Niigata Noise Summer 2017

Niigata Noise Summer 2017 Issue

Information About Food, Sake, And Travel Destinations

Get Your KiMono On! Picture This Photos And Fiction Highlighting Summertime In Japan

The Perfect Outfits For any Matsuri

Credits Editor-In-Chief Samantha Wolfe Assistant Editors Robert Burns Jenny Stein Design And Layouts Robert Burns Jenny Stein Samantha Wolfe

Article Contributors Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron Nicholas Benson Sean Callahan Daniel Geoffrey Sam Haley Matthew Headland Alex Hutchinson Disante Johnson Angela Marie Moore Jordan Nowlin Melusine Perrier Mark Ruiz Nessa Sophie Jenny Stein Samantha Wolfe Photo Contributors Francesca Abbondanza-Bergeron Robert Burns Melusine Perrier Jenny Stein Christoper Weast Samantha Wolfe All images have been provided by either the article’s author or Niigata Noise photo contributors, unless otherwise stated.

Contents Editorials And Interviews 4 Letter From The Editor 6 JTE Interviews 8 Outgoing JET Interview 14 ALT Update 16 Ask Mimir 20 Culture 24 Food - Niigata Noppe 26

Sake - Wonderful World of Niigata Nigori 28

Yukata And Kimonos: Your Summer Guide! 30 Travel 34 Niigata Spotlight - Aga 36 Day Trip - Niigata City 40

The Tsugawa Fox Bride Festival 44 Travel Review - Azumino 46 Reviews 48 Film Review - Moana 50

Anime Review - Koe No Katachi 52

Video Game Review - Persona 5 54

Restaurant Review - Tonkatsu Wako 56 Creative 58

Short Story - A Summer Storm 60 Recipe - Banana Bread 64

Editorials And Interviews

Letter From The Editor

Dear Readers, Are you ready for summer? Japanese summers are very unique and there are many things to enjoy. There is fun at the beach where you can have a barbeque or play smash the watermelon! You can wear a beautiful summer yukata, celebrate your ancestors for Obon, or join in on the liveliness of summer festivals, where you can eat so many great foods such as takoyaki, yakisoba, kara-age, and the Niigata specialty, popoyaki, while you watch the glorious fireworks.

Or how about going to a beer garden? Only in summer can you find these places in hotels, where you can eat as much food as you want as you enjoy an ice cold beer! My favorite part about Japanese summer is watching the special ghost TV programs! You can see “real” ghost videos or watch Japanese celebrities face their fears as they go ghost hunting in disintegrating shrines or school buildings. In Japan, telling ghost stories in summer makes you feel cold in your gut, so it’s a perfect way to help keep cool in the blistering humidity.

What else can you do as summer passes by? Why, you can enjoy reading this issue of Niigata Noise! We have many great articles in this issue, from traveling to new places to learning how to wear a kimono! There is something for everyone! So sit back and relax, join in the adventures of our writers! You may even learn something new about Niigata Prefecture!

And to kick off the summer, I’ve written a haiku!

Japanese summer Brings elegance to the heat The sea awaits you Samantha Wolfe Editor-in-Chief Niigata Noise

JTE Interviews

By Samantha Wolfe

Takeshi Sato

A keen traveller who has been teaching English for 11 years.

Please introduce yourself....

I am Takeshi Sato, but at work many teachers and students call me Go-sensei, because the Chinese character for my first name can also be pronounced as such and actually I prefer it since it’s easier to say both in Japanese and English.

Why did you become an English teacher?

I never majored in pedagogy because to be an English teacher was not my plan. Of course, I have always loved English though. So, I majored in English literature and joined an international club at my university. I hardly studied at class but I learned 8

a lot from the exchange students I met at my club.

They are literally from around the world and looking back every one of them was my teacher. We usually talked both in Japanese and English, but when more exchange students gathered, our language always switched to English.

I majored in English literature, so as a matter of course, I had some confidence in my English.

However, I found their English so much better, which gradually made me have a vague idea that one day I would also like to study abroad. Thanks to my parents, who supported me financially, after graduating from university, I went to study in Canberra, Australia for about a year and that

experience showed me the way. By the way, the Chinese character for Takeshi or Go stands for Australia. What a wonderful coincidence!

Why do you like English?

Well, my parents are very Japanese, especially my dad, who always prefers samurai dramas and enka songs to Hollywood movies and the Beatles.

Children sometimes do the opposite of what their parents do even without knowing it, right? I remember I have always been interested in foreign cultures since I was a small child. That definitely has something to do with my interest in English, which was like the symbol of something foreign at least for me as a kid. So, that was the start. Now I like English because it feels just right when I am speaking English. I don’t know what it is. Maybe it still gives me a sense of freedom from authority or social control.

What was the hardest part about learning English?

Compared to speaking and writing, listening and reading are less difficult because it is more passive. And speaking is more difficult for me than writing, especially when it is about such things as social issues or academic stuff. It is always semiautomatic, whereas listening and reading can be more automatic, depending on the level of the material, I guess.

What challenges do you have teaching students English?

My biggest challenge is to have them interested in English language or culture. Learning a foreign language is a never-ending task. There is no goal or end. So, without any interest, it is like Greek mythology. Now for many high school students, their only interest in English is the entrance exam, in preparation for which they have to keep working hard to memorize a lot of vocabulary and grammar and stuff. I know it is necessary because I did go through that process as well, but fortunately I liked English a lot. However, many of them would end up quitting English learning after the entrance exam, as has been always the case. We need to change this situation surrounding English.

You’ve worked with many ALTs, so what mistakes have you seen ALTs make in team-teaching?

I can’t think of any specific episode of some mistake by an ALT, but this can happen more often than not, which is that they focus on motivating students to learn English. That is OK, but they should at least take a look at entrance exam questions, because I believe few ALTs know them.

JTEs and ALTs should work together to keep the balance between students’ motivation and test result.

Have you seen any ALTs make social mistakes in Japan?

Yes. However, those people are everywhere, not just ALTs. So, my advice to you is: “when in Rome do as the Romans do.” In our society, conformity is highly regarded. Personally, I don’t like it very much, but I observe the social code that everybody respects. For instance, even a small thing as greeting is very important. It may be stressful for those of you who come from where individualism is highly valued, but these small efforts will make Japanese people think you respect Japanese culture.

So what do you think ALTs and JTEs can do to improve their relationship with each other?

They should spend as much time as possible especially at work to get to know each other. It is also a good idea to go for a drink in the English department once in a while. In addition, JTEs should support their ALTs in their private life too and vice versa. During my stay in Australia, I was also in the minority group and sometimes felt offended by their words even when they didn’t mean to, I guess.

However, as long as you know each other well, you are less likely to have that kind of experience.

What do you think ALTs should do to get to know their co-workers more, aside from their JTEs? Many Japanese people still can’t speak English very well, so if ALTs can speak some Japanese, it will definitely help them to make friends with their co-workers. And it is better to take part in extracurricular events like sports day and also drinking party! Making that kind of additional effort outside school is more important than in 9

western cultures. Create some emotional bond, and it will certainly make you feel comfortable at work.

You’ve told me that you’ve traveled to many places, so what has been your favorite place you’ve been to?

How can ALTs make friends outside the work place?

I think I have been to about 20 countries from Paris to Bali, most of which I visited as a backpacker in my twenties. Well, it’s not easy to choose one place I really like. I can easily choose, however, the place that has left the greatest impression on me is Varanasi (Benares), India. This city is literally from another planet. Such an ancient city that is 3,000 years old. American author Mark Twain described it as“Benares is older than history, older than tradition, older even than legend, and looks twice as old as all of them put together.”

It is a tough question. I wonder if I’ve got any friends since I started working. I once heard someone say something like “your last friends are friends from university”, meaning once you start to work, even if you get close to your friends, they are no more than colleagues. I kind of agree with that. I know from my experience that this is not the case in other countries, but in Japan it rings true. I’m afraid I can’t give any good advice.

What is something you enjoy about working with ALTs? JTEs definitely need ALTS to work with.

For me, having an ALT at school always keeps me motivated to speak the language like they do. In other words, it makes me realize I am teaching but I still don’t know so many things and need to study more. And most importantly, they remind me how fun it is to talk about various genres of topics, whether it’s academic, political, or trivial. So, ALTs are not just inspiring students.

Is there something you see ALTs do in team-teaching that you think is interesting but they are not aware of it?

In class, some students may just associate ALTs with something fun but of course there are some serious students too, who are looking forward to listening to native English. What’s best for the students after all is that they enjoy what they’re doing and unknowingly they can learn. ALTs can play an active role in that.

What has been the most interesting moment for you when teaching your students?

I like debating in class. I first introduce two conflicting ideas. There will be no correct answer to it, but the thinking itself with classmates is enjoyable and a good experience to know about various perspectives in life. I really get excited when I show my students a sticky question and see them reason for the dilemma.

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Do you have any plans for the future?

Another difficult question. No clear vision yet. I’ll let my destiny decide.

Where do you recommend foreigners visit in Niigata?

It depends on what you want to experience.

If you are bored of the city life, the getaway place I recommend is Tokamachi City. It is a city in the mountains, one and a half hours from Niigata City by car. It’s so peaceful and green with trees and rice paddies. It reminds me of Ubud, Bali. It also has a snow festival every winter and attracts many tourists.

On top of that, they hold an art festival every third year and artists both Japanese and non-Japanese exhibit their works outside.

Any advice you want to give to foreigners living in japan?

Most of the time, our goal is to increase our control. However, when I am traveling overseas, I try to enjoy small troubles and let myself go because I can see another side of myself, whether it’s good or not. By the way, I heard somewhere that we call it travel because we are more susceptible to troubles while traveling. It sounds plausible for me. What do you think?

Akari Kosugi

A beginning teacher working with her first ALT.

Can you give a self-introduction?

I’m Akari Kosugi and it’s my first year of teaching English in high school, so now I’m busy but I’m very happy because my dream came true this year. So I’m very happy. I am from Niigata and last March I graduated from university. I am enjoying my life now.

Why did you become an English teacher?

I met an English teacher who I respect the most when I was a high school student. She taught me English for three years. She taught me the enjoyment of English and I liked her character very much, so I decided to become an English teacher because I wanted to be like her.

Why do you like English?

One of the reasons is my teacher, she taught me the enjoyment of English and during my university life, I realized that English could make my life more exciting, like I can communicate with many people all over the world with English. During my university life I visited many countries and every time I traveled abroad I wanted to learn English more, so I love English.

What is the most difficult part of English for you to learn?

I like speaking, but cannot read fast because I have to check each word’s meaning, so that is my difficult point. Also grammar, it’s difficult. I like speaking, but maybe I often use the wrong English, so I have to study the correct English.

You are a new teacher, so what has been the most challenging for you?

First, my English knowledge is not enough now, so I have to study more, especially for grammar.

I don’t have enough knowledge, so it’s difficult for me to tell the correct information to the students.

That is the most challenging for me now.

How is life different now from when you were in college?

Pretty different, because when I was a university student I had a lot of free time and I liked watching movies, and traveling abroad or traveling around Japan. So I could feel very relaxed at any time. But now I have a lot of things to do, and I am very busy, and busier than I expected. But even though it’s very busy, I feel very happy now because I love my students.

Are you excited or nervous to work with an ALT? I’m excited because I love talking to people in English and I like Samantha-sensei very much.

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Her character is very nice and all of the students love Samantha-sensei. I enjoy watching the student’s presentations too, so I love team-teaching very much!

remember all the names, it’s easier to communicate with students.

Haha, thank you! How can ALTs better communicate with their co-workers, not just their JTEs?

Haha, Samantha-sensei doesn’t make any mistakes.

At sports festivals or cultural festivals many teachers talk to each other and I think that is a good chance to communicate with many teachers.

That’s one thing. Or like Samantha-sensei, she greets teachers with smiles, so every teacher like Samanthasensei. So yeah I think that is important too.

What do you think ALTs should do to improve their relationship with their JTEs? Also, some ALTs have trouble talking with their JTEs because they are busy so, how can they communicate with their JTE? Talk a lot. Sometimes, it’s difficult to make a plan for team-teaching, so we have to talk a lot and make teaching better. I think that’s important.

Daily communication is also important. After class, we have to talk about what the good points and bad points were. I want to make classes with the ALT. If the ALT talks to the JTE, I think the JTE will be happy because I think most JTEs like talking in English, so don’t be afraid. Even though they are busy, I think JTEs will enjoy talking with their ALT. I want to be talked to!

Is there anything that JTEs should do to improve their relationship with ALTs? JTEs are usually very busy, but talking to you, ALTs is a very important time and a precious time because in school there is no chance to speak English, even though we are English teacher, so I think JTEs should enjoy talking and communicate with ALTs more.

Ok, so I am going to ask you a difficult question, have you seen me or other ALTs when you were in high school make mistakes? You can tell me straight, haha.

When I was a high school student, the ALT said it’s very hard to remember students’ name. I think that is a problem. I know it’s very difficult to remember all the students’ names, but if we can 12

Is that it? You don’t have to be nice.

I’m not so sure about that. Another question, what do you see ALTs do in team-teaching that seems interesting, that they are not aware of?

Students want to communicate with ALTs, I think presentations are also very interesting, but I think students want to talk with ALTs more and more, like free conversation. And also students are very interested in different cultures. So if ALTs teaches their countries’ cultures, I think students will be happy.

We talked about mistakes that ALTs make, so what is something you see ALTs do that you like?

When ALT talks to students positively, and at those times the students’ faces look so happy. Like saying おはようございます(ohayougozaimasu) or good morning or any comment is okay, but students will be happy when they are talked to by the ALTs, so I think that is a good point. And when I was a high school student, I ate lunch with the ALT and that was so fun. I liked that time, so that is another good point.

Do you think there is anything more ALTs should do in team-teaching?

Now I appreciate you a lot, so no request now. But like Samantha-sensei, usually shows a model for students, so students can understand what they should do now. And like your self-introduction, visual aids are very helpful for students. So ALTs should use pictures or power points so students can easily understand.

Is there anything you want to learn from ALTs? English! English communication and when correcting students’ writing, I often cannot judge if this is a correct expression or a wrong expression, so I want to be helped. I need help from the ALT. Please

help me! The native sense, the native English is very helpful for us.

her best record in high school, so at that time I felt so happy.

Is there a way for ALTs to improve their Japanese?

What has been the funniest moment so far when teaching?

Maybe, talk to students. Like, how do you say なにーなに , in Japanese, like that, ask the students.

And that would also be a good communication with students.

Do you have any advice for ALTs living in Niigata?

I think there are some local festivals in Niigata. They’re very fun and I like them very much, so if you have any time, I want you to visit a festival.

Also compared to Tokyo or other big cities, local people communicate with each other in Niigata, so I want ALTs to communicate with local people.

What place would you recommend foreigners visit in Niigata?

Have you ever been to Kakujou Gyorui? It’s near Terodamri near Nagaoka, there you can enjoy many fresh seafood. I want them to visit there. Also do you know Yahiko? That is my favorite place in Niigata.

So moving away from ALTs, what is your favorite place you’ve traveled to?

I like the Philippines, because I like the people there. It’s a developing country, so their houses are not so big and their schools are not so clean, not so facilitated. But I like the people there, they are very kind, and they are so cheerful and energetic. So, I was so happy when I worked with them. I liked the Philippines the best.

Do you have any plans to travel abroad again?

Yes, if I have time. I want to visit many countries. I’ve never been to African countries, so if I have time I want to try that. And also the U.S. I want to visit there.

What has been your best memory so far as a teacher?

In track-in-field club, I’m teaching a long jumper, a girl, now a second-grade student. In the last competition she jumped 5 meters 23, and that is

Every time I go into class, in the beginning of class, we have some small tests, a word test or an assignment test. Students say, today no exam, or please stop doing the exam. But every time I say no, we will do the exam today, they never give up. They keep asking me to stop the exam, and that is very funny, I think. Students always say some joke to me after class or before class and that is one of my happy times.

And you are very young, so do they still call you wakai (young) -sensei?

Oh, yes! Some students call me Kosugisensei, but some students call me Akari-sensei, my first name. But I like, Akari-sensei too, so that doesn’t matter.

What are you most looking forward to this year?

I like sports festival very much, so I am looking forward to the students dance. In my English class now, my students are training very hard. I hope at the end of this year, the students will communicate in English smoothly and tell their opinions in English.

What are your plans for the future?

I want to keep working as an English teacher, because being an English teacher has been my dream for a long time, so I want to enjoy this job. And as I said, I want to visit many countries, so maybe one country, one year--that is my plan. And also now I’m in charge of track-and-field club, and I want to make my students, my athletes stronger. I want to take them to the all Japan competition. I want to do my best for teaching.

Nigata Noise thanks Sato-Sensei and Kosugi-Sensei for their time and contribution to this issue.

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Outgoing JET Interview

By Samantha Wolfe The peak of summer is coming to Niigata. The humidity sticks to you like molasses and the heat zaps your strength, leaving you tired and miserable. It is also the time when we have to say goodbye to good friends who have become family to us in our little communities. I interviewed Janice Laureano, the Prefectural Advisor of Niigata, as well as my sempai and close friend, who gave me her insight on leaving Japan.

Janice, what do you do in Niigata?

Other than teaching English to senior high school students, I do quite a lot of office work as the ALT [Assistant Language Teacher] Prefectural Advisor. I take in consultation from either ALTs or COs [Contracting Organization], be it in the form of a telephone call or through email. Sometimes answering emails can take up half my day. As the ALT PA I try to bridge an understanding between ALTs, COs and BOEs [Board of Education]. This sometimes means trying to understand the Japanese bureaucracy. And I’m glad I have Brandon, the CIR PA [Coordinator for International Relations Prefectural Advisor], to make sense of this monster that is the bureaucracy. Many times the problems I receive are stemmed from the lack of communication or some cultural differences in the workplace. The PAs do try to fight for change with the way the COs handle their ALTs, but rarely do we come out triumphant. But when we do, it is such a joyous celebration that we can’t help but dance in our seats.

Planning all the details for Prefectural Orientation, Skill Development Conference and high school contact meetings is the most tedious part of being an ALT PA. I say tedious because I’ve experience what past ALT PAs had to do and that is putting every single name card into name cardholders, and that can drive a woman mad, especially when you’ve 14

realized a typo on someone’s name. So thank you to all the ALT volunteers who had to put up with me and who’ve helped me through all these events!

Did I mention I was the AJET webmaster this past year?

When you first came to Niigata, what was your first impression?

How can this prefecture be called snow country when the humidity is at 200%?! I was so wrong.

What has been the hardest part about living or working in Japan?

Winter is always rough especially when you don’t take the precaution to winter proof your home. I live in the city so we don’t receive that much snow. I’m thankful I don’t have to wake up an hour early just to shovel my driveway. My heart goes out to all the ALTs living in the Yukiguni area.

What has been the most memorable moment for you in Japan?

The charity musical hands down! My first year in the musical is like a long scene in a movie that I wish I could rewind and watch over and over again.

I sometimes find myself sitting at my desk trying to recapture that year in a daydream. I started my first year in Japan getting to know a bunch of great people while dancing and singing in some isolated school gym in the middle of who knows where; it’s quite comical really. This was not at all what I had imagined my life to be like in Japan. All the sleepovers, the snowstorms, the onsening, last minute dance changes and long night talks seem like a hazy, blissful dream now.

You will be leaving this year, so what are your fears about life after JET? I fear that I will come back home as a socially awkward human being with Japanese-like mannerisms.

Will I be able to read the social cues of my fellow American friends? Who knows? I feel a great deal that I won’t be able to connect with friends so easily.

What are you most looking forward to going back home?

I’m looking forward to so many things!

The food, insulated homes, 24hr gyms, freedom to own a pet, freedom to blast music in my home, freedom to wear colored clothing to work, freedom to dye my hair, freedom to paint my nails. Basically the freedom of expression!

What do you think you will miss most about Niigata?

I have a certain family in Niigata that I will be heart broken without. They own a small katsu shop in Niitsu called Hakoiwa. I ask all of you who are reading to go visit because I am certain you will fall in love with them. The obaa-chan is the butcher on the first floor and her son and daughter-in-law own the katsu shop on the second floor. Every morning as I passed obaa-chan’s shop she greeted me with a good morning and would sometimes have a bento prepared for me. She loves hugs and grabbing the arms of big strong men. On the second floor I have the most loving papa-chan and mama-chan. They worry for me like they would their own children. They knew I wouldn’t be able to brave the first winter so they gave me a space heater, denki blanket and an ice scraper for my car. They continue to show me love by always remembering my birthday and always welcoming anyone I bring along with me to their restaurant.

What advice can you give to other JETs leaving this year?

Take as many pictures as you can of your workplace, home, and friends. Also, enjoy the safety of Japan. I know I won’t be able to walk in the late hours around my hometown without the paranoia of getting shot, mugged, kidnapped or raped. Treasure the few weeks you have left here and see as much of Japan as you can.

Is there any wisdom you want to share with JETs continuing their stay?

To the JETs continuing their stay I hope you continue to shed light to your students about your culture and language. Be patient with your coworkers and if you ever feel like you’re being mistreated you can always complain to my successor.

Nigata Noise thanks Janice Laureano for her time and contribution to this issue.

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ALT Update

By Jenny Stein As the JET year draws to a close, one rookie ALT reflects on their first year in Japan...

Well, it’s been nine months since last year’s fresh JETs came to settle into their new lives here in Japan, myself among them, and how time has flown! There was Month 1 (August) when everything was a whirlwind of new information and people showing you the ropes of how to live and work in a new culture. Then came Month 2 (September) when everything was blurred anew as students came back from summer holidays, and the school corridors suddenly became full of young people eyeing you with interest, suspicion, fear…or complete indifference. The overwhelming support I received during Month 1 seemed to evaporate as everyone around me suddenly got busy. My lasting impression of September was that it was the time when the training wheels came off. My teachers suddenly had classes and left me to get on with it, no longer checking to see if I was up to speed with everything, and obviously expecting me to start making headway on my own. The established ALT community likewise got busy with work and getting on with their lives. I was envious of those around me who seemed to find their niches and settle in quickly. I’ve never been particularly good at this and moving to Japan proved to be no exception.

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I didn’t really mind at first because during Month 2 I was so focused on trying to be a halfdecent teacher, there wasn’t time to do anything much beyond prep lessons, give lessons, and sleep.

Then Month 3 (October) rolled around. I was slowly getting better at my job which meant I had more time on my hands. I sometimes found myself sitting at home, a bit at a loss, pining for familiar people to go grab a hot chocolate with (however elusive that might prove to be). I tried to get out and about as much as I could, but my explorations were limited by the heat, my lack of language ability, and also my lack of a car. Unlike many newcomers, I decided to buy a car—a more flexible arrangement than renting—but I had not found any time to shop for one! This resulted in several difficult but amusing shopping excursions involving a fully-laden bicycle. I must have looked quite a sight, peddling across town with a duvet stuffed into my bike basket, bulging shopping bags precariously balanced on my handlebars and a mop sticking out of my overstuffed backpack like a flagpole in a housekeepers’ revolt...

So yes, Month 3 was a lonely time. A lot goes on in your mind, possibly because it’s the first time since you arrived that you actually have time to think! And it’s a weird time because after the whirlwinds of Months 1 and 2 have passed, you realize you are in the process of “settling”. Everything still feels new and yet some things have started to

become normal.

Then Month 4 (November) came by. The weather got cooler, the days shorter, and curious little bamboo contraptions were built over all the plants and statues around town. I heard many people complain about the coming winter and snow, but I couldn’t help looking forward to it. I love snow, and though I had never lived in it before, I was cautiously optimistic that I would love my first white winter. Admittedly, whenever I said as much, the expressions of the people around me universally said “oh well, she’ll learn…”

By Month 5 (December) rehearsals for the AJET Niigata Charity Musical were well underway, which as well as being loads of fun, meant I got to see other people on a regular enough basis to start making proper friends. My little apartment was feeling cozy after numerous cycle trips, online shopping sessions and at long last finding a wonderful little car to buy (affectionately known as “Kiddo”). But the snow held out and although I had hoped for a white Christmas, I sat skyping my mother on Christmas Eve, looking out at a snow-free city.

After spending a wonderful New Year with some of my colleagues, Month 6 (January) began… and at last came the snow! Lots and LOTS of snow!

I distinctly remember the weekend when I sat wrapped in a blanket, watching the snow falling in great flakes that piled up 90cm deep over the world outside my window. It was magic! Eventually of course I had to go out, but that was fun too because, in digging out my car, I finally met two of my neighbours for the first time—and even got invited in for tea! But one of the best things about the snow was that I finally got to go skiing…and snowboarding…and snow fighting…and all the other wonderful winter things I’ve been missing out on all these years. A huge shout out to the awesome people who offered to teach me how to ski and snowboard; bring on next winter!

So Month 6 passed in a delightful haze of skiing, snow and musical rehearsals. This pretty much sums up Month 7 (February) as well, the highlights of which were the Tokamachi Snow Festival (if you haven’t been I highly recommend

putting this on your calendar for next year) and the fact that musical rehearsals gave way to actual performances. Hats off to everyone involved in the fantastic 2017 season of Dracula, and also to everyone who came along to see and support us!

Musical performances continued into Month 7 (March), just as things at school were wrapping up for the year. I was lucky enough to attend three of my schools’ graduations, one of which had 110 students wearing kimono! It was a sea of celebratory colour…all carefully contained by the strict protocol and formalities inherent in any Japanese ceremony.

While graduations have a reputation for dragging on, I enjoyed watching the students take their final steps through high school before heading off into the world. Okay, if I’m honest, one ceremony lulled me into semi-coma by playing the same music track on loop for the duration of the certificate giving...but the other ceremonies had mercifully varied playlists to carry you comfortably enough through the ninety or so minutes required.

Loop-track aside, any graduation ceremony is an emotional experience for all. With the end of the school year came the end of my working relationships with some of my JTEs who would inevitably be transferring. Unfortunately I was going to be away the week that the list of those leaving would be made public. I would also not be returning until after they had all left, and it was distressing to think I might not get a chance to say goodbye to many of them. Fortunately many of my JTEs who were leaving quietly let me know in advance and I was able to thank them for all their time and help and wish them well. It was a sad time for me.

I have been fortunate to work with a number of great people and knowing that some of them would be leaving, harshly reminded me of a previous job where a crash in the markets meant that one day we all showed up to work to find half of our team had been laid off overnight. Working closely with people every day you do start to feel like a family and it’s a shock when a chunk of that family suddenly disappears.

Happily I was distracted at that time by a visit from my mother, and soon after, a trip overseas with friends. A lot of travelling and a lot less money in my bank account later, it was Month 8 (April). I 17

returned to school to find my desk moved, my JTEs changed, and all new students to try and build a good rapport with. It was like starting from scratch all over again, and frankly, was rather intimidating.

But this time I was much better prepared. It’s amazing how much you learn in eight months. At least about teaching…sadly my language study has been haphazard at best. Oh well, がんばります!

After a jittery first few days I found my stride in each of my schools again. With a better awareness of the resources at my disposal and the benefit of my colleagues having established a degree of faith in my abilities, I decided to overhaul my self-introduction lesson. Back in August it had taken days to plan this as I tried to think of ways to engage the students whilst accommodating my JTE’s requests for format and content, AND working within the limitations of the technology on offer (or lack thereof). Back then I had no idea what level to pitch material at, and no instinct for knowing how long different activities would take. But now I suddenly realized I was much better at both. I was planning and preparing lessons in less than half the time it used to take me, and these were being delivered to much greater effect 18

with the students than my first fumbling efforts during the previous school year. I still have a long way to go of course, but it was gratifying to be able to take stock and see the progress I had made as an ALT. I hope everyone on JET has had a similar experience!

Happily I also feel like I have made progress as a person. An inherent perfectionist I am never satisfied with anything I do, and I am my own biggest ongoing project. Moving to Japan shook me up mentally and physically in ways I never could have anticipated (okay, after my first enkai I probably should have anticipated the extra kilos…).

Fortunately I’ve gained a lot more than just weight.

We all react differently to being taken out of our comfort zones, but for me coming to Japan was like throwing everything about my life into the air like so many autumn leaves. Now, nine months into this adventure, the leaves have settled, and new leaves have been growing as my perspective, appreciation and awareness of everything going on around me continues to develop and change. The extra weight I’m determined to lose now that the warmer weather has put hiking at the top of my agenda (yay for May

Snapshots of a year in Japan (from left): Niigata Charity Musical 2017; Myoko Happiness Illumination (July - September); mikoshi at Kenshin Kosai (September); making traditional mumyoi-yaki pottery, Sado Island; snow protection for a sculpture in Takada Park; autumn colours in Shousanso Park, Kashiwazaki; News Years Eve feasting; fabulous snow-stage concert, Tokamachi Snow Festival (February); another snowy blanket; hot air balloon rides, Ojiya Balloon Festival (February); spectacular Ohanami in Takada Park; Golden Week (May) hiking in Kamikochi, Nagano Prefecture; kitsune for a day, Tsugawa Fox Bride Festival (May); hoisting giant kites at Shirone Otakogassen; lotus blossoms in Takada Park (August); a little taste of home (good at any time of year).

and Month 9!). But everything else I’ve gained from this experience I hope I will keep forever. And it isn’t over yet. As we come to the end of Month 10 (June) my first year on JET is rapidly coming to an end. In Takada Park the lotuses are growing and will soon be in flower—just as they were when I first arrived. Come August I will have experienced the full cycle of the seasons, events and activities that take place here—in Japan, in my town and in each of my schools. I’ve made many mistakes along the way, but as the year rolls over I know I will get another chance to do things better this time. In my second year on JET, I am determined to make the most of

everything I can, now that I will have a better idea of what to expect from any given day or event on the calendar. My one regret is that I won’t get to spend these times with some of the great people I’ve met here on the JET Programme. With the coming of Months 11 and 12 we will have to say goodbye to our ALT friends who are not re-contracting. Of course I wish them all the very best with “life after JET”, and I hope we all keep in touch and catch up somewhere, sometime, again. To my fellow recontracting JETs: I look forward to our ongoing adventures together in Japan! And to everyone, on JET or off, best of luck for the coming year!

19

Dear NoYOU’RECrazy, Intelligent as they are, the tanuki are unfortunately unable to plot against humans yet. Their brains are still far too preoccupied with survival. My advice to you would be to invest in a better garbage can with a lock to keep them out of your trash. I would also advise that you stop sleeping with the window open. Sleeping with your blinds closed will provide a far more comfortable experience, I am sure. Remember: the plotting hasn’t started… yet.

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Spen loved is wh your more My detai and time spen will b respe addit feel t

Dear Gonsolo,

Dear Ohyeah Imissyoutoo,

nding quality time with your d ones is an important thing. This hy you shouldn’t feel bad letting r family know that you require e exclusive time with your pets. advice to you is to set up a iled schedule of your Skype calls let your family know ahead of e how much of your call will be nt with your pets and how much be spent with them. Ask them to ect your schedule and to request tional Skype calls with you if they they need more time to talk.

We must all accept that everything in life is only for now. Projects must end and people must part ways. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t keep in touch with the friends you have made during this adventure. You probably won’t be able to see them as frequently, but my advice to you would be to organize small get-togethers and invite them to hang out. You can also offer to go visit them if they live far away and are busy. I would also recommend starting to think about your next big project. Having this new project to plan and think about will be helpful during this quieter time.

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Dear Odin, It would be very difficult for me to lose my head, as it is all that I am now.

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Dear Stuck-on-Stic

Our time in this world is fleetin unwise to waste time cherishing said that, wanting to keep some is perfectly understandable too. seems to be getting out of hand go through your stickers and se Do not select more than 10% o sticker. These stickers will be yo rest, take them to your schools as often as possible. Knowing y for yourself, you will find that p -awesome stickers will be a lot your students won’t know the d receive the sub-par rewards!

Dear Mimir, I think my hammer watches me while I sleep...

Thor Dear Thor, I would not be surprised if Mjolnir was indeed keeping an eye on you during your slumber. I am certain that Mjolnir has only the best of intentions and simply wants to keep you safe. If this continues to unnerve you and disturbs your sleep, I recommend placing a small blanket over Mjolnir before you go to sleep.

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Dear Anonymous,

I don’t have leg days; I am nothing but a head. This you do have legs, try not to skip leg day. Legs can be Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

ckers,

ng and it is therefore g material goods. Having e rad stickers for yourself . Since your collection d, my advice to you is to elect your favorite ones. of your total amount of ours to keep. As for the s and use them as rewards you kept the best stickers parting with these not-as easier. On top of that, difference and will gladly

is therefore not an issue for me. If e very practical in day-to-day life.

Dear ALT in love or in lust, Love is a beautiful part of life and, even if we might get turned down, it is almost always worth giving it a shot. Lust, on the other hand, has a nasty habit of leading us straight into trouble and running away, laughing from the chaos of the aftermath. Considering the size of your work environment, I would suggest doing some serious introspection first to figure out if this is in fact more than lust. If it is love, you can try to woo the teacher by inviting them to do something with you outside of work. Any kind of activity will do.

It can be going to see a movie, going to a festival, climbing a mountain, robbing a bank, attending a pottery class, etc. Many JETs have attested that this simple invitation will come across as courtship and pique their interest. If you really want to make yourself clear, let them know that you are inviting them specifically. If they try to invite other people, you might want to stop your courtship now. However, if they accept, they might be interested in you!

Afterwards, if they respond positively to your advance, turn up the charm with good grooming, a nice outfit, and some sincere compliments. Good luck to you.

Sincerely, Your humble advisor,

Mimir

Culture

Niigata Noppe

By Nessa Sophie Give your taste buds a treat with a famous local dish.

What is noppe?

When asking around for the most famous Niigata food, the first answer I always got was noppe.

This delicious dish served across the country comes in an incredibly wide variety of styles that differ throughout the various regions of the prefecture.

Voted by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) as one of the top 100 regional foods in 2007, noppe is a treat that many visitors to Niigata don’t want to miss while they’re here. And yet, I had never heard of it before researching for this article! So what is noppe?

The dish has gone by a number of different names around the country, so its origin isn’t well remembered. However, it is believed that noppe was initially made in temples using leftover vegetable parts mixed with kudzu starch. While today’s noppe is a hearty meal reminiscent of oden, this was not originally the case. The vegetable leftovers usually consisted of skins and sepals, which were fried with some seasoning and then boiled to flavour the broth.

Noppe broth, nowadays thickened with taro, yam or starch and flavoured with dashi and soy sauce, is distinct in its viscosity. While sometimes referred to as noppe-jiru, or noppe soup, there are variations of noppe served lightly fried. As the 26

This dish can be spelled in many ways such as: noppei (のっぺい) noppei soup (のっぺい汁) noppei hot pot (のっぺい鍋) noppei stew (のっぺい煮) noppe (のっぺ) noppe soup (のっぺ汁) noppe hot pot (のっぺ鍋) noppe stew(のっぺ煮). contents of noppe are mostly vegetables, the flavours vary greatly with the seasons, but also with the area in which it is made. It can be served hot, to warm the soul in winter, or cool and refreshing in summer.

In Niigata, this dish is often found at festivals, New Year’s celebrations, Buddhist ceremonies, and other special occasions.

Regional variations Niigata noppe is unique in its incredible array of preparation styles and flavours. Each region of the prefecture, quite literally, serves the dish with a local twist that showcases their seasonal specialties. Most prominent in local varieties are salmon and roe.

Here are just a few distinct noppe styles from around the prefecture: Murakami The dominant style of noppe preparation in this area comes from the Iwafune district. The broth is often extracted from dried fish, usually barracuda or squid, and the vegetables are parboiled. The soup may be garnished with ginkgo nuts. As a final step, starch is added to thicken the broth.

Niigata City The broth of a Niigata City-style noppe is made from shiitake mushroom and scallops. The cut of the vegetables used is also distinct, being a thin, rectangular shape, while pieces of chicken are left in chunks. This variation is also often topped with roe.

This variety of noppe in particular is quite enjoyable chilled.

Nagaoka Nagaoka’s noppe is best served hot. The sea-themed broth is flavoured using a mix of dried scallops and sardines. It is also important that the taro used in the dish is not crushed, but instead maintains its shape.

Finally, it can be decorated with such toppings as lily bulbs, roe, yuzu, or parsley.

Joetsu Unique to Joetsu’s noppe is the use of potatoes. Also regularly found in the dish are carrots, shiitake, and strips of dried gourd. Just before serving, starch is added for thickness, but this step is skipped for funerals and memorial services.

Sado On the island, noppe, known there as nishime, is a staple dish at festivals and ceremonies. Served only after the broth is boiled almost completely away, the Sado take on this dish usually also contains fried tofu, butterbur, and other ingredients considered lucky. The broth is prepared with flying fish or other seafood.

There are several theories for the origin of the name. For example, as the broth is sticky like mochi, the pronunciation noppe may come from 濃餅, which is literally “thick mochi.” Another option is that the name was originally neppei (nebari meaning “sticky”) and that it turned into noppe over time.

Where to try it If you eat school lunches, chances are you have already tried noppe as one of the side dishes at some point in the past year. However, for those of you who wish to try the real deal, here are a couple restaurants that you can check out: Oto Offering a variety of traditional dishes and mouthwatering sashimi arrangements, Oto is a great place to take visiting friends and family for a nice Japanese meal. This izakaya-style restaurant serves delicious noppe that can be shared in a group (but you won’t want to).

Takada: Japan, Niigata Prefecture, Joetsu, Nakamachi, 2 Chome−2−3 Naoetsu: Joetsu, Nishi-Honcho, 4 Chome−8−18 Kyoemon This izakaya serves many small dishes to complement its all-you-can-drink menu, noppe included. Found only in Niigata City and Tokyo, Kyoemon is definitely worth a visit.

Niigata City: Chuo Ward, Yoneyama, 1 Chome−7−6

Some areas use completely different names to refer to noppe.

に

In Minami Uonuma, it is called つぼ煮. いも に

In Tokamachi, it is known as 芋煮.

In Kashiwazaki and Sado, look for it by に the name of 煮しめ.

27

Wonderful World of Niigata Nigori

By Matthew Headland

Recently I became obsessed with nigorizake.

You know, that type of sake with the white stuff and bits of rice at the bottom? Yeah, that. Sometimes I like it sweet and citrusy, sometimes a bit more dry, sometimes thick and creamy, sometimes bubbly, and sometimes a mix of all of the above.

It goes fantastically with richer foods and spicier foods but, like its clear-counterpart, this type has enough variety that you can also find one to suit any drinking style.

For anyone new to the nigori party, welcome!

Nigorizake or cloudy sake* is awesome and I’m here to tell you why. First though, before we get into taste and how to shop for it, it’s helpful to know how it’s made. The vast majority of sake on the shelf are actually filtered twice to make a clear, colorless liquid we know from our school or office enkais as the kochi-sensei/bucho nectar. The sake is fermented in a tank originally containing rice, koji rice**, water, yeast, and a bit of lactic acid and has the consistency of a watered down bowl of Quaker Oaks. When this magical goop is ready, the first filtering occurs. This is where the liquid sake is separated from the rice and other solids inside the tank. Whereas most sakes will be relatively clear even after the first filtering, nigorizake is filtered in such a way that those rice and other solids are able to remain inside.

For anyone already familiar with nigorizake, you may know already that it is not exactly the easiest thing to find on grocery store shelves (though I generally wouldn’t recommend buying from a grocery store—more on this in a second). In your search for a bottle of nigori, you quickly find that the selection is either abhorrently small or nonexistent. I have found however that it can often be found in the refrigerated section of the store you’re looking in so it might be best to check there first.

Let’s get one thing out of the way. I’m not 28

a huge fan of buying sake at big grocery stores like Narus or Harashin. It’s because I refuse to buy sake among the uneducated plebeians. Gawd. No, there’s actually two legitimate reasons. First of all, it’s about quality control. Sake is a delicate flower, so sitting on a shelf (for god knows how long) under constant light will drastically affect the quality of the sake inside the bottle. You just don’t really know what you’re getting. Second is selection. Big supermarkets buy their sake in bulk in order to have a semblance of continuity across their locations. Niigata is full of tiny breweries that will often opt to unload stock at other more local mom & pop shops, rather than the giant supermarkets.

Once you actually find nigori in a store the next thing to know is that there is quite a wide variety of aromas and flavors to choose from but the profile of the sake is very rarely written on the back of the label. Yay adventure! Despite the variety, if I were to give you an abhorrently over generalized summary of what you’re most likely to bump into, nigoris can often be sweeter or more acidic than your average clear variety because of the left over sediment. They’re often richer and have more rustic palates too, as they have only been filtered once through a course filter.

One way to get a clue about the nigori’s texture and flavour profile is to look at the amount of sediment in the bottle. When you pick it up from the shelf usually all the sediment will have collected at the bottom. It often depends, but on average about 20 to 30% of the bottle (about 3 centimetres) will be white. The amount of sediment can change the flavour quite drastically which is why most people give the sake a gentle shake to make sure the sediment is evenly mixed in the bottle. A neat bonus for any bubbly nigori (like Fuku and Yanma down below) is that initially when there’s a lot of

*Nigorizake or 濁り酒 is also sometimes written just in hiragana as “にごり”. ** Koji rice (麹米) - Steamed rice that has a bacteria culture cultivated on it. This bacteria culture is called koji-kin (aspergillus oryzae). I could probably write an entire article on this topic alone!

It’s used to make a bunch of different Japanese goodies like miso and soy sauce.

carbonation, opening the bottle will cause it to naturally mix, no shake, stir or tilt required.***

To help you navigate this wonderful world, here are a few nigoris that I’ve found so far on my journey. I should say though, all sake is given a classification based on its rice polish ratio. You may

Sparkling

Photo Credit to Rakuten

have heard words like “junmai” or “ginjo” being thrown around? For the sake of simplicity I’ve left those classifications out as I could literally write a whole series of articles on that topic! Below you’ll find the label name of the sake accompanied by the name of the brewery and city it’s location in brackets.

Fuku (Imayo Tsukasa, Niigata city) This one is dry (lack of sweetness) but has got some of that creamy umami from the light nigori in the bottle. Fuku (福) means luck or good fortune. Darumas, as depicted on the bottle, are also symbolic of this so a little neat thing you can do with the bottle is set a goal or make a wish and draw one eye directly on the label. When that goal is achieved or if your wish comes true you draw in the second eye and open the bottle! If you want to drink it sooner, set an easier goal, I guess?

There are larger 720ml bottles of this but it is most commonly found in the smaller 300ml. Keep this little guy refrigerated.

Yanma Blue Label (Dai’ichi Shuzo, Joetsu) I first encountered this sucker at a wicked little sake bar called Kanese near Nagaoka station. Find this place. It’s worth it…Anyways, they really like to stock juicy umami bomb sake there and recently Akita has become famous for it’s juicy, zinger sakes. I had a moment of confidence and asked the guy if it was from Akita. He chuckled. I was flabbergasted to find that it was not only from Joetsu, but from a brewery right next-door to a junior high school I taught at for two years! It’s juicy with umami and a clean finish. When I was looking for this guy, only the 1.8L bottle was available. Worth it though IMHO. :) Keep this big guy refrigerated too.

Photo Credit to Rakuten

Photo Credit to Tachihara Sakenten

Non-Sparkling

Bishamon (Ayu Masamune, Myoko) This bad boy here is literally what got me into nigorizake in the first place. The catalyst to this terribly wonderful obsession. This is one of the first nigoris I fell in love with and is to this day a favourite of mine. It’s got a subdued sweetness that’s not overpowering and is real soft in texture. It finishes with a tickle of juicy acidity too which kind of makes you want to go back for more. There’s also a nama**** version of this sake which goes great with Camembert cheese, but I’ll save that one for another time!

Keep this gal (genders are arbitrary really…) in a dark, cool place. If it’s hidden from light it should be OK at room temperature unless it’s July or August.

Mi no kawa Nigorizake (Mi no kawa Shuzo, Nagaoka) Now, I should admit off the bat that I haven’t actually tried this one. It gets the cut though because whenever I ask Japanese people about nigori it always seems to come up. Apparently its nigori level is off the charts, weighing in huge on the sediment scale. If you happen to try this, or manage to get a hold of it, let me know what you thought. I’ve ordered it and it ships later this week so I don’t think it will make it in time for this article!

Keep this one in a dark, cool place, at room temperature unless it’s July or August.

I couldn’t find any data from brewers or online that indicates what percentage of sake made in Japan is nigori but it seems to me that it’s an area vastly under represented in shops and restaurants. If you’re looking to get into the world of sake, nigori can offer you a focused window of sakes to try while also giving you some variety in taste and textures, of

Photo Credit to Kenchi Maruyama

which sometimes you can glean from a look at the bottle itself. Alternatively, if you’re looking to branch out a bit and try something new, the nigori world deserves your attention. So, go forth my inquisitive sake adventurers! Shock and awe the Japanese people around you by first telling them you love nihonshu, and then cause them to have an aneurysm by mentioning your favourite nigorizake.

*** I made this mistake opening a bottle of Yanma, which then proceeded to splash everywhere.

Be gentle and its recommended that if you’ve carried it a distance you keep it still for a while before opening. **** Nama (生) indicates that the sake is unpasteurized.

29

Yukata and Kimonos your summer guide!

By Melusine Perrier

Photo Credit to Kat Truong

Summer is coming and we’ll soon all be off to festivals to watch fireworks, stuff ourselves with yakisoba, and admire all the cute yukatas worn by Japanese girls and boys! And maybe you feel like doing the same and getting your own yukata, or even kimono. So here is a special guide with all the things you need to know before you buy some Japanese traditional clothing!

Yukata What does a yukata look like?

Those are yukatas! They are originally simplified bathrobe-type kimono, used directly before and after the bath. They are always made of cotton and composed of a single layer. If your yukata is made of silk, it’s actually a summer kimono and you’ll need to read more below to learn about it. Since the Showa period the wearing of yukata in Summer for festivals has increased, because a yukata is much easier to wear than a real kimono. So let’s talk about the different types of yukata and how to wear them.

The different types of Yukata

First, there are bath yukata and festival yukata. The bath yukata are exactly the same for men and women. They shouldn’t be worn outside the private sphere. They often have small cords to attach the yukata around you and there is no rule concerning the obi, so every hotel / onsen will have different kinds of obi, most of them don’t look like a traditional obi at all and look more like a scarf. You won’t find those yukata in most 30

shops except super dummy touristic spots like the airport, and it’s not really worth buying one.

We will focus here on the festival yukata. For that kind, there are men and women yukata. The main difference between them is that a man’s yukata has sleeves that are sewn all around, whereas a woman’s yukata has open sleeves (the part close to the body isn’t sewn and you can use your sleeves as pockets). So before you buy that cool yukata, make sure it actually matches your gender!

By the way, for bath yukata, they all have the sleeves sewn up. As you’re going to dip in water, you probably don’t need pockets…

On a woman yukata, the sleeves are open like this.

How to chose my yukata and my obi

Then, if you are buying a man’s yukata, you want to buy one that goes down to your ankles. If you’re buying a woman’s one, you’ll need the yukata to be quite longer. Aim for about 5 centimeters off of the ground after putting it on. It can be longer without much issue but a shorter one can lose some of its cuteness.

Both men and women will also need an obi (the kimono belt). A woman needs a so called han-haba obi (半幅帯) that is about 20 centimeters large. On the left is a picture of a normal obi in black and gold next to a han-haba obi in red (it’s supposed to be half the width, but as you can see it’s actually more than that. We’ve been lied to…) A man needs a kakuobi (角帯). The kakuobi is even narrower than the han-haba obi and is generally of one color or has very simple patterns.

The ways of tying them are totally different so make sure you’re watching the right online tutorial1 (sorry but there is no explanation on how to wear it in this article as it would be quite a hassle to explain it, so I’ll direct you to YouTube for that.)

Women can choose between many sorts of bows while men only have one basic knot (sorry guys no fancy flowers bows for you). For women, you can often buy sets with a pre-made bow. In that case, it’s pretty self explanatory.

What else do I need?

Both men and women also need koshihimo (腰紐) or waist cords. Women need two and men one to hold the yukata in place. Then, it would be nice to complete your outfit with geta: the traditional Japanese sandals that make a nice clap-clap sound when you walk. Girls can also buy some cute cords to put around the obi once it’s tied, but it’s not necessary.

What to wear under my yukata?

For men, choose a v-collar shirt. You really don’t want people to be able to see your undershirt unless you’re aiming for the non-sexy “socks-in-sandals” outfit. Except for that, you can easier just wear your underwear and be slightly scandalous, or wear narrow shorts underneath. Please don’t go around naked unless you’re going to the onsen. (And even then … please don’t. You should keep your underwear...). AND NO SOCKS! Gotta show the world your sexy, hairy ankles and feet!

For women, you can wear a light colored top or T-shirt, and shorts or skirts. You can also wear an under yukata dress (that’s the proper way), but don’t worry too much about it. Make sure you wear something between your panties and the yukata though so you’re safe if your yukata opens a bit too much.

1

Woman yukata - https://youtu.be/km5yOCrQwCI Woman obi - https://youtu.be/xaTFPTOZccY Man yukata and obi - https://youtu.be/xRB0WDLNJz8

31

How much does a yukata cost?

You can find used ones from 1,000 yen at recycle shops without issues, but remember that you’ll have to buy the koshihimo (though you could always replace that with old woman stockings… ) and the obi too if you want it to be wearable. You can also find set ones with obi, geta (the shoes) and koshihimo at many shops like Aeon, Uniqlo, or smaller more specialized shop. Those usually start from 3,500 yen and can go up as high as 15,000 yen in specialized shops.

Summer Kimono

In Japan nothing is easy, but the kimono world is especially complicated. Most kimono are made of silk and have an outside and an inside layer that are sewn together. Those kimonos can be worn from October to May. And then you have the so called summer kimono, which I will explain.

For men, you just need to know that a summer kimono and a yukata are almost exactly the same, except that for the kimono you need the under kimono. As the differences basically stop here from what I could read on the wonderful internet, I won’t talk much more about it. The following will be all about women’s kimono.

For women, there are two types of summer kimono: the hito-e (単衣) and the usuhito-e (薄単衣). The first one is worn in June and September and the second one is worn in July and in August. They both only have one layer, and therefore contrast with the awase (袷) which is a kimono with two layers that is worn from October to May.

A summer kimono is more formal and traditional than a yukata but is much more complicated to wear and also more expensive. Also, you can’t buy pre-made summer kimono. You have to get them tailor made which takes more time and money. You’ll also need a different type of obi and a whole new sort of accessories to be able to wear them. So really, I wouldn’t recommend buying a summer kimono unless you’re serious about learning how to wear kimono and want to have a full collection of kimonos.

Nonetheless, here is a small guide to help you identify an awase, a hito-e and an usuhito-e from a yukata.

• An awase has two layers, as stated before (see the picture on The author wearing a summer kimono. the next page) and is fairly thick.

• A hito-e has only one layer, but other than that looks like an awase.

• An usuhito-e has one layer and is see-through. So you really need to wear something under it, or you’ll be really scandalous.

• All three of them have a collar that folds in two when being worn (see the picture on the next page) and are made of silk or synthetic materials.

• A yukata is made of cotton, has a simple collar already sewn in, and isn’t see through, which is why you can wear it with simple underwear.

• As for the way in which you a kimono, as mentioned earlier, it’s more complicated and you need more accessories than for a yukata. So really, unless you’re thinking of learning all the ways of kimono, I would advise you to start with a yukata. You’ll look almost the same, you’ll avoid lots of expensive purchases, and it will make the experience simpler and more enjoyable.

And there you have it. I hope that you will be able to find the perfect wear for the summer! See you at the festivals!

32

The kimono collar when it’s not folded.

The difference in collars between a yukata and a kimono.

The yukata collar.

The inside double layer of an awase.

Travel

Niigata Spotlight Every issue we explore a different corner of our wonderful prefecture.

This edition we visit the peaceful mountain town of Aga.

a g A

m i t y n a t a . . . . r a e y f o

Nestled among the mountains of eastern Niigata, in the Agano river valley, lies the small, sleepy town of Aga. Until relatively recently, it was divided into four separate towns: Tsugawa, the largest in population and most important; Mikawa, which is the most isolated of them and the closest to Niigata; Kanose, separated from Tsugawa by a small mountain and no more; and Kamikawa, home to some of the remoter parts of the town. Together these four towns, at times their own communities and distinctly separate in the minds of their inhabitants, make Aga.

Aga lies halfway between the seaport of Niigata City and the castle city of Aizu-Wakamatsu, in Fukushima. There is only one road that leads through it, and you get the sense that the road would be there, even if there were no town. Getting to Aga is thus a little bit of a hassle. There is Route 49, which is the road most commonly taken by travellers, and the Ban-Etsu Expressway, which connects Niigata and Fukushima prefectures. While the expressway is faster, and has two exits within the town limits, it also presents a less scenic view; the 49 runs parallel to Agano River for much of the way, before finally climbing up the mountains towards Nishiaizu town in Fukushima. The only other route in is by train, on the Ban-Etsu West line that links Niitsu and AizuWakamatsu stations; the route is picturesque but infrequently travelled by trains. At weekends the line lightens up as an old steam engine is fired up, and the Ban-Etsu Monogatari train takes people into the past while ferrying them back and forth.

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By Daniel Geoffrey Photo Credit to Jodie Lawton

To an outsider, perhaps, there may be little about Aga to attract the eye. In many ways it’s a stereotypical inaka town. There are rice fields; there are old, crumbling buildings; the population is mostly older people; the nights are quiet and unassuming. The town exudes the air of a place that is clinging onto the past, for it knows there is little left in the future. Yet to dismiss Aga for a dying countryside town in the middle of nowhere would do it a disservice. Completing the journey to this corner of Niigata will yield many a delightful secret.

And it matters not what time of year you come – there is always something waiting to be discovered, some adventure to be had. Each season holds its own delights.

In spring, with the blooming of flowers come the mountainside cherry blossoms, hidden away in each nook and cranny of the valley. Summer pulls people outdoors towards the extensive natural parks in the area; an adventurous person might go hiking, while other people could find relaxation in a picnic in one of the many open areas around the town.

When the season changes to autumn, and the leaves darken, it is time to enjoy the fall colours and the thousand shades of red that litter the mountains.

And at the end of the year, in winter, the snow falls thick on the ground and the mountains, leading to the typical wintry past-times of Niigata. Aga is not dead yet.

Of the four seasons, spring is maybe the best. With the snow gone, life floods the fields and turns everything green. Expertly-planted cherry trees line the many converging rivers and streams while students practice their rowing, shouting back and forth. Monkeys, hidden in the winter months, emerge from the forests again to wander through the outlying districts. All of this leads up to Aga’s biggest yearly event, the Fox-Bride Festival. This is the single biggest annual event in town. An actual couple get married through an old ritual that has its roots in an even older folktale about a fox demon. The bride in question is escorted to the river by a procession of children and adults in fox make-up, before the ceremony ends at nightfall. After the festival is the rice-planting season, which is then followed by summer; the summer rains can flood the river at times, but these floodings are always brief.

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Summer is the season for hiking. The snow no longer covers the mountains by May, and aside from the rainy season, the hiking around Aga is excellent and varied. An easy climb is Mt. Kirin, which is the centrepiece of the Fox-Bride Festival, and takes but twenty to thirty minutes to summit.

Then there are longer hikes, mostly in the Mikawa area that juts out towards Shibata. None of the hikes scale tremendous heights – the mountains in the area are relatively small still – but there is a particularly interesting one that covers five peaks.

Gozusan (五頭山, 912m) is the mountain in question, with a hike lasting roughly four hours.

A morning hike of Mt. Kirin could be followed by a picnic on the banks of Agano River, either in Tsugawa or in Kanose. Alternatively you could go to the Herbal Park nearby and dine while surrounded by the splendid colours and odours of a modest but stunning flower garden. And if the heat is getting to you, there is always the chance to jump into the cool water of the river.

The rainy season, too, has its own highlight: a dusk-time viewing of fireflies in the damp marshlands of Kamikawa. The peak time to view the fireflies is generally midway through the wet month, or in early July.

In autumn the fall colours descend upon Aga. While harvest keeps the local farmers busy, it is also a signal of another of Aga’s unique events. When the leaves turn, tourism peaks with people coming from all over to enjoy the view from the boats on the Agano River. The autumn scenery is said to be among Japan’s 100 most beautiful landscapes. The cruise itself can be undertaken from different parts of Aga, with docks in Mikawa and Kanose. The Kanose boat cruise is the most remote and most rewarding of the two, with it being slightly difficult to reach without a car. Yet the boat goes upriver from there without obstruction from any of the dams that halt the flow of water downriver, and the scenery is more natural and thus more sublimely beautiful.

Yet winter is when Aga is at its best. The town is fiercely proud of its numerous hot springs, and quite rightly so, with there being at least twenty bathing spots to choose from! Each area of the town boast multiple springs for locals and visitors alike

to bathe in. The water varies in temperature and mineral content and the various establishments differ in price and services offered. In short, there is something for everyone.

One of the spas in Mikawa (三川・温泉ス キー場) doubles during winter as a skiing resort.

The skiing area is generally open from late January to March, and the slope itself is considered a good place to pick up skiing or snowboarding, being both relatively easy and not too busy. More information can be found on the resort’s website (in Japanese only). Mikawa also boasts numerous other spas; the YOU & YU hotel on Route 14 vaunts 9 different baths with 6 different types of water, while Shinkaisou (新かい荘) even welcomes pets.

Tsugawa itself only has one onsen – Kiyokawa Kogen (清川高原) – which is famous in town for the effect its waters have on skin. Locals describe the softening of the skin as tsurutsuru, and many an elderly person can be seen sprightly walking around the hot spring on a weekday evening. Kiyokawa Kogen is also on the slopes of Mt. Akasaki, and a solitary mountain round connects Kiyokawa to both the Akasaki hiking area and the various hot springs in Kanose. The springs in Kanose are spread over two areas: near the base of Mt. Kirin, where the waters feed the pools of two ryokan, Furusawaya and Fukusen, and near Mt. Akasaki, where the springs flow hot into Akayu Onsen and Akasaki-so. Of the onsen near Mt. Kirin, it is Furusawaya (雪つばきの宿 古澤屋) that offers both the best views of Agano River and the best gardens for an evening stroll. As the name implies, it is home to a large garden full of Aga’s emblematic flower, the Snow Camellia, or yukitsubaki. Both of the ryokan offer private baths for overnight customers at an extra fee.

The Akasaki springs are infamous in Aga for their heat, in particular Akayu; the water there is red from the minerals flowing in it, and the three pools are hotter than average. The hottest pool is in fact so hot that it is said that only the oldest of Aga’s residents, who have trained their bodies their whole lives, are able to comfortably bathe here. Finding out whether this is true or not is a quest for those undaunted by the high temperatures.

All of these hot springs also offer traditional Japanese food, as is typical in Japan. Yet they are not the only places where you can get food in Aga. Despite the diminishing population, there are a number of high-quality eateries to be tried, spread over the entire area. A local favourite is the katsu restaurant, Katsumaru, near the 7-11 in Tsugawa.

The restaurant is now the last remaining local of a small Niigata chain that specialises in Niigatastyle katsudon, and is the only location to offer a drink bar. Highlights of the menu are the tokumori katsudon for the avid katsu lover, with its enormous portion of juicy fried pork cutlet. The cutlet is still just as tasty when cold, so saving some for later is a good choice – just ask for a box. They also have an exceptional katsukare, and a brilliant cheese-stuffed cutlet too. There are also a number of ramen joints in town. Tsugawa has two of the better ones: Toenro and Poppo. Toenro (open Tuesday to Sunday, lunch and dinner) doubles as a Chinese restaurant, and serves a variety of soy-based ramen and ricebased dishes. It is run by a husband and wife duo, with family members helping out on weekends. A personal suggestion is the tantanmen for those who love spicy food. The chef combines the soup with spices and a generous portion of mincemeat and corn to add to the noodles, and the dish goes down perfectly on those chilly mountain evenings. Poppo is best visited at lunch, when they also have daily specials on the cheap. The tantanmen here is misobased, and a lot spicier than Toenro’s: do not order it unless you are sure you’re up to it! Unlike Toenro, which is near the Post Office in Tsugawa, Poppo is a little bit out of town, on the 49 towards Aizu, just after the old Tsugawa Drive-In. Near Mt. Kirin is also one of Tsugawa’s bunch of bakeries, Kirindou, which specialises in cakes and macarons. In the summer, a hike of Mt. Kirin is best followed up with a cool and sweet kakigori from this shop. Another bakery, but recently opened, is Combirie, a French-inspired shop run by a couple of newlyweds from Tokyo, which has some of the best savoury breads in Niigata, while a third bakery, opposite Toenro, specialises in cream puffs.

As you can see, there is plenty here for anybody to come and enjoy. And while Aga may be often overlooked and forgotten, those who visit will remember it forever. So what are you waiting for?

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Day Trip

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I have now lived in Niigata City for two years, but I have yet to really explore my city. So I decided to go on an adventure!

I started my day at Taruhi Glass Works in Nuttari-Higashi, about a 20 minute walk from the station. Fortunately for me, it was a beautiful sunny day. At Taruhi Glass Works you can learn how to make tonbodama, a Japanese style glass bead, which I was really excited about.

When I entered the small shop the teacher and his student looked a little surprised, but they were very kind and excited to talk to me. They praised my Japanese as they showed me different colors of glass and designs. I went for a simple design and the teacher carefully showed me how to craft glass into a beautiful bead. I was a little apprehensive at first to be so close to flames hot enough to melt glass.

It brought back memories of me injuring myself in high school chemistry whenever a burner was involved. But I managed to not fatally wound myself as I turned the glass round and round, and added little glass confetti to complete the look.

Once completed I had to wait for it to cool, and so I took a stroll around the area. Next to the glass shop are three Buddhist shrines. The buildings are beautiful and have many little jizo statues. On 40

my return, the teacher made my bead into a necklace while describing other places in the area I should visit. I was especially interested in the sake and beer brewery where I could test out their product. But alas, I could not venture there, as I had other plans.

I left the glass shop and stopped by a little bakery that was close by. Because that area is famous for stray cats, they had cat-shaped taiyaki, or rather nekoyaki…which could be taken the wrong way. I bought a chocolate flavored nekoyaki, but I think there might have been a mistake, for it looked more like dog than a cat. So I dubbed it inuyaki! Again, maybe not the best name, but it was delicious and gooey!

By the time I left it was lunch time, and while my teacher suggested I try the gyoza in that area, I had something else in mind. Italian!

I went to the Bandai City Bus Center building, where I was able let the tourist in my soul out, and took a picture with the Bandai City cat, Banyai! After my moment of weakness, I went back to my real goal and into the restaurant, Mikazuki, to try “Italian” for the first time. Italian is a very famous Niigata delicacy; it is yakisoba drizzled with tomato sauce. It hit the spot perfectly after my first expedition.

After lunch I went to the Niigata Manga and Animation Museum in Billboard Place, where they had a special exhibit for the shoujo manga magazine LaLa’s 40th anniversary from April 29th to May 28th. It featured the artworks of some of my

a y t i C

favorite manga, such as Snow White with the Red Hair, Ouran High School Host Club, and The Wolf King’s Bride. Those manga artists created message cards for the occasion, which was my favorite part.

There is also an interactive area where you can take a crack at voice acting or help complete a comic. I really enjoyed watching the anime about the two chibi aliens, Hanano Komachi and Sasa Dangoro, who would use the Bandai Bridge as a launch pad for their spaceship to stop their nemesis from stealing things. I have never been more entertained.

I bought some manga goodies on my way out and headed for Furumachi, where the Manga House resides. The Manga House has many older manga that you can read at your leisure, and it currently has an exhibition gallery of the manga Kumamiko.

But my main purpose there was to draw manga!

The Manga House offers free courses on manga drawing. You can choose three different manga characters to draw, using ink pens that manga artist use. As you draw, the kind staff member will give you tips on how to make the character your own.

She also showed me how she created manga on her computer! It was quite relaxing, and I want to go back to learn more!

I grew hungry afterwards and returned to Bandai to go to an Osaka style okonomiyaki restaurant called Kaoruya. It was a hole-in-thewall kind of place, and did remind me of the okonomiyaki restaurants I would go to when I

By Samantha Wolfe studied abroad in Osaka. However, I did not order okonomiyaki, which I would describe as a savory cabbage pancake, but monjayaki! A more watery version of okonomiyaki which hails from the Kanto region. Finding okonomiyaki or monjayaki is very rare outside of their regions, so I was quite excited.

The monjayaki was very good and a nice change of pace too!

It was getting late and I wanted to wind down a bit and headed toward the station. I went to Ponshukan, a great shop to buy anything-Niigata souvenirs. They have rice crackers, soy sauce and sake, and at the back of the store there is a little room where you can also sample the many kinds of sake that Niigata has to offer. For 500 yen I got to try 5 different sake, and I’m glad I am “strong” (as my JTEs have described me), because if you’re not careful the sake can go to your head quickly.

My final stop was Fujiya Dessert Café. There I ordered a drink and a piece of cake from their display case and relaxed inside their café area. It was a nice last stop for the day, and the food helped soaked up the alcohol I had previously consumed.

As I recollected my day, I realized there was quite a bit more I could have done. I want to explore my city again, and thanks to the glass teacher’s insight I found there are more things to discover. So come over to the city sometime! You never know what you will find.

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のり

The Tsugawa Fox Bride Festival

By Jordan Nowlin

Every year on the third of May in the city of Aga the foxes gather for a grand wedding whose traditions extend back generations. Well, it’s mostly people made up to look like foxes nowadays, but the legends and the ceremonies are as old as they come.

Long ago people spoke of strange, otherworldly lights floating in the distance. Clearly the work of the kitsune, lovers of mischief. Usually no one could say what those great foxes were up to, but every so often a string of lights could be seen extending out into the night. Everyone knew that the only explanation was a kitsune wedding procession.

Now you too can come to see the happy joining of two young foxes. It is a day of celebration for all. From the moment you arrive you can tell this is a special occasion. Even as the attendants at the train station greet you, they wear fox make-up and wave with their hands balled up like fox paws. The elementary and junior high school students have pitched in to make kitsune sculptures and drawings, and everyone is getting into the spirit of the day.

If you head on down to the center of town, you can find the Fox Wedding Residence. This serves as the museum for the history of the fox wedding’s 44

traditions and hosts a few of the day’s activities while also serving as a general resting place. Here you can get your face painted for a modest fee to join the foxy crowd.

As you wander the city, take some time to enjoy the atmosphere. There’s music and dancing, street shows and vendors, and you can mingle with the other hundreds of people who have all come to experience this day. Join the excitement and fun.

There’s something new to see around pretty much every corner.

If big crowds aren’t quite your thing, fear not! There are quieter places to be found, and the Tsugawa area boasts some spectacular views. Nestled between the mountains, the town stretches along the beautiful Aga River right where Kirin Mountain rises majestically out of the water. In May everything is lush and green. It is truly a sight to behold.

When your stomach gets to rumbling, you can hop back on over to the Fox Wedding Residence to check out the kitsune udon – because theming is everything – and sample some of Niigata’s famous sasadango. While you’re there, you can head upstairs and paint your own fox mask. Unleash your

creativity and take a load off for a bit. Alternatively you can, of course, purchase one of the premade masks if the shame of displaying your own creation would be too great.

Then as the evening sun begins to set, the beautiful fox bride and her retinue of 108 attendants begin their parade through the town. The lights are all turned off, the streets lit with lanterns. The air is full of ethereal music to take you to the world of the yōkai as you watch the wedding procession that so many could only see as kitsune fires in the distance.

At the park by the river just across from Kirin Mountain, the stage is set for the grand wedding. You can grab some food from the nearby stalls and pull up a nice patch of grass. Night falls with a lingering chill on the air, and the bride comes to take her place as the ceremony begins. The style and traditions of the Edo period are on full display.

Everything has weight and purpose; all is performed with grace, evoking the quiet beauty of the Japanese aesthetic. Still it remains a truly happy occasion as the young couple – who are actual newly or soon to be weds – pledge their hearts to each other. You can almost imagine their little tails blissfully wagging.

After the young foxes have sailed across to Kirin Mountain – the traditional home of the foxes in Tsugawa – you will have spent a wonderful day in a charming town by the river celebrating the ancient legends and customs of the people. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe some friends to share the experience with…

Then you’ll just have to drag some along!

Travel Review

Azumino

By Alex Hutchinson

Looking for something to do on a free weekend? Enjoy countryside drives?

Azumino in Nagano Prefecture might just be the perfect weekend getaway for you!

I recently found myself with a free weekend and a house guest, so I thought it would be a great opportunity to explore a little outside of our own Niigata Prefecture. Located about two hours from Joetsu City by expressway, Azumino is a great spot to go for a leisurely day trip. A super early start isn’t necessarily needed to have an enjoyable and relaxing day out. My friend and I left at around 9:30am and arrived about two hours later. If you wish to see a bit more than we did however, leaving a little earlier can’t hurt. The trip from Yoshikawa in Joetsu to Azumino was a relatively short and pleasant drive with scenic views. At the time, the cherry blossoms were just beginning to bloom and the snow-capped Mt Myoko looked more impressive than ever. Although patches of pink sakura were dotted throughout the landscape, I can imagine that autumn would also be a lovely time to go and view the coloured foliage.

I had many recommendations from teachers and friends to visit Azumino for its variety of shops, museums, art galleries, and its wasabi farm. Daio Wasabi Farm and Water Mills was the main drawing card for us so we decided to make it our first port of call. I had imagined that it would just be this small 46

farm in the middle of nowhere, however it was quite different. The farm, which was founded in 1915, was a real hive of activity with many tourists and other foreigners (something I hardly see in Joetsu)!

Although the farm had a somewhat touristy vibe to it, it still felt tranquil and had many secluded spots to explore.

It was around lunch time when we arrived so our first thoughts were of food. The farm offered quite a few options, all with a wasabi theme of course! From wasabi croquette burgers to wasabi ice cream, there was certainly an interesting assortment to choose from. However, as Nagano is famous for its soba noodles, our decision was easily made for lunch. A restaurant overlooking the farm served the noodles three different ways. My friend and I both chose the cold noodles with tempura shrimp and vegetables. We couldn’t skip out on dessert either, so

A delicious lunch of cold tempura soba noodles

Todoriki Residence, an Edo Period hunting lodge and now a museum.

Wasabi ice cream

we tried the wasabi ice cream. It was very light and the taste of wasabi was so delicate. Very delicious!

We needed a walk after lunch and the farm is set out perfectly for this. The grounds are quite big and there are many walking tracks to choose from. Along the way, visitors can also browse art and craft shops or even participate in activities such as cooking classes or a boat tour along the tranquil streams in the spring and summer seasons.

Our next stop was the Todoriki Residence about five minutes from the wasabi farm. Todoriki belonged to a local lord who used the lodge for hunting during the Edo Period. Inside, there were many historical items and the garden surrounding the house was also very beautiful. We were lucky to be the only ones there and received a personalised tour of the lodge. Although the explanation was in Japanese, the lady was very helpful and spoke clearly about the uses of important objects and their purpose within the house. The setup of the house felt truly Japanese with its open plan, wood and shoji screens opening out into the perfectly planned garden. It would have been a peaceful place to sit, reflect and enjoy the four distinct seasons that the prefecture has to offer.

Hidden away a couple of hundred metres down the road was Tokoji temple. The temple was a real surprise and had quite a unique and contemporary twist. At the entrance of the temple there are three bright orange installations of traditional Japanese geta sandals. It is said that if you

Tokoji Temple Gate

pray while wearing the geta sandals your wishes will come true. Of course, we tried it out and took some fun photos too. Besides this, the temple grounds also had a beautifully kept garden and cemetery.

To finish our day, we decided to grab some coffee and cake from a small art gallery we stumbled across on our way home. I’m sure with more exploration there would be quite a few more of these cafes to find, dotted around the area. One last thing that we wanted to try before heading home was the foot hot spring. After a day of walking this was so relaxing and great for our feet! We sat with other visitors around a circular pool with eight giant demons’ faces staring down upon us! The water was warm and there were also massaging foot rocks to try out. The hot spring was just what we needed, and it’s free for all visitors to use.

Other attractions in Azumino that we did not manage to get to include a dairy farm, a silk museum, a Swiss village and many other beautiful parks and shrines. Activities such as fruit picking, glass work, soba making, and hiking are also available to try out throughout the seasons.

Azumino’s tourist website offers more information on the area and also provides a map and exploring guide online. Half-day and full-day itineraries are also suggested which makes it super easy to navigate.

I hope you have the chance to explore Azumino yourself sometime. Find out more at their website: http://www.azumino-e-tabi.net/en/.

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Reviews

Moana

A Film Review

By Disante Johnson Photo Credit to The Walt Disney Company

Moana is Disney’s latest animated princess film based on Polynesian mythology. It follows a young princess, Moana, in her adventure to not only find her place in her world but to save it as well. At this point, no one should be a stranger to Disney’s normal princess formula. The question then becomes, how well was it executed?

The story, again, is mostly standard fare.

Moana lives in a happy, lively village where she is the daughter of the Chief whose priorities lie in protecting the village and building up his daughter to take the reins from him one day. Though Moana loves her village, she can’t help but feel a powerful call from the sea, testing her to resolve on following her heart or not. That said, what sets this film apart from other princess tales is the quality of Moana herself, the rich world that she lives in, and the music. Though the veracity of the representation of the mythology that it’s based off of won’t be commented on here, how it was presented was of mostly high quality.

The animation is smooth and interesting. The colors are vibrant, varied and well chosen, and the songs and music are practically bursting forth with emotion when the film really gets it right (which is pretty often). As a whole, Disney has provided a great film that succeeds in places where other predecessors have fallen short. But why is that? Well, let’s take a closer look.

One of the first things to address is Moana who is wonderfully voiced by Auli’i Cravalho. She’s strong and independent to be sure, but there’s more to her than that. Moana is built as a character with an incredibly powerful drive to follow her heart with a wonderful feeling of self-worth. Even so, this does not stop her from taking part in the responsibilities that she has at home. Her parents (which is kind of a rarity in and of itself----parents that are alive and 50

present in a Disney film?) have a set path for her, especially her father, and she tries her best to uphold what’s expected of her.

Even though she has very high expectations placed upon her, she takes it all in and rises to the occasion. When her journey begins in earnest, she continues that streak. At the same time though, she’s not completely sure of herself and the direction she’s taking and doesn’t have all of the answers. This vulnerability helps to get the audience closer to her and her plight. Even through the terrible obstacles that arise, she almost never stops trying to figure a way out by using what she’s learned and observed through her voyage. This is one of her charms and works well with her as a whole. Though she’s likable and confident, she’s also vulnerable and human. Still, it never acts as a crutch and she perseveres forth..

At no point does she ever feel dishonest or petulant.

Disney truly did a great job in making Moana relatable, interesting, and generally a joy to see onscreen.

The next major character, Maui, doesn’t quite reach the same bar that Moana sets. Voiced

by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, he can’t help but have the same type of charisma that The Rock has built much of his career off of so there’s no issue with his voice work. Unfortunately, the character itself leaves a bit to be desired. He has a fine backstory and he helped to bring some comedy to the film, but his actions at times seemed incredibly at odds with some of his goals. Maui, a demigod whose entire character revolves around bringing humans divine gifts to better their lives in order to be praised, commits what would at the very least be called questionable acts. More than once his deliberate actions could’ve done harm to Moana. These were often played for laughs but it’s just incredibly strange that he would do such things at all, given what was

trying to be built up with him. To be honest, at times it felt like there was a surreptitious malice there but it was never addressed and always played for laughs at best or just another challenge for Moana at worst.

Aside from that, Maui serves the story fine enough, even though it would’ve been nice if he were less of a buffoon, a little less abusive, and more reflective of his actions.

The other characters in the film served their parts well enough too. Moana’s grandmother is quite enjoyable (she served a fine agitator for Moana to discover herself) and though you can tell where some things are going, the execution is mostly pretty decent. In terms of antagonistic characters, the main and secondary antagonists present challenges for our heroes in very different ways. The secondary antagonist was incredibly bombastic, displaying almost infectious enjoyment in being perfectly vain and evil. The segment does well to initially keep things light and humorous. Still, there’s an ever present threat that isn’t lost. It’s tough to balance that in a villain and for what we get, it’s done with a certain panache here. The main antagonist brings forth a darker oppression that has a deeper connection that honestly should have been explored more. It’s the influence from the main antagonist that starts Moana on her journey but there isn’t much by way of getting much deeper than that for the majority of the film. When we do get more involved it was nice to see what exactly Moana was fighting against (not just physically, mind) and the solution reached to end it was incredibly satisfying and a wonderful scene in it’s own right.

Finally, the music! This is definitely a strong suit of the film. There’s more than one song that will stick in your head after the film and these will no doubt continue to be sung by many who see the film. And you know what? People should have at it! There are some well constructed songs here that are not only fun to hear and listen to but actively

emerge from the world that it’s born from and make sense in the context from which it arises. This is in stark contrast to one particular song from a past Disney film that, while catchy and certainly a nice song, was pretty tone deaf to what was happening inside its own world which kind of defeated the original liberating nature of the song. For the most part, these songs feel like they organically arose from the world of Moana instead of a “oh, time to do a musical number” type of deal or at the very least, fit within their own constructs. They provide ample entertainment, they move the story along, they allow the audience to connect to the characters, and they all have a purpose while staying away from perfunctory.

All in all, Moana is a well-made film that takes viewers on an enjoyable journey. It provides a powerful lead that is accessible, clever and able to quickly get one invested. The songs are well made, the art direction is fun where needed while being able to portray more complex scenes and emotions accurately, with a decently developed story and some pretty interesting antagonists. Even so, a bit more depth explored in some places would’ve tremendously helped the film. The resolution to the big conflict at the end, while beautifully handled, had a somewhat lackluster result in regards to certain characters truly coming to grips with their actions and for one particular character, the true consequences that should’ve at least been addressed for actions they took that had devastating negative repercussions were given nothing more severe than a wink and a handshake at worst. Additionally, where Moana comes off as a pretty well-rounded character that never feels off, the same can’t be said for Maui.

That’s not enough to stop this from being a great film as it there are several parts that really shine brightly and it remains an entertaining and largely cohesive film. Don’t miss it!

Photo Credit to The Walt Disney Company

Photo Credit to MyAnimeList

Koe no Katachi An Anime Review

By Nicholas Benson

Main Characters While Kimi no Na Wa broke the records and topped box office sales last year, the more serious and emotional animated film of 2016, Koe no Katachi, struck me as cinema done right. There were no body-swapping tropes, time travel, or over-done romances; instead the audience received a highly relatable story depicting fairly normal individuals. The magic of the presentation, however, lies in this portrayal of normalcy, and all of the emotional complexity the rest of us experience daily.

The film set an environment believable as real life, and the typical suspension of disbelief necessary to get through other Japanese animated films was unneeded. Meanwhile, topics such as disabilities, depression, suicide, self-deception, broken families, and redemption are underlying the narrative, without overshadowing the realism of the characters.

Plot Summary

Koe no Katachi begins with a flashback of 6th grader, Shoya Ishida, reigning as the suave and cool leader among a group of friends. His life is interrupted by a deaf transfer student, Shouko Nishimiya, who uses a notebook to communicate with her classmates. Frustrated by her inability to hear, Shoya begins to tease and bully Shouko, leading many in his class to do the same. Eventually, Shouko transfers schools again, after her 7th set of expensive hearing aids disappears, and in the aftermath, Shoya is solely blamed for the bullying and shunned for the rest of his school life. The rest of the story is just as much about Shouko as Shoya, presenting the audience with vivid depictions of their daily struggles, failures, and inspirations.

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The dynamic between the two main characters is powerful because it’s believable. After being ostracized by his classmates and former friends, Shoya develops extreme social anxieties and depression, but isn’t driven by a dramatized passion or sense of self-hatred; rather, he lives in the sort of perpetual apathy that is the most common symptom of these mental illnesses in the real world.

Seeing the protagonist in the same state of emotional unhealth that we all experience at one time or another gives the sense that someone out there really understands what it means to grow apart from the world, and gives an empathy that cannot be achieved by passionate speech or actions. Shouya is driven, but not zealously so. His desires to right his wrongs motivate him to work enough to pay back the money his (single) mother paid in remuneration for the lost hearing aids, and to learn enough sign language to apologize to the girl he bullied, but his goals stop there. It takes Shouko’s kindness, and the help of both families, for Shouya to realize that he himself is worth living for.

Shouko’s development is essentially parallel to that of her tormentor. Her battles with depression cause the same strains on her family as Shouya’s, and the way in which she battles for her life against her own mind are born from the same idea of burdening and destroying those around her. The brilliantly depicted relationship between her and her sister acts as a contrast between the two journeys, but the added guilt born from her disability and constant needs weighs on her soul just as heavily. Barring other amazing attributes, Koe no Katachi is the first instance I’m aware of that popular media brings up issues facing those with disabilities, and the film depicts fantastically those individuals as being more than just their disabilities.

Photo Credit to MyAnimeList

Cinematography and Sound

Supporting Characters

This category is truly where I think the movie outperforms most others I’ve seen. There is a rather large cast, but they all contribute essential elements to the film. I would argue that every character endures some sort of personal journey throughout the film. The mothers of both main characters play a very large supporting role, but they also develop as individuals while confronting the darker sides of their children. Shouko’s sister develops through her burgeoning friendship with Shouya, despite her initial antipathy towards him. What I consider the most masterfully depicted characters, however, are the two childhood friends of Shouya, of whom only one reappears for only a few seconds in the present day of the film’s narrative. With only three lines of rather terse dialogue exposing their own journey, the two friends most forgotten by the story actually reveal how pervasively shame and guilt can infiltrate a person’s everyday life, and how difficult it is to not only see it, but correct it. With just three lines, the audience is left to empathize with almost invisible characters who seemingly are experiencing identical struggles as the main characters, yet their turmoil continues to go unaddressed.

Koe no Katachi’s animation is breathtakingly gorgeous at times, but also simple and abstract, relying on images the mundane to help convey the emotional tone of the film. The selection of images and camera angles comes across less artistic, and more logical and objective, helping the audience share in the main characters’ world devoid of strong passions. The soundtrack largely goes unnoticed, as it simply mirrors the emotional expression of the characters on screen.

Conclusion and Extras Whether or not animated films, high school dramas, or slice of life stories are your thing, Koe no Katachi will ingrain in you a sense of genuineness that is the epitome of excellent story-telling, and it contains several crucially important dialogues concerning mental and physical illnesses in our society (which are even more necessary in Japan, where the acknowledgement and support of such illnesses is especially lacking). The extended cast of characters provides bountiful opportunities for analysis and thoughts well after the credits roll across the screen; the diverse range of emotional responses and defense mechanisms beg to be compared with the viewers’ own shortcomings. On top of all of this, the film is just plain entertaining. With frequent splashes of comic relief to soften the dark subject matter, excellent visuals, an engrossing plot, and, most importantly, brilliant characters, I suspect this film will gather a well-deserved following in the years to come.

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A Video Game Review

By Sam Haley

Ah, April! The wonderful time when the sakura are blooming, schools are welcoming new students and, of course, the time when schools host bank-breaking amounts of drinking parties. After barely escaping the week in which I had 5 enkai with my liver and savings account intact, I decided that it was time to treat myself to the game I’d been eyeing up since its Japanese release last September: Persona 5.

For those of you who haven’t heard of the series before, the Persona games are a creation of the Japanese games company Atlus. They are known for creating worlds which have a very distinct anime aesthetic; even incorporating short 2D animated cutscenes from other studios into their 3D work to fully appeal to their audience. All in all, the end product – despite sometimes taking several years to create – has brought them die-hard fans even from outside of their native Japan. The newest instalment in the Persona series celebrates the game’s 20th anniversary and was released worldwide on April 4th for PS3 and PS4.

This particular game is set right in the heart of Tokyo, following several high school students as they discover their mysterious abilities in an otherworldly place, and subsequently decide to use them for dishing out justice to the area’s criminals. The fantastically sharp visuals coupled with endearing characters, a killer soundtrack, and interesting gameplay will really make this worth your while to pick up whether you’re a fan of the JRPG genre or not.

Photo Credit to 91.8 The Fan

Gameplay Outline

Despite being a story-driven game, there is a lot of hands-on interaction in Persona 5. Generic gameplay follows a strict calendar-based storyline.

The game starts at the beginning of the school year in April and follows through from there, day by day.

On each of these in-game days (barring the days on which there is story-based progression or those everso-important school exams, mind you!) there are the options of hanging out with another character, going to the other world to battle, or improving your generic stats by completing random tasks around town. For example, if you decide to go to the bathhouse for the day your Charm will increase.

You can work at the beef bowl restaurant to increase your Proficiency. If you can complete the notorious ‘Big Bang Burger Challenge’ you can gain a boost to almost all of your stats!

The smallest interactions like these can really ground you into that Japanese high school lifestyle, and as someone living in Japan you will often find yourself drawing amusing comparisons to your own schools and neighbourhood – even if you live out in the countryside and teach at junior high and elementary schools like me!

Photo Credit to Zavvi

Visuals

Battling

Having struggled slightly with Persona 4, I was extremely impressed by the improvements to the flow of the combat system in 5. The game is the same as most JRPG combat( i.e. turn-based.) Persona 5, however, makes everything very intuitive, with a lot of abilities now only requiring a button press instead of flipping through extensive menus every turn to find the correct ability to use. The pacing of battles as a result is much faster and more satisfying than its predecessors. This can make even the most frustrating of dungeons more enjoyable and accessible, even to those who aren’t so familiar with the format of turn-based combat games.

On top of the fast-paced action, there are several battle abilities and improvements you can gain from getting closer to your fellow students and locals. As you progress through the game, it becomes increasingly fun to watch the characters that you’ve spent time with come to your aid during battle with their unlocked abilities.

Another interesting feature that is included in some of Persona’s combat is the ability of the weather to cause certain effects at the start of a battle. Depending on the day’s weather when you enter the ‘other world’, enemies may begin the battle with some negative status effects. When it’s heat wave season, for example, enemies may be burned at the beginning of battle. This will cause them to lose a little health on every turn they take. Who would have thought flu season would finally be something to look forward to?

Photo Credit to US Gamer

As I mentioned earlier, Atlus is well known for Japanese-style anime art in their games. . They have worked hard in the past despite console limitations to produce a visually interesting game and this game is no different. Persona 5’s characters and environments are appealing during both gameplay and higher-quality cutscenes. Its stylish user interface, too, makes this a stand-out title for its genre despite originally being developed for PS3 only.

From the moment you start playing the game the player character leaps from obstacle to obstacle, a smirk on his face and his coat gliding behind him as he jumps from place to place. There is a level of polish in the movement of the characters and their style of clothing that really does set the game up for its “Phantom Thief ” theme right off the bat, and it’s hard not to feel badass when the controller is in your hand.

Photo Credit to Gamez Generation

Why You Should Play It

As I have said to others before, I don’t think I am able to oversell this game to those who enjoy JRPG titles. Persona 5 truly is a leader in its genre. I also believe that not only will those who are hardcore JRPG fans find this game hard to put down, this is also a great starter game for those who are new to this type of game and a potentially refreshing change to those who usually dislike them.

For people who live in Japan, it takes on a whole new perspective than it might for the average player and who knows – it may even give you some ideas for places to visit when you are next in Tokyo!

Tonkatsu Wako

A Restaurant Review

By Angela Marie Moore

Hello, everyone! Angela reporting in and today. I’m going to be informing you about one of my favorite restaurants. Luckily for me Niigata City is only a short train ride away, but for others the journey to the capital can be long and boring.

Hopefully I can give you something to fantasize and drool over while you watch the rice paddies pass you by. Delicious cuts of pork, generously breaded, and fried to perfection. I’m talking about tonkatsu, or fried pork cutlets.

Tonkatsu is a dish you can find almost anywhere, so what’s the big deal about Tonkatsu Wako? Being from the Mid-Western area of the United States, I’m a big meat eater. However, in Japan it is sometimes difficult to find a place that offers a meal with large pieces of meat that you can sink your teeth into without breaking your wallet.

Located on the seventh floor of the Isetan department store, which is a ten-minute walk from the Bandai exit of Niigata Station, is a moderately sized restaurant. It’s color scheme gives the impression of upscale with its dark reds, browns, and blacks. The prices, however, are very reasonable!

Most of the dishes range in price from 1,000 yen to 1,500 yen.

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Want something to drink besides water to go with your meal, but afraid of the usually outrageous costs of drinks? Wako has that covered; when you sit down you are served a hot cup of green tea.

Wako offers many different cuts of pork, all tantalizingly breaded and fried to tease your tastebuds. ロースかつ (rosukatsu) is made from sirloin, ひれかつ (hirekatsu) is made from the loin so it is a leaner piece of meat, and you also have minced meat cutlets made from a mixture of pork and beef.

Maybe you want something more unique than the standard slices of pork? There are many different versions of traditional dishes to choose from, such as なべ (nabe) style, or in English ‘hot pot’. The broth is served to you in a bowl, with a small burner under it. It has a soy flavor, and comes with a beaten egg that is cooked inside it as is continues to cook at your table. It is all topped off with a serving of tonkatsu! It is also served with miso soup, pickled vegetables, rice, and cabbage.

Warning, this is a monstrous amount of food for some people. But Wako will still offer you refills of the side dishes.

Okay, so you aren’t in the mood for just pork.

There are other options offered at the restaurant.

They also serve ground beef cutlets stuffed with cheese, fried shrimp, savory egg custard, and crab meat croquettes.

What’s the best at Tonkatsu Wako? For both myself and several other foreigners, it is the tarekatsu rice bowl. Tarekatsu is one of the foods that the Niigata Prefecture is famous for. Instead of sliding an egg over top the tonkatsu like many areas of Japan, Niigata swaps this with a unique sauce.

This sauce, called ‘tare’, is both sweet and salty as it is made of soy sauce, mirin (or rice wine), and sugar.

For me, I enjoy this dish as it is served. However, if you are craving a bit more of the traditional flavor, you can add more tonkatsu sauce or spicy Japanese mustard which is provided at your table. This meal comes with miso soup, rice, pickled vegetables, cabbage salad and a large scoop of potato salad.

Priced at only 1,080 yen the tarekatsu rice bowl is the perfect price for anyone watching their budget, but still wants to experience a nice meal.

Most dishes are served with a bowl of white rice, pickled vegetables, a mountain of thinly sliced cabbage, and a bowl of miso soup with a helping of tiny freshwater clams resting at the foggy bottom that you can use your chopsticks to pry the meat out of. Personally, I do not like most fish or seafood, but the miso soup has a light, satisfying flavor that I immediately came to adore. For the cabbage salad, Wako makes its own unique dressing that contains no oil. It is made from yuzu fruit, so it has a light citrus flavor.Let’s say you are still hungry for the side dishes that come with your meal. That’s not a problem at Wako, as the servers will ask you if you want more miso soup, rice, or cabbage free of charge!

If you are outside of Niigata and you desperately need to scratch your tonkatsu itch, Wako is a chain restaurant and can be found in many major cities across Japan. I’ve been to the one in Ikebukuro, but unfortunately they did not serve tarekatsu there. If you want the Niigata staple, well you’re just going to have to come back to the prefecture.

Now, you might be wondering, ‘Are there any drawbacks to this place?’. Unfortunately, there is a small one. Tonkatsu Wako is pretty popular and famous among the people of the city and you might find yourself waiting in line for fifteen or twenty minutes. However, before you throw this restaurant off your to-do-list, you should know that Wako has

come up with a way to combat this issue as well.

When you are waiting, you are given the menu so you can choose what you want and even order it while waiting so when you sit down it only takes a few minutes for your food to be brought to you.

In the end, Tonkatsu Wako is an excellent place to eat. The atmosphere is calm and relaxing, the staff are polite, and some of the menus are in English if you have any issues with Japanese. The hours are from 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. everyday.

I hope you’ll give this place a try the next time you are in the capital and desire something tasty!

Creative

A Summer Storm A Short Story

By Sean Callahan

Have you ever stopped to look at the forests of Japan? There is a weight to them, a density. It is more than how thick the underbrush is. More than the heavy fog that often permeates them. More than the sense of being someplace ancient. More than the sound of things not seen. The whole is something other than the sum of its parts.

It was next to such a forest that I found myself shivering from the sudden downpour. I’d run until I was out of breath, and sought shelter the only place I could. I ran under the small wooden roof and hoped there was a bench underneath.

I was in such a rush that I had not noticed the acrid scent of tobacco wafting from under. The source was a man, taking a draw from a cigarette. He wore a sharp, stylish business suit, but lacked a tie, leaving the neck open. The trace of a tattoo around his neck could be made out. Unusually, he had a thick, though well kept, beard.

My sudden trespass into his sanctuary only drew a short, quick glance. Though he made no indication to allow it, I sat down, catching my breath.

Long seconds passed as we waited. I had almost forgotten I was in company as I sorted through my bag, seeing if the rain had damaged anything.

“It’s nothing personal, you know.”

The voice surprised me, both for the English, and the deep, resonant tone. I glanced up and saw he had turned to face me, resting his foot on the bench between us. His faint smile belied the way his eyes looked at me...amused.

“It’s fine. I don’t mind the smoke,” I said, and I began to rummage again.

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He chuckled, taking a draw from his cigarette.“No, not that, though you’re polite to allow it. I mean the storm.”

Every instinct in me said not to question it, that perhaps he was delusional, or just insane. All of them except one. I risked a look up, and saw him regarding me in a way I could only describe as assessing.

“And why would you apologize for the storm” I inquired. A small edge in my voice came out that I didn’t expect.

He did not respond immediately, and I worried I had offended him. After a moment, he gave a small smile.

“I didn’t apologize. Just an explanation.”

It was an odd answer. But then, it had been an odd statement. The Stranger, as I’d come to think of him, regarded me while he took a short draw. The rain continued to patter outside and a small flash preceded distant thunder as he nodded.

“So,” he said as he tapped out the ash on the street, “what is it you do here?”

“I teach. English,” I added, realizing it was a stupid clarification. What else would a foreigner be teaching in Japan? “What do you do?”

He gave a brief tilt of his head before responding. I gave his tattoos a brief glance, realizing that asking someone I thought might be a yakuza member about his profession was probably unwise.

“I’m part of a family business,” he said. The look he added gave an unspoken leave it there, which I was all too glad to do.

The rain punctuated the awkward silence. By this point, I had gotten used to long, somewhat embarrassing pauses in conversation. People often scrambled for the bits of language the other understood, but this was different. The pauses didn’t feel pregnant; they felt dangerous, as though making this Stranger bored was the worst idea I could have.

Another flash of lightning made me jump and my eyes dart about looking for the source. As the thunder rolled past I calmed down, but realized there was another rumbling as the Stranger was laughing.

“Scared of the thunder, are you?” he asked between laughs. Despite the nervousness, I felt a sting to my pride and jumped to my own defense.

“No, I just...sudden lights and noises set me on edge,” I finished lamely.

“Ah, that’s nothing to feel shame over. You have your survival instincts, after all.” His eyes seemed to dance as he gave a mischievous grin. “You could always ask the local kami for protection.”

I snorted inadvertently. “I could ask Susano-o to help as well, but I doubt he would.”

The Stranger leaned in, his grin now more amused than anything. “What makes you say that?”

I fumbled around for the words, scraping together what I remembered of the Shinto beliefs.

“Well...he was...kinda a bad person...god, wasn’t he? He did a bunch of things, including murder, that made his sister cry so much the sun went away.”

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“True,” he said with a nod. “But he also saved a family from Orochi, and gave the sword Kusanagi to his sister, which became one of the Treasures of Japan.”

“But he was still not a good god,” I protested.

“No,” the Stranger admitted, leaning back again and getting comfortable. “He is not meant to be. Good and evil are things in other religions.”

I thought about it. Theological debates were something I usually avoided, but this was an interesting one.

“Well, what was he meant to be, then?”

The stranger laughed and pulled on his cigarette a bit more, then looked at me with a level stare.

“What you are sitting in here and hiding from? Is Susano-o bad? Maybe, maybe not. Is a storm good or evil?

Neither. What it is, is powerful.”

As though to punctuate the last word, he clapped suddenly, and to my shock a bolt of lightning struck just behind him, outlining him in its light. I’m not sure why, but he changed, his face noble, but terrifying. His eyes burned as he leaned forward. I found myself shrinking back as the thunder boomed, much closer than before.

“Power,” he said, taking hold of his cigarette between his fingers. “It’s natural that something powerful should be appeased. The people here understand that. It is why they make offerings, why they try to keep nature as it is.

Harmony. Without it, there is imbalance, and that leads to destruction. That is the essence of what people of this country believe.”

“Hardly anyone believes the religion itself,” I pointed out, finding my voice again.

“Oh? And when they pray every New Year’s? When they offer coins at a shrine? What do you think that is?”

I shrugged. “It’s a tradition. They visit because it’s what their parents did.”

“Yes. And their parents before them, and just as their children will long after they are gone.”

He drew from the cigarette one last time before he let it fall to the ground, crushing it under his heel.

“A man can make order, people can make society, but always, nature is there to remind them of their place.

No walls can be built that wind and rain will not collapse. No society exists that cannot be broken apart.” He laughed. “Westerners place their gods above nature. Here? Here, the gods are the wind, the rain, the sudden storm, the chaos of the typhoon and the calm after. Here the gods are nature. And why not? For all that you try, humans are part of nature, part of its rules, and at its mercy.”

“Then why pray at all?” I wondered aloud.

He tilted his head, his expression now unreadable. When he spoke, it was stern.

“Because if you believe the storm can speak, then you can at least ask it for mercy.”

The rain began to die down and through it, I heard the sound of the bus. The Stranger continued to stare at me for a time, then reached into his coat and drew another cigarette. He looked away into the distance as he lit it 62

and began to smoke again. Nothing more was said, but I knew that the conversation was finished, and it felt as though some hold on me was released.

I stepped onto the bus and took a seat, realizing as I sat that I was still soaked from the rain. The bus door closed and, with a lurch, started forward.

When I looked back to the stop, the Stranger was gone.

I never found myself at that bus stop again. A violent storm knocked a neighboring tree down, crushing the small overhang. The city decided to simply clean it up rather than replace it. Now, it is just an often unnoticed mark on a lonely road.

I drive past, some days, to escape my life for a time, letting myself get lost in the narrow, winding street. In the early morning, the mists cling to the trees like a blanket. Even when I stop, turn off the engine, and listen, the world feels empty. Anticipating. I stare into the void of those mists, thinking that here, perhaps, even a god could walk unseen.

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Recipe Banana Bread for Everyone!

By Mark Ruiz I love a fresh roll of Banana Bread in the morning. I love a fresh roll of Banana Bread at any time of the day really. The best thing about Banana Bread is that not only is it a great treat for yourself, but it’s also a great gift for a friend or as a treat for an event.

This recipe has served me through birthdays, Valentine’s Days, White Days, and even a JET Thanksgiving or two, so I’m happy to share this one with everyone! This recipe makes two small tins worth of bread. One for you and one for a special someone!

Step 2 Ingredients: 2 Bananas

80g of Butter OR 55g of Oil 200g of Sugar 1 Egg 5mL (1 Tsp) of Vanilla 5mL (1 Tsp) of Baking Soda A Pinch of Salt 180g Flour Step 3

Steps: 1. Preheat your oven to 175°C 2. Mash the Bananas and mix in your Butter or Oil. 3. Mix in the Baking Soda and the pinch of Salt.

4. Stir in the Vanilla and Egg. 5. Mix in Sugar.

6. Mix in the Flour.

Bake for 40 Minutes or until browned to your liking.

Step 4

Step 6

Step 5