The First Sunrise of the Year
01/28/2022
Uncategorized
How did you spend your New Year’s holiday?
We have a tradition of watching the first sun rise on the top of a mountain and planning the New Year’s resolutions.
On January 9th, we began climbing Shitenji Mountain at 5:00 am. The mountain is located near NILS in Dazaifu.
It’s pitch dark still at 5:00 am, and we had to wear headlights.
The sky is getting brighter.
We reached the summit aro…
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Ehomaki
01/27/2022
Culture
Hello, everyone.
Have you ever heard a Japanese tradition called “Ehomaki”?
It is an event to look at Eho (good direction) and eat a think norimaki on Setsubun Day.
There are many kinds of delicious Japanese sushi rolls. How do you eat one on this day?
First of all, look in the good direction while eating. Eho is the direction from which God is coming, and this year, it is north-northwest.
Se…
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Red and White Singing Contest
01/24/2022
Culture
Hello, everyone.
We are already in 2022, but let me talk a little about an annual New Year’s Eve event called “Kohaku Uta Gassen.”
The program selects the most popular artists of the year into competing teams of red and white. Male singers belong to the “white” team whereas the “red” team is all female. At the end of the show. Judges and the audience vote to decide who group performed better.
Y…
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food models
01/24/2022
Uncategorized
One of the things that surprise international students in Japan is food models or fake foods. Many truly believe those displays are real.
Look at the crispy tempura. It looks delicious!
The tarts and parfaits are also colorful and fluffy. These absolutely charming desserts look as if they are about to melt. These models are so beautiful…
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Mochitsuki
01/21/2022
Culture
Hello, everyone. Have you ever heard mochitsuki? Mochitsuki is one of New Year’s events in Japan.
It’s not as common as it used to be since there are just so many other things to do during the year end and New Year’s holidays. But, it’s still customary to get together with family and make rice cakes around December 28th .
Many Japanese people eat rice on a daily basis (although many others nowad…
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“しか勝たん“ (shika katan)
01/21/2022
Uncategorized
Vocabulary
Hello, everyone.
Today, I would like to explain a new phrase “しか勝たん“ (shika katan).
Ramen wa tonkotsu shika katan.
Kaze shika katan.
What do you think “shika katan” means? It basically means something is awesome, someone’s favorite, there is nothing better.
For example,
“Ramen wa tonkotsu shika katan” means there is nothing better than tonkotsu ramen, or tonkotsu ramen is the writer’s …
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“How not to use chopsticks – 3 major blunders”
01/21/2022
Culture
Having a meal is very important for us, isn’t it?
What utensils do you normally use? Knives and forks? Chopsticks or hands?
I know that they vary from a country or region to another.
Today, let me tell y
ou what not to do with chopsticks in Japan.
Tatebashi/Hotokebashi: This means sticking chopsticks straight up into bowls.
Please avoid thi…
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Why Do We Eat These New Year’s Food?
01/21/2022
Culture
Happy New Year!! Akemashite Omedeto Gozaimasu.
Today, I would like to talk about the type of food we eat in Japan in New Year’s holiday and reasons behind them. The most common set of New Year’s food is called osechi. These are some of osechi dishes.
-Prawn
When you grill or boil prawns, their backs bend like elderly people. The shape symbolizes longevity.
-Fish past…
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Awesome People from our Town, Fukuoka
01/14/2022
Uncategorized
For those people who adored Dr. Tetsu Nakamura, December 4th is seared in their memories.
On that day two years ago in 2019, he was gunned down by someone and lost his life in Afghanistan. He had been doing humanitarian work there in over 35 years.
There were a number of memorial services all over Japan in December. Our town Kasuga City also held a memorial ceremony to honor Dr. Nakamura’s lif…
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Pottery School
01/13/2022
News
December 24th was our last day of school in 2021.
We had been looking for something special to do for that day and came up with an excellent idea.
"Let's try Japanese pottery!"
Doesn't it sound like fun?
There is a pottery school named "Yawaragi" nearby NILS Annex campus,
and we all showed up on our last day of school.
An instructor at the pottery…
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