[LESSON] Japanese Cooking Class (Bento) For Non-Japanese People

Yokohama Madoka Group, a Yokohama based volunteer group to provide support and friendship to people from other countries, will hold a Japanese cooking class for non-Japanese people.

Date: May 30th (Sat) , 10:30-13:00
Place: Ooka Community Center (Minami Sports Center) Cooking Room (2F)
Fee: 600 yen (including bento box)
To apply: email to Madoka Group.
No children allowed.


Please read the flyer (PDF) for more information.

[IMCY ACTIVITY REPORT] A Session at Yokohama Minatomirai Nursery

IMCY had a cultural session at Yokohama Minatomirai Nursery in mid-March, 2015.

Four mothers from Indonesia, India, Hong Kong and Myanmar made a short presentation on their country and culture in front of the children aged 3-6 years old at the hall of the nursery.

"How long does it take to fly from Japan to Indonesia?" "What is this animal?"

There are various animals there! And it's hot so we need to wear a hat.

The symbols and specialties of India...
There are three national festivals. Some kids said "The rhino has two horns!". But the rhinos in India has only one horn!














"This is the flag of Hong Kong. How many petals does this flower have? What's this flower?"
Some said "I have been there!" Kids learned how to say Thank you in Cantonese.

It's hot in Myanmar. On the New Year's Day, they sprinkle water on people to wash down the bad things. There are also some special foods and anti-suntanning cream.

Children and teachers enjoyed the cultural session very much. The eldest students learned national flags so they soon recognized the countries looking at the flags. Some said they have been to the country before. We found many interesting facts about these countries.

We would like to show our deep gratitude to the volunteer moms from IMCY, the principal of the Yokohama Minatomirai Nursery and the members of Nishi ward welfare council who coordinated the session.

[REPORT] Omocha no Hako Flat Kids Concert

I visited the Omocha no Hako Flat Kids Concert at Yokohama-shi Seishonen Koryu Center (Youth Exchange Center of the city of Yokohama) near Nogeyama Zoo. 

It was the last concert in 2014 season and there were many families with young children. Omocha no Hako members played various music and songs from classic music to Japanese songs. Chidren also played music together with little musical instruments. 

Children were rather calm when there was a music! I heard some sang together. I think they liked the music. 

Here is the schedule of the Flat Kids Concert in 2015 season.

1. April 24th (FRI) 10:30-11:30  Season's songs, finger play, craft, etc.

2. May 22nd (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Kids' Concert

3. June 26th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Season's songs, finger play, craft, etc.

4. July 24th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Season's songs, finger play, craft, etc.

5. September 25th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Kids' Concert

6. October 30th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Halloween Party

7. Nover 27th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Season's songs, finger play, craft, etc.

8. December 18th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Kids' Christmas concert

2016

9. January 22nd (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Season's songs, finger play, craft, etc.

10. February 26th (FRI) 10:30-11:30 Kids' Concert

*Reservation by telephone to Yokohama-shi Seishonen Koryu Center (045-241-0673/ FAX 045-242-0959), from the 20th of the previous month of each concert.

Charge: ¥500/family each time

Target: Babies and toddlers (Pre-K) and their caretaker(s). First 15 families.

*Some members speak English or other foreign language(s). 

They also have a lunch concert on 4th Thursday at Seikatsu Sozo Kukan Nishi. 

12:00-12:25 and 12:50-13:15

Free of charge and you can come with a stroller. It's a baby-friendly place.

Please check out their blog

http://ameblo.jp/omochanohako-nishiku/

and our previous post on them.

Basic rules at their concert

-When you need to leave the room, please do during the interval.

It's natural that babies and kids start to cry or get noisy. If you need to leave the room, please do during the interval unless your child(ren) cries too loud for musicians to continue playing.

-No food and no drinks in the room.

Please feed your child(ren) (and/or yourself) outside the room when necessary. 

[MUSIC] Music Group "Omocha no Hako" : Concerts for Young Kids

"Omocha no Hako（おもちゃのはこ）"is a group of music teachers or musicians found in Nishi ward in 2005. They hold mainly classic music concerts with piano, violin and vocal for people from all age groups (0 year old to elderly). You can come with your baby and don't have to leave even when your baby started to cry. They can also arrange a visit concert to your place, school etc. Please send e-mail to them for more information.

Here is their blog:
http://ameblo.jp/omochanohako-nishiku/

And their coming concerts are:

Seikatsu Sozo Kukan Nishi Lunch Concert by Omocha no Hako vol.61
1F Lobby
14-40 Hamamatsu-cho, Nishi-ku
One minute on food from Nishi Yokohama Station, Sotetsu Line
February 26th, 2015
First part: 12:00-12:25
Second part: 12:50-13:15
Admission Free
Babies and toddlers welcome. You bring in your stroller.



Flat Kids Concert "A New Spring is Coming"
Yokohama-shi Seishonen Koryu Center (Free Flat Nogeyama)
2F Music Room
25 Oimatsu-cho, Nishi-ku
Charge: 500 yen (free for elementary school students and under)
Target: Preschool kids
Reservation required. Closed when it's full.
Signing in by telephone (Seishonen Koryu Center: 045-241-0673)

[ACTIVITY REPORT] Deko Maki Sushi and Wagashi Workshop December 2014

IMCYは、12月11日に、デコ巻き寿司&和菓子ワークショップを開催しました。今回も西地区センターの調理室をお借りしての開催となりました。(この活動は「にこまち助成金」の交付を受けています。)　今回は、前半にデコ巻き寿司、続いて和菓子という2本立てで、初めての試みでした。

IMCY held a Deko Maki Sushi & Wagashi (Japanese confection) workshop on December 11th, 2014 at Nishi Chiku Center. This activity was supported by Nikomachi Subsidy. This time we learned the Deko Maki Sushi in the first half and then wagashi in the latter half, and it was our first experience to have two sessions at one time.

デコ巻き寿司はペンギン、そして和菓子は雪だるま（スノーマン）を作りました。これらの柄は、IMCYのFacebook groupにおけるメンバーの投票によって選ばれたものです。

We learned Penguin face sushi and Snowman-shaped wagashi. These two motifs were chosen by the IMCY Facebook members by voting.

調理室には小さい子どもが入れないということもあり、別室保育にて行われました。参加者の皆さんが、同じ調理台の人たちとおしゃべりをしながら、楽しそうに作っていらしたのがとても印象的です。

Children were with babysitters in the room next-door, which was also because young children are not allowed in the kitchen. Participants seemed to enjoy making sushi and wagashi and chatting with people at the same table.

今回ご協力いただきました保育ボランティアの皆さん、IMCYスタッフそして参加者の皆さんに感謝申し上げます。

We would like to show our deep gratitude to the babysitting volunteers, IMCY staff and participants of the workshop.

[EVENT] Setsubun Bean Throwing at Temples and Shrines

February 3rd is called Setsubun (節分) and people throw soy beans to drive away devils (bad lucks) out of their house. You can find the beans and devil masks easily at stores in January.

People also eat a long sushi roll called Eho-maki (恵方巻き) on that day, too. It seems to be a tradition of West Japan but now is common in all over Japan.

Many temples and shrines have Setsubun bean throwing event on February 3rd. Here is a list of picked-up temples and shrines in and around Yokohama.

*There will be a lot of people so please be careful if you join with your young children.
These events maybe canceled or changed. Please check out your local temple/shrine, too.

Iseyama Kotaijingu Shrine (Sakuragicho,Yokohama)

Website (Japanese)

14:00-

Shinmeisha Shrine (Hodogaya, Yokohama)

Website (Japanese)

Event poster (Japanese)

15:30-

Soji-ji Temple (Tsurumi, Yokohama)

Website

Event poster (Japanese)

Gate open at 10:00, starts at noon.

Hozoin Temple (Totsuka, Yokohama)

English page (event)

Seto Jinja Shirine (Kanazawa Hakkei, Yokohama)

Website (Japanese)

15:00-

Kawasaki Daishi (Kawasaki)

English page
Setsubun event (Japanese)
11:30-, 14:00-, 16:30-

Enoshima Shrine (Kamakura)

Website (Japanese)
12:30-

Ofuna Kannon (Ohuna/Kamakura)

Website (Japanese)
*CAUTION: They have the event on February 1st.
There will be some famous guests and they may limit the admission if there are too many visitors. The gate opens around noon and starts around 14:00.


And also at old traditional houses

Yokomizo House (Yokohama)

English page
No details on the page but it seems the event started around 15:00 in the previous years.

[EVENT] Nanakusa gayu events on January 7th

Traditionally, Japanese people eat nanakusa (seven herbs) rice porridge on January 7th.

Check out what it looks like on the Wikipedia (in Japanese).

Nanakusa kayu (rice porridge) is served at some parks where old houses are preserved on that day.

Misono Park Yokomizo Yashiki (house) in Tsurumi
http://www.yokomizoyashiki.net/English/index.html

*No detail for this year is updated but it was for first 500 people at ¥100, started at 10:30 last year.

Hongo Fujiyama Park in Sakae
http://www.k5.dion.ne.jp/~h_fuji_p/renew-gyouji-table/26-gyouji-table.html#nanakusa

Nanakusa gayu and some games of New Year season.
First 100 people ¥100. 11:30-13:00 in front of the old house.

Tuzuki Minka en (in the Iseki Park near Center Kita) in Tuzuki
http://tminkaen.org/?p=5787
First 100 people, ¥100. 11:00-12:00. Dance performance.