Buy an advance ticket and save $2

Adult: $5 for advance ticket
$7 for on-site ticket
Children: at 13 years old and under are free

For advance tickets, contact Toshikazu Mizobuchi SMAMIZO@aol.com, Eiko Goti geiko@excite.co.jp , Frank Sanada ssanada@excelight.com , or Francis A Moyer of the Japan Center (919) 515-3450 Mitsue Nagafuchi mitsuen@us.ibm.com .

New Officer

<Satomi Wakiya>

Hello. My name is Satomi. I came here three years ago because of my husband's work. I love here very much; there are a lot of trees, birds, and all kinds of animals and creatures. Since our new life started here, we have always been warmly welcome and supported by nice people. Here are peaceful, calm, and beautiful places in nature and in people's hearts. I've appreciated all your kindness and everything you have done for us. As a friend, I 'd like to give back something through cultural exchanges and other means as much as I can. I have to take care of my family including my three young children, but I 'm glad to join this Club. I hope we will have a wonderful time together through the Club's programs and the new Japanese tea ceremony group.

Fun Club "Triangle Cha-no-Yu" started 9/4

<Hideko Tsurumi>
This fall, the Japan Club started the Triangle Cha-no-yu (tea ceremony) Club. This is a group of RTP residents who would like to enjoy Chano-no-yu. We hope to contribute to our community by the demonstration of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony by volunteers.

When we are away from Japan, we feel more of a need for our home culture. We hope our Cha-no-yu Club will benefit new residents of the area who may want to start other programs related to Japanese culture.

Our goal is to enjoy the practice of the tea ceremony regardless of various tea ceremony disciplines and our own experiences. For more information, please feel free to contact Hideko Tsurumi at hii@nc.rr.com, telephone (919) 465-0873.

COMMUNITY NEWS

Global Partnership Schools Project of NC

Sponsored by the United States-Japan Fundation

On August 25 through 28, seven students and three teachers of Shinonome Junior High School attached to Hiroshima University, along with Prof. Atsushi Asakura, an assistant professor at Hiroshima University, visited Exploris Middle School to exchange Similarities and differences between the US and Japan.

The students' thoughts from both schools will be on the next issue of the newsletter.

Good opportunity for Usu

JLS of Raleigh principal Mimura Norinaka

This past March, Piedmont Triad School for Japanese students, located 2 hours drive west of RTP, closed down. The reason…number of students attending the school dropped dramatically.
On the other hand, with more students coming than leaving, students attending Raleigh's Japanese school increased from 193 in April to over 240 this September; they include 9 from the west near Greensborough, 41 from the east in Greenville, and 19 from the south in Fayetteville. Near RTP, there are 7 from Durham, 55 from Chapel Hill, 67 from Cary/Apex, and 55 from Raleigh.
During their closing, Piedmont Triad School has generously offered to give us their usu (a large wooden device traditionally used mochi-tsuki or making rice cakes in Japan). I gladly accepted. Though afterwards, receiving it turned out to be a challenge. First, the key to its storage space had gone to Japan with the previous owner. Also, usu itself is very heavy, and (even though I am good at talking my mouth off,) my muscles have gone with my youth. Fortunately, I am so grateful that some energetic youths from Japan Club volunteered to help. After the key returned in August, the long awaited usu finally arrived at Raleigh Japanese School.

On a different note, the Raleigh Japanese School is hosting the annual Field Athletics Day for all of the students and their families. I would like to thank Sumitomo for letting us use their company grounds and AWNC for donating some new balls for an event. With their help, we should have a fun and exciting day.

Field Athletics Day is a typical school event in every Japanese school; however, traditional mochi-tsuki using usu has become a rarity these days. I plan to take this opportunity to hold a mochi party along with the people of the Nippon Club, in the near future.


* Bill, Beren, and Yoko of Taiko Club, affiliated with Japan Club, picked up the usu, driving 2 hours each way to Kernersville, NC. The usu was maintained by Kimio Katsuki、Executive Vice President, DEERE-HITACHI Construction Machinery Corporation. He taught us proper mochi-tsuki : pour water into usu 4 or 5 days before use to prevent cracking, to sand it, and preparation of mochi rice. He gladly offered to help us, if we host a mochi-tsuki party.

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