The
X-Pat Files
April
2008
(Brought
to you by H&R Consultants)
The X-Pat Files
Community E-Newsletter provides a forum for the spread
of information useful for English speakers living in Aichi. You can use
the newsletter as an informational resource, and of course you can send in
information you would like to share.
This
newsletter is a community service from The Japan Real Estate and Relocation
company, H&R Consultants and
is edited by Sue Conolly.
Contents
for This Edition
1. New
Bicycle Laws
2. Bicycle Ownership
3. Living the Bike Life
4. Bicycle Shops in Nagoya
5. Recycled Bicycles
6. One Life Japan
7. Meet
and Greet Luncheon
8. Hanami
Spots (Cherry Blossom Viewing)
9. Business Opportunities and Events
10. The Here and Now
**************************************************
1.
New Bicycle Laws
The
National Police Agency has passed new laws that will come into full effect from
the 16th of June, 2008. An illustrated
pamphlet describing the changes is available online,
but only in Japanese. The new laws
govern that:
*
footpaths may only be used for walking, except in the case of small children or
where the road and traffic do not allow safe passage of a bicycle. In certain cases, there will be a
bicycle lane provided on the footpath, in which case bicycles have right of way
only in that section of the footpath (penalties of up to 50,000 yen)
*
Children under the age of 13 must wear a helmet, even if they are only a
passenger on the bike.
* bikes
must be ridden on the left hand side of the road (penalty of up to 50,000 yen)
*
bicycles on the footpath must always give way to pedestrians, in particular to
elderly people (penalty of 20,000 yen)
* you
may never ride a bike under the influence of alcohol (penalty of up to 100,000
yen)
*
“doubling” a person over the age of six is prohibited (penalty of up to 20,000
yen)
* riding
in tandem with another bicycle is prohibited (penalty of up to 20,000 yen)
* riding
at night without a light is prohibited (penalty of up to 20,000 yen)
* you
must adhere to all traffic signals and stop signs (penalty of up to 50,000 yen)
* you
may not use a cell phone while riding a bike
* you
may not use an umbrella while riding a bike
**************************************************
2.
Bicycle Ownership
Riding a
bicycle is a good option for those who live too far from the station to walk,
but not far enough to warrant a bus.
It’s also an eco-friendly alternative to clogging the road with more
cars. However, be aware of the
precautions you should take to prevent your bicycle from being stolen, or
confiscated by the police.
Bicycle
Registration
Places
where bicycles are sold register your bicycle to your name with the prefectural
police, so that if your bike is stolen it can be traced back to you. This registration system is called jitensha
bohan toroku.
When you buy the bike, the retailer will attach a registration seal to
your bicycle and give you a registration card so that if your bike is ever
stolen (or confiscated) you’ll have something to show the police as your proof
of ownership. If you buy a
second-hand bike from someone else, make sure you’re also buying their
registration card, then you can visit any bicycle shop or home centre to change
the registration details.
Beware
of purchasing a second-hand bike without a registration card, especially if the
bike has a registration seal but no card as the bike may have been stolen. Once an unregistered bicycle or a
bicycle that has been registered in someone else’s name is found in your
possession you can get in fairly serious trouble, so don’t skip this important
process.
Bicycle
Confiscation
If you
leave your bike parked near one of these signs on the street, it will be confiscated immediately. Also, even if your bike is parked in a
non-restricted area if it is left there for more than seven days it will also
be confiscated. Even if your bike
is chained to a railing, that chain will be cut in order to confiscate the
bicycle.
If your
bicycle has been confiscated, the first thing to do is to find out where the
nearest holding station (jitensha hokan
basho) is located. You must do this within 1 month of the
bicycle being confiscated, or you may find your bike in a recycle shop!
To find
the holding station where your bike is being held, ask around the place where
you left your bike, or to be absolutely certain consult with your local ward
office. The following is a list of
holding stations and maps in Nagoya and Toyota City, but unless your bike is
confiscated in the direct vicinity of one of these places, your bicycle might
not have been taken to the closest one.
Holding stations around Nagoya are open Monday to Saturday, 2pm to
7pm. It will cost you 1500 yen to
reclaim a bicycle and 3000 yen to reclaim a scooter. You will need to bring your bicycle key, gaijin card, something proving ownership (registration card) and inkan (personal seal) if you have one.
Map of bicycle
holding stations Nagoya-wide
Yomogidai (Meito-ku, near Issha Station)
Fukiage (Chikusa-ku, near Tsurumai
Station)
Toyoda (Minami-ku, near Doutoku Station)
Utazato (Nishi-ku, near Shonai Ryokuchi
Koen Station)
Koumei (Minato-ku, near Minato Kuyakusho
Station)
Bicycle
Paid Parking
There
are a number of designated parking areas outside stations that will, for a fee,
provide a secure environment for you to park your bicycle. These parking areas are always manned,
so while it is still necessary for you to lock your bike, it will be much
harder for would-be thieves to nab your bike. The price is negligible (about 100 yen per time or 2000 yen
per month) and you’ll never have to worry about your bike.
Bicycle
Theft
Bicycles
are stolen quite often in Japan.
When I first came to Japan I was told that stealing a bicycle was often
like stealing an umbrella - when some drunk person needs one they just “borrow”
the most convenient one and abandon it after use. I don’t know if the same holds true now, but please do take
precautions to keep your bike safe, particularly in the case of new or good
quality bikes. I’ve been told that
one good thing to do is to get a chain long enough to chain both wheels to a convenient
post (to stop any would-be thief from just taking off one wheel to make away
with the rest of the bike)
If your
bike is stolen, report it immediately to the nearest police box (koban) or police station. If you’ve
taken my advice up until now, you’ve registered your bike and you have a
registration card to show the police so that if they find the bike they can
return it to you. Some bicycles
unfortunately will never come home, but if you do all that you can you are
increasing your chances of recovery significantly.
Bicycle
Insurance
When you
buy a bike, as well as the registration process you’ll be asked if you want to
cover the bicycle with theft insurance (tonan hoken). This is up to the
individual, but if it’s a cheaper bike you might not want to pay the extra
insurance for this.
Get
a Lock
Bicycles
purchased in Japan will usually come with a simple wheel lock and a key. If this seems insufficient, you can buy
a chain and lock or combination lock easily at the home centre or anywhere that
bicycles are sold. Be careful
where you lock your bike, however, as some places (particularly in front of
stations) are designated no-go
zones and your bike, lock and all will be
confiscated by the city.
**************************************************
3.
Living the Bike Life - an interview with Lowell Sheppard
Lowell Sheppard moved to Japan 11 years ago as a middle aged married man, and within one
year had taken up the new hobby of cycling AND had ridden his bike right up the
length of Japan, chasing the cherry blossom season as it moved from the warmer
climate of Kyushu to the colder climate of Hokkaido. He wrote a book about his experiences, Chasing the Cherry Blossoms (Lion Publishing, 2001) which has been published in several languages
including Japanese.
What
makes a man take off on a mammoth cycling journey, and what can we learn from
his experience? I caught up with Lowell one sunny spring day. The
cherry blossoms were blooming outside, and I was at my computer keyboard,
Lowell was at his. Life is busy for us all, but what rewards can we
expect when we stop for a moment to smell the cherry blossoms?
Why
did you take up cycling?
Economics.
We were living on my wife`s income alone when we moved to Japan in early 1997
and I was working on a post graduate degree. I decided to ride a
bike to save money. My wife suggested that I trade English lessons for a
bike with a local bike shop owner, so I did. We agreed on an hour a week,
and in return a Specialized Hard Tail Mountain Bike worth 150,000. He
measured me up, ordered a 19 inch frame, and took a couple of weeks to rig it
up. It was 11 years ago this month! Within minutes of riding away from his shop
in Seto the day I picked it up, I was stricken with a love for cycling and
being out of doors. In the end, the guy only showed up four times always claiming
he was busy. I figure I was the highest paid English teacher in Japan
that year! I had never had a decent bike before, and it was a noticeable
difference to any bike I had ridden before.
What
on earth made you decide to travel the length of Japan by bicycle, and why
specifically the cherry blossom season?
About
six months into having a bike and while doing my research into my dissertation
(changes in Japanese Youth Culture), I came up with a crazy notion . .
`Wouldn`t it be a great thing to travel the length of Japan during cherry
blossom season, and follow the front has it progresses northward, meeting and
interviewing Japanese during this festive season under the blossoms.`
Where
did you stay?
Minshuku, ryokan, and government lodges. I also camped
a couple of times. I revelled in the delights of Japanese Accommodation
and the treat of dipping into hot springs at least a couple of times a
day. A reviewer in the Daily Telegraph who reviewed my book alongside
Josie Dew`s chronicle of her bike ride throughout Japan, criticized me for
`luxuriating in hot springs every evening` while Josie Dew, a truly hard core
long distance cyclist, went `fifty days without a bath`. Interestingly
enough, the sales of my book spiked the weekend the paper contained the review
of my book. Obviously there are a lot of people out there who fancy the
idea of `luxuriating.` This is what makes cycling so much of an all round
experience. But for those who want to camp, like Josie Dew (really, 50
days with out a bath???) camping opportunities abound in Japan too.
Including public parks as long as you pitch up later in the evening and gone
before the crowds come in the morning.
That’s
funny! It’s amusing to me that any
book reviewer would see it as a good thing that someone would stay away
from the onsen while cycling around
Japan. It’s one of the great
things about Japan that you can rely on your environment and travel “light”
while still being able to revive tired muscles in a hot open bath. What did you take with you on your
travels?
I had
panniers (saddle bags) and had a couple of cycling shorts, shirts, long
trousers - essentially the bare minimum. Most evenings I
`luxuriated` in the yukata provided at my accommodation.
That’s
another example of how Japan can assist those trying to travel light - the
cotton yukata that double as pyjamas. Are there some highlights from your
trip that stood out for you?
Wow . .
many - the scenery, the food, the back roads, the surprises, the people!
Buy the book for more!
How
about some low-lights? Was there ever a time you thought you might not
make it?
My knees
giving out in Northern Japan and the tunnels.
Speaking
of tunnels, did you ever feel that you were in danger (on the roads)? How
about riding in Nagoya?
No,
never. But there are some evil men behind the steering wheels of
trucks! In Nagoya I have had two head on collisions . . .both were with
high school boys on bikes!
With
this mammoth trip (and other trips) under your belt, how is cycling a part of your
life now?
I
commute to my office in Fushimi from Owariasahi. It’s about 16 kilometres
and I get there faster (and cheaper) than if I took the subway.
Where
do you get your bikes?
I have
several bikes now . . .. the one I rode up Japan was custom made by a
frame maker in Montreal - it was paid as part of my deal to write a book about
the trip. Pipedream sponsored me to ride a bike across Cambodia two years
ago. And I have a local bike shop I like in Owariasahi. But I still
use the original Specialized Hard Tail. It has made more than one journey
from Nagoya to and from the Japanese Alps.
Do
you have any advice for someone out there who's never been serious about
cycling before but wants to give it a try?
You have
to take the leap and buy the bike. Spend at least 100,000 yen, and if you
do not like you will get some of your money back. Do not be afraid, and
here in Nagoya you can be out of the city in no time by bicycle.
The
bikes I would recommend people check out are made by Trek.
Children`s bikes, commuter bikes, road bikes and mountain bikes. . . they have
them all. Remember, that with bikes you get what you pay for. If
you buy off the shelf of a department store, it may look good for a few months,
but it will not ride nice and I guarantee you that in five years you will not
be riding it.
Personally
I am not a fan of cross bikes/ commuter bikes. Choose whether you want to
go off road or stay on road and then buy either a mountain bike or a road bike.
There are great single and double tracks in the Nagoya area for the mountain
bike enthusiast. Plus you can ride a mountain bike in the city. Great for
up and down off the sidewalk. But, if you want to do long distance, buy a road
bike . . . and check out Trek!! They are supporters of HOPE and they make
great bikes. Lance Armstrong rides
a Trek.
**************************************************
4.
Bicycle Shops in Nagoya
Buying a
bicycle in Japan, first consider your needs. You will see many housewives riding around on their “Mama-Chari” (Mama’s bike) with a big basket on the front for shopping, and these bikes
can be fitted with a child seat on the back, or front, or both!
For very
basic biking needs, to the station and back or up and around the park with the
kids, you’ll be able to pick up a new bicycle for around 10,000 yen at a home
center, Sports Authority or even Toys ‘R’ Us. All the basic gear you’ll need like helmets and locks will
be there too, as will the paperwork you have to fill in to register the bike.
If
you’re buying a bicycle directly from someone else, make sure that you get the
key to the bicycle lock, and the registration card. When I was first in Japan I was sold a stolen bike, and
while I narrowly escaped getting in trouble, it was an awful experience.
For
higher end bikes, I came across an online map of Bicycle shops in the Nagoya area. Even though the website is in Japanese, the clickable,
zoomable map makes it extremely easy to find the bike shop closest to you. Click on each of the markers and you
will get the shop’s name, a link to their own website, opening hours and of
course the telephone number which you can use to program a car navigation
system.
A friend
of mine has been to HottSpin (which appears on the
above mentioned map), a serious bike shop near Issha Station on the Higashiyama
line. The owner speaks a little
English and is very used to foreign clientele. From Issha Station, heading away from Nagoya on the main
road, turn left at the next corner (there is a gas station) and Hottspin will
be on your left (click here for a
map and a picture of the building). The Manager, Horita-san (whose nickname is
“Hottie”) was born in Nagoya and has been a serious rider since his teens. You can see photos of Hottie if you
click here.
For
bicycle shops that stock the Trek bikes that are mentioned in the interview
above, the following is a partial list translated from the Japanese website of Trek bikes.
Kato Cycle near Sakura-honmachi Station (052-811-3741)
Zunow Tube near Hisaya-Odori Station (052-973-3727)
Velo
Works near Hongo Station (052-775-2323)
Cycle Shop Hikaru in Toyota City near Uwagoromo Station (0565-34-0665)
Kamihagi Cycles in Komaki City (0568-73-8311)
Leggero in Ichinomiya City (0586-46-3800)
Senga Cycle in Tsushima City (0567-26-3925)
**************************************************
5.
Recycled Bicycles
Where
does your confiscated bicycle go if you didn’t bother to register it or pick it
up from the holding station? It
gets recycled to one of over 100 recycle shops in Nagoya.
Check
out the bicycle shops on the list below for some police confiscation
bargains! The list is not complete
(and strangely has no listings at all for Meito-ku). It mainly lists the stores that are close to public
transport in Nagoya (and some in Toyota).
You should be able to use the phone numbers in your car navigation if
you are going by car.
Iijima
Cycle in Moriyama-ku (052-793-0083)
Kawai
Jitensha near Moriyama Jieitai-mae (052-791-5357)
Yamada
Jitensha in Narumi (052-621-4005)
Hirabari
Motor Cycle (052-803-6137)
Kato
Auto-cycle near Chayagasaka Station (052-711-3838)
Matsusou
Cycle near Sunadabashi Station (052-722-1720)
Kurita
Ringyo across the road from McDonalds at Ozone Station (052-981-6682)
Wakasugi
Cycle outside exit 3 of Heian Dori Station (052-981-2835)
Tsutsui
Motors near Kurokawa Station (052-991-2406)
Mishima
Motor Jitensha near Meijo Koen Station (052-981-9938)
Hattori
Cycle Shop near Kami-iida Station (052-981-3691)
Takahashi
Shoukai in the Nagoya Station area (052-541-0697)
Takahashi
Jitensha near Sakou Station (052-551-6639)
Jitenshaya
Sun near Shonai Dori Station (052-523-5208)
Ito
Motors behind the International Centre Building (052-551-2374)
Iwata
Jitensha near Iwatsuka Station (052-471-4971)
Aoi
Jitensha behind Bic Camera behind Nagoya Station (052-451-8615)
Tanaka
Jitensha near Kamejima Station (052-451-6326)
Kato
Jitensha near Honjin Station (052-461-5441)
Minoya
Motors near Kokusai Centre Station (052-541-4007)
Watanabe
Motors near Kokusai Centre Station (052-541-3978)
Maeda
Jitensha near Kanayama Station (052-671-5523)
Fukushima
Jitensha near Kanayama Station (052-671-2747)
Tanabe
Cycle near Higashi-Betsuin Station (052-331-3855)
Okuda
Shoukai near Fushimi Station (052-231-3650)
Asai
Jitensha near Yaba-cho Station (052-262-2077)
Kobayashi
Shoten near Fushimi Station (052-231-2635)
Tamaki
Shoukai near Gokiso Station (052-841-4767)
Hirose
near Sakurayama Station (052-841-3422)
Yamaguchi
Cycle near Fukiage (052-731-9392)
Okumura
Shokai near Arahata Station (052-881-6375)
Haneda
Auto Cycle near Mizuho Kuyakusho Station(052-853-0337)
Kato
Shokai near Horita Station (052-811-7451)
Asai
Jitensha near Horita Station (052-871-2803)
Murakami
Jitensha near Rokuban-cho Station (052-671-5670)
Nakamura
Jitensha near Sasashima Live Station (052-351-7081)
Tsutsui
Jitensha near Nakajima Station (052-361-4366)
Hitotsuyanagi
Jitensha near Haruta Station (052-301-7174)
Okumura
Cycle Shop near Minami Arako Station (052-362-1288)
Furuta
Motor Cycle near Arako Station (052-361-1125)
Yamamoto
Jitensha near Sannoh Station (052-331-5000)
Futawa Trade near Arako Minami Station (052-362-8998)
Kondo
Jitensha near Tsukijiguchi Station (052-661-2106)
Suwa
Shoten near Nagoya-ko Station (052-661-1270)
Yasui
Jitensha near Oe Station (052-611-5023)
Auto
Cycle Yamashita near Sanage Station (0565-45-1143)
Kato Shokai
near Kaitsu Station (0565-44-1737)
Kamiya
Auto Shokai near Toyotashi Station (0565-33-1285)
Shoda
Ringyo near Uwagomoro Station (0565-32-2099)
Suzuki
Shoten near Goshito Station (0565-45-1011)
**************************************************
6.
One Life Japan
Thank
you to Jeff Dowlan for this submission
I had
wanted to add something more into the time that I was to spend in Japan, so
with a little surfing on the internet I discovered One Life Japan that offered a 7 day bike and hike tour to view the fall colours in the mountain areas behind Nagano.
It had
been many years since I had done any serious bike riding but they say that once
you learn how to ride a bike you never forget , so after a quick check test
ride at home to make sure I still had balance skills and did not fall off I
rang Kevin Cameron and made arrangements to join the 7 day Fall bike tour. So the adventure began on one of the
best holiday experiences of my life. (I do recommend some training rides and a
certain level of fitness as this will assist in the enjoyment of the activity)
On day
one after meeting with the rest of the small friendly group that were doing the
tour we undertook a short walk to view the historic Temple area in Nagano, we
then enjoyed a Soba meal that gave us the energy for the pedal power required
in the afternoon. We were then all kitted up with bikes and equipment that was
in top condition and that had been carefully chosen with both comfort and
safety in mind. We were soon on our bikes and making our way on a well chosen
route that kept us away from heavy traffic and soon had us in small farm areas
with orchards and rice growing with views along the valleys and up into the
hills. We started on a steady uphill section that ended at a small village that
is famous for onsen that claim cures for various ailments. (I was hoping that Kevin would
choose the one that cured bike saddle soreness, which he must have done as for
all the rest of the ride the seat seemed soft and comfortable). The village
with its narrow streets and soft lights was like something out of a fairy tale
and they even had eggs cooking in hot thermal pools in the street.
On day
two we continued uphill and by lunchtime we had reached a scenic lake area and
the start of the trees that were dressed in fall colours. After lunch it was
onwards and over a pass and a long rewarding downhill section that had the
adrenalin pumping through my body and a smile on my face that went from ear to
ear. Nature had been very busy with her (or his) paintbrush and every tree on
every hill had the most beautiful colours and it all blended into a mosaic of
colour that just blew the mind. It was and is the most beautiful fall season
that I have ever seen in my entire life.
The
following days and for the rest of the cycling tour we travelled on roads with
very little traffic that allowed us to enjoy the cycling experience and visit
small Japanese villages and meet and see the people carrying out their daily lives in many cases
in the same way that they have been doing for hundreds of years. I sat and
watched the women in one village that were cooking their vegetables in a large
natural thermal pool. That was one of the good things about this tour, it was not rushed and we
had plenty of time to look around and see and experience all of the things that
this area of Japan has to offer in scenery, culture and different types of food
(an area that I believe would rival the fabled Shangri-la ). On one of the days
we had stopped for lunch at a very scenic gorge area with a small food store
that was also being used by some busloads of tourists and many of them were
amazed that we were doing the tour by bicycle. Later that day as I was
slowly making my way on an uphill section the bus passed and I waved to the
tourists and the ones that were not sleeping waved back and I thought to myself
you lot must be paying many times more for your tour but I am sure that you are
enjoying it much less than me with my pedal power. Another advantage of the
slower pace was the opportunity of being able to see some of the wildlife that
still lives in the area. We came across a large group of monkeys and had the time to sit and watch as they played and ran from tree to tree. Another time we came across a
large wild pig, a snake that slithered across the road in front of me, and a
very pretty green frog that hopped off the road to let me pass.
I could
go on and on telling you about the One Life Japan bike tour but it would be
enough to say that it caused me to change some things in my life, I now
ride a bike every day which has increased my fitness and made it easy to lose
some weight that I have wanted to do for many years. I also feel good about
having less impact on the environment as I now use my bike to go to many places
that I previously used a car to get to.
**************************************************
7.
Meet and Greet Luncheon
For
those of you who are new to Nagoya, please come and join us for lunch.
Meet and Greet lunch is the ideal place to make new friends, have a chat, and
find out what is going on in Nagoya. Shooters has a relaxed atmosphere
and is closed during the day except for our event, so we have the run of the
place. This means that it is a VERY easy event for mothers with babies or
small children. It also means, however, that there must be an RSVP so
that Shooters can cater for the correct number of people.
Date and
Time: April 8th, starting at 11:30 a.m.
Place: Shooters Sports Bar and Grill ,
Fushimi
Price:
1500 yen for buffet lunch and a drink.
RSVP:
Joey Tan is the Meet and Greet Coordinator. Please RSVP to Joey by e-mail
at joeywltan@gmail.com as soon
as possible, but at the latest by the 10th. When you are RSVPing for
another person, please give the name of the other person to avoid double
bookings.
Note:
For those coming by car there is a relatively cheap option, Toyo Parking for
110 yen per half hour, down the street from Kinkos which is walkable from
Shooters. For those with car navigation, the phone number of the parking
lot is (052) 231-3550.
**************************************************
8.
Cherry Blossoms
It's hanami, or cherry blossom season, as you may have noticed the prevalance of blue
tarpualins in the park. Before you set out with your little picnic basket
and instant warming sake, do your homework to see where the best spots are and
when they are best viewed.
The
International Center has a guide for hanami
spots on their website, but for a truly great
guide to the different spots and the updates on how full their blossoms are at
the current time, it is better to turn to a Japanese website such as Tokai
Walker. Take a look at this page for a list
of the best spots in this area. Next to the name of the place is a little
graphic which tells you how "full" the blossoms are at the current
time, so you can pick and choose which you go to first.
Listed
below are links to the famous hanami areas in the same order as they appear on
the above page. You can click on the link for a picture of the place and
some information in Japanese, and a map on which you can zoom in and out.
Phone numbers are provided for extra information, but please be aware that in
some cases, these phone numbers belong to the local tourist associations, so
might mislead the navigation system in your car if you try to use them.
In any case, they will get your car in the general area of your destination at
which time you can always ask!
Along the banks
of the Yamazaki River in Mizuho-ku near Mizuho Park MAP Ph: 052-831-6161
Okazaki Park with Okazaki Castle MAP Ph: 0564-23-6217 Website in English
Gojogawa near Iwakura Station MAP Ph: 0587-66-1111
Tsurumai Park near Tsurumai Station MAP Ph: 052-731-8590
Along
the banks of the Oe River in Ichinomiya MAP Ph: 0586-72-4611
Kariyado Park in near Chita Handa Station MAP Ph: 0569-21-0180
Ochiai Park in Kasugai MAP Ph: 0568-85-6244
Meiji Mura Open Air Museum in Inuyama MAP Ph: 0568-67-0314
Sakurabuchi Park near Shinshiro Station MAP Ph: 0536-32-0032
Nagoya Castle near Meijo Koen Station MAP Ph: 052-231-1700 Website in English
Togokusan Fruit
Park in Moriyama with Weeping Cherry
Trees MAP Ph: 052-736-3344
Along
the banks of the Kiso River in Ichinomiya MAP Ph: 0586-28-9131
Japan Monkey Park in Inuyama near Inuyamayuen Station MAP Ph: 0568-61-0870 Website in English
Inuyama Castle in Inuyama near Inuyamayuen Station
MAP Ph: 0568-61-1711 Website in English
Momotaro Park in Inuyama MAP Ph: 0568-61-6000
Along Kisogawa near Inuyama Castle from Inuyamayuen Station MAP Ph: 0568-61-1711
Misaki Suihen Park in Toyoake MAP Ph: 0562-92-8312
The site
goes on to list the Higashiyama Zoo
and Botanical Gardens (near Higashiyama Koen Station)
and Shirotori Garden (10 minutes walk from Hibino or Jingunishi Stations) as great places to
see this hanami season.
Finally,
if you are planning attend hanami in
other parts of Japan you might like to use this link on Japan Guide to help you plan dates.
Happy
Hanami!!
**************************************************
9.
Business Opportunities and Events
Thank
you to Noriko Kato for this submission
Nagoya
American Center Lecture & discussion program
"Entrepreneurship
in Japan"
(Interpretation
service provided, admission free, 50 people)
◆ Date: 17:30-19:00, Tuesday, April 15, 2008
◆ Place: Nagoya American Center
(Subway
Sakuradori Line, "Kokusai Center")
◆ Speaker: Ms.
Merle Aiko Okawara
Chairman
of JC Foodsnet Co., Ltd.
◆ Sponsors: Nagoya American Center
★ To sign up, please send your
name, affiliation and contact phone number to <nacprogram@state.gov>
**
please type 'Merle Aiko Okawara on April 15, 2008' on the subject line. Ms. Merle Aiko Okawara is a highly
successful Japanese-American business woman who grew JC Comsa Corporation into the nation's
top producer of frozen and chilled ethnic foods. The company was publicly
listed in 1993 making her only the second woman and first foreigner to achieve
this in Japan. Ms. Okawara can provide a unique perspective on encouraging
entrepreneurs in Japan.
Contact：
Nagoya
American Center
Tel:
052-581-8631
Fax:
052-581-3190
e-mail:
<nacprogram@state.gov>
Also she
was a speaker at the ACCJ
Tokyo program in 2003. JC
Foodsnet's Merle Aiko Okawara on Entrepreneurship 2003-08-29: Merle Aiko
Okawara, chairman of JC Foodsnet Co., Ltd., spoke about her experiences in
establishing her company, a food manufacturing firm that pioneered the pizza
industry in Japan. Interwoven in her fascinating thirty-year account of Japan's
changing business environment and culture, Ms. Okawara told us how she beat the
odds and defied the many market experts who said frozen pizza would never find
a market here. She won a major victory ten years ago by publicly listing her
company, becoming only the second woman and the first foreigner to accomplish
that feat. The market experts told Okawara that her idea would not succeed
because, among other reasons, Japanese home cooking at that time did not
include baking. In fact, Japanese homes did not event have toaster ovens. But
Okawara did not let that stop her, instead developing a way to bake pizza in a
makeshift oven using a frying pan and aluminum foil. While far from perfect,
that method is still being practiced by people today. When it came to
capitalizing her business she took the same out-of-the-box approach,
negotiating long payment terms with suppliers when banks turned down her loan
requests. When one key supplier could not extend more credit, she successfully
proposed a joint venture business with the company that improved conditions for
both businesses. Her main takeaway message for non-Japanese business people
operating in this market is that the ability to think out of the box and use
approaches that are different from those of their Japanese colleagues can be a
valuable business edge.
-=-=-
SHAPE
THE WALKATHON SESSIONS (CHUBU ACCJ)
DATE:
Thursday, April 10th, 6-7pm
VENUE:
Shooters Bar and Grill
Like to
help the community? Like planning events? Like working with internationally
minded people? Like helping needy children in Chubu with something that really
matters? If this sounds like you, please join with us at the monthly “Shape the
Walkathon Session “ and help me turn the 2008 Chubu Walkathon into the best
charity event in Nagaya ever. In 2007, the Walkathon raised 7.5 million yen for
many important charity organizations in Chubu. In 2008, I think we can do more!
In fact, why can’t we raise 10 million for charity in 2008?! With everyone’s
heart in this, I am sure we can. As the Walkathon enters its 17th year, it’s
time to make some changes and to take things to the next level. I need your
help to do this, and we need as many volunteers as possible. Come along to the
first of these monthly meetings, and lets brainstorm some ways to improve this
great annual event that the Chubu International Community is so proud of. Make
a difference in Chubu. Be a part of the Walkathon!
COST:
Members: 0 yen, guests: 0 yen
CONTACT:
<chubu@accj.or.jp>
-=-=-
Independent
Business Committee Meeting (CHUBU ACCJ)
DATE:
Thursday, April 17th, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
VENUE:
Nagoya Kokusai Center
Speaker:
Chris Glenn
Title of
Speech: TBA
COST:
Members: 3,000 yen, guests: 4,000 yen DEADLINE: noon, April 17th
CONTACT:
<chubu@accj.or.jp>
-=-=-
SHAPE
THE WALKATHON SESSIONS (CHUBU ACCJ)
DATE:
Thursday, April 24th, 6-7pm
VENUE:
Shooters Bar and Grill
CONTACT:
<chubu@accj.or.jp>
-=-=-
MANAGING
THE MEDIA IN A CRISIS (CHUBU ACCJ)
DATE:
Thursday, April 24, noon to 2:00 p.m.
VENUE:
Hilton Nagoya
A media
training specialist David Wagner, Director Communications Training Group, Gavin
Anderson Japan, to deliver a thought-provoking session on what companies need
to bear in mind when a crisis hits. Issues only become crises when the media
get involved - and the media have enormous power to affect the outcome of the
crisis and the future of your business. Favorable media coverage can trigger
positive actions among customers, investors, employees and other stakeholders.
Negative exposure can inflict damage that takes years to reverse. How can you
turn the power of the media to your own advantage in a time of crisis? Please
join us for what promises to be a highly entertaining as well as instructive
experience.
COST:
Members: 3,500 yen, guests: 5,000 yen
REGISTRATION
AND CANCELLATION DEADLINE: noon, Wednesday, April 23
CONTACT:
<chubu@accj.or.jp>
**************************************************
10. The Here and Now
Sue
Conolly
Japanese
people like the impermanence of cherry blossoms specifically because of their
impermanence. One great big gust
of wind is all it takes to send precious pink petals flying through the
air. One good fall of rain after
the blossoms are in full bloom and the ground is carpeted in pink slush. In order to experience the wealth of
the cherry blossom season before they are robbed of it by fickle mother nature,
Japanese people plan hanami parties well ahead of
time, checking carefully on the news or on the internet to make sure they’ve
got the optimum date for their friendly gathering. Blue tarpaulins are dragged out to the park and places marked
out early that morning, and if need be there will be a sentinel in place all
day to guard the most prime of hanami real
estate.
I’ve
played the role of that sentinel in the past. An English teacher for the Nagoya YMCA, I was sent ahead
with a blue tarpaulin and strict instructions to obtain the best place
possible. I had a book, so I was
quite happy to sit there in the park all day enjoying the life of a hanami guard. I was very early, and
so I got a great place, but as the day went on it got a bit cold for me out there
in the park. I noticed other hanami guards
also twitching about on their own spaces, huddling up in lap blankets or
pulling their jacket over their feet.
One of them I noticed had an instant can of hot sake, and so I followed suit and bought my own.
Japanese
instant hot sake is perhaps the closest beverage
there is to actual rocket fuel.
Not even because it is potent, but because it actually tastes like rocket fuel. On a cold
cherry blossomy day there is perhaps nothing better to warm you, which is a
shame because it tastes absolutely revolting. However, sitting there on my bottom in the park, hot sake in hand I suddenly got the meaning of all this cherry blossom viewing.
The hanami sentinels around me all had jobs, but for whatever reason their job today
was to enjoy the flowers. My job
was to drink this hot rocket fuel, and to enjoy the flowers. I looked up and petals would fall into
my hair. The people around me
guarding their own sheets became quite chatty. We were all there in the here and now. Or more accurately, we were in the
“there and then”. Hanami parties have changed for the worse since I was teaching English all those
years ago. Now the poor hanami guards are sent out from their office jobs to lay the foundations for the
space, mark it with a sign of ownership and quickly return back to the office
for a full day’s slog. They get to
return with everyone else to enjoy their time under the trees with the loud
laughter and flowing beers, and I’m sure they don’t even miss the time that
they would have spent under the trees alone.
But I
do. I miss those days surrounded
in the temporary friends cohabiting the miles of blue plastic. I miss not having to do any one thing
more important than guard the view of those precious flowers against the
sky.
In fact,
as I write this, my feet are itching to go outside and to do just that. The ground is wet from the rain last
night, so I am having feelings of desperation to go and guard my flowers. I want to go and gaze up at them
against the suddenly and perhaps temporarily clear blue sky. It seems urgent. And so it should be
for you.
Stop
reading the X-Pat Files right now.
Turn off your computer, and run, don’t walk... to your nearest hanami park. You never know, you
absolutely never know with whom you’ll end up sharing a blue tarp and instant
hot sake.
**************************************************
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