Shiga News – by Philbert Ono Talking about Shiga Prefecture, Japan

Kada Yukiko campaign poster in 2006

Shiga Prefecture’s Governor KADA Yukiko announced on Feb. 16, 2010 that she will run for a second term as governor of Shiga. She made the announcement at Shiga Prefecture’s legislative assembly in Otsu.

Her first four-year term as Shiga governor will end this summer when gubernatorial elections will be held. She seeks wide support among the people of Shiga without relying on any single political party. She plans to draw up a manifesto for her second term while incorporating the opinions of the people of Shiga. She plans to meet with various organizations in Shiga for feedback.

While the Japanese Communist Party plans to field a candidate for Shiga governor, the other major parties have not yet announced plans to field a candidate. Any candidate will have an uphill battle against Kada who is quite popular in Shiga. People affectionately call her “Kada-chan.”

The 59-year-old Kada is Shiga’s first female governor. Four years ago in 2006, her campaign slogan was, “Mottai nai” which means “Wasteful,” in reference to wasteful spending for unnecessary public works projects such as the shinkansen bullet train station in Ritto. This clicked with voters and helped her defeat incumbent governor Kunimatsu Yoshitsugu who was in favor of the shinkansen station. Kunimatsu happened to be a native of Ritto and the Ritto mayor was also his cousin, Kunimatsu Shoichi (still the Ritto mayor).

Kada kept her campaign promise and had the shinkansen train station in Ritto scrapped. This greatly disappointed the Ritto mayor, but most people in Shiga were opposed to the shinkansen station which would’ve been too close to Kyoto Station. Ritto is also not a major population center. (Shiga already has a shinkansen station in Maibara.)

Before becoming governor, Kada was a professor at Kyoto Seika University and a curator at Lake Biwa Museum in Kusatsu. I once met her briefly and found her to be very down-to-earth and easy to talk to. She could easily be your best friend’s mom. Although we foreigners cannot vote, Governor Kada has my support.

Posted under Otsu, Shiga-ken

ITO Miki, native of Hino, Shiga Prefecture, placed 12th in the finals of the women’s freestyle moguls competition at the Vancouver Winter Olympics on Feb. 14, 2010. She looked quite happy after doing her run down the moguls hill. Obviously she did her best. (Didn’t fall or anything like Satoya Tae who placed 19th.)

All four of Japan’s freestyle mogul women skiers had passed the qualification round. A tearful UEMURA Aiko came in 4th, narrowly missing the bronze medal. However, she did better than last time at Turin when she placed 5th. I bet Uemura will try again at her 5th winter Olympics.

Some 400 people gathered at a community hall in Hino to watch and cheer Ito on a large TV screen.

Congrats to Miki for a good experience.

UPDATE:

Ito Miki returned to Japan early from Vancouver and visited Hino Town Hall in Shiga Prefecture on Feb. 23. She was welcomed by almost 100 people including the mayor of Hino. She thanked everyone for their cheering and support and commented that although she did not attain an outstanding result, she was happy to have skied her best. Her 12th place finish is an improvement over her 20th place finish at the Turin Olympics in 2006.

Posted under Hino, Sports in Shiga

Among Japan’s athletes competing in the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, two are from Shiga Prefecture.

ITO Miki (伊藤みき) hails from Hino, Shiga and Vancouver is her second Winter Olympics after Torino. She will compete in the freestyle skiing mogul event along with media darling Uemura Aiko. Born in 1987, Miki attended elementary and junior high school in Hino and graduated from the Omi Kyodaisha (Omi Brotherhood) Senior High School in Omi-Hachiman.

She placed 20th in Torino in 2006, but she’s looking much better now. Since she’s not getting much media attention (spotlight is always on Uemura), she has less pressure and may well deliver an outstanding result. (Japanese athletes often seem to perform best when they are not under the media spotlight.) She’s a student at Chukyo University in Nagoya and has two sisters who are also mogul skiers. Miki has been a competitive skier since 1996 (age 9).

The second Winter Olympian from Shiga is OKADA Rana (岡田 良菜), a native of Otsu. Born in 1991, she is a snowboarder competing in the halfpipe event. Encouraged by her parents, she started snowboarding while in the 2nd grade, and entered her first halfpipe contest in junior high. During the 2008-09 season, she won the All-Japan Championship. In Jan. 2009, she placed 8th at the FIS Snowboard World Championships. She is employed by a snowboard shop called Hood in Gifu Prefecture.

Their appearances will be broadcast on TV. The broadcast times will be listed here later.

Let’s wish them the best of luck, along with all the other athletes.

Ito Miki’s official profile in English:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-freestyle-skiing/athletes/miki-ito_ath1003961uy.html

Ito Miki’s Web site (in Japanese):
http://ameblo.jp/itomiki-blog/

Okada Rana’s official profile in English:
http://www.vancouver2010.com/olympic-snowboard/athletes/rana-okada_ath1004004Wd.html

Okada Rana’s Web site (in Japanese):
http://www.rana-okada.com/

Posted under Hino, Otsu, Sports in Shiga

Today, Jan. 1, 2010, is when Nagahama became a new city upon its merger with six towns in northern Shiga: Torahime, Kohoku, Takatsuki, Kinomoto, Yogo, and Nishi-Azai. Congratulations to all the residents of these former towns on becoming citizens of Nagahama.

With a population of 123,608 (as of Nov. 1, 2009), Nagahama is now Shiga’s third-most populous city after Otsu and Kusatsu. By area, Nagahama is now Shiga’s largest city covering a massive 539.48 ㎢ of land (680.79 ㎢ if you include Lake Biwa), larger than Takashima’s 511.36 ㎢.

With the addition of the six former towns, Nagahama boasts a wide variety of attractions, historical sites, and natural scenery. Their sightseeing department is in a very good and enviable position by having so many unique things to see. Remember that Mt. Ibuki is still in Maibara, not Nagahama.)

During Dec. 2009, the six merging towns held their town-closing ceremonies, and about 100 public employees from the six towns moved to the main building of Nagahama City Hall.

Note that addresses in the six former towns have changed. Most of the addresses are appended with the former town’s name, except for Torahime. Looks like Torahime has quite a few place names which have been renamed. Many of them now have “cho” appended to the neighborhood’s place name. If you live in the former towns or need to send stuff to people in the six former towns, check the address. The changed address can be checked in Japanese here:
http://www.city.nagahama.shiga.jp/index.cfm/6,8475,12,92,html

There will be a municipal merger ceremony on Jan. 17, 2010 at 1:30 pm at the Azai Bunka Hall. The former mayors of the six mergning  towns, Shiga Governor Kada, and others will be on hand to mark the merger. Details in Japanese:
http://www.city.nagahama.shiga.jp/index.cfm/6,8611,12,92,html

Meanwhile, I’m busy merging my Web pages for the six towns with Nagahama’s Web pages.

Posted under Nagahama

Lute Plaza

人形浄瑠璃「冨田人形」秋公演

The highly-acclaimed Tonda bunraku puppet troupe based in Nagahama will stage their autumn puppet show on Dec. 6, 2009 at 1:30 pm at Lute Plaza in Biwa-cho.

Tickets are only 1,000 yen for non-reserved seats (free for kids under high school age). Reserve a ticket by calling Lute Plaza at 0749-72-5257. Tickets will also be sold at the door from 1 pm. The Hikiyama Museum in Nagahama also sells tickets.

Four plays will be performed:
東海道中膝栗毛
鬼一法眼三略巻
傾城阿波の鳴門
団子売り

A shuttle bus for Lute Plaza will leave Nagahama Station’s West exit (Nishi-guchi which faces the lake) at 12:30 pm and 1 pm.

More info about the Tona puppet troupe in English:
http://www.asianinterstage.com/tonda/

In Japanese:
http://www.gaido.jp/suteki/suteki.php?ID=80

Posted under Nagahama

Special guest Hiko-nyan and Magnee at the first game in Hikone.

After one month into the 2009-2010 season, the Shiga Lakestars lead the Western Conference in the bj-league with 7 wins and 3 losses as of November 1, 2009. They won five home games in a row until November 1 when they lost to Takamatsu Five Arrows.

I went to see a game this past two weekends on October 24 (Sat.) against Osaka Evessa in Moriyama (photos here) and on October 31 (Sat.), 2009 in Hikone against Takamatsu Five Arrows (photos here). The game against Osaka was most exciting since it was a very close game. Osaka was a tough team, but in the end our Lakestars came out on top at 66-64. They also beat Osaka the next day in another close game at 83-80.

Unfortunately, Fujiwara Takamichi, the team captain and point guard, suffered a dislocated shoulder on October 25 against Osaka. He will be out of action for several weeks. You can see him at games with a shoulder and arm brace. I wonder how he sleeps.

Hiko-nyan shakes hands with Lakestars Head Coach Robert Pierce.

Luke Zellar is all alone as he dunks it in Hikone.

The game against Takamatsu this past Sat. wasn’t a cliffhanger, as Shiga led comfortably  most of the way, but it was exciting to watch as well. It was also the first time the Lakestars were playing in Hikone. Ticket prices in Hikone were higher than usual. Too bad they lost the next day though, 81-91. The Lakes missed too many shots and free throws. It was their third loss. Kind of surprising since Takamatsu is in last place in the Western Conference with 2 wins and 6 losses. Even though they lost their first home game on November 1 against Takamatsu, the Lakestars showed the spirit of never giving up all the way to the end. We have to give them credit for that. That game was broadcast live by the Biwako Broadcasting Company (BBC).

Lakestars cheerleaders in a new shimmering silver dress.

Anyway, the Shiga Lakestars are really on a roll, still in first place in the Western Conference. Of course, they still have a long way to go with over 40 more games to play. But it’s a great start and it really boosts morale among the players, coaches, and fans. I’m sure the players will work extra hard to hang onto this No. 1 rank.

Hopefully the Lakestars will continue to do well and in turn attract more fans to see them play. I’ll try to see as many games as I can this season (more than the four games I saw last season). Even though I still disagree with the design of their uniforms with a company’s name (”Goal Free,” which is pretty silly since in English, it means the team has no goals) displayed more prominently than “Shiga Lakestars.” You can’t really tell what team it is at a glance. I wish the bj-league would recognize that the teams should be promoting the respective locale first, and companies second.

Photos of Lakestars vs. Osaka here (Oct. 24, 2009 in Moriyama).

Photos of Laketstars vs. Takamatsu here (Oct. 31, 2009 in Hikone).

My English page for the Lakestars (game schedule, venue locations, player bios, etc.)

Japan Times article about Lakestars in 1st place (Oct. 31, 2009)

Posted under Hikone, Sports in Shiga

For foreigners in Shiga, Shiga Prefecture has opened a telephone consultation hotline for the H1N1 swine flu .

The phone No. is:

077-522-4776

You can speak in English, Portuguese, Spanish, Tagalog, or Chinese.

Consultation hours are 8:30 am to 5:15 pm.

Meanwhile, flu vaccinations started in Shiga on Nov. 2 for pregnant women and people with vulnerable heath conditions. Shiga currently has the vaccine for 7,000 people. They are starting with hospital patients. Pregnant women who are outpatients will be vaccinated from mid-Nov.

Children age 1 to 3rd grade will be vaccinated from mid-Dec., and children from 4th grade up to high schoolers and the elderly will be vaccinated from January.

Vaccinations are by appointment only. The cost is a few thousand yen.

See Shiga’s flu updates in English here:
http://www.pref.shiga.jp/multilingual/infuluenza/english/index.html

Posted under Important Notices

Former Hachiman YMCA, the first building designed by Vories.

The William Merrell Vories exhibition is being held in Omi-Hachiman until Nov. 3, 2009. For 1,000 yen, you can enter a few of the Vories-designed buildings in Omi-Hachiman normally closed to the public.

It’s an on-your-own walking tour of Vories buildings starting at Hakuunkan, a Western-style (but not designed by Vories) building across the torii near Hachimanbori. Go inside Hakuunkan and pay 1,000 yen to receive a few tickets to enter the other buildings. You also receive a map of the walking tour. The 2nd floor of the Hakuunkan also has an exhibition on Vories. However, everything is in Japanese. Exhibition hours is 9 am to 4:30 pm (enter by 4 pm). Hakuunkan is an 8-min. bus ride from JR Omi-Hachiman Station’s north exit. Go to bus stop 6 and board the bus going to Chomeiji. You can get off at Shinmachi (新町) or Osugicho (大杉町).

The walking tour map is pretty easy to follow, and the route has arrows pointing the way to the next building. Everything is within walking distance, it should take only a few hours to see everything. The buildings you can enter are the old Hachiman Post Office, Omi Brotherhood Schools’ Hyde Memorial Building which was a former kindergarten run by Vories’ wife Makiko, the former residence of Vories and Makiko, and the former Hachiman YMCA. The former Vories residence’s living room is still full of books and pictures. The house also has a Japanese-style room attached.

The former Hachiman YMCA, now the Andrews Memorial building, was the first building Vories designed. You can also enter this building. There are panel exhibitions in all the buildings you can enter. Other buildings are not open to the public, so you just have to admire them from outside.

I enjoyed the tour and was finally able to enter these buildings. Unfortunately, nothing is in English (which is strange since Vories was from America) and photography inside the buildings is not allowed. This is puzzling because photography is allowed inside all the other Vories buildings in Shiga open to the public. Official Web site: http://vories.jp/

See more Vories in Omi-Hachiman photos here.

Former Toyosato Elementary School now renovated.

On the same day, I also went to Toyosato to visit the old Toyosato Elementary School which reopened in May 2009 after major renovations. The old  building now looks very impressive with a new coat of white paint. They spent ¥650 million to make the building earthquake resistant as well. The school was built in the 1930s and designed by Vories. If you’re interested in architecture, this is another building I highly recommend visiting.

The old school consists of three buildings. The main building, auditorium, and old library, all open to the public. The main building now has a public library occupying a few former classrooms, offices of the local board of education, a children’s playroom, and an exhibition room. The second floor has two classrooms renovated to look like as they were in the old days. The auditorium is also impressive, as well as the old library which is now used as a local tourist information office and event space. The school is within walking distance from Toyosato Station on the Omi Railway Line. Free admission.

Rabbit and turtle sculpture (Aesop's fable) on stairway railing inside old Toyosato Elementary School.

See more photos of Toyosato Elementary School here.

Posted under Omi-Hachiman, Toyosato

滋賀県の2010年の英文カレンダーを作りました！（日本語は下にあります。）

For the first time, I have created and published a 2010 calendar for Shiga Prefecture in English. The calendar features my photos of Shiga, showing its beautiful seasons, traditional festivals, architecture, Lake Biwa, and a few “fun” things. Each monthly photo has an English caption, and both Japanese and American holidays are included.

You can see a preview of the calendar’s 12 months above. Click on the right arrow button. To see a larger view, click on the Full Screen Mode button. (Then you can read the captions too.)  The last page is displayed as black, but it’s actually white. The calendar size is 8.5 inches x 11 inches when closed. When open and hung on the wall, the calendar is 17 in. high and 11 in. wide.

The calendar is available for sale online at lulu.com based in the U.S. Just click on the Buy Now button (and get your credit card ready). The price is $15.22 plus shipping. Shipping within the U.S. will cost only a few dollars via ordinary mail. If you’re in Japan, the postage will cost $10.48 for one copy only. If you order five or more copies at one time, the calendar cost and shipping cost will get much cheaper. ($38.92 to ship 10 copies, for example.) It takes about 3 weeks for your order to arrive in Japan via ordinary mail. Express mail and trackable shipping options are also available, but expensive. You can also order from Japan and have the calendar shipped to an address in the U.S. or other countries which may be cheaper. It is cheapest to ship within the U.S. Makes a great gift.

Below is a list of photos in the calendar. I tried to include as many cities and towns as possible, but it was impossible to include all 26 municipalities of Shiga in a 12-month calendar. I plan to publish a Shiga calendar every year from now on, so those missing cities/towns will be included in the 2011 calendar and later.

Cover: Shigaraki-ware tanuki (raccoon dog)
Jan.: Nagisa Park rape blossoms, Moriyama
Feb.: Hokoen Park plum blossoms and Nagahama Castle, Nagahama
Mar.: Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession, Koka
Apr.: Hikone Castle cherry blossoms
May: Niu Chawan Matsuri, Yogo
June: Taga Taisha rice planting festival, Taga
July: Omi-Maiko beach, Otsu
Aug.: Imazu Regatta, Takashima
Sep.: Azuchi Castle replica (Nobunaga no Yakata museum), Azuchi
Oct.: Ibukiyama Taiko Drum Dance, Maibara
Nov.: Kongorinji temple, Aisho
Dec.: Mascot characters (Dotaku-kun, Tabimaru, Hiko-nyan)

The calendars are also selling for 2,000 yen at the Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan museum (Phone: 0740-22-2108) in Imazu, Takashima. For those who cannot order in English, they can call this museum and order in Japanese.

You can also access the calendar page directly with this link:
http://www.lulu.com/content/lulustudio-calendar/2010-shiga-prefecture/7556294

ただいま滋賀県の2010年の英文カレンダーを初めて出版いたしました。国内外の外国人が滋賀県の魅力をもっと知ってもらうために作りました。

色とりどりの花や紅葉 、伝統的なお祭り、歴史的な建築、大自然とのふれあい、そしてちょっと面白い写真も選んでカレンダーにしました。写真は私がすべて撮りました。（ひこにゃんの写真だけハワイの友人が撮ってくれました。）

なるべく多くの市町を紹介しておりますが、やはり12ヶ月しかないので掲載されていない市町もあります。取り上げていない市町は、2011年以降のカレンダーに入れる予定です。アメリカと日本の祝日も掲載しています。

このカレンダーは海外のインターネットショップで委託販売中。中身の拝見(Preview)とご注文は上記の画像でできます。矢印のボタンをクリックしてすべての月の写真が見れます。（Full Screen Modeのボタンをクリックすると拡大できます。）購入したい場合、Buy Nowのボタンをクリック。ただし、注文ページは英語です。

日本からも注文できますが、 輸入品のため、ちょっと割高になります。でも5冊以上の注文では送料などの単価が安くなります。普通の郵便だと届くまで大体３週間かかります。または、日本で注文してアメリカなどの友人へ送ることもできます。アメリカ内の送料が一番安いです。

滋賀県内では、びわ湖高島観光協会の今津支所（琵琶湖周航の歌資料館内）で店頭販売中（電話での注文もOK、Tel: 0740-22-2108）。 販売価格は2000円（送料別）です。

注文ページの直接リンクはここ：
http://www.lulu.com/content/lulustudio-calendar/2010-shiga-prefecture/7556294

Posted under Important Notices, Shiga-ken, 日本語

Oct. 10-11, 2009 was a great weekend for the Shiga Lakestars who played their first home games for the 2009-2010 season in Yasu, Shiga Prefecture. Playing against the Takamatsu Five Arrows, they not only achieved back-to-back consecutive wins, but won by a wide margin. For the first home game, they won by a whopping 48 points, 120-72. And the next day, it was a 30-point lead at 92-62.

I saw the first game on Oct. 10, and the photos are here.

I also pretty much completed my Shiga Lakestars page here, with game schedule, directions to home game venues, and team roster.

Note that they no longer allow outside food and drinks to be brought into home game venues in Shiga. At the gymnasium entrance in Yasu, they even searched people’s rucksacks for any food or drink and required us to discard them. So I drank my drink and ate my rice ball on the spot before going in.

No, it’s not an anti-terrorism countermeasure. They want you to buy food and drink from the vendors inside the venue. In Kyoto, there was no such restriction so apparently it is not a uniform rule for all bj-league games. Well, I already spend enough money on round-trip train fares, game tickets, guide books, and Lakestar souvenirs, so I’m not inclined to spend any more money unnecessarily.

Posted under Sports in Shiga

The H1N1 influenza is officially in epidemic mode in Japan, and Shiga now has over 2,500 children who contracted the virus during the first month of school from Aug. 24 to September 30, 2009.

As of September 30, 2009, 2,525 kids (including preschoolers) have contracted the swin flu in Shiga Prefecture. This number includes 384 high schoolers in Shiga.

The swine flu is especially widespread in Otsu with 1,084 kids up to junior high school who contracted it.

Nationwide vaccinations will begin in Japan from the week of Oct. 19, 2009. In Shiga, vaccinations will start with 13,000 medical personnal. Then from Nov., high-risk people such as pregnant women and asthmatic patients will be vaccinated first, followed by young elementary school children in Dec. 2009.

Posted under Important Notices, Shiga-ken

Season opener tip-off between the Lakestars (in white) and Hannaryz at 2 pm.

Congratulations to the Shiga Lakestars pro basketball team for winning its opening game of the 2009-2010 season on October 3, 2009 against the Kyoto Hannaryz. The score was 82-73 witnessed by a reported 1,888 spectators in an almost full Kyoto City Gymnasium. Photos here.

Also congratulations to the Kyoto Hannaryz (led by head coach David Benoit) for holding its debut game in the bj-league. The Hannaryz is the thirteenth and newest franchise in the bj-league pro basketball league in Japan. Being close neighbors (many people in Shiga work in Kyoto, many people in Kyoto visit Shiga to relax, and Shiga’s Lake Biwa supplies water to Kyoto/Osaka), the Lakestars and the Hannaryz are destined to be eternal rivals and friends at the same time. There are more games scheduled between Shiga and Kyoto.

Hannaryz mascot (Chin-tiger) and cheerleaders. The name "Hannaryz" refers to the well-known word "hannari" (はんなり or 花なり) which in the Kyoto dialect means classy or distinguished-looking as well as cheery, bright, and colorful.

Although Kyoto was the first to score and took the lead very early in the game, the Lakestars fought back and had the Hannaryz trailing throughout the rest of the game. I remember the point spread was as large as 16 points. Kyoto did quite well in catching up, coming within 6 or 8 points to tie the Lakestars at one point, but shooters like team captain Fujiwara Takamichi (#11), Bobby Nash (#33), and Joho Masashi (#31) immediately made brilliant comeback plays to score and leave Kyoto in the dust. Fujiwara scored a total of 11 points, Bobby 7, and Joho 18.

Joho Masashi #31 is a new Lakestar Star.

Joho was clearly the Lakestars’ crowd favorite. They were shouting his name (JOHO! JOHO!) a few times, even after the game ended. I’ve seen him play a few times with the Tokyo Apache and he was a valuable and popular player there too. He was traded to Shiga at the last minute. He’s not even included in the bj-league’s official guide book for 2009-10. He played very well today. Looks like he will be very popular in Shiga. He is a welcome addition to the team and who also brings playoff experience to Shiga.

Opening game at Kyoto City Gymnasium, 2 pm-4 pm.

Bobby Nash also delighted us with spectacular three-pointers. And Chris Schlatter (#4) scored on a some good layups and became the team’s highest scorer at 20 points. It was a very exciting game for everyone, although I can sympathize with Kyoto losing its debut game in the bj-league. The Lakestars also lost its debut game a year ago, so it was great to see them off to a great start this season.

Joho scores on a layup.

There are quite a few new Lakestar faces. That big guy in the suit sitting at the bench is Assistant Coach Ishibashi Takatoshi who was the head coach (and former player) for the Toyama Grouses last season. Also new are Chris Schlatter, Mike Hall (scored 13 points), Gary Hamilton, and Luke Zellar (scored 11 points) all of whom are from the U.S. Besides Joho, the other new Japanese player is Horikawa Ryuichi. I have written a brief bio of Lakestars players here.

Hannaryz cheerleaders.

On the next day on Oct. 4, 2009, the Hannaryz roared back and squeaked by the Lakestars 85-81. It was a heartbreaking game for the Lakestars. But congratulations to the Hannaryz for their first official win in their debut season. For the Lakestars, Mike Hall was the highest scorer with 23 points, followed by Chris Schlatter’s 15 points, Joho’s 11, Luke Zellar’s 10 points, Fujiwara and Ogawa’s 7 points each, and Bobby’s 4 points.

More photos of  the season opener here.

Remember that the Lakestars’ first home game in Shiga will be on Oct. 10-11, 2009 in Yasu. See the complete game schedule and venues in English here. Tickets are not usually sold out, so you should be able to easily buy a ticket at the door.

I will also be posting pictures of Lakestars games whenever I see a game.

Shiga Lakestars official Web site here.

Kyoto Hannaryz Web site here.

Posted under Sports in Shiga

Held only once every 5 years, the Suijo Hachiman Shrine Taiko Odori Dance was held on Sept. 23, 2009 in the neighborhood of Suijo (春照) near the foot of Mt. Ibuki in Maibara. The dance was originally a rain-making dance. It features 15 yakko-furi men (with body paintings) who carry luggage for samurai, 35 flute players from the local elementary school, and about 50 taiko drummers. It was a very impressive and colorful performance. Got some great video footage and photos. Video in two parts.

Photos: Suijo Taiko Drum Festival

I also saw the Hinade Shrine Sumo Odori dance held annually at Mt. Hinade near Sakata Station on the Hokuriku Line. Held on Sept. 21, 2009, it featured mainly children’s sumo and a centuries-old sumo dance and sumo jinku singing.

Photos: Hinade Shrine Sumo Dance

Posted under Maibara

Released in Japan on Sept. 12, 2009, this movie is about Okabe Mataemon, a Nagoya (Atsuta)-based master carpenter who in 1576 was ordered by Japan’s leading warlord Oda Nobunaga to build Azuchi Castle on Mt. Azuchi fronting Lake Biwa. The main castle tower or donjon was to have an unprecedented five stories. It was to be the grandest and most lavish castle Japan had ever seen. Mataemon and his crew had only three years to complete the epic construction which they did. The movie shows the major and minor tribulations Mataemon and his crew went through during the construction. The movie is also unusual because it has no battle scenes despite being a samurai movie.

Being a castle fan, I really looked forward to this movie. However, I was somewhat disappointed with the quality of the acting, completeness of the story, believability, and overall visual and emotional impact. The movie does have a few outstanding scenes with what looks like thousands of people working, but they were too few and too short. Computer graphics depicting the construction of the mountaintop castle were impressive enough. But I thought there were too many story lines and characters which could not be fully developed or explained within the movie’s 139 min.

For history buffs, it might be frustrating because the movie is obviously not historically accurate since it is a work of fiction. For castle fans, the movie does not show all the major aspects of building a castle. I wish they showed more scenes of the actual construction (which sped by too quickly). Work on the stone walls, interior, moats, etc., are missing. Seeing the stones being cut and fitted onto the walls, the beams being fitted to the main pillar, the construction of the roof, moat digging, interior painting, gold leafing, etc., are all missing. So the educational value of this movie does not attain its potential.

The movie does have interesting story lines. Construction of a major castle with mostly manual labor, Mataemon the carpenter prodigy, Nobunaga’s affection for imported European goods, merchants getting rich from European trade, ninja-like assassins, and a few love stories. But the movie was too short to adequately develop them all. It tries to cover everything, but in doing so, it never really developed any story to its fullest and best potential. It might have been better to make it a TV series rather than a movie.

I was also disappointed that Governor Kada Yukiko did not make a cameo appearance. I had heard that leading actor Nishida Toshiyuki asked her to appear in the movie. I thought she agreed. Well, you won’t see her in the movie. The movie also does not mention the word “Omi” or “Shiga.” And it does not introduce any places, people, or products from Shiga. Also, none of the main actors/actresses are from Shiga.

But I still recommend seeing this movie. It is worth seeing the few outstanding scenes that it has. The movie was filmed in Kyoto; Adogawa in Takashima where they filmed the giant boulder scene with 200 extras, Awajishima island in Hyogo for scenes atop Mt. Azuchi overlooking Lake Biwa, Kiso-Fukushima in Nagano for forest scenes, and Taiwan for the big tree scene.

It is pretty much an all-star cast headed by Nishida Toshiyuki as Mataemon, Otake Shinobu as his wife, and Ogata Naoto (who gave a fine acting performance) as a woodsman.

I have posted a detailed review and detailed summary of the movie plot for those of you who cannot understand Japanese, so you’ll know what’s going on:

http://photoguide.jp/txt/Movie_review:_Katen_no_Shiro_(火天の城)

In Shiga, the movie is playing at the following theaters (phone number in parentheses):

Otsu: United Cinemas Otsu (077-527-6188) and Otsu Alex Cinemas (077-527-9616)
Hikone: Hikone Viva City Cinemas (0749-26-1002)
Omi-Hachiman: Warner MyCal Omi-Hachiman (0748-37-3433)
Kusatsu: Warner MyCal Kusatsu (077-561-4545)
Koka: Minakuchi Alex Cinemas (0748-63-8801)

Official Web site (in Japanese only): http://katen.jp/

Posted under Omi-Hachiman

Chokotto bus at Yokaichi Station

Those cute little buses you see outside Yokaichi Station and elsewhere in the city, called Chokotto bus, have started collecting used cooking oil from September 1, 2009. Bring an old PET bottle (label detached) of your used cooking oil and give it to the bus driver. In return, you will receive a 100-yen ticket which can be used for your next ride on the bus. One ride costs 200 yen for adults, so it’s a 50% discount.

The collected oil will be converted to biodiesel fuel (called BDF in Japan) which the buses use as fuel. BDF has very clean emissions in its exhaust which may smell like tempura. You can actually breathe in the BDF exhaust from the vehicle’s exhaust pipe without any health risk.

Posted under Higashi-Omi

Hikone no Yoi Nyanko in Tokyo.

Hikone no Yoi-nyanko and Tanemaru at Yokohama Port Opening Expo.

Another snafu has erupted between the city of Hikone and Moheron (もへろん), the artist who created Hiko-nyan for Hikone Castle’s 400th anniversary celebration in 2007.

You might have noticed some Hiko-nyan merchandise being sold under the name “Hikone no Yoi Nyanko” (ひこねのよいにゃんこ). It looks exactly like Hiko-nyan, but under a different name and in poses different from what we usually see, and credited to Moheron.

In early Aug. 2009, I surprised to see my neighborhood convenience store in Tokyo selling Hikone no Yoi Nyanko dolls right next to the cash register, a very prominent place. (Photo above.) (But by late Aug., it was no longer there. They had either sold out or discontinued the product.) I also saw it sold together with Tanemaru, mascot character for the Yokohama Port’s 150th anniversary when I visited the port festival in Yokohama (photo above).

The city of Hikone has requested Moheron to stop marketing his Hiko-nyan lookalike. Copyright and trademark rights to Hiko-nyan had been obtained by the city, and Moheron was duly paid off (for a reported 1 million yen). Hiko-nyan was originally supposed to be used only for the castle’s celebration. However, Hiko-nyan has proved to be so popular nationally that Hikone decided to keep Hiko-nyan as its official mascot indefinitely. This upset Moheron who sought a court order in 2007 to stop Hikone from continuing to use Hiko-nyan. Both sides then reached an agreement where the city would be allowed to keep using Hiko-nyan as its mascot in three standard poses, while Moheron would be allowed to continue publishing his Hikone no Yoi Nyanko picture books for children. (Not sure if Moheron is male or female.)

But in the eyes of Hikone, Moheron has stepped out of bounds by starting to sell dolls and other souvenirs other than books. On Aug. 10, 2009, the city of Hikone issued a request to Osaka-based Moheron to stop sales of his Hiko-nyan lookalikes (other than the picture books), citing copyright and trademark infringement. He defiantly replied that it was possible for the same character to exist under two different names. Moheron claims that Hikone’s rights to Hiko-nyan are limited to the three original poses (showing Hiko-nyan jumping, sitting, and drawing a sword) adopted for the 400th castle celebration, and that he is freely allowed to create and market other poses of Hiko-nyan.

In late July 2009, the city requested local shops in Hikone to stop selling Moheron’s lookalike goods other than the picture books. But the shops did not comply (especially those in the Yonbancho Square shopping mall), citing that sales were good.

On Aug. 13, 2009, the Yonbancho Square shopping mall in Hikone, where both Hiko-nyan and Hikone no Yoi Nyanko goods are sold, distributed a flyer in the morning edition of major newspapers (circulation 60,000). It essentially said, “Please allow Hiko-nyan and Hikone no Yoi Nyanko to get along!” Yonbancho Square is actually a third-sector project, run as a joint venture by the city of Hikone and private companies. Hikone owns about 40% of the mall’s stock. The city’s own little baby rejected requests to stop selling Moheron’s goods. This embarrassment has prompted three city officials serving on the mall’s board of directors to resign, including a Vice-Mayor who served as Vice-President of the mall.

Everyone calls it “Hiko-nyan,” and I don’t see anyone (except Moheron) calling it anything else. You cannot call the same character two different names unless one is for Japan and the other is for overseas markets. Hikone does have the upper hand since they own the “Hiko-nyan” name (created by a naming contest) and everyone knows the name. Hikone no Yoi Nyanko is just too long as a name. (More apt as a picture book title which it is.) But Moheron is showing strong marketing skills with a national presence.

Hikone will either have to take Moheron to court or hope that the Hiko-nyan “imposter” will fizzle out naturally when people recognize that it’s not the original Hiko-nyan. It might be best to let the buying public decide whether they want only the real Hiko-nyan or both the real and “imitation” one.

*Hiko-nyan was created as the official mascot for the 400th anniversary celebration of Hikone Castle held in 2007. The city of Hikone accepted mascot proposals from professional illustrators and selected Moheron’s entry which was called “Kabuto-neko” (Helmeted Cat). The name “Hiko-nyan” was decided following a nationwide calling for a mascot name, and “Hiko-nyan” was selected.

Posted under Hikone, What's New

A full-length movie filmed in Shiga Prefecture called Satoyama (里山) will be released to theaters in Japan from Aug. 22, 2009.

In July, I was invited to a movie screening in Tokyo. The movie is a narrated documentary showing how people in Shiga interact and coexist with nature. The term “Satoyama” literally means “Human habitat and Mountain.”

A farming couple growing mushrooms on numerous tree branches, a honeybee keeper making sweet honey, etc. Besides people, the film also shows fantastic scenes of insects, birds, boars, and other wildlife. A pair beetles wrestling and one loses by being flung off the tree. A bird plunging into the river water to catch a small fish in its beak (shown in slow motion). Amazing how the photographer was able to plant the camera at the right places.

It is a very beautiful and engrossing film. The cinematography is first-class and the movie has won several international awards. Much of the movie was filmed in Takashima (probably Kutsuki) and Maibara. Shiga photographer Imamori Mitsuhiko also appears in the movie showing kids around the wilderness. The movie was produced by NHK and it was originally shown on TV as an “NHK Special.” Parts 1 and 2 of the Satoyama TV series were re-edited and combined with additional footage to make this fantastic movie.

See the movie trailer at the official Web site: http://satoyama.gyao.jp/

The Japan Times also published an excellent article about the meaning of the word “satoyama.”

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20090823×1.html

Posted under Shiga-ken, Takashima

Biwako Hanabi in Otsu (free section)

Shiga’s largest summer fireworks display called Biwako Dai-Hanabi Taikai (びわ湖大花火大会) will be held again along the shore of Lake Biwa in Otsu. The date and time is Fri. Aug. 7, 2009 at 7:30 pm to 8:30 pm. Some 350,000 people are expected to show up.

Note that much of the best shoreline to view the hanabi will charge admission of several thousand yen (especially around Hama-Otsu and the port where the Michigan is moored). The free area is a little farther, near Shimanoseki Station. Be prepared for horrendous crowds, especially on the way home unless you leave early. Tiny Shimanoseki Station won’t be able to handle all those people going home. Pick a restaurant for dinner or hang out somewhere before getting on a train.

Posted under Otsu

Bobby Nash (#33) and Head Coach Robert Pierce at courtside.

After reaching a basic agreement for the 2009-10 season, Bobby Nash is set to return to the Shiga Lakestars basketball team in Japan’s bj-league for the 2009-10 season.

He plans to join up with the team in late Aug. and the official contract will be signed after he passes a medical exam. He is the first non-Japanese player to be announced for the Lakestars’ 2009-10 season roster. So welcome back Bobby!!

Bobby, who is 24 years old and 198 cm tall, hails from the University of Hawai’i at Manoa, my alma mater. His famous dad, Bob Nash, a former star player at UH, is currently the head coach there.

So far, most of last season’s Japanese players are returning as well, including Fujiwara Takamichi who was team captain and local boy Ogawa Shinya from Nagahama.

See the 2009-10 team roster so far here:
http://www.lakestars.net/team/roster.php

Ishibashi Takatoshi, new Lakestars Assistant Coach. (File photo)

Head coach Robert Pierce is of course returning to coach the Lakestars. He will have a new Assistant Coach in Ishibashi Takatoshi, former head coach (and player) of the Toyama Grouses which ended up in last place last season. Coach Pierce sent me an email in early July 2009 to thank me for my online photos of the Lakestars. He can look forward to more photos (and dedicated Lakestars Web page in English) from me during the upcoming season.

The Lakestars cheerleaders are also set for 2009-10. They held an audition in May-June and selected the girls for the new cheerleading squad. A few girls from last season have remained. Otherwise, they are all new.

Also, the Kyoto Hannaryz will be a new expansion team for 2009-10. Kyoto’s team will make it even more exciting since the team will be a natural rival for both neighboring prefectures Shiga and Osaka.

The Lakestars game schedule for 2009-10 has already been set. The Lakes will open the season in Kyoto by playing against the Hannaryz on Oct. 3-4, 2009. Those of us in Shiga can easily see games in Kyoto. The Hannaryz will be the Lakestars most frequent opponent with eight matches during season. And for the first time, a pair of games will be played in Hikone on Oct. 31-Nov. 1.

See the game schedule in English here:
http://photoguide.jp/txt/Shiga_Lakestars

Posted under Sports in Shiga

Omi-Maiko

It’s summer again and before people flock to the beaches, Shiga Prefecture in May conducted water-quality tests at nine of Shiga’s most popular swimming beaches. Based on the water-quality test results, the beaches were ranked “AA,” “A,” or “B.”

Receiving the highest “AA” rating were Omi-Maiko (Otsu), Miyagahama (Omi-Hachiman), and Nihonmatsu (Nishi-Azai).

The second-highest “A” rating was given to Matsunoura (Otsu), Matsubara (Hikone), Minamihama (Nagahama), and Makino Sunny Beach (Takashima).

Earning a “B” rating were Nagisato (Moriyama) and Shingaihama (Hikone). A “B” rating is still safe enough for swimming.

The water-quality tests measured water transparency, oil film, and E. coli bacteria count. Last year, eight of the nine beaches received an “AA” rating, but only three beaches this year were rated that high. Note that the results of the tests can differ depending on the weather of the day when the tests are conducted.

At any rate, Shiga’s beaches are safe to swim in. Enjoy!

Posted under Lake Biwa, Otsu, Shiga-ken