Christmas Bingo Party at Hotel Ischia

Tazawako Hotel Ischia （田沢湖ホテルイスキア）hosted a Christmas party on December 22, 2010.

Every year they host a merry Christmas event. Last year was a dinner party with a Canadian chef, Louis Monty: This year was a bingo party!

The party was attended by family groups. The bingo game was emceed by a hotel staff dressed up as a Santa Clause costume, cheering up everyone in a lively manner. Almost everyone got a prize for the bingo game, which included sake, pairs of hotel tickets, and some more foods. The party was over before we knew it!

 

Next event at Hotel Ischia:

 

Happinets New Year Party

Northern Happinets, a professional basketball team from Akita Prefecture, will be camping at Tazawako Sports Center. The team members will be at the party. This is your chance to meet them in person and get their autographs! There will be giveaways and sweepstakes as well.

 

 Thursday, January 6th, 2011.

 17:30- 19:30 at Hotel Ischia

3,000 yen (adult)/ 1,000 yen (Elem.-Middle School)

Free Under 5

Shuttle bus is available from JR Tazawako Station

For more info: Hotel Ischia 0187-43-2005

Rabbit Illumination at JR Sashimaki Station

JR Tazawako Station has been illuminated last weekend. JR Sashimaki Station (only one station away for Kakunodate) is also illuminated by the community volunteers. Last year was a smiley face: This year is a rabbit face!

The Chinese zodiac sign for the coming year is rabbit. That is why!

We have been delighted by the Sashimaki community. They are the ones who host the Sashimaki Mizubasho Festival in April. Late October, we were invited to their harvest festival, in which the community members –mostly rice farmers— gather to compete on the rice harvest, inventive dishes like pickled vegetables, appetizers, and oyaki (roasted mochi with tasty fillings). It is a great opportunity for them to show off their skills and acknowledge one another’s achievement. The party was attended by many guests like Semboku City mayor and JR Station master.

The awards were given for the food entrees, whose prizes were farming equipments, pillows and alike.  Perhaps one of the best part was when the community group was awarded by JR company, for their great efforts to improve the environment around the station is appreciated. The entire party was full of laughter! We were assured that this is where the Sashimaki humor comes from!

Rice, pickled vegetables, appetizers, and mochi dishes were entered to the competition.

Watch the Sashimaki rabbit alive!

Christmas Illumination at JR Tazawako Station

The plaza in front of JR Tazawako Station has been finally illuminated!

Last year was our first attempt, on which we started the preparation in the last minute. This year, we were able to have much more community involvement, thanks to a volunteer group from following local companies:

JR Tazawako Station

Tazawako Ski School

Minshuku Jinkichi

 (Farmer’s inn near Lake Tazawa)

Shimakawa Shoten

 (A wholesale distributor of Akita produces)

Taenoyu Onsen

(in Nyuto Onsenkyo)

Mizusawa Sanso

 (A onsen hotel in Mizusawa Onsen Area)

Pension Climber

(A family-owned guesthouse in Tazawako Plateau)

Ugo Densetsu Kogyo Company

 (Electiricity Company)

Loghouse-no-yado Sennin

(A family-owned guesthouse in Tazawako Plateau)

Mr. Taguchi, a local volunteer

Mr. Endo, a chief policeman

The illumination was set out last weekend. The weather wasn’t in the best condition on Saturday, so it was postponed to the following day. The illumination will be turned on in the evening until 10 p.m.

Shinto Ceremony For the Opening of Tazawako Ski Area

Although Tazawako Ski Area was planning to open its season on December 17th, it has been postponed until it will have enough snow. You can see the updated statues in their official website in Japanese. Or, for English information, follow us on Twitter (@Tazawako). We it daily to let know the status in English.

As of today, December 21st, 2010, the weather is sunny and the temperature is -6°C (21.2°F). It could be open as soon as the snow is sufficient.

Meanwhile, on December 17th, there was a Shinto ceremony performed to wish for the safety of Snow Area. There were almost 60 guests invited for the ceremony. Here are some photos!

Fishermen's Dream Come True

Back in this spring, Mr. Hisashi Miura (Age 61) and his neighbors restored a traditional fishing boat made with 150-year-old cedar wood. He has named it “kunimasu” to commemorate his late father, Kyubei, who dedicated his passion in studying then-endangered species.



Fishing Kunimasu in the Early Showa Era
(Tazawako Kyodo Shiryo-kan)



A letter sent to Tazawako from Lake Saiko in 1935
(Courtesy of Mr. Miura)

“Not many dead eggs. Good condition. The money will be sent to you after an arrangement with the prefectural government.” – The Miura family preserves a thank-you letter received from Lake Saiko, where kunimasu was found. The letter is a proof that the eggs were indeed sent to Lake Saiko. It was 75 years ago and five years before the fish died out. Mr. Miura says that he wishes he could have shared this happiness with his father.

Between 1995- 1998, Tazawako Tourism Association had a campaign to search for this “lost” fish. Semboku City government is starting a new project to bring back kunimasu home. “The fishermen had sent out the eggs, probably because they also hoped to bring them back home.” Mr. Kazushi Sato of Tazawako Tourism Association and his associates are hopeful. A group is planning a visit to Kyoto University and Lake Saiko on December 25th- 26th, 2010.

The group is concerned with the survival of kunimasu and what to do with the expired campaign reward; but first, they will visit Lake Saiko and pay a respect and gratitude to the involved community. They will plead a continuing protection to the endangered species.

(Above is summarized commentary on Sakigake On the Web.)