From the Heart of Tokyo 東京の中心から

Dancing in the Street

道で踊れている

 
If you don't have time to read all this now, turn your volume up, page down, and listen to the drums.  When you come back later, you can listen again...

It's already October, and here I am telling you about a festival we attended at the end of August, right after we returned from our summer trip.  Even though I still haven't completely dealt with the artifacts of the summer, be it overcharges from the rental car company, data from colleges, follow-up communication with those we visited this summer, and processing pictures, we are fully plunged into the details of the present and strategies for the future. ビデオの下にこの物語を書きました。読んでくださいね。

The children are in school, very busy, as football season is big for both.    Jonah plays JV Football, with practices almost every day after school, and Monica, in her role as athletic trainer, attends nearly every practice and most games.  But that's just extracurricular.  Each has a good load of interesting and challenging classes at ASIJ.  They are looking forward to JUMP, which is coming up.  (Japan Understanding and Motivational Program).  Add to this the usual stressors of Senior Year, as exams are taken and college aps are prepared. 

Martin's work in hybrid and electric car development is very interesting.  He is high energy as he travels around Asia and beyond, or talks on the phone or works at his computer for hours on end.  I'm not an engineer, nor do I have an MBA, but it's fascinating to hear him talk about his various projects.  I'm learning so much, and I think that every once in awhile, I might be lending good advice about working with people, as we take Toby for walks in the neighborhood.    The rest of the time, I am working on the church website, or doing a handful of hobbies like yoga, skating and ikebana.  And of course, I continue to study Japanese.  So, I have piles of things to do, but want to enjoy each day, knowing that my time in Japan is growing short. 

I always enjoy a festival, and the Awaodori Matsuri at Koenji, a neighborhood in Tokyo, is a lovely mix of music, dance and colorful costume.  It was absolutely beyond my expectations, as I didn't do my research ahead of time, and went assuming it was just another festival.  We were out of country during the Azabu Juban Matsuri this year, so the weekend after we returned, Martin and I decided to look around for another festival, and Google found the Koenji one for me. Turns out, this event is very special, comprised of many dancing groups, and has been held in Koenji during the last weekend of August for overy fifty years.  It has ties to other, centuries old traditions within Japan, like the Tokushima events, the Bon Odori of summer and even No drama... but you can learn about all that on this website, which is very good. 

Of course, Martin took beautiful photos, a few are here on his PIXBYMARTIN pro photo website.  And, just for fun, I uploaded these videos to Youtube.  Be sure to turn on your volume, and though my videos are not great quality, I think you'll enjoy the music and dance, especially the taiko drums.  Enjoy! 

 

 

 

もう１０月だけど、この物語は８月に祭りを見たについてです。あれはちょうどアメリカの旅行から帰ったときでした。夏の旅行はいっぱいなので、たくさん残り物があるけど、現在のことも未来のこともしなければならないから、いつものように忙しいです。

子供たちの学校で、現在はアメリカフートボールの間から、モニカとジョナは忙しいです。もちろん、ジョナは小さいだけど、チームの仲間です。毎日に学校の後に、稽古に参加します。殆ど毎週は試合です。ジョナはフットボールが大好きです。モニカは学生なトレーナだから、モニカも稽古と試合も参加します。選手のためにいつも色々な手伝います。あれ上に、普通な学校の勉強することがあります。学校は難しいだから、たくさん宿題があります。来月に皆高校生はJUMPに行きます。それはいろいろ日本の所に行って、日本の文化を勉強して、面白い経験を楽しみにしていると思います。ジョナは１０年生だから、皆同い年は長野区のトガリに行って、農業を勉強します。モニカは１２年生から、皆同い年はいろいろ小さいグルプと別の所に行くので、今どこが分かりません。

マーティンの仕事はいつものように忙しいだので、たくさん出張があります。韓国とか中国とかアメリカも行きます。日本にいるときにいつも電話の会議があるから、あまり自由時間がないけど、夜にトビと散歩しながら、話します。 私は彼の仕事について聞くことが好きです。電気車やハイブリドですね。　私には最近英語の生徒が少ないから、教会のウエブサイトを作ってみます。それはたくさん新しいことを習い覚えます。時間がかかるけれど、私にはそれはいいと思います。趣味もしているので、生け花とか、スケートとか、ヨガもします。もちろん日本語も続きます。たくさんすることがしなければならないけど、日本に住んでいるときは短くなっているから、日常生活の毎日に楽しんでみます。

そうすると、祭りが大好きです。今年に、麻布十番の祭りのときに、まだ帰らないから、行けませんでした。そして、マーティンと祭りを探したので、ググルで高円寺の阿波おどりを見つけました。それが分からなかったので、一緒に行きました。すごい！それはとても面白かったです。皆のダンスや音楽や芝居衣装もとても面白かったです。後に、研究をしたので、高円寺阿波踊りの歴史が知っていました。見に行ったことがうれしいですよ。もちろん、マーティンは写真を撮ったので、かれのプローサイトに載せました。私は上手じゃないけど、ベデオを取ったので、すれは上に付きました。

 

Taiko Family

太鼓の家族

 
  
下に日本語で書くことがあります。 If you spend any time at all in Japan, you will hear and see TAIKO.  Taiko is traditional Japanese drumming, especially popular around neighborhood festival (matsuri) season.  Taiko is essential for Bon Odori, the lovely Japanese group dance done around a raised platform on which a taiko drummer keeps the beat, and you will often hear taiko resounding from deep within a temple or shrine. 

When I think of taiko, I can hear the deep, loud, full beat of the nagado daiko (the most popular kind of taiko drum), the way it starts slow, don.., don.., don.., and gradually increases in volume and speed, joined and joined again by other rhythms, becoming something I feel to the core, something wonderful and moving.  And when I think of watching taiko, I think of my best friend and her two handsome sons performing with their group.  Yes, they are truly a "Taiko Family" along with Dad who supports their taiko habit and takes pictures. 

When I first met Rebecca, nearly nine years ago, she was already into Taiko.  At that time, she was taking beginner taiko classes at the Tokyo American Club from Moko Igarashi, who is still her teacher today.  Rebecca had attended the TAC orientation program for people new in town, "Tokyo Here and Now" and had watched Moko-sensei and some of her more advanced students perform a couple of pieces.  She instantly fell under the spell of taiko and signed up for classes that very day.  Her boys were very young then, preschool and second grade, but soon they were taking classes too.

A tiny woman of unbelievable energy and talent, Moko Igarashi runs the taiko school, Miyabi Arashi, which means "Beautiful Storm".  She teaches children and adults in various Tokyo locations, such as ASIJ, the American Embassy Compound, the British School, Nishimachi and Tokyo American Club.  Moko teaches in English and in Japanese, often both.  She has quite a personality, is friendly and outgoing and seems to have an endless supply of personal energy, and boundless enthusiasm for taiko.  For a couple of years, Jonah took taiko classes, so I would drop him off and pick him up, and it was always thrilling to hear the taiko drums, which, though covered in towels to muffle the sounds during practice, were still thunderous and thrilling, partnered with Moko's instructive yells and whoops.  I even took classes myself for awhile, but I really don't have the endurance (or the rhythm) that taiko requires.  I'm glad I tried it, though, as I can appreciate a performance so much more having held the bachi (sticks) in my own hands.  It is much, much more difficult than it looks, but oh so fun, from the very first day.

Which brings me back to my friend and her "Taiko Family".  For years, Alexander and Ellis, along with their mom, have attended a two hour class every week, and then would have additional extended practice sessions twice a month.  Like with any other musical instrument, practice is essential, but taiko is really loud, so neighbors don't appreciate it if you practice at home with a real taiko drum.  As the boys grew older and stronger and taller, they became more and more skilled.  Some years ago, Moko asked Alexander, the oldest boy, to join her advanced troup.  He continued to put out his best effort and enjoyed performing with this select ensemble in many special venues throughout highschool.  He's performed in the ballrooms of fancy hotels at parties for famous people and to huge audiences in major auditoriums.  The whole family has traveled to far off places in Japan to attend taiko events such as Kanezawa in Ishikawa Prefecture, Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture and to the Sato Island Earth Celebration, as well as places closer to home such as Yokohama and Yoyogi Olympic Stadium.

When it came time for Alexander to compose his university application essay, he wrote quite eloquently about going to taiko practice when he would rather play with his friends, getting up on stage even though he's quiet and reserved, and all the ways he felt that taiko had impacted his development.  Alexander was accepted into the college of his choice, and now it looks like Ellis will be following a similar path.  Moko has asked him to join her elite troupe.

Taiko's range is broad.  Moko teaches small children, and she perfoms with her own teacher, the master Sen Amano, who has been playing taiko for more than fifty years.  The performers play various types of drum, using their sticks not only on the tops, but on the sides, against each other, and in the air, as well as other instruments such as mokkin, a kind of xylophone, shinobue, a bamboo flute, and chan chiki which are small cymbols.  Generally the heavy drums remain stationary and the players move among them, such as in "River Piece".  Other popular pieces are "Running Horse", "Chichibu", and "Edo no Hana". 

Please take a look at these photos taken by Zhongmin (also known as Dad.)

上の物語を要約してみます。すみませんですが、私の日本語は上手じゃないから、多い間違いをしたので、英語の物語を訳してながら、たくさんのを失います。でも、英語の物語を読まなかったら、意味を分かれると思います。それで、私の日本語の勉強することです。

日本に来たら、時間が過ごしたら、太鼓を見て、聞きます。太鼓は伝説の日本のドラムすることです。人気があるだので、とくに近所の祭りで、盆踊 りのため必須です。神社や寺院から太鼓の音響が聞こえます。

私は太鼓について考えたら、長胴太鼓が聞きます。先ず、ゆっくりのビットはだんだんもっと大声になります。だんだん速くなります。他の韻律は参加してので、私の体野中にすばらしいことが感じれます。太鼓を見ることについて考えたら、いつも一番の友達の家族を考えます。レベカという友達と二人のハンソムの息子は太鼓をすることができるので、レベカのご主人はスポートして、写真を撮ります。

昔の８年以上にレベカと会ったときに、彼女はすでに太鼓をしています。いがらしもこ先生から東京のアメリカのクラブで初心のクラスをするので、今まだもこさんは先生です。レベカは初めてにもこさんに見たときに、もこさんはアメリカンクラブで特別な太鼓のパフォーマンスをして、レベカは直ちにクラスをサインアップをしました。その間に、二人の息子さんはとても若いけど、もう直ぐに二人も太鼓を始まりました。

いがらしもこさんは雅嵐の太鼓の学校を創立をしたので、もこさんはとても面白い人です。彼女の精力と才能も凄いです。いろいろ東京のところに事もたちと大人たちも教えます。たとえば、東京アメリカンクラブとか、西町学校とか、アメリカンの大使館の住宅とか、ブリトシの学校とか、ASIJ（モニカとジョナの学校）。日本語で、英語も教えますので、たびたびに両方使います。もかさんの個性は自身で好意的なですので、太鼓の熱中症は高いです。二年間ぐらいジョナも太鼓のクラスをするときに、私は連れて行って、連れって着てながら、わくわくさせたの音を聞こえました。練習ながら、タオルが太鼓をおおったけど、音は雷のようなあります。もこさんの教えたの大声で叫ぶことも聞こえたので、面白いクラスだと思います。私もしばらくにクラスをとったけど、残念ながら、太鼓の必要な我慢とリズムがありません。でも、やってみたことがうれしいなので、パフォーマンスを見たら、もっと分かります。

たくさん年間で、レベカとアレグザンダーとエリスも毎週２時間のクラスを参加したので、毎月に延ばしたの練習もしました。他の楽器を学ぶことのような、練習は要るけど、太鼓は煩いだから、家でできません。そして、二人の男の子は背高くなって、強くなって、上手になります。そして、もくさんはアレグザンダーに精鋭な太鼓のグルプに参加し招待をしました。高校生で、よく努力をしてので、たくさん面白いパフォーマンスをしました。いいホテルで、有名な人のためパーティで巨 大聴衆席も太鼓をしました。家族はいろいろ日本のところにパフォーマンスをしに行きました。たとえば、石川県のかねざわとか、山梨県のこふなど、さと島の地球の祝賀も、横浜と代々木オリーピクステージアムもパフォームしました。

大学に適用するときに、アレグザンダーは雄弁なイッセーを書きました。もちろん、太鼓について書いたので、子供のごろに練習をしたくなったなど、ステージの上に行かなかったなど、いろいろ方法太鼓は生活を影響させました。よかったですので、アレグザンダーは一番欲しいの大学に受け入れました！たぶん、エリスも同じコースであるので、最近もくさんは彼に特別なグルプに招待をしました。

太鼓の範囲を広いです。もくさんは小さい子供たちと大人も教えます。時々、もくさんは自分の先生とパフォームして、せんあまの様は５０年間に太鼓をしっています。いろいろ太鼓の種類だので、他の楽器も使います。たとえば、篠笛とか、ちゃんちきなど、木琴、フルートも使います。パフォーマンスの間にばちは太鼓の上段とか、側とか、空気も使います。大体重い太鼓は動かないので、皆はダンスをします。人気がある歌はチチブとか、走馬とか、内川太鼓とか、江戸の花などです。

ジョンミンという父親は撮ったの写真を見てください。
 

 

Fun Photos; Invago, The Arch

楽しい写真、インバゴやアーチ

   

日本語の要約を下に書きました。The above picture is Monica serving the Riverboat Special near the Gateway Arch in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, from this summer's visit with family.   Elsewhere on this page are pictures of the very fun time we and friends had recently here in Tokyo, at an Invago concert at What the Dickens in Ebisu.  What does Invago and the Arch have in common?  Well, let's think.  Both are famous.  Maybe the Arch is still a little more famous than Invago, but not for long.  We discovered this Tokyo based Alternative Rock band three years ago in Roppongi.  Since then, we've seen them perform several times at various venues, listen to their CD constantly, introduced lots of friends to their music, and even made friends with the guys in the band.  This was their last concert before they left on a working tour of several European cities.  Now they're safely back in Tokyo finishing their second CD, and hopefully planning another concert soon.

Since he got his Canon D40, Martin's photography hobby has really ramped up.  He takes way more pictures, they are higher quality and more artistic.  Toting the camera bag and lens around is a bit of a commitment, as it's heavy, and you wouldn't want to forget and leave it somewhere, but there's always something interesting going on, and having those pictures later is part of the fun.  Only trouble is, it does take time to process all those photos.   Thus, here we are in December and I'm showing you pictures from July and November.  But that brings up another commonality between Invago and the St. Louis Arch.  Both are very photogenic.  Invago certainly is.  At this most recent Invago Concert, Martin took lots of pictures, but we only put up the best ones.  Seems that Alexis (the French guitar player called "The Count" ) is in almost every picture.  So fine.  But Italian/English Luca, Japanese Koyu, Italian Stefano and Japanese/Italian Sasha aren't hard on the eyes either.  Together, making music, there's chance for lots of good pix.  To see Martin's pictures from their Emergenza Finals, link from the sidebar picture on this blog.   With regard to the arch, there are many different ways to view this massive structure, though it looks rather thin in these pictures.  It is always graceful and smooth.  An ideal shape, the arch was constructed from blueprints reflecting the geometric form of a complicated mathematical equation.  I don't understand it, but I think it's cool.

Even with all that space inside, the Gateway Arch is considered the largest US National Monument due to its height and base width.  Since being completed in 1965, it's a national treasure and besides Budweiser Beer and the Cardinals baseball team, it's the symbol of the great city of St. Louis, Gateway to the West, located as it is on the Mississippi River, a formidable landmark to the westward expansion in America's history.  Two or three times in the past I've actually gone up inside the arch.  It's very interesting, but this time, with us four plus my Mom, Uncle Chris (not my uncle, Monica and Jonah's), Matt and Robin, we didn't want to stand in line for a long time and then ride the claustrophobic tram cars to the observation deck at the top.  So instead, we had all kinds of fun using the arch as a prop in Martin's photos.  Below is Chris propping up the arch with both hands.  See Martin's other Arch Pictures.

So, there's another thing that Invago and the Arch have in common: FUN.   Going to their concerts is really fun.  The song lyrics are lovely, often very heartfelt and clever, so when I'm home listening to the CD, (over and over) I can imagine  Luca writing these meaningful words.  But when we get to watch them LIVE, the way the five guys interact to perform the music, the way the fans respond, the energy is heightened and we just have to dance.  And you know, its a great joyful feeling when you just have to dance.  My friend Luis, an excellent dancer, showed up at What the Dickens that night with a painful looking limp.  He'd overdone it with training and didn't think he could dance.  But he was wrong.  When the Count  struck the first few chords of "Freedom" on the acoustic guitar, and I gave Luis the sign, he hobbled right over, because their music is just so fun.  Here's Koyu on base.

Oh, I just thought of another thing that Invago and the Arch have in common.  When folks come from out of town, as we did to St. Louis, it's fun to take them to the arch.  And when folks come to Tokyo, as Dermot happened to do when Invago was playing in Ebisu, it was fun for us to take him to see the band play.  You know your guest will have a good time, Invago never ever let's us down.  Here's their website:  INVAGO 

この日本語は要約だけです。上の大きい写真はモニカは川船のスペシェルを出します。 それは夏の旅行でセントルイスのアーチの近くです。このポストで他の話題の写真は私の気に入るの音楽のバンドに友達たちと見に、行きました。それはＩｎｖａｇｏです。What the Dickensと言う恵比寿のバーである。そして、アーチとインバゴは共通してもっているものであは何ですか？じゃ、考える。あった！両方は有名です。たぶん、今まで、アーチはインバゴより、有名だけど、もう次ぐにインバゴはもっと有名になると思います。見たコンセト後にバンドはヨーロッパに行って、ツアーをしました。

マーティンはカノンのＤ４０を買ったから、写真術の趣味はよくなりました。たくさん写真を撮って、芸術的な質は前よりよくなると思います。いつもカメラを持って行きます。たくさん写真 を撮って、経過事は長い時間かかります。そして、今は12月ので、写真は7月から、11月も撮りました。インバゴとアーチについて、もうひとつ共通性は両方は写真に適するなです。特にフランス人のＡｌｅｘｉｓがたくさんいい写真があります。そして、イギリス・イタリア人のＬｕｃａ，と日本人のこや、とイタリア人のＳｔｅｆａｎｏと日本・イタリア人のサーシャもきれいです。もっとＩｎｖａｇｏの写真は前のＥｍｅｒｇｅｎｚａのはこのブログのサイドバーでリンクに行ってみてください。もちろんアーチは写真に適するなです。アーチはとてもきれいくて、優美的なです。それは完璧な形です。数学の方程式から作りました。私は分からないけど、それは面白いと思います。

ゲイトウェイアーチは一番大きいのアメリカの国定史跡です。1965年に終わったから、 国民の宝物です。セイントルイスの有名な象徴です。ミシシッピー川の岸で建ったので、西への膨張ことの象徴です。二回三回前に私はアーチの上の中に行ってけど、今度私たちはアーチの下に遊びました。そのときに私の母とマーティンの二人兄弟と弟の奥さんと楽しました。

そして、もうひとつ共通性は両方は楽しいです。Ｉｎｖａｇｏのコンセトはとても楽しいです。いつも友達と家族と行って、音楽を聞いて、バンドを見て、ダンスをします。そのときに、ルイスとダンスをしました。

まあ、最後の共通性は両方はいつも友達は来て、一緒に行きます。セントルイスに行って、一緒にアーチに行って、母の初めてみました。東京にＤｅｒｍｏｔと言うマーティンの友達は来て、Ｉｎｖａｇｏに見に行きました。Ｉｎｖａｇｏのコンセトははいつもいい間過ごすことです。

すみません、この日本語は要約だけです。たくさん間違いと思ってので、英語を読む事ができれば、それも読んでください。

 

I'm a Car Guy

僕は車の人だよ。　　Guest author:  Martin

専門は自動車のエンジニアですが、趣味も自動車です。会社（ゲネール　モータース）はいろいろな種類の自動車を量産しているけど、アジアの仕事が多いから, 忙し過ぎで、運転の機会があまりないんです。先週末に日本ゲネール　モータースからすばらしい車を借りました。Corvette はGMの一番ハイーパフォマンスのスポーツカーです。４２０馬力のエンジンがあって、スタイルはすばらしいです。すごい車だと思いますがパメラはも美しいと思いませんか。

My trade is automotive engineering, but fortunately cars are also my interest and hobby.  My company, General Motors, manufactures a variety of different types of cars, but I have so much work in　Asia、 developing hybrid projects, that I rarely have a chance to drive.  Last weekend I borrowed an awesome car from the office: a Red 2006 Chevrolet Corvette.  The Corvette is GM’s top sports car, with a super-torquey 420 horsepower engine, 6 speed manual transmission, and very cool style.  We went cruising through the hot spots of central Tokyo、loving the low rumble of the engine and the looks from the crowd.  It is a fantastic looking car…but don’t you think Pamela looks just as fine??

Last Man Standing

最後の立っている人

最近、私達は東京ドームでボン・ジョヴィコンサートに行きました。　よかったです！それはジョナの初めてのコンサートだった。　家族の皆はボン・ジョヴィの音楽を愛する。　それはアメリカのコンサート よりとても違います。　聴衆は振りつけだのようです。　皆は同じことを、皆同時に立つ、拍手、ポイント、腕を波した。　皆はずっと歌いました。　最初の歌"Last Man Standing.”間、ジョンは群集の中心にプラットフォームの上に立ちました。後で彼はステージに動きました。　群集はアンコールを理解しなかったようでない。レギュラーコンサートが終わった時皆は叫ばなかった。その時にアメリカでいつも皆はアンコールの叫びよ。しかしながらライトが点滅し始めたときに参加しました。　それは大きい家族の経験だった。

Recently, we saw Bon Jovi at Tokyo Dome.  It was Jonah's first rock concert, and my first in Japan.  Everyone in our family loves Bon Jovi's music, and it was a great concert.  For the first song, "Last Man Standing", Jon stood on a platform in the center of the crowd, then later he moved to the stage. It was also very interesting for me, because it was very different from the concerts I have seen in America.  The crowd seemed CHOREOGRAPHED.  Everyone did everything at the same time.  They all stood, they clapped, they pointed and waved their arms, all in unison.  The crowd stood the entire time and sang every word to every song, all the way through.  It was quite impressive, true fans they are. 

But the way the crowd handled the encore seemed strange to me, like they didn't understand it.  After the regular concert was over, and the lights went out, the crowd just stood quietly and politely, (and here we were shouting and clapping, like you do, to get an encore).  It wasn't until the lights started flashing that the crowd's voice began to respond in unison with the lights.  Of course they came back for a long encore of several more of our favorites.  HERE's A LINK with the set list from the Japan concerts.  I notice that they did encores for the first two shows which were at Tokyo Dome, then in Nagoya and Osaka, it appears that they just played straight through.  Interesting.

Martin's been to lots of rock concerts, so I asked him to see if he could remember them all.   Here's what he came up with:  Neil Diamond, Jethro Tull, Ozi Ozborn, Black Sabath, Triumph, The Babies, Dio, John Cougar, Rush, BB King, Counting Crows, The Who, The Guess Who, The Pretenders, Alice Cooper, April Wine, Robert Plant, Live, Kid Rock, Dave Matthews, Bare Naked Ladies, Beach Boys, John Butcher, Kiss, White Snake, Iron Maiden, Scorpions, Cheap Trick, The Cars, Green Day and Bon Jovi.

Jonah had such a great time, he's been talking about it ever since.  This was only Monica's second concert.  When she was in 1st grade, her big brother Jay took her to see Brittany Spears at Starwood Amphitheatre in Nashville.                  Wasn't that nice!

WAVES  Here's a little slideshow I made of us playing in the water in Phuket.  I was trying to add sound, but I'm just not there yet....

Tokyo Motor Show

東京モーターショー

昨日家族とモーターショーに行きました。　面白かったです。　すずきの展示は私の一番気に入りました。　その女の子はかわくて冗談のいった。　子犬のようです。　　

SUZUKI PUPPIES　　　Yesterday we went to the Tokyo Motor Show.  Martin had already been there twice this week for work, but this was for fun.  I took many photos.  The Suzuki display was my favorite.  These girls were cute, energetic and playful like puppies. 

Audi also had a nice display. アウディイもすばらしいです。 

Here's some other photos from the Motor Show. 

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