Nutarin Revealed

Niigata city Higashi ward gavornment revealed a new character "Nutarin" for appeaing their activity of with finding Nutari-no-ki

Nutari-no-ki(渟足柵) was said a defencive and administrative facility of Yamato seiken, Japanese first national government to protect incursion of their enemies called Emishi who lived in Tohoku .
It is said to located in somewhere Higashi ward by 7th century, but its exact location and how it looks like are still unknown.

Higashi ward government hold the searching project of Nutrai-no-ki.

London Olympic Games begin in 27th July( some competitions start early).
Five athletes related to Niigata participate in the games
Here are  a list of the athletes.

Sailing(Men's RS-X)
Makoto Tomizawa
Born in Kashiwazaki, Niigata Pref.
Toyota Motor East Japan 

RaceSchedule
31 July Race 1, 2
1 August Race 3,4
2 August Race 5,6
4 August Race 7,8
5 August Race 9,10
7 Ausust Medal Race

After ten races, the ten best athletes progress to the medal race.

Football(Men's Competion)
Gotoku Sakai
Born in Sanjo, Niigata Pref.VfB Sttutgart

Daisuke Suzuki
Born in Tokyo
Albirex Niigata

Game Schedule
First Round, Group
26 July(14:45BST) vs Spain
29 July(17:00BST) vs Morocco
1 August(17:00BST) vs Hondurus
Two best teams of each group progress to knockout stage.

Athletics Women's 400M Hurdles
Satomi Kubokura
Born in Hokkadio
Niigata Albirex Running Club

Round1
5 August(19:00BST)
Semi Final
6 August(20:15BST)
Final
8 August(20:45BST)
All the races are held at the Olympic Satdium


Megumi Kamionobe
*Back-Up player
She could register to the team if someone couldn't play due to an injury.
She will stay with the team during the competition.  

Born in Kanagawa Pref.
Albirex Niigata Ladies

First Round, Group F
25 July(17:00BST) vs Canada at City of Coventry Stadium
28 July(12:00BST) vs Sweden at City of Coventry Stadium
31 July((14:30BST) vs South Africa at Millennium Stadium
Top two teams of the group go through to the knockout stage and two best third placed teams of all the three groups also progress.

The Crown Prince Comes To Niigata

 The crown prince of Japan stays three day in Niigata from 27th to 29th July. The main aim of his visit is to attend the opening ceremony of the national high school athletic meeting.

 If you want to see him, please go to the ceremony held at Niigata convention centre in the morning, 28th July or Big Swan in the morning 29th where he watches athletics.

Here is the schedule of his visit which the prefectural government of Niigata announced.

27th July
Afternoon
Arrive at Nagaoka
Visit Kosodate no Eki "Gun Gun", a facility for baby, children and their parents.
Stay at Hotel Okura, niigata

28th July
Morning
Attend the opening ceremony  of the national high school athletic meeting at Niigata Convention Centre

Afternoon
Visit Niigata Jozo Shikenjo, Prefecturel research institution of Sake industry 
Stay at Hotel Okura, niigata


29th July
Moring
Visit Oyamatsu Haisuikijo, Drainage pump station
Vist Big Swan to watch athletic races of high schoolers
Afternoon
Leave Niigata by shinkanse, a bullet train

Niigata Art Festival

Niigata Art Festival begins today. The art festival is the second times following  the first in 2009.  The art festival features "Water" and "Land".(earth or soil), which are common sense and identities of  the  cities, towns and villages who united to the present Niigata city in these 10 years.

Niigata has two big and famous rivers Shinanogawa river and Aganogawa river. The rivers brought a lot of blessings of nature. However with heavy rain they had overflowed, which tough troubles to inhabitants. The forerunners conquered them to develop agriculture with the fertile land. It is not too much to say that History of Niigata has been with "water" and "land".

The festival which is held for five months until December consists of three parts of "Art Projects", "Citizen's Projects" and "Symposiums"

Art Projects,
Art Works made by 60 artists are exhibited at 41spots all over the city of Niigata.
The artists are invited or selected from among applicants. They are from not only Japan but also from foreign countries.

Art projects include performances like concerts and dances, and works shops.

Citizen's Projects,
Various Events giving information of culture of Niigata are made by citizens.
Workshops named "Kodomo(Children's) Project" are held for children.

Symposiums,
Five symposiums on the subject of "living in coexistence with nature" are held.

Official Web Page(Japanese Only)
Water and Land - Niigata Art Festival　
水と土の芸術祭

We will report this art festival later on this blog.

Bear Witnessed in Tainai

A bear was witnessed at city road, in Zao, Tainai City yesterday. City Goverment and Local police raise an alert over it.


大きな地図で見る

Goldmedalist Join the Road Race

Niigata city government announced they invite a gold medalist Naoko Takahashi who won in the women's marathon at the 2000 Sydney Olympics to its annual road races "Niigata City Marathon" as a guest runner.

"Niigata City Marathon" commemorating its 30th anniversary is held in 7th October this year.

About 10,000 people participate in the road races. Most are general runners.

Races start a at Niigata Athletic Stadium and go around the Niigata Island and along the coast and come back to the stadium.


We'll give you the further Information on this road races later.

Local Governments Warn Hear Stroke

Japan's hot and humid summer will come soon. That of Niigata is the same.
Some times, It may get over 35 C.
So You have to take care about heat stroke, which can lead to death.
Now Niigata Pref. government opened the web site about daily hotness index to inform you risk of heat stroke on the day.
Despite the site is written in Japanese, the dangerousness is represented by levels and colours. So you can recognize it easily.

Index
Level5(Red) Over 31 C No Exercise
Level4(Pink) 28C to 31C Threat
Level3(Yellow) 25C to 28C Alert
Level2(Green) 21C to 25 Attention
Level1(Blue) Under 21C Nearly Safe

新潟県の暑さ指数
Niigata ken no Atsusa Sisuu
Niigata Pref. Hotness index
 http://www.niigata-taiki.com/heatstroke/