旅館組合の会議のほとんどは割とドライな場所で行われる：観光会館の多目的スペースとかバスセンターの会議室など。
今回の県旅館青年部の会議場所は藤村の部屋でした。

田沢温泉の江戸時代からの３階木造宿「ますや旅館」でした。作家の藤村が滞在して、本を書いたと言う。その滞在したお部屋が今回の会議室となりました。歴史を感じながら。旅館青年部じゃないとなかなか経験できない。

ちなみに、今回の会議の後の講演会でマックアースグループの若社長、一ノ本さんのお話を聞けました。兵庫県を中心で全国でホテルを買ったり（学校団体受け入り日本１）、スキー場（１６ヵ所も！）経営したり、凄い結果を出しています。いつも「売り上げを伸ばすのが大事だ」と言われている、社長の経験は逆に「これだけの費用ならこんな売り上げが必要」と、逆計算の発想。彼の勢いに感心しました。

それこそ、旅館青年部じゃないと経験できない貴重なお話しでした。

Most ryokan association meetings take place in boring community centers or meeting rooms. This time, our Nagano Junior Association met in a room used by Toson Shimozaki, a literary master from the Meiji and early Showa eras. The room is in Masuya Ryokan, a 3-story wood inn built in the Meiji era. It was a humbling experience attending a meeting in such a historical place.

After the meeting was a speech by the young president of Mac-Earth Corp. Ichinomoto-san single-handedly built his organization up from a mom&pop inn to a group covering over a dozen hotels and 16 ski resorts. His intensity was amazing. I had always been told to focus on sales figures. His policy is to look at your costs, and target sales high enough to cover those costs, hence his aggressive expansion.

Holding a meeting in a historical, turn of the (last) century room, getting to meet one of the most successful resort operators in Japan -- these are some of the benefits of becoming an innkeeper!

ますや旅館 Masuya Ryokan

戸倉上山田温泉に青月庵という和食屋さんがあります。この玄関入口の写真の様に、落ち着いて渋い雰囲気奈レストランです。

中にあるかけじゅくは「春風冬霜」って書いてある。聞いたら、「お客様に温かくて優しい春の風の様に喜ばれるおもてなしを提供し、自分達には冬の霜の様な厳しいスタンスをとる」と言う意味だそうです。

先日は海外からのショグループを連れて行きました。ぎりぎりの予約だったにかかわらず、尚且つややこしいベジタリアン要望もあったのに、丁寧に対応して下さりました。

色々苦労なされたけど、お客様は笑顔で帰りました。

春風冬霜

Here in our onsen town Togura-Kamiyamada there is a Japanese restaurant called Seigetsu-an. As you can tell by the picture of their front entrance, it is a quiet, classy establishment.

Inside, they have a wall hanging with calligraphy on it, with the characters for "Spring", "Wind", Winter", "Frost". I asked the owner-chef what it meant. He explained that one must provide agreeable service to ones guests, service that feels warm and friendly like a spring breeze. But towards oneself, you must be severe like a winter frost.

We recently had a small group of foreigners that I took over to Seigetsu-an. Despite the last-minute nature of the reservation, the meal went very well, even with some tricky vegetarian food restrictions and the language barrier. I am sure the chef and his staff had to hussle hard, but the guests certainly left with smiles on their faces.

Spring breeze, Winter frost.

青月庵　Seigetsu-an Tel# 026-276-5650

長野県旅館青年部の今年の総会はこの戸倉上山田温泉で開催されました。私の担当しているインバウンド委員会が6月25日に商談会を開く様になりました。総会の基調講演はPRコンサルタントの西澤りゅうじんさんでした。「りゅうじん流」の話題性作りの良い勉強になりました。その後の懇親会で地元千曲市一応「ホームコート」となっているプロバスケの信州ブレイブウォリアーズのチアーガール「ジャスパーズ」が来てくれました。全旅連青年部、横山部長も態々来てくれました。パワーのある総会でした。

The Nagano Prefecture Ryokan Association's Junior Association held its annual meeting here in Togura-Kamiyamada. My committee's conference scheduled for June 25th got put into motion. The keynote address was by PR consultant Reugene Nishikawa. And at the banquet afterwords, we were entertained by the Jaspers, the cheer team for our local pro hoops team, the Shinshu Brave Warriors. The national Junior Association leader, Yokoyama-san, even came for the meeting. All in all, a powerful annual meeting.

西川りゅうじん Reugene Nishikawa
そして、西川さんの長野県へのアドバイス
ジャスパーズJaspers

"A bit worn down and overdeveloped," is how one guide describes Higashiyama Onsen, the main onsen resort area of Aizu Wakamatsu, and where we stayed during our visit. Ahh, if only life were like Disneyland, where everything was perfectly nice and tidy.

Higashiyama's many behemoth ferro-concrete hotels leave an imposing impression to be sure, especially the several apparently uninhabited ghost hotels. But you know what struck me the most? The 8th generation owner of the inn we stayed at said the closed-up businesses are the town's greatest concern, and that his outfit themselves had recently purchased their 4th property to rennovate and revitalize.

Higashiyama may not be the happiest place on earth, but the river-side onsen baths, the exquisitely prepared local cuisine, the captivating interior design of the inn, the night time stroll we took in our yukata gowns and geta sandals up and down the narrow streets along the river are the memories that will last us a lifetime. And I applaud the efforts being made to make the town even more memorable.

新滝Shintaki

今回の東北旅で福島の観光名所、歴史的な会津若松へ行きました。お城と武家屋敷はもちろんけど、お城での侍の格好している案内人と、武家屋敷での赤べこ塗体験が一番の思い出になりました。

どれだけ会津若松が観光上手か、感心しました。良い風にですよ。うちのままとパパ、私ども夫婦、そして子供３人で行きましたが、皆が素晴らしい思い出になりました。

今回は市内しか見れませんでした。次回は磐梯山、大内宿、そしてできたら尾瀬に行きた～いな！

"For Fukushima" was the theme for our family trip to Tohoku. We spent the 1st night in the Hawaiians Resort in Iwaki City along the coast. For the 2nd day, we drove inland to the opposite side of Fukushima to the historical castle town of Aizu Wakamatsu.

We saw the famous castle as well as toured the Aizu Bukeyashiki samurai residence complex. While they were both impressive, we had the best memories from the guide wearing a samurai outfit outside the castle, as well as the "Aka-beko" painting workshop at the samurai museum. It's experiences like those that make for the best family bonding.

For this visit to Aizu, we only got to see the town. Next trip, I want to go explore Mt. Bandai, see the Ouchi Edo-era post town, and get lost in the wilderness of Oze. Aizu, I'll be back!

「見に来てほしい」

東北の知り合いに言われました。3.11の地震と津波、その後の原発問題。いくらテレビで画像を見ても、現地を自分の目で見た方が重要だと。100年（1000年？）に一度の自然の現象で自分及び子供達の目で見た方が良いと。

人の苦しみを見て良いかどうかの不安を置いておいて、今回の東北旅で「津波の跡見学」を目的の一つにしました。

ハワイアンズにお世話になってから小名浜、いわき市の港へ行ってみました。

まずは魚市場ラ・ラ・ミュウに入りました。何もなかったと思われるぐらいに回りが片づけられたが、地震から１５分後に２ｍの波が市場を被されましたそうです。１回の売り場のダルビッシュにそっくりのお兄さんとの仲間の笑顔は忘れられません。原発から１００km距離の漁業禁止ゾーンだが、他所からの魚を下ろして、負けないで元気で販売していました。「応援で何か買いたい」と言ったら「すぐに家に帰れば良いけど、そうじゃないでしょう？無理にしないで」と、優しい心。

ラ・ラ・ミュウの２階に避難所の資料展示があった。辛い思い出だ。観覧船は４月下旬から復活の様で、取り敢えずは案内の人の指導で車で移動して、塩屋崎灯台の北側にあった町へ行きました。写真の様に、建物の基礎しか残っていません。

基礎しか…

「見に来てほしい」とは、こういう所。テレビじゃ…

その後、行き会った人の紹介でお寿司屋さん「ともえ」でお昼を食べた。どこかの食事会の為に立派な船盛りを作っている最中だったマスターとの奥さんは親切に美味しいお料理を下さりました。「１００km禁止ゾーンのせいで寿司屋は苦しいけど、頑張っています」と。

「見に来てほしい」とは、これだね。

"We want you to come and see."

That's what one of my ryokan association colleagues from Tohoku (northeastern Japan) told me about the aftermath of the March 11th and following triple disaster. It's one thing to see images of the destruction on TV, but it's important to see it personally with your own eyes. The earthquake and tsunami were once-in-a-100 (1000?) years demonstration of the power of nature.

So putting aside my concerns about possibly being inconsiderate to the people there who suffered so much, on this trip to Fukushima I made it one of my goals to see the tsunami area and show it to our kids.

After leaving the Hawaiians Resort, we drove down to Onahama, Iwaki City's main port. The seafood market Ra Ra Myu had been restored to the point that you wouldn't think anything had taken place here. But 15 minutes after the earthquake, the market was inundated with a 2-meter wave. I will never forget the smiles of the the Darvish-look-alike fishmonger and his coworkers. "Our port's fishing ships can't work these waters due to the 100-km exclusion zone around the nuclear plant. But we get in fish from all over the world," they said as they carried on business as usual. When I mentioned I wanted to buy something to help support them, they said, "If you're headed straight back home, that would be great. But your travelling, so don't worry about it." I was touched by their generosity.

Ra-Ra's 2nd floor had a display depicting living conditions in the evacuation centers. That was tough to take in. The center's pleasure boat rides wouldn't start operating until late April, so on the advice of the info center we drove up the coast to the village that had been below the Shioyazaki Lighthouse.

As you can see in the picture, the village has been reduced to just the foundations of the buildings that had been there before the tsunami struck.

"We want you to come and see." This is what she had been talking about.

Later, we drove to a sushi shop, Tomoe, that a passerby had introduced us to. The sushi master was just finishing up a massive "funa-mori" sushi platter for some banquet nearby, but he and his wife kindly served us delictable sushi. "It's hard as a sushi chef to have to acquire fish from outside the 100-km zone." But by the looks of it, his business is still thriving.

"We want you to come and see." This is it, too.

2011.3.11は世界を変わった日でした。地震、津波、そして原発問題。「福島」は新たな意味になりました。

原発などのせいで亀清旅館までキャンセルの津波が激しかった。３月中旬・下旬及び４月上旬は我が宿が本当に静かでした。

逆に、津波などのお蔭で夏は記録的でした。皆さんの遊びは海から山へシフト;節電でなお蒸し暑い東京から割りと涼しい長野へシフト。

亀清旅館の８月売り上げは最高でした。

しかし、福島は静かのままだったようです。

恩返しを込めて、この春は家族の春休みで福島へお出かけしました。シアトルから来ているママとパパも連れて、親孝行を兼ねて。

一泊目はHawaiiansでした。キャンセル待ちで予約はぎりぎり取れたぐらい賑やかでした。伝説のフラガールは直接見れて、感動しました。

「元気」をお伝えしたいと思ったら、逆に「がんばっぺ福島」から「元気」を頂いてしまいました。

2011.3.11 is a day that changed the world. The earthquake, tsunami and nuclear radiation problem made "Fukushima" a household name everywhere.

Due to "Fukushima", even here at Kamesei Ryokan we had a tsunami of cancelations. Mid and late March as well as early April were extremely quiet here at our inn.

On the other hand, thanks to "Fukushima", we had a record August. Travellers in Japan avoided the ocean and came up to Nagano and its mountains instead.

Fukushima meanwhile continued to be quiet.

I felt indebted to Fukushima, so for this spring, our family decided to spend the holiday in Fukushima. Since my parents are here visiting from the States, we took them, too.

For our first night, we stayed at the famed Hawaiians Resort in Iwakuni. It was only due to a cancelation that we were able to get a booking -- it turns out the resort is back to being in full swing. And seeing the famed Hula Girls live was amazing.

We had intended to give Fukushima a boost of energy by visiting, but ended up on the receiving end instead.

スパリゾートハワイアンズ Spa Resort Hawaiians

業界の新聞で「全国トップ100温泉」などのリストは良く出ます。戸倉上山田温泉のピーク（30～40年前）のころは上順位だったらしいです。最近はリストに載る程な知名度じゃない現状です。何とか認識度を高める為に私ども旅館組合のメンバーで宣伝キャラバンをやっています。

先週は私を入れて5人で名古屋を回って、今回は東京・大宮へ10人ぐらいで二班で回りました。テレビ局、新聞、雑誌、旅行会社、案内所、次から次へ顔を出して、最新情報をお伝えしました。

旅行会社の「長野」資料を見たら良く分かりましたが、温泉で言えば渋・湯田中、松本のあさま温泉、別所、昼神温泉が代表となっています。戸倉上山田はお湯が良いし、沢山の楽しい飲食店・専門店（射的も！）があるし、芸者文化、周辺の山・川風情があって、とっても良い温泉なのでこれからも全面的にPRしたいと思います。

Travel industry newspapers in Japan often have "Top 100 Onsens" lists. During Togura Kamiyamada Onsen's heydays 30-40 years ago, we were listed near the top. Now, however, we just don't have the name recognition to make the cut. In order to raise awareness about our onsen, members of the ryokan association periodically make sales 'caravan' trips.

Last week, 5 fellow innkeepers and I drove to Nagoya for a series of sales calls. This time around, ten of us headed to Tokyo and Omiya for 2 days of marketing. TV stations, newspapers, travel guides, information centers, travel agencies -- a whirlwind tour.

One thing I realized from seeing the "Nagano" literature from the travel agencies is that the prefecture's most well-known onsen areas are Shibu-Yudakana, Asama (Matsumoto), Bessho and Hirugami. I will try my hardest to get Togura-Kamiyamada added to that list!

「学生の頃、アイススケートで通学した事がある」と昔からうちの父親から言われました。今は両親が久しぶりにアメリカから長野に遊びに来てくれています。アイススケートが好きな我が家族で是非に親も連れて行きたいと言う夢がありました。

長野市にあるM-Waveの今シーズンのスケートの最後の日は3月11日でした。せっかくでしたからうちの子供達と両親を連れて、行ってみました。お父さんは何十年ぶりに滑ったが、さすが通学でもスケートだった経験があって、やはり上手でした。

M-Waveのお蔭で私の親孝行の夢は実現できました。

"Back when I was a schoolkid, some days I used to iceskate to school." My dad, who grew up in the Midwest, used to tell me that story. My parents flew to Japan to come see us in Nagano. Our family loves to go iceskating, so during my parent's trip I really wanted to go skating with them and our kids.

For this season, M-Wave in Nagano City held their last open-skate day this Sunday March 11th. So we all piled in the car and drove out to skate. For having not skated for decades, Grandpa did really well.

Japan talks a lot about filial piety. I was grateful to be able to realize my dream of filial piety -- skating with Dad and with our kids. All thanks to M-Wave.

この間の戸倉上山田カラコロ・町興しの会議で参加した農家のTさんは面白い事を言った。何で参加したかというと、

「以前はタイラーさんから連絡があった。姨捨駅で落ち葉を拾ったので畑で腐葉土として降ろして良いかという問い合わせ。姨捨駅という事で、公式な行動だと思った。見えたのはボロボロな軽トラでタイラーさん一人だったので、吃驚した。でもそこで分かった:　町で何か必要だと思ったら、役場に頼むとかどこかの団体にやってもらうとかじゃなくて、自分から努力する必要がある事。だから子の町興しの会議に参加するようになった。」

まあ、それを聞いたら嬉しい様な、「うちの軽トラがあんなにボロボロか？！」と悔しい様な。姨捨の落ち葉のお蔭でまさかこういう結果が出ると思わなかった。でも、町興しの仲間が増えて、嬉しい。

The other day for one of our civic improvement meetings here at Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada, one of the participants mentioned why he's participating. Here's what T-san, a local farmer, said:

"A while back, Tyler-san called about some leaves that he had raked up at Obasute Station, and wanted to know if I'd take them for fertilizer for my field. Being that it was from a train station, I assumed this was semi-official business. So I was surprised when he showed up in a old, run-down pick-up truck. But, it made me realize that when you see something in town that needs to be done, rather than expecting city hall to do it, or asking some organization to do it, everyone needs to pitch in and do it themselves. Which is why I decided to participate in this meeting."

On one hand, I was glad my inadvertant evangelism was effective to get T-san on board with our town's efforts. But on the other hand, is our pick-up truck really that run down?