Blog

(Last Report from Seattle)
This was our last day in Seattle. Our trip was too short to do all the things we wanted. One thing I really wanted to do but didn't have the time for was to stop at a new sake shop, "Sake-Nomi" (www.sakenomi.us). Apparently sake's popularity is booming in the States, and there's a new shop in downtown Seattle that specializes in gourmet sake, including from Nagano. And it happens to be run from some old friends of mine. Johnny and Taiko. If you guys see this blog, I hope you are doing well!
これが里帰りの最後の日。今回は短すぎて、行きたいところの全部に行かれなかった。その１つはシアトルの新しい酒専門店：「さけのみ」(www.sakenomi.us). 信州の酒も扱っているようです。そして、偶然だけど、私の昔の友人がやっている。ジョニーさんとTaikoさん、このブログを見れば、「お元気で！」。

The guys at Safeco Field

弟との息子と我が息子二人とMarinersの試合を見に行ってきました。イチロ選手をたっぷり応援してきました。
米国にも日本にも野球が大人気。それぞれの応援の仕方で国民の違いが見える。個人化の強い米国人は好きな様に自由に応援する。団体化の強い日本人は全員で一緒に選手の応援歌を歌う。それぞれの良い所を生かして、私は「かっ飛ばせイチロ！」と応援しました。
Tonight I went to the Mariners game with our two sons and my brother and his son. We cheered on Ichiro!
Baseball is immensely popular both in Japan and in the States. But you can really tell the cultural differences between the two in the way they cheer. In the States, anyone and everyone cheers whatever, whenever they want to, e.g. "Throw the bum out!" In Japan, everyone sings in unison each batter's cheer. Individualism vs. group mentality!

Kenny and I at Safeco Field

Hey, Ichiro!

I-Chi-Ro!

Ichiro Time is here! Opening Day for the Seattle Mariners was yesterday, and we are going to the game tonight to cheer on Ichiro and company. As you can tell by these articles in the Seattle newspapers, Ichiro is a hero here in Seattle. And conversely, Seattle is on the map in Japan. Wherever I go in Japan, people ask my where I'm from. When I say, "Seattle," they usually say, "Oh, Ichiro!"
シアトルMarinersのオーペン戦は昨日に行いました。シアトルの新聞を見れば分かると思いますけど、シアトルではイチロがヒーローです。そして、イチロのお陰、私の出身地のシアトルが日本人の皆に知られている。今晩の試合に行く予定なのでイチロ選手を応援してきます！