All about Kagoshima　-sightseeing, accommodations, shopping, gourmet, hot spring -

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Kagoshima Prefecture Foreign Language Newsletter
"Kagoshima-gov.-news" (30/6/2009 vol. 23)
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Contents
- Latest happenings in Kagoshima
Total Solar Eclipse in Amami!!
The 30th Kirishima International Music Festival 2009
Four African research students visit Kapic!!
Important Notice to American Citizens Living in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture
- Events
Tanegashima - A Timely Festival of the Arts
The 22nd JCI International Academy in Kagoshima 2009
- Readers' Letters
"People travel because they are drawn to the charm of other people" - Letter
contributed by Hidemitsu Narasako, Kagoshima Prefecture Tourism Project Manager
- Introduction to Kagoshima
Facts About Kagoshima No. 13 (Education, Science and Culture of Kagoshima 2)
- Kagoshima through the eyes of a foreigner
Yakushima Report from Mr. Daniel Mackey, Canadian Coordinator for International
Relations (Part 1)
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Latest happenings in Kagoshima
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< Total Solar Eclipse in Amami!!>
A total solar eclipse will be visible over Japan for the first time in 46 years from certain areas in Kagoshima Prefecture such as northern Amami Oshima, Kikai Island, the Tokara Islands, southern Tanegashima, and Yakushima on July 22 at 10:57 AM. This mysterious phenomenon that sees the sun completely hidden by the moon will be the longest observable of its kind during this century. The total solar eclipse will be viewable from: Ayamaru Cape in the Amami Islands for 3 mins. 32 seconds, Ohama Park for 2 mins. 10 seconds, and Kikai Island (Shiomichi Nagahama Park) for 2 mins. 53 seconds.
The next viewable total solar eclipse in Japan is expected to occur 26 years later in 2035, although it is said that a total solar eclipse is viewable in the same region only once every 300 years. Why not plan an enjoyable trip to view this century's most stellar "total solar eclipse" night show while lying around on the white sandy beaches of Amami in the height of summer!
Besides the summer night show, the Amami Islands feature precious animal and plant life along with a great diversity of characteristic nature. For example, the Amami Hare and the Lidth's Jay are just some of the many valuable indigenous species inhabiting the Amami Islands, not to mention the mangroves, coral reefs, and the unique subtropical evergreen broadleaf forests. What with the abundance of nature and fascinating culture, Amami was selected as a candidate site by the national "Investigative Commission for World Natural Heritage Candidate Sites" in May of 2003 along with "Shiretoko" and "Ogasawara".
Many inspired initiatives aimed at "World Natural Heritage Site" registration, such as a "Green Strategy", suitable rearing management for breeding animals, and the fostering of ecotourism-oriented human personnel, are now being undertaken in Amami in order to preserve the wonderful ecological environment of this World Natural Heritage Candidate Site.
There are many functions and events held throughout the year in Amami that include Shima-Uta and Hachi-Gatsu Odori, along with enjoyable health-oriented food and drink such as Kokuto Shochu and traditional island cuisine. Please come and visit the "Resort Island Paradise of Amami"!

<The 30th Kirishima International Music Festival 2009>
The 30th instalment of the venerable Kirishima International Music Festival is scheduled to run from July 26 (Sun) to August 9 (Sun) of 2009.
Originally established in 1980, the Kirishima International Music Festival draws almost 150 students to the 15 master classes being offered, along with some 60 international musicians who variously perform in 18 different concerts.
The main building (Miyama Conseru) holds a hall that can seat up to 770 people, and receives high praise for its spectacular acoustic environment. Please click the link below for further details.
http://www.kirishima-imf.jp/
<Four African research students visit Kapic>
KAPIC (Kagoshima Asia-Pacific Intercultural Countryside Center) received four research students (Kenya 1, Zimbabwe 2, Cameroon 1) to take part in JICA's (Japan International Cooperation Agency) "Research Survey Course for regional agricultural and municipal development in Africa" from the 1st to 7th of June.
The research students were able to learn about many examples of agricultural and regional development in Osumi such as the experimental research being carried out by the Osumi branch of the Kagoshima Agricultural Development Center, an irrigation project to improve the land at Kasanohara, the unique system of regional development that does not rely on Yanedan's regional government, compost production from raw garbage and cyclical farming, organic farming, agro-tourism, and so on. Mutual understanding was deepened through exchanges with the local junior high school children and discussions with agricultural experts.
<Important Notice to American Citizens Living in Kyushu and Yamaguchi Prefecture>
The American Consulate in Fukuoka will only be offering limited consular services in the months of July and August, due to a staffing shortage. Appointments will be accepted on July 16-17 and July 30-31 for all routine services, including passport applications and notary of documents. American citizens may use the American Consulate-General in Osaka, which provides daily consular services, if time sensitive processing of passports or notarized documents are required. Consulate Fukuoka expects to resume full consular services as of August 17th. We regret any inconvenience that this may cause.
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Events
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<Tanegashima - A Timely Festival of the Arts>
"Tanegashima - A Timely Festival of the Arts" is an event that will be held in conjunction with the total solar eclipse on the 22nd of July. Mr. Katsuhiko Hibino, an artist active both within Japan and abroad, will act as art director. Most notably, the ships "Taiyo-Maru" and "Tsuki-Maru", created by Mr. Hibino together with Kagoshima City and Nishi-No-Omote City, will meet each other above the ocean waves for this event.
<'The 22nd JCI International Academy in Kagoshima 2009>
The International Academy gathers together some 80 youth from 80 countries out of the 123 affiliated JCI countries, with around 50 youth coming from within Japan, to discuss lasting world peace and environmental issues while learning first-hand about leadership.
The 10-day gathering will take place from July 3 to 12 under the auspices of Japan Junior Chamber.
Participants will do home-stays in normal homes and many exchange opportunities to interact with local residents, such as Kagoshima City elementary school visits, are being planned.
The Japan Junior Chamber claims that this will be "a great chance to promote Kagoshima to the world" since members from some 80 different countries will be participating.
Readers' Letters
<"People travel because they are drawn to the charm of other people" - Letter
contributed by Hidemitsu Narasako, Kagoshima Prefecture Tourism Project Manager>
I visited Kinko Town the other day to do a report on a magazine publisher. As I was photographing the pastoral landscape, one of the nearby farmers took time out to bow and give me a friendly wave of the hand. My accompanying editor inadvertently pointed his camera in that direction as he marvelled "Many people in Kagoshima are kind and have something of a rustic simplicity to them". The nice thing about the countryside is not only the wonderful nature but also the charm of people that remains more or less unchanged. On top of that, you can also say that hot springs, the landscape, and delicious food are a large part of travel destination attractions, but I think that the warmth of the people is really special.
I often receive letters of thanks from travellers. There are so many heart-warming examples of hospitality that really help to support Kagoshima's tourism. For example, the case of a person who travelled to Kagoshima just to place flowers on the grave of a departed lover but couldn't find the location and was aided by a concerned taxi driver that went out of his way to help search high and low for the grave; or the hotel staff that promptly arranged a wheelchair and guided a physically disabled parent on a family trip to their room. Another case involved a child who broke out in a fever during the night and was driven to an emergency hospital by a hotel security guard because there was no taxi available.
In the book "Caigentan" by the Chinese author Hong Zicheng, there is a saying that goes something like "The life energy of Heaven and Earth grows when warm and dies when cold". In other words, people who always maintain a kind disposition will be happy and make other people happy, but people who maintain a cold disposition will drive others away and become miserable. We should work to create a welcoming atmosphere for all the tourists that visit Kagoshima.
It goes without saying that one of the greatest pleasures of visiting an unknown region is the local cuisine, but the charm of the local people also leaves a strong impression.
There are many talented and skilled people in Kagoshima. For example, we have some of the best bamboo ware makers in Japan, the proprietress' of small eateries that charm tourists with their fluent Kagoshima dialect, the bus guides that entertain various groups of tourists, the brewers that have long strived for superior quality hand-made potato shochu, the famous sea bream fishermen of Kinko Bay, and the waitress' of Japanese Inns that make people want to stay again through their impeccable customer service, among others. This is our local treasure, and I think it is appropriate to use the term "Discover the People of Kagoshima" to describe this mosaic.
As you know, the time for summer vacation is approaching and this means that Japanese people will be travelling in great numbers. People travel because they are drawn to the charm of other people. I think that we should give more attention to all the wonderful people that instil in others a strong desire to revisit Kagoshima.
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Introduction to Kagoshima
A brief introduction to the geography, culture, history and various industries of Kagoshima.
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<Facts About Kagoshima No. 13>
(Education, Science and Culture of Kagoshima 2)
(2) Science
There are two man-made satellite launching facilities in Kagoshima Prefecture - the Uchi-No-Ura Space Centre in Kimotsuki Town on the eastern shores of the Osumi Peninsula, and the Tanegashima Space Centre in Minami Tane Town on Tanegashima Island. Both facilities belong to JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency).
The Uchi-No-Ura Space Centre was set up in 1962 and launched Japan's first man-made satellite (Osumi) in 1970. This space centre plays a vital role in Japan's space research and is often used to launch scientific satellites for the purpose of planet exploration and astronomical observation.
The Tanegashima Space Centre is used as a launching facility for Japan's most powerful large-type rocket, the H-II A Rocket. Weather observation satellites and Earth observation satellites have been launched from here. There are plans in the near future to launch an H-II A rocket along with a carrier rocket to bring provisions to the international space station.
Deeply involved in space development, Kagoshima is home to the Young Astronauts Club of Japan that aims to familiarize youth with space through its activities. In addition, there are also various space-related events and courses carried out all over Kagoshima Prefecture.
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<Kagoshima through the eyes of a foreigner>
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<Yakushima Report from Mr. Daniel Mackey, Canadian Coordinator for International
Relations (Part 1)>
Wonder, Beauty and Awe - A Yakushima Report
Last week I had the good fortune to travel to Yakushima in order to experience and learn about the breathtaking beauty and biodiversity of this truly unique island. Called the "Alps on the Ocean" for its largely mountainous topography and famous for its unspoiled virgin forests and the ancient YAKUSUGI (cedar) trees that grow majestically on its peaks, Yakushima gained international recognition in 1993 when a part of the island was selected to become the first registered World Natural Heritage Site in Japan. Moreover, Yakushima received a three star rating, the highest possible, in the newly published Michelin "Green Guide to Japan". The island itself belongs to Kagoshima Prefecture in southern Japan and is located about 135 km south of Kagoshima City. It is known to be the region with the greatest annual rainfall in Japan, a fact that has traditionally been conveyed by locals with the popular expression "it rains 35 days a month".
I left for Yakushima by high speed jet foil on Wednesday, March 25 at 7:45 am in the morning. The sky was slightly overcast but, regardless, the boat was full to the brim with sleepy-eyed tourists and visitors from across Japan and elsewhere. Getting to Yakushima is not difficult since, aside from the high speed jet foil, there is also regular ferry service and flights leaving from Kagoshima Airport (details below).
Arriving at Miyanoura Port in Yakushima exactly two hours later, I was greeted by the Director of the Yakushima Tourism Association, Mr. Shiiba. He very graciously offered to guide me around Yakushima and share some of his thoughts with me during my short stay on the island. The Yakushima Tourism Association has its own spiffy web site with loads of useful information but, unfortunately, it is exclusively in Japanese (link below).
Most importantly, there is a hiking code/ manner guide on their homepage but it is in Japanese so I have provided a link to an English translation below. All newcomers to Yakushima should check this hiker code/ manner guide because it contains important safety information and rules to help preserve the nature of Yakushima.
My first stop was the Yakushima Environmental Culture Village Center. Located conveniently right next to Miyanoura Port, the purpose of the center is to act as a comprehensive source of information about Yakushima and to promote the eco-development of Yakushima. Featuring an IMAX screen (14m x 20m) amphitheatre that can seat up to 250 people, visitors are presented with a 25 minute film that showcases the beautiful nature and culture of Yakushima in exquisite detail. I highly recommend this short video presentation for the sheer beauty of the images. There are eight showings daily and English subtitles to help those who do not understand Japanese. Besides the theatre, I was also given a guided explanation of Yakushima's unique topographic characteristics by one of the friendly staff on hand who explained to me that while sub-tropical plant and tree life is to be found throughout the warmer inhabited coastal areas, the colder elevated mountainous regions feature sub-arctic
plant and tree life that would not seem out of place in Hokkaido. Animal life on Yakushima is also quite diverse, with deer inhabiting the colder forest areas and macaque monkeys populating the warmer sub-tropical areas. The next destination on my itinerary was the Shitoko Gajumaru Banyan Garden.
Yakushima lies at the northernmost limit for the Gajumaru Banyan species of plant that attaches itself to trees (epiphytic) and then continues to grow branches in every direction off of the host tree. This garden gives visitors the opportunity to see a variety of typical Gajumaru Banyan trees up close that are all considered to be somewhere around 300 years old. I could not help but marvel at the sight of the Gajumaru Banyan branches protruding straight down in a thick cluster from the host tree branch. This kind of Gajumaru Banyan tree can be found all around the coastal areas of Yakushima.The Shitoko Gajumaru Banyan Garden is a 10 min. bus ride from Miyanoura Port.
For lunch, we went to a popular restaurant in the vicinity of Miyanoura Port. The restaurant offered good value for the money with its menu of standard fare like udon and soba noodles along with representative local delicacies that included mackerel sashimi, flying fish sashimi, and a variety of other tasty dishes. I chose the mackerel sashimi lunch set since I love mackerel in general and I was not disappointed in the slightest.
All eyes but mine were fixed on the TV screen for the live broadcast of the national high school baseball championships as I made short work of my delicious lunch set. After a hearty lunch it was time for a hike at Shiratani Unsuikyo (Shiratani Ravine), a stunningly beautiful landscape of mountain streams, laurel forests with towering YAKUSUGI trees, and the occasional wild deer located at an altitude 800m above sea level and most well-known for serving as a model setting in the animated movie "Princess Mononoke" by director Hayao Miyazaki. Technically speaking, cedars over 1000 years old are classified as YAKUSUGI and those less than 1000 years old are KOSUGI.
The Shiratani Ravine is ideal for those who want to experience the beautiful nature of Yakushima without sacrificing an entire day or having to endure a gruelling trek since there are basically three recommended courses that consist of a short 30 minute course, a 60 minute course, and the full 150 minute course. The shorter courses are very well maintained and not difficult for the average person but the full course does offer some challenges since there are relatively steep climbs and small stream crossings and so on.
I chose the mid-level course since I would need to conserve my energy for the long trek planned the following day.
The sheer greenery of new growth in spring coupled with the characteristic bright green moss-covered rocks and the peculiar fragrance of 1,000 year old YAKUSUGI created a powerful impression on me that is very difficult to put into words. In some ways it was like being transported far back in time to a place unspoiled by civilization where giant trees dominate the landscape and animals, neither fearing humans nor approaching them for food, go about their business unconcerned. It is not uncommon to spot wild deer close to the trails here and I even caught sight of a baby deer still looking a little uncertain on its feet.
I strongly suggest that every first time visitor to Yakushima visit Shiratani Unsuikyo because you can experience some of the most gorgeous natural surroundings that Yakushima has to offer without needing to expend as much time and energy as on other hiking courses.
Upon returning back to Miyanoura Town, I headed straight for the guest house that I had reserved just over a week before arriving. To my surprise, the owner of the guest house said that there was no reservation in my name. This just goes to show how important it is to reconfirm reservations before arriving since it can be hard to find accommodations on the spot, especially during the peak seasons of Golden Week and summer in general. Luckily, I was able to find another great little guest house that was cheap as chips and run by a very friendly couple in a family-like atmosphere.
Guesthouses are nice because they offer you the chance to try local home-made cuisine as opposed to hotel food and also greater opportunities to interact with other visitors for those who are interested in such things. Just don't expect service in English at this and most other guesthouses as they operate mainly in Japanese. (To be continued in next month's newsletter...)
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KAGOSHIMA PREFECTURAL GOVERNMENT JAPAN
http://www.pref.kagoshima.jp/foreign.html
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Editor's Note (International Affairs Division, Kagoshima Prefecture Tourism Promotion
and International Exchange Bureau)
How was this month's edition of the "Kagoshima-gov.-news" Newsletter?
In order to better connect Kagoshima with readers from around the world, we are
always striving to enrich and expand the contents of the articles and reports in the
Kagoshima Prefecture Foreign Language Newsletter "KAGOSHIMA-gov.-news".
We would greatly appreciate any feedback, comments, or suggestions that you may have
concerning the way that "Kagoshima"-related news is covered abroad.
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****Questions and Inquiries****
International Affairs Division
Tourism Promotion and International Exchange Bureau
10-1 Kamoike Shinmachi, Kagoshima City
Kagoshima Prefecture 890-8577, Japan
Tel: +81-99-286-2306
Fax: +81-99-286-5522
E-mail Address:
English cirb@po.pref.kagoshima.jp
Chinese circ@po.pref.kagoshima.jp
Korean cird@po.pref.kagoshima.jp
Japanese cira@po.pref.kagoshima.jp
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Kagoshima Prefecture owns the copyright to this report. Any and all unauthorized use
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