NIIGATA NOISE
November ~ December 2011
November ~ December Issue
Dear Readers,
Aaron Xavier Wilson Executive Editor
On behalf of the Niigata Noise
NIIGATA NOISE
Louise Hollywood Chief Copy Editor Layout & Design Elizabeth Smith Copy Editor Luke Hamilton Photographer Layout & Design David Welsh Publisher Carol Pinnock Columnist Shaun Smith Columnist Jon Robinson Columnist Steven Gore Columnist
team and our fledgling Niigata AJET chapter, we thank you for reading! This is the very first issue of the very first Niigata AJET publication made by ALTs for ALTs. Our purpose is to inform and delight, while helping to build a stronger and more vibrant ALT community here in snow country. I hope you enjoy reading it as we did making it. If you have any comments, questions, or if you are interested in joining our team, please send an e-‐mail to niigatamonthly@gmail.com. Writers, journalists, photographers, reviewers, cartoonists, editors and designers are all welcome. Merry Christmas, Addy Executive Editor, Niigata AJET
Contents Greetings from AJET Autumnal Reflections
Autumn in Akasakayama
Travel Making the most out of Kyoto with Travel Belle
ALT Spotlight
Conquering the world with Laura Coakley Arts
Pushing Boundaries with Florence + the Machine: Ceremonials Putting Things in Perspective with Yohei Taneda: Fusing Fantasy with Reality
Niigata Cuisine A trip to La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet The Hungry Binbo
Fashion Style File Only In Japan Tech Corner ALT Horoscopes
Greetings from AJET Hey, everyone! First of all, I’d like to thank all of you for joining Niigata AJET! The more people we have involved, the more we can do, and I hope that our AJET chapter can provide plenty of opportunities for both fun and personal growth to Niigata JETs. On that note, if you are interested in holding a social (or charity) even in your area, please send an email to niigataajet@gmail.com! So far we’ve only planned events in Niigata City, but that’s only because it’s either where the people who planned the events live or where we know of suitable facilities. The other AJET officers and I would love to expand more and hold events all over the prefecture. The form to propose an event is available on the Niigata JET website. Just about anything can be an AJET event as long as all Niigata AJET members are invited, though others can be invited as well (and as long as it’s not illegal or morally questionable). Now that it’s getting colder out, it’s a great time to start planning ski/snowboard trips and onsen visits! Finally, I’d like to also thank Addy for all of his hard work bringing this publication together, as well as all of those who are contributing to it. Stay warm, Katrina President, Niigata AJET
A utumnal Reflections by Luke Hamilton
Autumn in Akasakayama
It’s no secret that few countries demonstrate the diversity of the seasons with as much flair as Japan. Autumn is no exception. As the weather grows bitterer with winter’s approach, the Japanese landscapes become awash with orange, red and gold. People wrap up in layers before taking to the countryside to observe Japan’s Kouyo (Autumn colors).
I was invited by some of the teachers I work with to try out Japanese tea ceremony at a small tea museum in Kashiwazaki city’s Akasakayama park. Located just off of route 8 (if you are heading south towards Joetsu or Itoigawa), Akasakayama park is a well-‐kept garden full of winding paths and maple trees that are clearly at their most vibrant in the autumn season. Entry to the park (but not the tea museum) is completely free, so it is a great location to take a relaxing stroll, soak in the peaceful ambience and admire the transformation of the foliage.
In addition, if you have the time, it’s definitely worth paying a visit to the tea museum, where you can view a collection of valuable tea-‐related paraphernalia (there are some beautiful old tea cups dating back about 500 years). Included in the entrance fee is a short introductory tea ceremony, which takes place in a tatami room whose most striking feature is a wide window looking out over the autumnal tones of the park’s foliage. For those without the time or means to take a weekend trip away to appreciate the Japanese autumn, a brief stop in Akasakayama park is the perfect way to enjoy all that autumn in Japan has to offer.
Travel Belle How to get the most out of Kyoto in a few short days. By Louise Hollywood
W
Kyoto can be overwhelming, to say the least. Add the hustle and bustle of any hether you’re a first-‐timer or a 21st-‐century city into the mix and this veteran who has been on the JET cultural mammoth can leave visitors program for more years than you care feeling they’ve barely touched the tip to remember, Kyoto is one of the of the iceberg. I must admit I was many places in Japan that you could nervous to visit this intimidating place. just keep on revisiting. Hailed Maybe it’s the small-‐ as the cultural capital of town Irish girl in me, Japan and one of the world’s but huge cities with …with more than most beautiful cities, it isn’t so much to offer 1,600 Buddhist temples, hard to understand why this really freak me out. I over four hundred Shinto destination is the first on had the wrong shrines, and seventeen most visitors’ lists. I am no attitude going to UNESCO World exception, and since my Kyoto, a kind of “oh Heritage Sites to view, nerve-‐wracking arrival in late worship and admire, sure, we’ll see what Kyoto can be July, I’ve been itching to get the story is when we overwhelming, to say the a taste of this vibrant and get down there!” least. captivating city. approach. Oh, how foolish I was. Take my However, with more than advice—if, like me, 1,600 Buddhist temples, over you have only a few four hundred Shinto shrines, and precious days in Kyoto and you want seventeen UNESCO World Heritage to get the most out of them, I would Sites to view, worship and admire, first strongly recommend making an
“
”
itinerary. Unlike our sleepy towns in Niigata, Kyoto is a hectic place, and going without a plan is a huge mistake. If it hadn’t been for the wonderful organization of the girls I traveled with, I wouldn’t have been able to see and do as much as I did; so for that, cheers, loves! Kyoto, in all its daunting glory, is split into five main districts, and unfortunately for those who only have a few days, the city’s copious landmarks are scattered accordingly. So where to start? First you have to decide what you want to see in Kyoto. Dressing up in maiko gear and parading around Gion might not be bus pass, which allows unlimited bus everyone’s cup of tea, so fill and plan rides for 500 yen. The pass saves your days to suit your needs. Being money and time and can be simply realistic about how many temples you purchased from bus drivers. The Raku can see in a few short days will also bus routes are really useful, as they hit make the elimination process less all the major tourist spots, so look out painful. Do your research and see not for these when you get only which ones are there. the most famous, but also which ones you Kyoto is a vast city with lots will find most Being realistic to do. So how do you know interesting. Once you what to see and what not to about how many temples have your list, check you can see in a few short see, so that you don’t waste to see which ones are days will also make the the little time you do have? in the same area, and elimination process less Like I said before, research, painful. assign a day to but you can also ask your explore each area colleagues. Who knows more with your chosen about traditional Japan than landmarks. This way a social studies or Japanese you will save yourself a lot of time, language teacher? Luckily for us, one effort, and stress when you arrive in of the girls I traveled with got brilliant the hubbub of Kyoto station. As soon advice from one such person. Her as you get to Kyoto, I would colleague even gave her a travel book recommend purchasing the one-‐day of Kyoto with post-‐its marking the
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must-‐sees in each district—what a legend! The first area we were advised to conquer was Higashiyama, or eastern Kyoto. We were fresh off the night bus and the sun had barely risen, so we took the opportunity to visit one of Kyoto’s most famous and popular temples, Kiyomizudera, which (luckily for us) opens at 6 a.m. Most temples open to the public at 9 a.m., so if you are starting your day early, I would strongly recommend making this magnificent temple the first on your list. It also becomes extremely crowded during the day, especially with school tours, so it’s best to go early in the morning to beat the rush. Adorned with a sacred waterfall (Otawa-‐no-‐taki) and a love shrine (Jishu-‐jinja) with breathtaking views overlooking the city and lush hillside, this temple is a place of not only beauty, but also enchantment. The winding road up to the temple, called Chawan–zaka (Teapot Lane), will probably be your first of many encounters with Kyoto’s famous and delicious omiyage, yatsuhashi. It’s truly glorious; if you are going to see only one temple in Kyoto, make sure it’s this one. Next on the list, located in northern Higashiyama, was Heian-‐jingu. I was really impressed by this shrine and its absolutely amazing gardens. The sun was just beginning to shine, and it made for beautiful photos by the large pond and Chinese-‐inspired bridge (which is where the final scene in
Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed). It was National Culture Day, so this shrine was buzzing with people garbed in traditional attire, and we were even lucky enough to witness a wedding. This shrine is most famous for its elaborate entranceway—a massive steel torii, located about 500 meters in front of the shrine.
After lunch, we were on the bus again to yet another temple, Sanjusangen-‐ do. At the outset, this temple is not as stately as the aforementioned ones. Its magnificence awaits you inside, for within this long, narrow building lay one thousand and one statues of the thousand-‐armed Buddhist deity, Kannon. Standing proudly in front of these statues are twenty-‐eight guardian deities, and flanking these fierce guardians on either end are the powerful statues of the Thunder God
and the Wind God. The atmosphere inside the main hall is of pure reverence, as thousands of silenced people each day walk past the motionless statues of superb craftsmanship. It’s no wonder that this temple is one of Japan’s national treasures.
We all know the Japanese love a good tour, so what better place to do one than Kyoto? After a good night’s sleep, we decided to start our second day with a walking tour, but not just any walking tour—Johnnie Hillwalker’s walking tour! I must admit I was skeptical to begin with. Old Johnnie Hillwalker, or rather Mr. Hajime Next, it was on to Kyoto’s famous Hirooka, seemed a bit preoccupied (or Ginkaku-‐ji, which translates as “Silver rather—not to be rude—a bit old). Pavilion.” Like Kiyomizudera, this However, it wasn’t long before I was temple is one of the seventeen World completely absorbed in his Heritage Sites in Kyoto. unique style of storytelling. With stunning gardens, It was bizarre, but tall green hedges, interesting. On this tour, At one point, he trickling waterfalls, and you really get to explore a took us into a cultural winding paths up the side of Kyoto that would be center, seated us on the mountain, it’s not hard to impossible to see floor hidden from the see why, and that’s even staff’s beady eyes, and otherwise. Mr. Hirooka before mentioning the told us about his father’s takes you deep into the temple. Its beauty is hard love of geisha and his heart of its history, beliefs mother’s hatred. to describe—just go and and customs—some of you’ll see for yourself. which have died, but he Again, its extreme shines light on the ones popularity unfortunately that are still alive. I don’t makes this temple want to say too much about the tour crowded, so it’s best to go just after it because I don’t want to spoil it for you, opens at 8.30 a.m. or just before but I truthfully cannot recommend it closing at 5 p.m. enough. For more information about this tour, visit Johnnie Hillwalker’s A perfect place to end a busy day is website at http://web.kyoto-‐ Maruyama Park, located right at the inet.or.jp/people/h-‐s-‐love. top of Gion. Stroll around its peaceful
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paths while admiring the beauty of Japanese nature, and finish off by treating yourself to some fruit glazed with melted sugar or some hot and tasty takoyaki, both of which can be bought near the entrance of the park.
Another reason I loved Johnnie so much was that after his five-‐hour tour ended, he hailed us a taxi to catch a geiko and maiko dance performance at the Gion Kaikan. I’m extremely glad I went to this, as it turned out to be the 54th annual performance of the
famed Gion Odori. I hadn’t a clue what was going on, and to be honest, I found it all a bit strange, but it’s like when I went to the sumo wrestling competition in Tokyo—I feel it’s one of those things that I have to see while I’m in Japan. For events in Gion throughout the year, check out http://gion-‐east.jp/en. We finished our day with a stroll through the beautiful streets of Gion, finally ending on the banks of the Kamo River listening to some live music with a bottle of wine. Perfection. The next day, we decided to visit the Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. Although technically the former is in central Kyoto and the latter in northwest Kyoto, there was only a short walk between the two, even though a bus is available from the Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great for us and both the palace and the castle, although beautiful, were packed with tourists. The castle really stood out for me—it’s surrounded by a moat, and inside the castle a magnificent landscape of lush greenery unfolds. However, I would recommend a dry, clear day to get those beautiful shots. An ideal next stop from Nijo Castle would be Kinkaku-‐ji, as it’s also located in northwest Kyoto. However, unfortunately for us, we got terribly lost and ended up arriving at the
temple an hour too late. Note to self: most temples, if not all, close at 5 p.m.! Not to worry—we managed to fit the golden beauty in on our last day, but not before experiencing two more essential landmarks, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Byodo-‐in. Fushimi Inari, which is located in the southeast of the city, is exceptional beyond words. A pathway meanders four kilometers up the mountainside, lined with hundreds of red torii. It’s magnificent and I would definitely save a few hours to see this shrine. We were in a rush, as it was our last day, so we couldn’t make the entire hike, which was disappointing. From here we went to Byodo-‐in, which is the temple on the back of the 10-‐yen coin. Admire the famous Phoenix Hall and walk inside the main hall, where you’ll find the famous statue of Amida Buddha and fifty-‐two bodhisattvas. Our final destination was, of course, Kinkaku-‐ji, which translates as “Golden Pavilion.” Although it’s on the opposite side of the city from Byodo-‐ in, I couldn’t have left Kyoto without seeing it. Situated in the middle of a lake, and surrounded by gorgeous scenery, this gold-‐leaf temple is probably one of Kyoto’s most visited sites. It is usually teeming with people from all over the world, so again, getting there right before it opens at 9 a.m. or right before it closes at 5 p.m. might be a good idea.
As I write this, I’m realizing more and more how much there is still to see; places like Nishiki Market and the Museum of Kyoto and of course the entire western district of the city, Arashiyama. Though I’m also pretty impressed by how much we covered for our first visit, it only makes me more anxious to get back down there and continue my exploration of this amazing city. Take this as a rough guide of what there is on offer in
Kyoto and make your trip your own; it’s not going to suit everyone. Like my mother always says, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” For those of you who’ve tasted the beauty already, I hope this has helped you re-‐live the wonderful memories I’m sure you had in Kyoto. For those of you who have yet to experience this class city, never fear—the surface is only waiting to be scratched.
ALT SPOTLIGHT by Shaun Smith
In this instalment of Spotlight we catch up with first-year ALT, Laura Coakley, to see what she's been up to in the quaint and beautiful city of Kamo. Laura is an imperialist - a one woman army out to conquer the world. Her methods: goodwill, an open mind and a hug. Hailing from the English port city, Bristol, Laura, in her short twenty-five years has seen and done more than most have in a lifetime. She always knew she wanted to travel and after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a joint-degree in English and Drama, she didn’t waste time fulfilling this dream. With a magic ticket that brought her to over thirty countries world-wide, Laura was clearly bitten long ago by the traveling bug. She has now set her teeth into Japan savouring every precious bite - and we’re all better off because of it.
Most awesome experience so far? The best thing for me is how happy some of the kids are to see you. But if I had to pin one experience, I'd say dancing along Kamo's river with hundreds of other people during a festival in the summer.
Why JET? Why not?
What do you want to see or do the most? Sumo wrestling. (And that would be see not do, although I'd give it a try!)
Favorite place in Niigata? It's corny but I'd have to say Kamo. It's sleepy and its biggest attraction is an imported squirrel park -‐ but it's so pretty. It’s becoming home, and I'm not sure if there are friendlier p eople anywhere else in the world.
How do you cope? Sometimes not very well, but I've got some great friends out here that get me through. They will take the piss out of me for saying this but I feel so lucky. Everyone feels low at different times so you can support each other when you need it, and laugh about it afterwards.
After JET? …is a good question. Maybe teaching, maybe traveling, maybe something I've not discovered yet…
Greatest discovery? How beautiful Japan is -‐ that and how Japanese women draw scary faces on their boobs when they want their kids to stop breastfeeding (brilliant!). A 4,000 yen shark in the supermarket -‐ I could go on.
Most epic fail?
I've accidently been a few places in my slippers - but I think my finest moment was trying to tell a guy that his wife was beautiful by using the (very similar) word for hate. Fortunately, he saw the funny side!
Niigata’s Noise An ISSUE BY ISSUE GLIMPSE INTO WHAT’S WEARING OUT AN ALT’S IPOD Battery AND WHY. THIS ISSUE :
PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH FLORENCE & THE MACHINE: CEREMONIALS
by Luke Hamilton
Riding fresh on the critical acclaim contemplates the duality of heaven of their debut album, Lungs, and hell, and treads the fragile line ethereal British pop outfit Florence separating life and death. & the Machine deliver Ceremonials, Despite such ominous subject another collection of balladic, matter, however, it’s not all doom tribal-‐pop songs that ultimately and gloom. Accompanied by the serve as a thrilling testimony to all trademark earth-‐shaking drums that has worked so well for the and gratuitous harp crescendos of group so far. her “Machine,” Acknowledged for her Florence expertly “The SHEER eccentricity, huge voice, offsets the ghosts ENORMITY OF and quirky style, front and darkness with ’S E C woman Florence Welch N exultant vocals and FLORE N has clearly upped the ante A intermittent silver VOICE IS in this new production, linings in the shape OMNIPRESENT drawing on everything of foot-‐stomping FEATURE OF that made Lungs such a anthems such as THIS success and producing a “Heartlines,” perhaps ” … d darker, more refined r this album’s answer o rec musical experience in to the hit “Cosmic Ceremonials. Love” from a few years back. Even the supremely haunting “Seven Marking a confident return to the Devils” is drawn out of the shadows themes explored with cautious by Florence’s soaring voice. trepidation in her more experimental first album, this latest The sheer enormity of Florence’s offering sees Florence putting that voice is an omnipresent feature of enormous voice of hers to work. An this record, and there is no doubt arguably darker and more haunting that she has a singular talent, as is expedition than before, Florence evident from the show-‐stopping draws inspiration from a variety of single “No Light, No Light” in which outlets for Ceremonials. These she barrels headlong into the won’t be of any great shock to instruments of her torment armed existing fans as Florence battles with nothing other than some with personal demons, impressive sustained notes. However, as the tracks on the album progress, a pattern quickly
emerges. Everything about this album is, in a word, huge. What initially is an awesome display of audacity in such fantastic singles as “Shake it Out” and “What the Water Gave Me” (an exploratory tribute to the death of Virginia Woolf) begins to lose its novelty when it becomes apparent that the explosive force and the loudness of the album’s singles is present in pretty much each and every track. The confidence with which Florence launches the fruits of her labor on Ceremonials is no doubt impressive, but there are points where one can’t help but question Florence’s control over her art. To its credit, at no point does Ceremonials become boring. Luckily, Florence is able to temper her ferocity enough to give our eardrums and her own vocal chords intermittent respite in gentler tracks like “Breaking Down” and the downbeat “Remain
Nameless.” Nitpicking aside, Ceremonials is easily one of my favourite albums of this year, and its multitude of upbeat tracks will make my daily trudge to work through the snow of Niigata’s winter that little bit shorter. For any music lover to miss out on it would be a tremendous shame. Florence delivers what she promises: a ceremony. Finding a niche and establishing one’s musical foundation is something to celebrate, and Ceremonials is nothing if not jubilant.
Florence and the Machine LIVE @ Tokyo Akasaka BLITZ If there’s anything I’ve learned from listening to Ceremonials, it’s that in order to feel the full effect of Florence’s music it simply must be heard live; in a huge venue, complete with seismic acoustics that can accommodate the scale of Florence & the Machine’s entire production. Conveniently, on February 1st 2012, she’s planning on visiting Tokyo as a part of her upcoming Ceremonials tour! Check out the following link for more information about the venue and ticket details. Unfortunately, that date happens to be smack bang in the middle of a workweek and will more than likely require a day or two of nenkyu to attend. Also, the information site below only seems to be in Japanese but if you’re like me and have less than stellar Japanese then make a bee-‐line for your supervisor! http://smash-‐jpn.com/band/2012/02_florence/index.php See you there!
Putting Things in Perspective with Yohei Taneda:
Fusing Fantasy with Reality
by Luke Hamilton
Niigata-‐based Studio Ghibli fans can delight in this whimsical exhibition of the miniature made large. In connection with Studio Ghibli’s 2010 film Karigurashi no Arietty (The Secret World of Arietty), a special exhibit has been making the rounds of Japan’s art galleries, coming to its latest stop in the Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art. Following a successful stint in Tokyo’s Museum of Contemporary Art, the exhibition, Fusing Fantasy with Reality, allows people living in or around Niigata Prefecture the unique opportunity to immerse themselves fully in one of Ghibli’s beloved stories.
Loosely based on Mary Norton’s
that previously would only have
1952 children’s fantasy novel
been possible in the imagination.
The Borrowers, Ghibli’s animated
Award-‐winning production
film follows the adventures of a
designer Yohei Taneda
family of tiny people who lead a
(responsible for work on Kill Bill
secretive existence under the
Vol. 1, among other films) brings
foundations of regular-‐sized
that dream to life in Fusing
homes. These people make their living by “borrowing” supplies under cover of darkness from the humans living above. The movie follows the
“…the viewer is given a unique and magical projection of a world that previously would only have been possible in the imagination.
”
Fantasy with Reality, an opportunity for members of the public to explore scale representations of scenes from the movie.
perspective of the protagonist,
Taneda replicates the movie’s
Arietty, whose exploits in the
sense of miniature in a dramatic
film present us with the unusual
fashion, and after entering the
visual spectacle of a mysterious
exhibit it soon becomes very
world existing right below our
easy to immerse oneself in the
feet, one that is otherwise
daily lives of the miniscule
invisible to the naked eye. As is
people who populate the film’s
typical of Studio Ghibli’s work,
world. Such is the meticulous
the viewer is given a unique and
attention to detail in each of the
magical projection of a world
set pieces that we can
appreciate the practicality of
a humbling and one-‐of-‐a-‐kind
objects that we would otherwise
experience and will surely appeal
discard. Cola can rings become
even to those who are unfamiliar
hangers, postage stamps
with Studio Ghibli.
become decorative posters,
thimbles are used as lampshades, and tiny fairy-‐lights illuminate entire rooms. The exhibition magnifies this eclectic collection of odds and ends to massive proportion, allowing us to imagine that we actually are no more than a couple of centimeters tall.
Unfortunately, photography is
In addition, buying a ticket also
prohibited in the galleries and it
grants you access to a special
is very difficult to capture the
exhibit reflecting on blueprints,
style and integrity of Taneda’s
sketches and concept art from
work within the limitations of a
some of Taneda’s previous
few paragraphs. However, fans
projects. As Taneda’s work
of Studio Ghibli, modern art,
undoubtedly plays a key role in
production design, or all of the
developing the ambience and
above—or those who are simply
feel of his movies, this
looking for a few hours of
retrospective serves to establish
escapism—can look no further
set design as not just practical
than this exhibit.
but also an art form in itself. It is
More Information Location: The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Nagaoka City, Niigata Dates: November 3 2011 – January 15 2012 Admission: Adults 1200 yen, students 1000 yen
(200-yen discount for groups) Link: http://www.lalanet.gr.jp/kinbi/english/index.html (includes access details and information about the museum’s exhibits and opening hours in English)
Niigata Cuisine Take a Bite Out of Life A Trip to the La Saishun Yakiniku Restaurant By Jonathan Robinson
La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet is a wonderful
seating options to accommodate your party size.
yakiniku restaurant that gets things right.
One of the best features of La Saishun is
From the menu options to its great
its ordering system. Instead of the typical
pricing, La Saishun,
push-‐button-‐tell-‐
with its relaxing
server approach,
atmosphere, is a
every table comes
great place to
equipped with an
enjoy a well-‐
iPad, on which you
deserved meal
can directly view
after a long and
the menu options
busy week. The staff is quite friendly and
and place your orders. It also conveniently
helpful, and unlike other yakiniku buffets
displays the amount of time left for your
I've eaten at, they come quite promptly to
meal, and can list your orders over the
assist you and make sure things are going
course of the meal as well. There are
well throughout your meal. The
several courses to choose from, ranging in
restaurant is well-‐lit, spacious and
price from about ¥2000–¥5000; courses
comfortable, with a large number of
are priced differently for men and
women, and offer different cuts and types
and more. There is a full range of soft
of meat (beef, pork,and chicken), seafood
drink options, and the soft drink bar is
and sushi, side dishes, drinks, and
included in the meal price. If you’re
desserts. My preferred menu is the 上級
interested in drinking, various cocktails
(joukyuu) course, which is ¥2980 for men
and alcoholic drinks are available for the
and ¥2780 for women. It’s a two-‐hour
duration of your meal for an extra ¥1000,
course which includes 140 items to
and this can be applied on an individual
choose from. That’s a bit much to break
basis, so those who don't want to drink
down here, but the options range from
won't have to be inconvenienced with a
hanasaki calbee beef (a tender cut taken
higher bill. For dessert, options such as ice
from the ribs and
cream, pancakes, crepes,
partially sliced in
and soft almond tofu
the shape of a
change seasonally and
flower, which
depending upon your
helps draw out the
course level. La Saishun
deeper savory
really gives you a great
flavor of the meat as it cooks) to grilled
experience and value for the cost, so if
lemon butter shrimp and teriyaki mayo
you're looking to try somewhere new, I
chicken. Sides include rice, Korean and
absolutely recommend you check this
Chinese dishes, ramen, doria, French fries,
place out. Happy eating!
La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet Niigata City Akiba Ku Furuta 1-4-11 Tel: 0250-21-3311 Hours: 5:30pm - 11pm (Last Order is at 10:30)
The Hungry Binbō
By Shaun Smith
Omelette + Rice = Omurice. Japan’s very own answer to America’s Mac n’ Cheese.
O
murice is one of those dishes
that you can throw together when you’re a week away from payday, broke and running out of supplies fast. But Omurice is not only efficient but also extremely delicious. Beautifully simple in concept, Omurice consists of fried rice wrapped cozily in a thin blanket of egg. The great thing about this dish
is that you can toss in virtually anything as long as the structural components are there. Make it ovo-‐vegetarian. Make it with bacon. Make it with seafood. Make it with all three. You don’t need much, but with a little, you can create a real pleasure feast. For a simple, delicious and efficient meal within minutes, check out the basic instructions below to get you started on your own Omurice experiments.
Ingredients: • 360ml dry rice, steamed
• Ketchup
• 2 eggs (per serving)
• Milk (about as much as
• 1/2 sweet onion, minced
you’d need to make an
• 3-‐4 small green peppers,
omelets)
minced
• Salt
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• Pepper
• 6-‐7 ham slices, sliced
• Worcestershire sauce
Method: 1. Coat a frying pan with olive oil. Add vegetables, ham, and cook until onions are translucent. 2. Add the cooked rice along with sauces and seasonings to taste, and
cook until golden brown. 3. Remove fried rice from pan and set aside. 4. Crack two eggs in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper and brown sugar.
Add milk and beat into a fine liquid. 5. Heat the frying pan on high heat and add oil. Pour the egg mixture into
the pan and scramble with chopsticks for a few seconds. Smooth out the egg mixture by whirling the pan gently on the flame. 6. While the egg is still in the pan, place a healthy serving of fried rice on
top. Remove the pan from the heat. 7. Wrap the omelette around the rice and flip onto a plate. 8. Enjoy!
You should end up with a bunch of fried rice. Keep this in the fridge for when you need a quick meal!
NIIGATA STYLE FILE
by Luke Hamilton & Louise Hollywood
From the rice-‐fields of rural Joetsu to the bustling metropolis of Niigata city, we give you an exclusive insight into the fashion habits, advice and blunders of Niigata prefecture’s most stylish residents.
WEARING Name
Maika Kanno
Age
24
Background
Born in Joetsu city but attended high school in New Zealand, followed by 3 years studying for a degree in Fine Art at the University of Los Angeles.
Occupation
Eikaiwa Teacher
Cardigan Nordstram Dept Store Dress H&M Belt Flea market in LA Boots Zara Earrings www.jewelmint.com Watch Baby G Glasses Burberry Necklace-‐ Family gift
How much do you spend on clothing or accessories per month?
I try to keep my shopping under control but it usually comes to around 15000 yen.
Favorite Clothing Shop
Forever 21 and H&M
Favorite Label Forever 21 and MAC (makeup)
Favorite Item of Clothing All of my earrings!
3 things you couldn’t live without
1. Shopping 2. My art (particularly photography and sculpture) 3. My family
Worst Fashion Blunder
I used to tuck my t-‐shirt into my trousers and shorts! What was I thinking!?
Fashion Icon
I admire Lady Gaga’s creativity but I don’t think I will be trying out a meat dress anytime soon!
Best Bargain
Clothing in Japan is generally expensive but I think Uniqlo often has some good deals!
“Only In Japan”
By Carol Pinnock
I think we all knew before we came here that Japan would be quite a different experience from what we are used to at home, but I didn’t expect to be constantly befuddled by things that happen here. How many times have you had an experience here and thought to yourself, “This could only happen in Japan”? I don’t know about you, but I find myself saying this ever so often. Don’t get me wrong; a lot of the time my amazement includes a healthy bit of awe and respect for the way of life here, but at other times I’m just utterly confused. Although we who live here eventually assimilate and come to see some of these things as second nature, it only takes the eyes of a visiting relative to remind you that many things are, quite simply, idiosyncratic. One thing that got me saying “Only in Japan” is called a shuukinbako (money collection box). Usually you see them at unmanned fruit and vegetable stands. I get really excited about fruits and vegetables and I happen to be lucky enough to teach in a school where kids grow and sell them very cheaply. Sometimes, the students walk around from department to department selling items, but usually they set up a small stall in the teacher’s entrance. It sounds convenient, but almost every time I went there to buy something, there was no one manning the stall! You can imagine I wasn't too thrilled with this business practice, and I always wondered how they made any money. I barely even noticed the little red box on the table, because of course, outside of using a vending machine, you expect to hand your money over to someone to get what you want. This didn’t only happen at school. As I travelled around my town, I would see nicely displayed veggie stalls on the street, and again, there was never a person in sight. I was always really confused by this, especially because the next time I passed the stall, the merchandise would have dwindled without the appearance of an actual person.
One day, out of utter frustration, I finally asked one of my teachers. Well, if I wasn’t confused before I certainly was now. She explained that the process was quite simple—pick what you want and put the money in the red box. I thought, “What? Are you crazy, lady?”, but she seemed pretty sure. With no supervision, no accountability, people are trusted to simply take the desired produce from the table and place the equivalent cash in the box. Apparently this is normal behavior in Japan! It never even crosses people’s minds to be dishonest or try to cheat the system. You have to admire the honor code here, and the fact that once you live here, you are expected to uphold that code as well. It’s something really simple, but I think that it goes a long way in reminding people of the spirit of community so essential to the Japanese psyche and the roles and responsibilities of each citizen. To me, this little red box is a reiteration of a sense of safety and security, a symbol of restraint and respect and a reminder that I am now a part of the community whose members are expected to act in a way that benefits not the self, but everyone. I’m not sure this shuukinbako practice would work successfully anywhere else, but you have to admire the fact that in Japan, it works like a charm. In this case, when I say “only in Japan,” it has no pejorative connotations at all, and I actually feel a kind of wistful sadness that something like this isn’t more commonplace. In any case, until something like this can effectively and efficiently be used all over the world, it is one of the things for which I am only too happy to say “Only in Japan.”
Tech Corner
by Steven Gore
One of the main goals of educators worldwide is to build intrinsic motivation within their students. Intrinsic motivation is motivation that comes from an internal source, such as one’s will, sense of responsibility, or desire to act. Unfortunately, it is also one of the more difficult types of motivation to inspire. I believe technology can help by giving the children an opportunity to have a direct effect on the outcome of the lesson, making the classroom experience more real and exciting. Therefore, it is the mission of this section to spread awareness of technologies that can be easily (and cheaply!) implemented to add that extra element to the classroom. A random name generator is a quick and easy way to do this. I first used one to help some of my fifth graders give their self-‐ introductions a special flair, but it’s definitely something that can be used for any grade level at any time in the semester. Since it’s an English class, I had the students use the name generator to give themselves an English
name to use throughout the semester. Names can also be assigned just for a particular activity, or on the fly as an extra element of fun. Plenty of random name generators can be found on the internet, but if internet access is a problem, there are also some available for download. It was a small addition to the lesson, but my students’ attention level definitely increased! A sample generator: http://download.cnet.com/Rand om-‐Name-‐Generator/3000-‐ 2130_4-‐10058754.html
ALT Horoscopes
by Jonathan Robinson
ARIES
TAURUS
GEMINI
LIBRA
A wise investment will save you 3man yen this month. I recommend pancake futures.
Today is your lucky day! The yuki fairy just saw its own shadow. That means two more weeks of fall for you. Or wait, was it two more weeks of winter?
I notice the ki of byou is strong about you. If the Moon of Pluto faces northeast in Jupiter, you will find your hands free at work due to a passing cold front. If it faces west by east, an actual cold may hit you instead!
Oops, schoolyard mobile suit fight! Looks like you'll be in need of a new school to teach at!
CANCER
LEO
VIRGO
Take your pick— super-powered bugs, aliens, or humans. A guy or two in a mask are coming to save you later today. Try not to act too surprised; it was only a matter of time!
Three kids distract you while a fourth gets the kancho for the win. Be leery of piggyback rides today.
A wild Ken Watanabe appears… keep your master balls handy.
SCORPIO Look out!!
SAGITARRIUS The force is weak with this one...
AQUARIUS
The position of the sun in Mars suggests that you really enjoy the fine culinary tradition known to some as sushi. However, the shine off the eastern rim of Jupiter in Venus suggests that there are others who call this murder. Be careful of vengeful schools.
CAPRICORN
Fortune for a quarter, I LOVE quarters! Give me a quarter, I'll read your pa—I mean, you'll find much success with your current lesson plan.
PISCES A trip to Sendai will leave you endowed with powers unimaginable. Avoid squat toilets.