Thursday, December 21, 2017

[LEISURE] Tourist Farms in Yokohama



There are many farms in Yokohama, and some are open to public. We can enjoy picking fruits such as strawberries, blueberries, Japanese pears, Kakis, satsumas etc... or digging out sweet potatoes.

Here is the list of farms (make use of some website translator):
http://www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/kankyo/nousan/midoriup/

These articles are on some of the farms we visited:
Yumegaoka Strawberry Farm
Iwasaki Fruit Farm 


Tuesday, December 19, 2017

[EVENT] Enjoy Japanese New Year 2018




Nanakusa Rice Soup at Yokomizo Old House (Tsurumi ward)


 


Nanakusa (seven herbs) rice soup is Japanese traditional food that they have on 7th January, to ease the stomach after the festive dishes of the New Year and to wish the health.

Sunday, January 7th, 11:00-13:00 (registration from 10:30)
100yen/serving

at Misono Park, Yokomizo Old House
http://qq2h4dy9n.wixsite.com/yokomizoyashiki/english-1

Nanakusa Rice Soup at Seseragi Park (Tsuzuki ward)




https://seseragiblog.wordpress.com
Sunday January 7th, 11:00-
100 yen/serving (100 servings)
17 Shin-ei-cho, Tsuzuki-ku, Yokohama (closest station: Nakamachi-dai, Blue Line)
Information not updated yet

Nanakusa Rice Soup and New Year Games (Sakae ward)

Monday, January 8th, 11:30-13:00 (registration from 11:15)
100 yen/serving (150 servings)
at Hongo Fujiyama Park (Old houses)
56-1, Nakano-cho, Sakae-ku, Yokoahama (closest station: Hongodai, JR Negishi Line)
http://www.hongofujiyama.jp
http://www.hongofujiyama.jp/newgyoji/nanakusagayu.JPG (the event poster in Japanese)

Nanakusa Rice Soup / Sweet Bean Soup at Nagayamon Park (Seya ward)



Nanakusa Rice Soup
Sunday, January 7th, 11:00-
100 yen/serving (100 servings)
Nagayamon Park (closest station: Mitsukyo, Sotetsu Line, 18min walk or bus)
http://nagayamonnkouen.la.coocan.jp

Sweet Bean Soup with Mochi rice cake
Japanese people decorate mochi (rice cake) during the New Year and then brake it down to eat in sweet bean soup around this day.

Thursday, January 11th, 11:00-
100 yen/serving (200 servings)
http://nagayamonnkouen.la.coocan.jp

Nanakusa Rice Soup at Tsuduki Minka-en (Tsuduki ward)

Sunday, January 7th, 11:00-12:00 (100 servings)
100 yen/serving
2 Odana-nishi, Tsuduki-ku, Yokohama (8min walk from Center Kita, Blue Line)
http://tminkaen.org/home-en (Home)
http://tminkaen.org/annual-events
http://tminkaen.org/events/event_1164?mc_id=1634 (in Japanese)


Kikuna Jinja Shrine (Kohoku ward)

January 7th 12:00-
http://www.kikunajinja.jp/gyouji/nanakusa.html
6-5-14 Kikuna, Kohoku-ku, Yokohama (3min from Kikuna Station)

Hodogaya International Lounge

Tea Ceremony Experience

You can enjoy a cup of green tea and Japanese confection.

Saturday, 27th January 14:30-16:00
at 3F Japanese Room, Iwama Shimin Plaza
1-7-15 Iwamacho, Hodogaya-ku, Yokohama (2min walk from Sotetsu Line Tennocho station or 10 min from JR Hodogaya station)

Free for non-Japanese people and 500 yen for Japanese people.
Please sign up by telephone, e-mail or at the counter.

http://www.hodogaya-kokusai.com/en/events-2/introducing-japanese-culture/

[HEALTH] Be Careful of Mosquito-borne Infections


*This is an announcement through YOKE.

If you are traveling to South Asia, South-East Asia, Central America or South America during the holidays, please read through this leaflet about mosquito-borne infections.


Happy holidays!

Monday, November 20, 2017

[EVENT] Christmas Fun in Yokohama 2017

 


Motomachi Twinkle Christmas 2017

http://www.motomachi.or.jp/event/twinkle2017.html
Green Charity Santa Claus
(you can donate some money and take a picture with the Green Santa)
December 9th, 10th, 16th, 17th, 23rd, 24th (weekends) at Plaza Deck

Double-Decker ride and exhibition
December 21st (THU)-25th (MON)
Motomachi: in front of CHARMY
Sakuragicho: Sakuragicho bus terminal 9

Red Brick Warehouse (Akarenga) Christmas Market 2017


https://www.yokohama-akarenga.jp/christmas2017/

Meet Santa Claus
December 1st, 5th, 7th, 12th, 14th, 18th, 20th, 22nd
(time and place unknown)

World Porters Fantastic Christmas 2017

https://www.yim.co.jp/christmas/

Meet Santa Claus
December 23rd-25th
1F 11:00-, 13:00-
5F 11:20-, 13:20-

Photo with Santa
12:00-, 15:00-
2F Kishamichi main gate
tickets available on the spot 60 minutes before each time, first 20 groups

Landmark Bright Christmas 2017

http://www.yokohama-landmark.jp/page/event/
Peter Rabbit Christmas Market

Yokohama Bay Quarter Christmas Village

http://www.yokohama-bayquarter.com/web/christmas-village/

Finnish Christmas Decoration workshop
for kids: November 26th 11:00- first 60 children (4 and older)
500 yen (free if you offer your work to BayQuarter for their decoration)
for adults: December 3rd  (reservation required, but you can join on the spot if there's a place)
500 yen  (free if you offer your work to BayQuarter for their decoration)
11:00-12:00, 13:00-14:00, 15:00-16:00

Outdoor Movie Show (17:00-)
16th: The Poler Express
17th: Notting Hill

Northport Mall (Center Kita)

http://northport.jp/eventnews/

December 24th, 11:00-, 14:00-, 17:00-
Greeting Santa, for first 60 groups each time (tickets available from 10:00-, Free)

Toysrus Meet Santa


!1:30-12:00, 13:00-13:30, 15:00-15:30, 16:00-16:30, 17:00-17:30
Check out the date of his visit at your local store:
https://www.toysrus.co.jp/event/CSfChristmassanta.jsp

[EVENT] IMCY Cooking Party December 2017


Sorry for the short notice and lack of images. The year 2017 is coming to the end and as everybody else, we are super busy!

We are going to have a Cooking Party. Please read the following information and if you wish to join us, please contact us by mail (go to Contact on this blog) or through Facebook.

Date: Saturday, December 2nd, 2017, 12:00-14:00
Venue: Furocho Chiiki Care Plaza 3F multi purpose room and kitchen
*You are supposed to take off your shoes at the entrance but you can bring in your stroller.
Fee: We'll split the cost of materials with participants (but it shouldn't be more than 500 yen/person)

What to cook: We are trying to fix it. We're thinking of Filipino Fruit salad, some Nepali dish, some Osechi (Japanese New Year meal) dish etc...

[Update] We are going to prepare fruit salad (Filipino), fried potatoes (Nepali) and Datemaki fish omelet (Japanese). Some members bring home-baked cakes such as pain d'epices (French gingerbread) and Stollen (German fruit cake). 

[Report] 
We had a great time cooking and eating foods together! We're going to have another cooking party soon! Please stay tuned!




Monday, November 6, 2017

[EVENT] IMCY Booth at Hodogaya International Festa 2017

This year, we are going to have an Aroma Slime Workshop for families!!
Please come visit our booth at the Hodogaya International Festa 2017.

Sunday, November 19th, 2017

at Iwama Shimin Plaza (2 min walk from Sotetsu Tennocho station or 10 min walk from JR Hodogaya station)

Hodogaya International Lounge
http://www.hodogaya-kokusai.com/en/first/page-1361/

Google Maps
https://goo.gl/maps/uapVhVHskPS2

Our booth will be on the 4th floor and starts at 11AM as usual!





Tuesday, October 10, 2017

[Report] Recycling and Garbage workshop in Hodogaya 2017

The international mothers' gathering in Hodogaya, named Piccolo, held a workshop on recycling and garbage separation at Iwama Shimin Plaza. The officers of the department of environment and resources of the city of Yokohama came to explain how to separate the garbage.


もやすごみ(moyasu gomi) is burnable garbage. You can see plastic items in the photo: plastic wrappings are recyclable, but plastic items are not (for the moment in Yokohama). You can also see a yogurt cup, a noodle cup and laundry powder box: they are marked "paper" 紙(kami)but the paper  containers used for food and detergent etc. (,which are considered to be dirty) cannot be recycled. Also, a milk carton with aluminum inside cannot be collected as "Recyclable Paper". However, many supermarkets collect them to recycle. 


]

プラスチック製容器包装(plastic sei youki housou) is a plastic wrapping. Just wrappings, so the plastic bag that contains a straw is recyclable, but the straw itself is burnable garbage even if it is made of plastic. The plastic label wrapped around a plastic bottle drink is a plastic wrapping, so remove it from the bottle along with the cap, and the bottle goes to No.3 below. 


かん びん ペットボトル (cans, glass bottles and plastic bottles)
They are collected on the same day as small metal articles. You can put cans, glass bottles, and plastic bottles in the same bag when you throw them away. However, metallic bottle caps are "small metal articles", so remove them and throw them away as "small metal articles" in a separated bag.


Paper and old cloths. You can put them out on a rainy day, too. Even if it is written "紙(paper)", paper food containers etc. cannot be included in this category. 







The gifts for the participants: garbage bags and handkerchiefs. 
Thank you very much!!!



[EVENT] IMCY Events in October-December 2017

Here're the official events and workshops held by IMCY team in Oct-Dec 2017 term.


1) Aroma Slime Making Trial
October 23rd (MON) 10:00-11:00
at 4F Clean Center building in Minatomirai
(Yokohama Citizens Empowerment Center)

Fee: Free
Registration Required. Please go to Contact and send e-mail to IMCY admin team with your name, contact and the age of your children if you bring any. No babysitter attending, so please watch your children.
Deadline: October 20th (FRI)












2) Hodogaya International Festa 2017
November 19th (SUN) 11:00-15:00
at 4F Iwama Shimin Plaza

IMCY team is going to have a booth as always. We are going to sell handmade/imported/second-hand items and having the Aroma Slime Workshop (the material cost will be charged).

*The workshop will be closed at 14:30~45. You don't need to make a reservation but since our time and material are limited, please come early to have a seat!

There are many more attractions, food stands and performances.

3) IMCY Cooking party
December 2nd (SAT) 12:00-14:00
at Furocho Chiiki Care Plaza
3F multi-purpose room and kitchen

We haven't decided what to cook yet, but something for the festive season.

Registration required. Please go to Contact and send us email (your name, children's age, number of your company, your contact and allergy information).



Thursday, September 28, 2017

[EVENT] Halloween in Yokohama 2017



Yamate

Yokohama Yamate Halloween Walk 2017
http://www.hama-midorinokyokai.or.jp/yamate-seiyoukan/event/
29th (SUN) 10:00-16:00
Halloween Stamp trail and costume contest etc.
Halloween decorations at Yamate Western Houses 21st to 31st


Royal Wing DJ Halloween Cruise
from 28th to 31st
Dinner cruise 17:00-18:50,  19:30-21:20
Men: 7500 yen/person  Women: 6500/person
Elementary schooler: 3500 yen, preschooler: 1500 yen
(boarding ticket, buffet and welcome drink included)
https://www.royalwing.co.jp/event/halloween.php

Motomachi Halloween 2017

29th Dog Halloween(first 50 groups)
13:15- Dog seminar
15:00- Dog parade (reg. from 13:00 at event desk)
31st Kids Halloween  16:00-
https://www.motomachi.or.jp/event/halloween2017.html

Minatomirai


Mitsubishi Minatomirai Museum
http://www.mhi.co.jp/museum/index.html
28th - 30th, admission free if you are in Halloween costumes
Halloween craft workshops (charged)


World Porters Surprise Halloween 2017
October 28th (SAT)
Costume Parade with Sylvanian Families
12:10- from Nippon Maru Memorial Park
First 100 kids (2-12 years old)

Halloween Rally
11:00-16:00
Trick or Treating (costumed, under 12 y-olds only)

Yokohama

Yokohama Bay Quarter Halloween

http://www.yokohama-bayquarter.com/page/event/#550

Kids Halloween Parade

October 22nd (SUN)
0~1 y-olds 11:30-
2~6 y-olds 14:30-
about 50 groups each


Shin Yokohama

Halloween Festival Jack O Land 2017
http://www.jack-o-land.com
21st and 22nd at Yokohama Arena
Ticket free for preschoolers and younger, 1200 yen (1000 yen for Yokohama residents) for elementary to adult


Kawasaki Halloween 2017

October 28th
-Halloween Kids Parade (registration required, free of charge)

October 29th
-Halloween Parade (ticket required ¥1000, 2500 people, elementary school and up, 13:30-14:45)
and more!
http://lacittadella.co.jp/halloween/

Wednesday, September 6, 2017

[LESSON] Japanese Culture Lessons for Everyone みんなの日本文化教室

"Minnna no Nihon Bunka Kyoshitu" is an organization that provides Japanese culture lessons almost every month based in Kanazawa ward.


Their lessons are open for everyone, no matter where you are from or what language you speak. The lesson is conducted mostly in Japanese, so it would be great if you speak basic Japanese, but they're hands-on lessons, so you don't really have to speak Japanese (of course, basic English should be necessary to communicate with others). 

The founder of the organization is a professional Kimono dresser in Yokohama. She wants to provide a lot of opportunities to casually learn and experience Japanese tradition and culture. 

Here's the summery of each event in 2017 term:

[SEPTEMBER]

How to put on Yukata (summer kimono) like real kimono

September 19th (TUE) 10:30AM-1:30PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

It’s the end of the Yukata season. Why don’t we try to wear it like real kimono?
*Yukata is a simplified version of kimono for summer.
We’ll prepare a collar for yukata together and then you will learn how to put on yukata and tie the obi belt. 

Fee: 1000 yen

What to bring: Yukawa, 5 kimono cords, 2 towels, geta sandals, tabi socks, a tenugui clothe, a collar core, a sewing set, an obishime cord or some decorative cord, a hadajuban (top underwear for kimono) or a camisole, a susoyoke (bottom underwear like petticoat) or leggings, and something to tie your hair

[OCTOBER]

Tsumami Zaiku (pinch-craft) workshop


October 4th (WED) 10:30AM -12:30 PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

We are going to make two flower pins (or hairpins). They are perfect accessories for occasions when you wear kimono, or even for your bags.

We invite a special Tsumami craft artist as an instructor. 

Fee: 2000 yen

[NOVEMBER]

Easy Do-It-Yourself Japanese traditional hair dressing


November 8th (WED) 10:30AM-12:30PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

We are going to learn how to dress your hair in the traditional Japanese way from the teacher who runs a Japanese cafe and spends most of the time wearing kimono.

Fee: 500 yen

What to bring: a comb, a mirror, and some Japanese hair accessories 

[DECEMBER]

Furisode Try-On


December 4th (MON) 10:30AM-12:30PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

Furisode is a very formal kimono for single women. Even native Japanese people have less opportunity to wear it. This time, no matter if you’re married or not, let’s try on Furisode!

Fee: For those who want to wear Furisode 500 yen
For those who want to put Furisode on others 500 yen

What to bring: Those who want to wear Furisode: tabi socks, 3 towels, a hadajuban underwear or camisole, and a susoyoke underwear or leggings (a set of Furisode if you have)
Those who want to put Furisode on others: a set of Furisode

[JANUARY]

Learn from a professional! How to prepare Delicious O-nigiri rice balls and Miso soup

January 21st (SUN) 10:30AM-12:30PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

The very basic of Japanese home cuisine: O-nigiri rice balls and miso soup!
How do they prepare them, the professionals?

We are going to prepare brown rice onigiris and miso soup with veggies. 

Fee: 1000 yen

What to bring: an apron, a sling (for hair), a hand towel, and a washcloth *you will be asked 200 yen if you forget to bring towels


[FEBRUARY]

Hakama Try-On


February 23rd (FRI) 10:30AM-12:30PM
at Kanagawa Chiku Center

Hakama is a sort of skirt version of kimono. It’s easier to move. 

Fee: For those who wear Hakama 500 yen
For those who want to put hakama on others 500 yen

What to bring: Those who wear hakama: tabs socks, 3 towels, a hadajuban underwear or a camisole, and a susoyoke underwear or leggings

Those who want to put hakama on others: a set of Hakama (feel free to ask us if you don’t have any)



Tuesday, September 5, 2017

[SHOPPING] Mammies Hours Project

We would like to introduce you Mommies Hours Project, which is for sick children and their family and friends.

Official website:
https://www.mammies-hours.com/home-english
FB page
https://www.facebook.com/mammieshours/

Here's the message from the founder (English translation follows):




自身の経験をもとに、市販されていないカテーテルケースを販売しています。I am selling CV catherter cases, which are not sold at stores, through my own experience.

マミーズアワーズショップは、病気と闘う子どもたちと家族を応援するショッピングサイトです。市販で流通していないカテーテルケースを始め、長期療養が必要な子どもたちの生活の中で、現状保護者が手作りで制作するほかないものをクローズアップして販売しています。
Mommies Hours Shop is an online shopping site to support children fighting against sickness and their families. I am selling items like CV catheter cases, which are not easily found at stores, and items that necessary for sick children who need long treatment, but caretakers have to make by themselves in the current situation (where they can't find any at stores).



子どものお見舞い品について
About gifts for sick kids
マミーズアワーズショップでカテーテルケースをお買い求めいただくお客様のほとんどが、長期療養を余儀なくされているお子様の保護者の方々です。
マミーズアワーズショップの提案する「子供のお見舞い品」は、子供が闘病したからこそ気づいた本当に欲しいものを提案しています。
患児を持つ家族以外の「優しい誰か」からプレゼントしてあげていただきたいなと考えております。

収益金の一部を病気と闘う子どもたちと家族が宿泊する施設に寄付します。・・・「ちょっとだけ、だけど・・・ずっと」をキャッチフレーズに、長いスパンでこの活動を行えたらと考えております。
Most of the customers who purchase the catheter cases at Mommies Hours Shop are caretakers of sick children who have to get through long treatment. 
I propose "gifts for sick kids", that I found really helpful through my experience with sick children. I also donate a part of the profit to lodging facilities for sick children and their family. I would like to continue this project under a motto "A little bit (of time and effort)...but for good". 


*様々な方面にバックアップなどの協力要請をしましたが、現状個人で運営するほか方法がなく、息子の闘病中に病院にて個人でサイトを制作し、このマミーズアワーズプロジェクトを立ち上げました。当サイトはサイト制作や写真撮影、商品制作に至るまで、すべて個人で行っております。(縫製作業スタッフ1名のみ在籍しております)。

Although I asked around support in various fields, there's no way but to run the project by myself at the moment. I created the website alone at the hospital where my son had medical treatment and started this Mommies Hours Project. The updates, photo shooting and production of the items are all done by one person, except for a sewing crew.