The X-Pat Files -  September 2007

 (Brought to you by H&R Consultants)

  The X-Pat Files Community E-Newsletter provides a forum for the spread of information useful for English speakers living in Aichi.  You can use the newsletter as an informational resource, and of course you can send in information you would like to share.
  This newsletter is a community service from The Japan Real Estate and Relocation company, H&R Consultants (www.japanhomesearch.com), and is edited by Sue Conolly (http://web.mac.com/conolly).

  Contents for This Edition

  1.  X-Pat Files Review - Medical Practicioners
  2.  Driving in Japan
  3.  English speaking dentists in Nagoya
  4.  Nagoya PC & Mac Club
  5.  Upcoming Events
  6.  Buying Japanese Food
  7.  Africa Benefit Concert
  8.  Charity Yoga and Meditation Retreat
  9.  Universal Fitness and Pilates Studio
  10. Wasshoi!  Wasshoi! - The Japanese Festival

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   1. X-Pat Files Review - Medical Practicioners

The following quick-link information is compiled from past issues of the X-Pat Files.  To find specific information from past issues of the X-Pat Files, go to www.xpat-files.com and type a keyword (eg. dentist) into the search function to find all past issues of the newsletter which contain that word.  In the Quick Links below, official websites are often in Japanese and so should be used in conjuntion with the original X-Pat Files listing.  Please be aware that information may not be current and should be checked before setting out.  Please let us know if information can be updated for future issues of the X-Pat Files.

If you know of an English-speaking medical practioner that does not appear below, please let me know by sending an e-mail to info@xpat-files.com with your recommendation.  Conversely, if you are looking for a particular type of medical practioner you feel should also be represented here, please send me an e-mail with your request.  I will do what I can!


Late Night and Emergency Clinics around Nagoya (X-Pat Files link)
Sasaki Children's Clinic, Pediatrician, Fujigaoka (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
Asako Clinic, Family Doctor, Meito-ku (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
Ohmori Clinic, Family Doctor, Mizuho-ku (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
Nakahigashi Skin Clinic, Kozoji (X-Pat Files link)
Ito Chiropractic Office in Kanayama (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
St Sophia Ladies Clinic, Gynecologist, Nagoya Station (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
Kato Clinic, ObGyn, Mizuho-ku (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
Marumo Hospital, mammograms, Hongo (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link in English)
Fairy Dentist, Kozoji (X-Pat Files link)
Sophia Implant Center, Dentist, Sakae (See X-Pat Files information below, Official Website Link)
Minoura Dental Clinic, Kurokawa (See X-Pat Files information below, Official Website Link in English)
Adachi Dental Clinic, Shin-Sakae (See X-Pat Files information below, Official Website Link)
Dr. Irie, Orthodontist, Gifu & Meito-ku (See X-Pat Files information below, Official Website Link)
Dr. Mukai, Orthodontist, Kasugai (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)
New Sakae Acupuncture Clinic, Sakae (X-Pat Files link, Official Website Link)

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  2. Driving in Japan

Japan is a fantastically convenient country for public transport, and it is very possible to survive your whole life without a car or a driver's license.  However, when you want to venture out in to the countryside, or if you have kids that need driving to the pediatrician, a car will make your life much easier!

Some starter facts for beginner drivers in Japan:

*  Drive on the LEFT side of the road (you probably already knew this, right?)
*  The use of seat belts for driver and passenger seats are mandatory
*  It is compulsory to use a child-seat for children under elementary school age
*  The legal blood alcohol limit in Japan is ZERO
*  You can use an international drivers license for up to one year after your arrival in Japan, after this you must apply for a Japanese driver's licence.
*  Signs for destinations are blue for regular roads, and green for highways (see this picture for an example of a sign which indicates some regular roads, as well as one highway on-ramp).  If you are ever looking for an on-ramp, just look for the green signs, and take some cash with you as the highways are quite expensive!
*  For those who travel on the highway a lot, there is an ETC (Electronic Toll Collection) system that when installed in your car and used in conjunction with a special credit card allows cars to pass seamlessly through a special gate, saving valuable commuting time.  Using the ETC system also makes you eligible for any discounts available (eg. late night discount).
*  To buy a car in Japan, you must be able to prove that you have a parking space reserved for that car.  The exception to this rule in some towns (not Nagoya, sorry!) is the kei-car, or light automobile, which are indicated by a yellow license plate. 
*  If you are in Japan for a limited time, then leasing a car might be a cost-friendly alternative with no large upfront payment.  This option also skirts around all the hassle of having to register the car, the car-inspection (shaken), arrangement of voluntary insurance, proof of parking spot, and selling the car when you go home.  Not only this, but the car is maintained for you by the lease company so literally, you are just adding gas!
*  Japanese drivers are both polite and aggressive.  By this we mean that there are so many drivers on the road that it is seen as necessary to sometimes be a little pushy in order to get where you are going.  However, when you do cut in front of someone, it is customary to bow your head slightly at them and raise your hand to indicate that this is what you would like to do.  Then, having been given permission to cut in, flash your hazard lights as a way of saying thank you!
*  In a Japanese car park, try to reverse park except in situations where all other cars are parked forward for some reason.  The reason for this is that Japanese carparks are quite a lot tighter than those in other countries, and sometimes you will find yourself stuck and unable to back out of a space you've parked in.  If this is a problem for you, it's better to plan to park in a relatively deserted part of the carpark to give yourself less chance of being parked in.



Converting Your Licence from your Home License
(Information from www.japandriverslicense.com)

This allows you to obtain a Japanese license and drive the same kind of vehicles that you are permitted to drive in you own home country. You may or may not need to take a written and practical test depending on the origin of your license.  People with licenses issued from the following countries are not required to take a written or road test to convert their home country issued license into a Japanese licenses:  Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, The Netherlands, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Korea.

Conversely, people whose license was issued in the U.S., South Africa, China and Brazil are required to take both a written and road test, as are those whose license was issued in Africa, Asia, South America, Eastern Europe and Russia.

The conversion procedure (once you have all the correct paperwork in your hand) takes about half a day if you do not have to take the driving test (note: if you do need to take the test it takes a minimum of a day and a half with the application day and driving test day separated by a few weeks), and is conducted entirely in Japanese, so if you are unsure of your Japanese ability, bring a very patient Japanese speaking friend!  The conversion process also requires a certain amount of forward planning and preparation of necessary documents, including an official translation of your license by the Japan Automobile Federation (click here for address details and a map to JAF), especially since there rules and regulations as to what kind of paperwork you need to prove a minimum amount of driving time in your home country.  For more advice (or better yet, for someone to hold your hand through the entire process!) please see www.japandriverslicence.com.

Generally speaking, Japanese driving licences are valid for three years, but with good behavior it is possible to get a "gold" license from the second renewal which will last for five.  Every time you incur a traffic offense (even parking), to get your license renewed the next time you will have to attend a safety class, and you won't be offered the gold license!


Road Rules - Swatting for your test if you have one!

If you have a written test as part of your license conversion process (or even if you don't), you'll need to know the rules of the Road.  Japandriverslicense.com has a list of road signs and their meanings in English, and other rules of the road can be found in a comprehensive JAF guidebook published in five languages (English, Spanish, Portugese, Chinese, Hangul).  If you are taking the road test as well, this may not be enough to pass you the first time as you may be failed on minor technicalities that have little to do with your actual driving ability.  For a full lowdown on what to expect, www.japandriverslicence.com offers a wide range of services to help you pass that test the first time! 

One word of warning about the tests, both the written and the practical.  Be aware that if you fail to prepare for the test, you are preparing to fail the test, at least once if not more times.  Even if you are a good driver, there are minor points that can trip you up if you don't know about them ahead of time.  Each time you fail the test you need to make an appointment to take the test again, so be advised to apply early!  Give yourself lots of time before your international license runs out, because driving in Japan without a proper license is a serious crime.  In the end, when you take into account the time you have to take off work to re-take the test, it is better to have someone train you properly to pass the first time.  Many people fail to take the test seriously, and have a long list of failed tests to prove it.


Learning to Drive and Obtaining a License in Japan

More than 90% of Japanese driver's license holders are graduates of designated driving schools. If you do not possess a valid license and would like to obtain a full Japanese driver's license then this is way to go.

A driving school (jidohsha gakko) will take you through everything you need to know about motoring in Japan: the rules of the road, first aid, basic car maintenance, highway driving, map navigation, and of course safety driving. Instruction is divided into, for example, 26 lectures and 30-34 driving skills lessons. Lectures are in Japanese only, but an English translation of the text book may be available.

Many driving schools boast extensive shuttle bus services and child care facilities. The driving skills exam is administered by the school and only a written test is administered by the driving test center. The whole package costs around 300,000 Yen. Free trial lessons are usually available as well.
 
There are several large driving schools that offer a variety of courses and free shuttle bus services to neighbouring districts.  To find out the availability of English language instruction or text books, please e-mail, or have a Japanese friend phone ahead for you.


Higashiyama Driving School, located in Meito Ward.
Tel: 052-701-1151 E-mail: info@higashiyama-ds.jp

CBC Driving School located a short walk from Shonai Ryokuchi Koen Subway Station.
Tel: 052- 501-0625  E-mail: cbc-ds@infonia.ne.jp

Nagoya Driving School Tenpaku Branch - located near Nonami Subway Station.
Tel:052-896-3355. Also offers motorcycle, and large vehicle lessons. E-mail: tenpaku@nagoyads.co.jp

Johoku Driving School- Tel:052-916-3333 - located a short walk from Meijo Koen Subway Station.


In the Event of an Accident

If you are involved in a traffic accident, you should call the police immediately, as well as an ambulance if anyone is injured. As in your home country, you should take down:

1. the registration number,
2. the driver's license number, and
3. the other driver's details (name, age, address and telephone number)

POLICE 110
AMBULANCE    119

Always have with you, the phone number of a Japanese friend, colleague or 24 Hour Helpline consultant to help you in the case you have an accident.  Even small incidents are very distressing in a country where you don't understand the language, so don't add to your stress by not having the right help.


Car Insurance

When you buy a car (new or used) part of the cost covers mandatory insurance (kyosei hoken ryo). However, this insurance does not provide full coverage in the case of an accident and it is recommended to purchase additional car insurance as well.  Optional car insurance is a tricky question - even Japanese people often just go with the easiest option that is recommended to them by the car dealer (this makes a good case for leasing your car and not buying it in the first place!)

There is a great write-up of your options when shopping for optional car insurance, written by Carly Bode of the International Affairs Division in Ibaragi.  Despite having been written in another prefecture, the information holds true, and there is a good list of vocabulary too that will help you in asking the right questions!

JapanInsurance.net, underwritten by AIU, offers English language car insurance services to the foreign community in Japan, but is slightly expensive as it is pay by the month. Most Japanese companies only offer one year, one-off payment plans, which end up slightly cheaper. 


Japanese Automobile Federation (JAF)

JAF membership is a great idea for anyone in Japan with a car.  You can call their roadside service any hour of the day if you have a flat tyre, flat battery or even if you've just locked your keys in the car.  There is a registration fee of 2000 yen and a yearly fee of 4000 yen.  They also have for sale, a comprehensive guidebook in English (as well as four other languages) on Traffic Rules and Regulations in Japan.


Navigation Systems

Getting where you are going is a lot easier when you have a good map, and what better map than an up-to-date navigation system that drives along with you.  They come already built in to the car, or as an added-on option.  There is an English system also available.  If you have a Japanese navigation system already installed in the car, then the easiest way to program it is by telephone number.  Many home phone numbers will not be listed, but one trick is to use the phone number of a nearby business in order to guide you (or to guide friends with a navigation system to your house).


To Lease or to Buy - That is the Question

Depending on how long you will be in Japan and what kind of car you want to drive, it can prove to be economical to lease.  Leasing negates the need to try to sell the car when you go home, it also means that a lot of the fine details like insurance, registration and maintenance are taken care of.

LeaseJapan is a car lease company for ex-pats and is part of a large group of companies with over 20 years experience with the ex-pat community.  No guarantor or deposit is required.  Leases are available for any term of 6 months or longer for virtually any kind of new or used car on the market.

All leases include full insurance (with no excess on claims), free maintenance checks, registration, free road-side assistance, 24 hour English Help line support, ETC and English or Japanese GPS Navigation systems. They can also supply ETC cards (without the need for a credit card application, which is a major part of the usual ETC process). 

LeaseJapan can also help you to purchase or sell a car if that's the way you want to go, and they also help with short-term car rental as well.


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  3. English Speaking Dentists

Sophia Implant Center (Sakae)

Itsuki Murakami has extremely proficient English, and works from his own dental office right in the middle of Sakae.  The office, called Sophia Implant Center, is on the 4th floor of the building that is right next to Tiger Cafe, east of Oasis 21 and behind the NHK building.

Many Japanese dentists treat all their patients in one room with chairs lined up with each other or with flimsy partitions in between, but this dentist clinic has a private treatment room like in the west.  It is a little expensive and the treatment can be drawn out (Japanese dentists tend to do a little bit of treatment at one time, over several sessions), but if you're looking for a dentist familiar with American techniques then this dentist has experience at New York University and is also a member of American dental associations.

http://www.sophia-ic.com/

4F Joko Kaikan (Next to Tiger Cafe in Sakae)

1-9-19 Higashisakura Higashi-ku Nagoya-shi
Phone: 052-953-7007  Fax: 052-953-7008
e-mail: implant@sophia-ic.com
map: www.sophia-ic.com/guidance/map.html
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 10am - 1pm and 2:15pm to 7pm



Minoura Dental Clinic (Kurokawa)
(Thank you to Melissa Senga for this submission)
Both dentists (I think they are brothers) at Minoura Dental Clinic speak English, as do some of the dental nurses, and some of the reception staff when you need to make an appointment.  They also have an orthodontsist who comes in once a month for consultations.

Japanese dentists tend to do a little bit of treatment at one time, over several sessions, but this dentist clinic will do a lot of work on one day upon request, making it unnecessary to come back many times to complete the treatment. 

http://www.minoura-dental.com/en/index.html

Right at Kurokawa Station - Exit No.3 - Across from the station next to Lawson.
Four stops North of Sakae on the Meijo (Purple) Line.

2-5-12 Tabata, Kita-ku, Nagoya-shi
Phone: (052) 912-8418
e-mail: masataka@minoura-bld.co.jp
map: http://www.minoura-dental.com/en/index.html



Adachi Dental Clinic (Chikusa)

If you're interested in trying Chinese herbal medicine (Kampo), then this English speaking dentist, Dr. Akira Adachi knows a lot on the subject.   He's also a member of the Japanese Aromatherapy Association and the Japanese Eastern Medicine Association and has travelled around the world for a year.  On his website he tells us he practices dentistry unlike other dentists, so a trip here is unlikely to be boring!

Seven minutes walk from Exit #5 of Chikusa Station on the Higashiyama (yellow) line.

Dr. Akira Adachi
460-0007 3-16-11 Shin-Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Phone: 052-241-1463  Fax: 052-241-1464
e-mail: adachi_dent@hotmail.com
map: http://www.h6.dion.ne.jp/~a-dent/Home%20Page/map.html
Hours: (call for appointment)
Closed Thursdays and Sundays
Open Mon - Wed, Fri: 9:30 - 12:00 & 14:00 - 19:00
Saturdays 9:30 - 12:00 only



Irie Clinic (Orthodontist) - Clinics in Gifu and Meito-ku

Irie-sensei has a wonderful manner and he is really terrific with kids. And he speaks English! He is quite modest about his linguistic ability, however, his explanation of orthodontic procedures is clear and logical.

His main office is located in downtown Shin-Gifu, but he also practices in Meito-ku, close to the Meito-ku library in Bunkyodai (a bus ride from Kamiyashiro station). You will need to call or e-mail for an appointment several weeks in advance.

The reception staff do not speak English, so it might be best to ask for him personally or ask a Japanese-speaking friend to make an appointment for you.  Alternatively, his e-mail address is: irie@gifu.email.ne.jp.

Nagoya Clinic
2-501 Bunkyodai, Meito-ku
Nagoya-shi
(Located just across the street form the Meito Library)
Phone:  052-760-2506
Consultation day:  Thursday

Gifu Clinic
3rd floor, Casa Sentido, 2-4 Kinpo-cho
Gifu City
In front of Gifu Bunka Centre
5 minutes walk from Gifu Station
phone: 058-263-3660

For maps (in Japanese) click on the map link of this website.  The top map is the Gifu office and the bottom map the Nagoya office.

http://irie.ortho-net.ne.jp/



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  4. Nagoya PC & Mac Club
(Thank you to Esther Carrillo and Robert Sanzalone for this submission)

We are a group of computer users from many nationalities who come together every 3rd Saturday of the month to hang out, catch up with the latest information on technology and social media and chat about the Internet, cool gadgets and other computer related topics . We meet over lunch at Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Fushimi, so the atmosphere is very relaxed and casual. It's a great opportunity to meet new people in Nagoya and learn about the best deals and the coolest stuff in Japan. An absolute must-go if you still have to get your Internet set-up or if you are thinking of keeping in touch with those back home through a webcam and/or other social media. Learn how to make FREE international video calls through your computer so your folks won't even notice you are on the other side of the planet. All levels welcome! Hope to see you there!

And for those outside of Nagoya who can't make it to the meeting at Shooters, starting this month the NIPCC sports 2 new services online for ANYONE ANYWHERE to join.

For Skype users we have launched the NIPCC Public Skype Chat, which allows members to stay connected and share the latest news in technology. Skype also allows conference calls online that can be joined by all, wherever the members are in the world, for FREE. You don't need any special equipment to join the Skype chat other than a Skype account, an up to date version of the Skype application (a free download) and a good headset (if you want to speak - but using text is just fine).

To join the NIPCC Skype chat room click on the following link: http://tinyurl.com/26z66g

The NIPCC also has a new online meeting spot at http://nipcc.collectivex.com where ANYONE can join the discussions, post comments and tech news and get to know people with their same interests in the Nagoya area.


NIPCC's September Gathering

Date: Saturday, 15th September (3rd Saturday of each month)

Time: 11:00am for Mac users and 12:00noon for PC users

Place: Shooters Sports Bar and Grill in Fushimi

Price: Just pay for your own lunch and drinks. If you decide to attend regularly, membership is required.

 

Here are our contact details:

Website: http://www.nipcc.org

E-mail: mail@nipcc.org

Telephone: 090 2924 1455 (please keep in mind that although this is the NIPCC phone, our members have day jobs and it might not be possible to reach someone right away)

 

NMUG - Nagoya Macintosh Users Group

Website: http://www.nipcc.org/mac/index.html

E-mail: nagoyamug@gmail.com


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  5. Upcoming Events
(Thank you to Helen Brathwaite, Noriko Kato and Misty Johnson for these submissions)


Meet and Greet

Date: Tuesday, 11th September (2nd Tuesday of each month)
Time: 11:30am
Place: Shooters Sports Bar and Grill, Fushimi  (http://www.shooters-nagoya.com)
Price: 1500 yen for buffet lunch and a drink.
RSVP: to Helen Braithwaite at helenjbraithwaite@gmail.com as soon as possible but by Saturday the 8th of September at the latest.  RSVP will not be possible by phone this month.

For those of you who are new to Nagoya please come and join us for lunch.  Meet and Greet lunch is the ideal place to make new friends, have a chat and find out what is going on in Nagoya.  Shooters has a relaxed atmosphere and is closed during the day except for our event, so we have the run of the place.  This means that it is a VERY easy event for mothers with babies or small children.  It also means, however, that I must ask for an RSVP so that Shooters can cater for the correct number of people.


ACCJ - The Meaning of Billy's Boot Camp

DATE: Thursday, September 13, noon to 2:00 p.m.
VENUE: Nagoya Kanko Hotel

Who hasn't heard of Billy's Boot Camp? Trendy magazine named Billy's the 3rd biggest trend in Japan this year! Mr. Harry Hill, President of Oak Lawn Marketing (OLM) and ACCJ Chubu Governor, will give the inside story on how Oak Lawn Marketing set in motion the social and cultural phenomenon which is Billy's Boot Camp and Billy Blanks in Japan. Included will be the inside story on how OLM executed the "Billy in Japan" publicity tour as well as a look at the process of "SPEC," Oak Lawn's unique business model of Strategy, Planning, Execution and Continuity.

COST: Members: 4,000 yen, guests: 5,500 yen   DEADLINE: September 11
STAFF CONTACT: <nkato@accj.or.jp>
SPONSOR: Program Committee Chubu
NOTE 1: This meeting is OFF THE RECORD
NOTE 2: The presentation will be in Japanese with English subtitles



ACCJ - Independent Business Committee Meeting

DATE: Thursday, September 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
VENUE: Nagoya Kokusai Center

Speaker: TBA
COST: Members: 3,000 yen, guests: 4,000 yen   DEADLINE: noon, September 20
CONTACT: <nkato@accj.or.jp>



ANZCCJ - Australia VS Japan World Cup Rugby Night

DATE: Saturday 8 September  9:30 pm - 1:00 am
RECEPTION FROM:  9:00pm
VENUE:  Shooters, Nagoya
COST: Members / Guests 2,500 yen   Limited to 100 seats only, so book now!
RSVPs close: COB Tue 4 September 2007
 ‘No shows’ and cancellations after this date will be invoiced

Rugby is a growing sport in Japan and much interest is taking in this year's World Cup and John Kirwan's team of hopefuls. This event is a great opportunity for Japanese and Foreigners to meet and discuss not only sports, but also to make good business contacts, no matter what industry you are working in. You owe it to yourself to make it to this event and see what opportunities lay ahead for you.

·        Includes all-you-can-drink (beer, wine, soft drinks)
·        Food will be available at guest's own expense
·        Great Aussie/Japanese prizes to be won by raffle on the night.
 
Reservations can now be made online at www.anzccj.jp/events.php or by email to events@anzccj.jp
 
Please register:
Name/ Company/ Tel / Email / number attending (member/guest)
 
Please remit payments by COB Thursday 26th July to the following account:
Shinsei Bank
Head Office (400)
Account Number: 6129675
Account Name: ANZCCJ CHUBU
Account Type: Ordinary  
 
Door payments also accepted



Handa Dashi Festival

The "Handa Dashi Festival" is held only once every 5 years, gathering 31 spectacular dashi (floats) in the city to one place.  It is said to be the number one dashi festival in Japan to which about 470,000 visitors come. 

Mark the dates on your calendar: Saturday the 6th and Sunday the 7th of October.  If you only see one festival while you are in Japan, then this is the one to see.  Festivities begin from the morning and continue until night time when lamps are lit on all of the fabulous floats.

On the official Japanese website, you can scroll down the page to the light blue button just above the map, clicking on this will give you a short video which shows what to expect, but of course being there on the day is about 1000 times better than the tiny little video!  You can also see a slide show of still shots here.

To get there by car, it is 15 minutes south-east of Handa Chuo Intersection of the Chita Peninsula Expressway.  It is however perhaps a better alternative to take one of two trains:

* 10 minutes walk from Handa Station of JR Taketoyo Line.
* 10 - 15 minutes walk from Chita-Handa Station of Meitetsu Kowa Line

For train routes and times, please check Hyperdia before you set out.  From either station, walk east toward Handa City Hall (follow all the other festival goers!).  To see this on a zoomable map, scroll down to the bottom of the official Japanese website front page.

For more information, please call 0569-21-3111 (Extension : 309 - sorry, Japanese only)



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  6. Buying Japanese Food

A very useful book for beginners to the whole Japanese supermarket scene, is A Guide to Food Buying in Japan by Carolyn R. Krouse.  It has everything that you need to fill your larder, including all the conversions from home measurements, it even has a list of all the common Japanese fish, their seasons and their fat content!  It is also useful in that it teaches you how to read labels, and how to pronounce words in Japanese so that when you're asking someone in the shop they will not be left scratching their head (hopefully!!).

Another trick that I've shared over the years for grocery shopping, is to purchase and carry around with you a little pack of ring-bound cards such as are sold in the 100 yen shop for studying vocabulary.  On one side of the card you write the English, and on the other side you copy the kanji and pronounciation from a vocabulary word that you need, or cut a word from the label of a product you already like, so that when you're in the supermarket you can ask the staff easily for what you need.  The pack of cards lives in your handbag, and is always handy, and easy to add to and rearrange.

A great way of jumping in at the deep end with a Japanese supermarket is to buy a bilingual, or even a Japanese cookbook.  My favourite bilingual cook book was always Stone Soup by Setsuko Watanabe but it is now out of print and only available second hand.  Get a copy if you can, because the recipes are easy to follow in either language, and the list of ingredients in English and in Japanese is like a guided tour of the supermarket - it's so easy to know what to buy, and it fills your vocabulary cards with words that will be so handy every day.  Japanese cooking is actually so easy, and healthy, and yummy... once you start you will not be able to stop!  Another lovely book to start off with is Harumi's Japanese Cooking - it's not bilingual (only English), but home gourmet Harumi Kurihara gives wonderful and simple gourmet recipes that taste really great! 

Finally, it's also a great bonus to have a few lessons from somebody Japanese.  The Cross-Cultural Exchange Association is a great place to meet English speaking Japanese people - they have a monthly meeting and interests groups (including a cooking group which meets on the second Monday of every month) where you can make friendships to last a lifetime.  The general meetings are usually held on the first Friday of the month, and you can find out more information by e-mailing the 2007 President, Joan Stewart on joanstewartjp@mac.com. 


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  7. HOPE Africa Benefit Concert
(thank you to Lowell Sheppard for this submission)

Mark Sept 30th in your diary - for a unique extravaganza in aid of a great and pressing cause!

Shooters will Host an Africa Benefit Concert from 1 pm - 7 pm. Headlined by Sushi Cabaret Club the event will also feature
Fatblueman, Fish Tank TV, Tom Fallon and many others.

There will be two stages, lots of prizes, some roving magicians, and will be a family friendly event.

There will also be a Celebrity Memorablia Auction that will include a signed Bruce Springsteen Fender Guitar, Michel Shumacher's gloves, and signed posters of Jonny Depp.

Come for part or all the event and enjoy great entertaiment, prizes and fun.

Entrance is a minimum donation of 1000 yen (500 for students) if you get your name on the advance list.  Otherwise it will be 1500 yen at the door.

To place your name on the advance list or for more information on theevent and the projects that that the event is raising money for visit www.hope-international.jp or phone 0561 54 5560.



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8. Charity Yoga and Meditation Retreat
(Thank you to Marie Langlois for this submission)

Charity Yoga

The ever-popular charity yoga class is on again. Do something for yourself while helping others at the same time!
     
When:  

Saturday, September 29th
6:00pm - 7:00pm

Where:   

ViAura Yoga Studio
Takasaka Building, 9F, 3-14-14,
Nishiki, Naka-ku, Nagoya
(30 second walk from Sakae exit #1, Higashiyama (yellow) subway line, click here for map)

Please contact Marie at mlanglois84@hotmail.com, or call 090-6581-8508 to reserve your place, by the latest 24th of September.

•    Limited space available (RSVP 24th September)
•    A minimum of a 500yen donation would be greatly appreciated
•    All proceeds will be donated to Nonohanakai, supporting the physically and mentally challenged.


Meditation Retreat

Vincent Fitoussi, French meditation teacher will be in Japan in October and I am looking for expressions of interest for a  possible meditation and yoga retreat over the weekend of October 20-21st.  The most likely venue would be somewhere just outside of Nagoya to make it convenient for people to attend, but in a nice quiet environment.  Vincent would teach some meditation classes a day and I would do some yoga classes.  Hopefully the retreat could be catered with yummy macrobiotic food, so it would be a feast for the body and soul.  There might be other activities as well, but before I start planning seriously, I would like to get an idea of how many people might likely be interested in such a weekend.

Fees would depend on how many people were attending and what venue was needed, but it would likely be in the ballpark of 30,000 yen per person including food.

Expressions of interest are not a promise to attend, I will make a decision about whether to proceed based on the numbers that I hear from.

Contact Marie at mlanglois84@hotmail.com, or call 090-6581-8508 to register interest by the 15th of September.

 

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  9. Universal Fitness and Pilates Studio
(Thank you to Patricia Buchner for this submission)

I just wanted to let the X-pat files know about the experience I had with Universal Fitness and Pilates studio in Hoshigaoka.
I am a regular client of the Pilates courses. It's a nice new studio with a friendly and inviting interior.

The instructor Hiroko Logan speaks fluently English and therefore it is easy to understand her instructions. Her exercises are flexible and she responds to the individual problems or requests of the patient. I initially approached Pilates in order to improve my sore back and I got to know Hiroko's studio a couple of months ago, where I now do full body work-outs.

Hiroko has a BS in Fitness and Health.  She taught Pilates and Personal Training for nine years in San Francisco Bay Area.  She moved to Japan in 2006 from USA where she had lived twelve years.  Hiroko is also licensed Japanese Nurse Midwife.

They will have some sort of free consultation offer in September.  This consultation include questionnaire, fitness evaluation and prescribe recommended fitness program.  They offer it from Sep. 1 for the first 15 customers.

Gentle Pilates Class

This class is for people who need gentle approach to their fitness program.  They offer it once a month.  Non-members are welcome.

Date : Sep. 5, Oct. 3, Nov. 7, Dec. 5
Time: 11:00am~11:50am
Price : For member 1,500 yen,  for Non-member 2,000 yen

Please make appointment for free consultation and Gentle Pilates Class.
Phone 052-737-1237   e-mail : info@universal-pilates.com
Website: www.universal-pilates.com


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  10. Wasshoi!  Wasshoi! - The Japanese Festival
Sue Conolly

I have lived in Japan for fifteen years, but to me each festival I visit is as fresh as the first.

The Japanese have celebrated o-matsuri, or festivals for a very, very long time.  What used to be greatly formalized ceremonies to worship the kami or Shinto Gods, are now very localized traditions that involve people from the community in a very real sense.  Some festivals are celebrated throughout Japan (the 7-5-3 festival in which children of these ages go to the shrine to be blessed, is a good example of this), however local festivals can always be guaranteed to give more bang for your buck.  It is this total community involvement that makes the difference.

One of my favourite festivals (in a place I used to live, hence its place in my heart as my favourite) takes place near Otagawa Station on the Chita Peninsula.  On festival day, my family and I usually visit a family friend we still know there, and start by having "tea" at her house.  I might mention that her family home has a huge amount of visitors for "tea" on that day.  It is part of their community duty to make visitors feel welcome to their town.

At any given time, we will wander from her house out along the festival route, and along to the shrine.  Actually, there are a number of "routes" along which the festival floats or dashi will be pulled.  Each one comes from a different area in the town, and they all meet at the shrine.  Having met at the shrine, the huge dashi weighing about a ton, are spun on their axis and tiny pieces of paper are sprinkled from the top like an eddy of brightly coloured snow.  Then the dashi return along their paths, meeting again only in the evening where they spin, and spin, and spin again in the main intersection of the town. 

How do the massively heavy dashi move, and how do they spin?  They are pulled only by human power, in this case by all the menfolk of the town.  It is a right of passage for boys and men - the lighter boys are carried on the top and throw the paper off the top.  The about-twenty year old youths pull and spin the mammoth floats through the streets with heartfelt cries of "Wasshoi!  Wasshoi!" just to let you know they are trying very, very hard.  Older men who have in past years had their chance to pull the dashi, are regulated to clearing the streets of people, providing the under-aged float pulling youths with much alcohol, and cleaning up after the entire process.  Others in the community hand out free drinks and snacks.  Everyone has a role, and everyone works hard to make their festival a roaring success.

At another local festival on the Chita Peninsula, I recently made a further observation about these young men who pull the floats.  Quite often, these boy-men are the same yellow-haired types you would normally find hanging out in front of the convenience store with their jeans hanging off their bottom and altogether too little to do.  They are the kind, one imagines to be seated in front of the TV playing video games instead of completing their science homework.  However, get one of these guys near a festival float and they are dedicated, they are completely focussed on this one task of pulling the dashi along the street.  On this day, these boys cease to be useless welchers on society.  These boys become real men, and in a sense they are super-heroes, temporary kings of the universe.  The dedication and loyalty they learn while preparing for this ritual, I have to think will be useful too in the real world.  How could it not be?

By the way if you'd like to know what the significance of the ages are - I don't know (and neither do many of the people who continue to participate year after year), but let me share with you a story told to me by a young lad from New Zealand who had a homestay with a Japanese family in KamiNoma (also on the Chita Peninsula), where the twenty year olds get naked and run into the icy winter sea at New Year as part of their local festival.  In this case, the twenty year old youths are seen to be ridding the town of all the bad luck that is bestowed upon the men in the town in their yakudoshi or "year of calamity".  In some cases, the twenty-year-old youths will stay the night at the homes of the men who need their bad luck washed away.  This is an example of the ancient tradition of ritual still practiced in some areas, but more and more the ancient meaning is lost in modern application.  If you ask me, whether or not these young men are washing away the bad luck of their elders, in a way they are also washing away their own bad karma.  In being part of something bigger than themselves, they lose some of that youthful selfishness which can so easily lead them astray.

A boy I know has participated in a number of the local festivals in Handa, again on the Chita Peninsula (actually, this particular peninsula really rocks when it comes to local festivals!).  His life along the way has not been all picnics and roses, but all of his troubled life he has had the stability and communal welcoming of the festival.  He's never happier than he is walking along with a float, making it move along the street.  Every five years, all of the Handa floats come together for the massive Handa Dashi Matsuri (Handa Dashi Festival - see the listing above in "Upcoming Events" for details).  I have no doubt that my friend will be there this year, yelling his lungs out.  WASSHOI! WASSHOI! WASSHOI! WASSHOI!

 
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