Sat., February. 12th 1:30p.m.-16:00p.m.
46 participants

　Before the 21st Kameoka Friendship Delegation to China took place, the Center held a Chinese Culture Course. The Center invited three Chinese guests in order to inform Kameoka's citizens about China (where Kameoka's friendship city of Suzhou, Jian-Su is located).

　At the beginning of this course, participants learned some elementary travel Chinese. Ms.Yu Chencuang (a teacher of Chinese language hosted by Kameoka International Exchange Association) introduced the Chinese language and its unique pronunciation, comprised of "four tones."Participants also learned some easy phrases. She also advised participants to put stress on the proper words. This makes your Chinese pronunciation sound better.

　Some participants asked Ms.Yu some questions. One of the questions was how do you say where is a toilet. This is very important phrase, when going to foreign country.

　In the next program, Ms.Hu Qian's (a Kyoto university student) played the Chinese harp. Ms. Hu's harp had 21 strings. She played Chinese songs with both hands; four plectrums in each hand. Participants were impressed because she played the harp as if she were playing the piano with both hands.

　The last part of the program was a small concert held by Mr.Li Guanghong. He is from Suzho, Jiang-Su but sings in Japan, too. He talked about his memories about first coming to Japan and about his feeling for Japan, between singing his original songs and Chinese songs translated to Japanese. When he sung "SOSHU YAKYOKU", he got a loud applause from participants.

　After that, guests and participants had a small party with Chinese tea and sweets.

　 Some participants visited China as the 21st Kameoka Friendship Delegation to China after the course.

Sun., February. 6th 10:30a.m.-15:00p.m.
About 120 participants

　The center held the World Festa 2005. This year's theme was "The transmission of culture along the Silk Road of the ocean." Food cultures and bamboo crafts along the silk road of the ocean were introduced. We thought about the relationship between cultures and countries.

　At the first program, Mr. Iwata, who specializes in the science of fisheries (Kyoto University), lectured about the cultures transmission though fish sauce. The theme was "Moved spice and unmoved fish sauce -Find differences between eastern cultures and western cultures from the commerce of the Silk Road of the ocean-".

　Things have a natural tendency to flow from high places to low places, and also to flow from places where there is a great supply to places where there is a low supply. So why did spices flow from the west to the east, but fish sauce didn't flow? The reason why is linked to differences between the eastern cultures and western cultures. The fish sauce didn't taste well with bread, and so Europeans didn't eat it daily. This means, the fish sauce was worthless to them. As a result, spices flowed, and fish sauses didnt.

　In the next program, Exchange students and foreigners living in Japan from countries along the Silk Road of the ocean introduced their food customs. Malaysia , Thai, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Korea and Japan; Each booth introduced typical dishes and cultures of their countries

　Then, participants tried some of the foods at each of the booths. There were a soup flavoring fish sauces. a booth offereing salad, and a curry and boiling meat booth.Most of the food being offered was spicy, but it was all quite delicious.

　In the afternoon, the bamboo music concert was held. Mr.Shigeki Iida who is from the National Children's Castle in Tokyo introduced music instruments made of bamboo and played the Indonesian bamboo instruments known as gamelan. The keyboards of gamelan are made of iron though. Bamboo in the shape of a cylinder is used to be resonate the sounds. Mr .Iida learned how to play gamelan in Indonesia. There are many bamboo music instruments in Asia as there are also in Japan. We we were able to learn about the flow of cultures after realizing this..

　After the concert, a workshop in which all participants made beats by bamboo sticks took place. Also little concert by Ms. Atsuko Makino's bamboo ensemble group was held. By making beats, participants learned another pleaseing side of bamboo.

　At the same time, hand-made bamboo crafts were exhibited in the hall.

　This year's World Festa ended well thanks to the corporation of many people.

　We hope that participants got the opportunity to learn about how our culture is linked to other cultures.
　

Sat., January. 15th 10:30a.m.-12:00a.m.
17 participants

　Yoshimi Kanai who used to amuse children in Universal Studio Japan as a face painter came in and right away painted a cat on a half of her face in onlyr 5 minutes as she was looking into a hand mirror.

　 There are variety of pigments for face painting. Some were the same ones used for drawing, some were like magic makers, while others were like cosmetics used by mothers. Ms. Kanai's pace painting tool box was like a magic box.

　There were a variety of participants. A brother, sister and their mother, a daughter and her mother, a daughter, her mother and her cousin. a planner of events and musical, and a teacher of a physically challenged children.

　One girl who didn't like to paint her face was drawn a flower on her hand. She really liked it. A boy painted his face yellow was he wanted to become a famous cartoon character. Another boy who painted his face black was added a tooth by Ms. Kanai and became a monster. A mother who likes music painted a big butterfly on her face. After Ms. Kanai added some lines to the butterfly, it become more beautiful. But a butterfly on the face was a kind of scary.

　 Two journalist came to this course, One of them had a scorpion painted on his face. He was satisfied with it. Ms. Kanai asked the other journalist to try his hand at face painting. After Ms. Kanai thought for a few seconds about what would best suit his fact, she started to paint a famous monster on a half of his face. Other participants also enjoyed the work.

　At first children fearfully painted. They were surprised when they saw each other's faces, not seeing their own faces.

　The next time we hold this course, we will try to dance or play with the painted faces.

Sat., December. 18th 1:30a.m.-3:30p.m.
30 participants

　Before opening English Seminar Winter Term, the center held the demonstration for it. This time the center had first time visitors asa well as present students, who have been learned English at our center.

　On the demonstration, our teachers introduced themselves and explained what they teach in their classes. "Traveling English" and "Crossing Cultures", which are new classes from the winter were also introduced.

　Then the center asked participants their request about our English Seminar.
　Some people said that they want to have a class for elementary school children and for learning how to introduce about Kameoka and Kyoto in English. In addtion. they could had several ideas and opinions from learning in classes "Modern America" and Global Session the center had in the past term.

　English Seminar Winter Term stars from January 18th.

Sat., December. 18th 10:30p.m.-2:30p.m.
13 participants

　The center held the Christmas Stained Glass Course, which is our annual course around Christmas time.

　This year, participants made a kaleidoscope and turn into pendant. The instructor was Mr. Norio Shimizu, who opened his own stained glass course in our center. After he explained how to make it, participants started the work.

　The work advanced as below.
1.Make the body of scope look like antique style by chemical reaction.
2.Bond a ball of glass for taking in lights inside the body.
3.Fix three mirrors in a isosceles triangle in the body.
4.Shut to the body with a viewport.

　The middle of picture in left is a finished kaleidoscope. Looking at the inside, a seven point stars are appears like the picture of down. It is important to fix three mirrors and their measures in fine to make a good seven point stars inside.
　The star and design, they change depend on what you see behind the scope and how to turn it.
　If you see the sky with clouds with this scope, a design like snow crystals appears.

Sun, December. 12th 1:30p.m.-4:00p.m.
220 participants

　The center held the Christmas Festa. This is one of our events for students showed what they daily learned here and expand the wave of exchange.

　After opening remarks, this festa started from a gospel concert by the gospel group "Aguas", which is practicing in Kameoka.
　They sung"Santa Claus is coming to town”,“Hail Holy Queen”, one of famous pop song in Japan and so on as swing 21 people of their shoulders. Their performance warmed up this festa

　Next program was performed by Kids from 3 years to 6 years of our English classes.
　They sung "We wish a merry Christmas, a song from a famous animation movie in Japan and read a picture book of "Gingerbread man" in English. They pronounced English very well. We were really surprised it. 　
　At the end of their performance, Santa Claus appeared and gave sweets to the kids. Kids ran after him and got the sweets delightedly.

　The final program was a musical by Children of World Studies, which is one of our course for experiencing global understanding. They appeared with facepainting like a famous musical "CATS" and in costumes made of colorful garbage bags. The cats started singing and other children in the room also sung together in the musical.

　After the program, Christmas cakes were handed out to participants,. Then Christmas Festa of this year were finished.

Sun., November. 14th 1:30p.m.-4:00p.m.
40 participants

　The center held the 60th Dream World series for introducing Republic of Bulgaria.

　Ms.Tina Peneva, who is from Bulgaria and studies at Kyoto University introduced histories and cultures in her country, while showing pictures.
　She also talked about yoghourt. In Japan, normally people think yoghourt is eaten as a dessert. However in Bulgaria, it seems that yoghourt is used for many kind of meals
　She demonstrated cooking one cold soup using yoghourt. When she cut a cucumber, which is one of soup's ingredients, she skillfully minced it without using cutting board. We are really surprised by the Bulgarian style of cutting.

　Our next Bulgarian guest was Boyoko Stoyanov and 5 of his family members. They introduced Bulgarian music.
　Mr. Stoyanov is famous classic musician as a conductor in Bulgaria. He is working as coming and going Japan and Brazil. His mother Ms. Jivka is also famous soloist in Bulgaria.
　They played and sang about 10 Bulgarian folk songs and originals. Their music sang in Bulgarian, Portuguese and Japanese were completely different from music we had listened ever. The songs were a little bit sad, and also played by the melody, which our mind made unsettled and irregular time. However, we felt comfort in the unsettled feeling. Especially, we felt the feeling from songs, which Ms.Zivka sung by Bulgarian voice.

　Afterwhile, Guests and participants enjoyed the cold soup cooked by Ms. Peneva in a exchage party,

Sun., October. 23rd 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.
40 participants

Sat., October. 9th 1:00p.m.-4:00p.m.
100 participants

　Bamboo Festa was held as part of Bamboo Project, which was gone ahead with citizens from this spring.

　At first, Mr. Hironao Hasegawa, who is a landscape designer in Osaka lectured about his urban redevelopment.
　He said his original idea of design come from scenery of his home town and explained some projects and how people, who lives the towns and cities participated the projects.
　
　Next, traditional music instruments made of bamboo was introduced and Ms ueda from omoto played bamboo flute.

　After the performance, 23 young people who participated in "Up with people"(An international education program for young people all over the world) introduced their acts and each countries' cultures like dance and songs.
　The most protuberant performance by Up with people was one Korea man played the guitar and sang a theme song of Korean TV drama, which is popular in Japan. People at the hall listen to the sang as if in a trance.
　The Korean man said he worried about visiting to Japan because of a historical background between Japan and Korea. But it was no problem. He was warmly treated by Japanese host family He was so glad.

　After Up with people, next work shop was held. Toys made of bamboo was introduced and people played with them. The bamboo toys was prepared by members of bamboo projects.

　At the end of event, the bamboo ensemble performed bamboo music instruments and introduced the instruments.

Sun., September. 25th 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.
33 participants

　The center hosted Mr.Xu Yan, who is a master of Chinese martial arts and held Chinese martial arts and Tai Chi Course.

　At first, Mr.Xu taught setup postures and seven basic movements of Tai Chi as follows to students.

　These are basic movements of Tai Chi. These movements from 1 to 7 relate to Tai Chi movements. If the movements lose at least one, Tai chi movements doesn't work. Also weight shift without loosing bodybalance is important.

　During break time, Mr. Xu demonstrated Tai Chi and some martial art. At the moment he started the demonstration, his atmosphere entirely changed and become look strong. Tai chi has two way. One is slow movements style, another is practical style.

　Mr. XU said twisting body makes internal organ strong and it is important that making body healthy from inside to outside.

　This course held Sunday morning, however many people beyond the center expected numbers participated.

Sun., September. 8th 1:30p.m.-3:30a.m.
30 participant

　The 3rd Austria Culture Course held in preparation for Knitelfeld visiting in a few days.

　This course hosted Austrian guest Ms. Gabriele Hadl.
She showed participants postcards of Graz, which is her home, Wien and other scenery and introduced about Austria and their culture.

　In topics of food culture, she introduced Austrian pumpkin oil, which is always with their meal. Participants tried it on bread.

　Then she said she want participants to try some Austrian clutter, when they get to Austria. One is to eat Austrian sweet like Sacher Torte and the other is to experience Austrian cafe, which is thought one of Austrian culture. There are many cafes in Austrian towns.

　Also she said when you meet Austrian people and they offer their hand to you, please accept it. But preferably don't use Japanese style bow. It might be surprise them.

　The schedule of Kameoka city official delegation visit to Knittelfeld was from Sep 27th to Oct 6th.

Sun., August. 21st 10:00a.m.-4:00p.m.
80 participants

　The center held the Global Understanding Festa as a chance for citizens knows how people around them to link to the world.

　In the morning, following delegations and people set up exhibition with their own global understanding as a theme.

　They introduced their act as using Video, picture-card show and so on. It was a good appealing and meeting time for all groups.

　From afternoon, this event hosted a woman from South Africa, who is Ms. Ashley Kaimowitz. She lives in Kameoka and go to school in Kyoto as a Rotary Club's exchange student.
　At first,to know about South Africa, the present situation and historical background were spoken to audience by Ms,Jyunko Satake (Assistant professor of Pool Gakuin University)
　After that, a movie about serious problem in South Africa, which Ashley directed when she was sixteen years old were shown and had a talk show.

　The problem is about AIDS and rape of children in township.
　The Audience were extremly shocked by the problem. But It seems it is an oppotunity that they started to think how to face it and what they can do for it.

　At the end, a workshop held with you see your earth by seeing through a cup of coffee as a theme.
　Mr.Tadao Ichinomiya, who was the instractor of this workshop said Coffee is the same fresh food as vegitables. Coffee should be drunk soon after it processed. He also said the present distribution system yields disbenefit. Buyers can't get it fresh and farm producer lose their benefit because of the margin.
　After his talking, he told the audience how to brew coffee deliciously and the audience enojoyed the a cup of coffee.

Sun., August. 8th 1:30p.m.-3:30p.m.
36 participants

　Before the Kameoka city official delegation visit to Knittelfeld, Austria at the end of this September, the center held the "2nd Austria Culture Course" for Kameoka citizens to know more about Austria.

　This time, the center offered a German elementary travel conversation class. (German is widely spoken in Austria) and an Esperanto conversation class.

　At first,Ms. Miho Ibaragi prepared a lecture abou the German language. She taught participants some basic Germanconversation like guten tag and danke as well as how to pronounce German. 　
　
　Ms. Ibaragi said German pronunciation can be easily written in katakana (the Japanese syllabary). By only learning how to pronounce certain sounds not found in the Japanese language, you could easily learn to read German.
　
　After German, Ms. Yasunori Kawamura introduced basic conversation and the history of Esperanto. Esperanto was made in order for people to be able to speak the same language everywherein the world. It was developed so that one day it would become the international standard language.

　Most participants were wishing to go to Austria; they listened attentively to what the teachers were saying.

Sun., Agues. 8th 10:30a.m.-12:00a.m.
27 participants

　Each year, the Kameoka Exchange Center locates about 50 families to host foreign visitors of Kamoka, and foreign students who live in Kyoto.

　The center held this Host Family Demonstration in order to provide a chance to share the homestay experience and clear up qustions for those who have never participated in a homestay. The center also invited three foreign students to appear at the demonstration; these students have done a homestay in Kameoka before.

　At first, experienced families spoke about their experiences as a host family. One family showed pictures from the time they had welcomed foreign guests into their homes. Other families talked about how they felt when they welcomed their guest. They said they felt as if a new child had been added to their family. Families also said that they were able to gain more confidence in their English skills thanks to the experience.

　Foreign student participants gave their impressions of doing a home stay in Kameoka. They said they rarely get the opportunity to stay in a Japanese home, even though they live in Japan. So, it appears that it was a very enjoyable experience for them in which they could learn more about the Japense life style.

　At the end of the this event, the center introduced it's nest homestay program, in which Kameoka will welcome about 20 foreign young people from all over the world in October. Some families, who had no host experience decided to become a host family after participating in this event.

Wed., July. 21st 10:30ap.m.-12:00a.m.
60 participants

　A lot of children, who just started their summer vacation participated in this course.

　After introducing the instructors, children chose what they wanted to make from 7 kinds of bamboo crafts. The instructors explained how to make them and children started their works.

　This course was from the morning to afternoon. Children's work went forward well each corners. Some children visited some corners and made several crafts during this course.

　At the Take-tonbo(Bamboo dragonfly)and Bamboo spoon's corners, Children used knives to cut bamboo. At first, children could not use the knives well. Their hand movement looked unsure. But after the instructors taught children how to use knives, they started using knives well. They got used to using knives and cut bamboo forms of the Take tonbo and spoons smoothly.
.
　Of course, children worked hard. But it was interesting their mothers worked harder than children.
　
　In this course, there were many crafts that involved using knives. Before this class we were worried about children cutting themselves. But there were not many injuries. They made a lot of nice bamboo crafts.

　This course's instructors are members of a bamboo project planning group. They tough the crafts as volunteers.

June 26th-27th
15 participants

　The center held its 4th annual A Look Around Kameoka Home Stay Tour 2004 organized for international students studying at universities in Kyoto prefecture. While they are in Japan, international students tend only to go to school and return their apartments back and forth. They sometimes return to their countries without knowing Japan well at all. The tour has started in order to promote mutual understanding and cultural exchange between Kameoka citizens and students from overseas. Fifteen international students from 9 different countries participated this year.

In the morning of the first day, the participants assembled at JR Kameoka Station and the tour started in the rain.

　At first, members from Furusato Kameoka Volunteer Guide Association took students on a tour of Kameoka Castle Ruin and Izumo Shrine to know more about Kameoka City both in English and Japanese.
　
　After lunch, participants joined a light-shield making workshop instructed by Mr. Ryuzo and Ms. Eiko Hayashi with using bamboo sticks and Japanese paper. The students put great effort into making their own work. They constructed a bamboo-stick frame and put Japanese paper and Japanese writing paper on it as they like. There were many unique light shields completed.

On the second day of the tour, after spending free time with each of their host families, the students assembled at Kameoka Station in the evening and each went their own way.

The country list of participants: U.S.A., India, Canada, South Korea, Taiwan, China, Bulgaria, Vietnam, Malaysia.

Sat., May. 22th 1:30p.m.-4:30p.m.
60 participants

　This year's Green Festa themes was "Bamboo." Two groups participated. One was a group of students the Landscape Architecture Program of Oklahoma State University, and the other was a group of Bangladeshi interns, who were visiting Kameoka for a JICA internship program.

　 This event started when the students from Oklahoma introduced themselves, their university ,and what they study.
　After them, the interns from Bangladesh also introduced themselves and their country. They took many bamboo crafts and told us how bamboo is used in their daily lives.

　After a short break, the music work shop started. Students from Oklahoma and participants from the "Kids studying the World" program were each given bamboo instruments, and then given charge of their own musical scales. They performed "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star" and other songs.
　After their performance, a pair of bamboo sticks each were given to all participants to beat freely in rhythm to Ms. Makino, who was the instructor of this workshop.

　　Afterwards, the guests and participants enjoyed bamboo shoot rice balls, bamboo shoot fries and Bangladesh curry. In Bangladesh, they don't eat bamboo shoots, however our participants from Bangladesh seemed to like them..
　Bangladesh curry is of course different from Japanese curry, but Japanese seemed to find it tasty . Everything was eaten up right away.
　These dishes were all cooked by the students from Oklahoma, the Bangladeshi interns, and volunteers. Thank you for your cooperation.

May.19th-31th
1 professor and 10 students

　Students of the Landscape Architecture Program of Oklahoma State University in the United States arrived in Kameoka to learn Japan's culture and her gardens. They visited gardens in Osaka, Kyoto and participated in workshops about gardens. They also participated in various events with citizens. They stayed in Kameoka until May 31st. They experienced a Home stay in Kameoka on May 22nd

About Differences between Japanese landscape architecture
and American landscape architecture.

Wed., May. 19th 3:30p.m.-4:30p.m.
20 participants

　The center hosted 10 students and 1 professor of the Landscape Architecture Program of Oklahoma State University, and held a lecture about the difference between Japanese land American landscape architecture. The lecture was held in English.

　The lecturer was Mr. Kawai who learned about landscape architecture both in Japan and the USA and also has experience participating in several projects.
　He spoke about the difference in landscape architecture in both countries while showing slides of Katsura Imperial Villa, Shugakuin Imperial Villa, Kinkaku-ji and Ginkaku-ji. He also explained one technique of Japanese landscape architectures, called borrowed landscape.

　The lecture was really interesting event for the Japanese participants. We rediscovered Kyoto's history and views through beautiful slides and explanations.

Sat., May. 15th 9:30a.m.-12:00a.m.
10 participants

　The center's computer class for beginners has stared.

　In this class, students slowly learn the basic operations of computer, the Internet, how to use e-mail. They eventually worked their way up to Word.

　

Tue., May. 11th-　Spring semester
Opened at Kameoka Cultural Activities Center and Galleria Kameoka
About 153 participants

The center 's English Conversation Classes in spring have started. We have a variety of classes: Beginners, Intermediate, and Advanced English. Global Session is our unique class. We also have classes for children of kindergarten age. The picture is one scene of a Kinder class.

Sat., May. 9th 1:30p.m.-3:00p.m.
16 participants

　The center held its Yoga for Relaxation Course and had more participants than expected.

　After Instructors Yamahista and Horimoto's explanation about this course, all participants all lied down on the floor and started by relaxing their body.
　Then, they posed in many ways while breathing deeply

　Participants seemed to get rid of their daily stress and relax while they were experiencing yoga.