Olympics, Dalai Lama, and Hooligans北京五輪とダライ・ラマとフーリガン

2008.04.11: 日米関係Culture Shock

Free Speech for Tibet

The Olympic Torch Relay is scheduled to come to Nagano on Saturday April 26th. If I can wiggle out of a ryokan assoc. meeting that morning, I want to take my sons and go cheer on the torch. Of course, I will also take a Tibet flag in honor of the Dalai Lama and his peace movement. He touched down in Narita on his way to my hometown of Seattle, and commented that he supports the Beijing Olympics, but also supports Freedom of Speech for Tibet. Meanwhile, today's Yomiuri newspaper headline talks about the Japanese Government using anti-Hooligan laws to keep out torch protestors. Should we be worried about Freedom of Speech in Japan as well?
4月26市に五輪聖火が長野に来る予定。息子達を連れて、応援しに行く計画を立ている。チベットの旗を持って。ダライラマが成田経由で私の地元のシアトルに行きまして、「北京五輪を支持するが、チベットの為に言論の自由も」と仰ったそうです。賛成です。差し当たっては、今日の読売新聞の大見出しによると、聖火抗議者の入国を断る為にフーリガン法を使うそうです。日本での言論の自由が心配!
注:北京五輪聖火リレー/長野のHPのリンクの為にタイトルをクリック





Challenging Cameron

2008.04.10: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

Dropping Cameron off at Togura Station

We had the pleasure of having Cameron from Australia as our guest for 3 nights. I usually don't blog about guests, but Cameron stands out. He certainly kept us on our toes with his numerous tricky requests, but fascinated us with talk of his work on the UN Draft on Torture. Keep up the good work!

Cameronさんはオーストラリアから来まして、3泊もしてくれました。普段はブログに宿泊客の事あまり載せないけれども、Cameronさんは特別です。国連の拷問に対する文書を書いた人です。





戸倉上山田温泉の周辺にも杏!Apricot Blossoms near Togura Kamiyamada Onsen, too!

2008.04.09: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

Anzu now blooming in Togura Kamiyamada

千曲市の杏の里が杏で有名ですが、実は戸倉上山田温泉から歩いて5分のところにも杏の山地があります。千曲川沿いという綺麗な場所で、その独特な可愛い色だ咲いてきています。ここの杏も今週の土曜日12日辺りが満開ではないかと思います。この時期は花見の楽しみが沢山あります!
The apricot blossoms at Anzu no Sato across town are famous, but here at Togura Kamesei Ryokan we have lots of trees, too. And the setting along the Chikuma River with the mountains in the background is spectacular.





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

2008.04.08: 季節 Seasons

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?

2008.04.08: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

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

2008.04.06: 季節 Seasons

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

2008.04.05: 温泉タウン戸倉上山田 Onsen Town Togura-Kamiyamada

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

2008.04.05: 亀清旅館 Kamesei Ryokan

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