AISF News 2006.4 - 2007.3

Research Presentations for Fiscal Year 2006
The research presentations of the AISF scholarship recipients for fiscal year 2006 were held on Saturday, March 3, 2007 at the Atsumi Foundation. There were more than 50 participants, consisting of the current and next batch of scholarship recipients, the members of the Raccoon-Kai (alumni association), the AISF directors, and those who provide assistance for international students in Japan as well as guests of AISF. Mrs. Itsuko Atsumi, Executive Director, explained about the dolls displayed in the hall and the Doll's Festival on March 3. The presentations were made splendidly, in spite of the hard task that the presenters had to explain, within 15 minutes, their Ph.D. research results in terms understandable to a child.
They were also asked to use PowerPoint (Presentation Software), which was new to some of them, but all went very well. The presentations were followed by the comments from three gusts: Professor Masaaki Kawai of Keio University, Mr. Hiroyasu Takeshita, Secretary General Rotary Yoneyama Scholarship Foundation, and Professor Hitoshi Hirakawa of Nagoya University, who is a member of AISF Selection Committee. They emphasized the importance of the ability of concise their grand research into 15 minutes while sympathizing it difficulty. It is also mentioned that this is a rare opportunity for researchers to be able to widen their interest not only their special field but also many other field of studies. Lastly, Dr. Max Maquito (1995 Raccoon), SGRA Steering Committee member, gave a presentation about the Sekiguchi Global Research Association (SGRA), especially where Sekiguchi is by using Google Earth. Participants all enjoyed the Chirashi-zushi, a special meal for Dolls’ Festival, and various Korean dishes catered from the restaurant managed by the family of Dr. La Insook (1998 Raccoon) , as well as lively conversation.
by Junko Imanishi

Please visit the following URL for the photos taken by Max:
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/
Racoonkai in Toyama
The first Racoonkai in Hokuriku District in Japan was held from 18:00 on Sunday, February 11, 2007, at a cozy Japanese restaurant “Tamami” in Toyama City. Dr. Zhou Haiyuan and Dr. Li Gangzhe and his wife, coincidentally both from 1999 Raccoon, AISF Director, Junko Imanishi and her daughter Asuka attended. Junko visited Toyama to see the exhibition of graduate art works of the Toyama University (formally Takaoka National Two-year College) where Asuka studied the art of urushi lacquer ware. Dr. Zhou kindly arranged the dinner with Echizen Crabs and Sake as requested by Junko.
Dr. Zhou has been steadfastly realizing her dream of applying Chinese medicine into her practice of western medicine. After Ph.D. from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, she entered the medical school of Tokai University in order to get the National Examination to become a medical doctor in Japan, which she passed a few years a go. She is now in the final months of her Residency, and from April, she will be one of not-so-many licensed Chinese medical doctors in Japan. She will start as internist in the Kanazawa University Hospital.
Dr. Li Gangzhe became Professor at Department of Law and Literature of Hokuriku University in Kanazawa City since October 2006. His department is one of the first to have started a Twining Program with Chinese universities. Chinese students study in Japanese language in their universities in first two years, and then they all come to Hokuriku University in their latter two years. They will get BAs from both universities. This program is adopted in many universities in Asia and Oceania in order to invite good students from abroad to the university, which is in the high competition of getting students to survive. In fact Hokuriku University succeeded to invite good students from China, and their Japanese language level is high enough to study in Japan. However, what to teach seems to be the problem. Japanese students do not know anything about Chinese law and political system. Chinese students do not know anything about democratic law and system. Teaching them separately, defeats the purpose of studying abroad or of accepting Chinese students in Japan. How they can give good education that will satisfy Japanese and Chinese students is the current challenge of this university.
Even if they succeeded in getting good students, university restructuring will continue to face challenges in this global competition of education.
by Junko Imanishi
AISF New Year’s Party in 2007
The annual AISF New Year’s Party was held from 12:00 to 15:00 on January 13th. About 40 people, including the 2006 scholarship recipients, Raccoon members and their families, gathered at the Zaidan Hall. Various foods like Ozo-ni, Oshiruko, Osechi-ryori, Yakitori, and a Sri Lankan dish made by Nalin-san, were all delicious. The taste of Mochi (rice cake) was particularly good. It was pounded by people who took off their jackets in spite of the cold weather.
Before the meal, the participants stood side by side doing Tai Chi as instructed by Hu Xiuying-san. It is essential for our health to take moderate exercise as well as to have delicious food.
Lastly we had a Bingo game. The children were pleased with the toys: Sim Choon Kiat-san was as delighted like a child with the muffler made by Mrs. Shimazu. It was natural that the number of prizes our family got was more than that of anyone else since all of my family members participated in the party. I would like to say to Li Chengri-san who got only one prize in twice-held game, “It was pity that you did not have your family this year. Please bring all of your family next year like me and get more prizes!”
It was a new year’s party which we can call a “trinity” with delicious food, appropriate exercise and joyful games.
When I asked my children having toys in both hands on our way home, “Do you want to come again next year?” both of them answered loudly, “Of course we do!” Everyone, let’s participate in the New Year’s Party next year with all of your family members!
by Woo Seonghoon (2006 Raccoon)

You can get the picture from:
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/index.php?spgmGal=New_Year_2007/export
“Mini-Raccoon-kai in Beijing” by Sun Jianjun (2002 Raccoon)
The Mini-Raccoon-kai was held in Beijing in the middle of winter on the 10th of December to welcome Ms. Bao Lian Qun (2005 Raccoon) who attended the 5th Chinese Sociolinguistics Conference. The hosts were Beijing residents Ms. Piao ZhenJi (2003 Raccoon) and myself. More than 200 participants from thirteen countries were there. Ms. Bao Lian Qun was the only representative from Japan and contributed to making it a truly international event. During the conference, Ms. Bao and I engaged in animated conversation although it was our first meeting. We were surprised at finding the name of Piao Zhenji in the participants list for the conference but it was a different person. Because Ms. Bao did not stay in Beijing University, the site of the conference, she had to move from place to place by the chartered bus. Therefore, we took advantage of the situation and had a mini-Raccoon-kai in the farewell party of the conference.
“Thank you” by Bao Lian Qun (2005 Raccoon)
It was a pleasure for me to meet Ms. Piao and Mr. Sun at the conference. I would like to express my gratitude to them for taking the time to welcome me. Since I am just about to graduate, it was really useful for me to get some information about the universities in China. Thank you for the useful information. On the first day of the opening ceremony, during a break time, Mr. Sun and I looked for each other; Mr. Sun made an announcement to search for me, and I searched for him by a name tag. Although it was the first meeting, I felt as if we are bound by an invisible thread of Atsumi-scholarship recipients.
There were many participants in this Chinese Sociolinguistics Conference: presenters were as many as 225. It was a large-scale conference with the participants from all over China. Even though I have attended and made presentations in various international conferences, I got nervous before going to China because I was a single participant from Japan and felt responsibility for representing Japan.
I prepared some resumes in addition to my presentation using power point, but other group members didn’t. I found there were some difference between conference style in Japan and that in China.
It was definitely worth to make presentation in this conference as I could meet many Sempai. In addition, I was lucky to be invited to co-author a book by Professor Zhou of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

AISF has decided on the scholarship recipients for Academic Year 2007!

Name	Nationality	Sex	University	Special Field
Abudushukur Mejit	China (Uighur)	M	Tokyo Medical University	Surgical Medicine
Chan Chai-fong	Taiwan	F	University of Tokyo	Area Studies
Deng Fei	China	M	University of Tokyo	Advanced Interdisciplinaly Engineering
Gangbagana	China (Inner Mongolia)	M	Tokyo University of Foreign Studies	Regional Studies
Kim Minsuk	Korea	F	Wasada University	Architecture
Lee Eungyong	Korea	F	University of Tokyo	Regional Studies
Park Sohyun	Korea	F	University of Tokyo	Cultural Resources Studies
Porras Rojas Oscar	Costa Rica	M	Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology	Applied Marine Environmental Studies
Quan Mingai	China	F	Japan College of Social Work	Social Welfare
Shulatov Yaroslav	Russia	M	Keio University	Politics
Wang Jian Hong	China	M	Wasada University	Construction Engineering
Yan Hainian	China	F	University of Tokyo	International Health

Mini-Raccoon kai in Okinawa Report
Ms. Hu Xiuying (2006 Raccoon) visited Okinawa the other day to attend the Annual Meeting of Japanese Society of Health and Human Ecology, which was held at Okinawa Prefectural College of Nursing. It was her second visit to Okinawa. Ms. Hu and I had a luncheon meeting at a restaurant around the venue on November 10th. Although we met each other for the first time, we talked a lot like longtime friends. We talked frankly about such as the life of studying in Japan, the effects of worsened (souring of) relations between Japan and China, and the difference between the way how Japan is viewed from Chinese students a hundred years ago and that in the present days. Those are so interesting that I wondered if we could have shared them with many other people. The time of three hours passed so quickly and we had a precious time.
by Lin Shaoyang, trans. F. Ito
Interaction with Nature and with the MORIMORI Network in Tochigi
Three raccoons accompanied by Atsumi Foundation Managing Directress Junko Imanishi participated this year’s tree-planting and encounter-with-nature activities organized by Mutsuko Yamagata of the MORIMORI Network in Tochigi Prefecture last October 28. The educational event took place at the Yamagata estate, a 30-minute drive from Yasaka Interchange. Towards the entrance of the estate is the splendid view of General Yamagata Memorial Museum, a western-inspired two-storey building, which houses General Yamagata’s career memorabilia, statues, rare ceramic collections, as well as pictures of the closest family members and friends. But a tour of Yamagata estate reveals many more attractions for nature-lovers.
We missed the tree-planting event at 10:30 as we could not make it on time. Managing Directress Imanishi, Yu Xiaofei (2002 Raccoon), Brenda Tenegra (2005 Raccoon) left Iidabashi station in Tokyo at 8:00 a.m. but our car was trapped in a heavy traffic along the way for nearly an hour. Coincidentally, Lee Jea Woo (2004 Raccoon) who traveled with his family was also caught in a traffic jam like us. The weather was fair so it was not so bad after all! After arriving in the area, we went around for a revitalizing walk along the trails of pine trees and had a whiff of fresh air. We enjoyed the stroll with Laka (Directress Imanishi’s dog). As usual, Laka never fails to catch people’s attention with her huge built (Great Dane) and nice look. Laka instantly became a ‘darling’ dog to everyone.
One of the highlights was the chainsaw art carving of Keiji Kidokoro, who has carved out a name for himself as one of Japan’s top chainsaw artists. He demonstrated his skill and speed on chainsaw art carving and he amazed the crowd. He carved out 3 sculptures from about a 200-pound log of Japanese cedar that day!
At lunch time, we had a taste of the locally grown vegetables and fruits prepared by the MORIMORI Network members. A variety of food and drinks were served. The roasted beef served that day was also a sumptuous treat. It was a festive atmosphere and participants took turns in giving brief self-introductions.
On our way back to Tokyo, we had a very smooth trip...no traffic jam! For Yu Xiaofei, who took the wheel from Imanishi-san, it was a fascinating and pleasurable driving experience back to the city. What a relaxing day!
by Brenda Tenegra

Photos taken by Lee Jea Woo can be found at the following URL.:
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/
2006 Get-together of AISF Recipients
The get-together for AISF Recipients 2006 was held at the hall of the Atsumi Foundation at 18:00 on October 2nd. There were 34 participants including scholarship recipients in 2006 and the past, directors and trustees of the Foundation. Mr. Jitsuro Terashima, Director of the Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute, gave a talk on the subject of "Japan's Future in the 21st Century". After his lecture, the participants all together had a dinner party. We had a useful and pleasant time.
In the lecture, Mr. Terashima, with over thirty years experience at Mitsui & Co, Ltd. and Mitsui Global Strategic Studies Institute, got into subjects starting with very interesting economic issues. He analyzed world trends using a lot of data and pointed out directions for Japan to take in the 21st century.
For the last fifteen years from the 1990s, Japan has seen two major changes. One is a change in the trading structure of Japan: comparing the data between the 1990s and 2005, exports to the U.S. decreased from 32 % to 23% of the total; on the other hand, those to Asia increased from 31% to 48%. Imports from the U.S. decreased from 22% to 12%; those from Asia increased 29% to 45%.
The other is a change of distribution related to the trading structure shifted to Asia giving greater importance to Asia and China (including Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore) brought about by such phenomena as the hollowing-out of distribution ports along the Pacific side of Japan. These major changes will steadily lead Japan to depend on Asia in the 21st century.
Based on these changes, Mr. Terashima pointed out two international roles of Japan in the 21st century: One is a role not to let the U.S. be isolated from Asia and to assist the US to become a constructive partner of an international community that tolerates diverse values. The other is a role to draw China into responsible participants to the international community and assist China to become involved in the international rules and systems regarding environmental issues and problems of intellectual property rights.
At the Q&A session, he was questioned about prime ministerial visits to Yasukuni Shrine that are a key to diplomatic relations with Asian nations and education to foster patriotism. Regarding the first question, Mr. Terashima answered indirectly pointing out two issues: the importance of making a policy to develop a multilayered relation with Asia in conjunction with placing importance on the alliance with US; and the necessity and inevitability of cooperation among East Asian countries. As for patriotism education, he answered, “We, as responsible adults, should not educate to the youth merely to love the nation but to share the responsibility for creating a nation worthy of admiration.”
At the dinner party, after making a toast, we enjoyed meeting in a friendly atmosphere over Chinese food. The meeting time of three hours went quickly. We had a wonderful time. Thank you very much for those who prepared the meal or took photos.
by Zang Li, tran. Ito Fusae

The photos of the gathering can be found from:
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/
KSR Dinner in Seoul
On October 14, 2006 from 7 PM, the 6th KSR (Korea Society of Raccoon) get-together was held at the Shinshon Korean cuisine restaurant in Seoul’s Myudon district. Although recently remodeled, the restaurant is 40 years old---quite rare in a town where changes occur daily.
It’s been quite a while since the last KSR get-together and this one was held at the end of a 9-day holiday (similar to Obon) and amidst the excitement over North Korea’s nuclear test (although there was not much stir in Korea). Eleven people attended: Atsumi Foundation Managing Directress Junko Imanishi, Kim Woong-Hee (‘96 Raccoon), Lee Nae-Chan Huey (KSR Chairman, ‘96 Racoon) and his wife and daughter, Hong Kyung-Jin (’99 Raccoon), Ko Hee Tak (’00 Raccoon), Jung Jae Ho (’00 Raccoon), Chae Sang Heon (’03 Raccoon), Kim Hyeon Wook (KRS Secretariat, ’03 Raccoon), and Han Kyoung Ja (’05 Raccoon).
During the get-together, suggestions were made to “reduce the annual charges” and “go on an overnight trip to Seoul’s outskirts”, so as to raise the participation to KSR. The participants were in agreement about having family social gatherings, since it is really difficult to remember how each one is doing in their research or otherwise in just one or two dinner affairs. I think it is a good opportunity for bashful junior members to talk with the more senior members. There was also talk about activating the forgotten (?) existing internet community (cafe) in Korean language.
Incidentally, in relation to duck cuisine (Peking Duck), the topic of frog cuisine (Banzai Yu) was raised. The name of the frog soup comes from the frog making a Banzai pose when it is boiled. I hardly think that the frog dies in peace, but crying out banzai at the point of death, may just be a stylish way of going.
It was a get-together with no regrets and simply enjoying life.
by Han Kyoung Ja, tran. by M. Maquito and F. Ito

You can see the pictures on the web.
Atsumi Scholarship Applicants for 2007 year
Applications for 2007 Atsumi scholarship were received from 1st to 29th September 2006. 142 applicants from 20 countries /areas and from 37 universities have applied this year. Twelve scholarship recipients will be selected through a selection procedure which consists of document-based screening and two interviews. The results will be announced in early -December. See the following charts for more details.
by Junko Imanishi

Applicants based on university
Applicants based on country
Miraculous and Lucky days in Karuizawa！
Amidst news full of reports of record-breaking rainfall all across the Japanese archipelago, we pushed through with the FY2006 Atsumi Foundation Karuizawa recreational trip. We resigned ourselves to an hour and a half trip by Shinkansen. It was still raining when we got to Karuizawa. According to Atsumi Foundation Managing Directress Imanishi Junko, who met us at the station, this was the first time since the start of the Karuizawa get-together of Raccoons and incumbent scholarship recipients that rains have forced a change in plans. The scheduled hiking to Mt. Hanerayama was cancelled. Instead, we enjoyed shopping and some free time at shopping center around the station, after we had our lunch.
After we were able to set down at the Training Center where we will be staying for three days, we had an orientation participated in by Directress Atsumi Itsuko. Looking at the nice PowerPoint slides prepared by Max Maquito (1995 Raccoon), we were given a virtual guided tour of Karuizawa by Vovo and Laka. Raccoons bearing their families came in one after the other to join us, and we soon noticed that at some time the rains had stopped. With this good luck, we were able to finish off the fireworks and watermelon smashing, which we already were set to abandon because of the rains. The kids, as well as adults, who became children again, were able to enjoy a fun-filled summer evening.
From 830 in the evening, a Karuizawa Seminar was held at the Training Center Meeting Room. Ri Kotetsu (1999 Raccoon) and this year’s scholarship recipient Li Chengri, gave easy-to-understand explanations, mixed with good humor, on the urgent concern about the North Korean issue. Doubts and discussion were actively raised from the floor, and I felt precisely a concrete materialization of the imaginary community of the “global village”. The seminar extended into a drinking discussion well up to 2 AM.
On the second morning, the Raccoons were awakened by clear blue skies and sweet fragrance of the mountain forest, despite the rains having continuously poured for a month up to yesterday. Indeed, this is when we use such words as MIRACLES. The “24th SGRA Forum in Karuizawa” was started from 2 PM, pausing for an hour dinner break and was closed at 9 PM. The theme was “Garbage Disposal and Cross-Boundary Resource Recycling”. It was precisely while being immersed in the rich nature and satisfying ambiance of Karuizawa that we are made to contemplate on the importance of the environment. Please consult the following link for the precious discussions of the experts and some photos during the forum. http://www.aisf.or.jp/sgra/
On the last day in Karuizawa, we had a barbecue party at Directress Atsumi’ s summer house, where the 2006 Raccoons cooking skills were put to work. The husband and wife teams of Nalin Weerasinghe and Mohottala Shirmila cooked up Sri Lankan curry which was spicy and healthy. With all one’s might, Hu Xiuying cooked up various hot and delicious Shichuan dishes. These dishes were doubly delicious when mixed with fervent conversations about the stories from the "Three Kingdoms,” which took place in the Shichuan Province.” The beef, mutton, and chicken, which were roasted together by Korean and Chinese Raccoons, the Yanbian and Korean dishes by Mr. and Mrs. Ri Kotetsu, and the annual Oden Stall of Mr. and Mrs. Hara Yoshio (Director of Kajima Art Foundation) were also very much appreciated this year. The fun-filled 3 days was closed by a souvenir picture taking.
Bad weather changed to good weather---miraculous and lucky days. In that refreshing aura of the forest and stream, we surely were able to activate the less-used part of ourselves (right brain), giving balance to our overused selves (left brain). To the concern and warmth of Atsumi Directors and each of AISF staff members, I take this opportunity to thank you once again.
By Hyun Seungsoo, Translated by M. Maquito

You can see the photos taken by Tanihara san and Adachi san from the following URL.
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/index.php?spgmGal=Karuizawa_2006_by_Adachi
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/index.php?spgmGal=Karuizawa_2006_by_Tanihara
My Trip to China during 'Golden Week' Holidays
Although it has already passed two months since I took a trip to Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Xi'an, and Urumqi, I would like to thank to Raccoon members who took care of me so well and made a report on the trip.
Since CISV (www.cisv.org) will host their first international children's camp in Guangzhou City in July 2007, for which I am acting as the Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator, recently I often visit this city. This time I entered from Hong Kong airport in order to meet Dr. Steve Ye (2004 Raccoon), who works at Department of chemical pathology of The Chinese University of Hong Kong. Although I often transit thruｇｈ the Hong Kong Airport, it has been a long time since I stayed in the city.
At the airport Ye-san came to meet me with his future wife, whose nationality is Malaysian. As soon as I put my luggage in a cozy hotel, we took a subway to the Prince of Wales hospital where his laboratory is located. There I met his colleague who speaks Japanese fluently. He is a Hong Kong Chinese, who had just returned from South Africa and wants to study in Japan in the near future. The four of us went to a restaurant in the city. We were quite an international group; mixing up several languages like Japanese, English, Cantonese and Mandarin Chinese at the dinner. In Hong Kong and Guangzhou, many people seem to feel inconvenient if they can not speak Cantonese. Hong Kong seemed to be very convenient, lively, and moreover, an easy-place to- live because one seems to be able to do whatever they want.
In Guangzhou, I had limited time due to CISV meetings and gatherings. However, the "company" of Dr. Qi Jinfeng (01 Raccoon), Professor of Guangzhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, was near the CISV campsite school, we had a chance to chat, drinking oolong tea under the shade of big trees. Many people were having a relaxing afternoon; families with children having meals, and a group playing cards. Though it was May, cicadas were shrilling everywhere in the park.
As my CISV friend from Portuguese insisted, "if we go to China, I must visit the Terra-cotta Solders of Qinshihuangdi", I accompanied him to Xi'an. Prof. Shou Tian, [introduced by Dr. Gao Weijun (95 Raccoon), and Dr. Wang Dan (99 Raccoon)], who is a violinist and at the same time the President of Chinese division of Shoko Bussan Co. Ltd.. guided us enjoyably with his brother and friends. Dr. Wang had driven for 12 hours all the way from Shandong Province. He is going to teach the violin at Xi'an Conservatory of Music from this September.
China is now in a tourism boom and it was golden week, so the ancient city Xi'an was overflowing with tourists. Especially, the Terra-cotta Army and Big Goose Pagoda (Dayanta) were filled with people, people, and people…. How great China is, they were able to handle this great number of people. This was the third time I visited the Terra-cotta Army. The museum itself has not changed so much, but a high way road was extended from Xi'an, and the cotton-growing field in the old days was completely changed to a town.
We went to "farmer's restaurants" in the suburb, which are popular now in Xi'an. Farmers were running restaurants at their own houses and I heard there are some tourist homes (guest houses). They served many home-style dishes cooked with local vegetable, which are cheap and delicious. People in Xi'an, an academic city where there are many universities, colleges and research institutes, enjoy spending their weekdays in here in farmer's restaurants; that is indeed a Chinese literati tradition. I heard that Chinese government is advancing "development" projects to make farmland into a forest. Farmers who lost their farms started this eco-tourism. Right in the middle of Xi'an, a theme park which replicated the town of Tang Dynasty was constructed, while in the suburb there was a restaurant in the huge green house. I had an impression that new amusement facilities, which are intended for the middle-class people of the city and tourists gathering from all over the country, have been constructed one after another.
Left from the vigorous and crowded Xi'an, I flew to Urumqi to visit Dr. Abliz Yimit (02 Raccoon). I thought that if I go to Xi'an, why not extend my trip to Uighur. However, I found that the distance from Xi'an to Urumqi is longer than from Xi'an to Hong Kong. At Urumqi airport, Abliz san came to meet me with his wife and drove us to a hotel in the city. The road signs were written in Kanji and alphabet in other cities in China, while in Urumqi they were written in Kanji and Uighur of Arabic script. To adjust Uighur time, we set our watch 2 hours late from Beijing time. But at the hotel run by a Han Chinese where I stayed, they used Beijing time and spoke Mandarin Chinese. The hardest thing for me was that I almost could not make myself understood in English. As a result I had to ask Abliz san to interpret almost 100 % of when I need to talk to people in Uighur.
On the second day, we drove to Turfan through desert. It was very hot like midsummer from Hong Kong to Xi'an. However, when I arrived in Urumqi, it was so cool that I needed to put on a jacket. Moreover, in that morning when we got out of a car in order to take pictures in a windmill forest, I needed a coat! After driving down for about two hours, it was hot like a midsummer again at Turfan. It was an oasis in a desert where the Flaming Mountain is; Sun Wu-K'ung passed through it. Since over 2,000 years ago, Turfan have had irrigation facilities to run off melted snow of the Tian Shan mountains, and all the town was filled with vineyards. As the harvest time of grapes is from July to November, I could not taste even one. I have heard that they are so delicious and popular around the world. They are exported as raisins and wines. I would like to eat the fｒesh grapes in Uighur someday in future!
After traveling around several sightseeing spots, I was told that there was a saltwater lake which is the second lowest altitude (154 meter below sea level) next to the Dead Sea in Israel, and I was very eager to go there. I thought it was a sightseeing spot and asked for it easily, but it was the beginning of our adventure. The Driver said that the road they usually use was washed away by rainfall and he would take a different route. He asked lots of people how to get there and even he picked up a villager to guide, and finally we got at an entrance-like place of the lake.
But, all around us was a desert. We continued to go by a Folks Wagen of Uighur University on rutted roads. I was truly impressed by the driver's skill. However, the soil road continued endlessly while no sign of water could be seen. It was nearly a sunset and I felt uneasy. Suddenly we saw a lighted house. Two men were standing by the house. The driver asked them the way to a saltwater lake and they told him in Mandarin Chinese. This house was a research facility to develop farmland by using water under the lake. As they told us, we run up further to distant hill and reached at the top of the hill, but… still what we saw was only desert. As the sun was setting below the horizon, Abliz san understood my uneasiness. The adventure for a saltwater lake was over. Going back the same, rutted road and when we got to a paved road, it was pitch-dark around us. Can you believe that we could not find the second lowest lake in the world which does appear in a Japanese guide book? We could not find the lake! After taking the drive of 160 km to search for the lake, the spit-roasted mutton and beer we took at a square in Turfan was specially delicious!
Back in Urmuqi, we went to the Uighur Cultural Museum in the Uighurs' quarter in the city. I had thought that recently many Han Chinese lived in Urmuqi where Uighur people lived. But in reality, the Uighurs' quarter is located in Han Chinese or mixed residential area, and Uighur culture must be preserved intentionally. School education is taught in Han Chinese; the concern that Uighur language might disappear was the most serious pending problem for all Uighurs. I thought that those in charge of the exhibition of this museum should pay more attention to the display, but I learned the geographical features of Uighur by three-dimensional maps.
Then, what made me surprise in those maps was the industrial development and border guards by the Han Chinese. So many oil-drilling rigs stood in the desert; towns being centered on many Corps and factories dotted the desert. Corps refers to those who usually engage in agriculture but will become militia in an emergency and are paid from the Central Government. In addition, in China, natural resources belong to the state and the local government does not get any local taxes. What is the purpose to exhibit these maps in the Uighur Cultural Museum exhibition hall?
In another room, they showed us Uighur dance while serving Chinese tea. When the second music started, Abliz-san did not look at the dance any longer. He seemed to be patient for a while, but he stood up and left his seat saying, "this is not Uighur dance, but Indian's." Right from the beginning, the guide who accompanied me in this exhibition and spoke English was a Han Chinese woman. But this kind of work should be for the Uighur whose employment rate is by far lower than that of Han Chinese.
On the fourth day, we went to the Lake Tianchi, which is famous for its beautiful scenery of a lake and forest in the suburbs of Urmuqi . I think it was very fortunate to come across rain in the travel to an arid region Uighur where securing water is the first priority. At Urmuqi it rained so much that we needed umbrellas. As we went up to a mountain, it gradually changed into snow and we viewed the lake in the heavy snow. It was so cold that Abliz san borrowed for me a used coat from the People's Liberation Army. In spite of such whether, many tourists came and those from South China were excited in having a snowball fight.
How many kilometers of land did we drive in the three days? We experienced seasons from midsummer to midwinter. However, we only could see limited small area around Urmuqi, north of Uighur. Abliz san's family and friends told me that I should come again and visit south Uighur and Kashgar. Uighur is very large!
When I came back to Japan and said, "I went to Uighur", everybody answered, "Why didn't you tell me before you go. I wanted to go, too." Someday in the future, I will make a plan for SGRA Forum in Uighur University. When the time comes, please come and join us!
By Junko Imanishi, Associate Director

You can see the photos in Hong Kong taken by Dr. Ye, and those in Uighur taken by Dr. Abliz and myself from the following URL.
http://www.aisf.or.jp/photos/

Mini-Raccoonkai in Bangkok
I went to Thailand to participate in the 9th East Asian Forum of Nursing Scholars from March 30 to April 3. On the evening of March 31st, Dr. Musikasinthorm Prachya (1999 Raccoon; Kasetsart University ), Mayuko Tsujimura, one of fellow researchers who also participated in the Forum, and I held a Mini-Raccoonkai at Silom Village in Bangkok.
We enjoyed a meal while watching a traditional Thai dance. We discussed about adjustment to a different culture, including immigrants’ adjustment as well as culture changes of studying abroad and finding a job after returning to one’s country. Prachya-san had had such a wide range of experiences that his talk was profound. I agreed with his ideas about how foreign students should adjust to a different culture. His words also made me think over how one can adjust to one’s home culture after returning to one’s own country.
Prachya-san will come to Japan for a joint research project this year. I look forward to seeing him again.
by Hu Xiuying (2006 Raccoon; Ph.D. Candidate at Chiba University)
The 5th KSR Dinner in Seoul
The Korea Society of Raccoons (KSR) hosted the fifth gathering in Seoul on April 1, 2006. As many as 15 people got together, so we had a lively time. There were ten Raccoons living in Seoul: Kim Woong-Hee (06 Raccoon), Nam Ki-Jeong (06 Raccoon), Lee Nae-Chan (KSR President, 06 Raccoon), Lee Hyang-Chul (07 Raccoon), La In-Sook (08 Raccoon, visiting from Tokyo), Ko Hee-Tak (00 Raccoon), Chae Sang-Heon(03 Raccoon), Kim Hyeon-Wook (KSR Kanji, 03 Raccoon), Han Kyoung Ja (05 Raccoon), and Jin Xianghai (01 Raccoon, visiting from Yanbian). Also joining the dinner were Rijicho and Imanishi-san’s family from Japan.
After talking about how we were getting along these days, we enjoyed a free talking and the three hours passed so quickly. Rijicho-san told us an interesting story about her trip, and Dr.Jin Xianghai, who has been living in Seoul during this year, spoke about the trend of Kanryu in China. Everyone gave their own interesting topics, so we had a really wonderful time.
by Kim Hyeon-Wook, trans. F. Ito