“相槌aizuchi” is the interjections during a

conversation that shows the listener is paying attention to the speaker. A: 昨日

K i n o､偕楽園へ

Kairakuen-e行ったら i t t a r a

､旅雑誌の撮影がtabi-zasshi no satsuei ga

ありまして a r i m a s h i t e

…(Yesterday when I went to Kairakuen, a photo-shoot of a travel magazine was taking place…)

B: ええ e h

(←相槌aizuchi

)(uh-huh) A: 歌手の

kashu no××さんが × × - s a n g a

来ていたんですよk i t e i t a n d e s u y o

(and the singer ××-san was there)

A: 昨日K i n o

､偕楽園へKairakuen-e

行ったら i t t a r a

､

旅雑誌の撮影がtabi-zasshi no satsuei ga

あって a t t e

… (Yesterday when I went to Kairakuen, a photo-shoot of a travel magazine was taking place…)

B: うん u n

(←相槌aizuchi

)(uh-huh) A: 歌手の

kashu no××さんが × × - s a n g a

来ていたんだよk i t e i t a n d a y o

(and the singer ××-san was there)

※ There are more than 40 types of aizuchi; this is just an example of the frequently-used ones.

In the title “Culture Pot MITO,” Mito city is likened to a pot stuffed with various cultures which resembles a multicultural city loved by every citizen. We are hoping that this newsletter will be useful in your daily life and that you will feel more attached to Mito City in the near future.

Living Information for Foreign Residents in Mito online version http://www.mitoic.or.jp/jp/ass/shiryo/cpm.php Aug/Sept

2014

ＣＡＳＵＡＬ With your friends

ＦＯＲＭＡＬ In a business situation or with someone you do not know well

ちょっと Japanese

▼ Photo: Disaster Preparedness Seminar, July 12 at Mito International Center

Events

水戸 Mito

観光Kanko

協会Kyokai

029-224-0441

International Party

Come enjoy the foods, Japanese harp performance, etc.! WHEN Oct 18(Sat), 12:15pm-2:30pm FEE ¥500 WHERE Mito International Center (see map on the last page) SIGN-UP Please e-mail or call us and let us know your ①name ②contact

number, together with the name of anyone else who are coming with you, by October 10(Fri). TEL 029-221-1800 / MAIL mcia@mito.ne.jp

Saturday Salon (Free, Reservation unnecessary)

Foreign students/trainees/spouses/etc. living in Mito and around, come & join our monthly free-talk gathering. Japanese language proficiency is NOT required. Just relax and enjoy meeting various people! WHEN Aug.2, 16, Sept.6, 20, 27 / 1:30pm-3pm Saturday Salon “Tea Party” (Fee: \100, Reservation unnecessary)

WHEN Aug.23 / 1:30pm-3pm WHERE Mito International Center (see map on the last page)

MCIA 029-221-1800

水戸 Mito-

のno-萩まつりHagi-matsuri

(Mito Bush Clover Festival) WHEN Sept 1(Mon)-21(Sun) WHERE Kairaku-en Bush clover is designated as the city flower of Mito. Every year when they bloom in September, Bush Clover Festival is held, where you will enjoy tea ceremonies, koto (Japanese harp) performance and Noh (traditional theater). For further details, please ask the people around you when the date comes closer, since the information is not yet disclosed as of now.

Plaza Mayor Festival

WHEN Sept 6(Sat), 3pm-8:30pm WHAT Outdoor live performance of Flamenco (FREE) WHERE 水戸

Mito 芸 術 館Geijutsu-kan

/ Art Tower Mito (address: 水戸市Mito -sh i

五軒町Goken-cho

1-6-8) TRANSP. Take a bus from Mito Station North exit, bus terminal #4～7, and

get off at “ 泉 町Izumi-cho

１丁目 Iccho-me

”

水戸 Mito

芸術館Geijutsu-kan

029-227-8111

MCIA 029-221-1800

Themed on Ghana, Africa

When visiting someone’s house or a workplace in Japan, there is a custom of taking a souvenir with you. And when handing that souvenir, some Japanese people will say “つまらない

t s u m a r a n a i

ものmono

です desu

が ga….” (= it is nothing special).

According to dictionary terms, the word “つまらない

t s u m a r a n a i” means uninteresting or possessing no value. Why would one give a souvenir that s/he claims to be unworthy? When the gift is food, for example, it could have following hidden meanings: ・It may not interest you as much as what you usually eat ・It looks worthless in front of a fine person like you In other words, this is a reflection of “謙遜

kenson” (modesty, humbleness) – a distinctive feature of Japanese nationality – where you deprecate yourself and sublime the other. It is also intended to lower the value of the souvenir, so that the host will not have to worry about giving a gift in return. Nowadays, following expressions are used as well. “お気に召すと

O k i n i - m e s u - t o 嬉しいのですが

uresh i i -no-desu-ga” (I hope you will like it) “ささやかな

s a s a y a k a - n a ものですが

mono-desu-ga” (It is just a little something)

「つまらないt s u m a r a n a i

ものm o n o

ですdesu

がg a」

National Health Insurance

The 2nd phase payment for FY 2014 is due Sep.1, and the 3rd phase payment, Sep.30. Foreign residents covered by Basic Resident Registration System (those with a visa period of more than 3 months) are ought to join a health insurance. If you do not belong to a work-place health insurance, you have to join NHI. Municipal & Prefectural Tax

The 2nd phase payment for FY 2014 is due Sep.1. If the address appearing on your “alien registration card” or “residence card” is Mito City (as of January 1, 2014), you are required to pay the Municipal & Prefectural Tax for the year to Mito City.

029-232-9166 Mito City「国 保Kokuho

年金課Nenkin-ka

」dpt.

029-232-9138 Mito City「市民税課Shimin-zei-ka

」dpt.

Air Conditioning Sickness

At home, at school and at work…. During summer, a lot of places that you go to have air conditioning. If you are: ・spending a long time in the cold room ・frequently going in and out of air-conditioned buildings, then you have higher chances of falling into “air conditioning sickness”. What exactly is “air conditioning sickness”? It is an autonomic nervous system disorder that brings about symptoms such as sleep trouble, weary feeling, lack of appetite and cold feet and lower back. (Autonomic nerves play an important role in controlling the body temperature.) <Ways to prevent becoming sick> ■ Set the air-con temperature to 27℃―28℃, and air volume to「弱

jaku」(weak)

■ Avoid being directly exposed to the wind coming out of the air-con ■ Consume warm drinks ■ Do some easy exercises such as walking and stretching

to get your muscles moving. ■ Take a tepid bath; Immerse your lower body in a bath tub filled with warm water of about 37℃

to 39℃, for approximately 20 mins. (using fizzy bath powders will help more) ■ Intake the nutrients that help take away cold from the body, in a balanced

manner. ・Vitamin E (sardine, laver, eggs, nuts, etc.) ・Vitamin B (pork, sesames, brown rice, etc.) ・Protein (meat, fish, beans, cheese, nuts, etc.)

Day Name of Group Class Levels Last Class First class Tue Orbis Beginners, Intermediate Jul.15 Sep. 2

Wed Friendly Neighborhood

Beginners, Upper Intermediate Jul.16 Sep.10

MESA Friendship Daily Conversation Jul.16 Undecided Thu Sophia Beginners Jul.17 Sep. 4 Fri MESA Friendship Beginners, Intermediate Jul.18 Sep. 5

Sat L’avenir Beginners, Intermediate, Advanced

Jul.26 Sep. 6

●ひたちなか Hi tachinaka

祭りMatsuri

花火大会Hanabi-taikai

Hitachinaka【3,000 fireworks】 Date／August 16 (Sat) 7:30pm-8:30pm In case of rain／August 18 (Mon) Place／Ground Self-Defense Force Camp

Katsuta ＜日工前Nikko-mae

Sta.＞

Contact／ひたちなか祭り Hitachinaka Matsuri

実行J i k k o

委員会- i i n k a i

TEL／029-272-0540

●水戸Mito

黄門Komon

まつり Matsuri

花火Hanabi

大会-taikai

Mito【4,500 fireworks】 Date／August 1 (Fri)

7:30pm-8:30pm In case of rain／August 8 (Fri)

Place／千波湖Senbako

lake ＜水戸M i t o

Sta.＞

Contact／水戸Mi to

観光協会Kanko-kyokai

TEL／029-224-0441

●東海

Tokaiまつり Matsuri

花火大会Hanabi-taikai

Tokai Date／August 9 (Sat)

7pm-8:30pm In case of rain／date to be arranged

Place／阿漕ケ浦Akogigaura

公園K o e n

park ＜東海Tokai

Sta.＞

Contact／東海Tokai

まつりMatsuri

実行J i k k o

委員会- i i n k a i

TEL／029-283-2141

●那珂湊Nakaminato

海上Kaijo

花火大会Hanabi-taikai

Hitachinaka【1,600 fireworks】 Date／August 12 (Tue)

7pm-8:30pm In case of rain／August 13th(Wed)

Place／Nakaminato fishing port＜那珂湊Nakaminato

Sta.＞

Contact／那 珂 湊Naka-minato

海上Kaijo

花火Hanabi

大会-taikai

TEL／029-263-7811 実行J i k k o

委員会- i i n k a i

●御前山

Gozenyama 納涼

Noryo 花火大会

Hanabi-taikai

Hitachi-omiya【1,000 fireworks】 Date／August 14(Thur) 7:30pm-8:30pm In case of rain／August 15 (Fri)

Place／river bank near 那珂川大橋Nakagawa Ohashi

bridge

＜常陸大宮Hitachi-omiya

Sta.＞

Contact／常陸大宮市Hitachi-omiya-shi

商工会Shokokai

御 前 山Gozenyama

支所 shisho

TEL／0295-55-2408

Japanese Classes held in Mito International Center will resume from September.

Mito City International Association Tuesday-Sunday, 9am-9pm (Closed : Mondays＆Sep16,Sep23) Add 〒310-0024 水戸市

Mito-shi 備 前 町

Bizen-machi6-59

Mito International Center Tel 029-221-1800 Fax 029-221-5793 Mail mcia@mito.ne.jp HP http://www.mitoic.or.jp

Please forward us any opinions or suggestions you may have!

月見Tsukimi

“Tsukimi” means moon-gazing: the act of enjoying a beautiful full moon. This time, we will introduce its significance and how to enjoy the event. 中 秋Chushu-

のno-

名 月meigetsu

/十五夜Jugo - ya

According to the lunar calendars, the season of autumn is defined to be from July to September. Its middle date, August 15th, is called 中 秋

Chu-shu (=mid-autumn),

and the moon that is seen on this night is called 中 秋Chushu-

のno-

名 月meigetsu

or 十五夜Ju -go ya

. September 8th is the day of 中 秋

Chushu-のno-

名 月meigetsu

／十五夜Ju -go ya

for 2014. What customs are followed? People offer “dango” (rice dumpling), “susuki” (Japanese pampas grass) and some seasonal fruits to the moon, by placing them where the moon can be seen. These offerings are to be eaten after gazing at the moon. But why make offerings? Many typhoons strike Japan in this season, which could ruin rice crops with strong wind and rain, so this is part of making a wish upon the moon for calm weather.

“Rabbits living on moon” Since there is a pattern on the moon that looks like a rabbit pounding the rice cake, in Japan, there is a saying that rabbits are living on the moon. On the other hand, the pattern of the moon is likened to a crab or an elderly woman in Europe, and to a profile of a women in the United States.

feel free to drop by! (MCIA)

Take a bus from Mito station North exit, bus terminal #4～7 ⇒ 5mins ⇒ “泉 町Izumicho

一丁目 Icchome

”

Japanese Customs