Great Figures in Kochi - Manjiro Nakahama (1827-1898)

   When he was 14 years old, Manjiro Nakahama was shipwrecked on his first fishing trip. He was rescued by a passing American whaling ship, and was taken to America. He learned English and the art of navigation in America and later returned to Japan. He became a bridge of communication between these two countries. There is a statue of Manjiro at Ashizuri Promontory.

Great Figures in Kochi - Ryoma Sakamoto (1835-1867)

   Ryoma Sakamoto is Kochi’s greatest son. You can't think of Kochi without thinking of Ryoma Sakamoto, and he is well known not only in Kochi but also nationwide.

   He was born in 1835 in Kochi City and he was said to be a very weak crybaby. His elder sister Otome, a quintessential Hachikin woman – as strong as 4 men – toughened him up. By the time he was a young man, he had been awarded a swordsmanship license.He also studied a lot of things about foreign countries and had remarkably progressive views considering Japan was then officially sealed off from the outside world.

Great Figures in Kochi - Taisuke Itagaki (1837-1919)

   After you enter Ote-mon, the main gate of Kochi Castle, you will find a statue of Itagaki Taisuke. He was an upper class samurai of Tosa domain and contributed to the establishment of the new government after the Meiji Restoration. He resigned from the government and returned to Kochi to found the ‘Liberal Party,’ and later led ‘the Liberty and People’s Rights Movement.’He was a strong advocate for liberty, people’s rights and democracy (these concepts were not common in Japan at that time), and his influence spread across Japan.

Kashiwajima

The view of Kashiwajima is absolutely breathtaking.

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.

Kinkon Tosanikki ⑥

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

Old man: Gyah! A mukade!


Old man: You have to kill the mukade with boiling water!



Old man: Hey, could you bring the water over here once it boils!?


Old woman: Here you go, I made some delicious tea!
Old man: But I was going to kill the mukade with it!

NIA JAPANESE LANGUAGE LESSON CLASS

   Let’s speak JAPANESE!! [NIHONGO SHABERIBA!]

   Next our Japanese class will start at Sep. 5. This is not the first class for the year, but you are more than welcome to join us.

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

Employment Advertisement for Foreign Lecturer

Ehime University

   (Ehime-ken) Ehime University in Matsuyama city is seeking one contract English instructor for the English Education Center beginning in April 2013. Each contract lasts one year and three contract periods may be allowed based on program needs and evaluation of work performance.

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!

Special Exhibit: A pictorial book of Shigeru Yamasaki’s toy ship collection

Dragon boats used in races
at the Hari Festival in Okinawa

   Local toy ships reflect ship cultures across Japan; dragon boats used in races at the Hari Festival in Okinawa, Funahoko floats used in the Yamahoko procession of the Kyoto Gion Festival, and whaling boats used in old Kochi and Wakayama prefectures.

Public Lecture "Rescued by Writing"

An American expat's experience in Japan
(In English, with Japanese interpretation)

By Prof. Wendy Jones Nakanishi
(Literature Professor, Shikoku Gakuin Univ.)

Date: Thursday 19 July, 6:30pm-8pm

Location: At a meeting room on the 2nd floor, Eikokuji Campus, University of Kochi

Inquiries: 088-873-2984
japanstudies@el.u-kochi.ac.jp

Flyer in Japanese (PDF)

Fireworks Displays this summer

Here is an information about fireworks displays this summer in Kochi.

Furusato Muroto Festival (Muroto City)
  Date: Sun. July 15, 8pm-9pm (In case of bad weather, postpone to July 16)
  Place: Seaside Station Toromu
  Scale of fireworks: 3000 shots
  Inquiries: 0887-22-5134