芸者三味線とセッション Jammin' with a geisha

March 7, 2009: Uncategorized

impromptu shishi lion

普段は「どのネタにしょうか?」という日があるけど、今
日は「ブログに何を書こうか」とちょっと悩んだ日です。過去の経験では、こういう時は気をつけるべき。今日も結局そうでした。
お客様の宴会で挨拶をしたら、なぜか何の楽器ができるかと聞かれました。あほみたいに、しし笛と答えておきました。そのお客さんは芸者さんが二人を呼びました。三味線のベトランの春駒さんと踊れる千姫さん。宴会の途中で私が笛を吹きに呼ばれました。そして、一人のお客さんが座布団・酒瓶、と帯でできた獅子で踊って、もう一人は太鼓、春駒さんは三味線、私が獅子笛で1曲をやりました。私はまだまだ獅子笛の初心者なのでいつも前の人の指を真似しながらやっている。一人じゃ。。。まあ、何とかなりました。お客さんも喜んでくれた。(酒のお陰?)
Normally, my biggest problem in writing this blog is choosing which among the interesting things from the day to write about. Today was unusual in that I was starting to get worried about not having anything to write about. That's usually when something funky happens, and today was no exception.
When I made my official "greeting" at one of the banquets, for some reason I was asked what musical instrument I play, and I replied the shishi flute. I have to learn to shut my big mouth! That particular group had requested some geisha for entertainment, including the shamisen veteran Harugoma-san. Partway through the banquet, I was called back to play the flute. We ended up jamming, with one guest doing a dance with a shishi made up of a seat cushion, sake bottles, and an obi, another customer played the taiko drums, Harugoma-san on the shamisen, and me on the flute. I have to be honest: normally when I play the flute there is another member in front of me and I follow his finger movements. So I was way out of my league to play flute for those guests, but they seemed to enjoy it (maybe thanks to the sake?).



Harugoma-san and Senhime-san w/ guest taiko player


veteran shamisen


大学卒業生、おめでとう!Congrats to the Grads

March 6, 2009: Uncategorized

Husky Hakama?

うちの妻の従妹の娘が袴を穿いたままで顔を出してくれた。近くに住んでいるけど、遠い親戚だ。アメリカは大学卒業が大体6月ですが、日本では今が卒業の時期です。一番驚いたのは、Saoriさんの袴の色は私の大学の色:紫と金。格好いい!
ということで、さおりさんと他の卒業生の皆さん、おめでとうございます!これからはスクール・オブ・ライフ(人生学校)でがんばってください。
My wife's cousin's daughter stopped by today. She lives close, but is a distant relative. (Sorry, bad joke.) Anyways, she was wearing a hakama, which until now I had associated with martial arts. Her college graduation celebration was later in the day, and she was dressed up for that. Back in the States, June is when everyone graduates, but here in Japan, it is March. What surprised me the most was the coloring of her hakama: purple and gold. Those are the colors of the University of Washington, my alma mater.





雛人形はどんな思い出が付いている? What kind of memories do people have of Hina Dolls?

March 5, 2009: Uncategorized

亀清の今年の雛

亀清の今年の雛人形はこちらです。3日からロビーに飾られた。この辺は旧暦でやりますので、3月3日から4月3日まで飾る習慣です。
毎年、隣の坂城町の「坂木宿ふるさと歴史館」でこの時期に古雛まつりが行います。今年の祭りは3月20日(金)から5月6日(水)までの予定です。雛人形研究家の田口先生は先日に公演しに来ましたのでまた亀清に泊まってくらました。その先生曰く、北信が東京と京都の中心になるので両方の雛人形の文化が流れてきて、独特なスタイルになっているそうです。本人は元々西洋人形の研究から始まって、途中から雛人形に切り替えたと、美咲ちゃんがGrandmaからもらった人形と遊んでいる姿を見たときに話してくれました。この人形はGrandmaの子供のころに本人が良く遊んだらしいです。自分の娘に遊んでもらえるようにずっと持っていたが、私と弟2人で、息子切でした。孫娘を待っていたら、アメリカからうんと遠い日本で生まれたこの美咲ちゃん。それでも、この大事な、思いで深い人形をうちの美咲ちゃんにくれました。Grandma Judiの記念でJuちゃんと呼んでいます。

雛人形もこの感じで「思い」が付くのでしょうか?

March 3rd is the Hina Doll Festival in Japan. Households throughout the country put out these Hina doll sets for their daughters to enjoy. Most of the inns here at Togura Kamiyamada Onsen also have elaborate Hina sets on display, including the 8-level one at Kamiyamada Hotel. Kamesei's set this year is this relatively simple one. Our daughter Misaki seems happy with it.

At the Sakaki-juku Furusato Historical Hall in neighboring Sakaki Town, every year they put on an Antique Hina Doll Festival. This year's event is scheduled to run from 20-March (Fri) to 06-May (Wed). They often have Taguchi-sensei, a Hina Doll scholar, come for a talk, and this year he once again stayed at Kamesei. According to the sensei, northern Nagano is at a sort of crossroads between Tokyo and Kyoto, and our local Hina dolls were influenced by both sides for a style unique to this area. Taguchi-sensei actually started out researching Western doll culture. He mentioned that when he saw our Misaki playing with her Ju-chan doll. Ju-chan is named after Grandma Judi who kept the doll from when she played with it as a child. Grandma initially kept it to give to her daughter, but for better or worse she only had my two brothers and I. So she waited for a granddaughter. She finally got one in Misaki, but here in far-away Japan. Even so, Grandma still gave Misaki her treasured doll.

I wonder if Hina dolls have such memories attached to them.

坂城古雛まつりの詳しくはこちらClick here for details on Sakaki's Antique Hina Doll Festival

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.





客室のインフォーメーションの本の更新Updating the Information Books in the GuestRooms

March 4, 2009: Uncategorized

千曲市の観光課は市の観光ガイドブックを更新した。一部は雑誌っぽいでとってもよくできました。亀清の客室にインフォメーションの本が置いてあるのでこの新しいガイドブックを入れさしておきました。この本は亀清のストーリーや上山田温泉の由来などいろんな情報が日本語・英語の両方で集まっていますのでお泊りになる方はぜひ、目を通して御覧なさい。
Chikuma City just updated their Sightseeing Guidebook (Japanese). The front section is like a magazine -- very chic. I went ahead and put copies of the new guidebook in the Information Books we have in each of the guestrooms. These Info books that we put together have all kinds of background information on our inn and the town, in both English and Japanese. So for people who come and stay, feel free to take a look at the Info book.





Better than a day at the office 事務所に一日いるより楽しい

March 3, 2009: Uncategorized

りんごの木の薪、来年の冬のため Collecting apple wood for next winter

亀清旅館のロビーに薪ストーブがあり、そしてよくお客さんに言われる:巻き集まりは大変でしょうと。長野に引越しする前のシアトルで捨ててきた生活は一日中に机に座って事務所の中の仕事だった。それと比較したら、こうやって信州の綺麗な空気を吸いながら自然と触れ合えていい運動になるような作業していて、幸せです。
(ただし、インバウンド・サミットや県のHP、芸者さんの商品、亀清のパンフ作成などなど、宿題は沢山たまっています!)
In the lobby of Kamesei Ryokan, we have a wood burning stove. Guests often comment that it must be a hassle to get the firewood. Before we moved to Nagano, my life back in the States basically consisted of sitting at a desk in an office all day long. Compared with that, being out in Nagano's fresh air, getting in touch with nature, and having a thorough physical workout is unbeatable. (I'm getting concerned though that I'm neglecting too many projects back at the inn....)





レッサーパンダが宜しくって。The Lesser Pandas say "Hi".

March 2, 2009: Uncategorized

Andy and Kenny showing off their zoo tickets

今朝に起きたら周りの建物の屋根は瓦の上に雪が付いていました。昨日は暖かかったのにと思った。昨日の暖かさで午後は子供達を連れて篠ノ井の茶臼山動物園に行ってきました。レッサーパンダで有名だそうです。レッサー達は確かに可愛かったけれど、もっと感動的は入り口の近くのライオンとタイガーでした。近くで見ると、大きくて驚きました。
そして、キリンとシマウマが同じ場所にいまして、4~5mのキリンと比較したらシマウマがちびに見えた。一番よかったのはオランウータンでした。えさを食べているのを見えた、本当に近くで見れました。美咲ちゃんが怖がっていて、泣き出した!
This morning we woke up to a touch of snow on the roof tiles of the neighboring houses. But yesterday was actually rather warm. We took advantage of the sunny weather and I took our kids to the Chausuyama Zoo in Nagano City which is famous for its Lesser Pandas. The Lessers sure were cute, but we were more impressed by the lions and the tiger near the entrance. They sure are huge in real life. And the giraffes and zebras were in the same spot. The 4~5 meter tall giraffes made the zebras look like pygmies. We had the most fun at the Urangutan exhibit. He was eating lunch when we saw him, and he would come right up to the window, face to face with our Misaki. She was so scared she started crying!

茶臼山動物園のHPはこちらClick here for Chausuyama Zoo's website.





ナプキン4枚のハンバーガー@グーギーズ 4 Napkin Hamburger @ Googie's

March 1, 2009: Uncategorized

郷に入っては郷に従えけど、号に住んでしまえば時々ハンバーガー!When in Rome, do as the Romans do. But if you live in Rome, sometimes you just gotta go for a burger.

日本食がヘルシー過ぎる時があるのでたまにアメリカン料理を食べたくなる。今日は子供達をつれて、長野市のグーギーズ・カフェーにてジューシーなハンバーガーを食べてきました。グーキーズはアメリカの50年代のダイナーの雰囲気でとっても楽しいお店です。この長野市のと千曲市の2店舗です。本社が千曲市の高級ジーンズ・メーカーのFlat Head社です。
Japanese food can be a little TOO healthy sometimes. Today I had a craving for a nice, juicy hamburger, so I took the kids to the Nagano City Googie's Cafe. The restaurant is decked out 50's Americana Diner style, and is lots of fun. They also have a restaurant here in Chikuma City, and are owned by The Flat Head, makers of fashion jeans HQ'd in Chikuma.

Googie'sのHPはこちらClick here for Googie's website.




Kenny attacking the kids meal


Googie's Entrance


桜かな?いえ、ボケが咲いてきました。

February 28, 2009: Uncategorized

亀清の真前は衣料品のべに屋です。斉藤おじさんはお店の周りの庭をうんと綺麗にしています。その中で、このボケの木が咲いてきました。ピンクの色と後ろの石は綺麗なコントラストになっています。あんずと桜の花は後1ヶ月ちょっとですけど、取り敢えずこのボケの花を楽しめます。

Across the road from Kamesei is the clothing shop Beniya. Saitoh-san takes really good care of the garden surrounding the store. Right now, his "boke" tree is in bloom. Its pink blossoms make a starking contrast with the stones behind it. Anzu (apricot) and cherry blossoms are still over a month away, but for now we can enjoy these boke blossoms.

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





東京キャラバンPt.2 Tokyo Caravan Pt.2

February 28, 2009: Uncategorized

Jalan's futuristic HQ

目・金曜日の東京へのキャラバンが私にとってはカルチャー・ショックだらけでした。
特に「すごい!」と思ったのはじゃらん社の本社のビルでした。東京駅の隣の超高層ビルで外観はガラス、中もほとんどガラスという未来的なビルでした。エレベーターもその速さで驚きました。
そして、「あれ?」と思ったのはいくつがありました。
泊まりは東新宿だった。部屋から見る景色はこの戦艦でした。えっ、違う。マンションだった。皆、そんなさびしいところでよく住むね。
とか、東京は当地が足りないと分かるけど、駐車場の上にゴルフ練習場?
後、木造の明治時代の建物が昭和時代の鉄筋コンクリートビルに囲まれているのは何か忠太半端に見える。
最後ですけど、自然で恵まれている信州からきたら東京の無理にして自然を取り入れようとするところがいつも不思議です。工事現場の塀にプラスチックなポットに何ちゃった緑。
東京は出張とか遊びにはいいけど、住むのはやはり信州!
During this latest trip to Tokyo, I had one culture shock after another.
On the plus side, we went to the headquarters of Japan's biggest ryokan listing website company, Jalan. It was located in a skyscraper next to Tokyo Station. The exterior was of course glass, but the use of glass in the interior was so modernistic. And the elevator, holy cow! It was fast!
On the "Hmmm" side, there was the view from my hotel room of a battleship. Or, maybe it was a condo. How can people live in such a gloomy building?
I know Tokyo is really pressed for space, but putting a golf driving range on top of a parking lot? Isn't that a little extreme?
And there was this wooden Meiji-era house surrounded by Showa-era ferro-concrete buildings -- what a mismatch.
And the kicker was this construction site. Coming from an area as blessed with nature as Nagano, it's always amusing to see what lengths Tokyo goes to for bringing in greenery. The walls around the construction site had these plastic pots with sad little plants in them.
Tokyo is a great place to visit, but I sure am glad we live in Nagano!



Battleship or apartments?


Artificial Greenery


Parking under the driving range


Meiji vs. Showa


On the other hand, good signage!


東京キャラバンPt.1 Tokyo Caravan Pt.1

February 28, 2009: Uncategorized

以前に、この戸倉上山田温泉のイメージについての悩みのことを書きました。バッブルのころの繁華街のイメージがまだ残っていること及び芸者の役割のこと。
ブロギングするだけではなく、そのイメージを回復するために活動してきました。旅館組合と一緒に木・金に東京へ宣伝キャラバンやりました。50+社の旅行会社や業界メディアに寄って、町の新しい体験プログラムを紹介しました。個人客も楽しんでいただける温泉に生まれ変わりましたのでそのPRしてきました。
A while ago, I blogged about how Togura Kamiyamada Onsen suffers from an image problem of its bar girl scene from back in the bubble years. The bar girls still exist, but to me, the town's attractiveness lies in its natural setting and the wonderful onsen water, as well as the geisha heritage, not the bar girls.
Rather than just blogging about it, I took action to improve the town's image. Along with several other innkeepers, we did a PR caravan to Tokyo, visiting 50+ travel agents and industry media outlets, advertising about our town's new programs to experience the local culture. We are trying to show everyone that our onsen can be enjoyed by individuals, not just groups of guys like back in the bubble years.