2019/02/05 Kappa’ｓ miracle medicine

A long time ago in a small village, a doctor was returning home after helping someone. He was riding his horse over a bridge when suddenly the horse stopped. The doctor looked around, but it was early evening dark and getting dark. He could not see much. Then, the horse started to walk backward. Maybe the horse was being pulled.

The doctor looked behind him carefully and saw a hand coming out from under the bridge, pulling the horse’s tail.

This must be a Kappa. The doctor drew his sword and cut off the arm that was pulling his horse’s tail.

Arghhh. There was a shout, and the sound of something jumping into the water.

The doctor jumped down from his horse and looked around. He found a green arm lying on the ground. The hand had webbed fingers. The doctor picked up the arm and took it home with him.

That night, the doctor was in bed when he heard someone knocking on the door. Ah, someone must be very sick, the doctor thought.

He opened the door, and had a big surprise. It was a sad-looking Kappa. The Kappa was standing there with only one arm.

The doctor shouted at the Kappa. You pulled my horse’s tail tonight. What are you doing here? The Kappa said, Well, sir, I’m sorry. I was trying to pull your horse into the river when you cutt off my arm. It was just a joke, but now I only have one arm and I cannot swim. If I can't swim, I will not have enough food. I will die. Would you give me back my arm, please? The Kappa bowed his head again and again.

The doctor felt sorry for the poor Kappa. If you promise never to play tricks on people again, I will give you back your arm. But why do you want it? You can't put your arm back on. said the doctor.

I have a special medicine. I will use it to put my arm back on. My arm will be fine. If you give me back my arm, I will teach you how to make the medicine.

The doctor was interested in this special medicine. He gave the arm back to the Kappa. The Kappa taught the doctor what plants to use and how to make them into the medicine. Then, the Kappa went home with his arm.

The next morning, a farmer came to the doctor with a broken arm. The doctor made the Kappa’s medicine and used it on the farmer’s arm. Suddenly, the farmer’s arm was fine.

Since then, the doctor used the Kappa’s miracle medicine to help many people.

2019/02/04 A&B @ The Niyodo River

Slowly, slowly. Bring your right foot down.

Oh. It's scary.

I can't believe you're afraid of hights. You're a street performer. You shouldn’t be afraid of high places.

Just leave me alone.

I’m Akito. Today, Ben and I are by the Niyodo River in Kochi Prefecture. It's our day off. We were going to bike around the area, but Ben suddenly said he wanted to see a famous waterfall pool.

Listen. You can hear the sound of water.

Hey, I think I can see the waterfall.

Wow. Akito, look at the color of the water. That blue-green color is so beautiful.

Yeah, and the water is so clear. It looks amazing.

I think that blue-grean color is called Niyodo Blue.

Yes. In Kochi, the Shimant River is famous, but the quality of water in the Niyodo River was chosen as the best of the main rivers in Japan.

Ah, it feels so good just sitting here.

If you look at the water, you forget how tired you are.

Okay, let's go back.

Already?

There are many more places that I want to see.

Ben, wait. Going up is much more work than coming down.

Oh, Akito, you need more exercise. I see a field over there.

That’s a tea field. They grow tea around here.

Oh, look. They're selling matcha ice cream.

Hey, where are you going?

Ben first tried matcha in Japan, and now he loves it. When he sees a sign with the word matcha on it, he always runs toward it.

It tastes so good. It's traditional, yet different.

What's in the bag?

It's matcha pudding. It's not for you.

I know. Anyway, whare are we going next?

I heard there is a bridge that goes underwater when there is a lot of water in the river.

This bridge has nothing on the sides to keep people from falling in the water. This way the water can pass over it easily. Kochi Prefecture has a lot of these bridges. Ben and I start walking across it.

Oh, no. There is a car coming.

Just stand on the side of the road.

Phew. That car was really close. Walking across a bridge like this is a really adventure.

It sure is. Now let's go check out Nakatsu valley.

Sure, but how many more places are we going to?

This river meets the ocean. There are good waves in that area, so we can go surfing. And then, I want to try the local beer, and.

Ben, it's our day off. I just want to relax.

We’re already relaxing.

We are?

I found out today that Ben and I have very different views about relaxing.

2019/02/01 A bunch of grapes Episode four

I walked home on the road by the sea as usual. I watched the ships as usual. At home, I ate all the grapes. They were delicious.

The next day came. I didn’t want to go to school. I wished I had a stomachache. I wished I had a headache. But that day, I didn’t even have a toothache. So I left the house and started for a school. At the school gate, I felt like I could not enter. Then, I remembered my teacher’s words. I didn’t want to see anyone else, but I really wanted to see her face.

And she would be sad if I didn’t go to class. I wanted my teacher to look at me with her kind eyes again. With only that thought, I entered the chool gate.

Then, to my surprise, Jim came rushing toward me. It was like he was waiting for me. it was like he had forgotton about the day before. He took my hand and led me to our teacher’s room. I thought that my classmates would stay far away  from me and say bad things about me like, Look at that Japanese. He's a thief. This was not what I thought would happen. It was a little scary.

My teacher must have heard our footsteps. She opened the door before Jim knocked on it. We entered her room. Jim, you are a good boy. I am happy you understood what I said to you.

Then, she told me, Jim says that you do not have to say sorry to him anymore. You two can become good friends from now on. That is what matters. Now shake hands like gentlemen.

My teacher smiled as she made us face each other. I didn’t feel comfortable with the situation. I didn’t think it should end and so easily. But Jim grabbed my hand and shook it. I was embarrassed and could only smile. Jim was also smiling.

My teacher asked me, Did you enjoy eating the grapes? I answered honestly, Yes. Then, I will give you some more, she said.

She was dressed in white that day. She reached out from the window and grabbed a bunch of grapes. She held the purple grapes in her left hand and cut the bunch in the middle with long silver scissors. There were two bunch of grapes now. My teacher handed Jim and me one each. I can clearly remember this beautiful scene. Purple grapes in her white hand.

Since that time, I have become a better person and not as shy. I wonder where that teacher is now. I know that I will never see her again. But I wish that I could. Every fall, grapes become a beautiful perple covered with fine white powder.

But I will never find the beautiful wihte stone-like hands that held them.

2019/01/31 Mongolia

Hello, I am Mongolia. What do you think of when you hear my name? Let me guess. Green fields with white ger tents? People riding horses under an endless blue sky? Sumo wrestlers? Oh, and maybe Genghis Kahn, too?

So you may know a few things about me. But today I’m going to tell you more. Have you heard of my capital city, Ulan Bator? It's near the Gobi Desert. Did you know it's the coldest capital inn the world? The average temperature is minus 1.3 degrees Celsius, but during cold winter days, it gets as cold as minus 40 degrees. If you don't like the cold, remember to bring warm clothes when you visit me.

I am located between China and Russia, and I am about four times bigger than Japan. My population is about three million, and most people used to travel around living in gers.

I am interesting in many ways, but today, let me tell you about the eagle hunters. The Kazakh tribe lives in the western part of my country at a very high place, 2500 meters above the sea. They are said to be the oldest tribe to hunt with eagles.

The history goes back 4000 years. They say that it started when a man became rich by hunting with golden eagles. Since then, the Kazakh people think of the golden eagle as the god of wealth. You see, it's hard to grow food in some parts of my country. The Kazakh people live in one of those areas, so it is difficult for them to earn money.

There are not many eagle hunters these days because there are fewer Kazakh people who live in the traditional way.

Hunters hunt with female golden eagles. The female golden eagle is two meters across when she spreads her wings, and weighs around six kilograms. I heard that some people in your country hunt with hawks. Our golden eagles are three times bigger than hawks, and they can fly as fast as 200 kilometers per hour. That’s faster than car on a highway, you know.

Eagles always work with the same hunter. But after many years of hunting, the eagle is set free. Hunters release the eagle so it can live in the wild again. The Kazakh people are careful about keeping a good balance with nature.

Fathers teach their sons how to hunt with eagles. Usually, a son starts his training at 13 years old, or when he is old enough to carry an eagle on his arm.

Eagle hunters go after foxes and rabbits in the high mountains. Winter is the main season to hunt. Oh, and I heard that a girl has started training to become eagle hunter.

Life in my country is changing. I hope you will come and experience the traditional and new Mongolia.

2019/01/30 An empty box

My dream was to win the marathon in the world chanmpionships. In high school, I got third place in the national competition and was chosen to join a special training program. I ran every day and only thought about the marathon. I became so fast, and I was sure I could go to the world championships. But I was wrong. Just before our team left, I hurt my leg. That was the end of my career as a marathon runner. After that, I became empty inside. Just like an empty box. I didn’t even have the energy to get out of bed.

The person who saved me was my coach. He waited until I was ready to start a new life. He never told me to do anything but was always by my side. After a few months, I noticed that I wasn’t an empty box anymore. Little by little, my coach helped me find myself again. He became the love of my life, and we got married. He still coached runners, but he never talked about running in front of me. Maybe he didn’t want to make me feel bad.

A few years later, another person came into my life. A baby that looked just like my husband. I was so happy. But suddenly, my happiness ended.

The love of my life died. He left for work one day and never came home. I became afraid. I lost my love. What if I lose my baby, too? Then, I will become that empty box again, I thought, I have to do everything to make my child happy. After that, I worked very hard. I worked so hard that I didn’t have time to feel sad that my child’s father died

Five years passed. One day, I was getting ready to move to a new city, and I found the love of my life’s diary. It was in the closet. In the diary, it said, I really want to see her run one more time. This made me cry so hard. Why didn’t he tell me this when he was alive? After reading his diary, I made a decision. I was going to run again. So I started to prepare for a local marathon. I wanted to show him that I was doing okay.

You are going to do really well, Mom. Don't worry.

I can't believe how much my son sounds like his father. Suddenly, I feel like crying.

Mom? Are you okay?

Yes. I have you, so I’m not empty anymore.

Huh?

I will never again be an empty box. My dream didn’t come true, but my heart is full of momories of the love of my life. And now I have my son. That’s why I can move forward.

Go. Mom.