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21 9 20 20 25 27 6

10October

2009 No. 276

450

ISSN 1348-7906

The 110th Anniversaryof Japanese Emigrationto BoliviaJapanese Emigrantswho Crossed the Andes

The Last Streetcars in Tokyo:Toden Arakawa Line and Tokyu Setagaya Line

110
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Japans first general-purpose wed-

ding hall, Meguro Gajoen, is known

for its luxurious interiors and long

history. This exhibition features flow-

er arrangements by KARIYAZAKI

Shogo that are displayed along the

Hyakudan kaidan (100 stairs) and in

nearby rooms inside the building. The

exhibition attracted more than 66,000

people last year. This year, special

nightly viewing tours will be con-

ducted with the works illuminated.

Flower arrangement and bouquet

making classes by Kariyazaki will

also take place.

6

6

Topics & Events

October Issue Contents 10

Topics & Events 3-5

Entertainment & Trends 6-7

Feature

8-11

Parody Talk 12-13

Business Spotlight 14-15

Hot Products 16

Insight into Japan

17-27

Close Up Japan, Cross-Cultural Barrier, Japan Watching, Japan in the

World, Japanese History Makers

Jobs in Japan for Non-Japanese

28-29

Visa Q&A Q&A 30

People in Japan

33-35

Cover Story 36-39

Touching Japanese Life

40-41

Takane s Menu

42-43

Masterpieces of Japanese Film & Animation

44-45Hiragana Times Art Gallery

46

Write the present name, your name, address, sex, age, nationality and the article(s) you enjoyed in this issue and send by post-card or e-mail. Competition closes October 5. Winners will be selected by lottery and receive presents directly.

E

1 0

5

The 10th special event The World of Flower Arrangement ArtistKariyazaki Shogo: KISEKIFrom October 30 through November 15Place: Meguro Gajoen (Meguro Ward, Tokyo)

Admission fee (on the door): 1,000 yen

10

KISEKI

10

30

1 1

15

1,000

www.megurogajoen.co.jp

Present for 5 couples (10 people)

5

10

An Exhibition of Gorgeous Flower Arrangements

A piece from last years exhibition The World of Kariyazaki Shogo

2008
http://www.megurogajoen.co.jp/http://www.megurogajoen.co.jp/

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Topics & Events

WEB

No reservation or registration required.1,000

Also held in Osaka. Check our website for details!

22nd Year!

8 700 if you arrive before 8 pm.

Inquiries for the party

Inquiries for the party location

Admission fee for Tokyo parties will be 00 yen for party coupon holders.

00

HiraganaTimes

To kyoPartyAdmissionCoupon

00yen

49

10

1

0

1 1

3

7 0

1,000

The 49th All Japan Plamodel Radicon Show will be held at

Makuhari Messe International Convention Complex (Chiba

City, Chiba Prefecture) on October 10 and 11. At this hobby

festival held every autumn, a number of Japanese plastic mod-

els, radio-controlled models, action figures and model trains

are displayed and sold. It attracts more than 30,000 people

annually, and this year over 70 companies will participate. A

plastic model making session for kids will take place, and spe-

cial corners where one can play with radio-controlled models

will be set up. Admission fee: 1,000 yen. Free for children of

middle school age and younger.

business1.plala.or.jp/plamodel/

Autumn Hobby Festival

Strolling through the Gardenof the Tokyo National Museum

1 0

2

0

11

29

600

10

3

ALT

The garden that lies to the north of the main building of the

Tokyo National Museum (Ueno, Tokyo) will be open to the

public from October 20 to November 29 (admission fee to

the museum required: Adult 600 yen). The garden is opened

to the public twice every year for a certain period in springand autumn. Visitors can enjoy viewing a pond visited by

wild birds, tea houses and a five-storied pagoda, as well as

the autumn leaves. October 3 is Cultural Exchange Day for

Foreign Students, on which day lectures and events for for-

eign students are held at the museum. Foreign students attend-

ing schools in Japan, ALTs (assistant language teachers) and

those accompanying them will be admitted free of charge to

the museum (identification required).

www.tnm.jp/
http://business1.plala.or.jp/plamodel/http://www.tnm.jp/http://www.hiraganatimes.com/http://business1.plala.or.jp/plamodel/http://www.tnm.jp/

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M

ySpace I

NDIVISUAL

2

SNS

MySpace INDIVISUAL, a website that provides up-to-date

information on Japanese rock and musicians both in Japanese

and English, has been launched on MySpace Japan. MySpace

is one of the worlds biggest online communities or social net-

working sites with more than 200 million registered users. In

recent years, an increasing number of Japanese rock musicians

have been using MySpace to interact with fans overseas and

organize their concerts and tours abroad as well as to promote

their work. The new website was launched in order to help

these musicians make inroads into the international music

scene.

myspace.com/indivisual

A Website Providing Informationon Japanese Rock

C

O2

M

y

B

ento!

CO2

CO2

My Bento! is a free website featuring a game that allows

the user to learn how much CO2 is emitted during the process

of making a lunch box. Now its available in English. First,

you click a rice dish and a main dish of your choice to make

a boxed lunch. Then, you are informed of the amount of CO2

emitted during the making of that boxed lunch, the area of for-

est needed to absorb the CO2 and where the ingredients come

from and how they are distributed.

serious-games.jp/bento_e/

Learn about EnvironmentalIssues through Game Play

Little Studios, Inc./Tokyo GAS co., Ltd.

A bottle of iichiko silhouette (200ml)will be presented to all participants onthe above dates. In addition, you will beable to have a welcome iichiko drink.

iichiko Special Night on Oct. 9 & 23!

Furthermore, special presents will be

given on the nights for those whoanswer a questionnaire about an iichikoarticle.
http://myspace.com/indivisualhttp://serious-games.jp/bento_e/http://serious-games.jp/bento_e/http://myspace.com/indivisual

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The first time you set eyes upon the Design Festa

West gallery in Harajuku, Tokyo its like being on

the receiving end of some kind of visual assault. The

former apartment block in the back streets just off of Meiji-

dori is encased a spiders web of vivid red piping underneathwhich a psychedelic palette of colors exudes artistic glee.

W

EST

Inside, each former flat func-

tions as an exhibition space

where creativity is unbridled.

Theres painting and photogra-

phy, video shows and sculpture,

even fashion and accessories,

but the artwork isnt confined

to traditional mediums. The trash cans have been turned into

a multi-colored canvas, the toilets have become works of art,

the drink vending machine looks like its been attacked by a

New York graffiti artist. At the adjoining Design Festa East

things continue in much the same vein.

E

AST

The concept behind Design Festa is that anything original

goes, says the gallerys director ARAKI

Takeshi. The idea is to be open to art

and the people who make art, and to give

them a place to express themselves. The

main point is that people meet, see art,

talk about art; its a space for communi-cation, he says. Its non-judgmental,

non-corporate, freestyle, original art, and

anyone can exhibit there.

Celebrating 15 Years of Freestyle Art:Design Festa15

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But the galleries are just the tip of the Design Festa iceberg.

Design Festa began and continues to evolve as an event where

artists from all genres can come together to create and share

their work. The galleries were set up to nurture artists by giv-

ing them affordable places to show their work, while filling

the gap between events, says Design Festas PR representa-

tive Stephen LEBOVITS.

Now about to celebrate

its 30th twice yearly incar-

nation, the event started 15

years ago with 800 artists

and is expecting to attract

some 8,000 when it is next

held in October at Tokyo Big Site, making it

by far the biggest event of its kind in Japan,

and quite likely beyond, says Lebovits.

15

800

30

10

8,000

It has possibly become Asias largest freestyle art fair, and

without any sponsorship of anykind, local, national and interna-

tional artists of any ilk get their

15 minutes to shine in front of

throngs. There is no other event

like this in Japan, and as far as

we can tell, anywhere remotely

close, he says.

Like the gallery, the Design Festa events are eclectic, and

visitors can expect to be wooed with a multifarious barrage of

art. Theres so much that goes on there. Theres an engi-

neer who turns up with a thing like a giant cue ball that

he slowly drives around. Theres cosplaying and nudity;

theres theater, music, visual arts painting, photography

lots of small artistic things. Its a really liberated zone,

Lebovits says. It seems like Japans interest in freestyle

art is continuing to grow along with Design Festa.

Design Festa www.designfesta.com
http://www.designfesta.com/http://www.designfesta.com/

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T

his year Bolivia changed its official name from the

Republic of Bolivia to the Plurinational State of

Bolivia. The fact that the current president of Bolivia,Evo MORALES, is the countrys first indigenous president

seems to have had some bearing on the change. An estimated

11,350 Japanese migrants and their descendants live in this

multiethnic society. Their lives are built on a foundation that

was laid by 91 Japanese who settled in Bolivia by crossing the

Andes from Peru 110 years ago

this September.

11,350

110

9

91

Until that time, many Japanese hadheaded for new lives in Hawaii, but when the country was

absorbed into the US there was a ban placed on immigrant

contract workers. That led Japanese emigrants to set out for

Peru in South America instead. 790 Japanese who had board-ed a ship called the Sakura Maru from the port of Yokohama

arrived in April 1899. In addition to difficulties arising from

the difference in language and custom, they had a hard time

adapting themselves to the climate, food, and different work-

ing and sanitary conditions, while not being able to receive

adequate medical treatment. Many of them

lost their jobs or died of disease.

790

1899

4

The 110th Anniversary of JapaneseEmigration to BoliviaJapanese Emigrants who Crossed the Andes

References/photos: The Book to Commemorate the 100th Anniversary of Japanese Emigration: Living in Bolivia

Published in 2000 by the National Federation of Bolivian Japanese Associations www.fenaboja.com

Photos: JICA Yokohama Centre / Japanese Overseas Migration Museum www.jomm.jp

110th anniversary commemorative ceremony

110
http://www.fenaboja.com/http://www.jomm.jp/http://www.jomm.jp/http://www.fenaboja.com/

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By the end of that year, 91 of the 790 contract migrants

had been transferred to work on rubber plantations in Bolivia.

Accompanied by two supervisors from a migration agency,they traveled by steamship and train and then kept walking for

days to cross the Andes Mountains.

790

91

2

In 1914, Japan and Bolivia

signed a commercial treaty. As

Bolivia enjoyed a rubber boomand began constructing railways

and roads, many Japanese immi-

grants found jobs in these lines

of business. Having saved money

from doing these jobs, some of

them started their own businesses

such as barbershops, general

stores and restaurants. With a

number of Japanese committees and associations established,

a Japanese community was gradually formed in Bolivia.

1914

At the time, most of the migrants were young men. Some of

them married local women but most wished to marry Japanese

women. Around the 1930s, so-called migrant brides started

coming from Japan, having arranged to marry with these

men after exchanging letters and photos. But a desperate few

sent photos of themselves when

they were younger or sent pic-

tures of someone else who was

more handsome, and some of the

brides-to-be refused to marry their

fiancs when they met them in

person.

1930

110

Text: MATSUURA Tsuneo

100

2000

www.fenaboja.com

JICA

www.jomm.jp
http://www.fenaboja.com/http://www.jomm.jp/http://www.jomm.jp/http://www.fenaboja.com/

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Before long, World War Two broke out and in 1943, Japan

and Bolivia, who had maintained friendly relations in both

the public and private sectors, severed diplomatic ties. Then

Bolivia entered the war as a member of the Allied Powers.

Ordered by its ally the United States, Bolivia froze assets held

by people from enemy countries and deported them to the

U.S. as prisoners of war. After the war, some of the Japanese

prisoners returned to Japan and others to Bolivia.

1943

The Japanese migrants,

who had been caught up in the

ravages of war and unfairly

treated, resolved to live as

Bolivians while maintaining

their Japanese identity. They

stopped speaking about their

homeland. Meanwhile, a full-

fledged Japanese emigration

program started. In 1954, the

first group of 275 collective

settlers left Okinawa, which

was under U.S. occupation.

1954

275

Over the following 10 years, over

3,200 people arrived at the settlement

for the Okinawans, which was called

Colonia Okinawa. The settlement

they established after a few reloca-tions is now listed on the map by the

name Okinawa. The parents of TAIRA

Luciano were among the settlers. After

migrating to Bolivia with their fami-

lies, his parents got to know each other

there and started a family.

10

3,200

Each migrant household was

initially assigned 50 hectares of

agricultural land by the Bolivian

government. After they entered

the country, the migrants went

down a river and then kept walk-

ing and finally arrived at primeval

forests, not agricultural land. Sothey had to cut trees and dig up

the earth first. Thats how their

life started, I hear, says Luciano.

50

The harsh conditions facing them were evident when aplague of unknown cause called Uruma Disease struck. The

TAIRA Luciano

In addition to the Okinawa settlement, there is Colonia San Juan, another collective settlement in postwar Bolivia. It was

developed by the Nishikawa Immigrants (14 Japanese families led by NISHIKAWA Toshimichi) who settled in July 1955

before Japan and Bolivia signed an immigration pact in 1956.

Note

San Juan Festival

Creating the San Juan colony

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first group of migrants from Okinawa showed symptoms such

as high fever, possibly because of a heat wave and malnutri-

tion. A total of 15 people died of the disease, with the young-

est victim aged 3 and the oldest 48. Even today, a memorial

service for the victims is held at the Okinawa settlement everyyear, although the disease broke out at a different location.

3

48

15

Currently, Lucianos parents run a grocery

store in Santa Cruz, the second largest city in

Bolivia. But all their children (three sons and

one daughter) who were born in Bolivia now

live in Japan. They are among the genera-

tion that started coming to Japan to work in

the mid 1980s. Most of these people found

employment in such areas as electrical work,

construction and car manufacturing in Japan,

which had become an eco-

nomic power after postwar

reconstruction

1980

Luciano himself worked at an automobile related plant in

Shizuoka Prefecture and then got a job as an electrician in

Kanagawa Prefecture. I lived in Bolivia for 20 years after I

was born there, and its been 20 years since I came to Japan.

The economy is in a recession now, but still there are more

jobs and the pay is better in Japan than in Bolivia. Japanspolitical situation is rather stable and its sti ll a very safe

country although the number of violent crimes is said to have

increased. The buses and trains run on time, too, he says,

emphasizing Japans livability.

20

20

I learned Japanese and

Spanish when I was in Bolivia,

bu t my pa rent s had to le arn

Spanish from scratch, so they

must have had a lot of difficulty

with the language, he continues. His

older sister and younger brother each have

families in Japan. I would like to contin-ue living in Japan, but I might eventually

return to Bolivia to take care of my aging

parents, says Luciano.

1956

1955

7

Note

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CIA: In the subtitle it says Dont buy a home! Rent! What

does this mean?

Author: Not long ago home prices kept on increasing. You

could make a profit off the price rise and pay off your loan

in case you failed to meet the loan repayments. But since the

bubble economy burst, home prices have become quite inex-

pensive.

CIA

CIA: Well then, its the best time to buy one now, isnt it?

Author: Japans home ownership rate exceeds 60 %. On the

other hand, there is an increase in the number of families with

only one child. In the future, they will take over their parents

home. Even so, over 100,000 apartments alone are built year-

ly. Actually there is an oversupply of homes.

CIA

6

by Hiragana Times CIA

The world depression that started

with sub prime loans in the US

has also seen home prices drop in

Japan. Under this situation, the book

House with Exercise by IEDA

Ayumu is now selling well. Hiragana

Times CIA interviewed the author.

Hiragana Times CIA

House with Exercisewill be Popular

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10

CIA: So home prices will continue to fall?

Author: Yes, from now on you should know that a home is

no longer property anymore, but a deteriorating asset like a

car.

CIA

CIA: Then, what are the advantages of renting?

Author: The condition of houses and apartments deteriorates

year by year and they require maintenance fees for such things

as repairs. In addition, when you buy a home you commit toone layout that cannot cope with a growing family. If you rent,

you can solve everything by moving. Furthermore, you have

less to lose in case you suffer from natural disasters like earth-

quakes.

CIA

CIA: I see. So what does house with exercise mean?

Author: You know that those who live in a city walk in the

suburbs or go to the gym to make up for a lack of regular

activity, while people tend not to buy a house in suburbs

where it takes 20 to 30 minutes to walk to the nearest station.

These houses are mostly vacant and you can rent them at a

very low cost. House with exercise is the combination of

these two factors.

CIA

2 0 3 0

CIA: What are you talking about?

Author: If you rent such a house, you do not have to go to

the gym or walk on holidays. You can walk to the station in

fresh air every day. As you have to walk you will be slim. Yet,

you do not have to pay transportation and gym fees for the

exercise. This will be a house awareness revolution.

CIA

One Comment from CIA CIA

We have a comment from one resident of such a house. Yes,

walking to and from the station is pretty good exercise and it

gives me a good appetite. Now I get cravings for more deli-cious food and I drink beer every day. Thanks to the exercise,

I gained weight and my food expenses have been increased.

CIACynically Insulting Agency

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ames

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Englishman John MOORE used to work at the Japanese

office of a British publishing company specializing in

English education materials. He long desired to intro-

duce picture books read by generations of Japanese children

to the world. Thats what led him to R.I.C, a publishing com-

pany established 27 years ago by three Australian elementary

school teachers with a mission to create ideal educational

materials.

27

3

R.I.C

There are many foreign books

brought into Japan and translated into

Japanese, but hardly any Japanese

books ever went the other way, Moore says. In December

2002, Moore and R.I.C. established the group company,

R.I.C. Publications Asia, in Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo.

2002

12

R.I.C

To date, they have translated 60

Japanese picture books into English.

Titles range from baby books such

as Wheres the Fish by GOMI

Taro, and The Gentle Lion by

14

John MOORE

Sharing Japanese Picture Bookswith the World


R.I.C. Publications Asia Co., Inc

Reading by the picture book author

7/30/2019 HT 276

15/4815

YANASE Takashi, to titles recommended for children around

4 years and older. These books come with CDs with the text

read in English. The company also strives to sell English pic-

ture books by publicizing their original titles, and hosting sto-

rytelling events at bookstores around the country.

60

4

CD

Moore says he was surprised by the different ways Asians

and Europeans reacted to these translated Japanese picture

books. Mikis First Errand was very popular in Asia, but

was rejected by American distributors who said sending kids

out on their own to run errands may be considered as childabuse, he says with a wry

grin. Yet, he still believes there

will come a day when Japanese

pict ure book s wi ll rec ei ve

appraisal like the manga and

anime cultures that are current-

ly taking the world by storm.

Moore has wide experience teaching English at language

schools and two-year colleges in Japan. With this and his

long-incubated dream to handle books in diverse genres,

R.I.C. also publishes textbooks,

workbooks and dictionaries forpeople in the teaching and busi -

ness fields.

R.I.C. also handles interesting EFL educational tools for the

younger generation, and visits junior and senior high schools

and colleges to promote

these materials. One of the

more popular series is a

4-level ELT reading series,

wh ich adap t s mo t ion

pictures into novels and

includes photos from the

f i lm. The company issoon to introduce a series

themed on notable indi-

viduals such as American

P r e s i d e n t O B A M A ,

Michael JACKSON and

others.

4

However, there are challenges to be

overcome. We need to be creative in

order to win against major international

publishers, because branding tends to

take precedence here in Japan, Moore

says. He says he always visits

at least three times when selling

educational materials to schools.

Business is smoother when I take

the time to have them understand

who I am and what kind of com-

pany we are. It is also important to

send a thank you note afterwards,

too, he adds. As he shares Japanese

picture books overseas and int ro-

duces overseas English educational

materials to Japan, Moores chal-lenge is set to be continued.

3

R.I.C. Publications Asia Co., Inc

www.ricpublications.com

Scholastic ELT Readers

Staff members

Japanese picture books translated into English
http://www.ricpublications.com/http://www.ricpublications.com/

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16/4816

A Customized Action Figure

This book explains the techniques of decorative vegetable carv-

ing and gives tips on how to arrange dishes in an easy-to-understand

manner and with a wealth of color photographs. It introduces morethan 60 kinds of vegetable carving, ranging from ones that can eas-

ily be incorporated at home to eye-catchers for parties, making it

useful for beginners as well as professional chefs.

60

JIBUNDAMASHII (your own spirit) is a series of made-to-order

action figures that make peoples dreams of becoming action figures

come true. As the second character in the series, Char Aznable from

the popular animation Mobile Suit Gundam has been released. By

sending a photo of your face, you can have a Char figure made which

looks like you. In addition to bearing your face, the figure comes

with changeable parts such as Chars characteristic full mask. Sincethe joints of the limbs bend, the figure can be made to strike various

poses. Orders for total of 3,000 models will be accepted online from

October 16. Only orders from within Japan will be accepted.

10

16

3,000

2009 Photography by Kenji Miura

Hot Products

JIBUNDAMASHII: Char Aznable

About 18cm high, 13,650 yen

18cm13,650

www.tamashii.jp/

A Book on Decorative Vegetable Carvings

The Decorative Art of Japanese Food Carving

NAGASHIMA Hiroshi

Published by Kodansha International

2,730 yen

2,730
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7/30/2019 HT 276

17/4817

(1) This July a government jurisdiction advisory panel presented a final report that says it is appropriate to

lower the adult age, currently set as 20 by the civil code, to 18. (2) They say the voting age for national elections

should be lowered to 18 in accordance with the change. (3) A revision of the civil code will be required for the

change to come into effect.

(1) . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . .

. . . . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . .

. . (3) .. ..

. . . . .

18

Should Japan Grant Voting Rights at 18?

Multi-level HiraganaText

No. 043

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocabularyand kanjiused inthis articleat http://smart.fm/series/3335

. Particles which are not translated into English are combined with the previous or following word and shown in italic.

When it is easier to combine two words together to learn them, is placed between the two words.(the) desk Words in parentheses are not translated into Japanese.

[in fact] Words in square brackets are not translated into English.

go When English translation is different to the Japanese, the original Japanese is placed in < > after the English.

and When a sentence is continuing in Japanese, the conjunction is shown in Italic.

[Hiragana Times Method] Explanations

Examples

/

You are still

children.

You are already

adult.

this July (a) government jurisdiction advisory panel currently (the) civil code

by twenty [years old] as set (the) adult age eighteen [years old] to

to lower (it) is appropriate (that) says (a) final report presented

the change in accordance with national elections for (the) voting age

eighteen [years old] to should be lowered [that] (they) say the change to come into effect

for (the) civil code of (a) revision will be required

7

20 18

18
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(4) At present more than 100 countries including major European nations such as the UK, France, Germany, Italy

and Russia have 18 as the age for adulthood. (5) The US differs by state (between 18 and 21). (6) In Asia, China is

18 and Korea 19 years. North Korea is 17.

(4) . . .

. . . . . .

. . (5) . .

. . (6) . . .

. . . . . .

(7) It was in 1876 that Japan adopted 20 as the adult age. (8) Most major Western countries adopted 18 in the

1960s and 70s. (9) Their adult age before that was 21. (10) Behind lowering the age to 18 were issues such as the

conscription system and governments wanting to calm down student political movements.

(7) . . . . . . .

. . . . (8) . . . . .

. . . . . . .

(9) . . . . (10) .

. . . . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . .

A trial audio file of this section is available at www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/magazine/about/about-E.html

Japan20

Major European countries

18

US18

N. Korea

17

Korea19

China18

Japan20

China18

Major European countries

18

US18

N. Korea

17

Korea19

Japan twenty [years old] (the) adult age as adopted that

(it was in) eighteen seventy six [year] (most) major Western countries

(the) nineteen sixties and seventies in eighteen [years old]

adopted before that (their) adult age twenty one [years old] was eighteen

[years old] to (the) age lowering behind student political movements

to calm down wanting governments and (the) conscription system such as issues were

at present (the) UK France Germany Italy andRussia such as major European

nations including one hundred countries more than eighteen [years old] adulthood for

(the) age as have the US state by differs eighteen [years old]

and twenty one [years old] between Asia in China (is) eighteen [years old] and

Korea nineteen [years old] North Korea (is) seventeen [years old].

20

1876

1960 70 18

21 18

100 18

18

21 18

19 17

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(11) Many countries provide voting rights when people reach their adult age. (12) However, some countries have

a voting age that is different from the adult age. (13) The entire US is 18. (14) If the voting age is 18, high school

students and university students are included. (15) Many Japanese oppose giving voting rights to people who are

dependent on their parents.

(11) . . . . ... .

(12) . . . . . . .

(13) . . . . (14) . . . .

. . . . . (15)

. . . . . . . ...

. .

(16) It seems there are many things to be discussed if the adult age is changed to 18; (17) whether they should be

a judge under the newly started lay judge system, (18) whether they can get credit cards and loans without their

parents consent, or whether they can drink and smoke.

(16) . . . . . . .

. . . (17) . . . . .

.. (18) . .

. . . . .

(19) Regarding marriage, the report proposed the marriageable age for both genders (at present 18 for men and 16

for women) should be 18.

(19) . . .. . .

. . . . .

. . . .

www.hiraganatimes.com/hp/magazine/about/about-J.html

(the) adult age eighteen [years old] to is changed if to be discussed

many things it seems there are (the) newly started lay judge system

under (a) judge whether (they) should be (their) parents consent without credit cards and

loans whether (they) can get or drink andsmoke whether (they) can

marriage regarding both genders for (the) marriageable age at present

(for) men eighteen [years old] and(for) women sixteen [years old] eighteen [years old]

should be (the) report proposed

(their) adult age (people) reach when many countries voting rights provide

however (a) voting age (the) adult age from (that is) different (some) countries have

the US entire (is) eighteen [years old ] (the) voting age (is) eighteen

[years old] if high school students and university students [also] are included (their) parents on

(who) are dependent people to voting rights giving many Japanese

oppose

18

18 16 18

18 18

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(1) My Japanese father-in-law started golfing as a hobby, and so he went and bought some new clubs. (2) Being

a typical Japanese, he also bought new shoes, an umbrella, several How To DVDs, and lots of golf clothing.

(3) Why do Japanese waste so much money on new hobbies?

(1) . . . . . . . . .

. . . . . (2) . . . . .

. . . . .

. (3)... . . . .

. . .

Start from the Style?

Cross-C

ulturalBarrier

Multi-levelHiraganaText

Non-Japanese View . . . . .

Japanese View . . . . .

(4) Many Japanese feel more confident if they have all the gear, as they feel part of the hobby group. (5) In

Japanese there is a commonly used phrase katachi kara hairu (start from the style). (6) For some I also think

its a way of committing themselves to doing something new investing so much that they cant give up.

(4) . ... . . . . . . .

. . . . . . . (5) . .

. . . . (6).. .

. . . . . .

. . .

/

/

(my) Japanese father-in-law (a) hobby as golfing started and so

(some) new clubs (he) went and bought (a) typical Japanese being

new shoes (an) umbrella (several) How To DVDs and lots of

golf clothing also (he) bought Japanese why new hobbies on

so much money waste do~?

non-Japanese view

Japanese view

many Japanese (the) gear all if (they) have (the) hobby group of

part (they) feel as more confident feel Japanese in

(the) style from start [as] (a) commonly used phrase there is some

for (they) cant give up so much (that) investing something new committing (themselves) to doing

also (its) a way (of) [that] (I) think

D V D

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(1) People around the world are becoming increasingly conscious about ecology. (2) As part of that, trade-in sales have

become popular in Japan. (3) At the stores where trade-in sales are held, for instance, stores might purchase clothing

you bring for 1,000 yen. (4) Or give you a 30 % trade-in discount on a new camera if you bring any old one.

(1)... . .. . . .. .

(2) . . . . . . . .

. . . (3) . . .

. . . . . . (4)

. . . . . . .

. .

(5) Our homes are already filled with many products and there is no space to accommodate new purchases.

(6) Therefore, stores are trying to encourage people to trade-in old products when they buy something new.

(7) Consumers can purchase new products at a low cost and satisfy their eco-conscious minds since the used

products are recycled.

(5) . . . . .

. . (6) . . .

. ... .. .. ...

. (7)... ... .

. . . . .

. . .

Trade-in Sales TakingAdvantage of Eco Boom

by Hiragana Times editor-in-chief

Multi-levelHiraganaText

around the world people increasingly ecology about are becoming conscious

Japan in that [measures] of part as trade-in sales

have become popular trade-in sales are held (the) stores (where) at for instance

you bring clothing one thousand yen for (stores might) purchase or

any old camera if [even] (you) bring (a) new camera [price] on thirty percent

trade-in (discount) give (you)

(our) homes already many products with are filled and new purchases

to accommodate there is no space therefore stores something new

(they) buy when old products to trade-in people [to buy]

are trying to encourage consumers new products at a low cost

can purchase and (the) used products are recycled since (their) eco-conscious

minds [also] satisfy

3

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(8) Trade-in sales are also seen in the office machine business. (9) About half a year ago, a salesman came to our

company to sell an office printer. (10) One with the latest functions was approximately one million yen, but he

said his company would purchase the old printer at half a million yen.

(8) . . . . . .

(9) . . . . . . .

. . (10) .. . .

. . . ..

. . . . .

(11) The printer was still usable, but the trade-in price was attractive. (12) I wanted to buy it. (13) At that time one

staff member said: We need two printers for editing work, and others agreed.

(11) . . . . . . ..

(12) . . . (13) .

. . . . .. .

. . .


used foremphasis

counter usedfor mechanicaldevices andhouseholdappliances

the printer still was usable but (the) trade-in price attractive

was I to buy (it) wanted at that time one staff (member)

editing work for two printers (we) need said and

others [staff] [also] [that] agreed

trade-in sales (the) office machines business also in are seen

half a year about ago (a) salesman (an) office printer to sell

our company to came the latest functions with (the) one

one million yen approximately was but (the) old printer (his) company

half a million yen at (would) purchase [that] (he) said

2

100

50

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(14) The salesman heard the conversation and said: I understand your situation. (15) Then he continued with

a smile, I will leave the printer you use now for you as a special service. (16) All of our staff seemed happy.

(17) Thanks to him, we could buy the new printer at a half-million-yen discount.

(14) . . . . . . .

. (15) . . .

. . . . (16)

. . (17) . . . .

. . .

(18) One day I told this story to one of my friends who is a recycle business consultant. (19) He said: It does not

pay them to reuse those trade-in products after examining them. (20) So, in fact, they throw the collected prod-

ucts away. (21) The trade-in price is simply added to the sales price in the beginning. (22) I think the salesman was

very happy as he could throw it away on the spot with no cost.

(18) .

. (19) . . . . . . .

. . . . . (20) . . .

.. . (21) . . . . . . . .

. . (22) . .

. . .

a casualemphasizingexpression for

a casualemphasizingexpression


polite way ofsaying yourcompany(often used inbusiness)

(the) salesman the conversation heard and your [companys] situation [also] (I) understand

said then (a) smile with (he) continued (a) special service as now

(you) use (the) printer (I) will leave (for you) (our) staff all (of)

seemed happy him thanks to (a) half-million-yen discount at

(the) new printer (we) could buy

one day this story (a) recycle business consultant who is (one of) my friends to

(I) told he [this way] said (those) trade-in products examining (them)

after to reuse it does not pay (them) so in fact (the) collected

products (they) throw away (the) trade-in price in the beginning (the) sales price

to added simply is the salesman very was happy [that]

(I) think as (the) spot on no cost with throw (it) away (he) could

50

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(1) SAKAI Noriko, known as Noripi, a singer and actress with a pure and innocent image, and handsome actor

OSHIO Manabu, were arrested for suspected drug use in August. (2) The media gave the incidents extensive

coverage. (3) In Japan, drug use in the entertainment industry is increasingly being highlighted.

(1) . . . . .

. . . . . . . . .

. . . .. (2) . ..

... .. (3) . . .

. .

.... ..

(4) Internationally, however, Japan still has low rates of drug use. (5) Taking marijuana as the example, 40% of

people in the US have tried it. (6) In the UK the figure is 31%, in Germany 25%, France 23% and Italy 22%.

Japan is 1%. (7) In some countries, like the UK, marijuana use isnt illegal and several countries use marijuana

for medicinal purposes.

(4) . . . . . . . . . .

. (5) . .

. . (6) . . .

. . .

.. (7)

. . .. . . .

. . . .

JapanintheWorld


Even so, Drug Users are Few in Japan

40%

31%

25%23% 22%

1%

US

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Japan

40%

31%

25%23% 22%

1%

US

UK

Germany

France

Italy

Japan

Study MoreYou canlearn thevocabulary

and kanjiused inthis articleat http://smart.fm/series/3335

/

suffix meaningtype

Data: National Institute of Mental Health, NCNPSurvey target age and year conducted were different by country.

Japans target age was over 15 and the survey was conducted in 2007.

15

2007

Noripi [nickname] [with] known as (a) pure and innocent image (a) singer and actress with

Sakai Noriko and handsome actor Oshio Manabu drug

use suspected for August in were arrested (the) media (the) incidents

extensive coverage gave Japan in (the) entertainment industry in drug

use increasingly is being highlighted

however internationally Japan drug use of rates still

(has) low marijuana (the) example as taking the US in forty percent of

people have tried it the UK in the figure is (is) thirty one percent

(in) Germany twenty five percent France twenty three percent andItaly twenty two

percent Japan one percent is the UK like some countries in

marijuana use illegal isnt and several countries medicinal

purposes for marijuana use

8

40

31

25 23 22

1
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(1) As I lost my devoted man, I chose, disobeying you who taught me how to perform from the beginning, not

to live any longer without him. (2) I am hesitant to ask you, but would you please arrange my dead body to be

buried in his grave? (3) After writing her will to TSUBOUCHI Shoyo, star actress MASTUI Sumako commit-

ted suicide. (4) Sumako was born in Nagano Prefecture. (5) In 1902 she went to Tokyo at the age of 17. (6) The fol-

lowing year she married, but was divorced within a year. (7) Five years later, she married a man who worked at

an actor training institute.

(1) . . . .

. . . . . .

(2) . . . . . . . .

. . . . . . (3) .. . ...

. . . . . ...

(4) . . . . . (5) . . .

. (6) . . . .

(7) . . . . . . . . ..

Star Actress who Died for Love

MATSUI Sumako


1886 1919

abcs (meaningbasics)

how to perform (the) beginning from (who) taught me you disobeying

(I) chose (my devoted) man as (I) lost without him not to live any longer

(I am) hesitant to ask (you) but would you ~ ? my dead body his grave in

to be buried arrange please star actress Matsui Sumako

Tsubouchi Shoyo to her will after writing committed suicide

Sumako Nagano Prefecture in was born (in) nineteen oh two [year] seventeen (the) age

of at (she) went to Tokyo (the) following year (she) married but a year within was divorced

[that] five years later (an) actor training institute (who) worked at (a) man (she) married

1902 17

5

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(8) In 1909, she became a member of the inaugural class of the Bungei Kyoukai (art and literature association),

which was founded by Shoyo and others. (9) Sumako was captivated by theater and it lead to divorce as she

neglected house work. (10) In 1911 Sumako played Ophelia in Hamlet and Nora in A Dolls House, and her

performances were highly praised. (11) She had become more passionate about theater.

(8) . . . . . .

. . . . (9) . . . .

. . . . . . .

(10) ... . . .

.. . . ....

(11) . . . . . . . . . . .

(12) Before long, she fell in love with the director SHIMAMURA Hogetsu, who shared her philosophy of the-

ater. (13) Her love affair with Hogetsu, who had a wife and children, was blamed on her and she left the Bungei

Kyoukai with him. (14) In 1913 the two founded the Geijutsu-za theater group.

(12) . .. . .. ...

. . . . (13) . . . .

. . . . . . . . . .

(14) . . . . . . . . . .

(15) The following year, in Resurrection, performed for the first time at the Imperial Theater, she sang

Kachusha no uta, (song of Kachusha) and it became a great hit. (16) The song is regarded as the first

Japanese pop song. (17) When she became a nationwide popular actress, her selfishness had begun to appear.

(15) . .. .. . . ..

. (16) . . .


prefix meaningbig

(in) nineteen oh nine [year] [Tsubouchi] Shoyo and others by (which) was founded

(the) art and literature association of (a) member of the inaugural class (she) became Sumako theater by

was captivated and house work (she) neglected as divorce to (it) lead

Sumako nineteen eleven [year] in Hamlet in Ophelia

and (A) Dolls House in Nora playedand (her performances) were highly praised

she more theater about had become passionate

before long theater of (her) philosophy (who) shared (the) director

Shimamura Hogetsu with (she) fell in love (a) wife and children (who) had Hogetsu with (her) love affair

was blamed (on her) and him with (the) Bungei Kyoukai (she) left

(in) nineteen thirteen [year] (the) two the Geijutsu-za (theater group) founded

(the) following year (the) Imperial Theater at performed for the first time Resurrection in she

Kachusha of song sang and (a) great hit (it) became the song Japanese

1913

1909

1911

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. . . . (17) . . . . .

. . . . . .

(18) Hogetsu started to nurture other members of the group, but Sumako wanted to monopolize him. (19) She

became jealous and insulted them. (20) Hogetsu and theater were everything to her. (21) As a result members of the

theater company left one by one.

(18) . . . . . . . . . . . .

.. . (19) .. . . . . .

(20) ... . ..

(21) . . . . . . .

(22) However, Hogetsu suddenly died of Spanish flu in 1918. (23) On the same day two months later, a heart bro-

ken Sumako placed Hogetsus photo between photos of herself and did her make up, and then killed herself to

be with him. (24) Even though she had been selfish, many people sympathized with her as she ended her life fol-lowing her love. (25) Her suicide is representative of the Japanese sentiment of glorifying ones death.

(22) . . . . . .

.. (23) .. ... .... ..

.. .. . . . . .

.. .. (24) ..

.. . . . . . . .

(25) . . . .. . .. .. .

. .


however (in) nineteen eighteen [year] Hogetsu Spanish flu of

suddenly died (a) heart broken Sumako [that] two months later (the) same day on

Hogetsus photo herself of photos placed betweenand did (her) make up and then

to be with (him) killed herself (she) had been selfish even though (her) love following

(her) life (she) ended as many people her with sympathized

her suicide (ones) death glorifying the Japanese sentiment of

is representative (of)

Hogetu other members of the group to nurture started but Sumako

him to monopolize wanted she became jealousand them

insulted her to Hogetsu and theater everything were

as a result members of (the) theater company one by one left

the first pop song as is regarded (a) nationwide popular actress

(she) became when her selfishness had begun to appear

1918

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Finding Work

The best way to start your job search is to go online and

check out the websites of different recruitment firms, as they

very often have career opportunities pages that will say

whether or not they are looking to hire new staff and that will

detail the kind of experience and skills you will need to apply.

If they dont have positions advertised, you could still get in

touch directly with their HR departments and ask to have your

resume kept on file for when opportunities arise. Other than

that, recruiter jobs often get advertised in the press and on

most well-known job search sites.

Key Skills

More than anything, you will need to be thick skinned

enough to deal with the inevitable rejection you will face

when trying to persuade someone to change jobs or when

your client says they arent interested in the candidates you

have found for them. Good Japanese skills will also be invalu-

able when you are dealing with potential candidates, as the

majority of non-Japanese recruiters are hired to find Japanese

nationals to work in non-Japanese companies based in Japan.

Finally, recruiting takes a lot of work and long, long hours; if

being in the office until midnight isnt your thing, maybe you

should look for a different career.

Recruiter
http://www.sakura-house.com/

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The Pay

A recruiters income comprises a base salary and commis-

sions. For many new recruiters the base salary might not be

much more than 250,000 yen per month, but there is great

potential to make a good income through the commissions.

For each person you place in a job, you can expect to receivesomewhere between 10 to 20% of the total recruitment fee paid

to your firm. With consistent placements, this means you could

reasonably expect to be earning 10 million a year in total com-

pensation after a few years. Top recruiters can make much more,

especially when the economy is strong, and it isnt unheard of

for the best recruiters to bring in over 20 million yen a year.

25

10 20

2 3

1,000

2,000

Tips from Recruiter

1. Learn how to network. Building a network of contacts iscrucial.

2. Always keep trying to build your knowledge of the industry

you recruit for.

2

Japan Online School Corporation - Since 2004TEL: 0467-58-8710 MAIL: [email protected]

You will find the reason whyso many people from more than 25

countries choose J-OS.
mailto:[email protected]://www.sakura-hotel-hatagaya.com/http://www.sakura-hotel-ikebukuro.com/http://www.sakura-hotel.co.jp/http://www.sakura-hostel.co.jp/mailto:[email protected]://www.jp-lesson.jp/http://www.jp-lesson.jp/http://www.japonin.com/mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://www.j-os.com/

7/30/2019 HT 276

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Cautions with Cultural Activities Visa

Those who have the visa status of College

Student or Dependent are not permitted to get

a full-time job; however, it is possible for them

to take a part-time job for a limited time if they

are able to obtain temporary work permission from

the Immigration Office. Naturally, the Immigration

Office will expect the wages to be spent on living expenses.

However, its not easy for those who have a visa status of

Cultural Activities to acquire this permission.

ImmigrationProcedure

Takeuchi Office

Address: 1-59-4 Yamatocho, Nakanoku,

Tokyo 165-0034 Japan

(near JR Kouenji Station)

TEL: 03-5356-9980Mobile: 080-6507-7832E-mail: [email protected]

ACCESS: very near Musashikosugi

Station, 15 minutes from Shibuya

on the Toyoko Line express.

This is because one of the qualifications for this visa is that

the applicant can afford to stay in Japan for one or two years

without working; therefore, by law they should not need to

work.

Of course, if there is a special reason, permission may be

granted, but for that you need to explain the special reason

very clearly and prove it.

Im an Australian who came to Japan to learn karate.

Although I have a Cultural Activities visa, is it possible

for me to obtain temporary work freely just like a foreign

student?

Immigration Lawyer

Office: 4F DOT, 1-7-20, Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo

1-7-20 DOT4

TEL: 03-3443-5112 FAX: 03-3443-5119

E-mail: [email protected]

URL: niitsu-law.jp

NIITSU Kyohei
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]://niitsu-law.jp/mailto:[email protected]://www.sakura-iloe.com/http://www.kaneto.info/mailto:[email protected]://niitsu-law.jp/http://niitsu-law.jp/mailto:[email protected]

7/30/2019 HT 276

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EN FLAT TOKYO03-3288-2355 [email protected] www.mmtl.jpNo key money, guarantor, agent fee required.

Utility expenses included in most rooms.

Fully furnished and internet access.

Yotsuya (easy access to Shinjuku and Tokyo.

Waseda House (near Waseda university and Shinjuku )

Waseda Residence (near Mejiro sta. high grade apt.)

Yoga apartment (11min from Shibuya to yoga sta.)

We are an apartment and guesthouse agency,

providing accommodation the center of Tokyo since 2003.

Apartment: 115,000month

Guesthouse:59,000month

Green Forest HightsWarabi Stn. (JR keihin Tohoku)

http://www.guesthouse.cc

Weekly pay

Monthly pay

-

7/30/2019 HT 276

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The unauthorized reproduction, photocopying or copying of articles or photographs appearing in this magazine is strictly prohibited.Please keep in mind that articles printed in Hiragana Times may be published without notice in PDF Version,

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55

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Japanese Culture Studies

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Dec. 12, 2009 (Sat)

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Nov. 9, 2009 (Mon)~ Nov. 20, 2009 (Fri)

Jan. 15, 2010 (Fri)~ Jan. 26, 2010 (Tue)

Feb. 18, 2010 (Thu)

Feb. 27, 2010 (Sat)

Japanese language test

(100 points)

Essay writing (50 points)

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comprehension included)

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Japanese language test (100 points)Oral examination (100 points; comprehensionincluded)Japanese university entrance examination forinternational students (Japanese language; 100points of the total 400 points available inentrance examinations)

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Friends Hanako, Mariko, Hiyoko, and Sakuya are

members of a cosplay club called Team Uratenjiku.

Since February 2008, they have also been the tourism

ambassadors to Yurihama City in Tottori Prefecture. They

were appointed to this position when they participated in the

first Chinese Cosplay Convention dressed as the Saiyuki

(Monkey/Journey to the West) characters.

2008

2

2006

This Chinese Cosplay Convention, which also has a cos-

tume contest, is held annually at

the Enchoen Chinese Garden in

Yurihama City. Around 100 par-

ticipants are expected to attend this

year, although the first convention

attracted just 38, most of whom were locals and visitors from

nearby prefectures. The four-member club was one of the few

that came to the convention from far away places like Tokyo.

100

38

4

Team Uratenjiku

People in Japan

People in Japan

Becoming a Tourism AmbassdorThrough Cosplay

Saiyuki (Monkey /Journey to the West): A Chinese novel about a quest to Tenjiku (Vulture Peak) to get the Buddhist sutras.Novels and TV drama adaptations of this story are popular in Japan.

Note

You can order by

TEL: 03-3341-8989 FAX: 03-3341-8987 [email protected] www.hiraganatimes.com

Postage included

SAL (Surface Air Lifted) SAL

Payment Method

1) Credit Card Visa, MasterCard, American Express,

JCB or Diners Club.

2) Cash on delivery (Only in Japan. Please pay when you receive the first

delivery)

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE TO HIRAGANA TIMES
mailto:[email protected]://www.hiraganatimes.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.hiraganatimes.com/

7/30/2019 HT 276

34/48

It was fun getting to know many local people during the

exchange party, Hiyoko says. Through the exchange, they

were asked to model for a poster promoting Nijusseiki (20th

Century) Pear Drink, a local product. In 2007, they partici-

pated in the second convention as judges. They also made a

courtesy call to the mayor of Yurihama. Many media, espe-

cially the local press, gathered for the meeting.

20

2007

PR

Later on, the four members were asked to become tourism

ambassadors to Yurihama City. Their work as ambassadors

has included writing a series

of articles in the city paper,part icipating in a tug-of-

war convention in costume,

appearing as festival MCs,

and more. This is all volunteer

work, but they are crazy about

Yurihama City, and they will-

ingly promote Yurihama prod-

ucts on their website, taking

their ambassador responsibili-

ties seriously.

4

4

In 2008, they were asked about organizing an Asian cosplay

convention with participants from various Asian countries in

Japan. But it was very difficult to organize visas from China.One day, on the way back from Yurihama to Tokyo, Hiyoko

and Mariko happened to board the same plane as the then

Minister of Defense ISHIBA Shigeru.

2008

They knew of Ishiba, who comes from Tottori, through

posters and having taken previous flights on the same plane.

Thinking this was a chance not to miss, they handed Ishiba

their tourist ambassador name cards. Minister Ishiba turned

out to be very pleasant company. Once he heard of their story,

he said: Ill let the Ministry of Foreign Affairs know about

it. With this, they were able to smoothly obtain the coopera-

tion of MOFA.

The Chinese visas were properly acquired thanks to the

cooperation of MOFA, and more than 100 participants joined

the convention from in and out of Japan. Participants voiced

their appreciation to the convention organizers with comments

that included it was exciting to see cosplay performances by

international cosplayers and it was fun being

able to interact with participants from other coun-

tries. Thirty to 40 cosplayers from China, Korea,

Hong Kong and Thailand are scheduled to partic-

ipate in the 2nd Asian Convention this October.

100

10

30 40

Cosplay is still thought to be an obscure hobby for otaku,

but the people of Yurihama have no pre judice against it.

Some tourists who came from far away said you ruined

our trip! but we always say, if we can promote Yurihama bystanding out in the crowd, and at the same time, create a better

image ofcosplay, we are happy, Hiyoko says.

34

Peo le in a an

Peo le in a an

Comike: Comic Market. An anime/manga fan publication sale and exhibit convention, which have grown in size to includevarious subcultures.

Note

Enchoen

The first Asian Convention

Visiting the mayor of Yurihama

7/30/2019 HT 276

35/48

They also say cosplay is a great way to

meet people because you attract public atten-

tion. All kinds of people gather at a comike,

including business people, bookworms, and

manga fans. When one participates in a cos-

tume, it is like making a statement that we

love this character! We have a lot of people come up to us

and say arent you so-and-so? I love that character, too.There are even times when we

hit it off very well even if we

cant speak each others lan-

guages.

Last year, they even participated in a Yurihama canoe race

in their costumes. There were other teams, such as teams

decked out in Afro wigs. From this year, they decided to addan entertainment feature prize to

the race, which was originally a

time trial. We think its a great

thing. More participants and more

spectators will make for a better

race. We hope cosplay will have

a worthy affect like this in other

genres, Sakuya says.

35

Team Uratenjiku Team

www.uratenjiku.com/

The 2nd Cosplay Asia Convention

www.pulse.vc/cos/

At the second Chinese Cosplay Convention

Mariko and Hiyoko participating in a cosplay contest in China as judges.

Award winners are invited to join an Asian cosplay convention.

0120-981-862

TOLL FREE

e-mail: [email protected]://www.econovovejapan.com
http://www.uratenjiku.com/http://www.pulse.vc/cos/http://www.econovovejapan.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.econovovejapan.com/http://www.pulse.vc/cos/http://www.uratenjiku.com/mailto:[email protected]://www.econovovejapan.com/

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O

ver the past few decades, people around the world

have been reconsidering the value of streetcars.

Unlike cars, streetcars are not affected by ris-

ing oil prices or traffic conditions and do not contribute to

environmental issues as they emit no exhaust fumes. These

economical and ecological aspects are two reasons for the

reappraisal of streetcars, but the retro boom for the Showa

Era (1926~1989) seems to be another factor. Even in ever-

modernizing Tokyo, there remain two streetcar lines that keep

on fascinating tourists while supporting the lives of local resi-

dents.

The Toden streetcars started in 1911.

In their heyday, 41 Toden streetcar lines were in operation,crisscrossing the whole Tokyo area. But then many people

started driving cars, and in the late 1960s those streetcar lines

were gradually faded out. Due to the strong requests of local

residents, however, two remaining lines were integrated in

1974 by eliminating some stops and were newly established

as the Toden Arakawa Line, which connects Waseda and

Minowabashi.

1911

41

1960

1974

After you get on a streetcar at Waseda, a stop

near Waseda University in Shinjuku Ward, it

moves slowly overlooking the Kanda River

on its right. Soon you can see a skyscraper

in Ikebukuro called Sunshine 60 ahead on

your left. After passing in front of Otsuka

Station on the Yamanote Line, the streetcar

stops at Koshinzuka. Near this stop is Sugamo

Jizo Dori Shopping Street, a.k.a Grannies

Harajuku, which is frequented by many

elderly women. Further along the street stands

Kogan-ji Temple, which enshrines Togenuki

Jizoh, a Buddhist statue believed to help cure

visitors of disease and injury.

60

36

:

The Last Streetcars in Tokyo:The Toden Arakawa Line and the Tokyu Setagaya Line

Sunshine 60 (left) and Aralkawa line

60

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37/48

JR

The Toden Arakawa Lines

streetcar consists of only one car.

Currently, most streetcars have a

two-tone white and green painted

body. The line operates two models:

the Retro 9001, which was intro-

duced two years ago, and the Retro

9002, which made its debut just this

year. These models were designed

to look like the streetcars of theearly Showa Era. The wood-grain

interior walls and floors blend with

dark green seat covers that feature a pattern of roses like

the ones seen along the tracks.

1

2

9001

9002

When the streetcar comes to the intersection that meets

Hongo Street, a small wooded hill appears. Its Asukayama

Park, which was designated in 1873 as one of Japans first

parks along with Ueno Park and a few others. A D51 steam

locomotive called Degoichi and an earlier Toden streetcar

are on display in its square. After going around the park, the

streetcar takes an easterly course. When it arrives at Arakawa

-shakomae, the driver is replaced.

1873

D51

The next stop is Arakawa-yuenchimae a short walk

from the Arakawa Amusement Park, which opened in

1922. In addition to its famous Ferris wheel, the park

features a number of attractions aimed at preschoolers

and younger primary school children, such as a miniature

steam locomotive ride, a small zoo and a fishing pond

that attracts many families. The Sumida River runs right

behind the park, and a stop for a river bus that runs only

on special days is just a stones throw

away.

1922

SL

The streetcar goes further east within Arakawa

Ward. If you get off at Arakawa-itchumae, one stop

before Minowabashi , there is the Joyful Minowa

shopping arcade that runs parallel to the streetcar line for the

entire distance between the two stops. In the 465-meter long

arcade are some 135 shops standing side by side. If you go all

the way through the arcade, you come to a junction with the

Nikko-kaido highway. A short walk north along the highway

leads you to Senju Ohashi, the bridge where MATSUO Basho

set forth on the journey that culminated in his famous trav-

elogue Oku no Hosomichi (The Narrow Road to the DeepNorth).

37

Omokagebashi

Todenzoushigaya

Kishibojinmae

Gakushuinshita

Waseda

Higashiikebukuro-yonchome

Mukaigahara

Otsuka-eki-mae

Ikebukuro

Sugamo-shinden

Sugamo

Komagome

JR Yamanote Line

-5

Nishi-nippori

Nippori

Koshinduka

Shin-koshinduka

Nishigahara-yonchome

Takinogawa-icchome

Asukayama

Oji-eki-mae

Sakae-machi

Kajihara

Arakawa-shakomae

Arakawa-yuench imae

Kodai

Miyanomae

Kumanocho

Higashi-oku-sanchome

Machiya-nichome

Machiya-eki-maeArakawa-nanachome

Arakawa-nichome

Arakawa-kuyakus homae

Arakawa-icchumae

Minowabashi

Omokagebashi

Todenzoushigaya

Kishibojinmae

Gakushuinshita

Waseda

Higashiikebukuro-yonchome

Mukaigahara

Otsuka-eki-mae

Ikebukuro

Sugamo-shinden

Sugamo

Komagome

JR Yamanote Line

-5

Nishi-nippori

Nippori

Koshinduka

Shin-koshinduka

Nishigahara-yonchome

Takinogawa-icchome

Asukayama

Oji-eki-mae

Sakae-machi

Kajihara

Arakawa-shakomae

Arakawa-yuench imae

Kodai

Miyanomae

Kumanocho

Higashi-oku-sanchome

Machiya-nichome

Machiya-eki-maeArakawa-nanachome

Arakawa-nichome

Arakawa-kuyakus homae

Arakawa-icchumae

Minowabashi

D51 D51

Arakawa Amusement Park

Sugamo

Arakawa line route map

Retro 9002

9002

The Toden Arakawa Line

www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/toden/
http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/toden/http://www.kotsu.metro.tokyo.jp/toden/

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465m

135

Unlike the Arakawa Line, which travels across four wards

(Shinjuku, Toshima, Kita and Arakawa wards), the Setagaya

Line runs only within Setagaya Ward. Some people still call

the line Tama Den. The origin of

this name dates from 1907 when the

Tamagawa Denki Tetsudo was estab-

lished as the first railway line in the

ward and was known as Tama Denfor short. The present-day Setagaya

Line was first opened in 1925 as a

branch line of the Tama Den. In 1969

the main line of the Tama Den was

completely closed and the branch line

was renamed the Setagaya Line, but

its old name survives to this day.

4

1907

1925

1969

The southernmost stop on the Setagaya Line is Sangenjaya.

The station has direct access to a skyscraper called the Carrot

Tower. From its 26th-floor observation deck, you can enjoy

a view of Mount Fuji in the distance. Below the tower, in

a V-shaped area on the corner of Setagaya and Tamagawa

streets, is the Eko Nakamise shopping district, which looks

like a maze of alleys. At the end of the shopping district, a

sento (public bath) is still in operation with smoke drifting

from its chimney, a remnant from the old days.

26

After leaving Sangenjaya, the Setagaya Line streetcar,

which consists of two cars,

crosses the circular Route

Kanjo 7 right before i t

arrives at the next stop,

Wakabayashi. This intersec-

tion is called Wakabayashi-

fumikiri (railroad crossing)

although there are no cross-

ing gates. The traffic lights for carsare also used by the streetcar, so the

streetcar waits when the lights are

green for cars.

2

The stop after Wakabayashi is Shoin-jinjamae, located right

in front of Shoin Shrine, which is dedicated to the famous

Tokyu Setagaya line and Carrot Tower

Miyanosaka old car


Eko Nakamise

7/30/2019 HT 276

39/4839

samurai and educator YOSHIDA Shoin. The next stop,

Setagaya, is close to the Setagaya Daikan Yashiki (Setagaya

magistrates residence), which has a history museum run by

the ward on its premises. On Boroichi Street, facing the resi-

dence, a flea market for antiques and secondhand clothing is

held every year on the 15th and 16th days of both Decemberand January.

12

1

1516

T h e s t r e e t c a r a r r i v e s a t

Miyanosaka right before it goesunder the elevated rai lroad

tracks of the Odakyu Line. A

few minutes walk from this

stop is Gotokuji, the birthplace

of the maneki neko (beckoning

cat), which people place in their

shops to invite good fortune

to their business. II Naosuke, a senior aide in

the Tokugawa Shogunate at the end of the Edo

Period, rests here. In the square adjacent to the

Miyanosaka Station platform, an earlier street-

car is on display, and you can go inside it. After

being retired from the Setagaya Line, it was used

as an Enoshima Dentetsu streetcar until it became

unserviceable.

Having traveled north from Sangenjaya, the Setagaya Line

Tokyu Corporation

www.tokyu.co.jp/

streetcar arrives at Shimotakaido Terminal. Near the station

there are bustling shops such as Ekimae Ichiba, which has

a Showa look, while modern, fashionable restaurants stand

quietly along the street. The town is a well-balanced blend

of the old and the new, as well as of Japanese and Western

styles.

The way the streetcar runs

right beside people coming

and going, allows it to blend

in with their living environ-

ment. The streetcar brings

people closer together. Thesetwo remaining streetcar lines

in Tokyo will continue to

carry many passengers.

Sangenjaya

Nishi-taishido

Wakabayashi

Shoin-jinja-mae

Setagaya

Kamimachi

Miyanosaka

Yamashita

Matsubara

Shimo-takaido

Fares

The Toden Arakawa Line:

Adult 160 yen, Child 80 yen/One-day pass: Adult 400 yen, Child 200 yen

The Tokyu Setagaya Line:

Adult 140 yen, Child 70 yen/One-day pass: Adult 320 yen, Child 160 yen

160

80

400

200

140

70

320

160

Setagaya line route map

Setagaya Daikan Yashiki

Manekineko
http://www.tokyu.co.jp/http://www.tokyu.co.jp/

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40/4840

The Ikegami Honmonji (Ota Ward, Tokyo), which cel-

ebrates its 727th birthday in October 2009, is a must-

visit temple for anyone with an interest in Tokyos

past. Located in the small, leafy town of Ikegami, between

urbanised Kamata and Gotanda, the Honmonji marks an

important southern boundary of old Edo. Those who struggle

to find it should ask at the koban outside Ikegami Station on

the Tokyu-Ikegami Line, where officers have been known to

provide meticulous hand-drawn maps.

2009

10

727

The Honmonji is known as one of the principal temples

for Nichiren Shonin (1222~1282). In 1282 Nichiren died

at the residence of IKEGAMI Munenaka, who donated the

temple site to Nichiren. Therefore, the temple has been called

Ikegami Honmonji. To this day, shaven-headed monks

dressed in traditional garb can be seen eliciting soft, droning

chimes from giant gongs in the main hall.

1222 1282

1282

There are many historical structures in Honmonji. A mag-

nificent bright-red pagoda is the oldest five-storey pagoda

in Tokyo. The 30-metre-high edifice is now designated asan Important Cultural Property of Japan. Other Important

Cultural Property includes the Hoto, constructed in 1781 at



Ikegami Honmonji Principal Hokke Temple

The Ikegami Honmonji website

honmonji.jp/

Oeshiki festival
http://honmonji.jp/http://honmonji.jp/

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41/4841

46

From October 11th~13th every year, the Honmonji plays

host to the Oeshiki festival, which commemorates the death

of Nichiren. Highlights of the ceremony include the five-

metre-high mando parade on 12th, and the matoi, firemens

standards of the Edo period. Oeshiki is heavily advertised andevery year draws 300,000 visitors on the night, who revel in

the good sights, good food and street stalls.

10

11

13

12

5

30

the place of Nichirens cremation, and the Kyozo, a mag-

nificent library of religious texts built in 1784. The three

aforementioned landmarks, along with the main gate, are the

surviving elements of the original temple, which was nigh-destroyed by Allied bombing on March 15th, 1945. The

giant, red, bulging-eyed statues of deities guarding the main

gate are particularly impressive and intimidating.

30

1781

1784

1945

3

15

Famous Honmonji graves

include that of Rikidozan,

a popular sumo wrestler

of the 1940s who gained

cult status as the founder

of Japanese pro-wrestling.Rikidozans grave is flanked

by a giant stone bearing his

kanji, and a magnificent

life-size bronze bust, which

has turned emerald in the

46 years since his untimely

death following a stab-

wound.

1940

Text: Chris GOULD

Statues of deities guarding the main gate

Five story pagoda

Oeshiki festival

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42/4842

Takanes Menu

Takanes Menu

2 fish fillets (about 200g)

1/2 tsp salt

Seasoned miso

3 tbsp miso

1 tsp sugar

1 tbsp mirin

1 tsp sake

Ashirai(mae mori)

2 myoga (Japanese ginger)

1/4 cup (25cc) of sugared vinegar (available in

stores)

Ingredients [Serves 2]

2

2

200g

1/2

2

1/425cc

Grilled Fish Fillets Marinated in Miso

Fish suitable for marinating/pickling in miso

1. You can use fatty fish such as sea bass, sablefish, butterfish, swordfish and Spanish

mackerel as well as mild-tasting fish like sea bream.

2. If you start preparing the previous day, marinate the fish in the seasoned misowithout

sprinkling salt over it first, otherwise it might get too salty.

3. By adding a little misoand mirin, you can reuse the remaining seasoned misoa few

more times. It s also good to marinate other fish or meat in the misoand grill it.

1.

2.

3.

2

Norigoe worked

in one o f t he

b i g t r a d i n g

c o m p a n i e s

f o r 4 0 y e a r s

i n c l u d i n g 1 0

years overseas.

H e g a t h e r e d

rec ipes wh i le

visiting places on business and then got serious

about cooking when he retired, taking cooking

lessons for four years. His hobbies are growing

roses, landscape photography and golf. He holds

a cooking party for his friends once a month.

40

10

ProfileofNORIGOET

akane

7/30/2019 HT 276

43/4843

1. Sprinkle salt on the fish fillets and let them sit for about 10 minutes in order to

remove the fishy smell.

2. Prepare seasoned miso by combining the ingredients in the order listed. Spread

half of the seasoned miso over a sheet of plastic wrap.

3. Pat the fillets dry with a paper towel and place them on the miso spread over thewrap. Spread the rest of the seasoned miso on the fish.

4. Wrap the fish tightly in the wrap and refrigerate for 40 minutes.

5. Wipe the miso off the fish, pour water into the pan under the grilling rack, and pre-

heat the grill. Grill the fish face up on high heat for 3~4 minutes and flip over once

browned. Grill on medium for another 3~4 minutes to cook thoroughly.

6. Prepare ashirai by pickling the myoga in sugared vinegar for more than 10 min-

utes.

7. Arrange the grilled fillets on a plate. Cut [6] (the pickled myoga) lengthwise and

finish by placing on the front part of the plate in the mae mori style.

1.

10

2.

3.

4.

40

5.

34

34

6.

2

10

7.

6

To Prepare

The preservative quality of seasoned miso

The salt and antioxidants in misoprevent the propagation of microorganisms. Therefore,if you marinate something in miso, it can be preserved longer.Miso-marinated fish can be

kept in the refrigerator for one week.

1

Ashirai:A garnish that complements the main dish is called ashirai.Ten mori is putting

the garnish on top of the main dish, and mae mori on the front part of the plate. In the mae

moristyle, the garnish is often placed a little to the right to ensure a balanced presentation

on the plate. For a mae morigarnish to go with grilled fish, something acidic is often used to

provide a refreshing aftertaste.

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Tasogare Seibei (The Twilight Seibei) is a film based on

the novellas of FUJISAWA Shuhei, an author of period

novels depicting the lives ofsamurai and common-

ers in the Edo Period. The film was directed by YAMADAYoji, a well-respected figure in Japans film industry, who is

best known for his Otoko wa Tsurai yo (Tora-san) series

and Bushi no Ichibun (Love and Honor). Tasogare Seibei

won a number of awards in Japan and was nominated for an

Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film.

In the days leading up to the Meiji Restoration (around

1860), IGUCHI Seibei, a poor, low-ranking, widowed samu-

rai with two young daughters, lives in a castle town in the

Shonai Province, Yamagata Prefecture. The film is narrated

by his older daughter Ito, now a grown-up woman reminisc-

ing about her father when she was young. After his wife dies,

Seibei finds himself taking care of his daughters and senile

elderly mother by himself. Occupied with housework, tend-

ing the fields, repaying debts and providing for his family,

he cant afford to pay attention to his appearance, his kimono

becoming shabbier and shabbier.

1860

His fellow samurai in the clan call him Tasogare Seibei

(Twilight Seibei) because he rushes home after he finishes

work exactly at twilight. One day Seibei is reunited with his

childhood friend IINUMA Tomonojo and learns that his sis-

ter Tomoe, whom Seibei has secretly admired since he was a

child, has divorced her drunken and violent husband.

Tasogare Seibei

Directed by YAMADA Yoji

The Eventful Life of a Samurai

HEALTH AND LIFE

INSURANCEREGISTERED BY THE GOVERNMENTfor foreigners living in Japan

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