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The Prefecture of Ishikawa is located on the west coast of Japan and is blessed with a rich natural environment. Myself, having grown up in Eastern Kansas in the United States, the possibilty of getting on a bike and riding in either direction and being at either the beach or deep in the mountains, in a matter of 30 minutes, still astounds me.
The Prefecture is also blessed with a rich cultural tradition. The region being blessed with abundant rainfall (you will think it is a curse having to commute in it everyday;) has some of the largest rice harvests in Japan. During the Edo period, the region came to be called the area of HYAKUMANGOKU, or one million goku of rice (a traditional measure of about 180 liters). This rice harvest supported a rich economy and traditional arts culture. The traditional arts of the period have continued to flourish and today offer any student opportunities not available in any other part of Japan.
To name a few examples...
I enjoy music and theater, and there is lots going on here. In college I had the opportunity to take a number of classes on Japanese theater from Dr. Andrew T. Tsubaki, at the University of Kansas. After arriving in Kanazawa city, I began studying NO theater at the Prefectural No Performing Arts Theater. There is perhaps nowhere in Japan one can see and study NO like you can here. In Autumn, the KANNO NO YUBE series allows one to see NO plays every Saturday for a mere 1000 yen. I also play KOTO, Japanese harp, and do JUDO. There are lots of traditional fine arts to participate in as well. Wajima Laquerware, Kutaniyaki pottery, and Kanazawa Gold leaf are all famous internationaly and play significant roles in the Japanese arts tradition.
Ishikawa couldn't be a better place to study Japanese. It offers a student an environment with lots of "Japanesey" traditional stuff as well all the cool cites of a major city. The weather can be pretty lousy sometimes but you can surf year 'round and there many ski slopes within an hours drive of Kanazawa city.
Well, I guess you are waiting to here about Japanese language study now huh... ;) Forgive me, after all I am a prefectural employee...;)
The Ishikawa Culture Exchange Center, frequently called the Shakyo Center, Japanese language instruction courses were first introduced in April 1983, and enjoy an excellent reputation nationally. Courses are divided into three sections: Regular Group Classes, Private and Intensive Classes, and Japanese Seminar Programs. Group classes meeting twice a week for one and a half hours per session are 4000 yen per month. Private instruction is 2000 yen per hour. For more detailed information follow the link or contact the center directly at the above address.
The International Lounge is a converted house operated by volunteers of the Ishikawa Women's Society for International Exchange. The Lounge offers various types of classes such as Japanese, cooking and traditional crafts. In most classes students are charged only for materials.The International Lounge is located behind the Junior High School Attached to Kanazawa University. It is about 3 minutes walk from Kencho-mae Bus Stop (Buses 18 and 91 from Kanazawa Station).
This is a new organization in Komatsu which operates a salon in the Yokai-machi shopping arcade, a two minute walk from the train station. It costs \1000 to join, has foreign newspapers and magazines, cable TV, free coffee, tea and cakes, Samba once a month, cooking lessons, ikebana, sports events and much more. It also has cheap Japanese lessons at \500 per session.
This volunteer group from Matto is led by Mrs. Junko Kimura who speaks a little English. Primarily made up of housewives, the group's aim is to help foreigners live in and enjoy Japan. They offer free Japanese lessons on Saturday afternoons. Peruvians, Brazilians, Filipinos and Chinese employees of two large Matto companies often attend lively gatherings. They have cooking parties, bus tours to Noto and kimono-dressing gatherings. Everyone is welcome (even those who don't live in Matto).
Forum Nanao is located on the 4th floor of the new "Patria" Shopping Centre which is across the street from Nanao JR Station. It offers Japanese cultural classes (tea ceremony, calligraphy, ikebana, shamisen, etc) as well as aerobics, yoga, rhythm and folk dance, cooking and so on. The Japanese classes are not actually organized by the center but by a group of women who happen to use the center as one of their venues. All the women can speak English and offer lessons to anyone from beginners to advanced level. Please contact Yuko Sugino (0767)53-0136 for further details. Classes may be taken in the evening or during the day.
This organization based in Switzerland offers homestay and language courses for students on a monthly basis. For further information please contact the center in Kanazawa above.
The society offers Japanese language and culture courses and includes a home stay program. The above contact address is valid until March, 1996 after which the school will dissolve and be reorganized as TERAKOYA NIHONGO GAKKO Tel +81(762)88-1421 Fax +81(762)88-1508.
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