TsukuBlog

AgESD Symposium 2008
( Agricultural Education for Sustainable Development Symposium 2008)

10th November (Mon.)
[Special Conference Room, University Hall A]
< Young Researcher’s Forum >

09:30-10:00 Oral Presentation Ⅰ
Montana Ruchirasak, Assistant Professor,
Kasetsart University   “Sustainable core competency
–Enhancing of organic rice producers in Thailand”
10:00-10:30 Oral Presentation Ⅱ
Kazunori Minamikawa, National Institute for Agro-Environmental Sciences
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-11:30 Oral Presentation Ⅲ
Yayat Hidayat, Graduate Student, Bogor Agricultural University
“Educational and research activities on watershed management
study program to develop   sustainable agriculture.”
11:30-12:00 Oral Presentation Ⅳ
Mari Horigane, Ph.D. candidate, University of Tsukuba
12:00-13:00 Lunch
13:00-14:00 Special Lecture Ⅳ
Kazuhito Suga, Vice-Director, Japan Volunteer Center (JVC)
“Current activities of JVC (tentative)”
14:15-14:45 Oral Presentation Ⅴ
Lourdes S. Edano, Assistant Professor, UPLB
“Needs and development of sustainable agriculture in the Philippines”
14:45-15:15 Oral Presentation Ⅵ
Ousmane Diene, Graduate student, Ibaraki University
“The use of symbiotic fungal association with crops for
a sustainable agriculture production”
15:15-15:30 Break
15:30-16:30 Discussion
Details: http://www.agbi.tsukuba.ac.jp/~agesd/e-index.html

The tremendous advances made in the medical sciences over the past few centuries have been simply astounding. Much of this progress can be attributed to the efforts of diligent, talented, and sometimes just-plain-lucky researchers who set about looking for solutions to medical questions by applying the scientific method — which depends heavily on observing the results of controlled experiments to prove hypotheses.

Animals, in their forced role as experimental subjects, have played a crucial part in this March Forward, as many important medical studies from the times of Pasteur and Pavlov to the present day, have been made with the use of test animals. Every year at least tens of millions of vertebrates (and so many more invertebrates) are used around the world in tests which end with these creatures being SACRIFICED.

At Tsukuba University Medical School, as well as at other research institutes in Japan, the role that animals play in scientific progress, and the suffering often involved in their making a CONTRIBUTION to humanity (and sometimes to their fellow animals as well) does not go unrecognized or unacknowledged (for whatever that is worth) .

Once a year, usually in the first week of November (when the climate is most comfortable), an announcement is made throughout the medical school complex, that a special memorial service (ireisai, 慰霊祭) will be held at the IREIHI (慰霊碑), a memorial tablet which is tucked away in the shadows of the small woods, just east of the hospital’s power plant. The IREIHI itself was made 20 years ago by a student of the university and the inscription on it reads “JIKEN DOBUTSU IREIHI”, or “monument for consoling the spirits of experimental animals”.

On the day the ceremony is announced, hundreds of  doctors, researchers, administrators, office staff and representatives of the companies which supply the animals attend, many bringing flowers, or foods which the animals might like. Since Tsukuba University is a government institution which must abide by rules separating church and state, incense, which would usually be offered on such an occasion, is not used, because of its overtly religious (Buddhist) connotations. Usually, a distinguished researcher or administrator makes a short speech about the number of animals sacrificed and the need to reduce this number and alleviate suffering. Those assembled then close their eyes for a moment of silence. I am told that many of those who attend this ceremony feel a sense of satisfaction or solace in having shown their respect and gratitude to the sacrificed lab animals.

Some laboratories in Tsukuba affiliated with private companies hold more elaborate and overtly religious IREISAI. For several reasons, I, myself, do not  like the idea of using animals for experiments (when it is not absolutely necessary to do so). But since millions of creatures ARE being used (and abused) in the name of science, I think it is a good thing to give them a little (even if it’s only on one day) RESPECT.

Thanks to Dr. Sugiyama, director of Tsukuba University’s Center for Experimental Animals for giving me his time and for showing me his dedication to providing the best conditions possible for the animals under his care. Still I get the willies every time I pass his building. If anyone would like to attend the ceremony please let me know and I will inform you about it (on the day it is held).

When:
May 29, Thursday, from 2:30pm to 5:00pm
Venue:
University of Tsukuba 30th Anniversary Hall

Program:
14:45
Welcoming address/ Palabras de bienvenida por autoridad de la Universidad.

14:55 to 15:25
Lecture by ambassador Daniel D. Polski/ Conferencia del Sr. Embajador de la Republica Argentina Daniel D.Polski
Lecture title: “Argentina‚ key drivers for sustainable economic development”/ “Argentina: Factores Claves del Desarrollo Económico Sustentable”
　　　　　　
15:35 to 16:00
Argentina tango evening/ Demonstration and lesson by Luna de Tango Company, Demonstracion y clase de tango a cargo de “Luna de Tango Company.”

16:00 to 17:00
Social gathering/ Let’s talk about Argentine

Please contact Sugimoto at 029-853-6785
or visit the following page for details:
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/hall/20080521140055.html

Program:
http://www.tsukuba.ac.jp/up_pdf/20080521140055001.pdf

Message from City Chat Cafe:

City Chat Cafe is a place where International and Japanese people living in Tsukuba can come together and meet. There is no charge for entry and no reservation is needed.

・Bilingual students can help the communication
・University of Tsukuba covers the expenses

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Are you curious about the Japanese lifestyle?
Would you like to meet Japanese families and make friends?

City Chat Cafe is a place where international and Japanese people living in Tsukuba can come together and meet. Come and speak Japanese or English.

You are very welcome to join. Everyone is welcome: children, families, individuals. There is no charge for entry and no reservation is needed. Just come!

The First City Chat Cafe Meeting
Date & Time: Sunday, August 31st, 2008; 14:00 - 16:00
Place: LALA Garden 1st floor, LALA Club

To learn more about City Chat Cafe, please see our website.

The University of Tsukuba’s dormitory festival “Yadokari-sai” will take place on this Friday and Saturday evening at Hirasuna dormitory’s parking lot. The festival is organized by new students who enrolled this April. They welcome all people not only students but also residents around the university. Many food booths, parades, fire works, yukata (Japanese cotton robe) beauty contest etc. Have fun!

(I have been asked to add some points for clarification, so I am reposting this message. Please read the following carefully if you are thinking of applying for these classes.)

International students and researchers and their families are eligible for free Japanese classes taught by undergraduate and graduate students who are majoring in Japanese language education at the University of Tsukuba. The lessons are offered so that the graduate students can practice their teaching skills. The classes are videotaped and people observe the lessons from the other side of a one-way mirror. (These classes are not associated with the regular Japanese classes offered by the International Student Center at the university.)

Students should be able to read and write hiragana and katakana. If you are not familiar with these Japanese alphabets, they will send you a list so that you can learn them before the classes begin.

Students are divided into two classes according to the results of a placement test. J1 meets on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday and J2 meets on Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Students must agree to attend all classes.

The classes run from Monday, April 23 to Wednesday May 30. There are three 40 minute periods per day and students must attend all three classes. Period 1 is from 3:30pm to 4:10pm, period 2 is from 4:15pm to 4:55pm, and period 3 is from 5pm to 5:40pm. The content of the classes includes basic vocabulary, elementary grammar, everyday conversation, and cultural activities. Classes are held at the University of Tsukuba and the tuition is free. There are no classes during Golden Week (April 30 to May 4).

If you want to apply, send an email with your name, sex, nationality, native language, occupation, address, phone number, and email address to jissyu_yaru2007[AT]yahoo.co.jp by April 7, 2007. It is not possible to enroll in the classes after this date. The number of participants is limited, so it may not be possible for all applicants to participate in the course.

1964 was a pivotal year in post-war Japanese history. With the inauguration of the first SHINKANSEN bullet train, the introduction of the first color TVs, and most importantly, the hosting of the Olympic Games, it was a year which now symbolizes Japan’s economic recovery and marks its return to the forefront of the international scene after a two decade period of frenzied rebuilding following the total devastation of WWII. 

In 1966, the Japanese government designated October 10th as Taiiku no Hi (Sports Day) to commemorate the Games. If you are wondering why October was selected as a day to remember the Summer Olympics, you are not alone. The fact is, however, that in 1966, the Opening Ceremonies were held on the 10th of October! The wise decision to hold the Tokyo Summer Games in Autumn was made in deference to Japans cruelly humid summer weather (why wasn’t the same change made for Beijing?).

Since the year 2000, as part of the HAPPY MONDAY MOVEMENT (having national holidays on Monday to make a 3-day weekend), Taiiku No Hi has been moved to the second Monday of October, giving us a nice break in what is probably Japan’s best season weather-wise. 

Over the Sports Day weekend you are likely to hear signal fireworks (aizu no hanabi) announcing that school and university sports festivals (UNDO KAI) are being held. For the Japanese, these events are MAJOR markers of the passage of years. It is common for grandparents to come from afar to be present, and in Tsukuba, parents often go out in the middle of the night to stake out a good place to put down their plastic sheet for the next morning’s festivities. You can get a glimpse of what goes on at an UNDOKAI on YouTube.

If you turned on the TV this morning, you might have seen some of Japan’s Olympic medalists giving workshops for schoolchildren and also scenes of little Aiko (the daughter of the Crown Prince and Princess) running (victoriously, of course) in her first Sports Festival.

Many Tsukubans set aside time every year during the second weekend in October to attend Tsukuba University’s three day Culture Festival. All of those who do have their own favorite attractions. For me, there is the music, especially the jazz cafe and the Andean Folk Music Troupe. This year, with the blessing of truly glorious weather, not a soul could have left disappointed. With a wide range of cheap and delicious foods, live music in all genres, arcade games, scientific displays, and technological exhibitions all served up with youthful enthusiasm, for me the GAKUEN-SAI is the true TSUKUBA FESTIVAL (Tsukuba Matsuri).

As I have written before, one noticeable thing for many graduates of foreign universities is the lack of any political or INTELLECTUAL presence in the Tsukuba University festival. In recent years, however, environmental awareness has started to be felt with several booths selling organic produce or showing data from research on GREENER LIVING. Still walking the length of the campus this weekend, I felt pessimistic about recent calls to lower the voting age in Japan to 18.

For LOTS OF INTERESTING DETAILS ON THE TOKYO OLYMPICS SEE THIS PAGE and THIS ONE. (You should read more about this event!)

You probably already know about Tsukuba Public Library and the library at the University of Tsukuba, but did you know that many of the research institutes here in Tsukuba also have extensive collections? It is not always possible to take the books out of such libraries, but you can usually at least gain access to them if you ask nicely.

Here is a list of libraries in Tsukuba.

Read more »

Click to download the April 2008 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Click to download the August 2006 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Merry Christmas Everyone!

The December 2006 issue of Mind The Gap is out now!!

Go to the December 2006 issue on the Mind the Gap website for all the latest info for international students of Tsukuba University.

Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year!!

Kate
‘Mind The Gap’

Click to download the July 2006 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Click to download the June 2006 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Click to download the October 2006 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Click to download the September 2006 issue of Mind the Gap.

Mind the Gap is a newsletter for students of Tsukuba University. It is an extra source of important information about living and studying in Japan, catering especially to the students of Tsukuba! We are here to make your life easier and make sure that you enjoy this unique opportunity to study abroad. We will keep you up-to-date monthly with important notices and deadlines for visas/documents/entrance exams/dormitories, and don’t miss the monthly comic ‘Yougakusei’ and ‘Views from the Shokudou’! Please check this website every month for the latest issue, which is also posted in the lounge at the International Student Center (ISC). Also, print-outs of the latest issues are available in the ISC office to take home.

Comments or Questions?
mindthegaptsukuba[a]yahoo.co.jp

Hi Everyone,

Are you moving house or upgrading your appliances?

A new “Re-use” system has been developed by the Tsukuba University “Environmental Circle EcoRanger” (official student body, supported by University of Tsukuba office - campus life section), so that new students coming to Tsukuba can live economically and ecologically.

If you have appliances and household goods that you don’t need, please bring them to Ichinoya or Hirasuna dormitories in Tsukuba University on the following dates. They can also pick up your goods by car if necessary.

I think its a great idea, as every year there is always SO much stuff dumped at the dormitories that goes to waste. So, why not organise your things in March and give the things that you don’t need to the new students.

Details

Household goods accepted:
Microwave oven, rice cooker, toaster oven, electrical appliances, TV, electric heater, desk lamp, etc. Only household goods in GOOD condition are accepted. Otherwise, they may reject your goods. Also, bicycles are accepted only with applicant’s copy of “Bicycle Theft Prevention Registration”.

Date, time, and location of receipt of goods:
3rd, 10th, & 25th March (also 26th & 27th March in Hirasuna)
9:00-11:30am, 13:00-15:30pm
Ichinoya and Hirasuna community bulidings (1Floor)

Email
zdk[AT]stb.tsukuba. ac.jp

Website (Japanese)
http://www.stb.tsukuba.ac. jp/~zdk/weal/

I think this collection by Mori gives a good sense of what the University of Tsukuba campus looks like.

A few weeks ago I was surprised to see that there were policemen at each corner of every intersection along Higashi-Odori (one of Tsukuba’s main thoroughfares), for as many kilometers as I would travel down it. Each of these officers had a little decoration on his shoulder, so it was clear that this was VIP related. Since I had read that Prince Charles was in Japan on that day, I assumed that he had made a surprise visit to Tsukuba.

Well , it turns out that the Prince of Wales never did come to Tsukuba. However, I was not very far off the mark. Royalty, was in fact coming, and in heavy doses.  What I had seen was merely a dress rehearsal. There would be still more rehearsals (not only for the police) after the one I had seen — because this was going to be MAJOR == the Emperor and Empress of Japan (representing the longest continuous dynasty in the world) would be visiting Tsukuba. This in itself would merit a rehearsal or two, but putting more pressure on security services and Tsukuba City officials, they would be bringing along two very special guests, also of very ancient lineage: the King and Queen of Spain. (The King is a successor to the Capetian Dynasty which is the oldest in Europe. He is a descendant of Charles V, Louis XIV and Queen Victoria, among others.)

Though we have had a Nobel Prize winner or two among us, since the Tsukuba Expo of 1985, when a whole slew of world leaders and royalty whipped in and out of town, there have been few such occasions to excite our local royal and celebrity watchers. 

I was surprised to learn (since I come from a very security conscious country) that a detailed itinerary of the visit was released in advance, and even more surprised to eventually find that it was followed, to the minute.

The plan to visit Tsukuba certainly came about due to a shared interest on the part of the Emperor and the King in science and technology. But by this I do not necessarily mean the space and robot technology that they would be shown at the Tsukuba Space Center or at Tsukuba University. It seems that the planners of this trip took into consideration both monarchs’ particular affection for a more classic technology — TRAINS! (I was glad that Juan Carlos was not taken to indulge in one of his favorite pastimes: BEAR HUNTING!)

The two couples would be setting out from Ueno Station after having boarded the Imperial Family’s new PRIVATE TRAIN, several cars long, which would let them off at Tsuchiura Station. Later, they would be going back to Tokyo by TX (with the whole train specially reserved, of course).

The day of the royal arrival was dark, drizzly and a little cold. This did not deter lovers of the Imperial Family from waiting by the road, for an hour or two, at various locations along the route of the Imperial procession, so that they would be able to watch as it passed by. They came, mostly women over 60, by the busload (many of these women also volunteer, at no small personal expense, to clean the grounds of the Imperial Palace every year — the subject of a future entry).

However, with all the blue blood seated in their specially made limousines, these women were mostly interested in catching a glimpse of a commoner. Of course, I’m talking about Empress Michiko, the first woman of non-aristocratic lineage to marry into the family of the Sun-Goddess. I have found that many Japanese, again, usually women of a certain age, are deeply moved by what they consider to be Michiko’s kindness, patience, concern for the people, and beauty.

(I have my own Michiko moment. In Tokyo, on another drizzly day near the Empress’s alma mater, Seishin, we found a street lined with policemen. I asked what was going on, and was told that Michiko would be passing by soon, on the way to a class reunion. We asked if we could wait and were told that by all means we could. A plain-clothes officer then proceeded to talk into his radio. I couldn’t overhear him, but I assumed he was reporting our presence for security. I was wrong, however. He had informed the procession that some foreigners were standing and waiting outside in the rain to greet the Empress. Anyway, I guess that is what he said, because the car Michiko was in (in the middle of a convoy, of course), came to a near halt. The window then rolled down and we were given a very elegant nod by Her Majesty. I’m almost embarrassed to say that it was a MOVING experience and that I’ve had a special feeling for the COMMONER EMPRESS ever since.)

I had no particular plan to watch the processions, but as it turned out I was able to see both couples clearly, on at two different times of day, as they slowly drove by, waving to the crowd from open windows. I was also able to snap some pictures with my cell phone camera, which by shear luck (I held the keitai high over the crowd and shot at random) captured the moment.

An important impression which remains after any imperial sighting of this sort is the sheer sense of thrill in the air – exuded not only by the older women who had come by chartered bus, or by the few 30-ish, male amateur paparazzi (though they seem to be just ardent fans of the Imperial Family) mounted on tall step ladders with very long and expensive-looking telephoto lenses who proudly show off their shots to the excited ladies after the procession has passed (to cries of “Michiko’s face really IS kind and gentle”), but also the local policemen who show genuine emotion which lingers strongly even after the royals have been long gone. They bow, to the well-wishers and give an emotional thanks to all those who came out in the bad weather - ARIGATO GOZAIMASHITA!

For me, this double royal visit was less thrilling than thought provoking. Of course ,one cannot be but baffled at what makes blue blood so captivating for the public in this day and age. I would recommend reading a little about Juan Carlos- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juan_Carlos_I_of_Spain                                                                         

and the current Emperor of Japan

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akihito

and then tying to imagine what they spoke about sitting side by side during the train rides from Tokyo and back.

The visit also gets one to reflect on the history of Japanese-Spanish relations,which go back to the16th century.  Spain in fact  had  an immense impact on the course of Japanese history. It was distrust of the motives of the Spanish and the missionaries who came with them (fuelled of course by the opinions of the Dutch and English), which led to the banning of Christianity, and the more than 200 years of National Seclusion(sakoku) which followed http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakoku .

Tsukuba University is developing an artificially powered exoskeleton going by the name Hybrid Assistive Limb (HAL) that promises to give its wearer up to 10X their original strength.

Read the full article.

A stroll northward on the main pedestrian and bicycle path which runs through the center of our fair city will eventually bring you to the University of Tsukuba. When you first get there just after passing Matsumi Park and Tsukuba Medical Center, you will be entering the southernmost point of its oddly narrow and elongated campus (that is if you don’t count the newly added campus of Library and Information Science, which is closer to Tsukuba Center). After a hundred meters or so you will find yourself in the dormitory enclaves of Oikoshi (追越) and Hirasuna (平砂) where just a few weeks ago, the cherry trees which line each side of the above-mentioned path were in full-bloom, forming what is probably the best cherry-blossom tunnel in this area.

Of course the pink flowers have all fallen and scattered after their short but spectacular period of bloom. Though many feel a sense of regret over the loss of the blossoms, it is now possible to enjoy the fresh greenery (shinryoku,新緑), with the young cherry tree leaves, various shades of light green, just as enjoyable, especially when rustled by a soft spring breeze.

Sounds like an idyllic spot for quiet contemplation. Usually it would be, but this is the 4th weekend of May, and that means the dormitory area will be anything but peaceful — the Yadokari festival is on!

Music and shouts of revelry rise up from a dozen places at once. The usually conservatively-dressed students are in Hapi festival coats, yukata, wild cos-play-style costumes and many young men are in drag!

There are about 80 different booths set up by different groups of students, selling food or used clothes (!), offering arcade style games or numerous performance events.

The groups either consist of members of the same club or circle, or the same academic department.

Spending some time at the festival shows you how the Japanese who are usually shy and reserved when on their own can be absolutely silly when they have the approval and companionship of their group peers (I guess the same is true in any society,but it seems to me to be especially remarkable in this country).

I had to dive out of the way as the usually dour biology students came bulldozing down the path, some dressed in drag and others in other outlandish costumes, enthusiastically crying out a mock festival chant.

The festival is a great chance for the students to get to know each other and form a relationship with the non-university community. There were plenty of visitors today enjoying the food, games and performances.

It is a great venue for the different performance groups to show their stuff. Many of the musicians and dancers are quite impressive and I could overhear many comments with the gist of “Wow! I didn’t know Mariko could do that!”

This year was the 34th annual Yadokari festival and that means that it began when the present campus was still surrounded by thick forest. It is said that the students back then had absolutely nothing to do for entertainment so they decided to found the festival.

By the way, yadokari means hermit crab, which is a kind of unofficial symbol of the event. The Japanese characters for yadokari 宿借り also mean borrowing a place to stay, which is exactly what students who live in the dormitories do.

One interesting thing you might notice is that there are no students debating the Tibet issue or the Middle East or getting involved in any social or religious issues. This is true of most Japanese universities but ESPECIALLY Tsukuba University, which was established out here in the countryside as a reaction to the student violence raging in Tokyo during the late 1960s.

I myself don’t know how students can be spiritually satisfied with just fried noodles and curry rice as a project to work on together, but everyone seems to be having a good time; well, today at least.

Nanae Aoyama only turned 24 in January, but already she has won literary prizes for each of the two books she has published.

But she hasn’t just won any old literary prizes. Her latest, awarded in January for her second novel, “Hitori Biyori (Being Alone),” was the Akutagawa Prize — the most prestigious in Japan — which is named after the great early 20th-century novelist Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

Read the full article.

Dimaks took a couple of videos of a marching band from the University of Tsukuba performing in Tsukuba Center. I’m so impressed with the sound quality of this video. It’s amazing what cellphones can do these days!

See the second video on his blog.

The quality of this band is just incredible. I have always marvelled at the quality of music education in Japan. I remember listening to an elementary school band when I lived in Fukushima and thinking that — to my untrained ears — they were as good as any adult band I had ever heard. In Canada, an elementary school bands are generally fun to watch, but I wouldn’t rate their sound quality as being concert-worthy.

goo Research recently published the results of a survey they conducted into the matter of university lectures being made publicly available, or OpenCourseWare to use the term coined to describe this phemonenom, pioneered in the USA by MIT’s OpenCourseWare project. In Japan there is the Japan Opencourseware Consortium, JOCW, based at Keio University, who have their own OpenCourseWare, including a small English section.

Eleven respondents (out of 1,050) said that they wanted University of Tsukuba lectures available as open course ware.

Read the full article: Japanese OpenCourseWare initiatives see broad support

YEH - Youth Ending Hunger Ibaraki
Annual Charity Concert

When:
July 5, Saturdayfrom 6PM to around 9PM,
Doors open at 5:30PM
Venue:
Tsukuba Als Hall
(2nd floor of the Tsukuba Public Library Building)
Tickets:
450yen advance, 500yen at the door

Program:
Part 1 (about 70min)
Opening ceremony
Performances by
- KANADE, String quartet
- Chie Morishima, piano
- Doo-Wop, a cappella

Part 2 (about 60min)
Slide Show
Performances by
- Mukuna Tshiakatumba, percussion and song
- Folklore Aikoukai, Peruvian and Bolivian music by Tsukuba University students

Part 3 (about 40min)
Performances by Tsugaru Jamisen Mugen Juku
Collaborated performance
Closing ceremony

For more information, contact Akiko Shirota of YEH Ibaraki
yeh_ibaraki[at]yahoo.co.jp

Related websites:
Youth Ending Hunger Ibarakli
TsukuNavi