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Koshigaya International Association
Koshigaya International Association (KIA) established at Koshigaya Saitama Japan in 2001, does a lot of volunteer activities for promoting international friendship.
About Us
Koshigaya International Association (KIA) has active exchanges with its sister city Campbelltown (Australia) and other foreign cities, and the foreign people living and/or working in Koshigaya City to promote mutual understanding, deepen friendship and to contribute to the development of its citizen's lives.
Activities
KIA comprises five committees: the General Affairs Committee, the International Exchange Program Committee , the Local Exchange Program Committee,Multi-Cultural Festa Program Committee and Youth Exchange Program Committee. Operating on a volunteer basis, these committees hold various programs encouraging foreign people living and/or working in Koshigaya City to join the local festivals and actively participate in the city's activities.
Please Join Us!
Membership is open to anyone living and/or working in Koshigaya City. You may apply by coming directly to the KIA office, by e-mail, or by sending an application to our office by mail.
Annual Fee
- Corporate Membership 10,000 yen a year
- Group Membership 5,000 yen a year
- Individual Membership 3,000 yen a year
- Student Membership 1,000 yen a year
Membership Benefits
- Participate in the Association's International Exchange Programs.
- Access to the Association's activities through its newsletter and home-page.
- Enjoy special membership rates for some restaurants and schools.
General Affairs Committee
Introducing you the General Affairs Committee's Activities
Homepage Updates
To maintain the homepage and update essential information as well as responding to e-mails.
Publication regarding "Koshigaya International Association"
To provide information and explanation about the Association's activities and events.
Collect and provide information regarding international events, etc.
To provide members and citizens with information on international events and others.
International Exchange Program Committee
Introducing you the International Exchange Program Committee's Activities
The 16th Annual Koshigaya Youth Delegation
The 16th Annual Youth Delegation (comprising people between 13 and 20 years old) went to our sister city Campbelltown for 15 days, from July 28, 2001 August 11, 2001. The delegation stayed with families in Campbelltown, experienced school life and came to understand a lot about the Australian people. The delegation had the large task of promoting mutual understanding and friendly relations with the people of Campbelltown.
The Campbelltown Youth Baseball Delegation
The Youth Baseball Delegation from Campbelltown was in Koshigaya for 10 days from October 2, 2001 October 11, 2001. While the delegation were experiencing Japanese life through home stays within Koshigaya, they participated in baseball friendship and school matches, took part in the Koshigaya Autumn Festival and exchanged ideas with the citizens of Koshigaya. It was not all about baseball. The delegation took part in cultural activities like tea ceremony, flower arrangement and Japanese archery. While they were here the delegation created unforgettable memories with the people of Koshigaya. They returned home with the great memories of Koshigaya.
Campbelltown Youth Delegation 2002
Junior High School Delegation 2002
The delegation will go for 12 days from March 27, 2002 April 7, 2002. Comprising of 15, 2nd year Junior High School student delegates from Junior High Schools in the Koshigaya area and 2 adult delegation leaders. The Koshigaya Junior High School delegations have been sent to Campbelltown, having been subsidized by Koshigaya Shirakobato Foundation, since 1991. The purpose of this delegation is to further strengthen the friendly relationship between Koshigaya and Campbelltown.
English Classes for Koshigaya International Association Members
Local Exchange Program Committee
Introducing you the Local Exchange Program Committee's Activities.
The 27th Annual Koshigaya Citizens Festival
Koshigaya citizens participated in the Koshigaya Citizens Festival on September 30, 2001. 'Campbelltown Corner' booth started following the opening parade. At 'Campbelltown Corner' booth there was a quiz and information presented on Australia. This year was the first year for the 'Foreign Language Corner' booth. Non-Japanese people living in Koshigaya spoke about their respective cultures. At lunchtime there was a Peru Dance, which made for an extraordinary fun day.
Japanese Classes for Non-Japanese speakers 2001
Classes started from October 2, 2001. It is a 12 lesson course that runs at the Koshigaya Central Community Center from 7pm until 8:30pm. There are approximately 40 people from 18 different countries, interested in learning Japanese who come together with Japanese volunteers to study.
Oshaberi Salon
On October 2, 2001 "Oshaberi Salon" started. We had many people participating in the cultural understanding in Japanese, between people from different nationalities and Japanese people. There have been various topics discussed including the family, differences in customs, explanations on one's home country and hometown. Oshaberi Salon will run on the first Tuesday of February and March, 2002.
the 8th Annual Japanese Speech Contest
Multi-Cultural Festa Program Committee
Introducing you the Multi-Cultural Festa Program committee Supporting co-existing with multi-cultures through various events.
*Participation in Shimin Matsuri.
*Planning and executing the festa- related events for co-existing with multi-cultures.
Youth Exchange Program Committee
Introducing you the Youth Exchange program committee Supporting mainly the students and the youth to promote international understanding.
*Planning and executing events for the students to promote international understanding and international exchanges.
*Planning and executing events for the youth to promote internatinonal understanding and international exchanges.
Multi-Cultures and Citizen Committee
Introducing you the Multi-Cultures and Citizen Committee's activities.
The people with background of Japanese cultures and those with multi-cultures work together to create new citizen cultures.
1.To increase the KIA’s associate members of restaurants and schools to 100.
2.To provide Koshigaya city’s information for the people with the multi-cultural background by appropriate ways.
My Experiences
The bridge between Koshigaya and Campbelltown
Koshigaya Hirakata Junior High School
3rd Grade Mina Hasegawa
I stayed in Campbelltown, Australia, from March 26 to April 6 this year, during which I learned a lot about Australian cultures and had close contact with many people. I had very much impressed by the experiences I never had in Japan before.
The biggest reason why I joined the exchange program this time was that I had wanted to have as many foreign people as possible understand Japanese cultures. Actually, it was very difficult for me to introduce them Japanese culture. I remember that I made every effort to teach them Japanese culture with broken English and gestures. They were very kind to try to understand what I was saying. To my surprise, elementary and junior high school children in Campbelltown could speak simple Japanese, for example ‘KON NICHIWA’ . I was very glad to know that many people were interested in Japanese languages.
The people in Campbelltown are very friendly enough to say hello to everyone encountered everywhere; at a station, shopping mall, park and so forth. I have a feeling that they so-called instinctively can say hello to others. I hope that Japanese people can also say hello to others without hesitation like them.
In Australia, there are much more forests than in Japan and I felt that air is very fresh and clean. I was very much impressed with so many kangaroos living at ease in the mountainous areas. The stalactite cave which I visited on March 30 is more mysterious and exciting than Japanese one. When I experienced the culture of ‘aborigine’, I got very much excited. I am very happy to say that I had directly experienced as mentioned above.
Through this program, I had much more concern about international exchange issues. Taking this opportunity, I would like to become a member of Koshigaya International Association, and make every effort to have as many as foreign people understand Japanese culture.
Thank you.
My home-stay experience
Koshigaya Nishi Junior High School
3rd Grade Mana Nakazato
I like English very much and have had strong hope to go abroad for speaking English for a long time. The dream has come true at last. Our junior high youth delegation left Japan for Australia on March 26. Home-stay is my first experience this time. I was too excited to sleep in the air plane due to mixed feeling of anxiety and expectation.
First meeting with the host-family was scheduled in the next evening. I was very much delighted to find out an acquainted face which I had remembered through e-mail picture. When one of the host-family members hugged me saying “Nice to meet you, Mana”, all my anxieties were gone. In the car on the way to their house, they asked me something about Japanese life, but the speaking speed was too fast for me to follow. So, my challenge was to what extent I can brush up my English during my stay in Australia.
My host-family members, the Blackburns, are all fans of rugby. In the first day afternoon of home-stay, we enjoyed watching rugby game with loud music and bustling audiences, which is very popular in Australia. I found a kind of different culture there. They took care of me just like a real family member.
I had a very unique experience I never had in Japan before. The elder sister took me to the house where she serves as a baby-sitter. She took care of two boys. They freely tried to communicate with me without knowing I am a foreigner. I felt I realized true meaning of communication.
On the last day, we gathered in a local hall to introduce Japanese cultures; tea ceremony and Rock Soran Bushi. When I said “Good by” to the host-family, I could not stop crying. Even after returning to Japan, I have a feeling as if I were still in Australia. I am very happy to say that I enjoyed my stay in Australia, and could have confidence to communicate with foreign people.
Thank you.
We Love Aussies !
We went as delegates to Koshigaya's sister city Campbelltown in 2000. When we were there, the Aussies were kinder than we could have ever imagined and all of us have very precious memories of Australia because of that. We all became close friends with the children in our families. We were very moved when they taught us their games. The first thing they taught us was "Paper, Scissors, Rock" (The Australian Juanken) That was the first time that we had ever seen it because this game was exactly the same as the Japanese version. It made us very happy to be able to spend time together.
The week went by so quickly the before we knew it, it was the day of the farewell party.We had very mixed feelings about it. But as soon as the party started those feelings disappeared. Everybody loved the performance that we practiced so hard in Japan. When we started to sing the Australian national anthem, naturally the Aussies started to sing with us. It moved us profoundly. There were so many other wonderful things that we did but they cannot all be mentioned in this article.
We were able to exchange ideas with lots of people on this delegation and we all have precious memories of the trip.. We would like to keep in touch with those people we met then, and cherish the great experiences we had in Campbelltown.
Kie Abe 2002 Spring
I went to Koshigaya's sister city Campbelltown as a member of a junior high youth delegation in this spring. It was my first experience to go and stay abroad. I couldn't imagine how this stay would be at all. So I was really nervous. But the hearty reception of my cheerful and friendly host family and all the Australians who I met put me at ease. While I was spending time with Aussies, the most impressive memory was being received as a member of the family and a friend, not as a foreign visitor. My English was not good enough to communicate perfectly, but they tried to do everything in order to express their feelings and understand mine. Of course they asked about my opinions, and usually they asked me to help them in the home.
We were lucky enough to take part in the school sports of the junior high school there. We were puzzled over what to do and what to say at first, but the Australian students came up to us with smiles. Then we introduced Origami, Japanese calligraphy and so on to them, and we got them to introduce their Australian games too. I was really having a good time. Finally we exchanged e-mail addresses. I could make my first foreign friends at that time!
The last day in Australia, my tears never stopped thanks to such wonderful memories Even now, I thank everyone from the bottom of my heart that made my stay there comfortable and happy. These experiences broadened my outlook remarkably, and that gave me a new view of life.
Of course I really want to go back there soon, but I also want to go other countries I have never been to. I am sure it will be wonderful too if I take the challenge with my heart opened. This experience taught me so.
Koshigaya Introduction
Outline
From many years in that past, Koshigaya was known as a riverside district blessed with rich natural surroundings.
The rivers and irrigation canals in the area include the Moto-Arakawa, Furu-Tonegawa, Ayasegawa and Naka rivers, all A-class rivers, and the Kasai, Sueda, and Yakota irrigation canals.
Located within 25-30 km radius of central Tokyo, Koshigaya in December 1996 became the sixth city in Saitama Prefecture with a population of over 300,000.
It has developed as the core city in the southeastern part of Saitama Prefecture and is currently preparing itself for the twenty-first century by promoting safety, convenience, and comfort under the theme of a "A vigorous, culturally-oriented city that cares for its citizens and is blessed with ample water and lush greenery."
Location
Koshigaya city is located in the southeastern part of Saitama Prefecture, 25km-30km from the center of Tokyo.
The city area is located on the alluvial plain in the basin of the Nakagawa river, wedged between the Omiya and Shimousa plateaus, including the Furu-Tonegawa and Moto-Arakawa rivers and Kasai irrigation canal.
Originally, a small community settled on the natural embankment surrounding the ponds and marshlands in the area.
Afterward, low moist land was used to cultivate new rice fields.
Population
In the middle of every month, information regarding the number of households and population of Koshigaya is updated.
Koshigaya, Saitama Prefecture Japan
Introduction to Koshigaya's Sister City, CAMPBELLTOWN
Overview
Campbelltown is located in New South Wales 53 kilometers southwest of Sydney. Traditionally, it was a prosperous rural district providing wheat for Sydney. Today, with rapid population growth it has transformed into a cosmopolitan urban city. Campbelltown is a beautiful green city with a land area of 312 square kilometers and a population of about 150,000 people.
Further, within the suburbs on the outskirts of Sydney, Campbelltown has been recognized for its extraordinary potential in industry, retail and building sectors.
Campbelltown has been sister cities with Koshigaya's City since April 11, 1984. The Sister City Associations of both cities are central to continuing the relation of friendship through Youth, Official, Sports and Cultural delegations.
History
In 1810 Governor Macquarie recommended the Campbelltown area for settlement and named the district Airds. By 1811 there were 107 settlers in the district. At the end of 1820, Governor Macquarie prepared to establish Campbelltown as the capital of the district. It was to be a center of religion and provide accommodation for travelers passing through. Campbelltown was founded on December 1, 1820. Governor Macquarie named it in honor of his wife, whose maiden name was Campbell.
In the early days, the area prospered through the harvest of wheat as the granary of Sydney. James Ruse, who died in 1837, was recognized as the founder of the Australian wheat industry and was buried in the Roman Catholic section of the Campbelltown Cemetery.
The history of local government can be traced back to 17 August, 1843. On this day, Governor George Gipps established the Campbelltown Local Government with his signature. Presently, Campbelltown is the joint amalgamation of Campbelltown and Ingleburn. On the third of May, 1968 the City of Campbelltown was proclaimed.
Fishers Ghost Festival
Every year in November many Campbelltown residents gather together in large numbers for the Fishers Ghost Festival.
This festival celebrates the legend of Campbelltown's Fishers Ghost legend, famous within Australia.
How would you like to participate in this festival and meet the Fishers Ghost?