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teaching in Tokushima

 
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ericlemire



Joined: 04 Jul 2005
Posts: 9
Location: Tokushima
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:48 am    Post subject: teaching in Tokushima Reply with quote
I just found out that I'll be teaching in Tokushima this december. I did a quick search on google and found some information, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the city is like? Good experiences, bad experiences? Advice?

Thanks! Very Happy
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:54 am    Post subject: Re: teaching in Tokushima Reply with quote
ericlemire wrote:
I just found out that I'll be teaching in Tokushima this december. I did a quick search on google and found some information, but I was wondering if anyone could tell me what the city is like? Good experiences, bad experiences? Advice?

Thanks! Very Happy


I have lived in Shikoku (Takamatsu) and used to work in Tokushima. The place is known for the Awa-Odori Dance Festival in mid-August. Awa-Odori is one of the biggest festivals in japan, where for 3 days the streets are closed off and filled with people. One of the only chances of the year that people really let their hair down in Japan.

http://www.country-dance.com/English/e-event/e-awaodori/awaodori-main.html

The locals are very friendly and now with the Akashi bridge Kobe is very accessible.
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abufletcher



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 2:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
You know, I've lived in Zentsuji (in Kagawa) for almost 10 years and NEVER visited Tokushima! I really should take a drive down there sometime just for something to do. It's probably as nice a place as any other to work.

As far as Awa-odori I've found local level equivalents to be more accessable as a photographer. They have some pretty serious crowds and crowd control for the festival in Tokushima while I can stand right in the middle of the parade to take photos at smaller events. But I really ought to go this year.
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Brooks



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
it is the smallest of the prefectures in Shikoku.
Getting around with a bike may be the best option.

In Matsuyama you have the tram,　Kochi too, and Takamatsu has the train.

Tokushima is where my sister-in-law lives with her family. Since she is from Osaka, it took her a long time to get used to it.
Her husband used to practice medecine in Osaka but got too stressed out and so they moved to Tokushima.

After living near Tokyo, the quiet and stillness in Tokushima was quite a contrast, but a good one.

I danced in the Odori last year. It is harder to do than it looks.
They have an Awa Odori building where you can see people demonstrate what it looks like.

There is a place of traditional crafts where you can learn about bunraku, dyeing, and other things.

Mt. Bizan is a place near downtown.

Another cool place is in Naruto, which is in the NE of Tokushima Ken, where you can buy German beer and wine year round. Sometimes they have concerts of German music.
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PAULH



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 4672
Location: Western Japan
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 9:50 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
Brooks wrote:
Another cool place is in Naruto, which is in the NE of Tokushima Ken, where you can buy German beer and wine year round. Sometimes they have concerts of German music.


Trivia question.

Naruto is where the German POWs were held in prison camps during the war, hence the German connection. Naruto is famous for the whirlpools under the bridge and at the moment the Awajiishima bridge connecting to Honshu is the longest suspension bridge in the world (I think).

Near there too is Otsuka Seiyaku, the company that makes Pocari Sweat, (famous Japanese sports drink, gotta love the names). I taught there in my first year in Japan.


More info

http://www.asia-planet.net/japan/tokushima.htm

Last edited by PAULH on Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:30 pm; edited 2 times in total
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abufletcher



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 12:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
PAULH wrote:
Naruto is where the German POWs were held in prison camps during the war, hence the German connection.


German POW's? In Japan? That's a surprise considering they were holding American POW's up here in Zentsuji. I thought the Japanese and the Germans were (at least distant) allies.

http://www.mansell.com/pow_resources/camppics/osaka/zentsuji/zentaerial.html

Actually the POW camp was eventually converted into a school -- in fact the middle school that my American children attended. Confused
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Brooks



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
PostPosted: Sat Oct 22, 2005 1:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
the Germans were POWs during WW I.
I think the Germans were living on a few Pacific Islands that the Japanese captured.
The strange thing is that they liked their time in Japan and it became a basis for German-Japanese friendship.
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Gordon



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
I really like Tokushima, have been there quite a few times. The downtown has a nice feel to it and it is not far from Osaka or Kobe.

Regarding the German POW camp, they are about to start filming a movie in Tokushima about just that and are looking for extras (any gaijin possible). Pay is only about 7,000 yen/day, but it could be interesting for people in the area.
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abufletcher



Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Posts: 779
Location: Shikoku Japan (for now)
PostPosted: Sun Oct 23, 2005 3:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Na Du, Gorden, you have a German last name und Ich spreche zwar ziemlich gutes Deutsch! Das waere doch wirklich was wenn wir beide Deutsche Kriegsgefaengener spielen koennten!

(("It might be a kick if we could play German POW's.")) Very Happy
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Gordon



Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Posts: 5309
Location: Japan
PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:00 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
It would be fun, I wish I had the time to play soldier.
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Brooks



Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Posts: 1369
Location: Sagamihara
PostPosted: Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:54 am    Post subject: Reply with quote
http://ourtokushima.net/english/
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