Otsu Mayor-elect Naomi Koshi.

Otsu’s mayoral election was held on January 22, 2012 with Naomi Koshi (越 直美) defeating two-term (8 years) incumbent Mayor Makoto Mekata (目片信) by almost 10,000 votes.

The 36-year-old Koshi Naomi, a lawyer by trade, is Japan’s youngest woman mayor ever to be elected. She is Shiga’s first female mayor. And it is the first time in Japan to have a woman prefectural governor (Yukiko Kada) as well as a woman mayor of the prefectural capital. She is the third woman mayor of a prefectural capital (the other two are in Sendai and Yokohama). There are currently only 14 female city mayors in Japan.

Ms. Koshi ran as an independent, but was endorsed by the Democratic Party of Japan, Social Democratic Party, and Taiwa-no-Kai (対話の会) which also backs Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada. The 70-year-old incumbent Mayor Mekata, also an independent, was backed by the Liberal Democratic Party, Komeito, and numerous corporate organizations. It is amazing to see such a newcomer defeating a well-entrenched and experienced incumbent.

Ms. Koshi vowed to reform Otsu, especially social services such as childcare and elderly support,  tourism promotion, and financial reforms. She also supports foreign language education in schools. Her youth and symbol of change have appealed to voters who also have high expectations for her and the governor to work together. (The incumbent mayor was not on very good terms with the governor.)

Ms. Koshi received 51,735 votes, Mayor Mekata got 42,232 votes, and the third candidate Masako Higashi (東 昌子) won 22,712 votes. Some 44.15% of eligible voters went to the polls. This is 1.84% higher than the last election.

Governor Yukiko Kada, who congratulated Ms. Koshi at her campaign headquarters, commented that the citizens of Otsu wanted change and that having a woman in office brings the woman’s point of view which is rare in politics and business. She added that there will be a good synergy by having the city and prefecture working together for child care, elderly support, tourism, and other areas. Ms. Koshi does intend to work in tandem with the governor better than her predecessor did. She hopes that by changing Otsu, she can change Shiga, and then Japan. She’s young yet, and if she does well in Otsu, I think she could very well run for governor someday.

Mayor-elect Koshi Naomi was born on July 5, 1975. She grew up in Otsu and attended public schools including Zeze High School. She earned her undergraduate and graduate law degrees at Hokkaido University. In June 2009, she graduated from Harvard Law School in the U.S. This means she speaks English. (Now you know why I’m writing about her.) From 2002 to Nov. 2011, she practiced law for a Tokyo-based law firm and in New York. She specialized in corporate law. Her hobbies are swimming and yoga.
Official Website: http://www.koshinaomi.net/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/koshinaomi

Congratulations to her and I look forward to her policies on promoting tourism.

Taga Taisha on New Year's Day.

The Shiga Prefectural Police Department has estimated that 1.31 million people will pray at shrines and temples in Shiga during the first three days of 2012. This is more than New Year’s in 2011. Going to pray at a shrine or temple during New Year’s is called hatsumode (初詣).

Shiga’s most popular shrines during New Year’s and the estimated number of worshippers during the first three days of the 2012 have been announced as follows:

1. Taga Taisha Shrine (多賀大社) in Taga, next to Hikone, 470,000 worshippers
2. Nagahama Hachimangu Shrine (長浜八幡宮) in Nagahama, 150,000 worshippers
3. Omi Jingu Shrine (近江神宮) in Otsu, 140,000 worshippers
4. Tarobo Shrine (太郎坊宮) in Higashi-Omi, 120,000 worshippers
5. Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine (日吉大社) in western Otsu, 100,000 worshippers

As usual, Taga Taisha will see the lion’s share of worshippers. No doubt, the shrine’s auspicious name is a major draw. “Taga” means many felicitations. Perfect for new year’s prayers.

And on New Year’s Eve, Buddhist temples will be ringing in the new year at around midnight. At Hikone Castle, there is the Time-Keeping Bell or Jiho-sho (時報鐘) which the public can ring from 11:30 pm. The bell is on the way to the tenshu castle tower. The castle gate will be open from 11 pm.

日本語

Updated: Our group photo exhibition in Kyoto went very well. It was great meeting people and explaining about our pictures and work. Thank you to all who came to see us.

Photos of the exhibition here:
http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=833

Exhibition details:
I organized a group photo exhibition in Kyoto held on Nov. 16-20, 2011 at the Kyoto International Community House in Kyoto, near Keage Station (5 min. by Tozai Line subway from Yamashina Station). The exhibition room was open from noon to 7 pm (till 5:30 pm on the 20th). We had a gathering on Nov. 19 (Sat.) at 5 pm – 7 pm and on Nov. 20 (Sun.) at 4 pm – 5:30 pm when the public was invited to meet the artists. Free admission.

The theme was “Home Sweet Hometown.” Many of us foreigners in Japan have lived here for so long that Japan has become our second hometown. We love our hometowns in Japan so much that we often photograph it. We shall now share some images of our beloved hometown. I showed photos based on the Lake Biwa Rowing Song (Biwako Shuko no Uta). I have shown these pictures at various places in Shiga, but this was the first time for me to show them in Kyoto.

Also, Bruce Osborn showed Maibara Oyako (Parent-Child) Portraits. They come from the exhibition he is currently having at Maibara Station until March 2012.

Most of the other artists are based in Kyoto showed mainly Kyoto.

Featured Artists
Micah Gampel: “My Furukiyoki” self-portraits with friends in Kyoto. Very amusing collection of prints.
Peter Macintosh: Huge mural of Kyoto geisha photos taken over the past 10 years.
Motoyasu Matsutani: Pretty pictures of Kyoto.
Peter Miller: Copperplate photogravures of furusato scenes in Japan such as Shirakawa-go and Kamakura.
Philbert Ono: Introduction of Shiga’s hometown song, Lake Biwa Rowing Song. (Biwako Shuko no Uta) created by Kyoto University Rowing Club members in 1917.
Bruce Osborn: Maibara (Shiga Prefecture) Oyako (Parent-child) portraits taken in the four seasons.
John Wells: Mixed media (oil painting, sumie painting, etc.) of Kyoto scenes/objects.

The Japan Times inserted a nice announcement for our show in the Nov. 13, 2011 issue:

The Japan Times, Nov. 13, 2011, page 2 (National News)

Long lines at Shiga's 1st B-kyu Gourmet Battle in Otsu.

Shiga’s 1st B-class Gourmet Battle (第1回 滋賀B級グルメバトル) was held in Otsu on July 30-31, 2011 on the Hama-Otsu lakefront from 3 pm to 9 pm. B-class gourmet (B-kyu in Japanese) is food that is cheap and aimed at the working class. It also includes good ‘ol home cooking. The event had food booths serving cheap food using homegrown ingredient(s) from Shiga such as Omi-gyu beef, red konyaku (devil’s tongue), and fish from Lake Biwa. It was a “battle” or contest where the food booths would receive popular votes from customers. The food festival turned out to be wildly popular with a total of 120,000 people attending over the two-day period.

Long lines extended way back toward the hotel.

They had 60 food booths lined up along the lakefront at Hama-Otsu near the port. The official Web site listed and explained all the food booths and I had already picked out my must-try list of food. I went on the second day in late afternoon, but already numerous food booths had sold out. That was heart-breaking. Not only that, many of the food booths which were still open had very long lines. So I had throw out my favorites list and just try whatever I could. People who came during dinner time had very slim pickings.

Yaki-udon fried noodles.

There was hardly any crowd control and it was haphazard to break through the long lines to access the food booths further down the lakefront. But I did manage to find some food booths which were still open with short lines. I was delighted that even the less popular booths (or those which had plenty to serve) had some great-tasting food. Most of what I tried had a unique taste, something very original. Cheap and tasty. The food was priced from 100 to 500 yen, and we had to buy 100-yen tickets to buy any food. The food was cheap, and I wanted to try as much as my stomach could handle. I ended up using 2,000 yen worth of food tickets. Normally, I would never spend that much for a meal, but I thought it was well worth it.

As far as I can tell, all of the food vendors did not come from any established restaurant. They were local non-profit groups who happened to have a local recipe. Too bad because I would love to know where I can eat the stuff I missed. We could also vote for our favorite food booth (it was a gourmet contest) by throwing the wooden chopsticks into the trash bin for that booth. They would weigh the bag of chopsticks and the heaviest one wins.

Red devil's tongue with beefy gravy bread 400 yen. Very good. すじこんカップ

Fried fish and sweet beans on rice, 300 yen. 淡海あゆカツ丼

Omi Italian sausage with a mixture of Omi beef and pork, 400 yen. Surprisingly good. 淡海イタリアンソーセージ

Cold udon noodles with Omi beef, 400 yen. 近江牛うどん（冷）

And for dessert, matcha shaved ice, 400 yen. Uses tea from Koka. This won third place. あさみや金時

I’m sure this B-class food fest will be an annual thing. And it would be great if other areas in Shiga would hold their own B-class food festivals. Like in Hikone, Nagahama, and Takashima. I’m sure it would be very popular. I just wish it wasn’t held in summer. It’s just too hot to stand in line and be in a large crowd. Autumn would be the best time.

Better yet, they should build a restaurant complex or food court exclusively for Shiga’s B-class food vendors and open year round. It would be a sure bet. I mean at a B-class food festival, we can only try a very limited variety of food because of limited room in our stomachs. But if there were a place where we could eat B-class food on a regular basis, we would be able to try everything and have it more often.

It reminds of me of the Ramen Museum near Shin-Yokohama Station in Yokohama. It has a bunch of ramen shops from all over Japan in one building decorated in a vintage motif from the year 1958. A B-class Gourmet Food complex in Shiga having a unique Shiga decor and cheap food would be a major hit. It would be a great place to promote Shiga and its products. Imagine if there were B-class food booths in lonely Otsu Station. Or how about at local matsuri and events? Instead of the same and boring food booths we always see, B-class food booths would be cheaper and more healthy. Food for thought…

More photos of the B-class food festival.

Pictures of all the food served at the festival here.

Without these parts for train motors, JR West is unable to maintain their trains properly. Therefore, to reduce the trains’ maintenance requirements, they will run trains less frequently from April.

In Shiga from April 11, the JR Kosei Line between Kyoto and Omi-Maiko will have only three train runs per hour between 10 am to and around 5 pm instead of four or five runs. Also, from Maibara to Omi-Shiotsu on the JR Hokuriku Line, the extra train runs on weekends and national holidays will be eliminated from April 11. These extra train runs were provided to accommodate tourists visiting northern Shiga in conjunction with the current NHK Taiga Drama Go whose backdrop includes Nagahama.

The fewer train runs shouldn’t affect rush-hour commuters. The Osaka Loop Line, Sagano Line, and Nara Line will also see fewer train runs.

Former Lakestars head coach Ishibashi gives a high-five to a fan.

Ishibashi Takatoshi (石橋貴俊) has been fired as the head coach of the Shiga Lakestars, one of the bj league’s pro basketball teams in the Western Conference. The team announced the dismissal on Feb. 22, 2011.

The news is quite shocking as the Lakestars is still one of the top four teams in the Western Conference with 19 wins and 15 losses. The Lakestars’ official Web site announced in a brief, two-sentence statement that Ishibashi was dismissed and that 31-year-old Assistant Coach Nema Hirokazu will be the interim head coach until a replacement is found. No explanation was given for the firing.

But Kyoto Shimbun newspaper reported that team president Sakai Nobusuke (坂井信介) explained that besides wanting to break the recent string of losses (five games in a row), he wants the team back in 1st or 2nd place in the conference and win in the playoffs. He concluded that a change in the head coaching was necessary to this end.

Right now, the top four teams in the Western Conference is in a very tight race. They are separated only by 2 wins/losses. The Lakestars was actually in 1st place in Jan. 2011, but five consecutive losses from Feb. 6 put them down to 3rd place. The string of losses is certainly disappointing, but I don’t think it’s enough to fire the HC.

I still haven’t seen a Lakestars game this season (notice that I haven’t posted any photos this season). I have to confess that I’ve lost much of my enthusiasm for the team after former head coach Robert Pierce and Bobby Nash were released despite their popularity among fans. I like Joho and Wara, but as for most of the others, I can’t even remember their names and faces. They change too often. The high turnover of players and coaches has been disenchanting and it makes it difficult for me to develop a real bond with the team. I just don’t know these people.

And look at the way they announce such firings. No explanation at all. Not even a public “thank you” to poor Ishibashi-san. It’s like they are discarding a piece of machinery. Cold, very cold. So anyone and everyone on the team is expendable. Here today, and maybe gone tomorrow. It must be stressful for them to think about it.

The team president’s policy seems to be “win at all costs.” Sure, a winning team gets more sponsors and more money. But sports should not be only about winning and/or money. It’s about teamwork, working together, overcoming adversity together, never giving up, and forging a bond with fans. It’s really about doing your best.

I’m really concerned about the local children when they see how “winning is everything” and how coaches and players can be discarded like a paper toss to the trash can at anytime. Kids look up to pro teams, players, and coaches. These adults must set a good example.

OK, so five losses in a row. Work to turn a negative into a positive. That’s what sports should be about. The kids should see and learn that it’s also about the struggle, personal experience and growth, physical health, and self-improvement. Winning isn’t everything. Losing is part of the game and kids should learn how to face it and deal with it.

He belongs to the Kitanoumi Stable run by former Yokozuna Kitanoumi, one of sumo greatest yokozuna. Born in Dec. 1986, Nionoumi debut as a sumo wrestler in March 2002. He is about 173.5 cm tall and weighs 139 kg. During the Hatsu Basho tourney, NHK News (starting at 6:10 pm on weekdays) in Otsu broadcast his bouts every day and we held high hopes for him.

At age 24, he is still young enough to earn promotion to the top Makunouchi Division. It’s been quite  few years since the last time we saw a sumo wrestler from Shiga in the top two divisions of sumo.

Unfortunately, at the Hatsu Basho ending on Jan. 23, 2011, Nionoumi had a losing record of 5 wins and 10 losses in his Juryo debut. This means that he will likely be demoted back to the Makushita Division from his current rank of Juryo No. 12. Out of 15 bouts in a tournament, a sumo wrestler must have at least 8 wins to earn a promotion. Let’s hope Nionoumi bounces back and reaches Juryo and Makunouchi ranks.

See his official profile here:
http://sumo.goo.ne.jp/eng/ozumo_meikan/rikishi_joho/rikishi_2476.html

Update: Unfortunately, due to the yaocho bout-fixing scandal, the Japan Sumo Association has cancelled the Spring sumo tournament that was to be held in March in Osaka. We won’t be seeing Nionoumi until at least May (or later if the May tournament is cancelled too).

Guesthouse AN cottage, great for 4 to 6 people.

Six-mat room in Guesthouse AN.

I recently visited Guesthouse AN in Otsu which opened as a backpackers’ hostel in Nov. 2010. I was invited by the proprietors Mr. and Mrs. Shuji Fujisawa. I had been meaning to write about budget accommodations in Shiga and Guesthouse AN was a good place to start.

Guesthouse AN is a short walk from Nakasho Station on the Keihan Line. Nakasho Station is about a 4-min. ride from Ishiyama Station. It makes it convenient to visit both Ishiyama-dera temple and Miidera temple which are on the Keihan Line. The guesthouse is in a quiet residential neighborhood with no large streets.

Guesthouse AN cafe on left and cottage on right.

Guesthouse AN has two adjacent buildings. The main house is where the proprietors live on the 2nd floor and operate a cafe on the 1st floor, and the actual guesthouse is a detached two-room cottage with a kitchen and bath. In front is a parking lot where you can park your car for free.

The cottage has two Japanese-style rooms with tatami mats, tokonoma alcove, and futons. The Western-style toilet/bath and fully-equipped kitchen are communal. Each tatami room has six tatami mats, large enough to sleep three people each. The two rooms are separated by paper sliding doors (fusuma) which do not lock. You can easily overhear the person staying in the next room. Conversations, snoring, etc.

On the other hand, if you are a group of four to six people, having your own cottage is great. There’s total privacy since it is a detached building and no other rooms. You can also open up the sliding doors in the middle and use it as one large room. You share the toilet, bathroom, kitchen, and free washing machine with only people in your group. It costs around 3,000 yen per person if you have one or two roommates. (Note that children age 7 or younger are not allowed to stay here.)

Being a backpacker’s hostel, the rooms have no telephone nor TV. But you can use the telephone, watch TV, and access the Internet for free in the cafe right next door. There are also two rental bicycles for an easy ride to Lake Biwa.

One-half of Guesthouse AN cafe. Notice Beatles posters.

The Fujisawas operate a cafe in the main house next to the cottage. The cafe is where you can have breakfast (optional), watch TV, and access the Internet for free. The cafe is open to the public on weekends and national holidays. Mr. Fujisawa spent some time in the UK and is a Beatles fan. You can see some Beatles posters and memorabilia on the walls in the cafe. Even his car has a Beatles decal on it. He can communicate in English on a basic level, and their Web site has an English version.

After showing me the cottage, Mr. Fujisawa and I had a long chat in the cafe over a cup of coffee his wife made with freshly-roasted coffee beans. I offered some PR advice and corrected some (not all) of his English on printed matter. I asked him what the meaning of “AN” was. There were multiple meanings, and one of them was “it begins with ‘a’ and ends with ‘n,’” in reference to the hiragana syllabary.

But I was most impressed by the Fujisawas’ desire to provide a community space in their own neighborhood where people can gather and meet. He says that there are quite a few people living alone (including the elderly) in that area and there was no place nearby where they could socialize. His own outreach initiative can help people lessen their isolation. He will also start holding a monthly vegetable market in their parking lot where local growers can sell their vegetables. Another way for people to interact and to also buy vegetables conveniently.

As far as hostels in Otsu go, Guesthouse AN is the most centrally located. It’s on the same train line as Hama-Otsu (boat cruises on Lake Biwa and shopping), Miidera, Ishiyama-dera, Gichuji temple, and Sakamoto/Enryakuji. Getting around in central Otsu is more convenient on the Keihan Line than the JR Line. Kyoto is also easily accessible on the Keihan Line from Hama-Otsu. Mr. and Mrs. Fujisawa are happy to welcome guests from overseas and eager to introduce the sights of historic Otsu.

You can see more photos and information at the Guesthouse AN Web site (http://shiga-an.com/) in English.

Biwako Basho poster

Only two years after the Maibara Basho sumo exhibition tournament was held in Oct. 2008, grand sumo came to Shiga again during Oct. 24-25, 2010. It was to mark the 40th anniversary of the Shiga Prefectural Gymnasium (滋賀県立体育館) in Otsu where the basho was held.

Yokozuna Hakuho, on a winning streak of 62 consecutive wins, and the rest of the top sumo wrestlers and staff totaling about about 270 were on hand to entertain about 2,700 spectators each day. Ticket prices ranged from 13,000 to 2,000 yen.

The day’s activities started at 8 am and included the usual program at sumo exhibition tourneys. First you could watch them practice on the sumo ring. Then from 11 am, they wrestled with about 20 little local kids. The tournament started at 11:30 am and ended at 3 pm. They also injected some entertainment such as comic sumo, sumo jinku singing, and taiko drumming demo.

Unfortunately, I didn’t go. But I was impressed by reports of Yokozuna Hakuho and Kokonoe Oyakata (exhibition tour director, sumo stablemaster, and formerly Yokozuna Chiyonofuji) paying a courtesy call on the Abbot of Enryakuji atop Mt. Hiei in Otsu on the 24th. Kokonoe Oyakata has had a friendship with the Tendai Abbot (半田孝淳天台座主) for 30 years. Kokonoe and Hakuho worshipped at Enryakuji’s main worship hall called Konpon Chudo before meeting with the Abbot. Sumo wrestlers represent the Shinto religion, but they have no qualms about praying at Buddhist temples. Heck, even the Emperor visited Enryakuji when he visited Otsu. But then Enryakuji still maintains close ties with Hiyoshi Taisha Shrine at the foot of Mt. Hiei.

The Abbot gave Hakuho a large, framed placard written with the kanji characters 調息, which means to control the rhythm of one’s breathing, as in meditation. Later in Nov. during  the Kyushu sumo tournament, Hakuho failed to break Futabayama’s record of 69 consecutive wins.

Biwako Basho official site here.

Sleeping quarters

Operated by Shiga Prefecture’s Board of Education since Aug. 2, 1983, the Uminoko “Biwako Floating School” is an educational boat going on overnight voyages year-round on Lake Biwa, taking Shiga’s 5th graders.

So far, over 430,000 5th graders have gone on overnight voyages on this boat. That’s one-third the population of Shiga. The kids learn about Lake Biwa, native species, look at plankton under the microscope, meet kids from other schools, and tour lakeside points of interest.

About once a year, they open the Uminoko boat to the public for free while at Otsu Port. On Aug. 18, 2010, I visited the boat for the first time and was duly impressed. Previously, they held day-trip voyages for the public once or twice a year. Usually over 500 people applied and only about 115 could get in. Now, due to a tight budget, they only hold these free tours while at port.

They held two 2-hour open-house sessions. One in the morning from 10 am and another from 1 pm. Over a thousand visitors toured inside the boat. Many of them were kids. During the two hours, we could freely walk around inside the boat and enter most of the rooms. The boat looks good on the inside as it does on the outside. The rooms are clean, attractive, and pleasant. It doesn’t look that old, but I’m sure the interior has been renovated.

With over 90 overnight voyages during this school year, it operates on a busy schedule. It’s too bad that the voyages are limited only to Shiga’s kids. It would be a great experience for any kid (and adult) in Japan to learn about our No. 1 lake.

More photos here.

July 17, 2010
Echigawa Gion Noryo Hanabi Taikai in Aisho, 7:30 pm – 9:20 pm
Along the Echigawa River bank near Miyukibashi Bridge. If rained out, to be postponed to July 18.
愛知川祇園納涼祭花火大会
More info: 愛荘町秦荘観光協会／愛荘町愛知川観光協会　TEL：0749-37-8051
http://www.biwa.ne.jp/~e-machi/new/hanabitaikai.html

July 24, 2010
Kashiwabara-juku Yaito Matsuri fireworks, 9 pm – 9:20 pm
Near JR Kashiwabara Station in Maibara.
柏原宿やいとまつり
More info: 中山道柏原宿やいと祭実行委員会　TEL：0749‐57‐0256
http://yaito.kashiharasyuku.com/

Aug. 1, 2010
Hikone Dai-Hanabi Taikai at Matsubara Beach, Hikone, 7:45 pm – 8:30 pm
30-min. walk from Hikone Station. If rained out, to be postponed to Aug. 4.
彦根大花火大会
More info: （社）彦根観光協会　Phone: 0749-23-0001
http://www.hikoneshi.com/event/?itemid=641

Ogoto Onsen Noryo Hanabi Taikai in Ogoto Port, 8 pm – 8:30 pm
20-min. walk from Ogoto Onsen Station. Fireworks can be seen from most ryokan in Ogoto.
おごと温泉納涼花火大会
More info: おごと温泉観光協会　Phone: 077-578-1650
http://www.ogotoonsen.com/sightseeing/hanabi/

Omi-Imazu Furusato Natsu Matsuri, 9:00 pm – 9:30 pm
Climax of Imazu’s summer festival starting from 1 pm.
近江今津ふるさと夏祭り　やっさ！今津！！２０１０
More info: 近江今津ふるさと夏まつり実行委員会事務局 Phone: 0740-22-2108
http://www.takashima-kanko.jp/new/20100620_613.html

Hachiman Tenbin Matsuri in Omi-Hachman, 7:30 pm
At Kitanoshosawa area. Shuttle buses provided.
八幡てんびんまつり
More info: 八幡てんびんまつり事務局　Phone: 0748-32-6654
http://tenbinmaturi.hp.infoseek.co.jp/

Aug. 5, 2010
Nagahama Kita-Biwako Hanabi Taikai at Nagahama Port, 7:30 pm
10-min. walk from Nagahama Station. Very crowded so go early to save a spot or pay 3,000 yen for special seating. If rained out, to be postponed to Aug. 9.
長浜・北びわ湖大花火大会
More info: 長浜市観光振興課　Phone: 0749-65-6521
http://nagahamashi.org/news/hanabi2010.html

Aug. 6, 2010
Biwako Dai-Hanabi Taikai at Hama-Otsu and Nagisa Park, 7:30 pm – 8:30 pm
This is the big one, but prime viewing areas all charge admission of about 4,000 yen (even for children above age 3). The free area is farther away and terribly crowded. People are no longer allowed to save a place with vinyl mats, etc., until the fireworks day. Would you believe people saved a viewing place on Nagisa Park as early as 2 weeks before the fireworks day? If rained out, to be postponed to Aug. 10.
びわ湖大花火大会
More info: びわ湖大花火大会実行委員会　TEL:077-511-1530
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/hanabi/index.html

Aug. 7, 2010
Makino Summer Carnival at Makino Sunny Beach in Takashima
マキノサマーカーニバル２０１０
More info: 四季遊園マキノ交流促進協議会事務局　Phone: 0740-28-8002
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_12577.html

Ujisato Matsuri Summer Gathering in Hino
Fireworks is the climax of this summer festival (bon dance, etc.) held in the northern parking lot of Hino Town Hall.
氏郷まつり「夏の陣」2010
More info: 日野町イベント実行委員会　Phone: 0748-52-6562
http://www.town.shiga-hino.lg.jp/contents_detail.php?co=cat&frmId=1386&frmCd=4-15-2-0-0

Kotonarie Summer Festa in Higashi-Omi’s Hibari Park
Part of an illumination festival.
コトナリエサマーフェスタ２０１０
More info: 東近江市湖東商工会　Phone: 0749-45-2571
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_373.html

Aug. 9, 2010
Ishiyama-dera Sennichikai and Setagawa fireworks, 8:30 pm – 9 pm
Fireworks along the Seta River near Ishiyama-dera. 10-min. walk from Ishiyama-dera Station on the Keihan Line.
石山寺千日会と瀬田川に煌く炎のページェント
More info: （社）石山観光協会　Phone: 077-537-1105
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_304.html

Aug. 16, 2010
Somagawa Natsu Matsuri near Kibukawa Station, Koka
Fireworks are part of the summer festival with taiko drummers and lantern floating on the river.
杣川夏まつり
More info: 甲賀市観光協会　Phone: 0748-65-0708
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_301.html

Aug. 17, 2010
Setagawa River Hanabi Taikai at Seta River in Otsu, 7:50 pm – 9 pm
Near Seta-no-Karahashi Bridge. Short walk from Karahashi-mae Station on the Keihan Line. Fireworks will climax a waterborne festival on boats.
瀬田川花火大会
More info: 瀬田川流域観光協会　Phone: 077-537-1105
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_303.html

Aug. 25, 2010
Kinomoto Jizo Dai-ennichi fireworks near JR Kinomoto Station
木之本地蔵大縁日　8月22日（日）～25日（水）（花火は25日のみ）
More info: ふるさと夏まつり実行委員会　Phone: 0749-82-5902
http://www.biwako-visitors.jp/search/event_12358.html

Otsu Mayor Mekata Makoto (目片信), Omi-Hachiman Mayor Fujitani Eisho (冨士谷英正), Hikone Mayor Shishiyama Koyo (獅山 向洋), Moriyama Mayor Yamada Nobuhiro (山田亘宏), and Ritto Mayor Kunimatsu Shoichi (國松 正一) belong to the association. They prodded Shiga’s other mayors to join up, but they apparently declined. Most are well-aware of Kada’s popularity among Shiga voters and some think that mayors should not get involved in gubernatorial campaigns.

At least two of these opposing mayors do have an ax to grind as Kada opposed or canceled major public works projects in Ritto (shinkansen station) and Hikone (dam construction) during her first term.

Frankly, I thought it was foolish to oppose such a popular governor. It only makes these mayors look childish, putting on a temper tantrum. Fortunately, they are a minority. We now know which mayors cannot work well with the governor. I wouldn’t want to vote for a mayor who cannot work with the governor. Shiga really needs everyone to work together.

http://brianwilliamsart.com/

The video was shot by John Wells, an old friend of mine in Kyoto.

Google Map street view of Shirahige Shrine

Google Maps now show street views of Shiga Prefecture.

On March 11, 2010, Google has started to post photos of the streets of Shiga, mainly in Otsu, Kusatsu, and the road going around Lake Biwa. No doubt, they will keep posting street views of more roads in Shiga as they become available.

Street views are panoramic photos stitched together, showing the streets and scenery along the road. It is very convenient for people looking for a place or directions to somewhere. It’s a great reference for bicyclists wanting to cycle around Lake Biwa too. You can see the terrain and road conditions before you leave.

Just go to Google Maps and drag the standing man icon to a street highlighted in blue. You can then navigate around by clicking on directional arrows in the street view or by moving the standing man icon around on the map.

Note that the current street view images of Shiga were shot two years ago. Some scenery (buildings, etc.) might be out of date.

On the Tokaido Line, the last train from Kyoto Station to Yasu Station now leaves at 12:34 am instead of 12:58 am. In the mornings and evenings of Sundays and national holidays, there is one less train run going from Yasu to Maibara and from Maibara to Yasu. (So four fewer train runs on Sundays and holidays.)

As for the Kosei Line between Kyoto and Katata Stations, the four train runs per hour between 10 am and 2 pm on weekdays will be reduced to only three train runs per hour in both directions. Between Kyoto and Omi-Maiko Stations, there will be one less train run in both directions in the evenings during both weekdays, Sundays, and holidays.

The Kusatsu Line and Hokuriku Line are not affected by cuts in train runs (although the train schedule may be different from before).

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.

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/

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.

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!

Eight students attending Higashi Otsu High School were found to be infected, along with a Ryukoku Univ. student, who was a graduate of Higashi Otsu High, and his junior high school brother. The college student had attended a school festival at his old high school on July 8.