Coming of age Day in Seika \ 成人の日

Although many countries and cultures have a coming of age tradition, the ways in which each celebrate are very different. Jewish children celebrate Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah, young Americans have their 21st birthday and all the revelry that goes with that, and in Japan there is Coming of Age Day. On January tenth, Coming of Age Ceremonies were held in every city, town and village in Japan, and people who turned twenty in past year gathered to celebrate the start of their new, adult lives.

成人の文化を持つ国や民族は多いですが､それぞれの文化の祝い方は大きく違います。ユダヤ教徒の子どもがバル・ミツワーとバト・ミツバー（子どもが大人の責任を持てる年齢に達したことを記念して行われる成人式。男の子が13歳になるとバル・ミツワーを､12歳になる女の子はバト・ミツバー）を祝って､アメリカ人は２１歳のパーティなどしますが、日本では成人の日があります。今年度二十歳になった若者が各市町村で行われる成人式に集まり、新しい門出を祝いました。



I was lucky enough to get to go to part of Seika’s Coming of Age ceremony, which started with a performance from the Seika Girls and Boys Chorus. There were at least a hundred kids in the chorus, and though I thought that a chorus that big and that young couldn't be too easy on the ears, the kids could really sing, and all the 20 year olds seemed impressed too. Then Mayor Kimura and Seika Town Assembly President Sugiura each gave a speech welcoming the new adults, expressing hope that all those in attendance take the time to thank their parents and everyone else who helped them grow and learn. Group pictures were taken, and all of the participants went upstairs for free food and games, whereupon, not wanting to be the elephant in the room, I gracefully bowed out.
私は運が良くて精華町の成人式に行けることになりました。成人式は少年少女合唱団の歌から始まりました。合唱に百人の子どもぐらいがいて､メンバーは多くて、若者ばかりなので、うまく歌えないと思いましたが､合唱の子どもたちは本当に凄くできて､新成人も感動したようでした。次に、木村町長と精華町議会の杉浦議長がスピーチをし､新成人が両親やお世話になった人にちゃんと感謝を伝えられるように期待を表しました。グループの写真が撮影後、新成人が交流会で軽食を食べたり、ゲームをしたりしましたが、私はその時に帰りました。

One of the most notable elements of Coming of Age Day is the dress that new adult women wear. Although young men normally dress in suits for the ceremony, the young women wear incredibly colorful furisode (a type of kimono with long sleeves), and often spend hours on their hair and make-up. Even if you don’t get to go to the actual ceremony, you’re still very likely to see young women wearing their furisode around town, and it’s always a surprise to walk onto a train and see a gaggle of young women decked out in elaborate gowns and gigantic hair. Although you see women in Kimono and Yukata at festivals and the like, the level of effort put into the Coming of Age Ceremony dresses is staggering, and expensive, with some young women spending thousands of dollars preparing the dress and make up.

成人の日といえば、新成人の女の人が着ている着物です。男の人は普通にスーツを着ますが、女の人は色彩豊かな振袖を着て､さらに髪などに何時間も費やします。成人式に行けなくても、振袖を着ている女の人を街で見る可能性は高く、電車などで振袖の格好をしている女の人達を見ると驚きます。

Japanese Moon-Viewing and the Autumnal Equinox/お月見と秋分の日

Though this is up a little late, I still figured it would be fun to write about the “moon-viewing” event held here in Seika on September 23rd. Never having been to moon watching event before, I knew little about the practice, other than the fact that everyone eats “dango,” sweet rice ball treats. My sweet tooth demanded my participation.
もう大分古い話ですが、けいはんな記念公園の「観月の夕べ」に参加しました。お月見などに行ったことがなかったので、何が起こるか分かりませんでしたが､皆が団子を食べる事は分かっていました。だから､別腹を鎮めようとおもいました。

Though the main event was moon watching (obviously) there were performances by three different traditional Japanese music groups. We got there (My dad came to Japan to visit and I went with him,) at around 7, and though we sadly missed the Taiko performance, the other two groups were wonderful, with haunting flute melodies and a great combination of traditional Japanese instruments and a more modern beat. There was also the moon art exhibit, an ongoing art competition based on the theme of the moon, where people could vote for their favorite piece.

イベントの主な部分はお月見だったが､三つの伝統的な音楽グループによる演奏もありました。私と来日中の父は７時ごろに着いて、残念ながら最初の太鼓グループの演奏を見ることが出来ませんでした、他の二グループは本当に凄かったです。講演以外には、月のアート展もあって､一番好きな作品を投票できました。

It was jam packed with people, and everyone seemed to be having a very relaxing time sitting, snacking on treats, observing the moon through the telescope and just enjoying the sights and sounds.

とても賑やかで皆がリラックスしたり、お菓子食べたり､望遠鏡で月を見たりして、雰囲気を楽しんでいるようでした。

The moon kept going in and out of clouds which made for a very dramatic scene, and as stereotypical as it sounds, standing next to bamboo and watching the moon through the clouds, I couldn’t help but thinking how very Japanese and zen it all seemed. Then I ate about 15 dango and completely ruined the moment. Oh well.

月は雲の後ろに隠れたり出たり、本当に、「日本」の感じがしました。団子１５個ぐらい食べてしまって、その素的な雰囲気を壊しました。

Seika Events, October 1st to 16th / 精華町のイベント１０月１日-１６日

Here's what we have lined up in Seika for the first half of October~
以下は精華町で１０月前半に行うイベントです～

Health and Sports Day Special - The Forest’s Tests of Strength!
WHEN: October 11th(Mon/Holiday), 13:00 - 16:00 WHERE: The Keihanna Plaza Memorial Park Suikeien  WHAT: Interested in testing yourself against the wilderness? Then come to “The Forest’s Tests of Strength!” You’ll be able to test your power at a log-cutting contest, a log race, and forest exercises, as well as learning how to use nature walks to lose fat and build muscle!

体育の日スペシャルー森の体力測定
けいはんな記念公園（精華町）
日時：１０月１１日(月・祝)
午後１時ー４時
場所：水景園、内容：体重や身長を測るほか、丸太切りでタイムを競ったり、森のウオ－キングを楽しみます。


8th Annual Seika Children’s Festival
WHEN: October 16th(Sat), 9:00 - 15:00, WHERE: Mukunoki Center, WHAT: This year's Children festival will be held on October 16th(Sat), at the Mukunoki Center from 9 A.M to 3PM. Activities will include an opening event, a kid’s flea market, game corner, restaurant, and many other fun activities!

第8回精華町子ども祭り
精華町の行事
日時：１０月１６日(土)、午前９時ー午後３時
場所：むくのきセンター
内容：今年の子ども祭りは体験コーナー、子どもフリーマーケット、模擬店コーナー等がありますよ！


The Chrysanthemum Festival　-A Taste of Green Tea-
WHEN: October 16th (Sat) 13:00 - 16:00 WHERE: Suikeien すいけいえん水景園 WHAT: The Chrysanthemum Festival is held on the 9th day of the 9th month in the lunar calendar, and to celebrate the Keihanna plaza will prepare a Japanese tea ceremony area. For 500 yen, you can relax and enjoy the soothing taste of green tea.

重陽の節句～お抹茶席～
けいはんな記念公園（精華町）
日時：１０月１６日(土)、午後１時ー午後４時
場所：むくのきセンター
内容：同日は旧暦の９月９日、重陽の節句です。節句に併せて観月楼を菊で彩るほか、お抹茶席をご用意。筝の生演奏もお楽しみいただけます。(お抹茶席は要予約(席料５００円））


The 28th Great Flower Operation
WHEN: October 16th(Sat), 10:00 - 12:00 WHERE: Gather in the Visitor Center しばふ芝生ひろば広場 WHAT: Working with other volunteers, participants will have the chance to plant a variety of flowers that bloom the following year. Come with us and help create an even more beautiful springtime!


第２８回花いっぱい大作戦　春に花咲くお花畑を作ろう
けいはんな記念公園（精華町）
日時：１０月１６日(土）、午前１０時ー正午
場所：午前１０時、ビジターセンターに集合
内容：花や緑がいっぱいの公園づくりのためのボランティア活動。春に花を咲かせる菜の花などを種をみんなでまきましょう。

What’s Kai doing?
Though the Forest’s Tests of Strength! sounds fun, I may reserve my Health and Sports day for relaxing and lazing about, as it was intenteded. I will however be at the Children's festival as a volunteer for the Seika Gloabal Network. If you have young children, bring them by and you're sure to have a lot of fun!

カイは何をしていますか？
森の体力測定は確かに楽しそうですが､体育の日でのんびりでリラックスするかもしれません。でも、子ども祭りで、せいかグローバルネットと一緒に参加します。お子様がおられる方はお子様と一緒に是非お越しください！

You have any questions, let me know~

Give ballet a chance

This past Sunday myself and another member of the planning and coordinating division had the opportunity to attend Mami Ballet Land’s 25th anniversary celebration performance at the Keshena Plaza right here in Seika town.

Now, before you say, “But Kai, I really can’t see you being interested in dance,” you should know I’ve been involved in swing dancing over the years but I’ve never much been one for real dance and the tights that come with it.


I have to say though; I was really impressed. Even though the girls (and three boys) were young, they were all incredibly talented. Before a crowd of roughly 1000 people, dancers as young as five went up and did a great job (The five year olds had a Teddy Bear themed dance that was quite possibly the cutest thing in the universe.) The older students were fantastic as well, including two girls who performed solo pieces. Guest star Laura Morera, a principal in the Royal Ballet, was there to finish off the performance. It was really cool to see how something from a different culture (ballet) can become such an engrained part of Japanese life. I probably won't be joining myself (me in tights would not be good for anyone,) but I was still really impressed with their show and hope to see some more in the future.


今週の日曜日に、僕と一人の同僚は精華町のけいはんなプラザに麻美バレエランドの２５周年公演を見に行きました。僕はずっと前からスイングダンシングというダンスしていたが、本格的なダンスはあまり経験ありません。

しかし､この公演は本当に凄かったです。出た女の子(と男の子三人）は若かったが、１０００人もの観客を前に本間に良く出来ました。年上の生徒も本当よく出来ました。(五歳の子のテディーベアダンスは本当に宇宙一可愛い事だと思います。）特に二人はソロピースまで出来ました。そして､ゲストで英国ロイヤルバレエ団がフィナーレとして出ました。バレエのような異文化のことはだんだん日本のことにもなってきていますよね。本当に凄い公演だって、絶対将来にまた見に行きたいです。

http://www.mami-balletland.jp/