Kagawa Foreigners United Network (K-FUN)

Every Little Bit Counts - Volunteering at Second Hand

2011-04-24T23:36:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 23rd, K-FUN took nine volunteers to Second Hand to help them prepare their all important quarterly newsletter. The newsletter goes out to more than 4,500 organizations and individuals throughout Japan, keeping them updated on how they can help this Takamatsu-based non-profit organization continue to help victims of the Eastern Japan Earthquake and developing communities in Cambodia.

Be sure to read our previous article about what Second Hand is doing to help the people of northeastern Japan deal with recovering from the March 11th earthquake and tsunami.

Second Hand is active with lots of events in Takamatsu (including their "Retro Fair" from April 25 through May 7, 2011) and Marugame (including a booth at the Marugame Castle Festival on May 3 and May 4, 2011). If you want to know how you can volunteer with Second Hand, then check out their homepage, send them and e-mail or give them a call at the following:

Homepage: http://2nd-hand.main.jp/
E-mail : jimukyoku2hand@yahoo.co.jp
TEL: 087-861-9928

Acting Locally, Making a Difference Right Now: Second Hand Helping Tohoku

2011-04-11T00:47:00.000-07:00

Second Hand is an non-profit organization that provides sustainable development assistance to Cambodia via its Japanese second hand stores and fund-raising efforts, and its headquarters are located right here in Takamatsu, Kagawa. They are currently putting a massive focus on helping the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami. Below is a three-point outline of what they are doing and how you can help:

Second Hand Homepage:
http://2nd-hand.main.jp/index.php?English

Second Hand Tohoku Disaster Relief Blog:
http://nposecondhand.wordpress.com/

Contents of this Article:
1. Donation Drives
2. Cash for Work Project – How You Can Contribute
3. Volunteers Needed!!!
4. Outline of Relief Activities

1. Donation Drives
Second Hand will continue to send supplies to the disaster area as needed and in response to specific requests. The supplies needed and the deadline for submission will be listed on the Second Hand website. Please check the website periodically.

2. Second Hand Tohoku Earthquake Relief Fund Cash for Work Project
Second Hand has been collecting and delivering essential supplies for disaster victims in the cities of Natori and Ishinomaki in Miyagi prefecture. We have delivered more than 30 tons so far to shelters and homes. Each time we go, we listen to the needs of the local people.

Many residents have no cash at hand to buy necessities and, for various reasons, much of the money donated to major charitable organizations has not yet been distributed locally. Jobs are needed to provide cash income. In addition, many people want to return home now that lifelines are being restored but they need help to clear their houses of mud and debris.

In response to this situation, a Cash For Work project is being launched through the Tohoku Region Earthquake Relief NGO Center. Local people seeking work will be paid in cash by the day or hour to help people clear their homes and make them livable.

Please Help Support This Project!
Send donations to:
Bank: Japan Post Bank
Branch: Head Office
Bank Address: 3-2, Kasumigaseki 1-chome, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo 100-8798, Japan
BIC (SWIFT Code): JPPSJPJ1
Account: 01620-6-60029
Name: SECOND HAND, Japan
Address: 1-1-18 Kanko-dori Takamatsu-Shi Kagawa-ken 760-0055, Japan
* Please specify in the comment column “For the Tohoko Earthquake Relief Fund”.
Or, donate through our Paypal account: jimukyoku2hand@yahoo.co.jp

Cash for Work
Cash for Work encourages smooth economic recovery in disaster regions by providing jobs on rebuilding projects to local disaster victims. This method has been used effectively for recovery after major disasters such as the Sumatra earthquake and tsunami of 2004.

Tohoku Region Earthquake Relief NGO Center
The Center, which was established on March 14, is a network of 30 NGOs, companies and local governments serving 3 cities and 2 towns on the northern coast of Miyagi prefecture. The Center responds to the daily needs of these communities by delivering supplies, sending volunteers to shelters and medical centers, coordinating activities, providing information, etc.

Second Hand, a non-profit organization based in Kagawa, Japan, raises funds through charity shops to support sustainable development.
E-mail : jimukyoku2hand@yahoo.co.jp
TEL/FAX: 81-87-861-9928
Homepage: http://2nd-hand.main.jp/

3. Volunteers Needed!!!
Second Hand sends out a quarterly newsletter to all supporters (almost 5,000) in Japan to report on its activities. The main feature in our upcoming issue is a report on the disaster and the aid needed. This report will help ensure continued support for the disaster areas. We need help preparing the newsletters for mailing (i.e. folding and putting them in envelopes). If you
are free on April 23 or 24 and are willing to help, please contact Second Hand.
Phone: (087) 861-9928

4. Outline of Relief Efforts
Here is a brief outline of what we have been doing. Many thanks to all our supporters for donating money, supplies and manpower, and to the many volunteers who helped sort, pack and ship the supplies.

6th Shipment
April 2: Delivered 6 tons of supplies to Onagawa in Ishimaki, Miyagi prefecture. We concentrated on reaching people who are isolated in their homes or small, improvised shelters. These people do not have easy access to the supplies delivered to the official shelters. We are working with key people in the locality to identify local needs and make sure supplies reach those who need them most. All shipping costs including the truck and driver were covered by Hayashida Distribution Service (Sakaide City, Kagawa: President Shiota).

5th Shipment
March 29-31: Cooked hot meals (total: 600 servings) at shelters in Ishinomaki, Miyagi. Second Hand volunteers supplied a 4-ton truck, a temporary kitchen and ingredients. They also carried and delivered necessary supplies for the local people. One Second Hand staff accompanied the truck to survey local needs.

4th Shipment
March 23: Collected, sorted and packed additional supplies needed by the Ishinomaki High School shelter. Shipped 41 boxes the same day.

3rd Shipment
March 22: Made contact with a coordinator in Ishinomaki High School shelter through a reliable source. Gathered supplies in response to specific needs. Sent 30 boxes via a local delivery company. Delivered supplies on March 24 and distributed them to those in need.

2nd Shipment
March 17-21: Began an appeal for goods in the morning and continued to collect supplies over the next 4 days. Packed a 10-ton truck with supplies on March 21. The truck reached the designated shelter in Natori, Miyagi on March 22.

1st Shipment
Worked with TICO, an NGO based in Tokushima, to provide needed supplies to Natori. The 1st shipment was a 4-ton load sent from Tokushima.

Poems from the 4th Kagawa English Haiku Event!

2011-04-04T22:28:00.000-07:00

We held the 4th Kagawa English Haiku Gathering at Ritsurin Garden’s Kikugetsutei Tea House on Sunday March 27, 2011. Five local Japanese residents and 14 international residents from 9 different countries (including the U.K., Bangladesh, Vietnam, Zimbabwe, etc.) participated.

Under the instruction of Fumiko Hara-sensei, Vice-President of the Kagawa Branch of the Haiku Poet’s Association, everyone challenged themselves to write beautiful haiku poems. This was the largest English Haiku Gathering yet to be held in Kagawa, and the atmosphere truly had an international feel to it. Below you can find all of the haiku that was composed in the serene space of the Tea House – please enjoy!

平成23年3月27日、栗林公園の掬月亭で第４回英語の俳句会を行い、イギリス、バングラデシュ、ベトナム、ジンバブエなど９カ国から14名の県在住外国人と５名の県民が参加しました。

俳人協会香川県支部副支部長の原文子先生の指導をいただきながら、全員で英語による俳句づくりにチャレンジしました。これまでで参加者数最大で、とても国際的な顔ぶれでした。句会の素晴らしい作品を掲載しますので、是非ご覧ください。

山笑う
滝は鼓動を
早めたる
The mountain laughing
Echoes of a waterfall’s
Quickening heartbeat
-Fumiko Hara-sensei
(Translation: Chris McCabe)

Amazing Scent
Sparrows Twittering
You are fair my love
-Peter Chivero

A silver glass crane
Lost in its changing image
Above and below
- Lorianne Reuser

Is bird on old roof
Want to talk with the far sun?
She’s singing, singing
-Jenny Pham

The stillness of sound
Punctuated by coy, as
The blossoms uncurl
-Charli Stockdale

The spring birds singing
Blooming kobushi to bud
My mind to explore
-Minhaz Ahmed

Little birds chirping
Amazing cherry blooming
The spring has come
-Mirza Hasanuzzaman

満月と
みなもで遊ぶ
花筵
Flowing full moon
Play on the surface with
Cherry blossom mat
-Yuko Okamoto

In the gentle pond
Reflection of the flowers –
Twirling, dancing carp
-Tomoko Kawahara

Yuzakura are
Glowing like the moon behind
Seven silver clouds
-Julia Mace

The old tree shadow smell
A clear pond’s sparkling surface
The young crane’s first cry
-Irina Kaitar

Sun shines on the lake
Bird’s love song on the old tree
Girl is missing whom?
-Ho Huynh Tu Mi

An unbloomed blossom
Hugs itself against the cold
Waiting for warm days
-Nick Josten

Gazing at the tree
The Agricultural Student -
“No symptoms of blossoms”
-Danny Blackwell

Cherry blossoms over bridge
Gentle breeze from pond makes
Mind crazy dancing with joy
-Mohammad Mostafa

雪の中
赤い頬の
女の子
Smiling little girl
Cheeks shine pink, breath rising white
In the falling snow
-Narae

Plum blossoms open
Mejiro flaps his wings and
Alights here to play
-Kaori Fujimoto

When the sun rises up
Cherry buds turn to the shine
Life is so happy
-Ben Thapanee

花笑う
いのち輝く　
人笑う
Laughing flower
Glittering shining life and
Laughing family
-Kaori Fujimoto

穏やかな
さざ波映す
春の風
Gently flowing
Ripples on the pond
Spring wind
-Tadasuke Yoshioka

Must Read Article About Japanese Earthquake, Heroism, and Suffering - English translation in text

2011-03-31T21:49:00.000-07:00

Original article, with photo, can be found here:
http://sankei.jp.msn.com/politics/news/110329/lcl11032913240000-n1.htm

English Translation:

East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami:
Female Worker Gives Life Broadcasting Emergency Information Until the Last Second
- Mother of the young woman, who was making preparations for her upcoming wedding ceremony: “She gave everything for us.”-

March 29, 2011 13:19

She single-mindedly continued to broadcast evacuation information, telling people to evacuate to higher ground and escape the incoming tsunami wave that followed the massive quake that shook the town. Miki Endo (24) was the civil servant in charge of Disaster Information Broadcasting in Miyagi Prefecture’s Minami Sanriku, one of the towns devastated by the tsunami that followed the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011. Her whereabouts are still unknown. “She always gave her all, in whatever she was doing. But to give her life like this...,” her mother’s voice trembles with sorrow and regret. Ms. Endo had been making preparations for her wedding ceremony this autumn.

“There’s nothing here,” her mother Mieko (53) mutters as she traces the information on the bulletin board at one of the nearby evacuation areas, where identification information and characteristic descriptions of missing and dead persons are posted. Two weeks after the massive earthquake, information updates have slowed to a trickle.

Every day for the two weeks following the earthquake, Miki’s parents have walked from place to place looking for traces of their daughter. “We can’t find anything. There isn’t much that just the two of us can do,” her father Kiyoki laments.

The 3-floor Disaster Prevention Building where Ms. Endo worked was entirely swallowed by the wave, leaving nothing behind but the structure’s red iron frame.

On March 11th, Ms. Endo was making broadcasts over the city’s public address system. “A 6 meter tsunami is coming. Please evacuate.” She calmly repeated her instructions over and over in calm, easy to understand words. Her voice even reached her parents, who were on the shore when the announcement came.

Of the 30 workers who remained at the Disaster Prevention Building that day, only 10 were spared. Even many of the people who evacuated to the building’s rooftop were swept away by the towering wall of water. (Translator’s note: apparently the ten people who were saved managed to stay alive by climbing the building’s antenna, see picture in article)

Ms. Endo was appointed to the city’s Crisis Management Division in April of last year, her fourth year working as a civil servant. She had considered going into the nursing profession, but she instead chose to follow her parents advice and become a town government employee.

In July of last year, she submitted her official marriage papers, and she was planning to hold her ceremonial celebration this September. She had even obtained a hard to get wedding ceremony reservation at a hotel in one of Japan’s most scenic places, Matsushima. She tried on wedding dresses for the first time last December. She and her mother had plans to go and see the year’s newest bridal gowns in March of this year.

Ms. Endo’s mother explained, “A friend of mine who heard the whole thing said that Miki’s broadcast cut out midway through. At the end, her voice had begun to tremble. But she didn’t run away and continued broadcasting till the very end. She must have been so scared. As her mother, I’m so sorry that I couldn’t do anything to save her.”

Of Minami Sanriku’s 17,000 citizens, the whereabouts of approximately 8,000 are still unknown, and the full extent of the damage cannot be grasped yet. A 64 year-old woman who was able to make it to an evacuation area, explains what she remembered from that day. “So many people were saved by that broadcast. It’s because she steadfastly held on to her responsibility for the sake of the town’s citizens.”

Her father’s eyes brim with tears as he says, “I want to say to Miki, ‘You’ve done a tremendous job. Thank you for everything.”’

“Miki’s name is written with the Japanese characters for ‘future’ and ‘hope.’,” explains her mother. In this devastated town, new electrical poles have already been erected and the debris covered roads have been cleared so that cars may pass through them once again. The people whom Ms. Endo saved are slowly facing toward their future and moving forward.

(Translated by Chris McCabe)

Kagawa Prefecture's 6th Henro Pilgrimage Experience

2010-11-19T10:17:00.000-08:00

On Sunday November 14, 2010, Kagawa's International Affairs Division held the 6th Henro Experience for International Residents and Visitors. We returned to the route of the inaugural experience from three years earlier - the beautiful Goshikidai Plateau in Sakaide.

Three years ago, we traveled through the plateau's lush greenery on a suprisingly hot late spring day. This time, we enjoyed the cool weather of late fall and the stunning foliage of the autumn leaves surrounding us. Though we walked the exact same path on each experience, the change in the atmosphere between the two was truly a testament to the power of nature and the beauty of its seasonal changes.

Our first temple for the day was Kokubunji, which was very quiet and peaceful. Exiting from this temple, our group looked to the left at and beheld the steep slope of the plateau, which we would be scaling soon.

The climb up the path leading from Kokubunji made all of us work up a good sweat, despite the cool weather. Many of us began to lag a little bit at the 3/4 mark of the climb, but that's when we experienced something truly magical for the first time in the history of the Henro Experience. We had heard that if you quietly hold seeds in your hand at this exact spot on the path then small birds called yamagara would come down to greet you and even perch directly on your hand. We tested the story with some sunflower seeds....

and sure enough, dozens of tiny, beautiful birds...

swooped down from the branches and plopped on our hands just long enough to snatch a seed, and then they flew off again.

(Photo by Richard Kinsella)

We were all charmed, and had to be reminded of our day's itinerary or else we may have stayed there all day!

The two temples at the top of the pleateau were just beautiful. Shiramineji, with its beautiful red and yellow maple leaves and quiet atmosphere, gave us a place to rest, eat our lunch, and regain our spirits.

Negoroji, with its mysterious cyprus trees and its towering cow demon statue, was a place that made its mark on all of us.

Altogether we walked, decked out in henro (that is "pilgrim") gear, for a total of about 18 kilometers. The strain of the walk coupled with the beauty of the surrounding nature reminded us of just how sacred this cultural treasure is. Truly the Shikoku Pilgrimage deserves to be recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Come to any of the prefectures in Shikoku and experience it for yourself!

Sakaide Fall Matsuri

2010-10-18T10:00:00.000-07:00

(Photo courtesy of Justin Bussies)

Continuing the proud Sakaide Festival Tradition, we set out on October 17th (in a large group of two!!) to haul a two-ton o-mikoshi (portable festival shrine) around town again with a friendly team of locals. This time, the main event was a massive gathering in front of the Hachiman Shrine. There was something quite powerful and cultural about lifting the o-mikoshi here. Beer and karage (fried chicken) helped fuel the festivities!

(Photo courtesy of Justin Bussies)

Teshima Island Art Trip

2010-10-12T10:00:00.000-07:00

As we set out to enjoy the Setouchi International Art Festival at its halfway point, the perfect weather on this day was both a blessing and a curse: it brought a nice comfortable day of exploration around Teshima, but it also brought a slew of other people to the island with us. However, the waiting in line for boats, busses, food, etc. was all well worth it. The art and the surrounding nature on Teshima were gorgeous!

(Photo courtesy of Julia Mace)

Our group of 13 foreign and local residents hopped the boat from Takamatsu to Teshima and arrived at the teeming port of Ieura. We enjoyed the art at the port and then managed to get our whole group on the bus and to the Kou Area on the island's south side. Over the course of the day, we made our way around the whole island, and conquered a majority of Teshima's artwork..

Among the highlights of the day were:

Cameron Robbins's "Sea-Songs of the Subconscious" in which the sea's waves were mysteriously transmitted through an overturned boat to become a sadly beautiful F-minor chord wafting through the air.

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Nepogoda)

Olafur Eliasson's "Beauty," in which a rainbow is created before your eyes in the dark, surreal space of an old storehouse building in the Karato Port Area.

(Photo courtesy of Justin Bussies)

Sue Pedley's "Harmonica," in which a beautiful house that had fallen into disuse was utilized to create a thoughtful piece, in which the house's furniture, tableware, and decorations were rearranged to evoke the history and culture of the island.

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Nepogoda)

Chiharu Shiota's "Farther Memory," with it's enchanting hallway of doors.

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Nepogoda)

Claire Healy and Sean Coredeiro's "Luck Exists in the Leftovers," which features an old Japanese house and an even older T-Rex skeleton!

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Nepogoda)

And of course, the beautiful nature of the island itself!

(Photo courtesy of Kurt Nepogoda)

Sakaide Summer Matsuri

2010-08-09T10:00:00.000-07:00

Our intrepid band of foreign residents ventured to Sakaide, where we donned happi coats and hachimaki headbands and then proceeded to heft two tons worth of o-mikoshi (a portable festival shrine) for the better part of the evening.

The highlight of the night was when we gathered at Sakaide Station for the festival finale. People thronged from all over, spilling out of the shopping arcade, the nearby SATY, and the neighboring houses. The train platform was full of lookers-on as well.

At around 8 p.m., all 11 teams gathered in the station plaza and hoisted their massive o-mikoshi together. It was spectacular to watch the other teams literally throw their two-ton shrines up in the air...and it was terrifying when our own team did the same! However, everyone emerged from the nigh uscathed, and after we toted our shrine back to the gathering spot, we were treated with some delicious food and some much appreciated libations!.

The 5th Henro Pilgrimage Experience Blessed with Gorgeous Weather!

2010-05-11T01:10:00.000-07:00

On Saturday April 24, 2010, the cloudy skies, with their threat of rain, opened up on us as we reached the summit of our trek and the day's main destination, Iyadaniji Temple. On the 5th Henro Pilgrimage Experience for Foreign Residents and Visitors, we hiked from our initial point of Motoyamaji Temple through 11 km of the low, rolling hills of Mitoyo City, all the way up to the top of Mt. Kengozan (in whose folds Iyadaniji Temple is secretly tucked away), and then 7 more km to the coast and Kaiganji Station. The walk was invigorating, the weather was beautiful, and the experience as Shikoku henro pilgrims was as spiritual as ever.

Purifying our hearts, minds, and bodies before entering the temple.

See more great photos of the trek after the jump!

The intrepid henro gathered together in front of the Motoyamaji's Main Hall, a designated National Cultural Treasure!

The huge Buddha statue of Iyadaniji bends down to greet its visitors

Hiking through the lush forest on the back route of the mountain

Bond Night Party a Big Success!

2010-04-02T00:19:00.000-07:00

On March 27th, this year's first Bond Night Party was held at the 007 Muesum on Naoshima Island, with the Ishii Brothers, Jeremy Lanig, and Danny and Lindsay Boots performing a terrific live set. International visitors and local island residents alike enjoyed the festivities while soaking in the 007 atmosphere. All the energy created by the party will certainly help the prefecture in its bid to get the next James Bond movie to be filmed on Naoshima Island!

A packed house cheers on the musical groups.

Jeremy Lanig and Danny Blackwell rock out the 007 theme song!

Kagawa's James Bond introduces Danny and Lindsay Boots before their phenomenal live set!

3rd Kagawa English Haiku Gathering Held at Ritsurin Garden

2010-04-01T11:58:00.000-07:00

On March 28, 2010, we held the 3rd Kagawa English Haiku Gathering at the Kikugetsu-tei Teahouse in Ritsurin Garden. Four participants from foreign countries and five Kagawa citizens participated. After learning about the basics of haiku from Fumiko Hara-sensei, the Vice-President of the Kagawa Branch of the Association of Haiku Poets, we then composed English-language haiku poems together while enjoying the beautiful view of the cherry blossoms out in the garden.

Please enjoy the haiku selected by all of the participants as the best poems of the Gathering!

Selected Works from the 3rd Kagawa English Haiku Gathering:

Below Cherry blossoms
Half a pond reflects with ripples
The rest of it calms
Tsukiji

A cherry blossom
Rippling across the lake
And out of my sight
Nick Josten

Wind over waters
Through awakening branches
And through my fingers
Julia Mace

A moment alone
Daphne flowers in bloom and
Fragrance in the air
Kumiko Doi

Breeze tells of spring
By shaking a violet
At the foot of me
Tomoko Ueda

Ojisan lays down,
Warming winter weary bones
On spring bathed wood
Aandrea LaFavor

I’m taking a jog
Orion’s constellation
My guidepost above
Chiho Hamada

Even from afar
They dance for joy in the wind
Itozakura
遠目にも
風に歓喜の
糸さくら
Hara-sensei

Pond’s surface reflects
Layer upon layer of
Cherry blossom white
水面に
映れる花の
白さかな
Chris McCabe

Takamatsu City Art Museum and the "Metamorphose" Exhibit

2010-02-24T23:33:00.000-08:00

The Art of Art
by Pat Scanlon

In my pre Takamatsu existence, I was once an education officer in a government art gallery and have kept up a life-long interest in the visual arts all my life. One of the pleasant surprises Takamatsu City has to offer is a very beautiful multi-storied monolith that is the city’s gallery. This building is an exercise in modern, clean design and one of the most visitor- friendly galleries I’ve ever been to. Walking in the entrance the natural light and spaciousness of the first floor is immediately calming and beautiful. Alright, OK, so lots of people just go to the annexes there to sit in the Miles Van der Rhoe ‘Barcelona chairs’ and snooze away the afternoons. But it looks a pretty attractive and cool idea to wile away a summer's lunchtime if you ask me …

Times: 9:30~7:00 weekdays. 9:30~5:00 weekends and holidays.

But to the point, it is a very modern, spacious and interesting place built in 1988 with mezzanine floors, resting rooms, great library and some super traveling exhibitions doing the rounds through the year. The Takamatsu City Gallery is plonked upon the most expensive piece of real estate in the city. Right smack bang in the very center of the CBD and this speaks volumes about the Japanese and their love of the arts I think. I have only one criticism of this place that I spend a lot of my time, and that is their interesting web page is only in Japanese, to wit, not very ‘other language friendly’. Not very? Make that not at all other language friendly. But this can be fixed with a bit of effort, as this is especially frustrating when one reads in Japanese about the non-exhibition art activities available for all the people living in Takamatsu to partake in and enjoy.

http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/kyouiku/bunkabu/bijyutu/
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/sightseeing/sees/takamatsu-city-museum-of-art.html

Location map on the link above.

http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/kyouiku/bunkabu/bijyutu/special/21-5.html

There is a marvelous exhibition “Metamorphose” on at the gallery at the moment and if you have the time, please do take a look. It runs until March 28th. A mixed media affair with some conceptual pieces one by Nobi Aniki who performs as a live-in sculpture and I saw walking around the shopping arcades the other day dressed as a kid in short black pants, yellow sweater, blue shoes and pudding-bowl haircut.

Shingo Akiyama has on exhibition some wonderful sculptural pieces that double as kids’ toys to ride around on. And this you can also do at the entrance of the gallery on the first floor.
Izotaki Kimio’s 3D photos were a first for me, very unusual and thought provoking. The works that really had me thinking were the series of large photos by Masashi Asada on his family. What a visual experience they are! Very quirky, and so interesting. Actually they’re beyond just ‘interesting’ so go see for yourself and find your own adjectives. This exhibition runs until March 23rd and at ￥500 is well worth it.

Another well designed and newish gallery built in 1992 is the Takamatsu History Museum and this is another startling piece of clever architecture, beautifully thought out and a trip to walk through. Again, they have some great exhibitions during the year but frequently with little if any information in English, (or any other foreign language) sorry to labor the point… It is very centrally located and right behind the large Anabuki Concert Hall and underground parking is a big help for drivers.
Last year’s exhibition on the changes in Japanese and in particular Kagawan’s lifestyle over the last 60 years was a winner. This featured a mock up of a kitchen from the 40s, working TVs from the 50s, comics and animation from the 40s, old technologies such as early cameras, videos etc. There were even some old stores built to replicate the atmosphere of the times.

In the permanent exhibition, which features many Buddhist scrolls, objects of devotion and paintings (this really needs someone at hand to explain, as it’s esoteric stuff) but there is a reconstruction of a cabin from the “Hiryu Maru”. The cabin shows us how the lords of another age traveled by sea. Gee, I thought it would be pretty swank to travel like that even these days?
http://www.city.takamatsu.kagawa.jp/english/sightseeing/sees/takamatsu-history-museum.html

It’s a world-class facility without a doubt and five minutes on foot from the Takamatsu Station.

The Third Kagawa English Haiku Gathering

2010-02-21T18:55:00.000-08:00

On March 28th (the day following our World of Artists and 007 Events) we will be holding our third Kagawa English Haiku Gathering to commemorate the beginning of the cherry blossom season. This will be the second time that this semiannual event will be held in Ritsurin Garden’s Kikugetsu-tei Teahouse. This is a rare and wonderful chance to experience writing haiku poetry, one of Japan’s most prized literary traditions, as you enjoy the view of Ritsurin’s beautiful landscapes and cherry blossoms from the exquisitely designed space of the Kikugetsu-tei.

Date and time:
Sunday March 28th, 13:00 to 15:30

Location:
Kikugetsu-tei Teahouse, Ritsurin Garden

Cost:
Entrance to Ritsurin Garden (400 yen) + Entrance to Kikugetsu-tei (500 yen)
[Pay each fee at the respective entrances to the garden and teahouse. Entrance fee for Kikugetsu-tei includes matcha tea and sweets]

Special Guest Lecturer:
Ms. Fumiko Hara, Vice Chairperson, Kagawa Branch, Haiku Poets Association

Application:
Please apply by e-mailing kfunet@gmail.com by Friday March 19, 2010.
This event is limited to the first 10 people who reply, so please apply as soon as possible.

Other:
Before the haiku event, we will be distributing a list of important terms and useful haiku vocabulary to all participants. If you would like to bring haiku poems that you have composed before hand, you are welcome to do so. However, no prior experience or prior preparation is necessary. Please bring the vocabulary list, a notebook, and a pen or pencil to the event.

Daffodil Festival on Ogijima!!

2010-02-09T22:54:00.000-08:00

Come and enjoy sights and fragrances of thousands of daffodils
blowing in the island winds on Ogijima!

Details:
Daffodil Festival on Ogijima
Date: Sunday, February 14, 2010
Time: 8:00am - 2:00pm
Location: Ogijima (Takamatsu)
Ogi's website - http://ww8.tiki.ne.jp/~ogi-island/

Ferry Info:
~all ferries leave from Takamatsu at the same dock as the speed ferry
to Shodoshima (the smaller ferry terminal across from the Clement
Hotel). The ticket window is around back in the corner. The ferry
stops once in Onigashima/Megijima... don't get off! Stay on until the
second stop ~

Departing for Ogi ~
8:00
10:00

Returning from Ogi ~
14:00
17:00

*the ferry ride takes about 40 minutes

Join our Marugame International Marathon Participant Salute

2010-02-09T22:24:00.001-08:00

We are running a salute to all of the foreign residents and visitors who completed the Marugame International Half Marathon on Sunday February 7, 2010. If you finished the Half Marathon and would like to be included in the salute on our blog page, please write to kfunet@gmail.com with the following information:

First name:
Impressions of the race:
Current town of residence:
Half Marthon Time (optional):
Did you reach your goal for the race: yes/no (optional)
Photographs (optional):

Please write with your information by Monday Feb. 15th! The profiles will be uploaded next week, so be sure to check out our blog, k-funet.blogspot.com!

K-FUN Event: Bond Night Party!!!

2010-02-02T23:18:00.000-08:00

A night of food, drinks, music...and 007!!! As we continue our efforts to attract to Kagawa Prefecture the filming of the next James Bond, we hope that you will join us on Naoshima for this "spy-tacular" event!

Date and time:
Saturday March 27, 2010, 15:30 - 20:00

Location:
007 Museum, Naoshima (near the Marine Station Naoshima at Miyanoura Port)

Musical Acts:
Ishii Brothers
Danny and Lindsay Boots
Jeremy Lanig

Tickets:
3000 yen (includes 3 drinks, food, and entertainment)
Ticket sales will be conducted immediately before the event at the 007 Museum and during the "A World of Artists in Kagawa" Closing Reception at I-PAL on March 27th.

Value Pack Reservations:
Foreign residents can get a Value Pack deal that includes the Bond Night Party Ticket, free admission to the new Naoshima Sento, and a complimentary return ticket to Takamatsu on the High Speed Boat. this deal is limited to the first 20 people who apply by sending an e-mail to kfunet@gmail.com with the subject "Bond Value Pack." Please include your name and telephone number in the text of the e-mail. We will accept Value Pack reservations up until March 12th.

Concurrent Event:
"A World of Artists in Kagawa" Closing Reception, 13:00 - 15:00, at I-PAL Kagawa.
The final day of this celebration of art and performance will conclude at I-PAL at 15:00, and we will be moving en masse to Takamatsu Port to ride the 15:40 ferry to Naoshima.

Transportation:
Getting to Naoshima - Please take the 15:40 ferry from Takamatsu Port (500 yen)
Returning to Takamatsu - Please take the 19:25 High Speed Boat from Miyanoura (1200 yen)*

*If you reserve a "Bond Value Pack" you will receive a complimentary ticket for your return on the High Speed Boat

For questions, comments, and concerns, please contact K-FUN at kfunet@gmail.com or at 087-832-3029

Your Chance to Showcase Your Own Art!

2010-01-24T23:38:00.000-08:00

The International Affairs Division and I-PAL Kagawa will be co-sponsoring an art exhibition entitled "A World of Artists in Kagawa" to be held from March 16th through the 27th. The clincher of this project is that the featured artists will be none other than...you!

This is your chance to submit any kind of artwork, photography, calligraphy, illustrations, prints, etc. to be displayed for the whole Kagawa community to enjoy. Please submit your artwork by March 7th.

For further details, check out the exhibition's blog:
A World of Artists in Kagawa

K-FUN is a Go!

2010-01-14T00:10:00.000-08:00

The Kagawa United Foreigners Network (K-FUN)is up and running! We will be providing you with information about upcoming prefectural exchange events, networking opportunities, and much more. Look for our e-mails from kfunet@gmail.com and check us out on Facebook! Yoroshiku!