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旅館の経営者は本当に休みが少ない。２４時間働いちゃう。これは確かに健康に良くない。しかし、長野県の旅館青年部が新潟、群馬、栃木と茨城の県青年部をホストして、キックベース大会をやるって聞いた時に、旅館の方で直す所が沢山あるし、仕事がたまっていて、誰が遊ぶ暇があるか？！とブブ文句を言いながら、今日は青木村へ行って、大会に参加しました。
そしたら、良く分かりました。時々は布団引き以外な運動も必要だと。今のこの北関東ブロック長（akaブロック王、さらにaka「オッ」）がカリスマの人で、彼の強い意志で私みたいな頭の固い若旦那の皆を引っ張って、こうやって大会を行います。有難い事で。

Running a ryokan can become a 24-7 job. It's easy to become lost in the work -- which can't be good for one's health. But when the Nagano Junior Ryokan Association announced they would be hosting a kickball tournament, I thought, "Who has the time to goof off like that? There are so many things that need fixing here at the inn, and so much work that has piled up!" So, grudgingly I went to Aoki Village to play in the tournament.
It was a good thing I went. I realized that it's important to occasionally get some exercise other than futon flipping! The Northern Kanto Block leader (or "king" as he likes to be called) is the very charismatic guy that willed this event to take place. I am very thankful!

Today was quite a day. Not all of my days here at Kamesei Ryokan are this busy, but on the other hand, it wasn't all that unusual either.
The day started at 5am, with taking Pauline and her classmate from Keio U. to zazen meditation. Then we came back to the inn, and I cooked pancakes for the kids' breakfast. After that I flipped futons and sent off our guests from the previous night, including a family from Singapore. We stopped at a cherry orchard on the way to the station -- more on that in a later post. Then the director of the city's Economic Development office came to discuss the English walking map / restaurant guide I am making. Next I drove up to Obasute Station, parked the K-Truck and hopped on a train to Matsumoto. There I gave a talk to the Prefectural Chamber of Commerce's annual meeting. (That was a bit daunting to be lecturing to the lectors...) I had a bit of time to kill before the next train back, so I hooked up with my buddy Tom working at a think-tank in 'Moto for a late lunch bowl of ramen. Then it was back to Obasute Station and to Kamesei, where one of our new regular guests was waiting. Itogawa-sensei had been intrigued by one of the statues on display in our inn, and had researched all about it for me. After flipping futons for tonight's guests, it was off to Okagura practice at the town's main park. Somewhere in there was a phone call from NHK, the national broadcaster requesting to do feature TV show on Kamesei.
5am zazen, okagura practice, speeches ... nothing new. But all in one day -- that was a first. Also, at the zazen room, the monk was away so I had to lead the meditation. That was also a first. And at the okagura practice, I put my flute down for one dance and tried my hand at being the rear person in the lion -- another new experience.
All in all, a very full day!
今日は長い一日でした。朝五時から始まった。フランスからの留学生のポリーンさんとの友達を連れて、座禅に行きました。戻ったら、我が子供たちにパンケーキを焼いて、お客さんの布団を上げて見送りして（内、シンガポールのご家族を駅までの送迎の途中で、サクランボ農園にも寄って）、市役所の商工労政係長が作成中の英語マップの打ち合わせで来てくれて、それから電車乗って松本へ行きました。県商工会指導員研修会で講演を頼まれました。指導者の前で立つのは非常につらかったけど、なんとかできました。帰りの電車まで時間があったので松本のシンクタンクで働いているTomさんのラーメンを食った。亀清の戻ったら、常連のお客さんが気になっていた床の間の飾り物を調べてくれて、その結果を説明してくれた。お客さんの布団を引いてから、今度はお神楽の練習。その間のどこかでNHK教育から取材の問い合わせの電話もありました。
とにかく、特ににぎやかな一日でした！