American Indians' and Ainu's Traditional Music !!

by Kazu

An Andean Music performance group Apurunasu made of the citizens of Shiraoi Town, mainly the members of the NPO Utekanpa that arranged the total event with Hokkaido International Exchange and Cooperation Center, played some Andean tunes. 

After that, the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu group performed their traditional dance on the stage. I am not sure how deep and wide their history and culture were understood by the people of foreign countries. 

The audience on the floor were invited and jumped on the stage. They seemed to be enjoying the traditional dancing   of Ainu people. I wish I could see the foreign residents joined the dancing on the stage.

 

Spanish Language and Japanese Traditional Attire !

by Kazu

Two kids were learning Spanish language with the native speaker of the language. I was a little bit surprised at the variety of human resources involved in the festival in Shiraoi Town. 

Dimple art like stained glass was also popular in the event. The public hall in Shiraoi Town was filled up with the citizens and performers on that day. The announcement and public relations seemed to be successful to a certain extent.

Some local journalists were asking some questions to the guides of Japanese traditional attire Kimono experience and a visitor seemed to have itchy feet to talk to the ladies with Kimono attires. 

 

Ainu Attire Experience and Vietnamese Language !

by Kazu

Trying on the traditional clothing of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu was not only for the foreign citizens in Shiraoi but also for the Japanese local citizens of Shiraoi Town and adjacent cities and towns.

Introducing Vietnamese culture by showing photos of the cities, people and cuisine, Vietnamese friends kindly explained their customs and favorites in their country.

One of the performers on the stage, acoustic guitarist Mr. Kado dropped by the Vietnamese corner after his performance and asked about Vietnam to the volunteer from the country. 

 

The Intercultural Exchange in Shiraoi Town !

by Kazu

Mr. Takaya Michishita a teacher of Shiraoi Sakae High School played a base guitar on the stage. The students of his class cheered him up and took photos at the front row of the floor. 

On the second floor of Shiraoi Public Hall, various kinds of attractions to deepen and widen the understandings of each culture and customs were carried out by the citizens and expatriates. 

For the foreigners, Japanese calligraphy, trying on Japanese traditional attire Kimono, trying on the traditional clothing of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu, hand-sign language lesson were arranged and for Japanese citizens, Spanish language lesson and Vietnamese culture lesson were conducted.   

 

Youths !

by Kazu

The active performance by the students of Shiraoi Sakae High School Dance Club was well-arranged and -organized. They did a good job to cheer up the festival, I thought.                                                                    

An acourstic guitar play by a professional guitarist Mr. Kado who had did his concert in Sapporo the day before. He was asked to drop by and took part in the festival as a performer. 

After the classical guitar performance, the hip hop dancers named "No Style" jumped up on the stage and started their casual and active dance.  They also took their parents and relatives to show the result of their efforts in usual. 

 

Shiraoi Sakae High School !

by Kazu

The autumnal festival held in Shiraoi Town must be international to rebuild the community with the friends from overseas such as the technical international trainees, highly skilled workers and expatriates from southeast Asia and other regions on this globe.

The event started at eleven in the morning and no alcoholic drinks were served and sold in the venue but we could savor the typical cuisine o Jamaica, Vietnam and Japan. Such kind of local festival conducted by the community may be having tough time regarding to the performers, financial burden and members of the executive committee to carry out the duties. 

The students of Shiraoi Sakae High School kept on dancing for more than thirty minutes and entertained the audience so much. It was raining outside. It might be an appropriate date to have such event.

 

Turkey, Japanese High School and ???

by Kazu

Many citizens of Shiraoi Town and adjacent cities and towns got together to enjoy the international attraction of the event and cuisine such as Jamaican, Vietnamese and Japanese ones. 

Next to the Turkish belly dance, Sakake High School students performed their modern arranged dance on the stage. Their families sat on the front row and took photos and movie film.

Their young and active dance made a big blast on the stage. Their families and other audience really enjoyed the local power of the youths so much. Such voluntary activities support their community and autonomy.

 

Rebuild the Community with Foreign residents !

by Kazu

The Shiraoi "Chuku" (Autumn) Festival got started with "belly dance" by the group chaired by Ms. El Ibury Kumiko. I did not expect such Turkish taste in Shiraoi Town but they showed us so attractive and fascinating performance. It was a good and surpising start for me.

I am not sure whether the typical move of belly dance keep their bodies fit or their other exercise to keep the beauty of their belly maintains the shape. Anyway, they played the important role to make the festival successful.

It was not so cold on that day. So they could do their performance without stomach or intestinal ache caused by cooling down their belly. Keeping on dancing for thirty minutes must be so tough and exhausting even for them. I really appreciate their regular practice and efforts.   

 

International Autumn Festival in Shiraoi Town, 2024 !

by Kazu

In cooperation of Shiraoi Town, the Board of Education in SHiraoi, Shiraoi Tourism Association, Shiraoi Chambers and Commerce and Industry, Shiraoi Ainu Association, Shiraoi Physical Education Association, Shiraoi Welfare Association, the Japan-China Association in Hokkaido, PPO Utekanpa and Hokkaido International  Exchange and Cooperation Center carried out Shiraoi "Chuku" Festival 2024.    

"Chuku" means autumn in the language of the indigenous people of Hokkaido Ainu. So, it was Autumn Festival in Shiraoi Town. One of the most important purposes of the event was to deepen and widen the mutual understandings between the expatriates in the town and local residents.

The opening call was made by the friends from China and Vietnam. They were involved in the steering committee from the scratch to rebuild the community with the technical international trainees and highly skilled workers from overseas.

Festiva

 

Autumn in Sapporo, 2024 !

by Kazu

When we visited North 13th Street of Hokkaido University in the evening, the lighting up arrangement was terrible and awkward, to be honest. Various colors of lighting spoiled the beauty of gingko biloba so badly, to be honest.

Soon the awkward lighting was halted and the beauty of the yellow gingko came back to stay. The name of the festival is "Konyouusai" which means "golden Leaves Festival. We do not need purple, pink and green lighting at all. 

The next morning of the festival, the North 13th Street had already cleaned up so nicely. No trash and cans could be seen on the pavement. The arranger of the festival seemed to have done a good job.

 

The Wine Laboratory in Hokkaido University !

by Kazu

Some maple trees add the accents to the total beauty of the autumnal foliage on the premises of Hokkaido University. I love this red color like what I saw in Ottawa, Ontario and Quebec City, Quebec, Canada.

Every year, I wonder why and how the maple trees create such beautiful red color like other kinds of trees do yellow and purple. They may be cheering us up to overcome the coldness of white winter.

Besides, I heard that the Faculty of Agriculture of Hokkaido University set up the Wine Laboratory to enhance the wine brewery in Hokkaido including its research and development of technologies. This is the center of the labo. in the university. It's made of Sapporo Soft Stones mainly used for building warehouse and condominiums.