Shiga News – by Philbert Ono Rotating Header Image

April, 2009:

Tsuchiyama Saio Princess Procession

Apr 30th, 2009
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On March 29, 2009, I saw the Saio Princess Procession in Tsuchiyama (あいの土山斎王群行). It was very nice. The Saio princess was an unmarried, young Imperial princess, often the Emperor’s daughter, who was appointed (by divination) to be the High Priestess of Ise Grand Shrines in Mie Prefecture from the 7th to 14th centuries. Whenever there was a new emperor, there would be a new Saio princess appointed. She would travel in a procession from Kyoto to Ise, taking 5 nights and 6 days. She lodged in a special temporary palace (disassembled after she lodged in it) called the Tongu, and one Tongu was in Tsuchiyama. So this festival reenacts this procession. It’s also a continuation of Kyoto’s famous Aoi Matsuri.

I shot both video and stills:
 

Photos:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=733

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Shiga LakeStars end 2008-09 season in 5th place

Apr 30th, 2009
by philbert.
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Tipoff at LakeStars debut game

I enjoyed watching Shiga LakeStars games even though they didn’t do so well during their debut 2008-09 season ending up in 5th place with a record of 19 wins and 33 losses. The bj-league emphasizes the entertainment aspects of the game, so that added a lot to the games. And Shiga did have a good number of LakeStars fans who turned out to cheer at games. The Shiga LakeStars, Shiga’s first pro sports team, is definitely a viable franchise. If you see one game, you very likely will want to see more games. The trick is to get more people to see a game for the first time.

During 2008-09, I went to see four LakeStars games including the debut game (which they lost). Links to photos:
LakeStars vs. Osaka Evessa (Debut game) in Otsu, 2008.10.11
LakeStars vs. Fukuoka Rizing in Otsu, 2009.1.11
LakeStars vs. Tokyo Apache in Tokyo, 2009.3.6
LakeStars vs. Toyama Grouses in Maibara, 2009.3.22

I for one was happy to see the LakeStars being formed. They invited the participation of the local people to decide on the team name. Whether it should be Shiga or Omi or whatever else. The vast majority favored “Shiga.” I proposed the name “Shiga Lakers.” I thought “Lakestars” was too similar to the Yokohama Baystars baseball team. But LakeStars is a good name. At first, I thought the league and games were too commercial with so many ads plastered all over the court floor and sidelines. But I guess they need the money and sponsorship.

Bobby Nash

Bobby Nash

I was also thrilled to find out that one of the team members was from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (Bobby Nash), my alma mater. I hope he comes back next season. Bobby Nash’s dad, Bob Nash, is coaching the UH men’s basketball team and he was one of the most famous UH basketball players during the early 1970s. We called them the Fabulous Five from Hawaii: Al Davis, Bob Nash, Dwight Holiday, John Penebacker and Jerome Freeman. More here:
http://archives.starbulletin.com/1999/10/26/news/story8.html 

LakeStars cheerleaders 2008-09

LakeStars cheerleaders 2008-09

As I said, one emphasis is on entertainment, and we get a lot of it with the cheerleaders and local performing artists whether they are singers or dancers. The games are great for these people to get public exposure while the spectators get good entertainment. The Shiga LakeStars cheerleaders even won a cheerleading award. At first, they all looked the same to me, with the same long, black hair and same uniforms. But a few games later, I started to recognize their faces and a few names too. Unfortunately, they will all be replaced for next season. Thanks girls for your cheering and entertainment. I know you worked very hard.

In the Western Conference, Okinawa took first place (41 wins, 11 losses) and Toyama Grouses was last in 6th place. Only the 1st to 4th place teams in the Western and Eastern Conferences can move on to the playoffs to decide the bj-league champion. For a long time, the LakeStars were trailing Fukuoka in 4th place. If they lost the last two games and Shiga won the last two games, the LakeStars would have made it to 4th place. Too bad it didn’t happen. Oh well, let’s see if they can do better next season. Thanks guys for doing your best. Win or lose, it was fun to watch. Otsukaresama to everyone involved!

P.S. Since I live in Tokyo, I also saw Tokyo Apache games:
Tokyo Apache vs. Ryukyu Golden Kings in Ariake, 2008.11.29
 Tokyo Apache vs. Toyama Grouses in Ariake, 2008.12.27-28

Shiga LakeStars official website: http://www.lakestars.net/

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Failed Karasuma Peninsula resort development creates big losses

Apr 23rd, 2009
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Plans to further develop the man-made Karasuma Peninsula in Kusatsu with a resort hotel failed as no takers emerged to build it. A third-sector corporation called the Biwako Lakefront Center  (びわ湖レイクフロントセンター), established in 1989 by Shiga Prefecture, Kusatsu, Shiga Bank, and other companies to promote the hotel resort development, was dissolved in Aug. 2008.

The total losses was calculated in March 2009 as follows:

Shiga Prefecture: Loss of 290 million yen.
Kusatsu city: Loss of 340 million yen.
Shiga Bank: Loss of 460 million yen.

The peninsula already has the Mizunomori lotus pond (blooms in July) and Lake Biwa Museum. The rest of the land is pretty much a park.

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Omi-Hachiman and Azuchi aiming to merge

Apr 15th, 2009
by philbert.
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On March 26, 2009, Omi-Hachiman’s city council passed a bill to establish the Omi-Hachiman-Azuchi Municipal Merger Deliberation Council (近江八幡市・安土町合併協議会) on April 1 to aim for a municipal merger with neighboring Azuchi town. Azuchi also passed the same bill in their town council on March 25, 2009. 

They both aim to merge by March 2010. However, a citizens group in Azuchi gathered 4,000 signatures and submitted a petition to the Azuchi Town Council to require a referendum to be held to vote on the issue. Unfortunately, the bill to hold a referendum was rejected by the town council who took a vote on the issue on April 14, 2009. The town council apparently wants the merger to go through despite the residents’ opposition.

Such a merger was attempted four years ago, but a referendum in Azuchi rejected it. One problem is that Omi-Hachiman is in deep debt and no one really wants to merge with that city. Interesting that neighboring Ryuo town is not even close to merging with Omi-Hachiman even though the town is part of Omi-Hachiman’s area.

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Selling more bin-temari in Aisho

Apr 12th, 2009
by philbert.
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Bin-temari

Bin-temari

Chunichi Shimbun newspaper reported on April 9, 2009 that sales of bin-temari in Aisho town has increased by 150% during fiscal 2008 compared to last year. The local tourist association sold some 173 bin-temari this year, priced from 18,000 yen to 30,000 yen.

“Bin” means bottle, and “temari” is a threaded ball. The bin-temari is a round glass ball with a threaded ball inside. Bin-temari come in different sizes and an infinite number of threaded-ball designs. It also makes a great wedding gift since the round shape symbolizes harmony of the heart and family. You can also clearly see inside. The bin-temari is a symbol of Aisho.

The tourist association sells the bin-temari through its Web site and at their tourist info counter at Echigawa Station on the Omi Railway Line.

Their Web site (Japanese only):
http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~e-machi/08_bintema.html 

More bin-temari photos here:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=245

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Hikone Serikawa Station opens on Ohmi Railways

Apr 10th, 2009
by philbert.
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A new train station opened on April 8, 2009 on the Ohmi Railways’ Honsen Main Line. The new station is called Hikone Serikawa Station (ひこね芹川駅). It is between Hikone and Hikone-guchi Stations. The station is close to a few schools, a shopping street, and a developing residential area. It was built by Ohmi Railways (not sponsored by any other companies or local governments by request).

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Cherry blossoms in full bloom in most of Shiga

Apr 8th, 2009
by philbert.
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Kaizu-Osaki

Kaizu-Osaki. Click image to see more photos.

Cherry blossoms at most of the major spots in Shiga are now in full bloom, as of April 7-8. Otsu, Hikone, Nagahama, Yasu, etc., are in full bloom. Only the colder areas like Oku-Biwako Parkway, Biwako Valley, and Enryakuji are still not in full bloom yet. Kaizu-Osaki and Hachiman-bori will be in full bloom by this weekend it seems.

Japan is having a really good string of sunny days during the best time of the sakura season. Great for picnicking and for taking pictures.

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Slush funds discovered at Shiga Prefectural government

Apr 1st, 2009
by philbert.
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Another reminder that not everyone in Shiga’s government is upright and honest.
On March 30, 2009, the prefectural government announced that they found at least 44 suspected cases of slush funds or suspicious accounting created for illicit purposes by prefectural government departments and employees. The alleged backdoor money (called uragane 裏金) totaled at least 6.9 million yen.
Bank accounts with fake department names (like 「コナンドボクジムショ」「シガケンドボクジム」) were created to receive the money and numerous withdrawals were made.
Not only that, gift certificates and taxi coupons purchased since 15 years ago were found to be unaccountable in 25 departments and sections including the governor’s office, Board of Education, and health and welfare section.
At a press conference, Lieutenant Governor Sawada apologized to the people of Shiga and vowing to introduce countermeasures to prevent a recurrence.

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Daidogawa Dam construction to be frozen

Apr 1st, 2009
by philbert.
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On Mar. 31, 2009, in a rare turnabout of policy, the Construction and Transport Ministry announced that it would freeze construction of Daidogawa Dam (大戸川ダム) in Otsu. The decision was made in consideration of opposition to the dam by the governors of Shiga, Kyoto, Osaka and Mie prefectures. The ministry had stated that the dam was needed to prevent any great flood that may occur. The affected municipalities (Otsu and Uji in Kyoto) and residents who had to move out of the area to be dammed, however, are in favor of the dam.

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