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。

 

Ohanami Curry

お花見のカレー

 
Back awhile ago, when the cherry trees were still blooming, before we went to Europe and had our short trip extended unexpectedly by the volcano, we had a fun event with our skating friends.  (ところで、日本語は下に書きます。）Mipo-san has arranged these events before, and they are always pleasant and interesting.  She rented a room in a building overlooking Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, and arranged with Imu-san to get some delicious take out curry from a special shop, and some others managed the drinks and other things.  All we had to do was sign up, participate in City Run that day, and then skate to the park and enjoy the food, friends and beauty of the gardens until late in the afternoon.  As usual, when we have these types of events with our Japanese skater friends, (including when we do a large porch party at our home) the cost is determined, and everyone pays the set fee at the beginning of the party.  Works very well for all concerned.

That day's City Run went from Ueno to Gaienne as usual, and from there, Papa-san led a small group by skate to Koishikawa Korakuen.  Apparently everyone else was either involved in the preparation and transport of the food and drinks, or would in any case travel there by subway.  The skate route was easy except for one very steep street down, which I didn't expect and was a bit scary for me as I've taken my brake off my big wheeled skates, but the street surface was smooth, and Papa-san timed our descent so that traffic wasn't a problem.

We arrived about the same time as the curry and most of the other participants, and after we got the financial details taken care of, we all had a campai and each got to choose between beef, seafood or chicken curry.  I chose beef and it was so delicious.  Japanese curry is quite different from Indian curry.  I won't pretend to understand it well enough to explain, but I do intend to take the family to this restaurant soon.  See more info about the restaurant below.  As usual, with these friends, the time passes quickly laughing and chatting.

The theme of this event was Ohanami お花見 (お O is honorific) (花 hana is flower) (見 mi is see)  which means cherry blossom viewing.  Since Martin and I had somewhere else we had to be, after the tasty curry and a pleasant social interlude, together we strolled through the park and took some photos before going back on the train.  There are several different types of cherry trees in this garden-like park, which was started almost four hundred years ago by the reigning Daimyo.  Some of the cherry trees are very old, and rely on wooden supports in this meticulously maintained garden.  One of the weeping cherries was completely finished flowering and had broken into lush green, while others were at their peak.  This Japanese garden is laid out in such a way that it seems much bigger than it is, with meandering paths, waterfalls, ponds and exceptional speciman trees.  You can almost forget that it sits here in busy Iidabashi right next to Tokyo dome.  In one of our photos, you can see the roller coaster going over the top.  The park is a lovely enclave of nature amidst the bustle. I especially like to see the many varieties of water birds living here.  

Here's a few relevant links:

Martin and I took photos:   HERE  　マーティンとパメラの写真です。

English page of the park .      小石川湖楽園のページ 

The website for the Curry Restaurant is only in Japanese, but you can understand the map and enjoy the very interesting photos on their blog:    This restaurant (Moyan) has four locations in Tokyo.  The closest to us would be the Shibuya location.  I definitely plan to take the family there for the lunch buffet, as Jonah really likes Japanese curry, and from what I sampled, this is delicious.  このリンクはカレーのレストランのウェブページです。四つ店があるので、私に一番近くの店は渋谷の店と思います。ジョナは日本のカレーが大好きだから、ランチバピュッフェに家族と食べに連れるつもりです。味を見たものはおいしかったからです。このレストランのブログの写真は面白いです。

Wikipedia's explanation of Japanese Curry is very interesting.  I didn't know that curry was introduced to Japan by the British as their version of Indian Curry while still in the Meiji Era.  Now, Japanese Curry is quite different from Indian style, with a unique set of parameters all its own.

先程に咲いた桜木の間に、ユーロッパに行った前に、火山から短い計画した旅行は長くなるさせた前に、スケータ友達たちと楽しいお花見のイベントは起こりました。みぽさんはそのようなイベントを作る上手な人ので、いつも面白いです。今度小石川湖楽園のビルの部屋を予約しました。イムさんは有名なカレー店から、おいしいカレーを持って来ていました。友達たちは飲み物とかも持ちました。 今度マーティンと私は何もない努力したので、いくつの人と公園に 滑りました。いつものように、スケータ友達と、そのようなイベントをしたら、値段が決心した後に、皆は払うと、乾杯をできます。家のポーチパーティーもしたら、同じ方法を使います。

あの日のCRはいつものように、上野から外苑まで行って、あそこからパパさんは小石川湖楽園に導きました。皆以外は電車か車で行ったと思います。あのルートは殆ど全部は簡単ですが、一つとても険しい下り部分です。最近、スケートのブレーキを外したから、それは私にはちょっと怖かったです。でも、道の表面はなめらかなし、パパさんは交通と下に行くことの時間調整念入りに連れて行ったし、大丈夫でした。

牛肉カレー、チキンカレー、シーフードカレーもあるので、ビーフを選びました。 それはとてもおいしかったです。普通日本カレーのほうがおいしいと思います。味はセイボリーだし、少し辛いだし、私の好みにぴったり会いました。もうやんカレーというレストランに家族と連れて行くつもりです。上にレストランのリンクです。いつものように、そのともだちたちと話しながら、笑いながら、時間は早く過ごします。

そのイベントのテムはお花見だから、出た前に、マーティンと公園に散歩を回りました。もちろん写真を撮りました。その公園はたくさんいろいろ桜木があるので、いくつは咲く終りので、いくつは花盛りでした。殆ど四百年間前に、大名はその庭のような公園が始まったので、いくつな木はすごく年を取ったです。保全から、シダレ桜はたくさん木造の支柱があります。その公園に自然は慎重な扱いだから、いろいろ鳥も住んでいるので、見て楽します。小石川湖楽園は大きい町真ん中であるですが、中の人はそれが殆ど忘れられます。曲がりくねった小道があるし、滝があるし、池だし、すばらしい木があるから、見かけほど大きいない。静かな飛び地そうです。

Bus Poster

バスのポースター

 

今度日本語は少しです。Toby and I were out walking, and passed a bus stop with an interesting poster.  Displayed were several photos of various well known districts within Tokyo, with the photos cut to the shape of butterflies.  The poster said (in Japanese, of course), "Gathered while running around Tokyo".  The above photo shows a night scene of the Rainbow Bridge, including many party boats. 

Under each photo is the Kanji for the name of the place, as well as the associated bus routes.  I was able to figure out almost all of the place names fairly quickly by looking at the photo and the kanji.  Roppongi 六本木　was obvious, of course, Tokyo Tower東京ターワー, Asakusa浅草, Shibuya渋谷 Ginza銀座and Tokyo Dome東京ドーム.

I have visited several of these places by skate with my City Run friends, starting at Ueno Park上野公園, which is depicted at springtime with the lovely cherry trees, Akihabara秋葉原, also known as Electric Town, and the area around Tokyo Station with the Metropolitan Government buildings東京都庁.  Our City Run Goal, Jingu Gaienne神宮外苑, is depicted in autumn with the fabulous golden ginko trees, and we've skated to Tsukishima月島 several times to enjoy making and eating monja together. 

Omotesandou表参道 took me awhile, but the lovely tree lined boulevard was an excellent tip, so finally there was only one place name that had me stumped.  I had to spend a long time using my computer and electronic translater to finally sort it out.  It's not a name I had ever heard before, Kabukichou 歌舞伎町 in Shinjuku.  Now that I recall, besides   being a rather sleezy part of town, it is famous for interesting little ally side yakitori places.  I wouldn't want to go there by myself, but it is surely interesting.

Even after several years here in Tokyo, the city bus is still a mystery to me.  I can go to Shibuya on the #1 bus, that's pretty straight forward, but when I tried to take that same bus back from Shibuya once, it stopped at Roppongi Hills and the driver said that was the end of the line, so I took the train home the rest of the way, and still don't understand why it works this way.  The kids sometimes ride the bus to Shinagawa,   but that doesn't involve any transfers.  I'd like to ride the bus more, it's actually more convenient   than the train sometimes, but figuring out the routes is really tough.  For the train routes, we use this handy website, but to my knowledge, there is no such thing for the bus. The bus website has some English, but not enough to help me navigate, and the Japanese bus site, which shows the routes, is just too intense for me.  Japanese people don't seem to have any trouble, though.  Ha!  Being able to read is such a benefit!  The buses are always well maintained, on time, and well utilized.  Such an efficient city.

 

61/2 Hours, 16 Friends, 26 Kilometers

六つ時間半、十六人の友達、二十六のキロ

 

下に日本語で書き事です。もっと写真はここにある。More pix HERE.

Wednesday was a holiday, so many of my skater friends didn't have to

work.  Yagami-san took the opportunity to organize another of his adventure skates, and this one was just exactly what I like.  I will list the things I liked about this skating event.

• It was far enough to give us plenty of exercise, 26 kilometers. 
• The route passed through many different areas of Tokyo, special sections like Akihabara, Nihonbashi, and Ginza, each with their own flavor.  Skating near the bay, seeing the Rainbow Bridge and Odaiba across the water, crossing bridges spanning canals, the hub at Shinagawa, the interesting old timey areas of Oimachi and Omori, then the bedroom communities southwest of Tokyo and finally a lovely, tall bridge over the Tamagawa River before reaching Kawasaki City. 
• The route was smooth for the most part, which is more enjoyable for skating.  I don't prefer skating over rough terrain.  I can stand it for awhile, but I don't like to do it for long periods.
• The route didn't include any dangerous areas, such as long downstairs, or steep downhills, or heavy pedestrian or bike traffic or long distances on busy streets.
• The route was always within reach of vending machines, so I didn't have to carry extra tea.
• The weather was perfect.  It wasn't too hot and it wasn't too cold, so I didn't have to carry extra layers, and there was no chance of rain.
• The other participants were all very pleasant people, 15 friends who I enjoy spending time with.  It was really nice that Nobu-san joined, it's been a long time since we've skated together.  He's one of my "oldest" skating friends, he was there the day I broke my shoulder on the Rin Rin Road 7 years ago.
• Everyone knows how to skate well, so there weren't any dangerous newbies in the group who could inadvertently make you fall. (I resemble that remark, see previous comment:)

  

• The food was fun and tasty. Yagami-san choose a fine place for lunch.  The soba was very good, not overfilling.  Then, soon after, we skated to a couple of shops to buy bean paste snacks for a dessert to enjoy in a park further along the route.
• The pace was perfect.  Yagami-san planned very well and made sure we rested here and there along the way for short intervals, and for a long time at the park in Shinagawa-ku.
• The goal was sufficiently grand.  The name of the temple is Kawasaki Daishi, which means Big Teacher, and its an amazing place.  I realized I had been there before, maybe five years ago with a different skating group. 

  

  Here's the website for the temple.   I'd like to go and explore it again with my family.
• To top it off, we enjoyed a Japanese sweet called Kuzumochi.  Mochi is a kind of pounded steamed rice cake, and the light brown kuzu powder comes from a starchy mountain root vegetable, like arrowroot.  I had an ice cream sundae that incorporated these and sweet red beans in a shell.  It was pretty good.
• And finally, getting to the start point, and getting back home were both quite easy, start to finish took about 8 hours.  A really wonderful day.  
• Here are all my best pix of the Fall Kawaski Daishi Kuzumochi Run

先週の水曜日は休日から、スケータ友達たちは仕事に行きません。それから、やがみさんは冒険のスケートを作りました。今度のは私には丁度いいです。そして、下にこのスケートの好きものをリストをしました。（でも、上の英語より、ちょっと短いです。

• ２６キロから、運動は十分です。
• 新しいルートから、たくさん面白いことを見えます。上野から始まったので、違い所に通り抜けた、たとえば秋葉原、日本橋、銀座です。湾の隣滑ったので、レインボーブリジとお台場も見えます。品川は中枢ですので、多い町と大森も面白い近所だので、遠くてきれい橋を渡った後に、川崎に着きました。
• ルートは大部分のすべすべしたので、楽しかったです。
• ルートは危ないじゃない。階段や険しい坂や忙しい道もないだので、安心しました。
• ルートはいつも自動販売機があるので、重いバックパックがありません。
• 天気は完璧でした。すごく厚いじゃなくて、すごく寒いじゃないので、

  

  雨が降らなかったです。
• 参加した人人はとてもいい人です。全部は私の友達です。お久しぶりにのぶさんは参加したので、長い時間前に会いました。７年前に、りんりんロードで角の骨を折ったときに、のぶさんはいました。
• みなは上手なスケータから、危ない新人がありません。
• 食べ物はおいしかったです。やがみさんのランチのレストランはいい選択でした。蕎麦はおいしかったので、うんと食べたの感情じゃなかったです。そして、ランチの後に甘えデザートを買えました。公園で食べました。
• ペースは完璧です。やがみさん上手な計画を作ったので、時々短い休憩を取って、品川の公園でもっと長い休憩を取りました。

  

• ゴールはとても雄大でした。のぶさんは川崎大師の意味は大きい先生と言いました。とても面白いところです。あそこにいるながら、前に来たと気づいていました。たぶん、５年前に、まっちさんとスケータイベントで行ったことがありました。家族とも一回行きたいんです。
• 最後のすばらしいことは、川崎のくず餅です。私はアイスクリムのサンディーを食べたので、くず餅と餡もありました。おいしかったです。
• 最後に、私には、スタートポイントとゴールも大体やさしいです。家から出たときから、家に帰ったときは８時間です。とてもよかった一日でした。
• これは私の秋の川崎大師くず餅ランの写真です。 

  

   

Jetlag Blues and Festive Kimono

時差ボケのブルースと快活着物

下に日本語で書きます。 This is a post about jet lag, which everyone in this family has recently suffered through.  First, you might ask, What does jet lag have to do with all these  pictures of girls (and guys) in summer kimono?  Not a lot, except that I had just returned from the states when Martin and I took Toby and attended the annual Azabu Juban Festival.  We walked all the way there and back, as exercise is good for jet lag, and I told him to take lots of pictures of the yukata clad girls (and guys) to which he readily agreed.  It was nice weather that night, unlike last year which had an entirely different ambiance with the downpour and all the umbrellas, so he got lots of good pictures.  The other reason I'm glad to show these kimono pictures is that, as Jonah says, "jet lag sucks" so let's try to balance that with some attractive people who are clearly having a good time.

All ex-pat's and international business folk routinely deal with jet lag, but even though experience may help a traveler cope, everyone still has to somehow get through the process.  There's plenty of information out there about the condition, most of which focuses on the phenomenon of time zone adjustment, generally noting that it takes one entire day to adjust to each hour of time zone difference, which is 13 days for us.  It is also noted that going West to East is harder than going East to West because you are losing time.  In my experience, the worst is to go West to East and then turn around and go East to West just a few days later. 

In July, M&J went to Michigan for three weeks and reported these symptoms both ways:  fatigue, insomnia and confusion, but they are young and they got through it okay while traveling, and dug in and slept as much as they needed to when they returned home.  When I went there in August, there was a problem with the connecting flight so I stayed part of the night in a Detroit hotel after arriving from Tokyo and wasting several hours waiting in the airport, so it actually took about 40 hours door to door, and I ended up with a migraine for the first two days of my visit with my parents and siblings.  Coming back a week later, there was no migraine, no pressure or issues, but it still took at least two weeks before I didn't feel tired all the time.

The one who really has it bad is Martin, who, after traveling all the way to the other side of the globe, has to "hit the ground running"  and go straight to work, and do the same on his return.  I just could not do that.  Maybe being an international businessman sounds glamorous, but it takes huge effort.

On the other hand, when friends and family come to visit us here in Tokyo, the excitement and uniqueness of the trip somehow compensates for the jet lag, and they seem to do pretty well.  So, please, don't let the fear of jet lag keep you grounded.

この物語は時差ボケについてです。最近家族は時差ボケを何とか忍びました。でも、まず、どしてこのトッピクと一緒に夏の着物の写真を載せたと聞きますか？そうそう、どしてね。時差ボケはとても悪い感情ので、このきれい写真はいい釣り合いと思います。私はアメリカから帰ったときにトビとマーティンも麻布十番の祭りに行きました。全部の写真はここにあります。その夜の天気はよかったので、去年よりとてもよかったです。去年は強い雨が降ったので、その写真はたくさん傘の写真でした。祭りへ歩いて行って来ました。時差ボケのために運動はいいです。

全部のエクスパットや国際のビジネスマンは時差ボケを処理しなければなりません。経験は役に立つけれど、皆はそれを一所懸命です。インタネットで、たくさん情報であるので、ときに時間帯の調整する方です。毎時間帯に旅行してので、一日をかかるすべきだろうと言います。私たちには、それは１３時間だので、１３日間がかかると思います。そして、西から東までは東から西までより難しいです。私の経験は西から東までに行くことと一週間後にずっと戻すことはとても難しいです。　 　

７月にモニカとジョナはミシガン州に行って、三週間で泊まりました。二人は疲労や不眠症や困惑も訴えたけど、若いだので、旅行するながら、大丈夫に過ごしました。帰った時間で、家でのんびりして、たくさん寝たから、ゆっくり普通な生活に戻しました。でも、私は８月に同じ所に行ったときに、最初の二日はひどい偏頭痛があったので、両親と兄弟の会うことは容易でわない。一週間後に、帰ったの時差ボケは頭が痛いじゃなくて、問題がないけど、まだ２週間でとても疲れました。

でも、マーティンは一番難しいことがあるので、いつも旅行して、仕事からので、目的地に着いてずっとに仕事にしなければなりません。そして、帰るときも同じ状態です。私は時差ボケがあるときに、考えられません。そして、それをできませんよ。インタナシナルのビシネスマンの生活は魅力的のような仕事そうだけど、たくさん努力を要ります。

他方に友達たちと家族たちも私たちに会いに日本に来る時に、それでもなんとか面白くて特別な旅行は償うと思います。そすると、時差ボケの恐れを忘れてください。旅行をしましょう！

Festival Season

祭りの季節

 

This time, I'll write in Japanese first, and then in English below. 昨晩に東京に帰ったので、うれしいです。私には、豊かな生活には旅行は大切です。生まれた町はとても小さいだので、あそこの皆の見方も小さいと思います。 でも、毎年拡大家族に会って、関係の持続します。今年の訪問は本当にチャレンジでした。両親と３人妹と一人弟とたくさん他の親類など会いました。父はとても元気だので、彼とたくさん話しました。でも、ハハは皆をコントロールをしてみるので、前より難しくなったと思います。たぶん、老化から、よくストレスがあります。私は一番年上の子供ので、手伝いたいです。でも、ハハは手伝いが欲しいじゃないので、自尊心の強いです。もちろんそれを分かります。そして、旅行はいいですが、自分の家族に帰ったうれしいです。ここから、下に英語も書きます。

夏は日本も祭りの季節です。旅行の前に、 モニカとマーティンも自転車で月島に行って東京湾大華火祭にみました。たくさん人も行って、その所の観覧者数は約70万人でしたよ。そして、その日に４時半に家から出ました。近くないので、３０分以上かかりました。近くなった時に、自転車を錠おいたので、大群と歩きました。たくさんきれいな浴衣を見ました。とても夏の祭りの感情でした。ところで、モニカは浴衣を着たことがないので、たぶん探します。お花火は７時から始めるので、一時間半前に、所はいっぱいなったと思います。早く行ったことはよかったです。　マットを持って行ってので、飲み物も持って行って、歩きながら、食べ物を買いました。その花火はすごいです。すごい！とてもよかったです。終る時に、三人は大群と自転車へ歩いて、夜の自転車で乗りました。私には、夜のスケートより、夜の自転車は難しいです。マーティンは花火の写真を撮りました。ここに見てください。

そして、ちょっどアメリカから帰ったので、日本に不在の間に、マーティンと子供二人は近所の祭りに行きました。神谷町は殆ど全部会社ので、祭りは小さいです。でも、毎年面白いです。私はたくさん近所の友達が知っているので、いつも楽しいです。今度行くことがないけれど、家族とトビは楽しかったと言いました。この祭りは切符を売ります。切符は１０つものがあるので、それは焼きそばとか、魚釣りとか、射的所などです。もちろんビールもありますね。皆はトビと挨拶をしました。マーティンは写真を撮ったので、ここに見てください。

今週末麻布十番の祭りは催しています。その祭りは神谷町待つよりとても違います。いつも本当に込んでいます。たくさん店とか露店があるので、色々面白い料理を食べられます。大きい音楽の余興もあるので、私の気に入るのは太鼓です。今日３時から、９時までだけど、マーティンは日本の中の出張から遅い帰るので、明日にトビと行きます。（トビを連れて行くことができるけど、込んでいるときに、持って行きます。）天気はいいと思います。去年は雨が降りました。マーティンは写真を撮ったので、ここに見てください。

Summer is festival time here in Japan.  Matsuri is the Japanese word for festival, and the kanji looks like this:  祭り.  It seems that every neighborhood has it's own matsuri, and though some aspects are similar, they are all different, so you never get tired of going to festivals.  One common aspect is the portable shrine, or mikoshi, 神輿, the first kanji means God and the second means stretcher (carrier).  I've heard that they take the shrine out once a year to shake it up a bit, air it out, or something like that.  It's really quite energetic, a slow procession of people dressed in festival clothes, shaking the mikoshi while carrying it around the street, singing and shouting the whole time.  After that, there's usually some kind of entertainment, which, depending on the size of the matsuri, can be quite elaborate, and there's always lots of different foods offered, as well as beer and other drinks. 

Just before I left to visit my family in America, Martin, Monica and I rode our bikes over to Tsukishima to watch the fireworks celebration on Tokyo Bay.  This gathering was not technically a matsuri, but was very festive, and many people, men, women and children wore the traditional light summer kimono called yukata.  The fireworks were to start at 7pm, so we left our place at 4:30 for the 30 minute ride.  We thought we should get there early so that we could find a place to lay out our mat to sit on to see the show.  When it got too crowded to ride, we locked up our bikes and walked with the crowd.  It was really something.  I found out later that just in that one place, they estimated an attendance of 70 thousand people, and of course there were people in many other areas watching the show over the water.  After a fabulous 1 hour and 20 minute show, we walked back to our bikes with the crowd, then rode home.  It was so crowded it took two hours to get home, but it was worth it.  Martin took some pictures, please have a look.

While I was gone, our little neighborhood Matsuri was held.  I enjoy going to this festival because it's so close, Toby can walk there with us, and I always see people I know.  Martin took the kids, and they bought the pages of tickets which entitled them to one each of several things, from yakisoba (fried noodles) to a turn at the shooting gallery and the goldfish pond.  Martin took some pictures, so you can see them here.

I'm lucky that I came back in time to attend the Azubu Juban Matsuri, which starts today.  This is a very big festival, and goes on for three days with many different kinds of musical entertainment, including jazz, rock, and traditional taiko drumming, which is my favorite.  Last year, it rained, but it was still fun.  Here are those photos.  It doesn't look like rain this weekend, so it will be especially crowded.  We will take Toby, but I'll carry him in the crowds so he doesn't get stepped on.

 

Nephew Homestay

甥のホームステイー

 

今度英語だけ書きます。 今旅行をしてので、帰った後のポーストは日本語で書くつもりです。いろいろリンクがあるので、写真を見てください。　When third culture kids spend large chunks of their formative years out of their home country, the summers are an excellent opportunity for these young people to reconnect with their home culture and their extended families.  This summer, it worked out that our two teenagers took a three week trip to my hometown in MIchigan without me.  Part of that time, Monica attended soccer camp at nearby Hope College, which was a tremendous learning experience for her, as she had a chance to meet lots of American girls her age and stay on the campus of a typical small university, while improving her soccer skills.

Meanwhile, Jonah had the opportunity to strengthen his relationships with his grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, while enjoying normal American life.  Thanks to my family, there were excursions to Lake Michigan, a dairy farm, rock climbing, working in Grandpa's store and fishing with Grandma.  They went to the mall, they went to a baseball game, and they ate lots of delicious American food, much of it at Aunt Mary's restaurant.

Both the children thoroughly enjoyed and appreciate my family's hospitality.  Then, just two days after returning to Japan, the tables were turned, and Monica and Jonah got to host their 20 year old cousin from Texas on his first international trip.   After his first year of college, Willy worked hard for several weeks at his summer job, and then came to Tokyo for one short, very busy week.  Willy was a very good guest.  He has such a nice attitude, an excellent mixture of openness to our explanations and guidance, and a tendency and capability towards independence.  This while showing lots of interest and energy, as well as a willingness to at least try any food item offered.

Generally, a "homestay" involves staying in the home of a family of another culture while visiting their country.  Though not technically a homestay, Willy's visit was exposure to two different cultures.  Ours as well as the natives. We're certainly not Japanese, and though we're American through and through, we've had different experiences than many of our peers due to living in Japan for nearly a decade.  Thus, the term, "third culture kids" is applicable.  Here I'll try to explain most of what Willy did while he was here.  Here's my pictures.

Day 1  Monica and I drove the car to Narita Airport to pick up Willy.  Takes about an hour and a half each way.  I won't try to detail costs here, but just trust me that this is an expensive place to visit and live.  Tolls for a round trip to the airport are over 50 USD.  Willy was tired, but excited.  After he met Toby and we oriented him to the apartment, we took a subway train one stop and walked around Roppongi Hills.  This was a way to gently introduce Willy to the subway system and the extended neighborhood.  We all ate at Pepper Lunch, then walked around Tokyo Midtown, and got lost in Akasaka on the way home.  Martin came home from his business trip so we three took Toby for a late night walk around the neighborhood.

Day 2  We all five went by car to TAC (Tokyo American Club) to work out.  (exercise is good for jet-lag).  Later, Jonah took Willy to a konbini (convenience store) and bought onigiri (rice balls with tuna inside) for a snack.  Later yet, we all took a train to Jingu Stadium where we watched the Yakult Swallows beat the Chinuchi Dragons at Willy's first Japanese baseball game.  On the way, we picked up some Edomame and Yakisoba to snack on during the game.  After returning from the game, Willy took a walk and found his way to Roppongi Hills via a different route, walking.  I thought that was very clever of him.

Day 3 Monica, Jonah and Willy went to Tokyo Dome Amusement Park for the better part of the day.   I guess the roller coasters are pretty fun.  Since it was Saturday night, we all rode our bikes to church at the Franciscan Chapel Center.  At the end, Willy stood up and was welcomed and applauded by everyone present.  Then, we went to a birthday dinner for Jonah.  We had made a reservation at a restaurant which we liked, Korean Barbeque, but it turns out the restaurant had changed (this happens often, and somehow we missed it).  Anyway, both Jonah and Willy were gracious about not getting Korean BBQ as expected, and enjoyed the delicious Japanese Izakaya food.  There are pictures.

Day 4 was the Annual Skater Barbeque, as planned.  The day before, I had helped the skaters buy the meat, and Martin prepared the ribs the night before.  The morning of, everyone except me rode bikes to Shinagawa station, then met up with the skaters, and they rode bikes with the skaters to Jonan Island where the 80+ person BBQ was held.  I drove the car with the ribs, tarps, tables, etc.  There are lots of pictures of this BBQ here  and here.  Later on, the three kids (including Willy) rode their bikes back to the apartment (what excellent honing instinct!)  Later that evening, most of us went to Kaiten Sushi in Yurakucho. 

Day 5 Willy and I took the train to Tsukiji Fish Market where we explored the warehouse and market, then enjoyed a yummy raw tuna and rice bowl snack.  Then straight to Omotesando to the Oriental Bazaar so that Willy could pick up some omiyage *souvenirs.  I left Willy to find his own way to Meiji Shrine and home, which he did...smart kid.  Jonah took him to Yoshinoya for Gyudon *pork or beef rice bowl, and he liked it so much he went back there the next day for breakfast.

Day 6 Monica and I accompanied Willy to the Edo Museum, which I enjoyed for the third time.  This is a museum dedicated to the history of Tokyo, and it's very interesting.  While there, I spotted a group of kimono clad girls assembled for a picture, and got Willy involved.  Turns out, they are all 20 years old, like Willy, and everyone smiled while Willy blushed.  It was pretty cute.  We went for Katsudon lunch, and then Monica and I let Willy find his way to the famous Sensoji Temple at Asakusa.  So now he was well aquainted with subways, JR trains, and making transfers.  The kids took him to Curry House, for traditional Japanese Curry. Martin and Jonah went with him to the Tokyo Tower.  See Martin's pictures.  Later that night, Willy found his own way to Shibuya, which is quite a sight at night. 

Day 7 was Willy's last day.  Still so much to see.  Jonah took him on a long walk part way around the Imperial Palace, then on to the Yasukuni Shrine, which is a controversial political/ historical museum which  Willy wanted to see.  Came back in time for a quick shower before catching the Friendly Limousine Bus to the airport, with some onigiri *rice balls packed for the trip since there hadn't been time for lunch. 

What a good guest Willy was.  Because of his trip, we all appreciate the adventure that is our current situation that much more.  Now I begin a short trip to visit my family in Michigan.  I hope I can be a good guest to them as I experience their culture which was once my own. 

Kawaii Toby

トビはかわいい！

 
英語の下にこの物語は日本語で書きました。Unlike usual, I'm still in Tokyo this far into the summer.  I do plan a short visit to my roots in the near future, but it's definitely a different pattern this summer.  Recently, everyone else in the family was out of Japan at the same time.  Jonah spent three weeks visiting family, Monica went to soccer camp as well, and Martin took a business trip to the same area.  Because of my job, I stayed here, the first time I have ever been in Tokyo alone.  Not really alone, though, because Toby kept me company.   We took long walks around the neighborhood every day, and watched two episodes of Desperate Housewives from season one every night.  I thought it would be a good time to do a blog about Toby, and how nice it is having a dog in Tokyo.

Having a dog in a big city like Tokyo is really a lot of trouble and expense.  I won't quote the prices here, but just assume that everything from the initial purchase of the pet will cost more, sometimes a lot more than you expect.  Vet costs, supplies, grooming, boarding, etc. will all set you back in yen.  Then there's the hassle.  Walking your dog on a nice day is so fun, but it's not always nice out.  Sometimes it's raining, or cold, or terribly hot.  Then there's the little bags you need to carry with you to take care of the "business".  And of course, if you travel, you need to consider your dog's care while you're gone, which can get rather complicated. 

Even with all that, having a dog here has been really good for this family.  We got lucky with Toby, he's very well behaved, barks only if absolutely necessary, is clean and friendly.  And SO CUTE!  Toby is so cute that every time we go for a walk, we hear "kawaii, kawaii", as people notice him.  We've met quite a lot of nice people through Toby. 

So, here's a gallery of pictures that illustrates some of the aspects of having a dog in Tokyo.  The gallery is arranged by topic:  Toby's Neighborhood friends, Taking the train, Taking a walk and meeting cute girls, Toby enjoying nature, Family, and Zoo (the store).　このガレリーはブログのポーストと似合います。東京で犬を育っていることです。いろいろテームです。店というズー、近所の友達、電車を使うこと、 散歩を撮って、かわい女性に会うこと、自然を楽しいている、家族。

布津のような違い、まだ夏に東京に泊まります。８月に短い間に生まれた家に行くつもりです。最近、家族は私以外日本から出ました。仕事から、私は東京に泊まりました。モニカとジョナは私の生まれた町に行ってので、その時にモニカはサーカーカンプに参加してので、ジョナは家族といろいろ事をしました。マーティンもその州に行って、出張をして、家族も会いました。 その時に、私とトビは楽しかったです。毎日に長い散歩をして、毎夜にテレビのドラマという”デスパレートな妻たちを見て、楽しかったです。そして、東京に犬を育てることの利益を見せます。

東京のような大きい都市に、犬があることは面倒くさいので、高いです。最初の費やすことは犬を買うので、後は獣医とか、供給とか、グルミングとか下宿することです。そして、毎日の少なくとも二回の散歩してので、天気はいいだったら、とても楽しいだけど、雨とか寒いとか蒸し暑いなどだったら、犬は散歩を要ります。そして、いつも小さい袋を待っていかなければなりません。もちろん、旅行に行きたかったら、犬の世話も考えなければなりません。

それでも、東京に犬を飼っていることは私の家族には、いいです。トビは特にいい犬だので、私たちは喜んでいます。あまりほえないし、きれいだし、人なつっこいもあります。そして、とてもかわいです。いつも散歩をしたら、皆はかわい、かわいと言います。トビから、たくさんすばらしい人人に会いました。

Nonbiri Tsukiji Run

のんびり築地ラン

 

上の写真はささきさんから。ありがとう。日本語は下に書きます。 Thanks to Sasaki-san for the above photo. Look below for my version of this story in Japanese. 

Here's a little story about a recent pleasant Saturday morning in Tokyo.  Nonbiri means "take it easy, or carefree" in Japanese, and we often do Nonbiri Runs in various places nearby, as opposed to the more challenging speed and training skates that Papa-san heads up.  This skating event was organized by Yagami-san, who, along with his family, are skilled and experienced slalom and long run skaters, and he appreciates the value of combining exercise, friendship and good Japanese food in the form of a little Saturday morning tour of Tokyo by skate.  It was a small group, so it worked well for our mission of having sashimi donburi (raw fish rice bowl) for breakfast in Tsukiji.

It wasn't a rigorous skate, but we did work up a sweat.  The five guys I was skating with that day are all younger than me, and we skated right along at a good clip, plus it's true that summer has suddenly come to Tokyo.  We started at Shinagawa train station just after 9am, and skated around by the harbor, enjoyed seeing the Rainbow Bridge and looking across to Odaiba, the man-made island, over bridges that spanned canals, and into Tsukiji's famous fish market. 

It was really crowded, as usual, Tsukiji's a very popular place.  The awning in the top photo says:  まぐろどんぶり、maguro donburi.  Maguro is tuna, Donburi is a bowl of rice topped by something, in this case, raw tuna, onion, ginger, and nori and, of course, wasabi.  When we first skated up to the restaurant, all seven stools were full so we took a little tour of the famous fish market, skating slowly and carefully in the crowd, and came back.  Then, four of us plopped down and ordered the same thing, the delicious maguro donburi, for 800 yen (just over $8.00) which also included Tsukemono (Japanese pickles) and tea.  The other two guys went off and had guts, or something like that, acting like it was a treat.  I enjoyed chatting with the proprietess  while she made the food.  My spoken Japanese isn't very good, but we had a nice conversation.

Tsukiji Fish Market is a main tourist target, and though most of the people who work in the market don't speak English, they are foreigner friendly and can communicate just fine.  Tourists are told that they need to get there super early in the morning for the auctions, which are interesting, yes, I went there once, but there's plenty of action in the warehouse till noon at least, if you don't make it for the auction and the market is open all day.  It's a very interesting place to visit, a wonderful place to take photos and buy the freshest fish, seafood and produce.  I go there often.

After Tsukiji, we skated towards Ueno, but I peeled off at Tokyo Station to go home.  It was a very fun skate, and I'm glad I got to go.  Thanks A LOT to Yagami-san.  And Thank You Very Much to Mocchi-san for the replacement skate brake for Monica.  The old one was worn to a nub.  She's just starting to learn how to do a T-Stop. 

There's a few more pictures of this event, please go here to view them:  HERE

この短い物語は最近の楽しい土曜日の朝のスケートイベントについてです。のんびりの意味は（take it easy かcarefree）です。パパさんのスピードとトレーニングのスケートイベントと比較すればのんびりのランのほうがゆっくりです。イベントの作ったやがみさんはもーと難しいスケートができるけど、このイベントは運動と友情とおいしい日本料理も結合したはとても完璧な東京のスケートでツアーなりました。

厳しいじゃないけれど、汗はかいた。他の５人の友達スケータは私より若いので、早く滑りました。そして、夏は東京に着きました。９時ごろに品川駅から始まりました。浜のとなりに、レインボーブリジとお台場も見て、滑って回りました。いろいろ小さい橋とか、運河も渡って、築地の有名な魚市に着きました。私たちはマグロどんぶりをたべるつもりだけど、着いた時に、全部の７つの椅子はいっぱいです。そして、スケートで、市のツアーをして、戻った。その後、４人はまぐろどんぶりを注文して、値段は８００円だので、つけものとお茶も貰いました。２人は他の店に行って、ガツを食べました。店の女の人と話して、楽しかったです。私の口頭の日本語はあまり上手じゃないけど、大丈夫と思います。

築地魚市はとても有名なところです。いつも外国人は日本に来て、マーケトを見たいです。たぶん、築地に働いての人はあまり英語で話さないけど、外国人に好意的なし、英語でなくても、伝達できます。観光者はいつもツナの競売のために、早い朝に行かなければならないと思ったが、築地は一日中で面白い所と思います。色々面白いものを見えて、写真を撮ってできる、魚とかシーフードとかは一番新鮮です。よく行きます。

そして、築地の後に、上野に向かえたが、私は東京駅で、離れまったので、家に帰りました。スケートはとても楽しかったので、私は行ったことから、うれしかったです。やがみさん、どうもありがとうございます！もっちぃさんへモニカのためのブレーキがくれてありがとう！モニカのブレーキはちっちゃななったすりきれたので、安心しました。次に、モニカはT-ストープを練習します。

実は、英語と日本語の物語は違うので、できれば両方を読んでください。

写真は殆ど全部は私は撮ったけど、悪いです。すみません。ささきさんとやがみさんからも、写真を使いました。I took most of these pix, but I borrowed a few from Sasaki-san and Yagami-san.　　このリンクに行って、全部を見えます。GO HERE for all the pix of the skate.

Never a dull moment

絶えず大忙しいで

English is written below.  上の陶器美術物は３００年以上前に京都の近くに作られました。先週レベカという友達と出光美術館に行って、展示を見ました。活け花先生は”乾山の芸術と光琳”を推薦しました。それはとても 面白かったです。乾山と光琳は兄弟です。光琳は陶器を作って、乾山は画家です。 上の大皿は一つから１２個セット。各自個は各自月で、俳句と芸術があります。私の一番の気に入りのは上です。 藤井と鳥のは３月のためです。ウェブサイトは出光美術館。

いつも忙しいだけど、先週最もです。木曜日から日曜日まで、私はたくさん色々していましたので、私だって信じられない。たぶんヨガから、最近もっと勢力があるので、全部をできました。美術館後でレベカと梅の花という豆腐レストランに食べに行きました。それはおいしくて、きれい装飾です。とてもすばらしい経験です。

その４日間で他のできたこと正し順序じゃない：

• 活け花のクラスを参加する。
• ヨガくらすに行く。
• 二つ英語のクラスを教えました。
• 海野さんの忘年会に参加して、写真はイリエさんとおいしい食べ物です。
• 教会に行く。
• くきさんの英語のサロンの大きいクリスマスパーティを手伝いました。たくさん日本人女性を何回も前に会いました。それはとても楽しかったです。前年２５年間母に違う手製の装飾を貰います。その装飾を使って、衣装を作って、プライーズを勝ち取りました。（笑）
• ＩＮＶＡＧＯ,私の気に入るの音楽のバンドを六本木に見に、聞きに、行きました。バンドの歌歌手は私のＭｉｘｉ友達です（Luca)。また来週末にバンドは三回上演します。いつかこのバンドは有名になると思います。これはグルプの最初ＣＤです。次のＣＤは直ぐに来ます。
• 主人の懇願から、車でナビを使って、知らない所に行って、特別物を持って帰りました。(ピーナッツバター１４つ）私にはそれはとても難しかったです。ナビは日本語でだし、私は本当に方向音痴がある。そうすると大きい混成です。
• オンラインでクリスマス買い物をしました。それはしにくい。長い時間かかりました。
• クリスマスランの計画を作って手伝いました。（レストランに行って、予約を作りました。）やがみさんのサイトに見てください。皆スケータは参加つもりして欲しいです。
• 上野ＣＲに参加しました。その日に外苑の銀杏木は美しくなりました。
• 子供たちとクリスマス木を建てました。
• 娘を医者に連れて行きました。お世話をしました。

The top picture is a piece of artistic pottery made near Kyoto more than 300 years ago.  Last week, I went with my friend, Rebecca to the Idemitsu Museum of Arts to see the exhibit "Art of Kenzan and His Brother Korin" which was recommended to us by our Ikebana teacher.  It was totally amazing. Korin made the pottery, and Kenzan, the artist, did all the painting.  The above picture is actually a dish, part of a set of 12, one for each month.  Each correlates to a beautifully written poem which was also on display.  The wisteria and bird dish above, for March, was my favorite.

It's always busy, but last week, from Thursday to Sunday I got so much done, even I couldn't believe it.  Maybe because of yoga, I'm more energetic lately.  After the art museum, Rebecca and I went to a tofu restaurant, Umenohana (plum blossom).  Not only was the food delicious, but the decor was lovely.  A totally wonderful experience.

Some of the other things I did during those 4 hyper-busy days, in no particular order are:

• Ikebana class
• Yoga class
• Taught two English lessons
• Went to Unno-san's End of the Year party.  The picture is of Irie-san and some delicious food.
• Church
• Participated in Kuki-san's English Salon Christmas Party.  This was totally fun.  I've met all these ladies several times before.  I even won a prize for the best costume, incorporating my Mom's homemade Christmas ornaments which she's given us every year since about 25 years ago.
• I got to go see my favorite band, INVAGO, play in Roppongi.  The lead singer of the band has become my friend.  The picture is of their first CD.  They're currently recording their second CD.  This weekend they'll be performing all three nights in different places.  I just know they'll be famous some day.
• At Martin's request, I used the navi system in the car and went to a place I didn't know to pick something up for him.  (14 jars of peanut butter) This was really hard, partially because the navi system is in Japanese, but mostly because I am totally directionally challenged and always lost.  So it was a major accomplishment.
• Did my Christmas shopping online.  Terrible experience with American Eagle Outfitters.  Took a really long time, and I don't know if the stuff will even come at all.
• Helped Yagami-san plan the Christmas Run (Skating through town wearing Santa Outfits on the 24th.)  This will be Martin's first Santa Skate.  I'm doing the restaurant reservation and food ordering. 
• Ueno City Run. Skated from Ueno to Aoyami with skating group.  The Ginko trees at Gaienne (goal) were so fabulously beautiful yellow gold.
• Took Monica to the doctor and gave her special attention.
• With the help of the children, put up the Christmas tree.
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