Would you be able to Host a student or an adult this year? Please let us know. We’d like to get started matching families and visitors as soon as possible.

Contact Cindy Matthews at cmatthews@rsu1.org

Below are some photos of activities with previous hosting families.

Tsugaru Website Welcome image

Mike Moses,  Coordinator of International Relations in Tsugaru City, has created a new English language version of the Tsugaru City website.

On the site you can find City Information, Tourist Information, Information about the International Exchange Program and City Facilities. You might even recognize some Bath travelers in the photos decorating the site.

The website is a great introduction to our Sister City. Check it out at:
http://www.city.tsugaru.aomori.jp/English/homepage.html

As part of the Mayfair celebration sponsored by Main Street Bath, the Bath-Tsugaru Sister City program will be holding a yard sale at Library Park Saturday, May 5 starting at 9 AM. This is a great opportunity to do some spring cleaning, donate to a worthy cause, and even get a tax deduction, since we are a 501 (c)3 charitable organization.

Anything you would like to donate, including dishes, furniture, lamps, collectibles, books (no encyclopedias please!), toys, games, linens, etc., would be welcome. Proceeds go to help defray expenses for traveling to Japan and hosting Japanese guests here.

If you would like to drop off things the day of the sale, please come to the library park Saturday by 9. If you can, please price your items before you drop them off. If you would like to arrange someone to pick up your items, in advance of the sale, please email <pprice@rsu1.org>.

Thank you so much for your help and your generous contributions!

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.