The 8th 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.
  

Fireworks Display in Susaki Festival

When: Sat. Aug.6, 8pm-9pm (In case of bad weather, postpone to Sat. Aug. 27)
Where: Fujigahama, Hamamachi, Susaki City

Directions: 10 min walk from JR Susaki Sta.
Scale of fireworks: 2000 shots
Inquiries: 0889-42-2575

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Fireworks Display in Aki Summer Breeze Festival

Date: 7th August (Sun) 20:00 - 21:00 (In case of bad weather, postpone to 14th)
Place: The beach in front of Aki High School, Aki City
Access: 1 hour by car from Kochi City or 15 minutes walk from Aki Sta. on the Tosa Kuroshio Railway
Inquiries: Tel:0887-35-1011(Aki Summer Festival committee)
Number of shots: about 3,000 

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“Toys and Models Wonderland” Exhibition

Furusato Muroto Festival

In the morning, there is a race, the "Tosa Muroto whale ship boat race meeting".At night, about 2,500 fireworks will be set off!!

Date: Sun. 17, July
Time: 9:00am ~ 8:30pm (Fireworks: 8:00pm)
Place: Muroto City, Cape Muroto-misaki fishing new port –Muroto-misaki Gyoko Shinko
Inquiries: 0887-22-5134

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Fireworks Display at Shimanto Shiminsai Noryo Hanabi Taikai

When: Sat. Aug. 27, 8pm-9pm (In case of bad weather, postpone to Sun. Aug. 28)
Where: River side under the Akatekkyo on the Shimanto River, Shimanto City
Directions: About a 20-minute walk from the Tosa-Kuroshio Line Nakamura Sta.
Scale of fireworks: 8000 shots
Inquiries: 0880-35-4171

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Fireworks Display at Kochi-shi Noryo Hanabi Taikai

When: Tue. Aug. 9, 7:30pm-9pm (In case of bad weather, postpone to Sat. Aug. 13)
Where: Yanagihara, along the Kagami River, Kochi City

Directions: 3 min walk south from Kenchomae tramcar sta.
Scale of fireworks: 4000 shots
Inquiries: 088-823-4016

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Fireworks Display in Shiminsai Ashizuri Festival

When: Sat. Aug.13, 8pm-9pm
Where: Kashima, Shimizu Port, Tosashimizu City
Directions: Get on a bus bound for Ashizuri at Nakamura Sta. on the Tosa Kuroshio Line and get off at Plaza Pal Mae bus stop, and then walk 5 min.
Scale of fireworks: 10,000 shots
Inquiries: 0880-82-5547

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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.

Himuro Festival

What more could you want in mid-summer than an ice-cold drink? Back before fridges were invented this was almost impossible. However, 18th century records show that ice was indeed available in Kochi in mid summer. Each winter, snow and ice was stored in an underground cavern on Mt Tebakoyama, in what is now Hongawa, Ino Town. This is said to be the coldest place in Kochi, and so ice can be stored for months.

Kochi SGG Club

Kochi Castle

Kochi SGG (Systematized Goodwill Guide) Club is a voluntary organization with a mission to promote international friendship through free guide services offered to foreigners.

“Saba-ga-” from Tosashimizu

Of Kochi’s mackerel, Shimizu mackerel or Shimizu saba is the most famous.

Fruit Picking in Kochi

In Japan, there is a sightseeing activity called “gari” in which farmers open their gates to ordinary people and offer them the opportunity to pick their fruit and vegetables. You can eat your loot right there or take it home. This edition gives you information about these activities around Kochi so that you can get to know more about Kochi’s produce and natural blessings...

Read more?

http://www.kochi-kia.or.jp/info/tosawave/tosawavevol25.pdf

Kochi has many types of fruit



Kochi produces some rare kinds of fruit that aren’t seen very often in other prefectures. Niitaka-nashi, which are harvested in autumn, are pears almost as big as a baby’s head.  

niitaka-nashi

Wanuke-sama festival

On 30 June every year, Kochi’s Wanuke-sama festivals are held at shrines in and around Kochi Prefecture. Wa (circles or hoops) are made from chigaya (Rhizoma Imperatae). You are supposed to go through this circle three times in total in order to keep safe and sound throughout the year.

Beer Gardens

Now it is summer, a cold beer in a beer garden sounds so good, and there is a wide choice of them here in Kochi. However, Japanese beer gardens are not what you might be expecting. Very few of them are actually in gardens, but more usually are on the roofs of hotels. Also, they serve food usually in a buffet style, as well as a nomihodai (drink-as-much-as-you-like) drinks selection. You pay a fixed price at the door on entrance, and then you are free to take as much food and drink as you like. The price is between three and four thousand yen and they are usually open from 5pm-9pm.

Tosaben (Tosa Dialect)

If you live in Kochi and want to make friends with local people, the easiest way is to understand the local ‘Tosaben’ dialect and learn to speak it a little. This edition will introduce Tosaben’s history and grammar, as well as define useful words and phrases...

Read more?
http://www.kochi-kia.or.jp/info/tosawave/tosawavevol35.pdf

Taken from vol.35 (April & May, 2010) 

For Those Interested in Learning Japanese

The Kochi International Association provides an opportunity to learn and practice Japanese. We offer 3 different level of classes; Basic Class 1 is for beginners, Basic Class 2 is for beginners-intermediate and Basic Class 3 is for intermediate level. To register for classes, please fill out the attached application form and return to the Kochi International Association.

Disaster Survival Cards Published

The KIA has published folding credit-card sized cards detailing information useful in the aftermath of massive disasters such as the Great Nankai Earthquake. The cards, available in English, Chinese, Korean, Tagalog, Indonesian and Vietnamese, are ready for distribution to those who are interested.

Information booklet and website for preparing for the Nankai Earthquake

You will still clearly remember the devastating earthquake in Sichuan Province, China in May. While watching a series of news report from the quake-hit area, I reaffirmed my belief that being prepared for the worst is vital if you are to survive such a massive earthquake.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ⑥

This installment brings you two frequently used tosa-ben words “gicchiri” and “chagamaru”. Gicchiri is an adverb meaning always or many times. Chagamaru is a verb meaning break down or don’t work when used in relation to an object, or meaning sick in bed in relation to a person. Here are three example sentences.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ⑤

This installment brings you the useful sentence endings: “…ki”and “…yaki.” This is a conjunction to express a reason, and is similar to “…(da)kara” and “…(na)node” in standard Japanese. This conjunction is used quite often so it’s very important to remember. Here are two example sentences.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ④

This time we teach you “・・・nikaaran”. This comes at the end of a sentence and means may or perhaps. Here are two example sentences.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ③

You will hear “bar” frequently in daily tosa-ben conversation. This basically means “only” or “about”. Don’t confuse it with BAR, as in “bar counter” or “bar exam”! Deciding which meaning applies depends on the context. Let us give you two simple example sentences.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ②

This time we focus on the difference between “…chuu” and “…yuu” which you often hear at the end of tosa-ben sentences. By the end of this article you will completely understand the basic usage of these two suffixes!

“Shukudai o shi chuu” and “Shukudai o shi yuu”. Can you tell the difference of the meaning of these two sentences? In the standard Japanese, both are replaced by “Shukudai o shite(i)ru”, and are not distinct.

Whereas in tosa-ben, the two are completely different: The former sentence means “I have already done my homework”, and the latter means “I am doing my homework now (not finished)”.

To put it in a grammatical manner, “…chuu” represents present perfect tense, and “…yuu” expresses present progressive tense. This is the basic difference between these two suffixes.

Some verbs cannot be connected with “…yuu” even if they are used with “…chuu”. State verbs like “shiru” (know), “ikiru” (live) and “motsu” (have) cannot be used with the “…yuu” ending. You can say “Sore shitt chuu” (I know it), but you cannot say “Sore shiri yuu”, which is a nonsensical phrase to tosa-ben native speakers.

In the Hata region, “…chō” and “…yō” are used instead of “…chuu” and “…yuu”.

Taken from vol.22 (February & March, 2008. Forest Environment Tax in Kochi)

Daywalker

Expat Column 14
BY Daniel Björnström, Kochi City CIR

In the movie Blade, Wesley Snipes plays a half human half vampire hybrid. He isn’t bound by the limitations of either identity. He can walk around in daytime like a human but live forever like a vampire. People call him the Daywalker.

Thank you Kochi!

Expat Column 13
BY Marissa Baumann from USA, ALT

Perhaps there is no time when your appreciation of a place is so strong as when you are about to leave it. That is where I find myself in these summer months, preparing to leave Kochi after four years of living here.

Tunisiajin in Tosa

Expat Column 12
BY Ellouze Khalil , Exchange student

I came from Tunisia in April 2007. I’m enrolled in biotechnology master program in Kochi University of Agriculture. So far, I’m the only Tunisian in Shikoku. Well, it has some advantage and some inconveniences. But I’m happy to be here. Kochi welcomed me with open arms.

My Homeland - Paraguay

Expat Column 11
BY Matsunaga Masaoka Leonardo Susumu from Paraguay, Trainee

I was born in Paraguay. Maybe, not many people have heard of this country actually. Geographically, it is located on the West side of Brazil and the North side of Argentina. The area of the whole country is almost the same as Japan and it is located in the center of the South American Continent so I had never seen the ocean until I came to Japan. I was also surprised when I saw the mountain (Hitsuzan) that lies in the center of Kochi city because my home country has few mountains. Of course, there are no tunnels so I was filled with some excitement when I first passed through one. I have to admit I was actually scared at first.

A Happy Lonely Experience

Expat Column 10
BY EUGENE CLIFF BAYENG from Philippines, Trainee

What a contradiction, don’t you think? Well, here’s my story. When I arrived at Narita Airport, I was so happy that for the first time in my life, I stepped on a foreign land. I was so excited and at the same time nervous to meet with the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR) staff and co-trainees from around the globe.

Farewell Fair Kochi

Expat Column No.9
BY BRIAN LOTTINO from USA, Kochi City ex- CIR

As cliché as it is, I have another “I wanted to go to the big city, but I’m glad I got sent here” story. In my case it was the Kobe-Osaka area that I wanted to go to at first. When I first heard I was going to Kochi, I was not upset because I thought it was close enough that I could go there whenever I wanted. Of course, the reality of the 8 hour ¥10000 return bus ride quickly squelched any such hope.

Getting Sick in Japan

Expat Column No.8
BY LILIK RAHAYU from Indonesia, Kochi City CIR

In Indonesia, when I got sick, I hardly ever went to the hospital. Apart from serious illnesses when it is unavoidable to go to hospital, for something as simple as a cold I felt that over-the-counter drugs were enough. This is because in Indonesia I was not covered by health insurance, so treatment costs were too high.

Life in the Country

Expat Column No.7
BY VIENESSA WIMBORNE from Australia, Businesswoman

I first learnt of Japan as a child watching old Miamoto Musashi movies with my Dad. I fell in love with the romantic ideals of Budo, and traditional Japanese life. The tatami and wood houses, the irori and the lanterns. It looked so beautiful to me and I wanted to live there. So imagine my extreme disappointment when I first arrived, greeted instead by masses of power lines and aluminium structures.

Participating in the Yosakoi festival

Expat Column No.6
BY EMILY OSAKI from Brazil,Trainee

Since I arrived in Japan in June, it was not long before it was time to participate in the Yosakoi festival. I  have wanted to join the Yosakoi festival ever since I first heard of it from my dad and sisters in Brazil.

The importance of being rural

Expat Column No.5
BY DANIEL LOCHMANN from UK, ex-Kencho CIR

When I first arrived in Kochi three years ago, I had no idea what to expect, apart from the rice fields and beaches I had read about in guidebooks. Since Kochi is blessed with both fertile farmland and a sea rich in sustenance, I was not surprised to find a great deal of high quality, delicious food from both land and water.

Internationalization with the ladies who lunch

Expat Column No.4
BY KATHERINE BRANNON from USA, ALT

As I have adjusted to the routine of life in Japan since I moved here last August, I have come to dread certain periods and look forward to others. For instance, the week or so before testing begins, both for midterm and final exams, is always particularly stressful.

Foreign Interaction

Expat Column No.3
BY JOEL BAXTER from Canada, ALT

Do you ever think of the psychology of being a foreigner? Just like any minority, that status brings with it both negative and positive aspects. But let’s look at us, for a moment, and the way we act together. How many fellow foreigners do you associate with on a regular basis? How many of those people would you consider actual friends?

A Thousand Good People

Expat Column No.2
BY ANNETTE LANGSTONE from England, ALT

Often, when we foreigners think of Japan, we have pre-conceived ideas of how the Japanese are, involving Geisha, or perhaps Sumo! As I had only viewed Japan (well, Tokyo!) through the news, my no.1 image was that of the Japanese businessman – wearing a sharp suit, and, on the surface at least, perhaps a little aloof.

However, I remember arriving in Towa Village, Kochi and being whisked off to drinking parties left right and centre, and realising that people here were very different from my preconceptions. This realisation was heightened only a week later after I was violently attacked and hospitalised for a month.

Study Tosa-ben with us! ①

People in Kochi speak Tosa-ben, which is different from standard Japanese. Starting in this edition, we plan to introduce you to Tosa-ben one phrase at a time. We will focus on things that are used frequently and are easy to remember. Remember what we teach you, and the locals will love you!

This edition we will talk about the Tosa-ben phrase “se-raren”. “Se-raren” is the equivalent of “suruna” in standard Japanese, which means don’t do it. “Se” is a grammatical form of “suru” which means do. “Raren” represents prohibition in Tosa-ben. “Ya-raren” is a synonym of “se-raren”.

Kinkon Tosanikki

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

Arukou, Arukou!

Expat Column No.1

BY CHARLES KANUH from USA, ALT

Ever seen a Japanese animated film and wondered, “Why do the characters always stroll through the opening/ending theme?” Well, the obvious answer is that it’s fun! And Kochi city, despite its perilously

narrow backstreets, is a great place to enjoy a nice walk. If you’ve always been in too much of a rush to enjoy the sights, sounds, and smells of a stroll through Kochi, here are two highlights: