URAYASU FOREIGN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2014

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Spring FestivalCome celebrate with UFRA as we commemorate the Lunar New Year. The night’s entertainment will feature a demonstration by an award-winning Chinese artist, Xingshi Jin. Originally from Beijing but residing in Tokyo, Mr. Xingshi Jin has had his work exhibited at the National Art Center in Tokyo, among other places. Also performing will be a girls’ dance group from Urayasu. Following the performances, guests will partake in the feast prepared by --- the guests themselves! Date: Sunday, February 16, 17:30 - 20:00. Location: Kokusai Center at Ill MareAdmission: ¥1,000 or one favorite homemade dish.

Our World Today: SudanDate: Saturday, March 1, from 14:00-16:00 Location: Wave Large HallAdmission: !ee!This year's event features a collaboration with members from the Sudanese community in Japan on the culture and traditions of the Sudan. A lecture on Sudan`s history, traditions, festive seasons, and food will be followed by a live performance of a jirtig, a traditional wedding ceremony accompanied by unique and exciting songs. I am sure everyone will enjoy watching (and perhaps dancing to the beat of) this lively and colorful wedding ritual.Additionally, the afternoon will offer an exhibition of photos and posters depicting the country's nature, historical sites, and tourist attractions as well as a demonstration of a coffee ceremony. So please come and enjoy the taste of the unique, spicy-flavored coffee together with some homemade Sudanese snacks prepared especially for this event. If you are a lady or a child, and a fan of body art, then why don`t you try henna? There will be a catalog listing a selection of simple designs that can be applied to your hand or arm. Henna is safe, and you can enjoy it for a week or so before it gradually fades away.We are looking forward to seeing you on that day!! -Sarra M. Eltayeb, UFRA member and secretary of women affairs for the Sudanese Community in Japa#

Afternoon TeaCome and enjoy a friendly get-together with all of our friends at this final UFRA event of the fiscal year. Please join us for a hot (or cold) beverage and some home-made treats and enjoy a slide show of the year’s events.Date: March 8 (Saturday) from 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm(following the monthly committee meeting)Place: Hinode Kominkan - 3rd floor

UFRA Office: Urayasu City Hall, Local Network Section. 1-1-1 Nekozane, Urayasu-shi, Chiba-ken 279-8501 Tel: (047) 351-1111, ext. 1665 Fax: (047) 351-8600

The (NEW!) UFRA Website: http://www.urayasufra.org Email: urayasufra@gmail.com

U.F.R.A. NEWS

A wedding couple attired in traditional finery float along the Sakaigawa River in a “Yomeiri-Bune” - or wedding boat.

Urayasu City Seeks Wedding Couples for Yomeiri-Bune

Are you planning to get married in 2014? How would you like to add something extra special to your nuptials, namely, the chance to be part of a procession of wedding couples floating down the Sakaigawa River to the cheers of curious onlookers? The City of Urayasu is looking for four couples wil ling to take part in the Yomeiri-bune (wedding boat) procession on the Sakaigawa on the day of the 2014 Cafe Terrace event in the spring. The only requirements are that you agree to participate in a photo session and press release, hold your wedding ceremony at one of the city's shrines as well as a party for 50 or more at one of the city's hotels - such as Urayasu Brighton Hotel, Oriental Hotel Tokyo Bay, Sheraton Grande Tokyo Bay Hotel, Hilton Tokyo Bay Hotel, Hotel Okura Tokyo Bay, Tokyo Bay Maihama Hotel Club Resort.

If interested, contact the Commerce, Industry and Tourism Section at Urayasu City Hall by 17 February, 2014. TEL: 047-351-1111.

URAYASU FOREIGN RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION FEBRUARY 2014

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News to ShareHi, everyone ! My name is Monika Furuhata and I’m originally from Indonesia. We moved to Urayasu 34 years ago when our son entered elementary school. When we came here, there was literally nothing around the Shin Urayasu area, no buildings, no train stations and only a few bus lines going to Urayasu station on the Tozai subway line. Since 2000, I have been spending half the year in Indonesia to help with the family business in my hometown.Some 28 years ago, I was approached by the Urayasu City Office about starting an organization for and by foreigners residing in the city. UFRA started out as a small group of diverse nationalities which grew bigger as more foreigners joined. We became famous as the first and only organization of foreigners in Japan, officially supported and subsidized by the city office. Language classes, cooking, belly dancing, western calligraphy, table manners, fashion shows (dresses made from old kimonos), charity concerts, charity bake sales, culture days, stage performances and Christmas parties were some of the activities that we organized over the years. All these events were quite popular because of UFRA`s unique character and activities by foreigners were considered rare and exciting! Now after almost 3 decades, living conditions and life styles have greatly changed and with internet and other conveniences, we may not feel so much the need for organizations such as UFRA. However, looking back, I cannot imagine my life in Urayasu without UFRA. I treasure fond memories of helping to organize countless events and becoming good friends with many other foreigners as well as Japanese. Needless to say that we could not have done those activities without the help, support and understanding of our spouses. Last but not least, I would like to wish the incumbent UFRA Committee success in organizing new events that are more suitable with the times and to have fun while doing it. See you all when I am in Urayasu ! – Monika Furuhata

Charity DonationsBy the end of 2013, UFRA was able to make two significant donations to charity. For victims of the typhoon in the Philippines, we collected a total of ¥136,000 at the End of the Year Thank You Party via the bake sale as well as individual donations (including a generous ¥50,000 from the Seaside Lions Club). We also raised ¥206,000 at November’s charity concert and for the restoration of Tohoku school libraries that were decimated in 2011’s earthquake and tsunami.

UFRA’s 2013 Year-End Thank You PartyOn December 14th, 2013, UFRA held its Year-End Thank You Party at the Oriental Hotel. More than 80 UFRA members, friends, and their families joined together for two plus hours of fun and entertainment. This final event of the year gave UFRA members, friends, and guests a chance to reconnect and make new friends, while dining over a hotel-provided buffet. The highlight of the event was the entertainment. The Tahitian group, Te Otaha Nui, put on an upbeat display of Tahitian dancing that kept everyone spellbound. Not to be outdone, La Tuna de Japon, provided table by table performances of Latin music that had guests coming out of their seats to dance. Both groups received tremendous applause. Additionally, we held a UFRA Bake Sale, the proceeds of which benefitted the victims of the Philippines typhoon. Thank you to everyone who bought baked good or donated to the Charity Box, as well as to those who made so many delicious treats. Special thanks must go to the Seaside Lions for their generous donation of 50,000 yen. In total, 136,000 yen was donated on Christmas Day to the Red Cross.

Welcome to UFRAWe welcome new members, David f rom Ghana; Chimeddulam from Mongolia and new friends, Minako and Teruo.

UFRA’s Year-End-Thank-You Party li&ed spirits with singing, dancing, and taking the opportunity to help others in need.