JET Programme Series: YawataWHAT O_o – YAWATAHAMA! - Kelly Cain
2022/3/17
JET Programme Series: YawataWHAT O_o – YAWATAHAMA! - Kelly Cain
JET Coordinator: Hi Kelly, I’m calling with great news! I’m please to inform you that you have been placed in Yawatahama!!
Kelly: Yawata what?
JET Coordinator: Yawatahama City. It’s in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku Island…
……………………………………………………………………………................................................................................................
Okay so, I know Ehime. I definitely know Shikoku. This is good. Recognizable. But…what is Yawatahama?
I know of the famous Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, Mt. Ishizuchi in Saijo, the towel museum in Imabari and the Garyu Mountain Villa in Ozu. All of which are on Shikoku. But I have never in my life come across Yawatahama on a map. I do NOT like being unprepared. A great pet peeve of mine. So, I hailed my old friend of 23 years, Google, and we went in search of what is Yawatahama.
Y’all!! Inserts google searched article here -->
“Yawatahama is a city located in the southwestern part of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and has the largest fish market on Shikoku. The Mikan (oranges) is the featured agricultural product.”
So, I have fish and oranges and lots of it at that. This will be very interesting.
Well, fast-forward and one leap of faith later, I’ve been here a little over three months now and guys….
I love Yawatahama! A sleepy city nestled at the edge of Shikoku. This city has the perfect mix of urban and rural vibe, just like Sangre Grande. There are all the utilities within easy access (literally around every corner) like major groceries, pharmacies, the train station, doctors’ offices, mixed in with a community family (everyone knows everyone) who are kind and friendly (and love to give mikans) coupled with nature everywhere you turn.
I have wonderful schools; 4 elementary schools and 1 Junior High School. My students and I are very excited to see each other during class time and learning English has become a fun activity. We even incorporate English outside the classroom especially in the form of games. Numbers and red light, green light, one two three are their two favorite games and yes, even at the Junior High school. The teachers are very welcoming and helpful. They too are trying to improve their English by attempting to talk to me in English and introducing me to the new words and phrases they have learnt in English. The students and teachers are always excited to learn a new fun fact about Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone, even the teachers, attended my self-introduction classes. Through my introduction I was able to share my culture with them. They learnt about Trinidad and Tobago’s diversity, wildlife, national instrument, places of interest, cuisine, school system and last but certainly not least, Carnival! It was well received by everyone and there is such an interest in my country that one of my elementary school students told me when he gets a wife, he will take her to Trinidad and Tobago. Let me not forget to mention they absolutely think we are crazy for eating bake and shark because as my ni nen sei (second grade) has put it, ‘Keri sensei, no, sharks are dangerous, not food.’ They have no ears for my argument that it tastes delicious.
When I arrived in Yawatahama, I was told that I came from an island that probably has a lot for me to do but I might be a bit bored here and luckily, I have the train station 2 blocks away with frequent train service throughout the day to anywhere I might want to go. And I also have a small port which provides regular ferry services to the cities of Usuki, Ōita and Beppu, Ōita on Kyūshū Island, along with overnight buses for long distance trips as far as Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo.
All this was wonderful information to have but Yawatahama could not be as dull as they say. And I’m here to say that I’m glad they were wrong. Yawatahama is full of life. There is an entire Ginza (commercial/shopping district) where the food is amazing. The little homey restaurants with all the ramen and champon (ramen noodles, frying pork, seafood, and vegetables) you can eat! And all those cute little Izakaya (drinking bars). There is also a cute little café called Yanagi where you get the biggest slice of mikan inspired cake with a fresh cup of coffee. (If I could go there every day I would)
Let’s not forget about the nature; besides the sightseeing which can take you back in time, Yawatahama is literally mountainous. It’s a hiker’s dream. Since I’ve been here, I’ve only experienced some of it and I definitely need more. I’ve visited the Hachiman Shrine, which is the origin of the place name of "Yawatahama." It’s huge and literally perched on top a mini mountain one block away from down town Yawatahama. One random day after school I decided to go left instead of right to see where it would take me and I stumbled upon a Buddhist temple. I stepped inside and felt like a samurai during the Tokugawa era. (Yes, I watch way too much anime).
I, together with my new found friend took a trip to Cape Suwazaki. It’s a peninsula that juts out into the Uwa Sea with forest paths, abundant wildlife and a spectacular view. That impromptu hike was well worth the destination. (If you ever come to Yawatahama put it on your bucket list!) During my Junior high school’s field trip/walkathon, it led me to Futaiwa which is home of the Yawatahama Sports Park, which is literally at the top of a mountain. I’m telling you my picture does not do the view justice. The view from that sports park was just amazing. The air hit different up there toppled with the view of the surrounding mountains. It was just mind blowing.
I also went to City Hall to get some paper work completed and let’s just say it’s not every day you walk into a building and see a whole plane dangling from the roof. So as the story goes, Yawatahama was home to aircraft pioneer Chuhachi Ninomiya whose aeroplane designs were rejected by the Japanese military, thereby ceding the first flight to the Wright brothers. It was really fascinating to hear the background story.
Through this journey so far, I have learnt that maybe everyone should get a little-known placement on the JET Programme (you experience the true beauty that is Japan.) Go into the unknown a little unprepared and with an open mind (you will learn a lot about your surroundings and yourself.) The fish and oranges of Yawatahama are the BEST in Japan!!! (I’m becoming somewhat of an orange..eh em….excuse me, I meant Mikan connoisseur.) I am grateful to be here and very excited to see where else this journey will take me and what else there is to discover about Yawatahama.
JET Series: YawataWHAT O_o - YAWATAHAMA (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives
Kelly: Yawata what?
JET Coordinator: Yawatahama City. It’s in Ehime Prefecture on Shikoku Island…
……………………………………………………………………………................................................................................................
Okay so, I know Ehime. I definitely know Shikoku. This is good. Recognizable. But…what is Yawatahama?
I know of the famous Matsuyama Castle and Dogo Onsen in Matsuyama, Mt. Ishizuchi in Saijo, the towel museum in Imabari and the Garyu Mountain Villa in Ozu. All of which are on Shikoku. But I have never in my life come across Yawatahama on a map. I do NOT like being unprepared. A great pet peeve of mine. So, I hailed my old friend of 23 years, Google, and we went in search of what is Yawatahama.
Y’all!! Inserts google searched article here -->
“Yawatahama is a city located in the southwestern part of Ehime Prefecture, Japan, and has the largest fish market on Shikoku. The Mikan (oranges) is the featured agricultural product.”
So, I have fish and oranges and lots of it at that. This will be very interesting.
Well, fast-forward and one leap of faith later, I’ve been here a little over three months now and guys….
I love Yawatahama! A sleepy city nestled at the edge of Shikoku. This city has the perfect mix of urban and rural vibe, just like Sangre Grande. There are all the utilities within easy access (literally around every corner) like major groceries, pharmacies, the train station, doctors’ offices, mixed in with a community family (everyone knows everyone) who are kind and friendly (and love to give mikans) coupled with nature everywhere you turn.
I have wonderful schools; 4 elementary schools and 1 Junior High School. My students and I are very excited to see each other during class time and learning English has become a fun activity. We even incorporate English outside the classroom especially in the form of games. Numbers and red light, green light, one two three are their two favorite games and yes, even at the Junior High school. The teachers are very welcoming and helpful. They too are trying to improve their English by attempting to talk to me in English and introducing me to the new words and phrases they have learnt in English. The students and teachers are always excited to learn a new fun fact about Trinidad and Tobago. Everyone, even the teachers, attended my self-introduction classes. Through my introduction I was able to share my culture with them. They learnt about Trinidad and Tobago’s diversity, wildlife, national instrument, places of interest, cuisine, school system and last but certainly not least, Carnival! It was well received by everyone and there is such an interest in my country that one of my elementary school students told me when he gets a wife, he will take her to Trinidad and Tobago. Let me not forget to mention they absolutely think we are crazy for eating bake and shark because as my ni nen sei (second grade) has put it, ‘Keri sensei, no, sharks are dangerous, not food.’ They have no ears for my argument that it tastes delicious.
When I arrived in Yawatahama, I was told that I came from an island that probably has a lot for me to do but I might be a bit bored here and luckily, I have the train station 2 blocks away with frequent train service throughout the day to anywhere I might want to go. And I also have a small port which provides regular ferry services to the cities of Usuki, Ōita and Beppu, Ōita on Kyūshū Island, along with overnight buses for long distance trips as far as Kobe, Osaka, and Tokyo.
All this was wonderful information to have but Yawatahama could not be as dull as they say. And I’m here to say that I’m glad they were wrong. Yawatahama is full of life. There is an entire Ginza (commercial/shopping district) where the food is amazing. The little homey restaurants with all the ramen and champon (ramen noodles, frying pork, seafood, and vegetables) you can eat! And all those cute little Izakaya (drinking bars). There is also a cute little café called Yanagi where you get the biggest slice of mikan inspired cake with a fresh cup of coffee. (If I could go there every day I would)
Let’s not forget about the nature; besides the sightseeing which can take you back in time, Yawatahama is literally mountainous. It’s a hiker’s dream. Since I’ve been here, I’ve only experienced some of it and I definitely need more. I’ve visited the Hachiman Shrine, which is the origin of the place name of "Yawatahama." It’s huge and literally perched on top a mini mountain one block away from down town Yawatahama. One random day after school I decided to go left instead of right to see where it would take me and I stumbled upon a Buddhist temple. I stepped inside and felt like a samurai during the Tokugawa era. (Yes, I watch way too much anime).
I, together with my new found friend took a trip to Cape Suwazaki. It’s a peninsula that juts out into the Uwa Sea with forest paths, abundant wildlife and a spectacular view. That impromptu hike was well worth the destination. (If you ever come to Yawatahama put it on your bucket list!) During my Junior high school’s field trip/walkathon, it led me to Futaiwa which is home of the Yawatahama Sports Park, which is literally at the top of a mountain. I’m telling you my picture does not do the view justice. The view from that sports park was just amazing. The air hit different up there toppled with the view of the surrounding mountains. It was just mind blowing.
I also went to City Hall to get some paper work completed and let’s just say it’s not every day you walk into a building and see a whole plane dangling from the roof. So as the story goes, Yawatahama was home to aircraft pioneer Chuhachi Ninomiya whose aeroplane designs were rejected by the Japanese military, thereby ceding the first flight to the Wright brothers. It was really fascinating to hear the background story.
Through this journey so far, I have learnt that maybe everyone should get a little-known placement on the JET Programme (you experience the true beauty that is Japan.) Go into the unknown a little unprepared and with an open mind (you will learn a lot about your surroundings and yourself.) The fish and oranges of Yawatahama are the BEST in Japan!!! (I’m becoming somewhat of an orange..eh em….excuse me, I meant Mikan connoisseur.) I am grateful to be here and very excited to see where else this journey will take me and what else there is to discover about Yawatahama.
JET Series: YawataWHAT O_o - YAWATAHAMA (Japanese Embassy's Facebook)
JET Programme Series Archives