Kochi Life Q&A: Yukata

Q: What is the kimono-like clothing that I see lots of people wearing when I go to a summer festival?

 

A:That is called a cotton-weave yukata. Originally, yukatas were used in summertime as bathrobes and pajamas, but today they are frequently worn at summer festivals and fireworks events.

The 10th Mizukiri International Competition at Niyodo River

   'Stone skipping' is a sport in which you toss flat stones towards a river in such a way that they skip across the water's surface.

   The competition is divided into three divisions: men, women, and children. Scores are based on the number of times the stone skips, overall distance, and beauty of the throw. This competition is open to people of all nationalities!

   Join us this summer at Niyodo River for your chance to become the Stone-skipping World Champion!

Uchimizu (Water Sprinkling)

   Sprinkling water over the garden and the streets around the house is a traditional Japanese method of preventing dust on the road or ground from being stirred up and to invite cool air in the summer time. Sprinkled water evaporates and removes heat from the ground, which slightly reduces the temperature.

Swimming Pools in Kochi

Here is an information about 5 swimming pools in Kochi. Please relieve your summer fatigue.

1)Prefectural Gimnasium Swimming Pool
   Address: Sanbashidori 2-1-53, Kochi City
   Fee: 120 yen for adults, 80 yen for SHS & JHS, 40 yen for ESS

Weird and Scary Insects in Kochi

   What they don’t tell you before you arrive in Kochi is that it happens to be the home of a plethora of creepy-crawlies seemingly from out of this world! Let’s take a look at just three of them.

Summer Retreat

Tengukogen

   There are many opportunities to go for a swim in the sea or waterfront to soothe the summer heat on hot summer’s day, but instead, why don’t you go up to the calm mountains that have plenty of fresh cool air and be surrounded by greenery to refresh your sun-tired body and spirit?

Dangerous Bugs in Summer

   Dangerous bugs come out as it gets warmer at this time of year. They are different from those which are extremely popular with kids such as beetles and stag beetles to blood-sucking nuisances such as mosquitoes and horseflies. In this article I’ll give you details of the characteristics of the most dangerous bug “wasp” and some countermeasures against it.

Safety: Sea, Rivers and Mountains

   You will have many opportunities to visit the sea, rivers and mountains in the summer holidays, but remember that there are a variety of dangers in such places. You should be particularly aware of the following dangers:

Lifestyle Information - Preparing for Typhoons

   The typhoon season lasts from July to October in Kochi. In 2006, 10 typhoons landed in Japan, and six of them landed or approached Kochi. Typhoons bring very strong winds and very heavy rain, and cause people to be killed and go missing every year. So be sure to prepare for them!

Ways to avoid “Natsu-bate” (summer fatigue)

   “Natsu-bate” is a physical disorder with symptoms such as lassitude, lack of appetite caused by lack of vitamins, minerals and protein, poor sleep, and disorder of autonomic nerves by air conditioning in summer.

Tosa Summer Recipe

   Here are a couple recipes using RYUKYU, a food item you cannot miss in summer in Kochi.
   It was imported from the Ryukyu Islands (now known as Okinawa), which is why it was named so. However, this name is used only in Kochi; it is called HASU-IMO in other parts of Japan.

   We eat the stems instead of the potatoes under the ground. They are offered at Sunday Market and supermarkets from the beginning of summer, so when we see it we can feel the coming of summer.

The 35th Otsuna Festival in Tosa City

   This is a tug-of-war festival that sees a giant rope 80m in length, weighing 1.2t and with a circumference of 1.8m, tugged East-West across the city. There will be various events like a Yosakoi dance, mochi throwing, a beer garden, and a tug-of-war tournament.

Date: 3pm - 9pm Sat. 18 August, 2012
Place: Prefectural Highway Tosa Ino, Tosa City
Access: 30mins by car from Kochi City, 5mins from Tosa IC
Inquiries: Tosa City Chamber of Commerce Tel: 088-852-1261

The 9th Niyodo River International Mizukiri Competition

What is MIZUKIRI?

Stone skipping' is a sport in which you toss flat stones towards a river in such a way that they skip across the water's surface.

The competition is divided into three divisions: men, women, and children. Scores are based on the number of times the stone skips, overall distance, and beauty of the throw.

This competition is open to people of all nationalities!

Join us this summer at Niyodo River for your chance to become the Stone-skipping World Champion!

Summer Travel to Kashiwajima

   Have you ever been to Kashiwajima island? Kashiwajima is in the southwest of Kochi Prefecture. You can see beautiful ocean there. And you can also see many tropical fish even in shallow water below your knees.

   Every summer, I go to Kashiwajima with my family. We enjoy swimming and snorkeling in crystal clear water there. We really love this beach.

Yosakoi Naruko Odori

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   In summer 2010, a film set in Kochi,`Kimi ga odoru, natsu: The summer you are dancing in’ was released.  The story is about a girl struggling with an intractable disease. Her condition was so serious that she might die that summer. She had one thing she had longed to do while she was alive. It was to dance Yosakoi Naruko Odori. The movie was attracted considerable attention because it’s based on a true story.

Furusato Festival in Gohoku

Beating Japanese-style drums strongly

   Have any of you ever gone to summer festivals held in countryside of Kochi Prefecture?

   The festivals are just as fun as the festivals in Kochi city, but in the summer, it will be more of an unforgettable experience. The event I would like to focus on the most is the ‘’Furusato Festival in Gohoku’’.

Shimanto Taisho ‘Ayu’ Festival

fishing with flaming torches

   This festival is locally run by townspeople, featuring the fish ‘ayu’ – one of the natural blessing provided by the Shimanto River. So come along and experience delectable Ayu-based cuisine. Plus, you can’t miss the nearby demonstration of traditional fishing methods – including fishing with flaming torches!

Nagashi Sōmen

   Nagashi Sōmen, “flowing noodles,” is a summer favorite in Japan. Sōmen are very thin, white noodles made from wheat flour. They are usually served cold during the summer months.

Daimonji-no-Okuribi (Great Bonfire Event), Shimanto City

   An annual Obon event representative of the summer in the Masaki area of Shimanto City. This is an event unusual in the whole of Japan, where giant, burning 大 kanji can be seen and enjoyed by everyone.

Yosakoi Festival － A secret of a happy married life

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   The season of the Yosakoi Festival this year is just around the corner, which is held from 9 to 12 in every August in Kochi City. This year 191 teams are participating in the festival.