the WINTER solstice

Ohhhhhh it is JUST what I need.

I long for it! I need it! I want it!

A YUZU bath at any local bath house on Tuesday the 22nd to celebrate the Winter Solstice.

Warm your body. Nourish your soul. Feed your strength. Release your tensions.

A perfect recipe for SHIWASU (rush rush rush mood of December), that has just whizzed by.

Whoosh it goes still!

ALSO remember to eat pumpkin for extra resilience on Tuesday.

A new strategy olden that a teacher recently told me about.

Build up your defences any way you can.

The temperatures are dropping daily, and Winter moods set in.

Stay healthy everybody.

GREEN e-books SALE

If you are out and about in Kyoto enjoying the seasonal tones, why not drop into GREEN e-books for their well known book sale.

Go and meet the sweet store owner Yuko, or Store Manager Pikako. It is a lovely way to spend an afternoon, and always delightful to randomly find a book that works for you.

Take a look at the bilingual website for access details, regular shop events, and seasonal fun. 

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
 50% off Book SALE! with Garage Sale
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

We started famous 50% OFF booksales from this week!!!

Almost all over 500yen books are half price off.

Come pick up all books !

4 for 3 system is still remained, Pick up some books for your traveling back home for long flight....! 

+++++Green e Books++++++
* info@greenebooks.net
* http://www.greenebooks.net
201,9-5 Higashimarutacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 6068395 

FREEDOM of choice RETURNS

On Friday the 13th this month, I finally submitted all my paperwork for my Permanent Resident Visa. I always get nervous going to the visa office; even to the brand new one all shiny and fresh at Cosmo Square.

http://www.kinkijapan.com/2008/03/13/osaka-immigration-centers-moves-to-osaka-ko/

I put on my favourite blue vintage dress beautiful, shawl, gloves, pearls and lipstick and set off.

So many people had warned me about the "new proposed guidelines" for visa renewal (something that I wrote about in September on this blog), demanding that we hold Japanese National Health Insurance to proceed in the visa process.

I ignored all people trying to scare me, and take away the glory and satisfaction I felt in the whole concept of getting a new visa status golden. Of course when I got to the office, nothing was ever mentioned. The whole experience was rather calm, friendly and coming-of-age-like.

An e-mail from a friend yesterday confirmed some good news about the "proposed" visa changes. Foreigners living in Japan can choose the health coverage they desire without fearing it will negatively influence their visa renewal. Hurrah for that!

http://www.freechoice.jp/immigration-guideline-8.asp

SHONEN Knife GIG >> the SPACE bootleg XMAS tour 2009

I am such a stationery girl.

Japan is such a dreamland for gorgeous paper, pens, diaries, stickers, stamps, and notebooks. It is so easy and cheap to be creative and colourful in communications of ritual and celebration. I was heading to the sixth floor of Shinsaibashi LOFT last Wednesday to be dazzled by the heavenly stationery floor there, and begin my preparation for Christmas and New Year card making.

All the J-girls in the elevator with me had the same thing on their minds. Sixth floor direct. No stops. I commented about this to one of the girls, and got a mini smile. Looking across to the closed elevator doors, I noticed the poster for Club Quattro.

And I noticed a name of memory.

Shonen Knife.

They are one of those bands that I had always wanted to see in Japan somehow, but never did. With a show next month, we all have the chance to see a little bit of their magic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6nWlrM8TcLw

Looking at their pink cute-sy Shonen Knife official Home Page in English, they still seem to have that dazzle and drive.

http://www.shonenknife.net/english/index.html

Here is a mini interview of the girls with Kurt Cobain.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNobHg3bhvc&feature=related

Also playing with them in December are the Bloodthirsty Butchers,

http://www.bloodthirsty-butchers.com/english/

and special guest, Sunny Day Service.

http://sunnyday.cside.ne.jp/

December 21st is the show.

Doors open at 18:00 for a 19:00 start.

Tickets are 3500 yen, and available at Ticket Pia (P:335 - 373)

or directly at the club.

http://www.club-quattro.com/shin_info.php?year=2009&month=12&id=140810

Club Quattro is easy to find on the 8th floor of the PARCO building (Shinsaibashi LOFT), just near the always full STAR bucks on the corner.

http://www.club-quattro.com/access_shin.html

Plenty of other things nearby to dazzle you before of after the gig.

Maybe El Pancho for an early dinner and Happy Hour daily till 17:00? (on the 8th floor of the building next to Starbucks)

http://el-pancho.com/english/

A peek into the Vivienne Westwood shop on the side street of LOFT?

A walk over to Minami Semba maybe for an after show drink?

Shinsaibashi is a grooving place, and this show looks like a lot of fun.

Enjoy.

CHIC job offer

JOB VACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT – ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF CHIC

Community House & Information Centre (CHIC) has an exciting part-time job opportunity for a motivated, energetic individual interested in working with the Kansai international community. The Assistant Director is responsible for aiding the Director of CHIC in all aspects of operations, including program, events, fundraising development and implementation, financial, volunteer staffing and office management.

The ideal candidate for this position will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Previous management and organizational skills in an office setting and to relate to all types of people from different cultural backgrounds and nationalities. Computer skills, including but not limited to Microsoft Word, Excel and Desktop publishing is necessary.

Basic knowledge of accounting is an asset. Some familiarity with the Kansai area is a plus.

The hours typically entail a three day work week from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday with 12 weeks of vacation (5 paid, 7 unpaid).

Interested candidates should submit a confidential cover letter and resume to the attention of the Director of CHIC by November 30, 2009 for full consideration.

----------------------------------------------------------

Community House & Information Centre
RIC Central Tower 3F
5-15 Koyocho-Naka
Higashinada-ku
Kobe, Japan 658-0032
Tel: 078-857-6540
Fax: 078-857-4789
Web site: http://www.chickobe.com/

PROJECT Osaka

A message I just received that might be of interest to you all.

Just wanted to let any translators or translator-wannabes know that there is an informative and friendly conference going on in Osaka on November 28th. This one is particularly geared for those just getting started in the translation world, and you don't have to be a translator to attend. There are various sessions going on all day long - some in Japanese, some in English.

Some details.

PROJECT Osaka

Professional Japanese-English Conference for Translators

Sat. 28th November 2009

Umeda Sky Building, Tower West, 22F

Admission: Students: 4000 Yen, JAT Members: 5000 Yen,

Non-Members: 6000 Yen

PROJECT Osaka is a one-day conference on translation organized by the Japan Association of Translators (日本翻訳者協会) for experienced translators to share knowledge about the profession of translation with aspiring translators or those at the beginning stages of their careers.

PROJECT Osaka is the second in a series of one-day events for translators, following upon a successful PROJECT Tokyo held on Nov. 22, 2008, which attracted a full-capacity 250 participants.

The PROJECT Osaka theme is “Starting Out and Moving Up” and the format consists of mostly panel sessions with several speakers and a moderator who welcomes questions and comments from the audience.

HANKYU Line spots for AUTUMN beauty

There it was shining in Autumn allure this morning on my way to work. The Hankyu Line train station poster tempting us all with delightfully aglow Autumn tinged temples, parks, and areas that can be accessed via Hankyu trains.

The easy to understand YELLOW, green, RED, and BROWN momiji leaves showing clearly the up-to-date colouring of the leaves is particularly useful for people who may not prefer peak times. Or perhaps for photographers who desire another edge of Autumn in their lens.

All your favourites are surely there.

Kiyomizu Temple.

Koudaiji.

Sanzenin.

Eikando.

Many others look so dazzling and stunning in their own version of beauty. Why not experiment with some new places of discovery? You never know. Your new favourite place of Autumn awaits your stepping in.

Why not also try

Yoshimine Dera 善峰寺

http://www.yoshiminedera.com/index1.htm

Joujakkouji 常寂光寺

http://bowsmx.blog.eonet.jp/default/2008/12/post-0ef6.html

Takao Jingoji 高雄 神護寺

http://tabitano.main.jp/7jingoji2.html

Nose Myoukenzan 能勢妙見山

http://www.myoken.org/menu.html

Kyuuanji 久安寺 (Also stunning with Summer green and azalea beauty)

http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~hkyo/kyuanji.html

Aokoumyouji 粟生光明寺

http://www.kyotoblog.com/08kouyou/081201mo.html

http://easykyoto.jp/archives/6910 (Some beautiful SUMMER shots here)