Summer Firework Festival (Millie F)

I consider myself lucky, because three days after I came to Akita, I had the honor to take part in the Omagari Fireworks Festival. 大曲の花火 literally means “Fireworks of Omagari.” It is a historic nationwide fireworks festival competition that has been held since Meiji 43 (1910). It is not just a little local affair; fireworks team from throughout the country compete with each other to put on the best show for audiences. More than 700,000 visitors are expected for this one of the Tohoku region’s biggest fireworks festival.

The unique things about this competition are that the firework artists launch fireworks that they have made themselves. The whole show lasts about two and half hours. Before we arrived the show　ground, we ate a lot from the station which we left to the main venues. There are many market stalls to sell the delicious local food on both sides of the streets. Since my friends and I didn’t bring anything for a seat, we only can sit on the ground. However, we still enjoyed viewing various kinds of colorful shapes and patterns formed in the night sky.

Market stalls, photo by Millie

I really like the competition with many creative fireworks; I saw the cartoon at the beginning, smiling faces, even these star patterns are the image of a star- shaped firework. The extraordinary part is these fireworks displays were choreographed to popular music. The fireworks rose into the sky one after another and then explored into beautiful patterns making people couldn’t close their eyes. 

Fireworks, photo by Millie

There is another summer festival named “Omonogama River Fireworks” in Akita too, but I didn’t have the opportunities to see it. The summer means fireworks in Japan. It is an annual Noryo festival; Noryo means, “evening cool” in Japanese. It represents kind of folkways in Japan which people loves short-lived beauty such as cherry blossoms in spring which best for only a couple of days. It is not only an exciting moment for local people here, but also a very fantastic moment to the visitors likes me.

The Experience of Oga Peninsula (Millie)

The weather becomes colder and colder. Autumn has come, the leaves turn yellow and to leave his motherland. Although the weather is cold in this week, the campus is full of vigor and vitality. Yes, that is because of AIU Festival. I spend the whole day enjoying the festival: listening to the concert, eating the delicious food and even joining the games with my friends. But, that is not enough. I have something more important to do – go to the field trip with Furukawa Sensei (and three other professors from Beloit).

Our destination was Oga. However, our first stop was Ogata which located in northwestern Akita Prefecture. Ogata was a beautiful, quiet Japanese town. I could see thousands of scarlet sage along the path.

Scarlet sage, photo by Millie

Firstly, we went to the Seitaikei Park to enjoy nature. The park was quite big, to follow the schedule; we didn’t stay for a long time. However, the scenery here is as beautiful as a landscape painting.

Seitaikei Park, photo by Millie

After visiting the Park, by 15 minutes walking, we arrived the Polder Museum of Ogata-mura. Here, I finally knew that this village consists entirely of land reclaimed from the Lake Hachirogata!! That surprised me a lot for its history and geographical theories. We watched the special movie introduction about this place from different aspects, such as nature, rice farming, wild birds, and even the life experience of local people, etc. It was interesting because you can learn a lot though this visiting process; especially one of the professors is from the geology department.

Sea level small "mountain," photo by Millie

As a consequence of lake reclamation, the mostly village is below sea level.

After the trip of Ogata, we came to our second stop – NAMAHAGE Museum. Here was the place where you can explore a wide variety of different Namahages from various part of Oga. There were different versions of the legends of Oga’s Namahage, but the main idea was “the Namahage threatens to tear off the spots as a form of punishment” (Foster reading) for people’s laziness. “Namahage is indeed always associated with the dead of winter “and “New Year’s Eve.” In the Densho Hall, we watched the authentic story of the Namahage. In order to experience more about Namahage, Professor Pablo and I changed into a Namahage! 

Namahage costume, photo by Furukawa-sensei

In a very traditional house, there was a show about Namahage. The performance was humorous; it was all about the banter between the Namahage and the household head. By entering the household, the Namahage’s task is to frighten the children. (Foster) One of the children cried actually. However, by avoiding influence other audience, the mother finally chose to leave the house to comfort baby. This point seemed to be a little confusion to me because it was not unusual for the frightened children to run and cry. In general, it was a great show although I couldn’t fully understand what they said in Japanese.

Namahage performance, photo by Millie

Finally, we saw the sea in Oga Peninsula. Probably because of autumn, the seaside temperature is lower than the land temperature on average. I felt my body was almost frozen with the cold wind. However, the sea still looks quite beautiful. On the return trip, passing through the top of the mountain, I could clearly see the whole view of Akita Prefecture. That was incredible to compare this view with the map which I saw in the museum. As a student, I learned a lot through this trip. Enjoy not only the view of this journey, but also some specified knowledge from each professor.

The sea, photo by Millie

Daily Consumption in AIU (Millie)

In the student hall first floor, there is the only one store on campus, named “AIU SHOP.” Nearby, the café which called “College Café” is the only place you can read here in a quiet afternoon with a cup of good coffee. These places become my favorite places in AIU.

AIU SHOP, photo by Millie

I fell in love with the Japanese snacks when I went to “Mitsuwa” (Japanese style supermarket) for the first time in Chicago. Since that time, every time I go there, I will buy a big box of snacks. It is so lucky for me to come to japan. Even if I can’t often go to the supermarket (because AIU located in the rural area) to buy snacks, I am still able to get a lot in AIU shop. For me, AIU shop is more like a convenient store, I can buy my food here for daily: the onigiri (rice ball), sandwiches, and even the box set. Especially, I love the onigiri most!! I don't know why, but the onigiri made at the AIU shop is better than any other one I’ve ever eaten. I have already had this for several weeks for my breakfast. (^ ^)

Onigiri, photo by Millie

College Café is close to the AIU shop, I usually buy an onigiri from AIU shop and then order a cup of cappuccino in the Café to start my new day. If you are lucky, you can even hear the band practice (two practice studios located opposite the café) in front of you. It’s also a good place to chat with friends, do some individual studies, and meet the group members, etc.

College cafe, photo by Millie

I’m looking for ways to provide relief and comfort when facing this unfamiliar environment. Fortunately, these two places offer a new space for me to blend with this new environment.

To Explore My Own Way in AIU (Millie Fan)

My story started from the 7th day when I arrived in Japan. It was the day that I left Osaka to go to Akita. It meant that I have to live in Japan by myself, without any parents, relatives and friends. Suddenly, everything seems untrue and there was a new world opening for me.

The views from the plane were… fantastic? Unlike awesome cities (Tokyo, Osaka, etc) full of skyscrapers, there was a wide stretch of land spread in front of my eyes. Oh, here we go. I was nearly in Akita!

View from the Plane, by Xiyi

It only took us 10 more minutes by bus to arrive AIU. Otherwise, it also showed that AIU is not close to the downtown city. Our neighborhood is quite small; only the university can be the central landmarks. Within my first 2 days’ mapping, I nearly draw nothing on it. I always lost the way even I was walking on the campus. Actually, the campus is not that big, it has the same size like Beloit. But the buildings here almost are built look similar. The most interesting part is that there are eight buildings connect with each other, I can’t ensure not to get lost in such similar environment.

In Front of the University, by Xiyi

Map of Campus

Finally, in the weekends, I have the opportunity to explore the local area. There are only two routes to get out of this place: one to the Akita city, another to the shopping mall. Due to the large areas in Akita city, the students prefer shopping mall to buying daily things. Of course, the shopping mall is very big so that it can satisfy almost everything you need. The mall becomes the area which I “mastered” in the weekends. By the way, the shopping mall only 10 minutes by taking bus.  ^6^

The Shopping Mall, by Xiyi

After 2 weeks (now), I am able to know all the ways on campus. I won’t get lost any more. In addition, occasionally I go into the “Akita Central Park”, the park which faces our school across the street. The park has lots of playgrounds, basketball courts and even a baseball field. If there are nobody walks with me, I won’t get into there. The park is too big for me which I afraid to lost myself again; it’s can be the “great unknown” place in Akita areas.

Akita Central Park, by Xiyi

Sadly, I haven’t been to Akita city yet. I hope it is the other wonderful place (except the mall) for all the international students here. However, as an inhabitant, I no longer be confused in this rural place. I am gradually familiar with my new school, my friends and even my professors. I think this is a new beginning for me in Akita, in Japan.

As I Set Out on This Journey... (Millie Fan)

As I set out on this journey, everything is going to be new and full of adventure. I hope I can learn a lot from this small university – AIU. Comparing with other exchange students who also go to japan, I feel that I am the lucky one. I don’t need to worry so much about my journey, I had been to Japan for several times and it’s near my hometown China. However, the biggest important thing – language still challenging me and make me awkward.

With the help of my best friend, I decided to go to Japan early for travelling. On the one hand, it increased my familiarity of this country. On the other hand, I would like to go to the big cities first to experience the different life which is differing from Akita. That’s where I am coming from, big cities in Japan, waiting to see an entirely different world in Akita. 

Ginza, Tokyo. Photo by Xiyi Fan

I went to Tokyo first to see the most busy and gorgeous place – Ginza. I was dazzled by the sights and high-rise building in the District. As other big cities’ look, Ginza is full of fashionable breath; this big circle in Tokyo already has became almost every tourists’ heaven.

When I left Tokyo to Osaka, I felt great differences between these two cities. Osaka is also one of the biggest cities in Japan but strangely I didn’t feel any pressure here. People would not walk so fast; the food is cheaper here; even you do not have to push people into the subways. In addition, there exits a lot of scenic spots and historical sites.

Osaka-jo, Osaka. Photo by Xiyi Fan

Fortunately, I also got one day off to go to the Nara by myself. (My friend needed shopping). Nara is a small city with thousands of cute animals – deer! You can see them almost everywhere and they have little fear of humans. This is the place where people and animals can get along with each other.

Nara Deer

Many friends in Japan told me that they think Akita is in remote regions. But this is a reason why I choose Akita. If you real want to involve into local environment, the small town always are the best choice. I am so glad I already went to so many cities in Japan to experience different cultures. I am going to Akita, a small small town with both international students and local students. I hope I can learn a different world which full of various individuals.