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Getting Involved
Welcome to Toyama prefecture. Living here gives you an unbeatable chance to try out some Japanese cultural activities, ranging from tea ceremony, to calligraphy, to flower arranging. The best way to find activities in your respective areas would be to ask your fellow teachers, or to even join a club with your students at school. Another place to try would be the bright yellow “Town Pages” phone book, which has listings for all types of hobbies based on city and location. Calling for yourself or having a Japanese teacher help you, will always be the best answer. If that’s not an option however, here are some ideas to get you started!
Toyama City - Toyama Citizens’ Hall (Toyama Kenmin Kaikan) Tel: 076-432-3111 (Less than a ten minute walk from Toyama Station)
The details below change throughout the year. All classes are listed on the website http://www.kenminkaikan.com/bunkakyoshitu/kyoyokouza.htm but get a JTE to help you (unless you can read Japanese) or try using a web page translator such as http://babelfish.yahoo.com/
When you take a course you will have to pay a 2,700yen membership fee on top of the course price. There are classes in a variety of activities, including Flower arrangement, dance, tea ceremony, Japanese painting, music (koto or guitar), cooking and lots more!
Kureha Arts Creation Center 076-434-4100
Practice rooms can be booked when you become a member.
Toyama Cultural Education Center 076-441-8635
Many types of traditional art and music are taught here.
Takaoka Shaikai Hoken Kenko Centre
Offers many different types of lesson from Yoga to Tea Ceremony. There is also a gym here where some ALTs work out. It’s next to Takaoka Kogei High School, across the road from Kojo park. Look out for the tall sky parking with the word ‘Peare’ on it.
Hint: When looking in the friendly “Town Pages” for classes in the traditional arts, look for 教室 “kyoshitsu” as the indicator that the company has classes, and is not just a gallery or the artist’s home number.
Musical Opportunities
Toyama International Singers
Practice is held at the Kureha Arts Creation Center
Cost: 100 yen/rehearsal (room rental)
Toyama City Philharmonic Orchestra
Practice is held at the Kureha Arts Creation Center
Contact: Hidemi Ito 076-479-0098
Northern Alps Cultural Center Brass Band
Practice is held at the Kita Alps Bunka Center in Kamiichi
Check out their website www.geicities.co.jp/Broadway/9910/ It is in Japanese but you can contact them by email to find out their latest concert/practice dates. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on the red Japanese mail box.
For anyone who is interested in learning how to play the Koto or the Shamisen (Japanese musical instruments):
Ms. Kyoko Muramatsu Sensei （京子 村松 先生）- a very nice teacher who has taught foreigners before. She does not know English but is a very kind and patient teacher. Plus this is a great way to learn and practice your Japanese.
She teaches in Toyama and Takaoka. She teaches both instruments and does private and group lessons. She owns two music stores in Toyama and in Takaoka. You can take group lessons for real cheap at the "Toyama Shakai Hoken Center" (とやま社会保険センター）.It is a community center located in Toyama. This community center offers a variety of cultural classes from tea ceremony, kimono wearing, and Flamenco.
Please ask them for a list of classes. They have koto classes on:
Fridays :
- 5pm-6:20pm (Junior class, for kids, however I was able to enter into this class as a beginner when I first started, so adults can join. Good place to start and fun with kids.)
- 6:30 pm- 8:00 pm (adult class)
Saturdays: 1pm- 2:20 pm 2:30pm - 3pm
The classes are paid as a lump sum of three months about 9,900 yen for junior class, and 10,100 yen for the adult class. SO each month is about 3,300 yen. I do not have the details on the classes offered at the Takaoka Shakai hoken center; you may need to contact MS. Muramatsu for that. If you like private lessons she also offers them as well. You can contact her at her Toyama store "Muramatsu ya" （村松屋） at 076-425-6969 or at her Takaoka store (same name) at 0766-22-0172. If you do not live in Toyama or Takaoka no worries, she is a president of a koto organization and knows many local musicians in Toyama and is more than glad to help introduce you to a teacher in your area. (If you are interested in other musical instruments such as the shakuhachi etc, she is a good source to find a teacher).
How to get there:
1. Toyama Shakai Hoken center (とやま社会保険センター） 076-491-5665 -From Toyama Station, go straight down route 41 heading south, until you hit an intersection where there is a Baskin Robbins, KFC, and a big hair salon on your left, and a "Yellow Hat" car garage place on your right. This is the intersection where the Toyama Shimin Hospital is. Turn right at the light. And right across from the "Yellow Hat" is a 4 story building with the sign "とやま社会保険センター”in blue. The "Toyama Shakai Hoken Center" is across from a small Hair salon. Go inside and express your interest in taking classes there.
If you don't have a car or bike, you can get there by bus. From Toyama eki, take either bus #41,40,43,44,45, or 47. Take these buses and get off at the stop that says "Toyama Shimin Byouin guchi" or "Toyama Shimin Byouin." Either way, you need the bus that takes you to the Toyama Shimin Hospital (富山市民病院). It is best to ask the bus driver or bus station which bus is best, considering that times and routes do change over time. Once you get off the bus, look for the Yellow Hat at the intersection and the place is right across from it.
2. "Muramatsu Ya" (村松屋） (Toyama store) 076-425-6969 :
-By Tram: Take the tram from Toyama station, heading towards Minami Toyama or Nishicho area. Take the tram and get off at the "Izumi" stop. It is the 4th stop till the end. Get off at the tram and you are at an intersection, with the street called "Tateyama-dori." There will be a curry shop on your left at the corner of Tateyama dori. Turn left and walk past the curry shop, and continue down Tateyama-dori. You will pass a Lawson and across from the street is an "Earl Grey Shop." After passing the Lawson, several meters away you will see a two story Black building with the letters in Kanji (村松屋). This store is before the green over pass. She does private lessons at her store, and you can buy your own Koto, shamisen, and accessories here.
3. Muramatsu Ya (Takaoka Store) 0766-22-0172:
Located near the Daiwa covered shopping area. And it is right behind or next to the Mominoki house (where you have bands playing) and the hair salon, Warp. Best to contact them by phone to find out details.
Main Concert and Event Halls
| Toyama | Oobado Hall | 076-445-5620 |
| Kyoiku Bunka Kaikan | 076-441-8635 | |
| Takaoka | Ken Bunkan Hall | 0766-25-4141 |
| Shimin Kaikan | 0766-20-1560 | |
| City Bunka Center | 0766-22-2111 | |
| Shiminato | City Bunka Hall | 0766-82-8400 |
| Oshima | Ehon Kan (Picture Book Museum) | 0766-52-6780 |
| Kosugi | Bunka Hall Raporu | 0766-56-1515 |
| Kurobe | International Culture Center "Colare" | 0765-57-1201 |
| Himi | Minbu Denshu Kan (Dance Hall) | 0766-74-1760 |
| Tonami | Bunka Kaikan | 0763-33-5515 |
| Fukuno | Bunka Sozo Center-Heilos | 0763-22-1125 |
| Inami | Sogo Bunkan Center | 0763-82-5885 |
These are by no means the only event halls in Toyama Prefecture, but they are definitely the main locations. Check the “Town Pages” under culture or community halls, for additional information.
Volunteering
Toyama YMCA - http://www.ymcajapan.org/toyama/jp/ (in Japanese)
Takaoka Rotary Club - http://www.senmaike.net/rotary/e-index.html (In English)
Toyama Prefecture Website - http://www.pref.toyama.jp/english/index.html .
I personally recommend the Toyama Travel Navigator – to locate all the fun and exciting things to see and do in Toyama. You never know who you might meet or what volunteer activity you might stumble upon by visit the local attractions.
Toyama International Center (CIC) - http://www.tic-toyama.or.jp/
Language classes, movie clubs, flower arranging, city tours, monthly lectures (you could be asked to give a talk), information desk, souvenir shop, etc…. The TIC “What’s Happening” newsletter, published monthly, is also available on this site. It lists volunteer opportunities, festivals, and classes offered for the current month. A very good reference for things that are happening in Toyama Prefecture. Available in English.
TIC International Exchange Resource Bank
Looking for a tutor, want to help someone learn a language? You can register your information with the TIC for potential volunteer opportunities.
Contact 5-5 Ushijimashinmachi INTEC Bldg 4F
Toyama City, 930-0856
TEL : 076-444-2500
tic@tic-toyama.or.jp
For additional opportunities to get involved check with your school, your local community center, other JETs in your area, the monthly Toyama News Bulletin, and the current events section of the Toyama JETs board. The opportunities to volunteer and get involved are endless!