niigata noise nove-dec
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The first issue of the first magazine for Niigata ALTs by Niigata ALTsTRANSCRIPT
NIIGATA
NOISE
November ~ December 2011
NIIGATA NOISE November ~ December Issue Aaron Xavier Wilson Executive Editor Louise Hollywood Chief Copy Editor Layout & Design Elizabeth Smith Copy Editor Luke Hamilton Photographer Layout & Design David Welsh Publisher Carol Pinnock Columnist Shaun Smith Columnist Jon Robinson Columnist Steven Gore Columnist
Dear Readers,
On behalf of the Niigata Noise team and our fledgling Niigata AJET chapter, we thank you for reading! This is the very first issue of the very first Niigata AJET publication made by ALTs for ALTs. Our purpose is to inform and delight, while helping to build a stronger and more vibrant ALT community here in snow country. I hope you enjoy reading it as we did making it. If you have any comments, questions, or if you are interested in joining our team, please send an e-‐mail to [email protected]. Writers, journalists, photographers, reviewers, cartoonists, editors and designers are all welcome. Merry Christmas, Addy Executive Editor, Niigata AJET
Contents
Greetings from AJET
Autumnal Reflections Autumn in Akasakayama Travel
Making the most out of Kyoto with Travel Belle
ALT Spotlight Conquering the world with Laura Coakley Arts
Pushing Boundaries with Florence + the Machine: Ceremonials Putting Things in Perspective with Yohei Taneda: Fusing Fantasy with Reality
Niigata Cuisine A trip to La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet
The Hungry Binbo
Fashion Style File
Only In Japan
Tech Corner
ALT Horoscopes
Greetings from AJET Hey, everyone!
First of all, I’d like to thank all of you for joining Niigata AJET! The more
people we have involved, the more we can do, and I hope that our AJET
chapter can provide plenty of opportunities for both fun and personal
growth to Niigata JETs.
On that note, if you are interested in holding a social (or charity) even in
your area, please send an email to [email protected]! So far we’ve
only planned events in Niigata City, but that’s only because it’s either
where the people who planned the events live or where we know of
suitable facilities. The other AJET officers and I would love to expand
more and hold events all over the prefecture. The form to propose an
event is available on the Niigata JET website. Just about anything can be
an AJET event as long as all Niigata AJET members are invited, though
others can be invited as well (and as long as it’s not illegal or morally
questionable). Now that it’s getting colder out, it’s a great time to start
planning ski/snowboard trips and onsen visits!
Finally, I’d like to also thank Addy for all of his hard work bringing this
publication together, as well as all of those who are contributing to it.
Stay warm,
Katrina President, Niigata AJET
Autumnal Reflections by Luke Hamilton Autumn in Akasakayama It’s no secret that few countries demonstrate the diversity of the
seasons with as much flair as Japan. Autumn is no exception. As the
weather grows bitterer with winter’s approach, the Japanese landscapes
become awash with orange, red and gold. People wrap up in layers
before taking to the countryside to observe Japan’s Kouyo (Autumn
colors).
I was invited by some of the teachers I work with to try out Japanese tea
ceremony at a small tea museum in Kashiwazaki city’s Akasakayama park.
Located just off of route 8 (if you are heading south towards Joetsu or
Itoigawa), Akasakayama park is a well-‐kept garden full of winding paths and
maple trees that are clearly at their most vibrant in the autumn season. Entry to
the park (but not the tea museum) is completely free, so it is a great location to
take a relaxing stroll, soak in the peaceful ambience and admire the
transformation of the foliage.
In addition, if you have the time, it’s definitely worth paying a visit to the tea museum,
where you can view a collection of valuable tea-‐related paraphernalia (there are some
beautiful old tea cups dating back about 500 years). Included in the entrance fee is a
short introductory tea ceremony, which takes place in a tatami room whose most
striking feature is a wide window looking out over the autumnal tones of the park’s
foliage. For those without the time or means to take a weekend trip away to
appreciate the Japanese autumn, a brief stop in Akasakayama park is the perfect way
to enjoy all that autumn in Japan has to offer.
Travel Belle
How to get the most out of Kyoto in a few short days.
By Louise Hollywood
Whether you’re a first-‐timer or a
veteran who has been on the JET program for more years than you care to remember, Kyoto is one of the many places in Japan that you could just keep on revisiting. Hailed as the cultural capital of Japan and one of the world’s most beautiful cities, it isn’t hard to understand why this destination is the first on most visitors’ lists. I am no exception, and since my nerve-‐wracking arrival in late July, I’ve been itching to get a taste of this vibrant and captivating city.
However, with more than 1,600 Buddhist temples, over four hundred Shinto shrines, and seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites to view, worship and admire,
Kyoto can be overwhelming, to say the least. Add the hustle and bustle of any 21st-‐century city into the mix and this cultural mammoth can leave visitors feeling they’ve barely touched the tip of the iceberg. I must admit I was nervous to visit this intimidating place.
Maybe it’s the small-‐town Irish girl in me, but huge cities with so much to offer really freak me out. I had the wrong attitude going to Kyoto, a kind of “oh sure, we’ll see what the story is when we get down there!” approach. Oh, how foolish I was. Take my advice—if, like me, you have only a few
precious days in Kyoto and you want to get the most out of them, I would first strongly recommend making an
“…with more than
1,600 Buddhist temples, over four hundred Shinto shrines, and seventeen UNESCO World Heritage Sites to view, worship and admire, Kyoto can be overwhelming, to say the least. ”
itinerary. Unlike our sleepy towns in Niigata, Kyoto is a hectic place, and going without a plan is a huge mistake. If it hadn’t been for the wonderful organization of the girls I traveled with, I wouldn’t have been able to see and do as much as I did; so for that, cheers, loves!
Kyoto, in all its daunting glory, is split into five main districts, and unfortunately for those who only have a few days, the city’s copious landmarks are scattered accordingly. So where to start? First you have to decide what you want to see in Kyoto. Dressing up in maiko gear and parading around Gion might not be everyone’s cup of tea, so fill and plan your days to suit your needs. Being realistic about how many temples you can see in a few short days will also make the elimination process less painful. Do your research and see not only which ones are the most famous, but also which ones you will find most interesting. Once you have your list, check to see which ones are in the same area, and assign a day to explore each area with your chosen landmarks. This way you will save yourself a lot of time, effort, and stress when you arrive in the hubbub of Kyoto station. As soon as you get to Kyoto, I would recommend purchasing the one-‐day
bus pass, which allows unlimited bus rides for 500 yen. The pass saves money and time and can be simply purchased from bus drivers. The Raku bus routes are really useful, as they hit all the major tourist spots, so look out
for these when you get there.
Kyoto is a vast city with lots to do. So how do you know what to see and what not to see, so that you don’t waste the little time you do have? Like I said before, research, but you can also ask your colleagues. Who knows more about traditional Japan than a social studies or Japanese
language teacher? Luckily for us, one of the girls I traveled with got brilliant advice from one such person. Her colleague even gave her a travel book of Kyoto with post-‐its marking the
“ Being realistic
about how many temples you can see in a few short days will also make the elimination process less painful.
”
must-‐sees in each district—what a legend!
The first area we were advised to conquer was Higashiyama, or eastern Kyoto. We were fresh off the night bus and the sun had barely risen, so we took the opportunity to visit one of Kyoto’s most famous and popular temples, Kiyomizudera, which (luckily for us) opens at 6 a.m. Most temples open to the public at 9 a.m., so if you are starting your day early, I would strongly recommend making this magnificent temple the first on your list. It also becomes extremely crowded during the day, especially with school tours, so it’s best to go early in the morning to beat the rush. Adorned with a sacred waterfall (Otawa-‐no-‐taki) and a love shrine (Jishu-‐jinja) with breathtaking views overlooking the city and lush hillside, this temple is a place of not only beauty, but also enchantment. The winding road up to the temple, called Chawan–zaka (Teapot Lane), will probably be your first of many encounters with Kyoto’s famous and delicious omiyage, yatsuhashi. It’s truly glorious; if you are going to see only one temple in Kyoto, make sure it’s this one.
Next on the list, located in northern Higashiyama, was Heian-‐jingu. I was really impressed by this shrine and its absolutely amazing gardens. The sun was just beginning to shine, and it made for beautiful photos by the large pond and Chinese-‐inspired bridge (which is where the final scene in
Memoirs of a Geisha was filmed). It was National Culture Day, so this shrine was buzzing with people garbed in traditional attire, and we were even lucky enough to witness a wedding. This shrine is most famous for its elaborate entranceway—a massive steel torii, located about 500 meters in front of the shrine.
After lunch, we were on the bus again to yet another temple, Sanjusangen-‐do. At the outset, this temple is not as stately as the aforementioned ones. Its magnificence awaits you inside, for within this long, narrow building lay one thousand and one statues of the thousand-‐armed Buddhist deity, Kannon. Standing proudly in front of these statues are twenty-‐eight guardian deities, and flanking these fierce guardians on either end are the powerful statues of the Thunder God
and the Wind God. The atmosphere inside the main hall is of pure reverence, as thousands of silenced people each day walk past the motionless statues of superb craftsmanship. It’s no wonder that this temple is one of Japan’s national treasures.
Next, it was on to Kyoto’s famous Ginkaku-‐ji, which translates as “Silver Pavilion.” Like Kiyomizudera, this temple is one of the seventeen World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. With stunning gardens, tall green hedges, trickling waterfalls, and winding paths up the mountain, it’s not hard to see why, and that’s even before mentioning the temple. Its beauty is hard to describe—just go and you’ll see for yourself. Again, its extreme popularity unfortunately makes this temple crowded, so it’s best to go just after it opens at 8.30 a.m. or just before closing at 5 p.m.
A perfect place to end a busy day is Maruyama Park, located right at the top of Gion. Stroll around its peaceful paths while admiring the beauty of Japanese nature, and finish off by treating yourself to some fruit glazed with melted sugar or some hot and tasty takoyaki, both of which can be bought near the entrance of the park.
We all know the Japanese love a good tour, so what better place to do one than Kyoto? After a good night’s sleep, we decided to start our second day with a walking tour, but not just any walking tour—Johnnie Hillwalker’s walking tour! I must admit I was skeptical to begin with. Old Johnnie Hillwalker, or rather Mr. Hajime Hirooka, seemed a bit preoccupied (or rather—not to be rude—a bit old). However, it wasn’t long before I was
completely absorbed in his unique style of storytelling. It was bizarre, but interesting. On this tour, you really get to explore a side of Kyoto that would be impossible to see otherwise. Mr. Hirooka takes you deep into the heart of its history, beliefs and customs—some of which have died, but he shines light on the ones that are still alive. I don’t
want to say too much about the tour because I don’t want to spoil it for you, but I truthfully cannot recommend it enough. For more information about this tour, visit Johnnie Hillwalker’s website at http://web.kyoto-‐inet.or.jp/people/h-‐s-‐love.
Another reason I loved Johnnie so much was that after his five-‐hour tour ended, he hailed us a taxi to catch a geiko and maiko dance performance at the Gion Kaikan. I’m extremely glad I went to this, as it turned out to be the 54th annual performance of the
“At one point, he
took us into a cultural center, seated us on the floor hidden from the staff’s beady eyes, and told us about his father’s love of geisha and his mother’s hatred. ”
famed Gion Odori. I hadn’t a clue what was going on, and to be honest, I found it all a bit strange, but it’s like when I went to the sumo wrestling competition in Tokyo—I feel it’s one of those things that I have to see while I’m in Japan. For events in Gion throughout the year, check out http://gion-‐east.jp/en. We finished our day with a stroll through the beautiful streets of Gion, finally ending on the banks of the Kamo River listening to some live music with a bottle of wine. Perfection.
The next day, we decided to visit the Imperial Palace and Nijo Castle. Although technically the former is in central Kyoto and the latter in northwest Kyoto, there was only a short walk between the two, even though a bus is available from the Imperial Palace. Unfortunately, the weather wasn’t great for us and both the palace and the castle, although beautiful, were packed with tourists. The castle really stood out for me—it’s surrounded by a moat, and inside the castle a magnificent landscape of lush greenery unfolds. However, I would recommend a dry, clear day to get those beautiful shots.
An ideal next stop from Nijo Castle would be Kinkaku-‐ji, as it’s also located in northwest Kyoto. However, unfortunately for us, we got terribly lost and ended up arriving at the
temple an hour too late. Note to self: most temples, if not all, close at 5 p.m.! Not to worry—we managed to fit the golden beauty in on our last day, but not before experiencing two more essential landmarks, Fushimi Inari Shrine and Byodo-‐in. Fushimi Inari, which is located in the southeast of the city, is exceptional beyond words. A pathway meanders four kilometers up the mountainside, lined with hundreds of red torii. It’s magnificent and I would definitely save a few hours to see this shrine. We were in a rush, as it was our last day, so we couldn’t make the entire hike, which was disappointing. From here we went to Byodo-‐in, which is the temple on the back of the 10-‐yen coin. Admire the famous Phoenix Hall and walk inside the main hall, where you’ll find the famous statue of Amida Buddha and fifty-‐two bodhisattvas.
Our final destination was, of course, Kinkaku-‐ji, which translates as “Golden Pavilion.” Although it’s on the opposite side of the city from Byodo-‐in, I couldn’t have left Kyoto without seeing it. Situated in the middle of a lake, and surrounded by gorgeous scenery, this gold-‐leaf temple is probably one of Kyoto’s most visited sites. It is usually teeming with people from all over the world, so again, getting there right before it opens at 9 a.m. or right before it closes at 5 p.m. might be a good idea.
As I write this, I’m realizing more and more how much there is still to see; places like Nishiki Market and the Museum of Kyoto and of course the entire western district of the city, Arashiyama. Though I’m also pretty impressed by how much we covered for our first visit, it only makes me more anxious to get back down there and continue my exploration of this amazing city. Take this as a rough guide of what there is on offer in
Kyoto and make your trip your own; it’s not going to suit everyone. Like my mother always says, “One man’s meat is another man’s poison.” For those of you who’ve tasted the beauty already, I hope this has helped you re-‐live the wonderful memories I’m sure you had in Kyoto. For those of you who have yet to experience this class city, never fear—the surface is only waiting to be scratched.
ALT SPOTL IGHT by Shaun Smith
In this instalment of Spotlight we catch up with first-year ALT, Laura Coakley, to see what she's been up to in the quaint and beautiful city of Kamo.
Laura is an imperialist - a one woman army out to conquer the world. Her methods: goodwill, an open mind and a hug. Hailing from the English port city, Bristol, Laura, in her short twenty-five years has seen and done more than most have in a lifetime.
She always knew she wanted to travel and after graduating from the University of Birmingham with a joint-degree in English and Drama, she didn’t waste time fulfilling this dream. With a magic ticket that brought her to over thirty countries world-wide, Laura was clearly bitten long ago by the traveling bug. She has now set her teeth into Japan savouring every precious bite - and we’re all better off because of it.
Most awesome experience so far? The best thing for me is how happy some of the kids are to see you. But if I had to pin one experience, I'd say dancing along Kamo's river with hundreds of other people during a festival in the summer.
Why JET? Why not?
Favorite place in Niigata?
It's corny but I'd have to say Kamo. It's sleepy and its biggest attraction is an imported squirrel park -‐ but it's so pretty. It’s becoming home, and I'm not sure if there are friendlier people anywhere else in the world.
Greatest discovery? How beautiful Japan is -‐ that and how Japanese women draw scary faces on their boobs when they want their kids to stop breastfeeding (brilliant!). A 4,000 yen shark in the supermarket -‐ I could go on.
How do you cope? Sometimes not very well, but I've got some great friends out here that get me through. They will take the piss out of me for saying this but I feel so lucky. Everyone feels low at different times so you can support each other when you need it, and laugh about it afterwards.
After JET? …is a good question. Maybe teaching, maybe traveling, maybe something I've not discovered yet…
What do you want to see or do the most? Sumo wrestling. (And that would be see not do, although I'd give it a try!)
Most epic fail?
I've accidently been a few places in my slippers - but I think my finest moment was trying to tell a guy that his wife was beautiful by using the (very similar) word for hate. Fortunately, he saw the funny side!
Niigata’s Noise An ISSUE BY ISSUE GLIMPSE INTO WHAT’S WEARING OUT AN ALT’S IPOD Battery AND WHY. THIS ISSUE :
Riding fresh on the critical acclaim of their debut album, Lungs, ethereal British pop outfit Florence & the Machine deliver Ceremonials, another collection of balladic, tribal-‐pop songs that ultimately serve as a thrilling testimony to all that has worked so well for the group so far. Acknowledged for her eccentricity, huge voice, and quirky style, front woman Florence Welch has clearly upped the ante in this new production, drawing on everything that made Lungs such a success and producing a darker, more refined musical experience in Ceremonials. Marking a confident return to the themes explored with cautious trepidation in her more experimental first album, this latest offering sees Florence putting that enormous voice of hers to work. An arguably darker and more haunting expedition than before, Florence draws inspiration from a variety of outlets for Ceremonials. These won’t be of any great shock to existing fans as Florence battles with personal demons,
contemplates the duality of heaven and hell, and treads the fragile line separating life and death. Despite such ominous subject matter, however, it’s not all doom and gloom. Accompanied by the trademark earth-‐shaking drums and gratuitous harp crescendos of
her “Machine,” Florence expertly offsets the ghosts and darkness with exultant vocals and intermittent silver linings in the shape of foot-‐stomping anthems such as “Heartlines,” perhaps this album’s answer to the hit “Cosmic
Love” from a few years back. Even the supremely haunting “Seven Devils” is drawn out of the shadows by Florence’s soaring voice. The sheer enormity of Florence’s voice is an omnipresent feature of this record, and there is no doubt that she has a singular talent, as is evident from the show-‐stopping single “No Light, No Light” in which she barrels headlong into the instruments of her torment armed with nothing other than some impressive sustained notes. However, as the tracks on the album progress, a pattern quickly
PUSHING BOUNDARIES WITH FLORENCE & THE MACHINE: CEREMONIALS by Luke Hamilton
“The SHEER
ENORMITY OF
FLORENCE’S
VOICE IS AN
OMNIPRESENT
FEATURE OF
THIS record…”
emerges. Everything about this album is, in a word, huge. What initially is an awesome display of audacity in such fantastic singles as “Shake it Out” and “What the Water Gave Me” (an exploratory tribute to the death of Virginia Woolf) begins to lose its novelty when it becomes apparent that the explosive force and the loudness of the album’s singles is present in pretty much each and every track. The confidence with which Florence launches the fruits of her labor on Ceremonials is no doubt impressive, but there are points where one can’t help but question Florence’s control over her art. To its credit, at no point does Ceremonials become boring. Luckily, Florence is able to temper her ferocity enough to give our eardrums and her own vocal chords intermittent respite in gentler tracks like “Breaking Down” and the downbeat “Remain
Nameless.” Nitpicking aside, Ceremonials is easily one of my favourite albums of this year, and its multitude of upbeat tracks will make my daily trudge to work through the snow of Niigata’s winter that little bit shorter. For any music lover to miss out on it would be a tremendous shame. Florence delivers what she promises: a ceremony. Finding a niche and establishing one’s musical foundation is something to celebrate, and Ceremonials is nothing if not jubilant.
Florence and the Machine LIVE @ Tokyo Akasaka BLITZ
If there’s anything I’ve learned from listening to Ceremonials, it’s that in order to feel the full effect of Florence’s music it simply must be heard live; in a huge venue, complete with seismic acoustics that can accommodate the scale of Florence & the Machine’s entire production. Conveniently, on February 1st 2012, she’s planning on visiting Tokyo as a part of her upcoming Ceremonials tour! Check out the following link for more information about the venue and ticket details. Unfortunately, that date happens to be smack bang in the middle of a workweek and will more than likely require a day or two of nenkyu to attend. Also, the information site below only seems to be in Japanese but if you’re like me and have less than stellar Japanese then make a bee-‐line for your supervisor! http://smash-‐jpn.com/band/2012/02_florence/index.php See you there!
Niigata-‐based Studio Ghibli fans can delight in this whimsical exhibition
of the miniature made large.
In connection with Studio Ghibli’s 2010 film Karigurashi no Arietty (The
Secret World of Arietty), a
special exhibit has been
making the rounds of Japan’s
art galleries, coming to its
latest stop in the Niigata
Prefectural Museum of
Modern Art. Following a
successful stint in Tokyo’s
Museum of Contemporary
Art, the exhibition, Fusing
Fantasy with Reality, allows
people living in or around
Niigata Prefecture the unique
opportunity to immerse
themselves fully in one of
Ghibli’s beloved stories.
Putting Things in Perspective with Yohei
Taneda:
Fusing Fantasy with Reality by Luke Hamilton
Loosely based on Mary Norton’s
1952 children’s fantasy novel
The Borrowers, Ghibli’s animated
film follows the adventures of a
family of tiny people who lead a
secretive existence under the
foundations of regular-‐sized
homes. These
people make their
living by
“borrowing”
supplies under
cover of darkness
from the humans
living above. The
movie follows the
perspective of the protagonist,
Arietty, whose exploits in the
film present us with the unusual
visual spectacle of a mysterious
world existing right below our
feet, one that is otherwise
invisible to the naked eye. As is
typical of Studio Ghibli’s work,
the viewer is given a unique and
magical projection of a world
that previously would only have
been possible in the imagination.
Award-‐winning production
designer Yohei Taneda
(responsible for work on Kill Bill
Vol. 1, among other films) brings
that dream to life in Fusing
Fantasy with
Reality, an
opportunity for
members of the
public to explore
scale
representations of
scenes from the
movie.
Taneda replicates the movie’s
sense of miniature in a dramatic
fashion, and after entering the
exhibit it soon becomes very
easy to immerse oneself in the
daily lives of the miniscule
people who populate the film’s
world. Such is the meticulous
attention to detail in each of the
set pieces that we can
“…the viewer is given a
unique and magical projection of a world that previously would only have been possible in the imagination.
”
appreciate the practicality of
objects that we would otherwise
discard. Cola can rings become
hangers, postage stamps
become decorative posters,
thimbles are used as lampshades,
and tiny fairy-‐lights illuminate
entire rooms. The exhibition
magnifies this eclectic collection
of odds and ends to massive
proportion, allowing us to
imagine that we actually are no
more than a couple of
centimeters tall.
In addition, buying a ticket also
grants you access to a special
exhibit reflecting on blueprints,
sketches and concept art from
some of Taneda’s previous
projects. As Taneda’s work
undoubtedly plays a key role in
developing the ambience and
feel of his movies, this
retrospective serves to establish
set design as not just practical
but also an art form in itself. It is
a humbling and one-‐of-‐a-‐kind
experience and will surely appeal
even to those who are unfamiliar
with Studio Ghibli.
Unfortunately, photography is
prohibited in the galleries and it
is very difficult to capture the
style and integrity of Taneda’s
work within the limitations of a
few paragraphs. However, fans
of Studio Ghibli, modern art,
production design, or all of the
above—or those who are simply
looking for a few hours of
escapism—can look no further
than this exhibit.
More Information
Location:
The Niigata Prefectural Museum of Modern Art, Nagaoka City, Niigata
Dates:
November 3 2011 – January 15 2012
Admission:
Adults 1200 yen, students 1000 yen
(200-yen discount for groups)
Link:
http://www.lalanet.gr.jp/kinbi/english/index.html
(includes access details and information about the museum’s exhibits and
opening hours in English)
Niigata Cuisine Take a Bite Out of Life A Trip to the La Saishun Yakiniku Restaurant
By Jonathan Robinson
La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet is a wonderful
yakiniku restaurant that gets things right.
From the menu options to its great
pricing, La Saishun,
with its relaxing
atmosphere, is a
great place to
enjoy a well-‐
deserved meal
after a long and
busy week. The staff is quite friendly and
helpful, and unlike other yakiniku buffets
I've eaten at, they come quite promptly to
assist you and make sure things are going
well throughout your meal. The
restaurant is well-‐lit, spacious and
comfortable, with a large number of
seating options to accommodate your
party size.
One of the best features of La Saishun is
its ordering system. Instead of the typical
push-‐button-‐tell-‐
server approach,
every table comes
equipped with an
iPad, on which you
can directly view
the menu options
and place your orders. It also conveniently
displays the amount of time left for your
meal, and can list your orders over the
course of the meal as well. There are
several courses to choose from, ranging in
price from about ¥2000–¥5000; courses
are priced differently for men and
women, and offer different cuts and types
of meat (beef, pork,and chicken), seafood
and sushi, side dishes, drinks, and
desserts. My preferred menu is the 上級
(joukyuu) course, which is ¥2980 for men
and ¥2780 for women. It’s a two-‐hour
course which includes 140 items to
choose from. That’s a bit much to break
down here, but the options range from
hanasaki calbee beef (a tender cut taken
from the ribs and
partially sliced in
the shape of a
flower, which
helps draw out the
deeper savory
flavor of the meat as it cooks) to grilled
lemon butter shrimp and teriyaki mayo
chicken. Sides include rice, Korean and
Chinese dishes, ramen, doria, French fries,
and more. There is a full range of soft
drink options, and the soft drink bar is
included in the meal price. If you’re
interested in drinking, various cocktails
and alcoholic drinks are available for the
duration of your meal for an extra ¥1000,
and this can be applied on an individual
basis, so those who don't want to drink
won't have to be inconvenienced with a
higher bill. For dessert, options such as ice
cream, pancakes, crepes,
and soft almond tofu
change seasonally and
depending upon your
course level. La Saishun
really gives you a great
experience and value for the cost, so if
you're looking to try somewhere new, I
absolutely recommend you check this
place out.
Happy eating!
La Saishun Yakiniku Buffet Niigata City Akiba Ku Furuta 1-4-11 Tel: 0250-21-3311 Hours: 5:30pm - 11pm (Last Order is at 10:30)
The Hungry Binbō By Shaun Smith
Omelette + Rice = Omurice.
Japan’s very own answer to America’s Mac n’ Cheese.
Omurice is one of those dishes
that you can throw together when you’re a week away from payday, broke and running out of supplies fast. But Omurice is not only efficient but also extremely delicious.
Beautifully simple in concept, Omurice consists of fried rice wrapped cozily in a thin blanket of egg. The great thing about this dish
is that you can toss in virtually anything as long as the structural components are there. Make it ovo-‐vegetarian. Make it with bacon. Make it with seafood. Make it with all three. You don’t need much, but with a little, you can create a real pleasure feast.
For a simple, delicious and efficient meal within minutes, check out the basic instructions below to get you started on your own Omurice experiments.
Ingredients:
• 360ml dry rice, steamed
• 2 eggs (per serving)
• 1/2 sweet onion, minced
• 3-‐4 small green peppers,
minced
• 2 cups mushrooms, sliced
• 6-‐7 ham slices, sliced
• Ketchup
• Milk (about as much as
you’d need to make an
omelets)
• Salt
• Pepper
• Worcestershire sauce
Method:
1. Coat a frying pan with olive oil. Add vegetables, ham, and cook until
onions are translucent.
2. Add the cooked rice along with sauces and seasonings to taste, and
cook until golden brown.
3. Remove fried rice from pan and set aside.
4. Crack two eggs in a bowl. Season with salt, pepper and brown sugar.
Add milk and beat into a fine liquid.
5. Heat the frying pan on high heat and add oil. Pour the egg mixture into
the pan and scramble with chopsticks for a few seconds. Smooth out
the egg mixture by whirling the pan gently on the flame.
6. While the egg is still in the pan, place a healthy serving of fried rice on
top. Remove the pan from the heat.
7. Wrap the omelette around the rice and flip onto a plate. 8. Enjoy!
You should end up with a bunch of fried rice.
Keep this in the fridge for when you need a quick meal!
NIIGATA STYLE FILE by Luke Hamilton & Louise Hollywood
From the rice-‐fields of rural Joetsu to the
bustling metropolis of Niigata city, we give
you an exclusive insight into the fashion
habits, advice and blunders of Niigata
prefecture’s most stylish residents.
Name Maika Kanno Age 24 Background Born in Joetsu city but attended high school in New Zealand, followed by 3 years studying for a degree in Fine Art at the University of Los Angeles. Occupation Eikaiwa Teacher
WEARING Cardigan Nordstram Dept Store Dress H&M Belt Flea market in LA Boots Zara Earrings www.jewelmint.com Watch Baby G Glasses Burberry Necklace-‐ Family gift
How much do you spend on clothing or accessories per month? I try to keep my shopping under control but it usually comes to around 15000 yen. Favorite Clothing Shop Forever 21 and H&M Favorite Label Forever 21 and MAC (makeup) Favorite Item of Clothing All of my earrings! 3 things you couldn’t live without
1. Shopping
2. My art (particularly
photography and sculpture)
3. My family
Worst Fashion Blunder I used to tuck my t-‐shirt into my trousers and shorts! What was I thinking!? Fashion Icon I admire Lady Gaga’s creativity but I don’t think I will be trying out a meat dress anytime soon! Best Bargain Clothing in Japan is generally expensive but I think Uniqlo often has some good deals!
“Only In Japan”
By Carol Pinnock
I think we all knew before we came here that Japan would be quite a different experience from what we are used to at home, but I didn’t expect to be constantly befuddled by things that happen here. How many times have you had an experience here and thought to yourself, “This could only happen in Japan”? I don’t know about you, but I find myself saying this ever so often. Don’t get me wrong; a lot of the time my amazement includes a healthy bit of awe and respect for the way of life here, but at other times I’m just utterly confused. Although we who live here eventually assimilate and come to see some of these things as second nature, it only takes the eyes of a visiting relative to remind you that many things are, quite simply, idiosyncratic. One thing that got me saying “Only in Japan” is called a shuukinbako (money collection box). Usually you see them at unmanned fruit and vegetable stands. I get really excited about fruits and vegetables and I happen to be lucky enough to teach in a school where kids grow and sell them very cheaply. Sometimes, the students walk around from department to department selling items, but usually they set up a small stall in the teacher’s entrance. It sounds convenient, but almost every time I went there to buy something, there was no one manning the stall! You can imagine I wasn't too thrilled with this business practice, and I always wondered how they made any money. I barely even noticed the little red box on the table, because of course, outside of using a vending machine, you expect to hand your money over to someone to get what you want. This didn’t only happen at school. As I travelled around my town, I would see nicely displayed veggie stalls on the street, and again, there was never a person in sight. I was always really confused by this, especially because the next time I passed the stall, the merchandise would have dwindled without the appearance of an actual person.
One day, out of utter frustration, I finally asked one of my teachers. Well, if I wasn’t confused before I certainly was now. She explained that the process was quite simple—pick what you want and put the money in the red box. I thought, “What? Are you crazy, lady?”, but she seemed pretty sure. With no supervision, no accountability, people are trusted to simply take the desired produce from the table and place the equivalent cash in the box. Apparently this is normal behavior in Japan! It never even crosses people’s minds to be dishonest or try to cheat the system. You have to admire the honor code here, and the fact that once you live here, you are expected to uphold that code as well. It’s something really simple, but I think that it goes a long way in reminding people of the spirit of community so essential to the Japanese psyche and the roles and responsibilities of each citizen. To me, this little red box is a reiteration of a sense of safety and security, a symbol of restraint and respect and a reminder that I am now a part of the community whose members are expected to act in a way that benefits not the self, but everyone. I’m not sure this shuukinbako practice would work successfully anywhere else, but you have to admire the fact that in Japan, it works like a charm. In this case, when I say “only in Japan,” it has no pejorative connotations at all, and I actually feel a kind of wistful sadness that something like this isn’t more commonplace. In any case, until something like this can effectively and efficiently be used all over the world, it is one of the things for which I am only too happy to say “Only in Japan.”
Tech Corner
by Steven Gore One of the main goals of educators worldwide is to build intrinsic motivation within their students. Intrinsic motivation is motivation that comes from an internal source, such as one’s will, sense of responsibility, or desire to act. Unfortunately, it is also one of the more difficult types of motivation to inspire. I believe technology can help by giving the children an opportunity to have a direct effect on the outcome of the lesson, making the classroom experience more real and exciting. Therefore, it is the mission of this section to spread awareness of technologies that can be easily (and cheaply!) implemented to add that extra element to the classroom. A random name generator is a quick and easy way to do this. I first used one to help some of my fifth graders give their self-‐introductions a special flair, but it’s definitely something that can be used for any grade level at any time in the semester. Since it’s an English class, I had the students use the name generator to give themselves an English
name to use throughout the semester. Names can also be assigned just for a particular activity, or on the fly as an extra element of fun. Plenty of random name generators can be found on the internet, but if internet access is a problem, there are also some available for download. It was a small addition to the lesson, but my students’ attention level definitely increased! A sample generator: http://download.cnet.com/Random-‐Name-‐Generator/3000-‐2130_4-‐10058754.html
ARIES A wise investment will save you 3man yen this month. I recommend pancake futures.
TAURUS Today is your lucky day! The yuki fairy just saw its own shadow. That means two more weeks of fall for you. Or wait, was it two more weeks of winter?
GEMINI I notice the ki of byou is strong about you. If the Moon of Pluto faces northeast in Jupiter, you will find your hands free at work due to a passing cold front. If it faces west by east, an actual cold may hit you instead!
CANCER Take your pick—super-powered bugs, aliens, or humans. A guy or two in a mask are coming to save you later today. Try not to act too surprised; it was only a matter of time!
LEO Three kids distract you while a fourth gets the kancho for the win. Be leery of piggyback rides today.
VIRGO A wild Ken Watanabe appears… keep your master balls handy.
LIBRA Oops, schoolyard mobile suit fight! Looks like you'll be in need of a new school to teach at!
SCORPIO Look out!!
SAGITARRIUS The force is weak with this one...
AQUARIUS The position of the sun in Mars suggests that you really enjoy the fine culinary tradition known to some as sushi. However, the shine off the eastern rim of Jupiter in Venus suggests that there are others who call this murder. Be careful of vengeful schools.
CAPRICORN Fortune for a quarter, I LOVE quarters! Give me a quarter, I'll read your pa—I mean, you'll find much success with your current lesson plan.
PISCES A trip to Sendai will leave you endowed with powers unimaginable. Avoid squat toilets.
ALT Horoscopes
by Jonathan Robinson
