Tosaben Musical is now on Blogger!

If you live in Kochi, (hopefully) you all have heard of the Tosaben Musical put on by volunteer group GENKI Seinenkai. We are now on a roll with rehearsals to prepare for the shows coming up in April!

As a new endeavor, GENKI Seinenkai has started a blog in Japanese (Tosaben, in fact!) so that more people in Kochi can stay in the loop with information on the upcoming performances, as well as get sneek peaks of what goes in to making the Tosaben Musical.

If you know Japanese people around you that are interested in the GENKI Tosaben Musical, please let them know about our blog at http://tosabenmusical.blogspot.com/

Cheers!

Part-Time English Teacher Needed

   Language House is welcoming applications from qualified, professional, career-driven teachers for a part-time position located in Kochi Prefecture.  We need a teacher to cover classes from the second quarter of 2012.  The classes are located at factories and offices near Kochi City.  The rate for the class is ¥5,000/hour.

Special Exhibition “Excavation of Japan 2011”

A deer drawn on earthenware
from the Isshiki Aokai archaeological site
in Inazawa City, Aichi Prefecture.

   About 7,000 investigative excavations are carried out nationwide every year. Approximately 520 artifacts from the Old Stone Age to the modern era, taken from 21 noted ruin locations between Tohoku and Kyushu will be displayed.

Bicycling in Shimanto City

Crossing a typical bridge by a bike.
You can enjoy Magnificent Shimanto River
and mountains scenes around there!

   Christmas and New Year’s Day is over now. During the past holidays we all attended or held parties and events, we had much fun and enjoyed eating and drinking and socializing with friends and family! That was nice but how do you feel now that it’s over? After the fun-filled holiday it’s always hard to come back and adjust to daily life. We come back feeling heavier and lazier. We need to find a good way to transition back to an active and healthier lifestyle. I highly suggest taking a bike tour in Shimanto City.

Kochi Queues

   Standing in long lines and doing nothing but waiting for your turn at restaurants and cafes is part of daily life in urban cities such as Tokyo. If you plan to visit a trendy eatery in a big city without a reservation, you need to be prepared to spend a long time sitting there irritated. You may need to wait longer than the time it takes to dine!

Roadside Station Tosa Washi Kogei Mura “QRAUD”

An old preserved storehouse
stands nearby. Inside is a gallery.

   When driving long-distance in Japan, most people make stops at “roadside stations.” That goes to show that there are many roadside stations in this country where you can take a break, shop, eat and gain traffic and tourist information.

Roadside Station Shimanto Towa

This large billboard with the logo attached
 acts as a landmark for the station

   Another roadside station we went to conduct an interview at was “Shimanto Towa,” located in Towa, Shimanto Town. “Shimanto Towa” opened in July of 2007, and currently has about 150,000 visitors annually, which is almost 50 times the population of the town it is located in. With some of the foremost tourist facilities in the area, the appeal of “Shimanto Towa” lies in its proximity to the nationally renowned Shimanto River, as well as in the love and care that has been put into the various local foods from the mountain (chestnuts, tea, etc.) and river (sweetfish, eel, etc.) served by the passionate staff that work there.

Roadside Station Otsuki

   Otsuki Town, located at the most western edge of Shikoku Island, is a treasure trove of nature. The town is famous for its sublime and beautiful scenery of granite and coral, and is considered a mecca of marine sports. Popular experiences are sea cruising, snorkeling and sea kayaking.

Roadside Station Konoka

   Roadside Station Konoka stands along National Road No.194 leading to Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture. It is an excellent station for drivers traveling to Ehime and is also a good starting point for climbers because it is surrounded by the Shikoku mountain range.

Roadside Station Bios Ogata

   Bios Ogata is located in Ukibuchi, Kuroshio Town, and it takes about two and a half hours by car from Kochi City. “Hinataya Market” and “Restaurant Hinataya” are two must-see locations in the roadside station.

Kinkon Tosanikki ④

A series of four-panel comics called Kinkon Tosanikki appears in the evening edition of the local Kochi Shimbun newspaper.

Kochi’s other 16 roadside stations

1. Osugi   see map

TEL: 0887-72-1417

Location: Otoyo Town, 15 minutes from Otoyo Interchange.

Characteristics: Near Osugi, one of the oldest trees in Kochi. The udon here is delicious!

Preparing for the Nankai Earthquake ③

Emergency supplies for evacuation and supplies for life in a shelter

Lifestyle Information ③ - Using a Taxi

   In the banquet season now when you have more opportunities to go out for drinks and may use a taxi more often, how do you pick one out of all the vehicles waiting for passengers downtown? There are two types of taxis that are usually running through the city. One is Kogata (small) and the other is Chugata (middle).

Let’s Make Kochi More International

Expat Column No.17

By Douglas Eric Marsalis, Owner, Chef and Manager of The Delta Blues Cafe from America

2009 Tosa-ben Musical

   I came to Japan in 2005 with the thought that I would stay just one year and go home soon after. Six years later, I am still here. I am sure that many of you find something special about Kochi just like I do such as the kind people, good food and the great culture that makes this area unique. That is why I have decided to make it my home.