Japan Festival Wellington held on Saturday 18th June, 2022
A great day event for all teachers, students, families, and friends that headed along to the recent Japan Festival Wellington. As overseas school travel has been impossible to Japan this year, many schools studying Japanese were keen to attend this Japan language and cultural event alongside Japan aficionados and the general public.
On Saturday 18th June the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Japan was commemorated at the Japan Festival Wellington, held at TSB Arena & Shed 6, Wellington Central from 11.00am to 6.30pm. Over 25,000 people attended this commemorative event.
The first Japan Festival Wellington was held by Wellington City Council in 2009 to celebrate the ties between New Zealand and Japan and our sister city relationship with Sakai. Japan Festival Wellington is a biennial event celebrating Japanese culture in the Capital of Aotearoa - organised by volunteers of the Wellington Japan Festival Trust and with Tui Tuia | Learning Languages as one of the Sponsors.
Many visited the huge array of stalls on offer, attended impressive martial arts displays, saw funky cosplay culture or participated in the graceful tea ceremony, Japan Festival Wellington had something for everyone and every age. Everyone was blown away by the sight of two fabulous giant kimono depicting friendship at the Japan Festival Wellington created from panels painted by students at New Zealand schools. Throughout the day there were many exciting stage performances, chances to sample delicious Japanese food, see many Japanese arts and crafts as well as many other stands to visit and experience.
We, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages, had a stand at the festival. Many came to meet us, have a chat and gained information on Tui Tuia Professional Learning Development opportunities. We managed to assist and make over 500 origami kabuto / helmets on the day. Any that tagged their efforts on Tui Tuia were in the draw for our Japanese speciality food hamper. We were delighted with our family of three children that won this with their kawaii / cute photo shot at the Japan Festival Wellington.
Photo: Winning entry submitted by Colleen Wilton of her children with origami kabuto.
Such a memorable and fantastic occasion – many thanks to all involved and a special doumo arigatou thanks to our Tui Tuia team of Paula Kasper, Belinda Sydenham, Kath Doody, Clara Jimeno Gomez and Lydia Thomson.
See you in 2 years’ time at the next Japan Festival Wellington!
-Paula Kasper, Facilitator, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages
#1 New Zealand tastes in Japan
While I have been stuck in Japan for months, I enjoy finding something related to New Zealand in Japan. Flat white at the café became my favourites. Kiwifruit is most likely one of the things that reminds Japanese people of New Zealand. You might remember the unique dance by the kiwi brothers (mascots) in the short video on SNS to welcome Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her visit to Japan in April 2022. Today, I would like to share two things that I recently felt a connection to New Zealand.
The first item is a pumpkin. Pumpkins imported from New Zealand are available at the local supermarkets in my town. The pumpkin in the photo is named “Homerare Kabocha” and it literally means “a pumpkin that is praised.” Following my curiosity, a little google search brought me to an article about “Kabocha milk” in Hawkes’bay, a winner of the world award for the best plant-based beverage. I should look for it.
Another thing is a Japanese book aboutリーチ マイケル Michael Leitch. I found it by coincidence at the kids’ corner in the local library. The content is a kind of biography and worth reading especially for teenagers, in my opinion. I hope the exchange programmes between schools in New Zealand and Japan like the one Michael experienced in his young days will resume very soon and the young generation will nourish the friendship and deepen it.
-Kaori Fukazawa, National Japanese Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages
キラキラネーム
「キラキラ」という言葉を聞くと、「輝いている」人やTwinkle Twinkle Little Starの歌を思い浮かべる人がいるかもしれません。赤ちゃんの名前で、個性的な名前やちょっと変わった名前のことを日本語では「キラキラネーム」といいますが、英語だとbizarre nameとかweird nameなどと言うのでしょうか。ニュージーランドにもつけてはいけない名前があるそうですね。私が初めて「ちょっと変わった名前」に出会ったのは1993年の「悪魔ちゃん騒動」だったと記憶していますが、その後本人に読み方を確認しないと読めないような漢字の名前が少しずつ増えてきたように思います。いろいろな想いや願いがこめられているのでしょう。最近このキラキラネームが日本のニュースで取り上げられていました。法律でどこまで認めるかパブリックコメントで意見が募られるそうですが、「光宙」（ぴかちゅう）や大空（すかい）なども認められる可能性があるそうです。漢字がもつ意味を優先した当て字を子どもの名前に使う人がさらに増えるのでしょうか。漢字学習への興味づけになりうるのか、新たな悩みの種となってしまうのか個人的には気になるところです。
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2022 - Japanese - Term 2 Newsletter Articles
Teachers of Languages and Culture
Japan Festival Wellington held on Saturday 18th June, 2022
A great day event for all teachers, students, families, and friends that headed along to the recent Japan Festival Wellington. As overseas school travel has been impossible to Japan this year, many schools studying Japanese were keen to attend this Japan language and cultural event alongside Japan aficionados and the general public.
On Saturday 18th June the 70th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between New Zealand and Japan was commemorated at the Japan Festival Wellington, held at TSB Arena & Shed 6, Wellington Central from 11.00am to 6.30pm. Over 25,000 people attended this commemorative event.
The first Japan Festival Wellington was held by Wellington City Council in 2009 to celebrate the ties between New Zealand and Japan and our sister city relationship with Sakai. Japan Festival Wellington is a biennial event celebrating Japanese culture in the Capital of Aotearoa - organised by volunteers of the Wellington Japan Festival Trust and with Tui Tuia | Learning Languages as one of the Sponsors.
Many visited the huge array of stalls on offer, attended impressive martial arts displays, saw funky cosplay culture or participated in the graceful tea ceremony, Japan Festival Wellington had something for everyone and every age. Everyone was blown away by the sight of two fabulous giant kimono depicting friendship at the Japan Festival Wellington created from panels painted by students at New Zealand schools. Throughout the day there were many exciting stage performances, chances to sample delicious Japanese food, see many Japanese arts and crafts as well as many other stands to visit and experience.
We, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages, had a stand at the festival. Many came to meet us, have a chat and gained information on Tui Tuia Professional Learning Development opportunities. We managed to assist and make over 500 origami kabuto / helmets on the day. Any that tagged their efforts on Tui Tuia were in the draw for our Japanese speciality food hamper. We were delighted with our family of three children that won this with their kawaii / cute photo shot at the Japan Festival Wellington.
Photo: Winning entry submitted by Colleen Wilton of her children with origami kabuto.
Such a memorable and fantastic occasion – many thanks to all involved and a special doumo arigatou thanks to our Tui Tuia team of Paula Kasper, Belinda Sydenham, Kath Doody, Clara Jimeno Gomez and Lydia Thomson.
See you in 2 years’ time at the next Japan Festival Wellington!
-Paula Kasper, Facilitator, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages
#1 New Zealand tastes in Japan
While I have been stuck in Japan for months, I enjoy finding something related to New Zealand in Japan. Flat white at the café became my favourites. Kiwifruit is most likely one of the things that reminds Japanese people of New Zealand. You might remember the unique dance by the kiwi brothers (mascots) in the short video on SNS to welcome Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern during her visit to Japan in April 2022. Today, I would like to share two things that I recently felt a connection to New Zealand.
The first item is a pumpkin. Pumpkins imported from New Zealand are available at the local supermarkets in my town. The pumpkin in the photo is named “Homerare Kabocha” and it literally means “a pumpkin that is praised.” Following my curiosity, a little google search brought me to an article about “Kabocha milk” in Hawkes’bay, a winner of the world award for the best plant-based beverage. I should look for it.
Another thing is a Japanese book aboutリーチ マイケル Michael Leitch. I found it by coincidence at the kids’ corner in the local library. The content is a kind of biography and worth reading especially for teenagers, in my opinion. I hope the exchange programmes between schools in New Zealand and Japan like the one Michael experienced in his young days will resume very soon and the young generation will nourish the friendship and deepen it.
-Kaori Fukazawa, National Japanese Adviser, Tui Tuia | Learning Circle - Languages
キラキラネーム
「キラキラ」という言葉を聞くと、「輝いている」人やTwinkle Twinkle Little Starの歌を思い浮かべる人がいるかもしれません。赤ちゃんの名前で、個性的な名前やちょっと変わった名前のことを日本語では「キラキラネーム」といいますが、英語だとbizarre nameとかweird nameなどと言うのでしょうか。ニュージーランドにもつけてはいけない名前があるそうですね。私が初めて「ちょっと変わった名前」に出会ったのは1993年の「悪魔ちゃん騒動」だったと記憶していますが、その後本人に読み方を確認しないと読めないような漢字の名前が少しずつ増えてきたように思います。いろいろな想いや願いがこめられているのでしょう。最近このキラキラネームが日本のニュースで取り上げられていました。法律でどこまで認めるかパブリックコメントで意見が募られるそうですが、「光宙」（ぴかちゅう）や大空（すかい）なども認められる可能性があるそうです。漢字がもつ意味を優先した当て字を子どもの名前に使う人がさらに増えるのでしょうか。漢字学習への興味づけになりうるのか、新たな悩みの種となってしまうのか個人的には気になるところです。
