JetFuel Spring/Summer 2021 Issue by JETFuel

S p r i n g / S u m m e r I s s u e /

J e t F u e l 2 0 2 1

Fuel the ALT life

Photograph by Megan Luedtke

LETTER

From the Editor

Hello Readers,

蚊の季

The distant ring of chimes in the breeze and the return of (mosquito season) alerts us that summer is waiting just around the corner. Hopefully, this summer, we will see a slight shift towards some sort of normalcy with vaccinations finally making it big in little Nihon. These past 3 years in Japan have really flown by for me. It's hard to believe that this will be my last JETFuel issue already! I've learned so much while working on this zine and have gained so many new skills. With each issue, I've walked away learning more about my community and about myself. I'd love to see the legacy of JETFuel carry on into the next generation of Fukui ALTs (if they ever do arrive) Lastly, thank you to all the contributors, photographers, and readers who have kept JETFuel going all this time. This magazine only exists because of all of you! "Life is a daring adventure or nothing at all." - Helen Keller

Editor in Chief, Leah Burkett

Photo by Cayla1 on Unsplash

T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S 03

Letter from the Editor

Travel 07

Discover Japan: The Ultimate Guide to Japan

Karim's Adventures in Japan

20 27

A Tour of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Exploring the Railway Heritage of Japan in Fukui

Culture 36

Experience Fukui: Heian Period Dress

Experience Fukui: Echizen Overnight

Experience Fukui: Taste of Takahama

Sake Tasting in Fukui

Todoroki: Heart pounding Taiko Experience

Community 58

Shelbourne: Irish Whiskey Pub

Farwell Fukui: Leaver's Interviews

82 Lifestyle

Fukui Art

The Lost Chapters

82 94 102

Fukui Cafe Tour Summer Sweet Recipes Spot the Difference

103 Crossword Puzzle

104 Credits

旅行

Travel

Photograph by Megan Luedtke

TRAVEL

DISCOVER by Leah Burkett

Traveling Across Japan Traveling has always been a passion of mine. I don't just simply snap a picture and move on, I like to fully explore and experience the places I travel to - and Japan is no exception! Since first arriving in Japan, I've made it my mission to visit all 47 prefectures in Japan. After three years, I've come just 2 prefectures short of my goal. However, I have plans to check both those places off my list just before departing Japan and returning back to my home country. Come along as I show you all the best places I've discovered across Japan. My hope is that this guide will inspire you to discover these destinations for yourself and see all the interesting secrets that Japan has hidden across the country.

UIDE ALL JAPAN G

INCLUDES:

L 47 TO P SI TE S FR OM AL PR EF EC TU RE S HO T FA CT S & TI PS CR AF TS LO CA L CU IS IN ES & AL S SE AS ON AL FE ST IV JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 07

Block One

N.TOHOKU

b 6 r i e h t y r o t r u s e B ! 0 5 f e l p m a Japn'stop5festTivhaely!utspoverf50cd!ifernt

Hokkaido SAPPORO IS THE CAPITAL

OF HOKKAIDO AND IS WORTH THE STOP ALONE TO ENJOY WINTER SPORTS.

HOWEVER, IT'S ALSO WHERE THE SAPPORO BEER COMPANY HAILS FROM. WHILE IN THE AREA STOP BY FOR A FREE TOUR, A DRINK, AND EVEN SOME GENGHIS KHAN LAMB MEAT AT THE BEER GARDEN RESTAURANT.

th A u g u st 2 n d - 7

Sapporo

TGorfhaetsMEiranclJetPoainpeEslra fyqumthbkeol I

Art o b m a T e nakadat

TH E N EW TS U N A M I M EM OIWRA TE M U S EU M IS N IA L OW O P EN AS O S EP TE M B ER 20 19 F .

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

A HOKK

IDO

Beer Mus eum

￥

N E B U T A F E S T IV A L

i r o m Ao

CSapihoreFcSknbitwuoFureeyrst!ival

A om or i A p p le s

AOM

ORI

A IW

AKITA

Namahage Folk Museum

MAKE SURE TO STAY FOR THE NAMAHAGE LIVE SHOW! IF YOU PICK UP A PIECE OF STRAW FROM THE DEMON'S SKIRTS YOU CAN GET GOOD LUCK!

Akita TRY IT!

e t a Iw Rikuzentakata Miracle Pine

Wanko Soba Challenge (Morioka City) Tips:

Don't drink the broth! Save room in your stomach EAT FAST! Don't chew, just swallow

YamJgtanp'sroCdhucersi70%of

Miyagi

Block Two

S.TOHOKU Yamagata

Fox Village

6th-8th

ATA B A N A T I A SEND August

T r a d i t o n a l NKoihgeCatwprisodl!hef HoJp Resc

Fukus hima

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF "TRADITIONAL OLD ROADS" IN JAPAN BUT FEW FEEL THIS IMMERSIVE. WALKING DOWN THIS OLD STREET TRULY FEELS LIKE STEPPING OUT OF A TIME-MACHINE.

Risshakuji (Thousand-Step Shrine)

Trip

Ouchi-Juku

Niigata

IplncsetaigMroJsmtpabnl!e

SADO IS A NATURE LOVERS RETREAT WITH ABANDONED GOLD MINES, HISTORIC TUG BOAT RIDES ALONG THE COAST, AND HOME TO THE LAST OF THE JAPANESE IBISES.

Sado Island

J u ly 22 n d - 25 th

back

in T ime!

S O M A - N O M A O I F E S T IV AL

AG Y I M

YAMAG

ATA

Kiyotsu Gorge

NIIGATA

FUK

IM H S U

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 09

Ibar aki

Block Three

CENTRAL

i g i ch o T

uddh B u k i sh

U The La r gest B standin g at 12 uddha in Jap a 0m. Yo u can go n inside!

BEST SHRINE IN JAPAN!

YOU CAN SPEND A WHOLE DAY WALKING THROUGH AND ADMIRING THE ORNATE ARTWORK. DON'T MISS THE FAMOUS "SEE NO EVIL, SPEAK NO EVIL, HEAR NO EVIL" MONKEY CARVINGS!

Nikko Shrine

Saitama

Kawagoe

VISIT DARUMA S HRINE

TOCHIGI IBARAKI

GUNMA

SAITAM

NA 10

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Duntialryumconlpyhtaveyounrgeyal.

Be su re to w at Sh ow , w he re th ch th e Yu m om i ey de m on st ra te th e tr ad it io na l w ay of co ol in g w at er .

THE UNDERGROUND DISCHARGE CHANNEL IS A UNIQUE LOOK AT JAPAN'S DRAINAGE INFRASTRUCTURE

NW AN !

Gu nm a Kusatsu Onsen

WALK DOWN KAWAGOE'S CANDY ALLEY

N GA

WAwbPepvenirctnfhao,radnA?mloemgpasjnuio,tcsywe.hbaadniLntcgatosou,nphlPeyddcaainbrdgkel WA

Tip: To see monkeys in the hot spring be sure to visit when it's -10C.

It M ust be COL D!

Park y e k n o Snow M Nagano

D i s n e y S a LiteralvyistheConilbyr!easont RYiesodktbhraimck getcaught pintherushand RAmeluasx etYupnaersk& s of e l a Siby u TOKYO

Block Four

KANTO

CHIBA

SHIZUOKA

KANAGAWA

YAMANASH

Chiba

FA N O F D

IS N EY ? LE T OU T YO UR IN NE FE AS T ON AD OR ABRLECH IL D AN D SN AC KS , SP EN D TO O MU CH ON SO UV EN IR S, AN D PO SE WI TH YO UR FA VO RI TE PR IN CE SS .

SBinesht mToerinpsi:Fgal pa DISNE

Akihabara

HT A

EN I

Kanagawa

yamanashi

a Cros ing

Tokyo

IF YOU HAD TO DO ONE THING IN TOKYO, THEN YOU MUST LIVE OUT YOUR ANIME PROTAGONIST DREAMS AND WALK AROUND AKIHABARA. THE AMOUNT OF TECH AND OTAKU GOODS IS STRAIGHT OUT OF A SCI-FI FILM.

Sh izu ok a

Y o k o h a m a

Mt. Fu ji

Shira

fal

ls!

-ito F alls

Gurinpia Makinohara

Pick tea wearing traditional clothes and go on a tour of a tea factory

icking P a e T JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 11

IGoldLeaf c Cream 2.5mil ontulips n60 variet s! fAutmobileCapitlo Jpan! a m a Toy

Block Five

HOKURIKU TRY IT !

now See s ! ugust ntil A

TH E AL PIN E RO UT E ST IN TO YA MA AN D RU NSARALTSL TH E WA Y TO NA GA NO .

AL ON G TH E RO UT ME TE R TA LL SN OW E,WA LL20S CA N BE SE EN FR OM AP RIL UN TIL AU GU ST . MID -

Alpi ne R oute

Ishi kaw a

Late April-E arly May

TU LU P FE ST IVA L

Kenroku-en

Among the Top 5 Best Gardens in Japan!

Fukui

Dino

saur

K a n z a w a Histori c Higas hi Distric t in Ka Chanazawa

Mus

eum

Hub o f Hons hu

A N A G O YL E CAST

i h c i A

LOVE SHOPPING?

NAGOYA IS THE FOURTH LARGEST CITY IN JAPAN. AND WITH IT'S VERY CENTRAL LOCATION, IT MAKES FOR A CONVENIENT ONE STOP AND SHOP DESTINATION.

o y a N a g

ISHIK

Gifu

Shirakawagoe

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

ip: Best s e a s on to is wi n warn ter - BU visit e T also d! Wint , be e r is crowd the ed. most Stay tradi overnight t Check old fa ional 200 in a rmho year use!

AWA

FUKUI

it O

ut! Squirre l Villag e

TOYAMA

GIFU

AICHI

Shiga

Block Six

CHUBU

LoGkeisuhtaf!or

YOU PROBABLY ALREADY KNOW ALL THE FANTASTIC THINGS TO DO IN KYOTO, SO I'LL TRY TO HIGHLIGHT A FEW OF MY FAVORITES, KINKAKUJI & KIYIOMIZUDERA. KINKAKUJI IS THE MOST ICONIC SITE IN ALL OF JAPAN- AND FOR A GOOD REASON! COME DURING THE GOLDEN HOURS OF THE DAY TO SEE THE TEMPLE AT PEAK BEAUTY.

Kiy

iom

izu

der

O YOT

i w a B e k a L

KWoorlbd'es#B1Beff

! TRY IT

AMtasequoia ve.

Take a drive down this scenic road after apple picking in the fall.

K i n k a k u j i

SHIGA

HYOGO

" DR VI SI TI N G SH IG A ISAWLAFO R BI W A. Y OU CA N EI TH KE EN JO Y A SC EN IC DR ER AR OU N D IT OR ST OP IV E M AN Y VI EW P OI N TS ALAT TH E W AY AR OU N D TO TA L TH E KE IN IT 'S BE AU TY .

to o y K

WHILE KIYOMIZUDERA HAS GREAT VIEWS NO MATTER THE SEASON, I RECOMMEND VISITING KIYIOMIZUDERA IN FALL FOR ULTIMATE FALL FOLIAGE VIEWS IN KYOTO. You can rent a kimono and wear around famous places in Kyoto.

J A P A N 'S LA R G E S T LA KE TH E "L AR GE ST

Fox Shr ine

Fushimi Inari

To an. e p a J th e in uring t i s . c coni visit d evening i r the owds late Ano r r o c d ng avoi morni y earl

If you can only see ONE castle in Japan, make this it. Himeji Castle is Japan's best and most grand castle. There is no better castle- Trust me!

Hyogo S p r in g a t H im e ji

Himeji Castle

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 13

yOknom aki

Block Seven

KANSAI a k a s O

b o r i D o t o n

Kuros hio A quari um

OSA

KA NARA MIE

WAKAYAMA

Nara

OSAKA IS KNOWN FOR ITS INCREDIBLE NIGHTLIFE. DON'T MISS WALKING DOWN DOTONBORI AND SNAPPING AN ACTION SHOT IN FRONT OF THE RUNNING MAN.

inter Best W ion! t Illumina

OF JAPAN'S ABSOLUTE BEST WINTER ILLUMINATION. NOT TO MENTION THAT DURING THE DAY THE PARK IS KNOWN FOR IT'S STUNNING ARRANGEMENT OF A VARIETY OF FLOWERS AND PLUM BLOSSOMS IN FULL BLOOM IN EVERY SEASON!

Kumano Kodo Info: Takes about 4-5 days to hike the full route. (70km) Bring plenty of water and hearty trail snacks. 14

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Iga Ninja Museum

It is believed that Mie is the origin of the Ninja! Visit the Iga Ninja Museum to see a real ninja house, a live ninja show and an in depth tour of all things ninja.

Nabana no Sato

BthesuLSrIVtwEo!sNainyjfor

st large s ' n also Japa s i f o e ple er, es on The tem eral de s u o H s. sev ha. nack Budd nded by ed deer s u fe surro you can which

Todaiji Temple

Kuroshio Aquarium is not only the 2nd largest aquarium in the world but It's also (in my opinion) the best aquarium in Japan.

ie M NABANA NO SATO BOASTS SOME

ODeWrAsTcCnHbeaUgTr!sive.

odo K o n Kuma

EVEN IF HIKING ISN'T YOUR THING, YOU SHOULD STILL MAKE THE PILGRIMAGE TO WAKAYAMA TO SEE ALL 3 OF THE MAIN TEMPLES ALONG THE KUMANO KODO.

W ak ay am a C

h Nac eck o u hi Fal t! ls

oIsFlanmdusfAJrtpan.

Block Eight

SHIKOKU Kagawa

sJpan'soldetO en!

Naoshi

w llo in e Y pk m pu

Th e wh ole isl an d can eas ily be exp lor ed by bik e in on e da y.

long bike An 80km tretches s route that ichi to m o n from O You can Imabari. r om eithe start fr abari is Im side but ginners. be easier for

Ehime

Kaido i m a n a Shim

Tokus hima MAYB

M or e th a n 200!

Scarecr

ow Villa ge

E NO C O S I G H N V E N TT T H E M O THIS TSEEI IONA ST T H E L I S T B U N G S P O TL S M A L M O S T U NT C E R T A O N IQU INLY AW L VI F U L LA Y I N I YL L A G E H IE . T H I S FACT OF SCA A VALLE DDEN T H E I T H E Y O R E C R O W SY I S RESI R FELLO UTNUMB . IN DENT W HU ER S 20 MAN TO 1!

FE R R Y AB O U T AN H OTAU RK AM AT S U R ID E FR O M A IS LA N D , m a IS ON AOKSNHOIMW N AS TH E AL S J AP AN . AR T IS LA N D S SOPFEC IA LL Y T (E I IF Y O U LO V EA RAT)R TH A N T H IG M O D ER N N E Y IN G TH R EC O M M EN D NS DTA. O N TH E IS LA

Dogo Onsen

TShiRupYnja!c.k

i h c o K

Hirome Market

Shikoku Shrine Walk

Takes 30-60 days to walk the entire route. However, you can choose smaller 23 hour sections to do indstead.

Don' t your forget to st shrin e boo amp k!

KAGAW

TOK

EHIME

KOCH

USH

I JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 15

Block Nine

CHUGOKU

a m a y a Ok

Kurashi

Ven Ja ice of pan

Shr

ANE

AGU

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

HIR

OSH

Hir osh im a

ENJOY A DAY TRIP TO MIYAJIMA ISLAND AND SEE THE FAMOUS TORII GATE, DEPENDING ON THE TIME OF DAY YOU CAN EITHER CATCH HIGH TIDE OR LOW TIDE. YOU CAN WALK OUT TO THE GATE DURING LOW TIDE.

TRY

ine

TOTTO

IMA

IT!

Kintai Bridge

OKAYAMA YAM

SA ND MU SE UM

nes Sand Du

Shimane

Izumo i s the sh rin relations hips. Cla e for p y hands 4 times ins our tead of 2- 2 for you and your par 2 for tner.

SHIM

YOU CAN ENJOY A WIDE VARIETY OF ACTIVITIES AT THE SAND DUNES, INCLUDING A CAMEL RIDE AND A TOUR OF THE SAND SCULPTURE MUSEUM.

OKAYAMA Peace Museum IS T H E S U N NK N O W N A S PREFECTU IEST S O C O M E ER E I N J A P A N , S U N S H I N EN J O Y T H E WALKING D WHILE HISTORIC OWN THIS RI W A L K W A YV.E R S I D E

ki Bikan

Izu

L a r g e s t S a n d D u n e s i J a p n kO nomyaki DerPop OldestrSheinto Ic C am SThiRupYnja!c.k Tottori

Over 200 hundred red torii gates spread across the coast.

hi c u g a Yam

Motonosumi Shrine

Block Ten

N. KYUSHU Fukuoka

Nanz

oin

or ous f n m a F elai porc

NANZOIN TEMPLE HAS THE ONE OF THE LARGEST RECLINING BUDDHA'S IN THE WORLD.

Hakata Canal

i ak k s ga ar Na ce P a Pe

Hashima Island has been abandoned and left as is since the 1960's

Nagasaki

SAG A

a g a S

WtfsSlpmtoruihdDdeigrone,Gatsmahiblf'hieldtsabrecotf.

Hamanoura

Love exploring abandoned places?

sla I a njim a k n Gu

OI TA

NAGASAKI

HRakmetn

Temp

FUKUOKA

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE ISLAND AND LIFE DURING IT'S GOLDEN AGE FROM REAL RESIDENTS!

Oita

Yufuin Floral Village JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 17

Asoesaengdawlirtdve.onsshyrgainfde Clay stone

S. KYUSHU Udo

Miyazaki IT Y TR

i Shr

le Wha ks! r Sha

a w a n Oki

T h er es a sp ec ia l ro ck w it h a co n ca ve d ce n te r. I f y ou ca n th ro w th ee st on es in to th e ce n te r, y ou 'l l h a ve g oo d lu ck .

BECAUSE OF ALL THE VOLCANIC ACTIVITY IN THE AREA, YOU CAN ENJOY THE ONLY NATURALLY HEATED SAND BATH IN THE WORLD.

One of the most active volcanoes in Japan! Enjoy hiking & learn about volcanic activity in the area.

FAMOUS SEASIDE AQUARIUM THAT HOUSES THE MOST AMOUNT OF WHALES SHARKS! Churaumi Aquarium

KUMA

MOTO

d Baths Ibusuki San

KAGOSHIMA

MIY

Kagoshima Erup t time s sever s a day! al

Sakurajima 18

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

OKINAWA

AZA

s ' m i r a s e K ntur e v d A TRAVEL

SOBA YAKI

越前かに

AGE KAR

MY FAVORITE MOMENTS FROM 2021! HANAMI ECHIZEN KANI BIBLE STUDY HAMBURGERLAND

I went to see the beautiful sakura near Asuwa River for the first time this year! It was the first official weekend for hanami. There is no question that cherry blossom season is the most beautiful season in Japan!

CHEERS!

花⾒ C

G ENJOYIN

A FOR UP TO G KIN RO LOO IAN G ? IST JOIN CHR

Once in a while it's great to treat yourself to a good old American burger. Located near LPA is the best burger shop in Fukui! It's convenient to go there before or after a movie.

ECHIZEN

CRAB!

！んでら

Since 2020, I've been going to the Lighthouse, a Christian group in Mikuni Minato meeting every Saturday afternoon. At the Lighthouse we study the word of God and also have educational talks. Each meeting has a theme which we review and discuss.

I went and ate crab twice this past winter season. We went to a restaurant called: " /Raden". The meal is about 6000. I highly recommend this experience!

らでん￥

e Lighthouse h T

I N G

BURG

L A ! N D

The Great American Burger Restaurant in Fukui.

JEFUEL MAGAZINE | 19

FUKUI

A E K A T S ' T E L ! R U O T

TRAVEL

A S O N I D

MUSE

My name is Pierre and I have been living in Fukui as part of the JET Program for nearly two years now. I know the last year or so has been pretty difficult for many of us, and the fact that we can't easily go to other prefectures because of COVID-19, let alone abroad, hasn't helped. So, in order to brighten everyone's day, I thought it could be fun to share with you today a recent trip I took to one of our most beloved facilities here, Katsuyama City's Dinosaur Museum, which is conveniently located a little over an hour away by train and/or bus from downtown Fukui City! by Pierre Leroux

in the whole world - to bring a little travel into

Fukui

Dinosaur

Prefectural Museum

4,500m2 bundle of

surprising

discoveries

here

favorite

are

things

some

about

like a gigantic dinosaur egg -

modern-day Jurassic Park.

should

every

Fukui

JET

travel bucket list.

going

difficult thought Fukui

places at

I'd

the cover

institution

little

moment, the one

famous of

the

three largest dinosaur museums

Without further ado,

shaped

(and their friends and family!)

everyone's life!

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

my this

blowing pieces of information. id you know that, in a

(Spoiler

way,

dinosaurs.)

dinosaurs

still

alert:

birds

are

the

roam the earth to this In

day?

Shocking,

know!

the

addition

the

main

Dinosaur World exhibition - as

museum, you can learn all sorts

many

skeletons

are

of fun tidbits and other mind-

display, looking like they're

about to come back to life -

fun

this

several

center

research

AUR

EUM

features and

in the

Earth

History

teaching

dinosaur

Japan

shop

well

interactive

where

zones budding

Sciences

paleontologists can pick up

corners,

fossils and play with them or

Life

visitors

also

gift

about

even try digging up their own

Earth and how life emerged

all

(more on that later!); and let's

on our great planet.

just say the incredibly life-like Tyrannosaurus Rex robot that

top

facility

of is

exhibitions, where

that,

home a

you

the to

research can

scientists

and

work,

restaurant

vast

special

greets

you

when

you

first

enter the extensive exhibition

lab

watch

technicians

offering

dino-inspired delicacies, a

hall

sure

leave

impression!

convenient

also

new

launched

allowing

visitors

app

this to

was year,

listen

thorough explanations of the exhibits

English

their

own smartphone (the app is

￥

free but you will need to pay 500,

gain

about

access

US,

the

audio

guides).

"A CONVENIENT NEW AUDIO GUIDE APP WAS LAUNCHED IN ENGLISH" #ExperienceFukui

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 21

To download it, look for the

Fukui

Dinosaur your

Prefectural Museum

favorite

on app

provider.

S R U A S DINO UI?! K U F N I It's

baffling

think

was

once

believed that no dinosaur ever roamed Japan.

All

that

changed

recent

years, however, as new fossils keep on turning up across the country. Fukui where

the

species

majority

discovered

new

dinosaur

Japan

were

unearthed - still reigns supreme as a true Dinosaur Kingdom in the Land of the Rising Sun!

As part of its impressive collection of Fukuisaurus

over a thousand fossil specimens from all corners of the world, the museum introduces the dinosaurs of Japan and the whole of Asia. Accordingly, here are some pictures of different species discovered

Fukuisaurus,

Fukui, a

including

4.7

the

meter-long

herbivorous dinosaur.

State-of-the-art

research

also

conducted at the museum all the time, leading various

regular

exhibits.

For

updates

its

example,

the

Dinosaurs of Fukui corner, I was told that the "hands" of the

Fukuiraptor

a 4.2 meter-long carnivorous dinosaur -

were

altered

reflect

recent

findings in the scientific literature. You can thus be sure that the information you get here is always based on the latest research in the field.

Fukuiraptor

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Kids can dig like a

paleontologist

and discover real dinosaur bones!

in Japan, no less - will simply

"Search for dinosaur remains alongside real researchers"

blow

The

away!

international research the

visitors

are

come

learn everything there

with

is to know about

Interactive put

heart's

quiz

play

fossils.

panels

knowledge

will

the

test as well. And just like the

fossils

and

written audio you

paleontologists part

and

with

even try digging up your own!

take

encouraged

contact

where

authentic

your

also

Lab,

content

authentic

Budding

into

Dino

corner

ere, not only can you

your

hub

home

hands-on

Bookings

dinosaur

dinosaurs, you can also play

some

you

must be made in advance.

may

outdoor

excavation

activities

explanations guides

around

exhibition,

the

also

displayed

you

don't

and

that

will

take

the

4,500m2

questions in

need

English, to

are so

master

throughout

the

warmer

Japanese in order to become

season,

spring

The

from

open-air

children

area

years

fall.

where age

true

expert

all

things

dinosaurs!

older) can search for dinosaur Fish fossil found in Fukui.

remains researchers

alongside -

the

largest

and most prolific excavation site

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 23

The site is also home to a pretty unique gift

shop

alike

can

which

continue

adults their

and

children

adventure.

extension of the museum itself, the shop

DINO CAFE

- which carries a vast range of fossils, dino-related educational postcards

toys,

and

miniatures, something

books

products,

stationary,

and for

and

iconic

much

everyone

CHOW DOWN ON DINO CHOW

other

apparel,

collectable more!

enjoy,

Creative Classics

has from

newborns to senior folks. This world of fun and discovery is a treasure trove of original gifts and many of them, such as toys

and

merchandise

showcasing

the

five new dinosaur species unearthed in Fukui, are exclusively available here.

Among the wonderful products on sale at

the

museum

shop,

corner

selling

dinosaur-themed Fukui traditional crafts stand out. You read that right: Here, you can

get

pottery,

your

hands

Echizen

lacquer-ware,

Yaki

Echizen

Washi traditional paper and other Fukui crafts

coming

straight

from

the

pre-

historic era! (They might not "actually" be from

the

pre-historic

era,

but

some

Fukui's traditional crafts do go back over 1,500 years!)

nother

highlight

around

here,

the

Cafe offers avid dinosaur enthusiasts (and everyone a

wide

tasty

dishes

range

our

tour

the

Katsuyama

City

institution comes to an end, I'd like to

to make the most of your trip there.

id you hear the good news? You no longer have to wait until you actually get to the museum

for your prehistoric journey to begin! For the

*ultimate*

experience,

taking

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

favorites

by the Jurassic way of life are available as well.

favorite icons.

The

creative meals consist of Japanese classics - think curry rice and "karaage"

introduce a fun new way

worldwide

(burgers, fries, etc.) inspired

celebrating

everyone's Jurassic

Mouthwatering desserts and other

elaborate Dino

else)

- with a unique dino twist.

consider

deep-fried

food

local

specialties

Fukui

and -

'sauce katsudon' bowls of deep-fried pork cutlets on rice

and

buckwheat

'oroshi

soba'

noodles

topped with bonito flakes and grated daikon radish

! P M CHO MP! CHO

"Take the dino bus for the ultimate expereince!"

The new Dino Bus runs from Fukui Station all the way to the Museum.

the Dino Bus straight from Fukui

From

Station

Community Bus on the C or D lines to

get

the

chance

there,

take

Katsuyama

take part in interactive activities

the

making use of augmented reality

Museum (1 hour 15 minutes;

(AR)

about $10 US)

the

way

and

get

your

Fukui

Prefectural

￥

City

Dinosaur 1,070 or

hands on some cool prizes while you're

it!

With

its

impressive

A special Dinosaur Museum ticket

design, the unique bus - which

allowing

was unveiled last year at a chic

Echizen

ceremony

local Katsuyama City buses for the

other

attended

than

Fukui's

none

beloved

Juratic 'yuru-chara' mascots - is sure to turn heads anywhere it goes.

whole

￥

unlimited Railway

day

travel trains

(excluding

the

and

the

Fukutetsu

routes) for the amazing price of 2,130

about

$20

(including entry to the museum) is available

manned

Echizen

In short, I strongly believe that a

Railway stations and through train

pilgrimage

attendants!

Kingdom" dinosaur

to is

this

"Dinosaur

must

enthusiasts

for

avid

well

(There

are

special

fares for children) For

the

*ultimate*

anyone else out there who thinks

consider

the iconic creatures are indeed

straight from Fukui Station! You'll

pretty cool. I was even told that

be able to take part in augmented

many parents will first come "to

reality

please the children" only to end

on the ride and get your hands on

some cool prizes!

getting

more!)

excited

the

(if

little

not

taking

experience,

(AR)

the

Dino

interactive

Bus

activities

ones

themselves.

Echizen

here get

are

many

there:

ways

From

the

to JR

Fukui Station, take an Railway

train

Katsuyama-Eiheiji Katsuyama Station.

line

prevent

the

spread

COVID-19, it is now required

the to

make

before the

visiting.

official

reservation Details website

on at

https://www.dinosaur.pref.f ukui.jp/en/ (in English)

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 25

E H T S S I DON'T M UKUI F Y R A D N LEGE !! R O T P A R |

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

TRAVEL

by Pierre Leroux

#ExperienceFukui

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JETFUEL MAGAZINE

文化

Culture

Photograph by Sawyer Scherbenske

WHERE THE FUKUI? Introduction by Meg Luedtke (Finally finding a way to use this old joke that was told to me over and over again when announcing my JET placement. All in good fun, of course.)

tor tours, which are tours that On the western coast of Honlocal travel agencies hope to shu, along the Sea of Japan, provide Fukui visitors in the sits a relatively small and unfuture. In exchange for these assuming prefecture, one that benefits, a reporter agrees to most people probably don’t the job of posting about their know much about. Especialexperiences on their social ly not tourists. Fukui doesn’t media to promote the prefechave many of the big and loud ture and its culture. Reports claims to fame, like Haracan also post about their juku’s bustling streets or Fusdaily life like new foods they himi Inari’s sea of vermillion have tried, a new location torii, which draws in foreign they’ve discovered, or intervisitors from near and far. And esting events in their area. Tountil recently, Fukui didn’t gether, all the reporters and even have a shinkansen line the program coordinators use (expected to open in 2022), the hashtag #Experiencewhich serves as a tourist’s Fukui to share all of the wonFukui has many things primary form of travel and the derful things in Fukui! to offer. An abundance of catalyst for exploring places nature, lots of history, rethey might not have visited So with all the technical nowned seafood, beautiful otherwise. Needless to description out of the way, coast lines, and a wide selecsay, the little(ish), remote here are three stories from tion of traditional crafts such as prefecture is probably different Fukui reporters pottery, knives, paper, and even off the radar for most about some amazing glasses! So, how does Fukui try visitors. But that’s what community experiences and drive tourism to such an “off the makes it a bit of a hidthey had thanks to the radar” prefecture? den gem, tucked away program. in the countryside of In 2016, the prefecture’s Department of Japan. Business, Industry, and Labor launched “Fukui Reporters,” a program designed to bring foreign and Japanese residents together. Their goal is to promote and share the cuisine, sights, trades, and attraction of Fukui. Through the program reporters meet and learn from locals or receive community benefits, like discounted prices at tourist attractions or invitations to special events. Reporters can also participate in and provide feedback for moni-

DRESSED TO IMPRESS: EXPERIENCING HEIAN ERA CLOTHING Written by Nyssa | Instagram @echizenmochi

My “Fukui Reporters” experience taught me that taking risks and just saying yes to experiences in Japan is well worth it. The email I received for my experience simply said we would get a free lunch and see Heian cosplay. Even though I had no idea what that entailed, I signed up immediately. The process was far more involved than I had imagined: we were to be part of the cosplay. They designated our costumes, gave matching helmet-like human-hair wigs, and distributed each costume by height so each participant had something different. We were each then sent to our own team of customers to be dressed. My taller friend was able to wear the jūnihitoe, or, “12-layered kimono.” This kimono involves so much silk that the kimono can retain its shape even without a person inside! The woman in charge of the costumes explained that if a suitor was coming to visit a woman, but she had no interest in him,

she would escape from her robes leaving them behind as a decoy. I don’t know how true that story is, but it sure is fun to think about.

Though the silks were heavy, it wasn’t uncomfortable to wear. I think I could easily get used to the lifestyle of a Heian court.

My costume was no less tame despite its fewer layers. The style I wore, though I don’t recall the name, was reserved for young women and girls who had not yet come of age. It had long trailing tails that were meant to symbolize a long life in a time when children often died very young. I was told that this style was popular with Murasaki Shikibu, author of The Tale of Genji. Rumor has it, she wore something very similar when she met a handsome young man who inspired her world-changing novel. This was written during the time she spent in Fukui, of course.

Once everyone was fully in costume, the news crew appeared and we were set free to take pictures as we pleased and answer some interview questions. I did my best to express, with my limited Japanese, how pleased I was to look like a Girl’s Day doll. After about an hour we removed our costumes and wigs to enjoy some tea. We learned about the Fukui materials and craftsmanship of the teahouse as we enjoyed an informal tea ceremony. All in all, this experience was amazing and is why I still sign up for anything that will help me #ExperienceFukui.

THIS EVENT WAS

BROADCAST

ON FUKUI TV!

AN OVERNIGHT IN ECHIZEN Written by Iram | Instagram @iramiram1230

Many of you might not have heard of Fukui, but I promise, it’s a lovely and charming place! It might be small, but there’s so much here—delicious food, gorgeous nature, and a fascinating history. In this tour, I was able to experience all of this, along with the charms of Echizen City and Echizen Town. Our day started with a quick tour of the Echizen Pottery Museum in which we learned a bit about the history of pottery in this area and its transformation throughout the

ages. Afterwards we had a bike tour throughout Echizen Town and had a chance to talk to three artisans. They told us about their craft and showed us some of their work. It’s amazing how creative people can be! Later in the day, we had a chance to visit one of the oldest known kilns in Japan. It was a bit mind boggling how there are still remnants left after so many centuries. Once we finished, it was time to check out the renovated old house we were lodging

in. Soon it was time for dinner, which was of course, delicious! We also tried some local produce cooked by a restaurant owner. What a happy evening it was! The next morning, we took off on our electric bikes again and visited a roof tile factory. That sentence in itself might not sound very fascinating, but there is so much that goes into making the traditional Japanese roofs we see! We had a chance to learn about the tiles going from sand found in the area to the roofs.

Afterwards, we biked to a temple and had a walking tour of the town around it. There were many beautiful and delightful views in the area. Once the walking tour was completed, it was time for lunch at the temple. It was a vegetarian lunch made from local produce. It was scrumptious!

After lunch, we had a short tour of the temple. The back of the temple had a lot of Jizō statues. When asked why, the owner told us that decades ago, these statues used to be all around Echizen Town. However, once development started, they were in the way and the developers had to

throw them out. Her father started collecting all of the Jizō statues, and gave them a new home at the temple. A lovely story, isn’t it? The tour ended shortly afterwards, but what a fun experience it was. I’m so glad I had a chance to join and #ExperienceFukui!

A TASTE OF TAKEHAMA

Written by Leah | Instagram @leapacrosstheworld |YouTube: Leap Across The World

Settled in the deep south of Fukui along the Sea of Japan sits a small fishing village. At first glance Takahama may not seem like much but don’t let its quiet appearance fool you—there is more than meets the eye. The stretch of golden beaches, sapphire waters, and an abundance of fresh seafood would lure in

any nature enthusiast. However, the real charm of Takahama is its residents. The absolute best way to explore Takahama is by bike! The only way to feel connected to the community around you is to slowly explore the sights and talk with locals along the way. Starting at Wakasa Sta-

tion, I rented myself a bike for the day and rode towards the sea. Usually the main beach, Wakasa Beach, is crowded with beachgoers, but during the off season it’s nearly empty. This allows for the perfect opportunity to search the shore for sea glass commonly found in the area. I bottled a few pieces of bright blue and faded green sea glass to take home before continuing my leisurely ride through the town. Weaving around corners and stopping in local shops, the town’s charm gradually revealed itself to me. First, with the liquor store whose owner writes his daily thoughts out on a board outside the shop. Second, at a mochi shop operated by an elderly woman and her son that was once visited by the Emperor of Japan. Then at a [[i]]kamaboko[[i]] shop, which created a new canned variety of kamaboko to make up for the loss of business due to COVID-19. And lastly, at a small local bakery that sells the most delicious triangle-shaped pastry, which practically oozes gooey and warm cream cheese.

However, the most noteworthy part of my whole tour of Takahama was experiencing its rich fishing culture—Takahama is a fishing town, after all! With a basket of the day’s catch fresh off the fishing port and a fillet knife in hand, I was taught the variety of ways in which fish is prepared in the region by a group of very able and friendly women. Some of the most popular methods were cutting and splaying fish to soak in soy sauce before cooking and making a fish kabob. They used three different kinds of fish with marinades and skewered each of them on a stick. Once the fish had been cut and marinated, it was ready to be cooked and eaten! Because the weather outside was perfect for a barbeque, everyone gathered outside to enjoy all our hard work.

To see more awesome things in Fukui, check out the official #ExperienceFukui hashtag on Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram.

To finish off a near perfect day, I trekked up a nearby mountain to discover an old local shrine. I had arrived at the shrine just as golden hour was approaching so the wooden structure was bathed in a heavenly glow (which seemed eerily appropriate). At the edge of the shrine stood a tall archway that made for the perfect window to view the town from. As I stared down at Takahama below me, I could think of no better way to end my Takahama tour. #ExperienceFukui

Leah Burkett is a 3rd year JET ALT who enjoys venturing off the beaten path and jumps at the opportunity for a good adventure.

Meg is the Head Designer for CONNECT and a second-year JET living and enjoying her life in Fukui. She enjoys spending her free time playing games, binging the odd anime or two, and going out on little photography excursions. You can read about her own Fukui experiences on her instagram FukuiFinds. Nyssa Giangregorio is a 5th year JET ALT staying in Fukui for a 6th. She is greatly food motivated and interested in the traditional clothing and music of Japan. Iram Amin is a Fukui ALT who is enjoying her time in Japan.

THE MAKING OF JAPANESE SAKE

⽇本酒特集！

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

TRYING THE LOCAL CRAFT SAKE OF FUKUI

CULTURE

by Pierre Leroux

福井の地酒の魅⼒に迫ります

ome of you connoisseurs out there might already be familiar with Japanese sake rice wine or 'nihonshu' - but did you know that a vibrant culture of "craft" sake has been taking over the world in recent years? Just as microbrewery craft beer is garnering attention around the globe, so is the 'jizake' craft sake made in various regions of Japan using the ingredients - mostly rice and water - of a specific locality. As the saying goes, "where there is good water, there is good sake," and one place in which you'll find pristine spring water is Fukui, home to over 30 sake breweries.

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 43

Different varieties of sake brewed at the Manatsuru Sake Brewery.

MANATSURU SAKE BREWERY

In operation since 1751

o learn everthing there is to know about the centuries-old industry, I visited the Manatsuru Sake Brewery of "Little Kyoto" Ono City - in operation since 1751 - towards the end of the winter, as this year's new brew was getting ready to hit the shelves later in the season. On the tour, I got to try some of Manatsuru's finest 'nihonshu.' What's great is that in addition to the 'kara-kuchi' "dry" sake Fukui is famous for, local breweries cater to every taste, including the 'amazuppai' "sweet and sour" kind that is all the rage with the cool kids. Even among Japanese sake, the local offering distinguishes itself from the rest. For starters, Fukui

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

has long been one of Japan's leading rice producers and is famous throughout the country for its high-quality rice. It is also worth mentioning that unlike other producing areas, the sake artisans of Fukui do all the brewing themselves - instead of entrusting it to contractors - which has led to the development of incredible craftsmanship and ingenuity among the local brewers.

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JETFUEL MAGAZINE

さかほまれ誕⽣ THE PRODUCTION OF SAKAHOMARE

Additionally, Fukui Prefecture launched, in 2010, a development project for a new 'sakamai,' a special kind of rice best suited for sake brewing. From an initial 8,000 varieties, through careful selection and hybridization, a new and exclusive variant was born. In the aim to create the best sake in all of Japan, the brand-new rice was given the name Sakahomare, which also includes the wish for anyone who drinks it to flourish and prosper. A special kind of yeast optimized for sake production was also developed at the same time, making this new project 100% local! Every ingredient needed to make the national drink - rice, yeast and water - could now be sourced in Fukui.

In 2019, cultivation of Sakahomare officially began. For quality and safety purposes, the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer was kept to a minimum. In the fall, several breweries around the prefecture used the harvested rice to make 'daiginjo,' a type of top-quality sake brewed from rice grains milled to 50% of their initial weight or less. In the case of Sakahomare, the laborious process goes even further as the grains are milled down to 35% of their weight in order to remove any excess part that could hinder the taste of the sake or add some odd, unwanted aftertaste. This is an amazing feat considering the grains used in sake production are on average milled to 70%.

See the difference between no milling and 40%

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 47

ust as sake - Japan's national drink and 'washoku' Japanese cuisine pair wonderfully together, Fukui 'jizake' craft sake and local gastronomy are a real match made in heaven!

Then, in the spring of 2020, the resulting lineup of 'nihonshu' Japanese sake made from the newly developed Sakahomare was launched. As the water flowing into each brewery, as well as the sake artisans themselves, differ from one producer to the next, every brewer came up with a unique product. This year again, 19 local breweries are offering their own take on the good stuff. How about going on a tour around Fukui to get a taste of them all?

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Some great Fukui specialties to munch on while sipping a cup of tasty 'nihonshu' Japanese sake include 'seiko gani' or female snow crabs, which are prized for their flavorful roe (or crab eggs), also make for a delectable snack to enjoy with your drink. Fresh 'seiko gani' might be a winter exclusive - only available from November to December but frozen snow crabs are now available all-year-long! I encourage you to try ordering some; your knowledge of Fukui gastronomy will certainly impress local patrons! Who knows, it might even spark a fun conversation with the barkeeper and other local folks.

PAIRING JAPANESE CUISINE WITH SAKE

⽇本酒ペアリング

'Saba no heshiko', a Wakasa southernFukui traditional dish of mackerel fermented in bran and brine, is another wonderful dish that pairs well with sake. The unique delicacy is offered at most 'izakaya' Japanese-style bars around the prefecture.

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 49

福井の地酒の魅⼒に迫ります

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Enjoy sipping sake from the refined pottery available at the Echizen Yaki no Yakata ware shop.

To end things in style, I'd like to introduce yet another way to enjoy the Japanese beloved drink in true Fukui fashion! Did you know that the flavor of sake will taste different depending on what kind of cup you drink it from? Many of the drinking tools used in each region of Japan showcase the very best of the country's traditional crafts, and pieces made of the 800-year-old Echizen Yaki pottery - one of the Six Ancient Kilns of Japan - are no exception! At the Echizen Yaki no Yakata ware shop of the Echizen Pottery Village

(Echizen Town), over 1,000 items of Echizen Yaki pottery are available for purchase, including vases, bowls and other daily-use articles. The shop also stocks a wide variety of sake cups of different sizes and thickness. Some of them are best suited for sake served cold or warm, but all of them should allow you to better catch the subtleties of the Japanese beverage. With so much to offer, you can be sure to find the one gem (or a bunch of them!) that perfectly suits your drinking style! Talk about a great way to fully experience the local culture.

Sake cups are available in a variety of sizes and thickness.

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 51

CULTURE

I K O R O D O T F O T A E B

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

M U R D Y M ler nd ha C a nn ria Ad by

T G R A HEN D I N U O P I ER

P E ES EX N PA A J

I TA

here are few things as utterly captivating as Taiko. The thunderous sound. The mesmerizing rhythms. The balance between graceful movement and raw, sudden impact. It is truly breathtaking. At least, that is how I came to see it. Prior to moving to Japan, most of my knowledge of Japanese Taiko began and ended with "Taiko no Tatsujin." I always enjoyed how the arcade version lets players wail on a big drum shaped controller, all the while fooling themeselves into believing they are, indeed, nothing less than a taiko drum master. Though, as much as I enjoyed playing the arcade version when I could, it made me wonder. This obviously wasn't what 'real' taiko was like. So then, what was 'real' taiko like? And the more I played the game, the more this question ate at me. Upon moving to Japan, once I had begun to feel a little settled in, I started looking into ways to get involved with the community. I attended some festival in the area, and begun expressing my desire in trying Taiko to other ALTs, one of which was kind enough to help me out. He asked around, and initially was told that most Taiko circles don’t allow women, to my dismay. But, he did know about a local group that accepted women, and that may be looking for new members. So we went to watch them perform at a local festival - a day that completely changed my life in Japan. I can’t exactly put into words what that first performance was like, but I still remember what I felt. It was hypnotizing. For a moment I felt as if the beating of my heart had stopped, and was replaced with the beating of their drums. My chest shook, and my eardrums tickled. It was as terrific as it was terrifying.

"The thunderous sound. The mesmerizing rhythms. The balance between graceful movement and raw, sudden impact. It is truly breathtaking." JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 53

O K TAI M U DR

hat, I wanted w r e tt a m o n t it. Before I n, I knew tha And it was the it. I needed to be a part of d out the f re to be a part o nd talked to the leader, figu next day I knew it, my frie e practice area, and by the sho Taiko bus route to th icial foreigner to join the Nata ⿎保存 ff was the first o ciety, Yusuiren. (名⽥庄太 Preservation So ). / 勇粋連

会

N E R UI TA

GRO IKO

taiko group n w o n k ll e w to learn, is a hen I joined, they had e m a c I s a , n W Yusuire kasa/Oi area. ersary. It all began with a W l a r e n e g in the 30th anniv r. Azuma and Mr. ir e th d te a r b just cele ers of the goup, M a taiko group in d the two lea en they decided to start festivals, events, Kaminaka, wh oup performs at various eddings in the 1989. The gr and sometimes even w Kaminaka were . competitions area. Mr. Azume and Mr of the group general Fukui t and vice president the president is the presiden hen I joined. Currently, of the Yusuiren w respectively who has been a member t is Ms. Kubota, Mr. Hirohata, 7, and the vice presiden since he was me member. another long ti ea, with only r a o h s ta a N i/ re from the O of them are junior high a s r e b m e m All the bama. Many d there are even whole O in s u f o a few schoolers, an iren. There is also a h ig h r o , s r schoole art of Yusu ool students, though p e r a t a th tary sch families n e m le e r fo p u children's gro

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

! E ID-19 . V O C o t I C sn't meet now dsueare usually T C p doe f the student bs, they u o r g t a A th While a lot o school and cluI have R rom practice. rom them, P f y tired f

prett have fun with nese jokes merican jokes always some fun Japa t them a few A and crazy, learned ve even taugh o fun and kind uring and I ha Everyone is s not have fun d as w e ll. im p o ssib le to . We e s , a n d that it's e. e m a s e practic r less th rt light exercis itself is o e r o g o e s m c he s a n d s h o e w a r m - u p a t t e r s e c i t c a h p r Every p ith some stret o warm up. T s in the same an be a begin w n into a taik t hit the drum nd speed. It c portant transitio simple: we jus g in rhythm a e basics is im key to pretty und, alternatin practicing thes erstand it, the se sort each ro otonous, but form. As I und a relaxed, loo bit mon ina and good ying is to have for stam form while pla . w ith as e d c m o n u o r a t g d s a hit the s can lead to re and u o t t s t o n p a f o l t o w p o s s i b l e , t hi ' t l o o k v e ry a r "The key to a good u t a n 's only uch force as n, and doesn nly at the t i e l i h W m o f t e ns i o o o l . I t ' s o , t he form while c a lo t im p act f o t n e playing is to have m om a relaxed, loose poture and stance." m e e ts e n i h c a b t the - that is wh force. n e m o m mhead ur - for a o y h l g l u a u r o e r d the nt to releas s kinda a physical or a w a t i w , yo u acticing ve never been e disadvantage e r p d e t rst star ns. First, I ha out, is a hug nd even mor i f I n e Wh of reaso as it turns trength, a the drum number person. That, ires a lot of s r sure. Hitting ost songs active o, which requ y workout, fo le arm, and m em. Rarely for taik . It's a full bod of one's who ccompany th moving. stamina s the full use eography to a f the drum un require specific chor ding in-front o have a ever just stan are you

T A E B I BACH

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 55

T E B EAA R T OF MY

econd, the language barrier was a huge hurdle in learning even the basics. A lot of the time, at practice, I would be doing something I thought was right, but then get signals that I was doing something wrong. Whatever that something was, however, I often couldn’t tell. It was a lot of trial and error for me to get most things, and thankfully all the people in Yusuiren are incredibly patient with me. Over time, we’ve developed a good system of simple gestures and phrases in both English and Japanese, to help me figure out what needs to be adjusted on my end. It’s still a little difficult to understand quick orders or changes even now, but I just learned to kinda roll with most things as they come. Third, and honestly something that I struggle with even now, is the loneliness that came with the early practices. Everyone was nice, but I think the language barrier really left me stuck in my own head at practice. I often felt too nervous or embarrassed to talk to anyone. And as the only foreigner in a group of people that had known each other for years, I truly felt like an outsider. It was very lonely, and I often felt a little sad that I couldn’t join them or communicate well. But, everyone there always tells me not to mind those kinds of things. And, with every practice, my Japanese gets better. And now, while it isn’t perfect, I can become more involved with everyone, and feel like I’m a normal member sometimes.

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

We used to practice 3 times a week, but sadly, due to COVID-19, we only practice once a week now. I personally try to never skip a practice, since I'm not one to give up, or to do anything half-way. If I’m going to be a taiko player, then I’m determined to be the best I can be. While practice is never easy for me, I still try to do my best at every practice. Despite the difficulties, I feel the rewards I get in return are more than worth it. I have made some wonderful friends that I hope to keep for years to come. I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in, physically. I get to be a part of such a huge part of Japanese culture, I get to truly experience it. And, most incredibly, I get to meet some truly amazing people. I’m not sure how long I will get to be a part of such a wonderful group, but there is a large part of me that hopes it never ends. A part of me that hopes to be lifelong friends with everyone, and maybe even share it with my own children someday.

"Ever since that first performance, taiko has become a part of my heart; it helps it keep beating - and, I hope it keeps beating on and on, for years to come."

群集

Community

Photograph by Charla Coetzee

COMMUNITY

FUKUI'S

1 & FINEST ST

IRISH WHISKEY BY ROB HENNESEY

H EY

JETFUEL MAGAZINE

IN LD

PUB After 3 years of operating a Mobile Irish Bar at events and fesival, we have now opened a real pub in Fukui City! This is the first of its kind for While our Tachinomiya is both novel and unique, we hope to offer many new Irish Whiskey distilleries

and

brands

the

Fukui and an Irish Pub with a difference! It's the first Irish Whiskey Tachinomia (Japanese standing bar) in the world!

opportunity to gain a footing

Japan. At the same pub space we will give locals a taste of Ireland and an atmosphere akin to that which they might find in a pub in Ireland.

The focus is Irish Whiskey; however, we aim to incorporate cultural elements, music, food, and banter! The pub is complete with a

covered

outdoor space with a serving hatch, communal garden just around the corner, and an authentic whiskey that's sure to make you feel as if you are in Ireland. Not to mention the pub is located an easy 3 minute walk Fukui Station.

It took 5 weeks to renovate the former clothing shop into what is now Fukui's only Irish Pub. With the help of friends, both Japanese and international, we completed this daunting DIY

"COME FOR THE WHISKEY STAY FOR THE MUSIC, FOOD, & BANTER!"

with brand awareness here in

mission in only 6 weeks. My previous life as a furniture designer certainly came in handy!

JETFUEL MAGAZINE | 59

ONE TIME

SPECIAL OFFER!

BUY1 GET

(OUT) STANDING BAR!

WHISKEY HIGHBALL ST

JULY 31 & AUGUST 1

You can redeem this offer by mentioning JETFuel magazine at Shelbourne Irish Whiskey Pub in Fukui City

www.shelbourne.jp

Address:

福井市中央 1-16-2 (Near Seibu)

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Saying Sayonara! It's that time of the year again, where we must say goodbye to another group of wonderful ALTs by sacrificing them to the sun god. It's never easy to say goodbye, so I'd like to think of it as saying " ” or "see you later." There is a finality in 'goodbye' that doesn't sit right with me. For me, and for many other leavers, Japan has become a second home or a home away from home. How can one truly say 'goodbye' to little Nihon forever? How does one pack up their life once again and try to fit it all into the same suitcase with which they came?

またね

Moving on from Fukui will be difficult, but I hope that Fukui will always have a special place saved in our hearts. I wish the best for these leavers as they set sail towards their next journey.

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So, you're leaving Japan? What made you decide to leave? I had come to Japan with the plan to leave in 1-2 years so I can go to Grad School. I figured I’d work, get some experience, and then go back to school before I got to comfortable.

"The friends that I've made here became my family away from home." Do you have any plans once you finish your time on the JET Program?

DULCE PARRA

"After these two years of a pandemic, I really need a breather." After 2 years teaching English in Echizen City, Dulce has decided to leave Japan and head back to school. During her time in Japan she made lifelong friendships, enjoyed Japan's many theme parks and even got her first tattoo!

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I’m going back home to spend some time with my family. I’m also going to focus on applying to Masters’ programs that aren’t in the U.S. So, I figured, I’d go home for a minimum 6 months and apply with less mental strain. After these two years of the pandemic, I really just need a breather. Thankfully, I have the opportunity to do that.

You mentioned you are thinking about applying to a Masters Program. What will do you plan to study and what schools are you considering? I'm planning on studying Applied Linguistics because It's something hat I've been interested in studying for awhile. McGill University is currently my top choice, while my second choice is Seoul University. Last, would be Arizona State University - as it's where I got my Bachelor's degree.

You've lived in Japan for 2 years, is there anything you will miss about living here?

I’m going to be super cheesy, but definitely the friends I’ve made. I gained new hobbies and interests thanks to all of them. They became the family away from home, so I’m really grateful to them. On a less sappy note, I’m going to miss all the variations of donkatsu. Fukui has their sauce-katsu and that’s great, but in general Japan just makes that dish so damn well. Also, the conbinis: they truly are the most convenient things ever.

"We got unlucky and came when the world just collapsed..." The JET Program is a time for great change for many people. How have you changed since coming to Japan? It’s definitely put things into perspective. We got unlucky and came during a time when the world just collapsed, but it made me realize what I want to focus on. I don’t know if I’m chill with settling for anything less than. The friends and experiences I have had here have really made me realize that I don’t want a typical 9-5 job. The office/cubicle life just ain’t for me.

We all have our craving and food that we miss while in Japan. What is the first thing you are going to eat when you return home? Tacos al pastor. I know some of you don’t know the wonders of Mexican seasoned pork, but, oh my goodness, you are all missing out. I, literally, will be excited to eat any of my family’s Mexican food. It's been so difficult to find any kind of good mexican food while in Japan or any kind of truly spicy food as well. I just need genuine - like makes me sweat - spicy food.

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"I'm hoping to move to Spain in October and teach English there."

So, you're leaving Japan? What made you decide to leave? I didn’t re-contract this year because I’m hoping to enter a graduate school program sometime next year - so, fingers crossed. However, I unfortunately have to leave a little earlier due to family circumstances.

Do you have any plans once you finish your time on the JET Program?

JON ALEXANDER "I'm going to miss the safety and calmness of Fukui." Jon has spent the last few years living and working in Fukui City at a special needs school. He hopes to move to Spain after leaving Japan and will continue teaching English in the future.

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Teaching English in Japan has made me realize how much I enjoy teaching, especially teaching kids a language. In October, I’m hoping to move to Spain and teach English there. In the meantime, I’m currently researching local Spanish universities of which to attend this upcoming fall.

Wow. You're planning to move to Spain. That's very different than Japan. What drew you to Spain? I was drawn to Spain for many reasons. After living in Japan for some time I've realized that I want to experience something completely different. And what's more different from Japan than Spain? I applied with the NALCAP program, which basically the JET Program but for Spain. The government sponsors the program to bring native English speakers inot Spainish speaking schools.

You've lived in Japan for 2 years, is there anything you will miss about living here? I’ll miss so much! I think it may be difficult to know exactly just how much I’ll miss until I’m gone, but here’s a short list: I’ll miss the safety and calmness of Fukui. I’ll miss Tojinbo and Mt. Asuwa. I’ll miss the clean streets and alleyways, onsens, and the quiet public transit. I’ll miss the food. Bento boxes and curry will never be as good. And of course, I’ll miss all of the amazing friends that I’ve made here who have helped me cope with the difficulties of living through Covid- 19.

"I've come to know what it's like to feel othered and a minority in a homogenous society."

The JET Program is a time for great change for many poeple. How have you changed since coming to Japan? Well, I’ve become a bit more independent. Although, I still have lots of room for improvement! I’ve also come to know what it’s like to feel othered and be a minority in a homogenous society while dealing with an entirely new language and culture. It’s been a valuable and humbling experience.

We all have our craving and food that we miss while in Japan. What is the first thing you are going to eat when you return home? Chicago-style deep dish pizza.

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So, you're leaving Japan? What made you decide to leave? I really love living in Japan and I hope to return someday, but I felt that it was time for a change. While I am young, I hope to experiencing living in many different places. It wasn't an easy choice, but in the end, I feel it was the right one.

Do you have any plans once you finish your time on the JET Program? At first, I plan to spend time with family and friends that I have not been able to see for a long time. Getting to see them after so long will be just what I need. Next, I hope to tap into my career interests, whether it is through an internship or a full-time job!

"It wasn't an easy choice but in the end I feel I made the right decision."

AMY ROWLAND "I really love living in Japan and I hope to return one day." Amy spent the last 2 years enjoying all the bountiful nature that Fukui has to offer. Located in Sabae, she hiked, biked, and explored every corner of her little town, leaving no trail left untreaded.

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What kind of careers are you interested in tapping into? Please tell me more about it. I want to work in global marketing! I'm a very visual person, which is what initially sparked my interest. I like seeing how ads and commercials impact our spending habits and hot it varies across cultures. So I hope to work in global campaigns for various brands after leaving Japan. So, fingers crossed!

You've lived in Japan for 2 years, is there anything you will miss about living here? I will miss so many things about Japan! I will definitely miss the convenience of all the conbinis, that Japanese hospitality, and gentleness of everyday life. It's going to be hard to remember what life was like before 7-11 and FamilyMart!

We all have our craving and food that we miss while in Japan. What is the first thing you are going to eat when you return home? Pizza. All the pizza.

The JET Program is a time for great change for many people. How have you changed since coming to Japan? Japan has definitely allowed me to channel my inner child and appreciate the cuteness in everyday things. Things that were once mundane and boring can now be more fun. Instead of a plain black pen, I can have a pretty orange one with Pikachu on it, and it isn't strange in the slightest. Even as an adult, I can watch

cartoons, read comic books, and go to arcades. Even danger signs use cute characters in their design. It`s the small things that make a difference in making life more cheerful.

"It's the small things in Japan that make a difference in making life more cheerful."

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I heard you will be leaving Fukui, what made you decide to leave and where will you be moving? One of the main reasons I came to Japan was to learn Japanese. While I've made decent progress over these past 3 years, and have enjoyed the change of pace of life in Fukui, I want to kick on and truly immerse myself in the study of the language. Naturally, being an English teacher and using English in most of my day-to-day interactions makes full immersion almost impossible. So, I've decided to move to Kyoto to study at KICL - a language school up in the north part of Kyoto city. I'll keep you posted on how that goes!

"I've decided to move to Kyoto to study at KICL - a language school."

What will you be doing in Kyoto? Will you still be teaching English?

ANGUS LANGMUIR " I began my Japan adventure with a very minimalist outlook ." After 3 long years living in Echizen City in Fukui, Angus will not be leaving Japan but instead making his way to the big city - Kyoto! He hopes to continue his Japanese studies at a language school there.

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Studying them nihongos as I've mentioned. I'm torn between continuing to teach English part-time - which will be much better paid, or choosing a job which requires Japanese - which will undoubtedly be great practice, but will make paying the bills trickier. Suga-chan, if you are reading, now would be a great time to roll out a second stimulus package.

"I've never been more focused on achieving my goals and pushing myself." How do you feel your life has changed since coming to Japan? I would say teaching 38 high school students everyday has expanded my comfort zone as I've learnt to grow to be more at ease speaking in front of large numbers of people. Meeting strangers at cafes to practice Japanese has also helped in this regard and is something that I'm surprised I've been able to do. Apart from this, I've never been more focused on achieving my goals and pushing myself, as corny as that sounds.

You're not leaving Japan, but instead moving to Kyoto. What do you think you will miss about living in Fukui?

The beautiful natures! (I'm sorry, this joke has been rinsed & repeated, but I couldn't resist) Fukui and Japan's countryside is truly beautiful. The sunsets that I get to enjoy when driving home from work, the beautiful green mountain and rice field landscape, and driving along the Echizen coast, there are too many things to mention. I will also really miss the good friends that I have made. Having a solid group of friends has been essential as sometimes you just want to moan about something which didn't go well at work, but also Japan wouldn't be as fun if I didn't have such good mates to share all the experiences I've had with.

As JETs we often fall prey to hoarding. What are you doing to prepare to move to Kyoto? Channeling my inner Marie Kondo to get rid of all unnecessary stuff. Like many JETs, I began my Japan adventure with a very minimalist outlook - a single camp chair in fact and a thin cotton sleeper - the small fabric you can put inside a sleeping bag as insulation; but over the years I've amassed quite a lot of clutter - mainly tissue boxes from the likes of Fukui Bank.

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"If you are thinking of moving and only know about teaching as a foreigner - there are other options out there." What made you decide to leave Fukui and where will you be moving? When I had applied for the JET Program, I had been wanting to live in one of the bigger cities in Japan. So, when I was placed in Fukui, it wasn’t exactly what I had been hoping for. However, I ended up really loving the prefecture and the people I met here, so I stayed longer than I had expected I would. However, the time has come and I want to experience a different side of Japan, so I’ll be moving to Kyoto instead of returning home once my contract ends.

CHARLA

COETZEE

"I ended up really loving Fukui and the people I met here." Yet another ALT from Echizen City that will be leaving us. Charla will not be leaving Japan, however, will be moving to Kyoto. She is currently on the search for a recruiting job in Kyoto.

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What will you be doing in Kyoto? Will you still be teaching English? At the moment, I’m still not exactly sure what I’ll be doing—job hunting takes quite some time. However, I’ve been offered contracts by two other English companies, so it’s looking like that’ll be my path once more. However, ideally I would like to get a job in recruiting. So, some advice for others who are thinking of moving and only know about teaching as a foreigner— there are other options out there; just look harder (and try to improve your Japanese as much as possible).

As JETs we often fall prey to hoarding. What are you doing to prepare to move to Kyoto? About the same as everyone else who is leaving. Since it’s looking like we’ll have to move out everything, we’re just slowly getting that done while have virtual tours of apartments in Kyoto. I highly recommend having someone who is good at Japanese help you because most of the agencies don’t have English employees. Other than that, we’re having anything that might be broken in the apartments checked before the big inspection. Don’t want to be paying for problems that we didn’t cause, of course.

You're not leaving Japan, but instead moving to Kyoto. What do you think you will miss about living in Fukui? Honestly, the great community here. I’ve made some friends that I plan on keeping in touch with even after we all go back to our countries. I don’t think many people coming to Japan are lucky enough to find themselves in a group where they genuinely were able to grow close to the people that ended up beside you by pure chance—you guys know who you are! Aside from that, I’ll miss all the beautiful places I often visit; nature had become a big part of my life. Gotta love the “many beautiful natures.”

How do you feel your life has changed since coming to Japan? Being exposed not only to Japanese culture, but also the various cultures of the people around me, I’ve definitely learned

things about myself that I never knew. Many of the perspectives I had on life are a lot different now than when I arrived and it has definitely helped me grow as a person. You come to realize that there’s a lot more out there than what you used to know and that can be very intense and eye-opening if you let it be. So, let yourself be introduced to things that may seem different to you. You never know how it will change you for the better.

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Lifestyle

LIFESTYLE

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ART

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A quick sketch of Okamoto Otaki Shrine. after spending the afternoon with some friends in the area.

A close-up sketch of some daruma slowly decaying as they rest at a shrine

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Shimanami Kaido in December 2018.

A moment in time captured at the Peace Park in Hiroshima.

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Featured Artist Simon Barker

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LIFESTYLE

Night Manoeuvres is a historical short story set in 1950s Britain and based on true events. Taken from the short story book written by W.S.Ishida The Lost Chapters: 7 Short Stories from the British Countryside. The Lost Chapters is made up of sections culled (for the sake of brevity) from the novel Goodbye to Ribbons and adapted into short stories. If you enjoyed this short story, below is the prologue and the opening chapter of the novel Goodbye to Ribbons featuring the same protagonist.

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Night Manoeuvres (1959 ~ Rosie aged 14) I ent afraid of the dark. Never was, never have been. After all, it ent the darkness that hurts you, it’s only the monsters that hide within it. But that ent to say there weren’t times when it happened to be dark and I managed to get myself scared. I remember one particular night, deep into autumn, a night darker than most with the fickle moon having buggered off on one of its regular flings. The hazy scent of summer had long gone and in its place was the smell of damp earth and rotting chestnut husks. I remember everything being so quiet and still, not even a stir of wind. And once again I found myself hiding on the edge of those blasted woods with just the tick - tick - tick of the rusted pocket-watch to keep me company. As usual, I was in my nightdress, my brother’s wellies, and my mother’s coat. Unlike me, my mum was a gret ol' girl, so the sleeves hung way down past my hands. The best I could do to keep them out of reach of the nagging brambles below was to hug them around myself, but I wasn’t scared at this point. You see, this was a fairly normal way for me, aged 14, to be spending my evening. Mostly I was just bored. Bored - of - waiting. Occasionally, I squelched my feet into the guck of leaves to ease the ache in the back of my legs. And also cos it made a funny noise. Little Miss Muffet sat on her tuffet . . . I liked to recite nursery rhymes when I was alone - just to pass the time, mind you. But because we couldn’t have anyone knowing I was there, hiding in those woods, the words always stayed silent prisoners inside my head. . . . eating her curds and . . . and I knew I wasn't alone, even before I first heard them coming my . . . . . . whey . . . I ent sure how. You know what it’s like sometimes - you just get that feeling. Then along came . . . a . . . s . . . spiCRICK. -der. I stopped and I listened. With it not being my first time in those woods, I'd learnt how to pick out the natural noises, such as the creaking of branches or the gossiping of leaves in a breeze, from those unnatural, such as a body breaking through foliage or an animal rooting around in the undergrowth. And so I knew this wasn't no crunch of twigs under a dog walker’s feet, or a hedgehog snuffling through the dead leaves. It was a different kind of noise. A kind that sent an army of insects with tiny, sharp, prickling feet creeping their way up my arms. A kind that tightened my breath by wringing at my lungs. A kind that caused a slow tumbling and turning to wallow up from the pit of my belly, up, up, up into my chest. For this was a far more disturbing kind of noise. More disturbing, because it was the noise of something trying its hardest not to be heard. After another CRICK, came a long drawn out rustle. Then a sound to the right. Then another - this time from the left. And again. And again. My head snapped towards each one. One here, one there, one near, one far, one . . . everywhere. All around me. Too many to count. Too many to keep track of. By now the panic was pumping through my blood—pounding in my eardrums. The undergrowth, painted black by shadow, started to twitch as if a dark and deadly rainstorm was sweeping towards me. Closer and closer, creeping and crawling it came. A thousand thoughts crowded my mind, all fighting and colliding against each other. Should I shout? Should I scream? Should I run? Should I hide? If I run - which way? Should I scream while I run? Or better to save my energy? But fast thoughts are a friend to no one when your legs ent even listening. And so . . . I simply did nothing. I was frozen to the spot. Frozen by what I call a moment of uncertain—certainty. Uncertain what was happening, but certain I was about to find out. Right before it did, there was a moment of calm, a moment of perfect stillness as the silence wrapped itself around me. I took a sharp breath, which steadfast refused to come out again. And then I waited. It started with a short, sharp bark. On its command, broken, dark figures rose out of the ground like the wakening dead. They came from everywhere, loping out of the gloom with their huge misshapen heads. Their tentacles and antennas flailing wildly. Shouts and roars bounced and crashed through the trees as they bore down upon me. It was as if the very forest itself had come alive and wanted to gobble me up. There ent no denying that I was fearing, but very quickly something else took over. It’s hard to describe with my words, but I remember thinking, Oh well, so this is happening then, let’s just get on with it shall we. I guess I can only say it was a kind of acceptance. An acceptance that comes from realising you are powerless. Realising you can’t change things, that all you can really do is wait, and hope. Just hope that things will turn out for the best - eventually. *** In all fairness, the sergeant was ever so apologetic when he realised I was but a young girl. Mind, that didn’t stop him from scolding me for troshin around in dark all on my own, but then he apologised again for scolding me. He said they’d escort me home, but I told him I was waiting for my mum and could they be sure not to give her a fright, should they cross her path. Each young recruit was then made to file past and mumble a sheepish apology before they went back to running round the countryside playing at being in the army. I had a little chuckle as I watched them march down the road - with the ferns, twigs, and broken branches that they’d stuck in their helmets and buttonholes, wobbling and bobbling away. It made them look more like a troupe of circus clowns than a troop of soldiers. But their peculiar shapes quickly melted into the blackness, and soon even the clip-clop of their marching boots was swallowed by the night, and I was left alone once more. And so I went back to waiting for my mother in those blasted woods. Waiting to see her familiar ambling frame emerge from the darkness, waiting for her to comeback from wherever it was that she had spent her evening, waiting - just like a good little girl should. Tick - tick - tick.

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The Prologue Ages 65 (2010) I wouldn’t ever say it’s easy watching a person die, no matter what the circumstances. But it’s also hard for me to say that there wasn’t a part of me that was glad when he did. Well, maybe glad ent quite right, but I never have been that good with getting my thoughts down. Me, I prefer to talk. Actually, I’ve been talking to one of them psychiatrist people, would you believe. She’s actually quite nice. I like her. She listens to me. In fact, she was the one who said I should do this—you know, write it all down, like a proper story. Mostly, she listens with her legs crossed, leaning forwards, head cocked to one side and her thin eyebrows raised. Sometimes she nods along, and sometimes she asks me questions too. “And how does that make you feel now?” she might say. Or, “If that were to happen today, what would you think, or how would you react? In fact, tell me, what would the Rosemary sitting here now, say to the Rosemary back then?” But my answer is always the same. Okay, I’m slowly losing the use of my hands, what with the rheumatoid arthritis, and walking isn’t getting any easier, but I got my own house, my own husband, two little dogs and a fair few friends. In fact, every summer we have a big party here in the garden—which if you’ll forgive me for being a braggart—is slowly becoming quite the event on some people’s calendars. So I gotta say, I’m happy. And if I changed any one little thing from my past, then who’s to say I would’ve even got to where I am now. Yeah, things did go—if you’ll ‘scuse my French—horribly tits up for a long, long while, but here I am. And, there was even one or two laughs that were had along the way, so you know what—I’ll take that. Anyway, listen to me waffling on already and I haven’t even got started. Now, I do want to say one final thing—please be warned, I’m gonna tell it how it was, warts and all. And I ent gonna pull any punches, so to speak, that just isn’t me. So, if you care to listen, here it is. This is my story from the very beginning.

Chapter One The Good Little Girl Aged 3 (1948)

If I only had one thing going for me throughout my life, it was being as tough as a pair of old leather boots that’d been left out in the rain too long. You see, I'd quietly put up with things that most others wouldn't. And so even though they thought I might never walk again, I listened and I did as I was told—just like a good little girl should. “Keep your head up and always look forward,” they kept telling me, when at 3 years old I had to learn to walk for the second time in my life. And it wasn’t long before I was able to straighten my knees. And a short while after that, hobble about with the help of a frame. Then, after five long bedridden-months spent alone in a dark room, the day eventually came when it was all over and I could once again stand on my own two feet. The old clothes peg was finally removed from the curtains and the lights turned on. I was jiggling with excitement knowing that I was going to be with my family again, that I was going home. They dressed me up in the clothes I came in with, the only ones that weren't hospital issue. Then I waited. I remember it so clearly, sitting on that bed. The sunshine warming my back. My pale skinny legs swinging free as the excitement tickled away at the inside of my belly. I heard her first—a distant voice booming through the corridors. Then there was the odd moment of silence, which was when the staff got their turn to speak before she started up again. My legs stopped swinging. “Uh yes, she's just in here, we urm—” But before they could finish, in she stomped. A big-bosomed, bolshie woman with waves of thick, light-brown hair and the most striking red lipstick you ever did see. She stood towering over me, swamped in a lavish fox-fur coat, hands on hips. My tiny fingers gripped at the bedsheet. “Right. Come on then. We ent got all day,” she said with a weariness, as if we’d already outstayed our welcome. I didn't reply. I didn’t even move. “Come on. Let's not hang about. Don't want to keep these busy people waiting, do yuh.” I looked to the doctor, who gave me a nod and an over-practiced smile. But all I could do was pull the sheet up from the bed and hold it in front of my face, my eyes barely peeping over the top. The doctor looked to the woman and then back to me. He wanted to say something but clearly wasn't sure of himself. She often had that effect on people. “It's… it's just your mother, she’s come to take you home, Rosemary. You… you do want to go home, don’t you?” Of course I wanted to go home, more than anything in the world. However, something just didn’t feel right. All I can think of now, is perhaps the picture I’d built up in my mind over those last five months wasn’t marrying-up to the one who stood towering over me there and then. Visit wsishida.com to find out more…

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LIFESTYLE

FUKUI CAFE TOUR A LIST OF WHERE TO GET YOUR CAFFEINE FIX IN FUKUI by Meg Luedtke

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Some may have noticed, but I’ve been on a bit of a cafe kick over the last few months. My diet being what it is (regretfully gluten-free, for those of you who don’t know), I rarely ever visit google with the intention of finding out what the nearest 5 star restaurant is. For me, eating out is a bit tricky. It’s far from impossible, but overall it’s usually more effort than what I’m willing to put into it. Especially on days where I have no brain juice left to deal with translations (you know the kind). So when I met up with a friend for our usual Friday shenanigans and he suggested we poke around and try something new for the day, it was the first time I really ever looked around for food and drink options in the area outside my established regulars. I tossed “cafe” into google, not expecting much honestly, but quickly found I was wrong to assume so. Not only were there a TON more cafe’s than I expected, they all looked pretty fun and quirky, each with their own themes and styles. In hindsight, I suppose that's not that usual. Japan is known for its cafe scene, but in my mind I’d mostly reserved that aspect of Japanese culture to bigger cities, like Tokyo or Osaka. Of course, the big city cafes still have a bit of pizazz and spice that these smaller cafes generally don’t, but what they lack in that extra sparkle they make up with that fun small town “only true locals could know this joint” kind of feel. So, my rambling (mostly) aside, from Awara to Echizen, here is a tour of fifteen different fun and unique cafes I think are totally worth your time to visit and try out!

THE COFFEE SHOP TOUR Keep in mind that this article is written like it’s a grand, one-day cafe tour extravaganza, but I don’t actually recommend trying to hit up all fifteen of them at once. Just the travel time alone to try and do so is around four hours, not including your time spent at the actual cafes. Plus, that amount of caffeine intake could kill a person, and I do not wish to be responsible for anyone's caffeine-induced death. (Please make better decisions than me and balance your caffeine intake with actual food and other non-caffeinated drinks). I’ve also split the cafes into smaller, more manageable cafe-hopping day trips. These little day trips are grouped in ways that make travel time as short as possible and only 3 or 4 cafes in a trip. But you can easily mix and match these around to optimize your visits based on your timeline, location, etc. or visit them individually on your own time! Whatever suits you!

03 THE ARABICA TOUR AWARA & SAKAI

THE ROBUSTA TOUR MARUOKA & EIHEIJI

THE LIBERICA TOUR FUKUI CITY

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CAFE Starting off the tour is Cafe , an eclectic cafe straight out of an anime. Literally. Although the name has been changed to Kamezichi in the show (Glasslip, for any of those interested), Cafe is the real world counterpart to the cafe the protagonist and crew frequents. I know little to nothing about the show itself outside the fact that the main protagonist is from Fukui, her family has a glass making business, and that Cafe is part of the setting. But you certainly don’t have to know a single thing about the show to enjoy your visit.

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The cafe is nestled in a forest and full of handmade glass and ceramic crafts. The cafe owner will likely want to know a bit about you and show you a guest log book he has full of comments and sketches from locals and foreigners alike, and he has a collection of records he’ll let you choose from to play in the background. Admittedly, the coffee choices are very basic and because of my diet I can’t really give anyone much insight on the meals offered there, but even then the ambiance this cafe creates is so welcoming that I definitely plan on visiting multiple times over.

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ZUIKA ORCHARDS AWARA

A short 8 minute drive away, Zuika Orchards is next on the list. Writing this out, I’m actually not sure if this place qualifies as a cafe... I honestly don’t remember if they even serve coffee. But that is not the point. The point is that this place is super fun and quirky and 1000% worth your visit.

Zuika Orchards offers a whole host of things, a charming interior made of randomly collected items, fresh produce for sale, tasty sweets, tea, cats, goats. The orchard is surrounded by blueberry farms and even hosts a little farm of its own, allowing blueberry vines to grow on a trellis above the outdoor deck where visitors can sit and enjoy the shade. I personally recommend the blueberry sundae, which is topped with the best blueberry jam I have ever had. July and August is prime blueberry season for those looking to visit when the fruit is at its freshest.

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After Zuika Orchards you can hop back into your car and drive just 5 minutes south to hit up a CUBE cafe. a CUBE Cafe is actually only one of 5 cubes on the premises. a CUBE is where you can get your coffee and food fix, but the other cubes are home to little shops and supermarkets. Each cube has glass walls that open up as well, so in the summer months each space opens up their walls, making the whole area feel like one bigger building and also making it really easy for visitors to peruse through each area. The coffee selection is on the smaller side but the menu is decent sized and my friend vouched for the pasta there. Definitely a nice little stop!

森のめぐみ SAKAI

12 minutes south of a CUBE you’ll find the rustic . The cafe's wooden and brick interior, accompanied by the view of the small garden outside the cafe makes you feel right at home almost instantly. There is soft music in the air and it’s right next to a local train line, so it’s the perfect spot for just sitting and enjoying the usual din of everyday noise. It also appears to be home to some live shows, with a piano and mic set-up in the main room. The menu looked like it was full of yummy foods and I indulged in a ruby chocolate latte. In the end I failed to put a finger on what gave it it’s “ruby” taste, but it was delicious regardless.

森のめぐみ

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CAFE BUNBUN &

城⼩屋マルコ

MARUOKA

Cafe BunBun has a decently sized menu and offers a good mix of things. You can easily satisfy any savory meal, sweet treat, or coffee craving here in one stop. I highly recommend the caramel latte for any caramel lovers out there (I also get the Omurice on the regular).

城⼩屋マルコ has a more limited menu

These cafe’s share a slot on the list because they are a short stone's throw away from one another. Cafe BunBun and both rank pretty high on my favorites list, but I’m also a bit biased as they are very close to my apartment, allowing me to be a reglar around the shops. Both cafe’s exude cozy atmospheres and sit at the base of the castle.

城⼩屋マルコ

but for what it lacks in food items it more than makes up for in environment. The cafe is very inviting and relaxing, and a great spot to sit and do some work if you need a place to think outside of your apartment. It has a stash of manga, samurai armor, and some outdoor seating with a view of the castle. You can also rent the space out for really cheap, so it’s a fun spot for movie or game parties!

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COZY COFFEE EIHEIJI A seventeen minute drive though beautiful mountain views will land you at your next stop, Cozy Coffee. Cozy Coffee is a place for coffee connoisseur’s. The cafe is very sleek and modern and the front of the shop has a display full of various kinds of coffee beans to choose from. Or, if you’re like me, you just go with what the shop owner recommends. Cozy Coffee’s most popular item is their iced coffee, and it’s probably some of the best iced coffee I’ve had. It comes in a little set with sugar and creme, coffee ice cubes, and even a to-go cup at the ready should you decide to finish it later. The cafe is also right along the river, making it a great place to relax and enjoy the outdoors while savoring your drink. The trees along the river are also Sakura trees, making this a particularly pretty (and popular) spot to visit in the spring. 88

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バロック FUKUI CITY

This cafe has a cute and welcoming cabin appearance, both inside and out. reminded me a lot of the cabins I used to stay in as a kid while either camping with family or summer events, so I got a nice dose of nostalgia just from visiting the place. The inside is very warm and the tunes playing were some old English classics that had me jamming out too.

バロック

GREEN CAFE FUKUI CITY

Green Cafe is, as it sounds, a haven for plant lovers (like myself). Just an 8 minute drive from , the center of the cafe boasts a small greenhouse-like garden with plenty of seating that looks over this green space. I remember the first time I visited I low-key fangirled over all the nice indoor plant life, a dream I aspire to obtain one day. The cafe has a unique self-order system that customers can easily access from their smartphones and ever flowing bread, so long as you leave the “bread card” up. The food is delicious (so says my friends), the coffee’s tasty, and the ice cream is some of the creamiest I’ve ever had.

バロック

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THREE8

FUKUI CITY A short 2-minute drive from Green Cafe is Three8. If you want a little slice of Florida this is the cafe for you. The cafe sports a nice tropical vibe, palm trees and all. The interior has many comfy places to chill out, a projection screen, disco ball, and billiard table. The coffee selection is pretty small but they make up for it with a plethora of frozen fruit juice options, really cementing in that tropical Floridian feel. The cafe is also near a small mall made out of old shipping containers, complete with a vegas-styled sign. The whole area is super fun to enjoy.

*All of these cafe’s could also be combined with the cafes in the Excelsa tour, as the cafes listed here are pretty close to the two in the tour below.

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ASUWAYAMA D E C K FUKUI CITY About 15 minutes to the northwest of your last stop, you’ll come to stop at a cafe I’m sure most of you already know about, but just in case there are some people out there who are late to the party like I was. Asuwayama Deck is a cafe with a fun artistic and eclectic interior. The space is full of cute handmade crafts and the drinks and food are good, but the biggest selling point of Asuwa Desk is its views. Sitting at the top of the small mountainous area in Fukui City the cafe offers a beautiful panoramic view of the city. You can enjoy the view both indoors or by sitting outside on their rooftop deck.

87CAFE

FUKUI CITY There is only one thing you really need to know about 87cafe. Best. Latte. Art. Ever. I could tell you about the fun colorful interior, nice staff, and delicious looking set menus but honestly, the latte art of this cafe alone is worth your visit. I’m not the “kawaii” squealing type, but the little cat in my cup made my voice go up about two octives. Before you ask… yes, I did feel bad about drinking it (but it was oh, so good).

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CAFE MARE

WEST COAST OF FUKUI This seaside cafe is the perfect place to relax and enjoy the sunshine and salty breeze. The cafe offers more sweet drinks than coffee but that didn’t make my iced cocoa any less enjoyable and delicious. The staff is very genki and kind, walking around and talking with customers and filming clips for their social media. The large wooden swing set there seems to be the setting for a lot of Instagram photos and the large open space means lots of visitors bring dogs, so if you are missing your fur children back home you might get to get your fill here! Cocoa and doggos aside, Cafe Mare offers a nice respite from the city with its endlessly blue view.

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モモンガコーヒー ONO

A drive through the lush mountains will land you at . This cafe is very close to Ono Castle and the Shichiken Morning Market, making it a perfect little stop to top off your sweets and caffeine fix after a little stroll through the city. It has a bit of a boho chic look accompanied by a collection of various plants and foliage. If you’re looking to make another coffee stop Edison Cafe is also nearby, though I haven’t been there myself yet it looks like a quaint and pleasant stop as well!

モモンガコーヒー

OEDO+ ECHIZEN

Oedo+ is a very beautiful and somewhat minimalist-style cafe. Both inside and out, the cafe boasts a very clean and modern look. Very chic and instagramable. About 90% of the building is glass walls, allowing you to look out and enjoy the view of the bamboo forest and a small shrine in the area. The food selection is moderately sized but the friends I went with vouched for its deliciousness, and the drink section has a lot of fun options, such as a matcha or strawberry latte.

This list only just begins to scratch the surface of all the cafes to be found here. Even in the process of writing this article, I realized there was some I missed and I know there are others I've been to since I started this little project. But hopefully, this list has given you a new place to enjoy a nice cup of coffee or even given you just a new place to relax! Have fun!

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LIFESTYLE

th these summer i w n ow trea d l o ts Co

Mo ch Ic e Cr i eam

l o o K ri o g i k Ka s p o P t i u r F Froz en

r e m m u T S E E W S

Easy & Refreshin g Desserts 94

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Cool for the SUmmer

A Japanese Summer Classic

Perfect for a hot summer day

Sweet Treats to beat the heat Summer in Japan can get pretty hot and humid, and with central air being an uncommon commodity, staying cool is no easy feat. With the height of summer quickly approaching it gives you all the more reason to stuff your face with cold, sweet Japanese desserts! I've borrowed some of Japan's most popular summer desserts and reimagined them for the western consumer. Each recipe has been broken down into easy-tofollow steps complete with budget-friendly ingredients.

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This is one dessert that really screams 'summer is here'! The shaved

Kool Kakigori Japan's version of shaved ice, Kakigori, is practically synonymous with summer festivals - and for a good reason. This dessert is the definition of a frozen treat. It brings together both creamy and cold flavors.

ice can be topped with sweet sugar syrup of all flavors and colors, making it a fun dessert to try out many different flavor combinations with.

Pack another layer of shaved ice. Then liberally drizzle some more syrup onto the ice, making sure to saturate the shaved ice.

Add one more layer of ice to the bowl, rounding it off the top. Generously pour more syrup onto the ice

Ingredients 20 oz. Kakigori syrup of your choice 7.4 oz/1 Tube of Sweetened Condensed Milk 4 cups of Ice Cubes (you can also purcahse permade kakigori ice)

and then finish it off with two heaping tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk.

Choose your toppings Try experimenting with many different fruit flavors.

Assembling Kakigori Snow Cones Place ice cubes in a shaved ice machine (can be found at most grocery stores) or place ice cubes in a blender until ice is broken down into small chunks. Then set the bowl of shaved ice aside.

To assemble the snow cones, layer the ice and syrup for an even distribution of flavor. Start first by squeezing some syrup into the bottom of your kakigori dessert bowl then layer shaved ice on top.

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Some flavors that I tried out are listed below for inspiration. Peaches and Kiwi Blueberries and Lemon Strawberries and Kiwi Blackberries and Oranges

"This desserts screams summer is here!"

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Mochi Ice Cream

With deliciously refreshing ice cream on the inside and perfectly soft and chewy mochi on the outside making for the perfect cool summer treat on the go. Making mochi at home is also much easier than you think! This mochi cream recipe takes just a few minutes to make and is amazingly customizable!

Ingredients 8 oz Vanilla Ice Cream 5.5oz Sweet Rice Flour 2 oz Granulated Sugar 8 oz Water A few drops of food coloring (optional) Cornstarch (or potato starch) for dusting

Dip a rubber spatula in water (don't use whisk again because it will be too sticky) and mix for about 30 seconds before placing it in the microwave one last time for 30 seconds. When you take it out of the microwave now it should be a sticky dough, If adding in food coloring, then this is the time to evenly mix it throughout the dough.

Place a parchment paper on the counter with a generous dusting of cornstarch (or potato starch). With a wet spatula, scrape the dough onto the parchment and sprinkle the top of the dough with more. Roll out the dough and let set in the fridge for 30 minutes.

Once the dough has been set, cut into small circles (you can use a drinking glass) and scoop ice cream

Making Mochi

into the center of the circle. Press the dough's edges around the scoop of ice cream, forming a ball, and

In a large microwave-safe bowl combine the sweet

squeeze to seal. Lastly, wrap mochi balls in plastic

rice flour, sugar, and water then cover with plastic

wrap to preserve shape and pop into the fridge for

wrap and microwave for one minute. After heating

minimum of 2 hours.

for a minute, stir the rice flour mixture with a whisk to remove any lumps before placing it back in the microwave for another minute.

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When ready to eat, let the mochi ice cream sit for a minute to soften and ENJOY!

TIP: Mochi

Dough

sticky,

about

using

don't

very

shy

cornstarch

(or potato starch! It will help

you

handle

the

douigh, and any excess will once

brush

off

you're

assemble

easily

ready

the

mochi

balls.

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Fruit and popsicles are match made in heaven! All you need to do is add your liquid sweetener of choice and you have a simple and healthy refreshing popsicle to enjoy.

Frozen Fruit pops Popsicles are one of the easiest summertime classics to make! They only require a few ingredients to make and are the perfect cold, guilt-free treat to enjoy in summer. There are also endless fruit combinations to try out all of them delicious!

Putting together you Popsicles Mix your ingredients and pour into molds (you can find popsicles molds at any 100yen shop or use old yogurt cups) to the popsicle you want to make. When placing the fresh fruit into the molds, be sure to evenly distribute it throughout.

Before you freeze your fruit popsicles, insert popsicle sticks (can be found at grocery stores) into the molds. Once you've placed popsicle sticks into each popsicle mold, place them in the freezer and let

Ingredients Kiwi Lemon Pops 1/2 cup of Kiwi Juice 2 Tbsp Lemon Juice 1 Tbsp Lemon Zest 2 to 4 Tbsp Honey or Sugar 1 cup sliced Kiwis

them freeze for about 4-7 hours depending on how

Strawberry Lime 2 Tbsp of Orange Juice 2 Tbsp Lime Juice 1 Tbsp Lime Zest 2 to 4 Tbsp Honey or Sugar 1 cup sliced Strawberries

cold your freezer gets.

After freezing your popsicles, it's time to unmold and enjoy!. TO unmold your fruit pops, run the mold under warm water for a few seconds to loosen, then slowly remove the pops from the molds.

Orange Pops 1/2 cup of Orange Juice 2 to 4 Tbsp Honey or Sugar 1 cup sliced Oranges

100

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Only unmold popsicles that you will be consuming, otherwise, leave them in the mold. Popsicles should be good to leave in freezer for about 1 week.

An easy & refreshing treat to help you cool down from the heat!

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SPOT THE DIFFERENCE

LOOK AT THE POOR-QUALITY MS PAINT IMAGES BELOW. THERE ARE EIGHT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO HASTILY DRAWN COMPUTER MOUSE-BORN PICTURES. CAN YOU SPOT ALL 8 INFURIATING DIFFERENCES? OR WILL YOU JUST SAY, "OH, FUKUI IT, I GIVE UP!"

102

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ANSWERS ON PAGE: 105

ANSWERS

PAGE:

105

PUZZLE

Crossword BY

KALI

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14. 15. ONE OF THE 16. 17. ANOTHER MAKER 19. YET ANOTHER MAKER 20. ONLY 25% HAVE RECEIVED THIS IN JAPAN 21. THIS IS AT EVERY

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DEFICIT

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C R E D I T S JETFUEL MAGAZINE

Magazine Front Cover Photo by Megan Luedtke Letter from the Editor Photo by Canva & Leah Burkett Table of Contents Page Font by Canva.com Edited by Leah Burkett Credits Page Photos by Megan Luedtke Edited by Leah Burkett Font by Canva.com Back Cover Edited by Leah Burkett Font by Canva.com

Travel Travel Cover Page Photos by Megan Luedtke Font by Canva.com Discover Japan: The Ultimate Guide to Japan Written by Leah Burkett Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Leah Burkett & Canva.com Font & Animations by Canva.com Karim's Adventures in Japan Written by Karim Mohanna Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Karim Mohanna & Canva.com Font by Canva.com A Tour of the Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum Written by Pierre Leroux Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Pierre Leroux & Megan Luedtke Font by Canva.com Exploring the Railway Heritage of Japan in Fukui Written by Pierre Leroux Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Pierre Leroux

Culture

Lifestyle

Culture Cover Page Photos by Sawyer Scherbenske Font by Canva.com

Lifestyle Cover Page Photo by Canva.com Font by Canva.com

Experience Fukui: Heian Period Dress Written by Nyssa Giangregorio Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Nyssa Giangregorio Font by Canva.com

Fukui Art Written by Leah Burkett Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Iggy Jeffery & Simon Barker Font by Canva.com

Experience Fukui: Echizen Overnight Written by Iram Amin Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Iram Amin Font by Canva.com

The Lost Chapters Written by W.S Ishida Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by W.S Ishida Font by Canva.com

Sake Tasting in Fukui Written by Pierre Leroux Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Pierre Leroux Font by Canva.com

Fukui Cafe Tour Written by Megan Luedtke Edited by Megan Luedtke Photos by Megan Luedtke & Canva.com Font by Canva.com

Todoroki: Heart Pounding Taiko Experience Written by Adrianna Chandler Photos by Adrianna Chandler & Canva.com Font by Canva.com

Summer Sweet Recipes Written by Leah Burkett Edited by Leah Burkett

Community

Photos by Canva.com

Font by Canva.com Spot the Difference Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Michael Adamski

Community Cover Page Photos by Charla Coetzee Font by Canva.com Shelbourne: Irish Whiskey Pub Written by Rob Hennesey Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Rob Hennesey & Canva.com Background & Font by Canva.com

COVID Crossword Created by Kali Michelle Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Canva.com

Farewell Fukui: Leaver's Interview Written by Leah Burkett, Dulce Parra, Jon Alexander, Amy Rowland, Angus Langmuir, & Charla Coetzee Edited by Leah Burkett Photos by Charla Parra, Jon Alexander, Amy Rowland, Angus Langmuir, & Charlotte Coetzee Font by Canva.com

Font by Canva.com

SPRING/SUMMER 104

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ISSUE 2021

COVID CROSSWORD ANSWERS

SPOT THE DIFFERENCE ANSWERS 1. Skull is moved to the right. 2. Extra finger is in the back. 3. Forearm is shorter. 4. Raptor is moved to the left. 5. Nostril is smaller. 6. Bottom neckline is missing. 7. Coat pocket is smaller. 8. Back teeth on top and bottom are missing.

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"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer." —F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Fukui Prefecture fukuijetfuel@gmail.com