A New Staff Member

Hi, my name is Satomi Ui. I am a new staff of Isumi Lifestyle Lab.

Here is something about me.

Satomi Ui (Ms.)
I am a local girl, born and raised in Ohara, Isumi city.
I am 23 years old and now I became a member of Isumi lifestyle Lab!
I like festivals, and especially love Ohara Hadaka Matsuri (Ohara Naked Festival). I join the festival with my friends every year.
My favorite food is a local pear. I ate many kind of pear, but the one produced in Isumi is the best!
I like restaurant-hopping (café, restaurant, ramen), watching movies, Yoga, and going for a walk.

Why did I become a member of this organization? I was motivated by people who moved to Isumi from other places.
I was surprised that they knew well much more than me about how attractive Isumi was.

I used to think that I would like to do something at my hometown, isumi, as I’ve loved here since my childhood.
But I was attracted by Tokyo just like many other young girls who grown up in countryside.
I thought many times that I hated countryside.

I liked nature, so that I got a job where I could see the ocean.
Afterward, once I left Isumi and then I found that Isumi was very attractive place. So I decided to work at my hometown, Isumi.
I came to know Isumi lifestyle Lab. at the time, and came back Isumi to be a member of this organization!

As staff members of Isumi Lifestyle Lab. consist of both locals and people from other places, they have lots of different ideas, which is very interesting.

Isumi is a very attractive place, so that I believe it will even become a better place.
Isumi Lifestyle Lab. listens to the voice of the residents first. I would like to work for community development at this organization.

Many young people are interested in living in the countryside, but they do not have a chance.
Also there are many people who stay in their hometown and wondering what to do in the future.
I think the voice of young people is important. It will be great if we can exchange opinion anytime.

I look forward to working here at Isumi Lifestyle Lab.

( Ui / Yasuko )

update : 2014/10/24 01:57
Category : information

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri (Ohara Naked Festival), Navigation for Beginners

Ohara Hadaka Matsuri is only a few days away (on 23 and 24 September).
Local people are looking forward to this festival for a long time.
This is one of the traditional event for which people are most excited in this area.

Local people are accustomed to this festival and know entire schedule of two days, but people who come to the festival for the first time may have no idea where the festival is taken place and what is going on.

I recommend beginners to go Ohara fishing port on 23 September around 1 PM.
Multiple mikoshis (portable shrine) are carried around the town in the morning and start to gather the fishing port around 1 PM.

After mikoshis reach the fishing port, they circle around a building. People carrying mikoshis run with a loud voice, which is excited!
Then they toss over the mikoshis in the building. The higher mikoshis are tossed, the louder people cheer.

After the ceremony praying for bountiful harvest, they move to Ohara beach where “Shiofumi,” one of the main events of the festival, is taken place.
Everybody walk together with mikoshi to the beach. It is a good chance to take a cool photo of people who carry mikoshis.

For Shiofumi, you can see mikoshis are carried into the ocean one after another.
Roar, spray of water, and dirt. People are really brave and valiant.

Well, until the time of “Owakare” of 6 PM, you can enjoy atmosphere of the festival with some foods at Ohara shopping street.
Besides local shops, there are a lot of street stalls.
“Hokutosha” is also open on the day who sells folk crafts. You can find “Walking map of Ohara shopping street” there.

6 PM. Finally it’s a time of “Owakare”
Each mikoshi gathers at schoolyard of Ohara elementary school, and start to circle around the yard.
Candle is used for the Japanese lantern instead of electricity.
The soft wavy lights… are fantastical.

On 24 September, after each shrine is carried around the town, Owakare is taken place again at 6 PM.
If you miss it on September 23, please visit this day.

It is really difficult to follow a mikoshi for a whole day. Please check “must-see” points of main feature.

Also, please read the report of the festival last year!

( Shige / Yasuko )

update : 2014/09/22 02:50
Category : information, town events

Information of “Isumi city Tanka Convention”

** “Tanka” is a Japanese short poem

The east side of Isumi city faces to the Pacific Ocean, and hills and paddy fields make beautiful scenery in the west. There are also several historical cultural heritages in the city.

Many litterateurs visited Isumi looking for this environment, and especially great masters of modern Tanka left lots of famous Tanka.

Mori Ogai had a villa in the current Nichizai, Isumi-shi, and Wakayama Bokusui and Saito Mokichi also visited Isumi. Those are famous Kajin (poets) I know.

In such a traditional place Isumi, “2nd Isumi Tanka Convention” is going to be held.

The Convention itself is still to come on February 15, 2015 (Sun), but Tanka started to be accepted from September 1st, 2014.

It’s getting cool and now it’s a time the season changes.
The image of autumn, late autumn and winter may be come up with from now on.

Why don’t you take a walk to visit your favorite place or a location with nice view in the city, and create Tanka feeling the atmosphere of the place?
Or you can create Tanka of love letter just like young Kajin (poet) in old days. (Teenagers are most welcome!)

The autumn is a season of art. Why don’t you try this art of Japanese language?

( Shige / Yasuko )

2nd Isumi Tanka Convention
-Outline: February 15, 2015 (Sun) 13:00- @ Ohara Bunka Center
(Awards ceremony, Comments, Tanka lesson)

-Application Guideline
Theme: free (unpublished)
Qualification and number of submission:
General (High school student and older) : 1 to 2 Tanka.
Elementary and Junior High School student in Isumi city: 1 Tanka
Submission Fee: 1000 yen per Tanka (free for Elementary, Junior high school and High school student)
How to submit: use dedicated submission form and bring it to the administrative office or send by post mail with the submission fee.
Period for acceptance: September 1, 2014 (Mon) – October 31, 2014 (Fri)

-Application and inquiry
Administrative Office of Isumi City Tanka Convention Executive Committee (Lifelong Learning Section, Education Board, Isumi City) TEL: 0470-62-2811

* The dedicated submission form is available for some pieces at our office as well. Please visit our office if you need one.

update : 2014/09/02 17:23
Category : information, town events