Saturday 05/06/2004
TWMC Hike: Nyoho-san (Tochigi-ken) [Near Nikko], Meet at 7/11 near Hot Stuff (Doho park)

Saturday 05/06/2004 18h00
The 51st Regular Concert of Brass Band of Tsukuba University, Nova Hall

Sunday 06/06/2004 10h00
Chinese Taichi Exercise and Kikoh Exchange Meeting, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 06/06/2004 11h00
Arabic food class, Kasuga Kominkan

Sunday 06/06/2004 12h30
Festival of Survey and Maps, Kitago

Sunday 06/06/2004 13h30
Piano Concert, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 06/06/2004 14h00
The 25th Anniversary Concert of Tsukuba Mandolino, Nova Hall

Friday 11/06/2004 17h30
AO no kai Concert, Nova Hall

Friday 11/06/2004 19h30
Charity Concert, Tsukuba Capio

Saturday 12/06/2004 11h00
Music Listening Class With Residents Orchestra, Nova Hall

Sunday 13/06/2004 14h00
Mieko Tashiro & Daniel Veis Duo Concert, Nova Hall

Friday 18/06/2004 09h30
JHS Badminton Competition, Tsukuba Capio

Saturday 19/06/2004
TWMC Hike: Kimpu-san (Yamanashi-ken/Nagano-ken), Meet at 7/11 near Hot Stuff (Doho park)

Saturday 19/06/2004 13h30
The 11th Concert of Piazza-Arte Scuola di Musica, Piano Part, Tsukuba Capio

Saturday 19/06/2004 14h00
The 11th Group I Concert, Nova Hall

Sunday 20/06/2004 10h00
Tsukuba Children's Theater, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 20/06/2004 13h00
The Concert for Everyone, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 20/06/2004 14h00
The 33rd Wakaba kai Piano Concert, Nova Hall

Tuesday 22/06/2004 14h30
Gomena, Nova Hall

Saturday 26/06/2004 10h00
Philippine Cooking Class, Kasuga Kominkan

Saturday 26/06/2004 14h00
Glory Gospel Concert, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 27/06/2004 13h00
Little Concert in 2004, Tsukuba Capio

Sunday 27/06/2004 14h00
The 23rd Regular Concert of Ami Band, Nova Hall

Sunday 27/06/2004 14h00
Photo Hash, Meet at Crowd 9 Cafe

Sunday 27/06/2004 18h30
Piano Concert, Nova Hall

Tuesday 29/06/2004 19h00
Berliner Symphoniker Conductor; Lior Shambadal, Nova Hall

Saturday 03/07/2004
TWMC Hike: Chuo Alps (Nagano-ken), Meet at 7/11 near Hot Stuff (Doho park)

Dyeing Seminar

June 19 from 10am at Tsukuba Fureai-no-Sato (at the foot of Mt.Tsukuba, 30min drive from Tsukuba Center). Meet at the 7-11 near Doho park at 8:45am.
Tsukuba Environmental Forum presents an event on the preparation of dyes from mountain plants and dyeing cloth. We offer you a chance to experience the magic of plants and the wonder of natural color. In this event we will enjoy dyeing cotton bandanas or silk scarves with mountain plants. On the same day, we also will cook Yomogi(mugwort) steam cake and Dandelion coffee for the tea break.

10:00-12:00 Preparation of the natural dye from mountain plants and dyeing the cloth
12:00-13:00 Lunchtime (If you like, you can order an onigiri lunch box for 400yen)
13:00-14:30 Continue dyeing, prepare dandelion coffee and Yomogi(mugwort) steam cake for tea time.
* This event will be held even if it rains.

Maximum 25 people (Families are also welcome but kids less than 7 years will not be accepted.)
Bring lunch, hat, towel, and teacup.
Expenses: Depends on your choice of the cloth for dyeing.
Cotton bandana 1700 yen
Silk scarf 2500yen
(Insurance and tax is included, same for adults and children. Cake and drinks will be served.)

If you are interested in joining this, apply with following details (please fill all the details) at ryokorinda616 at yahoo.co.jp before Wednesday June 16th at 5pm.

1) Name
2) Age
3) Address and phone number
4) Choice of the cloth for dyeing (cotton bandana or silk scarf).
5) Whether you will order lunch box or not
6) Availability of car and capacity

Looking forward to hearing from many of you!

Coffee Hour:

June 23 from 2pm to 4pm at the Tsukuba Information Center 029-852-6789 (open from 10am to 5pm).

Evening Forum: Fascinating Sake - 180 years Brewing History of Kiuchi Brewery

June 11 From 6:30pm to 8:30pm at Ninomiya House Salon, 9th floor, 500 yen
Rice was first introduced to Japan from China approximately 4000 years ago, and it was used in the development of alcohol and finally distilled into Sake (Japanese Rice Wine) culture. The Japanese enjoy different types of sake for each season. A fresh 'Just Pressed (Shiboritate)' sake in spring, crisp and 'lively Sake (Nama-zake)' in summer and in autumn matured 'Hot Sake (Kan-zake). Kiuchi are careful to brew Sake by the traditional brewing methods and infact our sake brand KIKUSAKARI has won various awards in numerous sake competitions within Japan. We also started brewing beer (Hitachino Nest Beer) around a decade ago, and the brand is now recognized internationally after winning several awards at authorized international competitions. 180 years of history of Sake Brewing. We welcome anybody who is interested in learning more about the beautiful Japanese culture of Sake. You can enjoy a sample of our Sake products after the lecture. So please do not drive if you wish to taste our products after the lecture.
Guest speakers: Mr. Toshiyuki Kiuchi, General Manager, Kiuchi Brewery and Ms. Kumiko Hotta, International Distribution Clerk, Kiuchi Brewery; Chair: Dr. Shigeyuki Kimura, Chair of the Board of Directors of SNTT
18:30-19:15 Lecture, Question and Answer, 19:15-19:30 Sake Tasting, 19:30-20:30 Exchanging personal views
Pre-registration required. Please contact the Ninomiya House Administration Office by Wed. June 9th. Small children cannot join the forum. If you wish to bring your child, we can provide a babysitter, so be sure to inform the office as well.
Please see the website (www.jistec.or.jp/house/news/evening_forum.html) or contact Ninomiya House (029-858-7006) for more information.

International Training in Communication

The mission of ITC is to provide global opportunities for self-improvement through progressive quality training in communication and leadership skills. We meet from 1pm to 3pm on the second Tuesday of every month (except July and August. This month's meeting is on June 10.
www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/ITC/Tsukuba.html

International Women's Network

June 17 from 7:30pm to 10pm.
The International Women's Network is a group of women who enjoy chatting with people from all over the world. We exchange information about the local community while eating a variety of homemade foods. We meet at one of the member's houses once a month. No reservation is needed. Just bring one dish of food and show up at the meeting. Newcomers are always welcome! Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enjoy the international city of Tsukuba with us!
Join the mailing list at groups.yahoo.co.jp/group/intl-women-network or send an email to intl-women-network-owner at yahoogroups.jp

JALT: Computer Assisted Language Learning Conference

Saturday, June 5th and Sunday, June 6th at Tokiwa University, College of Applied International Studies, Miwa, Mito-shi (Pre-conference workshops and dinner on Fri 6/4)
The Japan Association for Language Teaching (JALT) Ibaraki Chapter (www.kasei.ac.jp/JALT) would like to announce the 9th Annual Conference of the JALT CALL SIG (Japan Association for Language Teaching Computer Assisted Language Learning Special Interest Group). The theme of the conference is Human Computer Interaction.
jaltcall.org/call2004

Picking Lavender and Making Potpourri

June 21 from 10:30am to 1pm at Yukari no Mori, Nobori Engei. 500 yen.
If you would like to participate, please contact Ms. Murase at 029-855-6788. In the event of rain, this outing will be cancelled. Please contact us by June 14.

Star Festival and Listening to the Koto

July 5th from 10:30 to 12noon at a Kominkan (TBA). FREE.
If you would like to participate, please contact Ms. Sato at 029-856-1830. Please contact us by June 28.

Tsukuba International School (TIS) Benefit Concert

The Tsukuba International School (www.tsukubainternationalschool.org) will be holding its 4th benefit concert on Friday, June 11 at 7:30pm in Capio Hall. Luis Sartor will be the main performer again at this year's concert. Luis hails from Argentina, and his daughter Sophia is a former TIS student. Luis is a versatile entertainer and is great at getting the audience involved in the music. Jazz singer, Yoko Kobayashi will also be performing. Completing the lineup will be Craig Coleman, a professional violinist who teaches violin locally and volunteers to teach TIS kids music.

The concert will include a variety of music and styles, and the audience will even get a chance to participate in a sing-a-long. The TIS concert has been of very good quality every year, and the Alien Times encourages its readers to support the school by buying tickets and attending. The cost is only 1000 yen for adults and 500 yen for children 12 and under. Let's show our support of the school with a good turnout. All income from the concert will go into the TIS fund. Refreshments will also be served before the concert and during intermission. We guarantee you'll have a good time.

Tsukuba Walking and Mountaineering Club

June 5-6 Nyoho-san (Tochigi Prefecture)
You want a serious hike? You will certainly like this one! This hike will climb one of the highest peaks near Nikko, Nyoho-san. We will camp near the summit, and enjoy more peaks on the second day. As we will start from Nikko (620 m) and climb Nyoho-san (2,300m) you should expect to be tired at the top... Various routes are possible on the second day depending on how tired we are. One of the passes along our way is called "Fuji-view pass", which tells you a lot about the fine views we can expect! Good boots are absolutely necessary for this hike, and beginners will not be accepted.
Difficulty: ****

June 19 Kimpu-san (Yamanashi Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture)
Kinpu-san (2,598m) is located in Chichibu-Tama National Park on the border of Yamanashi-ken and Nagano-ken, and it is the highest mountain in Oku-chichibu, the western region of the reserve. In olden times many people visited this mountain for religious reasons, but now more people are attracted by it's rocky ridge and beautiful native forest. From the top there are nice views of Yatsu-ga-take, the Minami Alps, and neighbouring mountains.
Difficulty: ***.

July 3rd-4th: Chuo Alps (Nagano-ken)
Although not quite as grand as the Kita or Minami Alps, the Chuo Alps offer some excellent walking along granite peaks and ridges adorned with liberal splashes of alpine flowers. The first day can be hard for some - a 2,000 metre ascent through beautiful forest from Komagane to our night's accommodation at Koma-mine-hutte. The second day incorporates a magnificent ridge walk between two peaks, Utsugi-dake (2,864 m) and Kiso-koma-ga-take (2,931 m), that are included in Fukada Kyuuya's 100 Famous Mountains. Although the walk should not be undertaken lightly, the undulating ridge, not dropping below 2,500 m, is not particularly difficult.
Difficulty: ****

More details on TWMC activities can be found at eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp/twmc

Japanese Language Classes

Nihongo Oshaberi Time
1:30pm at the Tsukuba Information Center.
The Tsukuba Information Center offers Nihongo Oshaberi Time (Japanese Chatting Time) on the 2nd and 4th Friday every month. Admission is free. It is designed for people who have studied Japanese but do not have much time or opportunity to talk with Japanese people. Why don't you come and join us? You don't need to speak Japanese fluently. For further information, contact Tsukuba Information Center at 0298-52-6789.

Japanese Classes for Researchers on JSPS Fellowships
Classes held at Ninomiya House for about 1.5 to 2 hours including break time. Two or three lessons a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday evenings. Private lessons can also be arranged. For more information, please contact Uchikawa or Suzuki at garden@mail1.accsnet.ne.jp

Other Language Classes

Arabic Language Classes
At a seminar room in the Tsukuba University Library
If you are interesting to learn about the Arabic culture, Arabic Alphabet, Arabic songs, and Arabic language we will start offer Arabic language classes. Why don't you come and join these classes? There will be two 1-hour classes per week. You may attend the first class for free. After that, each class costs 1000 yen. Please see the website for more information: www.viplab.is.tsukuba.ac.jp/~eng_basem/index-e.html

Cooking Classes

Arabic Cooking Class
June 6 from 11am to 2pm at Kasuga Public Hall (Kasuga 2-36-1).
The menu is Shawerma (Chicken & tomato sauce based) & Ruz bellaban (rice budding). For more information or to register write to jacce_japan(at)yahoo.com

Japanese Cooking Class
May 21 from 6pm at Tsukuba Gas Cooking Studio.
See www.geocities.co.jp/CollegeLife-Cafe/7017/speech.html for more information.

Philippine Cooking Class
June 26 from 10am to 2pm at Kasuga Public Hall (Kasuga 2-36-1). 1,000 yen, limited to 25 people.
The Tsukuba Cultural Foundation organizes an international cooking class to enhance ommunication through food, culture and international exchange. Mr. Michel Delmo will be the teacher.
For more information or to register contact the Tsukuba Cultural Foundation at 029-856-7007. (First come first served.)

Art Classes

Ikebana
9:40am at the Tsukuba Information Center.
Are you interested in learning ikebana as traditional Japanese culture? There is a class on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Wednesdays of the month from 9:40am to 12noon at the Tsukuba Information Center (Azuma 1-10-1). The instructor is Ms. Mitsuho Unno. The instruction is free, but you must pay for your own tools and materials (flowers are 1300 yen). Bring a flat vacse, scissors, a towel, a small bowl, and a plastic bag. Drop by and submit an application form at the Information Center. 029-852-6789. Start any time. Come and join us!

Ibaraki Hash House Harriers
Join the Ibaraki Hash House Harriers, the international drinking club with a running problem. Check our homepage at ibarakih3.infoseek.ne.jp and join the mailing list at groups.yahoo.com/group/IH3.

International Training in Communication
The mission of ITC is to provide global opportunities for self-improvement through progressive quality training in communication and leadership skills. We meet from 1pm to 3pm on the second Tuesday of every month (except July and August. www.kasei.ac.jp/cs/mariko/ITC/Tsukuba.html

International Women's Network
The International Women's Network is a group of women who enjoy chatting with people from all over the world. We exchange information about the local community while eating a variety of homemade foods. We meet at one of the member's houses once a month. No reservation is needed. Just bring one dish of food and show up at the meeting. Newcomers are always welcome! Take advantage of this unique opportunity to enjoy the international city of Tsukuba with us! Every third Thursday of the month from 7:30pm to 10pm (flexible).
Join the mailing list at groups.yahoo.com/group/intlwomen or send an email to intlwomen-owner at yahoogroups.com

Japan Association for Language Teaching
www.kasei.ac.jp/JALT.

Tsukuba Walking and Mountaineering Club
Meetings every Wednesday night at Hot Stuff from 9pm. Future walks and information at eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp/twmc. Please contact Tadashi Takemori at takemori AT eve.bk.tsukuba.ac.jp.

Religious Activities in English

An English language interdenominational worship service is held once a month normally on the fourth Sunday of every month at 2 pm. at the Tsukuba Gakuen Church near where Daiei used to be. The June service will be on the 27th and will be followed by an informal fellowship time at the Tsukuba Christian Center next door. The Japanese language congregation meets every Sunday morning at 10:30, and the service is translated into English over earphones. There is also a Bible Study in English every Wednesday evening at 8:30 in the Christian Center. For more information or help with transportation, call Tim Boyle at 029-855-1907.

The Tsukuba Catholic Church has special masses during Holy Week on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 7 pm with English translation, and an English mass at 8:00 am every Sunday and the Japanese masses on Saturday night (6 pm) and Sunday morning (10 am) are accompanied by an summary of the message in English. There is also a Spanish mass on the 3rd Sundays at 3 pm. On the last Sunday of the month, there is a coffee social after the English mass. For information, call the church at 029-836-1723. The Tsuchiura Catholic Church offers an English mass on the last Sunday of each month at 3 pm (tel. 029-821-1501). There is also a Portuguese mass on the 3rd Saturday at 7 pm.

The Tsukuba Baptist Church offers an English language Bible study before the Japanese service every Sunday from 10 to 11 am. It is located in Inarimae just east of Nishi Odori on the street closest to the meteorological observation tower. Tel. 029-858-0655.

The Megumi Church in Tsuchiura (489-1 Kami Takatsu) also offers English translation of their 10:30 Japanese service over earphones. An English Bible class is held every Sunday morning at 9:00. There is also an International Fellowship group that holds a monthly pot luck dinner usually on the third Saturday. For information on that, call Melissa Ishio at 029-838-1374. For more information, call the church at 029-822-2244 or e-mail LDN03144@niftyserve.or.jp (Also see their Tsuchiura Megumi Church Web Page at http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/ro/tmc/index.html).

The Tokyo International Church, Tsukuba Branch in Amakubo 3-3-5 (across from Tsukuba University) offers a 10:30-noon Chinese (Mandarin) service interpreted into both English and Japanese. There is also an English language Bible study every Sunday evening at 7 pm. For information, call Rev. Huang at 029-852-6820.

The International Christian Assembly meets every Sunday at their church just off of Tsuchiura-Gakuen Sen east of Tsukuba (just behind the restaurant with the dragon on the roof) from 10 am for Bible Study and 10:30 for worship. For more information, call Richard Swan at 029-857-9006.

The Nozomi Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tsuchiura (23-27 Komatsu 3-chome) also offers programs in English, including a worship service most Sunday evenings at 7:30 pm (please call ahead to confirm). English Bible information courses are available any time. For more information, call Glen Hieb at 029-821-3578.

The Tsuchiura Christian Church offers an English message translated into Japanese every Sunday morning at 10:30 am. For information, contact Paul Axton at 029-856-2167.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Tsukuba ward is located at Sakura 2 chome 35-2. Services are translated into English over headphones. The Sacrament Meeting begins at 10 am followed by Sunday School at 11:10 and Priesthood and Relief Society at 12:00. A Gospel Doctrine class in English is also offered. For more information, contact 029-857-9795.

For the Muslim community, there is a mosque near the Building Research Institute. Call Ahmed Nabawy at Tel.090-9318-5075 or e-mail: mamounpcp@hotmail.com for information.

The Jewish Community of Japan, invites anyone of the Jewish faith in the Tsukuba area to feel welcome at any of their programs in Tokyo. Sabbath services each Friday at 6:30 pm followed by Sabbath dinner; Kosher Kitchen, Saturday morning, 9:30am. Contact 3-8-8 Hiroo, Shibuya-Ku, Tokyo 150; tel. 03-3400-2559, fax. 03-3400-1827.

The Tsukuba Mosque offers weekly Friday prayer at 12:00. Everyday we perform congregational Fajr prayer, Ishaa prayer followed by a lecture in Arabic and English. Quran class for women and children is held every Friday evening at 18:00. All muslims, Japanese, and others who are interested in Islam are welcome to join these activities. For information contact Mr.Wanrat Abdullakasim Tel. 090-4240-3420, Fax. 029-864-3235, E-mail: s015533@ipe.tsukuba.ac.jp or see the website at www.geocities.com/tsumra.

TV Stations

Ch1: NHK
Bilingual news is shown every day from 7pm and 10pm.
More information at www3.nhk.or.jp/kaigai.

Ch2: Shopping Channel
www.shopch.jp.

Ch 3: NHK Educational
Some kind of children's comedy show or drama at 6:45pm Mondays to Thursdays and at 6:25 on Fridays. Japanese Traditional Performing Arts Saturdays at 12:30pm and Tuesdays at 5:25am. Sesame Street Saturdays at 7;35am and 4pm. Little House on the Prairie Saturdays at 2:50pm. Also Chinese poetry (in Chinese) Mondays to Fridays at 5am.
More information at www.nhk.or.jp/englishtop/program_list.

Ch4: Nihon Terebi (NTV)
This channel shows movies on Friday nights at 9pm.
www.ntv.co.jp/kinro
Tuesday mornings at 2:03am (approx)
www.ntv.co.jp/getsuyo
Wednesday mornings at 1:33am
www.ntv.co.jp/cinepa
Sometimes on Thursday mornings around 2am
www.ntv.co.jp/tokidoki

Ch5: Chiba TV
This channel shows movies on Friday nights at 7pm.
www.chiba-tv.com/eiga.html
They also have a number of other shows, but they are not on every week.
www.chiba-tv.com/kaigaitv.html

Ch6: TBS Terebi
www.tbs.co.jp

Ch8: Fuji Terebi
Golden Theatre Saturdays at 9pm.
Midnight Art Theatre Thursdays after midnight.
Star Trek Deep Space 9 on Mondays at around 2am (or later).
www.fujitv.co.jp/jp/movie/tvprog/main.html

Ch9: Local Cable (ACCS)
www.accs.or.jp

Ch10: Terebi Asahi
Sunday night movies (9pm).
www.tv-asahi.co.jp/nichiyou

Ch11: QVC Japan
www.qvcjp.com

Ch12: Terebi Tokyo
This channel shows afternoon movies four days a week (Mondays to Thursdays at 1:30pm). The movies are often old (1960s to 80s), but a new one occasionally slips through.
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_afr_load
After midnight movies.
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_thu_load
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_ngt_load
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_mid_cine
www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/telecine/oa_cin_club

Please note:
1. The schedule could change or it could be incorrect. The television companies tend to move their programming around a lot -- often at the last minute. Please think of this schedule as a guideline.
2. These shows may not be in English. Sometimes they only broadcast the dubbed version. Also, they occasionally show non-English foreign films. And sometimes they show Japanese movies at these times.

Movies playing in Tsukuba in May 2004

• 21 Grams
• Big Fish
• Crimson Rivers 2: Angels Of The Apocalypse
• Dawn Of The Dead
• The Day After Tomorrow
• The Haunted Mansion
• Jeepers Creepers 2
• The Ladykillers
• The Passion Of The Christ
• Silmido
• Swimming Pool
• Troy
• Untold Scandal
• Welcome To The Jungle

These movies are all playing at the Cineplex (www.cineplex.co.jp) this month. (This list is complete as of June 2nd and lists films showing sometime between June 1 and 18.)

If you would like to look up information on this month's movies, try the Internet Movie Database at www.imdb.com or Rotten Tomatoes at www.rottentomatoes.com.

In this section we announce jobs that are open to international residents. Please contact the employers directly if you have any questions about the positions.

If you do freelance work, add your name to the list!

Language Teaching

If you are looking for a language teaching job, you might consider the following companies.

• Aeon
• Bernard English School
• FindATeacher.net
• Educational Network: E-Staff
• Helena English School
• Liberty International School
• Nihon Bilingual
• NobiNobi
• Nova

Alien Times does not endorse any of these companies. Please do your homework before agreeing to work for any of these companies.