This is the mid-year seminar for Saga JTEs and JETs. Attendance is mandatory.
Browsing Posts in events
Here is the link. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8340128.stm It’s the 5th photo. :)
Here is the link. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_pictures/8340128.stm It’s the 5th photo. :)
Come try on yukata (Japanese summer kimono) and experience Japanese culture (Koto music, Powder Tea Ceremony, and Ikebana) at the Saga International Festival, 2009!!
DATE: Sunday, September 13th
REGISTRATION: From 10:00 to 13:00 (or 1 pm for those of us who do not do 24 hour clocks)
PUT on YUKATA: in the special meeting room for women, and the Broadcasting room for men on the 2nd floor of AVANCE
*registration will be on a first-come-first-serve basis
*please wear an undershirt (tank top or v-neck shirt) for soaking up sweat under the yukata.
TRY Japanese Culture: Koto performances, Tea Ceremony, and Ikebana (which I believe you will be able to try for yourself, very fun!) will be held in the 3rd floor tatami/traditional room from 10:00 to 13:00
Host organization: Saga Seikatsu Bunka Kouryuukai
For more information contact: Yuriko Shirahama Tel&Fax 0952-24-6990
Saga Prefecture International Relations Association (SPIRA) Tel: (0952) 25-7921 Fax: (0952) 25-7417 e-mail spira@po.saganet.ne.jp
This seems like a fun event, so if you have time, please do attend! Even if you do not want to wear a yukata, the cultural events sound really neat, so you could just go to do that. It is not every day that you get to see a koto performance or arrange flowers!
Hi Everyone!
Last call for Haiku and Photo submissions for AJET’s Haiku and Photo Competition!!
The deadline is today, Friday the 12th, so if you still haven’t emailed your submission, be sure to email it today to contest(at)ajet.net!!
(contest rules and details below)
Thank you!
Alisa Tobin
2009-2010 National AJET Cultural Liaison
The AJET Haiku Competition
Write us a haiku
We’ll print it and reward you
If it’s any good
Yes, we’re having a haiku competition, so grab your pen and start writing! The competition is open immediately and will close on Friday, June 12th. Submissions relevant to the JET experience are welcomed from current JET Programme participants. Traditional haiku make reference to seasons and nature, but we’re not fussy – clever and humourous poetry is encouraged! In the spirit of our Japan experience, the competition will be conducted in two categories, English and Japanese.
Judging will be conducted entirely by members of the AJET National Council or their nominated representatives – no correspondence regarding prizes will be entered into as the judges’ decision is final.
All haiku submitted for the AJET Haiku Competition become the property of AJET, though we will give credit to all published poetry. Please make copies of poetry you want to keep on record. AJET reserves the right to reproduce any contest submissions on our website at ajet.net, the National AJET Fan page on Facebook and in AJET publications.
Two first-place winners (one for English, one for Japanese) will receive a 3000 yen book card and be featured in the AJET Tokyo Orientation Guidebook. Two second-place winners (one for English, one for Japanese) will receive a 1000 yen book card.
Submissions should be:
- accompanied by the name, address and JET number of the poet
- original works
- written in English and/or Japanese
- if written in Japanese, accompanied by furigana and an English translation
There is a limit of two (2) haiku per entrant total. Current National AJET Council members are not eligible to enter.
Entries and enquiries should be sent to contest (at) ajet.net Winning entries can be found here.
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The AJET Photo Competition |
The AJET National Council invites all budding JET photographers to submit entries for the third annual AJET Photo Competition. The competition is open immediately and will close on Friday, June 12th. Submissions relevant to the JET experience are welcomed from current JET Programme participants. We are interested in receiving “human” and humourous photos, including images from AJET events or activities – landscape shots, for example, are unlikely to receive much attention.
Judging will be conducted entirely by members of the AJET National Council or their nominated representatives – no correspondence regarding prizes will be entered into as the judges’ decision is final. All photos submitted for the AJET Photo Competition become the property of AJET, though we will give credit to all published images. AJET reserves the right to reproduce any submissions on our website at ajet.net, the National AJET Fan page on Facebook and in AJET publications.
One first-place winner will receive a 3000 yen book card and be featured in the AJET Tokyo Orientation Guidebook. One second-place winner will receive a 1000 yen book card.
Submissions should be:
- accompanied by a caption describing the scene
- accompanied by the name, address and JET number of the photographer
- original images
- high quality JPG files; for example, a single image should be at least 400kb in size
There is a limit of two (2) images per entrant. Current National AJET Council members are not eligible to enter. In the case that you submit photographs including people’s faces, please receive permission from those featured before submission.
Entries and enquiries should be sent to contest (at) ajet.net
Winning entries can be found here.
Let’s get snapping! :)
The Saga ken 2008 Orientation is held today and tomorrow at the Hagakure-so (Hagakure Hotel) in Saga City. New JETs are expected to attend. Recontracting JETs are not.
Hello 2008 ALT’s and Block Reps,A big welcome to Nagasaki Ken for all you first year’s! I hope you guys are getting settled in and adjusting well to your new life here. Some of you I have met, but for the others I’m looking forward to doing so. I am organizing a big welcome party here in Sasebo on Saturday, September 6th for everyone in the Prefecture to attend. It’s going to be a huge day so mark your calendar and make sure to attend.I am renting out a huge Pirate Ship for a private Sunset Cruise through Kujuku shima (99 Islands). The Party will start at 4:30PM on Saturday, September 6th. It is all-you-can-drink: beer, wine, cocktails, softdrinks. There will be food, a DJ, live music, Pirate Costume competition, prize drawing and give-aways. The ship will depart at about 5:15 so make sure you get there early. After departure we will have a 90 minute sunset cruise around the Islands which are world famous and incredibly beautiful. After sunset, we will return to port at about 7:00PM. The fee for this party is 3000yen which includes everything. The ship departs from the Pearl Sea Resort which is in Kashimae in Sasebo. There is a big parking lot if you come by car, but you can also take a bus from Sasebo Train Station. There is an express bus from Sasebo Station that leaves every hour from 12:30 to 3:30, and you will get off the bus at Kashimae Sanbashi. Tickets can be bought from me beforehand. any hassle with directions give me a ring 090-6298-1982, email: pdh406 at ezweb.ne.jpI have also rented out a dance club called Dazzle Puzzle for the night. Dazzle Puzzle is the only real Club in Nagasaki Prefecture and is a pretty sweet place. This party starts at 9:00PM and will be open until 2:00AM. There will be 5 dj’s spinning the beats for the night, all of whom are 2nd, 3rd, or 4th year ALT’s based around Nag Ken. Entrance fee is 1000 yen,and all drinks are 500 yen. Dazzle Puzzle is only 2 blocks from Sasebo Train Station and Bus Center. I’ll include some pics and a map.There are cheap hotels that are downtown for around 5000yen so you can stay the night and check out Japan’s longest shopping arcade the next day. I will find out more info for Hotels later, but in the time being you can try to make friends with Sasebo ALT’s to find a free place to crash. There is also a train that leaves Sasebo at 11pm that goes through most of the Prefecture if you’d prefer to go home after the festivities Saturday night.It’s going to be a great day so I hope everyone can make it. Block Reps rally the troops. If you have any questions just holla.-Pat pdh406 at ezweb.ne.jp (Sasebo)
Yep! It’s back! the annual Karatsu beach party and this year it will be the group B welcome party as well! You lucky lucky group B kids.
This day will be a BBQ day full of lovely charcoal grilled meat, fresh vegetables, and all around goodness!
Swimming, sand, fireworks, beach… stuff…. hopefully not too many jellyfish.
There will be a small fee for the food and drinks but we will make sure it will be kind on the wallet and purses. Costco food, y’all. Details later.
How to get there:
First get yourself to Hamasaki station. it is 4 stops from Karatsu station in the Fukuoka direction (Chikuhi/Airport Line). Walk straight out of the station (there is only one exit) and just keep walking ’til you hit the beach (less than 5 minutes). If you want to stop and get drinks, there is a mom & pop grocery store on the way.
If you or your friends have a car, consider a trip up to the Sefuri area to try soumen nagashi. There is still a little time left to do it.
A few other JETs and I did it a couple of weeks ago and it was the perfect JET day. The folks there are friendly and the soumen filling. 600 yen gets you a nice lunch of soumen which you catch from a sort of “noodle waterslide” plus sauce and garnish (ginger, chives, wasabi). Drive up the road a bit further and you will arrive at a dam/waterfall area where you can swim or relax.
Mark says:
“A long trough is set up, through which a stream of cold water flows, carrying bunches of cold noodles placed in at one end by the cook. Participants sitting along the trough pick the flowing noodles out with their chopsticks and place the tasty morsels in their individual bowls of dip. It goes without saying that being “downstream” from a healthy eater could mean slim pickings, so where one sits is very important! “
If you’d like to give this a try, you can do so for free at Niiyama Park (仁比山公園）in Kanzaki city(神埼市) every weekend from 19th July – 24th August. Niiyama Park is around 5 km North of Kanzaki train station, so you’ll probably need to get there by car. Reservation is necessary but they don’t speak English so if your Japanese isn’t up to reserving a spot at the floating noodles stall, I don’t mind phoning on your behalf (although I’m only here until the end of July). If you do phone them, tell them こくさいこうりゅうのしょうかいで きました （kokusai kouryuu no shoukai de kimashita), then they’ll understand that you heard about it from SPIRA and let you try it for free. Their phone number is: 0952-52-2625.
Actually, I mentioned that we were sent by kokusai kouryuu a couple of times and their reaction was sort of, “uh, that’s nice.” So we didn’t get to do it free…but that’s cool. It was only 600 yen. Also, they didn’t seem to mind that I called up the day before and forgot to leave a name or reserve a time. They said anytime between 11 am and 3:30 pm was good to show up.
Here is a Google Map to help you find the place. It’s past the park that has a building shaped like a waterwheel. I can’t remember the exact name of the shop, but the first kanji is hyaku (百) and it’s on the left.
Today is the last day to sign up for the 2008 dragon boat races. Contact Ian for that.
Come learn the traditional Sakae no Kuni festival dance and then dance through the streets of Saga! It’s a great chance to meet the people of Saga and enjoy a summer evening!
The festival runs Saturday and Sunday. Here is a schedule of events (in Japanese).
The dance that we are involved in takes place on Sunday, August 3, 2008.
Place: I-Square building, 4th floor. It’s just south of Saga Station.
Times: 4:00 or so: arrive and get dressed
5:00 pm: practice begins
6:30 pm: dancing in the streets begins.
Contact the Saga City International Relations Association to reserve your spot!
tel. 0952-29-0322
email: 
Even if you don’t take part in the dancing, there is plenty to do at the festival. In past years, they’ve had bands and dance troupes (traditional and modern), ice sculptures, fireworks, and of course lots and LOTs of yummy festival food!
Today is the last day to sign up for the 2008 Nanyama Waterfall climb homestay. Contact Josh for that. Or, if you are interested in the Waterfall Climb (no homestay), you have until the end of the month to get those applications and payment in.
Hello peeps!
Many of you may have already received notifications about the Dragon Boating but here is the version on Sagajet!
DATE: 31st August (08:00)
DATE of PRACTICE: 23rd August (09:00)
DEADLINE: 1st August
On Sunday August 31st, starting at a bright and early time of 08:00 people will gather at the Kasegawa River and race each other in Dragon Boats. This year insurance is inluded and so is the price of drinks and food. Total of 3000 yen altogether! So all you need to bring is yourself, suntan lotion (a hat?) , a towel, and I advise another drink to carry around with you.
There will be a practice day on the 23rd of August which is voluntary. This starts at 9:00 and lasts till 12:00. Beware, it does coincide with the Nanayama Homestay. If you can’t make the practice, don’t worry, you can still attend on the main day!
DIRECTIONS: Take the train from where ever you are to Kubota station near Saga station. The location is near the Saga prefectural baseball stadium. I have included a nice little map with this message. Hopefully it comes out…
Saga station is one station to the right of Nabeshima station which is shown on the map above.
If you need any other details don’t hesitate to call or email me! It might be useful to store my number in your keitai’s for use on the day!
Here is my email and mobile phone details! i.kt.cheung@gmail.com
080-1786-6395
Facebook Link: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=32663996632 for you facebook freaks like me.
A message from Josh in Nanayama:
It’s time again to play up the famous, the spectacular, the most amusing way of trying to kill yourself:
The Nanayama Waterfall Climb!
(or, International shower climbing in Nanayama as it is sadly written on the sheets…)
Date: Sunday, August 24th
Place: My home of Nanayama
Fee: 1000 yennies
So, we’ve got these waterfalls in Nanayama, and someone decided we should all climb them. There’s usually over 1000 people climbing the falls and we’d like over 100 of them to be foreign folks.
It seemed like a rather easy climb for me last year. There’s usually two courses at every waterfall. The easy course and the hard course. Either way, there’s plenty of ropes and people to keep you from dying. It’s fun, it’s exciting and it’s almost entirely in the river, so you don’t feel horrible and sticky the whole time.
There is provided transportation from Saga City allll the way to Nanayama. Alternatively, you could drive there.
Additionally!
There is a homestay program this year. We’re looking for 10-20 people to come to Nanayama at around noon on Saturday 23rd and stay with a family for the night. They’ll feed you and the like and you might even get a free trip to the great onsen up here. Then, they’ll take you to the waterfall climb and you can have fun.
Since this is Nanayama, there’s a surprising amount of decent English ability to be found. Plus, the families will usually have junior high or high school kids that will probably get a kick out of talking to you. They’re supposed to be showing you how good live is up in the mountains, so expect fresh food and stuff too.
The homestay is, of course, free. Also, you don’t have to pay to participate in the waterfall climb either.
Date: Noon Saturday, August 23rd – 5PM Sunday, August 24th
Place: Nanayama (and maybe Hamatama)
Fee: FREE (The Waterfall climb is also FREE)
For this one, there is no free bus from Saga, but there is one from Karatsu station. Alternatively, you could drive.
I will be helping coordinate the monies and the applications this year, so it should go smoother than last year.
HERE IS THE APPLICATION. You can fill it out on your computer and send it me [Josh] as well.
I’ll also be sending emails and probably a facebook invite as well. One thing I’m not entirely clear on is that you can also form teams and win prizes and such for the climbing. (Not just fastest, but best costume and such) More information on that as I get it. New people will be here at this time and they are also invited.
Deadlines: Waterfall climb July 31st; Homestay mid-July
I live in one of the most beautiful places in Saga. Come, visit, be happy.
Questions? Comments? Quibbles? email, pm, message, call, text, fax me
AMAZING RACE: SAGA Application forms are available here (PDF) or here (Word).
Please note that the race format is subject to change– for example, we may randomly mix teams.
Use the PDF version if you just want to quickly fill in and print the form for delivery or fax.
The Word document can be saved for emailing, but is a little more cumbersome to fill out because you might push stuff around as you type. However, you should be able to save the Word version and email it to
This past Saturday I went to Hita City in Oita to see their hina matsuri (aka girl’s day aka doll festival) dolls. it was pretty sweet! there is a nice old part of town (a little touristy but meh) where all of the cute shops have their dolls displayed as well as private residences/museums that have displays as well. some are free, some are 200~400yen. the nicest, most famous one, Kusano Honkei (Kusano family manion) was 550yen but totally worth it. they have over 150 dolls, a number of them are around 300 years old.
also in Hita is the Kyushu factory of Sapporo beer. didn’t go to that one but there is a factory tour!
this was a very pleasant day trip and if you have some time in the next couple weeks why no check it out? i believe the dolls have been out since last week and should continue being displayed until mid-march (hina matsuri is march 3rd).
how to get there:
from fukuoka:
i took the bus from the tenjin bus center. there was a special ticket for the hina matsuri that was 3,200yen (round trip ticket) plus a voucher for free rides on the community buses and a few discounts at places around town (the bus goes to the dolls district, the beer factory, bus center, eki, etc). the buses to/from tenjin run every half hour (or more frequently). it’s a 1 hour 20 minute drive
from saga:
buses to hita leave from tenjin, kurume, or 六ツ門(mutumon?)
so, get yourself there and go :D hita shouldn’t take sooo long so you could definitely work in some lunch/dinner in tenjin before/after you go
once in hita i rented a bike at the tourism center near the eki. they were 200yen for the first hour and 100 yen/hour after that. i guess we didn’t really need the bikes but it was nice riding around the traditional streets. we found a few cool places off the beaten path
links!:
http://www.city.hita.oita.jp/
Hita City website (japanese)
http://iris.hita.net/~city/ht/hina.htm
weird high school computer class version (engrish)
http://www.japan-hopper.com/2007/03/02_09958.php
travel site with pictures (english)
p.s.–
if you get there around lunch time (like i did), you may stumble across a hamburger shop by the station called “OJ” or something. eat at your own risk. the staff was rude, the hamburgers were really just thin hamburg steaks on buns, and they won’t let you order something off the take-out menu if you plan on eating it in the place (???).
We are now recruiting dedicated volunteers to join the Saga JET Habitat for Humanity 2008 Trip!
Wondering where to go and what to do during your Golden Week holidays? Why not join the Saga JET Habitat for Humanity 2008 group? Support the global community and build homes for low income earners and their families!
About Habitat for Humanity:
Habitat For Humanity International (HFHI) (generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat) is an international, ecumenical Christian, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building “simple, decent, and affordable” housing. Homes are built using volunteer labor and are sold at no profit, with no interest charged on the mortgage. The organization was founded in 1976 in Americus, Georgia by Millard and Linda Fuller, whose vision grew out of their experiences at Koinonia Farm. The international headquarters located in Atlanta (moved from Americus GA in 2006) serves to support and promote the activities of local, independent affiliate chapters, which initiate and manage all construction, mortages, and homeowner selection.
This past Golden Week, 11 Volunteers from the Saga JET community visited Mongolia, the land of blue skies. We helped to build two homes for two families over 14 days, and visited a local elementary school with school supplies as donations. As a member, I can say with confidence that it was an amazing success and is one of the most fulfilling life experiences I have had!
You can read more about our trip (in Japanese):
http://www.habitatjp.org/gv_report/cat1/1111/
We also have a Facebook group (Habitat for Humanity – Saga JETs 2008), where anyone can join to receive news and updates about upcoming events!
For more information, please visit:
Habitat for Humanity International:
http://www.habitat.org
Habitat for Humanity Japan (in English)
http://www.habitatjp.org/index_e.php
Last but certainly not least are the C-Group people. Someone, please throw a party so we can meet them!
Please give them a warm welcome at the party on the 10th.
Check your email or the forums for more information.
Original forums post here.
From Nirav:
As some of you may already know, the weekend of August 4th is the annual “Sakae no Kuni Matsuri” festival here in Saga City. (More info, in Japanese, here ) On the night of the 5th, there will be a big dancing procession along the main street in Saga (the one that goes from the station to Kencho), and we at the Saga City International Relations Association would love for you to come take part!
We’ve got a bunch of Yukata (summer kimono) and depending on how many of you sign up we should have enough for everyone to wear during the dance. Although I personally won’t be the CIR in charge anymore, it’ll also be a good opportunity for you all to meet my successor, Kevin, who will be among the group A JETs.
When: Sunday, August 5th 17:00
Where: Meet at I-Square Building, just south of Saga Station
How to Sign-Up: Send an email to sagakokusai at yahoo.co.jp
Please give them a big welcome at the welcome party on August 3rd.
http://www.sagajet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2359
If Elisabeth’s Geocities link doesn’t work, here is a copy of the form I saved and uploaded to our server.
Original Forums post HERE.
This Saturday, July 28th from 1-6:30pm at the Tojin Hiroba (where is that? you know, it’s that space on the eki street next to Tojin Cafe where they hold concerts all the time)
THere will be:
Workshops!
Jenbe (sp?) African drumming!
African dancing!
Stamp-making!
A Fashion Show!
Performances!
Ushizu African Drumming Club (high schoolers, they have this in ushizu?!)
Forikan (pro drummers)
MIYAKO – african dancing
Warakudan S.A.G.A. – taiko
馬洪陽ー pro Chinese fiddle! (for real?)
Teens Musical Saga!
and more!
Food!
Indian!
Pakistani!
Mango Juice!
pretty cool eh?
And, did anyone notice that neither Habitat nor the Christmas Party is fundraising at it? Marianne, where are you?? Smile
Posted by: Lee
Posted: Mon Jul 09, 2007 3:43 pm
Post subject: music fest in tosu
there’s a big (sort of) music festival on in tosu, at kawauchi dam, on the 16th. starts at about 1 or 2, til 9/10. lots of good music, good food, booze.
free bus goes every 30 minutes or so from the eki.
not sure on price, but no more than 3,000….
http://www.sagajet.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2404
The 10th anniversary of the Caribbean Festival “Isla de Salsa” runs Saturday and Sunday, August 19th and 20th, on the island of Nokonoshima off the coast of Fukuoka. More information can be found at the Isla de Salsa homepage and on the SagaJET forums.
Japanese Lessons for this year’s Group A and Group B arrivals are located in Saga City. Classes are from 1:00pm – 5:00pm on August 16th-18th and 21st-25th.
Join regatta lovers from all over Saga-ken in sailing down Saga City’s Tafuse River in anything that floats. Saturday, 8 July, 1 p.m., Tafusegawa Riverside Park. Full details are on the message board.
Oita’s Concert on the Rock music festival runs Saturday and Sunday, 3-4 June. More info is, as always, on the message board.
Mud + Olympics = Gatalympics. More info on the website and on the message board.
Golden Week, a.k.a. the only time the Japanese go on vacation, begins with Green Day on 29 April, a holiday sadly wasted on a Saturday this year. Luckily Green Day is followed by Constitution Memorial Day (3 May), National Holiday (4 May) and Children’s Day (5 May), making for a nice five day weekend.
Saga JETs heading to Bangladesh to work with Habitat for Humanity are throwing a charity “passport party.” Two thousand yen for adults (1000 for kids) will get you into five party rooms modeled after a different country. The party starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, April 15 at the Saga City ken apartments and everyone is welcome (kids can stay until 9 p.m.). There’s a lot more info on the message board.
The Saga City language classes at Avance are starting again on 12 April and will run until the 19 July. Classes are Wednesdays at either 6:30 p.m. or 8 p.m. Tuition is 4000 yen. The classes are “for those who are interested in entering at the introductory and beginner levels, covering basic Japanese daily conversation, reading and writing skills.”
If you want to sign up, send your name, address, nationality, work/school name, and telephone number to fax 0952 24-7337 or email nihong_saga@yahoo.ne.jp.
The placement test is on April 12th, so please arrive by 6 p.m.
The annual Kyushu Cup football tournament (that’s soccer for the yanks) will be held in Saga this year. Kickoff is 1:30 p.m. Saturday, April 8, at Saga Nishi High School. There’s more info on the message board, including a nice preview by Dustin Hovda.
Takeo’s Spring Festival runs from 1-2 April. Come for the drunk men parading through the streets, stay for the crowning of Miss Sakura.
The gospel choir Golden Angels, an “Asian group from overseas,” will perform with three other choirs from Saga on Sunday, March 26 at Avance in Saga City. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the show starts at 7 p.m.; admission is free.
The official start of spring and a holiday. What could be better?
The Bangladesh Habitat for Humanity group is putting on a pub trivia night to raise funds for their trip. Competition starts at 5 p.m., March 18 at the Celtic Heart in Saga City and costs 1500 yen to enter. Details and rules are on the message board.
Hina-matsuri Tour">Arita Hina-matsuri Tour
Go on a guided tour (in English!) of Arita, learn about its hina dolls, have a giant meal, paint some procelain. You can get more information on the message board.
Come make Jamaican and American desserts (Jamaican rock buns and pancakes!) in the latest installment of the Saga City International Cooking Class Series. Sunday, March 12, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., third floor cooking classroom in the Saga City Avance Building. More info is posted on the message board.
Final day to vote for your AJET national representative. Go to the AJET voting page to cast your ballot.
Open mic night at Rebeers in Saga City to benefit the Habitat to Humanity trip to Bangladesh. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., music starts at 7:30 p.m. Admission is 1500 yen. You can find more info on the message board.
Attaka Matsuri is a festival that showcases the local art and dance of Ureshino, with various events around the town. Amongst these, you’ll be able to taste local dishes, view exhibitions at various sites and sample the unique Onsen at discounted prices. Definitely a good way to warm you up during this cold season! More info on the message board.
Learn to cook traditional Japanese New Year’s food (osechi) on Sunday, Dec. 11, in the Avance cooking classroom. Registration is limited to 30 people. To register, call 0952-29-0322 and ask for Mika Baba or Sonya Kolba. More info is available on the message board.
The annual Saga-ken Charity Christmas Party is happening again this year. More info about the party and the meeting are on the message board.
Try naginata, a Japanese martial art characterized by the grandeur of its sweeping movements. Shimura Kinen Gym in Saga City, Nov. 26, 9 a.m. to noon, 300 yen per person. More info is posted on the message board.
Karatsu Kunchi runs Nov. 2 to Nov. 4. Float pulling galore. More info on the message board.
Nagasaki JETs are putting on another fundraiser for New Orleans. Mix of music, DJs and drinks, followed by hiking the next day. Event runs 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. at Big Blue Sky Live House in Shimabara. More info, including directions, is on the message board.
Kawasoe ALT Michelle teaches a yoga class every week in Saga City. Class is every Tuesday night, 7 to 8:30 p.m., at Saga-ken Shokuin, Gojokaikan, second floor, Saga City Jonai 1-6-5. Bring a mat/towel and water. Contact Michelle for more information.
Kawasoe ALT Michelle teaches a yoga class every week in Takeo. Class is every Wednesday night, 7:30 to 9 p.m, at Higashi-kawanobori kominkan. Bring a mat/towel and water. Contact Michelle for more information.
Foosball and beer at Arita’s Oktoberfest. What more could you ask for? More info on the event is on the message board.
AJET sponsored rafting trip in Kumamoto-ken. Complete info is on the message board.
An afternoon of AJET bowling in Saga City. Nichi Yuu Bowling Alley, 4 p.m. If you’re arriving by train, a group is walking from the Saga train station to the alley at 3:15 p.m. Cost is 500 yen per game.
Nagasaki JETs are throwing a fundraising happy hour to help vicitims of Hurricane Katrina. Saturday, 10 September, NEON bar in Shimabara-shi, 8 p.m. to close. Much more info can be found on the message board.
6000 fireworks, 8 p.m., Yanagawa-shi, Mutsugoro Land. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
6000 fireworks, 8 p.m., Okawa-shi, Chikugo River, Undo Park. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
3000 fireworks, 8:30 p.m., Imari-shi, Imari River. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
10,000 fireworks, 8 p.m., Sasebo-shi, Nagasaki-ken, Shinminato Park. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1500 fireworks, 8:25 p.m., Chiyoda-cho, south parking lot of the town hall. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
2000 fireworks, 8:30 p.m., Saga-shi, north side of Saga Castle. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1000 fireworks, 9 p.m., Ogi-shi, Mikazuki Fureai Park. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
18,000 fireworks, 7:50 p.m., Kurume-shi, Chikugo River. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1000 fireworks, 8:30 p.m., Yamato-cho, Kawakami. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1000 fireworks, 8:30 p.m., Mitagawa-cho, Metabaru JSDF base. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
6000 fireworks, 8 p.m., Fukuoka-shi, Ohori Park. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
5555 fireworks, 8 p.m., Genkai-cho, Ikoinohiroba. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1600 fireworks, 6:30 p.m., Tara-cho. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1300 fireworks, 8 p.m., Karatsu, Hamatama Beach. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
3000 fireworks, 8 p.m., Karatsu-shi, Matsuura River. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1300 fireworks, 8 p.m., Karatsu, hizen-cho tano (?). Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1000 fireworks, 8:40pm, Mutsugoro Park in Ogi-shi. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
1000 fireworks, 8:30 to 9 p.m., Kitahata Junior High School in Karatsu. Found in T.J. Saga magazine, July issue. We apoligize if any of the Japanese was translated incorrectly.
