201807041NAU students staying in Abiko visited a Japanese style architecture, Old Murakawa Villa. AIRA sent interpreters. (NO.18-5)
Date: July 4 (Wed), 2018 17:00 – 19:00
Venue: Old Murakawa Villa
Participants: 11 students, Ms. Mary Adachi and Ms. Nagata from NAU,  Mr. Hesaki, President, Mr. Murakoshi and Ms. Kitazume, VP, Ms. Koyama as a interpreter, Ms. Sakatsume, Mr. Araki and Ms. Kuroda as Urasenke instructor of tea ceremony from AIRA, Mr. Kinoshita, Executive Director, Mr. Kikuchi, Deputy Exective Director, and Mr. Tsuji, Assistant Director from Life-long Learning Department, Abiko city
NAU student group arrived at the site coming up the stairs from cliff line road (hake-no-michi) near Lake Teganuma. They listened carefully to the sound of bamboo leaves rubbing against each other shaken by strong wind. After Director of Long-life Learning Department, Mr. Kinoshita gave them a welcome speech, the NAU students went into the main house. In the main house, Assistant Director, Mr. Tsuji explained an alcove, tatami-mat room and a discharge opening which are characteristics of Japanese style houses and introduced life in a villa such as fishing and golfing.
 In the annex, they were entertained with whipped powdered green tea. Since the students had learned tea ceremony, they drank the green tea following the manners by turning the tea bowls. The Japanese sweets were shaped pink and yellow stars which imaged Vega (the Weaver Star) and Altair (the Cowherd Star) in the Star Festival, and blue hydrangea in bloom. The interpreter, Ms. Koyama explained to them the Star Festival legend.
 July 4 was the Independence Day in the United States. They celebrated the day playing with sparklers (senko hanabi) in the site. They enjoyed pretty pine needle shaped sparks branching off from a tiny fire ball holding the sparklers tightly.
                                                                                        (Translated by Ms.Rie Hama)
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