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What's Going On? TOPICS |
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August 2020page 1 |
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What's Going On? TOPICS |
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August 2020page 1 |
August 2020 page 1 TOPICS
Relief Goods with Good Words to Kumamoto
Students of a junior high school in Uwajima City, the south of Ehime, were preparing to send masks and sandbags to people in the area seriously damaged due to the heavy rain this year. They planned to send them to a junior high school in Kumamoto, which had become a regional evacuation center. The students on the student council set up this project to help struggling people by doing something even junior high school students can do through their experience during the 2018 West Japan Torrential Rain. JA Ehime donated about 400 sandbags. On July 13, the first year students wrote messages on the covers of the sandbags, such as "Hang in there, Kumamoto!" or "We're rooting for you from Ehime!" They attached colorful illustrations, such as mandarin oranges or the Kumamoto P.R. character "Kumamon." The students on the health committee collected unused masks from students' homes. The students who donated masks got a ribbon called a citrus ribbon as a token for a contribution. Some students brought masks in bags with kind messages written on them. One student said, "We can understand how they are suffering because we also suffered. Our town is recovering little by little. Kumamoto is sure to revive, too." (July 16, Ehime Shimbun) |
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Go to Dogo by Discounted Ticket
The Dogo Japanese Inn Association and JR Shikoku launched a joint promotion program using "Shikoku Mankitsu Kippu Special = Enjoy Shikoku Special Ticket" to revive tourism. The information about this discounted ticket can be seen when making a reservation for a Japanese inn which is a member of the Dogo Japanese Inn Association through travel websites, like Jalan-net and Rakuten Travel. All the express and local trains operated by JR Shikoku and Tosa Kuroshio Railway can be ridden and you can make as many stopovers as you want using this ticket. It is valid for three days and Saturdays, Sundays and holidays can be included. The price for adults is 8,000 yen at the station and 8,500 yen through the website, and a child's ticket is 3,000 yen for both methods of purchase. This promotion will end on September 29 and tickets will be sold until September 27. It has been well received so far. (July 15, Ehime Shimbun) |
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Tobe Porcelain Globe for Peace
On July 13, the association supporting Ehime Japan Overseas Volunteers donated a Tobe porcelain terrestrial globe to Ehime prefecture in commemoration of their 30th anniversary. The association asked one member, Mr. Yasuhiko Shirakata, who is designated as an intangible cultural asset by the prefecture, to make the globe to show their idea of international cooperation for world peace and their achievements. The globe is 37.5-47.5 centimeters in diameter and 110 centimeters in height. It took Mr. Shirakata three years to complete it. He drew a world map without borders with the hope that all people become friends. He fired it in a light tone to provide a gentle atmosphere. The globe was installed in the first annex lobby of the prefectural office. The chairperson of the association says, "We would like this globe to let Ehime citizens know about the activities of the Japan Overseas Volunteers. We would also like the youth to participate in the activities in the future." According to the prefecture, over 650 people from Ehime have acted as a member of the organization.(July 14, Ehime Shimbun) |
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Let's Go Out Campaign
Matsuyama-city launched the "Tabe ni ikoya! (Let's go out) Campaign" with some commerce organizations to support local restaurants which are suffering from the COVID-19 pandemic. The benefits of this campaign are; 1) When a bill is settled by machica money, a local electronic money service in Matsuyama, 20% of the price will be reimbursed in the form of points. 2) A voucher valued at 6,000 yen(500 yen tickets x 12) can be purchased for 5,000 yen. The first-time user of machica money needs to download the app and be registered. The credit can be charged at 12 chargers in the city, and by some credit cards. The charge limit is up to 50,000 yen. When the cashless payment by QR code is done with machica money at the participating restaurants, 20% of the amount of payment is immediately returned in points. The points can be used until the end of the following month at the participating restaurants. The points can be used until the end of September. The vouchers are available at 35 outlets, such as supermarkets and department stores, in the city. 10 vouchers are the maximum for one person. 150,000 vouchers will be sold on a first-come first-serve basis. The voucher can be used until the end of September. 270 restaurants signed up for this campaign, and the number of participating restaurants is still increasing. Matsuyama-city prepared 500,000,000 yen for this campaign. Further information; https://www.all-matsuyama.com/eat (July 10, Ehime Shimbun Online) |
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Former Teacher Revitalizes a Hamlet with Plum Jam
Former high school teacher Jun Manabe (78), who lives in the Kiriyama hamlet on the border between Ehime and Kagawa (Kinsei-cho, Yamadai, Shikokuchuo City, Ehime), is working on making ume (plum) jam using plums from a nearby garden. He grows the fruit without using pesticides and processes them with minimum cost and effort. He expects the jam will become a special product and a source of income for the village. Manabe was born in the hamlet, which is famous for the Manabe Family House designated as a National Important Cultural Property. The area has a long history that includes a legend of the fleeing Heike warriors in the 12th century. However, it also has a serious problem in that the population has declined to about 50 people now. He planned the garden about 20 years ago, at which time he planted about 20 seedlings on abandoned land near his house. He is now caring for the plum trees with his neighbors. Making plum jam is very simple: Collect the ripe plums that naturally drop from the tree, wash them in water, put them in a pan, add superfine sugar, bring it to a boil and then simmer for an hour with occasional stirring. Manabe said, "Nobody comes here to live just by lamenting depopulation. If the area becomes an attractive place, people will come to settle here. I want to keep doing what I can."(July 5, Ehime Shimbun Online) |
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Shikoku Railway Resumes Tourist-Train Services
The Shikoku Railway Company resumed operation of the tourist train Iyo Nada Monogatari on July 4th, after it had been suspended since March due to Covid-19. Everyone involved was pleased train was running again and the company has instituted preventive measures against infection. Local residents also expressed their feelings by standing along the track and waving at the train as it passed. The company installed shields on the back of each seat. They also took the temperature of the passengers and crew and had them use hand sanitizer before boarding. On July 4th, a ceremony was held at JR Matsuyama Station to celebrate. The station staff presented passengers with original mask cases and bamboo chopsticks. The train left at 8:26 for Iyo-Ozu. The Iyo Nada Monogatari began operation in July 2014. It has a capacity of 48 people and runs along the coast four times per day on the Yosan Line between Matsuyama and Iyo Ozu/Yawatahama, mainly on weekends and holidays. The scenery along the sea coast is lovely and the meals served on board using locally grown produce are very popular. About 118,000 people have used the service so far, with each service running at more than 90% capacity since 2016, but on the day it resumed service, it was 80%. (July 4, Ehime Shimbun Online) |
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Matsuyama International Center |