Zeno's Massage Room
「おもてなし」というのは日本の独特の事ではないかと。そして、おもてなしを代表するのは日本の旅館だと。
その中で、欧米なりのおもてなしはあるでしょうか？
今日は家族のお正月の休みの続きで、渋温泉の「古久屋」でうちの妻がマッサージをかけてもらった。マッサージ屋はZenoさんでした。スロバキア生まれで古久屋の娘と結婚なされました。16世代も続いてきている伝統的な高級の古久屋にZenoさんは欧米スタイルなリラクゼーションマッサージをやっています。という風に、欧米的なおもてなしを日本らしいおもてなしに足しています。
この亀清旅館では、私はとにかくこの伝統的な日本の良さを守りながら、手作りクッキーをお茶菓子に、ロビーに薪ストーブを設置して、ちょっとでもアメリカなりのおもてなしを足そうとしております。欧米と日本、両方の良いところを生かしながら。
There's a Japanese word called "omotenashi". I've seen it translated into English in so many different ways, from "hospitality" to "anticipation". It's a sort of telepathic 6th sense, to know what the guest wants even before the guest himself realizes it. It's the type of service we traditional Japanese ryokans pride ourselves in. But is there a Western take on "omotenashi"?
Today, our second day of our family's New Year holiday, we stopped in Shibu Onsen and my wife Mari had a massage at Kokuya Ryokan. The masseuse was Zeno-san, born in Slovakia and married to the daughter of the ryokan. Zeno adds his relaxation massage techniques to the experiences the guests receive at this historic, 16th-generation upscale ryokan.
Here at Kamesei Ryokan, my goal is to preserve the traditional Japanese omotenashi, while adding my own personal touch of American hospitality. I bake home-made cookies to give to our guests with their tea when they check in, and we put a wood burning stove in our lobby. Little touches of American "omotenashi" to add to the Japanese. We're trying to take the best of both worlds.
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