The bus trip is held every year jointly by “ Cultural Lectures for Foreigners” and Department of Cross-Cultural Activities so that foreigners may touch Japanese culture and communicate each other. This time, they visited Choshi to learn about fish cooking and fermented food both of which are food culture of Japan surrounded by sea. (No.19-17) Date & time: 3rd November(Sun),2019 8:30～16:45
Venue : Choshi (Higeta Soy Source Factory, Inubozaki Lighthouse)
Participants: 32 people (12 foreigners, 14 Japanese, 4 organizers “Yuno, Osaki,Karai,Komiyama” , 2 Secretariats )
Venue : Choshi (Higeta Soy Source Factory, Inubozaki Lighthouse)
Participants: 32 people (12 foreigners, 14 Japanese, 4 organizers “Yuno, Osaki,Karai,Komiyama” , 2 Secretariats )
Under the cloudy climate, the participants gathered at North Gate of Abiko Station and departed on time. In the bus, following the address by Vice President Kitajima and the schedule confirmation by the secretariat, self- introductions were made by all participants. Some foreigners who had come to Japan recently did it in Japanese well.
They took a break at “the roadside station,Mizu-no-Sato Sawara” where a free-market was held. Daily necessities such as iron kettles, ornaments,China wares etc.as well as fishing tools,farming tools,anitique toys(mini-cars,doles etc.)carpenter tools and so on were on display. They made us feel a part of old Japanese life and the people from abroad took a look of them with keen interest.
At the Higeta Soy Sauce Factory, they heard about the production process of soy sauce being one of Japanese food cultures. The process was explained on video due the factory was on holiday.
There are similar seasonings called soy sauce in the world. The production process and usage of soy source has been improving through communication with foreign countries. In the 17th century, Japanese soy sauce came to export abroad. At this factory, various kinds of soy sauce were being produced with repeated improvement.
They had lunch of mainly fish at the seafood restaurant “Ikuri”, facing the Pacific ocean, on the tatami mat which is
not so popular now. They experienced both Japanese cultures of Tatami and fish dishes. Looking at outside from the second floor, they could see the Pacific Ocean spreading all over the front being no obstructions to the view.
After the lunch, they went to the other destination, Inubozaki Lighthouse with the height of 31.3m was
switched for the first time in November, 1874 which is one of the important lighthouses located in the pivot of the traffic. The scenery looking from the observation platform, which is located after going up the 99- step spiral stairs, was magnificent. Under eyes, the Pacific and the reef were visible as far as the eye can reach and also the layers of rock from the stratum of the natural monument were also seen.
The white mailbox situated at the lighthouse entrance is called as “the post which brings happiness” and/or “the post where a wish comes true” due to the fact that it was located on the White Day. Lots of people post in it. Also, this area is important geologically and recognized as a Geo-Park for the first time in Chiba prefecture. It is
possible to observe both the stratum of the dinosaur era of 130 million to 100 million years ago and the rocks which appeared around when the Japanese Islands had been formed being separated from the Continent. At Inubozaki, the participants took free action because it is difficult to climb up and down the stairs of the lighthouse unless he/she is a good walker.
They enjoyed each, i.e., someone took a look of the complicated landform which is composed of some stratum (marine plates) in the lighthouse while another went down to the sea or enjoyed shopping at the Inubo Terrace or just viewed the sea etc.
On the way to return, they experienced Japanese food culture by looking at both seafood at the shop called “Isoage Kaheiya” and the various fermented food at “ the Road Station Hakkou-no-sato”. Some people bought the food.
When it was already dusk, the bus arrived at Abiko Station North Gate after driving along Tone River and the day of the trip was over.
They took a break at “the roadside station,Mizu-no-Sato Sawara” where a free-market was held. Daily necessities such as iron kettles, ornaments,China wares etc.as well as fishing tools,farming tools,anitique toys(mini-cars,doles etc.)carpenter tools and so on were on display. They made us feel a part of old Japanese life and the people from abroad took a look of them with keen interest.
At the Higeta Soy Sauce Factory, they heard about the production process of soy sauce being one of Japanese food cultures. The process was explained on video due the factory was on holiday.
There are similar seasonings called soy sauce in the world. The production process and usage of soy source has been improving through communication with foreign countries. In the 17th century, Japanese soy sauce came to export abroad. At this factory, various kinds of soy sauce were being produced with repeated improvement.
They had lunch of mainly fish at the seafood restaurant “Ikuri”, facing the Pacific ocean, on the tatami mat which is
not so popular now. They experienced both Japanese cultures of Tatami and fish dishes. Looking at outside from the second floor, they could see the Pacific Ocean spreading all over the front being no obstructions to the view.After the lunch, they went to the other destination, Inubozaki Lighthouse with the height of 31.3m was
switched for the first time in November, 1874 which is one of the important lighthouses located in the pivot of the traffic. The scenery looking from the observation platform, which is located after going up the 99- step spiral stairs, was magnificent. Under eyes, the Pacific and the reef were visible as far as the eye can reach and also the layers of rock from the stratum of the natural monument were also seen. The white mailbox situated at the lighthouse entrance is called as “the post which brings happiness” and/or “the post where a wish comes true” due to the fact that it was located on the White Day. Lots of people post in it. Also, this area is important geologically and recognized as a Geo-Park for the first time in Chiba prefecture. It is
possible to observe both the stratum of the dinosaur era of 130 million to 100 million years ago and the rocks which appeared around when the Japanese Islands had been formed being separated from the Continent. At Inubozaki, the participants took free action because it is difficult to climb up and down the stairs of the lighthouse unless he/she is a good walker.They enjoyed each, i.e., someone took a look of the complicated landform which is composed of some stratum (marine plates) in the lighthouse while another went down to the sea or enjoyed shopping at the Inubo Terrace or just viewed the sea etc.
On the way to return, they experienced Japanese food culture by looking at both seafood at the shop called “Isoage Kaheiya” and the various fermented food at “ the Road Station Hakkou-no-sato”. Some people bought the food.
When it was already dusk, the bus arrived at Abiko Station North Gate after driving along Tone River and the day of the trip was over.
P.S. We wondered if the two big Typhoons which ripped through Chia Prefecture in this September/October might have influenced badly, but felt relieved since no serious damage was felt except the higher water level of Tone River.
（Translated by Mr.Katsumi Nakajima)