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Two types of apple dessert

上山田はお湯も果実も、ダブル宝物があります。しかし、意外にお互いの連携がない。これからはその境を越えるプロジェクトが始まります。有志で我が亀清旅館ともう２つの旅館がリンゴ農園の４か所と話し合って、両方の魅力ををどうやって生かせばいいか考えていきます。リンゴ園曰く、「上山田の宿はデザートで美味しいリンゴが近くで取れるのに、どうしてみかんを出すの？」というクレーム。宿側の板長達の悩みはリンゴがすぐ変色するし、もっと工夫した料理を出したいと。
今夜は私の先輩の宿、滝の湯で集まって、リンゴのアイディア料理を旅館関係、農家関係、市役所関係約１０人が集まって、試食会を開きました。滝の湯のリンゴで甘みを取るすき焼きとか、農家の自然に乾燥したリンゴスライスとか、亀清のChef武井のベークドアップルなど、お互いにいい刺激になりました。これからは我々宿側がリンゴ料理プランを作って、農家がヤブキ林檎を提供して、上山田温泉の新たな魅力を作っていきます！

Here in Kamiyamada, we have both an outstanding onsen as well as outstanding fruit orchards. However, for some reason the two don't have many areas in common. Along with two other inns, Kamesei Ryokan is working with a handful of forward-thinking fruit farmers to combine the best of both and provide guests even more enjoyment.
We've had some great discussions so far. The farmers complain that Kamiyamda's inns serve oranges for dessert despite having delicious apples grown nearby. The chef's on the other hand don't like the fact that fresh sliced apples turn color so soon, and besides they pride themselves on being more creative with the cuisine.
Last night we had a tasting party, attended by people from the inns, the orchards, and even city hall. Host Taki-no-Yu's sukiyaki using apple instead of sugar for the sweetener, one of the farmers' naturally dried apple slices, our Chef Takei's baked apples -- it was a very educational event. Now the inns will make "Apple Cuisine" plans, and the growers will provide some of the 2nd grade apples at low cost, and combining forces we will make a result that our guests will enjoy!

信州風のすきやき

Working on the Summer Festival ShiShi

上山田温泉夏祭りの獅子の準備は昨日、行われました。今までは私が獅子の中の役でしたが、今年は黒い法被を着て、外に出るようになります。外を倒してやるところから、倒せられる方に。中にいる時に、準備は何も必要なく、当日に精一杯暴れるだけ。外になったら、以前準備は大変だし、当日の責任は重いです。子供から大人になってきたって感じ。また初体験だが、失敗しながら、成長しながら、また上山田温泉を盛り上がるように頑張ります！

Preparation for the huge Shishi lion for the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival took place yesterday. Up until now, I had been inside the lion. This year, my role will be outside the lion, wearing a black happi coat. The guys inside try their hardest to knock over the people on the outside. So this year, I will be one of those people getting knocked around. In addition to the new responsibility on the day of the festival, there is also a lot of prep work involved that I've never had to do before. I'm looking forward to my new role at this year's festival!

上山田温泉夏祭りは毎年の７月の海の日の連休。２０１０年は７月１７日と１８日です。The Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival takes place every year during the 3-day Marine Day holiday. The dates for 2010 are July 17th and 18th.

Niko concert at Shuzo Collection

７月の連休にこの上山田温泉夏祭りが行います。毎年の事ですが、我々旅館の皆も寄付集めで町を回ります。私は先週も出て、今週は二日間連続で出ました。それぞれの会社やお店に行って、頭を下げて、｢今年もご協力をお願いします！」と。疲れます。しかし、見事に沢山の良い出会いにもつながるし、町にどういう企業があるか良く分かります。(そして、どの企業が貢献的かも分かります。応援したくなりますね。）
この間は戸倉駅前の歴史のある酒蔵コレクションに行った時に、シルクロードの｢ニコ｣と言う楽器の演奏が行われていました。何百年前に出来た茅葺屋根の酒蔵に何千年前からの楽器の音が響いて、なおかつ、その楽器を弾いていたのは現代の日本の高校生。感動的！
また別な所は旅館のシーツや浴衣を洗濯する工場「ＣｏＣｏ」。工場見学をさせて頂きましたけど、そのでかい機会に細かい作業でまた感動しました。４０人が働いていて、その内の１０人が指導員でのころの３０人が障害者達。障害でいながら、社会に出たいので、こうやって温泉に泊まるお客さんの皆が綺麗なシーツと浴衣で寝れるように努力しています。感心しました。
寄付集めは暑い中でつらい仕事で、それぞれの会社の努力をかけて得た利益から分けて、申し訳ないな仕事ですが、良い出会い、良い勉強になります。今年の祭りがこのお陰で盛り上がるといいですね。

Kamiyamada Onsen's Summer Festival is held every year on the Ocean Day holiday weekend. And every year, us ryokan owners help out with gathering donations. It's hard work, going around to the various businesses and shops, humbly asking for their financial support. But you get to know more about the local businesses (as well as which ones support the community!).
One of the places I went to was the historical sake brewery in front of Togura Station, Shuzo Collection. There happened to be a musical performance going on. There in the courtyard of the hundreds of years old thatched roof brewery was a concert on a thousands of years old Silk Road instrument called a niko, played by a very modern Japanese high school student. The whole contrast was very impressive.
Another place I got to go to was CoCo, the factory where all the sheets and yukata from our onsen are sent for cleaning. I was given a tour of the factory to see all the impressive machinery as well as the detailed work that is involved. 40 people work at CoCo, 10 of which are instructors, and the other 30 are people with mental disabilities. Those 30 people all want to get out and work in society, and CoCo provides that opportunity. It is thanks to their amazing efforts that the guests of our onsen town can enjoy clean linens when they stay.
Those are just some of the great experiences I had while going around for donations for this year's summer festival. I hope everyone's contributions will lead to another fabulous matsuri!

上山田温泉夏祭りの詳しくはこちらClick here for more info on the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival.

CoCo's factory