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千曲市の「森」地区に長野県立歴史間が有り、常設展示室の動くナウマン像が印象的。今日は学校が休みなので「長野県立歴史館へ行こうか」って聞いたら、「いや、ナウマン像を見たい」と言われた。同じところじゃないですか？

と言うことで、歴史館へ行って見ました。そうすると、駐車場がいっぱいで吃驚しました。こんなに人気あるかと考えながら、良く聞いたら太鼓の音があった。太鼓を見に行ったら歴史館の横に縄文時代な「科野のムラ」があって、村の田んぼに田植え祭りが行われていた。江戸時代の格好の娘達が手作業で田植えをやっていました。その応援（エンタテインメント？）で屋代の太鼓グループが演奏していました。田植え体験コーナーもあった。

偶然で見れた田植え祭りで盛り上がって、その後は歴史館に入ったけど例の像の写真を撮り忘れた。また行かんとあかん。今度は田んぼの収穫の時かな？１１月３にここでまた祭りがあるのでこの田んぼから取れたお米の料理が出るそうです。お楽しみに。

歴史館は戸倉上山田温泉から車で約２５分。しなの鉄道屋代駅から歩いて２５分（バスも有り）。HPはwww.npmh.net

Here in Chikuma City there is the Nagano Prefectural Museum of History. At the entrance to their Regular Collection display is a dynamic moving statue of a pre-historic Nauman Elephant. The kids were off from school, so I asked them if they wanted to go the History Museum. They said, "Nah, we want to see the elephant statue." It's the same place!

So anyways, we drove over to the museum, and were surprised to see the parking lot was so full. As I was thinking to myself, "Is this place that popular?" we heard the beats of taiko drums. Hmmm. We went to see what was going on, and there in the mock-up of a Jomon-era village next to the museum, a "Ta-ue" (Rice Planting) Festival was taking place in the "village" rice fields.

Some highschool girls were dressed up in Edo-era traditional clothes and planting rice to the entertainment(?) of the taiko drums. There was even a field where festival participants could try doing ta-ue.

We were so impressed by the festival we happened upon, that when we finally made it over to the museum, I totally forgot to take a picture of the elephant. We'll have to again -- maybe this time in the fall when they harvest these rice paddies. Apparently on 03-November, there will be another festival featuring rice dishes made from the "village" rice.

Nagano Prefectural Museum of History is located about 25 minutes by car from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, or 25 minutes by walking from Yashiro Station on the Shinano Railroad line (busses also available). Website is www.npmh.net.

戸倉上山田温泉から約１kmに千曲川沿いにこんな綺麗なラベンダー畑があります。昨日は子供たちを自転車で連れて行って、ラベンダー畑の隣でピックニックをしました。ラベンダーの香り、川辺のそよ風、小鳥の可愛い泣き声とウシガエルの可愛くない（？）泣き声、楽しいピックニックでした。

About 1km from Togura Kamiyamada Onsen along the Chikuma River is this pretty lavender field. Yesterday I took the kids for a bike ride there and we had a little picnic. The fragrant scent of the lavender, the light breeze from the Chikuma River, the sounds of birds chirping and bullfrogs belching made for a lovely picnic. (Well, the bullfrog belching wasn't exactly lovely...)

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.

夕べは戸倉駅の上の天狗公園に寄りました。ちょうど日の入りの時だったので、写真家が好きそうな光の中で千曲川や周辺の山がとっても綺麗でした。そして、天狗の像がいつもより感動的でした。
連れて行ったお客さんに「どうして天狗は葉っぱを持っているの？」と聞かれました。恥ずかしい事で、私が勉強不足で知りませんでした。調べたら、天狗はその葉っぱで風をいじれるそうです。なるほど。色々と調べたら、天狗の山伏の関係や、天狗の仏教・神道関係とか、天狗の世界はかなり奥深いので勉強になりました。
鼻の大きさは日・米では違う感想があるそうです。日本の「鼻が高い」＝「プライドがあり過ぎ」と違って、欧米では、ピノッキオのように「嘘吐き」のイメージになる。

Last night I took some guests up to the Tengu Park above Togura Station, right at sunset. The soft light of the setting sun created a surreal scene of the Chikuma River and the surrounding mountains -- it was strikingly beautiful. The huge Tengu statue was even more impressive than normal lit up by the setting sun.
One of the guests asked why the Tengu is holding a leaf. I was embarrassed to admit that I didn't know. I did some research when I got back, and found out the Tengu uses the leaf to control the wind. Apparently they can create hurricanes with it.
There's a really good description about Tengu on the Obakemono Project website. I was surprised to learn just how complex the mystical legends are about the Tengu. Besides the supernatural power to control the wind, I was fascinated to learn that the evolution of the Tengu is related to the conflict between Buddhism that was imported from China and Japan's domestic, animistic Shinto religion. There's also an interesting explanation on the background to the pom-pom's on his coat, as well as mention that it was the Tengu that taught the ninjas their art. Now I'll have much more appreciation of our Tengu the next time I see him above Togura Station!