Hmm, which branch next?

アメリカから来た時に、この新しい生活の中で色々と慣れなければならない事がありまして、その一つは庭です。シアトルの家の庭は何年間やっていたらやっとどの花が気候に合うか、木はどうやって剪定するか、それぞれの植物はどの形が良いか等、ある程度分かってきました。
この亀清旅館に引越ししてきて、庭に関してまたゼロから始まりました。信州の気候や日本の庭の「ルール」は改めて勉強、慣れしなきゃと。そしてどの雰囲気が良いか？日本「庭園」の硬いスタイル火、信州や「旅館」の本来の目的：リラックスに合わせてもっと自然なスタイルか。中庭のある木は今までプードルスタイルでした。プードルは、所々に毛を丸いふわふわに残して丸と丸の間は骨々の剃った部分と言うスタイルは良くあるじゃないですか？この木は先っぽに葉っぱを丸い固まりで残していて、間は骨のような太い枝。もっと自然な見た目が良いのではないかと思って、わざと伸ばしました。今日は久しぶりに剪定してみたけど、どの枝を切って、どれを残すかと言う判断は難しいね。
ガーデニングはうんと好きですが、「慣れ」と言うのもあるし、旅館の若旦那として他の所に力を入れるべきかと言う悩みになりました。
Since moving from the States to Nagano, there has been a lot to get used to and to learn. One of the biggest for me has been gardening. Back at our house in Seattle, over the years I gradually got to know what flowers did best in that climate, how to trim the trees, and what shapes the plants should be. Moving to Kamesei Ryokan meant starting all over again from scratch, with the different climate and Japan's gardening "rules". Plus, I've had to get a feel for what style of gardening would match Kamesei -- a strict, traditional "Japanese Garden", or a more natural one that would reflect the relaxing tone of our inn as well as all the beautiful nature that surrounds us.
One tree in the naka-niwa garden is a point in case. I had called it the poodle tree. You know how people cut poodle dogs' hair so that it's poofy in spots and shaved down to the bony skin in others? This tree had round poofs of leaves bare, "bony" branches in between. I wanted a more natural look for it, so I let the branches grow a year. Today I got out the clippers and tried my hand at trimming it. I tried to figure out which branches to leave and which to trim. There sure is an art to trimming.
While I enjoy gardening like this, I also have to determine, as the owner of the inn, if this is the best use of my time. Just one more thing to worry about...

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.

Taking it to the Mayor

この前に、「京都では京都らしさが消えている」との件について書きました。その時に、ジャパニーズイングループの集まりで京都の方に怒られました。京都は最近に「日本の中の京都である」との事を気付いて、保存は一生懸命だと。
私は別に京都バッシングしていたじゃなくて、一例としてしか言っていません。日本全国で日本のらしさが消えているわけ。この千曲市で、一番目立っているのは土壁の蔵が多い稲荷山地区です。一方では市の観光印刷物に紹介されているけど、実際は年々に蔵が減っています。壊れていてきている蔵は民間だけじゃ直せないのは現実です。今日は稲荷山の町並み保存の仲間と市長にアポを取って挨拶しました。行政の協力をお願いしました。「タイラーも来たか？」と言われました。そうだよ。私は稲荷山みたいな地区の為に日本に来ましたよ。千曲市は京都と同じく、日本にある。その「日本」のらしさを守る責任があると、意見として言わせていただきました。
まあ、去年は千曲市が「花いっぱい運動」を中止したぐらい町並み関心の（及び予算）がないから言い訳で終わっちゃいそう・・・　　悲しい。
Last week I wrote about how Kyoto was losing its Kyoto-ness. Then at the Japanese Inn Group annual meeting, one of the Kyoto innkeepers got upset, saying that Kyoto has come to realize that it doesn't exist in a vaccuum, that it is in Japan, and as such has a responsiblity to honor and respect its traditions as such.
I wasn't trying to be critical of Kyoto per se. I was just mentioning it as one example. All over Japan, areas of Japan-ness are disappearing. Here in Chikuma City, the most noticeable is the Inariyama district with a large concentration of earthen-walled storehouses. At one point, the city was using pictures of Inariyama in its tourism literature. But so many of the classic storehouses have been demolished, or covered in aluminum siding, that it's become an embarrassment as a tourist site. Today, some of the members of the Inariyama Preservation Society and I got an appointment with the mayor and passed on our desire for the city's help in preserving these irreplaceable buildings. Private owners can't pay for the upkeep themselves -- public support is necessary. The mayor was surprised to see me attend. I told him it was for districts like Inariyama that I came to Japan!
However, Chikuma City's cancelation of its city-supported flower program last year I think is an indication of how little importance the city pays to its appearance (as well as how tight the budget is). I am afraid Inariyama's storehouses will dissappear in a sea of excuses... How unfortunate.

Fragrant Acacia Flowers

戸倉駅から亀清まで歩いてきたお客様に「千曲川を渡ったときに、とってもいい香りしましたが、どこから着たでしょうか？白い花が沢山あったが、その花から？」と聞かれました。自分で見に行きましたら、吃驚しました。川辺のアカシアの木が伸びて、アカシアの白い花が沢山あった。
今日は夕方に子供たちが学校から帰ってきて、軽トラで川辺へ連れて行きました。我が旅館からたった3，4分でこういうアカシアの花王国に行けて、楽しかった。子供たちも大喜び。川と山で恵まれている戸倉上山田温泉だからこそ出来る楽しみです。
花を少しもらって、亀清にもって帰りました。一部は板長に渡しました。今度はお客様にアカシア花の天ぷらを作ってくれるそうです。残りの花は女湯の露天風呂になんちゃった生け花で飾りました。2，3日しか持たないだろうけど、その間はお客様に楽しんでいただけるかな？
A couple of our guests walked to Kamesei from Togura Station. They asked me, "When we crossed over the Chikuma River, there was a lovely scent in the air. Was it coming from all of those white flowers?" Hmm. What flowers? I went to go check it out, and was surprised to see that the acacia trees along the river bank had grown and where covered in white flowers. Ah ha! That's where the scent is coming from.
After our kids got home from school, I piled them in our "K-Truck" mini pick-up and we went for a drive down to the river bank. It was amazing that a short 3,4 minute drive could take us to such an acacia flower paradise. The kids loved it! This type of fun can only be possible in a place like Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, blessed as it is by the river running down the middle and surrounded by all the green mountains.
I brought a few branches with flowers back to Kamesei. Our chef will use some to make acacia flower tempura for our guests. And I used the rest to make some sort of ikebana arrangement for one of our outdoor baths. Acacia flowers don't keep long, but hopefully our guests will be able to enjoy them for a couple of days.

Acacia Trees with Togura Kamiyamada Onsen across the river