The Man Behind The 'Shrooms
秋というのはキノコの旬で、この戸倉上山田温泉の観光会館で毎年にキノコの展示会があります。天気にもよりますが、今年のは１０月４日の予定だそうです。キノコの種類はこんなに多いかといつも驚きます。そして、その全部を説明してくれる千野おじさんの知恵にもいつも驚きます。私にとっては千野さんの存在がとっても面白いです。三年前の温泉夏祭り、私がアメリカから来たばかりなのにいきなり祭典かかりになってしまいました。千野さんは毎年、祭りの裏管理みたいなのをしていて、祭りの準備で一緒になったお蔭で良く知るようになりました。千野さんのひょうきんなユーモア、私の外人さの平気な受け方、そして彼の知恵に感動しました。まあ、大変お世話になりました。今年のキノコの展示会が成功になるように。
Fall is the season for mushrooms, and every year our town has a Mushroom Display at the Togura Kamiyamada Onsen Tourism Hall. This year's event, weather-depending, is scheduled for October 4th.
I'm always amazed at how many different types of mushrooms there are. One of the main guys who goes out to the surrounding hlls to collect all of them is Chino-san, and his knowledge of the mushrooms is also amazing.
When I first came from America, I was put on to the organizing committee for the town's summer festival. That's when I first got to know Chino-san, as he is the guy that helps out every year with the behind-the-scenes preparations. His charming sense of humor, and his acceptance of my 'gaijin' (foreign) - ness made a deep, positive impression on me. And his wisdom was also so impressive.
Well, I hope Chino-san and the mushroom display deal go well this year.
