- 1 -

VIVA！ひめじ <English Version> Oct. 2007 No.22 <People>Interview ： Mrs.Midori Hisamoto Midori is from the middle part of Taiwan. She came to Japan 25 years ago and she met her husband while staying in Japan. The next year she got married and now she lives in Yumesaki-cho with her husband and three children. Q: What was it like when you married and came to Japan? A: I felt very worried about everything, not only Japanese language but also Japanese life. I had very

difficult time because I didn’t have any friends and relatives but my husband was so busy every day with his work and local activities that I didn’t have enough time to talk to him.

Q: How did you get through it? A: To begin with I studied very hard to learn Japanese. I learned words one by one by looking up into the

dictionary and put up vocabulary notes on the wall in the toilet. At that time, my husband and his father were only my family members so I naturally spoke the way men speak and sometimes the neighbors corrected me. I brought the vocabulary notes with me everywhere, and when I heard something I would write it down. Sometimes when the neighbors taught me how to cook Japanese dishes, I asked them to listen to my troubles. Little by little I became more accustomed to live here.

Q: What are your hobbies? A: I like patchwork and fancywork, and enjoy displaying my works around the house. I am also interested in Japanese culture, and take flower arrangement lessons and practice the shamisen. Q: Tell us about the best part of Taiwan. A: The 1st attractiveness is the “people”. Taiwanese are very enthusiastic

and warm-hearted. They can make friends easily, and do not care about the differences of anybody. Besides this, in Taiwan there is an abundance of food stuff, fruit and fishes. They are very delicious.

Q: What do you enjoy the most now? A: I enjoy having a meal and chatting with friends in Kobe once a month. Now I have many Taiwanese

friends. I don’t have any chance but I would like to learn folk music and Japanese paintings. Also I would like to travel all over the world.

Issued by Himeji International Association Newsletter editing volunteer

URL http://www.himeji-iec.or.jp

PEOPLE <Interview> P1

Information for Fall Festival P2

The 12th International Friendship Festival P3

Disaster contingency planning P4

Local Dialects P5

Information P6

The Newsletters for foreign residents

- 2 -

Information for Fall Festival Finally, the air has cooled down and Fall is here. Here is some information about the fall festival. ○Anji Kamo Shrine Festival October 20th (preliminary night festival), October 21st (Main festival) On October 20th, a children’s mikoshi sponsored by The Children’s Association will start at 13:00. Staring at 18:00, there will be a Shishimai dance. On October 21st, the Shishimai dance will start at 10:30, a children’s mikoshi at 11:00, Taiko drum at noon, and sumo wrestling by junior high school students at 13:00. With many food vendors and visitors present, the shrine will be very lively. This shrine has a long history, and it is said to have been built around year 1184 at the end of the Heian era. Around year 1723 in the middle of the Edo era, the current shrine building is said to have been built by Mr. Ogasawara, an Anji area daimyo at that time. On the property, there is an Anji Inari shrine, and a giant Eto made of straw that is very popular during the New Year. There are about 8,000 hydrangeas on the property, and they bloom in a variety of colors. Between the end of June and early July when the flowers are in full bloom, visitors are provided with a peaceful time. Also, the last weekend of June, there is a hydrangea festival in Yasutomi town. Access to the Anji Kamo Shrine 1) By car: 50 minutes 2) By bus: 1 hour, 970 yen, one bound for Yamasaki via Hayashida and another via Yotsuji.

Bus schedule (Sunday and holidays) are in effect in August 2007. Please call for details to the Shinki Bus Company (079-285-2990)

To Anji （From Himeji Station）

To Himeji （From Anji）

Via Aoyana・Hayashida (31) (32) Via Yotsuji（33）

Via Aoyama・Hayashida (31) (32) Via Yotsuji（33）

8：25

9：25･55

10：55

11：25･55（#33）

12：25･55 １2：10・41

13：55 13：11･41 14：55 14：10･41

15：55 15：25･41 16：25･55 16：20･41

17：25･55 17：41 18：11

Yamasaki Yotuji Maenosho

Anji

Rokkaku

Route2

Yokozeki

Aoyama

JR Himeji St. JR Sanyo Line

- 3 -

The 12th International Friendship Festival Date：October 28th,2007 10：00～15：00 Place：Karoyashikiato Koen (Park) in Himeji (Only a 10-minute walk from Himeji Station along Otemae Street)

※Please note there is a change of venue for the festival this year. The festival will be held at Karoyashikiato Koen (Park) and will go ahead even if it rains.

The festival aims to promote friendship between citizens and foreign residents of Himeji. This year the festival will focus on the three points of cultural exchange around the world, “To try”, “To eat” and “To see”. ① “To try”（Please note a cover charge may apply.）

The festival presents the variety of booths which you can enjoy many cultures in the world. You can try on beautiful traditional wardrobes from around the world. Photography is permitted. Foreign language lessons will be offered. You could try your hand at Aboriginal Australian art or get your face painted. ② “To eat” (Please note a cover charge may apply.)

Myanmar food will join the 21 different types of cuisine featured from 16 countries around the world. ③ “To see”

Traditional folk dances from around the world such as the dragon dance from Vietnam in addition to an international fashion parade will be featured this day.

The Festival has run successfully for 12 years now and has become one of Himeji’s premier social functions. Within the spirit of our motto “To enjoy” we have been preparing for this festival. The number* of volunteers and committee members has reached over 800 people, including many foreigners. I hope you’ll enjoy the festival with your family through the three points of cultural exchange, “To try”, “To eat” and “To see”. Mr. Kenichiro Ito, Executive Officer of the International Friendship Festival

Karoyashiki

Ato Park Otemae Park

Egret Himeji

JR Himeji

Station

Himeji Castel

Route 2

Junisho Street \150 each

Indonesia

Argentina Poland

- 4 -

Preparation for natural disasters Lately, we have been receiving more damage from natural disasters such as earthquakes, typhoons, and heavy rains. Here in Himeji, we have many areas with high risk of mudslides and floods. If a disaster occurs The most important thing is your own safety. (After securing your safety, don’t forget to turn off the gas and electricity.) After a big earthquake or heavy rain, secondary disasters may easily occur, such as mudslides due to the weakened landscape. Tsunamis after an earthquake will occur repeatedly, so please escape to a high place far away from the shore. If you sense danger, go to the evacuation area at an early stage. Evacuation Areas

There are about 300 designated evacuation areas in Himeji. These are mainly schools and city halls. Besides these places, there are about 1,000 places where you can temporarily evacuate to. A list of these places can be found in the “Himeji Disaster Prevention Plaza” homepage listed below. You can also find a “Flood Hazard Map” of around Ibogawa River, Ichikawa River, Yumesaki River, and Ohtsumogawa River. Please know where the closest evacuation area is in your residential area. Warnings at the time of evacuation Evacuation advice and warnings are delivered by city vehicles. Please follow the advice from the community office and the disaster prevention organization. And please help others while escaping. Please avoid escaping alone. In order to protect yourself from natural disasters, it is important to have knowledge about your residential area. Please attend the evacuation practices in your area and get to know your neighbors, so you will not be at a loss in the case of a natural disaster. Also, it is advised to agree on the place you will meet and the way you will communicate (where to post messages) in the case where your family is separated. Himeji Natural Disaster Prevention Plaza Open 9:30-17:00 Closed on Mondays, the day after national holidays, and the third Tuesday of every month. You can “see” “know” and “experience” natural disaster. Please come visit us. (Only Japanese is available) Address: 3 Sanzaemonbori Nishinomachi Himeji (North of the Himeji City Hall) http://www.city.himeji.hyogo.jp/syoubou/plaza(Japanese only) Other inquiries: Himeji Fire Department Disaster Prevention office 079-223-9540

It is advised to prepare a radio, a flashlight, as well as some food and drink to last for several days in order to prepare for a disaster. If you live in an area with high risk of disasters, please be prepared so that you can evacuate at anytime.

- 5 -

Local Dialect Have you ever heard these words？ １．Sendoburi ２．Raku ３．Betchonai

You can use them in this way.

１．Sendoburi means ２. Raku means

“Hisashiburi(Long time no see)” “Daijobu(OK)”or “Aiteiru(open)”

(A) Are you open now?

(B) We are open.

３. Betchonai means “Betsujonai, Betsuni douttekotonai (No problem)”

Local dialects can be found through out Japan, changing from place to place. Although they give language spice and life, they should not be used in various settings

(business meetings, formal introductions, etc.).

Omise mou Raku desuka？ (A)

Raku desuyo (B)

Let’s look up in a dictionary.

I can’t find them!

Betchonai No problem

… Sendoburi,yana…

What is Sendoburi?

- 6 -

Translation assistants and native proofreaders English:Kaori Kamoda, Chiharu Yuge, Kazunari Kishida, Keiko Raymond, David Gennings Chinese: Reiko Kawauchi, Naoko Miyai, Mika Tsuda, Sun Chuanxi Portuguese: Kozue Higashimura, Yu Kunimitsu, Yuma Hasegawa Vietnamese: Ken Ishida, Nguyen, Vo Thi Phuong Trinh Spanish:Takeshi Sonoda, Saori Horii, Eiichi Takami, Only those who permitted us to print their names are posted. We really appreciate all your help.

☆☆☆ Information about the Himeji International Association ☆☆☆ A volunteer group called "To the world from Himeji City!!" c/o Himeji International Association is ready to give fee-free advice to foreigners living in the area with regard to the difficulties or problems, if any, in their daily lives and activities. Available languages are English, Portugese, Spanish, Vietnamese, and Chinese. Such services include, providing related information, introduce specialists and/or professionals, conduct personal interviews, and so on if circumstances or substance require. All the data given to the group will be kept strictly confidential. Refer to the notes below:

Time and date: 14:00 ～17:00 on every 2nd and 4th Sundays Contact office: Consultation Room in Himeji

International Association c/o 4F Egret Himeji Bldg (postal address: 68-290 Honmachi Himeji)

T Ｅ Ｌ : (079)287-0821

※※※ Editor’s Postscript※※※ Autumn is a festival season with brisk shouts and high spirits prevalent in all the towns. Unique and traditional events in many regions are enjoyable and worth being observed. On the other hand this season in Japan is very apt to be subjected to typhoons, which often and unexpectedly cause natural disasters or devastations. All of us here should always be aware and be prepared for such occasions. The next issue of "VIVA ! ひめじ No. 23" is planned for the publication in December 2007. Any comments or opinions from the readers are most welcome.

We are always looking for translation assistants and native proofreaders on ｢VIVA!ひめじ｣. If you have interest, please inform us. We can be reached at the following address or number.

We’re waiting for your reply.

Contact Office Himeji International Association

Egret Himeji 3F 68-290, Honmachi, Himeji,670-0012 Tel:0792-87-0820 Fax:0792-87-0824 E-mail: kokusai@city.himeji.hyogo.jp