A Japanese culture experience session during a Saturday Japanese language class this past summer!

Due to the spread of COVID-19, learners in the Japanese classes were often unable to interact with each other this year. During the summer, we were able hold a session for a Japanese culture experience. 11 participants attended the event on August 20 th . They were split into two groups for beginner  and  intermediate/advanced levels, and there were 4 different corners: 1) calligraphy, 2) karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards), 3) origami, and 4) old-fashioned games (i.e. kendama, otedama, sugoroku). Learners were able to experience each of these in order. They were taught by volunteers and concentrated while trying calligraphy and origami, as well as having an exciting time with the games. Both learners and volunteers alike were able to have a great time.

【Origami】 Everyone taught each other and tried making helmets and cranes.	【Karuta】 The competitive spirit was gradually put on full display and everyone had a lot of fun.	【Calligraphy】 Participants first practiced writing their favorite kanji, then finally wrote it on an uchiwa (handheld fan).	【Old-fashioned games】 Sugoroku was handmade by the volunteers!!

Presentation Event in 2021   　Supplementary Class for children

At present, there are a total of 13 students studying in the supplementary class for children, including 7 elementary school students in the first half and 6 junior high school students in the latter half. At this year’s presentation event on December 8^th, we made nengajo (New Year card), which is a part of Japan’s traditional culture. A picture of next year’s zodiac, the tiger, was added to the new year’s greetings.

The participants shared some of their thoughts about the event: “It is my first time, I really like it”, “It is difficult at first but it is fun”, “I always like drawing so it is fun”. We will present their works. We hope that next year will be a good year!!

Trip to the Cup Noodle Museum in Yokohama     Extracurricular Lesson by Wednesday Class 

On October 16^th (Wed), a total of 36 members, which included students and volunteers, went to the Cup Noodle Museum located in Sakuragicho. The theme was centered around “seeing, touching, playing, eating, and having fun while learning” about the creation of cup noodles in an experience-based session at the museum.

The building itself is modern. After taking a picture with the mascot, we headed to the “my cup noodle factory” on the 3^rd floor to create our own one-of-a-kind cup noodle.

First, you draw a picture on the cup. I began to do that, but I’m not exactly sure about what kind of design it turned out to be. One of the steps when assembling cup noodles is the way the cup is flipped over. Rather than putting the noodles directly into the upright cup, the cup is placed on the noodles. Using this method, the noodles will fit snuggly in the cup each and every time. There were 4 flavours to choose from, and even more toppings. The completed “my cup noodle” is sealed, packaged, and ready to be taken home.

I interviewed 3 people who participated for their thoughts on the experience. The first person’s toppings were cheese, green onion, and naruto, and said that the experience was fun. The second person, Osaki-san, who is Chinese, said: “My cup noodle has a curry-flavoured soup with shrimp, corn, cheese, and minced meat. It was a great experience and memory for me.” The third person was Geraldine Tsuyuki from America: “I have curry flavour with egg, meat, green onion... I forgot to choose the Hiyoko-chan naruto.”

We were able to go around and see various places, including “Momofuku Theatre”, which presented the life of Mr. Momofuku Ando, who is known as the father of instant ramen, through CG animation. Additional areas included a room that showed how instant ramen is packaged, as well as a small-scale research area. We learned a lot about the production of cup noodles and had a wonderful day at the museum!     Joshua Hikaru Fletcher (USA)

 We designed cup noodle packaging at the Cup Noodles Museum (Japanese Language Class, Thursday session)

On October 6th, the Thursday class went to the Cup Noodles Museum in Yokohama’s Minato Mirai.

There was a group of 9 students and family members, as well as 6 volunteers who participated.

They were able to draw on the instant noodle cups and customize their noodles and toppings to create a one-of-a-kind “my cup” of ramen.         2019.10.6

This is the reflection of one of the students who participated, Hu Yuxin (5th grade elementary student).

 It was fun taking the train with Takahashi-sensei’s granddaughter. She was very cute. It was fun making ramen. Japanese ramen is delicious. That day was so fun. It was fun drawing on the cup. That day was a little tiring. The best part was eating the noodles. Our school went to listen to music before. It was near the Cup Noodles Museum. If there are any Chinese people who read my writing about these interesting parts of Japan and want to go, I’d like to take them next time.

Enokigaoka Elementary School, 5th grade, class 3 – Hu Yuxin 

We went to Kamakura       Japanese Class, Saturday session      2019.7.13

On the way to Kamakura, we saw the rainy sea from the Enoden train line. The teachers guided us through different temples and we saw hydrangeas. They also taught us about how to worship at the temples. We saw the Great Buddha of Kamakura. We were happy to hear an explanation about the history and present state of the Great Buddha from the wife of the chief priest. During the trip, I was able to see a lot of great things, meet some kind people, and learn about Japanese culture and customs.

(Wang Fang, in Japan since December 2018)

Outing to Nogeyama zoo by Thursday Japanese class    2019.3.3

On the day of the “Hina Matsuri (Dolls’ festival)”, it was unfortunately cold rainy day, but 17 members including learners, their families and volunteers  joined the outing  to Nogeyama zoo which  is in the center of Yokohama city. Though admission was free, we could spend a joyful day watching many animals and touching Guinee pigs and mice at “Good friend” square. Followings are impressions of two classmates.

  (Romeo- san,Switzerland)

 On March 3, we went for an outing to Nogeyama zoo. It was raining all day long, but it was not so bad because there were less visitors. At Nogeyama zoo, we could

watch many animals for free.  For example, there was a sign board near the lion’s cage, which says “Please pay attention to Oshikko, (pee)” I learned a new Japanese word. There was an animal which I saw for the first time. It was a monkey, Colobus guereza. Its back hair is black and white. White part is shaped circle and the center of it was black. It was cool. At Good friend square, we could touch Guinee pigs and  mice. It was a wonderful experience. After watching animals, we had lunch together at the dining. The room was warm and we enjoyed conversation. I could make friends and studied Japanese. It was fun and I am looking forward to the next event!  

    (Yu-san, China)

Last weekend, I went to Nogeyama zoo with teachers and classmates of Japanese class. It was raining and cold day. However, I could practice Japanese while walking with classmates. Usually, I have few chances to speak Japanese except for the Japanese lesson in every morning since I came to Japan. I was very glad that Japanese class provided such a significant event. I could see many animals with teachers and watch real animals which are quite different from seeing the photo of them.  Here at Aoba International Lounge, teachers are kind and I can have friends from other countries. It is fun to talk with them. This outing became one of my good memories.     

 We visited Tsuzuki Open-Air Folk House Museum   2019.2.23

Saturday Japanese class

Date: February 23 (Sat) from 1pm to 3pm

38 members including classmates, their families, and volunteers participated in the tour on a fine day. We spent fun time watching Hina dolls and experiencing tea preparation. We asked Ms Ying who came to Japan about 6 months ago to interview our members.

Fuang Kou (China)

 I have been intersted in Japanee tea ceremony and a tea ceremony house and read books about a tea ceremony house. This time, through experiencing tea ceremony, I could understand that there are mamy ingenious attempts such as disigning of a tea house and an alley way in order to treat guests to enjoy tea pleasantly. This was a happy experience.

Chiai Tamura (China)

Last weekend, I attended Hina doll event with my family. We saw an old Japanese house which is more than 100 years old.  We experienced tea ceremony and enjoyed tasty Maccha.  We learned Japanese history, culture, and the sprits of tea ceremony. We had wonderful experience. Thak you very much. 

	This is the self introduction of the interviewer. Please click the photo.
	This is the interview with Kou and Kanrei
	This is the interview with Yumisan( from Korea, 4 month stayed)
	This is the inteview with Mikhail The interview is in English.

“Visit to Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum”  Wednesday Japanese Class    2018.10.24

58 members including class mates, their children, and volunteers visited the museum on October 24 (Wed).                                                                   

Impression of Mr. Fletcher Joshua Hikaru

Various technologies of 21th Century were exhibited at Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum.

We looked at the exhibitions and spent fun time trying the experiencing system.  The most impressive exhibition was

the information such as the history of a submersible research vehicle and the present status of development.

Other exhibitions were MRJ jet plane, a rocket engine, and a future transportation vehicle. There also was detail information about measures 

against global warming and about renewable energy. It was a fun day for me to study going out of the usual class room. What kind of technologies

will be developed in next 10, 20 years? Studying these recent technologies, I realized the importance of supporting technology development for the future.

　　　　　　　　　　　                                                                                                                              水曜クラス　　　　フレッチャー、ジョシュア光

 Presentation event of the supplemental class for children  October 14th , 2018

Children presented the accomplishments of daily hard works at the class, what they were interested in,

and pieces of their work which they wanted to be seen.  

It started with self-introduction of each child and the song “If you are happy and you know it” by early elementary children. 

Then followed quizzes about animals and insects, poetry reading, and speeches. 

 The children’s families attended the event together. 

 After the presentation, they all spent a joyful time playing paper-rock-scissors game and eating snacks. 

We went to Asakusa by Tokyo cruise boat.  Saturday Japanese Class       2018.6.29

Though it was raining, 42 people including classmates, their families, and volunteers participated.

We got on the boat at Hinode pier and got off at Asakusa. Then we walked to Sensoji temple through Kaminarimon gate and Nakamise street.　

Mr. Jun interviewed three students, Ms. Chang-in, Ms. Kotsuki, and Mr. Javier.   Please see the video of the interview. (Please click the picture, then you can see the video.)

Here is the impression of Mr Jun, the interviewer.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

I am Jun.  I came to Japan from Korea in October two years ago.  I have been studying Japanese from Ms. Chiba at Aoba International Lounge for almost one year and half.  This was the first experience for me join this kind of event.  It was really fun getting on a boat and praying at a temple.   It made me more impressive to have interviewed three classmates, Ms Chan-in, Ms.Kotsuki, and Mr. Javier.  I cannot use a humble form and courteous form appropriately yet. So I want study Japanese more so that I can speak Japanese fluently.

I appreciate for inviting me to such a wonderful event.

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

 We went to Shinagawa Aquarium  Thursday Japanese Class       2018.3.4

Impression of Mr. Chen Zupei from Taiwan

I visited Shinagawa Aquarium with classmates. I saw many unusual creatures such as upside down jellyfishes, and big long fishes. It was fun. The most interesting one was a tunnel aquarium, where we could see fishes from the bottom, since we didn’t have a chance to see the bottom side of fishes.

Impression of Ms. Do Thihue from Vietnum

Visit to Shinagawa Aquarium I visited Japanese aquarium for the first time. There were various kinds of fishes. They were very beautiful. We also saw Dolphin show. It was really a fun to see various performances. I took many photographs.  We took a photo with teachers in front of the aquarium gate. It became a wonderful memory. I really enjoyed the first visit to the aquarium.

 I carved Buddhist statues.  2018.4

This the picture of a Buddhist statue carved by Mr. Zhang Hangtian who told us his wish to be a Miyadaiku, a carpenter specializing in temple and shrine construction, in 2017 Japanese speech convention.

A letter from Mr. Zhang Hangtian

I have been studying carving of Buddhist statues since last April. At the beginning, I just wanted to touch Japanese traditional culture and chose this course.  Soon after I started studying, I was fascinated with it.  In last one year, I made eight sculptures such as a head of Buddha and Nyorai rituzou (Tathagata statue).  In carving a three dimensional stature, it is very hard to correct a mistake. This is the big difference form painting which I have been learning since I was a child.  Unless an auxiliary line which was erased by carving is rewritten, the body balance, curve line and thickness end us differently.  So it is a time consuming work to repeat carving along an auxiliary line and write it again.  As for a carving knife, I need to train hard, if not, it is not only difficult to carve, but also dangerous.  But when I could overcome difficulties and became more skillful after repeated hard works, I was fully satisfied with the good works I could accomplish.  I am very proud of myself to be a youngster who inherits traditional culture.   I will continue my effort to study carving Buddhist statues.  I also want to have chance to contact with people who have interest in traditional culture.  Best regards!

*********

Please click his picture, then you can watch Video clip of his speech in 2017Japanese speech convention.

 

Mr. Zhang is studying traditional architecture at Sado college of traditional culture, environment and welfare for three years from April, 2018.  

 

 

 

 

 

 Visit to Tsuzuki Minka-en.    Saturday Japanese class,  February 24, 2018

Tsuzuki Minka-en was a very big old house. It’s very thick straw roof was impressive. Inside the house we could see many tools in Edo era and Hina dolls and hanging dolls from the Meiji era to the Heisei era. 

We could feel deep love of parents who made those dolls putting their love in each stitch. I was really impressed.

In addition, I could experience formal Japanese tea ceremony.  I was calmed down in the simple but elegant atmosphere though sitting with my legs folded under me was hard for me.  

I found the beauty of Japanese traditional culture through Hina doll festival and tea ceremony.

This was a wonderful experience for us from foreign countries. 

 

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