iwu 06ihiro? -=:::::::=---...j International and Domestic Relations Section Newsletter l-----=====-­

June 2009

Issue 195

The New Influenza: How to protect yourself from this disease Unless you've been living under a very

comfortable rock for the past few months, you've probably heard of the new strain of Influenza A

spreading around the globe.

This new influenza (H 1N 1 or "swine flu") is believed to have originated in Mexico and has spread to the United States and countless other countries across the world. There have been over 7,927 confirmed cases in the U.S. including 16 deaths, and there have been 356 confirmed cases in Japan as well.

The WHO has raised its warning level to Phase 5 which means that a global pandemic is imminent, but many experts have noted HI N 1's similarities to a normal, seasonal flu, and it is believed to be benign in 99% of cases. However, this doesn't mean that we shouldn't take precautions to prevent the spread of the disease to ourselves and others.

Here is a quick list of the main ways to prevent the spread of the flu:

1) Stay informed. The World Health Organization (www.who.int) and the U.S. Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) make regular updates to their websites and have tips on how to prevent the flu. So definitely check them out.

The new influenza strain viewed under a microscope

2) Influenza is thought to spread mainly person-to­person through coughing or sneezing of infected people, so take everyday actions to stay healthy: *Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when

you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it. *Wash your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. Alcohol-based hands cleaners are also effective. *Avoid touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread that way.

3) Stay home ifyou get sick. Stay home from work or school and limit contact with others to keep from infecting them. Follow public health advice regarding school closures, avoiding crowds and other social distancing measures.

4) Find healthy ways to deal with stress and anxiety.

The worst thing you could do is panic and cause you and everyone around you a lot ofextra stress. So just stay cool, wear a mask if it makes you feel better, and wait for the pandemic to pass. The good news is that the WHO has said it will

take about 6 months for a vaccine to be created, so we may have a powerful tool to use against the disease by September or October.

Here's to your health!

Pg~l: .The 'Aew IQouenza. Pg.2: Ev~tB and Fan ~ TobChi

Pg.3: Hello'Work, Jingisukan Pg~4: Movie Schedule 1

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June Sekai no Tomodachi: "Friends of the World" is an outdoor food and fun festival!

When What Where/Contact #

6/6 (Sat) 11:00 -

Rikubetsu Agricultural Festival: All you can eat steak for 1200 yen! All you can drink

wine and beer as well! There will be other food too, and a housewife-themed bazaar... Have fun!

JAIli~IJ IBT~J~?[]-I)-.J!il1J In front of the JA garage in downtown Rikubetsu

0156-27-3111

6/7 (Sun) 9:30-15:00

Annual Azalea Festival in Hiroo: Over 12,000 Azaleas will be blooming in Santa Land in Hiroo. There will be much food, drink and merriment. Santa's going to be there, so why don't you come too!

*jLL1J~~~1II Daimaru Yama Shinrin Park

01558-2-0177

6/19-21 (Fri - Sun)

9:00 -17:00

Bonsai Exhibition: The Obihiro branch of the Nippon Bonsai Association is going to have their bonsai trees on exhibit all weekend. Come stop in to see all the ancient

culture embodied by these little trees.

c.tJ'T::> -:1=j-+f ~",,=jl)-

Tokachi Plaza Gallery (l sl fl) 0155-63-3381

6/21 (Sun)

10:00 - 14:30

Yachiyo Farm·Festival: There will be plenty of fresh produce to try and buy, not to mention farm games, and live music. This is a great place to enjoy the beautiful

natural landscape and wann summer weather ofObihiro!

J\Ttt~3t~ rot~tI Yachiyo Farm Research Fields

0155-59-2323

6/27 (Sat)

14:00 ­ 15:00 RSVP please

Story Telling Around the World: This month a researcher from Obihiro University is going to share a story from their homeland, Ghana. The children's book

will be read in both English and Japanese. Target audience: children from 3 yrs. old to 2nd grade elementary

students. RSVP by TEL, FAX, or email.

~O)~mtm·+BI Tokachi International Relations

Center TEL 0155-34-0122 FAX 0155-34-0165

7/4 (Sat.) 17:00-21:30

The Whitesnake Goddess Festival: Come see this ancient Ainu legend perfonned by experienced dancers.

The giant white snake costume comes to life in the flames of the surrounding torches. At the end of the night, float

your wishes across the lake in a special ceremony.

~~IJ;MBJ!If

Shikaribetsu Lake: Lakeside 01566-6-2311

7/5 (Sun)

10:00 ­ 15:00

SEKAI NO TOMODACHI : This "Friends of

the World" festival is going to have food and performances from all around the globe! There's

going to be plenty of fun games and live bands playing as well, so definitely come on over with the

kids! Contact the TIRC (at right) if you are interested in helping out with the festivities.

~O) ~ mitil· +III Tokachi International Relations

Center TEL 0155-34-0122

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Hello Work! Hello Work Obihiro

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- To Sapporo Hwy.38

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best to get the job. If things don't go well, you can may have you use a computer to search on your own). always come back and try, try again. If you find a good job, they will call the company for you and

Good Luck! set up an interview. It's up to you to take your resume and introduction form from Hello Work to the interview and do your (Article by: Greg Hertel, Obihiro's CIR from the USA)

A small insight into any and all aspects of life in Japan:Japan pfasfi, Jingisukan S;~~~11~

Genghis Khan is the name of a legendary emperor of the Here's a traditional Mongol Empire. I think everyone knows this very popular grill for making

jingisukan. What dohistorical figure. The first time when i heard the word you think; does it look jingiskan in Obihiro I was surprised to find out that they like a warrior's were using the name of the legendary Mongolian emperor helmet?

as the name of a certain dish. Why do the people of Hokkaido call this dish jingisukan? First let me explain a little bit about this popular food item. The traditional way to prepare a complete dish of Now that Hokkaido's summer has begun, it will be jingisukan is with lamb meat, sliced onions, green peppers,

common to see people having barbeques and they may beansprouts (and if you like vegetables you can add even use a certain convex metal skillet. One major meat kabocha, mushrooms, and carrots). grilled up here in Hokkaido is lamb meat, instead of beef, IF you want to taste how real jingisukan should taste, I and jingisukan is the name of the meat. recommend that you go to a jingisukan restaurant in

The name jingisukan comes from Ghengis Khan and his Obihiro. It's hard to find a restaurant that serves bad army. They would always be out on long expeditions and jingisukan here, but if you are new to the city, I recommend they would eat dried lamb meat. However, this dried meat Heiwaen (literally, Peace Park). They are a local shop that had little flavor and less nutrition S9 they decided_.!o change has been around for a long time and always serves up tasty the way they ate the meat. Some soldiers began grilling food. They're also not too hard on the wallet either. fresh lamb meat on their helmets! The convex skillets that Have-a good BBQ! are used to grill lamb meat in Hokkaido are said to have their roots in this story. (Article by: Rocio Ushijima, Obihiro's CIR from Peru) 3

These are tough economic times, and many of you may be struggling to find or keep ajob. Fear not! There is a place in . Obihiro where you can go and find a job that fits your experience and needs. The place is called Hello Work, and they help find work for people who don't have a job or are looking for a new job.

Hello Work Obihiro has a very clean and new building at West 5 South 5 (just 2 blocks north ofcity hall). I went there in May to investigate how they do things, and below I have written the general flow of procedure there.

When you first enter the building, the front desk is on your left with a red sign that says ~it above it. If you are looking for work, tell them that you want work advice (Ql¥~~,

shokugyo-sodan), and they should give you a number. Wait for your number to be shown on the signs, and someone

should take you to a desk for consultation. Your consultant will then have you register with Hello Work. They will need to see your alien registration card, and your visa (usually in your passport). They will also ask you personal questions, like your name, address, TEL#, etc, and then they will ask you about what kind ofjob you want (hours, wages, days off, etc).

Once they've gathered enough information about you and what kind of work you want, your consultant will search for and introduce various jobs to you (but if you can read Japanese, they

Title Language- :

Star Trek (the early days of James T. Kirk and crew) English Jun 1 - July

Terminator Salvation (pre-screening on 6/6 & 617) English Jun 13-July

Transformers: Revenge English May 30 - Jun

Angels and Demons (Da Vinci Code 2???) English May 14 - July

Blood: The Last Vampire (vampire slayer flick) English May 29 - Jun 26

Confessions ofa Shopaholic English May 30 - July

Red Cliff Part II Chinese May 1-Jun 12

. Star Trek

Midsummer Orion Japanese Jun 13 - July

Sword Mountain (Tsumgi-dake) Japanese Jun 20 - July

Droppu (delinquent middle schoolers) Japanese May 16 -Jun 5

GOEMON Japanese May 1-Jun 12

ROOKIES Japanese May 30 - July

Bride with 1 Month to Live (yomei ikkagetsu no yome)

Japanese May 9 - July

Movies Ending This Month!

Blood: The Last Vampire

Red Cliff: Part 2

International and Domestic Relations Section Obihiro City Hall

Nishi 5, Minami 7-1 Obihiro, Japan, 080-0867

Phone: (0155) 65-4133 Fax: (0155) 23-0171

E-mail: international@city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp

"WHIO?" Is a newsletter published monthly by the Obihiro International and Domestic Relations Section for residents of the Tokachi District and related parties. The contents of this newsletter do not necessarily represent the official views or opinions of the International and Domestic Relations

Section or the City ofObihiro. Questions? Tel (0 I55) 65-4 I33 or send e-mail toWHIOEditingTearnatintemational@city.obihiro.hokkaido.jp.

Greg Hertel -Editor, Events, Movies, Web manager Kotomi Kashiwagi, Hisashi Ono - General Advisory

International and Domestic Relations Section - Articles What's Happening In Oblhiro? can be found at the following locations: Obihiro City Hall, Tokachi International Relations Center, Obihiro University International Center, Obihiro Tourism and Convention Center inside the Obihiro JR Station, Obihiro Public

Library, Cinema Taiyo, Joy English Academy and online at www.clty.obihiro.hokkaido.jp

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