Here, we will introduce our main events and activities from FY2018 onward, starting from the newest event.
Year 2022
・Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2022[October 2022]
Year 2021
・NIMIC Online Workshop “Let’s make an accessory with MIZUHIKI “[October 2021]
・Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2021[October 2021]
・Information briefing before entering elementary school [September 2021]
・Online Home Visit for International Students [June 2021]
・Completion Ceremony for Junior High School Level of Japanese Class for Kids [March 2021]
・Completion Ceremony for Elementary School Level of Japanese Class for Kids [March 2021]
・Pre-Elementary School Admission Briefing for Parents from Abroad [January2021]
Year 2020
・Follow-up Course for Japanese for Children Volunteers (Commissioned by Nishitokyo City) [ September 2020]
・2nd Multicultural Salon (online) “What kind of country is Mongolia? ” [September 2020]
・Nishitokyo City sponsored Japanese language volunteer follow-up course “Utilization of Zoom, an online tool- for community activities in the time of corona ” [August 2020]
・1st Multicultural Salon (online) “Guests from Paris ” [August 2020]
・ One-piece Design Contest for elementary school children of the Japanese Language Class [May 2020]
・ “Local Udon Making in Tanashi ” Experience [January 2020]
Year 2019
・Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2019[December 2019]
・Multicultural experience with Kids “Play with children’s toy around the world! ” [September 2019]
・Summer festival with wearing a yukata [July 2019]
・Home Visit for International Students [June 2019]
・ “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural museum ” tour and cherry blossom party [March 2019]
・Have fun in multiple languages! [March 2019]
Year 2018
・Global Friendship Project [February 2019]
・Tanashi Shrine annual festival tour [October 2018]
・Ladies Party enjoying Indian culture in wearing saree [June 2018]
Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2022
[Event Report]
For the first time in three years, a face-to-face speech contest was completed.
Eight presenters and two elementary and junior high school students from the Children’s Japanese Language Class participated, and about 40 people who had registered watched the event.
The Mayor’s Prize went to Ms. Melgire Madly from Martinique, France for “Why I love Japanese “, the President of Musashino University Prize went to Ms. Niraula Mina from Nepal for “My ‘Happiness’ “, and the NIMIC Prize went to Mr. Muhamad Sukasdi from Indonesia for “Me and Cherry Blossoms “.
“Everyone was so wonderful. I was very impressed. ” Many of these comments were heard from the visitors’ questionnaires.
Click here for the written record of the Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2022. (Japanese only)
NIMIC Online Workshop “Let’s make an accessory with MIZUHIKI “
[Event Content]
In this workshop, participants took part online from their own homes and made mizuhiki (traditional decorative string) accessories together with others onscreen.
Date and time: Saturday, October 16, 2021;10:00–11:30
Target: People aged 16 and over who live, work, or study in Nishitokyo City and who can speak simple Japanese.
Capacity: 8 people (lottery if too many applicants)
Cost: Free (Mizuhikimaterials sent to participants before the event.)
[Event Report]
On October 16 we held an online workshop for foreigners to make accessories using mizuhiki(traditional decorative string). Seven people participated from their homes on the day. Due to the spread of Covid-19 infections, face-to-face activities had become difficult, and the number of people who were becoming socially isolated was increasing. In these circumstances, following the mizuhikimotif of building “bonds and ties between people,” the workshop involved making accessories using the basic awajimusubi knot. The instructor gave advice on how to make the accessories via the Zoom screen. While some participants made their creations well, others struggled with the fine manual work. But everyone had a fun time, showing one another their works and chatting together. The participants made such comments as “It was my first experience of mizuhiki, and I thoroughly enjoyed it” and “I look forward to participating in the next handicraft event.”
Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2021
[Event Content]
Foreigners with ties to Nishitokyo City gave a speech in Japanese on their feelings and thoughts about living in Japan and memories of their home countries. Due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 infections, this year’s contest was streamed live online via Zoom.
Date and time: Sunday, October 3; 13:30–15:30
Organizer: NIMIC
Cosponsor: Nishitokyo City
[Event Report]
The Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2021 was held on the afternoon of Sunday, October 3. Due to the rapid spread of Covid-19 infections this summer, the scheduled event at Call Tanashi was cancelled and instead the contest was streamed from the Nishitokyo City Multicultural Center in the ING Building. In consideration of infection control, we borrowed a room nearby belonging to NIMIC Director Zhi Yang to use as a waiting room. The seven entrants enthusiastically spoke about their thoughts, and the winners of the Nishitokyo Mayor’s Award, Musashino University President’s Award, and NIMIC Award were selected. Approximately 40 viewers watched from both inside and outside the city, enlivening the contest with their rapt attention. Many comments were received along the lines of “I was very impressed by how hard the speakers tried to express their feelings in Japanese.”
Click here for the written record of the Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2021. (Japanese only)
Information briefing before entering elementary school
In the morning of Saturday, September 4, we held a pre-elementary school briefing session online. Since it was well received last year, we have upgraded the program further this year and are implementing it twice in autumn and winter, with slightly different content. Although the number of participants was smaller than last year, probably because it was held just after the summer vacation, the content appeared to be very useful for foreign parents who are unfamiliar with the school situation in Japan. Next time, we will put greater effort into publicity and hope that more foreign parents will participate.
Online Home Visit for International Students
An Online Home Visit for International Students was held from 10:00 on Sunday, June 27 via Zoom. The event, which was being held online for the first time, attracted the participation of seven host families and eight international students (from three universities and seven countries). First, all the participants gathered on the screen, introduced themselves, and then performed an ice-breaking activity using multilingual greetings and dialects. They then divided into small rooms for interaction between the international students and host families. Finally, all the participants took part in a fun quiz tournament. It is hoped that exchange among them will continue in the future.
Completion Ceremony for Junior High School Level of Japanese Class for Kids
The completion ceremony for the junior high school level of the Japanese Class for Kids was held on March 25 in the audiovisual room of Tanashi Community Center. Almost all the children and staff gathered together for the first time in about a year. Everyone was happy to meet face-to-face after such a long time and to congratulate the graduates who were going on to senior high school. After the presentation of certificates and albums, staff expressed their congratulations, and the graduates bid their farewells. While some parents who were attending were seen to shed tears, the first- and second-grade students nodded in encouragement to the graduates. Although only a short ceremony of about 30 minutes, it was a wonderful occasion.
Completion Ceremony for Elementary School Level of Japanese Class for Kids
The completion ceremony for the elementary school level of the Japanese Class for Kids was held on Friday, March 19 for the Yato class and on Sunday, March 21 for the Mukodai class. The Yato class had a face-to-face ceremony at the Yato Community Center (1 graduate, 20 participants). The Mukodai class (1 graduate, 15 participants) had a face-to-face ceremony with the participation of the graduating child and some staff, but other staff took part online in consideration of the need to prevent the spread of Covid-19 infection. At the end of both ceremonies, parents of the graduates expressed heartfelt gratitude for the Japanese Class for Kids, which touched the staff very much. The ceremonies were homemade by all the staff and very heartwarming occasions. We wish the graduates well in junior high school.
Pre-Elementary School Admission Briefing for Parents from Abroad
[Event Details]
Even when told what is necessary for admission to a Japanese elementary school, fathers and mothers from abroad often find it difficult to make preparations. Therefore, we will hold a pre-elementary school admission briefing for them to explain, while showing slides, what things are actually used at school.
・ Date and time: Sunday, January 24, 2021; 10:00–11:30
・ The explanation will be in Japanese, but questions can be asked in English and Chinese.
・ People who cannot use Zoom well can have advance practice.
[Event Report]
On Sunday, January 24, we held an online pre-elementary school admission briefing for parents from abroad with the participation of 11 parents. Using slides, we explained what needed to be done by the time of admission, how to write the parent-teacher correspondence notebook, textbooks, and so on. In addition, we showed and explained things that were actually used in elementary school. In the second half of the briefing, the participants divided into two groups, Chinese and easy Japanese, for a question-and-answer session. During the event, participants could be seen eagerly taking notes, which showed just how much this briefing is necessary. Many NIMIC members cooperated, telling us about their own confusion as parents involved with Japanese elementary school, connecting us to the Board of Education, and interpreting on the day. Thank you all very much! The slides produced for the event can be downloaded. Please feel free to use them. https://bit.ly/3iYLc2H
Follow-up Course for Japanese for Children Volunteers
On September 19th and 26th, an online course was held under the theme of “Supporting Children at times of Covid-19 “. The lecturer was Chiho Sakurai of Hiroshima University. She showed the video of a practical example of teaching by a most renowned practitioner, using DLA (Children’s Language Proficiency Measurement Tool) and Zoom. Many of the participants commented that they were very helpful and inspiring, and talked about having a study session together. It was a course that will lead to future skill improvement.
2nd Multicultural Salon (online) “What kind of country is Mongolia? “
We held the Multicultural Salon (online) “What kind of country is Mongolia? ”.
Mr. and Mrs. E. Jigmeddorj and H. Ariunzaya, a couple living in Nishitokyo City, used PowerPoint to tell us a lot of interesting stories about Mongolian culture, ethnicity, and education. There were impressions expressed by the participants such as:
“I didn’t know much about Mongolia which values old culture and about modern Mongolia. ” “It was a meaningful time. ” “I would like to participate if there is a similar project. “
Nishitokyo City sponsored Japanese language volunteer follow-up course
“Utilization of zoom, an online tool- for community activities in the time of corona “
Japanese language volunteer follow-up course was held on August 8th and 22nd. This year, it was conducted on Zoom. The theme of the seminar was “Using Zoom an online tool for local activities at times of Covid-19”. We asked Mr.Yoshihito Kinoshita who teaches at Tokai University to lecture on both days. On the first day, we learned what we can do with Zoom and on the second the ways to operate it correctly as a host. The twenty participants commented that the seminar was a timely and meaningful event as chatting among themselves was enjoyable and the seminar clarified doubts that they had about Zoom. So, we feel that the use of Zoom will help us to broaden our volunteer activities.
1st Multicultural Salon (online) “Guests from Paris “
A multicultural salon was opened on Tuesday, August 4, 2020 from 7:30 pm (Japan time) using zoom.
Ms. Minori Shirane, who has been working as an embroidery artist in an atelier dealing with haute couture embroidery in Paris for 8 years, showed a lot of pictures of her life in France during the coronavirus pandemic and also photos of her own work. She joined the talk from her home in Paris.
We realized that we can’t understand the similarities and differences between Japan and France without actually living in the place, even just when it comes to the way we respond to coronavirus. Through her story we found out that she also incidentally experienced the feeling of being a foreigner.
This “online multicultural salon ” was held using zoom for the first time due to the effect of coronavirus.
As it is hard to travel abroad, this session gives the opportunity to hear a talk from Paris, which has a time difference of 7 hours, at a convenient time.
One-piece Design Contest for elementary school children of the Japanese Language Class
Due to the influence of Coronavirus, both the elementary school and the Children’s Japanese Language Class were closed, and we invited the elementary school department of the Children’s Japanese Language Class to participate in a one-piece design contest in the style of coloring. A total of 20 children and adults gathered with 23 works, and 32 judges such as staff members judged by voting with the drawers’ names hidden. As a result, the parent and a child of Chan Rachel family and Chan Maya received the Best Design Award in the adults’ section and the children’s section, respectively. The staffs delivered the prizes and participation prizes separately.
Click here for other works (PDF file will open).
“Local Udon Making in Tanashi ” Experience
At the Tanashi Community Center in Nishitokyo city, we held a “local udon making” experience session for foreign residents living in the city, attending school, or working. Twenty-three foreign residents participated, and 12 event staffs and 8 instructors gathered. The party was a great success, and foreign participants were pleased with the first experience of making handmade udon. A representative of the udon-making leaders said, “The participants were able to make udon so well that I didn’t think it was the first time to make udon for them. In addition, the participants were able to make udon within the time I was thinking. It was also good that the participants were happy that the udon was delicious. “
Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2019
“Nishitokyo City Japanese Speech Contest 2019 ” was held at Call Tanashi on Sunday, December 1, 2019. 12 foreign residents gave a speech after the message from 3 elementary school students learning in a Japanese language class. There were nearly 130 visitors at the venue, and the number of participants was as many as 190, including those involved.
It’s a speech contest that doesn’t necessarily compete for the superiority or inferiority of the Japanese language itself, but each presenter expressed his/her thoughts in their own words. They may obviously have prepared considerably well for the contest beforehand.
All the presenters were given the award, so we will introduce some of them here:
– Nishitokyo city Mayor’s Prize: Ms. Gang YuJeong “Yagisawa of memories, walk to the future. “
– Musashino University President Award: Ms. Camara Fanta “living in Japan. “
– NIMIC Award : Mr. Alvaro Zechels “Days in Nishitokyo “
After the presentation, we enjoyed the performance of the drums by Mr. Nitete Boy, a drummer from Ghana, and of the dance by his younger brother.
At the exchange party, the presenters, audiences, and staff together enjoyed the afterglow of the speech, which was a time when the circle of people expanded.
Multicultural experience with Kids “Play with children’s toy around the world! “
We held a multicultural experience with Kids “Playing with the world’s toys! ” Participants were 12 pairs of parents and children (18 adults and 16 children).
First, the Erhu Ensemble performed erhu. Some of the songs were popular with children, and they shook their bodies to the sounds of erhu and listened to them happily.
Next, we were explained about toys from various countries borrowed from the group “Kids Square “. There were various types of frames, such as frames from around the world like Germany and China, frames that rotate using strings, and frames that play music while shining. Adults as well as children were interested and played with those frames.
There were also Korean Sugoroku and Tuho game, and everyone was able to experience various toys a lot of time. Other than that, there was a story-telling of picture books, and participants did the handy-works. The whole event was very fulfilling.
We had NIMIC members attending as volunteers on the day, and we were able to carry out the event smoothly.
Summer festival with wearing a yukata
In July 2019, 19 foreign residents experienced Bon festival dance. Participants first gathered at a nearby public hall, changed their wears into yukata and moved to the Bon Odori venue.
The Bon Odori was the first experience for the participants, but as soon as they entered the dance circle, they learned quickly how to dance and had a good time.
Participants were also intrigued by the many unusual items sold at the stalls at the venue. All the participants said they had a fun and interesting experience and would love to participate again next year.
Home Visit for International Students
In June 2019, Home Visit for international students was held.
The number of host families accepting international students was 23, and the number of participating international students was 46 (19 males, 27 females, from 14 countries). This is the largest number ever, and this time it was a very lively home visit.
Each host family prepared with their unique ideas and warmly welcomed the international students.
At the end of the event, a host family said; “International students are so fluent in Japanese that I can’t believe they’ve not been in Japan so long, and we were inspired by two students who are eager to come and work hard. I appreciate the wonderful opportunity.”
While, some international students made comments like: “This experience was important and meaningful for me in Japan.” “The host family was very kind, and it was a wonderful time to hear about cultural differences and their various life experiences. ” .
It was a valuable opportunity for international exchange for both host families and international students.
“Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural museum ” tour and cherry blossom party
In late March 2019, 14 foreign residents, together with 11 Japanese staff, went to Koganei Park and had a tour seeing the old buildings and cityscape at “Edo-Tokyo Open Air Architectural museum”, and participated in the cherry blossom viewing party in the park.
Interpreters provided easy-to-understand explanations about the historic buildings and exhibits in English and Chinese, and participants enjoyed the stamp rally held in the museum.
At the cherry-blossom viewing party, the participants were very excited by various stories under the cherry blossoms. Two foreigners will participate as executive members in future event planning meetings.。
Have fun in multiple languages!
In March 2019, we held the event “Have fun in multiple languages! “
31 children from kindergarten to the second grade of elementary school participated. The instructors were four speakers, English speakers and Chinese speakers from the Netherlands, the Philippines, and Indonesia. At the same time, 18 people participated in the parental program. In addition, 19 staff members and 2 city government representatives participated. It was a lively event with the teachers and children working together.。
This time, children learned colors, numbers, and animals in each language with the theme “Kuma-san, Kuma-san, what are you looking at? ” After that, the children had the instructor read the story in a picture book and enjoyed playing a bingo game.
At first, the children were nervous, but when they became accustomed to the foreign language spoken by the instructor, they started to speak with a smile. At the end, everyone sang and danced Hokey Pokey in a big circle.
As a program for parents, NIMIC staff explained to parents about NIMIC’s activities and “Children’s Japanese Class “, and parents challenged “easy Japanese ” drills. Parents seem to have realized that they can support foreigners not only in foreign languages but also in easy Japanese.
Global Friendship Project
We held the “Global Friendship Project “, a class for international understanding toward the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.
This year was the final year of the three-year activity, and each of the elementary and the junior high schools in the city conducted a program in a 2-4 hour class. International students and teachers living in the city from 11 countries, such as Holland, Bangladesh, and South Korea, enthusiastically told the children how they lived in the country where they grew up.
The children commented, “I think that by learning more about each other, we can improve our relationship with each other. ” “The difference between Japan and foreign countries is not a strange thing, but a characteristic one. ” Children learned the importance of admitting each other’s differences.
We hope that this kind of lesson will nurture the seeds of multicultural coexistence.
Tanashi Shrine annual festival tour
In October 2018, we engaged a tour to annual festival of local Tanashi Shrine. 17 foreign residents, more than the last year, enjoyed the local traditional festival.
A total of 11 NIMIC staff guided the tour.
First of all, we had a close look at mikoshi, a vehicle of God, in front of Tanashi station. After that we headed to Tanashi Shrine. Participants took hand water (this is the manner of visiting shrines) and visited the main shrine. And we were able to observe the Shinto rituals in which the god of the main shrine transferred to mikoshi.
The participants were also attracted by various items sold at the stalls on the ground of the Shrine.
This annual festival was a good opportunity for foreign residents living in the area to come into contact with local traditional shrines and festivals.
Ladies Party enjoying Indian culture in wearing saree
At the Tanashi Community Center, the “Ladies Party enjoying Indian culture in wearing Sari ” was held.
Ms. Shobana, who lives in the city, kindly brought over 20 saris and the participants learned how to put on sari. It was spectacular that all 25 ladies wore sari. Sari is a piece of cloth of length 5-5.5m, a width of about 1.2m. Participants will wear this sari with only two safety pins. As a material for sari, cotton, silk, nylon, or other materials suitable for the occasion are selected. There are various colors and patterns, from flashy ones to calm ones, and it was fun just to look at them.
A pair of people put on sari to each other, and under the guidance of Mr. Shobana, all the participants were able to wear sari. After that, we had Indian sweets in sari. It was a great event to experience Indian culture.
A lot of happy comments were received from the participants, “It was a lot of fun! ” “It was a great experience! ” “We want to participate again! “
In addition to those presented above, NIMIC holds various events and activities related to multicultural coexistence.
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