Archive for the ‘Events’ Category

Japan in the news

June 17, 2010

I just perused some of the newspapers to be found at

http://www.kcpinternational.com/life/living.html

about halfway down the page.  Lots of fun stories!  Here are some of them–

from Asahi

EDITORIAL: The Hayabusa mission

The space probe Hayabusa lived up to people’s expectations by completing its mission earlier this week.

Hayabusa space probe

The initial plan was for the craft to travel 300 million kilometers and touch down on the asteroid Itokawa before returning to Earth. Hayabusa, which means falcon, re-entered the atmosphere Sunday and burned up.

Read more

from Japan Times

So, What the Heck is That?  Vader ladies
By ALICE GORDENKER

Dear Alice,
What the heck is with all the Darth Vader impersonators in Japan? You know who I mean: the middle-aged ladies who bike around with menacing-looking windshields attached to their heads. I steer clear because the shields completely obscure their faces and I can’t tell if they see me. Plus, that blank visage is downright creepy. Don’t these women know how weird they look?
Alan H., Tokyo

Vader ladies

Read more

Ugly seafood just doesn’t get better
By HILLEL WRIGHT

Among the highlights of any visit to Ibaraki Prefecture could well be Kita-Ibaraki in its far northeast — specifically the towns of Otsu-ko and Hirakata-ko, which offer perhaps the best opportunity in the nation to sample the great winter seafood delicacy of anko (anglerfish)

Dobu jiru fisherman's hotpot of anglerfish for which Ibaraki is famed.

Otsu-ko is around 2 hours from Ueno Station in Tokyo.

One saying from my junior high school Latin class has stuck with me: De gustibus non est disputandum — which roughly translates as, “There’s no accounting for taste.”

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White T-shirts are anything but boring
By JAE LEE

To some, the white T-shirt is perhaps the least inspiring of wardrobe basics. But according to Ritchie Chan, director of the events planners Triple-Major Co., Ltd., it is quite the opposite.

Ritchie Chan and Yann Le Goec in their own white T-shirt creations. JAE LEE PHOTO

“I like making things and white T-shirts naturally came to mind — they are the simplest cotton item I can think of,” said the former fashion journalist, who sees the white T-shirt as a blank canvas ready for all manner of creative possibilities.

Read more

Posted in Events, Practicalities, Travel and general info | Leave a Comment »

Celebrate this!—Takoage-Gassen

May 10, 2010

The Takoage-Gassen (凧揚げ合戦) , or Kite-Fighting Contest, is a spectacular festival of some 100 large kites (tako)  flying in the sky over the Nakatajima Dunes, Hamamatsu, City, Shizuoka Prefecture.  It happens May 3-4.. The Nakatajima Dunes are one of the three largest sand dunes in Japan, which overlooks the Enshunada Sea.
kite

Here you can see many large kites measuring 3.5 meters by 3.5 meters (roughly 11 ft. x 11 ft.). Then to the sound of the trumpet, the fighting starts. Making the 5-mm thick hemp strings intertwine, the kite-fliers try to cut their opponents’ strings by friction, which is very exciting to watch.

kite

The strings burn, giving off a scorched smell. You can try flying a kite yourself in the grounds adjoining the shuttle bus terminal.

kite

This festival dates back to the 16th Century when large kites were flown in celebration of the birth of a baby son to the Lord of Hamamatsu Castle. Even today, kites are flown at Hamamatsu when a baby boy is born.

kite

A festive day to pray for boys’ good health and a bright future, it is the custom in Japan to fly decorations called koinobori, which are carp-shaped streamers.

kite

Carp are known to swim up waterfalls and this powerful image of the carp overlaps with the image of advancing in one’s career.

kite

Posted in Events, Fun, Travel and general info | Leave a Comment »

Get a free KCP T-shirt!

February 12, 2010

Building community is important, wherever the opportunity arises.  So is passing on the things you’ve learned to succeed at KCP and life in Japan.  Help build the KCP community by sharing your wisdom!

If we use your material in our marketing or social networking, you’ll receive one of the new KCP International T-shirts!

When you send in your stuff, please specify (1) a T-shirt size (Adult M, L, or XL) and your preferred design (1 or 2, below).  Don’t forget to include your current mailing address.

KCP T, first prize

Style 1

Style 2

Style 2

We will try to provide your preferred motif but can make no guarantees.  If one is not available, you may receive the other.

—Thanks, from the KCP staff and the rest of your KCP community.

Posted in Events, Fun, KCP Student Views | Leave a Comment »

T-shirt design finalists

December 22, 2009

We have completed our review of all the T-shirt design submissions. Thank you everyone for your wonderful designs!  These designs have been chosen as our finalists. We’d love to hear what you think. Vote for your favorite one and let us know why you like it. We’ll be making a final decision soon. Happy holidays everyone, and thank you for your comments!

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T-Shirt Contest—Upping the Ante

November 16, 2009

We know it’s getting close to finals time and you’ve got a long list . . . but please do send something in to the KCP T-Shirt Contest!  As an enticement, we’ve tripled the value of the prizes.
We’re not getting the numbers of submissions we’d like, and we want your input!  We hope you alumni will be energized to enter the contest.

Here’s the writeup again, revised.  Think of us on Thanksgiving weekend!

Thanks, Casie.

Be the one to design the first-ever KCP T-shirt! Just come up with some good art and/or a good slogan and send it to us by midnight, November 28. The winner receives a $300 gift card to Best Buy and two finished T-shirts. (Yeah!)  Second and third place receive a $100 Best Buy gift card and one finished T-shirt. (Yeah!!)
Ground Rules

  • Use the KCP logo and words KCP somewhere on the design.
  • Three colors maximum. Black counts as a color. We will silk screen to a light color shirt.
  • The shirt should be something that someone would want to wear—in other words, aesthetically pleasing.
  • Your design is for the front only of the shirt.
  • Your design and/or slogan must be wholly original. By submitting a design you are guaranteeing that you hold rights to everything in it, and that it does not contain any copyright material. This is really important.
  • If we receive two or more similar designs, we will accept only the first one submitted for judging.

Specs

  • Send a PDF to kcpjapanese@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name.
  • Your design must fit within a 12-in. by 12-in. area.
  • The PDF file you send should be no larger than 5MB. If you win we may ask you for the high resolution files (if available).

Agreement

  • You must be 18 years or older to submit. If you’re younger you can still make a design, but it must be submitted on your behalf by a parent or guardian.
  • Any submitted design becomes the property of KCP. KCP will have all rights to the winning design. By submitting you agree that if your design wins, it can be used by KCP on a T-shirt and other promotional items.
  • We reserve the right to make adjustments to the winning design.
  • You must submit your design (or slogan) by midnight Saturday, November 28.
  • Entries will be judged by staff of KCP.
  • By submitting you are agreeing to all contest rules.

Posted in Events, Fun | Leave a Comment »

Free Stuff in Tokyo

November 3, 2009

Free places to soak up atmosphere–
• For a good view of the city skyline go to the promenade that runs along the front of the Decks Shopping Mall in Odaiba.
Free--Odaiba
• To see more people than you’ve ever seen in one place, try walking through Shinjuku Station at rush hour (just after 5 pm), standing at the Ginza Sukiyabashi crossing, or crossing the road next to the Hachiko Exit of Shibuya Station.
Free--Shinjuku
• For the eccentric and bizarre side of life, go to Harajuku on a Sunday.
Free--Harajuku
• To feel bang up-to-date with the latest technology, go to Akihabara.

Bird’s-eye view of Tokyo–
The 45th floor of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building in Shinjuku has two free observation galleries with views of Tokyo, Mt. Fuji, and Yokohama.

Shrines, temples, pagodas, palaces–
• Meiji Jingu Shrine
• Yasukuni Shrine

Free--Yasukuni-shrine
• Sensoju Temple

Free--SensojiTemple
• Zojoji Temple
• Imperial Palace

Gardens and parks–
• Higashi-Gyoen, the East Gardens of the Imperial Palace (art gallery inside).
• Yoyogi Park has street entertainment on Sundays–great entertainment for no yen!
• Ueno Park.

Free Internet–a must!
In the T-Next Toshiba showroom in Shinjuku, get up to one hour of free ’net!

Sumo Wrestling Museum near the JR Ryogoku Station.

Free--SumoWrestlingMuseum

Sony Building in Ginza–
try out the latest electronic toys, gadgets, organizers.

Toyota Mega Web in Palette Town–
in the Odaiba car showroom, view cars of the future.

Hundred-¥ Shops–
Miss the dollar store? Short on cash but must shop? Try the 100-¥ stores in nearly every district. The one in Shibuya near the Tokyo Station has 5 floors!

Food–
Free samples galore in the basement floor of the Nakamise Shopping Arcade.

Posted in Events, Fun | 3 Comments »

T-Shirt Design Contest

October 29, 2009

Be the one to design the first-ever KCP T-shirt! Just come up with some good art and/or a good slogan and send it to us by midnight, November 28. The winner receives a $100 gift card to Best Buy and two finished T-shirts. (Yeah!)  Second and third place receive a $25 Best Buy gift card and one finished T-shirt. (Yeah!!)

Ground Rules

  • Use the KCP logo and words KCP somewhere on the design.
  • Three colors maximum. Black counts as a color. We will silk screen to a light color shirt.
  • The shirt should be something that someone would want to wear—in other words, aesthetically pleasing.
  • Your design is for the front only of the shirt.
  • Your design and/or slogan must be wholly original. By submitting a design you are guaranteeing that you hold rights to everything in it, and that it does not contain any copyright material. This is really important.
  • If we receive two or more similar designs, we will accept only the first one submitted for judging.

Specs

  • Send a PDF to kcpjapanese@gmail.com. Be sure to include your name.
  • Your design must fit within a 12-in. by 12-in. area.
  • The PDF file you send should be no larger than 5MB. If you win we may ask you for the high resolution files (if available).


Agreement

  • You must be 18 years or older to submit. If you’re younger you can still make a design, but it must be submitted on your behalf by a parent or guardian.
  • Any submitted design becomes the property of KCP. KCP will have all rights to the winning design. By submitting you agree that if your design wins, it can be used by KCP on a T-shirt and other promotional items.
  • We reserve the right to make adjustments to the winning design.
  • You must submit your design (or slogan) by midnight Saturday, November 28.
  • Entries will be judged by staff of KCP.
  • By submitting you are agreeing to all contest rules.

Posted in Events | Leave a Comment »