July, 2007:

Met with Koka International Society

Jul 30th, 2007

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Today I went to Koka and participated in the Koka International Society’s (KIS) Kokusai Koryu Salon gathering 甲賀市国際交流協国際交流サロン. It was a special occasion because nine people from Koka’s sister cities in Michigan came. It was a chance for them to meet and talk with local Japanese folks. They arrived in Shiga on July 26 and really enjoyed their stay, especially since they stayed with host families in Koka.

I also gave all the Michigan visitors a free copy of my Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD and introduced the song in English. It was my first time to give the CD to people from Michigan. So finally, 琵琶湖周航の歌英語版、海を渡る！

I enjoyed meeting the friendly staff of KIS. Their office is very near Minakuchi-Jonan Station on Ohmi Railways. Koka is the farthest place from where I am (Maibara near Ibuki) so I don’t go there very often. When I do go again, it’s nice to know people to visit.
http://www.kis5.org/

Biwako Shimin Regatta

Jul 27th, 2007

by philbert.

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This coming Sunday, there will be a citizens’ regatta (rowing boat race) on Seta River near Seta Karahashi Bridge.

It will be all day long from 9 am to 4 pm. Many rowing teams will race down the river for 250 meters.

The 本部 (headquarters) will be on the east side of the river near Seta-Karahashi Bridge. Map:
http://setarc.jp/2007resident/map.png

They will also sell my Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD for 800 yen. I will also be there most of the time to help sell the CD. So if you have time on Sunday, please drop by and say hello.

My CD will also be one of the prizes awarded to all the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners of the regatta in all race categories. (Total of 75 winners.)

Web site:
http://setarc.jp/2007resident/point/

Lake Biwa Rowing Song photo exhibition in Maibara

Jul 22nd, 2007

by philbert.

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I don’t know if there’s anybody from Maibara in this community, but I currently have my Lake Biwa Rowing Song photo exhibition again, this time in Maibara until Aug. 3.

The place is Lucci Plaza near JR Omi-Nagaoka Station on the Tokaido Line. This place also has a public library where people can borrow the CD. There’s also a nice restaurant with a view of Mt. Ibuki.
http://plaza.city.maibara.shiga.jp/access.htm

It is open from 10 am to 10 pm, closed on Mon. Free admission of course.

This is my third photo exhibition this year in Shiga, after Yokaichi and Imazu. Many of the photos are the same, but there are also new pictures as well. Captions in both Japanese and English.

Visited Otsu International Goodwill Association

Jul 13th, 2007

by philbert.

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During the past 2 weeks, I’ve been visiting most of Shiga’s cities to introduce our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD to the local Boards of Education, international organizations, tourist associations, public libraries, etc.

Today, I went to Otsu and visited the Otsu International Goodwill Association 大津市国際親善協会 for the first time. They have a very nice and spacious space in the Asuto Hama-Otsu 明日都 building next to Hama-Otsu Station. It’s very nice. They have three big rooms, one is the office, one room is a classroom, and one room is a nice salon with chairs and tables and books and magazines. Anyone can go in there and read a book, etc. The room is also used for language classes.

Out of all the 国際交流協会 offices I’ve visited in Shiga, this place is by far the most spacious and impressive. It’s a good place to relax or meet a friend. They are lucky to have such a space.
http://www.otsu-intl.or.jp/

Making Yokaichi giant kite

Jul 9th, 2007

by philbert.

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As you may know, the Yokaichi giant kite is replaced with a new one every three years. This year is when they will make a new giant kite.

During this past weekend on July 7-8, they announced the new kite design and started making the new giant kite. I missed this event three years ago, so I was determined to see it this time.

I attended the kite design announcement on Sat., and also participated on the first day on Sun. when they started to make the giant kite. Now I can say that I helped to make the giant kite which will fly from next May.
http://www.chunichi.co.jp/article/shiga/20070709/CK2007070902030697.html

I helped with the Paper Joining 紙継ぎ operation. About 400 sheets of washi paper from Mino (Gifu) were pasted together to make a giant sheet of paper equivalent to 100 tatami mats. I took pictures of course.
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=586

The Giant Kite Preservation Society 八日市大凧保存会 makes the kite with the help from the public. Anybody can go to the Yokaichi Giant Kite Museum Annex 八日市大凧会館別館 and help make the kite. All the kite-making steps can be easily done by anyone.

The hozonkai people are also very friendly and glad to answer questions about the kite. It will take about a month to finish the kite. They have a schedule too:
http://www.gaido.jp/machikado/machikado.php?ID=1732

I plan to go back again a few more times. It will be interesting to see how we draw and paint the design on the kite paper. If you are an art student or like to fly kites, I highly recommend this.

http://mytown.asahi.com/shiga/news.php?k_id=26000000707030002

Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD

Jul 8th, 2007

by philbert.

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I’m happy to announce that our Lake Biwa Rowing Song CD is finally on sale. We started selling the CD on June 16, 2007 in Imazu at the Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan song museum 琵琶湖周航の歌資料館.The Asahi Shimbun wrote about it in the June 17 issue:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/albums/shiga/boatsong/news/488news20070617.jpgYou can buy it at the Shiryokan in Imazu or call them at 0740-22-2108 and order it. You can also order it from me. Just send me a message and I’ll give you my bank account info. The price is 1,000 yen including shipping via mail-bin. Discount available for large orders (30 CDs or more).

About the CD:
-Four tracks: English version (with and without piano music), Japanese version, and piano karaoke.
-Sung by Jamie & Megan Thompson.
-12-page CD booklet explains the song in English and Japanese and includes the English and Japanese lyrics (Japanese and romanized text).
-Retail price in Japan 800 yen, including tax.

The CD is being very well-received so far. It makes a perfect gift from Shiga. Send it to your friends overseas. Or give it to your friends when they visit Shiga. Now I’m searching for more shops in Shiga to sell the CD.

More info:

http://photoguide.jp/txt/Lake_Biwa_Rowing_Song

Lake Biwa Cruise and choir contest

Jul 8th, 2007

by philbert.

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We had a fun time in Imazu during the weekend of June 16-17, 2007. On the 16th (Sat.), there was a 3-hour Lake Biwa Cruise to commemorate the 90th anniversary of Biwako Shuko no Uta. Jamie and Megan Thompson sang the English song in the chartered boat and also on Chikubushima.We also introduced and sold the CD on the boat and quite a few people bought it. In the evening, we attended a lecture about the song and also a dinner reception where we met the mayor of Takashima. I gave him a free copy of the CD.

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=581

Newspaper (Kyoto Shimbun):
http://photoguide.jp/pix/displayimage.php?album=587&pid=17364

On the next day Sunday, the Thompson sisters sang the song at the Biwako Shuko no Uta choir contest in Imazu. We also sold the CD there. There were 25 choirs from Shiga, Hokuriku, Kyoto, etc. Each choir had to sing two songs, one must be Biwako Shuko no Uta, and the other can be any song. The 1st place prize was 100,000 yen.

We could also experience rowing on the same type of boat used by songwriter Oguchi Taro 90 years ago. The local junior high school kids took us for a boat ride on Biwako near Imazu Port. Great fun.

Photos: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=582

On June 19 (Tue.), e-radio (FM Shiga) introduced our CD and song on an afternoon radio program hosted by Chiho Ono (not my relative). I was in Tokyo so I couldn’t listen to the program, but a few of our friends have told us that they heard it. I think that was the first time a radio station played the song from the CD. Thanks to Chiho.

And on June 24 in Hikone’s Viva City Hall, Jamie sang the song at an international event organized by a local int’l exchange organization called VOICE. We were able to introduce and sell the CD there as well.

Enjoy!