i~ 06ihiro? -====------lintemational and Domestic Relations Section Newsletter I----======--

Apr 2008

Issue 180

ihiro Healin,g' China One person at a time! .~

Have you heard of the organization called JICA? JICA is the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

This agency provides grant technical cooperation to developing countries as part of Japan's Official Development Assistance Program.

One of JICA's domestic institutions is the Obihiro International Center located adjacent to the Tokachi International Relations Center, which I'm sure all of you have heard of. Every year, the International Center takes in around 180 trainees from around the world. Trainees learn through Japan's experience in various fields of study, such as agricultural, vet and animal husbandry, urban planning, environment, and health an welfare. When trainees return to their homeland, they put their knowledge to use for building up their country. Some trainees stay for 1 month while others stay for as

long as 10 months, but trainees don't just come for training. During their short stay here, trainees participate in various events held in Obihiro and Tokachi, and they create fun memories together with the citizens ofObihiro.

One important project being run in Obihiro involves a small area of Obihiro's Friendship City, Chaoyang, China. The project is run by the Tokachi International Association (TIA) and is part of one of JlCA's programs.

Participatory Health Promotion Project by Women in Rural Areas

Taiko Village is a small part of Chaoyang, which is located in the northern part of China and has similar weather to Obihiro. Most ofthe villagers make their living through agriculture.

The purpose ofTIA's project is to improve the villagers' hygiene and eating habits. Many of Taiko's villagers have a poorly balanced diet which causes them to suffer from high blood pressure. Because of this, TIA has made one of its major goals to rethink the villagers diet and reduce blood pressure.

This project was started in 2006 and will span 3 years. Obihiro has hosted 3 trainees from the village and has dispatched experts to Taiko Village. When these experts from Obihiro visit the village, they found that groups, organized by the former trainees, are organizing workshops regarding health and hygiene, regularly recording villagers' blood pressure, and doing other specific activities that connect with the training they received in Obihiro.

This may seem like a very trivial and rudimentary first step, but we will continue to work hard in the hopes that these small steps will build up over time and have a large effect on the future. We hope that the villagers will start to become healthy again and in the end the entire village will be back to health.

Pg.l: JICA Activities in China and Obihiro Pg.2: Events and Fun in Tokachi

Pg.3: USA Intro, "Women Only!", Japanese Comer Pg.4: Movie Schedule, Japanese Class

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Events in Tokachi and Obihiro f nnets till

Where? & Contact Info WhatWhen

Nansho Symphonic Concert: The Minami Commercial 4/2 *Jtm.~~~$~High School (Nansho) is holding its annual concert for the Obihiro Minami Commercial High (Wed)

second time. This year's title is: 0155-34-731918:30 - 20:30 "A Spring Night's Nightmare." Entrance fee: 200 yen

Taisho Koto Exhibition: fJj~1BT IBLlE I--.L."7"~ I--.L."7"~ ;Il~4/5 Kuttari Tomuraushi, Shintoku The Taisho Traditional Koto Group

(Sat) Tomuraushi Onsen will be performing some traditional 12:30 - 16:00 0156-65-3021Japanese music on koto (at right).

Aruku Ski Event: Cross-country ski in the Eastern Taisetsu Mountains (near Shintoku). Participants get a free fJj~IBTJiiUEI--.L."7"~ 1--.L."7"~~~4/6

Kuttari Tomuraushi, Shintoku pass into the Tomuraushi Hot Springs. Last year was (Sun) Tomuraushi Onsen supposed to be the final year, but they are doing this event

9:30 ­ 0156-65-302 i Adults 1500 yen Kids 500 yen

Kofuku Station Happy Ceremony: Get ready for a "wedding" experience! You can borrow a

one more time, due to popular demand.

*JtiP~mlR4/27-9/30 Kofuku Station, Obihiro tuxedo and dress, and be "witnessed" with anyone you want! (Sun-Tue)

(30 min South on Hwy 236) You ring the station bell while the "witness" takes a perfect 10:00 - 16:00 Call to apply! picture ofyou both to finish off the ceremony. Afterwards, ¥3000/couple 090-1646-6318

that perfect picture on it too.

Obihiro Zoo Opening Day:

you receive a certificate with a message of your choice and

c15{JU.~Ib~1II4/28 Visit the zoo to view various vivacious and vibrant Obihiro Zoo is right next to Green

(Mon) vertebrates. Admission is only 450 yen! The new Park (both are in Midorigaoka Park)

9:00-16:00 monkey area construction will be completed in June. 0155-24-2437 Until then, pardon our dust.

Satsunai River Park Opening: Come to the Pyotan Waterfall to celebrate the park t:3-?~0);t

4/29 opening for the season. Watch the river get restocked Pyotan Waterfall

(Tue) (In Nakasatsunai) with fish, and even do a little mountain stream fishing

10:00 ­ 0155-67-2311if you want. There will be kids events and some new menu items to try at the new restaurant Pyoro.

Shintoku Nature Park Light-up: During the sakura fJiffL1lEl f&1}1IIEnd of April Shintoku Nature Park (45 minutes (cherry blossom) blooming season, approximately 3,000

to mid-May west ofObihiro on Hwy. 38) sakura trees will be lit up so that everyone can enjoy the

17:00 - 22:00 0156-64-0525beautiful flowers during the daytime and at night.

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The United States of America is undoubtedly the most influential country in the world. With the largest economy and most advanced military, it is known as the world's only superpower. What is life like in a supeIl'2_~j;:r.?

What kind of people are Ame~clffis?'"'

Do they really take baths in c&a"COla.?

Americans (living in Tokachi) will b an,wenng th,,, qu"tinn, and any o~'" questions that you and other Ob'hiro residents may have! There will be plenty 'of-ehar1lffif­discussion time so, you will be able to learn a lot about American culture, lifestyle, and many other aspects of society.

Best of all, the presentation and discussion time will be done in 60% English, 40% Japanese, so you can come and practice your English skills!

:rfi~)Jj~Mj* - ntro to the U.S.A!

~::~~§§§§l Event DetailsDate: May 17th, 2008 (Saturday) ~ Time: 14:00"" 16:00 Place: Tokachi International Relations Center

Nishi 20 Minami 4 (in Obihiro) Fee: Free! RSVP: By May 17th

TEL: 0155-34-0122 international@city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp

A small insight into any and all aspects of life in Japan

Women Only! Ever heard the word chilean? For those who do

not know, this term refers to men who touch women without their consent. Chilean exploit the anonymity of crowded rush hour trains in big cities to molest defenseless women. In response, Japan has been using train cars exclusively for use by women since as early as 1912! However, these women-only cars were canceled in 1973 because women weren't using them. However, history repeats itself, and women-only cars are back.

According to a recent survey conducted by Tokyo Metropolitan Police and East Japan Railway Company, two-thirds of female riders in their twenties and thirties reported that they had been groped on trains. Since 2000, railway companies in Tokyo and Osaka have been targeting trains that are infamous for overcrowding and chikan. Rail companies have reinstituted the joseisenyousha (women-only train cars) during peak rush hours to make it more difficult for perverts' to commit their vile crimes. For now, the Women only rule is usually only enforced from 7:30am to 9:00am (see sign above) which is the morning rush hour. After 9:00, anyone can ride in the joseisenyousha. Here in Obihiro we don't really have any trouble with packed trains so, there probably

aren't going to be any joseisenyousha around here anytime soon. But I definitely recommend checking them out the next time you pass through Tokyo.

(Rocio Ushijima, Obihiro's CIR from Peru)

The Japanese Corner (vocab found in or related to this month's issue)

~ (~cj: a traditional Japanese stringed instrument. It is the national instrument of Japan, but i derived from the Chinese guqin. It is 180cm long and has 13 strings!

j(ti.JfUl (L:J:;1t(,'1tNJ:?L~):"women only car" train cars that can only be used by women (and the disabled, but this is little known to the public, which can lead to awkward situations)

~;l (i:>f.J\N): "molester" or "pervert" Tokyo and other big cities have a major problem with chikan because of the morning and evening rush hours when trains are packed with people.

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Ch~;~s~ec~:~:,t~all April Movies At Cinema Taiyo, Obihiro r--_o_r_ch_e_ck_o_n_li_ne_at_:_h...;tt.;.:;p_:/...;Iwww.ta;,;".,:.iy..;.:og::...r_o.;..:up.;..:.j::;.p1...;C_i"...;8_maltr--;-h...;8....a,;.;t8...;r/=.-o...b...;ih_ir...;oI_m_O;...v...;18.....s;...h...;tm.,;.l ....:.(N--ii~_h_i ....

Title Language Starts - Ends

Lions for Lambs (starring Tom Cruise) English Apr 18 ­ May

Next (starring Nicholas Cage) English Apr26- May

10,000 B.C. (the cavemen speak perfect English!) English Apr 26- May

Jumper English Mar 7 -Apr 17

Vantage Point (attempted presidential assassination) English Mar 8-Apr 25

My Blueberry Nights English Mar 22 - Apr 18

Earth (beautiful documentary, 7 days only!) Japanese Apr 12 - Apr 18

Sushi Prince: Going to New York! Japanese Apr 19 ­ May

Mar 17 ­ May

Apr 26- May

Mar 8-Apr 20

Mar 8-Apr 18

Mar 15 - Apr 25

Mar 14 - Apr 25 Enchanted (Japanese voiceover) Japanese

Doraemon: Nobita, and the Green Giant Japanese

Sweet Rain (precision ofdeath) Japanese

The Golden Compass (voiceover) Japanese

Shaolin Girl Japanese

}(urosagi Japanese

3.:..,_Minami 7 Tel:

International and Domestic Relations Section Obihiro City Hall

Nishi 5, Minami 7-1 Obihiro, Japan, 080-0867 Phone: (0155) 65-4133

Fax: (0155) 23-0171 E-mail: international@city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp

Greg Hertel -Editor, Events, Movies, Web manager Naauxkaux Yamada, Kotomi Torimoto- General Advisory International and Domestic Relations Section- Articles

What's Happening in Oblhlro? can be found at the following locations: Obihiro City Hall, Tokachi International Relations Center, Obihiro University International Center, Obihiro Tourism and Convention Center inside the Obihiro JR Station, Obihiro Public

Library, Cinema Taiyo, Joy English Academy and online at www.city.obihlro.hokkaldo.jp

"WHIO?" Is a newsletter published monthly by the Obihiro International and Domestic Relations Section for residents of the Tokachi District and related parties. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the official views or opinions of the International and Domestic Relations

Section or the City ofObihiro. Questions? Tel.(0155) 65-4133 or send e-mail toWHIOEditingTeamatinternatio~n~I@c;ity.o~ihir.0.hokkaido.jp. iiliiiiiio

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