Kochi Life Q&A : Japanese Sake

   Starting this issue, we will be including a section in Tosa Wave called “Kochi Life Q&A”, where we answer various questions from foreigners living in Kochi about everyday life here. We’re not sure how long this section will last, but we are celebrating our first installment by writing about one of Kochi’s famous products—Japanese sake (pronounced saké).

 

Q:When I try to order sake at an izakaya, I see the sizes “1合 (1 gō)” and “2合 (2 gō).” But how much sake is in each of these? Also, at what temperature should I drink sake, and what do the temperature words “atsukan” and “nurukan” mean?

Visit Rural Areas involved in Nippon Green Tourism

Shimanto 3 days (15-17 October (Wed.-Fri.) 2014, 3 days/2 nights)

 

   This Monitoring tour is a program in which you will visit the rural areas involved in Green (Agritourism or rural) Tourism, experience the actual lifestyles in these areas such as production activities and food culture, and interact with the local people. An English-speaking guide will accompany you on the tour and help with the exchange.

 

Accepted Applicants: 10

Meet: 15 October (Wed.) at 9:30 at Kochi Ryoma Airport (or at 10:00 at JR Kochi station)

End: 17 October (Fri.) at 16:00 at Kochi Ryoma Airport (or at 15:30 at JR Kochi station)

Tour Organizer: Taiheiyo Travel (Kochi Prefecture)

 

For further information, please see the attached file.

Japanese Cultural Experience－Gagaku－

   Each year, the Tosa Yamauchi Family Treasury and Archives provides opportunities for foreigners to experience traditional Japanese culture. This year we will introduce gagaku, one type of traditional Japanese music. In addition to learning about the history and types of instruments used in gagaku, participants will hear a gagaku performance and try playing the instruments themselves.
   With explanations in English, even beginners will easily understand. Please come and experience the wonderful Japanese art of gagaku. 

   Later that day, a gagaku performance by the Gagaku Music Society of Tenri University will be held at the Sansuien Hotel near the Yamauchi Archives. Please feel free to join.

 

<Date>  Sunday November 9, 2014  10:00~12:00 a.m.
<Place>  Yamauchi Hall （2-4-26, Takajo-machi, Kochi, Japan）
<Capacity>  20 people
<Cost>  free

 

-How to apply-
   Send a post card, or a fax, or call us with your name, address, and telephone number.
   We’ll send you a ticket.

 

Tosa Yamauchi Family Treasury and Archives
2-4-26,Takajo-machi, Kochi, Japan 780-0862  TEL/FAX 088-873-0406

Intercultural Communication Bus Tour in Yasuda Town & Aki City - Explore the Treasure of Kochi -

 

Date: 11/3 Mon 2014

Meeting Time: 8:30

Meeting Place: Kochi Station North Entrance

Fee: 1,500 yen (Student Fee: 500 yen)

25 people. First-come-first-served

Please bring your own lunch.

Inquiries

   Please apply by e-mail with your name, nationality, address and phone number, and please put "Bus Tour 2014" in the subject line.

   Email: sggevent@gmail.com

 

 

 

Introduction to the Shikoku Pilgrimage

   There are many famous religious pilgrimages in the world, such as the Way of St. James in Spain and the Mecca Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. Rivaling these is a pilgrimage in our very backyard: the “Shikoku Henro” (Henro = Pilgrimage). This year is the 1200th year since the year that a man named Kobo Daishi (Kukai) from present-day Kagawa Prefecture is said to have selected 88 temples in Shikoku to be part of the pilgrimage, thus founding it. Today, this “Shikoku Henro” is being thrust into the limelight domestically and abroad.

   We looked into why there are 88 temples in the pilgrimage, but it seems that there is no clear answer. Some explanations are that perhaps it is to ward off the bad luck that comes with “unlucky ages” that add up to 88 in Japan (42 years old for men, 33 for women, and 13 for children), or perhaps it is to cleanse a person’s 88 worldly desires one by one.

   This issue of Tosa Wave is for readers interested in the Shikoku Pilgrimage. Even if your current age isn’t one of the Japanese unlucky ages and even if you aren’t plagued by worldly desires, living in Shikoku is a great opportunity to experience the pilgrimage. We cover everything—from pilgrim clothing to the conditions at three of the 16 temples in Kochi handpicked by our staff—and everything in between.

Staying Overnight at Iwamotoji!

Front view of the temple lodgings.

   Four of the temples in Kochi Prefecture that are part of the Shikoku Pilgrimage offer lodging for visiting ohenro-san. For this article, we visited one of those four temples, Iwamotoji in Shimanto Town, where we stayed the night at the lodging facilities for pilgrims.

   Iwamotoji was built in the Tenpyo era (729-749), and it was established as the 37th sacred temple in the Shikoku Pilgrimage by Kukai during the Konin era (810-824). Iwamotoji is home to several historical structures, such as the main temple where the temple’s principle object of worship is enshrined, which is across from the building that houses lodging accommodations.

The Famous Tosa Temple - Chikurinji

The origin of Chikurinji
   The origin of Chikurinji begins when Emperor Shomu had a dream where he was awarded with the teachings of Buddhism from a Manjusri (wisdom entity) at the known Manjusri sacred grounds after ascending to the top of the Tang Dynasty Mt. Godaisan (currently Shanxi Province). Emperor Shomu was extremely moved by this dream and ordered the famous monk Gyoki to search throughout Japan to find a sacred ground like that of the Tang Dynasty Mt. Godaisan, and build a temple there. After that, Kukai gathered much knowledge and it became one of the pilgrimage sites of the 88 sacred grounds of Shikoku, and was also used for prayer by the Yamauchi Family of the Tosa Domain during the Edo period.

In front of the Main Temple where the unveiling will occur.

No 29 Pilgrimage Site Kokubunji

The History of Kokubunji
   Kokubunji was constructed under the imperial decree of the 45th Emperor of Japan, Emperor Shomu. It was established in 741 by the high priest Gyoki, and restored under Kukai. Back then, the area surrounding Kokubunji was part of the Tosa domain, and a provincial governor better known for his work as an author of the Tosa Diaries stayed there for 4 years.

The roof where work has been completed on the main temple structure.

Interviewing an American Ohenro-san

   We Talked with Adam Chamness, an American living in Kochi who has completed the Shikoku Pilgrimage. He walked the entire distance during August and September of 2010, taking about 50 days, and he finished off his journey with a trip to Mount Koya in 2011. Let’s hear what he has to say about his experience!

Adam during the ohenro.

Do you want to participate in a Diaster Drill? - “How to protect yourself in a disaster” -

The Disaster Drill in 2012

Date: 

   Sunday, June 8, 2014. 9:30 - 12:30am

　

Place:

   2nd Floor Meeting Room, Eikokuji Campus, University of Kochi (5-15 Eikokuji, Kochi)

 

What:   

   1) How to be prepared for a disaster
   2) What you can do if you are injured
       How to use a tourniquet to stop bleeding
   3) Foot bath or hand bath

 

Discussion:
   What should we do when a disaster happens?

Quality Farming Activity in Ochi-Cho ～Enjoy a baseball game and 100% pristine nature～

Date: Sunday, 1st June, 2014

Venue: Ochi-cho Baseball Stadium
   Free shuttle bus is provided
   *Tour is based on tentative schedules and subject to change due to weather

Price: ¥2000
   Includes: Agricultural activity, Lunch, Game ticket, Insurance
   Special goods of Kochi Fighting Dogs

Experience Kyōgen!

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

Second Annual “Shout Gomennasai in the Heart of Nankoku city”

   We say ‘gomennasai’ every day, right?
   The word ‘gomennasai’ is a magic word.
  

   When you say this word with courage, the person who says it, and also the person it is said to, get the feeling of being saved.  A heartfelt ‘gomennasai’ is not just a simple apology to another.  In it there surely exists a feeling of compassion for the other person.

   In saying the one word, ‘gomennasai’ you can forgive each other.  In this word there lies the power to make everyone happy.

   Here in Nankoku City there is a town called ‘Gomen.’  In “Nankoku City, The Sacred Land of Apologies,”  won’t you throw aside your vanity, pride, and prestige and try shouting ‘gomennasai’ with honesty from the bottom of your heart?

   Surely you will discover a self that is different from yesterday.

Let’s Speak Japanese [NIHONGO DE HANASOO! NIHONGO SHABERIBA!]

   We are here to support you with your Japanese learning!
   This class is for beginners.　You can also join some Japanese culture activities in the term. Our class has many Japanese volunteers that will help you study. They will provide you with information about the Japanese culture and KOCHI city. The class’s main aim is to help you speak ability will improve in our class.

 

Japanese Language Lesson for Foreigners in Nankoku City

   We are here to support you with Japanese language studies.
   This class is for intermediate level and higher level learners.
   We are also ready to assist you in your JLPT examination.
 
Every Wednesday
  Time:19:00~21:00
  Term: 2014-5-１４ ⇒ 2015-2-１１
*We do not have the class in the summer holiday ; <the whole month of August>
and the winter holiday ; <in December 24th 31st>
*You can start any time.
  Place: NISHOO FUKUSHI KORYUU Center (Tamura Nankoku city)
       *There is parking available.
  Fee: 100yen per class.
 
*To enroll for this class or if you have any questions for this class, please contact NIA Tomonaga 
  TEL: 090-4332-7652     
  Email: salut_steramalis@yahoo.co.jp