JLPT N2 Preparation Course

LPT N2 Preparation Course

Saturday / 11:00am-1:00pm

April 21 – June 30 (except May 5)

Tuition Fee : 43,200 yen for 10 lessons (4,320 yen per lesson)

If you are interested please contact us by e-mail.
info@nicjapanese.com

https://www.nicjapanese.com

April 2018 Guide Sign

April is a month of a fresh start in Japan.

A lot of new employees in a newly-made business suit

and students in a brand new school uniform are seen passing through big stations like Shinjuku and Shibuya in Tokyo,

commuting to work or go to school..

On the northwest side of Shibuya Station,

there is the world’s busiest pedestrian crossing.

called “ The Scramble crossing” A popular spot for tourists.

An estimated number of 3,000 people cross it each time the signal changes.

The traffic lights all turn red, stopping traffic, and at the same time pedestrians from all sides flow into the massive intersection,

forming the stream of bodies, passing without colliding.

They seem to know how to remain well-behaved in the crowded place,

but many don’t realize they have a strategy for not running into others.

For some reasons, the Scramble started and works well.

It might be related to Japanese culture. People get used to tighter space.

They are daily crammed like sardines into train cars on their way to workplace or school.

Crowded or not, the pedestrians are considerate toward others and respect harmonious interactions.

In addition, the development history of Shibuya might be one of the main reasons.

The city became a big place in Tokyo with the developments of the north-west Shibuya done by the Tokyu Group in 1960s

and the Seibu Group in 1970s respectively.

The north-west Shibuya are covered with a large number of stores and restaurants,

and the Hachiko statue, a very well-known meeting place in front of the station,

which caused the disproportion between pedestrian volume and available infrastructure in those days.

Thus the Scramble started in the mid-1970s to cope with over 3 million pedistrians per day.

What makes foreign tourists overwhelmed is the organized chaos seen at the Scramble crossing.

It’s really something that they can’t experience in their country.

This moment can be watched from Tokyu Department store train level. Free and enjoyable attraction!

https://www.nicjapanese.com

March 2018 Guide Sign

Dear All,

Spring is around the corner.

Every year the bunches of peach tree branches with lots of buds are found at a flower shop in Japan

from around mid-February.

They are arranged for Dolls Festival (Hina Matsuri) celebrated on March 3rd.to pray for girls’ healthy growth

and happiness.

Peach trees were believed to ward off evils.

The traditional practice was held when peach trees began to flower.

Although this is no longer true since the new calendar was introduced.

Peaches blossoms are still symbolic of the festival.

As this tradition shows, people have appreciated

the beauty of seasonal flowers and plants and celebrated festivals with them for centuries,

as the country has four distinct seasons with suitable flowers for each season.

Considering this, it’s understandable that Ikebana (Japanese art of flower arrangement) was born in Japan..

1“Flowers to be appreciated,” 2 “Yorishiro (an object that divine spirits are summoned to)”

i.e. Kadomatsu, a pair of pine used even today as decoration for the New Year 3 “Flower offerings

on the Buddhist altar” –

With these interacting elements in place,

ikebana began to be formalized in the 15th century.

Its origin came from floral offerings left at the temples,

and Ikenobo, the first school, was established by a Buddhist priest in Kyoto in the 15th century.

Later, other schools appeared, each with their own aesthetic philosophy,

eventually becoming a pastime for 19th-century ladies.

Ikebana has continued with the times, reflecting various eras,

but it is governed by strict rules.

The style which most people generally think of as ikebana is a triangular composition of three main elements:

the tallest representing heaven, the lowest, earth, with man .in the middle

One of the big differences between Ikebana and western flower arrangement is that in Ikebana,

line of branches is very important with some spaces, and asymmetry,

while flower arrangement has many flowers to make round shapes without any spaces.

If you are interested in pottery, taking Ikebana lessons is recommended.

The flower vase is a key element of Ikebana. But keep in mind that it takes time to master even basic techniques .

https://www.nicjapanese.com

Japanese Language Lesson Beginners’ Course【Level1 Step3】

Japanese Language Lesson Beginners’ Course 【Level1 Step3】

Monday & Wednesday  /7:30pm – 9:00pm
February 14 – April 9, 2018 (except March 21)

Tuition Fee : 45,900 yen for 15 lessons (3,065 yen per lesson)

If you are interested please contact us by e-mail.
info@nicjapanese.com

https://www.nicjapanese.com