Nekojarashi No. 25 May/June 2000
If we must say "Good-Bye", let's do it cheerfully!!
Why not have a letter in foreign languages from Fujimi? That was our casual start. But "Nekojarashi"
continued for more than four years. We are going to stop officially at issue No. 25. From then on we will provide
irregular service in only Portuguese. Now, we'd like to say cheerful "Good-bye", listening to lively
music on traditional Japanese musical instruments.
Thank you and Good bye Last Messages from our Staff
I'm sorry I couldn't get better at English. But I was charmed by the word of "syuzai"(news coverage). I felt so happy as if I were a shilled reporter... Kashimi
Have I improved my Portuguese? Well .... Keiko
My dear staff, honorable translators, and wonderful readers, I'm thankful you have helped me in various ways. Hisae
To rare but enthusiastic fans of Suwa Dialect, I am glad you could find pleasure in our unique articles. I'm glad I could get to know that there are many different kinds of people living in Fujimi. See you again. Masako
I'm very happy to have been on the staff of Nekojarashi. I could come to know more about Fujimi and the Suwa area. Chikako
It has been great fun for me to translate for Nekojarashi which I hope has been enjoyed all readers by you, too. I am sorry that the publication of Nekojarashi has been suspended and do wish it will be back soon. I hope you enjoy your life in this area. Thank you very much for having read this. Sanae
It is very regrettable to hear of Nekojarashi, which I have enjoyed working with for a long time. I have been interested in the column "People (Pessoa)", which has brought me interesting news from various countries. I was impressed by the internationally-minded people of Nagano. I'm looking forward to seeing Nekojarashi once again. Miho
I really admire your work and am very thankful to you for your consideration towards people of other countries living in Japan! Mary
Traditional Japanese Music Instrument in Fujimi
The Shamisen
It is a kind of Japanese guitar or banjo. "Shami" means three tastes and "sen" means a string, so it has only strings. There are no frets on the neck. It's very difficult to be able to produce the right sound all the time.
But six members of "Misuji-no-kai", a shamisen club in Fujimi. enjoys its difficulty.
They practice on the "shamisen" at Fujimi Community Plaza once a once to accompany Japanese traditional folk songs like "Fujimi-kouta", "Tanko-bushi", and "Yakko-san". They sometimes hold concert at Fureai Center and at parties in each district to entertain senior citizens in autumn.
Wa-Daiko (Japanese Drum)
This is a kind of percussion instrument generally made of a log hollowed out and covered with tanned cowhide and is usually played with a stick or a pair of sticks. There is a wide variety of Japanese drums, and the styles and rhythms with which people play them differ from district and district. But regardless of these differences, its energetic sound has an exalting effect, and that's why Japanese drums have been closely related to our life since long before: battle drums, festival drums, etc., although nowadays they are often played as an performances for some events.
In Fujimi, we do have a Fujimi-Daiko circle and they have a lesson every week. If you are interested please contact the following:
Contact: Nagai-san "Oishi shokudo" (restaurant) in front of Fujimi Station
Tel : 0266-62-2054
Lesson: On every Thursday or Friday from 8:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the Green Culture Center
Chin-don (ding-dong party band)
"Chin-don" or "Chin-don-ya-san" is a group of people loudly dressed, playing drums, gongs, chimes, clarinets, etc., walking the streets like sandwichmen.
Unlike these traditional Chin-don-ya-san, the "Chin-Don ON (Ou-Enu) combi" of Fujimi Town sometimes appears at the Senior Citizens' Health Center. They visit Senior Citizens as volunteers to give them have a fun time and are very welcomed. If you would like to see them, they are available on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and public holidays. For more information, please contact Nagai-san (see above).
Suwa Dialect
| 1) pick (a quarrel) | makkakeru |
| 2) pull, tug, jerk | tsukkokuru |
| 3) forget completely | uchiwasureru |
| 4) run | tobu |
| 5) dazzling | hidorotte |
| 6) tickles | momochii |