TOSU City is located in the northeast corner of mudskipping Saga-ken, one of the smallest prefectures in Japan and the smallest on Kyushu, the country's southernmost island in the sun. Tosu happens to be one of the three biggest cities in Saga-ken, however, and sports our prefecture's only soccer stadium, with our own Sagan'Tosu J-league team exciting the crowd every week. Every game involves a massive cheering squad of young Japanese waving flags, blowing horns, and banging drums. The skilled Cameroon team even made a quick appearance here during the World Cup fever last year. Right beside the stadium is our extremely well-used train station (eki), which gets me out and about the island quickly and easily. Just a quick aside...Trains are ALWAYS on time in Japan. They run often, start early in the day (first train to Fukuoka is at 5:15am), and have bathrooms on board. Some have plush seats and all have a/c. Makes for a very efficient and comfortable transportation system, well deserving the praise it receives from outsiders. Tosu is lucky to be a key stop on the JR train line, meaning all trains, both local and fast trains, stop here. We’re only a 40 minute ride away from Fukuoka (the biggest city on the island) and the last train back to Tosu is midnight, later than any other stop in Saga. Even so, missing the train is a common occurrence when you’re out having fun in Fuk, so be prepared for some inevitable all-nighters! First morning train back is at 5!
Tosu also has two huge sprawling shopping malls, "Joyful Town" (where everyone is oh-so joyful, spending all their yen) and Nikko-Nikko Do -smile! - set to suck you in with Mr. Donughts chocolate-glazed treats and 100 yen shops to satisfy every need. 100 yen rocks, as any foreigner living here will tell you. From pottery, to binders, to candy, to presents for unsuspecting loved ones at home, the 100 yen will gladly provide. $1 stores at home can not even begin to compete! Restaurants and coffee shops are also plentiful – from curry to steak houses, cake shops to bakeries, you won’t starve here. For more ethnic choices, you will have to head into Fukuoka, however. Or try a potluck-style party with the local Tosu foreign students. There are young people from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Jakarta, and elsewhere who reside here. You aren’t the only foreigner, that’s for sure!
As for the JET (Japan Exchange and Teaching) Programme, we'll have a total of six ALT's (Assistant Language Teachers) and one CIR (Coordinator of International Relations) residing in Tosu-shi come August. There are nearly 100 JET's in Saga-ken alone. That makes for a very fun&friendly time in Japan to say the least! My best friends here are from a smattering of places around the world, but also come out of the local Japanese community, where you can make friends simply by saying hello.
Just a quick note about JET - no other program in the world can you bring you this much fun, teaching experience, friends from all over, cash, and the free time to enjoy spending that cool cash. Really, it's the best opportunity out there for newly-graduated travellers of the world.
Back to the Tosu talk, we're within easy reach of our capital city, Saga-shi, where I spend many a week-end at the Celtic bar, drinking it up with the local gaijin collection and all our Japanese friends, and crashing at one of many choice ALT apatos. Tosu is also fortunate to be close to Fukuoka City, the biggest city on Kyushu, and an entirely new dimension in shopping, underground and in 10-story towers of shops, restaurants, and movie theatres. Seattle's Best Coffee has somehow made its way here, but Subway has yet to make an appearance (though we tracked down the one in Hiroshima to fulfill that footlong craving you don't know you have until you leave home). Tosu itself has a decent nightlife (but you have to hunt it down) and sometimes sports punk rock shows. Take in a concert or a dj, sip some tasty German bzzr, and meet the locals. mmm, good. Speaking of bzzr, Japan, the land of the hardest of hard drinkers, offers a wide selection. Asahi is everywhere, and for that reason alone I'd avoid it, but there's plenty of other good choices to be found in almost every convenience store, on every corner of the country. Even 7-11 will supply you with Suntory Malt, Kirin, Sapporo, or one of many other brands. You can also find Heinikin, Guiness, and Corona, but I have yet to be Canadianized. You can also buy Jack Daniels and various hard liquor and wine in convenies. How very convenient! That's not the best part. Just down the street from my Junior High School (interesting choice in location) and all around town are Beer Vending Machines. Yes, that's right. You can buy bottles, various-sized cans, or a massive jug of Asahi for your pocket change. Oh, don't we love Japan....
As with every city or town, there are plenty of colourful karaoke bars, pubs, and pool halls to fill you up in good ol' Tosu. Trying to avoid the dodgy hostess bars is sometimes tough; they're everywhere as well. There are also about hundred-kazillion Pachinko Parlours - pachinko is this slot-machine like game that I've never tried and never will try. The parlours are massive, flash neon colours and spotlights, are busy night and day, and are an eye-sore to the neighborhood. Billions are wasted annually in Japan on these things...I almost want to start a "save your soul! stop pachinko!" campaign. But nothing can stop pachinko!
So, Tosu is my hometown, my home-away-from-home, and for that reason alone, I love it. I have a great, supportive group of supervisors, sensei's, Japanese contacts, and friends here that make every day exciting and vibrant. I really couldn't have asked to be set down in a better place in ol’ Nihon. Come visit if you can! Peace out...lindz ;)