千曲市の戸倉上山田温泉を訪ねる方に「昭和レトロの味が残っていますね」とよく言われます。「昭和レトロ」は一体なんですか？繁華街の飲み屋さんのネオン？昭和ころに出来た旅館の外観？
そして、「昭和レトル」って、格好いいですか？懐かしい雰囲気と言う事ですか？
それか、ダサいという意味ですか？町が進化してなくて、さびてきたとの事ですか？
地元のテレビ局「ABN」が先月に「駅前テレビ」と言うライブの番組で戸倉上山田温泉の取材でした。タレントの三四六さんが当温泉にお越しになって、ぶらぶらしながら、戸倉上山田温泉の昭和レトロの雰囲気を探しました。そして、見つかった度に写真を撮りました。三四六さんの目から見た戸倉上山田温泉の「昭和」雰囲気の写真を見れば、何が「昭和レトロ」か、なんとなく分かります。微妙な事ですが、戸倉上山田温泉の昭和レトルの雰囲気がどちらかと言うと格好いいさび。
６月いっぱいまで三四六さんの写真の展示会が行います。上山田温泉本通の有田屋さんと言う宿の前の空き店舗はギャラリーになります。毎日の午前９時から午後５時まで開いています。
このギャラリーで戸倉上山田温泉の「昭和レトロ」のイメージが掴めるでしょう。そして、自分でこの温泉街を歩いて、自分の目でその雰囲気を見えて、何が「昭和レトロ」か分かっていただけると思います。
When local TV station ABN featured Togura Kamiyamada Onsen last month on their Saturday morning variety show, they had talked about our town's "Showa Retro" feel.
What exactly is "Showa Retro"? Is it a classic style that brings back warm memories of the 60's and 70's -- all the garish neon of the bar district and the familiar appearance of the inns built in the era?
Or does it refer to a dismal impression that no improvements have been made since the 60's and 70's -- stemming from all the dilapidated buildings from the period?
As part of the the TV show, local celebrity Sanshiro-san came and took pictures of our onsen town's "Showa Retro" scenes. Their pictures are on display at a temporary gallery set up in an empty store front across the street from Arita-ya Ryokan on Kamiyamada Onsen's main street. The gallery will be open from 9am to 5pm through the month of June.
Seeing our onsen town through Sanshiro's eyes makes one realize that "Showa Retro" is a mix of memories and dilapidation. For people who didn't grow up during that era, you look at some of the architecture and ponder what were they thinking when they built that? But there are many people who saw those buildings during the Showa heydays, and for whom those styles have great appeal.
Come and check out Sanshiro's pictures in the gallery, then go for walk around Togura Kamiyamada and see the Showa Retro scenes yourself!
