students going abroad. This year’s theme is Kochi-born artist Ekin.

Dorome Festival

   This festival is held to pray for a large catch of Dorome (Sardine fry). The main event is a sake skulling competition where men must down 1.8L of rice wine, and women 900mL, accompanied by chants of `Guuuu to Gutto` (Gulp Gulp!). Entrants are given points for speed and style.

Mikan-gari (Picking Mandarin Oranges)

   If you ask a local what fruit is Kochi’s best, most will say “mandarin oranges”. You can pick this fruit at Tosa-no-Kochi-no-Kudamonobatake, in Kagami-cho, Konan city.

   This mandarin orange grove is spread over 8 hectares, with straight rows of trees spreading in all directions. It is as if you have been transported to a scene in California.

Blood, Candlelight and Yakisoba - Ekin Festival in Akaoka

How often does one get the chance to enjoy art bathed in candlelight whilst eating yakisoba washed down with beer? Once a year in Kochi's Akaoka Town, that is!

Akaoka Ekin Festival

Flyer for the last year's

An exhibition of theatrical screen paintings by the late Edo period artist, Hirose Kinzo, as well as performances of the scenes depicted by the Tosa Ekin Kabuki Group.