While you can enjoy hiking to the top of Mt. Tennozan (about 1.7 km) in tranquil surroundings with a fantastic view of the rivers below, there are also many historical temples and monuments you can visit. Established just five years ago, the Oyamazaki Villa Museum is particularly worth noting.

Set in picturesque mountain scenery, Oyamazaki Villa Museum is a European style dwelling originally built as a personal villa in 1912. Many intellectuals and artists once gathered there to enjoy the peaceful natural environment and pursue their work.

As it is just a short trip from Kyoto City, why not make a day of it and enjoy the mountains and interesting sights of Oyamazaki.

Museum Hours: 10:00 - 17:00 (closed Mon.)

Admission: \600 (\400 students)

Access: From Kyoto JR Stn. to Yamazaki Stn. (15 min.)

Hankyu Kawaramachi Stn. to Oyamazaki Stn (25 min.)

Oyamazaki Villa Museum is 10 min. from JR Yamazaki and Hankyu Oyamazaki Stn.

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M. Yoshioka

I could begin by saying that I am Brazilian, indeed I was born there, but I no longer feel that I am only Brazilian. Although I have been in Japan for only a short period of time, I can already say that my heart is half Japanese. I would like to briefly introduce myself and tell you a little about Brazil.

My full name is Antonio Dias dos Santos Neto. As it is a long and difficult name, most people just call me Tonny. While I have been in Japan for just 4 months of my 12 month stay as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student, it has been sufficient time to make me feel as if I belong here. Since arriving in Japan I have become a member of a Japanese family, assuming duties and responsibilities like any 17 year old Japanese boy.

I come from a small town in Brazil called �gPirapora�h which means �gleap of the fish�h where around 45,000 people live. Pirapora is an Indian name given by the first Indian tribes that settled on the banks of the Sao Francisco River, a major waterway in eastern Brazil that flows through my town. This provides my people with an opportunity to take advantage of its numerous resources - fishing, mining for gold or other metals, and simply raising cattle. Above all, it is the rivers natural beauty that attracts many tourists here from all corners of the country. There is also an industrial zone and a huge farming project, which produces one of the best harvests of grapes in the entire country, and happens to belong to Japanese descendants.

It is difficult to describe Brazil in brief. However, put simply, it is a land rich in natural resources, a home to a to variety of cultures and is blessed by a long and eventful history. Perhaps what best sums up Brazil is the phrase, �g A world in a nation�h Brazil is a melting pot, the result of a mixture of cultures, races, religions and creeds. Supported by the largest network of rivers and arguably the most important forest in the world, the Amazon, known in Portuguese as �gthe lung of our planet�h. Brazil is without doubt one of the few paradises that still exist. Brazilians are cosmopolitan people who wear a friendly smile and are always willing to lend a hand. Our happy and carefree spirit is most evident during our annual carnivals that are staged in each city. Yes, Brazil is truly an oasis.

Coming from such a country as Brazil, my life has certainly changed since coming to Japan. I feel as if I have come not just to a different country, but a different world. I am enjoying a golden opportunity by living in Japan, a country that I define as a land of blending contrasts. Before my eyes I can see an amazing harmony between traditional and contemporary ways of life. Japan is one of the leading countries in the world, and not just in economic terms. Japan, a relatively safe country, has a highly literate population and its people enjoy the longest life span in the world. Values such as loyalty, discipline and respect appear to be ingrained in every level of society.

Upon my arrival I was amazed that such a geographically small country could not only recover from the vast devastation of World War II (1939-1945), but go on to become one of the most powerful industrialized nations in the world in only 55 years. Groupism is a key characteristic in Japanese society that helped Japan become prosperous. Applied on a broader scale, working together I believe we can help reduce some of the inequalities of our world. Perhaps an old Brazilian fairy tale can explain clearly what I want to say.

Once in a distant forest so beautiful it was considered the most perfect work of nature, a fire started to burn. The fire spread rapidly and the heat became unbearable; the smell of destruction reached every corner of the forest. The desperate animals ran away as fast as they could. Even the fiercest, biggest and bravest animals could but follow their instinct and flee to save their own lives. However, something made the lion, the king of the jungle, stop for a moment. He noticed a tiny bird, the smallest and weakest of its kind, a hummingbird, flying towards the river that crossed the forest. From the river the hummingbird filled its small narrow beak with water, then flying back over the blazing flames dropped tiny gouts of water. The lion, without understanding such a struggle, asked the hummingbird,

�gHow could you, the most insignificant flying creature of this forest, imagine that you alone could put out this fire and save our forest from destruction?�h

The hummingbird peered at the lion in a way that opened up the lion�fs heart and allowed him to see the hummingbird�fs true sincerity and modesty. The tiny bird answered,

�gPerhaps as you say, I won�ft be able to solve this problem by myself. But, if every single animal helps each other, we will be able to put out the fire and save our home from destruction. I am just trying to do my part�h

I have a dream like that of the little hummingbird. I know that I can not achieve my vision alone and most of the �gkings of the jungle�h the ones that have the power, will just laugh and criticize me, saying that the work of a single �gbird�h is in vain. But even so, I believe that if we are each prepared to work together and give a little of our own blood, sweat and tears, we can eliminate the ideas that only serve to separate humankind. Unfair notions such as �ghave�fs and have not�fs�h, �gfirst world and third world countries�h and the presence of national borders need not exist. Then, the world already imagined by so many �gdreamers�h �gcan be as one�h and my children won�ft be seen as Brazilians or Japanese, but rather citizens of the world.

Antonio Dias

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Tonny is sponsored by Kyoto-Joyo Rotary Club and is currently being hosted by LIK volunteer staff member Mrs Matsushita and her husband.

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Speaking of summer, people living in Kyoto will be familiar with the Gion Matsuri Festival. If you attended last year's festival, you probably remember the events taking place during July 15-17. Such events include admiring the beautifully decorated floats on display at night, and, of course, the grand spectacle itself, the GION MATSURI FLOAT PARADE. These events are what form the popular image of the Gion Matsuri and are generally thought of as the festival's climax. However, the Gion Matsuri is a one-month long event from start to finish. Here are some of the other ceremonies and events that take place throughout the festival. You may come across them in the street or see them on the news.

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July 2: KUJI TORI SHIKI

Held at City Hall, this event is to decide the order of floats in the procession on July 17. The representatives of each float, except the Naginata float, which is fixed at first place, draw a lot in the presence of mayor and leaders of the festival.

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July 10: OMUKAE CHOCHIN

This is an evening parade along Shijo-dori lead by shrine parishioners with festival lanterns hoisted on long bamboo poles. They make their way to Yasaka Shrine to welcome the sacred carriages.

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July 10: MIKOSHI ARAI

This is held at Shijo Bridge in the evening (7:00 to 8:20) to purify the Sacred Carriages of Yasaka Shrine with water from the Kamo-gawa River.

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July 10-12: HOKO TATE

Each float is constructed during this period. As it takes place in the streets around the Shijo-karasuma area, you can watch as the floats come to life. The floats are held together with just straw and rope, no nails are used. The lifting of the main pillar and the process of attaching the wheels are particularly worth seeing.

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July 13-16: GION BAYASHI

Festival lanterns line the streets and decorate the floats. As darkness approaches the lanterns are lighted and the Gion Matsuri chant fills the air.

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July 17: YAMAHOKO JUNKO

The parade of 32 floats starts from Shijo Karasuma-dori at 9:00am headed by Naginata Boko, the float with a long pole-like sword, and makes its way along finishing at Oike-dori.

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July 24: HANAGASA JUNKO

Originally the float procession was divided into two groups, which were held on the 17th and 24th of July. However, about thirty years ago the two processions were combined, and a new procession was started on the 24th of July called "Hanagasa-Junko". This procession has a lively street carnival like atmosphere with about thousand people from various performing groups participating. Such groups include decorated carriages, maiko dancers, drum players, and many others.

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July 24: KANKO SAI

The three sacred carriages are carried from their temporary homes and returned to their shrine.

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July 31: EKIJIN SAI

The Gion Matsuri Festival was originally staged to ward off the evil spirits believed responsible for the terrible plague of 869. After this rite is held at Yasaka Shrine, the Gion Matsuri is officially concluded.

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M.Yoshioka

1) Kaeru pyokopyoko mipyokopyoko awasete pyokopyoko mupyokopyoko

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2)Shinjin shanson-kashu soushutsuen shinshun-shanson-shou

�i�V�lƒVƒƒƒ“ƒ\ƒ“‰ÌŽè‘��o‰‰�V�tƒVƒƒƒ“ƒ\ƒ“ƒVƒ‡ƒE�j

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3) Sumomo mo momo mo momonouchi

�iƒXƒ‚ƒ‚‚àƒ‚ƒ‚‚àƒ‚ƒ‚‚Ì‚¤‚¿

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4) Kitto kitte katte hatte dashitekite

�i‚«‚Á‚Æ�؎蔃‚Á‚Ä“\‚Á‚Ä�o‚µ‚Ä‚«‚Ä�j

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M. Amanuma

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