TOPICS October2022
Deep-Fried Kamaboko with Pepper from Cambodia on Sale
A kamaboko maker in Uwajima, southwestern Ehime, has started selling fried kamaboko, fish cake, with Cambodian pepper kneaded in it. It is a collaboration product with Ryoji Takayama, who continues to work on removing landmines in Cambodia. A part of the sale is donated for the development of Cambodia.
The collaboration product was devised when the managing director of the fish cake firm attended a lecture by Mr. Takayama in Matsuyama. The Kamei Kamaboko company planned to celebrate its 125th anniversary in 2022. The director, Ms. Kamei, talked to Mr. Takayama about the development of new products, and then he suggested using pepper from Cambodia. With his help, she procured the pepper grown in the fields where landmines had been removed. In order to make the most of the fragrance of pepper, they grind it coarsely just before adding it.
The product, called Fuwa-ten, is characterized by its fluffy texture using white-fleshed fish. It is easy to eat even for the elderly and children. Thanks to the pepper, there is a new taste as a snack for sake. Products are sold at their stores and online: 540 yen per piece with donation, and 320 yen without donation. 200 yen per cake is donated to Cambodian children through the certified NPO, International Mine Clearance and Community Development Supporters (IMCCD), which Mr. Takayama manages.
Inquiry: Kamei Kamaboko, Telephone 0895-22-017.
(September 15, Ehime Shimbun)
New Omicron Booster Shots Roll Out in October
On September 7, Matsuyama City announced that it would start mass vaccinations on October 1st and individual vaccinations on October 3rd for a new COVID-19 vaccine targeting the omicron variant “BA 1”. The 3rd COVID-19 shot (the 1st booster) for children aged five to 11years old will also be launched on October 1st individually by reservation.
The target of the new COVID-19 vaccine is those aged 60 and older and those aged 18 and older with underlying medical conditions. To be eligible, they have not had the fourth vaccination shot (the 2nd booster) and they should have received their third vaccination shot (the 1st booster) at least five months before. Reservations will be accepted on a dedicated website and call center from September 8. Those who have difficulty making reservations can go to their neighborhood community center from September 26 (the Bancho Community Center will start around November).
The mass vaccination site is open from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm every Saturday and Sunday, at Item Ehime (Okaga 2-chome), accepting about 600 people a day. For the time being, they will use the Pfizer vaccine. In addition, about 280 medical institutions in the city provide individual vaccinations using Pfizer and Moderna vaccines.
(September 8, Ehime Shimbun Online)
Additional:
Matsuyama City announced on September 15 that it would start mass vaccination for the new omicron booster shots ahead of schedule on September 25. Reservations can be made starting on the 15th. The new vaccine eligibility includes those aged 12 and older who have not yet received their third shot (the 1st booster), and those aged 18 and older who have not received their fourth shot (the 2nd booster) but had the third shot (the 1st booster) at least five months before.
(September 15, Ehime Shimbun Online)
Further Information:
Matsuyama City Website: https://www.city.matsuyama.ehime.jp/
Ehime University to Accept a Ukrainian Student
On September 12, Ehime University said that they decided to accept a Ukrainian student, who had hoped to evacuate to Japan, as an auditor at the graduate school of agriculture. The duration will be the second semester until March next year.
The university will give him a tuition waiver, provide him with free accommodation, and support him in living expenses. According to the university, the student is still in Ukraine, and it was unknown when he would come to Japan due to immigration restrictions.
The second semester is scheduled to start on September 24. This June, when the university announced that they were ready to support students evacuated from Ukraine, 30 people made inquiries. This student was one of them. The university issued a certificate of admission to him in July.
They will support him in cooperation with the prefecture and the Nippon Foundation. The vice president said “The student must be in a difficult situation mentally, so we need to provide not only financial support but also mental support. We would like the whole university to welcome him.”
(September 13, Ehime Shimbun)
Ehime and Queen Elizabeth II
Queen Elizabeth II passed away on September 8 had a relation with Ehime through a silk thread. Camelia silk, a superior quality silk produced in Nomura, southern Ehime, was used in the dress which was worn by Queen Elizabeth at her coronation in 1953.
According to Kazuhiko Mitsuda, a curator at the Nomura Silk Museum, the diameter of camelia silk is one-fourth or one-third of ordinary thread. He said that Nomura was recognized as the only place in the world at that time where such a remarkably thin silk thread could be produced, and the reputation
of high quality “made in Nomura” had reached Great Britain.
A record that 30 kg of 7.5 denier, super thin, silk thread was shipped in accordance with a special order for the coronation of the Queen in Great Britain was found in the town history book. Mr. Mitsuda said that the order was made in 1949, and that it seemed like a confidential mission since the King was still alive at the time of the order.
Unfortunately, it is not known how much Nomura thread was actually used for her dress, the fact is that the thread was used. He also said that the people in sericultural industry were very proud of that, even though very few people in the region knew the history.
Niihama Technical Highschool received a letter of appreciation from Buckingham Palace in reply to a letter the students in the environmental chemistry club had sent to the Queen to celebrate her Diamond Jubilee in 2013. The letter was sent because they found the story mentioned above through their club activities, raising silkworms. They received a letter from a representative of the Queen six months later and it said that the Queen had actually read their letter, and was expecting their great works in the future. The letter is displayed at the entrance of the school.
(September 10, Ehime Shimbun Online)
Online Booking Available at Drivers’ License Center
The Ehime Prefectural Drivers’ License Center introduced an online reservation system for the written test to obtain a driver’s license. Reservations can be accepted three weeks before to 4:00 p.m. of the previous day of the test. This is a measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
The maximum number of examinees will be 200 – 300, which changes in accordance with the directives of the office of Infectious Disease Control. Reservations by phone are also accepted. Walk-ins without a reservation can take the test only if there is a space available.
For further information: 089-943-0110
Information (English):
https://www.police.pref.ehime.jp/menkyokanri/exam_reserve/img/english_notes.pdf
Booking:
https://www.police.pref.ehime.jp/cgi-bin/drive_license_entry.cgi
(September 10, Ehime Shimbun Online)
Brazilian Potter Meets with Tobe-yaki Potters
Ehime prefecture invited a Brazilian potter from August 29 to September 2 and organizing exchanges with Tobe-yaki potters and others in order to create new designs for Tobe-yaki ware (a traditional porcelain).
Rachel Hoshino, a ceramic artist living in Sao Paulo, who is also active as a consultant and curator, visited Tobe town. She toured clay stone quarries and kiln sites, including Baizan Gama (Baizan Kiln, the oldest existing kiln in the town) forming relationships with local potters.
On September 2, a workshop was held at the Prefectural Ceramics Technology Center in Tobe. Ms. Hoshino and seven local potters painted together sharing painting tips with each other. After the meeting, the participants exchanged opinions on their own Tobe-yaki ware.
(September 2, Ehime Shimbun Online)
