Author: miyazakiajet

Mobsters, Murder, and All That Jazz: MAJET’s 2nd Murder Mystery Night!

Leave a comment

All’s quiet in Miyazaki in March. Spring has begun and the promise of impending cherry blossoms can warm some of the coldest of hearts. But not all hearts… The retreating Winter chill can’t be kept at bay when there’s murder in the air!

dsc_0695

2016’s Cabin in the Woods: Murder Mystery

MAJET’s Murder Mystery event is back this year with a theme that’s piping hot! As you travel to Nichinan, travel back almost 100 years to the Roaring 20s, a time of mobsters, bootleggers, flappers, jazz singers, slick bar tenders, speakeasy saloon owners, and corrupt policemen. Prohibition has just been lifted which means there’s cause for celebration at the shifty saloon, Juice Joint. You’re all on the invitation list! The question is, who is on the hit list? Join us for the 2nd MAJET Murder Mystery Night to find out!  Continue reading →

Second MAJET Sports Day!

Leave a comment

Why should the kids have all the fun? Gather your friends and join us at Oyodo River Park across from Miyazaki City Hall on October 14th to put your speed, strength, and skill to the test!  After the rousing success of last year’s Undoukai, MAJET is excited to host another one! In 2016, Team Instinct (pictured below) took home the very first MAJET Undoukai Cup.  Will your team rise to the occasion and top Instinct’s final score?! Continue reading →

Buzzin! Miyazaki’s Coffee Shops

Leave a comment

 

Hemingway once wrote, “Coffee is good for you, it’s the caffeine in it”. As a self-professed caffeine addict, I’m inclined to agree. I am the sort of individual who, in the morning, can not even begin to contort myself into any kind of personable or even functioning human being without a hit of caffeine. After living in Miyazaki for over a year, only recently have I started to discover, to my surprise, that there’s a little bit of an artisan coffee scene brewing (apologies for the pun… it’s the only one, promise) in this small semi-rural city. So, if you’re looking for something a little more authentic, and a little less ‘blended-frappuccino-whipped-cream-topped-mocha-latte’ you’ve come to the right blog post. Continue reading →

The Battle for Cleanliness: A Fight You Don’t Have to Face Alone

1 Comment

So you’ve survived your journey to the Far East, somehow stumbled through three days of Tokyo Orientation, and, after what feels like a lifetime, you’ve finally arrived in the place that will be your new home for (at least) the next year.

You were picturing it all–either your predecessor gave you a virtual tour and sent you pictures, or you were just imagining the quintessential Japanese apartment: tatami rooms with that fresh straw smell, the small but quaint rooms, and of course a fancy Toto Toilet that would not only spray your bottom, but would revolutionize the very way you experienced the bathroom. Yes, life in Japan would be beautiful, organized and neat, just like the train stations in Tokyo and Osaka. Continue reading →

Vegas, Baby!

Leave a comment

Friday the 20th of January, MAJET invites you to the only (and therefore best) club in Miyazaki for our Vegas Night!

We’ll be filling Weather King with all the glitz and glamour of Vegas, as long as that glitz and glamour is available at Daiso.

We’ll also be issuing everyone chips that they can use at one of our gambling tables. The person who has the most chips at the end of the night will win a prize. Be careful however; if you bust out, you’re not going to get any more chips. Risk it all to win it all! Continue reading →

Dancing All Night: Takachiho’s Yokagura Festival

1 Comment

Miyazaki’s own Takachiho-cho is the birthplace of many Japanese myths and legends. These events are recreated in the form of yokagura (夜神楽), a traditional Shinto dance. The full traditional yokagura is comprised of 33 dances. Every night at 8pm, Takachiho Shrine (map) hosts an abbreviated version of yokagura which you can see for around 700円.

From November to February, however, each shrine in the village takes turns hosting all-night performances of the full yokagura! The revelry starts around sundown and doesn’t stop until the next morning, but the audience is free to wander in and out and drink shochu to stay warm (lots of layers are recommended).

To give you an inside look at this annual festival, former Takachiho JET Ellen Freeman has graciously allowed us to repost an article she wrote for the Kyushu Article Contest last year. Enjoy! Continue reading →

Volunteer at the 2016 International Christmas Market!

Leave a comment

Christmas time is here! It’s the most wonderful time of the year and we need all the help we can get to spread a little Christmas cheer. Fight the year-end blues by joining us on 23 December (also a National Holiday) from 13:00 – 17:00 for a wonderful Christmas volunteer opportunity.

This year, MAJET is teaming up with Rika hyuna_xmasvolunteer(Kiyotake International Association) and Sascha (former CIR) to join the Christmas Market at Ichibangai (map) in Miyazaki City. This is a typical Christmas Market and so there will be plenty of other stalls too. In order to have a successful stall, we need your help! We’re looking for people to dress up as Santa/Santarina and take some snaps with kids or make their day by giving them candy. We also need workshop assistants and carolers/ performers.

If any of these tickle your fancy then sign up today! Continue reading →

Calling all Volunteers!

Leave a comment

As the days are getting shorter and cooler, it’s time to spread a little love and warmth where we can. Do you feel an urge to give back to the community but need a change from the usual English volunteer activities? Fear not! MAJET is excited to bring you a new volunteer opportunity where you can showcase your musical talents. Even if you feel like you are lacking in this area, join us anyway. The residents at Tano Care Home would love to meet you. Continue reading →