The 2nd Fukushima “Bar” will be held from noon on Saturday, May 12 with the participation of 75 food/drink establishments around Hanshin Fukushima Station, JR Loop Line Noda Station, and JR Tozai Line Shin-Fukushima Station. This event has been organized by the Genki na Omise-Souzouiinkai (Lively Food/drink Establishments Creation Committee), which aims for regional revitalization. 　　　
　
　Purchasing 5-ticket “Bar” sheet (advance price: 3,000 yen per sheet, at the door: 3,500 yen per sheet *Individual tickets will be sold for 700 yen each on the day of the event only), visitors can use one ticket to enjoy an original “Bar” special menu item and one drink from each establishment among the participating French, Italian, Japanese, and yakitori (skewered and grilled chicken) restaurants izakaya (Japanese-style taverns), etc.
　
　Furthermore, information on participating food/drink establishments and their original “Bar” menu items are introduced at the website below. Visitors can choose restaurants from the website prior to the event, and on the day of the event they can also enjoy walking around the town of Fukushima while searching for the restaurants they’d like with the map in hand of participating food/drink establishments.

　What’s good about this event for visitors is to be able to casually visit food/drink establishments they might tend to avoid, and to find new restaurants, pubs, and bars. At the same time, this will provide excellent opportunities for participating establishments to acquire new customers.

　The Kyoto Takigi-noh, an annual popular event in Kyoto, will be held once again to add color to early summer in Kyoto. Celebrating its 63rd anniversary this year, the event will feature performances of Kanze- and Kongoh-style noh plays and Okura-style kyogen plays, and will be held in Heian Jingu Shrine, with a background of the greenery of the Higashiyama mountains and the vermilion color of the outer hall of worship. Fully enjoy a world of delicate beauty illuminated by the flickering bonfire.

1. Date　:　Thursday, May 31, & Friday, June 1, 2012
　　　　　　　 5:30 p.m. – approx. 8:45 p.m. both days
　　　　　　*　Doors will open at 4:30 p.m.
　　　　　　*　In case of rain, rescheduled to the following day

2. Place　:　Heian Jingu Shrine (Okazaki Nishitenno-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City)

3. Program:
(1) First day
　　　　　　　Kanze-style noh play “Yoshinoshizuka”,
　　　　　　　Kongoh style noh play “Kiyotsune”,
　　　　　　　Okura-style kyogenplay “Kuchimane”, Kanze-　　　
　　　　　　　style noh play “Kuramatengu”

(2) Second day
　　　　　　　Kongoh-style noh play “Ataka”, Kanze　style　
　　　　　　　noh play “Futarishizuka”, Okura-style kyogen play “Kouji”,
　　　　　　　Kanze-style noh play “Ikarikazuki”

4. Seating capacity: 2,000 each day

5. Fee 　 :　
Advance ticket: 3,000 yen, Day ticket: 4,000 yen
　　　　　　　Discounted group advance ticket (for parties of at least 15
　　　　　　　members): 2,700 yen/person

6. Advance ticket sales: Currently sold at
Heian Jingu Shrine,
　　　　　　　Takashimaya Department Store (Kyoto Branch),
　　　　　　　Daimaru Department Store (Kyoto Branch),
　　　　　　　Kyoto Tourist Information Center,
　　　　　　　E-Ticket Pia, and Lawson Ticket

7. Inquiries :　Secretariat for Kyoto Takigi-noh
　　　　　　　Phone:075-761-5251(10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., open irregularly)

　The Kobe Marathon, under the theme “Thanks and Friendship,” was held for the first time last year in the city of Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture-- a city which, though severely damaged in the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake 17 years ago, achieved a creative recovery. In the 1st marathon, 22,394 runners came together from Japan and overseas, including areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, and finished the race and shared the excitement with supporters along the route, volunteers, staff members and others concerned.

　This year’s Kobe Marathon, the second such event, will be held on Sunday, November 25. The event is inviting a total of 20,000 runners, 18,000 to the full marathon and 2,000 to the quarter marathon, and is accepting applications until Monday, May 21.

　While the Kobe Marathon Friendship Bank, which supports disaster-stricken areas both in Japan and overseas by providing human, material and financial aid, will be improved, programs to entertain runners, which were well received last year, will continue to be implemented, such as the “Booth for School Lunches Associated with Hyogo-Kobe,” “Jazz & Sweets” from Kobe and “Picture Letter Support Messages from Elementary School Students.”

　How about running through the city of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture, feeling the pleasant sea breeze, and encouraged by strong cheering? The application guidelines can be accessed at http://www.kobe-marathon.net/english/.

Inquiries: Secretariat for the Kobe Marathon Executive Committee
Phone: 078-325-1430 Fax: 078-321-0072
Kobe Marathon Entry Center
Phone: 06-6445-3323
Office hours: 10:00 – 17:00 (except Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays)

　Under the theme, “Yukinaga Konishi ,” a Samurai in the Warring States period related to Sakai, the Spring Special Viewing of Sakai City’s Cultural Properties will be held for five days from May 23 to 27.

　Yukinaga Konishi has been shrouded in the mists of history despite his many-sided career as a warrior in the navy of the great shogun Hideyoshi Toyotomi , playing an important role in Hideyoshi’s unification of Japan and his invasion of Korea, as well as his own defeat as a commander in the Battle of Sekigahara and a Christian feudal lord.

　At this event, shrines and temples, as well as cultural properties related to Yukinaga and associated Samurais in the Warring States period in Japan will be open to the public, manifesting the relationship between the town of Sakai and Yukinaga.

　A major feature of this project will be Sugawara Shrine, which preserves a pine tree that Yukinaga brought back from the Korean War and directly planted where it now grows. At Myokokuji Temple a treasured sword will be on public display that was also brought back from Korea and offered to the temple by Kiyomasa Kato , known as an enthusiastic Nichiren Buddhist and a lord of Higo Province (present-day Kumamoto Prefecture) along with Yukinaga.

　In addition an on-the-spot exhibition related to Yukinaga Konishi will be simultaneously held at the Sakai City Museum. The exhibits will include a privately owned item, “Shibokawazutsumi Doumarugusoku—a suit of grained leather armor said to have been used by Yukinaga Konishi ”— and “Yukinaga Konishi’s letter.” Also planned are historical and cultural lectures, mini guided tours by volunteer tourist guides, the public showing of traditional town houses organized by the Sakai Nanamachi Machiya Association, and various events held in Rikyu Square, as well as “Hotel Lunch Plans” limited to the special viewing period, a public showing of traditional techniques, and a tasting of Japanese sweets from Sakai.

　Furthermore, during the two days of May 26 and 27, the “Free Loop Bus for Special Viewing of Cultural Properties” service will be provided.
Taking this opportunity, please visit Sakai and directly experience the depth of its history and attractiveness of its cultural properties.

■ Time:
　9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. (last admission: 4:00 p.m.)
■ Locations:
　Nanshuji Temple, Myokokuji Temple, Daianji Temple,
　Sugawara Shrine, Aguchi Shrine, Honjuji Temple, Former site of Konishi 　
　Yukinaga’s residence, Former site of Sennorikyu’s residence
■ Fee
　Adults: 400 yen/facility, Elementary and junior high school students: 200 　
　yen/facility
　Combination ticket (pass): 900 yen
　(with a 3-facility combo ticket for the Sakai City Museum, and the Machiya 　　History Museum “Yamaguchi Residence” and “Seigakuin”)

　Very few people would object to Osaka’s top three symbols being Osaka Castle, the Hanshin Tigers, and Tsutenkaku Tower. Among these, Tsutenkaku Tower seems to have become widely known nationwide, with the “B-class gourmet” fever these days, as a sacred place for a local popular food, kushikatsu (deep-fried skewered pork and spring onion). Celebrating its centennial anniversary this year, the tower is now heading for its bicentennial celebration.

　The current steel tower, completed in 1956, is the second structure built here. Although its height is only 100 m, a mere one sixth that of the Tokyo Sky Tree, its history dates back to the Meiji period. It was 1912 when the 75 m-high first Tsutenkaku Tower was built by reproducing the Arc de Triomphe and the Eiffel Tower in Paris on the former site of the 5th Domestic Industrial Exposition, held in Osaka in 1903. Despite its unique design—a steel tower resembling the Eiffel Tower erected on a building like the Arc de Triomphe—the first Tsutenkaku Tower boasted being the highest tower in the East in those days. Although many photographic records of this first tower remain, it was dismantled in 1943 during World War II so its steel tower parts could be used for the war efforts.

　It’s now been over half a century since the Tsutenkaku Tower’s renovation in the Showa period. During this time, the 333 m-Tokyo Tower was completed (in 1958), and this year, which marks the centennial of the completion of the first Tsutenkaku Tower, the 634 m-Tokyo Sky Tree will soon open. The tower in Osaka, a steel structure commanding an urban view from as high as a high-rise building, now ranks just 69th in height among “towers” in Japan, including the bridge piers of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge.

　Still, Tsutenkaku Tower resembles the Eiffel Tower most when we look at its purpose. In other words, although many towers, including Tokyo Sky Tree, are radio towers, elevator-testing towers, or bridge piers, and constructed for their respective specific functions, the steel framework of Tsutenkaku Tower itself is a monument like the Eiffel Tower, which was completed in 1889.
　
　Despite objections against the eccentric design of the first tower when it was constructed, Tsutenkaku Tower, like the Eiffel Tower, which has become a part of Paris, has merged into the local landscape and has appeared in TV dramas, literary works and popular songs as part of the “natural” landscape of Osaka.

　Kansai is also dotted with other towers for sightseeing, such as Port Tower in Kobe Port, and Kyoto Tower, which stands atop the Kyoto Tower Building located across from Kyoto Station. Among these towers, Tsutenkaku Tower exists in a class by itself, and is popular not only in Osaka but also throughout Japan as a symbol of the Kansai region.

　Actually, Tsutenkaku Tower was built as part of an amusement park called “Luna Park.” With this park as its core, the local area became a hub of playhouses and movie theaters, and developed into a large entertainment district called “Shinsekai.” Although the current Tsutenkaku Tower is the second such tower, the local community that houses more than 200 food and drink establishments, including kushikatsu restaurants, established the Executive Committee of the Centennial Anniversary of Shinsekai and has developed various events through which the whole community aims to revitalize the local area in preparation for the “Shinsekai 100-year Anniversary Festival” on July 28 and 29.

　Shinsekai is a town that still retains an atmosphere of the Showa period, but has so far given the impression of being a town of “ossan” (rude slang for middle-aged men). However, with a rapid increase in the number of tourists and local young people, the members of the executive committee said that “Shinsekai is changing.” They said that they are reviewing their concrete ideas for the festival, such as how they should reflect the real situation of the town at the festivities.

　For some reason, it seems to be human nature to admire high structures. In one legend, the Tower of Babel is said to have been destroyed by God because it was tall enough to reach up to Heaven. Tsutenkaku Tower, from which we can look down a little at the town and the local area are packed with people’s affection for the tower, which cannot be replaced with merely an admiration for high structures. There is also an unexpected urban legend. Although Tsutenkaku Tower is famous for the advertising “HITACHI” on its side, this came about because Matsushita Electric Industrial Company (present-day Panasonic), a local Osaka electrical manufacturer that was the first to be asked about advertising, is said to have declined the offer. Konosuke Matsushita, Panasonic’s late founder known as a “god of management,” is said to have bitterly regretted it. I don’t know if this is true, but I believe that this urban legend is very suitable for Tsutenkaku Tower. (Tahara)

　Kyoto is the birthplace of Japanese culture, including the tea ceremony, ikebana, and kabuki and noh theater. There are also many World Heritage Sites and historical buildings in Kyoto. On the other hand, Kyoto is also home to companies in cutting-edge fields such as semiconductors and electronics including Kyocera and Omron, making it a fascinating city where ancient streets and advanced industry co-exist. Due to this unique appeal, Kyoto not only welcomes many domestic and international tourists, but also draws a large number of international students from all over the world.

　Currently, rapid cultural and economic globalization has led to intense competition throughout the world to secure high-caliber international students and human resources. Kyoto Prefecture is developing a thorough system for welcoming international students based on its Future International Exchange Promotion Plan, in coordination with the national plan to attract 300,000 international students. In concrete terms, Kyoto aims to increase the number of international students to 10,000 within 10 years. Universities, the business sector, and local government are working together to provide consistent support to international students, from the application process and arrival to finding employment afterwards.

　On March 23, 2012, Kyoto Prefecture opened the Kyoto International Student House, a dormitory for international students, in Kami-gyo ward of Kyoto City. The facility provides an environment where students can feel comfortable and work hard at their studies.
　
　We also provide programs for students to expand their outlook and gain a deeper understanding of Kyoto. For example, at the annual International Student Sports Festival, students from many countries gather to compete in various events and get to know each other. In addition, the governor of Kyoto Prefecture appoints selected international students as Kyoto Prefecture Friendship Ambassadors, who serve as a bridge between Kyoto and their home countries by giving talks at elementary and junior high schools introducing their home countries, participating in international exchange events, and more.

　Additionally, students interested in pursuing employment in Kyoto after graduating can go to the Kyoto Job Park facility for consultations. We match students and companies individually based on each student’s goals and circumstances, so that students can find a meaningful job. Also, at the Job Café for international students run by the Foreign Talent Utilization Council, a counselor is available six days a week, and consultations are offered in several languages on not only finding employment but also concerns that an international student may have about daily life.

　Kyoto Prefecture will continue striving to welcome international students to study and find an international career in Kyoto.

　Nara Prefecture recently opened on the premises of JR Nara Station “nara in the box,” a pilot shop designed to convey the attractiveness of agriculture, forests and food in a new public space recently renovated as part of the Elevated Railway Project for the JR Nara Station area.
　
　The shop offers an extensive range of attractive products, from traditional crafts to items of pop culture, that fully reflect the attractiveness of the prefecture. In the annex café, visitors can enjoy a casual French-style lunch or dinner cooked with agricultural products produced in the prefecture, such as Yamato vegetables and Yamato pork. In the future, the prefecture will actively hold PR events for this shop.

　With many Japan Rail Pass users getting on and off trains at this station, nara in the box strives through creative management and planning to attract young female customers and target foreign tourists, making full use of its distinctive features.

　Since the shop, aiming to provide a starting point for sightseeing in Nara for foreign tourists, has English-speaking staff members, please use the shop as an information center when you visit Nara in Japan.

* “nara in the box”
Open: 10:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Closed: Wednesdays (the following day if Wednesday falls on a holiday)
Phone: 0742-26-0666

　Nara Prefecture gathered information to discover notable but rarely-known facts that connect Nara and 17 countries/regions with the largest number of visitors to Nara. A committee consisting of lovers of both history and Nara was set up to look for hidden facts. Information was also gathered from temples, shrines and tourism-related businesses, as well as from the general public. The topics gathered totaled 326 and are introduced in the newly-created leaflets. The image below is from the Chinese version.

　For example, the leaflet for China illustrates the close bond between Toshodaiji Temple and the Chinese high priest Jianzhen. The French version tells us that Horyuji Temple's statue of Kudara Kannon was put on display in the Louvre Museum during the Japan Year in France in 1997. And the Canadian version says that many yellow cedar trees from Canada were used for the reconstruction of Kofukuji Temple's Chukondo Hall.

　These leaflets will be used to publicize Nara's relationships with the world and to promote tourism in Nara. Upon request, the leaflets will be also provided to overseas media.

　The target readers of the leaflets are people from the following countries or regions:
China (Simplified Chinese), Taiwan (Traditional Chinese), Hong Kong (Traditional Chinese), Korea (Korean), India (Hindu), Malaysia (Malay), Singapore (English), Thailand (Thai), Australia (English), Canada (English), USA (English), France (French), Germany (German), Italy (Italian), Russia (Russian), Spain (Spanish), UK (English)