Nomad

Occupy Wall Street

Mon, 14 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0900

The following is a letter I wrote that appeared in the Grand Forks Herald on November 14th, 2011. The title it was given is, "Occupy Wall Street touches a nerve".

YURIHONJO, Japan — Jan Raaen tells us that in the 1960s, rioters were radical and anti-capitalistic, and that the same is true of the Occupy Wall Street movement today ("Occupy Wall Streeters choose wrong target," Page A4, Oct. 29).

Raaen misconstrues what’s happening.

In any movement, there is a fringe. This is true of the tea party, the National Rifle Association and the Democratic and Republican parties, and Occupy Wall Street is no exception.

So, when Herald readers see a picture of a rally and someone holding a silly sign, they should not assume the sign reflects what everyone in the rally believes.

Furthermore, some 70 percent of Occupy Wall Street participants are politically independent, according to a recent study, so certainly opinions will vary.

Still, some general ideas are quite clear and universal, and there’s no reason we can’t recognize them.

The biggest message behind Occupy Wall Street is that corporate greed is damaging our country, and we need to do something to stop it. The evidence is clear: Today, the richest 100 Americans have more wealth than the poorest 150 million Americans combined.

Some media sources say Occupy Wall Street has no constructive agenda, but that’s false. Given that the super-rich are getting richer, Occupy Wall Street participants want to see some of that money — our money — back in the hands of hard-working Americans.

When the recession hit, Washington found money to bail out the banks that caused it but did little for the millions of Americans who can’t make mortgage payments. This must change.

The American Dream is that if we work hard and get lucky, we can land a decent job, maybe buy a nice house and raise our families in happiness. But as the rich get richer and everyone else falls behind, that dream will fade. To get it back, we need to make some changes.

Right now, Occupy Wall Street is trying to start this process. Right now, it’s a lot of Americans standing up, telling us that things aren’t all right and describing the kind of country they think America should be.

Douglas Perkins

Chestnut cake

Sun, 13 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0900

The following is a recipe for chestnut cake. It's an adaptation of a recipe by Chef Tallyrand at HUB-UK (2011).

500 g chestnuts
250 mL milk
250 g white sugar
6 large eggs
100 g butter

100 g finely chopped almonds
100 g bitter chocolate
100 mL brandy
2 tbsp lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 180°C. Butter a round 25-26 cm cake tin. Roast or boil the chestnuts. If the chestnuts are roasted, simmer in the milk for 15 minutes or until soft. Puree the chestnuts in a food processor. Put the sugar and egg yolks in a large bowl and mix. Add the melted butter, and mix. Add the almonds, chocolate, lemon juice, and brandy, and mix. Then, add the chestnuts and mix. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg whites until stiff, and fold into the mix. Pour the mix into the cake tin and bake for 45 minutes. Let cool for an hour or more before eating.

Cashew cardamom balls

Thu, 10 Nov 2011 00:00:00 +0900

1 cup (140 g) finely chopped cashews
1 cup (180 g) finely chopped dates
1/4 tsp ground cardamom
grated peel of one orange
1/2 cup dried shredded coconut

This is a recipe for cashew cardamom balls which I found at SCO*RECIPE (2011). Using your hands, mix the cashews and cardamom. Then mix in the orange peel, followed by the dates. The dates should make everything stick together, making a big ball. Divide this big ball into 16 small balls. Chop the coconut into as small pieces as possible, and roll each ball in coconut.

カシュー　140 g
なつめやし　180 g
カルダモン　小さじ 1/4
オレンジピール　1個の分
ココナツのパウダー　1/2 カップ

Wireless AP

Fri, 23 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0900

My goal here is to make my laptop into a wireless access point — like a wireless router, but without buying an extra box. I'm running Debian Linux. My laptop is connected to the internet by LAN. The first challenge is to find a wireless card that can do Master mode (that is, can work as an access point). Only a few drivers supporr this (see http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers). After searching, I found a USB wifi card that works — the NEC Aterm WL300NU-AG, which uses the carl9170 driver (see http://linuxwireless.org/en/users/Drivers/carl9170).

Two packages are needed: hostapd and udhcpd. Any DHCP server would work, and there are several alternatives to udhcpd. I haven't tested them, but dnsmasq and dhcp3-server were mentioned elsewhere.

# aptitude install -P hostapd
# aptitude install -P udhcpd

The network card can't be placed in AP mode the old way, because the drivers don't support it. When I tried, it produced an error.

# iwconfig wlan1 mode Master
Error for wireless request "Set Mode" (8B06) :
    SET failed on device wlan0 ; Invalid argument.

The driver for this card can do AP mode, but only using hostapd. Here's my configuration for hostapd v0.7.3. I'm not using any encryption or security at the moment — this is an open access point.

/etc/hostapd/hostapd.conf:

interface=wlan1
driver=nl80211
ssid=Openwifi
channel=1
hw_mode=g
ignore_broadcast_ssid=0
auth_algs=1
wpa=0
logger_syslog=-1
logger_syslog_level=2
debug=0

To make my wireless devices connect to the access point smoothly, I use udhcpd v1.18.5-1, a small DHCP server that's part of BusyBox. The below DNS addresses are for OpenDNS and Google Public DNS.

/etc/udhcpd.conf:

start 192.168.0.10
end 192.168.0.50
max_leases 30
interface wlan1
option subnet 255.255.255.0
option domain local
option lease 864000
option router 192.168.0.1
option dns 208.67.222.222
option dns 208.67.220.220
option dns 8.8.8.8
option dns 8.8.4.4

To start the services, use the following commands. These daemons log to /var/log/daemon.log.

# /etc/init.d/hostapd start
# /etc/init.d/udhcpd start
# ifconfig wlan1 inet 192.168.0.1

Check that the daemons are running without error and that the network interface is locally accessible.

# tail --lines=30 /var/log/daemon.log
# ping 192.168.0.1

To get IP masquerading (routing) working, use the following commands. Note that eth0 is the internet-facing interface. Add the following lines to /etc/rc.local to run them at boot time.

# echo "1" > /proc/sys/net/ipv4/ip_forward
# iptables -F
# iptables -t nat -A POSTROUTING -o eth0 -j MASQUERADE

That's all there is — my access point is up and running. If everything is working, connect to the wireless access point using a second machine. If it doesn't appear to work, for a starting point, check the local network, the internet using IP addresses, and the internet using domain names.

# ping 192.168.0.1
# ping 8.8.8.8
# ping wikipedia.org

Rice pudding

Fri, 02 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0900

The following is an easy recipe for tasty rice pudding. It's from a cookbook called The New Best Recipe, by Cook's Illustrated (2004, ISBN 0936184744). Pictures by Rudi Riet — see here and here.

2 cups water
2 1/2 cups milk
2 1/2 cups half and half
1 cup rice
2/3 cup sugar

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins

Boil the water in a large saucepan. Add the rice and salt. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the water is almost fully absorbed (about 15 minutes). Add milk, half and half, and sugar. Cook on high until boiling, then lower to a simmer and cook for about 30 minutes, stirring frequently. Reduce heat to low and cook for another 15 minutes, or until a spoon can stand up in the pudding. Stir occasionally to avoid sticking or scorching. Remove from heat. Stir in vanilla, cinnamon, and raisins. Cool and eat. (Store in refrigerator, with plastic wrap pressed onto pudding. Eat within two days.)

これは「ライスプリン」のレシピです。ライスプリンはイギリスの食べ物です。

水　2 カップ
牛乳　4 カップ
生クリーム　1 カップ
米　1 カップ
砂糖　2/3 カップ

バニラ　1.25 小さじ
塩　0.25 小さじ
シナモン　1 小さじ
レーズン　0.5 カップ

大きなソースパンに水を入れて、煮立てる。米と塩を入れる。蓋をして、水がほとんどなくなるまで（約15分間）静かに煮立てる。牛乳と生クリームと砂糖を入れる。蓋をしないで、30分くらい静かに煮立てる。弱火にして、中にスプーンを入れて立つまで（約15分間）煮る。火を止める。バニラとシナモンとレーズンを入れて、混ぜる。少し冷ましてから食べる。（冷蔵庫に入れ、二日以内に食べる。）

Time

Thu, 01 Sep 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Place	Time	Date

JavaScript based on code by Stijn Strickx at http://www.proglogic.com/code/javascript/time/worldclock.php.

Chokai Junior High School

Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Here are some pictures of Chokai Junior High School (鳥海中学校). It's located in Chōkai, which is a part of Yurihonjo City in Akita Prefecture, Japan. The lat/long is 39.181005, 140.19447. Students from 3 elementary schools come here — Jinego Elementary School, Kawauchi Elementary School, and Hitane Elementary School.

The above maps are from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 2.0). Here's some history of Chokai Junior High School. The Japanese is taken from the school's records at http://www.city.yurihonjo.akita.jp/edu/chokai-jh/chokaichu.html, and I translated it to English.

Date		年	月日
2009-10-31	Chokai Junior High School 10th anniversary.	平成２１年	１０．３１	鳥海中学校創立１０周年記念式典・祝賀会。
2009-09-14	Honjo-Yuri English Recitation and Speech Contest. Recitation: Excellent. Speech: Very Good.		９．１４	英語暗唱弁論大会　弁論の部最優秀賞、暗唱の部優秀賞。
2009-08	All-Akita art contest: Winner, design.		８月	秋田県美術展覧会　デザインの部入賞。
2009-07-18	All-Akita track meet: 1st place, girls 100 meter hurdles.		７．１８	（７．１８～２０）全県総合体育大会　女子１００ＭＨ優勝。
2009-02-17	Honjo Yuri health contest: Prize for Excellence.		２．１７	本荘由利学校保健会優秀賞受賞。
2008-11-06	Building a brighter society essay contest: Prize for Excellence.	平成２０年	１１．　６	社会を明るくする運動作文コンクール　優秀賞。
2008-10-04	All-Akita newcomers track meet: 1st place, 100 meter hurdles.		１０．　４	秋田県新人陸上競技大会　１００ＭＨ優勝。
2008-09-12	Honjo-Yuri English Recitation and Speech Contest. Recitation: Very Good. Speech: Very Good.		９．１２	英語暗唱弁論大会　ベリーグッド賞。
2008-09-11	Yurihonjo crime and fire prevention speech contest: 1st place.		９．１１	由利本荘市少年非行防止防犯防火弁論大会　最優秀賞。
2008-08-10	Sister city painting contest: Special prize.		８．１０	姉妹都市オリンピック絵画競技会　特別賞。
2008-07-23	Building a brighter society public research seminar.		７．２３	社会を明るくする運動「公開ケース研究会」　発表。
2008-07-01	All-Akita art contest: Honorable Mention, design.		７．　１	秋田県美術展覧会　デザインの部奨励賞。
2008-02-14	Honjo Yuri sports acknowledgement. Baseball: 4 consecutive annual victories. Skiing: 3 consecutive annual victories.		２．１４	本荘由利中体連表彰　チーム賞野球部(４連続優勝)、スキー部(３年連続優勝)。
2007-09-13	Honjo-Yuri English Recitation and Speech Contest.Recitation: Excellent. Speech: Very Good.	平成１９年	９．１３	本荘由利英語暗唱弁論大会　暗唱の部最優秀賞。
2007-06-24	All-Akita art contest: Honorable Mention, design.		６．２４	秋田県美術展覧会　デザインの部特別賞(県知事賞)。
2007-02-16	Honjo Yuri sports acknowledgement. Baseball: 3 consecutive annual victories.		２．１６	本荘由利中体連表彰　野球部チーム(３年連続優勝)。
2007-02-16	Honjo Yuri health contest: Prize for Excellence.		２．１６	本荘由利中学校保健会優秀賞受賞。
2006-10-13	Honjo Yuri area education research group public instruction meeting.	平成１８年	１０．１３	本荘由利へき地教育研究部交流会県超過移築公開授業研究会。
2006-07-10	All-Akita table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls singles.		７．１０	県卓球選手権大会　女子個人優勝。
2006-05-28	All-Akita table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls singles.		５．２８	県春季卓球大会　女子個人優勝。
2006-03-14	58th annual Tohoku table tennis tournament participants.		３．１４	第５８回東京卓球選手権大会　女子ジュニアの部出場。
2006-01-21	75th annual northern Japan table tennis tournament: 1st place, cadet group.		１．２１	第７５回北日本卓球大会　カデットの部優勝。
2005-08-27	All-Akita table tennis tournament: 1st place, doubles. (Later joined the national tournament.)	平成１７年	８．２７	県総体卓球選手権大会　個人ダブルス優勝(全国大会出場へ)。
2005-08-26	All-Japan PTA public relations magazine contest: Japanese Education Newspaper Director's Prize.	平成１７年	８．２６	全国ＰＴＡ広報誌コンクール　日本教育新聞社社長賞受賞。
2004-11-07	All-Akita newcomers table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls.	平成１６年	１１．　７	全県新人卓球大会　卓球女子個人優勝。
2004-06-23	Hometown exploration helicopter project.		６．２３	郷土探索ヘリコプター飛行事業。
2004-04-01	MEXT designation: Plentiful experience opportunity region, plentiful experience opportunity implementation.		４．　１	文部科学省指定「豊かな体験活動推進地域」「豊かな体験活動推進校」。
2003		平成１５年
2002-11-26	All-Japan Junior Olympic Cup table tennis tournament participants.	平成１４年	１１．２６	全日本卓球選手権ＪＯＣジュニアオリンピックカップ　カデットの部出場。
2002-07-26	Akita Chuo district brassband contest: Gold Medal.		７．２６	吹奏楽コンクール中央地区大会　金賞。
2002-03-17	Town sports award. Girls table tennis: award for glory, 2 awards for promotion.		３．１７	町スポーツ賞　栄光賞女子卓球部、奨励賞女子卓球部２名。
2002-02-26	Yashima Rotary Club acknowledgement. Girls table tennis: award for glory. Ski, track, and tennis: award for promotion.		２．２６	矢島ロータリークラブ表彰　栄光賞女子卓球部、奨励賞団体スキー部・陸上部・テニス部。
2001-11-12	Essay on taxes. Honjo Yuri regional taxes and savings association chair prize, Honjo Yuri taxation cooperative chair prize, Tohoku taxation group Honjo branch chair prize.	平成１３年	１１．１２	税についての作文　本荘市由利地区納税貯蓄組合連合会長賞、本荘由利納税関係団体協議会長賞、東北税理士会本荘支部長賞。
2001-11-09	All-Akita human rights essay contest: Honorable Mention.		１１．　９	秋田県人権作文コンクール　奨励賞。
2001-11	Calligraphy contest prize.		１１月	幽玄会書道展　幽玄会賞。
2001-11	District literature contest: 5 prefectural endorsements.		１１月	郡市読書感想文コンクール　県推薦５名。
2001-06-02	All-Akita table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls.		６．　２	全県春季卓球大会　卓球女子団体優勝。
2001-01-30	Tohoku ski tounament: 1st place, boys giant slalom.		１．３０	東北中学校スキー大会　男子大回転優勝。
2001-01-19	All-Akita ski tournament. 1st place, girls giant slalom. 1st place, boys slalom.		１．１９	全県スキー大会　女子大回転優勝、男子回転優勝。
2000-10-21	Calligraphy contest: Lead Judge's Prize.	平成１２年	１０．２１	幽玄会書道展　審査委員長賞。
2000-10-21	District literature contest: prefectural endorsement.		１０．２１	郡市読書感想文コンクール　県推薦。
2000-07-28	Akita Chuo district brassband contest: Gold Medal.		７．２８	吹奏楽コンクール中央地区大会　金賞。
2000-07-23	All-Akita cadet table tennis tournament: 1st place, 2nd grade cadet girls singles.		７．２３	全県カデット卓球選手権大会　２年カデット女子シングルス優勝。
2000-07-23	All-Akita track meet: 1st place, 3rd grade girls 100 meter dash.		７．２３	全日本通信陸上秋田県大会　女子３年１００Ｍ優勝。
2000-07-15	All-Akita track meet: 1st place, 3rd grade girls 100 meter dash.		７．１５	（７．１５～１７）全県総合体育大会　陸上３年女子１００Ｍ優勝。
2000-06-03	All-Akita table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls.		６．　３	全県春季卓球大会　女子団体優勝。
2000-04-29	Akita invitational Yashima table tennis tournament: 1st place, girls.		４．２９	全県選抜卓球矢島大会　卓球女子団体優勝。
2000-03-14	School's first graduation ceremony.		３．１４	第１回卒業式。
2000-02-01	Tohoku ski tournament: 2nd place, girls slalom.		２．１	（２．１～２）東北スキー大会　女子回転第２位。
2000-01-21	Akita ensemble contest: silver medal.		１．２３	アンサンブルコンテスト県大会　混成８重奏銀賞。
1999-11-07	All-Akita newcomers' track meet: 1st place, girls team.	平成１１年	１１．　７	全県新人卓球大会　女子団体優勝。
1999-10-19	District literature contest: 6 endorsements.		１０．１９	郡市読書感想文コンクール　推薦６名。
1999-10-02	All-Akita newcomers' track meet: 1st place, girls 100 meter dash.		１０．　２	全県新人陸上競技大会　女子１００Ｍ優勝。
1999-08-09	Tohoku track meet: 2nd place, 2nd grade girls 100 meter dash.		８．　９	東北陸上競技大会　２年女子１００Ｍ第２位。
1999-07-16	All-Akita track meet: 1st place, 2nd grade girls 100 meter dash.		７．１６	（７．１６〜１９）全県総合体育大会　陸上２年女子１００Ｍ優勝。
1999-04-06	Bronze unveiling ceremony.		４．　６	ブロンズ像除幕式。
1999-04-02	School-opening ceremony.		４．　２	開校式挙行。
1999-04-01	Chokai Junior High School established.		４．　１	鳥海中学校開校。

Here is a PDF of sheet music for the school song.

Delivering fruit

Sun, 12 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Sunday was a long day, and we used the hours to deliver ridiculously many bananas to twenty-some shelters in Kesennuma. To begin with, Yui and I left at six in the morning. We met up with Jon and Jez, and headed to Yokote. Kathie was waiting for us there, and we picked her up and hopped on the expressway heading east.

There is a supermarket in Kitakami called Super Osen. They have cheap bananas. Very cheap. It seems they have cheap everything, because we got there before opening hours, and maybe 50 people were lined up outside the front door. Anyway, the doors opened, and we got our bananas. 35 boxes. Everyone was skeptical as to whether we'd be able to fit all the bananas in our cars, but we did. Then we hopped on the expressway again, and headed SE to Kesennuma.

When we got there, we met and planned out the adventure. Kathie went to help Paul with his deliveries, and Jess and Rachel, two amazing Kesennuma ALTs, helped us with ours. In the morning, we hit up Kujo Elementary School, Kesennuma High School, K-Wave, Matsuiwa Elementary School, Matsuiwa Junior High School, and the Bosai Center. K-Wave still has hundreds of residents, but several of the other shelters have decreased in numbers as people move into temporary housing or find other places to live. In the shelters with more space, people can set up tents or cardboard walls, or use several rooms, all of which help give them a modicum of privacy — far better than everyone living together on the gym floor. The food situation also seems to be improving. At several shelters, people told me they were getting canned fruit once or twice a week — and on rare occasions, fresh fruit. A month ago, in contrast, nobody said they were getting any fruit at all. Even at the shelters where people were getting fruit from time to time, they were very happy to get a few boxes of bananas. And as we were delivering, we ran into many of Jess's and Rachel's students, which was a lot of fun.

Shelter	避難所	Bananas
Kujo Elementary School	九条小学校	74
Kesennuma High School	気仙沼高等学校	222
Sogo Taiikukan (K-Wave)	ケー・ウェーブ	740
Matsuiwa Elementary School	松岩小学校	74
Matsuiwa Community Center	松岩公民館	296
Bosai Center	防災センター	444
Hashikami Elementary School	階上小学校	148
Hashikami Junior High School	階上中学校	518
Hashikami Community Center	階上公民館	158
Niitsuki Junior High School	新月中学校	252
Shishiori Junior High School	鹿折中学校	252

After lunch at 7-11, we headed to Hashikami Elementary School, Hashikami Junior High School, Hashikami Community Center, Niitsuki Junior High School, and Shishiori Junior High School. At this point, we were almost out of bananas, and it was almost dinner time in any case. Dinner time makes deliveries to shelters somewhat chaotic, and is best avoided. Yui and I started back, and the rest of the group headed off to a final stop at Omose Junior High School. 3 hours later, we were home, safe and very tired. I soon fell asleep and almost slept through my alarm clock the next morning.

This is the first time I've visited so many shelters in a day, and it's quite interesting to see the differences. The Bosai Center is a fire station, and part of it is now a shelter. But the other part is a functional fire station, and there are lots of fire trucks parked outside. Some of them have sharks pained on the back. K-Wave is a huge community center. We didn't get a chance to go inside, but we walked around the outside, and there was a skate park with skateboarders working on jumps and tricks. Hashikami Community Center is a 2-story building, and the shelter is on the 2nd floor. There are perhaps four large rooms, and because it's on the 2nd floor, all of the rooms have decent views. Shishiori Junior High School, our last stop of the day, was a fittingly stereotypical Japanese school. It's located at the top of a big hill connected to everything by a curvy narrow road which must surely be impossible to bicycle with any degree of safety. It being a Sunday, we were lucky enough not to encounter any cyclists with whom to test this theory. It should be noted that evacuation sites in Japan are typically used not only for immediate evacuation, but also for longer term use. As such, they need to have a safe location (a high location), a large space for people to sleep in (a gym, say), and a decent road for supply trucks. I am told this is one reason that schools are on the top of hills — they already fit two of the three criteria, and being atop a hill gives them an edge on safety. On the other hand, it may well be that when new schools are being built, people already have houses in the good low-lying areas, so the next best proximal locations are hill tops. It doesn't really matter what the reasons are, because whatever they are, we're very happy that many schools along the coast were on high ground. It's also good fitness training for the kids who have to walk up and down every day.

Fruit Tree Project

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 00:00:00 +0900

The Asahi Shinbun published this article about the Fruit Tree Project and VolunteerAKITA on June 7th, 2011. It's only in Japanese, and can be found at http://mytown.asahi.com/areanews/akita/TKY201106060550.html.

被災地に果物贈る　秋田県内のＡＬＴが活動

秋田県内の学校で英語を教える外国語指導助手（ＡＬＴ）が、被災者にバナナやミカンなどの果物を届ける活動を続けている。ボランティアで被災地を訪れ、食生活の偏りを知ったのがきっかけだった。これまでに宮城県気仙沼市や岩手県陸前高田市で配った果物は１万５千個以上になる。

活動名は「フルーツ・ツリー・プロジェクト」。由利本荘市の小中学校で英語を教えるポール・ユーさん（２６）＝米国出身＝が４月初旬に始めた。

「食べ物は不自由しないけど、果物が食べたい」。ボランティアで訪れた気仙沼市の避難所で、被災者からこう聞いたのがきっかけだ。ご飯とみそ汁が炊き出しで提供されていたが、野菜や果物は不足がちだった。ユーさんは「胃袋は満たされても、栄養が偏れば健康じゃない」と考えた。

東日本大震災が発生した後に立ち上げた「ボランティア秋田」のホームページ（http://volunteerakita.org）でプロジェクトを紹介し、果物代の募金を始めた。

安く買うためのルート開拓もした。宮城県内や由利本荘市内の卸売業者に相談し、特別に安い価格で果物を譲ってもらえることになった。

バナナなどを大量に載せた車で、ユーさんら県内のＡＬＴ約１０人は大型連休中の４月２９日、気仙沼市の避難所を訪れた。被災者に果物を１個ずつ手渡すと、笑顔が広がった。避難所では調理することが難しいため、「バナナは皮をむくだけで食べられるので喜ばれた」と振り返る。

県内外のＡＬＴ仲間の口コミで賛同者は１００人を超え、募金活動で５月末までの２カ月で約８０万円が集まった。一緒に行動するＡＬＴのマーガレット・コッカーさん（２４）＝同＝は「果物は被災者との連帯を示す象徴になる」と話す。
<>被災地では、住宅にたまった泥の片付けも手伝う。震災から３カ月近くたっても全面復興にはまだ遠い。ユーさんは週末を中心に当面、活動を続ける予定だ。「被災した人が復興の手がかりをつかむまでは、果物を届けなくてはいけない」（大隈悠）

The project was also featured in the Japan Times (English edition). See http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20110611a2.html.

Group on a mission to deliver fresh fruit to disaster-zone shelters

Staff report

Survivors of the March 11 tsunami living in shelters need fresh fruit — this is what Minami Ishikawa and Paul Yoo from Akita Prefecture learned when they went to volunteer their time in Kesennuma, Miyagi Prefecture, in early April.

Ishikawa and Yoo talked to people at evacuation centers who told them the meals served there often consisted of a bowl of rice and miso soup but no fresh fruit or vegetables. They said they were craving such food, Yoo said.

Yoo, an assistant language teacher from the United States who teaches English at a school in Yuri Honjo, and Ishikawa, an office worker, started gathering volunteer workers right after the quake to help the evacuees in Miyagi and Iwate prefectures.

As part of their activities, they launched the Fruit Tree Project. They collected donations to buy fresh fruit and gathered volunteers — both Japanese and non-Japanese — to deliver it to evacuation centers in the tsunami-hit areas.

They started the fruit deliveries in Kesennuma during Golden Week in early May and later went to several shelters in other areas mainly over the weekends.

The project has involved more than 100 volunteers, and with support from Second Harvest Japan, a charity-based food bank in Tokyo, the group has collected more than ¥1 million in donations from all over the world. So far, they have delivered over 23,000 pieces of fruit.

"Everyone is so happy when we bring fruit to them. We want to continue bringing fruit to the shelters, especially to the small ones where people don't get any fresh fruit at all," said Yoo.

For more information about the project and to make a donation, email volunteerakita@gmail.com or visit its website at volunteerakita.wordpress.com.

The above newspaper articles are from the Asahi Shinbun and Japan Times, respectively. The pictures used in them, and the picture of the article itself, were taken by volunteerAKITA group members.

Barack Obama

Sun, 22 May 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Barack Obama and His Major Achievements

Date: Sunday, May 22, 2011

Time: 10:00-11:20 Communication Session by Mr. Douglas Perkins from US

Barack Obama became president of the United States in 2009. What do you think are his major achievements, either Japan-specific or not? I'll talk about some of the big issues within the US (the Afghanistan War, health care, Guantanamo Bay), but would like to discuss international perceptions of the US, too. Please try to think of one good thing and one bad thing you think the US has done in the past 2 years.

I gave the talk at the Akita Communicative English Studies group meeting. See http://www.edinet.ne.jp/~takeshis/images/AES06/AEStop.html for more information.

President Obama took power in January, 2009. On Sunday, we talked about his major accomplishments in the two years since then.

To begin with, there are two main political parties in the United States: Democrats and Republicans. Major issues can be divided into two categories: social issues and economic issues. To give some examples, on social issues, Democrats are likely to be pro choice. Republicans are likely to be pro gun and pro Christian. On economic issues, Democrats are typically fans of government safety net programs, like Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and other smaller such programs. Republicans are typically fans of military spending, opponents of other spending, and want to lower taxes. Those are some stereotypical party views, and as such should be taken with a grain of salt. But even this simple analysis shows that we have 4 classes of voters -- a person could side with mainstream Democrats or Republicans on both social issues and economic issues or on just one of each. This leads to a problem that the US currently faces, where voters decide who to vote for based on social issues, and the voters' economic views are mostly ignored.

Certainly Obama's greatest triumph was catching Bin Laden, though many of us found the execution rather unsettling. Also, Obama passed legislation that will allow homosexuals to serve in the military. This reverses a 220 year ban, and is Obama's only liberal triumph to date.

On the economic front, he passed landmark health care legislation. This bill deals with some problems in the American health care system — children can stay on their parents' insurance until the age of 25, many preventative procedures are now free, and it is harder for insurance companies to reject applicants with pre-existing conditions. Still, the big question is whether this legislation helps limit costs. If health care prices keep going up, it will have been a failure (and a gift to insurance companies who will get millions of new customers). If costs are limited, on the other hand, it will have been a success. Much of the bill takes effect in 2014 and later, so right now we can't tell.

There are some issues where the voters' views are mostly ignored by politicians. As mentioned, politicians often focus on social issues to gain votes, and this gives them some freedom to ignore popular opinion on economic issues. For example, the majority of Americans would like the US to leave Iraq and Afghanistan in the relatively near future, but it is unclear when this will happen. Also, the majority of Americans support Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid in their current form, yet there is a lot of political discussion on how to change these programs. On taxes, the majority of Americans favor raising taxes on the rich, yet Obama allowed taxes to be lowered. And finally, the majority of Americans want some sort of justice brought to bear on banks and bankers responsible for the economic downturn three years ago, yet both Bush and Obama have ignored this issue entirely.

The next election is in 2012, and right now it seems Obama has a slight edge over possible Republican candidates. However, we will have to carefully watch what happens with taxes, cuts to government programs, and the wars currently being fought. Those matters will play a major role in driving public opinion in Nov. 2012.

Post card contest

Wed, 18 May 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Shuri Sato, a 2nd grader at Hitane Elementary School won the Grand Prize in NHK's 8th annual New Years Card Contest. Shuri's card was chosen out of 89,369 submissions. When asked to comment, she said, "I want to give this to my grandfather [next year]. I had fun for about an hour drawing the card. I'm very very happy to get a prize."

Japan Post website: http://www.post.japanpost.jp/contest/08/etegami/E053599.html?TB_iframe=true.
Yurihonjo monthly paper: http://www.city.yurihonjo.akita.jp/icity/browser?ActionCode=content&ContentID=1305434860912&SiteID=0000000000000.

Kesennuma

Wed, 11 May 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Following the March 11 earthquake and tsunami, my friend Paul and some other guys started a volunteer group called Volunteer Akita (https://volunteerakita.wordpress.com/) with the goal of helping out tsunami victims. The tsunami hit the east coast of Tohoku (northern Japan). Akita is in the NW, so we were not affected. Directly to the east of Akita are the prefectures of Iwate and Miyagi, both of which were heavily damaged. Fukushima, home of the nuclear power plant disaster, is several hundred kilometers south.

In the past two months, the Volunteer Akita group has done various things (volunteering for orphanages, delivering toys, volunteer cleaning at Miyako). What I got involved in for Golden Week was the Fruit Tree Project (https://volunteerakita.wordpress.com/2011/04/12/tohoku-relief-the-fruit-tree-project-fund-proposal-2/). Paul and Minami made a website, and many of us solicited donations from across Japan and other countries, with the express goal of providing 2 pieces of fruit for each person in 3 shelters in Kesennuma (気仙沼), a town in Miyagi Prefecture. This is because Paul and Minami had spoken with an organizer for the shelter at Kesennuma Elementary School, and the organizer had requested two things: fresh fruit and furikake (spices used as rice seasoning). Two fruit markets, one in Honjo and one near Kesennuma offered to sell us fruit at wholesale rates. Golden Week came around, the donations came in, and we got ready to go. Thank you, everyone who contributed!

It turns out we had a large amount of cash from donations, but not enough to do two pieces of fruit for 10 days as originally hoped. After talking with the shelter leaders, we decided to do one piece of fruit per person for as long as we could, which ended up being seven days. The shelters (避難所; hinanjo) we wanted to help were Kesennuma Elementary School (気仙沼小学校), Kesennuma Junior High School (気仙沼中学校), and the Kesennuma Community Center (気仙沼市民会館; shimin kaikan). At that time, there were about 139, 478, and 250 people living in them, respectively. And once we arrived, we found out that an additional 50, 300, and 300 nearby residents were dining at those shelters. That meant a delivery of at least 1517 pieces of fruit each day (we ordered by the box, so there was always some extra). The organizers at the shelters were very friendly, and the deliveries were rather smooth. It took about 2 hours each morning to pick up the fruit and drop it off at each shelter. On the last day, we delivered fruit to a 4th shelter -- Omose Junior High School (面瀬中学校). The fruit we purchased varied day to day. Bananas and oranges were the most common, because they're fairly cheap and also don't require any food preparation (Japanese people tend to peel apples, not eat them whole, you see). We also delivered some sunfruit (a type of orange), apples, and grapefruit, just to mix things up a bit. For more detail, see Paul's daily summaries: Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7. Paul and Minami organized the project, and Todd and I helped with the manual labor.

In Kesennuma (and elsewhere in Japan too, presumably), most of the shelters are in schools. There aren't many churches in Japan, and for public buildings, schools are the most common, followed by community centers. School vacation in tsunami-struck places lasted until late April, and up to then, people staying in school shelters slept in classrooms. This was good, because it provided some degree of privacy. In Kesennuma Junior High School, many people still do sleep in classrooms. This is because the school building is somewhat old, and with school enrollment numbers declining over the past many years (like much of rural Japan), there are extra classrooms. The students use half of the school, and the shelter uses the other half. Kesennuma Elementary School, on the other hand, needed its classrooms back, so shelter residents had to move back into the gymnasium. Fortunately, the shelter obtained many large silver tents which they've erected in the gym. This isn't as good as separate rooms, and it'll be too hot in the summer (though it seems like temporary housing will be ready soon, so maybe that won't matter), but it's still some degree of privacy. Even then, not all of the people in the gym have tents -- some just sleep on the gym floor, in areas demarcated by 3 foot high cardboard walls. In fact, Omose Junior High School has no tents at all -- all of its 250+ residents sleep together on the gym floor.

Next to the shelters I visited, there was extensive construction to build temporary housing. The housing looked to be somewhat similar to mobile homes, and unfortunately the housing is probably poorly insulated, and certainly the houses are very close to each other. Probably because it is convenient to do so, the housing is being built on baseball fields (for example, Kesennuma Junior High School's sports ground and baseball field is being used), but this means sometimes there isn't enough room to spread things out. It also means the baseball club and various other outdoor clubs cannot practice there. Of course, currently the gymnasium is in use, and as long as that continues, the volleyball club and basketball club don't have practice space, and there's no good way to hold gym class. That is inconvenient for the students, though certainly there are other gyms and baseball fields across town which can be used instead. Because the temporary housing looks like it'll be used for a very long time, I wonder why they didn't seize local farmland and build temp housing there, since that would have both let the schools get back to normal and given the temporary housing enough space for properly spread out houses and parking and such. Then again, converting rice fields into land fit for housing probably involves moving a lot of dirt and gravel.

On May 3, there was a small kite festival at Kesennuma Elementary School for shelter residents. Nearby students showed up too, and a big group of ALTs came down from Akita -- Ryan, Jeff, Melissa, Selina, and Liyen. All the kids and several adults flew kites for a while. Later, Todd did some magic tricks with cards and coins. It was pretty impressive, and he was videotaped by NHK, but it wasn't aired. Earlier in the week Paul and I were interviewed by NBC, and later NHK interviewed Paul, Minami and me, but those also wasn't aired. The NBC crew explained that there was too much international news at that time (a wedding, a storm, and then OBL). I blindly speculate for NHK it's a little more delicate, because NHK is within Japan, and showing a story about a small volunteer group bringing fruit to shelters might be seen as highlighting how the shelters aren't providing proper nutrition, whether or not that's even the case. Japan's Self-Defense Force provides shelter meals, and I don't know much about their system, though it's clear that they're working quite hard. Certainly complaining would be unproductive — better to do something instead — thus, the Fruit Tree Project.

Paul and I have rather large SUVs, so we slept in our car 5 nights. One night, Jessica invited us to crash on her floor, and we got our weekly shower out of the way. Three nights we parked at a nearby parking area, which was just off the highway and sometimes noisy trucks pulled in, but overall worked out pretty well. Two nights we parked at Isarabi Park (漁火パーク) on the Karakuwa Peninsula (唐桑), which has tent sites for volunteers and a large restaurant. The sunrise view from Isarabi Park was quite nice.

The March 11 earthquake did some damage to Kesennuma, but compared to the tsunami it was trivial. The tsunami affected coastal areas, obviously, but it also traveled up rivers, so even areas several kilometers from the coast were devastated, if they were near a river and at low elevation. Fortunately, Kesennuma is fairly hilly, compared to, for example, nearby Rikuzen Takata (https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Rikuzentakata,_Iwate), so many houses were not hit by the tsunami. Elevation matters a lot in determining what places were damaged. The lowest-lying flat areas were totally destroyed -- there is nothing left to clean up, except mud, because mostly everything was washed away. Above that, there are houses that are partly destroyed or in pieces. Some houses that were particularly well built are still in place, but if water reached the second floor, the house is probably not salvageable. Even if water only hit the 1st floor, many houses will be scrapped, depending (I was told) on the building materials used. In the hardest hit areas, nobody will rebuild anything, and in other areas it varies — one house we saw looked repairable, but the residents said that area wasn't considered safe for houses any longer, and regardless, they'd be too scared to move back in there. They had plans to build a new house several kilometers inland, demolish their old house, and use the old location as farmland. The neighboring factory will be rebuilding at its original location, though. For other families, it is unclear what the future will bring. Rural Japan has an aging population, and elderly families whose houses were destroyed will likely find it difficult to rebuild their houses. I suppose many people will be in temporary housing for a long time, some people will build new places, some will leave the area, some will move into apartments (if they can find them, which right now they can't, because all the apartments are full), and some will move into retirement centers. Additionally, many businesses were destroyed, and people who lost both their houses and their jobs will have extra difficulty getting resettled. Even after seeing the devastation in person, it is hard to comprehend the magnitude of everything. One afternoon I took an hour drive south along the coast, and the wreckage continued, village after village, much like it was in Kesennuma. Just how many towns along the coast were damaged like this? I can't imagine it, or maybe just don't want to.

The Kesennuma Disaster Volunteer Center is quite well organized. See the website (http://msv3151.c-bosai.jp/index.php?module=blog&eid=15592&blk_id=12193) or a rough translation of part of it (https://volunteerkesennuma.wordpress.com/). They have a good supply of tools like shovels, wheelbarrows, hoes, rakes, brushes, crowbars, and whatnot. They also have backup gear for people who forget things like rain gear, gloves, masks, or work boots with metal insoles. Volunteers arrive around 9:00, and work groups are formed based on what kind of requests have been made. For example, a house owner might ask for a group of 15 workers to clean up dirt and garbage in their yard. Once formed, the group collects the supplies it needs and buses to the site. Volunteers bring their own water and lunch, and work officially finishes at 3:00. The house owners we met were very energetic, because they were mostly elderly folk who wanted to repair their house but needed help with heavy lifting and tasks that would take a long time (and because people who weren't energetic wouldn't have bothered asking for volunteer cleanup help). Even at the one house we went to with younger people, it was clear that Grandmother was in charge. She told us what to do, and later gave us instant ramen for lunch and ice cream for afternoon snack. Her two sons were her deputies — they gave us the fine details on what to clean and what to leave be. In the late afternoon after we finished, we played with one of the grandchildren for a while until the bus came. He taught us a game where two people each pick a blade of grass, cross them over each other, and pull. The winner is the person whose grass blade doesn't break, and then the entire thing is repeated. The weather was good during Golden Week, so working and playing outside worked out fairly well. I have no idea how long this type of support will be needed, but possibly for quite some time.

Yashima-Jinego buses 2011

Sun, 17 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0900

This is the 2011 bus schedule for the Yashima-Jinego Line, Chokai, Yurihonjo, Akita. There are no trains in Chokai, and this bus goes along Highway 108, the main highway. The official site is in Japanese. In April 2012, the Jinego bus line will be discontinued.

Honjo → Yashima.
Yashima → Honjo.
Yashima → Jinego.
Jinego → Yashima.
Yashima → Yuri Technical High School. Once daily.
Yuri Technical High School → Yashima. Twice daily.
Chokai Town Office → Chokaiso.
Chokaiso → Chokai Town Office.
Naka Hitane line.
Jinego → Sarakawa.
Sarakawa → Jinego.

Yashima → Jinego bus schedule
2011-04-01
http://www.yurihonjo.matrix.jp/modules/gnavi/index.php?cid=121
矢島案内所	Yashima Bus Station	7:10	9:30	11:35	14:30	15:50	17:10	18:50
館町	Tatemachi	7:10	9:30	11:35	14:30	15:50	17:10	18:50
新町角	Aramachi Corner	7:10	9:30	11:35	14:30	15:50	17:10	18:50
矢島駅前	Yashima Station	7:12	9:32	11:37	14:32	15:52	17:12	18:52
豊町角	Toyomachi Corner	7:12	9:32	11:37	14:32	15:52	17:12	18:52
豊町	Toyomachi	7:12	9:32	11:37	14:32	15:52	17:12	18:52
栄町	Sakaemachi	7:12	9:32	11:37	14:32	15:52	17:12	18:52
大川原	Ōkawara	7:13	9:33	11:38	14:33	15:53	17:13	18:53
新ら町	Aramachi	7:14	9:34	11:39	14:34	15:54	17:14	18:54
新所	Shinjo	7:15	9:35	11:40	14:35	15:55	17:15	18:55
上新所	Kami-Shinjo	7:16	9:36	11:41	14:36	15:56	17:16	18:56
下郷内	Shimo-Gonai	7:17	9:37	11:42	14:37	15:57	17:17	18:57
郷内	Gonai	7:18	9:38	11:43	14:38	15:58	17:18	18:58
道仏坂	Dōbutsuzaka	7:19	9:39	11:44	14:39	15:59	17:19	18:59
坪渕	Tsubofuchi	7:21	9:41	11:46	14:41	16:01	17:21	19:01
矢ノ本	Yanomoto	7:22	9:42	11:47	14:42	16:02	17:22	19:02
鐙ヶ平	Abumigataira	7:23	9:43	11:48	14:43	16:03	17:23	19:03
下伏見	Tsurugataira	7:25	9:45	11:50	14:45	16:05	17:25	19:05
中伏見	Shimo-Fushimi	7:26	9:46	11:51	14:46	16:06	17:26	19:06
鳥海総合支所前	Naka-Fushimi	7:29	9:49	11:54	14:49	16:09	17:29	19:09
鳥海診療所前	Chōkai Town Office	7:29	9:49	11:54	14:49	16:09	17:29	19:09
川内診療所前	Chōkai Medical Center	7:29	9:49	11:54	14:49	16:09	17:29	19:09
伏見沢	Fushimizawa	7:29	9:49	11:54	14:49	16:09	17:29	19:09
堤鍋	Sagenabe	7:29	9:49	11:54	14:49	16:09	17:29	19:09
下平根	Shimo-Hirane	7:30	9:50	11:55	14:50	16:10	17:30	19:10
平根	Hirane	7:30	9:50	11:55	14:50	16:10	17:30	19:10
上平根	Kami-Hirane	7:32	9:52	11:57	14:52	16:12	17:32	19:12
生出谷地	Shōdeyachi	7:32	9:52	11:57	14:52	16:12	17:32	19:12
楢木平	Naranokidaira	7:35	9:55	12:00	14:55	16:15	17:35	19:15
小川	Kogawa	7:37	9:57	12:02	14:57	16:17	17:37	19:17
男鹿内	Okanai	7:39	9:59	12:04	14:59	16:19	17:39	19:19
峠	Tōge	7:40	10:00	12:05	15:00	16:20	17:40	19:20
下根子	Shimo-Neko	7:41	10:01	12:06	15:01	16:21	17:41	19:21
根子	Neko	7:42	10:02	12:07	15:02	16:22	17:42	19:22
三ノ坪	Sannotsubo	7:44	10:04	12:09	15:04	16:24	17:44	19:24
瀬目	Seme	7:45	10:05	12:10	15:05	16:25	17:45	19:25
本屋敷	Motoyashiki	7:47	10:07	12:12	15:07	16:27	17:47	19:27
上杉沢	Kami-Sugisawa	7:48	10:08	12:13	15:08	16:28	17:48	19:28
ほっといん鳥海	Hottoin Chōkai	7:52	10:12	12:17	15:12	16:32	17:52	19:32
上笹子	Kami-Jinego	-	10:12	12:17	-	16:32	17:52	19:32
中村	Nakamura	-	10:13	12:18	-	16:33	17:53	19:33
天神川熊角	Tenjin Kawakuma Corner	-	10:14	12:19	-	16:34	17:54	19:34
丁荘	Hinotosō	-	10:16	12:21	-	16:36	17:56	19:36
高鼻	Tagabana	-	10:18	12:23	-	16:38	17:58	19:38
上野宅	Kami-Noyake	-	10:21	12:26	-	16:41	18:01	19:41

Holidays		土曜・日曜・祝日運休
Holidays		Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ National holidays

Jinego → Yashima bus schedule
2011-04-01
http://www.yurihonjo.matrix.jp/modules/gnavi/index.php?cid=122
上野宅	Kami-Noyake	6:05	-	7:05	-	10:30	12:30	-	16:50
高鼻	Tagabana	6:05	-	7:05	-	10:30	12:30	-	16:50
丁荘	Hinotosō	6:06	-	7:06	-	10:31	12:31	-	16:51
天神川熊角	Tenjin Kawakuma Corner	6:08	-	7:08	-	10:33	12:33	-	16:53
中村	Nakamura	6:09	-	7:09	-	10:34	12:34	-	16:54
上笹子	Kami-Jinego	6:10	-	7:10	-	10:35	12:35	-	16:55
ほっといん鳥海	Hottoin Chōkai	6:14	-	7:14	7:55	10:39	12:39	15:39	16:59
上杉沢	Kami-Sugisawa	6:14	-	7:14	7:55	10:39	12:39	15:39	16:59
本屋敷	Motoyashiki	6:15	-	7:15	7:56	10:40	12:40	15:40	17:00
瀬目	Seme	6:17	-	7:17	7:58	10:42	12:42	15:42	17:02
三ノ坪	Sannotsubo	6:18	-	7:18	7:59	10:43	12:43	15:43	17:03
根子	Neko	6:20	-	7:20	8:01	10:45	12:45	15:45	17:05
下根子	Shimo-Neko	6:21	-	7:21	8:02	10:46	12:46	15:46	17:06
峠	Tōge	6:22	-	7:22	8:03	10:47	12:47	15:47	17:07
男鹿内	Okanai	6:23	-	7:23	8:04	10:48	12:48	15:48	17:08
小川	Kogawa	6:25	-	7:25	8:06	10:50	12:50	15:50	17:10
楢木平	Naranokidaira	6:27	-	7:27	8:08	10:52	12:52	15:52	17:12
生出谷地	Shōdeyachi	6:30	-	7:30	8:11	10:55	12:55	15:55	17:15
上平根	Kami-Hirane	6:30	7:05	7:30	8:11	10:55	12:55	15:55	17:15
平根	Hirane	6:30	7:05	7:30	8:11	10:55	12:55	15:55	17:15
下平根	Shimo-Hirane	6:32	7:05	7:32	8:13	10:57	12:57	15:57	17:17
堤鍋	Sagenabe	6:33	7:06	7:33	8:14	10:58	12:58	15:58	17:18
伏見沢	Fushimizawa	6:33	7:06	7:33	8:14	10:58	12:58	15:58	17:18
川内診療所前	Chōkai Medical Center	6:33	7:06	7:33	8:14	10:58	12:58	15:58	17:18
鳥海診療所前	Chōkai Town Office	6:33	7:06	7:33	8:14	10:58	12:58	15:58	17:18
鳥海総合支所前	Naka-Fushimi	6:37	7:10	7:37	8:18	11:02	13:02	16:02	17:22
中伏見	Shimo-Fushimi	6:37	7:10	7:37	8:18	11:02	13:02	16:02	17:22
下伏見	Tsurugataira	6:37	7:10	7:37	8:18	11:02	13:02	16:02	17:22
鐙ヶ平	Abumigataira	6:39	7:12	7:39	8:20	11:04	13:04	16:04	17:24
矢ノ本	Yanomoto	6:40	7:13	7:40	8:21	11:05	13:05	16:05	17:25
坪渕	Tsubofuchi	6:41	7:14	7:41	8:22	11:06	13:06	16:06	17:26
道仏坂	Dōbutsuzaka	6:43	7:16	7:43	8:24	11:08	13:08	16:08	17:28
郷内	Gonai	6:44	7:17	7:45	8:25	11:09	13:09	16:09	17:29
下郷内	Shimo-Gonai	6:45	7:18	7:47	8:26	11:10	13:10	16:10	17:30
上新所	Kami-Shinjo	6:46	7:19	7:48	8:27	11:11	13:11	16:11	17:31
新所	Shinjo	6:47	7:20	7:49	8:28	11:12	13:12	16:12	17:32
新ら町	Aramachi	6:48	7:21	7:51	8:29	11:13	13:13	16:13	17:33
大川原	Ōkawara	6:49	7:22	7:52	8:30	11:14	13:14	16:14	17:34
栄町	Sakaemachi	6:50	7:23	7:53	8:31	11:15	13:15	16:15	17:35
豊町	Toyomachi	6:51	7:24	7:54	8:32	11:16	13:16	16:16	17:36
豊町角	Toyomachi Corner	6:51	7:24	7:54	8:32	11:16	13:16	16:16	17:36
矢島駅前	Yashima Station	6:54	7:27	7:57	8:35	11:19	13:19	16:19	17:39
新町角	Aramachi Corner	6:54	7:27	7:57	8:35	11:19	13:19	16:19	17:39
館町	Tatemachi	6:54	7:27	7:57	8:35	11:19	13:19	16:19	17:39
矢島案内所	Yashima Bus Station	6:56	7:29	7:59	8:37	11:21	13:21	16:21	17:41

Holidays		日曜・祝日運休			Sundays ・ National holidays
		土曜・日曜・祝日運休
		Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ National holidays
		土曜・日曜・祝日・休校日運休
		Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ National holidays ・ School holidays

Honjo → Yashima bus schedule
2011-04-01
http://www.yurihonjo.matrix.jp/modules/gnavi/index.php?cid=120
本荘営業所	Honjo Bus Station	7:20	8:20	9:20	10:30	11:50	12:30	13:20	14:30	16:00	16:45	17:35	19:20
栄町一丁目	Sakaechō Itchōme	7:20	8:20	9:20	10:30	11:50	12:30	13:20	14:30	16:00	16:45	17:35	19:20
北都銀行前	Hokuto Bank	7:20	8:20	9:20	10:30	11:50	12:30	13:20	14:30	16:00	16:45	17:35	19:20
岩渕下	Iwabuchishita	-	8:22	-	-	11:52	12:32	13:22	14:32	16:02	16:47	17:37	19:22
本荘第一病院前	Honjo Daiichi Hospital	-	8:23	-	-	11:53	12:33	13:23	14:33	16:03	16:48	17:38	19:23
県立大学入口	University Entrance	-	8:24	-	-	11:54	12:34	13:24	14:34	16:04	16:49	17:39	19:24
由利高校入口	Yuri High School	-	8:25	-	-	11:55	12:35	13:25	14:35	16:05	16:50	17:40	19:25
羽後交通整備工場前	Ugo Traffic Garage	-	8:26	-	-	11:56	12:36	13:26	14:36	16:06	16:51	17:41	19:26
由利組合病院前	Yuri Kumiai Hospital	-	8:29	-	-	11:59	12:39	13:29	14:39	16:09	16:54	17:44	19:29
羽後交通整備工場前	Ugo Traffic Garage	-	8:29	-	-	11:59	12:39	13:29	14:39	16:09	16:54	17:44	19:29
由利高校入口	Yuri High School	-	8:29	-	-	11:59	12:39	13:29	14:39	16:09	16:54	17:44	19:29
県立大学入口	University gates	-	8:30	-	-	12:00	12:40	13:30	14:40	16:10	16:55	17:45	19:30
本荘第一病院前	Honjo Daiichi Hospital	-	8:31	-	-	12:01	12:41	13:31	14:41	16:11	16:56	17:46	19:31
岩渕下	Iwabuchishita	-	8:32	-	-	12:02	12:42	13:32	14:42	16:12	16:57	17:47	19:32
桜小路	Sakurakōji	7:22	8:33	9:22	10:32	12:03	12:43	13:33	14:43	16:13	16:58	17:48	19:33
本荘駅前	Honjo Station	7:25	8:36	9:25	10:35	12:06	12:46	13:36	14:46	16:16	17:01	17:51	19:36
本荘駅前角	Honjo Station Corner	7:25	8:36	9:25	10:35	12:06	12:46	13:36	14:46	16:16	17:01	17:51	19:36
御門町	Gomonmachi	7:25	8:36	9:25	10:35	12:06	12:46	13:36	14:46	16:16	17:01	17:51	19:36
一番堰	Ichibanzeki	7:26	8:37	9:26	10:36	12:07	12:47	13:37	14:47	16:17	17:02	17:52	19:37
上薬師堂	Kami-Yakushidō	7:28	8:39	9:28	10:38	12:09	12:49	13:39	14:49	16:19	17:04	17:54	19:39
薬師堂	Yakushidō	7:29	8:40	9:29	10:39	12:10	12:50	13:40	14:50	16:20	17:05	17:55	19:40
埋田入口	Ueda Entrance	7:30	8:41	9:30	10:40	12:11	12:51	13:41	14:51	16:21	17:06	17:56	19:41
埋田	Ueda	7:31	8:42	9:31	10:41	12:12	12:52	13:42	14:52	16:22	17:07	17:57	19:42
玉の池	Tamanoike	7:32	8:43	9:32	10:42	12:13	12:53	13:43	14:53	16:23	17:08	17:58	19:43
元屋敷	Motoyashiki	7:33	8:44	9:33	10:43	12:14	12:54	13:44	14:54	16:24	17:09	17:59	19:44
俵巻ガード	Tawaramaki	7:33	8:44	9:33	10:43	12:14	12:54	13:44	14:54	16:24	17:09	17:59	19:44
南福田	Minami Fukuda	7:35	8:46	9:35	10:45	12:16	12:56	13:46	14:56	16:26	17:11	18:01	19:46
鮎川	Ayukawa	7:36	8:47	9:36	10:46	12:17	12:57	13:47	14:57	16:27	17:12	18:02	19:47
寺田	Terada	7:37	8:48	9:37	10:47	12:18	12:58	13:48	14:58	16:28	17:13	18:03	19:48
下黒沢	Shimo-Kurosawa	7:38	8:49	9:38	10:48	12:19	12:59	13:49	14:59	16:29	17:14	18:04	19:49
上黒沢	Kami-Kurosawa	7:39	8:50	9:39	10:49	12:20	13:00	13:50	15:00	16:30	17:15	18:05	19:50
明法	Myōhō	7:40	8:51	9:40	10:50	12:21	13:01	13:51	15:01	16:31	17:16	18:06	19:51
曲沢入口	Magarisawa Entrance	7:42	8:53	9:42	10:52	12:23	13:03	13:53	15:03	16:33	17:18	18:08	19:53
善隣館前	Zenrinkan	7:43	8:54	9:43	10:53	12:24	13:04	13:54	15:04	16:34	17:19	18:09	19:54
前郷駅前	Maegō Station	7:46	8:57	9:46	10:56	12:27	13:07	13:57	15:07	16:37	17:22	18:12	19:57
仲町	Nakamachi	7:46	8:57	9:46	10:56	12:27	13:07	13:57	15:07	16:37	17:22	18:12	19:57
前郷	Maegō	7:46	8:57	9:46	10:56	12:27	13:07	13:57	15:07	16:37	17:22	18:12	19:57
西小路	Nishikōji	7:47	8:58	9:47	10:57	12:28	13:08	13:58	15:08	16:38	17:23	18:13	19:58
森子	Moriko	7:48	8:59	9:48	10:58	12:29	13:09	13:59	15:09	16:39	17:24	18:14	19:59
下川原	Shimogawara	7:48	8:59	9:48	10:58	12:29	13:09	13:59	15:09	16:39	17:24	18:14	19:59
神田	Kanta	7:49	9:00	9:49	10:59	12:30	13:10	14:00	15:10	16:40	17:25	18:15	20:00
米山	Komeyama	7:50	9:01	9:50	11:00	12:31	13:11	14:01	15:11	16:41	17:26	18:16	20:01
新屋敷	Arayashiki	7:50	9:01	9:50	11:00	12:31	13:11	14:01	15:11	16:41	17:26	18:16	20:01
奉行免	Bugyōmen	7:51	9:02	9:51	11:01	12:32	13:12	14:02	15:12	16:42	17:27	18:17	20:02
山田	Yamada	7:52	9:03	9:52	11:02	12:33	13:13	14:03	15:13	16:43	17:28	18:18	20:03
西滝沢	Nishitakisawa	7:53	9:04	9:53	11:03	12:34	13:14	14:04	15:14	16:44	17:29	18:19	20:04
新上条	Shinkamijō	7:53	9:04	9:53	11:03	12:34	13:14	14:04	15:14	16:44	17:29	18:19	20:04
上条	Kamijō	7:54	9:05	9:54	11:04	12:35	13:15	14:05	15:15	16:45	17:30	18:20	20:05
吉沢	Yoshizawa	7:55	9:06	9:55	11:05	12:36	13:16	14:06	15:16	16:46	17:31	18:21	20:06
荒沢口	Arasawaguchi	7:56	9:07	9:56	11:06	12:37	13:17	14:07	15:17	16:47	17:32	18:22	20:07
小板戸	Koitado	7:57	9:08	9:57	11:07	12:38	13:18	14:08	15:18	16:48	17:33	18:23	20:08
岩坂	Iwazaka	7:57	9:08	9:57	11:07	12:38	13:18	14:08	15:18	16:48	17:33	18:23	20:08
熊の堂	Kumanodō	7:58	9:09	9:58	11:08	12:39	13:19	14:09	15:19	16:49	17:34	18:24	20:09
川辺駅前	Kawabe Station	7:59	9:10	9:59	11:09	12:40	13:20	14:10	15:20	16:50	17:35	18:25	20:10
田中	Tanaka	7:59	9:10	9:59	11:09	12:40	13:20	14:10	15:20	16:50	17:35	18:25	20:10
川原	Kawara	8:00	9:11	10:00	11:10	12:41	13:21	14:11	15:21	16:51	17:36	18:26	20:11
小坂	Kozaka	8:01	9:12	10:01	11:11	12:42	13:22	14:12	15:22	16:52	17:37	18:27	20:12
小田住宅前	Koda Jūtakumae	8:03	9:14	10:03	11:13	12:44	13:24	14:14	15:24	16:54	17:39	18:29	20:14
曲り渕	Magaribuchi	8:04	9:15	10:04	11:14	12:45	13:25	14:15	15:25	16:55	17:40	18:30	20:15
矢島幹部交番前	Yashima Police Station	8:05	9:16	10:05	11:15	12:46	13:26	14:16	15:26	16:56	17:41	18:31	20:16
新ら町	Aramachi	8:06	9:17	10:06	11:16	12:47	13:27	14:17	15:27	16:57	17:42	18:32	20:17
大川原	Ōkawara	8:06	9:17	10:06	11:16	12:47	13:27	14:17	15:27	16:57	17:42	18:32	20:17
栄町	Sakaemachi	8:07	9:18	10:07	11:17	12:48	13:28	14:18	15:28	16:58	17:43	18:33	20:18
豊町	Toyomachi	8:07	9:18	10:07	11:17	12:48	13:28	14:18	15:28	16:58	17:43	18:33	20:18
豊町角	Toyomachi Corner	8:07	9:18	10:07	11:17	12:48	13:28	14:18	15:28	16:58	17:43	18:33	20:18
矢島駅前	Yashima Station	8:10	9:21	10:10	11:20	12:51	13:31	14:21	15:31	17:01	17:46	18:36	20:21
新町角	Aramachi Corner	8:10	9:21	10:10	11:20	12:51	13:31	14:21	15:31	17:01	17:46	18:36	20:21
館町	Tatemachi	8:10	9:21	10:10	11:20	12:51	13:31	14:21	15:31	17:01	17:46	18:36	20:21
矢島案内所	Yashima Bus Station	8:12	9:23	10:12	11:22	12:53	13:33	14:23	15:33	17:03	17:48	18:38	20:23

Holidays		日曜・祝日運休					Sundays ・ National holidays

Yashima → Honjo bus schedule
2011-04-01
http://www.yurihonjo.matrix.jp/modules/gnavi/index.php?cid=123
矢島案内所	Yashima Bus Station	6:00	7:00	8:05	8:40	10:30	11:25	12:25	13:25	14:50	15:40	16:25	17:30	18:20
館町	Tatemachi	6:00	7:00	8:05	8:40	10:30	11:25	12:25	13:25	14:50	15:40	16:25	17:30	18:20
新町角	Aramachi Corner	6:00	7:00	8:05	8:40	10:30	11:25	12:25	13:25	14:50	15:40	16:25	17:30	18:20
矢島駅前	Yashima Station	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
豊町角	Toyomachi Corner	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
豊町	Toyomachi	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
栄町	Sakaemachi	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
大川原	Ōkawara	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
新ら町	Aramachi	6:02	7:02	8:07	8:42	10:32	11:27	12:27	13:27	14:52	15:42	16:27	17:32	18:22
Yashima Police Station		6:03	7:03	8:08	8:43	10:33	11:28	12:28	13:28	14:53	15:43	16:28	17:33	18:23
曲り渕	Magaribuchi	6:04	7:04	8:09	8:44	10:34	11:29	12:29	13:29	14:54	15:44	16:29	17:34	18:24
小田住宅前	Koda Jūtakumae	6:05	7:05	8:10	8:45	10:35	11:30	12:30	13:30	14:55	15:45	16:30	17:35	18:25
小坂	Kozaka	6:07	7:07	8:12	8:47	10:37	11:32	12:32	13:32	14:57	15:47	16:32	17:37	18:27
川原	Kawara	6:08	7:08	8:13	8:48	10:38	11:33	12:33	13:33	14:58	15:48	16:33	17:38	18:28
田中	Tanaka	6:09	7:09	8:14	8:49	10:39	11:34	12:34	13:34	14:59	15:49	16:34	17:39	18:29
川辺駅前	Kawabe Station	6:09	7:09	8:14	8:49	10:39	11:34	12:34	13:34	14:59	15:49	16:34	17:39	18:29
熊の堂	Kumanodō	6:10	7:10	8:15	8:50	10:40	11:35	12:35	13:35	15:00	15:50	16:35	17:40	18:30
岩坂	Iwazaka	6:11	7:11	8:16	8:51	10:41	11:36	12:36	13:36	15:01	15:51	16:36	17:41	18:31
小板戸	Koitado	6:11	7:11	8:16	8:51	10:41	11:36	12:36	13:36	15:01	15:51	16:36	17:41	18:31
荒沢口	Arasawaguchi	6:12	7:12	8:17	8:52	10:42	11:37	12:37	13:37	15:02	15:52	16:37	17:42	18:32
吉沢	Yoshizawa	6:13	7:13	8:18	8:53	10:43	11:38	12:38	13:38	15:03	15:53	16:38	17:43	18:33
上条	Kamijō	6:14	7:14	8:19	8:54	10:44	11:39	12:39	13:39	15:04	15:54	16:39	17:44	18:34
新上条	Shinkamijō	6:15	7:15	8:20	8:55	10:45	11:40	12:40	13:40	15:05	15:55	16:40	17:45	18:35
西滝沢	Nishitakisawa	6:15	7:15	8:20	8:55	10:45	11:40	12:40	13:40	15:05	15:55	16:40	17:45	18:35
山田	Yamada	6:16	7:16	8:21	8:56	10:46	11:41	12:41	13:41	15:06	15:56	16:41	17:46	18:36
奉行免	Bugyōmen	6:17	7:17	8:22	8:57	10:47	11:42	12:42	13:42	15:07	15:57	16:42	17:47	18:37
新屋敷	Arayashiki	6:18	7:18	8:23	8:58	10:48	11:43	12:43	13:43	15:08	15:58	16:43	17:48	18:38
米山	Komeyama	6:18	7:18	8:23	8:58	10:48	11:43	12:43	13:43	15:08	15:58	16:43	17:48	18:38
神田	Kanta	6:19	7:19	8:24	8:59	10:49	11:44	12:44	13:44	15:09	15:59	16:44	17:49	18:39
下川原	Shimogawara	6:20	7:20	8:25	9:00	10:50	11:45	12:45	13:45	15:10	16:00	16:45	17:50	18:40
森子	Moriko	6:20	7:20	8:25	9:00	10:50	11:45	12:45	13:45	15:10	16:00	16:45	17:50	18:40
西小路	Nishikōji	6:21	7:21	8:26	9:01	10:51	11:46	12:46	13:46	15:11	16:01	16:46	17:51	18:41
前郷	Maegō	6:22	7:22	8:27	9:02	10:52	11:47	12:47	13:47	15:12	16:02	16:47	17:52	18:42
仲町	Nakamachi	6:23	7:23	8:28	9:03	10:53	11:48	12:48	13:48	15:13	16:03	16:48	17:53	18:43
前郷駅前	Maegō Station	6:26	7:26	8:31	9:06	10:56	11:51	12:51	13:51	15:16	16:06	16:51	17:56	18:46
善隣館前	Zenrinkan	6:26	7:26	8:31	9:06	10:56	11:51	12:51	13:51	15:16	16:06	16:51	17:56	18:46
曲沢入口	Magarisawa Entrance	6:26	7:26	8:31	9:06	10:56	11:51	12:51	13:51	15:16	16:06	16:51	17:56	18:46
明法	Myōhō	6:28	7:28	8:33	9:08	10:58	11:53	12:53	13:53	15:18	16:08	16:53	17:58	18:48
上黒沢	Kami-Kurosawa	6:29	7:29	8:34	9:09	10:59	11:54	12:54	13:54	15:19	16:09	16:54	17:59	18:49
下黒沢	Shimo-Kurosawa	6:30	7:30	8:35	9:10	11:00	11:55	12:55	13:55	15:20	16:10	16:55	18:00	18:50
寺田	Terada	6:31	7:31	8:36	9:11	11:01	11:56	12:56	13:56	15:21	16:11	16:56	18:01	18:51
鮎川	Ayukawa	6:32	7:32	8:37	9:12	11:02	11:57	12:57	13:57	15:22	16:12	16:57	18:02	18:52
南福田	Minami Fukuda	6:33	7:33	8:38	9:13	11:03	11:58	12:58	13:58	15:23	16:13	16:58	18:03	18:53
俵巻ガード	Tawaramaki	6:35	7:35	8:40	9:15	11:05	12:00	13:00	14:00	15:25	16:15	17:00	18:05	18:55
元屋敷	Motoyashiki	6:35	7:35	8:40	9:15	11:05	12:00	13:00	14:00	15:25	16:15	17:00	18:05	18:55
玉の池	Tamanoike	6:36	7:36	8:41	9:16	11:06	12:01	13:01	14:01	15:26	16:16	17:01	18:06	18:56
埋田	Ueda	6:37	7:37	8:42	9:17	11:07	12:02	13:02	14:02	15:27	16:17	17:02	18:07	18:57
埋田入口	Ueda Entrance	6:38	7:38	8:43	9:18	11:08	12:03	13:03	14:03	15:28	16:18	17:03	18:08	18:58
薬師堂	Yakushidō	6:39	7:39	8:44	9:19	11:09	12:04	13:04	14:04	15:29	16:19	17:04	18:09	18:59
上薬師堂	Kami-Yakushidō	6:40	7:40	8:45	9:20	11:10	12:05	13:05	14:05	15:30	16:20	17:05	18:10	19:00
一番堰	Ichibanzeki	6:42	7:42	8:47	9:22	11:12	12:07	13:07	14:07	15:32	16:22	17:07	18:12	19:02
御門町	Gomonmachi	6:43	7:43	8:48	9:23	11:13	12:08	13:08	14:08	15:33	16:23	17:08	18:13	19:03
本荘駅前角	Honjo Station Corner	6:44	7:44	8:49	9:24	11:14	12:09	13:09	14:09	15:34	16:24	17:09	18:14	19:04
本荘駅前	Honjo Station	6:47	7:47	8:52	9:27	11:17	12:12	13:12	14:12	15:37	16:27	17:12	18:17	19:07
桜小路	Sakurakōji	6:47	7:47	8:52	9:27	11:17	12:12	13:12	14:12	15:37	16:27	17:12	18:17	19:07
岩渕下	Iwabuchishita	6:47	7:47	8:52	9:27	11:17	12:12	13:12	-	-	-	17:12	-	-
本荘第一病院前	Honjo Daiichi Hospital	6:48	7:48	8:53	9:28	11:18	12:13	13:13	-	-	-	17:13	-	-
県立大学入口	University Entrance	6:49	7:49	8:54	9:29	11:19	12:14	13:14	-	-	-	17:14	-	-
由利高校入口	Yuri High School	6:50	7:50	8:55	9:30	11:20	12:15	13:15	-	-	-	17:15	-	-
羽後交通整備工場前	Ugo Traffic Garage	6:51	7:51	8:56	9:31	11:21	12:16	13:16	-	-	-	17:16	-	-
由利組合病院前	Yuri Kumiai Hospital	6:54	7:54	8:59	9:34	11:24	12:19	13:19	-	-	-	17:19	-	-
羽後交通整備工場前	Ugo Traffic Garage	6:54	7:54	8:59	9:34	11:24	12:19	13:19	-	-	-	17:19	-	-
由利高校入口	Yuri High School	6:54	7:54	8:59	9:34	11:24	12:19	13:19	-	-	-	17:19	-	-
県立大学入口	University Entrance	6:55	7:55	9:00	9:35	11:25	12:20	13:20	-	-	-	17:20	-	-
本荘第一病院前	Honjo Daiichi Hospital	6:56	7:56	9:01	9:36	11:26	12:21	13:21	-	-	-	17:21	-	-
岩渕下	Iwabuchishita	6:57	7:57	9:02	9:37	11:27	12:22	13:22	-	-	-	17:22	-	-
北都銀行前	Hokuto Bank	6:59	7:59	9:04	9:39	11:29	12:24	13:24	14:13	15:38	16:28	17:24	18:18	19:08
栄町一丁目	Sakaechō Itchōme	7:00	8:00	9:05	9:40	11:30	12:25	13:25	14:14	15:39	16:29	17:25	18:19	19:09

Holidays		日曜・祝日運休					Sundays ・ National holidays
Holidays		土曜・日曜・祝日運休					Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ National holidays

Jinego Elementary School

Tue, 05 Apr 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Here are pictures from Jinego Elementary School (笹子小学校) in Chōkai, Yurihonjo, Akita.

The above maps are from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 2.0). Here are some pictures of the Jinego Gakushu Center (笹子学習センター), which used to be Jinego Junior High School (笹子中学校). The junior high school closed in 1999, and its students were sent to Chōkai Junior High School.

Here's some history of Jinego Elementary School. The Japanese is taken from the school's records.

Date		Era	年
1874	School established.	明治	7	創立
1883-08	New school building construction complete.		16.8	校舎新築落成
1894-12-03	Shimo-Jinego Branch School established.		27.12.3	下笹子分校設置
1902-02-22	Shimo-Jinego Branch School becomes a standalone school.		35.2.22	下笹子分校独立して本校となる
1902-05-11	Nishikume Branch School established.		35.5.11	西久米分校設置
1909-04-03	School building catches fire.		42.4.3	校舎類焼
1911-09	School building complete.		44.9	校舎落成
1922-04-01	Ohira Branch School established.	大正	11.4.1	太平分校設置
1927-04	Noyake Branch School established.	昭和	2.4	野宅分校設置
1949-04-01	The 3 branch schools adopt regular 2-class system.		24.4.1	３分校とも常置２学級となる
1950-12-01	Kami-Tsubaki Branch School and Harimizu Winter Branch School established.		25.12.1	上椿・針水冬季分校開設
1955-04-01	School name changes to "鳥海村立笹子小学校".		30.4.1	鳥海村立笹子小学校となる
1955-11	Mizunashi Winter Branch School established.		30.11	水無冬季分校開設
1961-11-15	Schoolyard expansion.		36.11.15	校庭拡張
1962-04-01	3 branch schools add milk to school lunch.		37.4.1	３分校ミルク給食開始
1964-11	School song is written.		39.11	校歌制定
1966-10-01	Nishikume Branch School complete.		41.10.1	西久米分校完成
1967-08-20	Nishikume Branch School gymnasium construction complete.		42.8.20	西久米分校体育館竣工
1970-11	Main school building construction phase 1 complete.		45.11	校舎改築第一期工事完了
1971-11-17	Main school building construction phase 2 gym complete.		46.11.17	校舎改築第二期工事で体育館完成
1972-03-31	Ohira Branch School closes.		47.3.31	太平分校廃止
1972-12	Jinego Elementary-Junior High School joint kitchen complete.		47.12	笹子小中学校共同調理場完成
1974-09-18	School centennial ceremony.		49.9.18	創立百周年記念式典
1975-04-30	For prefectural tree-planting day, award for planting trees and the environment is received.		50.4.30	県植樹祭で環境緑化優秀賞を受賞
1976-07-19	In the courtyard, playground construction is complete.		51.7.19	中庭プレーグラウンド及び芝生完成
1978-03-18	Nishikumi Branch School and Noyake Branch School merge with main school. Kami-Tsubaki Branch School, Harimizu Branch School, and Mizunashi Branch School close.		53.3.18	西久米・野宅分校本校に統合上椿・針水・水無各冬季分校廃止
1979-03-31	In a windstorm, the south roof and gymnasium are damaged.		54.3.31	暴風雨で南面屋根と体育館破風全面損壊
1980-11-01			55.11.1	町制施行、鳥海町立笹子小学校と改まる
1981-02-24			56.2.24	学体連卓球特別賞を授与
1984-04-01			59.4.1	「福祉の心」研究委嘱（３年間）
1984-09-18			59.9.18	鳥海地区学習指導研究会公開
1988-10-01	District table tennis tournament: girls 1st place.		63.10.1	郡市卓球大会、女子団体優勝（５連覇表彰を受ける）
1988-11-22			63.11.22	中庭に子供像建立
1988-12-12			63.12.12	中央地区寄宿舎研修会開催
1989-10-20		平成	元年10.20	地区公開研究会（国語科学習）
1990-06-20	District baseball tournament: 3rd place.		2.6.20	郡市野球大会３位入賞
1991-10-05	District table tennis tournament: girls 1st place.		3.10.5	郡市卓球大会女子団体優勝
1992-05-06			4.5.6	「虫歯予防」学校保健会推進指定
1993-02-16			5.2.16	笹子ひらめき会より「笹子地区立体模型地図」寄贈
1993-09-25	District table tennis tournament: girls 1st place.		5.9.25	郡市卓球大会　女子団体優勝
1993-10-04			5.10.4	「虫歯予防」学校保健推進公開研究会開催
1994-09-29			6.9.29	学校歯科保健推進優秀校として表彰
1994-11-02			6.11.2	健康推進優秀校として表彰
1995-05-11			7.5.11	交通安全優良校として表彰
1995-10-02	District table tennis tournament: girls 1st place.		7.10.2	郡市卓球大会　女子団体優勝
1995-10-31			7.10.31	校舎大規模改修完成
1996-07-07			8.7.7	郡市卓球大会で優秀学校賞受賞
1996-08-24	Participation in Matsunoki Tunnel Opening Event.		8.8.24	松ノ木トンネル開通イベント参加
1996-09-10	Major gymnasium repair complete.		8.9.10	体育館大改修工事完成
1996-11-17	1996 Sasanoko Festival.		8.11.17	笹の子フェスティバル96開催
1997-02-05	Parent-child ski tournament at Okojoland Ski Area.		9.2.5	親子スキー大会を町営オコジョランドスキー場で開催
1997-04-15			9.4.15	笹子小学校後援会発足　農業体験実習校として栽培体験学習に取り組む
1997-11-16			9.11.16	「笹の子音頭」完成
1998-10-30			10.10.30	郡市へき地交流会を開催
1998-11-08	1998 Sasanoko Festival. A CD is produced.		10.11.8	笹の子フェスティバル98を開催ＣＤを制作する
1999-05-30			11.5.30	笹子小学校単独で運動会を開催する
1999-11-07	1999 Sasanoko Festival.		11.11.7	笹の子フェスティバル99を開催
2000-11-05	2000 Sasanoko Festival.		12.11.5	笹の子フェスティバル2000を開催
2001-02-05			13.2.5	ドリームアップ事業でふるさとカルタ完成
2001-10-21	District table tennis tournament: boys 1st place.		13.10.21	郡市卓球大会　男子団体優勝
2003-06			15.6	ドリームプロジェクト支援事業で仙道小学校と交流する
2003-07-07	Pool repairs.		15.7.7	プール改修
2003-08-22			15.8.22	調理場改修
2004-04-13			16.4.13	「未来の科学夢画展」全国優秀賞を受賞
2004-10-13			16.10.13	秋田魁新報社に創立130周年「じねんこ新聞」が掲載される
2004-10-23			16.10.23	創立130周年記念笹の子フェスティバルを開催　「じねんこ広場」除幕式開催
2005-06-04	District track meet: 1st place, boys 400 meter relay.		17.6.4	郡市小学校陸上競技大会　男子400Mリレー優勝
2005-06-12	District table tennis tournament: boys and girls 1st place.		17.6.12	郡市卓球大会　男女総合優勝
2005-06-21			17.6.21	「みんなの登校日」実施（３日間開催）
2005-07-21	All-Akita track meet: 3rd place, boys 400 meter relay.		17.7.21	秋田県少年少女陸上競技大会　男子400Mリレー第３位入賞
2005-10-20			17.10.20	「みんなの登校日」実施（３日間開催）
2006-05-24			18.5.24	第１回防犯ボランティア立ち上げの会を開催し、「笹ん子を見守る会」を設立する
2006-06-22			18.6.22	「みんなの登校日」実施（３日間開催）
2006-10-26			18.10.26	「みんなの登校日」実施（３日間開催）
2006-10-28	2006 Sasanoko Festival.		18.10.28	笹の子ﾌｪｽﾃｨﾊﾞﾙ2006を開催する
2006-11-08			18.11.8	臼井記念歯科保健功労賞を受賞する
2007-07-28	Participants in All-Japan table tennis tournament.		19.7.28	全日本卓球選手権大会参加
2007-07-30			19.7.30	本荘ﾏﾘｰﾅｵｱｼｽ画廊製作作業参加
2007-10-26			19.10.26	「みんなの登校日」実施（２日間開催）
2007-10-27	2007 Sasanoko Festival.		19.10.27	笹の子ﾌｪｽﾃｨﾊﾞﾙ2007を開催する
2008-02-14	Public acknowledgement for adoption of health safety practices.		20.2.14	保健安全実践活動優秀校として表彰
2008-10-17	Prefectural branch chairman's prize, "Dreaming of Science" picture contest.		20.10.17	｢科学ゆめ画展｣発明協会県支部長賞
2008-10-25	City cooperative chairman's prize, "Dreaming of Science" picture contest.		20.10.25	｢科学ゆめ画展｣市発明振興協会長賞
2008-10-29	2008 Sasanoko Festival. Prize for excellence awarded by prefectural school agriculture group. "Study on the fertilization of rice."		20.10.29	笹の子ﾌｪｽﾃｨﾊﾞﾙ2008を開催する県学校農園展｢優良賞｣受賞｢稲の発芽と受粉の観察｣
2009-01-30	Parent-child ski tournament at Okojoland Ski Area.		21.1.30	親子スキー大会をオコジョランドスキー場で開催
2010-02-16	Public acknowledgement for adoption of health safety practices.		22.2.16	保健安全実践活動優秀校として表彰

Many years ago, there was a branch of Yashima High School in Jinego — Jinego Branch School. At that time, many teachers lived in teacher housing in Jinego. In 2000 or 2001, the old teacher housing was torn down and replaced with only three new houses, which are located next to the Jinego Police Station. The shift to fewer apartments coincided with the closing of Jinego Junior High School, which meant there was reduced demand. There are 2 tunnels on Highway 108 southeast of Jinego, and these were built several decades ago. Prior to their construction, teachers living in southern Yuzawa would have had a long commute via Highway 57 through Ugo, to the north, which would have made teacher housing quite appealing. Similarly, teachers working in Jinego who live along the coast have at least a fifty minute commute, which in the winter can take much longer and is generally undesirable.

Jinego Elementary School: 39.109222, 140.28905.
Jinego Junior High School: 39.110059, 140.289348.
Teacher housing: 39.107659, 140.292514.

Here are the lyrics to the school song.

1	出羽山地　　　　奥広くさわやかな　　　この朝あけの大気をあびて　　たくましく希望わきたつ　　笹子われらああ月山の　　　見守るところ心すなおに　　　はつらつと伸びてゆこうよ　正しく強く
2	笹子川　　　　　水きよくたゆまずに　　　進む姿を学びの日々に　　うけついでひとみ輝き　　　励むわれらああふるさとの　明日をにない雪にあらしに　　まけないで伸びてゆこうよ　楽しく共に

Kanji flashcards

Tue, 22 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Here are some flashcards for studying kanji. They are designed to printed double sided on relatively thick A4 paper. The flashcards use colors, but if you only have a black and white printer, you could either print them anyway or open the odg files and modify the styles. You can read odg files with the free LibreOffice (or other software).

Here are the flashcards sorted by elementary school grade level. In Japanese, this collection is called the kyōiku kanji. Below that are cards for the JLPT.

Set	Kanji	LETTER		A4
1st grade	80 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
2nd grade	160 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
3rd grade	200 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
4th grade	200 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
5th grade	185 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
6th grade	181 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
JLPT N5	103 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
JLPT N4	103 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
JLPT N3	Sorry, set does not exist.
JLPT N2	103 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf
JLPT N1	103 kanji	odg	pdf	odg	pdf

Regarding the JLPT N3, these flashcards rely on KANJIDIC2, and that file does not reflect 2010 JLPT changes. I think there is no official list for new JLPT. Here N2 and N3 kanji are combined into the N2 set. If you're testing for N3, consider using 3rd and 4th grade cards from the above list — those are something close to the N3 kanji.

The front of each flashcard has the following information.

The kanji itself, in a big font.
The grade level, in the lower left corner.
The stroke count, in the lower right corner.

The back of each flashcard has the following information, from top to bottom.

An English word matching the meaning of the kanji as closely as possible.
The kanji definition. Omitted if the same as the above English word.
Onyomi, in katakana. Zero or more may exist.
Kunyomi, in hiragana. Zero or more may exist.
Example words using the kanji, along with their definitions.

I think the above cards are useful as they are, but if you're interested in making your own, it is possible. My ruby script cardmaker.rb gets the relevant kanji from KANJIDIC2, frequently used words from wordfreq_ck.txt, and word definitions from EDICT. My script, KANJIDIC2, and EDICT are Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike licensed. See the README and this directory for details on my software. EDICT and KANJIDIC2 are Electronic Dictionary Research and Development Group projects — see that site for information on those files. If you have comments or questions, feel free to contact me (see the contact page).

Kawauchi Elementary School

Thu, 10 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0900

Here are pictures from Kawauchi Elementary School (川内小学校) in Chōkai, Yurihonjo, Akita.

The above maps are from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 2.0). Here are some pictures of the Chōkai Gakushu Center (鳥海学習センター), which used to be Kawauchi Junior High School (川内中学校). The junior high school closed in 1999, and its students were sent to Chōkai Junior High School.

Here's some history of Kawauchi Elementary School. The Japanese is copied from http://www.city.yurihonjo.akita.jp/edu/kawauchi-es/, and I translated it to English.

Date		Era	年
1874-07-07	Kami-Kawa School opens.	明治	7.7.1	上川学校創立。
1879-11	Kami-Kawa School splits into two schools: Kami-Kawa School and Hirane School.		12.11	上川小学校が分かれて上川学校と平根学校になる。
1882-04	Shimo-Kawa School changes its name to Kōya School.		15.4	下川学校を興屋学校と称す。
1882-04	Hirane and Kami-Kawa merge. Kogawa and Kōya become branch schools.		15.4	平根学校と上川学校が合併、小川と興屋は分校となる。
1888-04	A major education revision occurs. The school becomes Kami-Kawa Simple School.		21.4	簡易科設置、上川簡易学校と改称す。
1892-04	A major education revision occurs. The school becomes Kawauchi Common Elementary School. Kōya Branch School becomes independent and its name becomes Kōya Common Elementary School.		25.4	尋常科を設置し、川内尋常小学校と改める。興屋分校独立し、興屋尋常小学校となる。
1901-04	Kōya and Kawauchi merge, becoming Kawauchi Common Elementary School.		34.4	川内、興屋両校合併し、川内尋常小学校と改める。
1902	A new school building for Kawauchi Common Elementary School is built at Uedano.		35	上田野の現在地に、川内尋常小学校を建てる。
1903-04-19	5th and 6th grade are added to the school, and the school becomes 川内尋常高等小学校.		36.4.19	高等科を併置、川内尋常高等小学校と改称す。
1922-09	A school building addition is completed.	大正	11.9	校舎を新増築。
1924-07	School building addition completed.	大正	13.7	校舎を新増築。
1927	Supplementary education building addition completed.	昭和	2.10	小学校増築、補習学校新校舎落成。
1929-08	Uedano Sports Ground is completed.		4.8	上田野運動場拡張。
1935-03-26	School song is written for 60 year anniversary celebration.		10.3.26	校歌制定（６０周年記念）。
1940-10-10	Uedano Sports Ground is expanded.		15.10.10	上田野グランド拡張。
1941-04-01	The school becomes Kawauchi National Elementary School. Because of the wartime nationalistic influence, elementary schools in Japan changed to this system from 1941 to 1947.		16.4.1	国民学校令により、川内国民学校と改称。
1956-05-10	A big fire occurs at the Hirane school. 45 students and 1 teacher are affected.		31.5.10	平根部落大火、児童５４名、教師１名罹災す。
1959-05-01	School flag is created.		34.5.1	校旗制定。
1967-11-01	New school building completed.		40.11.1	新校舎第二期工事完了。
1967-11-02	Water pipe construction complete. For the first time, the school has running water.		40.11.2	水道工事完了、校舎に給水開始。
1970-06	Limited school lunch program begins.		43.6	学校給食開始（牛乳）。
1973-02	Full student lunch program begins.		46.2	完全給食開始。
1976-09-01	The school celebrates its centennial.		49.9.1	創立百周年記念式典を行う。
1978-08-01	The PTA assists the school in creating a rock garden.		51.8.1	ＰＴＡ奉仕により、岩石園を造成す。
1982-09-01	Town public research meeting focusing on mathematics.		55.9.1	町公開研究会（算数）。
1982-11	The school name becomes 鳥海町立川内小学.		55.11	町制施行、鳥海町立川内小学校と改称。
1985-02-02	School receives a thank-you letter from the prefectural school insurance promotion group.		58.2.2	県学校保険推進校として感謝状を受ける。
1985-07	Uedano Ground is expanded. Restrooms are built there.		60.7	上田野グランド拡張、屋外トイレ設置。
1985-10	Area public research meeting focusing on Japanese.		60.10	鳥海地区公開研究会（国語）。
1986-09-01	Library and music room construction complete.		61.9.1	図書館、音楽室校舎工事完了。
1989-02	Gymnasium renovation complete.	平成	元年8.2	体育館、改修工事完了。
1990-08	Staff room, staff changing room, and staff restrooms are rebuilt.		2.8	職員トイレ、更衣室、用務員室工事完了。
1990-10	Chokai area public research meeting.		2.10	鳥海地区公開研究会。
1992-08	1st major reconstruction is completed. Toilets are converted to flush toilets.		4.8	第一期大規模改修工事完了、水洗トイレ完備。
1993-04-01	Kogawa Elementary School merges with Kawauchi Elementary School.		5.4.1	小川小学校と統合。
1993-10	2nd major reconstruction is completed.		5.10	第二期大規模改修工事完了。
1994-06-09	The school celebrates its 125th anniversary.		6.6.9	創立百二十周年記念事業として航空写真撮影。
1995-09-01	Area public research meeting.		7.9.1	地区公開研究会。
1998-08-02	Lunch room construction completed.		10.8.2	給食室改修工事完了。
1999-01-02	Computer room is completed.		11.1.2	コンピュータ室工事完了。
2000-08-20	20th National PTA Public Relations Paper Contest commendation.		12.8.20	第二十二回全国PTA広報紙コンクールで表彰。
2001-08-24	A dumbwaiter is installed for getting lunches up to the classrooms.		13.8.24	ダムウェーター（給食運搬昇降機）取り付け工事
2001-08	Fluorescent lighting is added.		13.8	照明器具改修工事（蛍光灯）。
2002-08	Flush toilets are added next to the school kitchen.		14.8	調理員用水洗トイレ工事完了。
2003-07-18	Security assurance system is introduced.		15.7.18	警備保障システム導入。
2007-10-18	Chokai area public research meeting focusing on mathematics.		19.10.18	鳥海地区公開研究会（算数）。

Chokai Junior High School was built in 1999. Prior to that, there was a junior high school — Kawauchi Junior High School (川内中学校) — located next to the elementary school. When the old junior high school was closed, it became a community center: the Chokai Gakushu Center (鳥海学習センター). The gym of the old junior high school has been converted into a baseball practice area — there's a dirt floor, and there are nets over all the windows.

Kawauchi Elementary School (Uedano): 39.19009, 140.193668.
Kawauchi Junior High School: 39.191037, 140.193076.
Uedano Sports Ground: 39.191851, 140.194897.
Kogawa Elementary School: 39.156599, 140.246461. The elementary school and Kogawa Junior High School were located on this hill.
Kōya Elementary School: 39.207,140.179. This is the location of the Kōya hamlet. The old school's exact location is unclear.

Tacos

Wed, 09 Mar 2011 00:00:00 +0900

The following taco recipe makes about sixteen tacos small tacos.

16 8" flour tortillas
2 red (or white) onions
2 orange (or yellow) peppers
1 head lettuce
3 avocados
vegetable oil

300 g sliced cheddar (or mozzarella) cheese
1.3 pounds (600 g) beef
1 package taco seasoning
1 jar sliced jalapeño peppers
1 jar (16 oz.) salsa

Dice the onions and fry with a little vegetable on very low heat for 10 minutes or until brown. In a frying pan on medium heat with a little vegetable oil, brown the beef. Add taco seasoning (or make your own with garlic, cayenne, salt, and pepper) as desired. Cut the orange peppers into thin slices. Shred the lettuce. Cut the avocados in half and remove the pit. With a spoon, put the green inner part into a bowl. Crush with a fork until smooth. Cut the jalapeños into very small pieces, unless you like the heat of them as is. Separate the tortillas. Store bought flour tortillas often stick together, and if yours do, microwave for 30 seconds first.

To serve, take a tortilla and add the desired amount of meat, onions, and cheese. Do this first (so the cheese will melt). Then add lettuce, avocado, orange pepper, and jalapeños. Optionally, try with sour cream, or perhaps with cilantro and limes mixed in with the avacado.

8" フラワートルティーヤ　16枚
玉ねぎ　2個
オレンジ色ピーマン　2個
レタス　1個
アボカド　3個
植物油
300 g チェダーチーズ

牛肉　600 g
ガーリック
一味唐辛子
塩
コショウ
スライスハラペーニョ
サルサ(ソース)

Lunchtime melodies

Tue, 22 Feb 2011 00:00:00 +0900

At Yashima Junior High School (矢島中学校), I often make lunchtime music requests. I did this before, but when we moved to a new building, the system changed and there wasn't any music at lunch. As of last month, though, lunchtime music is back.

	1. Wanna Be Startin' Something. Michael Jackson, Thriller. 1982. Most students couldn't guess that this was Michael Jackson, to my surprise.
	2. Baby Be Mine. Michael Jackson, Thriller. 1982. Same as above.
	3. Right Now. Van Halen, For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge. 1991.
	4. Welcome Home (Sanitarium). Metallica, Master of Puppets. 1986. Someone asked, "Is all American music so loud?" Another commented, "... and so long?"
	5. 1979. Smashing Pumpkins, Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. 1995. Too quiet for noisy lunchtime.
	6. The Way. Fastball, All the Pain Money Can Buy. 1999.
	7. Waiting for the End. Linkin Park, A Thousand Suns. 2010.

Eggnog

Tue, 21 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0900

This is a recipe for eggnog. It's rather strong, so care should be taken when consuming. Also, some people worry about the uncooked eggs. My family has used this recipe for decades without a problem, but regardless, use your own judgment. I got this recipe from my parents, who got it from my grandparents.

12 eggs
1 1/2 cup sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 qt heavy cream

1 qt brandy (or bourbon)
1 cup rum
A bit of nutmeg

Separate the eggs. Beat the egg whites until stiff. Then beat in 1/2 cup sugar. In another bowl, beat the egg yolks, 1 cup sugar, and salt until very light. Combine the egg mixtures and stir until blended. Beat the heavy cream until stiff. Then add it to the egg mixture along with the milk, brandy, and rum. Mix well, pour into a gallon jug, and store in a cool place for 10 days to let it mellow. Shake well before serving. Serve with a sprinkle of nutmeg. Drink sparingly.

これはアメリカの卵酒（エッグノッグ）のレシピです。アルコール分が多いので注意してください。

卵　12
砂糖　375 cc
塩　小さじ 1/4
生クリーム（ヘビークリーム）　1 L

ナッツメッグ
牛乳　1 L
ブランディ　1 L
ラム　250 cc

卵白を泡立てる。砂糖（125 cc）を1.に入れて混ぜる。他のボールで、卵黄と砂糖（250 cc）と塩を混ぜる。これを上のボールに入れて混ぜる。生クリームを泡立てる。これと牛乳とブランディとラムを上のボールに入れて混ぜる。混ぜたものを大きなガラス壺に入れる。涼しい場所で10日間待つ。もう一度混ぜる。クラスに注いでナッツメッグを少々振りかける。ゆっくり飲む。

WikiLeaks revelations

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0900

The following is a letter I wrote that appeared in the Grand Forks Herald on December 3rd, 2010. The title it was given is, "WikiLeaks offers vital global revelations".

YURIHONJO, Japan — On Dec. 2, the Herald opined, "The big surprise is that there are so few surprises. That’s the general consensus about the WikiLeaks release of diplomatic documents, most of which offer frank views ... that already had been more cautiously expressed in public" ("DL gets the WikiLeaks treatment," editorial, Page A4). Has the Herald done its research on the subject? I think not, for the above claim simply is ridiculous. It’s easy to find dozens of important global issues revealed by the Cablegate leaks. Here are a few.

** The CIA tortured many people in the past decade — which should be a headline on its own. Regardless, in the leaks, we also find out that the Obama administration pressured Spain and Germany to ignore the CIA's actions. Now we know that both Bush and Obama feel torture is justified — a sad state of American human rights.

** The leaks show that the U.S. has been conducting drone strikes in Pakistan and Yemen. Many people suspected this, but now we know exactly where our military is fighting — something that Americans should have a right to know.

** The leaks show that Hillary Clinton and Condoleezza Rice ordered our diplomats to spy on foreign leaders. The diplomats were ordered to collect biometric data, such as DNA and fingerprints, as well as credit card numbers and computer passwords of foreign leaders, including the secretary general of the United Nations. To turn our country's diplomats into poorly trained spies simply is disgraceful.

** The leaks show that Afghanistan's vice president carried $52 million to the United Arab Emirates last year. It's not clear why he had so much money — he stated no reason — but theft seems likely.

** The leaks show the leaders of Saudi Arabia and Jordan privately asking the U.S. to attack Iran while publicly saying the opposite. Such behavior makes the U.S. look bad, because Saudi and Jordanian citizens see the U.S. as the aggressor against Iran, when in fact their own leaders are in favor of an attack.

In short, the leaks reveal many important secrets about the way America and other countries have engaged in shady dealings over the past decade. As American citizens, we need to be informed about such things. When our government lies to us, we desperately need groups such as WikiLeaks to help us. If citizens don't have access to information, they cannot make good decisions. An informed public is a fundamental requirement for a stable democracy, and the Cablegate leaks are a big step in the right direction.

Douglas Perkins

Teshirosawa

Sat, 18 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0900

When I was researching the history of Hitane Elementary School (直根小学校), I found reference to Teshirosawa Elementary School (手代沢分校), which was open from 1948 to 1961, according to the Hitane Elementary School history records (http://www2.chokai.ne.jp/~hitane/enkakusi1.htm). But Teshirosawa Elementary School doesn't show up on the major map websites — neither does Teshirosawa or Teshiro. The school and hamlet itself revolved around the timber industry, which apparently died off in the late 50s. After much searching, I found an old map showing the general location -- Momoyake, a hamlet now part of Hitane. Hitane is located in Chokai (鳥海), Yurihonjo (由利本荘市), Akita, Japan.

Ms. Sumiko, a resident of Hitane, explained that Teshirosawa was a branch school with only a few students, the kids who couldn't make the walk into Momoyake Elementary School (百宅分校). The road to Teshiro starts SW of the highway's main fork in Momoyake. The school and other buildings were located just before the bridge over a small stream, and are no longer there. These days, that road leads to the Momoyake Trailhead of Mt. Chokai and is almost exclusively used by adventurous hikers, and perhaps occasionally by motorbikers (see http://www.cyclingtalk.net/rindo/touhoku/yamagata_tyoukai/ or http://www.rindo21.com/touhoku_minami/yamagata_tyoukai/akita_tesirosawa/). The hamlet was located around lat/long 39.101458, 140.127268.

Hitane Elementary School

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0900

Here are pictures from Hitane Elementary School (直根小学校) in Chōkai, Yurihonjo, Akita.

The above maps are from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 2.0). Hitane Elementary School goes back to 1874 — here's the school's history. The Japanese is copied from http://www2.chokai.ne.jp/~hitane/enkakusi1.htm, and I translated it to English.

Year		Era	年
1874-10-15	Hitane Elementary School is formed. The temporary location is Shōjūji. Hitane Elementary School is in University 7, Middle School 62-64 Group. At this time, the country's education is divided into 8 university groups, each containing 32 middle school groups, each containing 210 elementary school groups. Also, elementary school is divided into lower (6-9 years old, 3 years) and upper (10-13 years old, 3 years).	明治	7.10.15	直根学校として本校の創意をみる。（仮校舎正重寺，修業年限3年の下等小学校） ※直根学校は第７大学区13番中学区62〜64小学区であった。これは学制発布が全国を８大学区とし，1大学区に32中学区を，１中学区に210小学区を設けたことによる。　また，下等小学は６〜９才の３年間，上等小学は10〜13才の３年間であった。
1879-01-11	First graduates of lower grade elementary school.		12.1.11	下等小学校の最初の卒業生を出す。
1880-04-10	Hitane Elementary School instruction tour to Momoyake, Kami-Hitane, and Sarukura.		13.4.10	直根学校の巡回教授所を百宅・上直根・猿倉に置く。
1880-12	A major education revision occurs. Schools are split into a 3 year primary course, a 3 year intermediate course, and a 2 year upper course. This school has only elementary level students.		13.12	教育全改正により初等科３年，中等科３年，高等科２年となり，本校は初等科のみ。
1883-08-12	Shōjūji is destroyed by a fire. The school temporarily moves to 3 new locations at houses of local residents: Jūbē Satō, 新田宗祥太, and Denjūrō Takahashi.		16.8.12	正重寺焼失により，佐藤重兵ヱ・新田宗祥太・高橋伝十郎方に分散仮校舎とする。
1886-04-01	Momoyake Branch School is established.		19.4.1	百宅に分教場を設置する。
1887-04	A major education revision occurs. Schools are split into a 4 year ordinary elementary course and a 4 year higher course. The school becomes 直根簡易小学校.		20.4	学制改革され，高等小学４年，尋常小学４年，簡易小学３年となり，本校は直根簡易小学校となる。
1887-05-31	Kami-Hitane Branch School and Sarukura Branch School are established.		20.5.31	上直根・猿倉に分教場を設置する。
1889-10-01	Momoyake Branch School, Kami-Hitane Branch School, and Sarukura Branch School close.		22.10.1	百宅・上直根・猿倉の３分教場を廃止する。
1892-06-05	An elementary school reform is ordered. Under the new age grouping, the common section level is 3-4 years, and the upper level is 2-3 years. The school becomes 直根村立尋常小学校. The school adds a 4th grade class.		25.6.5	小学校令の改正により，尋常科（３〜４年）高等科（２〜３年）となり，直根村立尋常小学校と改称，修業年限４年となる。
1893-02-01	Small branch schools are opened in Kami-Hitane and Momoyake.		26.2.1	上直根に分教場を設置し，百宅分教場と称する。
1897-11-25	In Chikoshi, a private house of 116m² is purchased. In 1901, it is enlarged to 132m², and in 1908, it is enlarged to 172m².		30.11.25	打越に民家を購入，35坪の校舎を建築する。（34年40坪増築，41年模様替と増築52坪)
1898-02-19	In Kami-Hitane, the Momoyake Small Branch School gets a new building in the neighborhood of Nakamura. On the same day, in the village of Mamenashi in Kami-Hitane, Kami-Hitane Small Branch School is opened. In 1902, Momoyake Small Branch School moves to a new building located in Yama no Sawa.		31.2.19	上直根に設けた百宅分教場を百宅字中村に移し，百宅分教場を建築。同日上直根字豆梨に上直根分教場を新築する。（百宅分教場は35年山の沢に改築）
1902-03-12	Kami Hitane Small Branch School becomes Kami-Hitane Ordinary Elementary School. On 1911-03-18, the school is demoted back to a small branch school. At that time, the branch school was located in Momoyake.		35.3.12	上直根分教場は上直根尋常小学校に昇格する。 44年3月18日再び分教場に降格する。独立校当時は百宅は上直根の分教室。
1908-04-01	By imperial edict, the length of compulsory education is extended to 6 years. 5th and 6th grade are added to the school.		41.4.1	勅令により義務教育年限は尋常科６年，高等科２年となり，本校は修業年限６か年。
1911-01-19	In Sarukura, a special winter classroom is added, teaching 1st-4th grade in a single classroom.		44.1.19	猿倉に冬季特別教場を置く。（４年まで単級）
1912-01-11	At 11:40 a.m., fire breaks out. All of the school's official documents burn. Following this, a new graduation ledger is created.		45.1.11	午前11時40分学校より出火，校舎書類の一切を焼失する。（卒業台帳はこの年度より新たになる。）
1914-10-01	To replace the school destroyed in the 1912 fire, a new building is constructed in Nakamura, Shimo-Hitane.	大正	3.10.1	火災により焼失した校舎を下直根字中村に再建落成する。
1919-04-01	Upper grade levels are added and the school becomes a regular elementary school with the new name "直根村立尋常小学校".	大正	8.4.1	高等科を併置し，直根村立尋常小学校と改称する。
1927-11-22	Addition to school building complete.	昭和	2.11.22	校舎増築落成する。
1936-12-30	Momoyake Branch School building renovation complete.		11.12.30	百宅分校改築落成する。
1941-04-01	The school becomes Hitane National Elementary School. Because of the wartime nationalistic influence, elementary schools in Japan changed to this system from 1941 to 1947.		16.4.1	直根村立直根国民学校と改称する。尋常科は初等科という名に変わる。
1947-04-01	In an educational reform, schools are divided with 6 years for elementary and 3 years for junior high. The school becomes 直根村立直根小学校.		22.4.1	６・３制実施にともない，直根村立直根小学校と改称する。
1948-11-30	Sarukura Branch School building renovation complete.		23.11.30	猿倉分校改築落成する。
1948-12-01	Teshirosawa Branch School opens. 1st-6th grade use a single classroom.		23.12.1	手代沢に分校設置。（１〜６年の単級）
1950-02-10	Major structural repairs are completed on Kami-Hitane Branch School. In 1958-1959, the gymnasium is renovated. In 1971, the building is extended.		25.2.10	上直根分校改築落成する。建物粗悪で33年，34年に校舎体育館を再建築する。 46年一部増改築。
1952-04-04	In Sodegawa, a branch school is established, containing 1st-5th grade. The building is renovated in 1959.		27.4.4	袖川に分校設置。（１〜５年の単級）34年改築。
1954-09-15	School celebrates its 60th anniversary. A publication is produced, a commemorative event is held, and playground equipment is improved.		29.9.15	創立80周年記念式典を行う。記念誌発行・記念行事として記念文庫・遊具などの整備。
1955-03-31	The three villages of Kawauchi, Jinego, and Hitane combine to form Chōkai. The school name becomes 鳥海村立直根小学校.		30.3.31	川内・笹子・直根3村の合併により鳥海村誕生，鳥海村立直根小学校と改称する。
1956-05-08	The school flag is established.		31.5.8	校旗を樹立する。
1959-12-04	The school song is created. The lyrics are written by Takahashi, from Naka-Hitane. The music is written by Komatsu, from Higashiyuri.		34.12.4	校歌を制定する。作詞:高橋亮吉氏（中直根出身）作曲:小松耕輔氏（東由利町舘合出身）
1961-10-01	Teshirosawa Branch School closes.		36.10.1	手代沢分校を廃校にする。
1961-10-23	In 1960-1961, Kami-Hitane Branch School is designated a "Teaching Japanese for Combined Class Instruction" school by the Akita Prefectural Board of Education. The school receives a commendation from the Akita Board of Education on October 8, 1962.		36.10.23	上直根分校を会場に35・36年度県教委指定の「複式学級に於る国語科同単元学習指導の研究」を公開する。（37年10月8日県教委より表彰）
1963-04-01	Momoyake Branch School separates from Hitane Elementary School and becomes 鳥海村立百宅小学校.		38.4.1	百宅分校は本校より分離して鳥海村立百宅小学校となる。
1966-11-14	Renovation of Sarukura Branch School complete.		41.11.14	猿倉分校を改築落成する。
1968-03-31	Sodegawa Branch School closes.		43.3.31	袖川分校を廃校にする。
1969-11-19	In Nakamura, Shimo-Hitane, school building renovation complete. Full school lunch is introduced.		44.11.19	下直根字中村に校舎改築落成する。（校舎完成とともに学級給食はじまる。）
1970-11-15	In Nakamura, Shimo-Hitane, gymnasium construction complete.		45.11.15	下直根字中村に体育館落成する。
1974-10-25	School's 100 year anniversary ceremony.		49.10.25	創立百周年記念式典を挙行する。
1976-07-03	Schoolyard enlarged by 180m².		51.7.3	校庭180m²の拡張工事完了する。
1979-07-03	"Town-designated Special Activity Research Project" exhibition occurs.		54.7.3	「町指定特別活動研究」を公開する。
1981-03-31	Kami-Hitane Branch School closes. Its students move to Hitane Elementary School. A school bus route is created.		56.3.31	上直根分校を廃校する。（上直根の通学はスクールバスになる）
1983-09-22	As part of a prefectural rural area research project, a town-designed "Educational Guidance" research meeting occurs.		58.9.22	県へき地教育研究会，町指定「学習指導研究会」を公開する。
1984-03-31	Sarukura Branch School closes. Its students move to Hitane Elementary School.		59.3.31	猿倉分校を廃校する。
1984-04-01	Momoyake Elementary School closes. Its students move to Hitane Elementary School. A school bus route is created.		59.4.1	百宅小学校を統合する。通学はスクールバスになる。
1985-08-08	Hitane Elementary savings group receives commendation from farm cooperative treasury director.		60.8.8	直根小学校貯金会，子ども信用協同組合農林中央金庫理事長表彰を受ける。
1986-11-13	Hitane Elementary School PTA receives commendation from All-Japan PTA organization chair.		61.11.13	直根小学校PTA日本PTA全国協議会長表彰を受ける。
1987-10-10	Chōkai area public research meeting with the theme, "Educational planning on how to improve math and science fundamentals."		62.10.10	鳥海地区学習指導公開研究会，研究主題「算数科における基礎学力の向上を図る学習指導」
1988-11-25	School facade and lunch room walls resurfaced. Gymnasium exterior wall repainted.		63.11.25	校舎正面及び給食室の壁面全張替と体育館外部壁面張替塗装完成。
1989-03-30	6 classroom ceilings and 5 special use room ceilings resurfaced.	平成	1.3.30	教室（6），特別教室〈5）の天井，壁面の塗装完成する。
1989-04-30	School yard and driveway are paved with asphalt 4m wide.		1.4.30	校庭通学路全面改修舗装（巾員4.0mアスファルト）
1989-08-23	In the school yard, a athletics facility (with 5 parts) is constructed using donations from the PTA.		1.8.23	校庭にアスレチック施設（５種類）をPTA奉仕作業で完成する。
1989-02-08	School designed as part of Ministry of Education's "Diligent Service Manufacture Practice" program. Hallway walls resurfaced. Staff bathrooms completed.		1.2.8	文部省指定「勤労生産学習」初年度，校舎廊下のし板全面張替，職員トイレ完成。
1991-10-02	Ministry of Education's "Diligent Service Manufacture Practice" exhibit occurs. Gymnasium is refurbished.		3.10.2	文部省指定「勤労生産学習」公開，体育館内装張替。
1993-02-25	School is presented with a thank-you letter from the Akita Prefectural Children's Museum for "Tomato Universe Cultivation".		5.2.25	宇宙トマト栽培の功績により，秋田県立子ども博物館より感謝状と記念品を贈呈される。
1994-10-15	120 year anniversary.		6.10.15	創立120周年記念の年を迎える。
1995-12-13	A new school flag is introduced.		7.12.13	校旗及び略旗を新調する。
1996-07-31	Hitane Elementary savings group receives commendation from farm cooperative treasury director.		8.7.31	直根小学校貯金会，子ども信用協同組合農林中央金庫理事長表彰を受ける。
1997-10-02	Chōkai area public research meeting with the theme, "Raising children who can vividly express themselves with thought and passion."		9.10.2	鳥海地区公開研究会，研究主題「思いや感動を生き生きと表現できる子どもの育成」
1998-10-29	The Ministry of Education designates the school as a "Rural Area Research School" for 1998-1999.		10.10.29	文部省より，へき地教育研究校に指定される。（H10〜Hll）
1999-10-07	As part of the Ministry of Education's "Rural Area Research School" project, there is a research meeting. The meeting theme is, "Think independently; raise and teach children in a lively fashion."		11.10.7	文部省指定へき地教育公開研究会，研究主題「主体的に考え，生き生きと学ぶ子供の育成」
2000-04-01	The former Hitane Junior High School building is renovated and becomes the Hitane Elementary School building. At this time, Chōkai Town's three junior high schools — Kawauchi, Hitane, and Jinego — merge to form Chōkai Junior High School.		12.4.1	旧直根中学校を増改築した新校舎に移転する。

The current school building is not so old. It was created to house Hitane Junior High School. In 1999, Chokai Junior High School opened and Hitane Junior High School closed, so the elementary school changed from its old building (near the nursery school in Nakamura, I believe) to the current location. According to the above documentation, the school building at Nakamura was first built in 1914 and significantly renovated in 1969. As described above, there were branch schools in several locations: Momoyake, Sarukura, Kami-Hitane, and Teshirosawa. The largest and longest-lasting of these was in Momoyake, which also had a junior high school. Some of the Momoyake school buildings are still there, though they aren't used for anything these days.

Hitane Elementary School (2000 — 2013): 39.165535, 140.162705.
Hitane Elementary School (pre 2000): 39.155, 140.166. I don't know the exact location, but this should be fairly close.

Here are the lyrics to the school song.

１	空高き　鳥海山を仰ぎつつ　生いたち来にしほこらかに　共に学ばん山の子われら　心けだかく
２	雪の中　こぶし花咲きぶな芽ぶく　清き故郷いきいきと　共に学ばん山の子われら　生命光りて
３	澄みわたる　丘べの空にてりはえて　たてる学舎いそしみて　共に学ばん山の子われら　望み輝く
４	幸を　明日にのぞみて新しき　世のみちびきにたくましく　共に学ばん山の子われら　力あわせて

No censorship

Wed, 08 Dec 2010 00:00:00 +0900

Persimmon cookies

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0900

This is a nice recipe for persimmon cookies. It's a modification of Patty Tindall's recipe at allrecipes.com (2010).

3 ripe persimmons
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg

1/2 tsp salt
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 cup crushed walnuts
1 cup raisins

Puree persimmons and mix with baking soda. In another bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, and salt. In another bowl, cream butter and sugar. Mix in persimmon mixture and 1 egg. Mix in flour mixture. Add walnets and raisins, and mix. Place in small balls on buttered cookie sheet. Bake at 350°F (180°C) for 15 minutes. Let cool and eat.

Apple crisp

Sat, 13 Nov 2010 00:00:00 +0900

3 tart apples
3/4 cup (75 g) flour
1 cup (170 g) brown sugar
1 tsp cinnamon

1/2 cup (45 g) walnuts
1 stick (110 g) butter
1/4 tsp salt

This is an old and wonderful recipe for apple crisp. It's a modification of the 1979 Fannie Farmer Cookbook recipe. Add cloves or extra cinnamon if you like. Butter a baking dish. Cut the apples into small slices and put in the baking dish. Mix the flour, brown sugar, cinnamon, walnuts, butter, and salt with your fingers or a fork. Then pour this mix on top of the apples. Bake at 350°F (175°C) until crust is brown (30-40 minutes). Let cool and eat. Optionally, serve with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.

すっぱいリンゴ　3本
ケーキ用の薄力粉　175 cc (75 g)
黒砂糖　235 cc (170 g)
くるみ　120 cc (45 g)

シナモン　小さじ 1
バター　120 cc (110 g)
塩　小さじ 1/4

天板はバターをします。リンゴを切って、天板に入れる。フォークで薄力粉と黒砂糖とくるみとシナモンとバターと塩を混ぜて、リンゴの上に入れる。175°Cでオブーンに焼きます、30～40分。10分待って、食べる。

Old Yashima Junior High School

Sat, 09 Oct 2010 00:00:00 +0900

Here are pictures from old Yashima Junior High School (矢島中学校) in Yurihonjo, Akita. It was used for 62 years and closed in April, 2009. The town built a new building across town and subsequently demolished the old one. The old building was located at lat/long 39.2253, 140.1358, next to the softball stadium and Seishonen Home.

The above maps are from OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, CC-BY-SA 2.0). Here's some history of Yashima Junior High School. The Japanese is copied from http://www.city.yurihonjo.akita.jp/edu/yashima-jh/syokai.html, and I translated it to English.

Year		Era	年
1947-05-01	Yashima JHS opens at location by softball ground and Seishonen Home.	昭和	22.5.1	開校式を挙行
1949-03-31	North building construction complete. 4 school buildings of size 30m².		24.3.31	北校舎増築竣工４校舎100坪増築
1951-10-26	Hearing and sight education research project.		26.10.26	視覚聴覚教育公開研究会
1953-05-28	4 school building additions. School flag and school song established.		28.5.28	西校舎増築、校旗・校歌制定
1957-03-31	New school building construction phase 1. Size 112m². Cost ¥24,000,000.		32.3.31	新校舎第一工期竣工（370坪約2,400万円）
1958-03-31	New school building construction phase 2. Size 112m². Cost ¥35,000,000.		33.3.31	新校舎第二工期竣工（370坪約3,500万円）
1958-06-12	Move to new school building complete.		33.6.12	全校生徒新校舎に移転
1959-05-31	Indoor gym built. Size 102m². Cost ¥19,200,000.		34.5.31	屋内体育館竣工（338坪約1,920万円）
1961-11-30	Administrative building and special classroom construction. Size 150m². Cost ¥35,580,000.		36.11.30	管理棟、特別教室竣工（496坪約3,558万円）
1962-10-10	Prefectural Board of Education curriculum teaching research project.		37.10.10	県教委指定教科指導公開研究会
1964-07-17	Shop classroom built. Size 56m². Cost ¥1,080,000		39.7.17	技術室竣工（185坪約108万円）
1967-10-28	School's 20th anniversary celebration.		42.10.28	20周年記念式典挙行、同窓会を設立
1968-04-01	Handicapped class established.		43.4.1	特殊学級を設置
1968-10-30	Prefectural industry education research program.		43.10.30	県指定産業教育公開研究会
1969-03-22	Student winter dormitory built. Size 56m². Cost ¥7,300,000.		44.3.22	生徒合宿所（冬季寄宿舎）竣工（185.7坪730万円）
1970-11-12	"Sōzō Yūgō" education project opening ceremony.		45.11.12	「融合創造」の教育像除幕式挙行(45.11.3建立）
1970-12-24	"Green Youth Unity" award ceremony.		45.12.24	緑の少年団結成（団旗授与）
1971-10-28	All-Akita Flower Bed Contest, Special Excellent Prize.		46.10.28	全県花だんコンクールで特別優秀賞
1973-04-23	Rice-based school lunch program begins.		48.4.23	米飯給食開始
1973-10-05	MEXT student guidance research project.		48.10.5	文部省指定生徒指導公開研究会
1974-10-18	Prefectural Board of Education student guidance research project.		49.10.18	県教委指定生徒指導公開研究会
1975-06-30	Pool built. Size 1,994m². Cost ¥45,000,000.		50.6.30	プール竣工（1,994㎡約4,500万円）
1976-11-14	School repair project.		51.11.14	校舎改築工事着手
1977-05-20	Gynmasium repair project.		52.5.20	体育館改修工事着手
1977-10-06	School's 30th anniversary celebration.		52.10.6	30周年記念式典挙行
1977-10-06	Toyama Botanical Garden creation project, gift from alumni reunion.		52.10.6	高山植物園の造成（同窓会より寄贈）
1978-11-25	Steam pipe and radiator heating system completed.		53.11.25	温水暖房工事完了
1979-04-01	Prefectural career guidance research project (continuing to 1980).		54.4.1	進路指導県研究協力校指定（〜55年度）
1980-08-10	Tennis court construction. Cost ¥5,000,000.		55.8.10	テニスコート造成（約500万円）
1981-08-10	Sash exchange construction begins.		56.8.10	サッシ取替工事開始
1985-08	Gymnasium floor refinished.		60.8	体育館床張替工事
1987-08	Major repairs to administrative building.		62.8	管理棟大改修
1987-11-08	School's 40th anniversary celebration.		62.11.8	創立40周年記念式典　祝賀会
1988-07-01	Major classroom renovation construction.		63.7.1	教室棟大改修工事
1988-08	Kendo gear purchase. Cost ¥7,500,000.		63.8	剣道用具購入（約750万円）
1990-10-09	MEXT martial arts instruction research project.	平成	2.10.9	文部省指定武道指導公開研究会
1991-12	Computer room completed. 40 machines purchased.		3.12	ｺﾝﾋﾟｭｰﾀｰ室完工、ｺﾝﾋﾟｭｰﾀｰ40台設置
1993-08-31	School ground and tennis court fences built.		5.8.31	ｸﾞﾗﾝﾄﾞ･ﾃﾆｽｺｰﾄ周囲のフェンス完工
1994-04-01	Prefectural career guidance program.		6.4.1	県より進路指導推進校の指定を受ける
1995-09-14	Resurfacing of sports ground.		7.9.14	グランドの土地改良
1995-10-31	Gymnasium outside wall repairs.		7.10.31	体育館外壁改修工事
1996-04-05	Complete school lunch program begins.		8.4.5	完全給食開始
1996-10-18	Prefectural Board of Education career guidance teaching research project.		8.10.18	県教委委嘱進路指導公開研究会開催
1997-11-09	School's 50th anniversary celebration.		9.11. 9	創立50周年記念式典挙行
1998-08	Computer room renovations.		10.8	ｺﾝﾋﾟｭｰﾀ更新
1999-11	Exchange program with Jonai JHS, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture.		11.11	香川県高松市城内中学校と交流
2000-07	Old dormitory demolished.		12.7	寄宿舎解体
2000-08	"Furusato Childrens' Dream" assistance project.		12.8	ふるさと子どもドリーム支援事業
2001-04-01	School and district activity project for understanding begins.		13.4.1	学校と地域を通じた奉仕活動推進事業
2002-04-01	School changes to semester system.		14.4.1	２学期制を開始する
2003-04-01	Frontier scholarship advancement project event.		15.4.1	学力向上フロンティア事業
2004-11-02	Frontier scholarship advancement project conference.		16.11.2	学力向上フロンティア公開研究会開催
2005-03-22	Town merger. School name becomes Yurihonjo City — Yashima Junior High School.		17.3.22	新市発足に伴い由利本荘市立矢島中学校となる
2006-04-01	Career education project		18.4.1	キャリア教育実践プロジェクト指定
2007-10-20	School's 60th anniversary celebration.		19.10.20	創立60周年記念式典　講演　祝賀会
2008-07	All-Akita JHS Baseball Tournament 2nd place.		20.7	全県中学校少年野球大会準優勝
2008-03-14	Ceremony announcing the start of Yashima Junior High/High School partnership.		20.3.14	矢島中高連携校竣工記念式典

Here is a PDF of sheet music for the school song.

Chokai buses 2010

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0900

This is an old schedule. See the new schedule.

This is the bus schedule for some buses in Chokai, Yurihonjo, Akita. There are no trains in Chokai. I transcribed and translated this from Japanese ─ see http://busnavi.g.ribbon.to/line/Chokai/Chokai.php.

In Chokai, bus drivers will pick up passengers anywhere along the route. Even if you are not at a bus stop, wave to the driver to get on the bus. Bus drivers will let passengers off anywhere along the route, too.

これは鳥海町のバス時間割です。鳥海町は秋田県の由利本荘市の一部です。

Sarukura Line: To Chokaiso

Bus number	1	2	3
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Chōkai Town Office
Chōkai Town Office	06:55	11:45	16:10
Chōkai Medical Center	06:57	11:47	16:12
Kaizawa	07:01	11:51	16:16
Shimo-Sainokami	07:05	11:05	16:20
Kami-Sainokami	07:08	11:58	16:23
Miyanosawa	07:10	12:00	16:25
Sarukura Kaikan	07:12	12:02	16:27
Chōkaisō	07:15	12:05	16:30
Ending point	Chōkaisō

猿倉線：鳥海荘行き

番号	1	2	3
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	鳥海総合支所前
鳥海総合支所前	06:55	11:45	16:10
鳥海診療所前	06:57	11:47	16:12
貝沢	07:01	11:51	16:16
下才ノ神	07:05	11:05	16:20
上才ノ神	07:08	11:58	16:23
宮ノ沢	07:10	12:00	16:25
猿倉会館	07:12	12:02	16:27
鳥海荘	07:15	12:05	16:30
行先	鳥海荘

Sarukura Line: To Chokai Town Office

Bus number	1'	2'	3'
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Chōkaisō
Chōkaisō	07:16	12:31	16:31
Sarukura Kaikan	07:19	12:34	16:34
Miyanosawa	07:21	12:36	16:36
Kami-Sainokami	07:23	12:38	16:38
Shimo-Sainokami	07:26	12:41	16:41
Kaizawa	07:31	12:46	16:46
Chōkai Medical Center	07:35	12:50	16:50
Chōkai Town Office	07:36	12:51	16:51
Ending point	Chōkai Town Office

猿倉線：鳥海総合支所行き

番号	1'	2'	3'
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	鳥海荘
鳥海荘	07:16	12:31	16:31
猿倉会館	07:19	12:34	16:34
宮ノ沢	07:21	12:36	16:36
上才ノ神	07:23	12:38	16:38
下才ノ神	07:26	12:41	16:41
貝沢	07:31	12:46	16:46
鳥海診療所前	07:35	12:50	16:50
鳥海総合支所前	07:36	12:51	16:51
行先	鳥海総合支所前

Naka-Hitane Line: To Kawakuma and Shimo-Momoyake

Bus number	1	2	3	4
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Chōkai Town Office
Chōkai Town Office	06:00	09:50	11:45	16:10
Chōkai Medical Center	06:01	09:51	11:46	16:11
Nagasaka	06:06	09:55	11:51	16:16
Kuride	06:08	09:58	11:53	16:18
Ōkawabata	06:09	09:59	11:54	16:19
Shimo-Hitane	06:12	10:02	11:57	16:22
Hitane Preschool	06:13	10:03	11:58	16:23
Hitane Medical Center	06:14	10:04	11:59	16:24
Hitane Branch Office	06:15	10:05	12:00	16:25
Isonosawa	06:18	10:08	12:03	16:28
Magaki	06:20	10:10	12:05	16:30
Yamasaki	06:22	10:12	12:07	16:32
Ogunai	06:25	10:15	12:10	16:35
Kawakuma	06:28	10:18	12:13	16:38
Ogunai	06:31	10:21	12:16	16:41
Yamasaki	06:34	10:24	12:19	16:44
Nakamura	06:42	10:32	12:27	16:52
Shimo-Momoyake	06:45	10:35	12:30	16:55
Ending point	Shimo-Momoyake

中直根線：川熊・下百宅行き

番号	1	2	3	4
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	鳥海総合支所前
鳥海総合支所前	06:00	09:50	11:45	16:10
鳥海診療所前	06:01	09:51	11:46	16:11
長坂	06:06	09:55	11:51	16:16
栗出	06:08	09:58	11:53	16:18
大川端	06:09	09:59	11:54	16:19
下直根	06:12	10:02	11:57	16:22
直根保育園	06:13	10:03	11:58	16:23
直根診療所	06:14	10:04	11:59	16:24
直根出張所	06:15	10:05	12:00	16:25
礒ノ沢	06:18	10:08	12:03	16:28
馬垣	06:20	10:10	12:05	16:30
山サキ	06:22	10:12	12:07	16:32
大宮内	06:25	10:15	12:10	16:35
川熊	06:28	10:18	12:13	16:38
大宮内	06:31	10:21	12:16	16:41
山サキ	06:34	10:24	12:19	16:44
中村	06:42	10:32	12:27	16:52
下百宅	06:45	10:35	12:30	16:55
行先	下百宅

Naka-Hitane Line: To Chokai Town Office

Bus number	1'	2'	3'	4'
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Shimo-Momoyake
Shimo-Momoyake	06:47	10:37	12:47	16:57
Nakamura	06:50	10:40	12:50	17:00
Yamasaki	06:59	10:49	12:59	17:09
Ogunai	07:02	10:52	13:02	17:12
Kawakuma	07:05	10:55	13:05	17:15
Ogunai	07:08	10:58	13:08	17:18
Yamasaki	07:11	11:01	13:11	17:21
Magaki	07:13	11:03	13:13	17:23
Isonosawa	07:15	11:05	13:15	17:25
Hitane Branch Office	07:18	11:08	13:18	17:28
Hitane Medical Center	07:20	11:10	13:20	17:30
Hitane Preschool	07:21	11:11	13:21	17:31
Shimo-Hitane	07:22	11:12	13:22	17:32
Ōkawabata	07:25	11:15	13:25	17:35
Kuride	07:26	11:16	13:26	17:36
Nagasaka	07:28	11:18	13:28	17:38
Chōkai Medical Center	07:33	11:23	13:33	17:43
Chōkai Town Office	07:35	11:25	13:35	17:45
Ending point	Chōkai Town Office

中直根線：鳥海総合支所行き

番号	1'	2'	3'	4'
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	下百宅
下百宅	06:47	10:37	12:47	16:57
中村	06:50	10:40	12:50	17:00
山サキ	06:59	10:49	12:59	17:09
大宮内	07:02	10:52	13:02	17:12
川熊	07:05	10:55	13:05	17:15
大宮内	07:08	10:58	13:08	17:18
山サキ	07:11	11:01	13:11	17:21
馬垣	07:13	11:03	13:13	17:23
礒ノ沢	07:15	11:05	13:15	17:25
直根出張所	07:18	11:08	13:18	17:28
直根診療所	07:20	11:10	13:20	17:30
直根保育園	07:21	11:11	13:21	17:31
下直根	07:22	11:12	13:22	17:32
大川端	07:25	11:15	13:25	17:35
栗出	07:26	11:16	13:26	17:36
長坂	07:28	11:18	13:28	17:38
鳥海診療所	07:33	11:23	13:33	17:43
鳥海総合支所前	07:35	11:25	13:35	17:45
行先	鳥海総合支所前

Sarakawa Line: To Sarakawa

Bus number	1	2	3
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Hottoin Chōkai
Hottoin Chōkai	09:35	12:10	14:15
Jinego Branch Office	09:37	12:12	14:17
Fukujima	09:42	12:17	14:22
Bunabuchi	09:43	12:18	14:23
Harimizu Kaikan	09:49	12:24	14:29
Akakura	09:56	12:31	14:36
Tōgenozawa	10:00	12:35	14:40
Sarakawa	10:05	12:40	14:45
Ending point	Sarakawa

皿川線：皿川方面行き

番号	1	2	3
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	ほっといん鳥海
ほっといん鳥海	09:35	12:10	14:15
笹子出張所	09:37	12:12	14:17
福島	09:42	12:17	14:22
模渕	09:43	12:18	14:23
針水会館	09:49	12:24	14:29
赤倉	09:56	12:31	14:36
峠ノ沢	10:00	12:35	14:40
皿川	10:05	12:40	14:45
行先	皿川

Sarakawa Line: To Hottoin Chokai

Bus number	1'	2'	3'
Days off	Saturdays ・ Sundays ・ holidays
Starting point	Sarakawa
Sarakawa	10:10	12:40	14:50
Tōgenozawa	10:15	12:45	14:55
Akakura	10:19	12:49	14:59
Harimizu Kaikan	10:26	12:56	15:06
Bunabuchi	10:32	13:02	15:12
Fukujima	10:34	13:04	15:14
Hottoin Chōkai	10:36	13:06	15:16
Jinego Branch Office	10:40	13:10	15:20
Ending point	Jinego Branch Office

皿川線：ほっといん鳥海行き

Bus number	1'	2'	3'
運休	土・日・祝日
始発駅	皿川
皿川	10:10	12:40	14:50
峠ノ沢	10:15	12:45	14:55
赤倉	10:19	12:49	14:59
針水会館	10:26	12:56	15:06
模渕	10:32	13:02	15:12
福島	10:34	13:04	15:14
ほっといん鳥海	10:36	13:06	15:16
笹子出張所	10:40	13:10	15:20
行先	笹子出張所

Show me the evidence

Tue, 17 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0900

The following is a letter I wrote that appeared in the Grand Forks Herald on August 17th, 2010. The title it was given (not my choice) is, "Show me the evidence against gay marriage".

YURIHONJO, Japan — In his Aug. 16 column, Herald columnist Lloyd Omdahl makes the same mistake Proposition 8 supporters made in the trial ("Judge missed the compelling state purpose," Page A4).

Omdahl says that bans on gay marriage ought to be constitutional because they promote a compelling state interest — "safety of the public" — but he presents no facts to back that up.

Omdahl writes, "[Judge Walker] went far afield with a number of unfounded suppositions and conclusions without recognizing any compelling state purpose for protecting the benefits of traditional marriage."

But to be constitutional, Prop 8 needed to have a basis in something other than a private moral or religious belief.

At the trial, Prop 8 supporters argued two key points: that Prop 8 promotes stable relationships because men and women naturally produce children, and that Prop 8 promotes optimal households for raising children properly.

But expert witness testimony showed that these claims are mere guesswork, unsupported by evidence.

Thus, the judge struck down Prop 8.

Here, Omdahl briefly mentions "public safety" but never says what that means. If gay and lesbian couples get married, are they going to do something dangerous? Omdahl never explains how gay marriage is a public safety issue — probably because it isn't.

In fact, evidence in the Prop 8 trial showed that gay and lesbian parents are as good at raising children as heterosexual parents. Also in the Prop 8 trial, even the star witness for Prop 8 admitted, "Gay marriage might contribute over time to a decline in anti-gay prejudice [and] a reduction in anti-gay hate crimes." This is the exact opposite of Omdahl's claim that legalizing gay marriage threatens public safety.

States can't discriminate based on sexual orientation without a "compelling state purpose." Religion doesn't qualify, and neither do vague and unfounded assertions of "safety of the public."

If Omdahl wants to oppose gay marriage, he might start by looking for a reason grounded in fact, not thin air.

Douglas Perkins

Cornbread

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0900

This is a nice recipe for cornbread. It's a modification of the 1979 Fannie Farmer Cookbook recipe.

3/4 cup (120 g) yellow cornmeal
1 cup (110 g) flour
1/3 cup (80 cc) sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (90 g) milk

1 egg
2 tbsp melted butter
onions (optional)
jalapeños (optional)
sausage (optional)

In a big bowl, mix the cornmeal, flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Beat the egg, melt the butter, and add the egg, butter, and milk to the mixture. Mix well. Optionally, add some fried onions, jalapeño peppers, and cooked breakfast sausage. Pour the mix into a hot buttered 6" or 8" cast iron frying pan, and bake at 425°F (220°C) for 20 minutes. Let cool and eat.

これはコーンブレッドのレシピです。

コーンミール　120 g
小麦粉　110 g
砂糖　90 g
ベーキングパウダー　小さじ 3

ミルク　235 cc
卵　1個
バター　大さじ 2杯分
塩　小さじ 1/2

コーンミールと小麦粉と砂糖とベーキングパウダーと塩を混ぜる。バターを溶かしておく。ミルクと卵とバターを入れて混ぜる。混ぜたものを鉄板のフライパンに入れる。220°Cのオーブンに20分入れる。少し冷まして、食べる。（日本にはコーンミールが珍しいですが、外国の食べ物の店はコーンミールを売っています。）

Chocolate chip cookies

Sun, 15 Aug 2010 00:00:00 +0900

This is an old and wonderful recipe for chocolate chip cookies. It's a modification of the 1979 Fannie Farmer Cookbook recipe.

1 stick (110 g) butter
1/2 cup (100 g) white sugar
1/2 cup (90 g) brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 tsp vanilla

1 1/8 cups (155 g) flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup (45 g) walnuts
1 cup (170 g) semi-sweet chocolate chips

Soften the butter and mix with the white and brown sugar. Mix in the egg and vanilla. In a separate bowl, mix the flour, salt, and baking soda, and then add to the butter mixture. Mix in the walnuts and chocolate chips. Place in teaspoon-size balls on a buttered cookie sheet and bake at 375°F (191°C) for 8-10 minutes or until light brown. Let cool, eat, and enjoy!

バター 115 g
砂糖 1/2 カップ (100 g)
黒砂糖 1/2 カップ (90 g)
卵 1個
バニラ小さじ 3/4

小麦粉 1 1/8 カップ (155 g)
塩小さじ 1/2
ベーキングパウダー小さじ 1/2
くるみ 1/2 カップ (45 g)
チョコチップ 1 カップ (170 g)

バターを常温にして、ボールに入れる。砂糖と黒砂糖を入れて混ぜる。卵とバニラを入れて混ぜる。他のボールで小麦粉と塩とベーキングパウダーを混ぜる。これを上のミックスに入れて混ぜる。くるみとチョコチップを入れて混ぜる。くっつかないようにトレーにバターをぬる。食べやすい大きさ形にする。191°Cのオーブンで8~10分焼く。冷まして、食べる。