The Akitan Autumn 2016 by Akita JET

The Akitan Autumn 2016

Photograph courtesy of Brianna Hom

The Akitan Team Jonathon Morris Hi everyone! My name is Jonathon Morris. This is my fourth year on JET, and this is my second year as the Education Center ALT/PA. I enjoy watching the footy, skiing, cycling, onsens, reading the news, and day dreaming.

We are always looking for new content and ideas for The Akitan, so don’t hesitate to contact us.

Rebecca Bamlett

Photos courtesy of Maeleen Arce Photograph courtesy of Jeff Lowther

Hey! My name’s Rebecca, graphic designer for the Akitan. I’m a second year ALT in Akita city, with passions for running, yoga and exploring the great outdoors!

Tara Scott Hello everyone! My name is Tara and I am a second year UK JET living in Daisen. I love taking photos and exploring new places, especially outdoors! I also have a real passion for history and look forward to getting stuck in to Japanese history and culture. I hope you all enjoy reading the Akitan!

2 Cover photograph courtesy of Tara Scott, Design templates courtesy of Steph Broder

Photograph courtesy of Johnny Morris

In This Issue ALTs in the News...................................................................................................... 6 Rap Battles.................................................................................................................. 7 JET Programme 30th Anniversary....................................................................9 Kakunodate Scenic Train...................................................................................... 10 Tea Ceremony in Yokote........................................................................................13 Halloween in the Community..............................................................................15 Ravenous Rick`s Raving Ramen Reviews.......................................................18 Upcoming Winter Festivals 2017......................................................................22 Akita Ski Slope Information.................................................................................25 Getting Into Winter Sports................................................................................... Cover photograph courtesy of Tara Scott, Design templates courtesy of Steph Broder 27 Charity Akita...............................................................................................................31

Photographscourtesy courtesyofof Tara Tara Scott Scott Photographs Photo coutrtesy of Tara Scott

Photo Photo coutrtesy courtesy of Tara of Tara Scott Scott Photographs courtesy of Tara Scott

Photograph courtesy of Dori Yamaguchi

Photos courtesy of Crystal Wright

ALTs in the News

for the event, uttering the popular phrase for candy. Afterwards was a Halloween word-hunt, where the children lined up hidden letters and challenged themselves constructing English sentences and quizzes. A costume competition was also held.

loween, and then to Halloween festivities from each of their countries.

In addition, teachers from the US, UK, and the Caribbean went over their own childhood memories related to Halloween, An ALT from the UK, where Halloween takes place, explained that children put a lot of effort into making their own lanterns over dressing up in costumes, whereas an ALT from the Caribbean was excited to be joining such an event for the first time, as it does not occur in her home country..

“This is my first Halloween,” said a smiling Yuya Matsumori (5th year elementary school student from Hamaguchi Elementary School in Mitane), dressed as a Grim Reaper, “I’m glad I found out where this event came from. I had fun learning English, it was an interesting event and I want to do it again next year”

Afterwards, pairs of ALTs broke off into 4 groups and did activities. “Trick or Treat” involved the children going around the neigh- Source: Akita Sakigake newspaper borhood to residences who had signed up Translated by: Nicholas Asquith

Rap Battles

Story by Keith Ikoma

This summer I was talking to a student

Happy Halloween

had fun learning English. Since it began the Halloween events three years ago, M’s Terrace has tried to give children more than just a costume party, where they can experience different cultures by meeting various ALTs from other countries.

Children have fun on Halloween and learn

about its origins by mingling with ALTs. Elementary school foreign language aids as well as ALTs within Noshiro made up “M’s Terrace English club” (Headed by Miyuki Ishizaki) Halloween event, which took place in the neighbourhood “Triangle” venue on the 29th. Children interacted with ALTs, touched on the origins of Halloween and

Everyone could join with their own personal costume - witches, grim reapers, anime characters, etc. ALTs assisting from Noshiro, Mitane, Katagami and Hachirogata introduced the children first to a history of Hal-

and I asked him about his hobbies. “Rap,” I was told. I was sure he meant listening to rap, but he explained that he was, in fact, a rapper. I had known that Japanese rappers existed (and I had listened to some), but I was surprised that a serious student could also be a rapper. I thought he was good (as he demonstrated to me through recorded songs and live freestyle rapping). So, I was less surprised when one of the winning performances at my school’s festival performance competition was a freestyle rap battle. In fact, on several occasions in the past months I have found myself talking to students talking about Japanese freestyle rappers and rap battles.

The existence of rap and hip-hop in Japan is not new, but I find it fascinating for a few reasons. First, it seems to have been a theme with many of my students recently. As a person who works with high school students, I’m always interested to know what they’re into because it helps to build a way in which to get to know them better. Japanese rap also includes a lot of English words or sayings, so it could potentially lead to some very helpful teaching moments in class. Second, as an art form that has been largely borrowed from the U.S.A., it’s interesting to see how much of the culture they adopt as well (language, themes, clothes). On the point of theme (and not being an expert on the medium, American or Japanese),

I wonder how much of its popularity is a feeling of identifying with what American rappers are saying (or have said). Since I have absolutely no personal frame of reference for this discussion, I decided to talk to two students for some expert advice. Most of what follows is a summary of my discussions.

battle on Freestyle Dungeon against Rー指定. Finally, じょう, https://youtu.be/de1D9o6aeic, who is a high school rapper: if you check out the video, you’ll notice that there are whole programmes and YouTube channels dedicated to high school rappers - a group which is probably a large part of the programmes’ audiences as well. There seem to be an endless number of rappers (freestyle or not) that are actively creating music in Japan such as AKLO, who is one such rapper that was recommended to me, https://youtu.be/TnJMBcQFNME.

As I am told, Akita is not the centre of the Japanese rap world. Most of Japanese rap battles take place where you’d expect - Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto. Okinawa is also a relatively large centre for it. Much of the content can be found online. Two major sources of rap battles are Freestyle Dungeon (フリースタイルダンジョン),http:// www.tv-asahi.co.jp/freestyledungeon, a TV programme on Asahi TV that features rap battles, and Ultimate MC Battle (UMB), http://www.ultimatemcbattle.com, which is a freestyle rap tournament.

Although my Japanese language skills are not good enough to fully assess the content, I find it to be generally really smooth. Surprisingly, the Japanese language seems to suit the style very well. If nothing else, it definitely counters the image that Japan is the land of idol groups and super-polished rock groups. In Akita, there are enough amateur freestyle rappers to be able to host an event:

In fact, UMB made its way to Akita for the first time this year on August 26th at Club Utica, https://youtu.be/Wnz1en02wmU: the winner was was R.O.G., https://youtu.be/ j66xehIQa_0. Rー指定, http://www.r-shitei. net or on YouTube. Is a three-time rap battle champion, and generally seen to be on the the better freestyle rappers. Here he is recently against another popular freestyle rap battler, MOL53, https://youtu.be/ryHmWhBTJ2Q. Since I have very limited knowledge of this subculture, I will simply pass on three recommended freestyle rap artists. The first is Chico Carlito, https://youtu.be/LAgWt0OUigk, from Okinawa. The second is スナフキン, https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=Qq9P40FyO1s, in a freestyle rap

JET Programme 30th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony On November 7th, I was able to take part in

the JET Programme 30th Anniversary Commemorative Ceremony and Reception at the Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku. The ceremony was hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), and the Council of Local Authorities for International Relations (CLAIR).

Story and Photos by Jeff Lowther

At the ceremony, which was also attended by Crown Prince Naruhito and Crown Princess Masako, around 800 participants from local governments, education authorities, diplomatic corps in Japan, active JET participants, and JET alumni gathered to celebrate 30 years of the JET Programme. The ceremony also included speeches by Crown Prince Naruhito, Jamaican Ambassador Ricardo Allicock, and Canadian Ambassador Ian Burney. The ceremony ended with the award ceremony for the JET Programme video contest.

Kakunodate Scenic Train Story and Photos by Tara Scott

A cold and sunny morning in October is the

perfect time to see autumn leaves in Akita. To make the experience even better, a scenic train ride through the mountains is the ideal way to view some of the more inaccessible areas alight in hues of red and gold.

The train travels at a sedate pace for optimum viewing chances. At the most scenic locations such as bridges over rivers and gorges, the train often comes to a complete halt so that you can take photos and soak up the atmosphere. During peak seasons such as cherry blossom or autumn leaf viewing the trains can become very crowded. If, however, you are prepared to catch the first train of the day

(around 6:45am), you are almost guaranteed a quiet and tranquil journey through nature. The outbound journey on the slower train takes about 2 hours, with the return journey on an express train taking about an hour and a half. The train runs special services through each season, so why not check it out. Remember to bring your camera!

A one way ticket from Kakunodate (角館駅) to Aniai Station (阿仁合駅) is \1000, and if you present the same ticket at Aniai, your return ticket will only cost \300.

The Akita Nairikusen (内陸線), or Akita Inland Longitudinal Railway Company (秋田内陸縦貫鉄道）offers travellers the chance to view some of the most beautiful natural spots and rural villages in the prefecture from the comfort of a small train carriage. The trains themselves are often only single cars, so you’ll share the experience with only a handful of other people. You can buy tickets from Kakunodate station and several of the larger stations along the route.

Tea Ceremony in Yokote Story and Photos by Tara Scott

During October several ALTs were invited

to take part in a tea ceremony experience in Yokote city. The afternoon was arranged by Mrs. Kasuya, the master of the local tea ceremony school.

The ALTs were first taught the different steps of the ceremony, as well as the reasoning behind each action. We then sat around the room and watched the first group of students and ALTs go through the ceremony before everyone else was served tea. We were very lucky to be able to watch such an elegant traditional art and to be a part of the whole experience.

After the formal ceremony, everyone was given the chance to try making the tea themselves. It takes a lot more skill than you think! We then served our tea to the

students of the tea school as thanks for their earlier efforts.

If you ever get the chance to be a part of a tea ceremony during your time in Japan, you should definitely take up the offer. You wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t regret it! (You might want to practice your seiza first though!)

Halloween in the Community Photos by Dorene Yamaguchi

Dori Yamaguchi in Katagami City took part

in a Halloween party of baking sweet potato cookies and caramel apples, while also taking part in the neighbourhood damako nabe-making party.

Dori was also lucky enough to receive many persimmons from her neighbours, and so made persimmon cake for her neighbourhood and schools!

The pumpkins were donated by the owner of Tenno Greenland Market. Otsukare samadeshita Dori!

Ravenous Rick’s Raving Ramen Reviews Story and Photos by Ravenous Rick Moto 麺屋もと

Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 11:00-15:00 Location: 〒016-0184 秋田県能代市高塙213−3 the shoyu, there are enough fixings offered for it to give you options, particularly with their infusion of yuzu into their broth. The noodle cuts at Moto are extra thin and light. They have a hard, supple consistency that leaves you coming away full but not overwhelmed by stodginess. This review covers the three basic dishes off of their regular menu.

Soup: The broth is a mixture of the chicken stock and fish. Neither of the two is overpowering, and there is a distinctive lemony fragrance that leaves you wanting to eat more of the noodles to compensate.

Noodles: The noodles are an al-dente variety and quite dainty. An interesting consequence of this is that your ramen will be ready to eat substantially sooner than you might have expected. On a crowded day at Moto, it still did not take longer than 5 minutes before my dish came out, piping hot. Home-made in store, the noodles are prone to curl in the hot broth, and give the ramen a bit of a unique overall look.

Toppings: A slice of nori, thick chashu tama-negi and option yuzu sides give the dish a good balance. Miso

Shio

Soup: Even for a shio broth, there is a surprisingly large amount of shoyu mixed in. Unfortunately this does notPhoto mix particularly from Yelp well with the yuzu, although it is certainly an appeal point for those that do not want a traditional type of shio stock. Noodles: Same as the others

Toppings: Also the same as the others! The Ricktor Scale

Soup: ★★★☆☆ Noodles: ★★★★☆ Toppings: ★☆☆☆☆ Sides: ★☆☆☆☆ Ambience: ★★★☆☆

Shoyu

Moto is a relatively unknown ramen shop in Noshiro, tucked away in a small residential area near K’s Denki. With off hours, Saturday lunch is usually overflowing with customers usually too far to come during their weekday lunch breaks.

Menu options are consistent with most ramen shops, shio, shoyu and miso stocks to choose from, but hands down the most distinctive variety of broth Moto offers is their shoyu. Although I have personally tried only

Soup: For a miso dish, the broth is surprisingly light and airy. It is more of a hybrid miso-shoyu to be exact. There are lemony ginger notes and a faint amount of citrus. Noodles: Same cut as the other broths.

Toppings: Same as the other broths. Photo from Yelp

Special notes: Yuzu garnish is fantastic!! Make sure you add some.

Moto’s motto is “to offer up ramen that you could eat every single day.” To this end they seem to have succeeded, offering a light, authentic shoyu and high quality hand-made noodles. Despite their offerings, however, I would rate the variety as the biggest deterrent to following the everyday ramen man-

mittedly excellent shoyu, and do not stand apart on their own merits, at least to me.

tra. While there are shio and miso available, they are more like afterthoughts to their ad

Gosaku

吾作ラーメン

Hours/Locations: http://www.gosaku-foods.jp/shopguide/index.htm Gosaku hails from Noshiro, although it has steadily opened more branches across the prefecture. Now you can find branches in Akita city, Daisen and as far south as Yurihonjo. Its origins go as far back as the mid 1960s, starting out as a Sapporo-style ramen shop, until the first “Gosaku,” opened in Higashi Noshiro in roughly 1968. Vegetable Miso

Soup: The yellowness of the broth should jump out at you as soon as your eye meets the bowl. There is a good amount of egg in the broth as well, giving it a salty yellow flavour. As a miso broth, this gives it a sharp peel, you can’t taste much outside the strong scent of the broth Noodles: The noodles are a thick cut in the Jiro’s style of ramen. They are coarse and you will find the same noodle in all the other flavours.

Soup:With a tonkotsu base for all its broths, this shoyu is not on the lighter side. The menma at Gosaku is also noticeably thicker and coarser than the average, which retains a lot of the broth and has the additional effect of making the shoyu in particular taste more vegetable-like. In both cases it tastes thicker and surprisingly “veggier” than expect.

Noodles: Thick cuts as with all Gosaku’s offerings.

Toppings: Green onions, blanched onions, menma, and some Hokkaido butter top this classic dish. Gyoza

Noodles: The same thick cut is used in all the broths. Toppings: Not as complex as the miso, butter, tamanegi, nori and thick cuts of chashu. Shio

Although it is a side dish, Gosaku’s gyoza is worth mention, as pair well with all their dishes, come at a great value, and are definitely more than enough to fill you up when getting your ramen.

Toppings: A soft boiled egg, lots of very thin cut chashu, onions thick menma and sauteed sesame battered vegetables top up this dish. They create an excellent balance with the noodles but the broth is very overpowering. Shoyu

The Ricktor Scale

Soup: This is easily the reason to go to Gosaku. Even as a Sapporo-chain, which would cater to miso broth, it has its own take on the broth. The soup is distinctively more cloudy and white than the average shio. The combination of pork-bone stock and salt make it a very well balanced dish. The butter taste and evaporated milk-fat from here make the dish hearty, and it does not come across as a shio at first, nor a miso. It is somewhere in between the two, and has a very distinctive, butter aftertaste.

Soup: ★★★☆☆ Noodles: ★★☆☆☆ Toppings: ★★☆☆☆ Sides: ★★★☆☆ Ambience: ★★★☆☆ Special notes: Most branches are open everyday until late. Gyoza options are a must!

Upcoming Winter Festivals 2017 Story and Photos by Tara Scott

Big fluffy piles of snow will soon be cov-

This list is a rough guide to some of the more popular festivals in the area. Check out the Akita Wiki for a more comprehensive list.

ering the prefecture, and that means two things. Skiing and festivals! Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve put together a quick list of some events you might want to check out.

Winter is a great time to explore some of the prefectureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more unique cultural aspects like Namahage and bamboo pole fighting! Remember to take pictures of the festivals you visit, and send them in to the Akitan and the Akita Jet instagram page!

Photograph courtesy of Dori Yamaguchi

Please keep in mind that many festivals happen at night. During winter the temperatures can drop quickly and driving visibility can be poor! Remember to wrap up warm and keep safe!

Hinai Chicken Festival Hinai Town, Odate Jan 28-29th

Namahage Sedo Festival Oga Feb 10-12th

A local festival celebrating the area’s specialty chicken. There are various events to watch, such as a rooster call competition and egg throwing, as well as lots of tasty food to try!

At this festival, demons come down from the mountains to terrorize naughty children. The evening includes a bonfire, a drumming performance and a re-enactment of the New Year’s tradition of Namahage demons visiting the homes of families with young children and berating them for being naughty or lazy.

Kamifusen Paper Balloon Festival Nishiki, Semboku Feb 10th

Inukko Snow Dog Festival Yuzawa Feb 11-12th

Large decorated paper balloons are sent up into the sky in this traditional festival. People send up their wishes with the balloons to bring hope in the depths of winter.

Kariwano Giant Tug of War Kariwano, Daisen Feb 10th

Large statues of shrines and Akita dogs are made out of snow and paced around the town. At night they are lit up with candles and people can walk around them and enjoy the atmosphere. Many people also bring their dogs with them to the festival.

Two sides of the town participate in a huge tug of war with a rope measuring about 100 metres in length. If the north end of the town wins, it is said that the price of rice will go up. If the south end wins then there will be a bountiful harvest and the price of rice will go down. Anyone attending the festival can take part in the tug of war.

River-Crossing Bonden Festival Daisen Feb 11th

The only Bonden festival in Japan to include a river crossing. Large decorated bonden are taken across the Omono River to be offered at the shrine at of Mt Izu.

Amekko Candy Festival Odate Feb 11-12th

Trees along the main road of the town are adorned with bright pink candy, whilst street vendors sell an array of traditional sweets to festival goers. It is said that if you eat this candy, you will not get a cold for the rest of winter.

Hiburi Kamakura Semboku Feb 13-14th

Why not try a new way to warm yourself up this winter? How about swinging a flaming block of straw around your body whilst standing on a patch of snow and ice. Whilst erring on the side of danger, this festival is a fun way to celebrate the new year with the locals.

Kamakura Igloo Festival Yokote Feb 15-16th

Charming snow sculptures and igloos fill the streets of Yokote city during the Kamakura festival. Children served amazake and grilled mochi from inside the kamakuras.

Rokugo Takeuchi Festival Misato Feb 15th

If fire-swinging isn’t your thing, how about hitting people on the head with large bamboo poles? The Takeuchi festival is one of the most dangerous winter festivals, with participants from each end of town battling it out around a large bonfire. If the north wins, a good harvest of rice is promised, and if the south wins, the price of rice will go up

Ota Fire Festival Ota, Daisen Feb 18th

This small local festival includes paper balloons, bonfires and fireworks, as well as tasty festival food and demonstrations of the local culture and traditions.

Tazawako Snow Festival Tazawako Ski Area Feb 25-26th

At this festival you can enjoy large and beautiful snow sculptures of all different themes, as well as fireworks and demonstrations of local traditional festivals.

Akita Ski Slope Information Information Courtesy of Tara Scott, Photos by Tara Scott & Jonathon Morris

A/I/B = Percentage of slope which is advanced (A), intermediate (I) or beginner (B). Most slopes also offer single use lift tickets at around \80-100. Data provided to the best of my knowledge, subject to change.

Getting Into Winter Sports Story and Photos by Jonathon Morris

Preparing for Winter Sports For better or worse, I am sure you have heard the news: winter is here. Akita is blessed with being a white winter wonderland from January until March/April time. As well as being a great way to get out from under your kotatsu, winter sports are fantastic fun, and are not to be missed while you are in Akita. Winter sports in Japan are generally much more affordable and accessible than in many other parts of the world, and there are dozens of ski hills and resorts in and around Akita, with some fantastic quality snow. So if you haven’t tried winter sports yet, here are a few tips to get started.

course) the Uniqlo HeatTech or Under Armour type base layers. You will need a jacket and pants that are waterproof and windproof with a few layers underneath. Mountain winds have you praise the lords of HeatTech. You can rent the outer layers at some ski resorts, but not all. You can definitely get by with mixing and matching your general winter clothes, but if you find yourself hitting the slopes regularly, a ski jacket and pants is worth the investment.

As for equipment, you will definitely need goggles and gloves. Goggles can be rented, but they are well worth the investment as older/cheaper goggles can steam up and get scratched. Travelling downhill whilst effecGetting Started Firstly, you will need winter clothing. Simtively blind is not as fun as it sounds! Also ple advice is to layer up, starting with (of be aware that there are “Asian Fit” goggles 28

that are a little smaller, so of course try on before you buy.

For affordable winter clothes and ski/ snowboard equipment just try your nearest used store such as Second Street or Hard Off. They will have a random selection of ski/snowboard jackets and pants in a wide selection of crazy designs and colours. Don’t worry about looking ridiculous; the name of the game is warm and dry when you are up a mountain, and it is always good to be recognizable in the snow. Helmets are definitely recommended, but they are not compulsory. If you choose to go without a helmet, a warm hat is absolutely necessary. Of course, new gear is also an option too, but it can get expensive very quickly.

the investment, and of course can be used throughout the rest of winter in daily life.

Throughly recommended is the annual AAJ ski trip to Appi ski resort (penciled in for the 25th February 2017, see the Charity Akita news article). No matter what level you are at you will find friends at a similar level to learn with at one of the best resorts around.

Bro-Science To get started, try what your friends are doing. They will give you priceless advice, and you will have people to ride with who will soon introduce you to the key snow vocabulary such as carving, edging, pizza, traversing, grooming, and will help you tell the mashed potatoes from the powder in no time. As well as introducing you to mounAll the major sports stores such as Takeda Sports and Xebio will have a wide selection tain etiquette they can give you tips for gear of new and branded gear. Speaking from ex- and where to go as well as tips for improvperience, a good pair of gloves is well worth ing your technique.

To Ski or not to Ski (or snowboard) For those that are new to the game, this is the big decision. All of the major ski resorts will have rental equipment available for both skiing and snowboarding.

to the right level of the skier may come free too easily, or not come free at all when you need it to in a fall, which can hurt!

The general consensus is that skiing is easier to pick up but harder to master, while the opposite is true for snowboarding. Either way day one is going to leave you sore and aching! If you are still not sure, toss a coin and try one. You can always try the other later. The larger ski resorts will have instructors that can give lessons either one on one or in a small group. Prices will vary, and only the larger ski resorts will advertise English speaking instructors. Renting a ski or snowboard set will cost around 3-4000 yen for a day at most ski resorts. The condition of the gear may vary. A ski set includes skis, boots and poles. Snowboard sets consist of a snowboard (duh) and boots.

Where to Ski (or snowboard) The first thing to note for the inexperienced is that there are generally three levels of ski run, starting with beginner, intermediate and advanced. Check the map at each resort carefully! For a more complete source of ski resorts to check out, see the Winter 2014 Akitan article by the wise snow warrior known as Patrick Poelsma: “Akita’s Winter Pastime, hitting the Slopes in Tohoku” There are many small ski hills conveniently dotted Akita around that can be good to

practice on, while there are also some of the bigger resorts around too. Prices vary for a day pass. By far the biggest and most expensive in the region is Appi Kogen at around 5000yen for a day pass, but the smaller ski hills will be a fraction of that. The largest resort in Akita is Tazawako Ski Jo which is 4000yen for a day pass. A bonus is that there are some breathtaking views on clear sunny days which makes for a wonderful experience. Fear Nothing But Fear Finally, don’t be afraid! It is something you will not regret trying, and chances are you might not have an opportunity like this ever again.

If at some point you decide to buy gear, remember that both ski and snowboard boots should be a very snug fit. Both skis and snowboards should be around chin to nose height when stood up. Shorter gear can be easier for beginners. Bindings (the part on the ski or snowboard that secures your boots) are fairly simple for snowboarding and can be done with a few pointers from friends or YouTube. Ski bindings are a bit more complicated, so it is recommended that you get a professional or trustworthy ski veteran to help set them up for you.

Bindings have different settings for the level of skier. The settings alter how easily your skis come off. A ski binding that is not set up

Charity Akita

Halloween

tickets went to a random guest, and the othOn October 29, 221 boys and ghouls from er fifty percent would be given to Akita Frog (あきた冒険遊びfrog), a local children's all over Akita came out to Jamhouse to party and raise money for Blue for Tohoku. play park in the Sakura area of Akita City. The lucky winner of the night was Jessica We danced into the night with the haunts Ford who won 3,900 yen. The other 3,900 of DJs Domo Owens, K-28, Alex Childs, yen was added to the funds raised by our Peter Hall, Dave Wilson, DJ Nori, and SDC Charity Dinner, a total of 19,540 yen. Maeleen Arce. This amount was donated to AkitaFROG on November 8th. At the end of the night, a total of 381,124 A mainstay event of the Halloween party yen was raised for Blue for Tohoku. See our public financial report on our website charityakita.com for full details. Blue for Tohoku is a nonprofit which supports children who lost their parents in the Great East Japan Earthquake of 2011 by providing financial support to orphanages as well as a social safety net for those orphaned. In addition to the funds raised for Blue for Tohoku, a 50/50 charity raffle was held. 50% of the money raised from purchasing

is the annual costume contest. In a turn of events which ended up being almost prophetic, Jonathon Morris in costume as Donald Trump was crowned the winner of this year's costume contest, over a week before the Donald himself would become President-elect. The haunting orange specter walked away with a bag of delightfully ghoulish treats and drinks.

What to Look Forward To We're working hard at nailing down dates for our upcoming winter and early 2017 events. We plan to continue the yearly tradition of Christmas caroling to raise funds for the Misonotenshien orphanage. We will be caroling on December 10th near Akita station in Akita City. The exact location will be announced via email and updated to the Facebook event page when available. We will also be hosting the annual Appi Ski trip. As with recent years the ski trip will be a purely social event. The tentative dates for the ski trip are February 25-26th (subject to change, but expect a confirmation on the dates within the coming weeks). And of

course we have the 13th Annual International Sumo Tournament coming up in June. It is never too early to start thinking about your wrestler persona.

If you want to stay updated with upcoming events and ways to be involved, the best way to do so is to either to like and follow us on Facebook, facebook.com/charity-akita, or subscribe to the Charity Akita mailing list, charityakita.com/stay-updated. We are looking forward to the things to come and thank you for your continued support.