Wednesday, August 17, Sano Public Hall Kitchen

Ms. Chinmei from China, demonstrated how to make Chinese dumplings from wrapper to filling. It was a lively cooking class made up of six groups, including children from ages four to twelve. Before tasting the dumplings everyone said “wo kai shi chi la” (Let’s eat). Ms. Chinmei served her handmade desert called “xiancao” which added to everyone’s summer vacation memories.

Words from the Participants
? I wanted to make dumpling wrappers, so I joined. It was rich and tasty.
? I enjoyed cutting vegetables.
? I was a bit nervous because there was a TV camera. *
? The wrapping style of dumplings was different from what I was doing at home. I made it cute so I think I will try it at home again.
* J: COM broadcasts on August 23.

The 10th Annual ICA Japanese Class Presentations were held on Sunday, May 6, 2016. This year there were 16 presenters. Presentations included a variety of content and formats. Some presenters introduced their home countries, others talked about life in Japan, or their experiences learning Japanese. Others recited passages, sang music, or performed rakugo. After the presentations?there was a chance for the 33 audience members?to share words with the presenters.

The Program

An Impressive Moment ● Ogi – / Mongolia
Self-introduction ● MoMie / China
My Candy Can(s) ● Wang Nan / China
Morning of the Relay ● Grace / Philippines
Rakugo ● Emilio / Italy
Home Country Introduction and Mission ● Taranga / Sri Lanka
My Family and Japan ● Nirumini / Sri Lanka
(song) “Promise of Sunflowers” ● Aiko Mizuno / Japan
(song) “500 Miles” ● Mari Mizuno / Japan
Home Country Introduction● Mizuno Fefuranshia / Philippines
New Year’s in Japan and Sri Lanka ● Nadika / Sri Lanka
The Differences between Sri Lankan and Japanese Life and Culture ● Himari / Sri Lanka
Life in Japan ● Jan’natu / Bangladesh
My life in Japan ● Huang Shin / China
(recital) “Romance of the Three Kingdoms” ● Song Yingjie / China
(song) “Jida” ● Chieri Hasegawa / Thailand

The moderator for the first half was Fefuranshia (Philippines). “It was a good experience, however,?I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to?moderate well because I had just finished working the night before.” The moderator for the second half was Chieri Hasegawa (Thailand). “It was fun!”

After the Show Meet and Greet

Reflections?from the presenters

A presentation such as?this, made me nervous but also made me more confident. (Ogi / Mongolia)

I was so nervous but It was a good experience. (Jannatu / Bangladesh)

I was happy to hear, “Your song was great!”, from the audience.(Aiko Mizuno)

I was happy to attend the presentation. I regret that my speech was too short. I will?try?again next year.(Huang / China)

Impressions?from the audience

The rakugo performance was very interesting and the plot was good. I think it could have been better if the story was a bit longer. (A)

The Osaka dialect was very good. (I)

I was impressed with the way they?presented various ideas. For example they used computers.?I could see that they had worked hard?when I saw them doing their best.(M)

The presentations had variety and were?interesting.?Those who are good at Japanese and those who have just started studying, were both trying hard. They must have inspired each other.?(M)

Sachiyo Uenoyama held a global awareness session at Ebuno Izuminomori Hall. Drawing upon her experiences teaching?Japanese in Paraguay, she gave a lecture and played?the arpa, a Paraguayan harp. ?Alongside her gentle yet powerful harp playing, were her own paintings. The colorful paintings visually captured the expressive mood of the music.?Many of the attendees were touched by the performance.

Uenoyama played the harp wearing the national costume of Paraguay. The costume, a very colorful display of delicately stitched lace and patterns was meant to resemble?earth with its rich diversity of people.

Listening to the Arpa?Performance and Talk

by Makoto Otsuya

Uenoyama is sometimes a school counselor,?sometimes?she’s an actress, and at other times she’s an oil painter. However, I truly feel that Uenoyama is a warrior of love.

I listen to my ipod every day and after listening to?Uenoyama’s live music, I felt comfort surrounded by the real sound of the harp.?She produced smooth gentle tones, intense sounds, and occasionally struck my heart?by the sounds she produced. A couple times she tapped the base turning the arpa?into a drum.

The talk was as unique as Osaka and easy to understand even though it was a difficult topic. I was surprised and laughed suddenly when she performed a little skit.

At the beginning she was wearing a?costume of Paraguay. She represented the earth in all it’s color and diversity. Then suddenly she put on her beret and became a?painter.

While explaining her artwork, such as the Constellation, I came to realize Uenoyama’s wide breadth of abilities, from painter to arpa player. ?”I’m the same age”, I thought. ?”I need to start trying harder.”

Words from the Audience

 

I felt very fortunate to hear the story of about the colorful costumes.They had been knitted, not by one person, but by various people.

Again, I’m reminded of the meaning of life.

I’m glad I brought the family.

Sunday, March 27 at the Izumisano Community Center Kitchen

On this menu, were commonly found dishes in Japanese cuisine: nikujaga, namasu, tamagoyaki and miso soup. Everyone?enjoyed talking about food and culture from various countries. Japanese participants introduced the concept?of “one soup, three greens” and commonly used Japanese ingredients like dried bonito, seaweed, and konjac. For this event, religious?practices of participants were considered. Therefore recipes didn’t include pork or alcohol so that people from Islamic countries could participate.

Words from the participants

 

I ate a lot! I love Japanese food. I made some new friends.
(William / Haiti)

My father told me to learn how to make Japanese food because it’s healthy.
(Kati / Nicaragua)

My stepmother showed?me how to make tamagoyaki (Japanese egg rolls).
(Hana / China)

We also use sesame seeds in Syria, but we don’t have mortars and pestles like the ones here in Japan. How should we use sesame seeds without mortar and pestles?
(Nagamu / Syria)

Today’s curry style dish,?nikujaga,??was made with various ingredients. In contrast, Sri Lankan curries do not contain multiple ingredients. Potato curry is ?made with?potatoes and carrot curry?is made with?carrots.
(Sri Lanka / Taranga)

The meat and potato dish was delicious. I will also try to make it at home.
(Park / South Korea)

It was fun because I was able to cook, talk, and learn about various cultures.
(MT)

On February 18, ?in neighboring Sennan City, Japanese learners of ica visited ?Kusunoki Kindergarten to introduce their native country’s with fun and?games.

From left to right,?Miyamoto Yoko (Philippines), (NA)?, Mr. Saruhigashi (South Korea), Mizuno Fefuranshia (Philippines), Mr.?Octavio (Spain),?Ms. Nagamu (Syria),?Nakatani Sunejana (Bulgaria)