We have just concluded our first annual Japanese Culture Celebration Weekend in Bath, and it was so successful that we are indeed calling it our ‘first annual’.

The events were varied and supported by community people/businesses and also statewide artists.  Our goal was to raise awareness of our program , and we did that as well as raise some scholarship funds for travellers. We had cooking classes, sake tasting classes, Japanese movies, green tea ceremonies, and classes in Japanese gardening, haiku, and literature.  The busiest of our four days included a benefit breakfast, a kids’ carnival, a Japanese dinner, and an evening of Taeko drumming, celebrity sumo wrestling, games and raffle.  Phew!  Lots of work, lots of help, and lot of enthusiasm:  It was terrific for all involved.

There is a selection of photos from the weekend posted here.

In the meantime, our planning for summer travel and hosting is gearing up.

There are so many ways to be a part of our program!

Please visit this web site regularly for the latest!

Deb Patten, President

Please join the fun Thursday, February 2-Sunday, February 5, for a weekend of exciting events for families, children, and adults. From hands-on activities such as a cooking class, family carnival, and Japanese dinner, to entertainment with Celebrity Sumo wrestling, a gardening presentation, and Japanese movies, there is something here for everyone!

Check out the full schedule for details. Or, download the printable brochure: Bath Japan Weekend Brochure.

Organized by the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Exchange Program, in celebration of our historic relationship, and student cultural exchanges for the past 20 years with Tsugaru (formerly Shariki), Japan. Proceeds will go toward scholarships for Bath area students traveling to Japan, and to help with costs of hosting Japanese students in our community.

We would like to thank the following businesses and organizations for their generous support in making this Japanese Celebration Weekend possible:

• Bath Area Family YMCA
• Bath Savings Institution
• Bowdoin Taiko
• City of Bath
• Five Elements Mountain School of Martial Arts
• Halcyon Yarn (See information on their Weekend Sales Special)
• The Hampton Inn
• It’s All Good Consignment Shop
• Now You’re Cooking
• Patten Free Library
• RSU 1 School District
• Starlight Cafe
• Winter Street Center

Specifications:

–Size: Posters must measure 8 ½ by 11 inches, a vertical (portrait) orientation, and have a flat surface with no moving parts.

–Materials: Paint, ink, markers, crayons, 2-dimensional collage, and original computer-generated graphics may be used.

–The design needs  no lettering, but will be used as the visual focal point of an 11×14 flyer, which will contain information below.  Please DO NOT include this info in your design, it is listed only for your information.

            Japanese Celebration Weekend in Bath

            February 2-5

            –Family Carnival—Japanese Dinner—Taiko Drumming—Japanese Films–

            –Japanese Tea Ceremony—Sake Tasting—Starlight Cafe breakfast– Much more!

            Various locations throughout Bath

            For specific times and locations, visit the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City website,

http:// bath-tsugaru.org

 Guidelines:  No copyrighted figures (e.g. anime characters, Hello Kitty, etc) will be accepted.  Each entry must be the original work of a current student grade 6-12. The student’s name, grade,school, and contact information: home address, telephone number, and parent or student e-mail address, if available, should be written on a separate piece of paper and enclosed with the entry.

 Judging Criteria:

–Visual impact (Remember that the use of color is important to visual impact.  Large areas of white reduce the visual impact of the submission.)

–Clarity to the observer

–Relevance to the Japanese theme

–Originality

All submissions become the property of the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Exchange program and may be used in publications or materials.  Entrants may wish to keep a copy of their submission for use in their portfolio. The winner will receive a $50 Gift of Bath gift certificate, plus free entry to all of the Japanese Celebration events.  Gift of Bath certificates may be used at any of the more than 70 merchants, restaurants, services, in Bath, including Reny’s, Bath Sweet Shoppe,Cafe Crème, Springer’s Jewelers, and many more.

Deadline:  Postmarked by December 31, 2011, or hand delivered to the Superintendent’s office by Tuesday, January 3, 2012 .

Send to:  Japanese Poster, c/o Cindy Matthews, Bath-Japan Sister City Coordinator, Superintendent’s Office, RSU1, 39 Andrews Road, Bath, ME 04530.  Questions may be sent to pprice@rsu1.org.

Author: Keiko Yamamoto

Here is a scan of the original article: Mutsu Shinpou Newspaper Article (Japanese). The translation below was provided by Michael Moses, Coordinator of International Relations in Tsugaru City.

In an effort to aid the victims of the major earthquake that struck Eastern Japan, the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Program sent 14,000 dollars to Aomori Prefecture’s Disaster Relief Account. Tsugaru City and Bath, Maine, U.S.A. are sister cities.

Tsugaru City and Bath have had a relationship since 1889, when the Cheseborough, a cargo ship from Bath, crashed off the shore of Shariki Village and the village saved some of the crewmen. Currently, the two cities engage in the Cheseborough Cup and the mutual exchange trips.

The Bath-Tsugaru Sister City Program, which is currently in the process of planning for the exchange trip from Tsugaru to Bath, sponsored two fundraising events, a Cheseborough Swim and an auction. On June 17, the program sent the $8,930 raised through the swim and auction, as well as $5,070 gathered from Bath citizens and organizations, to Japan.

Deborah Patten, the president of the Bath-Tsugaru Exchange Program, had the following warm message for Japan: “On March 11th, the people of Bath were very distressed to see and hear of events in Japan, and responded in many ways … We sincerely hope that these funds will help you all recover.”

Picture Caption: Cheseborough Swim fundraising event held by Bath (Picture provided by Tsugaru City)

Michael Moses
Attached is a scan of the original article (in Japanese) Tsugaru City Newsletter CIR Column (Japanese). The translation below is provided by the author.

After the recent devastating earthquake and tsunami in eastern Japan, I reflected on the meaning of the slogan “Love and Courage Across the Seas.”  While I think many of you are familiar with it, the phrase refers to the strong bond between Bath and Tsugaru City, which was forged after the crash of the Cheseborough 122 years ago.  At that time, Tsugaru residents miraculously saved four crewmen from the crashed ship, which was built in Bath.  Now, in Japan’s time of need, the people of the world are working hard to pay back Tsugaru City’s heroic deeds and generosity.  This month, I would like to introduce the international disaster relief efforts of people who share a special connection with Tsugaru City, especially the efforts of Tsugaru City’s sister city in Bath, Maine, as well as the efforts of the workers at the Shariki Communications Site.

When the disaster occurred, I immediately received a message from the exchange coordinator in Bath.  The message was filled with the desire to help aid Japan in any way possible, and the residents of Bath immediately started fundraising for Tsugaru City.  Besides collecting individual donations, the people of Bath have been busy putting on big fundraising events.  On the 9^th of April, Bath held a Cheseborough Swim, in which the participants collected pledges from sponsors and swam in the event.  That night, Bath also held an auction event, where a variety of items were auctioned off, including everything from massage certificates to pottery and jewelry.  The proceeds from the swim and auction will all be donated to disaster relief.

Not just the people of Bath, who live an ocean away from Tsugaru City, but the international residents of Tsugaru City itself are also fervently contributing to relief efforts.  Among various efforts, those of the workers at the Shariki Communications Site are especially noteworthy.  The people of the site have taken clothing, food and blankets to Iwate prefecture six times.  Using three vehicles, they sent supplies to Kamaishi, Miyako and Noda.  They are working hard to help Japan recover from the disaster.

We are being supported by people all around the world.  Starting with the efforts of Bath and the workers of the communications site, people everywhere are praying and fundraising for japan.  While it is an extremely tough time for Japan right now, within all the darkness is the shining light of our fellow brothers and sisters’ friendship and love.  Despite differences in language and country, the people of the world are working hard to help save Japan.  When I see these efforts, I definitely understand the meaning behind the phrase: “Love and Courage Across the Seas.”

Next Saturday, May 7, is the May Fair in Bath!  It is basically a city-wide Yard Sale.  We have a space at Library Park.  We are hoping to raise money to help pay for activities and lunches for the group from Tsugaru coming this summer, and perhaps also to contribute to next year’s trip TO Tsugaru.

Have you done some spring cleaning lately?  Maybe over April vacation?  Do you have some items you could donate to the Yard Sale?  Collectibles?  Antiques?  Books? etc?

I’m also in need of a couple of tables and some folding chairs to set up our items on and for our workers to sit at during the fair.  Do any of you have any that we can use?

The Yard Sale starts at 9am (set up at 8am), and it will end when we’re sold out or decide to pack up – maybe around 5pm?