Date & Time: Friday, 6 October, 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
Visitors: Four Americans, including John, Vicki (his wife), Alyssa (their niece), and John Jr. (their son) who joined along the way.
Spots: Yokohama Motomachi, Yamate area, Yokohama Chinatown, and Yokohama Doll Museum
Guides: Two KSGG members, Michiko & Noriko
Language: English

The first leg of this tour was the area of Yokohama Yamate Western-style old buildings in a former foreign settlement, deeply connected to the history of the opening of Yokohama Port. These buildings convey the lifestyle of old days, and a lot of tourists visit there for retro-cool and fancy airs. There are a total of seven buildings open to the public without reservation or charge.

It was the finest and most comfortable day ever, one of the attendants supposed. The three Americans started to walk around the Yamate area. Their great love for animals was extremely surprising to the attendants. Anytime they came across a dog, they unexceptionally patted its head, held its paws, and hugged it. Every dog laid on its back pleasantly. Their activities seemed to be a most ideal type of communication without the use of language.

When John went to the Bluff 80 Memorial Terrace, the remains of a residence ruined by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923, he talked to us about the experience of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011 during which he was staying in Kyoto. The memorial terrace is behind Ehrismann Residence, one of the seven buildings.

The tour group had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant in Yokohama Chinatown for animal loving Alyssa was reluctant to eat meat.

Next spot of the tour after lunch was Yokohama Doll Museum, which houses a collection of more than 10,000 dolls from over 100 countries and territories, and you feel like cruising to explore dolls worldwide in the museum. It was unexpected that the museum was the place where the tourists took photos most. They looked fascinated by sophisticated Japanese dolls made in old days from the 17th century to the 19th century.

Then John Jr. joined the tour outside the museum. When John Jr. was asked why he had signed up for the tour of the Yamate Western-style old buildings area, he replied that he wanted his parents to understand a traditional Japanese culture as well as a westernized culture in Japan after the Meiji period. And he said, “I came to Japan to study at a Japanese university 10 years ago, and I am now teaching English in Japan. I have been engaged to a Japanese woman.”

The visitors were warm-hearted, and the attendants had amusing conversations. One of the attendants expressed the impression that this guide experience gave them good tips on how to guide foreigners around the Yamate area.

Date & Time: Saturday, August 12, 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Visitors: 12 Australians in their 70s, who are passengers from the cruise ship “Spectrum of the Seas”
Spots: Yokohama Marine Tower, Yokohama Hammerhead pier, and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse
Attendants: Four KSGG members
Language: English
Report by Akiko

I took 12 senior cruise ship passengers on sightseeing tour in Yokohama.
To avoid heat, I selected three locations: Yokohama Marine Tower, Yokohama Hammerhead*, where they could have ramen they requested for lunch, and Yokohama Red Brick Warehouse as our destinations, and we took “Akai Kutsu,” a retro-style sightseeing tour bus, by using “Minato Burari Ticket,” a one-day pass for unlimited rides within the designated area.

The visitors were Chinese descents residing in Australia, with their ethnic background from Hongkong, Taiwan, and Malaysia. While they communicated with us in English, they conversed with each other in Chinese.

They were incredibly open and friendly from the moment I met them at the bus terminal at Yamashita Pier, which eased our tension.

One thing I found regrettable was the coordinator and his wife, with whom I had been contacted to arrange today’s schedule, were suddenly unable to join this event due to some urgent reasons. They said that the couple was very disappointed not to be able to attend this tour.

First, the visitors walked to Yokohama Marin Tower. They took a group photo in front of the mosaic mural fresco created by Kiyoshi Yamashita, a famous Japanese painter, which located at the back of the entrance. After that, I provided a brief history about the opening of Yokohama Port, Yokohama’s Three Towers, and so on. Then, everyone climbed up to the tower’s observation deck and enjoyed the spectacular view from it. Pointing their finger at their cruise ship “Spectrum of the Seas” anchored at Daikoku Pier over the Bay Bridge, they enjoyed lively conversation each other.
After spending about 30 minutes at the observation deck, we got on the “Akai Kutsu” bus and headed directly to Yokohama Hammerhead pier.

At Hammerhead, we all went up to the second floor, stepped out onto the deck, and took group photos with the Port of Yokohama Hammerhead Crane in the background. I explained the history of Hammerhead pier and significance of the Crane. Then, they had ramen, which they had been looking forward to having for lunch, at Hammerhead’s “Ramen Food Hall.” Everyone commented “Japanese ramen is so delicious.”

We also reached our final destination, Red Brick Warehouse, using the “Akai Kutsu” bus. This area was for the venue for Pokemon World Convention, so it was bustling with people. One of the visitors took photos of large outdoor Pikachu balloon as a souvenir for her grandkids.
On the way back on the bus, one of the visitors who loves Karaoke, sang some of his favorite karaoke songs in a low voice. Our tour had been lively and full of conversation.

When it was time to say good-bye, the visitors kindly presented us lovely cloth towels featuring Australian pattern as a token of their appreciation. We took many photos together and missed each other until 3 p.m. when their shuttle bus to Daikoku Pier departed. The Australians had a big smile on their faces, we, the guides, also had a truly heartwarming experience with them.

After the tour, they sent us the following thank-you text messaging via WhatsApp.
“Miyako, Toyo, Akiko & Katsumi thank you for your excellent guidance and above all your cheerfulness made the tour very enjoyable. If any of you visit Melbourne, please contact me. Look forward to see you in Melbourne. Goodbye for now.”

*Yokohama Hammerhead : a commercial facility adjacent to the Port of Yokohama Hammerhead Crane, a historically valuable structure and a certified industrial relic by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan.

The Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata*1 Festival is a fantastic event held every year in July, captivating international students and trainees from around the world. This year, we divided approximately 50 participants into 16 groups for a guided tour. Among them were four students from China who were studying at universities in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Ms. T, Ms. L, and Ms. Q came to Japan last year, and Ms. X has stayed in Japan for three years. All of them were lively and enthusiastic, and proficient in the Japanese language. Before experiencing the Shonan Hiratsuka Tanabata Festival, we experienced Japanese culture. In the International Cultural Salon (ICES) held in Old Yokohama Rubber Hiratsuka Manufacturing Memorial Hall, the Yawata-yama Western-style building, we had the opportunity to engage in various hands-on activities. They tried Origami and Ms. Q, who is good at crafting Origami cranes, showed a special passion for washi paper. She was so happy to receive much washi paper. They all participated in the day’s workshop and made a souvenir. They crafted small kimono with Origami and pasted it on washi paper. After this cultural experience, I asked them what they liked most. Ms. L said she loved Kendama or cup and ball, Ms. T and Ms. Q enjoyed Ayatori (cat’s cradle), and Ms. X was captivated by Hasami Shogi (Scissor shogi) *2.

After enjoying Japanese culture, we head for Mitsukedai Park to enjoy the Tanabata decorations along Shonan Star Mall Street. Although they knew that Tanabata has its origin in Chinese legends, experiencing the Japanese Tanabata Festival for the first time filled them with joy. They marveled at the beauty of the event, especially after hearing about
the festival’s history and its growth in Hiratsuka: It started in 1951 to wish for the
reconstruction of the town after World War II. being modeled on the famous Tanabata Festival in Sendai; today the festival has grown into a major event in Hiratsuka that attracts over a million people. They were impressed to know that still now various groups are involved in this festival, creating unique hand-made Tanabata decorations.

We had planned to buy lunch from food stalls, but there were long queues everywhere on the street. In the end, we stood in a line with relatively fewer people and got to eat a “Jagabutter” (potato with butter) standing up. This, too, became a memorable experience.

On our way back, we admired Tanabata decorations themed NHK historical drama along Benitani Pearl Road. They shouted for joy to see the decorations of popular characters and took photos of them. Although we arrived at Hiratsuka Station, the visitors said, “We want to see the decorations to our hearts content once more because we had a very good time.” Then they came back to the crowded streets again by themselves.

Other visitors : “We enjoyed ourselves to have had opportunities to experience putting on yukata or cotton kimono for summer, making Origami, and learning Japanese calligraphy. We want to participated this kind of event if we have a chance.”

*1 Tanabata (Star Festival) is held on July 7th every year It is based on the Chinese folk legend, It is a love story for the Cowherd star and the Weaver star, who live in the opposite sides of the Milky Way, and they are allowed to meet only once a year. The moment would take place on the night of July 7th in the lunisolar calendar.
*2 Scissor shogi is a board game which you move your pieces to surround your opponent’s
pieces from both sides.

Date & Time: Sunday, June 25, (Part 1) 10:00 a.m.-12:20 p.m. (Part 2) 1:20 p.m.-3:40 p.m.
Place: Tsuzuki Minka-en, Folk House Garden
Participants: 19 international students at Yokohama National University and Tokyo Institute of Technology (five from Philippines, four from China, two each from Switzerland and India, one each from Indonesia, Mongolia, Germany, Sri Lanka, America, and Malaysia)
Attendants: 15 KSGG members
Languages: English and Japanese
Report by Fumie, KSGG

KSGG holds an annual event called “Yukata Kai” for international students. In this event, the students wear yukatas, (traditional Japanese summer kimono), then decorate strips of colored paper called tanzaku for Tanabata Star festival, enjoy Tanabata celebration and Japanese folk dances.
The weather is very worrisome issue for this event in the rainy season, but fortunately the sky was very clear all day long. The students chose their favorite patterns of yukata immediately after their arrivals. Those yukatas had been prepared by KSGG volunteers. Then the volunteers helped the students get dressed in yukata quickly. All of them in kimono looked very happy while chatting with each other: “I wore a kimono when I traveled in Kyoto,” “I was really looking forward to wearing a yukata.” After that, all of the students wrote their wishes on tanzakus in their own languages and hung them on the bamboo tree 　prepared by Minka-en staff. They had cut the bamboo tree in the grove behind the house and the KSGG volunteers had arranged their handmade decorations on the bamboo tree two days before the event. Brush type calligraphy pen is difficult even for Japanese people to use, however every student could use it very well. Afterwards, they listened with great interest to explanations in English and Japanese about the Tanabata festival and Japanese folk dance. Then they sang “Tanabata song” along to beautiful melody on the CD while looking at the hiragana lyrics cards. After singing “Tanabata song”, they went out into the garden for Japanese folk dance. The weather was fine but it was very humid. So right after dancing “Tokyo Ondo” only two times, everyone got drenched in sweat and had to take a 5-minute break to drink water. The second dance “Tanko-bushi” began in the shade, but everyone was sweating a lot again, so returned into the house to prevent heatstroke.
In the afternoon, as light cloud kept sun out, we could dance both “Tokyo Ondo” and “Tanko-bushi” twice. They enjoyed the Japanese folk dances with smiling and were attracted by the unique movement. While dancing “Tanko-bushi” they were chanting “Dig, Dig (scoop up coals)”. Before taking off their yukatas, they went to the bamboo grove for taking photos as well as Otsuka-Saikachido Relics Park. For keeping the event on schedule, KSGG volunteers accompanied with each small group of the students. In spite of the very short tour for 20 minutes, KSGG volunteers also had great chance to communicate with the students. After changing their clothes, they expressed their impressions of this event: “I am happy to wear a yukata,” “the Tanabata decorations is fun” “the folk dance is interesting,” and “it was a very valuable experience for me to learn about Japanese culture.” This “Yukata Kai” was well-received by the students and great successful.

Following are “Thank you messages” from the students.
1）Thank you very much for inviting me to the Yukata event today. I had a wonderful time there with all the friendly KSGG members and fellow tutees. I had lots of fun singing and dancing and also wearing Yukata was a unique experience for me. I am very grateful for KSGG for organizing sure a wonderful event. I look forward to participating in other KSGG events in the future. Thank you very much again.
2) I really enjoyed this event. When I first met KSGG members wearing yukata at the station, I felt sure that today’s event would be so fantastic. I felt grateful that the volunteers helped me change into yukata. As one of us mentioned, it is difficult to tie the obi on the back of the yukata. It is amazing that the volunteers are able to tie it so beautifully. And now I am very interested in Japanese history and culture. So, I am happy to have experiences including writing my wishes, decorating bamboo branches, and joining Japanese folk dances. I also learned a lot from the volunteers when we went to Otsuka-Saikachido Relics Park. It was definitely productive day.

Report by Hiroko

Kamakura Festival, one of the biggest events in Kamakura, was held on the day when Felix and Marina visited Kamakura. Kamakura is an ancient city with history and tradition. Around Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the symbol of Kamakura, this annual spring festival is held in April, with such events as Shizu no Mai(dancing), Yabusame (horseback archery by samurai warriors), and Nodate (tea ceremony in the open air). Because of this festival, Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine was so crowded.

When Felix and Marina looked toward the main street after visiting the shrine, they luckily happened to see Shutsujin-Sai, a samurai procession in armor, walking along Dankazura (approach to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine). As they had been looking forward to seeing the samurai procession among all the events of the festival, they exclaimed with delight, “Amazing!” They ran after the samurai procession, pushing through the crowds to take photos of the procession. I, their guide, ran after Felix and Marina so hard not to lose sight of them. When all the samurai warriors went up on the Maiden stage in the precincts of Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Felix and Marina stood right in front of them and looked up at Mayor of Kamakura City in a samurai costume who made a speech.

In the afternoon, Felix, Marina, and I went to Hasedera Temple. Before seeing “Eleven-Headed Kannon,” I explained about the legend of the statue of Kannon (the Goddess of Mercy) at Hasedera Temple. When they saw “Eleven-Headed Kannon” for themselves, they were really impressed. Then the visitors and I went up a walking path named Prospect Path and enjoyed the view of the Sagami Bay to our hearts’ content.

Next, we went to Kotoku-in Temple. Marina, who is learning Yoga, sat on the foundation stone in the same posture as the Great Buddha, which surprised people around her. Later, strolling along the street, we reached Yuigahama Beach, where we saw the blue and calm sea to find that it was already 6:00 p.m. As a guide I had such a good day with cheerful and curious visitors that I forgot the passage of time.

Chiharu, a KSGG member, introduced Japanese tea ceremony and matcha (powdered green tea) to the participants. Some participants came to Japan only a few weeks ago; others joined from other prefectures. Chiharu also explained the main purpose of the tea ceremony. The most important spirit of Japanese tea ceremony is Wa-kei-sei-jaku, representing harmony, dignity, purity, and tranquility. Based on this spirit, the tea time host and the guest respect each other and spend the tea time in a harmonious manner as if it were like a once-in-a-lifetime-chance.

After giving the tea ceremony explanation, the KSGG member introduced matcha. She explained how to brew matcha, the difference between how to drink strong matcha and thin matcha, sweets using matcha, and the difference between matcha, green tea, and black tea. These three kinds of tea are made from the same tea tree. The picked tea leaves turn green with high-pressure steam. These green leaves are ground into powder, and it is called matcha. Black tea is made by fermenting tea leaves.

After explaining the tea ceremony, the KSGG member introduced matcha. She talked about how to brew matcha, the difference between how to drink strong matcha and thin matcha, sweets using matcha, and the difference between matcha, green tea, and black tea. These three kinds of tea are made from the same tea tree. The picked tea leaves turn green with high-pressure steam. These green leaves are ground into powder, and it is called matcha. Black tea is made by fermenting tea leaves. After the introductions, the participants were divided into small groups of three to five people. In each group, they gave their impressions one after another. Those who had drunk matcha were so interested in the powdered green tea and said opinions one after another, like “Matcha is a bitter drink for adults and good for health,” “I want to eat matcha curry!” “Matcha milk is sweet and easy to get,” “If you go to Kotoku-in temple** in Kamakura, try the matcha ice cream which the former President Obama liked.”

The participants expressed the following positive impressions of the networking event:“It was fun to learn about Japanese culture through the tea ceremony”, and “I didn’t have an opportunity to use Japanese in the daily life, so I enjoyed chatting in Japanese today.” They seemed to enjoy the event.

* 29 foreign students and workers including Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Tokyo/Yokohama participants, four from China, three each from Vietnam, Uganda, and Zambia, two from Thailand, and one each from Honduras, Malaysia, Cameroon, Papua New Guinea, Kenya, Laos, Solomon Islands, Rwanda, Liberia, Tanzania, Taiwan, Ghana, Nigeria, Pakistan, and one each of JICA Tokyo and Yokohama employee
** Kotoku-in temple is famous for the Great Buddha.

Kamakura used to be the ancient capital of the Kamakura Bakufu Government¹ founded by bushi (samurai warriors) about 820 years ago. In this Kamakura, there is a place named Kamaraku Bushi Taiken Dokoro, where you can learn the history and culture of Kamakura and cosplay the bushi at that time with rental costumes. It is located near Shonan-Fukasawa Station on the Shonan Monorail (in five minutes from Ofuna Station, which is connected with JR Ofuna Station, or in nine minutes from Shonan Enoshima Station).

We five KSGG members visited there and experienced the cosplay of bushi.

The visitors of Kamakura Bushi Taiken Dokoro (cosplay place) can choose any costume among those of generals, adjutant generals, armed priests, shirabyoshi (female entertainers)² and girl travelers. All the costumes are hand-made and re-created authentically.

I was surprised to know the fact that a suit of armor had not been made of iron. In the Kamakura period, a suit of armor was made of leather. It weighed about 5 kilograms, with Japanese lacquer coated on it. It was more lightweight than we had thought. I thought it should be when I was explained that bushi had to move easily in a suit of armor in the battlefield.

What impressed me most was the generals’ suits of armor. Among various suits of armor, there are copies of the suits of armor named Hachiryo no Yoroi³, a national treasure. The visitors can choose any one they like.

Our cosplays of feudal lords were as below. At the very beginning, the five of us were put on the kimonos of feudal lord; then each of us put on an armor and a helmet on the kimono. It was exciting to see ourselves changing into the feudal lords in suits of armor. We began to act a swordplay scene as if we had been real feudal lords.

The visitors in cosplay can walk around Kamakura and experience Japanese archery. Cosplayers can also experience yabusame (shooting arrows on horseback) outside.

As we were embarrassed to get on a train to go outside in that bushi cosplay, the five of us experienced Japanese art of archery inside the cosplay place.

I really want to introduce the joyful cosplay to the foreigners living in Japan and foreign tourists.

¹Kamakura Bakufu Government or the Kamakura period (1185-1333)

² Shirabyoshi were female entertainers in the Heian period (794-1185) and the Kamakura period. They sang songs and performed dances, dressing like men, for the nobility. The best-known shirabyoshi in the Kamakura period is Shizuka  Gozen. She was a lover of Minamoto no Yoshitsune, the younger brother of Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Shogun of the Kamakura Bakufu Government.

³There is a legend that eight kinds of suits of armor were inherited in the Genji Clan. (Genji means the Minamoto Clan.)

Four participants who were taking training courses at JICA Yokohama, joined in a furoshiki workshop hosted by KSGG to wrap things with a big and square cloth. Since the workshop was held on Friday, it started at 6:00 p.m. after their regular JICA training courses. First, we started with an overview of the history of furoshiki, and its various wrapping methods. After that, we introduced how to wrap items with a furoshiki by a method called Hon-musubi*1. With this basic method, the items can be unwrapped easily. The participants who tried and succeeded in wrapping and unwrapping a furoshiki shouted with joy.
We also introduced three other wrapping methods: wrapping a square box, a bottle, and a spherical object such as a watermelon. All the participants enthusiastically looked at our demonstration and tried each wrapping method.
Some of the participants asked us to introduce how to carry items on their back with a furoshiki. We showed them the wrapping method they requested. One of them who tried this method managed to make the bag with it. He showed a big smile and pretended to go out with the bag.
Since the left and right sides of the screen images are reversed when working with Zoom, this was complicated for them. We changed the position of the camera so that they could see the instructor’s hands from the same direction. This workshop was successfully held thanks to the instruction document sent to them in advance. At the end of the activity, everyone seemed to be contented with the training.

*1 One of the names of how to bind the rope. Hon-musubi is the Japanese name for the reef knot or square knot.

Report by Shintaro
My mission this time was an online tour guiding for Tom, an Englishman in the UK. I showed him around the must-see spots in Kamakura: Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine, Hasedera Temple, and Kotokuin Temple using Zoom.

When I tried to get in touch with him by email beforehand, he didn’t reply to me at all. Then I sent him my WhatsApp ID because I thought he would be able to respond to me through WhatsApp. I did so because of my previous guiding experience. As I expected, he immediately texted me back. And after that, we were able to communicate smoothly. Since then, we enjoyed casual and lively conversations almost every day, though sometimes I received messages from him just before going to bed because of 9-hour time difference between the UK and Japan.

Tom is in his thirties and works for a telecommunication company. I felt an affinity with him because I had a similar job. As I heard he has been studying Japanese by himself, we tried to communicate in Japanese and English via WhatsApp, and I also guided him in making full use of both languages. He told me he had been to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Hiroshima, and Hokkaido in wintertime. Unfortunately, I have never entered the UK, though I once landed at Heathrow Airport just for a flight connection. I told him so, asking him if he will show me around London when I visit the UK in the near future. Then he answered cheerfully, “Why not? Shintaro, I’ll be your guide for sure!” I had a very fun time with Tom, a nice guy and a real gentleman.

International students who have not been able to come to Japan yet due to Covid 19, participated in an online class on furoshiki wrapping.
First, we instructors explained the outline of furosiki, such as its history, material, and size. After that, the students learned how to wrap a furoshiki by a method called Hon-musubi. *2 With this basic method, you can wrap items tightly and easily unwrap them when unwrapping. Initially, the instructors used a string that was easier to wrap than a furoshiki.
The participants were divided into small groups and tried hon-musubi for 10 minutes. Most students used bandanas or scarves instead of furoshiki.
Those who attempted to use a thick blanket somehow managed to wrap in the hon-musubi style well. The students seemed enjoyed very much the training session of furoshiki wrapping.
Finally, all the participants returned to one room together. We demonstrated other wrapping methods; the first one was to wrap round items like a ball, and the second was to wrap lengthy objects such as a single or two bottles. Some students enjoyed wrapping items by themselves while looking at the screen. When those students visit Japan, we hope they will use furoshiki that can wrap everything in their life in Japan.

*1 Futosiki are traditional Japanese wrapping cloths traditionally used to wrap and to transport goods.
*2 One of the names of how to bind the rope. Hon-musubi is the Japanese name for the reef not or square not.