Lecture by a Nobel Prize winner Dr. Robert B. Laughlin
When: February 28, Thursday from 6:30PM
Venue: Epochal Tsukuba

Contact the Ibaraki Prefecture’s Science and Technology Promotion Office to register or inquire about this lecture.
・ Phone: 029-301-2532,
・ Fax: 029-301-2539
・ E-mail: kikaku7[at]pref.ibaraki.lg.jp

Ref:
Tsukuba Science Academy
http://academy.fureai.or.jp/news.cgi?mode=detail&num=20080212171108
Ibaraki Virtual Science Museum
http://www.kagakukan.pref.ibaraki.jp/cgi-local/news/newsview.cgi?dnum=0&category=news

Lecture on Japanese etiquette for women:
“Manners Nowadays”

Date: May 17, Sunday, Time: 11:00 (registration starts at 10:00)
Venue: Hotel Grand Shinonome (Onozaki 488-1, Tsukuba City)

There will be a lecture on manners by Kayou Mori, who is the author of many books and often appears on Japanese TV programs, right here in Tsukuba this month. She will talk about manners women should know these days.

This lecture will be entirely in Japanese and no English interpretation will be provided. However, I believe this kind of lecture is beneficial to many women in Tsukuba’s int’l community, especially to those who are working or raising children. Have you ever had a moment when you didn’t know what the proper manner was when dealing with your co-workers, or when you were invited to someone’s house or company? If you can speak or understand Japanese, please feel free to participate!

Registration/Contacts:
Office of Yuya Niwa, member of the House of Representatives
Enokido 793-2, Tsukuba City, Ibaraki 305-0853
Phone/Fax: 029-837-2849
E-mail: tsukubavoice[at]niwayuya.net
Website: http://www.niwayuya.net/blog/

One very famous Japanese “food fighter” would be Takeru Kobayashi, who competes in the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating competition. However, as many of you know, his record was beaten by Joey Chestnut of USA this year.
- Nathan’s Famous official website
- Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest (wikipedia)
- Watch Takeru Kobayashi and Sonya Thomas, a Korean American “food fighter” compete in this credit card ad

Another competitive eater you see often on Japanese TV is “Giant Shirota” of Tochigi. He’s a tall, soft-spoken guy, and his good nature made him very popular.
Giant Shirota Blog

Well, guess what.
You have a chance to meet him…, better yet, compete with him!!

There’ll be eating contests from 2pm at Creo Square Q’t as a part of their summer festival on August 11, Saturday, and Giant Shirota will be there to compete! The event organizer is accepting applications until August 4, Saturday, so if you think you are a big eater, download the application(pdf) form and send it in!
Tsukuba Creo Square Summer Festival page

Participation Fees:
Free
Number of Participants:
10 each for
1. Curry and Rice eating competition
2. Snow Cone eating competition
Qualifications:
1. Must be over 15 y.o. who is in good health, and must have confidence in consuming a lot of food
2. Must not be a competitive eater, professional or non-professional
3. Must not be pregnant, ailing, or allergic to some food
4. Must have the guardian’s consent

The event organizer will screen all the applications and contact only the ones who passed the screening after August 5.

As you can see on the Tsukuba Creo Square's summer festival page, there will be a yukata contest on August 18, Saturday from 5pm. The deadline of this competition's application is August 11.

The winners of these two competitions will receive 10,000 yen gift certificate and all the participants will receive goodies.

TABS (The Association of Boarding Schools) Asia Boarding Schools Fairs will kick off in Tokyo this weekend. You can see the list of participating schools here.

TABS Asia Boarding Schools Fair, Tokyo
Date: Sunday, October 25
Time: 5:30PM to 7:30PM
Venue: ANA InterContinental Hotel

The next TABS TABS Asia Boarding Schools Fair will be held in Seoul, Korea on Oct. 27. For the precise details of this fair in Tokyo and fairs in other Asian countries, click here, or visit TABS website: http://www.boardingschools.com/

World Partnership Forum in Ibaraki*
Date: October 20, Saturday
Venue: Epochal Tsukuba
* The forum will be simultaneously interpreted into English.

Keynote Lecture: "Pushing Our Faculties to the Limit: The Challenge" by a Noble Prize winner 江崎玲於奈(Dr. Leo Esaki), who was also a chancellor of Tsukuba University from 1992 to 1998.

Time: 13:15pm to 17:00pm
- Doors open at 12:45
- Forum begins at 13:15
- Lecture: 13:30 to 14:15
- Panel discussion between Dr. Esaki, about 10 ambassadors to Japan, and representatives of the economic circle: 14:15 to 15:45
- Dialogue between the ambassadors and local students: 16:00 to 17:00

Please visit this page or download the flyer/application form here.
Or e-mail Ibaraki Prefectural Government's International Affairs Division : kokuko[AT]pref.ibaraki.lg.jp if you have any questions.

2 Comments

• At September 28, 2007, Seng Chye wrote:

  Thanks for sharing this precious information.

  I have applied for it. Anyone else is going?

• At September 28, 2007, RrFish wrote:

  Dear Seng,

  Thank you for your comment and you are welcome!

  I hope a lot of people from the foreign community will be able to attend this forum and make it a very "international" forum because I think it's sad if the panelists are the only international presence.