Sunday, June 7, 2009

University students turn into free Osaka guides

The Department of International Tourism at Hannan University is seeking foreign tourists to participate in their "Let's walk around Osaka" program to be held June 20, July 12 and 19.

With an aim of discovering unknown attractions in Osaka, undergraduate students studying under Professor Yoshihisa Muramatsu will conduct guided tours in English, Chinese and Korean for foreigners.

On June 20, participants will observe a traditional Japanese wedding in the neighborhood of Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Sumiyoshi Ward, Osaka, and then visit shops specializing in Japanese sweets and cutting knives in Sakai. On July 12, the focus of the tour will be the Hirano district in west Osaka and activities at Kumata Shrine's summer festival. On July 19, participants will visit the Korean town near JR Tsuruhashi Station to view its unique culture and a summer festival at Miyuki no Mori Shrine in the neighborhood.

Around 10 to 15 people will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Advance applications should be made via e-mail, with name, telephone number, e-mail address, tour date and the number of people applying.

The tours will be from 1 p.m. to around 4 p.m. Participants will meet their guides in the lobby of the Business Hotel Chuo, near the east exit of JR Shin Imamiya Station. Participants are required to pay transportation costs.

For applications and more information, send an e-mail message to the organizer at matsumuy@hannan-u.ac.jp

Forum on 'life design' to be held in Suita

An international research forum on life design will be held in Suita, Osaka, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 21.

The forum, titled "Amish Way of Living Together in the 21st Century: Mutual Help and International Cooperation," will be held in collaboration with the National Museum of Ethnology in Osaka and Shibunkaku Museum of Art in Kyoto. Talks will be in Japanese or English with simultaneous interpretation.

The venue is the auditorium of the National Museum of Ethnology, which is about 15-minute walk from Banpaku Kinen Koen Station on the Osaka Monorail Line. No admission fee or advance application is required, and 450 people will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

For further information, e-mail amish@idc.minpaku.ac.jp, go to www.minpaku.ac.jp/research/fr/090621.html or contact the organizer at (06) 6878-8290.

Japan-Turkey society to hold cartoon lecture

The Japan-Turkey Culture Society is hosting a lecture on Turkish cartoons in Sakyo Ward, Kyoto, from 2:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. on June 13.

Yoshiaki Yokota, chairman of Japan Chapter of Federation of European Cartoonists Organizations, will give a talk in Japanese on Turkish caricatures, which are considered by many as one of the characteristic works of Turkish culture.

Turkish wine and a light meal will be served. Participation is ¥2,000. Advance applications are required by phone, fax or e-mail by June 12.

The venue is Kyodai Kaikan, which is near Keihan Marutamachi Station.

For applications and more information, contact the organizer at (075) 255-7530 by phone or fax between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, or e-mail nitto@silk.plata.or.jp

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