This weekend, July 25, 26 and 27, there will be a Buddha Road Peace Walk at Zenkoji sponsored by volunteer group Wind of Tibet. Info as per link below. Zenkoji Temple played a pivotal role during the Peking Olympic Torch stop at Nagano in their support for religious freedom in Tibet.

今週末、７月２５，２６，２７日に「善光寺へ向かうピースウォーク」が行います。Ｗｉｎｄ　ｏｆ　Ｔｉｂｅｔがスポンサーです。善光寺が北京五輪の聖火リレーで大事な役割しました。詳しくは下記のリンクにて

http://www.geocities.jp/windoftibet/buddharoadtop.htm

上山田温泉の夏祭りがスタートしました。私達旅館若旦那達も「下駄供養」で参加しました。

Kamiyamada Onsen's Summer Festival has begun! The other innkeepers and I took part in the Geta (Wood Clog) Offering.

祭り。私の地元のシアトルみたいな都会な所の祭りは専門な人が管理して、我々市民の皆が見るものでした。日本に来てから始めて祭りに参加する楽しみが分かりました。そして、この戸倉上山田温泉に引越ししたら、温泉の夏祭りに参加しない訳に行かないと言うことが分かりました。参加する義務があるというより、温泉の全員、全体の盛り上がりなので毎年の楽しみだ。
今年は亀清旅館の若女将も私も、夫婦で参加しています。妻は民踊連の役員、私は今日：お神楽、明日：お獅子。宿もお陰様でまんぱんで、祭りでも忙しいけれど、年に一度だけなので頑張ります！
Festivals. Back in my home town of Seattle, a festival is something pro organizers put on and the public just watches. It was after coming to Japan that I first experienced the joy of participating in a festival. And after moving to this small town of Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, it wasn't a question of participating or not -- everyone participates. It's not like an obligation; participating in the festival raises the spirit of the whole onsen town -- it's something to look forward to every year.
This year, both myself and my wife Mari and participating. Mari as part of the dance troupe, and I as a member of the Okagura Lion Dance group today, and in the huge Shishi tomorrow. Our inn is full, and participating in the festival takes a lot of energy, but it's only once a year so we're going to try to have fun!

亀清旅館の玄関に祭りの提灯が設置してあるし、若女将が民踊連の役員でその準備してきました。そろそろお祭りだ！

We have our Festival 'chochin' lanterns hanging in front of Kamesei, and Mari is just getting back from setting things up for the Minro Dance (she's one of the organizers this year). The Festival is almost here!

日々の「どうやってお客様に来ていただくか」の努力の中で「来たお客様に感謝」と言うことが忘れちゃうことが多いです。それで、上山田温泉夏祭りの一部で「下駄供養」が行います。今日はこの一年間でお客様が利用した下駄を集まって、水天宮の横で設置しました。今週末の祭りで供養します。
この一年間でお越しになった皆様に感謝しております。

When one's daily routine is based around how to attract more customers, it's easy to forget to be thankful for the guests who have come. As part of this weekend's Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival, the other ryokan owners and I perform a special Geta Offering. We gather the wooden sandals that our guests have used throughout the year, and offer them up in thanks.
I'd like to take this time to thank all of Kamesei's guests from the previous year. Arigatou!

我が息子がいきなり「蛍を見に行きたい」と今晩、言い出しました。上山田の奥の方の知り合いに電話したら、協和地区の蛍祭りが７月７日だと分かりましたのでちょっと早かったけど取り敢えず行ってみました。小ぶりの雨の中で蛍は２１匹も数えました。
明日の祭りは祭りというより、近所のおじさん達がお酒を飲む為の様な集まりですが、人数より蛍の数が多いからそから中のちゃんとした祭りより楽しめますよ！
Our son asked for us to take him to go see fireflies tonight. I called an acquaintance who lives in rural Kamiyamada, and he advised their local Firefly Festival will be held tomorrow 07-July. We went to check it out anyways, and in the light rain found 21 fireflies.
The 'Festival' is more an excuse for local 'ojisan' to gather and drink sake. But there will likely be more fireflies than people, which is better than most of those official firefly festivals out there.

亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website.

千曲市蛍情報はこちらClick here for Chikuma City firefly info

亀清旅館の裏の中央公園に近所の子供達がいつも集まっています。我が若若女将も大好きです。子供連れのお客様も是非ご一緒に遊びましょう。
Behind Kamesei Ryokan is Chuo Park, the place where all the neighborhoods gather to play. Our Misaki loves coming here -- the swings are her favorite. We love it when guests bring there kids to play here, too.
亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

今日の上山田温泉獅子の練習に子供達も連れて行きました。祭り実態は迫力があって、最高に楽しいですが、祭りの練習もいいですよ。地元の仲間と盛り上がって、ＯＢ達の指示に従って、なおかつ芸者さんの生の音楽もあって、これは温泉の文化と伝統をうんと感じます。この文化と伝統を我が子供達にも伝えたいと思っていまして、連れて行きました。
I brought our sons to today's Kamiyamada Onsen Shishi (Lion) practice. On the actual day of the Kamiyamada Summer Festival, the energy of the shishi is a spectacular sight. But the practice session is a lot of fun, too. It's a great bonding time for the guys of the town, plus you have the older guys volunteering to help coach, and the icing on the cake is live music by real-life geisha. You can really feel the powerful cultural tradition of the shishi. That is something I am hoping to pass on to our kids, which is why I brought them to the practice.

亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

上山田温泉夏祭りのＨＰはこちらClick here for the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival website

今年の上山田温泉夏祭りがあと3週間です。その準備の中で、私が芸者さんたちの会長に注意されました。去年の祭りの時、獅子が終わってからお神輿を担ぐように呼ばれた。身長（2m）は会わないので邪魔になるから中の方に行かされた。そうすると、顔が上に乗っている芸者さんの足の間になっちゃった。「お互いに恥ずかしいから担ぐなら外で」と会長さんが言ったようです。それはそうですね。
何故か、その恥ずかしい状態の写真が祭りの宣伝物に使われた（写真に）。
This year's summer Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival is only 3 weeks away. In preparing for it, I have been given a warning by the geisha chairwoman. During last year's festival, after helping with the shishi (lion) all day, I was recruited to help carry the omikoshi (portable shrine float). My height (6'7") doesn't fit very well, and I was relegated to the middle. However, that put me right underneath the geisha that was riding on top, with my face between her legs. The chairlady said if I'm to help with the omikoshi again this year, it would be less awkward for both parties if I'm on the outside. I whole-heartedly agree!

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

上山田温泉夏祭りのHPはこちらClick here for Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival website

「トーふー」と言う音が聞こえてきた。あっ、青木さんが来るよ！昔は豆腐屋さんはチャリンコを乗ってラッパを吹いて回ったようですが、戸倉上山田温泉は青木さんと彼のワンボクスです。でも、昔のままの味だ！美味しい！
"to-FU" goes the sound. Ah, Aoki-san must be coming. In days past, the tofu guy rode his bike and blew a trumpet and sold tofu around the neighborhood. Now, here in Togura Kamiyamada onsen we have Aoki-san going around in his van with a recorded sound track announcing his arrival. At least the taste of the tofu is as good as it was in the old days.