Andyand Kenny in front of the Don-Do Yaki pyre アンディー君とケンちゃんとどんど焼
「どんど焼」という名前が燃えている竹の音からだと聞きました。今日の上山田温泉の千曲川沿いのに子供とお客さんを連れて行きましたが、名前変更が必要だと思いました：「どんどんどんどんど焼き」の方が良いのではないかと。音が凄かったですよ！感動的でした。（その後の炭で焼かれた御餅と川魚も美味しかった！ご馳走様でした！）
Whoever named this event 'Don-do Yaki' had it wrong. Our town holds the annual burning of the New Years decorations down on the banks of the Chikuma River, and I took our two sons and some guests to go see it. After the pyre was lit, the sound of the burning bamboo popping was more like 'Don-Don-Don-Don-Do'! It was really impressive! (And the 'mochi' sticky rice and river fish cooked over the coals were delicious, too!) For those of you who missed it, there's always next year.
