Jetsad newsletter #3

#3 August 29, 2015

NEWSLETTER November 2015

Sumo Season

World Tsunami Day

 

Upcoming Events

JETs AD Newsletter

Table of Contents • 1000 Paper Cranes for

Peace……………….……..…3

• Sumo Season…….…………4 • World Tsunami Day……..… 5 • Useful Japanese Words for

Natural Disasters…………. 6 • Quotes of the Month…..…. 7 • Brain Challenge……….….. 8 • Events ………………….……9 • JETsAD Opportunities……. 10

November 2015

Announcements •Happy birthday to all November

babies!

•Good luck to those taking the

Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJT) this month

•There are 2 volunteer

opportunities in Iwate Prefecture, one of the area that was affected by the 2011 earthquake.

1. Volunteer to help clean, rebuild, support, etc in Tono City or 3 other nearby cities the long weekend Nov. 21-23.

2. Participate in 100 Santas Christmas Event in Tono City from Dec. 23-25.

If you are interested in being apart of a JETs AD volunteer team for either of these events, post on the Facebook page or send an email.

2

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

1000 Paper Cranes For Peace

.

What Do I Need to Do? 1. Fold as many paper cranes as you can.

Our goal is 1000 paper cranes total. Feel free to get some of your local friends, students and teachers to help you.

2. Preferably, try to use paper that’s the color of our logo (i.e. blues, purples, or black/brown). However, any paper you have available is fine.

3. Mail all of your paper cranes the organizer (Send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net for mailing address).

Postage costs will be refunded to you.

What Happens After I Send My Paper Cranes?

1. We will vote on a message to accompany our donation.

2. All of the paper cranes will be strung together and then sent to the Children’s Peace Monument’s donation mailing address.

3. All participants will receive a certificate and a “Thank you” gift bag.

3

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

Sumo Season If you’ve ever wanted to see a sumo match and you live in Fukuoka, now is your chance! Every year, the Grand Sumo Tournament is held in Fukuoka in November. The tournament lasts about 15 days. This year the tournament will begin on November 8th and end November 22nd.

Ticket prices range from about 2300yen to 20,800yen depending on the proximity and number of people. They also have what is called box seating where 2 -4 people can sit in a small box-like seating area. You can buy food at the venue or bring your own food.

About two years ago, the JETs AD had a Fukuoka and Sumo tournament trip. Fukuoka City is located in Kyushuu. It is a very nice city with an active nightlife. It is also famous the Hakata Gion Yamakasa Festival. If you come to Fukuoka during the sumo tournament, you will have the opportunity to see sumo wrestlers walking around the streets and, if you’re brave enough, can ask to get a photo with them. Watching sumo can be exciting and something you should try at least once. You don’t have to stay to watch all the matches on your reserved day but if you want to get your money’s worth then you probably should.

The rules of sumo are quite simple. Basically, you need to get your opponent of the ring or at least get them to touch the ring. Before the match starts, the wrestlers purify the ring by tossing salt and stamping their feet. They greet each other with the traditional greeting. The referee gives them the go and then it's on!

After enjoying the sumo match, take some time to explore some of the sites of Fukuoka. There is plenty to see. You can take a stroll in Ohori Park, do some shopping at Canal City, see the view from Fukuoka Tower and more. Check out the robots at Robosquare including the cute dog robot performance. Try the famous Ichiran Ramen shop and/or get a night food at Fukuoka's famous (yatai) food stand area. If you want some nightlife, check out the Tenjin area. If you have even more time, consider taking a day trip to places like Nagasaki, Dazaifu or Kumamoto. If you love hot springs, then head to the town of Beppu.

4

4

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

WORLD TSUNAMI DAY Natural disasters have affected many people around the world and have taken so many lives. Today, Japan still feels the effects of the aftermath of the tsunami that followed the great earthquake on March 11, 2011. In an effort to increase the awareness, Mr. Kazuyuki Nakane, who is the Parliamentary Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs, made a proposal to the United Nation to designate November 5th as World Tsunami Day. Many may wonder why November 5th was proposed as opposed to March 11.Well, there is a reason. There is an old story of a villager in Japan, who, through his ancient understanding, sensed the coming of a big tsunami. He got the entire people to safety. The villagers were spared from the great earthquake that soon followed on November 5, 1854. The inspiration of early warning and preparedness from this story is what prompted the day to be proposed on this day. ask me what’s my favorite place in Japan, without hesitation, I tell them Mount Koya. Some people are taken aback as they probably expect me to say Tokyo, Osaka, or some other major city. Although, don’t get me wrong. I do love those places as well. However, there’s something about Mount Koya that has captured my heart.

Just think from this year forward we could be celebrating a new day to raise awareness around the world. That day would be World Tsunami Day. No one ever really knows when a natural disaster will strike. However, if we bring awareness, give early warning and teach ways to prepare for such events, maybe more lives can be saved.

5

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

Some Useful Japanese Words for Natural Disasters •

地震（じしん jishin）-earthquake

•

津波（つなみ tsunami）-tsunami

•

火災（かさいkasai）-fire

•

土砂災害（どしゃさいがいdosha saigai）-landslide

•

注意（ちゅうい chuui）-warning

•

情報（じょうほうjouhou）-information

•

安全（あんぜん anzen）- safe

•

指示（しじshiji）-instructions; directions; orders

•

危険（きけん kiken）- dangerous

•

避難する（ひなんする hinan suru）-evacuate

•

避難場所 （ひなんばしょhinanjo）- evacuation center; shelter

•

避難路 （ひなんろ hinanro）-evacuation route

•

非常持出袋（ひじょうもちだしぶくろ hinan mochidashi bukuro ）-emergency bag; survival kit

•

医療救護所 （いりょうきゅうごしょ）-first-aid station

Check out CLAIR’s guide (http://www.clair.or.jp/tagengorev/en/p/index.html) for more information on how you can prepare and be safe should a natural disaster occur.

6

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

Quotes of the Month

“Nothing will work unless you do.”

- Maya Angelou

Japanese Proverb: 雨降って地固まる地固まる Romaji: Ame futte ji katamaru.

Adversity helps to build character.

7

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

BRAIN CHALLENGE Japanese Tongue Twister: Hiragana:隣の客はよく柿食う客だ Romaji: Tonari no kyaku ha yoku kaki kuu kyaku da.

Word Search

Can you find these words?

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Sports Day Culture Festival Opening Ceremony Closing Ceremony Bonenkai Farewell Party School Trip Graduation Winter Vacation Spring Vacation Summer Vacation Safety Drills Speech Contest Eiken Exams

8

JETs AD Newsletter

November November 2015 2015

Upcoming JETs AD Events •2016 Sapporo Snow Festival

âœŚ

When: February 6-11

Sapporo has its annual Snow Festival(Yuki Matsuri) in February. This year the festival will be from February 5-11! Marvel at the spectacular snow and ice art, see the making of the famous Shiroi Koibito cookies, and enjoy the plethora of snow activities Hokkaido has to offer. Ready to get in on the snow adventure? See on the Facebook event page for more details!

9 9

JETs AD Newsletter

November November 2015 2015

Events in Japan November Sunday

Monday

Tuesday Wednesday Thursday

1 2 Hakone Daimyo 3 Meiji Shrine Ohara Festival Gyoretsu (Kanagawa) *Shitennoji Autmn Festival (Kagoshima) Karatsu Wasso (Osaka) starts (Tokyo) *Betcha Festival Kunichi (Saga)

Friday

Saturday

4

5

6

7

11

12

13

14

(Hiroshima)

National Holiday

Arashiyama 8 Momiji Festival

9

10

(Kyoto)

Sumo Tournament starts (Fukuoka)

Fire God Festival

(Kagoshima Prefecture)

15 Shichi-Go-San Festival

16

17

Ebisu-san Matsuri

18

(Hiroshima City)

Sumo 22 Tournament ends (Fukuoka

23

Hadakambo Matsuri

24

Ebisu-san Matsuri

19

(Hiroshima City)

25

Ebisu-san Matsuri

20

Design Festa (Tokyo)

(Hiroshima City)

26

28

27

(Yamaguchi Prefecture)

Design Festa

National Holiday

(Tokyo)

29

21

30

30

Movie Releases: • Everest (11/06/2015) • Last Knights (11/14/2015) • Hunger Games: Final (11/20/2015) Concert Info: ✦ Janet Jackson (Osaka 11/19; Saitama 11/21-22 )

10 10

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

Share With Us! Got some amazing classroom tricks, amusing comics, hair tips, delicious recipes, great teaching resource or information on an amazing festival in your town? Want to share an experience you had? Whatever it is you have, we would like to hear about it! You can write about anything your heart desires, with only a few exceptions. If you have something you would like to share with the JETsAD community or would like more information, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net with the subject header “Newsletter Contribution.”

Exceptions: Posts about political, religious or commercial activities, posts from businesses looking for clients or employees and anything deemed inappropriate by the editor.

***Get Involved*** ✦

Open Positions: • Block Coordinators for the following blocks: 1, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 • Newsletter Editor • Website Coordinator(Webmaster)

✦

If you are interested in any of these positions, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net.

The Block Coordinator application is located in the “Files” section of the JETsAD Facebook page.

✦

Be apart of Sempai Connect, a buddy system linking current JETsAD & former JETs AD. If you are interested, send an email to JETsAD@ajet.net. To help the pairing process, fill out and send the questionnaire. Questionnaire is also located in the “Files” section of the JETsAD Facebook page.

Wow! We really appreciate you taking the time to read to the very end. To show our appreciation, for JETs AD members currently residing in Japan, we would like to give you a one thousand yen Amazon Japan gift card as a gift. Please send us an email with the phrase “gift me” by November 15.

11

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

What is JETs AD? 


JETs AD (JETs of African Descent) is a group that is open to all and focuses on topics related to JETs of African Descent. This group serves as a platform for discussion, support, and announcements relating to the JET community at-large. We aim to provide useful information and share resources on hard-to-find hair and beauty products, foreign foods, events, ways to stay connected, and other topics relevant to our demographic. We also plan nationwide and region-specific events.

We are affiliated with The JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme.

Join us on Facebook to stay up-to-date on all the happenings in the JETs AD community. For more information, email us at jetsad@ajet.net.

JETs AD Newsletter is newsletter for current and former JETs to share information, tips and any other information that may be deemed useful. The views expressed by contributors to this newsletter do not necessarily reflect those of the JETs AD Special Interest Group nor the JET Programme and its affiliates All contents retain their copyright to the respective contributor(s) and are printed by JETsAD Newsletter under special permission. Š2015 JETs AD Newsletter. All rights reserved.

12

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

13

JETs AD Newsletter

November 2015

Thank you for reading!

14