Kyushu Christmas
This year my fondest yuletide memories were formed in Fukuoka, Kyushu, a feast for the senses. I will always remember eating hot kimchi ramen on a bench, thigh to thigh with jolly wedding guests. Good 
malt beer, `illumination`, singing Silent Night in Japanese, sake on the shinkansen, zen monasteries and finally: coming face to face with Van in Southern Japan.
Fukuoka: Karen and I stepped off the shinkansen at noon and at first, the city reminded me of Shizuoka. Except for the fact that the buildings stood much higher and it was quiet around noon. We decided on walking. It is truly the best way to get around, especially with the extremely mild weather that weekend. But we were spoiled for choices and we tried the subway lines and bus lines as well. One day of leisurely sightseeing and we'd managed to see the beautiful Mikoshi at Kushida Shrine (designated important cultural property/see photo)and weave Obi cloth on a restored, ancient loom at the Hakata Machiya Folk Museum. The day wouldn't have been complete without royal milk tea in real china cups at an atmospheric ladies` Café. We didn't make it to Shofukuji, the first Zen temple built in Japan, until dusk. Even in the dark it was something special.
After checking in at our lovely hotel and promptly requesting a bigger room, (as becomes fussy foreign ladies) we took a bus-ride downtown to Tenjin. To say Tenjin was bustling with people, lights and music would be an understatement. Step-aside Tokyo! On Christmas eve I had the pleasure of brushing elbow, hip and butt with a lot more strangers than I care to count. We had obviously arrived at the entertainment capital of Kyushu. But what we wanted was not the karaoke parlors (ahem) nor the brand-name shops open until 10pm. We wanted Yatai , little, family-run, open-air food stalls that offer food cooked on the spot. Though travel guides boast that the streets are littered with them, we had to search diligently to find four. By the time we made it to K-chan`s yatai, we were ravenous for Kyushu's famous Tonkotsu ramen. The plastic tarp curtaining the entrance let through a glimpse of its 12 seated customers, raucous laughter and mouthwatering smells. Room was made to accommodate us after a polite: いい,ですか？ Stares from the locals made sure we minded our manners and we took our time deciding what to eat and how to order it. Upon ordering、 the young (cute) and dynamic cook showed us his skills. A family of post-wedding guests with two children and a drunken grandfather interrupted our quiet slurping after a while by asking us where we were from. When we both answered in Japanese, merriment ensued, free beer and Christmas cake were imparted. The comments I remember best were made by grandpa. He empathically pronounced `I Am Legend` shit and proceeded to glorify Independence Day, according to him Will Smith's best work. Fukuoka-jin have certainly won my heart.
Christmas eve continued at Starbucks with coffee, while we waited for evening mass. With the help of our hotel staff we had found a catholic church in Tenjin, a stone's throw from K-chan`s. For this Roman-catholic gone pagan in 2007, it was a familiar, yet strangely different experience to sing Silent Night in Japanese!
The next day we made it to Canal City on foot. The Christmas lights were dazzling and a continuous, 
gentle flurry of fake snowflakes had many a visitor enthralled. There were scenes rendered in Christmas lights and their reflection in the artificial canal bisecting this shopping centre was truly magnificent. Illumination at its best. The effect was sublimated by a Japanese gospel choir singing their hearts out to a clutch of shoppers. Guess who was upfront clapping and encouraging? Tears in my eyes.
We left Fukuoka and our lovely hotel room regretfully, but excited about what Nagasaki might have to offer. Off we went on the Kamome Super-Express, a lovely spacious train with amenities to make any shinkansen jealous! Arrival at Nagasaki 2.5 hours later was a shock to the system. Upon descending the Kaｍome, I thought I'd arrived at Shimada! There were only 2 tracks. But the station itself was an `illuminated` shopping complex with movie theatres, pedestrian overpasses and a Gap . The station in a way typified the city itself. It had the feel of a small harbor town. Its tramlines lulled you into a small town, European vibe. Nevertheless it was a modern city that spread out for miles. Nagasaki was even sunnier and warmer than Fukuoka. The lovely trams got you where you wanted to go quickly regardless of your destination: the Dejima theme-park, China town, the Confucius temple, Peace Park or Hollander Slope. Did you know that all foreigners were called Hollanders in Nagasaki way back when? Sadly, time was too short to take in all the sights of Nagasaki. On the shinkansen ride we toasted our trip to Kyushu with 2 shorto-sizu canisters of sake. The fun was on and stayed on all the way home. Kyushu will definitely see us again!
by Kinsella
Happy Birthday, Rab!
January 25th sees the birthday of Robert Burns; Scotland’s national bard (1759-1796). WHO??? I hear you ask. Well, even though he comes from a country you probably think is a prefecture of England (It’s NOT!) and wrote in `Auld Scots` tongue, he has had more influence than you might think………. For example, that song which you drunkenly sway to at midnight on New Year’s Eve was written by Burns and is called Auld Lang Syne (translation: Old Times). He also influenced some of the best authors of the 20th century: John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men took it’s title from a line in Burns’ poem To a Mouse (“The best laid plans of mice and men gang aft agley”) and J.D. Salinger`s title Catcher in the Rye also comes from the main character’s misreading of a Burns song `Comin Thro` the Rye`. So, on January 25th every year Scots celebrate Burns Night by getting their kilts on and reciting his poem ‘To a Haggis’ to (funnily enough!) a haggis, at Burns suppers all over the world! by Cat |
The Results are in!
And now what you’ve all been waiting for…………The results of the survey carried out by Haibara 3 members at the December staff meeting: The person who has visited the most countries is Jesse (30) Now that you know you can all sleep soundly again! |
Something to Look for in February 
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Superbowl Monday is February 4th - Giants vs. Pats
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Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, The Carnival is on February 5th.All company meeting on February 22nd in Shimada.
Flat Stanley Visits Japan
My friends Todd and Kerri have a son named Malcolm. Malcolm has a friend named Flat Stanley who, as his name implies, can be easily mailed so the cost is very reasonable for him to travel all around the world. Actually, Flat Stanley is really just a paper cutout that serves as a facilitating instrument to help children learn about geography and other cultures. It also serves to help school children learn responsibility, and the project is a good deal of fun to boot!
Flat Stanley came (was sent) all the way from Sydney, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, Canada to visit me in Japan so I took him to Tokyo to watch Sumo. He was fascinated by the traditional Japanese sporting event and was very pleased to see the famous Yokozunas Asashoryu and Hakuho strut their respective stuff in the dohyo. Flat Stanley also got to eat at a chanko-nabe (sumo stew) restaurant that was owned by a famous former sumo wrestler. The chanko-nabe was delicious and Flat Stanley had more than his fill. But he remained flat even after a big meal. He must have a very fast metabolism.
Lorna and I took Flat Stanley to Yui on the following weekend where we visited the famous Yui Art Gallery and took some pictures of the beautiful garden there. Yui is well known in Shizuoka for having the most dangerous part of the Old Tokaido Road, the Satta Passage. There are many other things Flat Stanley learned about Japan while he was here, including how friendly and kind people are, and how willing everyone is to share their culture with visitors from other countries. He also learned that Shizuoka Prefecture is well known for its mikan and green tea. He saw Mt. Fuji too as it was a beautiful, clear day when we went to Yui.
Flat Stanley got to ride the world famous Japanese bullet train and discovered that here in Japan we call it the Shinkansen. After all is said and done, Flat Stanley really enjoyed his visit and didn’t mind being stuffed into an envelope and mailed overseas again. He’s really quite the traveler and says he never suffers jet lag, altitude sickness, fear of flying or any of the other problems us fat people have to deal with. If anyone knows a kid who has a Flat Stanley project at school, I urge you to get involved. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing…no, that’s not it – Education is a serious tool…no, that’s not it either – The more you know…well, you know what I mean.
by Tony
Above, left: Dude! Totally NOT calypgian! Right: Jesse Does Canada!
There was no shortage of material for this month’s newsletter. A big thanks to all of you who contributed! For anyone who missed last month’s deadline, no worries, we’re accepting contributions for next month even as you read this.
Also I’d like to say congratulations to the LSU Tigers who beat Ohio State in the U.S. football college championship to become the number one team in the nation. Geaux Tigers!
And once again, Happy Mardi Gras to you all!
Peace and beads, the Editor
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