September 25 (Saturday) – The Shinjuku International Friendship Party from 6:30-9:30pm at the Nishi Shinjuku Hotel’s Rooftop Terrace

For JAMBO members, the cost is ¥3,500 for men and ¥3,000 for women w/reservation (or plus 500 yen if you go directly without making a reservation). All drinks, buffet with roast beef and party cake from Kyle’s Good Finds Bakery included. Reservations can be made with David by September 24th.

Half of your admission fee will be donated to Proliteracy(an International Literacy Organization) (Women in Literacy) (http://www.proliteracy.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=359&srcid=191) and the Institute for Sustainable Transportation (an organization that supports sustainable transport around the world, especially in developing countries)(http://www.itdp.org/). So you can have an enjoyable evening and help a good cause at the same time.

If you’d like to go with David, please meet at the Shinjuku West Exit police box at 6:15PM on the 25th.

September 23 (Thursday) – SPECIAL AUTUMN EQUINOX BARBEQUE, PARK FUN & RIVER CLEAN UP!!! （￥500 Participation Fee) (Cancelled in case of rain) (EASY) NEW!

Meeting Place and Time: The East ticket gate of Higashi Oojima Station at 11:00AM

Those going from Shinjuku, take the Toei Shinjuku Line train (going towards MotoYawata) at 10:31. This arrives at Higashi Oojima at 10:57.

Event Place: Oojima Komatsukawa Park

Time: 12:00 Noon – 6:00PM

[map]大島小松川公園[/map]

JAMBO will provide barbecue equipment in the park. However, we don’t have enough for a lot of people so if you have your own equipment, it would be a great help if you could bring it with you. People should bring picnic food and drinks (Christmas party sharing rules apply) and whatever meat and veggies they want to have grilled. There’s a supermarket near the station, so you can buy your goods there.

Especially for children, we can play frisbee, baseball, or whatever fun stuff you bring along.

We’ll do a garbage pick-up from 15:00 – 17:00PM at the nearby Arakawa River bank. If you’d like to join in, please bring work gloves if you have them.

September 20 (Monday) OKUTAMA SWIMMING, River Walk, Hanging Out (Cancelled in case of rain)(Participation Fee 500 yen)

From Shinjuku, take the Special Holiday Express train going towards Okutama (it’s the Chuo Line but may be on another track which is not the main Chuo Line track – BE CAREFUL!) to Okutama (leaving Shinjuku at 8:47 and arriving at Okutama at 10:24). David will be at the Okutama Station ticket gate at 10:27 to bring you to the supermarket and the river. We’ll have lunch on the river, swim, hike and do whatever you want. Very laid back day!!!

[map]奥多摩駅[/map]

September 19 (Sunday) – Forest Restoration Project in Okutama (Hatonosu) (Cutting down old trees and making hiking paths)　Participation Fee ¥200

We will meet at the Hatonosu Station Ticket gate at 9:35AM. Take the Oume Line train from Tachikawa at 8:20AM. This arrives at Oume (the last stop) at 8:55. Cross the platform and take the 8:56 (Okutama bound) train. This arrives at Hatonosu at 9:32AM.

[map]鳩の巣駅[/map]

David and other JAMBO members will take part in this project which is put on by the Tama Forest/”Great Nature School” (my terrible translation) Office. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED as soon as possible and the number of people is limited. If interested, please look up the detailed information and how to reserve on their homepage（http://hatonosu.blog39.fc2.com/） (only in Japanese)

September 19 (Sunday) OKUTAMA CAMPING & RIVER FUN (Cancelled in case of rain)(Participation Fee 500 yen and camping fee 700 yen)

The Hikawa Campground is about a 10 minute walk from the station. We’ll buy food and drink at the nearby supermarket, go swimming, and enjoy the starry sky. If you have your own tent, no reservation is necessary. If you need to borrow a tent or want to stay in a bungalow there, you must contact the Okutama Hikawa Cammpground at 0428-83-2134 to reserve.

[map]奥多摩駅[/map]

David will be at the Okutama Station ticket gate at 16:23 to bring you to the supermarket and the campground. From Shinjuku, take the Special Express train going towards Takao to Kokubunji (leaving Shinjuku at 14:36 and arriving at Kokubunji at 14:56. Change here to the Chuo Line express (going towards Oome) leaving at 14:58 and arriving in Oome at 15:39. Change to the Oume Line, going towards Okutama, leaving at 15:46 and arriving at Okutama (the last stop) at 16:23. We’ll meet at the ticket gate at 16:25.