写真は弟の家です。

鳥居の様な門。瓦。

これは日本じゃない。
ハワイ島のヒロ市です。

弟の家の県知佳が日系人だったそうです。中に骨董品の欄間もあって、尚且つハワイの代表のコアの木の内装。

兄弟で一人は日本の伝統的な温泉宿を守り、一人はハワイ島で日本的な家に住んでいる。

不思議なつながり。

This is a picture of my middle brother's house in Hilo.

A gate that looks like it's from a Shinto Shrine.
Traditional 'Kawara' roof tiles.

His house looks like it belongs in Japan, not Hawaii.

It turns out the architect is Japanese, and he infused the house with details from his home country. You should see the antique 'ranma' transoms in the master bedroom. All with ample touches of local koa woodwork.

One brother runs a traditional Japanese inn, the other lives in a house heavy with Japanese influence.

Strange coincidence, eh?

お正月の新聞で「長野県のトップ１００ゆるきゃら」の紹介を見つけました。千曲市は屋代商店街のヤシロウが載っていた。この戸倉上山田温泉の「温泉まんじゅサン」はこれからデビュー？

とにかく、ゆるきゃらは最近、広まり過ぎない？どこまでが良いＰＲ化、どこまでが自己満足か、疑問がございます。もっと効果のあるＰＲ活動・町興し運動があるのではないかと思いますが。長野県だけで１００＋？全国で何万個があるでしょう。
この間、県観光課の主催の公園で、講師が県は一生懸命「アルクマ」と言うＰＲキャラクターを宣伝しているけど、
県内では結構馴染んできて、愛されてきたようだが、
県外の皆は知らないと
言う結果となっていると仰った。
ＰＲキャラクターの目的は長野県に訪ねる人数を増やすのであれば、意味がないと、はっきり言われました。
私の経験でも、亀清のフロントにアルクマくんの人形を置いてありまして、唯一「可愛い」と言ってくれるのは県内のお客様。
多過ぎるって、どれぐらい？

Japan is undergoing a "Yuru-Kyara" boom lately. A hybrid of 'cute' and weird, these "Loose-characters" seem to be popping up everywhere. Over the New Years holiday, our local newspaper had an article featuring over 100 such characters from Nagano Prefecture alone.

Shich begs the question, How many is too many?

Chikuma City's unofficial character, Yashirou of the Yashiro Business District made the list, but Onsen Manju-san from our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada has yet to make its debut apparently.

But I am starting to wonder, how important are these Yuru-kyara? At one seminar I attended sponsored by the Prefecture's Tourism Association, the speaker mentioned how much money the Association spends on promoting its PR character, Arukuma-kun, yet no one from outside the prefecture recognizes it. Arukuma-kun has become popular with people here in the prefecture, but if his purpose is to attract visitors to Nagano then he is a failure. That matches my experience here at Kamesei. We have a Arukuma-kun doll at our front desk. The only people who comment on it are locals.

Rather than spending money and energy on something that makes one feel good, perhaps it would be better to put effort into something that has more practical effect.

アルクマ君（マイＨＰもある？！）Arukuma (with his very own dedicated website?!)
ヤシロウ Yashirou

日本のお正月習慣、餅つき。
私の出会いは大学を卒業してから上田市で生活した冬。お正月で大手スーパーで買い物をしたら、入口で人が集まって盛り上がっていた。あっ、噂の餅つきだと分かった。勿論、私も参加してみた。まあ、単純な習慣だなと思った。

このお正月亀清旅館の玄関にある昔からの臼を使って、何十年ぶりに餅つきを挑戦する様になった。従って、私は餅つきの準備の段階から始めて経験した。杵(ハンマーじゃなかったんだ)の手配、臼の準備(水を前持ってかけといて、吸い込ませる)、蒔きを炊く釜の購入、餅のトッピングの準備、そして打つ前の餅米を蒸す。意外に奥深い。今回は色んな先輩に助けて頂いて、準備は無事に出来た。

もう、餅つきのは単純じゃないって事、よく分かりました。

Mochi (sticky rice) -Tsuki (pounding) is an age-old New Years tradition here in Japan. My first experience was back when I lived in Ueda City after graduating college. During my first winter here, I went to a shopping center around New Years. At the entrance, a bunch of people were gathered and were making an exciting commotion. As I went to check it out, I saw the Mochi-pounding in action, and realized that was the legendary Mochi-Tsuki.

Of course, I tried my hand with the hammer and helped pound. My first impression was the whole thing seemed a bit simple.

For this New Years, we at Kamesei decided to make use of the antique mochi-pounding mortar, and do a Mochi-Tsuki event for our guests. Hence, for the first time, I experienced the process from the beginning stages. Procuring the 'kine' hammers, prepping the 'usu' mortar by soaking its bowl with water, buying the wood-burning pot set, using it to pre-steam the Mochi rice. Fortunately a couple of guardian angels from our neighborhood came and coached me through the process. Our Mochi prep was a success!

I no longer consider Mochi-making to be 'simple'!

長野県観光課は私が入っている旅館組合の委員会とecoコインの制度を相談してきた時、海外からの宿泊者も環境に感心している為、資料を英語にもするように頼んだ。オーストラリアからのスキー客の多い白馬の施設から同じ声があった様だ。それにかかわらず、出てきた資料は日本語のみ。

仕方ない、亀清旅館のオリジナルのバイリンガルバージョンをつくりました。そしてecoコインを始まったら、一番最初に参加したのはアメリカからのご家族。

この頃、県観光課がもう一つの制度が始まった: 「楽園信州」というファンクラブです。最終目的は観光客が長野に訪ねてもらって、好きになって、引っ越してくること。例の旅館組合の委員会です。その相談があった時にも資料を英語にと頼んでみた。つまり、外国人こそ、長野に訪ねれば、気に入って、引っ越しするかもしれない。

私自身が一例でございます。

残念ながら、無視された。というか、もっとひどい結果となった。Rakuen Shinshuというローマ字が資料に載られた。

通じる訳ない！！！

取り敢えずは亀清旅館の出来る所から。

When Nagano Prefecture introduced the Eco Coin program, they first consulted with Ryokan Association committee that I am on. I requested the accompanying material to be in English, too, as many guests from overseas are conscientious about the environment. An inn in Hakuba that caters to skiiers from Australia raised the same concern.

So when the coins arrived, I was disappointed to see all the literature was in Japanese only. I ended up having to make my own bilingual version for Kamesei.

Recently the Prefecture also started a fan club called 'Rakuen Shinshu'. Rakuen means paradise, and Shinshu is the old name for Nagano. The goal is to get people to visit Nagano, fall in love with it, and decide to move here. At that same committee, I again suggested the material be presented in English as it is quite possible foreigners visiting Nagano could end up living here.

I should know -- that's what happened to me!

But of course, that suggestion, too, was ignored. No English on any of the literature. That is, except the title written in alphabet letters: Rakuen Shinshu. How many English speakers are actually go ing to understand that?!?!

日本に来る欧米人のよくあるカルチャーショックの一つは暖房制度の違い。
欧米は家じゅうに断熱材を使ってセントラルヒーティングで家全体を暖める。
日本の従来のやり方は夏の風通しの為に壁を薄くして、下半身は炬燵、上半身は分厚いはんてんで暖める。

まあ、どちらの方法は効率が良いかや、環境に良いかを別として、私が亀清旅館の若旦那として許さないのは何で天井裏に断熱材がないのかと。以前は離れ風の客室２ヶ所の屋根を張り返った時についでに断熱材を張り付けてもらった。その二つの部屋の冬の温かさが随分良くなりました。この間はもう二つの客室の屋根裏に自分が登ってみて、ホームセンターから買ってきた断熱材を引いておきました。まあ、屋根裏は２メーターの身長の人が入るべきな世界ではないのですが、ずくを出して、作業しました。その二つの部屋の間に音の響きも問題となっていたので、これで一石二鳥で冬の寒さと防音を改善しました。

亀清旅館は直す所が沢山あるけど、こうやって少しずつ改善して、より良い宿を作って行きます！

Many westerners come to Japan and get a bit of culture shock by the difference in heating methods.
Back home, houses are built with as much insulation as possible, and usually use central heating to warm the entire house.
Here in Japan, walls are traditionally left paper-thin intentionally to allow air movement during the oppressively hot summers. Historically, you use 'kotatsu', a low table with a heating element inside and a blanket in which you tuck your legs to keep your lower body warm, and you wear a thick padded 'hanten' jacket to protect your upper body from the chill.

I'm not going to argue which system is more effective and/or better on the enviromnent. But I will say that, as proprietor here at Kamesei Ryokan, the thing I can't stand is not having insulation in the ceilings of our guest rooms. A few years ago, we had the roof tiles replaced on a couple of the attached rooms, and I had the roofers install insulation. It has made a huge difference in keeping those two rooms warmer in the winter. So now, I finally got around to laying insulation above the ceilings for 2 more rooms. The crawl space was not meant for a 2-meter tall person, but I somehow managed to get the job done. These rooms had issues with sounds echoing between them, so hopefully the insulation will help with that, too.

Kamesei Ryokan has so many areas that need fixing. But bit-by-bit, I am making improvements.

友人の結婚式の為に一年半ぶりにシアトルに帰りました。その一年半の間は日本食がどれだけ浸透してきたか、吃驚しました。

写真はうちの弟のうちでＢＢＱステーキを食べた時。弟は思い切り普通な肉好きなアメ人で、いくつかなソースがあった中で、一つは何と、Ｐｏｎｚｕでした。

彼はアメリカの一般的なステーキソースを卒業して、ポン酢を使うようになった。びっくり！

This trip back home for my buddy's wedding was the first time in a year-and-a-half for me to be in Seattle. During those 18 months, Japanese cuisine has really permeated American cooking.

One example:

When I went to my brother's place, he barbecued some steak for me. Now, my brother is a typical meat-loving American. So you can guesss my surprise when I saw among the meat sauces, Ponzu from Japan. I assure you, he was using regular American steak sauces 18 months ago, not Ponzu!

チョッコレートがコーティングされている枝豆？
Chocolate-covvered edamame?

こんなでかいパン粉は日本にある？
I don't think you can even get this big of a box of Panko in Japan!

160種類の生ビールと…　まき寿司！　「女鬼まき」って寿司。辛いソースが入っていて、美味しかった。ただ、ここまで和食が浸透してきたって、びっくり！

160 beers on tap and ... sushi rolls! We tried the Taperoom's She-Devil roll. Spicy and delicious. That is, after getting over the shock of finding sushi even there.

友人の結婚式の為に里帰りした時に食べたカツバーガー。お店の日系人オーナーが日本のＢ級グルメ代表の豚カツとアメリカのファストフード代表のハンバーガーを合わせた作品。

素晴らしい発想！噂は前から聞いていたので今回の里帰りで始めた食べた。無茶苦茶美味しかった。

両方の良い所を生かす:それは私達日米関係者の役割。

Japan's "B-Grade Gourmet" leader tonkatsu,
and America's fast food king the hamburger,
combined to make the Katsu Burger.

The Japanese owner of Katsu Burger restaurant in Seattle's Georgetown district came up with a doozy with this combination. I had heard the hub-bub about this creative concoction, and was fortunate to get to try it on my first day back during my short trip to Seattle.

This is what people like us in the Japan-American conundrum need to do -- utilize the best of both worlds.

カツバーガーKatsu Burger

戸倉上山田温泉のカタクリ祭が今週の土曜日、4月14日、10:00〜15:00。場所は佐良志奈神社です。

亀青旅館の新しい貸切露天風呂の庭にも咲いています。

Japan seems to have a fascination with delicate flowers. Cherry blossoms are of course the most obvious, but, for example, this has to be the only country on earth to organize festivals dedicated to skunk cabbage (see Kinasa, Togakushi, et al). I admire this appreciation for Mother Nature.

Here in our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada, I've mentioned in the past how a grove of tiny setsubun-sou flowers has a group of volunteers dedicated to its preservation and that a festival is held in their honor.

On our side of the Chikuma River is a grouping of another fragile flower, "Katakuri-sou", known in English as dogtooth violet. Grouped around a road leading up Hachioji Hill from Sarashina Shrine, these flowers also have a fan club that volunteers for their care. This Saturday is the official "Katakuri Festival". Just a small little festival with the ladies serving green tea, all in honor of the little purple flowers.

Our new private bath here at Kamesei Ryokan also has some katakuri flowers popping their heads up in the garden Okada-san built for us last fall. So if you can't make it to Sarashina Shrine for the katakuri festival, come for a soak in our Shinano-buro bath. You can enjoy seeing the flowers as you relax in our onsen.

私達欧米人に日本の「着物」はものすごく魅力があります。着物の世界が奥深い;
知れば知るほど感心します。
色、模様、形、帯の結び方、素材、着る規則など等

夕べは上山田神楽保存会の新年会でした。日本酒を飲みすぎる前にメンバーの清水さんが娘の成人式の写真アルバムを見せてくれた。娘さんの木蓑の姿が素晴らしかった;上田城や生島足島神社の背景で、素敵な絵になりました。

アルバムの最後は娘さんの決まりポーズ（左）と、同じ着物を着ているそっくり方の同じポーズ（右）。清水さんご本人の30年（？）前の成人式写真。

親子、同じ年、同じポーズ。
同じ着物。
時代が変わっても、新鮮に見える。

着物の特徴の一つは背の高さの調整が出来る事。（という事は、うちの美咲ちゃんはきっとお母さんより背が伸びるけど、成人式の時にお母さんの時に着物を着れるのかな？）

日本の着物。背の高さを越える。時代を超える。親子をつなぐ。

感心します。

欧米では一番近いのはウェディングドレスなのかな？うちのお母さんは息子三人だけだったから娘に自分のドレスを着てもらう夢は実現できなかった。でも、そういう習慣があるそうです。

One thing that I think most Westerners find fascinating about Japan is the kimono. And the more I learn about kimonos, the more I realize there is to know. The colors, patterns, styles, obi tying, formalities, etc.

Last night, at our Okagura lion dance 'new year' banquet, before imbibing way too much sake', our lone female member Shimizu-san showed me the photo album for her daughter's coming-of-age celebration. Her daughter was wearing a stunning kimono that was only enhanced by the backdrop of the photo locations, Ueda Castle and Ikushima Tarushima Shrine. The last two pictures took my breath away. The left one: her daughter striking an alluring pose. The right one, someone bearing a similar resemblance in the same kimono and the same pose. It was Shimizu-san herself, for her coming-of-age celebration 30 (?) years ago.

That a kimono can be worn by a mother and daughter and be as just as visually appealling despite the difference in the generations is simply amazing.

Perhaps the only thing that can come close to comparing in western culture is the wedding dress. My mother probably kept her wedding dress to pass on to a daughter but unfortunately only had us 3 sons. But I think there is somewhat of a tradition like that for wedding dresses.

千曲市はお金がないから「花いっぱい運動」中止。

国はお金がないから東北復興のために消費税増？

との背景で、最近はあちらこちらから補助金を使ってちょうだいと責められています。

県の100％補助で子育て応援品(おむつ変えテーブルなど）、
喫煙ルーム整備の補助　（ＪＴの匂いするけど…）
東電から春のインバウンドキャンセルの負担金　(それを請求すれば、8月の観光客が東北へ行かずに長野に来て、儲かった分を返すようになる?）
地元の銀行から特別低い金利を使って改善　(改善はするけど借金はまだあるのにまた借りるのはどうか）

行政は花の為のお金さえないのに、何でこんなに補助金がある?

この無駄(?)の中で、子育て応援の一部は長野県産の木材を使った本棚とかにも使える事、県庁の環境部で働いている知り合いに紹介されました。「これは良いな!」と思いました。子育て及び信州の木材、両方の応援になるのだ。申し込んでみます。通れば良いけど…

Chikuma City doesn't have enough money in its coffers for its 'Flowers Everywhere' project, so it's been canceled.

The government of Japan doesn't have enough money for Tohoku reconstruction, so it's talking about raising the consumption tax.

Despite the drastic budget situation, lately there's been a flurry of frivolous subsidies flung our way.
First a 100% financed kid-raising fund for diaper-changing tables from the Prefecture.
Then a similar subsidy for making a smoking room. (Do I smell Japan Tabacco?).
And TEPCO's getting in on the act, offering a refund for cancelations from foreign tourists last spring. (If we apply, do we have to give back the extra money we made in the summer from Japanese travellers skipping Tohoku to come here?)
Even our bank, offering low interest loans for improvements. (We'll make improvements, alright, but out of our running costs instead of borrowing more money on top of what we already owe!)

Of all of these, it turns out the first one has been given a favorable twist. A buddy that works for the Prefecture's Environmental Department got products made of Nagano hinoki wood included. So we can support kid raising as well as our local wood industry! I applied right away. We'll see if the ap is approved.