As April 29th (tomorrow) is the beginning of Golden Week, a series of public holidays lasting until next week, we will be closed tomorrow (we have a “Fuji Viewing picnic” planned at Okazaki Castle). The students in the Japanese Language and Culture Course will have regular classes and the weekly field trip (this week is Nagahama in Shiga), but next Monday and Tuesday ALC will be closed. Apologies in advance if you are waiting for any emails!

If you have a medical emergency, please call Declan’s cellphone.

The Golden Week holidays (ゴールデンウィーク Goruden Wi-ku) are the following:

April 29th – Showa Day (昭和の日 Showa no Hi) commemorating the Showa Emperor (usually known outside Japan as Emperor Hirohito).
May 3rd – Constitution Memorial Day (憲法記念日 Kenpo Kinenbi), commemorating the establishment of the current 1947 constitution, which was written in a week during the Occupation period.
May 4th – Greenery Day (みどりの日 Midori no Hi).
May 5th – Children’s Day (こどもの日 Kodomo no Hi?) which used to be called Boys’ Day.

Include the weekend and this is one time of the year when large numbers of people are able to travel, whether for fun or family commitments, so airports, train stations and highway rest stops are usually jam packed. Early bookings for hotels and accommodation is also often essential. Banks and post offices are closed. Be prepared!