Semboku City will Host An American Student Program Next Year!

A big step towards Semboku City’s internationalization! Next summer Semboku City will host a large group of American high school students in a home-stay program!

The program is called People to People Student Ambassador Programs. It is by an American organization called People to People, whose aim is to achieve world peace through educational opportunities to understand cultural and language differences. The programs send Student Ambassadors abroad to represent their home community and share their diverse backgrounds with the hosting community.

This program normally sends about 40 students over 4-5 times during a certain period. However, because next year will be the first time in Tohoku, about 120 students will be sent at a time. 80 of them will be home-staying in Semboku City.

Earlier this month, two persons representing the People to People Ambassador Programs visited Semboku City to meet with the Japanese side of coordinators for this program.

A reception party was held at Tazawako Beer Restaurant. There they met our mayor of Semboku City, other government officials involved in Tourism division and Green Tourism farmers in Nishiki town. They were warmly welcomed with cheerful singing and dancing by some Warabi-za theater company’s actors. Although many of the farmers did not speak English, they expressed their overflowing excitement through the interpreters.



Each host-family member gave a short welcome speech at the reception.

The two stayed at a farmer’s inn called Taizando, which is the very first noka-minshuku (farmers inn) registered after the law was revised in 2005.


Taizando （泰山堂）is the first registered noka-minshuku (Farmers Inn) of Akita Prefecture.



The owner, Ms. Fujiwara represents the local Nishiki Town’s Green Tourism association. Her house is full of warm, rustic atmosphere! Her energy and hospitable spirits transcends language borders. The students will have an amazing time with host families like her. The Program coordinators were impressed by hospitality and heartfelt welcome by the hosts!





The group toured around Semboku City to learn about the environment where their students will be exploring for the Japanese rural cultural experiences: Lake Tazawa, about 10-15 minutes away from Nishiki Town, is a beautiful lake that cannot be missed; Ando Jyozo is a soy sauce and miso brewery in Kakunodate Town, which is closed to the Nishinomiya Residence, an old samurai house that turned into a museum and shop; Bukeyashiki-dori is a stree of samurai houses where to time-travel; also, a local Elementary school is where they will have cross-cultural experiences with eager children.

The two remained in high spirits for the entire time! They seemed impressed how friendly and happy the local people are. In the end of the trip, they were certain that the participating American students will have an unforgettable time there.

Semboku City is a perfect place for any rural cultural activities of Japan. From June to July is when the local farmers are restless and cheerful about the new life cycle in their field and mountains. That’s when the hiking season begins in the local mountain, Akita Komagatake.

The program can be applied through the organization, People to People Ambassador Programs. We are looking forward to meet you and your children here!

At the Heart of Akita's Green Tourism, Join the People for All-You-Can-Eat Rice Cake - Only 1000Yen!

Here is an event you can enjoy all different kinds of mochi, rice cakes, made of Aktita’s best quality rice! Nishiki’s rice farmers are gathering for this opportunity to offer their home-made rice cakes of their original recipes!

All-You-Can-Eat Mochi for Only 1000Yen

You will be surprised at the large variety of such simple dish! More than 30 different kinds of rice cakes will be served: sweet sticky rice pound and served with anko (azuki bean paste), goma (sesame), kinako (soy powder).or the mochi rice powder is mixed and steamed to create the traditional dish, keiran.

Also, this is a great chance for you to mingle with the local farmers, who have been actively involved in Green Tourism in Akita Prefecture. The Nishiki Green Tourism group is the pioneers of the movement in Akita, not to mention Japan.

 

Furthermore, this event is a buffet! Where else can you have all-you-can-eat mochi experience, other than here, Semboku City, in Akita?

What’s more, the price is only 1,000Yen. It will be held at Katakuri-kan in Nishiki town, Semboku City, on Sunday, January 29th, 2012. Please note that this buffet starts at 11:00 on “first-come, first-served” basis, and will be over when the mochi runs out – Be on time!

The event is organized by Nishiki Green Tourism Kenkyukai. No reservation is required; but, please contact Ms. Fujii only if your group exceeds more than 5 people. TEL/FAX: 0187-47-3103

Green Tourism Monitor Tours in Semboku City (Experiences at Jinkichi in Tazawako)

The Semboku City's Green Tourism Monitor Tour has just started in July. The second group enjoyed several outdoor activities and stayed at a Noka-Minshuku （農家民宿）, a farmer's inn, in Tazawako Area.

Mrs. Taguchi of Jinkichi and the monitor tour participants.

On Day 1, the participants experienced canoeing at Lake Tazawa, radish harvesting, pizza-baking in stone bake oven, and BBQ. On Day 2, they learned to make Keiran（鶏卵）, traditional rice cakes on bamboo leafs. They later harvested Moroheiya (Molokhiya) in the greenhouse before calling it a day.

An important task required to the participants was to posts updates on twitter and share it with hashtag #semboku_gt . The participants shared lots of excitements and useful information on what you could do in Tazawako Area.

Staying at Jinkichi, a Farmer's Inn at Lake Tazawa:

Jinkichi （甚吉）is a farmer’s inn with a great agricultural foundation. The family cultivate various types of vegetables and sell them in and out of Semboku City. It is a family-owned inn, which has been hosting students and tourists for many years. Mrs. Taguchi is designated as a Female Agriculture Specialist by Akita government, and her husband, Mr. Taguchi is a schoolmaster of local Ski School. They both are very hospitable and make sure that you feel at home -- That is why the guests call them as "Okasan" (mom) and "Otosan" (dad).

Learning to Make Traditional Sweets and Harvesting Molokhiya:

On Day 2, the main activity was to make Keiran, a traditional steamed rice cake in Tazawako region. Keiran (鶏卵) is made during the hina-matsuri, the doll festival, from late February to early March. Mrs. Taguchi has prepared the white dough and colored dough.

White dough (rice flour, wheat flour) and Colorful doughs (food colorings, sesame paste)

First, Mrs. Taguchi explained the procedure and ingredients. She showed an example step-by-step: measure the white dough 50mg, and wrap 30mg anko bean paste inside; make a smooth ball; create your own using the colored dough.

@akitagt Jul 31, 9:57am

“Okasan”shows us how to make Keiran, Sweets from Tazawako. We girls get more excited! Marveled at how skillfully she makes it!　#semboku_gt http://twitpic.com/5yis0c

お母さんがお手本を見せてくれながら、田沢湖のお菓子「鶏卵」作りが始まりました。女子のテンション上がります。それにしてもお見事な出来栄え

Measure, roll, and decorate to make their own Keiran.

After steamed for 14 minutes, they were immediately cooled in running water and placed on top of prepared bamboo leaves. The group created many character shapes as well as more traditional shapes like peaches, flowers, rabbits, etc.

Traditional Shapes

@VIOLETTA_116 Jul 31, 12:01pm

#senboku_gt We are trying to make some Keiran! The delicate work make us speechless! LOL http://t.co/XCZo5PL 

郷土菓子・けいらん作りに挑戦しました！細かい作業にみんな無言!　（笑）

Later, the group was taken to the back of the house, where they experienced harvesting Moroheiya in a greenhouse.

Amazing view!

Mrs. Taguchi tells stories about agricultural life. Very interesting!

@semboku_gt Jul 31, 4:19pm

@semboku_gt: We were amazed at how versatile and flexible Jinkichi-san is!  RT@akitagt: We are sure that we could all meet again. That is why I was able to say “see you” to Okasan. We enjoyed the monitor tour in Tazawako. Thank you.

今回の甚吉さん http://j.mp/oz0DAA 農家ならではの多彩な応用力、感服しました RT @akitagt またこのメンバーで会える気がするから、民宿のお母さんにも笑顔で「またね」ができました。田沢湖で過ごしたモニターツアー楽しかった #semboku_gt

@yachu5088 Jul 31, 8:41pm

I’ve noticed that many farmers who bend the bodies in U-shape in the field are mostly elderly people. It takes so much work to harvest one vegetable. In a few minutes, we felt so exhausted. It must be a normal work for those farmers. It is admirable!

休みの日、腰をＵの字に曲げて畑仕事をしている方達は高齢者の方が多いなーと感じてました。野菜一つ育てるのも収穫するのも大変な労力。たった数分収穫しただけであの疲労感。農家さんは当たり前なんだろうけど、頭があがりません。 #semboku_gt

The Semboku City Green Tourism Monitor Tour still continues until December. The tour dates are announced about a month in advance. It is easy to sign up and worthwhile for all of the people who love a simple, rural lifestyle of Japan.