Hello from AJET: October 2014

Hey there good people of Hyogo, Chris Goodman here, your friendly Hyogo AJET helper guy, type, thingy… to help you welcome October with open arms and big smiles!!!

Now, if you ask your students “What’s special about October?” many of them may start looking around at each other, freaking out thinking that you have just asked them where to find the “Holy grail.” Usually when you do get a response, it will be HALLOWEEN. But did you know that on the second Monday of October Japan has a national holiday called Health and Sports Day (taiiku no hi), which is to commemorate the opening day of the 1964 Olympic games held in Tokyo and further exists to promote sports and an active lifestyle. HAHA!!! Surprise your co-workers with that tidbit of knowledge!

Another great thing to realize about October is it is smack bang in the middle of AUTUMN (technically), which is also known as FALL in other countries. This means that the leaves are changing color and creating breathtaking scenes at both famous man-made cultural and natural land marks (where they have trees at least). Although thanks to Japan’s climate, the north gets its red on a little sooner than the middle and southern part of Japan. So now would be a good a time as any to consider that trip towards the northeastern part of Japan.

Those of you who live in more rural areas might also notice that the rice fields (tanbo) are looking rather full. You can expect them to be harvested in the coming weeks. If you are lucky, your school might have a rice field or two and ask you to help them hand-harvest some of the rice. Watch out for spiders.

While many of you may well be asked about planning a Halloween event for your students, or just doing Halloween themed lesson plans, don’t forget to see the real Japan this time of year. Reach out to your local community and find out events or going-ons that you can be a part of. Maybe take yourself to a festival like “Hachiman-sai” in Gifu (also known as Takayama matsuri, October 9 and 10).

Hyogo also has a little ditty called Nada no Kenka Matsuri or ‘Fighting Festival’ in which mikoshi (portable shrines) are jolted against one another as they are carried on the shoulders of men in the parade. It is held at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine on October 14 and 15 (about a 3 minute walk from Shirahama-no-miya Station).

Whatever you may do, feel free to share your knowledge of events and experiences with your friendly JET community, after all “sharing is caring.” Have a Terror-rific October!!!! (Yes, I know that was terror-ible, but I couldn’t help myself!!) Catch you later!

Chris Goodman

http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/nadanokenka.html