グリーンツーリスム王国：南信州 "Green Tourism" King: Southern Nagano

September 29, 2009: Uncategorized
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フルーツ王国の南信州を案内してくれる新井社長

長野インバウンドサミットの9月のスモール・ミーティングが今日、飯田市で行いました。南信州観光公社の新井社長がホストしてくれました。この様なメニューでした：

＊楽珍房という民宿で昼食　女将さんの原さんの育った野菜を生かした旬のお料理、そして、中学生や外国人向けの民泊のプログラムの説明。農家体験してくれる原さんの様な宿のお陰で、飯田・南信州は「何もない」と言われていたころから中学校がキャンセル待ちのほど人気になってきました。外国人の個人旅行者（FIT)の対応はこれからだそうです。

＊新井社長の「行政の取り組み方」のトーク　まず自分で実績を出して、それから行政と連携して広告宣伝費を。

＊三和観光農園で南アルプスの背景でぶどう・りんご狩り　東南アジア人にとってはフルーツ王国、欧米人に始めてみる種類で盛り上がるそうです。

＊天竜川ライン下り　風景を案内して頂きました。日本の渓谷の大自然を楽しいボートから見れる魅力的なスポット。これからは公用の時期になり、天竜峡がさらに綺麗になる。

長野県は南北で１８０ｋｍもあります。北信からの私が久しぶりに南信の魅力が見れて、嬉しかったです。

Nagano Inbound Summit's September Small Meeting took place today. Our host was Arai-san of Minami Shinshu Kanko Kousha, in Iida City, the leading city of southern Nagano. Highlights are as follows:

*Lunch at Rakuchinbo, a working farm minshuku. The proprietress, Hara-san, provides guests an opportunity to help out in the fields and even prepare dinner using the farm's produce, a system called "Minpaku". Thanks to Hara-san and the other 140+ Minpaku farms, southern Nagano went from a "There's nothing there" mentality to having a waiting list for middle schools wanting to take study trips to the area.

*Tour of Sanwa Kanko Noen, a blueberry and apple orchard set up to provide busloads of tourists a chance to pick fresh fruit while enjoying Nagano's nature with the Southern Alps as a backdrop. The Sanwa farm is one of the reasons Southern Nagano has become known as a Fruits Kingdom, especially popular with East Asia.

*Overview of the Tenryu River boat tours. The Tenryu Line Kudari is especially convenient, with easy access by train, and features a liesurely boatride down the picturesque Tenryu River Gorge. In a few weeks, the gorge will be at its prime with the fall colors.

Nagano Prefecture stretches over 180 kilometers from north to south. As I am based in the north, it was refreshing to get to see the beauty and attractiveness of Southern Nagano.

南信州観光公社（民泊の詳しく、など）のHPはこちらClick here for Minami Shinshu Kanko Kosha's website, with info on the Minpaku program.

三和観光農園のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Sanwa Farm

天竜川ライン下りのHPはこちらClick here for the website of Tenryu Line Kudari boatride.






手作りナイフ体験＠坂城「鉄の展示館」 Knife-Making "Experience" at the Sakaki Katana Museum

September 28, 2009: Uncategorized
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戸倉上山田温泉の隣の坂城町に人間国宝の宮入先生の記念館にもなる「鉄の展示館」という刀の博物館があります。定期的に「手つくりナイフを作ろう!」という体験コースをやっています。昨日は友達と息子達を連れて、やってきました。宮入行平先生の息子さんがやり方を皆に教えていました。思い出になる経験でした。次は11月22日（日）、午前の部は10：00から、午後の部は13：30から、約一時間半程度、参加費は500円です。詳しくは坂城町鉄の展示館 Tel(0268)82-1128

When you think of 'traditional' Japan, what images come to mind? Geisha, Ninja, Samurai, Katana...

Geisha still exist, but are becoming increasingly obsolete in today's society. In addition, fewer and fewer young women today see becoming a geisha as a viable career. Here in our town, Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, there are still 35 geisha, down from a peak of over 350 in the Showa heydays. It's a struggle, but efforts are being made to preserve the living geisha heritage in our town.

Ninja schools also continue to exist in Japan in pockets here and there. In Nagano, we are fortunate to have the Togakure Ninja School's heritage, kept alive by a group of active practicioners. They offer free access to their weekly lessons where you can experience real, honest, actual, wouldn't-be-unusual-to-break-a-bone ninja lessons every Sunday night in Togakshi -- for Free!

Samurai were officially ended with the Meiji Restoration. However, their memory is kept alive by their descendants all across the country. Our neighbor across the street from Kamesei have a museum-like room in their house that includes the battle armor of their great-great-great ancestor.

Katana swords you would also think would be on the verge of extinction. However, in Nagano Prefecture alone there are 5 or 6 swordsmiths that continue to make katana today. In neighboring Sakaki Town, there is the "Museum of Tetsu (Steel) in Sakaki" dedicated to Living National Treasure Hirayuki Miyairi. Miyairi-sensei has since passed on, but his apprentices as well as his son carry on the sword-making tradition today.

The museum occasionally offers Knife Making By Hand lessons. My buddy Matt and I took our kids yesterday to experience it ourselves, under the traditional teachings of junior Miyairi-sensei. Using traditional tools and methods, we each made our own little knife.

The next lesson is scheduled for 22-November (Sunday) from 10am and again 1:30pm (each lesson runs about an hour and a half). Cost is 500 yen per person. For info, contact the museum at 0268-82-1128 or on the web at http://tetsu.town.sakaki.nagano.jp.



Hammering the steel flat


Grinding it to an edge


Sharpening the edge


Making the Handle


戸倉上山田温泉の歴史ウォーキング History Walk in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen

September 27, 2009: Uncategorized
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Takizawa-sensei explaining Sarashina Shrine's Important City Artifact, a tomb made by the area's people before they left to fight the Sengoku Wars. Note: BEFORE they departed, meaning they knew their 'departure' would be permanent. 更科神社の市登録重要文

戸倉上山田温泉の歴史専門家の滝沢先生が更科・戸倉上山田温泉のウォーキング・ツアーで周辺の歴史を説明してくれました。戦国時代、明治等のルーツ、今のご年配の方の「昔・懐かしい」話など、親切に教えていただきました。

今日の歴史ウォーキングの目的はガイドを育つ為の最初に一歩でした。滝沢先生の知恵を次の世代に伝わって、次の次の世代に伝えれるように。そして、この周辺に興味のある観光客も聞けるように。

詳しくはカラコロにぎわい協議会の事務局：千曲市観光課　Tel(026)275-1753

Takizawa-sensei, the leading historian of the Togura-Kamiyamada Onsen area, led a historical walk this morning. He explained the Warring States Era and Meiji roots from the Sarashina and Onsen areas, as well as some nostalgic stories of his generation from the pre- and post-war eras.

The purpose of today's walk was to start to train the next generation of historians and guides, to pass Takizawa-sensei's knowledge down to the future.



Sarashina Shrine's highly symbolized, deeply traditional main building　更科神社の本堂；伝統的な建築に沢山のシンボル


Entrance Pillar to Sarashina Shrine, with engraved reference to Meiji Scholar Zozan -- the origin of the "Sarashina" Place-Name 更科神社の入り口；象山の文章が手彫りで書いてあって、「更科」の地名の元


Old entrance to the tunnel connecting To-Kami and Sarashina; Closed off after road around was built.更科・戸上の間のトンネルの古い入り口


私よりも亀清の歴史が詳しいMore knowledgeable about Kamesei than I

September 26, 2009: Uncategorized
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亀清旅館の一番古い建物が大正時代から、隣の坂城村から移築されたと前からお聞きしました。今日、上山田の中島農園にぶどうを買いに行ったら、中島さんの90歳のおじさんと油を売った（?）。色々と話をしたら、中島おじさんがその移築の前の亀清の建物を知っていると分かりました。「坂城の駅前にあった。芸者さんのおきやだった。19歳の時に芸者さんの三味線と太鼓を聴きに行った事がある」と仰いました。

感心しました。歴史の本で読むより、中島おじさんのような「生きている歴史」と話した方が100倍ぐらい面白い。

今度は中島おじさんに亀清に来てもらいたいです。その建物は現在、亀清の大広間として使われていますが、移築前の様子を聞かせて頂きたいです。

I had heard before that Kamesei's oldest building dates back to the Taisho era (early 1900's) and actually was moved to its present location from neighboring Sakaki Town. Apparently it was disassembled, transported, and reassembled here to later become Kamesei Ryokan.

Today when I went to Nakajima Orchards to buy more grapes, I shot the breeze with 90 year-old Nakajima Ojisan. He mentioned that he had actually been inside the building while it was still in Sakaki. "It used to be across the street from Sakaki Station, and had been a geisha 'okiya' (parlor house). When I was 19 years old, I went and heard the geisha play shamisen and taiko."

Wow! It's so much more interesting to hear stories like that from someone like Nakajima oji-san, a "living history", rather than from a history book.

Someday I hope Nakajima oji-san can come to Kamesei and tell me more about what the building was like before being moved here.





TV東京が亀清の100年風呂をクレーンカメラで！ TV Tokyo Crew with Crane Camera

September 26, 2009: Uncategorized
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10月11日の夜7pmから放送される予定のTV東京番組「温泉バカ」特集の戸倉上山田温泉・亀清旅館の撮影は今日、終わりました。高橋さんたち、ご苦労様でした!今までの取材の中でクレーンカメラが使ったのは初めて。格好いい映像が出来て、びっくりしました!番組を見るのは楽しみにしていま～す!

TV Tokyo will air an "Onsen Idiots" special on 11-October at 7pm, with a feature on Kamesei Ryokan and Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. The filming finished up today, climaxing in shooting our 100 Year Bath outdoor bath with a crane camera. We've had a number of film crews here over the years, but this is the first time with a crane camera. They took some pretty cool footage! I am looking forward to seeing the show on tv.





インフルエンザより怖い：ハロウィーンin戸倉上山田温泉 Scarier Than the Swine Flu: Halloween in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen

September 25, 2009: Uncategorized
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過去12年間、千曲国際交流協会がハロウィーンパーティーを実施しました。過去3年間は私が実行委員長で。去年はこの戸倉上山田温泉で子供達は250人が盛り上がりました。今年はさらに騒ぐところだったが、協会がインフルエンザの恐れで中止するように決定。

？！子供達250人ががっかり。その半分がインフルエンザでだめになっても、100人以上の子供が可愛いそう!

Never Give Upの私は色々と動いて、同時に行う予定の荒砥城祭りの実行委員長と話したら、「ハロウィーンが無いと困る」と。結果で言えば、今年はハロウィーンin戸倉上山田温泉が荒砥城祭りの一貫として行います。予定通り、10月18日（日）。トリックorトリート、かぼちゃランタン作り、仮装コンテスト、そしてお化け屋敷は予定通り、行います。

お化けの募集もしておりますのでボランティアしたい方はぜひ、声をかけてください。

The Chikuma Int'l Cultural Exchange Assoc. has been putting on a Halloween Party for the past 12 years. I have been the organizing chairperson for the past 3. Last year we had 250 kids having a lot of fun here in Togura Kamiyamada Onsen. This year, the Association decided to cancel the party due to the Swine Influenza.

Cancel Halloween? There's 250 kids looking forward to getting spooked again! Even if half of them catch the flu, that's still over a hundred disappointed kids out there.

You know me and my 'never give up' attitude, I made a bunch of contacts including to the Arato-Jo Festival organizers, who are planning their event for the same day. They agreed to take Halloween under their wing, so we're going to have the party as planned on Sunday 18-October. Trick-or-treating, costume contest, pumpkin carving and a haunted house.

We are looking for ghosts to help out. If interested in volunteering, feel free to contact me!





秋の花と秋の田んぼ Fall Flowers and Fall Rice Fields

September 24, 2009: Uncategorized
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上山田で車でお出かけしたら、この花と田んぼの合わせを見ました。車を止めて、写真を撮りました。秋の花、コスモスと収穫前の田んぼ。秋の雰囲気満々。

While running an errand in the outer areas of Kamiyamada today, I came across this scene of cosmos flowers (considered a fall flower in Japan) and rice fields ready for fall harvest. Autumn has come to Kamiyamada.

信州戸倉上山田温泉の亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for the website of Kamesei Ryokan in Nagano.





布団引き屋?お相撲? Flipping Futons or Sumo Wrestling?

September 24, 2009: Uncategorized
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昨日の波閉科神社の秋祭りの相撲の写真です。私は2回取りまして、一回は飛ばされました。やっぱり、子供のころから相撲をやってきた人はそれなりのテックニックがあるやなとくやしく思いました。しかし、また「に～し、タイラーや～ま」と。あっ、もう一回が出来るのか?よしっ、今回は負けないぞ!そして、写真のように、気合を入れて、布団引きの力をかけて、相手を飛ばしました。御幣を頂いて、「心」という字を手でやりました。

生まれてから始めてお相撲で勝ちました。

嬉しかったです。

お相撲の世界は物凄く奥深いですが、勝つとやはり嬉しいです。

Here is a picture of yesterday's Habeshina Shrine Autumn Festival sumo tournament. I was fortunate to get to wrestle twice. The first time I got thrown on my ass. Man, was I bummed out. (Pardon the pun...) I was just starting to feel bad about myself not having grown up doing sumo and getting to learn all the techniques. But then the announcer called, "Nishi (west side - my side!), Tyler-yama." Yeah! I got a second chance to wrestle. This time around, I wasn't going to lose. I put all my energy, as well as futon-flipping muscles, into it and tossed my opponent on his butt. Then I got to do the ritual ceremony of receiving the sacred "onbei" and writing "kokoro" (心) with my hand. My first ever victory at sumo.

It felt good. Real good!

Sumo is a rich sport steeped in tradition, ceremony and spirituality. But I have to say, it still feels just plain good to win at it!





日本の奥深い伝統：　秋祭りとお神楽 Japan's rich traditions: Fall Festival and Okagura Lion Dance

September 23, 2009: Uncategorized
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Stopping for a break at the Suitengu Water Shrine in central Kamiyamada Onsen

上山田神楽保存会の一年間の中の一番重要な日：9月23の波閉科神社秋祭り。朝早くから晩遅くまで、一日中で神社の周辺や上山田の温泉街を回って所々で獅子舞をやります。私はお昼の相撲大会が終わってから(その結果及び写真は後日！）入りました。この写真は上山田温泉の中心にある水天宮でやった時です。我が美咲ちゃんが見に来てくれました。
町の仲間達が獅子笛を吹きながら町中を歩いて、新築お祝いや祭りの役員のご家族の祝い、それぞれの店の商売繁盛などの為に獅子舞・お祓いをやる。ここまで町の人々が町の神の行事で町のお店や人の為に・・・欧州ではどうか分かりませんが、アメリカではこういう伝統が無いです。感心しました。
そして、この米国人を地元の祭りに参加させて頂いて、嬉しいです。

The Kamiyamada Okagura Preservation Group's biggest event of the year is the Habeshina Shrine Fall Festival held September 23rd every year. From early in the morning until late at night, the Okagura crew walks around the town in a procession stopping to do the shi-shi dance in a variety of places, culminating in a torch-lit performance back at the shrine. The lion dance is done to celebrate everything from a new house or birth, to a business's prosperity.
I joined the procession after the morning's sumo wrestling (more on that later). Walking the town's streets performing the shi-shi dance of the town's local god, for the local people and businesses. I don't know about Europe, but in America I never saw anything like that tradition. I was honored to be able to participate.





こいつらは相撲の力士に見える？ Do these two goofballs look like sumo wrestlers?

September 22, 2009: Uncategorized
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上山田の波閉科神社秋祭りが23日です。周辺の神社の秋祭りで子供相撲が良くありますが、波閉科神社は大人相撲もやっています。今年はシアトルからのベスト・フレンドのMattさんも私も取る様になりました。22日は下見で神社を見学しました。大丈夫かな？非常に不安ですが・・・

Kamiyamada's Habeshina Shrine holds its autumn festival every year on the 23rd of September. While many of the shrines in the area have kids sumo at these festivals, Habeshina has adult sumo, too. This year, my best friend from Seattle, Matt is here and he and I are planning on participating. We came to Habeshina to check out the sumo ring on the 22nd. Do we look like sumo wrestlers? I think we are going to be in big trouble...