The Akitan Autumn 2022 by Akita JET

TheAkitan

Akitajetquarterly Autumnissue12.20.2022

THEAKITAN AUTUMN2022 WearealwayslookingfornewcontentandideasforTheAkitan. Don’thesitatetocontactusatakitajoho@gmail.comifyoumightbe interestedinbecomingacontributor! FrontcoverphotobyGlennTimoney BackcoverphotobyBenHartshorn

CONTENTS AWordfromtheEditor.....................pg.10 JEToftheWeek,Forever...................pg.16 TheYokoteGhosts........................pg.24 TwoFolktalesfromAkita...................pg.30 LakeOnuma.............................pg.38 LiliesontheGrave........................pg.44 FromFukushimatoShirakami...............pg.52 eSportsinNoshiroCity.....................pg.70 ADecadeofExtraLifeGaming..............pg.72 CartoonFits...............................pg.76 Andrew’sCookingCorner....................pg.78 FilmPhotographybyCadeyrnRattur..........pg.86 OiraseGorgebyGlennTimoney..............pg.90

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PhotosbyGlennTimoney

GreetingsfromthePRC

Ethanrobinson

Editor&CreativeDirectoroftheAkitan

I’mEthanRobinson,asecondyearALTplacedinMitane!Iteachjuniorhighand elementary.I’mfromColoradoandTexasintheUS.Ilovewriting,reading,gaming, traveling,andmakingmusicinmyshoegazeband.Autumniseasilymyfavorite seasoninAkitaforallitsgorgeouscolorsandspookyvibes.Ihopeyouenjoythis issueoftheAkitan!

THEAKITAN 4 SocialMediaManager Noelhere!Nicetomeetcha!I’ma hobbycrafterandwriterwholives inNoshiro.I’mtheonehandling thenewslettersoifthere’sanevent orfestivalyouwantmetoshare,be suretocontactyourPAswiththe details! SocialMediaManager HiI’mGlenn,anSHSALTin OdateCity.I’mbiginto photographyandreading.I’mnot veryskilledatsocialmediabutI’ll trymybest. Glenntimoney Noelglenn

AutumnPoolbyGlennTimoney

Awordfromtheeditor

ForalloftheinherentbeautyfoundinJapan,Akitamaybeatitsmostbeautifulinthe autumnseason.IarrivedtoolateinNovemberlastyeartoseethetreesattheirheightof changingcolor,soIwasmorethanexcitedtoseeitallthisyear.Ephemeralandinsanelyvivid inflamingshadesofredandvermilion,theorangecolorsevenminglewithlingeringgreens andtheclearblueofthewater,creatingtheimpressionofanoilpaintingcometolife.

Comparedtocherryblossomswhichareattimessecludedtocertainareasandpromenades,the autumntreesinAkitaseemubiquitousandall-encompassing.It’sforthisreasonthatIfindthe autumntobemorecaptivatingthanspring.

AutumnleafviewingisamucholderpracticeinJapanthanyoumaythink.Called momiji-gari

(紅葉狩)inJapanese,redtreehunting.itissaidtohavebeganaround1,200years agowitharistocraticpoetsinNarawritingofthechangingleaves.Momiji-gariwasnotas popularashanamiviewingduetothecoldweatherandthefactthatitrequiredtravelingto themountains.UnliketheNarapoetsenclosedintheiroldestates,youcancountourselveslucky inAkita,wherewearesurroundedbytheredforests.

AclassicJapaneseviewofautumnisdeeplyconcernedwiththetransienceofbeautyand thefrailtyoflife.ToyotomiHideyoshi,samuraiandsecond“GreatUnifier”ofJapan,planned toholdthefirstandbiggestmomiji-garifestival,butdiedjustbeforehisplancouldberealized. Momoji-garionlybecamepopularwithcommonersduringthepeaceoftheEdoperiod,where peoplecouldviewthechangingleaveswithteaanddangodumplings,absorbingthemselvesin wistfulthoughtsandthequietsadnessofachangingseason.

Asthecoldmonthscreepin,youhaveprobablybeenaskedbycoworkersorneighborsif you’vechangedforwintertiresyet.Andifyouaskpeoplewhatthey’rehavingfordinnerthey’ll almostalwayssaynabe,Japanesehotpot,filledtothebrimwithveggies,simmeringmeat,or kiritanpo.IwonderwhatritualstheoldpeopleofAkitamusthaveperformedinpreparation forthecoldlongbeforeourtime,andiftheytootooksolaceinthissharedexperienceofseeking warmth,andhuntingforredtrees.Autumnmayhavealreadypassed,butwehaveallthe memoriesofmomiji-garitoaccountforit.Wehavesometrulygreatstuffforthisedition,soI hopeyouenjoyreading!

EthanRobinson,EditorandCreativeDirector

THEAKITAN 11

FestivalLanternbyCadeyrnRattur

MountHakkodai,GlennTimoney

AKITAN contributors

Erikaandriashek NatureReviewer

I'velivedinAlbertamostofmylifeanddecided tomovetoJapanforsomedifferentkindoffresh air.NowI'vebeenfunneledintoelementary school,Iteachattwoofthem.Seeingmoreofthe countryisbetterthanseeingless,soI'vebeen drivingasfarasIcaneachweekendand checking...stuff...out!Hitmeup.Let'sgoskiing. Whatsportdoyoulike?Whatfruitdoyoulike? Tellmeyourfirstmemory?Didyoueverhavea pet?Howdidyoulovethem?What'syourwifi password?

Hieveryone!MynameisAndrewAcs,and Iama2ndyearALTinNoshiro.Apart fromcookingandbaking,Ilovehiking, andIalsoplayeuphoniumintheNoshiro Citycommunityband. Andrewacs BakerandCookingCornerExtraordinaire

Tyronstewart

CreativeWriter

Name’sTyronStewartandI’mbroughtto youfromthelovelycontinentofAfrica,and specificallythecountryofSouthAfrica.I’m anewALTinKitaakitaCity,specificallyin Aikawa,workingatAikawaJHSandES,as wellasSeyioElementary.Ienjoynature hikes,readingandwritingfictionabout thingslikemagicalrealismandmodern fantasy,videogamesandrollingthemsweet dice(notthecoolonesthatmakeyoumoney andgetyouthrownoutofcasinos,butthe cooleronesusedforkillingdragonsand doingsillyvoices).

JohnJarvis PikminBloomEnthusiast

HiI’mJohn,a2ndyearALT!I’vepreviously livedinSouthKorea,NewZealand,andthe Philippines.NowI’mlivinginNoshirowith mywife,Gia.Ihavetoomanyintereststo list,butmymainhobbiesaremakingshort films,playinggames,andbiking(Pikmin Bloomcoinsdon’tfarmthemselves!)Ilike chickens(theanimal)andshabushabu(the food)butIdon’tenjoythematthesame time.Eachyear,Iparticipateina24-hour gamingmarathoncalledExtraLifewhich raisesmoneyforChildren’sMiracle NetworkHospitals.Ifyou’reagamer,you shoulddefinitelycheckthemout!Seeyou around.

THEAKITAN 15

JEToftheWeek,Forever

TheStoryofAaronKern

AaronwasbroughtupinanunknownvillagesomewhereinMichigan.From hisbirthhewouldgoontofacemanychallengesandobstaclesonlytoendupin alittletowninnorthernAkitacalledFujisato.aquaintlittletownwhichisbest knownforhavingariver.NotmanytrulyknowhowlongAaronhasbeenonthe JETprogrambutsomescholarsguesssixyears.Noonewouldhaveeverthought inameresixyearsthatanindividualcouldobtainsomuchknowledgeabout livinginruraljapan.AaronwastheblockleaderinNorthBlockfortwoyears officiallyandanother2yearsunofficially.Duringthistimehewasalwaysthereto assistanyonewithaproblemorquestion.

AaronisapersonwhotrulyexemplifieswhatagoodALTis.Heisrespectedin bothhisworkandcommunitylifeontheJETProgram.Heradiatespositivityand alwaysgreetseveryonewithabigsmile.Heshowsgeneralinterestinhispeers andisjustagreatguyingeneral.AaronwillbeleavingAkitainthecoming spring,soitwasonlyrighttosendhimoffwithsomekindwordstolethimknow thatheisappreciated.Thetitle“JEToftheWeek”wasgiventoafewpeople about3yearsagobutthetrueALToftheWeekwasandwillalwaysbeAaron. Whichiswhywearebestowinghimwiththetitle“JEToftheWeek,Forever.” TherewillneverbeanotherAaronKernuphereintheNorthBlockoranyother block.

“Andnow,theendisnear Andsohefacethefinalcurtain Myfriend,I'llsayitclear I'llstatehiscase,ofwhichI'mcertain He’slivedalifethat'sfull He’straveledeachandeveryhighway Andmore,muchmorethanthis Hedidithisway” Writtenby:asecretadmirer

AllphotosprovidedbyAaronKern

TheStoryofAaronKern

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“It'stoughtosaygoodbye.Akitahasbeenmyhomeforalmost7yearsatthispoint,and somanypeoplehavecomeandgonethatitfeelsstrangethatI'mgoingtohavelastedas longasIhave.Ievenhavetowonderifanyoneisstillaroundwhoknowsme!Yet,being aPAforsolongreallyhelpedmeappreciatewhatauniquecommunitywehave.As fleetingasitis,whenIleavetherewon'tbesomethingeverlikewhatwehavehere. Whilemytimeisup,you,thereader,whoeveryoumaybe,stillhavetime.SoIhopeyou canenjoythemostofit,andcometoholditasdearasIhave.Farewell,andthanksfor alltheyears.”

THEAKITAN 19 WeloveyouAaron,andwe’regonna missyou!BestofluckbackinAmerica… へばな

THEAKITAN 21

PhotosbyGlennTimoney

CharityAkitaThanksgiving!

OnSaturdayNovember19th,CharityAkitahostedour ThanksgivingPotluck!ALTsfromalloverthe prefecturegatheredtogetherwithlocalJapanese communitymembersandAIUstudentstoeatgood foodandgivethanks.Lotsofdifferentcuisineswere represented(deliciously!)andagreattimewashadby all.Therewasalsoawonderfulmusicperformanceby aformerelementaryschoolprincipal!Weplanon doingevenmoreeventsliketherecentpotluckin thefuturesomakesureyou'resubscribedtoour newsletterandkeepyoureyespeeledfor announcementsinthecomingweeks!

PhotosandwriteupprovidedbyCrawfordWilson

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TheYokoteGhosts

PhotosbySuriyaRatnam

TheYokoteGhosts

PhotosbySuriyaRatnam

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Ghosts:Kiley,LayYi,Suriya andAnn.

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30 とっぴんぱらりのぷう TwoFolktalesfromAkita ByLauraNakamura

Thefirstsnowhasfallennow.Thelastkouyouareclumpedinsoddenpiles, Isteparoundthemonmywaytowork.I’vefinallytakendownthelastof myHalloweenEnglishboard.

Evenaswetransitionfromhorrortotheholidayseason,Istillfindmyself compelledtowriteaboutthespookyandsupernatural.Itmademewonder;while therearethousandsofyoukaithathaveoriginatedfromJapan,howmanyofthem wereborninAkita?

Longago,Akitamust’vebeentheperfectplaceformythandmonsterstomake themselves.InafrigidandremotecornerofTohoku,vibrantstorieswerelikelyborn aroundthesmolderinglightofanirori(asquarehearth,usedforcookingandheating thehome).Namahage,Akita’sinfamouschild-snatchingdemons,arenowoneofthe official327ImportantIntangibleFolkCulturalPropertiesofJapan.Butwhatabout Akita’sothermonsters?Inthisarticle,Iwanttosharetwofolktalesofyoukaithatare uniquetoAkita.

1 1 thestoriesherearemyre-writtenandstylizedtranslationsoftheoriginalJapanesetexts*

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♦

Agubanba

Alongtimeago,childrenusedtobeafraidoftheyoukaicalledAgubanba.In Kisakata,AgubanbawasknownasHaibaba.Ineithercase,hernamemeant“old womanoftheashes”.

Whenthefireoftheiroriburnsout,andcoalsturntoash,Agubanbabeginstowait beneaththedirt.Sheisahideousbeast,hunchedandleathery.Herclawsarefullof dirt,herhairdragsindirtystrings.Herwidemouthisfilledwithjaggedteeth.Shehas noeyes,andsheneedsnone.Hernoseiskeenenoughtofindyou.

ChildrenwhoplayaroundtheiroriareoftenwarnedaboutAgubanba.Ifyouplay intheashesofthatevening’sfire,Agubanba’shandwillswiftlyreachfromtheearthto grabyours.YourfingersmakeafinemealforAgubanba.

Sometimes,however,thisisnotenoughforAgubanba.Onceayear,shekidnapsa childanddragsitbacktoherburrow.Onthatday,Agubanbaeatswell.

Longagotherelivedagirl,andherfamilywasdreadfullyafraidofAgubanba.The girlwasbrightandwonderful,andtheyknewAgubanbaespeciallyfavoredchildren likeher.

Atnight,thegirlcombedthecoalsoftheirori,makingsurenosparkswouldjump outwhileherfamilyslept.Shefeltthatsometimesshecaughtsightofaclawsinking backintothedirt.

Herparentsgrewsoworried,theywantedtosendherfaraway.Butthegirlwas undeterred.

“Someday,someonewillhavetogetridofAgubanba.”shesaid.

32 あぐばんば

Sothegirlsecretlypreparedapoundofmochi.Shewenttotheriverandfounda heavyandsmoothstone.Sheputboththeseitemsintoherpack,andsetoffintothe snow-filledforest.SheknewAgubanba’sburrowlayintherootsofthemountain.

Soonenough,shefoundthehomeofAgubanba.Agubanbawashunchedinthe doorway,lookingandnotlookingather.

“You’vecomeatlast.”Shecroaked.

“Yes.I’llbeyourservant,ifyou spareme.”Thegirlsaid.

“Verywell.”Agubanbasmiled, thoughshehadnoneedforaservant.

“I’vebroughtyoumochi,letmeheat itforyou.”

Thegirlstoopedtoenter Agubanba’sburrow.Shebrushedaside littleknucklebones,andlittheirori.

“Thankyou,mychild.”Agubanba said.

Thegirllookedaroundandsawa tubfulloffrigidrainwater.

“NowI’llheatabathforyou.”The girlsaid.

“Donot!”Agubanbascreechedatonce.

Thiswastheonethingshehated,yousee.CreatureslikeAgubanbadespisebeing clean. “Verywell.”Thegirlsaid.“Wait,andI’llfeedyou.”

“Youcertainlyshall.”Agubanbarasped.

THEAKITAN 33

Afterawhile,thegirltoldher,“Yourmochiisready.Openyourmouthwide.”

Agubanbaopenedherfouljaws.Sheknewwiththefirstbite,shewouldtakethe child’sarmtoo.Quickly,thegirlhurledsomethingburning-hotintoAgubanba’s mouth.Itwasnotthemochi,buttheriverstone.

“Ahnahnahn!”Agubanbascreamedinanguish.

Shestumbledtowardsthetub,fumblingfortheice-coldwater.Feelingthetub’s edge,shethrewherselfin.

“Ahnahnahn!”Agubanbascreamedagain.

Forthewaterwasnolongerfrigid,butboiling.Creepingabouttheeyeless Agubanba’slair,thegirlhadlitastrongfirebeneathit.

“It’shot!”Agubanbascreeched,anddied.

Thegirlreturnedtoherfamily,andtheycriedwithjoy.Fromthatday,thevillage neverworriedaboutAgubanbaagain.

♦

川熊

Kawaguma

Longago,peoplealongtheOmonogawaspokeoftheyoukaiKawaguma.Inthose days,thedaimyouSatakeYoshinobuwaslivinginAkita,whichwasknownthenas DewaProvince.Oneday,hewenttotheOmonogawatoshootswans.Hegotinaboat andtookuphisgun.Asheraisedtheguntofireit,alargeandanimal-likelimbcovered indarkfurshotupfromthewater.Thehandseizedhisgunandyankeditfromhis grasp.Allthemenintheboatwithhimjumpedbackinfear.OnlySatakeYoshinobu watchedinastonishmentasbothhandandgundisappearedintothemurkydepthsof theOmonogawa.

SatakeYoshinobuwastednotime,heimmediatelyorderedaservanttodivein afterit.Theunfortunateservantshookwithfear,soSatakeYoshinobuthrewoffhis longcoatanddoveinhimself.Heswamasdeepandasfarashecould,buthesawno gun,andnobeast.

Sometimelater,therewasamannamedRokubeiwholivedinHagidai(whichis nowDaisen).HeoftenwenttotheOmonogawa,andonedayhespiedsomething shiningattheriver’sedge.Itwasafinelycraftedgun,andRokubeiwasoverjoyed withhisluck.HetookitandsolditforahandsomepricetothenorthernSatake family.

PerhapsKawagumawasangeredbythelossofthisgun.Forexactlyoneyearlater, neighborscameacrossRokubei’sbodyfloatingintheriver.Manyremarkedthat Rokubeiwasdiscoveredinthesameplacethathe’dfoundthegun.

Aroundthesametime,inthatarea,aboatmanalsoencounteredKawaguma.As theboatmandockedhisboat,alimbcoveredinblackfurcameoutofthewaterand triedtoseizetheedgeofhisboat.Theboatmanslicedoffthelimbwithamachete, andmanagedtoretrieveit.Itwassaidtoresemblethepawofabear,butwithlong fingersandathumb.ThishandwaslaterenshrinedinKawazoe(nowknownasYuwa).

THEAKITAN 35

Onehundredyearsaftertheseincidents,thenorthernSatakefamilyheardthis storyandrealizedthegunintheirpossessionwastheverysamefromthetale.They presenteditbacktotheheadSatakefamily,whereitbecameanheirloomknownas “KawagumanoGozutsu”.

Thanksforreadingthesetales!Akitanfolktalestraditionallyendwiththephrase とっぴんぱらりのぷう,or“all’swellthatendswell”.Perhapsinoneofthesetales that’strue,butI’dstillkeepasharpeyeoutaroundtheOmonogawa!

Ifyou’reinterestedinreadingorhearingotherfolktalesfromtheoriginal storytellers,visitminwanoheya.jp!Orgotonamahage.is.akita-u.ac.jpandhavealook throughtheir 紙芝居 (kamishibai)section.

Happy,and~spooky~,reading!

♦

THEAKITAN 37

Agubanbapicture: https://portal-dos-mitos.blogspot.com/2022/03/os-yokais-dascinzas-de-tohoku.html Kawaguma: https://dic.pixiv.net/a/ %E5%B7%9D%E7%86%8A,http://youkaitama.seesaa.net/article/157621765.html OiraseLeafbyGlennTimoney

AutumnBeautyonLakeOnuma

WrittenandPhotographedbyJuliaWheelehan

AutumnBeautyonLakeOnuma

WrittenandPhotographedbyJuliaWheelehan

LakeOnumainHachimantai.ThelakeliesatthebaseofMt.Hachimantai,surroundedby wetlandsandwoods.Ifyougoduringtheheightoffall,you’llseeawallofcolorfulleaveson theedgeofthelake.Itisbestviewedatthelakeplatform,atthestartofthetrail.Thereyou cangetamagnificentviewofthewholelake. walkable,aswellasadirtpathleadingyoutoaraisedtrailwhereyoucangetaviewofthe lakefromthenorth.Whilethepatharoundthelakecanbetightattimes,therearesmall platformswhereyoucantakeabreath.Plus,helpfullylocatedaroundthelakearedifferent placardswithinformationabouttheenvironmentaroundLakeOnumainJapaneseand English. encompasstheentiretyofthelake.Ifit’sopen,youcanalsogotoOnumaOnsen,butitwas closedformyvisit.TherearenorestaurantsbyLakeOnumabutattheintersectionofRoutes 431and23,theremayevenbeababaherastand,whichIrecommendasatreatafteryourtrip!

Ifyou’relookingtoseethebeautyofautumninAkita,youmightconsideradaytripto LakeOnumainHachimantai.ThelakeliesatthebaseofMt.Hachimantai,surroundedby wetlandsandwoods.Ifyougoduringtheheightoffall,you’llseeawallofcolorfulleaveson theedgeofthelake.Itisbestviewedatthelakeplatform,atthestartofthetrail.Thereyou cangetamagnificentviewofthewholelake.

Thetrailaroundthelakeconsistsmostlyofwoodenplankswhicharenarrow,but walkable,aswellasadirtpathleadingyoutoaraisedtrailwhereyoucangetaviewofthe lakefromthenorth.Whilethepatharoundthelakecanbetightattimes,therearesmall platformswhereyoucantakeabreath.Plus,helpfullylocatedaroundthelakearedifferent placardswithinformationabouttheenvironmentaroundLakeOnumainJapaneseand English.

Thewalktakesaroundanhour,providedyoutaketimeformanyphotos,andwill encompasstheentiretyofthelake.Ifit’sopen,youcanalsogotoOnumaOnsen,butitwas closedformyvisit.TherearenorestaurantsbyLakeOnumabutattheintersectionofRoutes 431and23,theremayevenbeababaherastand,whichIrecommendasatreatafteryourtrip!

THEAKITAN 41

THEAKITAN 43

TwilightRoadbyCadeyrnRattur

LilliesontheGrave byTyronStewart

Isharearoutinewiththecrows outsidemyhouse.Imovedhere, thisplacethousandsofkilometres frommyhomeandeverythingI’dever knownandliked,afewmonthsago.I cameheretogetatasteofsomething new,tohavemyownadventuresand hopefullymakeadifferenceinsome people’slives,youknow,besomething worthremembering.Thatdoesn’t seemtobesomethingwethinkabout veryoften,beingremembered.After you’regone,that’sit,you’renolonger incontrolofyourownstory,it’s completelyuptothosewhoknewyou, oranythingaboutyou,tocontinue yourstoryforyou.And,well,ifthey don’tthendiditreallymatterifyou werearoundinthefirstplace?

Ineverreallygavethissortofstuff muchthought.ButsoonafterImovedto mynewhouse,alittleislandinthe middleofaseaofricefields,with wrinkledfarmersforshipsandwallsof blackfeatheredcrowsforfish,the thoughtofthepassedondead,andthose forgotten,startedtosinkinquitedeeply.

They’reeverywherehere,thedeadI mean.Notina“thezombiesarecoming forus”,orthatthelocalsarealwaysin Halloweenmode–no,notlikethat.But

graveyardsareprettymucheverywhere, sometimessnuglybetweentwohouses, oftenbuiltintothehillsalongthe highway.They’rebeautiful,reallywell keptandimpressive.Someofthestone markersarehundredsofyearsold,but you’dneverguessit.There’salsono bodies,justashandnames.But,that’s sortofthething,itdoesn’treallymatter ifthere’sanythingthere,anyactualthing thatusedtobeapartofyou,aslongas there’speopletoremember.

ThehouseImovedintoisquite smallandcosy,thoughfranklyabittoo bigforjustoneperson,especiallywhen comparedtotheapartmentsmyfriends squeezeinto.Itsitsbyitself;mynearest neighboursareontheothersideofthe swayingearsofrice,andthestreetson eithersidesortoffenceitinwithold powerlines,oftensinkingslightlyunder theweightofdozensofcrows.It’snotan oldplace,well,notasoldasitcouldbe giventheotherplacesinthearea,butfor amodernhomeitwasalittleoninyears. Butstill,itwasn’tthesortofplacethat would’vebeenoldenoughtohaveits ownghostsrunningaround,infactits firsttenantwasactuallyoneofmycoworkers.WhenwefirstmetIaskedherif she’denjoyedlivingthere,andshehad nothingbutgoodthingstosayaboutit.

THEAKITAN 45

Though,lookingbackintothat memory,theremayhavebeenalook hanginginhereyethatIwouldhavehad noreasontoeversee,ifnotforwhatI knownowaboutthelonelyhousein betweenthericeandpowerlines.

Myrentpaidformorethanjustthe houseitself,notmuchmore,butthe groundfourmetersarounditina square.Mostofitwascompletelyover grownthough,mypredecessorwasquite thebelieverin“naturedoingitsown thing”.Iforonedidn’tlikeitasmuch.It madetheplacelookabandonedeven though,livingthere,Iknewitwasn’tI decidedtomakeanafternoonand weekendprojectofcleaningitup, trimmingthebushesandpullingoutthe weeds,makingsurenottodecapitatethe tinyfrogsandwormsthatenjoyed runningthroughthemudandgrass.

WhileIworkedeachother afternoon,IbecameawarethatI’d startedtogetanaudience:my neighboursandthefieldworkers.They’d mostlyjustwatchmeworkforabit, smileandnodatme,andI’ddothesame. Itwasnice,justsimplepassing pleasantries.Afteralittlewhilelonger, I’dattractedasecondsetonlookers,the crows.Itstartedwiththemlookingfrom thecables,themjustsittingthere, swayinggentlyinthebreeze.Nowthere wasn’tanythingspecialaboutthem

watchingme,notatthatpoint,Iwasjust somethingthatcaughttheirattention, andafterthey’dseenmeoutsideenough toknowIwasn’tathreat,theyprobably foundmemoreinterestingthantherice fields.

KakashibytheRoad,ErikaAndriashek

AfteracoupleweeksIfinallymade quiteabitofprogress,I’dcutand trimmedtheovergrowthallthewayto theborderlinesofalmosttheentire

perimeter,Ijusthadthebacklefttodo. Itwasaroundthattime,onaSunday afternoonIthink,thatthecrows,before usuallynevermorethanfouratatime, begantogathernotonlyinbigger numbers,witheightbecomingthenew minimum,butalsoclosertothehouse, evengatheringontheroof’sedge. Whatmadethisstrangewasthatit wasthattheyonlygatheredlikethat whenIgottothatside.I’dstilltend totheotherlines,justkeepingthem neatandtrimminganyupstarts,but thatwouldonlyhavethethreeorso cablecrows’attention.But,within minutesoftakingasickletotheback lineofweedsandbushes,theroof wouldcreakwithmyvisitors.

Witheachtimetheyjustbecame moreandmore,tothepointwhere myneighbourswouldstopgreeting mewhenIgottothegarden,afraidof theflockthathadbecomemy shadow.Istartedtohearchatterat work,gossipthatI’dcommittedthe ruralfarmtownsinoffeedingthe crows,somethingI’dbeenwarned quitesternlynottodo,andhadnot beendoing.Still,Icouldn’tblame themforthinkingI’dbeendumb enoughtofeedthem,therewereatthat point,thecloserIgottothestone hiddenundertheovergrowth,about fortyeyesandtwentybeaksfollowingmy

movements.

InearlybrokemysicklewhenI foundthestone.Myarmwasgrowing tiredandIwasabouttoendthingsfor thatevening,somyswingswerehigher andslowerandthatwould’vebeenthe lastcutofthedayifithadn’tbeenforthe clinkofthebladetappinginto something. Imovedthegrowthasideandsawa smoothstone,marbleIthink,coveredin mudandroots.Thisgavemealittlerush ofextraenergy,theexcitementof discoverythatalwaystakesyoubackto beingalittlekid.Thegrowthstubborn, butitdidn’ttaketoolongtogetridof enoughofittoseethestoneclearly.It wasquitebigandsquare,likea microwavehalfburiedinmygarden.It wasstrangelyfamiliar,anditbuggedme thatIcouldn’tplaceit,butthenIsaw, whatmust’ve,atsomepoint,beenthe engravingsofaname,butscratchedout.

Itwasagrave.Or,atleast,amarkerto remembersomeone,thoughthat somebody’snamewasnowtotallylost.I ranmyfingersoverit,tofeelforand indentation,andmyheartalmost exploded.Notfromsomethingthatcame fromtouchingthemarker,butfromthe factthat,thesecondIstarted,agustof windcameatmefrombehind,followed byanumbingchillofcawsandwings.

THEAKITAN 47

Nearlyshockedoutofmyskin,Iturnedtoseethatallofthecrowshadtakenflight atthesametime.Atthatpointtheremighthavebeenfiftyofthem,trailingbehindeach otherinaninkycolumnofquillfeathers.

Iwasmorethanjustalittlefreaked.Iwasverymuch freakingout.MyhandstoppedrightthereandIsprinted towardsmyhouse.Inretrospect,thatmight’vebeena littleoddtodo,becausethecrowswereflyingoutfrom there,butIalsowantedtogetthehellinside.SoIdid.I don’tthinkI’veeverclosedandlockedadoorfasterin mylife.

Itwasquiteoutside.Idon’treallyknowwhatIwas expectingwouldhappen,thoughIdidhaveamental imageofthecrowsjustthrowingthemselvesatmy windowsanddoors.Theydidn’tthough,whichwas somekindofsilverlining.

Nothingmuchhappenedforalittlewhile. EventuallyItookafewpeepsoutside,butdidn’tseeany crows.

Unfortunately,nowindowordoorgavemeagood viewofthemarker.So,afteracouplehours,Iwentback outside,Ishakilyarmedmyselfwithanumbrellafor protectionIguess,andmademywaytothemarker. WhatIsawwasconfusing.ItwasbothsortofwhatI expectedtosee,butalsocompletelynotthatatall.I’d expectedtoseethecrowscirclingitlikeaplotiteminafantasygame,butinsteadofan ominouswallofbirds,therewerejustthreeofthem,standingquietlyaroundthestone. Theymust’vebeenlookingforsomething,butIcould’veswornthattheywerebowing theirheadstothescratchedoutpieceofmarble.Oneturnedandsawme.Ittiltedits littleheadandchirpedtotheothers.Withoutanyscreechingorpeaking,theyjustflew away.Thatprobablywould’vecappedofftheweirdnessfortheday,except,beforeI wentbacktomyhouse,Isawthreewhiteliliesneatlyplacedatthebaseofthemarker.

Thenextdayatwork,Iaskedmyco-workeraboutit.Sheseemedconfusedforalittle bit,butnotasthoughshedidn’tknowwhatIwastalkingaboutorlikesheforgot,but kindoflikewhensomeoneasksyoutorepeatadreamyouhadthenightbefore.

Shetoldmeitwastherebeforeherhousewas built,andthatthenamehadbeenscratchedoutas well.

Itwasthenshetoldmethatforthefirstyear livingthere,shehatedit.Thecrowswouldalways gatherallaroundthehouse,peakatherwindows andseemtofollowherasshegothome,andthey’d gatherthicklyaroundthestone.Shewasquitethe gardener,butwouldnotgonearthemarker,so,after afewmonthsofneglect,ithadbecomeovergrown andthethickeritgot,thelessthecrowscameand thehappiershegot.

Theonlyotherthingshecouldtellmeaboutthe stonewasthatnobodyknewwho’sitwas,afactthat isverystrangeforthispartoftheworld,outhere wheretraditionsstillfollowthemodernandevery day.Shetoldmeshefeltashamedfortryingto forgetaboutit,becauseitmeantforgettingabout thepersonthatwasmeanttoberemembered. Almostlikelettingthemdietwice.

Icontinuedtotendtothegarden.Ievenstarted plantingmyownflowersandhadasmallpotatopatch.WhileIneverfoundoutwhose itwas,Icouldnotallowmyselftoletthemarkergetlostagain.So,Ikeptcleaningitup, builtalittlefoundationarounditandonceaweekwouldleavenewflowers,rosesand blossomsusually.TherewerealwaysmoreflowersthanIputtherethough.Always neatlyplacedpileofwhitelilies.And,ontheoddoccasion,ablackfeather.

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ByMichelleSaucedoEspinosa

Left,TopRight:Kakunodate BottomRight:ShinjukuGyoen

Left,TopRight:Kakunodate

BottomRight:ShinjukuGyoen

ByMichelleSaucedoEspinosa

THEAKITAN 51

FromFukushima…

byErikaAndriashek

Fukushima-kenisbraidedtogetherbyacoiffure’sworthofhairpintwistsand turns,allofwhichseemtobefixedly,permanently,wildlyunderconstruction. Itsuninterruptedgrowthdoesn’tdetourpassionatesportdrivers,whocouldbe heardroaringupanddownsteepmountainpasseslateintoFridayeveningnear Adataratrailhead,myfirstdestinationoftheweekend.Iparkedandcaughtsleep curledupinmyowncar,relaxedunderthunderinglullabies.Fukushimaisrenowned asadriver’splaygroundinmanyways,adescriptionwhichworksadoubleshiftasmy mom’smostprofoundnightmare.Afiendlikemenevergetsroadsick,butmyown drivingwasbringingmecloserthanever!Itwasenoughtoinspireacursorygoogle search,"driftinga4-speedautomatichondafit".Osusumejanai.

Iwasseriouslyimpressed.Ican'timagineAkitansbuildingthesetightofroadsto thisfrequency,undertheboldpretensepeoplewouldjust…driveonthem.The Bandai-Azumaskylineisanabsolutedelight.Thisauto-cannibalisticroadfoldsinto itselfwithsuchacasualhunger,youstarttofeeldigestedyourself,unabletoidentify theendofitsguts.Onceyou’vebeenpassed,dissolved,andpushedouttotheother side,you’reabruptlyremindedthatthegraceofatwo-laneroadisFukushima’s exception,notthenorm.

Strikingalpinewetland

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AllphotosbyErikaAndriashek

DrivingthroughYamagatathough,isacompletelycontradictoryexperience.Maybe it'sjustRoute13,buttheendlesstrafficlightsalwaysholdmehostageonthewrong sideofred-speedandfrustrationgluetogetherinagrosslyinverserelation.Honestly, IfeelvictimizeddrivingthroughYamagata.It'shardnottotakeitpersonally.A ‘superhighway’bysemanticsonly,thepathisslicedintosushi-widepiecesby thousandsof‘highlyessential’trafficlights.It’saroadfurthercharacterizedbyan endlessribbonofslowdrivers,whoareprobablykeenlyawarethey'llbestoppingto offerrespectstothenaughtily-beamingrougeboxwithin200metresorless.However, thisparticularstretchofdriverribbondoesgift-wrapanunexpectedpresent-the flawlesshive-mindcoordinationofunbrokenzippermerges(anindispensabledriving techniquewhilenavigatingunendingautumnconstructionzones).Ifyouknowme, you'llknowthat'soneofmybigthings.Afaultlesszippermerge.Yeah.Andtobefair, gaspricesareverycompetitive,rightthereonRoute13.

IexperiencedanabnormalamountofbacktrackinginFukushima,too.Laying downforapleasantswampnapinOzeKoen,Ituckedmysunglassesintotheirown sleepspotinthegrassesbesideme.Aftersleepingfor25minutesunderthesun,I simplywalkedaway,warmedtothemarrowofmybonesbythesoftincubatorofthe susukigrass.Threekilometreslater,Irememberedmypreciouseyewear,necessitating abriskrunbackthroughhighalpinewetlandtoretrievethem.There'snowayIwas leavingthosesunglasses.They'remossgreen,polarized,andyoucanwearthemon cloudydaystotaketheoppressiveedgeoffovercastweather.Theseglassesarean extensionofmyfaceandmyphilosophy-theyhavetheabilitytoshiftoverripe perspectivewithasimpledonofthegoods.Frankly,they’remagicsunglasses.

Afterthisheart-poundingvictory,Imap-quested‘waterfallnearme’,hustlingfor hoursupthehighwayanddeepintoBandai-AsahiKoentofindadarksleepspot chargedwithnegativeions.Whenthesunrose,IdiscoveredthewaterfallI'dlandedon wasinfactanuglyconcretedam,whichstruckmeasforeshadowing.Withfivehours ofdrivingaheadofme,ItenselysetnorthtowardsAkita,butfoundthreeroadsI neededwereominouslyclosed,sendingmebacksouththewayIcametheprevious night.AllinallIbacktrackedroughlyfivehoursoverfivedays.Youcangetalotdone infivehours.YoucandrivefromCalgary,AB,toGrasslandsNationalPark,SK(mostly). Youcancookdinnerthreetotentimes.Youcanreadquiteabitofabook.Yeah-you cangetalotdoneinfivehours.

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AizuSazaedoTemple

SomesortofCanadianrestaurant FujinoyuOnsen

LateAjisai

100sofpeoplehikinginthefogfornoviewacommonoccurrenceinJapan.

THEAKITAN 59 AdataraCaldera

THEAKITAN 61

…toShirakami TsugaruKokuteiKōenGradientwithapop

DakedaiCampground

SteamyShirakami

Thevirginbeechwood(buna)forestwhichblanketstheShirakami-Sanchi mountainrangeisthelargestofitskindintheworld,andstraddlesthewestern borderbetweenAkitaandAomori.Complexrootsuturesbindthesetwo prefectureslikethreadedcapillaries,integralandfluidic.ThisrichUNESCOsitehas beengentlypullingmythoughtsforthepastyear,andfinallyinearlyNovember,itdrew meinforameeting.Ifoundmyselfsyphonedintoafact-findingmission,keento discoverthedialectofthisareainlatefall,atimewherethetreesflaunttheirimmense wealthinwovenlayersofmonarch-likegold.Iwasabletoaccesstheouterboundary (thebufferzone)oftheforest,withthecoreareabeingoff-limitstothosewithout government-issuedclearance.

I’vebecomeintimatewithseveraluntouchedforestsinNorthernCanadabefore this,andtheirscaleandrawintensitypushesmeyieldingandwettothefloor, decomposestheselfintocharacterlesspulp.Theysilentlyshakeoneintodustwith theirabsolutemass,impenetrablybehemothbodiesmufflingsoundandidentity.Wood BuffaloNationalParkislargerthanSwitzerland,andCanadaitselfhasmoretreesthan therearestarsintheMilkyWay.Butwhiletheseforestsareindescribably overwhelming,Shirakami’sbufferzonehintedatbuna’scapacitytobiodegradethesoul inamoredelicateway,thewaytheedgesofaclouddefuseandreformbeforeyoureyes, becomingagainandagain.

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DakedaiGreen

Ibegantodissolveimmediately.Themountainapproachwaspureconsciousness andsensation,myvisionoverwhelmedbyanangledmarriageofcolourandlightasif drivingupaburningkaleidoscope.Thecharacteristicroundmirrorswhichusually highlightsharpbendsonJapanesemountainroadswereabsentonallbutthemost treacherousofturns,addingtothefeelingofpassingthrougharotatingtubeofradiant mirrorsandglass.Itwasjustaswell;theimmensepsychedelicdisplayhadmedoubting thepropertiesoflightanyway,andIdistrustedwhatedgethewarpedmirrorsclaimed toprovide.

Arrivingatthe8,000yearoldforest,oneisstruckbytheconsistencyofthecanopy overhead.Thetreeshavedevelopedadefencemechanismagainsttheextremeseasonal elementsofTohoku,learningtogrowtothesameheighttoprotectoneanotherfrom windandsnow.Thistendencytocommunicateandcooperatehasinspiredthelocal moniker“theforestofharmony”.Theirhomogeneitywasgrievouslyillustratedforme onFridayevening,afterdrivingfourandahalfhoursfromsouthernAkitatofindmy sleepspotinDakedaiforest.Ihadtimeandintentionthisnighttoseethelegendary 400yearoldbunawhichstoodasanambassadortothearea,agreatsentinelatthe gatesofthebufferzone.WhenIcametotheenormoustree,Ilearnedithadfallenin Maythisyear,avictimofitsownstrengthandnobility.Itdoesn’tpaytobetoodifferent incertainpartsofJapan,butinDakedaiespecially.

Ipaidmyrespectsandcontinuedalongthemulch-woodroute,paddedintoexistence asacollaborationbetweentheforestanditshumancaretakers.

I’vewalkedoncountlesspathsbutDakedaiinterpretivetrailwasunique.Itwas madeofcompressedmulchrepurposedintoasoddentrack,whichheldthefeet buoyantastensewaterholdsaninsect.Themulchfloorherecanbedecadesoreven hundredsofyearsold,goingthroughasluggishprocessofshiftingstoredenergyinto wholesomefoodforbeechwoodbodies.Itdampenedmyfootsteps,andIbeganto imitatethelethargicwetnessofthisareaasitheadeddowntosleep,theslowactivation ofmillionsofslumberingleavesinformingmydrowsymovements.Inthepastweeksof theshoulderseason,Ihadbeenfeelingpassive,decliningalpinehikesinfavourof stayingasclosetosealevelaspossible-anattempttostaveoffearlywindsand prematuresnowencounters.Today,anyrecycledheatfromtheforestwouldbetaken intomyowndampcore,feedingmytinyfurnaceandbuildingreservesasIprepared myselfmentallyandphysicallyforwinter.Imovedpensively,deer-like,wrappedin animalfibersandmethod.Iwouldtakeakilometrehere,fourkilometresthere,staying lowandslowonmyexcursionofthesenses,imaginingmyselfburrowingand spreadingapartlikewarmpermeableroots.Iinvitedasleepydialoguefromtheforest, anditseemedhappytohaveme.

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The400year-oldBuna

Quickly,theslickmoisturepresentoneverysurfaceculminatedinasoftlygigglingspringwhichspoutedfrom arockyslant,rejoicefulandevocative.Iwasinvitedbyasignandtheearthtodrink,soIacceptedtheoffer withouthesitation.Thewatertastedlikestarlight.Ittookaperfectshapeinsidemymouth,neithersharpwith mineralsnormilkywithvegetation.Justpurelyfilteredandnaturallyenriching-liquidair.Thetemperature feltcleanwithoutbeingcrisp,refreshingwithoutcoolingmyinternalfurnace.Hydrationinflawlessformforan autumnenergyseekerlikeme.Icriedbecauseitwassounexpectedlysatisfying,anddrankagain.

ChoshiFallssurprisedme

BunaoncecoveredasignificantportionofJapan,butitstendencytowarpand bendlikeafreestandingthought,aporouswoodenriver,makesitunsuitablefor construction.Becauseofthis,themajorityofthenation’sforestshavebeenreplaced withthemuchmoreindustrioussugi.Shirakami-Sanchiitselfhasmassivecultural significancesowassparedthroughongoingpreservation efforts,receivingofficialprotectedstatusin1993;tothisday thecorezoneiscompletelyfreeofroadsandinterference. Oneofthephysicalfunctionswhichalsoinspiredits conservationisthebeechwood’sabilitytosuckupand naturallyfilterwater.Thewayit’scoordinatedisorganic genius:thecanopy,trunks,andintertwinedrootswork togethertodrainrainwaterandsnowfromtheroof,funnel itdownthesmoothwoodcolumns,andsenditintothe eagerfloor.Shirakami’snaturalawningisactuallyso efficientatcatchingrainandtwistingitdownintoitself,you don’tneedaraincoatduringlightshowers.Underground, waterispushedthroughavast,highlyintricate subterraneansystemandcleanedthoroughlyover100years beforespringingbackup.Eachtreeinthisforestcanabsorb andstoreuptoeighttonsofwaterwithinitself.

There’sclearlysomethingaboutthispermeationwhich incitesthetreestocommunicatesoeffectivelywithintheir environment,usinghighlyevolvedwater-talk.They’re springyandenthusiastic,andhavedevelopedthehighselfesteempresentinthosewhohavebeenencouragedtheir wholelivesbytheirpeers.Itmakessense.Realistically, beinghydratedmakesanyonemoreresponsiveand empathetic.Byamicablydiscussingtheirownneeds,buna flowtofillcurvedcornersandnegativespacesaroundeachother,irriguouswith waterpressurebutnotinherentlyforceful,auniquemediumofwoodenfoamwhich sinkswithoutbeingstifling.

Everythingwassinkinghere.Shirakamiforestrestsonsedimentaryrockpressed intoexistence20millionyearsago,aprocessforgoingextremeheatinfavourof erosion.Characteristically,sedimentbedsarewherefossilsarenormallyfound,so

southernAlbertanswillbefamiliarwiththegeology.Thistypeoflandscapeissoftand easilyweathered,makingitpronetoconstantoffhandedreinvention-theimplication beingit’sboredordelightsininnovation,ratherthanlackinginconfidence.Waterand timemoldsteepvalleysasthelandchangesheartonawhim,alternatingbetween risingwiththeseabedandfallinginaseriesofthick, texturedlandslides.Thisrestlessspirithasbeenexacerbated byclimatechangeandasignificantincreaseinrainfall saturatingtheearth,whichnowbrazenlyrefusesitsdutyof holdingsoakedtreesupright.Iwalkedthroughvalleys virtuallyfilledtothebrimwithcollapsedtimber,whichhad shruggedawaytheirverticallifeandflungthemselveson topofeachotherlikechaoticloghouses,overindulgedin drink,cappingofftheirbendersandnowcontenttodrift intocreamysediment.

AstheearthandtreesweremaceratedIwassuckeddown withthemandwashedapartlikesilt,andoverthree fatiguingdaysInoticedlessofmyself.Duringonemoment, thesunbrokethroughtheuniformcloudcoverandmade myeyesdilate.Isneezedandthesoundwasabsorbedinto theenvironmentinasingleflatoccasion.Thispartofthe seasonisintimatelyinebriating-nobugnoises,therare soundoffallingleaves,theairdenseandenveloping.Ifelt dizzylikethetreesandcompletelysubdued,howeverI wasn’tallowedtoerodefastasleepinthemulch.OnSunday evening,Iwishedtheforestaleisurelygoodnight,put enoughofmypiecestogetheranddrovehomequietlywith awetnewknowledgeandrespect.Thepatientdensitysoftlywaitinginthecoreof Shirakami-Sanchiisuninterruptedego-defiance.IfIcanenterinJune,I’lleasilybe nothing.

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eSportsinNoshiroCity!

ByAlexanderCoelho

Hello!MynameisAlexanderCoelho.I'mfromIllinoisinAmerica.Iamcurrently inNoshiroCityinAkita.Iteachatelementaryandjuniorhighschools.Ilovevideo games.MyfavoritegenresareRPGs,fightinggames,andrhythmgames.Myfavorite gamesareKidIcarus:Uprising,RuneFactory,SuperSmashBros.,Pokemon,Marvelvs. Capcom,andProjectXZone.Ihavealsobeenknowntoenjoyananimeortwo (Rewrite,Fate,ChaosDragon),alongwithsomecardgames(Magic,Pokemon,Digimon) andsomebooks(politicalthrillerslikeSplinterCell).Ifyoueverfindyourselfin Noshiro,letmeknow!I'dlovetomeetupforsomecoffeeandsomevideogames!

Iwantedtowriteaboutaneatthingthat'shappeninginNoshiro.There'sashopright infrontofNoshiroStationcalledShinminPlazathatrentsoutspaceforvarioususes. Oneofthoseusesisforelementaryandjuniorhigherstocomeandplaygames,in particularcompetitiveeSportsgameslikeSuperSmashBros.,Splatoon3,and PuyoPuyoTetris.TheowneristryingtoexpandeSportsandvideogameacceptance amongelementaryandjuniorhighersinNoshiroandaroundJapan.

PhotosprovidedbyAlexanderCoelho

IvolunteeratShinminPlazawheneverwehaveevents.They'reopeneveryday untilaround5:30pm,butoccasionallytheyhostactualtournamentsandeSports eventsaroundtown.Forexample,overthesummerduringtheMinatoMatsuriin Noshiro,wehostedaSuperSmashBros.UltimateandStreetFighterVeventwherea numberofpeoplecametoplaySuperSmashBros.(andafewcametoplayStreet Fighter).IevengottodosomelivecommentaryinEnglish(wehadamicandspeaker setup).Then,IbelievesometimeinAugustorSeptember,wehadafestivalatAeon TownindowntownNoshiro.Outside,therewerefoodtrucksandabasketballsetup, andinsideatoneoftheopenareasinthemiddleofthemallwehadabunchofsetups forPuyoPuyoTetris2.Wehadafriendlysetupwherefamiliesandfriendscouldcome andplaycasually.Then,wehadaprojectoronthewallplayingacompetitivesetup wherepeoplecouldcomeandcompeteforahighscore.Thehigh-scoreplayeratthe endofthedaywonaprize.Andfinally,ontheSaturdaybeforeHalloween,therewasa festivalcalledNoshiroIchionasmallstretchofthestreetinfrontofNoshiroStation. Aspartofthefestival,wehostedtwoSmashBros.Ultimatetournaments.Onewasfor 8elementaryschoolplayers,andtheotherwasfor16juniorhighschoolplayers.

WedovariouseSportseventsthroughouttheyear,andwe'reexpandingin participationandscopeeverytime.Hopefully,ShinminPlazawillbeabletobranchout anddosomeonlineeventswithotherpartsofAkita,otherpartsofJapan,andother countriesacrosstheglobe.Iampersonallyreallyexcitedtoparticipateinandhelprun eSportseventswithsomeofthestudentsaroundNoshiro.It'sbeenalotoffunanda greatwaytogettoknowsomestudentsoutsideofclass.Iamlookingforwardto participatinginmoreeventsinthenearfuture!

THEAKITAN 71

ByJohnJarvis

OnthefatefuldayofOctober26th,2013,I100%completedtheLegendofZelda:OcarinaofTimeinonesitting.Supportfrommyfriends,family,and completestrangershasreallygrownovertheyears.WhenIstartedin2013,wemanagedtoraiseamodest120dollars.Nowadecadelater,I’mstillatit. Lastyear,IplayedSplatoon2andwemanagedtoraiseanabsolutelyunprecedented2750dollars!

SomeofmynotableExtraLifeaccomplishmentswerecollectingall120starsinSuperMario64,completingthePokédexinPokémonYellowversion, collectingallstarsasbothMarioandLuigiinMarioGalaxy,andcompletingall120shrinesintheLegendofZelda:BreathoftheWild,justtonamea few.Butmostimportantly,overthepast10years,I’vecollectivelyfundraisedover11,000dollarsfortheBarbaraBushChildren’sHospitalthankstoall thegenerousdonors!

PhotosprovidedbyJohnJarvisandextra-life.org

Tenyearsago,amemberofmyuniversity’sgamingclubaskedifIwantedtoparticipateinExtraLife,anannual24-hourgamingmarathonwhich raisesmoneyforChildren’sMiracleNetworkHospitals.Essentially,whenyousignup,youchooseahospitalyou’dliketosupportandthenyouchoose adaytoplaygamesfor24straighthours.Ifyou’reagamer,thisisagreatwaytouseyourhobbyasameansofgivingbackandIhighlyrecommend OnthefatefuldayofOctober26th,2013,I100%completedtheLegendofZelda:OcarinaofTimeinonesitting.Supportfrommyfriends,family,and completestrangershasreallygrownovertheyears.WhenIstartedin2013,wemanagedtoraiseamodest120dollars.Nowadecadelater,I’mstillatit. Lastyear,IplayedSplatoon2andwemanagedtoraiseanabsolutelyunprecedented2750dollars!

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promotionalvideos,donated,orsimplytookthetimetoreadthisarticle,thankyoufor supportingthisgreatcauseandIhopeyou’reabletomakeadonationthisyear. YoucanfindmyExtraLifedonationpageat:extra-life.org/participant/JohnJarvis Alternatively,youcanscantheQRcode. Thisyear,I’vechallengedmyselftocomplete10gamesfrommypastExtraLifeevents inanany%speedrun(gettingtotheendgamecreditsasfastaspossible),contrarytomy usual100%completiongoals.I’mbynomeansaspeedrunner,soI’mexcitedtoattemptthis challenge!I’llbelivestreamingforatleast24hoursattwitch.tv/swoopkingstartingFriday, December23rdat9PMAkitatime. EveryyearIputtogetherapromotionalvideo.Youcancheckthisyear’svideoouton YouTubebysearching“ADecadeofExtraLife@john_jarvis”.Donationswillremainopen untilthelastdayoftheyear,sopleasefeelfreetomakeacontributionanytimebefore January1st,2023! Asalways,thankyouforyoursupport.It’skeptmemotivatedoverthesepast10years, thispastdecade,ofExtraLife!Here’stoanothergreatyear!

Beingasmallhospital,BBCH’sPhilanthropyDepartmenthaspersonallyreachedout tothankmeforallthesupportovertheyearsandI’dliketoextendthatthankstoallofyou. Whetheryou’vewatchedmylivestreams,helpedwiththeproductionofoneofmy

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CartoonFits byJacobDelgado

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Andrew’s Cooking Corner

Hello!I’mAndrewAcs,a2ndyearALTinNoshiroCity.Welcometothefirstof hopefullymanyCookingCorners!I’mafrequentbaker,soIthoughtIwouldshare someofmyrecipeswithyouall.ForthefallissueofTheAkitan,pleaseenjoythisapple cake,perfectforthecoolerseasons.Forthoseofuslessbaking-inclined,Iwillalso sharearecipeformyfavoritecomfortfood,macn’cheese!

Iamcertainlynotaprocheforbaker.SomeofthethingsIdointheserecipesmay notbeoptimal.Ifyouknowabetterway,byallmeansdoit(alsopleaseletmeknowso Icangetbettertoo).Andfeelfreetoadjusttherecipestobettersuityourtaste!

Also,Iapologizeifsomeamountsorinstructionsarevagueorimprecise.Imeasure withmyheartandmystomach.Justremember,youcanalwaysaddmore,butyoucan’t alwaystakeaway.

THEAKITAN 79 AppleCake (makesone20x20cm/8x8inchcake) Ingredients: 1apple 113g(onestick)roomtemperatureunsaltedbutter 100gwhitesugar 50gbrownsugar 10ghoney 3eggs Zestof1lemon Vanillaextract 160gflour 1/2tspsalt Cinnamon,nutmeg,anyotherspicesyoulike-cardamomwouldbe tastytoo 1/4tspbakingpowder (Optional)~1/2apple-worthofthinslices*1

1.Preheatovento190C/375F

2.Cutappleintosmallchunks,andsautéinapanwithbutterand cinnamonuntilsoftbutnotmushy.Strainintoaseparatebowltoremove anyexcessmoisture.

3.Inalargebowl,creamtogether114gbutter,100gwhitesugar,50gbrown sugar,and5ghoney.Ifwhiskingbyhand,Irecommendaddingasmall splashofoil.Itwilltakeawhiletocombine,buttrusttheprocess!

4.Addin3eggs,oneatatime,andwhisktofullycombinebeforeaddingin thenextegg. 5.Addlemonzestandvanilla,andmix.

6.Inaseparatebowl,whisktogether160gflour,1/2tspsalt,spices,and1/4tsp bakingpowder.

Foldinapplechunksandfullycombine,makingsurenottoover-mix.

minutes.

7.Adddryingredientstowetingredientsandmixuntilsemi-combined.

8.Addtoagreasedbakingtin(20x20cm/8x8in)andbakeforabout40

*1Tomakeitlookpretty,youcanbeautifullyarrangethinappleslicesonthe topofthecake.Thisisforaesthetic,itdoesn’treallyaddalottothetaste, andtheykindofdryoutintheoven.Iwouldrecommendasprinkleof brownordemerarasugar.Brownsugarwillgetalittleburntintheoven,but thebitternessgoesreallywellwiththesweetnessofthecake. Storeinthefridge.Toserve,Irecommendwarmingupyourpieceforabout 45secondsinthemicrowaveandtoppingwithalittlebitofhoney.

THEAKITAN 81

82 Macn’Cheese Ingredients: 35gunsaltedbutter ~25gflour(3tbsp) 2.5cupsmilk(710ml) Pinchofnutmeg 225gcheese*1 250gnoodles*2 Seasoningsofyourchoice(salt,pepper,paprika,garlicpowderisa goodplacetostart) Optionaltopping:Pankoandbutter

1.Pre-grate225gofcheese.

2.Setyourpastatoboilsothenoodlesarereadytogowhenthe sauceisdone.

3.Makearoux.Melt35gunsaltedbutterinapanovermediumheat. Whenfullymelted,add3tbspofflour,andwhiskconstantlyuntilit darkensincolorandstartstosmellalittlenutty,about1-2minutes.

4.Makeabéchamel.Slowlystreamin2.5cofmilkintotheroux, whiskingconstantlytoavoidclumping.Addapinchofnutmeg.

5.Bringtoaboil,continuingtowhiskconstantly.Onceataboil, turnheatbackdowntomedium/medium-lowandsimmeruntil thickened,maybeabout5minutes.Continuetomixoccasionally.

6.Turnofftheheat.Addyourgratedcheeseandmixuntilfully meltedandthesauceissmooth.Mixinseasonings. 7.Turnheatbackontomedium-low,andmixinyourcookedpasta. 8.Servepipinghotwithyourfavoritevegetable(wehavetomake thismealhealthysomehow)

THEAKITAN 83

Fortheoptionaltopping,toastsomepankoinapanwithmelted butteruntilbrownedandcrunchy. *1Makesureatleast1/4ofthecheeseisgoodmeltingcheese.Iused 1/3cheddar,1/3gouda,and1/3shreddedmeltingcheese(the packagewillsay とろける).Iboughtthecheddarandgoudaat Yamaya.Youcanfind とろける cheeseatanygrocerystore *2Elbowsaretheclassicpasta,butitalsoworkswellwithpenneor fusilli.

YasunoTaki,GlennTimoney

KamayahamaBeachbyCadeyrnRattur

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SenshuParkbyCadeyrnRattur

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PhotosbyGlennTimoney

OiraseGorge

PhotosbyGlennTimoney

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THEAKITAN 97

98 Thankyousomuchforreadingthe Akitan! Wehadsomereallyamazingcontentthisissue anditwasanabsoluteblasttoputitalltogether! Thispublicationwouldn’tbepossiblewithout yoursubmissions. Ahugethankstoallofthewritersand photographers!Staywarm,cozyandadventurous everyone,andwelookforwardtoseeingyou againinthewinterissue.

THEAKITAN 99 Hanawabayashifestival,Kazuno,BrookeDalgleish

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SEEYOUINWINTER

Thankyouforreading