Summer’s here! And to celebrate, KAJET would like all of you to come to our final event before we turn over the reins to the new group!
To celebrate the warm weather, we’re inviting everyone to meet us at the beach at Kokubu Camp Kaisui Yokujo (国分キャンプ海水浴場), located at the Kokubu Kaihin Koen (国分海浜公園)!
Bring your swimsuits, beach sports equipment, food, drink, and anything else you want! We will have two grills with coals, but we also encourage people to bring their own if they so choose. And everyone bring your own food and drink.
In the event of bad weather, we’ll send out a cancellation message the morning of, so be sure to check Facebook before you head out.
The year has gone by fast and summer is almost here. Come the end of July, a lot of friends will be leaving Kagoshima for new opportunities and adventures elsewhere. For those that are sticking around for the coming year, perhaps some of you would like to get more involved with organizing social events around the prefecture for friends and fellow JETs.
Do you know someone who you think would be good at organizing events you’d be interested in? Then nominate them for the Kagoshima AJET Council! Anyone can be nominated, and you can even nominate yourself. For all positions, you must be a JET participant in Kagoshima Prefecture for the 2011-2012 JET year.
There are four permanent positions available (President, VP, Secretary, and Treasurer) but other positions have been created in the past to help accommodate the interests of all those who want to be involved. Kagoshima AJET is whatever YOU make it to be! The nomination process will be open from today until April 22nd. The process is easy, just send an email to kagoshima@ajet.net with the name of the nominee.
After the nominations, the current council will contact the nominees to let them know they’ve been nominated, where as they can choose to accept or decline a spot on the KAJET Council. Elections will be held the following week should more than one candidate be interested in a particular position. A write-up of the duties and expectations of each position is available online via the KAJET website (http://kagoshimajet.wordpress.com) and are also listed as follows:
PRESIDENT
The KAJET President has a number of duties. In the beginning, these will center around updating the Kagoshima Survival Guide for the new JETs, liaising with Kencho and the Prefectural Advisors, as well as liaising with the National AJET Block 11 Leader. Working with Kencho is especially important in the summer, as you’ll be expected to assist with Prefectural Orientation for new JETs. The President also organizes and leads KAJET meetings, roughly around once a month. The President is responsible for checking the KAJET e-mail account and maintaining the website. In addition, the President will sometimes have to step into other roles when necessary, such as contacting event venues. A degree of Japanese proficiency is recommended.
VICE-PRESIDENT
The role of the Vice President is more generalist than specialist. There are no specific duties pertaining to this position but as the job title suggests, the main responsibility of the Vice President is to back up the President and act in his/her place during his/her absence. Although it is a must for every committee member, regardless of job title, to help one another throughout the term (instead of pushing responsibilities), the Vice President, together with the President, should make sure none of the members are overwhelmed with KAJET-related work. Some of the work done by the Vice President of 2011-2012 included help with compiling the new Kagoshima Living Guide for JET participants, give presentation during the Kagoshima JET Orientation, liaise with external parties (e.g. restaurants, hotels, etc.) to book venues for events, and help to plan, organise and execute KAJET events.
SECRETARY
The KAJET Secretary keeps track of everything, which means keeping track of minutes during the meetings and reading them at the beginning of every meeting. You’ll be in charge of the documentation for the council and holding onto records necessary to keep the council running smoothly as well as assisting in other duties. Main duties include recording Minutes for meetings, recapping minutes of previous meeting, at the start of each meeting, keeping documents and files up to scratch.
TREASURER
The KAJET treasurer handles the money in the KAJET budget to facilitate events as well as fund raffles and other such morale-boosting activities for the KAJET community. This includes setting fair prices for KAJET events, keeping track of money—both received and paid—at events, and balancing the budget in the official ledger so should anybody wish to see exactly how the money is being used you can quote exact numbers. The goal isn’t to make money, but to help channel funds to show the KAJET community a good time. Duties include managing budget and funds, set prices deemed suitable for events, and keep track of KAJET membership.
EVENT COORDINATOR
There were two event coordinators in the KAJET committee this year. However, the two positions developed in different ways as the year progressed and each coordinator took on a different set of responsibilities. These responsibilities can be distributed as desired. Responsibilities of Event Coordinators include making a rough calendar of events at the beginning of the year, negotiating costs and other arrangements with venues where possible, and advertising KAJET events on Facebook and communicate information when necessary.
This is the home of our monthly newsletter, Naruhodo. If you have something you’d like to contribute to the newsletter, contact our Editor, Gabriel Santos. Submissions are due by the 27th of the month.
Letter From the Editor
Hello gang! Welcome to issue 3 of this year’s Naruhodo, the magazine made by Kagoshima AJET for Kagoshima AJET! I think we managed to get through the worst of winter and and plunging headlong into spring. As if there was any doubt, sakura blossoms abound everywhere. Have you gone to picnic under them yet? (Be sure to check out the Hanami guide in the last issue for suggestions as to where to go.) This month’s issue is quite varied in sage advice:from Sumo, to ancient spirits, to internet piracy. And a special thanks goes out to our contributors for this month.
I also want to remind you that Naruhodo is also eager to hear from you! In the words of Mark Twain “There is no such thing as an uninteresting life.” With that in mind, please tell us at Naruhodo about your life here in Japan! It need not be a written article either. Please send us any photos, visual art, videos, or music you would like to share.
Zoom Zoom Zumo
By Meagan McClendon
Who doesn’t like the idea of a bunch of big guys trying to knock each other down. If you watch football for the tackling, then you might want to give Sumo a try.
Sure beats golf...
I went to Sumo in Osaka over the weekend of March 16. At first I was not sure if I would enjoy it, but being the must-see-all-the-things kind of person, I had to do just that. I flew into Kobe via Skymark and got to Osaka via the train. (Convenient trains? What are those?) You can see Sumo in Fukuoka around November, but since I had already planned to go to Osaka for the weekend in March it just seemed silly not to go while there.
If you are going to go to Sumo here are some things you should know:
1. BYOE. Or for those who are acronym-impaired: Bring Your Own Everything. Booze. Food. Small pizza oven. You can leave and come back but there really isn’t any food or alcohol worth buying at the venue. I saw people walk in with huge picnics for the front seats. I was tempted to go over and work the “I just really want to speak Japanese to you” magic to score some nosh (a.k.a. 日本語を食べたい).
2. Save The Best For Last. All the most popular matches are at the end. The real interesting ones didn’t happen until half way through the day, and the real stuff didn’t start until the big names came and did opening ceremonies. The early ones are kind of fun because no one has shown up to sit in the seats and you can potentially sit really close and get a few good photos early on, and then move to your ticket’s seat. (Playing the “dumb foreign” works well for this.)
The early bird get the worm -er front row seats!
3. Get In Line. There is a point when the head-honchos start to arrive and people line up to get photos of them. You can join the crowd to get a good photo of your favorite guy. If not, then they had some fun cardboard cut outs of the Wrestlers in the lobby, although I am not sure if that is typical.
Purifying the ring before the match.
4. Getting To Know You. I think learning a bit about Sumo will make it more interesting than just “Big dudes – Grr. Throwing stuff in the air – more Grr. One Falls. Repeat.” Knowing a bit about the background of the sport or the players can really help. There are a lot of foreigners in Sumo, and also people that may be from your favorite prefecture. Getting involved will make it way more interesting because you won’t have to say “Oh look, it’s large guy versus large guy, again!”
Burato, the Estonian Sumo.
5. Do not operate heavy machinery. Sumo is addictive. I am not a sports fan by any means. (Baseball is where you bounce the ball into the goal for a strike, right?) However, I already have a favorite after watching them all in action. There is something really fun about it. Maybe it was the powerful athletes. Maybe it was the crowd getting excited when someone went FLYING out of the circle and into the front row. Maybe it was the 2 bags of booze I brought in. All I know is next time I go I will be looking for one of the signed boards of my favorite wrestler.
Sumo:The Musical! Coming Soon...
All in all Sumo in Osaka was a blast. Osaka in itself was amazing, with great food and fun places. If you want to get there cheap, I got there on Skymark from Kagoshima city. The round trip was on a holiday weekend and it was well under 2万. I left Friday night on the latest flight and stayed in Kobe. Then I just left late Tuesday night on the last flight out of Kobe. You can take a bus to the airport or (as I did) park your car for 500yen a night at Iwasaki Parking — just past the Eneos in front of the Airport (and they have a shuttle to drop you off and pick you up,) yay! Within the Kansai region the trains are cheap. Going from Kobe to Osaka was under 500yen and trains going to Kyoto and Nara (and anywhere else your heart desires) are fast and cheap [insert hooker analogy of your choice here]. There is also an overnight ferry to Osaka from the Osumi side of Kagoshima prefecture… Although I am not sure of the details.
Collect them all! (Sumo Ring sold separately.)
By Rachel Seaman
The details of this year’s Sand and Flower Festa have been announced! This year marks the 25th anniversary of Minamisatsuma City’s popular sand sculpture exhibit at Fukiage Beach, ranked as one of the three largest sand dunes in Japan. According to the official website, this year’s exhibition will include 30 professional sand sculptures up to 8 meters in height, plus entries by local elementary and junior high school students. There will also be a “light and sound fantasy show”, food court, and hands-on corner. We’re still waiting on specifics for the hands-on corner, but I’m told it will include crafts, horse riding, a sketch contest, and of course the option to create your own sand sculpture.
And the official 2012 theme is…
“Theater on the Sandy Shore: The Mysterious Power Spot”
【Details of the 2012 Fukiagehama Sand Festival】
(１)Dates
12 days from May 2(Wed)to May 13(Sun)
☆1st Stage: May 2 ~ May 6 (Golden Week, baby!)
☆2nd Stage: May 7 ~ May 13
2nd Stage
Same-day ticket – Adult ¥500 Child ¥300
（Advance tickets will not be sold for the 2nd Stage.）
※ Please note that the fireworks show and other special attractions will only take place during the “1st Stage” around Golden Week peak season.
(4) Access
For those of you hoping to use public transportation, in past years there has been a special bus going from Kagoshima Chuo Station to the venue during 1st Stage. This bus takes about 70 minutes. Transit to the Kaseda Bus Station from Kagoshima Airport and Ijuin Station takes about 75 and 60 minutes, respectively.
For those driving to the venue, please take the Kyushu Expressway and exit at Taniyama IC onto the Suzuyama Bypass (Prefectural Road 20).
You can visit the official website at http://www.sand-minamisatsuma.jp/ but please note that the English language information hasn’t been updated in two years.
Media Blitz
By Perry Constantine
My personal opinion as to why Internet piracy is so prevalent is because it’s easy, especially for those of us living outside America. Assuming a movie you want to see even comes out in Japan, it may not come until several months or even a year after its initial release. And if you’re outside of Kagoshima City, getting to the theater can be a bit of a trek (plus the price of a ticket is nearly double of what you’re probably used to paying back home). Some towns in Kagoshima don’t have a Tsutaya or other video rental stores, so waiting for a DVD release may not be ideal either.
TV shows are a different matter altogether. Some shows never come to Japan at all, and the ones that stream episodes online are sometimes region blocked. So piracy becomes the default for many.
But piracy doesn’t always yield high quality results and there’s also the matter of the legality of it. And if you’re looking for older movies, it may be even more difficult to find it through your favorite torrent site. Fortunately, there is a legal option if you’re willing to pay a little bit extra.
Unblock-Us.com is a website that provides you with a service to access region-locked websites. For a fee of $4.99 USD (around ¥400) a month, you gain access to their virtual private network (VPN) and you can use that to access any number of media websites. Lots of TV shows post their episodes on their websites. And for those that don’t or for movies, you can choose subscription-based streaming sites, like Netflix or Hulu Plus and pay-per-view sites like Vudu. You’ll also find guides for how to use a non-US credit card for the services. If you’ve got any sort of media streaming device, such as a PS3, Xbox 360 or Apple TV, you can also use Unblock-Us with them (although make sure you change your region settings on the device to the US for it to work). Unblock-Us offers a free seven-day trial if you’re interested. If you don’t want to use Unblock-Us, you can probably find other VPN services to accomplish your goal.
Another option is iTunes, and this doesn’t even require a VPN service. If you don’t have a US-based credit card or address, just follow these instructions. First, go into the iTunes store and log out of your current account. Scroll to the bottom and click on the flag icon to change your country and choose the United States. Once you do this, do not create an account. Just look for any free app and click to download. Then choose Create New Account in the pop-up window. When you’re asked to enter your billing information, select “None.” Now, you can access the iTunes store.
Okay, so that’s fine for free content, but what about paid? For that, you can use iTunes gift cards. There are a number of sites that sell iTunes gift card codes, my personal favorite is OffGamers.com. Once your purchase is confirmed, you can access the code, enter it into iTunes, and your account is credited. With iTunes, you can buy or rent movies, as well as buy individual episodes of TV shows, or whole seasons. For shows currently on the air, you can buy a season pass, which will allow you to download all the currently-released episodes of the season as well as the remaining episodes once they’re released. Most of the TV shows are available in HD and with movies, you can choose either HD or standard definition (standard is slightly cheaper). If you’ve got an HDTV that you can hook up to your computer, either through an HDMI cable or a streaming device like PS3, Xbox 360 or Apple TV box, then you can set your laptop to the side, sit back and watch it on your TV.
He's coming for you!
If you’re tired of missing out on your favorite movies and shows and don’t want to mess around with piracy, try some of these options on for size. I’ve been doing it for about a year now and haven’t looked back.
Media Corner
In an effort to encourage more multi-media submissions I am including this song I made. It was created to be the theme song for a podcast Perry and I were doing about Japanese Film. Anyways, hope you enjoy! – Gaze Santos
The Gods of Small Things
By Gaze Santos
Japan, Muromachi Period. In a small Japanese village, the sound of sweeping could be heard throughout. Sometimes the sliding shoji panels were added to the mix as the inhabitants swept out their houses. Susuharai, end of the year housecleaning, was in full effect and the townsfolk were busy piling all their unwanted and broken items in a pile to be thrown away altogether.
Susuharai in full effect.
Houses and streets swept, items discarded, the townsfolk called it a day and returned to their usual routines. But, something in the rubbish pile trembled. The pile shifted as various objects tried to wiggle out of their own accord. The old Japanese sandal was the first to escape followed by an old broken lantern, an umbrella, an unstringed Biwa, and a set of Buddhist Prayer Beads. Others soon joined the strange congregation of discarded objects.
“How dare they throw us away? After so many years of service too!” said the comb with missing teeth.
“Maybe we should accept our fate as Karma and move on?” suggested the Buddhist prayer beads.
“Nonsense!” shouted the others in unison.
“Get the heck out of here!” yelled the umbrella as he chased the prayer beads out of their group. “We have to find some way of getting our revenge…” mused the umbrella out loud as he rejoined the group.
****
And so begins the story of Tsukunogami Emaki, a scroll dating from the 16th century. It tells the story of discarded objects that came to life, the Tsukumogami,and terrorized a village for throwing them away.
Tsukumogami (付喪神), means “tool god.” Simply put, when an object reaches their 100th year of existence, they develop a soul and come to life. They are not enchanted objects, nor has a ghost taken possession of them. They are considered Yokai, something akin to a spirit or monster, not quite a fairy. They are usually harmless, with a bit of a mischievous streak. However, as seen in the story above, they can get angry and band together if they are thoughtlessly thrown away…
The Tsukumogami Emaki gives us the basic idea of what they are. But the concept of Tsukumogami is actually much older dating as far back as the 10th century. The idea was originally used by the Shingon Buddhist to spread doctrine. The idea being that these objects achieved their soul though 100 years of service, and so became eligible to achieve nirvana and enlightenment. As the concept became more popular the Buddhist teachings were lost. But Tsukumogami live on in various manga and anime. To this day, Jinja or Shinto ceremonies are still performed to console broken and unusable objects.
Tsukumogami can take on a whole range of appearances. They are usually depicted in art as having exaggerated human features. Sometimes tears or broken parts become part of their look becoming a mouth or an eye and such.
Some of the more popular Tsukumogami are:
Karakasa, a paper umbrella that is extremely mischeivious. They like to scare humans, but they are far from evil. In fact, they often like to play with children. Usually depicted with one large eye and a leg.
The Bakezoori is a Japanese Zoori sandal that has come to life. It usually has one eye and arms and legs. It runs through the house crying “Kararin, kororin, kankororin!” Why? No one knows. Perhaps it is a reference to its cousin the Geeta sandal who does indeed have three eyes and two teeth…
The Coochinobake is a paper lantern with one eye and a mouth. Tears and folds in the paper lantern itself become defining features in the Tsukumogami’s face.Usually there is a long tongue that sticks out of the mouth. Talking to one of these will result in a light shower.
The Kameosa is a particularly useful Tsukumogami being a sake jar, that can infinitely reproduce and liquid stored inside of it…
The Biwabokuboku is a Biwa, a Japanese lute Tsukumogami. Generally portrayed as a man with a Biwa for a head. It is the “player piano” of ancient Japan as it has been known to play itself!
And the list goes on and on. Perhaps you’ve seen some of these in your manga or anime?
On a slightly tangential note, there is another meaning to the word Tsukumogami involving different Kanji. 九十九髪 is pronounced the same way but means “hair of ninety-nine.” It is interesting to note that both allude to a 100 year life span. It is probably the result of variant spelling or an old pun.
Some of you are maybe wondering why we do not see any Tsukumogami in our day and age. Well, there are a couple of explanations to that. One of them is that we simply do not use the same objects for such a long period of time. Now that objects are cheaper to replace we don’t need to. In addition, we simply do not make them like we use to so replacements are frequent. The other explanation is that Tsukumogami are repelled by electricity. Sorta brings a new meaning to that old awful joke involving running refrigerators…
It’s almost upon us…
The KAJET Ball!
One of last year’s most popular events is back, and it promises to be just as fun!
This semi-formal event goes down at Duckbill niteclub in Kagoshima City, on April 20th at 8 pm.
The price is 3000円 for KAJET members and 3500円 for non-members.
This includes a two hour nomihodai from a well-stocked bar, delicious snacks, and or course, dancing!
Be sure to look snazzy as there will be a prize for the best dressed!
An event not to be missed and a night to remember!
A special thanks to all our contributors this month.
Naruhodowants to hear from you! We are always looking for articles and art. We rely on content from readers like you to continue, so please don’t be shy!
This is the home of our monthly newsletter, Naruhodo. If you have something you’d like to contribute to the newsletter, contact our Editor, Gabriel Santos. Submissions are due by the 27th of the month.
Letter From the Editor
Hey folks! Welcome to another modest edition of Naruhodo e-Mag, the magazine made by Kagoshima AJET for Kagoshima AJET! The temperature is getting warmer and the showers have started to sprinkle vegetation to life. With this issue we hope to finally welcome spring into our fair prefecture. (With that in mind, please be sure to look for the Kagoshima Hanami Guide in this issue!)
Been to any interesting festivals in your area? Got an interesting opinion or perspective on Japanese culture? Take any awesome photos? Make any interesting art? If so, Naruhodo wants to hear from you! We are always looking for articles and material for upcoming issues. Please be sure to submit on or before the 27th of every month to have included in next months issue. Due to the new format, we are able to present other types of media too. So if you have a song you created or a video you made, we will gladly accept those too! C’mon, don’t be shy!
Kagihiki Matsuri: War of the Worlds
(and by worlds I mean trees)
by Meagan McClendon
Every city has its very own crazy, wonderful, weird Japanese festival. Whether it’s elementary school children pulling a giant samurai statue around town as in the Yagoro Festival. Or a junior high school student doing archery from horseback at the Yabusame Festival. Or even two groups of men getting up early to cut down two trees and play drunken tug of war with them…
Kagihiki Festival in Takakuma.
Yes, you heard me correctly. Every year in early February, just north of Kanoya, the Nakadzu (中津) shrine in Takakuma(高熊) holds a Kagihiki Festival (鍵引き祭り). Two teams cut down a tree each (one symbolizes a male tree-god and the other a female). Then they drag them up the stairs to the shrine where they lock their trunks together and play a large game of tug of war.
Oh, did I mention everyone gets very very drunk off of shochu at this festival? So drunk that the men who ride the trees up hill end up falling off. Everyone drinks shochu from cups and containers made from bamboo and some people throw it up into the air for good luck or purification or just because they felt like it. Every seat is in the splash zone and everyone is trying to get you drunk so it might be a good idea to go with a designated driver.
Drinking shochu from bamboo cups.
The whole procession to the shrine takes up most of the morning, but the actual pulling of the trees is over in an instant. This is especially true in 2011 when someone got their shoulder caught between the trees and the tug-of-war had to be canceled.
Some may wonder if pulling huge trees around while drunk is a good idea, but has that ever stopped Japan before? There is something about big trees and danger that make a festival fun. For proof: see the Kiotoshi Festival in Nagano.
Kiotoshi Festival, Nagoya.
Why Japan is the Champion of Adaptations
By Percival Constantine
Remakes, reboots, sequels, prequels— Whatever you want to call it, revisiting existing material is all the rage in Hollywood these days. Spider-Man is getting a fresh faced reboot this summer, George Lucas is revisiting the Star Wars prequels, and the recent reboots of the Batman and James Bond franchises are currently strong (with Batman set for a second reboot following The Dark Knight Rises). Even cult classics like Blade Runner and The Crow are scheduled for a dusting off. It’s certainly nothing new— However, we never would have gotten Star Wars or spaghetti westerns if not for Akira Kurosawa’s samurai epics.
Without a doubt, Japan stands head and shoulders above the rest when it comes to remakes and adaptations. I just mentioned Kurosawa… Take his classic samurai film, Yojimbo.
The Western version of a Ronin.
It was essentially plagiarized by Sergio Leone with the similarly classic A Fistful of Dollars (the movie that propelled Clint Eastwood to superstardom). But did you know that Yojimbo itself was basically an adaptation? Kurosawa was a big fan of detective stories and westerns. Many film historians and Kurosawa scholars have noticed more than a few similarities between Yojimbo and Dashiell Hammett’s 1929 detective novel, Red Harvest. Kurosawa himself stated that a major source of the plot came from the 1942 noir film, The Glass Key (which itself was an adaptation of Red Harvest). Another famous Kurosawa film, Throne of Blood, was an adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth. They were adapted for Japanese culture, so Depression-era America and sixteenth-century Scotland became feudal Japan. And they were handled magnificently.
Macbe-I mean Lord Washizu, as he tries to fight off a revolt.
But there’s one adaptation that really stands out in my mind—Toei Company’s Spider-Man TV series from the late seventies. Marvel Comics and Toei had a three-year licensing deal that allowed them to use each others’ properties in any way they wished. This led to Toei’s Spider-Man, which bore almost no resemblance to the character as he’s known as in the west. And here’s where the fun comes…
In the comics, Spider-Man is Peter Parker, a high school outcast and science nerd who gains superpowers after being bitten by a radioactive spider. He dons a colorful costume and, following the death of his Uncle Ben as an indirect result of his selfish actions, devotes himself to using his powers to fight crime. Even if you’ve never read the comics, you’re no doubt familiar with this basic origin story, as it’s been the subject of numerous cartoons, a live-action NBC series, and the recent trilogy of films directed by Sam Raimi.
Supaidaaman!
Toei decided they would keep the powers and the costume, but everything else changed. Takuya Yamashiro is a young motorcycle racer who sees a UFO crash. His father, a space archaeologist, investigates but is killed. Takuya follows his father and discovers the craft himself, which is called the Marveller. Here he discovers Garia, the last surviving warrior of the Planet Spider. Garia’s planet was destroyed by Professor Monster and the Iron Cross Army. He injects Takuya with his own blood, giving Takuya the spider powers we’re familiar with. He also gives Takuya the Spider Bracelet. This device holds the Spider Protector (the red and blue costume, unaltered from the comics). The Bracelet also possesses Spider Fluid, which produces ropes and nets.
Other than the aliens, so far this doesn’t seem so different. But instead of swinging across city skylines, Toei’s Spider-Man has the Spider Machine GP-7—a flying car equipped with machine guns and missile launchers.
Insert maniacal laugh here...
Professor Monster’s minions in the Iron Cross Army consisted of foot soldiers called Ninders. Picture the Putty Patrol from Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers with orange beaks (and there is a Power Rangers connection I’ll get to in a moment). The Iron Cross Army also had Machine Bems, biological creatures who can change size at will. They can become small enough to fit in the palm of a hand or grow to the size of a giant.
Who needs superpowers when you've got this thing?!
How is Spider-Man supposed to fight giant biological creatures? Well, this is Japan, so Spider-Man’s Marveller ship can actually transform into a giant robot called Leopardon. The robot was apparently invincible, and as the show continued its run, in order to accommodate for more time given to dramatic sequences (as well as difficulty in filming the battle scenes), Leopardon would frequently end battles with one blow.
Here we have a Spider-Man who is a motorcycle racer, drives a flying car, possesses a space ship that transforms into a giant robot, and had a catch phrase identifying him as “The Emissary of Hell.” Now, I’m a huge fan of the Spider-Man comics, but if I’d seen this as a kid, I’d be sitting in front of the TV with a big old smile on my face. (yes, I was one of those kids who loved the hell out of reruns of the Adam West Batman series.)
I mentioned a Power Rangers connection and indeed there was a big one. A lot of what Toei did with Spider-Man (or Supaidaaman to use the Katakana pronunciation) influenced what they’d do in their later Super Sentai series. In fact, the third entry in that series, Battle Fever J, originally began as an adaptation of another Marvel character, Captain America. And Super Sentai itself is more well-known in the west as Power Rangers. In a weird, roundabout way, Power Rangers was an American adaptation of a Japanese series that itself started off as a Japanese adaptation of an American comic book. Kind of like how the spaghetti westerns were Italian westerns adapted from Japanese samurai movies, which were adapted from American westerns and detective films.
Cower and grovel before our symmetry!
Unfortunately, American adaptations of Japanese properties don’t turn out as awesome. While Japan gave us Toei’s Spider-Man, America gave us Roland Emmerich’s Godzilla, Dragonball Evolution, the Jean-Claude Van Damme Street Fighter, and a slew of terrible horror films (One Missed Call and Pulse to cite two of the worst).
Adaptations—Japan, you’re doing it right.
Media Corner
Spirit Tree 1
Courtesy of Gaze Santos
Taken during a trip to Yakushima last year. This is just one of the many towering trees you will find there. Be sure to bring a rain jacket if you go!
Sakura Blossoms
Courtesy of Meagan McClendon
Meagan manages to capture the one of the first Sakura blossomings of the season!
Do you have a photo you wish to share?
Please submit them to Naruhodo!
Procession of the Rice Bowls
In an effort to encourage multi-media submissions, here is a song I created and performed for KAJET Open Mic last year. It was inspired by the sonorous sound of the metal bowl inside my then new rice cooker. Hope you like it! – Gaze Santos
Do you have any songs or video you wish to share?
Please submit them to Naruhodo!
●2012 Kagoshima✿Sakura✿Information●
Compiled by Rachel Seaman
✿Yoshino Park
Address: Kagoshima-shi, Yoshino-cho 795
Scale: Approx 630 trees
Normal blooming season: late February〜mid-April
Located in the northern part of Kagoshima City，“Yoshino Koen” is a 30 hectare nature park with spacious grounds carpeted in grass.
During early April the park is encircled by over 50,000 rhododendrons and other flowers. The site boasts 12 varieties of sakura，including three trees of the Kawazuzakura and Izuno Odoriko varieties which are rarely seen in Kagoshima. The best time to see them is late February, although other varieties of sakura bloom in turn until early April.
Access: Board the Yoshino Park bus at JR Kagoshima Chuo Station (25 min)
Mt. Uomi is a small mountain (maybe a large hill, depending on your perspective) on the eastern coast of Ibusuki City with an elevation of 215m. The peak is a popular tourist spot where you can look out over Ibusuki City stretched below, spy Chiringashima and Sakurajima floating in Kinko Bay，and even catch a glimpse of Osumi Peninsula. During peak season, flower viewing visitors will be greeted by 1,000 Someiyoshino cherry trees in full bloom.
Access: Approx. 20 minutes by car from JR Ibusuki Station to the summit
Inquiries: Ibusuki City Hall Tourism Division +81-993-22-2111
http://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10657/
✿Maruoka Park
Address: Kirishima-shi, Yokogawa-cho, Kamino 3201
Scale: about 6,000 azaleas and cherry trees
Normal blooming season: late March〜early April
Maruoka Park, located in an area known for its picturesque scenery. It provides an unbroken view of the Kirishima Mountain Range and is famous around Kagoshima for its brilliant sakura and azalea blossoms. During peak season, many visitors come from inside and outside the prefecture to picnic here and enjoy the view.
Access: About 10 minutes by car from Osumiyokogawa Station on the JR Hisatsu Line
Inquiries: Maruoka Sakuraen +81-995-72-1362
http://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10087/
✿Kirishima Shrine
Address: Kirishima-shi, Kirishimataguchi 2608-5
Scale: about 200 trees
Normal blooming season: late March〜early April
Inquiries: Kirishima Shrine +81-995-57-0001
Tourism info page for Kirishima Shrine :
http://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10113/
✿Tadamoto Park
Address: Isa-shi, Okuchiharada 2484-193
Scale: about 1,000 trees
Normal blooming season: late March 〜 early April
Situated atop a tall hill overlooking the town，this park is famous for its sakura. Rows of cherry trees stretch 2 kilometers across the park, branches illuminated at the height of their bloom by 1,000 paper lanterns. At Tadamoto Park, once selected as one of Japan’s top 100 sakura-viewing locations, you can enjoy the differing “personalities” of sakura blossoms during the day and night. This year the annual Sakura Matsuri is planned for April 1st.
Access: About 1 hour by car from Izumi Station; about 40 minutes from the Kyushu Expressway Hitoyoshi IC; about 15 minutes by bus from the Okuchi Bus Center
Inquiries: Isa City Hall Regional Promotion Division +81-995-23-1311
http://www.kagoshima-kankou.com/guide/10953/
✿Michi no Eki Osumi Yagoro Densetsu no Sato (Legend of Yagoro Roadside Station)
Address: Soo-shi, Osumi-cho, Iwagawa 6134-1
Scale: about 1,200 trees
Normal blooming season: late March〜early April
“Michi no Eki Osumi Yagoro Densetsu no Sato” sits on a spacious 20 hectare plot just off Route 269. On site, you can find approximately 1,200 Someiyoshino cherry trees which attract quite the crowd from inside and outside the prefecture during peak blooming season. The grounds also include a souvenir shop, the “Yagoro Pavilion” kurobuta pork restaurant，a giant Yagorodon statue standing 15 meters tall and weighing in at 39 tons, a playground, and a grassy open area. Each year a Sakura Matsuri is held to celebrate the colorful flowers as they reach full bloom.
Access: About 90 minutes by car from Kagoshima City; about 30 minutes from Shibushi City: about 40 minutes from Miyakojo City, Miyaki Prefecture
Inquiries: Soo Municipal Council of Social Welfare Osumi Branch Office +81-99-482-0080
TEAMS: 4-6 members per team. if you’re in it to win it, consider bringing some knowledgeable japanese friends as many of the questions will take a japanese slant. if you know your team ahead of time, please send an e-mail with the names of the group members and the team name to kagoshima@ajet.net.
Summer’s here! And to celebrate, KAJET would like all of you to come to our final event before we turn over the reins to the new group!
hello.
it’s time for the annual KAJET pub quiz. huzzah! this year’s quizzing extravaganza will take place in kanoya, on the eastern peninsula of kagoshima.
