Yearly Archive 2017

ByJustin Hanus
Dec 22, 2017

Studying and Working in Kobe: What to Expect

Kobe is one of the largest cities in Japan and it is the capital of the Hyôgo Prefecture. Several companies are based there and its port is one of the busiest in the country, surpassing even Osaka’s. It also has an internationally renowned university, which is a leading research centre in Japan. A cosmopolitan city with a diverse cultural life, Kobe is one of the best places in Japan to become an expat.

But, upon moving there, what to expect?

Well, first of all, you will need a long-term visa, which is usually possible only after having a work offer from a prospective employer. Since Kobe is one of the economic centres in Japan with international companies, it shouldn’t be too difficult finding a job in your area. However, you can also try to work first as an English teacher and after spending some time there and familiarizing yourself with the culture and language look for different jobs. In fact, major corporations such as Nestlé or English teaching companies are your best bets. Still, most workplaces will probably maintain a lot of Japanese work culture – this means long hours and a series of rituals you will have to abide by (like bringing your co-workers gifts from trips after a vacation and going out drinking with your boss  whenever you are required).

In case you plan to live in Japan less than a year, you will have to pay taxes only on your Japanese income as a normal Japanese worker. If you live less than five years, you will be taxed on everything except income from abroad that is not sent to Japan. And if you decide to become a permanent resident, you will be taxed on all your income and property as a normal Japanese citizen. (Remember that after paying normal income tax, you will also be required to pay residential tax to your local municipality)

As an employed foreigner, you will also be entitled to health insurance and you can benefit from the Japanese national health service (which covers up to 70% of costs). If you live under a year, you will have to resort to the private sector.

In case you find all of this too complicated, there’s also another way to move to Kobe – as a student of Kobe University, usually called Shindai. The admission process is rather standard, but since university in Japan is not cheap, you might want to look up international scholarships, specially private ones or the renowned MEXT scholarship. For any of them, you will have to demonstrate your enthusiasm for Japan and that you are willing to learn the language – for some, free mandatory courses are provided.

With the MEXT scholarship, all your tuition costs will be covered, plus airfare to Japan and about US$1,200 a month as a graduate student. You can also apply as an undergraduate and receive around US$1,050.

You should be aware, however, that if you are used to American teaching methods at the university level, you might find Japan’s classes to be much less student-driven and focused. Most of the courses are lectures that are quite professor-centric. Keep that in mind and don’t let it discourage you from pursuing your studies!

Also, if you have been studying Japanese before moving to Kobe, you might find it useful to listen to local radio in order to familiarize yourself with the famous Kansai accent beforehand.

Kobe is an amazing city to discover and if you are passionate about Japan, working or studying there is the best way to get to know the culture.

By 663highland (Own work) [GFDL, CC-BY-SA-3.0 or CC BY 2.5], via Wikimedia Commons

ByMatt Mangham
Dec 22, 2017

Tondo Festivals in Hiroshima 2017

Across Hiroshima Prefecture, early to mid-January involves one final, festive bit of housekeeping with regard to the year just passed. Part of ‘Koshagatsu,’ which marks the traditional lunar new year, it’s called the Tondo festival. In public parks, school grounds and shrine courtyards, people gather around towering bonfires of bamboo, on which they throw the ‘shimekazari’ New Year’s ornaments that appear each December above the doors of homes and businesses. At shrine events, you may also see celebrants tossing on last year’s ‘hamaya’ arrows and other talismans, shutting the door decisively on the old year.

Many Tondo are relatively small local affairs, and can be a great way to interact with your neighbors. When the fire is lit, whether by local firemen or by children bearing long torches and assisted by adults, the results are dramatic. The bamboo kindles quickly, and the flames leap high into the air. Because of the air pockets in the hollow stems, the fire produces loud pops and the occasional small explosion that sends children squealing behind the nearest adult.

Usually, you’ll find something to nibble on nearby. You may have the chance to take a turn at the stone mortar where ‘mochi’ rice cakes are being made, the steamed rice pounded repeatedly with large wooden mallets until a smooth paste is achieved. This is quickly formed into cakes and either grilled, sometimes over the remains of the bonfire itself, or simmered in a thick bean soup called ‘zenzai,’ a classic taste of winter in Japan. There may also be hot tea and warm cups of sweet sake to ward off the chill.

Tondo Festivals around Hiroshima

Because of the community aspect, it might be worth asking around to find out if there’s a Tondo festival in your neighborhood. But a number of larger events around Hiroshima city and its environs are destinations in their own right, drawing large crowds and taking on a more elaborate atmosphere than some local Tondos. Here are a few of the better ones.

Gokoku Shrine

Within the grounds of Hiroshima Castle, this large shrine’s Tondo festival is one of the most popular in the city. Unlike some other festivals, this one is always held on January 15th, no matter the day of the week. Expect large numbers of spectators and a more festive feeling. Fun features are the firemen dressed in traditional garb and the mochi that’s grilled on long poles held over the embers of the fire before being distributed to the crowd.

Time: Monday, January 15th, lighting at 10:00

Place: Gokoku Shrine grounds, within the walls of Hiroshima Castle

Itsukushima Shrine

At the UNESCO World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, the Tondo takes place at low tide on the stretch of sea-damp sand between the shrine itself and its famous torii gate. This is a pleasantly unpretentious affair, and the impression I’ve often had is that most visitors happen upon it by luck. The combination of sea, fire, open air and crimson shrine architecture make quite a magical combination.

Time: Sunday, January 14th, 12:30 – 14:30

Place: Mikasa-no-hama Beach, Miyajima (in front of Itsukushima Shrine)

Sorasaya Shrine

The Tondo festival at this small shrine a short walk northwest of Hiroshima’s Peace Park, on the west bank of the Ota River, strikes a nice balance between a small neighborhood festival and one that welcomes visitors from farther afield. The festival actually takes place in a small adjacent park and playground, making it a good choice for families with children. If you want a more intimate atmosphere than you’ll find at Gokoku Shrine, and something closer to the city center than Itsukushima, head to Sorasaya Shrine.

Time: Sunday, January 14th, lighting at 13:00

Place: Sorasaya Park, immediately north of the shrine.

 

All photos courtesy of the author

ByMatt Mangham
Dec 22, 2017

Miyajima’s Daisho-in Temple near Hiroshima

January is a wonderful month to make a trip to Miyajima. Whether you’re heading out early in the month for the year’s first ‘hatsumoude’ visit to the island’s World Heritage Itsukushima Shrine, or stopping by mid-month for the shrine’s Tondo festival, make sure not to miss out on another of Miyajima’s best spots.

Daisho-in Temple: A Quick Overview

Daisho-in belongs to Japan’s Shingon school of Buddhism, an esoteric sect sharing certain core features with the Buddhism of Tibet. According to tradition, the temple was founded in 806 by a famous wandering monk named Kukai, often referred to by his posthumous name Kobo-Daishi. After a 100-day ritual atop the island’s central peak of Mt. Misen, he established the temple and continued on his journeys.

For centuries, the monks of Daisho-in were responsible for many of Miyajima’s most iconic festivals, including the New Year’s festival of Chinkasai. After the Meiji Restoration of 1868, returning full control of the Japanese state to the Emperor, Buddhism and Shinto were forcibly separated and Daisho-in’s relationship to Itsukushima Shrine was forever altered.

In 2006 Daisho-in celebrated its 1200th year since foundation, with a visit from the Dalai Lama and attendant monks, who gifted the temple with a beautiful sand mandala that can be seen in the ‘Kannon-do” hall.

Main Features of Daisho-in

Daishoin is often overlooked by travelers simply because it’s somewhat out of the way. In fact, the temple’s buildings are visible from the ferry on the approach from the mainland, and it’s only a little further on than the Shrine itself, but after winding their way through the shopping arcade and visiting Itsukushima, many people turn around and start back toward the Thousand Mat Hall or the ferry terminal.

Make the effort to head up the hill, though, and you’ll find yourself amply rewarded. First, just past the grim guardian statues flanking the temple’s Niomon Gate, you have a choice to head straight up the stairs, turning prayer wheels as you climb, or turn left to wind your way up along a path lined with statues of the Buddha’s disciples. Daisho-in’s head priest has included some whimsical statues to appeal to children, so if you’re visiting with little ones they may prefer this second route. Before you enter the upper gate, though, don’t forget to stop at the temple’s belfry. Unlike at some other temples, visitors are welcome to swing the wooden striker and sound the bell.

Entering the main precincts, you’ll find an information desk and souvenir shop on your left. Admission to Daisho-in is free. Best to stop here and pick up an English language map of the temple, if you didn’t already find one back at the terminal. If you’re collecting ‘goshuin’ stamps to commemorate your trips to various shrines and temples, this is the place.

There is a lot to see and explore here, so take your time and be sure to poke around any place that isn’t clearly off-limits. Some highlights include the ‘tainaimeguri’ dark walk beneath the Kannon-do, which is a fun way to begin your tour of the temple and also confers a ritual rebirth, if you’re in need of spiritual rejuvenation. Inside that building, you’ll find the aforementioned sand mandala as well as the statue of the Eleven-faced Kannon, probably made in Nara around the year 700. Out front, a statue of the Archangel Michael marks Miyajima’s sister-city relationship with France’s Mont Saint Michel.

Elsewhere around Daishoin, must-sees include the image of Namikiri Fudo-myoo, implacable foe of ignorance and evil, and the thousand smaller images of him ranged along the walls of the Chokugan-do hall. In the Maniden Hall, you can make your greetings to the Three Awesome Deities of Misen, worshiped here from time immemorial.  Continuing deeper into Daisho-in’s grounds, the statue of Kukai in the Daishi-do Hall is said to grant one wish made sincerely, while a slow stroll through the dim recesses of the Henjokutsu cave will confer all the benefits of the famed 88-Temple pilgrimage route around Shikoku.

There’s more to find, and every traveler will leave with his or her own favorite encounters and impressions. So leave time on your next trip to Miyajima for a walk up the hill to this wonderful temple. Happy travels!

Daisho-in Temple

739-0524 Hiroshima-ken, Hatsukaichi-shi, Miyajimachō, 210 ( map link )
www.galilei.ne.jp/daisyoin
0829-44-0111

By KimonBerlin (https://www.flickr.com/photos/kimon/4177212055/) [CC BY-SA 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

ByAdmin
Dec 21, 2017

Halal Restaurants and Shops in Nagoya

Find Halal Restaurants and Shops in Nagoya and Toyota

Restaurants

Kashmir

Hours:  Lunch 11:00-15:00/Dinner 17:00 – 22:00
Address: 2 −1−1 Kanayama,  Naka Ward, Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/hpmvphdvuYp
Tel: 052-339-5945

Mega Kebab (Sumiyoshi)

Hours: Weekdays-19:30~04:00/ Fri&Sat – 19:00~05:00(closed on Holidays and Mondays)
Address : Hasegawa Building 1F, 3-2-29, Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/TXMwjC8w5Co
URL: www.megakebab.com/shop_detail/index7.html

Mega Kebab (Osu 1)

Hour: Weekdays& Holidays-10:30~21:00/Weekends – 10:00~22:00
Address : 3-30-35 Osu, Naka-ku, Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/bGfRuua4r8z
URL: www.megakebab.com/shop_detail/index5.html

Hoja Nasreddin

Hour: Lunch 11:00~14:00/ Dinner 17:30~21:00(closed on Sun&Mon)
Address : 358-1 Miyahigashichō, Shōwa-ku, Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/isYrdVuFEUF2 
URL: www.hojanasreddin.com/index.php
Tel: 052-782-0731

SHUBHAKAMANA

Hour: Lunch 11:00~15:00/ Dinner 17:00~23:00
Address : T-FACE B building 9th floor, 1-57-1 Wakamiyacho, Toyota City
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/Yfa1RmSUq112
URL: http://shubhakamana.jp/shop/index.html#03
Tel: 0565-35-2166

Shops

Zafar Haral Foods Store

Hour: 11:00~23:00
Address : 7-21 Namiyose-cho,Atsuta-ku,Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/UhNBBKdChq42
Tel: 052-889-6843

World Mehak Halal Food

Hour: 10:00~22:00
Address : 17-3 Juocho, Nakamura-ku,Nagoya
Map: https://goo.gl/maps/mnnL4D24zEv
Tel: 052-602-4108
*you can eat in at the restaurant as well.

Online Store

Sonal Halal Food

URL: www.onlinehalalfood.com/ 
Tel: 03-5993-4993


By Yobuaugustin (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons

ByRay Proper
Dec 21, 2017

Tokyo Antique Jamboree

Tokyo Big Sight

The largest antique event in Japan, the Tokyo Antique Jamboree, is an annual event with as many as 500 vendors from all over Japan selling a variety of items with different tastes and styles; including both Japanese and western antiques.  The event is especially famous for collectible toys and playthings, but there is a wide selection of nearly any kind of antique or collectible you can imagine.

Even casual browsers are sure to find something that interests them in all the knick-knacks, but if not you could always watch the “shuri-ya yokocho (antique repair street)”instead; where you can hear antique repairmen and craftsmen present on repairing porcelains and potteries, furniture, precious metal items, jewelries, toys, watches, silver items and more.

If you are serious about buying antiques it is recommended that you attend the Early Buyers Day, when you will enjoy the best selection from which to find your gem!  Its an extra 2000 yen, but it is worth it!  The Jamboree’s website has printable coupons for a few hundred yen off the price of admission. Antique Jamboree is the largest Antique Show in Japan. Japanese, European, and American antiques and Toy Collectables are represented by 500 dealers.

Tokyo Antique Jamboree 2018

January 12  until 14, 2018
10:00-17:00
www.kottoh-jamboree.com

Tokyo Big Sight
Tokyo Big Sight, Exhibition Hall 1E
Tokyo Big Sight – 3 Chome-11-1 Ariake, Koto, Tokyo 135-0063 (map link)
Closest stations: Ariake station on the Yurikamome and Rinkaisen lines

www.bigsight.jp/english
www.bigsight.jp/english/event/archives/calendar.html

Image by Masato Ohta from Tokyo, Japan. (Flickr) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons

ByBert Wishart
Dec 20, 2017

Chinese New year Festival Nagoya 2018

Although Japan adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1873, celebration of the Chinese year is still an  important cultural event in the country. This year (2018) the Chinese New Year falls on February 16, however Nagoya wants to get in on the fun a little bit early.

Chinese New Year Festival

From January 6 to 8, Hisaya Odori Koen will host the 12th annual Chinese New Year Festival in Nagoya. As the largest celebration of Chinese culture in the Chubu region, it is a must see for anyone who is interested in China and its vast cultural heritage.

The event sees a variety of Chinese traditional performances, with music, dance and an attendance of the Shaolin Temple of Henan Provincial Culture and Arts Group. The most anticipated of these exhibitions are the lion and dragon dances, but as well as these events, there are also a variety of stalls selling clothes, souvenirs, Chinese goods and, of course, plenty of fantastic food.

This year includes an added celebration as 2018 is the 40th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and China. To mark this occasion, as well as the traditional displays, there will also be a visit from the mascot of Kumamoto, Kumamon. For some reason.

Whether its for the performances, the food, the unexplained appearance of one of Japan’s most beloved characters, to celebrate Sino-Japanese friendship, or just to enjoy a few Chinese beers and food, then it can be a pretty good day out for all of the family.

Chinese Festival Details

  • Where: Hisaya Odori Park, 3 Chome-16 Sakae, Naka-ku (map)
  • When: January 6 11:00-17:00, January 7 and 8 10:00-17:00 to 8, 2018
  • Websiten-cj.com

Chinese New Year Facts

Fireworks – Bamboo stems with gunpowder were used in ancient China to scare away evil spirits. These have become the firecrackers we know today. Many cities across the world have controlled or banned the use of fireworks at Chinese New Year due to the fire risk they pose, though Yokohama is not one of them.

Red Envelopes – It was once believed that red would frighten evil spirits, and so it is into red envelopes that married or elderly people place money to give to unmarried juniors as a way of gaining good luck for the coming year. The envelopes will contain an odd-numbered currency (even-numbered currency is given at funerals) and will be placed under the pillow unopened and slept upon for 7 days.

Clothing – New clothes will be worn, from top to toe, to symbolize a new beginning for a new year. These clothes will commonly be red or brightly colored to frighten evil spirits.

Song – A popular song sung at this time of year is Xīn Nián Hǎo Ya; literally: “New Year’s Good”. Interestingly it has a melody not dissimilar to Oh My Darling, Clementine.

Greetings – Want to wish someone ‘happy new year?’ Well, it’s ‘Xin Nian Kuai Le’, pronounced ‘sheen nian kwai luh’ in Mandarin or ‘San Nin Fai Lok’, pronounced ‘san knee fy lock’ in Cantonese. For a more traditional greeting try ‘wishing you great happiness and prosperity’ which is ‘Gong Xi Fa Cai’, pronounced ‘gong zee fah chai’ in Mandarin or in Cantonese ‘Gong Hey Fat Choy’, pronounced ‘gung hey fah choy’.

Other Chinese New Year Events in Japan

Yokohama

Yokohama Chūkagai has a 150-year history, stretching back to the Meiji era opening of Yokohama’s seaport, when many Chinese immigrants arrived in Japan. Today it is the largest Chinatown in Asia, one of the biggest in the world, with around 250 Chinese owned or themed shops and restaurants. As such the celebration of New Year is understandably large and goes on for more than two weeks from February 15 to March 2.

  • Websitewww.chinatown.or.jp
  • Closest Railway Stations: Ishikawa-cho Station; Motomachi-Chukagai Station

Kobe

For around a week in February, the whole of Kobe’s Chinatown area is bustling with activity and celebrations to ring in the new year. Whether you’re into parades, ritual dances, martial arts, acrobatics, or even just some authentic Chinese cuisine, there is certainly something for everyone during the festival.

By Mark Guthrie

Image by Garry Knight (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr.com (modified)

Image by kana hata (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr.com (modified)

ByBert Wishart
Dec 19, 2017

Feeling all at sea at the Nagoya Aquarium

Whether you are a fan of fishes, and admirer of the aquatic, a fan of fins, or feel deeply for the deep blue, there is a lot to enjoy at the Nagoya Aquarium. Right now is a perfect time to get acquainted with some of the most marvelous animal life in the world.

One of Japan’s biggest and best aquariums, Nagoya Aquarium at Nagoya Port covers all manner of sea life that lives in the waters between Japan and the antarctic. While it is particularly exciting for kids, it still makes a pretty good day out for friends, couples, or even just exploring on your own.

Mammals of the seas

The theme of Nagoya Aquarium’s North building is “A journey spanning 3.5 billion years: Animals that have returned to the seas,” and there is a variety of media displays to teach you all about cetaceans, aquatic mammals. But most excitingly, it is here that you get to meet the aquarium’s star attractions: the dolphins. These graceful and amazingly trained creatures put on three daily shows in an outdoor tank that, at 60 by 30 meters and 12 meters deep, is the largest outdoor tank in the world. While you may want to get into the front rows that afford the best views, don’t forget to put on your waterproof poncho, as things are likely to get a little splashy.

As well as the dolphins you can find awesome killer whales and adorable beluga whales, and you can sit and watch them glide around and play in the deep waters as they come to greet spectators through the thick glass. Of all the aquarium’s attractions, the cetaceans are perhaps the most thrilling, particularly for children.

Crossing the ocean

The south building’s theme is “A Journey to the Antarctic” and is a breeding exhibition that takes you from Nagoya through to the Antarctic, cutting across the seas around Japan, the deep sea gallery, the equatorial ocean, the Australian waterfront, and the Antarctic ocean.

In the huge Kuroshio tank you can marvel at the vast sea life that lives around Japan’s shores, watching as huge shoals of fish sweep around the waters. From there it’s on to the Deep Sea Gallery where the strange creatures of the oceans’ depths roam, before heading to the large corral reef tank in which you can see the vivid fish that make their homes in the, sadly dying, Great Barrier Reef.

One of the most interesting attractions at Nagoya Aquarium meeting one of the ocean’s many endangered species at the sea turtle migration tank, where you can see these stately creatures in their many periods of growth as the aquarium helps to keep this enigmatic species surviving.

Finally, after stopping by the Australian Freshwater Life Zone, make your way to the Antarctic marine life-penguin encounter, where you can see these adorable, fun-loving flightless birds as they dive and play in the water. You can either get right up close to their glass, or sit back on the terraces and watch them frolic.

Nagoya Aquarium Details

  • Where: 1-3 Minatomachi, Minato-Ward (map)
  • Admission: Adults and high school students 2,000 JPY;
    Children 1,000 JPY;
    Toddlers (ages 4 or older) 500 JPY
  • Websitewww.nagoyaaqua.com

 

By Mark Guthrie

Image by Cris Anderson (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr.com (modified)

Image by Everton Yamamoto (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr.com (modified)

Image by きうこ (Own work) [CC BY-SA 2.0], via flickr.com (modified)