Reporters working at Saga Newspaper are looking for 5-6 Saga JETs to talk about house parties, or “ho-mu pa-ti-” in Japanese, for an article to run in a special Chirstmas Issue of “Fit”, a health and living insert included with the Saga Newspaper on the first and third Fridays of every month.

House parties are somewhat uncommon in Japan–people usually go out with friends, rather than inviting them to their homes. However, the trend is beginning to catch on. In the Christmas Issue of “Fit”, the reporters at the Saga Newspaper are looking for people from several different countries/cultures to talk about how they would throw a house party (for example, a Christmas party).

Now, we’re all pretty young, so I don’t expect we’re throwing house parties for all the gals in our sewing circles and bridge clubs, but you can even just talk about what your parents always did when they invited guests over for a party. For example, “we always had crackers and cheese at our house parties. I was always sent to bed, but I could never fall asleep, so sometimes I would go and interrupt the party and everyone was drunk!” etc, etc.

Anyone interested in talking about house parties in their culture should contact Edward Crandall at the Saga Newspaper. He’s not writing the article personally, but he’ll handle all the translation for the interviews and stuff. Participants will be given a short interview, and will have a profile picture put in the newspaper.

Getting in the newspaper is a great way to get to know people! And not just old people, either–some woman in their mid-20s recognized me from my breif Saga Newspaper debut the other day, it was cool!

The editors are hoping to have the article done by the end of this month, so contact Ed Crandall at the following email address ASAP! They’re looking for about 5-6 people, and once they’ve secured those people it’s over (also note that I’m not doing the USA point-of-view, so that’s definitely open for those US JETs interested).

Edward Crandall
ecrandall@gmail.com
0952-28-2128 (note that there’s a good chance a Japanese person will answer the phone)

Time: November 2nd, 2008

Place: Nichiyu Bowl (日祐ボウル), Saga City, Matsubara 1-4-18 (佐賀県佐賀市松原1丁目4-18)

[Heading towards Kencho, take a right at the intersection before the Post Office (name of interseciton is Matsubara Ni-chome / 松原二丁目)]

Competition Rules: First, each pair plays one game. The second game will be played alternating between two pairs.

Participation Fee: 1,500 yen / pair

Registration will end once 20 pairs have RSVPed, so reserve your spot quick by either telling me or calling the following number: 0952-33-2255!

Anyway, I think I have to for work, so I’ll definitely be there (me and the Chinese guy at my office are gonna tear this competition apart)! It’s gonna be awesome.

Organized by the Saga City International Relations Association and the Saga City Health and Sports Association; Sponsored by Saga City and the Saga City Board of Education

So you want to go skiiing or snowboarding in the winter? Here are some things you need to know to get started.

The number one thing you should keep in mind is that January (and early February) are great times to go skiing…but you will have just finished the big Winter Break and New Year’s holiday… so both money and nenkyuu will be tight. You can alleviate the money cramp by putting away some money each month starting in the fall. If you can spare 5 man yen a month, then you should be in a good position later. Put it into an envelope or another banking account or something. And for get it’s there until you need to start paying for things.

Hokkaido is a good place to go: Niseko is popular among international tourists. Rusutsu is wonderful and a bit less trafficked. Resort hotels are expensive but have the added benefit of getting you out on the slopes quickly and, if you are renting equipment, letting you keep your equipment between ski days (rather than getting back in the breadline for skis every morning). I recommend a trip to Hokkaido. But be aware that round-trip airfare from Fukuoka is rarely under 5 man(!) yen. Another option for lodging are 民宿 (minshuku–Japanese Inns / boarding houses). Compared to big hotels, these are hard to find (you may need a Japanese-reading friend to do online research for you or get a recommendation from someone). Another option is hitting up Tatami Timeshare (login to AJET’s website first) and find a JET in Hokkaido. Be aware that although buses do exist, you really need a car to see Hokkaido–so your best bet is to tag along with Hokkaido JETs who are planning to go skiing and have a car with some space.

Tottori-ken also is famous for skiing, though I can’t comment on what it’s like.

The Japanese Alps are another option. I’m going to give them a try this year.

For smaller (cheaper) trips, consider Hiroshima-ken. You and some friends can get a weekend skiing there for around 3 man yen each. Travel agents in Fukuoka are good to consult about this. The usual routine is:

THURSDAY: pack.

FRIDAY NIGHT: go to Fukuoka City , get on an overnight bus.

SATURDAY: go skiing starting from 5 or 6 am (it takes awhile to get gear and get oriented). Stay overnight at a ryokan .

SUNDAY: take a shuttle/bus back to the ski area for another day of skiing (finish up around 4 or 5) and then get back on the bus and get home that night.

These small trips are a good way to try your hand at the “other” winter sport (skiing for snowboarders/snowboarding for habitual skiers). I learned the basics of snowboarding in Geihoku, Hiroshima two years ago. If you are taking a huge, expensive trip to Hokkaido, you may be loath to spend one of your (expensive) days falling on your butt. Closer to home, it’s no big deal.

Finally, Kyushu skiing, while not fabulous (I hear) is available. For a trip you can actually drive to, consider Miyazaki ken. They have Gokase, the southernmost natural snow skiing in Japan, but I have heard that the pistes are a bit crowded.

And what article about skiing would forget to mention Tenzan, Saga’s very own ski area? A typical exchange about it goes something like this:

Co-worker: “And you can go skiing on Tenzan!”

You: “Uhhh… in Saga? It’s too warm.”

Co-worker ( a bit defensively/blithely oblivious) “They MAKE the snow! You can go skiing no matter what the weather!”

You: (silently consider the role ground temperature plays in keeping the manmade snow…snow. Ultimately, you decide not to argue about it and just smile and nod thoughtfully.)

–

BOOKING:

Especially if you want to go around the Snow Festival in Hokkaido, BOOK NOW. Things fill up fast. If you are a procrastinator, you can always go on the HAJET (Hokkaido-AJET) annual ski trip. In the past, they have set their deadline in December (yes, December is “procrastinating” when it comes to booking ski trips). They already have a sign-up/inquiry form on their website if you want to take a look. The biggest problem with the HAJET trip is that they only do one day of skiing, and if you are going to Hokkaido, that is just not enough. One option might be to work out your own accommodation and airfare and then go skiing for a couple of days before the event, joining up with them after. Actually, I kind of want to do that now. But no, Jesse, this year it’s Japanese Alps…which will ALSO be kickass. The HAJET trip will usually require a day or two of nenkyuu, so be sure you can handle that. Finally, if you are fond of mutton/lamb, the HAJET trip usually includes an option for a farewell enkai which is almost always ジンギスカン (”Ghengis Khan”– all you can eat mutton yakiniku, veggies). They give you these HUGE bib-apron things. Oh, good stuff!

ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT:

I don’t recommend busing to Hokkaido. There actually IS a ferry that goes 3 times a week from Fukuoka to the Muroran in the southern part of Hokkaido. It takes a long time, something like 38 hours, and makes one stop in N. Honshu. The length of time it takes is the biggest detractor. Another alternative might be to ferry to Kansai (Osaka, for example) and then take trains the rest of the way up. But be sure to compare prices.

NIGHTLIFE:

Aside from nomihoudai (I don’t drink the night before skiing because of the risk of being dehydrated), another great way to increase your ski trip enjoyment is to go to an onsen. Certain JETs, who shall go unnamed, have been known to sneak into ski resort onsen after a hard day on the slopes. Somehow, the snow outside makes soaking in hot water that much more sugoi.

Make this article better! If you have questions or comments, please use the contact form to send a quick note to me.