千葉から杏の里に From Chiba for the Apricot Blossoms

April 8, 2008: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada
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Yoga & Anzu

千葉間からこのヨガのグループがあんずの里を見に来ました。今朝は天気は雨だったけれども、遠くから態々来ましたので私が連れて行きました。一昨日に見た時より多少咲いていました。週末（１２日当り）が満開ではないか。
This group of yoga practioners came all the way from Chiba Prefecture to see the apricot blossoms. So even though it was raining, I drove them to Anzu no Sato (Apricot Homeland) to see them. The blossoms were coming out a bit more than when I saw them 2 days ago. I think the peak will be this weekend, around Saturday the 12th.
亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan webiste.



雨のあんず


Kamesei Ryokan Turned into a Ninjutsu Dojo亀清旅館が忍術道場に？

April 8, 2008: 季節 Seasons
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Learning Ninjutsu

Thanks to the inspiration of a Ms. Wain and her beau from Denmark, Kamesei Ryokan's lobby turned into a ninja dojo this afternoon. They had mentioned wanting to go to see Togakushi's ninjas, and were disppointed when I told them they were still closed for the winter. But then I remembered that I had met a real-life Togakushi-School ninja last month. I gave him a call, and Miyashita-sensei came and taught an authentic ninja lesson for us. You, too, can train with him -- just contact us and we'll set it up!
デンマークから来た二人は忍者に興味があった。私が最近に知り合った戸隠流忍者の宮下先生を呼んでみました。亀清のロビーでお出かけ忍者体験コースをやってくれました。本格的で感動しました！興味のある方はどうぞ、ご連絡を下さい。



Spritually centering ourselves


Learning the characteristics of the ninja katana


the real deal


Bettina was ready with her ninja socks (?)


杏の里、咲き始めた 'Anzu-no-sato' Apricot Blossoms starting to bloom

April 6, 2008: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada
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亀清旅館の若女将とあんず

今日は春らしい日で家族を連れて、杏の里にお出かけしました。（亀清旅館から車で約２５分）莟が咲き始めたばかりの状態。信州の春の暖かい風とあんず味のアイスで幸せ！
Today was a warm spring day, so we took the family to 'Anzu-no-sato' (Apricot Homeland), approx. 25 minutes by car from Kamesei Ryokan. We enjoyed the gentle spring Nagano breeze and the apricot-flavored soft ice cream, but the apricot blossoms themselves were still mostly just buds.



杏の里にこのでかいケヤキも


Piggy Bank Museum Grand Opening貯金箱博物館オーペン

April 5, 2008: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan
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にしざわ貯金箱かん　４月１日にオーペン

A guy in our town, Nishizawa-san, collects piggy banks. Lots of them. In fact, his collection is the 2nd largest in all Japan, private or public. So what do you with all of those piggies? Well, build a museum, of course. Introducing the Nishizawa Chokinbako Kan (Piggy Bank Hall). Even if you you don't share an interest in the banks, the variety of the collection makes it an insight into Japanese culture. Located 5 minutes on foot from Kamesei.
近状の方、西沢さん、が貯金箱を集めている。沢山。日本２の数だそうです。全部を展示する為に、博物館を態々作った。貯金箱はどうかと思っても、このバラエティーが日本の文化を代表して、面白い！亀清旅館から歩いて５分です。
電話番号：０２６－２１３－４６１２



「面白楽しい貯金箱の世界」


亀の貯金箱も！


スターウォーズの貯金箱が欲しい！


２階の「お金色々」展示室


草履たくさん Lots of zori sandals

April 5, 2008: その他 Miscellaneous
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15 zori

日本舞踊のグループが泊まってくれたお陰、この珍しい見事がありました：草履１５足！
You don't see this every day: 15 pairs of zori sandals. We had the pleasure of hosting a group of ladies who practice Japanese traditional dance. They all came to our inn wearing kimonos, hence the sandals.
Click here for Kamesei Ryokan website.亀清旅館のHPはこちら



牧村さんと舞踊の皆様


Welcome Back　お帰りなさい

April 4, 2008: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi
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Neon Greeting

「戸倉上山田温泉のネオン」を２週間ぶりぐらいに見えた。シアトルへの里帰りから帰ってきました。やはり、このネオンを見れば落ち着きます。
Tonight was the first time to see the Togura Kamiyamada Onsen neon in almost two weeks. We just got back from our trip to Seattle. The neon seemed to say, "Welcome Back".

(Picture courtesy of Chikuma Kankou-Ka.)





Sake boom 酒ブーム

April 3, 2008: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan
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(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！」。




イチロの応援をCheering Ichiro

April 2, 2008: 青い目のおもてなし This American’s Omotenashi
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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!