I'll post items of interest to non-Japanese K2Kers from time to time, since many members do not subscribe to T. K. Ohska's email bulletin.
Note: henceforth, I'll make this a LIFO list (latest entries at top)Sun, 16 Apr 2000 10:02:28 +0900 # urgent KEK visitor info # Dear Friends, As I have announced a week ago that there will be tightening up of security at the KEK entrance. It is, (I repeat), to respond to sharply increasing incidents of theft. It is impossible to catch all, but at least car entering KEK will be checked of the driver's identity. Here is a problem you need to help me to solve. (1) Although there has been announcements through the director's office, it is generally written in Japanese, so that some people who can not read does not care to open the e-mail and read it. The director's office announced the tightening of the security, but not all have read and understood. I also circulated "TKO Bulletin Board" about this, but again, it does not cover people who does not tell me their e-mail address. THIS MORNING, someone (non-Japanese with initial starting with K) forced through the gate when a guard asked about the car permit. He insisted that ID card for experimenters should be sufficient. He did not bother to fill in the paperwork at the gate. It is true that KEK regulation requires anyone who will be driving their car into KEK except for a temporary visit for a day or so (these people are required to register each time at the gate) must fill in an application for a car permit to enter. It is also true that it is not STRICTLY told to everyone entering KEK due to practical reasons. However, forcing through the gate is OUT OF THE QUESTION. Remember, you are the guest and KEK people have been trying to support experiment their way. I need your help to let all know that such application is (regardless of thefts or not) required. I also urge people to let me know of their e-mail addresses as soon as possible. Ask if some of your colleagues have not received this mail. IF NOT, he/she is NOT in my mailing list. I need to update this e-mail list so that I can reach you for any important messages. Tokio March 1, 2000 # Bicycle parking lot at the Tsukuba Center bus terminal # There is a place right next to the Tsukuba Center Bus Terminal for you to leave your bicycle. It is operated by the people who are retired already but want to work. The parking opens between 6 am and 10 pm. They charge you 100 yen per day. You can leave your bicycle for more than one day. Here is something you should know in addition: If you know that you will be coming back after 10pm, you can ask them to bring your bicycle outside of fully locked area (but inside of the building) for the night. They will not be responsible for any loss of your bicycle. If you do not do this, your bicycle will be in an area where no one can get the bicycle out during the off hours. Tell the attendants if you want to get this done. Make sure that you have your bicycle locked by your own locking device. They do not mind carrying out your bicycle with the lock attacked.B!!You should also tell the attendants if you will be leaving your bicycle for longer than one day. For any more questions, call 67-3133 (Tsukuba City Facility Division) # Bus route number map # Bus route number map is produced by KICOff's own effort since we can not wait for the Kantetsu Bus service. You can get a copy from KICOff. At the moment, it contains a map only. We are planning to get it printed with all bus stop names for each bus route printed on the back. It will be available before the end of March. ***I will scan and post this map. -RJW*** Feb 25, 2000 # KEK Restaurant will be closed # KEK Restaurant will be closed between March 3 afternoon till the end of March for renovation. During this period, the restaurant will sell 3 types of box lunches at the entrance to the restaurant and at the south side entrance hall of the 3-go-kan bldg. between 11:30 and 13:00. Prices are 400, 450 and 500 yen. You can also call them between 9 and 10:30 so that it will be delivered to you. # March 3rd, the Hinamatsuri Festival # Although not a national holiday, houses with small girls decorate home with dolls. This customs started in Edo era. I don't understand what the basis of this, but they do. January 18, 2000 ## Bus route number is shown ## Effective January 16th, Kantetsu Bus Corp. started to display bus route numbers so that people who can not read Japanese can safely take bus. #18 bus runs Tsuchiura-Tsukuba Center-KEK-Technopark Oho route. #C8 or C8A runs Tsukuba Center-KEK-Technopark Oho. We are happy that Tsukuba International Network group (TIN) has been pushing this to happen and finally this happened. Detail will be available soon. ### July 9, 1999 # Insecticide spray # It is the season. On rice field, they will spray insecticide. If you live in Matsushiro area, it will be on July 27th and 28th. (If it rains, it will be postponed. THe spraying will be done by a helicopter and is not very harmful for humans, but I would not stay outside, just under the helicopter and inhale the spray. Tell your kids about that too. No need to be scared either. ### July 3, 1999 # Movies in English /books in English # With the help from Mrs. Koide of International Affairs Division, we now have several movies in English on video for your viewing. Also books in English have been donated to this office for the same reason. You may sign up to take it home. Ask Shibasaki-san of KICOff.(This office) ### May 28, 1999 # Kantetsu Bus Route Numbers # I am happy to announce that Kantetsu Bus corp. has decided that they will display a route number on each bus so that you do not need to read destination written in Japanese. They are near the completion to assign numbers to each planned route and they aim to display a route number by early June. As soon as I get the route number assignment, I will distribute the info for you. So, Tsukuba is one step forward to make this city an international city. # New bus route to Haneda on June 1 # Kantstu Bus corp. and Keihin Kyuko Corp jointly starting a bus service to Haneda Airport where most domestic flights leave/arrive, while Narita Airport is for overseas flights. It would take between 80 to 120 minutes and will cost you 1800 yen one way. ### TKO Bulletin Board ### April 1, 1999 ## Direct bus service between Haneda and Tsukuba ## Haneda airport is for most domestic flight where Narita Airport is mainly for international flights. As Tsukuba Conference Center opens in June this year for international conferences, they will start bus service between Tsukuba and Haneda. The distance between them is 87km and it will take approximately 90 to 120 minutes for the bus ride taht wil cost 1800 yen. Scheduled to have 12 buses per day for both ways. Detail later. ## New books in KICOff ## There are new books on KICOff bookshlevs. Some are Japanese language books, Guide boos for Japanese culture etc such as Book on Ikebana(flower arrangement), Shogi (Japanese chess), Go, map of Japan in English, Japanese Language casettes, ..... Come find them by yourself. ### 4-28-99: # Emergency phrases! # In case of emergency, if you are in KEK, try calling the guards office at ext.3399. If it were a fire, sat "kaji", if it were medical emergency, say "kyu-byo-nin-desu". Naturally, you need to tell your (or the fire) location. If you can not do this much, attend the Introduction-to-Japan class tonight. It might save your life. # Swimming pool # KEK Swimming pool is getting a renovation work now and expected date you can start swimming will be around May 10th. Before that date, we need volunteers who does the cleaning of the pool as we do every year a few times. I shall announce this as soon as the date is fixed for the cleaning. # About the TIN group # Last December, we formed a group made up with people in various laboratories, organizations in Tsukuba who have been in charge of taking care of non-Japanese visitors. Its temporary name is Tsukuba International Net (TIN) to exchange experiences, informations on problems when non-Japanese people are involved in any daily life scenes. The TIN group had threee meetings so far, twice at KEK and once at Agency of Industrial Science and Technology (AIST) of MITI. We have 11 institutes participating now. We also have Tim Boyle, the editor of the Alian Times particpating now. Last Monday, 16th of April, representatives of the TIN group payed a visit to Kanto Testudo Co. which operates bus service in Tsukuba. We are happy to inform you that their reponse was quite positive to our requests: (1) Display bus-route number on each bus so that one does not have to read destination written in Japanese-only. >>> They will see what they can do about it. They will also try writing the route number at each bus stops. They would start this action on frequently-used bus routes first, likely the route on Higashi-odori Blvd. (2) Provide a bus service between Tsukuba Center to KEK ( destination is Hokubu Kogyo Danchi as any others) at late hours so that people can dine, take a Japanese lesson, enjoy concert etc at Tsukuba Center area in the evening. A bus that will leave around 9:30 pm from Tsukuba Center was our suggestion. >>> They may be able to start this in relatively short time after they look into teh availability of bus driver and bus itself at that time at that location. Their response, although we have to see how well they can keep their words, was surprisingly positive, since we were told not to expect much from past experiences with them. So, may be the TIN group is something worth the effort.
Maintained by:
R. J. Wilkes, wilkes@phys.washington.edu.