Mark your calendars! The time has come to announce MAJET’s biggest intercultural event of the year– The 6th Annual Amazing Race!
MAJET’s Amazing Race was started by a group of ambitious JETs who came together to create an event that would combine the knowledge and experience of both English and Japanese speakers by bringing together Japanese and Western culture via a yearly theme. This year’s theme will be a Ghibli-Disney crossover! Continue reading
As the holiday season is in full swing, some of us are heading home to be with family or going on tropical vacations. And some of us will stay here in Miyazaki to watch the red leaves fall off the branches and warm up with a hot bowl of ramen. There is a chance it won’t be as nostalgic as your hometown traditions, but Miyazaki and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer during this season! So, we have compiled a list of ideas to battle those Japanese-shocked holiday blues. And hey, you might even discover a new tradition of your own! Continue reading
Miyazaki may be known as the surf and sun capital of Japan, but our prefecture has much more to offer than summer fun. 😉 As part of our Fawning Over Fall event, MAJET took advantage of one of Miyazaki’s many other outdoor pursuits–river kayaking! Continue reading
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
Click to see the event flyer!
Hey MAJETers! If you read the “Plaza News” (which you should, there’s a lot of good stuff in there and Heyne works hard on it every month 😉 ), you may have already heard about this event. But just in case you haven’t, the 11th Annual Miyazaki International Festival will be held on Saturday, December 10th! There will be many events taking place, including a Japanese speech contest, a screening of the film “Hafu,” and hands-on activities. The Miyazaki International Foundation (MIF) would be very happy if MAJETers would come to the event and meet others living in Miyazaki. Continue reading
Wow–October is almost over already! But, where are all the autumn leaves? Those of us from more temperate climates may be thrown off by Miyazaki’s long-lasting summerlike weather, but don’t lose heart! There is a bit of fall color in our sub-tropic prefecture, as long as you know when and where to look for it. 😉
Luckily, Japan has this nifty guide to autumn leaf-viewing (because of course they do). With this guide, you can keep updated on all of the best places for fall foliage in Japan! The most ideal locations for momijigari in Miyazaki are up in the mountains to the north and west of the prefecture. The higher altitudes create a cooler climate that’s the perfect environment for changing colors.
Below are some of Miyazaki’s best momijigari spots, as well as some nearby places in other prefectures. Let us know if you have any recommendations of your own! Continue reading
It might be hard to believe, but Fall has arrived here in southern Kyushu. Some may cry out, “LIES, MAJET! It can’t be fall just yet! I haven’t seen the leaves change one bit!” Others may groan, “I guess I’ll have to wait till spring to explore the natural beauty of Miyazaki.” Well, fear not my friends! MAJET is here to help! Come join us up in northern Miyazaki for MAJET’s Fawning Over Fall event! Continue reading
Are you looking for a new extracurricular activity? Have you ever wanted to try playing taiko? If so, we have the opportunity for you!
The Amadaiko drum is a treasure of Miyazaki City. The Tano Amadaiko Preservation Association holds a Tano Amadaiko Class from 20:00 to 22:00 at the Tano Densho Geinoukan (map) every Saturday night, and they are very keen to share their class with some foreigners!
To help gain more interest and give people a chance to try playing taiko, the Association is holding a special Amadaiko Experience Class at the Miyazaki Performing Arts Festival this November! This event is open to anyone, but only 10 people may participate, so you must send in an application. If you’re interested in participating, please check out the event details and application guidelines below! Continue reading
The autumn equinox has come and passed, and now it is October. While the heat may hang around for a while yet, it’s time to say goodbye to our dear friend, summer. But not without one final adventure!
MAJET and KAJET teamed up to organize a joint beach party at beautiful Ajiro Beach near Makurazaki, Kagoshima. This beach is only accessible by ferry, with only a distant lighthouse to remind you of civilization. The water is clear and cool and full of fish and coral to explore! Continue reading
For those of you who don’t know, Miyazaki is a member of AJET Block 11, along with Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Okinawa prefectures. Our Block Rep, CJ Fischer, really wants to help get us all together for some interprefectural events this year, and he’s just set up our first one!
Our first Block event will be on Saturday, October 15th. We will be meeting in Yastushiro, Kumamoto to attend the Yatsushiro National Fireworks Festival! With around 30 famous pyrotechnicians from all over Japan competing for the best displays, it is sure to be an incredible night! The show begins at 6pm and continues until 8pm, and is easily accessible from Yatsushiro station.
If you want to come and meet your peers from Kumamoto, Kagoshima, and Okinawa, please check out the event on the Block 11 Facebook page. From there, you’ll be able to organize carpools, tatami shares, etc. to help make the most of your weekend!
This is just the first of many events Block 11 will be hosting this year. We hope to see you there, but if not, there will be more opportunities, so keep an eye out!
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