2018/12/12 The audition

Thank you for coming. We’ll let you know the results in a few days. Naoya-san, what did you think of her?

She didn’t match the image of the lead role.

Okay. I'll call in the next person.

I've been working as a movie director for 25 years. Today, I’m holding an audition for the lead role in my next movie. To be honest, it won't be easy to find the right actor because this character is about my first love, Yoshiko-san. Ah, Yoshiko-san, I will always remember your cheerful voice.

Hello. I’m Machiko Nakamura. I’m 18 years old.

Whoa. You don't  have to speak so loudly.

We can hear you.

That’s okay. So where are you from?

I’m from Sapporo.

Really? I’m from Sapporo,too.

I know. My mother told me that you were in the same class in high school.

Your mother? Who is she?

I’m Yoshiko Shiraishi’s daughter.

Yoshiko-san’s daughter?

Naoya-san. Are you all right?

Yes. so, uh, how is your mother?

Naoya-san, you shouldn’t ask personal questions.

But I want to know.

My mother is doing well. She always tells everyone she knows you.

Yoshiko-san talks about me?

Mahiko-san, your mother might be Naoya-san’s friend. But that doesn't mean you will get the part. Right, Naoya-san?

Of course. Okay. Please turn to page eight of the script. The line is Yoshiko’s..uh, no, Yoshie’s line. Could you sai it for me?

Yes, sir.

Okay, go.

Naoki. Wait. Why won't you talk to me? What did I do?

Cut. I think she’s good.

Really?

Machiko-san, I want you to be the star of my movie.

Really? I’m so happy to hear that.

So do you have any questions?

Actually, I do. Is this story about my mother?

Oh, no. she knows.

Why do you think that?

Well, the story takes place in Sapporo, and the character’s name, Yoshie, is very similar to Yoshiko, my mother’s name.

There are many women in Sapporo with similar names.

But the man in this story is named Naoki, and your name is Naoya. Is this a true story?

I have changed my mind. You're not going to be in the movie.

Oh, okay. Thank you. Goodbye.

Wait. I don't want you to look so sad. I've changed my mind again. You can play the lead role.

Naoya-san. Are you feeling okay?

Oh, but what if Yoshiko-san finds out that she was my first love.

My mother was your first love?

Yes.

Don't tell my dad, but my mom said you were her first love, too.

2018/12/11 The old lady skin

Once upon a time, there lived a pretty young girl. One day, her mother became sick and died. The girl’s father soon found a new wife. The new wife didn’t like the pretty young girl. She threw the girl out of the house. Don't come back.

The young girl didn’t know what to do, so she started walking. After a while, it became dark. The girl saw a light up in the mountains and walk to it. It was a small house with an old lady living inside. The girl said, Please let me stay here tonight. The old lady agreed and gave her a fine dinner.

The next morning, the old lady said, There are some dangerous men on this mountain. So put on this old lady skin. If you wear this, you will look like an old lady. Then, they will not attack you. Go down the mountain, and there is a rich man’s house. Ask someone there to give you a job.

The girl put on the old lady skin. Suddenly, she looked like an old lady.

The girl went down the mountain. The dangerous men saw her, and one of them said, She looks old an poor. I don't think she has anything we can take.

The young girl safely reached the rich man’s house. There, the girl said, I will do anything. I will do anything. Please give me a job. The servant said, Well, old lady, you can help in the kitchen.

One day, the rich man’s son came home late at night. He saw a light in the room of the old lady. He wondered, Why is she awake? He looked through a hole in the door. To his surprise, he saw a pretty young girl reading a book. He fell in love with her at once.

After that, the rich man’s son started to think about her all the time. He didn’t eat, drink or sleep. He became very sick. Doctors gave him medicines, but none of them worked. At last, the family decided to ask a fortune-teller to help. The fortune-teller said, Ah, the young man is in love with one of the ladies working at this house.

The rich man ordered all the women to bring tea to his son. If he drank from one of a the cups, the person who brought that tea would become his wife.

Each woman put on her best clothes and brought him a cup of tea. But he would drink from none of the cups. The only woman left was the old lady who helped in the kitchen.

It's your turn.

The old lady said, Just a moment, please.

Then, she went to her room, took off the old lady skin and became a pretty young girl again. She brought some tea to the rich man’s son. He saw her smiled and said, thank you. I think I will have some tea.

The girl married the young man and lived happily ever after.

2018/12/10 A&B @ Goshiki-numa

Look, ben. This view looks like a Monet painting.

Monet?

The French painter. This milky-blue color is amazing. I can see why it's called Aonuma, or Blue Pond.

Akito and I are in place called Goshiki-numa in Fukushima Prefecture. It is in the Ura-Bandai area. Akito is more excited than usual. I think I know why.

I’m so glad we’ll be in Tokyo tomorrow. Ben, aren’t you excited, too?

Yeah.

We have always gone to places you’ve chosen. Now it's my turn to chose.

We had a good time, didn’t we? Anyway, why do you want to go to Tokyo so much?

Because there are more people there. More people will watch us, and we can earn more money. You know, we don't have much money left.

Money, money, money. You only care about money. There are more important things in life than money.

Don't tell me what I shoud think.

Excuse me. Could you speak more quietly?

I look behind me and see an old woman standing there. She is smiling.

People come to Goshiki-numa to enjoythe view and have fun. Not to have fights.

Oh, we're sorry.

The old woman tells us that she used to work as a nature guide here.

In 1888, there was a volcanic explosion on Mount Aizu-Bandai, and Goshiki-numa appeared. The river stopped and became lakes and ponds. Goshiki means five colors, and as you can see, the ponds here have defferent colors. Most are blue, but there are also red ones and green ones.

Wow. I can't waitto see them.

The biggest is called Lake Bishamon, and you rent a rowboat there. In the Bandai area, there over 300 lakes and ponds.

300?

Yes. when the river stopped flowing, some villages disappeared because of all the water.

Really?

Yes. And nealy 500 people died.

Oh, no. I didn’t know something so sad happened here. I’m sorry I was fighting. That was stupid.

Oh, that’s okay. Nature created these beautiful ponds. Because of that, young people like you come to visit. I think it's a miracle.

A miracle? I’m a miracle?

Akito, I don't think she means just you.

So are you two students?

No, we are street performers.

We're traveling around Japan to get better at performing.

That’s wonderful.

Would you like to see us perform?

I would love to.

Akito and I start performing. The old women is the only person watching.

That was fantastic. So how much should I pay you?

Oh, this was special for us, too, so we don't want any money.

Wow, Akito. You’ve changed.

Ben, shhhh.

Thank you, but I feel bad. Let me give you these bus tickets. Maybe you can use them during your trip around Japan.

Thank you so much.

We’ll never forget Goshiki-numa.

2018/12/07 Against the rain

Not even the rain

And not even the wind

Will stop me

Not even the snow

And not even hot summer days

Will stop me

All I want is a healthy body

I do not wish for unnecessary things

Nor angry feelings

All I want is a quiet smile on my face

To eat four big bowls of brown rice every day

With miso and some vegetables is my wish

I do not want to think about myself

But only of others

For all and everything

All I want is to look, listen and understand

As well as possible

And never to forget

To live in a small house with a grass roof

In the shade of a pine forest in a field is my wish

If there is a sick child in the east

I will go and take care of him or her

If there is a tired mother in the west

I will go and carry her bundle of wheat

If there is someone about to die in the south

I will go and tell them there is nothing to fear

If there is someone fighting or in court in the north

I will go and tell them it is not worth it

I will cry many tears

When there is no rain and the land is dry

Walk around helplessly during cold summers

And be called a good for nothing

I do not want to be praised

Nor be in anyone’s way

That is my goal

That is the kind of person I want to be

2018/12/06 Tanzania

How are you doing? Quiz time. Can you guess which country I am? I am located in eastern Africa. I have the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, and the largest fresh water lake in Africa, Lake Victoria. And Freddie Mercury froma the band Queen was born here. Time’s up. I am the United Republic of Tanzania.

I am about 2.5 times as big as Japan. My capital city used to be Dar es Salaaam, but no it is Dodoma. My population is 55 million and is made up of around 130 tribes. There is one tribe I want to talk about today.

It's a tribe called the Hadza. It is said that there are only about 1000 Hadza people now. They are special because they do not farm. If they are hungry, the men go catch animals or birds, and the women gather berries and wild potatoes.

The hadza tribes lives in groups in the northeastern part of my country. When they speak, they sometimes make clicking sounds with their toungues. They have no calendar. They only have words for today, tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, but nothing else. They hunt when the sun rises, and they go to sleep when night comes.

Oh, and they have a unique way of finding people. If they need to find someone, they look at footprints on the ground. Why you ask? Well, each person carves their own symbol on the back of their sandals. So they can tell where someone went by looking at the footprints.

Their lives are different from those of people who live in cities. If you need to move to a different room or house, how many boxes do you need to pack all your things? Many, right? But the Hadza people only need a blanket to carry their things. They wrap their bows and arrows, some dried food, clothes a pot and spoon and move whenever they like. They move quite often, you see. Sometimes they move as many as six times a year. They move to find more animals to hunt and a better place to gather berries.

There are groups of tourists that visit them, so they know of the modern way of living. But they say, Hadza people live the Hadza way. They value their way of living, and it has not changed much in 10000 years.

They have not changed, but the environment around them has changed. Other people have started making farms and raising animals in ther traditional Hadza hunting areas. So there is less food for them to eat.

There is so much more I want to tell you about my country. You have to come and experience a safari, amazing scenery, beautiful beaches and many different and wonderful cultures. We are waiting for you.