Kitakyushu/Japan update
Before embarking on my trip to Japan, a few things have crossed my mind. Of course, quite a few things will have changed after 13 years and questioning my good friend Yoshiko in advance helps me prepare a bit better for this visit.
- So Yoshiko, since I left in 1995, in your opinion what have been some major changes in Kitakyushu?
Kitakyushu Airport moved onto the artificial island in the ocean of Kanda-cho in 2006.. We can take daily domestic flights to Tokyo from there. Now we can take the following three carriers: Star flyer, JAL, ANA. We can also fly to Shanghai in China, Vladivostok in Russia, on an irregular schedule. We are able to visit Busan in Korea from Moji by ferry, starting June 2008.
“Kokura SOGO“ department store located in front of JR Kokura station closed in 2000. Then “Kokura TAYAMA“ department store moved into the same building from near JR Nishi-Kokura station after their Muromachi building closed But they also closed in 2002. In the same building “Kokura ISETAN“ department store opened in 2004 but will close in the end of march of 2008. “Kokura IZUTSUYA“department store will open there at the end of March.
At the site of “Kokura TAYAMA“, a shopping mall named “Riverwalk Kitakyushu“, opened in 2003. You can visit their homepage and get more information.
http://www.riverwalk.co.jp/english/index.html
“Kurosaki SOGO“ closed, as well as the building located in front of JR Kurosaki station, and it has changed to “Kurosaki IZUTSUYA“.
-How are the private English schools doing?
The biggest private English school named “NOVA“ went bankrupt suddenly in 2007 because of their irresponsible management. A lot of students and teacher faced big problems, which were unreturned students’ tuition and teachers without salaries. Now some of their classrooms have been reopened by a different corporation in same name NOVA.
The other big names, such as “GEOS“, “AEON“and “ECC“ are doing well. I went to GEOS for about two years. In my opinion, their tuition is incredibly expensive.
-What is the current rate for a private English lesson?
I am not sure on the current rates, but you can check it in the following site:
http://www.nativesensei.com/
http://www.senseibank.com/
Their pages are written in Japanese, but you just click on a teacher’s photo and you’ll see the tuition charge per hour. I think the average is 2,500 – 5,000yen.
- Is Watashiba ferry still running for Y 20 a ride across Dokai Bay?
No, it doesn’t cost 20 yen anymore. It is 100 yen per adult, 50 yen for a child, 100 yen for a bicycle, and 50 for senior citizens and the disabled.
- Do you get foreign tourists? Where do they come from?
According to the newspaper, the numbers of Korean and Chinese tourists are increasing. Especially, rich Chinese people. However, not so many come to Kitakyushu. To Fukuoka city, I think.
-What is your job?
Mainly I am working as a PC instructor at a vocational training center in Yahata.
A few days a month, I instruct trainees at Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) how to do presentations using MS-PowerPoint in English. This is a challenging mission, but I enjoy it very much.
- If you could change one thing about your working life…
I need more job security.
- The thing you like most about in Kitakyushu is…
There are no lines in front of any restaurants, such as in Tokyo.
- What things need improvement?
To Kitakyushu city: More effective advertisement to introduce their charm.
To me: Brushing up my foreign language skills..
-When you dream of moving away at times, what would be your most popular destination?
Boston in the U.S.A., Germany, Sweden, Monaco…Sorry, I can’t make up my mind for only ONE destination.
-Yoshiko, thanks so much for giving this informative update on Kitakyushu.
If any of the readers would like to add more updates on Kitakyushu, then please leave a comment.
I had asked Yoshiko if I could publish her photo along with the interview. She decided to give the honor to her beloved canine companion of 13 years, Nanasama, who just passed away last month….
Tags: Interview, Japan, Kitakyushu update, NOVA, Watashiba ferry
March 15th, 2008 at 7:35 pm
i am from japan, and everytime i go back i mostly notice about my favorite places (dusty used book stores and independent movie theaters) go out of business and new ones (United Artist cinema that makes me feel like i am in US, and other capitalistic establishments) open. japan still holds its cultural uniqueness which shows itself in the way things are conducted in society, but what i notice is that it undeniablly is following western/american presentation.
also the transportation options from narita airport and navigation in tokyo never gets easy for me. no matter how many times i go back, i always have to figure out how to get to point A to B. i have far easier time getting myself around in Thailand or Nicaragua!
kind of off the topic, but i wanted to mention about my cultural identity. maria, we have talked about this many times in the past. i have been in US for 17 yrs. i adapted certain attitudes in order to survive, be accepted, and “succeed”. but the longer i live here, the more apparent it becomes that i am very Non-american. i still think chopsticks is the far superior eating utensil than anything besides fingers, and i still can’t stand wearing shoes in the house! yet, when i go back to japan, the same holds true in reverse. many typically japanese way of going about things seem so interestingly unfamiliar to me although i no longer feel uncomfortable that i feel that way.
lately i decided that it is impossible for me to declare myself as whatever nationality. therefore it is amuzing to me how many people want to classify me as one or the other. especially considering DC is supposed to be such a “cosmopolitan city (my a–)”! sometimes i make up stuff just to mess with their heads (i have been from peru, brasil, russia, …). this gets really annoying with men who are stupid. “oh, you are from japan! japanese women are this and that!” perhaps they have seen one too many japanese porn.
in japan, i have no clue as to how women perceive themselves and how men perceive them. i guess it varies by subcultures.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:54 pm
Hi Maria
Wow – just reading Yoshiko´s comments made me feel ´natsukashii´ but also l wonder if l would recognize the place – it sounds as though a lot has changed. l was there from 1990 to 2000 and have some great memories but it also seems such a long time ago too. l wonder what Kurosaki is like as we went there a lot as teachers. l cannot think of any interesting comments really but found the interview a good idea and l really hope you both enjoy the trip.
ogenki de ne!
Carol
March 25th, 2008 at 1:34 am
Hi Maria,
I was in Kitakyushu several times in the past 13 years. The JET program has done it job. I noticed is it is not longer unusual to see Westerners in Kitakyushu. Westerners now seem to mix into the population without being the stranger or celebrity.
Kokura station has gotten larger. The front and back of the station have more buildings. Mojiko has a harbor front with stores, places to eat and a ferry terminal.
I last visited 2 summers ago. The city hall and other city buildings, were warm. They were promoting taking off ties and conserving electricity on the air conditioning. I visited my old office, the Kitakyushu International Association. I was disappointed. It was very quiet. There were no visitors. I did see one of our old time volunteers–Hirosawa-san.
I can’t say anything about Wakamatsu since I didn’t really visit. Have a great visit. Tell us all how it goes. I will be visiting this summer July 14-August 11 with my 15 year old nephew. We will be staying in Osaka, Kokura and Nakama with relatives. I will definately see Yoshida-san again this time.
ki wo tsukete kudasai,
Dorothy
December 29th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
h3yyTe Thanks for good post
March 31st, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Шикарно