Lesson 10: Summary Writing

The name of my hometown is Utsunomiya city. Utsunomiya city is in center of Tochigi prefecture. There are 518 thousand people in this city. It has 416 square meters of land. Tochigi, which has Utsunomiya city, in Kanto region, next to Gunma. It is the east part of Japan.

There is no airport, so people often use Utsunomiya station. There is Shinkansen, so you can easily go to a big city such as Tokyo, Kanagawa and Saitama. The nearest airport is Narita international airport. But the distance is 151km. People use Shinkansen or airport bus to go to there. I recommend taking the airport bus because there is no need to change buses.

There is a new thing about transportation. Its name is LRT. It means that Light Rail Transit. It is called “new generation streetcar”. Unlike a bus, it runs on exclusive rails, so there is no delay like a bus. This will make us easier to move around. The construction will be completed around August 2021. I look forward to the completion.

  Utsunomiya city is famous for Gyoza. It called Utsunomiya Gyoza. There are lot of Gyoza restaurant just in front of the station. I will explain it later.

Lesson 9: Travel Plan

I have two plans of the travel in Utsunomiya city.

The date of first plan is the August 15th. On the day, we are going to go to eat Gyoza and watch fireworks. We meet at Utsunomiya station at 15:55. From east side of the station, we go to Utsunomiya Gyoza Kan from 16 o’clock on foot. We can eat six dumplings for 310 yen. There is a menu written in English, so foreigners can be comfortable to eat dumplings. After that, we go back to Utsunomiya station and take a bus at 17:20. We get off the bus at Yanagita Syako bus stop and arrive at Dojojuku Green Space in about 20 minutes on foot. We take part in Utsunomiya Fireworks Festival in there. We can eat rainbow ice cream at a stand too. After the festival ended, we take a bus at 20:35 and arrive at Utsunomiya station at 21:15. You may be tired because the start of this travel is relatively later, but it will be precious memory.

 The date of second plan is November 7^th. We are going to go to Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival and Hachiman-Yama Park. We meet at Utsunomiya station at 11:15 am. We take a bus at 11:30 and get off the bus at Utsunomiya city office bus stop and arrive at Utsunomiya Castle Park at 12 o’clock. We take part in Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival in there. We will stay there for about three hours. At 15:30, we leave there. We take a bus at 15:39 and arrive at East Prefecture office bus stop at 15:49. We enjoy Hachi-yama Park from 16 o’clock to 17:30. After that, we take a bus at 17:49 and arrive at Utsunomiya station at 18:00.

Lesson 8: Description #3 and #4

③Utsunomiya Gyoza

Utsunomiya City is famous for Gyoza.

I will introduce the history. The reason why Utsunomiya city is famous for Gyoza is that the 14^th division brought and spread it from China to Utsunomiya when they stay in China. After that, Utsunomiya Gyoza Kai was started in 1993. It was comprised of 38 Gyoza shops in the beginning. At present, it is comprised of about 80 Gyoza shops.

Those 80 shops are, for example, Umaiya, Masashi and Chuka Tonton.

One of Umaiya is in west side of Utsunomiya station. It takes no more time than 1 minute from the station. It sells Gyoza for 360 yen for six. It also sells Senbei made of a Gyoza wrapper. It is an original menu of Umaiya.

Masashi is in Komanyu town of Utsunomiya city. It takes about 14 minutes by car from Utsunomiya station. It sells Gyoza for 250 yen for six. Masashi is loved by local people. The size of Gyoza is small, but there are a lot of cabbage in it, so it has filling.

Chuka Tonton is in east side of Utsunomiya station. It takes about 5 minutes by car from Utsunomiya station. It sells Gyoza for 450 yen for five. You may think that this value is a little expensive, but Tonton’s Gyoza is big. It is called “Jumbo Gyoza”. I have eaten it. It is so big, that I can’t eat a lot. I recommend that you eat it with your family.

There are many other Gyoza shops in Utsunomiya. Why don’t you go with your family or friends?

④Hachiman-yama park

In Utsunomiya city, there is a park called Hachiman-Yama Park. It is in west side town of Utsunomiya station, Hanawada. And It takes 10 minutes by car from Utsunomiya station. It has Utsunomiya Tower, Adventure U, Adventure Bridge, Animal House and Go-cart.

Utsunomiya Towerlooks like Tokyo Tower. The body color is red and white. We can see beautiful scenery from the observation platform. The fee is 190 yen in case of adult and 90 yen in case of elementary school or junior high school student. However, children who go to a school in this city can use it for free at any time. We can use it for free on April 1^st, May 5^th, June 15^th, November 23rd. Those days are national holiday. April 1^st is Utsunomiya citizen day.

Adventure U looks like a park. There are a lot of playground equipment such as long slide. We can enjoy anytime.

Adventure Bridge is Number one mono-storm steel suspended slab bridge of Japan. The length of this bridge is 152.2 meters. The higher is about 30 meters. The width is 1.5 ~ 4.0 meters. The view from there is very beautiful and I recommend it as a photo spot.

In the animal house, there are some animal. For example, peacock, Japanese lemur, raccoon, rabbit and so on.

In addition, there is a go-cart. Children from 3 to 15 years old can ride it. There are three kinds of usage fees. In the 140-yen course, you can ride for one lap. In the 650-yen course you can ride for five laps. In the 1,400-yen course, you can ride for eleven laps. The larger the number of turns, the cheaper the price per lap becomes.

Please visit Hachiman-Yama Park, which has many fun things.

Lesson 8: Revised Description #1 and #2

#1. Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival

Utsunomiya city is famous for Dumpling. It is called “Gyoza” in Japanese. There are a lot of Gyoza shop in Utsunomiya city such Minmin, Masashi, Chuka Tonton, etc. There are many kind of Gyoza such a Yaki Gyoza, Sui Gyoza and Soup Gyoza. Yaki Gyoza is the most basic type of Gyoza.

In this city, a certain festival is held. Its name is Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival. It is held at Utsunomiya Joushi park on first Saturday and Sunday of November. On the day, a lot of Gyoza shops and restaurants come to sell their Gyoza. Gyoza, which usually be sold for 253 yen for six, are sold here for 100 yen for three. It is very reasonable price. You can eat delicious Gyoza at a discount, and also compare with each other Gyoza, so you can find the shop which the most delicious shop or restaurant of yours. By the way, I like Chuka Tonton’s Gyoza.

In this year, it was cancelled because of Corona virus. But this year, it was held online. I hope we can hold it next year in this real world.

Moreover, the venue, Utsunomiya Joushi Park, which is a five-minute drive westward from the Utsunomiya station, has a lot of places you should visit nearby. The first is Former Shinohara family residence. It is an important cultural property of the city. Its entrance fee is 100 yen. We can see old telephone there. The second is Futa-arayama shrine. It has a long stone steps and Kojinsya. At Kojinsya, there is a god who calms the plague. You can go to these spots on foot. Why don’t you visit once to hope that the corona virus will subside. By the way, the entrance fee is free.

I got off the subject, but Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival has various charms, so please come and join us!

#2. Utsunomiya Fireworks Festival

Utsunomiya City also has Utsunomiya Fireworks Festival.

This festival has a history. It was held first in 1984 as “’84 Tochigi haku Kinu river Fireworks Festival” by local companies. However, it was cancelled since 2004 due to worsening local economic conditions in 2003. Local people are disappointed with this. In 2007, local volunteer committee was formed to revive the fireworks festival. It is very rare. The start members of the committee were originally made up of very few people, but gradually it grew in number and activity increased. In 2012, they set up an NPO corporation, Utsunomiya 100 years Hanabi (Fireworks).

This festival is held at Kinugawa river. It can be watched from not only the venue but also other places. Sometimes I watched it from my home. Fire works are launched with some music. Various genres of music popular in that year are played there. I was moved by it. I hope you enjoy it.

Last year, about 410,000 people came to this festival. In this year, because of corona virus, it was held online instead of actual spot from August 1^st to September 30th. This event called “Ouchi Hanabi” in Japanese. People shoot their movies or photos which contain their stories about fireworks, and upload to SNS like Twitter, Instagram and so on. A present will be sent to the winner. What is more, the organization present fireworks kit to children or local government that can’t play with fireworks because of various reasons.

In this corona virus society, we can’t go to fireworks festival but can enjoy fireworks in each home. It is over this year, but why don’t you participate in it next year?

Lesson 7: Description #1 and #2

#1. Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival

Utsunomiya city is famous for Dumpling. It is called “Gyoza” in Japanese. There are a lot of Gyoza shop in Utsunomiya city such Minmin, Masashi, Chuka Tonton, etc.

In this city, a certain festival is held. Its name is Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival. It is held at Utsunomiya Joushi park on first Saturday and Sunday of November. On the day, a lot of Gyoza shops and restaurants come to sell their Gyoza. They sell three Gyoza for 100 yen. It is very reasonable price. You can eat delicious Gyoza at a discount, and also compare with each other Gyoza, so you can find the shop which the most delicious shop or restaurant of yours. By the way, I like Chuka Tonton’s Gyoza.

In this year, it was cancelled because of Corona virus. But this year, it was held online. I hope we can hold it next year in this real world.

Moreover, the venue, Utsunomiya Joushi Park has a lot of places you should visit nearby. The first is Former Shinohara family residence. It is an important cultural property of the city. Its entrance fee is 100 yen. We can see old telephone there. The second is Futa-arayama shrine. It has a long stone steps and Kojinsya. At Kojinsya, there is a god who calms the plague. You can go to these spots on foot. Why don’t you visit once to hope that the corona virus will subside.

I got off the subject, but Utsunomiya Gyoza Festival has various charms, so please come and join us!

#2. Utsunomiya Fireworks Festival

Utsunomiya City also has Utsunomiya Fireworks Festival.

This festival has a history. It was held first in 1984 as “’84 Tochigi haku Kinu river Fireworks Festival” by local companies. However, it was cancelled since 2004 due to worsening local economic conditions in 2003. Local people are disappointed with this. In 2007, local volunteer committee was formed to revive the fireworks festival. It is very rare. The start members of the committee were originally made up of very few people, but gradually it grew in number and activity increased. In 2012, they set up an NPO corporation, Utsunomiya 100 years Hanabi (Fireworks).

This festival is held at Kinugawa river. It can be watched from not only the venue but also other places. Sometimes I watched it from my home. Fire works are launched with some music. I was moved by it. I hope you enjoy it.

In this year, because of corona virus, it was held online instead of actual spot from August 1^st to September 30th. This event called “Ouchi Hanabi” in Japanese. People shoot their movies or photos which contain their stories about fireworks, and upload to SNS like Twitter, Instagram and so on. A present will be sent to the winner. What is more, the organization present fireworks kit to children or local government that can’t play with fireworks because of various reasons.

In this corona virus society, we can’t go to fireworks festival but can enjoy fireworks in each home. It is over this year, but why don’t you participate in it next year?

Lesson 6: List of four sources

①（Event） Utsunomiya fireworks festival…use the website( https://www.utsunomiya-hanabi.jp/ )

②（Event） Utsunomiya Gyoza festival…use the website( https://www.tochigiji.or.jp/gourmet/7769/ )

③（Food） Utsunomiya Gyoza…use the website( https://www.gyozakai.com/ )

④（Place） Hachiman-yama Park…use the website( https://hatimanyama.jp/ )

Lesson 5: Multigenre research writing

①The concept

“Genre” means that a particular type or style of literature, art, film or music that you can recognize because of its special features. (from Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary 9^th edition) The travel brochure we are trying to make seems to require two genres.

The first is poetry style. It contains the feelings, impressions, emotions. These makes readers want to go to the place. This one occupies half of the elements of the brochure.

The half of rest is an explanatory part. Travel brochure needs the description of travel spots. They describe some charm, history and so on. When the reader understands them, they want to go to the place. This is the half of them.

Therefore, we should combine some genre research well about my hometown.

②Poem

My town, Utsunomiya.

When I back to there, I feel nostalgia.

Why do I feel so? I don’t know.

But, there is atmosphere. Nostalgic atmosphere.

Lesson 4: Reading Assignments

①Reflection(Unit 8)

We discussed first about “Who is the person you think that have Samurai Spirit?” It is so hard question for us, but one of the members said that the person is Cristiano Ronaldo. I am not familiar with soccer player, so I did not come up with this idea.

Second is “What is Samurai Spirit? Please describe in your words.” I think it is the spirit to continue. Trying hard is one of the important things to improve your skill. This word is generally used for sports player. But these days, this word is not used for women player. I think the word can be used for women.

②Reflection(Unit 9)

We discussed first about “What is your favorite animation?” I like Haikyu!, Bungo Stray dogs and Demon Slayer (Kimetsu no Yaiba). The characters of these works are fascinating. The story is interesting. Kimetsu no Yaiba’s theme is “Family”. It attracts a lot of people. It is the reason why Kimetsu no Yaiba is so popular.

 Second, “Have you ever learned something from Animation?” I have learned from Bungo Stray Dogs. Some characters with the name of literary masters appear in the work. They use supernatural power which have the name of work. For example, Dazai Osamu has a power called Ningen Sikkaku, Human disqualification in English. I learned about these knowledge from comic. Reading comic is useful to learn something.

Lesson 3: Reading Assignments

① Reflection (Unit 5)

We discussed about two themes.

First theme is “what Japanese food do you recommend?” I want to recommend Yuba. Yuba is made in Nikko, Tochigi prefecture. I like it so much. The texture is soft and smooth like a silk.　One of my group member said Tempura soba. It contains two foods, Tempura and Soba. Tempura is shrimp or vegetable battered with flour and fried in oil. Both two foods are so healthy and delicious. I recommend this too.

 Second theme is “How should we appeal Japanese foods to foreigners?” My opinion is to make foreign dishes using the ingredients used in Japanese food. By appealing the taste that foreigners can get familiar with can be reproduced with the ingredients used in Japanese food, I thought it would be also attractive to them.

②Reflection (Unit 6)

We discussed about two themes.

First, “Have you ever seen Kabuki?” In fact, I have never seen Kabuki. I’m not interested in it when I was a little child. But now, I want to see it. Other members have seen Kabuki when they were junior high school student. They said it was one of classes.

Second, “Do you know Kabuki with modern technology?” I know only one Kabuki. That title is “Konjyaku Kyouen Senbonzakura”. In addition to Kabuki actor Nakamura Shido, Vocaloid Hatune Miku appeared in the work. It has relation with the vocaloid song, “Senbonzakura”. The interaction between Vocaloid and human on the stage was refleshing.

③Summary(Unit 10)

In the hot spring in Japan, Christine was surprised that Japanese enter a hot spring without wearing anything, while in many other countries offer benefits, people usually enjoy hot springs in a bathing suit.

 Hot springs across the world soothe away our fatigue and refresh us. They are rich in minerals and are surrounded by beautiful natural scenery, which reduces stress.

 The manner of entering a hot spring in Japan, however, significantly differs from that in other countries. A small towel is the only item people are allowed to take to the bath area, but they do not soak it in the bath. There are more rules in Japanese hot spring.

 Hot springs have long promoted health and helped to heal the hearts and minds of people around the world.

Lesson 2: Reading Assignments

①(about Unit 2)

We discussed about what the heart pillar could be used for. Each of the members said that it could be used for a huge statue of Buddha, houses and a radio tower. These structures are should be stronger than other buildings. There are various reasons. The most important one of those reasons is that they have some important role. A huge statue of Buddha has the role of showing a historical symbol. Houses have the role of protecting people from the rain and wind. The radio tower has the role of transmitting radio waves from television and radio. The heart pillar, called shinbashira in Japanese, is usually used high structures. I hope that this technology will continue to support Japanese architecture.

①(about Unit 3)

We discussed why people don’t get to wear Kimono. We have come up with two ideas. First, it is expensive. When I look Furisode for Coming-of-age Day, I was surprised that price. But, this expensiveness makes us feel Kimono special. Second, western clothes come into japan in Meiji or Taisho period. It is fascinating thing for people of that period.

 We also discussed why Japanese people keep on wearing school uniform. The answer we talked is the awareness of belonging to a group. Japanese tend to make some group. However, this awareness also has a role to give people a sense of security. I think that Japanese people should continue to wear school uniforms.

② Summary(Unit 4)

Japan has a worldwide reputation for its high-quality technology. There are some factors that are keeping Japanese technology strong, there are two keywords. It is ”compact” and “perfectionist craftmanship.”

 Japanese companies often try to make productions small, like folding fan, folding umbrella. The reason is Japanese’s affection for small things. Small things make people easy to carry products.

 Today’s Japanese companies also inherit the spirit of perfectionist craftsmanship from their pre-modern predecessors. The thinnest injection needle made by Japanese company. It is often used in people who need to inject insulin several times a day. The needle’s diameter is only 0.2mm. It is not painful.

 The shinkansen is the safest high-speed railway system in the world. This system is used in Taiwan since 2007 and will be implemented in India and Vietnam in the near future.  Japanese technology will keep making important contributions to people around the world.