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今日の上山田温泉獅子の練習に子供達も連れて行きました。祭り実態は迫力があって、最高に楽しいですが、祭りの練習もいいですよ。地元の仲間と盛り上がって、ＯＢ達の指示に従って、なおかつ芸者さんの生の音楽もあって、これは温泉の文化と伝統をうんと感じます。この文化と伝統を我が子供達にも伝えたいと思っていまして、連れて行きました。
I brought our sons to today's Kamiyamada Onsen Shishi (Lion) practice. On the actual day of the Kamiyamada Summer Festival, the energy of the shishi is a spectacular sight. But the practice session is a lot of fun, too. It's a great bonding time for the guys of the town, plus you have the older guys volunteering to help coach, and the icing on the cake is live music by real-life geisha. You can really feel the powerful cultural tradition of the shishi. That is something I am hoping to pass on to our kids, which is why I brought them to the practice.

亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

上山田温泉夏祭りのＨＰはこちらClick here for the Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival website

今年の上山田温泉夏祭りがあと3週間です。その準備の中で、私が芸者さんたちの会長に注意されました。去年の祭りの時、獅子が終わってからお神輿を担ぐように呼ばれた。身長（2m）は会わないので邪魔になるから中の方に行かされた。そうすると、顔が上に乗っている芸者さんの足の間になっちゃった。「お互いに恥ずかしいから担ぐなら外で」と会長さんが言ったようです。それはそうですね。
何故か、その恥ずかしい状態の写真が祭りの宣伝物に使われた（写真に）。
This year's summer Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival is only 3 weeks away. In preparing for it, I have been given a warning by the geisha chairwoman. During last year's festival, after helping with the shishi (lion) all day, I was recruited to help carry the omikoshi (portable shrine float). My height (6'7") doesn't fit very well, and I was relegated to the middle. However, that put me right underneath the geisha that was riding on top, with my face between her legs. The chairlady said if I'm to help with the omikoshi again this year, it would be less awkward for both parties if I'm on the outside. I whole-heartedly agree!

亀清旅館のHPはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website

上山田温泉夏祭りのHPはこちらClick here for Kamiyamada Onsen Summer Festival website

「トーふー」と言う音が聞こえてきた。あっ、青木さんが来るよ！昔は豆腐屋さんはチャリンコを乗ってラッパを吹いて回ったようですが、戸倉上山田温泉は青木さんと彼のワンボクスです。でも、昔のままの味だ！美味しい！
"to-FU" goes the sound. Ah, Aoki-san must be coming. In days past, the tofu guy rode his bike and blew a trumpet and sold tofu around the neighborhood. Now, here in Togura Kamiyamada onsen we have Aoki-san going around in his van with a recorded sound track announcing his arrival. At least the taste of the tofu is as good as it was in the old days.

今日は晴れた空の下で千曲川で鮎つり大会が行いました。スポンサーのスポニチの皆様が亀清に泊まってくれました。つれたかどうか知りませんが、こういう天気のいい日に川に入るのが最高！
Today there was an Ayu Fishing Tournament on the Chikuma river. The sponsor was Sports Nihon newspaper, and their organizers spent the night here at Kamesei. It didn't look like many fish were being caught, but the river felt nice and cool in the warm sun.

亀清旅館のＨＰはこちらClick here for Kamesei Ryokan website