Volunteers: 2 (Female only)
Age: over 18
Language: English / Japanese
Sponsor: Shimane prefecture
Terminal: Kansai International Airport
Station: Masuda station on JR San-in line
Background:
From the ancient times Shimane prefecture consists of three regions namely, Izumo, Iwami and Oki. Izumo region appears in Japanese mythology as the birthplace of Japanese culture and history. The name Iwami also is much referred to in Man-yo-shu, literally “A Collection of a Myriad Leaves”, which is one of the oldest existing anthology of poetry put together in the late eighth century in Japan. One of the greatest poets of the time was Kakinomoto Hitomaro, who lived in Iwami, and whose verse covered more than half of all 4,400 poems of the collection.
This Manyo-park was opened in 1982 as the third prefectural park of Shimane, to dedicate to the purpose of presenting Manyo-romanticism which is so lively and profoundly human, in Masuda city where the great poet once lived.
Park has an accommodation facility, camp site, and open air theater. people visit the park for taking a walk, eating lunch and communicating elderly with youth.
Work:
1. Maintenance on the park/camp site, such as collecting garbage, cleaning the area and watering flower beds.
2. Helping the kid’s event (Age 7 - 12) for a day. Details are undecided but most likely a barbeque at the camp site.
3. Translating Park's pamphlet from A) Japanese to English B) English to other European Language (French, German and so on) for attracting/informing more tourists.
Accommodation: Guest house/Old style Japanese houses/camp site
Facilities: A kitchen, bathroom, a bathtub with shower and washing machine are available. The internet is accessible in internet café, and convenience store, super market are also in the vicinity of the site. However, no public phone is available.
Meals: Volunteers will prepare their breakfasts and dinners themselves. Lunches are provided in the style of lunchboxes.
What to bring: Working clothes (T-shirt, jeans and sneakers - long-sleeved are preferable as mornings and evenings get so chilly.) A cap, spare clothes for change, toiletry, soaps, and anything you think would be needed in a camp life. Something that shows your country, games, songs, etc.
Note: We welcome volunteers who can smile to visitors with a smile any time, and volunteers who can willingly work and stay peacefully with others. Last but not least, we welcome volunteers who are not against to be interviewed, taken photos, and their images to be released in printed materials, on TV broadcast, HP and other medium for PR or advertisement purposes of the park, Masuda city and Shimane prefecture.
During day-offs, an English-speaking guide will take you to Hagi or Tsuwano for sightseeing. You will enjoy some Japanese cultural experience (such as Japanese flower arrangement called KADO, and tea ceremony called SADO).
We hope you enjoy Iwami-Kagura. Kagura was used to be traditional sacred service dance performed in Shinto shrines during festivals. After Meiji era (1869-1912), it became rather a type of folk entertainment. You will have a chance to peep into the Japanese mythology in watching this performance.
Location: Masuda-shi is a city located in Shimane prefecture, Japan. The city has a population of 51,118 and the density of 69.7 person persons per square km². The total area is 733.16 km².
URL: Manyo Park (JAPANESE): http://ohata.jp/manyou/
Masudashi Kankou Kyokai (JAPANESE): http://www.masudashi.com
VISIT MASUDA (ENGLISH): http://visit-masuda.main.jp/