Travel Itinerary

Here is a link to our travel itinerary.  Check your email for our Address Book that lists the addresses of all the families where your Junior Winger is staying while in Nanao.  Contact information for the youth hostel and chaperone hotels is listed on the iteinerary as well as below.

Oct 7-8: Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel   29 Nakayama-cho, Uzumasa, Ukyo-ku, Kyoto, 616-8191 Japan, Tel: +81-75-462-2288

Oct 9-11, 13-15: Hotel Route Inn (chaperones)  31-1, Ha, Motofuchumachi, Nanao-city, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, Tel: +81-767-54-0111

Oct 12: Aenokaze Hotel (chaperones)  8-1 Wakazaki, Wakura-machi, Nanao-shi, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, Tel: +81-767-62-3333

These reservations are under the name "Russell" and "Junior Wings."

Review Presentations

Here are links to our recent class meeting presentations:

• September 27
• September 20
• September 13
• September 06
• Basic Japanese Grammar (we didn't cover this in a meeting)
• Basic Japanese Grammar: Verbs
• Japanese Yen

If you have any questions, give me a call.

Homework for September 20: Wajima

One of our day trips will be to the town of Wajima on the north coast of the Noto Peninsula.  This town is famous for laquerware.  Research the following facts:

• When did laquerware start in Wajima?  
• What is “ochre?”
• How is “jinoko” made?
• What is “maki-e?”

A stop on the way home will be at Ganmon, an area on the Japan Sea coast that resembles Big Sur.

Homework for September 6: Kyoto

Think about this: the city of Monterey was founded in 1777, which puts it at the time of George Washington and the Revolutionary War. That's old.  The adobes, Custom House, Colton Hall and so on all remind us daily of our local history since then.  Now think about this: the city of Kyoto was founded in 794.  That's right, seven ninety-four.  Kyoto is nearly 1,000 years older than Monterey!  As we walk about the streets of this ancient city, we will be visiting temples and castles, and other sites that reflect its long, long history.

Specifically, we will be visiting five of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto (a World Heritage Site) listed below, but first, what does this designation mean?  Why is it important?  See Culture Criteria. 

Now your homework: find the founding dates and three other facts for each of the following:

• Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion Temple)
• Ryoanji Temple (Temple of the Peaceful Dragon)
• Nijo Castle (Second Street Castle)
• Kiyomizu Temple (Pure Water Temple)
• Imperial Palace

To put these sites in context, see what you can find on the history of Kyoto.  Can you find these places on the Kyoto City map?  Can you find our youth hostel near Ryoanji Temple?

• See what you can learn about these two real people: Yoshitsune and Benkei.
• Here is a video drama of their first meeting on the Gojo Bridge: Yoshitsune vs. Benkei video.
• Here is a detailed history of Yoshitsune and the downfall of Kyoto.

Have fun!

Typing Email in Japanese

Your Windows operating system has everything it needs to enable Japanese language text input on your English keyboard.  All you must do is change a few settings.  The following website has a good explanation of what to do for Windows XP, Vista, and Windows 7.

http://www.coscom.co.jp/learnjapanese801/howtotypejapanese.html

Follow the instructions for you specific operating system.  If you are still having problems, call me and I'll try to walk you through it.

As a last (or maybe even first) resort, your student can type in "roma-ji" (our alphabet).  She or he should all know how to do this and their parents will be able to understand it.

Tea Ceremony at the Matsui Tea House in Pebble Beach

Mrs. Russell, and her tea ceremony teacher, Yasuko Matsui, together with Yukiko Leggitt, gave the Junior Wings an experience we will not likely forget!

In front of Mrs. Yasuko Matsui's home high atop a hill in Pebble Beach.

The garden and koi pond.

The "Machi-Ai" (the Waiting Area) outside the tea house.

Our tea hostess, Hideko Russell, and assistant, Yukiko Leggitt greeting our group.

Preparing the matcha tea.

Receiving tea

Rinsing the tea whisk

Sweets to counter-balance the bitter tea

The scroll reads, "Make every day the best day" together with flowers from the garden  

Everyone being served bowls of tea.

Mrs. Yasuko Matsui (center) and the JW group

Calendar for August

• Tue, Aug 2: General Meeting, 6:30-8:00 PM at Colton
• Fri, Aug 5: Tea Ceremony, 10:00AM-12:00PM (or so).  Meet at Russells' to carpool to Tea House
• Tue, Aug 9: General Meeting, 6:30-8:00 PM at Colton
• Fri, Aug 12: Last-second Panic Meeting, 6:30-7:30 PM at Colton
• Sat, Aug 13: Carpoolers, 9:00AM, Meet at Monterey Youth Center Parking lot.  Meeting 11:23AM Flight #6290 arrival at SFO.  Return to Youth Center 2:00-2:30PM
• Sat, Aug 13: Welcome and Pick-up, Monterey Youth Center Parking lot, 1:45PM
• Sat, Aug 13: Decorations Committee, La Mesa Backyard Annex, 5:00PM
• Sat, Aug 13: Welcome Party, 6:00-8:00PM, Clean-up to 8:30
• Sun, Aug 14: Kayaking, 10:00AM-12:00PM, Monterey Bay Kayaks
• Sun, Aug 21: Sister-City Commemoration & Farewell Party, 5:30PM, Monterey Youth Center