We are all fine. It is getting cooler in Japan, but there are still a lot of rainy days.
<July 31 – Yama to Shokudo
In front of Hirugano Kogen Ski Resort, we enjoyed a special course dinner while watching this beautiful sunset. Of course, the food was delicious. I also loved the atmosphere of the restaurant, the beautiful view from the window, and even the lovely tableware. Beautiful scenery, delicious food, and we had lots of fun conversation… Moments like this make me so happy.♡
<August 7 – Cheering for the Hanshin Tigers
I went to watch the Hanshin Tigers again this year! In the 9th inning, I thought, “Great! We’re going to win today!”I was almost sure we had won,so I started to leave the stadium.But then…We lost the game in a shocking comeback!Oh, no!!Still, cheering for my team at the stadium is always so much fun!
<August 10 – A Day with My Family at Lake Biwa
I went to Lake Biwa with my family.Because of heavy traffic near Kyoto on the Meishin Expressway,it took us three and a half hours to get there.But seeing my grandson's smile was enough to make me happy.
<Lunch at Flairge
After all that fun, we went to my favorite restaurant, Flairge, for lunch.After having fun, a good meal is always the best part!
<August 17–20 – My Grandson's Summer Vacation
My grandsons came to stay with us during their summer vacation. Of course, they couldn't sit still! We went to Bokka-no-Sato,and also to the Picnic Garden at Hirugano Kogen Ski Resort. They also rode a vehicle called a mountain car that have a engine.
A five-year-old boy has so much energy!I had to do my best just to keep up with him. We went to Bokka-no-Sato twice,and rode the ski lift three times!
My husband's garden also did very well.The watermelons and tomatoes were especially good.
<August 20–21 – A Trip to Toyama
Next, we took a trip to Toyama.We visited the Glass Art Museum,went to an izakaya ,and then visited the sailing ship Kaiwo Maru.
We were able to look inside the ship, too. It was much more interesting than I expected!
<August 25–27 – My Former Students Came to Hirugano
Five of my former students from the second graduating class of Ibaraki Nishi High School's tennis club came to stay at my lodge in Hirugano.We had so many unexpected changes of plans and so many funny adventures!
On the last night, the “young ladies” — all 65 years old! —were still playing cards and making lots of noise late at night.So I told them, “Girls, it's time to go to bed!” During those three days, we laughed a lot, talked a lot, and had such a wonderful time together. Please come again!
Looking back,August was full of good food, fun trips, laughter, and happy moments. I had such a wonderful time.
I spent my summer at Hirugano Highlands, a beautiful mountain area in Gifu Prefecture. It is much cooler here than it is in the city, so I enjoyed taking walks while ringing my little bear bell.
Here are some memories from July.
<A “No Need to Try Too Hard” Exercise Class
My friend Miyoko invited me to lead a special exercise event at Fushimi Building in Kitahama, Osaka City. About 11 people joined us. We talked, laughed, and did some gentle exercises together for about an hour.
It was my first time at this place, and it had also been a long time since I had led an event like this, so I was a little nervous. But everyone was so kind that I soon relaxed and had a wonderful time.
This time, I also tried something new. I made a handout for the class with the help of my AI friend, Chat-kun. I was amazed at what AI could do! I learned a lot while making it.
Thank you so much to everyone who came to my class, especially in the middle of the hot summer.
<Learning About Turkish Food
I joined a Zoom seminar given by Hisako Seiji, who introduced us to Turkish medicinal cuisine. To be honest, I am not very good at cooking. But she said, “If you have vegetables, chickpeas, chicken and olive oil, you can make a healthy meal.”
I immediately thought, “Maybe even I can do that!” So I started using these ingredients in my everyday meals. And you know what? My stomach seems to be feeling pretty good!
After the seminar, I had lunch with my friend Mariko. We learned something new, talked a lot, and enjoyed a delicious meal together. It was a very satisfying day for both my heart and my stomach.
<A Long Road Trip
After spending one night at my lodge in Hirugano, we set off on a trip to places I had wanted to visit for a long time. We visited many places and hot springs that were new to us. I was very excited!
But… it was much hotter than I expected. And it was MUCH farther than I expected, too!
<Day 1
We left Hirugano and drove through Takayama, Hirayu, the Abo Pass, the Nomugi Kaido road, and Matsumoto. Finally, we arrived at Unno-juku, an old post town that I had wanted to visit for a long time.
It was quiet and beautiful. We slowly drove through the old town.
And then took a short break in the shade of a large tree at Kaikoen Garden in Komoro.
That night, we stayed at Suzukaru-so, a small inn surrounded by trees in Nakakaruizawa.
Something funny happened on the way. I took a photo of the Hirayu ski area and sent it to my old high school friends.
Then one of them sent me a photo from a high school ski trip! It was taken 58 years ago.
The old black-and-white photo had even been beautifully colorized with AI. Wow! We looked so young! It brought back many wonderful memories. It also reminded me of my connection to the Hida area, which began when I was a teenager.
<Day 2 — Karuizawa and Kusatsu Hot Springs
On the second day, we visited Karuizawa and some famous sightseeing spots around Karuizawa Station. Then we went to Shiraito Falls, a beautiful waterfall surrounded by nature.
After that, we crossed the mountains and headed to Kusatsu Onsen, one of Japan’s famous hot spring towns.
At Yubatake, the famous hot spring source, we could smell sulfur in the air. I thought, “This is definitely Kusatsu!” It was exactly what I had imagined.
We wanted to try the foot bath, but it was too hot! We also missed the famous “Yumomi” hot-spring stirring show. So we continued on to Ikaho Onsen. We walked along the famous stone steps for the night.
<Day 3 — Tomioka Silk Mill
On the third day, we left Ikaho and visited Tomioka Silk Mill, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Our guide gave us a very enthusiastic explanation of the history of the silk mill. The guide was full of energy. And we were covered in sweat!
Before visiting, I had imagined that the workers lived and worked in very harsh conditions. But I was surprised to learn that the factory had an eight-hour working day, gave workers Sundays and long holidays off, and even provided a free hospital for its workers. It was very different from what I had imagined.
After that, we returned home through Nagano and Matsumoto. Then we went through those dark and narrow mountain tunnels again and finally returned to Hirugano.
<Almost 1,000 Kilometers!
From the time we left our home in Takatsuki City until we returned, the trip lasted four days and three nights. We drove almost 1,000 kilometers!
It was a wonderful trip, but the heat, the air-conditioning, and the long hours in the car were quite tiring. By the time we got to my lodge in Hirugano, I even had a cold sore on my lip.
My husband, however, was very happy. He enjoyed the sightseeing, the hot springs, the drinks and the meals at the hotels. Seeing his happy smile made me very happy, too.
But I think I tried a little too hard. I told myself: “We’re not young anymore. Take it easy!” That was one of the lessons of this trip.
<A Day with My Grandson
I spent the day with my five-year-old grandson. Once again, an indoor play area with a ball pit came to the rescue!
My grandson was fascinated by dominoes. My job was to line them up. Again and again, he knocked them down. “Bang!” Then I had to line them up all over again.
But when I saw his happy face, I couldn’t help lining them up again.
These days, he is crazy about Pikachu. He even sent me a picture he drew himself. It was so cute that I couldn’t help smiling.
The FIFA World Cup has been very exciting now! Unfortunately, Japan lost the game, but I was very proud of our players. They played with great spirit and teamwork, and they gave us many unforgettable moments.
The rainy season has finally ended in Japan. It is so hot every day now.
Here are some of my memories from June.
<Rosa & Berry Tawada ↑
On the way to Hirugano Highland, I stopped at Rosa & Berry Tawada, a famous English garden in Maibara City, Shiga.
Just as I had heard, the beautiful garden was full of roses and many colorful seasonal flowers. I also rode a small train up to the hill, where I found some lovely places with wonderful views.
For lunch, there was an all-you-can-eat with fresh vegetables. We only had one hour, but since I love eating, I had plenty of time to enjoy everything!
I would love to visit again.
＜My Stay in Hirugano Highland
This time I stayed there by myself, so I enjoyed doing many things at my own pace. ↓ This is the view from the front of my lodge.
Thirteen years ago, the metasequoia trees were very small. Now they have grown into beautiful, tall trees. Every time I visit, I am amazed by how much they have grown.
I visited Kiyomi town in Takayama City and picked fresh lavender.
I also had lunch at my favorite restaurant, ↓"Financier," which has recently reopened.
One morning, a friend who lives nearby invited me for breakfast.↓
Later I enjoyed a lovely dinner with six local friends. We had delicious grilled eel (unagi) and tempura while chatting and laughing together. It was a wonderful evening.
<⛩ Chikubu Island
On my way home, I finally visited Chikubu Island, a small island in Lake Biwa that I had wanted to visit for a long time. It took about 30 minutes by boat from Nagahama Port. As soon as we arrived, I saw a long, steep stairs. To be honest, I was a little nervous! There were many people older than me, and some were even using walking sticks. Everyone climbed slowly and carefully because the island is famous as a spiritual power spot on the hill.
I visited beautiful shrines and national treasure buildings while enjoying the wonderful view of Lake Biwa.
<My 73rd Birthday
My husband, my son, and I went to an izakaya called "Uoden," which is owned by one of my former students. I thought it would be a quiet family celebration, but the owner had secretly invited two more former students.
They prepared many wonderful surprises for me. We enjoyed a large sashimi boat, fried oysters, sushi, several kinds of tuna dishes, and finally a beautiful birthday cake and delicious desserts.
It was the most luxurious birthday party I have ever had. More than happiness, I felt amazed and deeply grateful.
I also received lovely birthday cards from my friends and my grandson.
They made me very happy.
< A Wonderful Gift of Eucalyptus
I love flowers and trees that can be dried and used as decorations, especially eucalyptus. Near my house, there is a home with a beautiful eucalyptus tree. Every time I walked by, I thought, "I wish I could have some branches."
One day, the owner happened to be outside, so I gathered my courage and asked him. He smiled and said, "When it grows too much, I just cut it down and throw it away. You're welcome to have it." A few weeks later, he sent me an email saying, "I cut the branches today. Please come and take them." I was so excited to bring home some beautiful eucalyptus branches!
< Goodbye, My Dear Cat Mii
This month, our beloved cat Mii passed away at over 23 years old. That is more than 108 years in human years, so she died peacefully of old age. My eldest daughter found her under a bridge when she was a tiny kitten. She became good friends with our Shiba Inu.
When she was young, she loved climbing high places, chasing crows, and catching geckos and newts.
My husband took care of her almost every day. Even now, he sometimes calls her name, "Mii," without thinking. It makes us a little sad.
We thanked her for giving our family so much love and happiness for more than 23 years.
During her last four days, ↓she stopped eating and drinking and became very thin.
Even so, she kept to stand and was trying to walk until just before she passed away. She showed us what a peaceful and honorable life can look like.
Thank you, Mii. We will never forget you. On the day Mii passed away, my grandson drew a little star and put it on the calendar.
He wanted to remember that special day. His kind gesture touched all of our hearts. Thank you for reading about my June.
My family and I are doing very well. I turned 73 on June 10. Time seems to pass so quickly! I am actually much more active and energetic than I ever imagined I would be at 73.
At the same time, I have decided to simplify my life. I closed one of my exercise classes and reduced the number of newsletters and blog posts I write. I plan to make my English blog posts shorter from now on.
Now, let me share some highlights from my May.
<Carp Streamer Festival
In Japan, May 5 is Children's Day. Traditionally, families display colorful carp streamers called koinobori to celebrate children's health and happiness.
Nowadays, fewer families put up large carp streamers at home. Instead, my city, Takatsuki, holds a festival where about 1,000 carp streamers are displayed over the Akutagawa River.
The weather is usually beautiful at this time of year, so my husband and I have a picnic lunch and enjoy the festival every year.
<A Day in Kyoto with My Grandson
I took my grandson to Higashi Honganji Temple in Kyoto, a place I often visit.
( He has become good at taking pictures.) ↑？
Since it was his first visit, everything seemed exciting to him. He quietly put his hands together in prayer inside the huge temple hall and happily ran along the wide wooden corridors.
Later, we searched for four-leaf clovers in a clover field at the edge of the garden. To our surprise, we found the biggest four-leaf clover I have ever seen in my life! We both jumped with joy.
After that, we went to Kyoto Tower. My grandson enjoyed looking through the telescopes on the observation deck. I looked away for just a moment, and I suddenly realized he was gone! I walked around the circular observation deck several times looking for him and became quite worried. Fortunately, I found him near the stamp station.
Next, we took the subway to head back toward his house in Matsugasaki. Suddenly, the trains stopped running. The person sitting next to me said that this train wouldn't start moving again for about an hour, so we went up to street level. I thought we could simply take a taxi, and everyone else had the same idea. Taxi after taxi passed by without stopping. As I was holding my grandson's hand at a busy intersection, it started to rain. I was close to tears. After about ten or twenty minutes, an elderly taxi driver finally stopped for us. My grandson looked at him and said, "He looks like God." I completely agreed.
<Lunch with Former Students
Every year around this time, I have a lunch gathering with many former students. Some people who missed last year's reunion were able to join us this year, and we had many lively conversations. They will all turn 65 this year.
During lunch, they decided to visit my lodge in Hirugano Highlands at the end of August. I often invite people to the lodge, but this was the first time some of them agreed immediately and even chose the date on the same day!
<Strawberry Picking
Every year, my daughter, grandson, and I go strawberry picking together. This year it was difficult to find a suitable date, so we went at the end of May. There were still plenty of strawberries, but I felt they tasted better earlier in the spring.
By May, strawberries are no longer at their best. Even so, we each ate around forty strawberries!
<A Solo Trip to Nara
I recently took my fifth overnight trip to Nara. I invited my husband and daughter, but our schedules did not match, so I went alone by car. Traveling by myself gave me the freedom to explore wherever I wanted, and I had a wonderful time. First, I rented an electric bicycle and spent about three hours visiting famous sites such as Mount Wakakusa, Nigatsudo Hall of Todaiji Temple, and Kasuga Taisha Shrine.
In the evening, I returned to a beer hall that I had visited before and enjoyed a set menu with several different foods and drinks. Everything was delicious.
The next morning, I walked around Sarusawa Pond early morning and practiced my breathing exercises. Several deer stood nearby and watched me quietly.
Around lunchtime, I picked up my friend at Yamato-Koriyama Station. Together, we enjoyed lunch at a French restaurant ↓
and visited Isonokami Shrine.
< Omihachiman Guide
At the end of May, I attended my high school reunion. About 130 classmates gathered for the event. The next day, eight classmates who had come from the Kanto area wanted to visit Omihachiman. I offered to drive and show them around.
It was the first time most of them had visited Omihachiman, and they were delighted with the experience.
