By Chika Fukuma
Takarazuka, Mecca of Opera
@@Hello everyone. I am Chika
Fukuma, third in the Faculty
of Letters at Doshisha
University. Today, I would
like to report on the
international exchange project
at my hometown, Takarazuka
City. Do you know which
prefecture it is part of and
how big the area is?
Takarazuka is located in the
southeast of Hyogo, right
between Osaka and Kobe.
Well then, what comes to
mind when you think of
Takarazuka? Some of the
things may be the group of
unmarried women in the
theatrical association, Takarazuka
Opera Group and the
hometown of the famous
author of Black Jack and the
iron-armed Atom, Osamu
Tezuka. Not many people are
aware of this but Takarazuka
is also known for hot
springs, which attracts many
foreigners every year. I
wonder what kinds of international
exchange projects
have taken place in the
proudly known city.
Sister cities
@@First of all, I will introduce
the overseas sister city of
Takarazuka. There are two
sister cities: Augusta Richmond
District (America) in
first year of Heisei and the
sister city cooperation joined
together. During the eleventh
year of Heisei, the 10th
anniversary project for the
Takarazuka-Augusta sister city
cooperation was held in both
cities. In September, the
mayor of Augusta and his
troupe visited. Both mayor's
held the gsister city exchange
promote corroboration announcement
| famoush with
the residents of Takarazuka
in front of them. By October,
the mayor was the head
leader and the gTakarazuka
resident Augusta goodwill
visit associationh went to
August. gThe sister city
exchange promote corroboration
announcement - famous
ceremonyh and the gWelcoming
Exchange Partyh was held
with the residents of August.
We exchanged through music,
art, cooking, and golf and the
gExhibition of Takarazukah
was opened at County Art
Museum to introduce Takarazuka's
sceneries, lifestyle, and
culture.
@@The second sister city is
the realm of music, the 9th
Ward of Vienna, Austria.
Though Vienna is well
known for music, at the 9th
Ward one can see Schubert's
birthplace and the Liechtentaler
church where he was
baptized. Beethoven and
Mozart also lived in the area.
@@It is said that the joining
of the hands was possible
because of the Takarazuka
Opera Group's origin, Volksoper
Theatre. Don't you
think it's wonderful how
Japan's opera city, Takarazuka,
and the world's origin
opera city, Vienna cooperated
together? Chocolate, wine,
and monetary gifts were sent
after the earthquake in the
seventh year of Heisei. Later
on, Vienna's musical groups
visited and exchanged with
the Takarazuka residents and
the city's commerce party
visited the observation training.
In the eighth year of
Heisei, we supported the
fundraiser for the gThe 1000th
anniversary of the founding's
of Austria Danube River 1000
Tree-Planting Project.h The
residents of Takarazuka attended
the tree-planting ceremony.
Till this day, the
commemorative ceremony has
taken place every year.
@@Next, I would like to report
on the resident's level of the
international exchange project.
Based on the results of
the census in the twelfth
year of Heisei, there are 3000
foreign residents in Takarazuka.
In the specific nonprofit
activity foundation of
Takarazuka-City International
Exchange Society, many international
exchange events
of resident levels have taken
place every year. For example,
we've had cooking
classes, barbeques, language
classes, and original international
exchanges for foreign
residents of Takarazuka City.
The main purpose is to have
foreigners see the makings of
the Takarazuka Opera Group
and to understand the history
that lies within it. There
were 11 international exchange
students from international
universities at the event that
took place in 2006. They all
came from different countries:
Vietnam, Korea, America,
Thai, Finland, China, and
France. It seems as if they
were moved in a way they've
never been before.
@@As you can see, many
international exchanges have
taken place in Takarazuka
City. But I still feel like there
aren't that many residents
who are taking active part in
the international exchanges.
In the society where things
are quickly globalizing, I
hope to change the city into
a more comfortable place to
live for both foreigners and
Japanese residents. How is
your city? Try taking another
look at your city from a
different point of view of international
exchange. You
might discover something
new.