Get Super Powers around Hitachi

by Airi M.

Do you know the spot in Hitachi where you can get super powers? It is Oiwa shrine! Below are pictures of one of the buildings and a Torii gate. We can get special powers that last for a long time; this shrine is the most powerful spot in Japan. One rumor tells that when an astronaut went into space, she saw a shining place on Earth. She searched for the shining place later, and the place was Oiwa Shrine.

Oiwa shrine is home to 108 Gods, so it is large. Praying to all Gods takes 2 hours. Gods are from many sects. For example, Kunitokotachinomikoto, one of the sons of the first two Gods of Japan, also has a home there. We can also hike there. If we hike around the shrine and up the mountain, we can stay there for three or four hours.

Next is a trio of big famous Japanese cedars from about 500 years ago, and the cedars are 50 meters tall. The trio was chosen as one of “The 100 Forest Giants of Japan.” If we stand in front of the cedars, where the sun creates a rainbow, we can get giant powers and bask in the rainbow sun.

The shrine has some events. The first event is Saitansai, which is held on January 1st every year across Japan. Usually almost all Japanese go to the shrine to pray on January 1st. This shrine is especially popular in Japan, and many people come to Oiwa shrine on that day. The second event is called Kaikousai, which is only held at Oiwa shrine, on the third weekends of April and October every year. We protect our ancestors and Gods if we pray here during this event.

I recommend Oiwa shrine. You should go there if you come to Hitachi city. Get special powers from Oiwa Shrine! To go to the shrine by train, get off at Hitachi station and take the bus for Higashi Kochi. The bus stop is at the 1 sign. Get off the bus at Oiwa shrine. It takes 35 minutes by bus from Hitachi station. The bus fare is 500 yen one way and 1000 yen round trip. Admission is free. The shrine is near; we can go there easily. Visit Oiwa Shrine’s Homepage at http://www.oiwajinja.jp/.

 

 

 

 

Japanese Traditional Poems

by Natsuki N.

In the 17^th century, a master arose who developed Haiku. He was a form of poetry Matsuo Basho. The Basho school promoted Hokku. Hokku is the first form of poetry connecting with Haiku. Because of it, Haiku is born. His most famous anthology is Narrow Roads To The Interior. It is known as a classic of Japanese literature.

Few people know these very short Japanese poems. Haiku expresses feelings and memories in traditional style. The poet can describe anything, but must follow the rules.

Haiku consists of three lines 5-7-5 syllables. It must have a Kigo describing participate season. It is used only one time in a Haiku. Haiku poet need to tell a vivid message in only 17 syllables.

On the other hand, Tanka is consists of 5-7-5-7-7 syllables. It is composed about feeling especially love. Hyakunin isshu is known as a Tanka anthology of one hundred Tanka. I will introduce one in Hyakunin isshu.

Kimi ga tame (5word)

Osikarazarisi (7word)

Inoti sahe (5word)

Nagakumo gana to (7word)

Omoi keru kana (7word)

Composed by Yositaka Fujiwara

I tried to translate this.

Once I was willing to die for you, however, seeing you like this, I’d rather live with you for good.

Big Dragon Suspension Bridge

 

By Takashi

Many tourists visit the Big Dragon Suspension Bridge during all four seasons. Its height is 100 meters. Its span is 446 meters. The entrance fee is 310 yen. I’ve been there just once when I was an elementary school student. There are windows under your feet, and you can see the water. I think it is thrilling to see under your feet.

Several events are held there each season. For example, in the spring, we can see many flying carps on and around the bridge. There are about 1,000 flying carps. Also, in the summer, there is a Garden Lantern Festival. There are 500 plastic lanterns and 100 bamboo lanterns around the bridge.

We can have fun there because you can do something interesting. For instance, you can eat soba near the bridge. The soba is called Hitachi-Akisoba, which means fall soba. It was made in 1978 by many farmers. Soba is usually judged by three elements: taste, aroma, and sweetness. It excels over the others in these elements. Then, Hitachi-Akisoba is highly evaluated by soba cooks. Furthermore, if you pay over 1,000 yen, you can eat Hitachi-Akisoba with traditional Japanese foods; such as grilled fish, tempura, and dishes used local vegetables.

A lot of people are interested in the bungee jumping off of the Big Dragon Suspension Bridge. Its height is about 100 meters. When you are near the water’s surface, you will feel closer than 100 meters and become excited. The cost to jump changes depending on how many times you jump. First time, the fee is 15,000 yen. Second time, the fee is 7,000 yen, that is more than a 50 percent discount. People who don’t have disease (for example, epilepsy or heart disease) can try to do bungee jumping. Until now, nobody has had an accident, so it is safe. People who experienced the bungee jumping say “this is the thrill beyond my imagination.”

Big Dragon Suspension Bridge has many kinds of attractions. You can see festival, eat Hitachi-Akisoba, and go bungee jumping. You can have fun because there are many interesting things around the bridge. If you don’t go there, you will have extreme regret.

Kyoto

By Kosuke

I would like to introduce Kyoto. Kyoto is a town with many popular sightseeing spots in Japan.

First, Kyoto has much to offer to tourists. Such as the Golden Pavilion, Nijo castle, and Ginkaku-ji. These are historic buildings and symbolize Japan. These places and the town do not block the scenery.　Second, there are leisure spots in Kyoto. Kyoto has places where you can dress up as a Maiko and can take pictures. Maiko are apprentice geisha who play the shamisen and dance.

Another thing you can experience is Zen. Zen is one of the Buddhist styles to make the mind settle down. If you don’t calm down, your shoulder is tapped with the stick by the chief priest. Moreover this is very hard because you most sit with your legs crossed for a long time. This can be done in the temple in Kyoto. Finally, I suggest you come to eat cinnamon cookie dough in Kyoto. I think cinnamon cookies are the most popular sweets in Kyoto. There are many flavors including strawberry, powdered tea, and chocolate. You can buy this for about 500 to 1000 yen and in many shops. If you have a lot of money, I suggest you go around by taxi because the drivers can tell you about good spots.

From these things, there are many food, buildings and traditions that are representative of Japan in Kyoto. If you go to Kyoto, you can know Japan in detail.

Mt. Tsukuba

By Miki

Mt. Tsukuba is located in Tsukuba city in Ibaraki. This mountain is 877 meters tall. On the mountain, you can find more than 1,000 kinds of plants. It is one of the most famous mountains in Japan, it is known for its double peaks; Nyotai-san and Nantai-san. You can enjoy climbing a mountain by using a ropeway and a cable car to get to the mountaintop or the shrine.

“Mt. Fuji in the west, Mt. Tsukuba in the east” was a saying used in the old times. It is also known as the “Shi-hou” which means “Purple Peak of Kanto”, because of its color change from dawn to dusk.

This mountain has one of the oldest shrines in Japan. The shrine makes Mt. Tsukuba the object of worship; the main building of the shrine is on the mountainside and is visited by many tourists. The shrine is also known as the god of marriage. The ritual called Ozagawarisai is held there as an annual event in the spring and the autumn.

Mt.Tsukuba has beautiful views in all 4 seasons. In spring, sakura (cherry blossoms) and Japanese plums are blooming. A lot of other flowers bloom too. Autumn is the most beautiful season at the mountain, because it changes its colors to red and orange. At night, the trees are lit-up, and people can enjoy them by the ropeway.

It’s an easy mountain to climb, so this is a popular hiking destination for beginners. The most popular path to the mountaintop is a hiking trail starting from Tsutsujigaoka at the east foot of the mountain. It usually takes 40 minutes to reach the top by walking. If you use the ropeway, you can go mountaintop in about 10 minutes.

When you climb this mountain, you should wear good hiking clothes for climbing. I think clothes that can cover your skin is the best to wear on the mountain. In case you climb in summer, don’t forget to bring something to drink, bug spray, and a cap.

If you go by car, drive on the freeway for 1.5 hours from Omika. By the train, get on the Joban-Line, then change to the Tobu-noda-Line and then change to the Tsukuba Express for Tsukuba station. Then, you can take a shuttle bus to the foot of the mountain. In case you come from Tokyo: take the Tsukuba Express Line from Akihabara, it takes 45 minutes to Tsukuba Station, and then change to the bus which will take you to Tsukuba-san Shrine. The trip from Tokyo takes 40 minutes.

You can enjoy climbing the mountain with your family or friends. If you want to know more information, you can see website in English.

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/regional/ibaraki/tukuba.html

Color Wars

Schedule:

5:40	Introductions and Greetings
5:50	Games
7:30	Food
8:00	Finished

We split everyone into four teams on Tuesday, that way everyone could wear their team color on thursday for Color wars. The team colors were red, blue, green, and yellow. For the people who forgot or didn’t have any clothes with their team color on it, we had colored tape to put on people. There was about 11 people per group.

  

When prepping for the Party, we didn’t know if it was going to rain or not because the weather was being indecisive all week, so we had to make two options of what we would be doing. One option (the preferred option) of things to do outside, and the other one was things to do if we got rained in.

We were worried about the rain so we decided to play the two games we had to play outside, first. We did the water balloon toss first, and the the relay race. Water balloon toss is where you toss a water balloon to your partner as the distance increases. The last one to pop their balloon wins.

  

The relay race consisted of a bunch of mini-races where you would start the next mini-races as soon as their group finished the prior mini-races. The relay race consisted of a three legged race, a wheelbarrow race, a chopsticks race, , a grapevine running race, and three balloon popping races. The chopsticks race is where you carry chopsticks with your partner (in your mouths) and walk while balancing a ball on the chopsticks. The balloon races are where a person has to find a way to pop the balloon without using your hands directly. The first group to finish all the mini-races would win.

The weather seemed to be fine, so we continued to play the games outside. The next game we did was “Find it”. Find it is where we give them things they have to find, and then the runner will give it to the designated person who is walking around. The things they will have to find can be in their backpacks, on their person, or a picture of something. Each group will have one runner, and only the runner can turn in the specific thing.

Then we had a tug of war tournament. we were already divided into four teams, so we had each team face each other in a tournament style. Have one team stand on one side of the line, holding onto one end of the rope. On the other side of the line, have the other team hold onto the other end of the rope. Then both teams will pull at the ends of the rope, at the same time. Whichever teams pulls a member of the other team over the line, wins .

  

When we finished that, we realized we still had some time left, so we played “Over under”. Over under is a game where you pass a ball over a person’s head and then under the next and then repeat the pattern. once a person lets go of the ball, they will run to the back of the line. this will continue until everyone in the group has passed the end line. The first group to finish wins.

  

If we would have had to be only inside, we would have played a rock paper scissors tournament instead of the water balloon toss. Rock-paper-scissors is a zero sum hand game usually played between two people, in which each player simultaneously forms one of three shapes with an outstretched hand. However because we are in teams, we will be playing it in tournament style where you are out when you lose, and the team of the winner will win. These shapes are rock, paper, and scissors. The game has only three possible outcomes other than a tie: rock crushes scissors, paper covers rock, scissors cut paper.

At the end of each game, the winners got to choose one intern to pie; the winning team for the tug of war go to pie two interns; and the overall winning team got to pie two interns. At the end, we had extra whipped cream, so we had a free for all with it and water. After all of that, we went back inside and ate hot dogs and soda. The overall Winner was the Yellow Team.

Ueno Zoo

By Toshiyuki

I would like to talk about Ueno zoo. Ueno Zoo is the first zoo in Japan in 1882. Ueno Zoo is in Tokyo. From Ibaraki Christian University to Ueno Zoo it is for 2 hours by car. Ueno Zoo is the most popular zoo in Japan.

Ueno Zoo is open from 9:30 to 17:00, basically Monday is a holiday. Admission fee is 600 yen. Children are half price. A year pass is 2400 yen. Ueno zoo admission is free on March 20^th, May 4^th and October 1^st. It is easy to enter because admission fee is very cheap. If you like an animal, I recommend you buy a year pass.

There are about 400 species and 3000 animals in Ueno zoo. The popular animals include penguins, lesser pandas and giant pandas. Giant panda is the most popular animal. There is a homepage for giant pandas. There is a guide tour about each animal. The contents of the guided tour are different every day. The guided tour is carried out for 45 minutes from 11:00. We can touch the animals in the children’s zoo such as rabbits, goats, sheep, alpacas and llamas. The animals is very cute.

There are some requests from Ueno zoo. Firstly, please don’t enter with a pet. Secondly, please don’t smoke outside of smoking areas. Finally please don’t feed the animals.

Ueno zoo is popular with many people from a child to an adult. There are many animals which are not seen at other zoos such as the aye-aye which is in the monkey family. I think you will smile and be happy after you visit.

 

Fukurodanotaki: Ibaraki’s great waterfall

By Hanae

I would like to talk about one attraction in Ibaraki prefecture. Ibaraki prefecture offers beautiful nature of green trees, Kasumigaura lake, which is the biggest lake in the prefecture, Tukuba mountains, which is the tallest of our many mountains and the Tone long river. Fukurodanotaki in Daigo town is very impressive one.

First, Daigo town is located in northwest Ibaraki. Using the Joban line takes an hour from Omika station to Fukuroda station. It costs about 1500 yen one way. Then you go by taxi or bus. The bus, from Fukuroda station will take 10 minutes to Takimoto bus stop. Of course you can drive there; parking is free.

Next, Fukurodanotaki is one of the three most excellent waterfalls of Japan. This waterfall is 120 meters long and 73 meters wide. The waterfall changes by season. In the spring, it is enclosed by cherry blossoms, and in summer you can see waterfall with beautiful luxuriant foliage. In fall the trees turn red and yellow. In the winter you can see ice climbers because the waterfall freezes over. You can also enjoy seeing the illuminated waterfall and suspension bridge in winter.

Finally, there is a waterfall viewing platform for watching the waterfall closely. It has three separate stages. In the 1^st stage, you can see the waterfall from underneath, and the 2^nd stage is a good location to take a picture of the waterfall and beautiful trees. In the 3^rd stage, you can look around the whole waterfall from 51 meters up. Because there are no stairs, you take the elevator to each stage. Everyone who went there says the waterfall and the stages are surprise because they are very close and feel great. The admission fee is 300 yen for adults and 150 yen for children. It is open from 8 am to 6 pm throughout the year. If you need a wheelchair, you can borrow one for free.

Although Fukurodanotaki is little far from school, you should go once. The waterfall can be enjoyed during all seasons and it can relax and refresh you.

Bungee Jumping Adventure

By: Elaine

Before coming to Ibaraki Prefecture, I had no idea that there were so many things to do and places to see. Within the first week of my stay, the students told me that Ibaraki was host to a very popular bungee jumping location. I came to Japan with the full intention of living life to the fullest, so bungee jumping was definitely something I wanted to try.

Interestingly enough, my first host family took me to the Ryujin Suspension Bridge within that first week. This is where Japan’s highest bungee jump is located. I did not jump that day. To bungee jump you must book your jump several weeks in advance.

Honestly, I was scared of walking on the bridge the first time I am a bit surprised that I followed through with bungee jumping. I asked Patrick and Erina to accompany me in this adrenaline pumped experience. At first we were all very excited, but when we stepped down onto the bungee platform (which is underneath the initial bridge walkway) that excitement vanished. We were left with sweaty palms and racing hearts. There was no turning back.

The original plan was for Patrick to jump first, then me, and then Erina. But the bungee workers make the people who weigh the lightest jump first. So I had to do the first jump! I wasn’t ready. I could see and hear the instructors tell me what to do, but all I could think about was the possibility of something going wrong. What really scared me is they strap your ankles together and then ask you to stand at the edge of the platform, with your toes hanging off. At this moment, all I wanted was ability to move my legs freely and to grab on to the framework of the bridge. But the bungee workers tell you that you must hold your hands out, look straight forward, and jump when the yell “BUNGEE!”

As the famous quote goes: “life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.” I was breathing so fast that I felt like stopped breathing completely. When the workers quickly counted down and yelled that bungee I closed my eyes and jumped. As I fell through the air I let out a quick scream. You would not believe how fast you fall and then come right back up! (To those who are wondering, bungee jumping isn’t painful.) The whole experience was breathtaking. When I was being pulled up all I could do was laugh. I had never been so scared in my life and yet I had never had such an amazing feeling. It was unforgettable!

After I was lifted back up onto the platform, Erina’s jump and Patrick’s jump were almost immediate. Erina jump bounced the highest and Patrick’s jumping form was flawless. We all survived our first bungee experience! We celebrated our accomplishments and gathered with both friends and family to enjoy a delicious lunch at the restaurant next to bridge. It was a perfect ending to an amazing experience. However, as amazing as it was, I will be quite some time before I jump off another bridge.

Japanese Greetings Bow Culture

By Shiori

Some jokes show Japanese characteristics and indicate that Japanese bow too much. Japanese people joke and say Japanese soccer teams can’t win because they bow to the soccer ball when they kick it. Japanese people sometimes, bow while talking on the telephone. This means they pay respect to the person talking on the phone.

In Japan, there are three kinds of bows: shallow, medium and deep. For the shallow bow, we bend our waists at a15 degrees angle. When we greet people, we do this. For the medium bow, we bend our waists at a 30 degrees angle. In the Japanese business world, it is very common and we do this for customers, visitors and guests. This bow is also used for entering and leaving a meeting room. For the deep bow, we bend our waists at a 45 degrees angle to show more respect. We do this for very important people and occasions like, trading partners, apologies, ceremonies and for very important requests. Moreover, sometimes when we see a man of position, like the emperor, we bend our waists at a 90 degrees angle to bow.

To bow beautifully, do it slowly, stretch your fingertips and place them at your side. It is a part of basic manners in Japan.

• Stop and stand up with beautiful posture.
• Make an eye contact with a person.
• Bend your waist
• Return to upright position

Bowing for the formal situation, we say thank you first, and then we bow. In fact, we usually do it only for special situations like apologies.

Bow in Japanese: ojigi which has the meaning of doing something what it is appropriate. The meaning changed into feeling and thoughts for some situations. These are situation that have the intention of doing things positively. This intention became consideration for people in Middle Ages, and it became greeting.

Ojigi is a mixture of Japanese traditional custom and Chinese stylizing. Interestingly, Japanese greetings changes according to the weather. In the summer because it is so humid the Japanese avoid touching each other sweetie hands. They did not want to shake each other hand. As a result instead of shaking hands, bowing culture spread. Also hold out your weakest body part of the head, this shows we don’t have hostility toward the person.

Knowing other cultures can broaden your perspective on how other people live. For instance, Maori people rub their noses with each other as a greeting and in Vietnam when people bow they fold their arms. In these cultures and these acts are done out of respects for the other person but in Japan, these acts are considered strange and impolite. In China, when they do kung fu they have a special style greeting. They wrap their left hand around their fist in order to show respects. However, when the left hand fist is and wrapped with right hand, the person is showing hostility. The important thing is to understand other cultures. If foreigners greet Japanese people with a Japanese styled greeting, they will be glad. They think Japanese bow is respected by foreign people.