Time Out

1

On the evening of March 20, the IIA hosted a Japanese study session focused on learning how to improve writing skills. The IIA was very happy to welcome back Mr Eiji Nakayama to teach the class, who also taught the IIA Japanese language teacher training course. The participants first discussed the ways they use Japanese in their daily lives. Most found that although they frequently make use of speaking, listening, and reading; writing is generally the least used of the four language skills. Participants practiced sentence structures and expressions, as well as analysing the structure of written compositions.

These activities can be very helpful in honing in on one’s writing skills.

Inside this issue…

Time Out is produced by Division of

Coordination and Citizenry Affairs

Iwaki City Hall

21 Aza Umemoto, Taira, Iwaki City

Fukushima Prefecture 970-8686

TEL: 0246-22-7415 FAX: 0246-22-7609

Email:shiminkyodo@city.iwaki.fukushima.jp

sebastian-w＠city.iwaki.fukushima.jp

The Division of Coordination and Citizenry Affairs

and the IIA are open to the public. Please feel free to

drop by, call, or e-mail us anytime. Website:

http://www.iia-fukushima.or.jp; http://www.city.iwaki.fukushima.jp/gaikokugo/english/

いわき市役所 市民協働課

〒970-8686 福島県いわき市平字梅本 21

電話: 0246-22-7415 FAX: 0246-22-7609

E-mail: shiminkyodo@city.iwaki.fukushima.jp

sebastian-w@city.iwaki.fukushima.jp

市民協働課及び公益財団法人いわき市国際交流協会は皆

さんを歓迎します。お気軽にお立ち寄り下さい。お電話、

e-mail をお待ちしています。

Festivals & Events 2

Entertainment Guide 3

Hospital Information 4

Iwaki Today 5

IIA Events 6

Kanji Corner 7

March Events Calendar 8

On March 18, the IIA held a training class for volunteer Japanese language teachers. Mr Eiji Nakayama (pictured left), Associate professor at Iwaki Meisei University, was invited to give the lecture. This class was the second of two training classes held by the IIA with the goal of deepening the participants’ understanding of Japanese language education so that they may assist non-natives of Japanese in adjusting to living in Japan. The morning session of the class focused on assisting children living in Japan to learn Japanese. Children of foreign residents as well as children of Japanese nationals who have returned to Japan after living overseas often face difficulties initially in gaining command of the language. Some of these children are yet to gain sufficient ability in any of the languages they speak. Participants learned about coordinating the relationship between a child’s school, home, and friends to create the ideal language environment for these children. They also learned about other important ways to assist children in their language learning. The afternoon session of the class centred on teaching Japanese to intermediate and advanced learners. After observing a mock advising session, participants discussed the importance of learner autonomy and ways to encourage students to consider their own reasons for learning Japanese to help motivate them in their studies. The IIA matches students of Japanese with volunteer teachers who assist in their studies. The lessons are one-on-one, so teachers will cater to your language level. While there are usually more prospective students than teachers, and teachers may not be available at your requested times, the IIA accepts applications from anyone studying Japanese. If you are interested in being paired up with a volunteer Japanese language teacher, please drop by the IIA office on the first floor of City Hall.

Festivals & Events

Festivals & Events Your guide to what’s happening around Iwaki City and beyond this month

**Please refer to page 3 for more events on at Alios and page 6-7 for more IIA events and notices.

March 3rd to 6th: Revitalising Fukushima – JICA Photo Exhibition @ Latov, Taira. This exhibition introduces the work of people involved in JICA’s (Japan International Cooperation Agency) efforts to rebuild and revitalise Fukushima. For inquiries, please contact JICA Nihonmatsu: TEL 0243-24-3200.

March 3rd to 30th: Fukushima Stars and Moon Photo Contest Exhibition @ 2nd floor Citizens' Gallery, Iwaki La La Mew, Onahama. The theme of this photo contest is ‘beautiful photos of the stars and moon taken from Fukushima Prefecture. For inquiries, please contact Iwaki La La Mew: TEL 0246-92-3701. March 3rd to 30th: The People and City of Iwaki Exhibition @ 2nd floor Live Iwaki Museum, Iwaki La La Mew, Onahama. Illustrations of Iwaki city and its people, drawn to express the hope for recovery from the Great East Japan Earthquake, will be displayed. For inquiries, please contact Iwaki La La Mew: TEL 0246-92-3701. March 5th: Mitsuru Hiruta Manga Artist Exhibition @ the Japanese-style room next to the parking lot of the Kappo Yagi restaurant, Ueda. From 10am to 4pm. Original artworks by the Iwaki-born manga artist Mitsuru Hiruta will be on display and for sale. For inquiries, please contact Nemoto-san: TEL 090-2792-7196. March 7th: Overseas @ Est Est, Taira. From 8pm. This is a monthly event held at Est Est on the first Friday of each month. Free darts, foosball and pool. Inquiries to Est Est: TEL 0246-25-6723. March 8th: Onahama Yose @ 1st floor Passenger Terminal, La La Mew, Onahama. From 3:00 pm. Featuring rakugo (traditional comic storytelling) and other performances. This event is held on the second Saturday of every month. For inquiries, please contact La La Mew: TEL 0246-92-3701. March 9th: Light of Hope – Candle Night @ Taira Central Park (in front of Alios). From 4pm. Candles will be lit in tribute to the victims of the March 11 disaster and as a symbol of people’s hope for reconstruction. For inquiries, please contact Fukushima Prefecture Planning & Coordination Division: TEL 024-521-8627. March 9th: Hope for Nakoso – Art Festival 2014 @ Nakoso Community Centre (main venue), as well as art workshops on the coast at Nishiki Suga, Obamamachi and Iwamamachi. From 9am to 3pm (art workshops go until 2pm). Reception is from 8:30am. Registration in advance is advised but not required. The participation fee is ¥500, which is to be paid on the day. At the main venue there will be a curry festival, as well as artworks from the Nakoso Community Social Space on exhibition and for sale. To register, please visit the website http://nakoso.net/contact/ (Japanese) and click on the picture of the art festival poster. For inquiries, please contact the Nakoso Restoration Project: TEL 0246-63-5055. March 11th: Votive Candle Meeting @ Taira Central Park (in front of Alios). From 5pm to 7:30pm. Anyone is welcome to write a message on a votive candle in tribute to the the March 11 disaster victims and/or their hope for reconstruction. For inquiries, please contact the Light of Hope Project Excecutive Committee: TEL/FAX 0246-53-4686 Email info@311kibounoakari.org. Website: http://www.311kibounoakari.org/ (Japanese). March 13th to 23rd: Alios Contemporary Art Exhibition @ Taira Central Park (in front of Alios) and various locations inside the Alios centre, Taira. From 8:30am to 10:30pm. Alios opening hours are 10am to 8pm (please note that Alios is closed every Tuesday). Free event. This contemporary art exhibition will feature the work of nine artists who are from or have strong ties with Iwaki, as well as two artists who completed their doctoral courses at Tokyo University of the Arts last year. For inquiries, please contact Alios Ticket Centre: TEL 0246-22-5800.

March 15th: Small Pedestrian Mall @ Patio Street Ministop, Hana no Mai, Maneki Neko Parking lot, Ueda. From 3pm to 4:30pm. Featuring

live music and local produce for sale. For inquiries, please contact Ueda Merchants’ Association: TEL 0246-62-8318.

March 20th: Sakoyo Nakayama Piano Debut Recital @ Small Theatre, Alios, Taira. Doors open at 6:30am. Tickets ¥1,000 (¥1,500 on the day). Sakoyo Nakayama, who is from Iwaki, took the bronze medal in the university student division at last year’s International Chopin Piano Competition in ASIA. At this recital, she will play Bach’s The Well-Tempered Clavier Book 2 No.9 in E Major and Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 17 in B Flat Major among other pieces. For tickets, please contact the Alios Ticket Centre: TEL 0246-22-5800 or visit the Alios website http://iwaki-alios.jp. For inquiries related to the venue, please contact the Iwaki Performing Arts Centre Alios: TEL 0246-22-8111. For other inquiries, please contact the Nakayama-san: TEL 0246-36-4981.

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March 2nd

: Tsutsuko-hiki Festival @ Ikutsushima Shrine, Habara-mach, Date. In this festival, a group of men in fundoshi brave the cold winds to compete in a tug-of-war struggle for a large straw bag weighing 800 kilograms and containing steamed glutinous rice. The Tsutsuko-hiki festival is held on the first Sunday of March every year and is carried out to pray for a bountiful harvests and good business. It is said that one year when the festival was cancelled, there was widespread disease in the area, so today it is also carried out to pray for good health. It is designated as an Intangible Folk Cultural Asset of Date. For inquiries, please contact the Tsutsuko-hiki Festival Executive Committee: TEL 024-576-4062. Website: http://www.date-shi.jp/cat47/hobara/post-441.html (Japanese). March 21

st: Aizuwakamatsu Lion Dance Festival @ Tsuruga-jo Castle, Amida Temple and around the city of Aizuwakamatsu.

Marking an end to the long winter, this festival is held on the first day of the equinoctial week. The three dancers will make their way around the city, dancing to traditional music played on flutes and drums. The dance serves as a prayer for household safety and a bountiful harvest, as well as a celebration of the arrival of spring. For inquiries, please contact the Aizuwakamatsu Tourism and Products Association: TEL 0242-24-3000. Website: http://www.aizukanko.com/event/82/ (Japanese). March 21

st: Bandai Shrine Fune-hiki Festival and Shrine Maidens’ Ceremonial Dance @ Bandai Shrine, Bandai-town. The

maidens’ ceremonial dance is from 12:15pm, taiko performance from 1:30pm and fune-hiki is from 2pm. This festival is carried out to predict crop quality for the following year. Fune-hiki is a tug-of-war contest that is carried out three times. If the team on the west side wins, it means that it will be a bountiful crop that year. If the east team wins, it means that the price of rice will rise. Both the maidens’ ceremonial dance and the fune-hiki festival are designated as Important Intangible Folk Cultural Assets of Fukushima Prefecture. For inquiries, please contact the Bandai Town Tourism Association: TEL 0242-74-1214. Website: http://www1.town.bandai.fukushima.jp/t_optical/eizo_geinoh.htm (Japanese).

Sat 1 The Transporter (English, French)

Jason Statham BSP 7:15pm

Mon 3 The Way We Were

Barbra Streisand BSP 9:00pm

Tue 4 Kramer vs. Kramer

Dustin Hoffman BSP 9:00pm

Thu 6 My Fair Lady

Audrey Hepburn BSP 1:00pm

Fri 7 Apollo 13

Tom Hanks BSP 11:45pm

Sat 8 Transporter 2 (English, French)

Jason Statham BSP 7:30pm

Tue 11 The Sting (1973)

Paul Newman BSP 1:00pm

Tue 11 Life Is Beautiful (Italian)

Roberto Benigni BSP 9:00pm

Thu 13 Prizzi's Honor

Jack Nicholson BSP 1:00pm

Fri 14 Dead Poets Society

Robin Williams BSP 1:00pm

Fri 14 The Hurt Locker

Jeremy Renner BSP 11:45pm

Mon 17 Slumdog Millionaire

Dev Patel BSP 9:00pm

Tue 18 Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (Mandarin)

Chow Yun-fat BSP 1:00pm

Tue 18 The King's Speech

Colin Firth BSP 9:00pm

Wed 19 Gladiator (2000)

Russell Crowe BSP 1:00pm

Thu 20 Glory

Matthew Broderick BSP 1:00pm

Mon 24 Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)

Johnny Depp BSP 9:00pm

Wed 26 Aeon Flux

Charlize Theron BSP 1:00pm

Fri 28 The Young Victoria

Emily Blunt BSP 11:45pm

Sun 30 Departures (Japanese)

Masahiro Motoki BSP 1:00pm

Mon 31 Transporter 3 (English, French)

Jason Statham BSP 9:00pm

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Movie names, times and other information are believed to be correct at the time

of printing. However, information changes quickly, so please confirm before

making plans.

Pole Pole Cinemas are located in the Sekaikan Building near Iwaki Station. TEL:

0246-22-3394. Adults: ¥1800; University and SHS: ¥1400; Seniors (sixty years

and older), JHS and under: ¥1000. The first of every month is discount day:

¥1000. Movies after 6:30pm are ¥1000. Monday is Men’s Day ¥1000,

Wednesday is Student’s Day ¥1000, Thursday is Couple’s Day ¥2000 (per

couple), and Friday is Ladies’ Day ¥1000. 3D films cost an additional ¥300.

Sat 8 Fumiaki Nakamura Lecture ‘Live Big! Not for Money, but for Human Connections’ Main Theatre. Doors open at 12pm. Tickets ¥2,000 (¥2,500 on the

day), university students ¥1,000 (¥1,500 on the day). Free entry for high school students and younger (prior reservation required).

Fri 14 Great East Japan Earthquake Restoration Piano Concert Middle Rehearsal Room. Doors open at 3:30pm (afternoon concert),

6:30pm (evening concert). Free entry. Booking in advance is essential.

Sun 16 Ensemble La Plage – Clarinet quartet Recital Hall. From 2:30pm. Tickets ¥800, Students ¥500. Wed 19 Song of Love Great East Japan Earthquake Restoration Concert Main Hall. Doors open at 6pm. Tickets ¥2,000 (¥2,500 on the day),

primary school students and under ¥1,000 (¥1,500 on the day). Featuring guest singers Lena Maria Klingvall and Alfie Silas.

Fri 21 World Doctors Orchestra 2014 A Concert Celebration of the Humanity of Medicine and Music Main Hall. Doors open at 1pm. Free entry. Tickets are handed out

on a first‐come‐first‐served basis. Please come in person to the

Ticket Centre on the first floor of Alios to receive a numbered ticket. Children below primary school age will not be admitted. Sun 23 4th Tokiwagikai Charity Dance Performance Small Theatre. From 12:30pm. Tickets ¥1,000.

Alios Ticket Centre: 0246-22-5800

To see the full list of events at Alios, please visit the website:

http://iwaki-alios.jp/event/schedule.html (Japanese)

Eiga Dokidoki! Pretty Cure Mana Kekkon!!? Mirai ni Tsunagu Kibo no Dress

(Japanese) Until March 9 Hitomi Nabatame (voice)

Trick The Movie: Last Stage (Japanese) Until March 14 Yukie Nakama

Eien no Zero (Japanese) Until March 14

Jun'ichi Okada Chiisai Ouchi (Japanese) Until March 21

Takako Matsu The Bling Ring (English) Until March 14 (two weeks only)

Emma Watson

Escape Plan (English) Until March 14 (two weeks only) Sylvester Stallone

Mogura no Uta – Sennyu Sousakan: Reiji (Japanese)

Toma Ikuta Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (English)

Chris Pine Rush (English, Japanese Dub)

Chris Hemsworth

Dakishimetai (Japanese) Keiko Kitagawa

Thor: The Dark World (2D-English, 3D-Japanese Dub) Chris Hemsworth

Ieji (Japanese)

Ken'ichi Matsuyama Silver Spoon (Japanese) From March 7

Kento Nakajima

Doraemon: New Nobita's Great Demon — Peko and the Exploration Party of Five (Japanese) From March 8

Wasabi Mizuta Frozen (Languages not released at time of printing) From March 14 RoboCop (Languages not released at time of printing) From March 14

Joel Kinnaman The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (English) From March 19

Ben Stiller

Kamisama no Karute 2 (Japanese) From March 21 Sho Sakurai

The Snow White Murder Case (Japanese) From March 29 Mao Inoue

Team Batista Final Kerberos's Portrait (Japanese) From March 29

Atsushi Ito Heisei Rider Vs Showa Rider: Kamen Rider Taisen feat. Super Sentai (Japanese) From March 29

Gaku Sano (Voice)

Pole Pole Ticket Office: 0246-22-3394

Sunday, March 2 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Nakamura Hospital 9-5 53-3141 Nakoso Area Kureha General Hospital 9-5 63-2181 Joban Area Kato Naika Clinic 9-5 72-0072 Taira Area Fukuda Shonika Iin (paediatrics) 9-12 22-4272 Sunday, March 9 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Taira Area Shiga Seikeigeka (orthopaedic surgery) 9-12 23-5050 Onahama Area Onahama Seikyo Hospital 9-5 53-4374 Nakoso Area Nakoso Hospital 9-5 65-7755 Joban Area Iwaki Yumoto Hospital 9-5 42-3188 Taira Area Nagai Shonika (paediatrics) 9-12 28-2535 Sunday, March 16 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Kashima Hospital 9-5 58-8010 Nakoso Area Yabuki Hospital 9-5 63-1818 Joban Area Sakamoto Naika Ichoka Clinic (internal & gastroenterology) 9-5 72-2022 Joban Area Iwaki Kusakidai General Clinic (paediatrics) 9-12 28-1145 Friday, March 21 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Kadoya Seikei Naika (orthopaedics & internal) 9-5 54-4047 Nakoso Area Midorikawa Naika Clinic (internal) 9-5 68-6415 Joban Area Hatano Ganka (ophthalmology) 9-5 42-2040 Sunday, March 23 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Yokodai Clinic 9-5 55-5150 Nakoso Area Kushida Hospital 9-5 63-3202 Joban Area Takahashi Hifuka Clinic (dermatology) 9-5 72-1272 Nakoso Area Ohara Kodomo Clinic (paediatrics) 9-12 63-0001 Sunday, March 30 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Sakamoto Seikeigeka Iin (orthopaedics) 9-12, 2-5 38-2830 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Michiya Naika Ichoka (internal & gastroenterology) 9-5 58-4180 Nakoso Area Kojima Jiai Hospital 9-5 63-5141 Joban Area Yoshinari Naika (internal) 9-5 42-2220 Onahama Area Konnai Kodomo Clinic (paediatrics) 9-12 73-8815 Sunday, April 6 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Ishii Iin 9-5 54-5330 Nakoso Area Nakoso Hospital 9-5 65-7755 Joban Area Tokiwakai Joban Hospital 9-5 43-4175 Onahama Area Kodomo Clinic Suzuki (paediatrics) 9-12 56-6336 Sunday, April 13 Taira Area Takahashi Clinic 9-12, 2-5 46-1231 Taira Area Yamaguchi Iin 9-12, 2-5 24-1811 Taira Area Shirai Geka Ichoka Iin (surgery & gastroenterology) 8:30-12 25-3788 Uchigo Area Suda Iin 8:30-12 27-6060 Onahama Area Kashima Hospital 9-5 58-8010 Nakoso Area Kushida Hospital 9-5 63-3202 Joban Area Iwaki Yumoto Hospital 9-5 42-3188 Taira Area Fukuda Shonika Iin (paediatrics) 9-12 22-4272

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The following is a guide to hospitals open on Sundays and public holidays in Iwaki City during March.

Counselling Centre for Women: Counsellors can assist you in Japanese, Chinese, English, Korean, Portuguese, Spanish, Thai and Tagalog. Available languages differ each day. TEL: 050-1501-2803. Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm. OC NET: Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 7pm – 9pm Ph: 03-3730-0556 English, Chinese, Portuguese, Korean, Spanish, and Thai.

TELL Lifeline: TELL is a professional non-profit organisation that provides counselling to English-speaking foreigners all over Japan. The Lifeline is staffed by highly trained volunteer phone counsellors and provides free non-judgemental phone counselling and information 365 days a year from 9am to 4pm and 7pm to 11pm on (03) 5774-0992. For more information, check out their website at http://www.telljp.com or e-mail them at admin@telljp.com. Safety and Consultation Centre for Women (Police Box at Iwaki Train

Station): For people who have suffered from any crime-related problem or injury. Free. Can only speak Japanese. Ph: (0246) 23-9344 10am-6pm daily.

Emergency Dental Care All emergency dental care will be provided at the General Health and Welfare Centre (Sogo Hoken Fukushi Senta) in Uchigo. This centre is open on Sundays and all National holidays from 9am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm. The reception closes at 3:30pm. For more information please contact the centre on 27-8620.

Kyoritsu Hospital

Emergency After-Hours Clinic

If you need to see a doctor urgently in the evening on a weekday or on a weekend or public holiday, the Kyoritsu Hospital Emergency After-Hours Clinic is open at the following times: Weekdays: 8pm - 12am Saturdays: 8pm - 7am (next day) Sundays: 1pm - 12am. Public Holidays: 9am - 12am. TEL: (0246) 27-1208

Treatment Available in

Foreign Languages:

If possible, always go to hospitals or clinics which offer treatment in English or your native language. These places are listed in the City’s official list:

“Clinics & Hospitals where Foreign Language

Treatment is Available in Iwaki”

Even if your language is available, please make sure whenever possible to bring a Japanese-speaker with you

Eng = English, Kor = Korean,

Thai.

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The number of calls being made to the 119 emergency number is on the rise. 119 is the number to call for fire and ambulance services

in response to an emergency. Calling 119 for other reasons may hinder those in a genuine emergency from getting through to emergency

services. Please understand the purpose of the 119 number and use it only to call for fire and ambulance services in an emergency.

Non-emergency numbers for fire and health services are given below with examples of when you would use these numbers.

How to use 119 in cases of emergency Below are some sentences that are typically used when you call 119.

The most important thing is that you clearly state whether you require fire or ambulance services.

Please familiarise yourself with this Japanese in case you ever have to use it.

Operator Your response

１１９番ばん

です。

This is 119.

火事か じ

ですか？救急きゅうきゅう

ですか？

Do you need fire or ambulance services?

火事か じ

です。

Fire.

救急きゅうきゅう

です。

Ambulance.

住所じゅうしょ

をいわき市し

から教お し

えてください。（番地ば ん ち

まで）

State the address starting from ‘Iwaki City’ (until the

building number).

いわき市し

〜

Iwaki City…

If you do not know the address of where you are, use nearby landmarks

such as buildings, streets and crossings.

建物たてもの

の名前な ま え

（個人宅名こ じ ん た く め い

など）を教えておし

ください。

State the name of the building.

So long as you let the operator know where you are, emergency services

can be sent to your location while you are still talking on the phone.

どうしましたか？

What’s your emergency?

例れい

:自宅じ た く

の台所だいどころ

が燃も

えています。

Eg: My kitchen in on fire (for fire services)

例れい

:おじいちゃんが急きゅう

に倒たお

れました。

Eg: An elderly man has collapsed (for ambulance services)

あなたの名前な ま え

と、電話番号で ん わ ば ん ご う

を教お し

えてください。

Please state your name and contact number.

The emergency number for police is 110. For inquiries regarding emergency numbers, please contact the Iwaki City Fire Defence Headquarters: TEL 0246-22-0123

I can hear a siren, but where’s the fire?

Which hospitals are open on Sundays and

public holidays?

My child is sick in the middle of the night

and I need to consult with someone

about their condition.

Please call the Fire Department’s Telephone Guide Service:

TEL: 0246-23-0119 This service is set up to provide current information about fires within the city as well as information regarding which hospitals are open on Sundays and public holidays. A guide to which hospitals are open on Saturdays and public holidays is also printed in Time Out every month on page 4.

Please call the Fukushima Prefecture Children Emergency First-Aid Telephone Consultation Centre:

TEL: #8000 or 024-521-3790 The centre can provide you with professional assistance when you have sick or injured children. Open from 7pm to 8am.

The IIA will host a boiled gyoza booth at this year’s 37th Uchigo Communitiy Centre Festival.

Gyoza will be given out to the first 50 people to collect numbered tickets from the front entrance on Saturday 8. The festival starts at 9am, so be sure to get there early to try some of the Chinese-style gyoza! IIA volunteers will also provide a space for you to try your hand at making kiri-e pictures. 37

th Uchigo Communitiy Centre Festival

As well as the IIA hosted boiled gyoza booth, there will be many other exciting events on at the Festival. On Saturday there will be a hula dance performance, a hula dance class, and free fairy floss. On Sunday there will be a cheerleading performance, mochitsuki, a lion dance performance, and nursing consultations. There will also be art and photo exhibitions, a visit from local firefighters and a pottery-making class held on both days. Date: Saturday 8 and Sunday 9 March Time: 9am to 3pm Place: Uchigo Communitiy Centre For inquiries relating to any of the festival events, please contact the Uchigo Communitiy Centre Festival Executive Committee: TEL 0246-26-2974.

Please contact the IIA for applications and more information.

TEL: 0246-22-7409 FAX: 0246-22-7609 Email: info@iia-fukushima.or.jp Website: www.iia-fukushima.or.jp/

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The IIA provides volunteer interpreters to act as tourist guides for foreign visitors and residents of Iwaki as well as to interpret at a range of international exchange events. Through interpreting, volunteers are able to assist in cross-language communication and help deepen mutual understanding. Applications are open to those who meet the requirements below. Application Requirements You must be able to speak Japanese and one other language with enough fluency to have no difficulty interpreting. Non-native speakers of Japanese are also very welcome to apply. Volunteer Activities IIA volunteer interpreters assist in a variety of events that are sponsored, joint-sponsored or backed by the IIA. Additionally, volunteer interpreters may be asked to interpret in some cases where the IIA receives a request from an organisation for interpreting services. Travel and other necessary expenses are to be covered by the requesting party. Inquiries and Applications Please direct all inquiries to the IIA.

To apply to be a volunteer interpreter, please visit:

http://www.iia-fukushima.or.jp/modules/pico/volunteer.html and see the section under ‘通訳つ う や く

ボランティア’.

The IIA provides volunteer translators to help translate tourist information for foreign guests as well as translating a variety of information magazines. Volunteer translators also translate the documentation of past events and meetings. Why not take advantage of your language skills and help deepen mutual understanding in Iwaki? Application Requirements You must possess enough fluency in Japanese and one other language to have no difficulty translating. Non-native speakers of Japanese are also very welcome to apply. Volunteer Activities IIA volunteer translators translate texts related to events that are sponsored, joint-sponsored or backed by the IIA. Volunteer translators may also be asked to translate documents in cases where organisations request IIA translation services. Postal and other necessary expenses are to be covered by the requesting party. Inquiries and Applications Please direct all inquiries to the IIA. To apply to be a volunteer translator, please visit:

http://www.iia-fukushima.or.jp/modules/pico/volunteer.html and see the section under ‘翻訳ほ ん や く

ボランティア’.

On February 9, the 5th Iwaki Sunshine Marathon was unfortunately cancelled due to the record high snowfall. Despite best efforts to clear

the course of snow, it was decided in the early morning on Sunday that for the safety of participants the marathon would have to be

cancelled. Over 10 thousand runners registered for the event, with over 7 thousand of them registering to compete in the full marathon.

Although it is disappointing to have such a big event cancelled, there is always next year to look forward to!

Sebastian

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When learning new kanji, consistency is key. By breaking study down into multiple short study sessions

throughout the day, every day, it is possible to cover a lot of ground without burning out. It may also help

to set a daily goal of a concrete number of new kanji that you intend to learn every day. The number

really depends on how much time you can dedicate to study and how motivated you are, but once you

figure out a number that is challenging but still manageable for you, it's just a matter of sticking with it.

Revising Kanji with Spaced Repetition Software As the number of kanji that you have studied increases, it can be tricky to review all that you have

covered and sometimes may even feel like you are forgetting some kanji. Flash cards provide a good

way of revising the characters that you have already studied. Studying flashcards once meant cutting out

cards from pieces of paper or buying a set of pre-made flash cards (and maybe carrying them around

with you during the day). Today there also exists the option of using Spaced Repetition Software (SRS),

which is essentially the same idea only on a PC or portable device. SRS has numerous advantages over

traditional flashcards:

Efficiency - Every time you review a card on an SRS, the software asks you how well you remembered

the answer (or if you forgot it). Based on this it calculates when the ideal time is for you to study the card

next and schedules the card for review accordingly. This means that you spend less time revising what

you know well, so you can focus on what you need to study most and get the most out of your study

time.

Ease of use - Most SRS programs allow you to make use of the flashcards of other users, so you don't

have to spend as much time inputting your own cards (although you still have to option to do so). It is

also more convenient to revise throughout the day on a portable device that you would be carrying

around anyway, rather than carrying around a deck of flashcards.

Quantifiable goals - An SRS automatically schedules the cards you need to review for each day. This

gives you a daily goal to work towards and is a good motivator in studying consistently.

Media support - Most SRS programs have audio support, allowing you to hear a recording of a native

pronounce what you are studying. Some SRS programs also allow you to add pictures or even video to

your flashcards. Choosing a Spaced Repetition Software Program There are many SRS programs out there that differ in many ways, but the basic principal behind them all

is the same. It is not terribly important which program you decide to use, so long as it helps you to revise

and retain what you have studied. The two most famous SRS programs are introduced below.

Anki – Anki is a free SRS program available for Windows, Mac and Linux. It can be synchronised across

devices and there is also an online version. It is highly customisable and has supports a wide range of

media file formats. There is also an iPhone version (which is not free) and a free Android version. To find

out more or download the latest version, visit http://ankisrs.net/.

SuperMemo – SuperMemo is an SRS program available for Windows operating systems. There is also

an online version. The most recent desktop version is not free; however the 2004 release is available as

freeware from the developer’s website: http://www.supermemo.com/. If you are not already using an SRS in your study of Japanese, why not give one a try? If you are still not

convinced or are just curious to know more, you could do a web search for 'spaced repetition', the

learning technique that SRS employs, to read up about the thinking behind this approach to study.

While it was still exciting to see Iwaki transformed into a winter snowscape, with the coming of spring we can now look

forward to longer days and warmer weather!

Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday

Feb 23

Feb 24

Feb 25

Feb 26

Feb 27 Feb 28

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2

3

4 5

6

7

Overseas @ EstEst

8 Uchigo Community

Centre Festival

Wa

Panda

9 Light of Hope Candle Night

Uchigo

Communitiy Centre Festival

10

11 Votive Candle

Meeting

Wa

12

German class

13

Alios Contemporary Art

Exhibition – Opening Day

14 White Day

Spanish class

15

Wa

16 17

18

19 20 21

Vernal Equinox

Day

22

Panda

23 Alios

Contemporary Art Exhibition –

Last Day

24

25

26

German class

Très bien

27

28

Spanish class

29

30 31 Apr 1 Apr 2 Apr 3 Apr 4

Overseas @ EstEst

Apr 5

IIA Custom-made Plans

Spanish class – Inquiries to Okoshi -san 21-4854

German class – Inquiries to Okoshi-san 21-4854

Très bien – Inquiries to Yamazaki-san 090-1934-0506

Wa – Inquiries to Sho-san 070-6493-2859

Panda – Inquiries to Zui-san 080-3140-7703

For more information on any of the IIA events,

please contact Suko-san (22-7409)

April 2013

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