* The seminar will be in easy Japanese. English interpreter is available.

Date & time: February 4th (Sun.) 10:00a.m. to 12:00
Place: International Network Center
Member: 15 foreigners who live or work in Tsukuba
Lecturer: Mr. Kazuhiro Yamashima
Fee: 100 yen (text fee)
Application: By telephone or email
Registration & more information:

Tsukuba Cultural Foundation Tel.029-856-7007
Email class[AT]tsukubacity.or.jp

For more information, contact Tsukuba Cultural Foundation.

Tel: 029-869-7675
class[at]tsukubacity.or.jp

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Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to make ikebana arrangements!

The variety of beautiful flowers is outstanding in Japan. We are inviting all foreigners who are interested in learning how to create flower arrangements based on Ikebana ideas adapted to modern interiors. You will make special arrangements for holidays that are ideal as seasonal gifts or party table accents. Come and learn an art you can share with others on special occasions!

Wednesdays from 9:30 to 12:00 (basically 3 times a month)
Tsukuba Information Center, Tsukuba Center Building (Next to Nova Hall, Azuma 1-10-1)
Open to foreign residents living in or near Tsukuba

INSTRUCTOR: Ms. Mitsuho UNNO, llicensed teacher of Kyoto Koryu School

FLOWER FEE: ￥1,500 x 3 classes = ￥ 4,500 per month
Payment is due at the beginning of each month

BRING: Flower scissors, towel, small bowl, and plastic bag

REGISTER: Send a note to irma.k[AT]m6.dion.ne.jp expressing your interest in joining the class.

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Classes

• Introductry class：for those learning Japanese for the first time

• Bigginer Ⅰ：for those who can already read and write hiragana and katakana and can have a simple conversation.

• BeginnerⅡ: for those who have already studied Japanese for more than 6 months and can understand verbs and adjectives conjugation.

Period

• April 16th(thu) 2009 -September 17th (thu)2009

Time

• PM 12:30-2:30 Every Thursday (Introductory class 12:30-14:00)

Place

• In Tsukuba Gakuin University(3-1 Azuma Tsukuba City)

Cost

• 3000 yen (Students are required to purchase are textbook.)

Date

• April 16 23 30 May 7 14 21 28 June 4 11 18 25 July 2 9 16 September 3 10 17

• Total 17 classes

Registration

• 9th April(Thu)PM1:00-2:00, at Thukuba Gakuin University cafeteria on the 1st Floor next to the entrance hall

For more information or contact

• Ms. Kuruta 029-887- 7221 (from PM 7 onward) Ms Hattori 029 -852- 3483

• nihongo0311[at]yahoo.co.jp

If you don't make is as one of the lucky three or if you don't have a copy of the coupon, you can still try horse riding for 2100 yen (plus 1250 yen for equipment and insurance) until December 28, 2008. You can also get a 525 yen discount if you go on a weekday.

Riding Club Crane is located in the Mizubori area of Tsukuba, which is south of Gran Stage near Banpaku Kinen Koen Station on the Tsukuba Express Line. Take the Tsukuba Express to Banpaku Kinen Koen Station (万博記念公園) and then take TsukuBus Route 9-A (Click to see the schedule. Banpaku Kinen Koen Station is number 18 and Mizubori Iriguchi is number 16 on the schedule.). After about three minutes, get off at Mizubori Iriguchi (水掘入口) and walk for five minutes.

乗馬クラブクレイン茨城 (Riding Club Crane Ibaraki)
Address: 〒300-2654茨城県つくば市水掘410 (〒300-2654 Ibaraki, Tsukuba, Mizubori 410)
Tel: 029-861-8867
Open: 10am and 6pm
Closed: Tuesdays

I went last night with the intention of just watching, but that was really not an option! As soon as I arrived, one of the members took my hand and led me onto the dance floor. Many people made a special effort to come and talk to me and ask me where I was from and how long I had lived in Tsukuba. Everyone made an attempt to speak to me in English, even if it was not perfect English.

Some of you may not be familiar with square dancing, but you really don't need to know anything to join these classes. The lessons start from the absolute beginning and don't assume that you have any knowledge of square dancing. Also, square dancing involves a "caller" who tells everyone what to do during the dances, and all of the "calls" are in English. The instructions are often in Japanese, but the Japanese members of the group offered to translate for the foreign people. It is also easy just to watch what other people are doing.

I can't say enough about how friendly the people were and how well-organized this group is. If you are having trouble finding ways to make friends with local Japanese people, I strongly recommend that you get involved with some sort of group or club that will effectively "force" people to interact with you. The Tsukuba Square Dance Club has a long history of welcoming foreign residents and I don't think you could find a more friendly club to join. The next round of 15 lessons started yesterday, but they might still allow people to join from the second class (Saturday, April 14).

I am a bit busy these days, so I don't know if I will be able to continue to attend every lesson, but I definitely want to try. Hope to see you there!

See: Tsukuba Square Dance Club

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February 2008 Update: I did end up continuing with the classes and have thoroughly enjoyed myself since that day back in April 2007 when I thought I would just show up, take a few pictures, and leave. I highly recommend this activity to anyone who thinks they might enjoy some good, clean fun with some lovely, warm-hearted people. Tsukuba Square Dance Club is one of the most welcoming groups of people I have ever met, and they are always happy to accept new foreign members. If you are thinking about joining, but you are not sure, just come for the first class and see if you like it.

February 2009 Update: I have now graduated from "Basic" and "Mainstream" to the "Plus" level. Believe it or not, there are even more levels, where the steps get more intricate and a bit harder to memorize. I am not usually very good at sticking with any one hobby for more than a few months, but square dancing has really stood the test of time for me (two years!). I think it has something to do with the fact that there are levels, so rather than doing the same thing over and over, I keep learning new things every time I go to a class. I can't say enough good things about this club. The members are so friendly and everything is well-organized. In fact, the Tsukuba club is so well-known for its high quality that people come all the way to Tsukuba from as far as Mito and Kanagawa every week (despite the fact that there are clubs in these places) just to participate. If you like to move your body and enjoy keeping your brain active, I strongly recommend giving square dancing a chance! (I know that it has a really lame reputation, but if you can see beyond that long enough to give it a try, you won't regret it.)

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Tsukuba Cultural Foundation (TCF)'s
34th Japanese Conversation Course

TCF (Tsukuba Cultural Foundation) will be having 34th Japanese Conversation Course for the foreign residents of Tsukuba or the person who works for somewhere in Tsukuba and their family who wish to learn everyday Japanese Conversation. The course is lightly complies with the request of the beginner level as well as the people who have learned Japanese before. Come and join our class!

[Class/ Class Level/ Textbook/ date]
1.Japanese1...on Tuesdays
2.Japanese2...on Tuesdays
3.Write & Learn ...on Tuesdays
4.Japanese3...on Thursdays
5.Japanese4...on Thursdays
6.Nihongo no Kai...on Thursdays

[APPLICANTS]
Applicants must be foreign residents of Tsukuba or the person who works for somewhere in Tsukuba and their family who wish to improve their Japanese language skills.

[CLASS SCHEDULE]
Tuesday　Class...April 7, 2009 to September 8, 2009 (20 sessions)
Thursday　Class...April 2, 2009 to September 10, 2009 (20 sessions)

[HOURS]
From 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

[LOCATION]
Tsukuba Capio (1-10-1 Takezono, Tsukuba City)

[ADMISSION]
Limited to 15 applicants for each class

[COST]
6,000 (new students), 5,000 (returning students to TCF)
*Please take note that there will not be any refund.

[TEXTBOOK]
Not included in the cost.
Please pay for the textbook on the first day of the class.

[HOW TO REGISTER]
From March 1st (Sun.), Please pick up an application form from the office of Tsukuba International Association from 9:00a.m. to 5:00p.m. (Closed Mondays)
http://www.tsukubacity.or.jp/info/english/modules/tinyd3/index.php?id=1

Come on and join the class!!

Period: April 7 to mid-July, 2007
Time: 19:00 to 21:00 ; every Saturday evening
Place: Takezono Kominkan (Takezono Public Hall)
Fee: 2,000yen (single), 3,000yen (couple) for 4months
Bring: Indoor-only shoes
Contact: HANDA: hank[AT]olive.ocn.ne.jp, KUDO: kkudo[AT]sannet.ne.jp

1 Comments

• At April 8, 2007, TsukuBlog » Sold on Square Dancing wrote:

  [...] Tsukuba Square Dance Club Related [...]

I can personally vouch for the classes being a lot of fun. The members are extremely kind-hearted and welcoming, and they are always delighted when a member of Tsukuba's foreign community joins. Most of the current members are Japanese, but the square dancing calls are all in English, and some of the members have excellent English and will offer to help you if you can't understand what is happening. I think that most people have the impression that square dancing can only be done to country and western music, but that is not the case. The callers can choose whatever kind of music they like, so we get a range of music styles including oldies, dance music, celtic music, and even enka!

If you don't have any plans on April 5th, please come and join us for your first square dance lesson in Japan!

Here is the information on the classes.

=====================

Tsukuba Square Dance Club offers an American Square Dance beginners' class every April. Square dancing is a lot of fun, involving both rhythmic movement and a bit of puzzle-like brain work. It was originally an American folk dance, but in the last 30 years it has been considerably altered to its modern form, which is now quite popular all over Japan, as well as in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia.

Come on and join the class!!

* Period: April 5 to mid-July, 2008
* Time: Saturday evenings from 7pm to 9pm
* Place: Takezono Kominkan (Takezono Public Hall)
* Fee: 2,000yen (single), 3,000yen (couple) for 4 months
* Bring: Indoor-only shoes
* Contact: HANDA: hank[AT]olive.ocn.ne.jp, KUDO: kkudo[AT]sannet.ne.jp

See also:
Tsukuba Square Dance Club website
My impressions from the first time I attended a square dance class in Tsukuba