Rice-Cake Making

Rice-Cake Making

We had pleasant activities of rice-cake making with foreign people together on Sunday, December 20, from 10.00 to 14.00, at Hokubu Public Hall.
Thirty three people including NIA staff attended the activities.

In the open air, foreign people (China, the Philippines, and India) and their children, the citizens of Noda city and their children experienced rice-cake making by use of mortar and pestle.
We prepared 12 kg of rice for cake, and pounded 4kg of rice into cake at a time.

A mom and her little son are pounding steamed rice
in a mortar with a heavy pestle.

Two Filipina who are friends are trying hard to pound rice.

Come on, my powerful papa.

Let’s cover rice-cake with bean jam or soybean flour.

Having a chat, we all had rice-cake with bean jam,
rice-cake with soybean flour, Kenchin soup, and mandarin oranges.
The rice-cake just made is very good.

We enjoyed rice-cake making this year, too.
Thank you very much for joining us.
We wish you a Happy New Year.

Kimchi Pickling Class

Kimchi Pickling Class

We made genuine Kimchi with citizens together.

Kimchi Pickling Class was held on Saturday, November 28 commencing at 13.00 and Sunday, November 29 commencing at 9.00, at Nanbu Umesato Public Hall.
Chinese cabbages were preserved in salt from Saturday afternoon and Kimchi were made on Sunday.
The lecturer was Ms. Suzumi Kasai.
Thirty two people including seven NIA staff attended the class.

We were listening to Ms. Kasai’s instruction interestingly,
and then we started making Kimchi.

The attendants were divided into a couple of groups,
and each group prepared vegetable ingredients and sauce.

Ingredients:
Chinese cabbage, Japanese radish, Welsh onion, carrot, Japanese parsley,
leek, apple, ginger, and garlic
Recipe:
1.　To chop Japanese radishes and carrots into rectangular slices with a length of 3cm, and cut Welsh onion, Japanese parsley and leek to a length of 3cm

2. To grind ginger and garlic down

3. To make sauce and mix it with chopped & cut vegetables

4. To insert mixed-sauce in salted Chinese cabbages

Now, we finished making genuine Kimchi.
Please take the Kimchi home and eat it with your family.

Field Activity (Japanese language class, Monday course)

Field Activity (Japanese language class, Monday course)

~ Barbecue and Japanese Language Game ~

The field activity of Japanese language class, Monday course was held on Monday,November 23 at the Shimizu Park.
Forty three people (learners and their family & friends; 33 persons,
staff; 10 persons) attended the activity.

First of all, we started preparing barbecue in the campground.

Men made a fire and women prepared materials such as beef,
green paprika, Welsh onions, pumpkins, cabbages, egg plants, etc.

We all together grilled beef and vegetables.
Not only children but also adults were excited by the barbecue.
The food is always delicious when we eat them outdoors.

The children were very delighted with the barbecue.
We had a very pleasant barbecue party in the beautiful weather today.

After eating barbecue, we studied Japanese language
by playing games in the green field.
We all had a pleasant time.

Yamazaki Elementary School, International Education Program

Yamazaki Elementary School

International Education Program

The 5th international education program in Yamazaki elementary school was held on October 23 (Fri), 2009.
Three lecturers (a Chinese, a Peruvian and a Malaysian) were invited to teach 5th graders (70 schoolchildren).

Malaysia

Showing the map, the lecturer introduced
Malaysian culture, language and industry to the schoolchildren.

“We have a mild climate throughout the year in Malaysia.”
“There are many Japanese companies in Malaysia.”
Last of all, they sang together in chorus in Malaysian language.

It was a happy time.

China

The lecturer introduced Chinese culture, the geography of China
and special features of Hong Kong to the schoolchildren.
They were wondered at the vastness of China.
“What is this Chinese kanji?” They enjoyed a Kanji quiz game.

Peru

The lecturer started introduction of Peru by asking
“Do you know the Inca Empire?”
“Peru is on the opposite side of the earth from Japan.”
Putting on Peruvian costume and toys,
the schoolchildren were taken commemorative picture.
It was a good memory of the program.

International Friendship Festa 2009

Ring of friendship leads to peace in the world

International Friendship Festa 2009

The International Friendship Festival 2009 was held at Nanbu Umesato Public Hall on Sunday,October 18, 2009. About 350 people visited, joined and enjoyed the various interesting events.

The following activities were given there.

(1) Japanese speeches by learners in Japanese Language Class of NIA
(2) Exhibition booths of various foreign countries
(3) Attractions such as folk dancing and singing songs
(4) Tasting counters for various countries’ foods
(5) Japanese tea ceremony
(6) Trying on Kimono and Ethnic Costumes

We were happy to have pleasant time with many foreign people.

Opening Ceremony
Greeting by Mr. Matsumura, the President of NIA
Greetings by Mr. Nemoto, the Mayor of Noda City, and Mr. Miyauchi, the Superintendent of Education

Japanese Speeches by Foreign People
Japanese speeches were made by learners in Japanese Language Class of NIA.
The speakers are from France, Philippines, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Argentina.
They made admirable speeches about “the difference of custom between their home country and Japan”, “a good point of Japan” and “the troubles of life in Japan”, and so on.

Six speakers

Trying on Kimono and Ethnic Costumes

A Filipina is experiencing Kimono.

How lovely a young mom and her daughter are !

Japanese tea ceremony

Shall we experience a part of Japanese culture?

Exhibition Booths of Various Foreign Countries
The exhibition booths of China, Korea, Thailand, Philippines, and Argentina were opened.
At the every exhibition booths, they displayed their own various folk pieces, scenic photographs, native costumes, simple native languages, and so on.
The activities of NIA also were displayed at the exhibition booth.

the Philippines booth

At the Chinese booth we could enjoy
free trials of the seal engravings.

Tasting counters for various countries’ foods

The food counters of Philippines, Taiwan, Korea, Thailand and Japan were set. We could buy and taste the various countries’ foods.

Attractions

Folk dancing from Thailand

Tsugaru samisen

Folk dancing from Philippines

Nanking tamasudare

A music band ( the Almighties) and
singers ( Ms. Telma Nishimura and Ms. Lolna Nakata)

Juggling by a student of Tokyo University of Science

An ocarina performance by the members of “Komorebi”

Yosakoi Sohran Dancing by the members of “Sakigake”

Now, everybody, let’s dance together for the finale!

It was wonderful that we could promote the intercultural communications among various foreign countries, enjoy attractions such as dancing and singing songs, taste unique and delicious foods, and try on kimono and ethnic costumes.
Thank you very much for joining us.