hiking & live concert

I went hiking to the Heisei Forest on Wednesday. "Heisei" is the name of this era. It's in Nasu highlands approximately 180km of north of Tokyo. A rich forest about 560 ha area was managed as part of the Imperial Family's villa site and it is opened to the public. Because the nature of this area is almost untouched long time,many animals and plants inhabit including rare species here.

I took a half-day tour with nature guide.The picture below is the view from the arbor called "Seishin-tei,pure soul arbor" the place the Showa Emperor liked. I was surprised that the arbor was so simple building though I had imagined the arbor must be luxurious.

That was the event of the morning.

Then went to the town in the afternoon.


I went to the live concert of Miki Imai who is a female singer with fine clear voice.It's her 25th anniversary as a singer this year.Because I liked not only her voice but melody and lyrics,I listen to her music over and over again when I was younger.She married to the guitarist who play Kill Bill vol.1's song.It is amazing that she is 49 years old.

On The Air!

We got phone call from local radio station a couple days ago. They said they wanted us to be part of the morning program.There is about 7minutes live program for introduction of the shops in local area. The reporter visit different restraunts,cafes,shops etc. everyday to introduce those shops to the listeners.

I surprised the reporter came here alone with microphone and other stuff and he did everything by himself. He had conversation with DJ who was in the studio.

I watched them from behind during live program. They were almost like comedians. By the way,there was no audience in front of them. They were taking to the window. I was worried my husband might fail but he made it(almost.) Good job!

The bush warblers are singing now. It was just comfortable afternoon.

We are off tomorrow then go hike!

The Kiss Day.

I've heard an interesting story.

It is the kiss day on May 23rd in Japan.
This was the day the first movie with kiss secene was on the screen in 1946 in Japan.
That's it,I guess. I don't think it is a day for encouraging to kiss.

As you know,(most)Japanese are too shy for kissing in public.

Well..just a trivial.

over the rainbow

There was a rainbow this morning. I love the rainbow. When watch it,I become to think the good things are going to happen.

Good news.

Two places in Japan are recomended to be listed as UNESCO World Heritage site.

The picture above is Ogasawara Islands which are located 1,000 km southern of the Special wards of Tokyo. These are comprised of more than 30 islands, and original ecosystem has been brought up because it has been separated from the continent since the formation. It's called "Oriental Galapagos."

-Chu son temple- The temple of the Jodo sect of Buddhism.

These are Hiraizumi in Iwate,Tohoku region. The news delivered encouragement in disaster-hit region. The number of tourists can be expected.

handmade project.

The Golden Week is almost over.
We had a lot of customers yesterday.The number of the customers and sales were the best since opening of the cafe.

It was quite nomal day today. I had some time to do handicrafts.

The cards for the mothers day.

For Bookworm. -book cover.

Constitution Memorial Day.

It doesn't look good,doesn't it?
But it is one of my favorite food,chonese-style dumpling. It's a side dish of the supper of tonight.


It's a Constitutional Memorial Day today.
Constitution of Japan promulgated on May 3rd in 1947. To celebrate promulgation,this day became one of the national holiday.

It was rainy afternoon.

The traffic front of our cafe funally became traffic jam. People are back.

memory of the sepia

At last pink and yellow turip are in full bloom in the front yard.

My husband told me that he got message on his twitter from the customer who visited yesterday afternoon.I remember them. They looked elderly parents and middle aged son.

The mother was elegant and smiling all the time. The father used the stick when he walked and son helped him. They sat down in the back of the cafe.

The message says;

-I am a person who visited your cafe with my parents today.When we were about to go to bedroom,my aged father muttered that he drunk delicious coffee after a long absence today.-

I don't know where were they from. How did they find our cafe. Where did they go after they left us. What did they do.But the father remembered us just before he slept.

When I heard this,I was moved and speechless for while.

What a wonderful encounter.

favorite spring scene

The Children's Day is May 5th. It's a day to respect children's personalities and to celebrate their happiness which was desinated a national holiday since 1948.
But the day originally hope of the success in life of the boy of the family. The family display "Koinobori" means "Carp-streamer" (carp-shaped windsocks) in the garden of the house.





By the Chinese legend, many fish were going to climb the waterfall, but only a carp finished climbing it, and become the dragon.Then the carp was assumed a symbol of the success in life.

I rarely watched a carp streamer for reasons of the declining birthrate,the garden is smaller in urban area but I see the carp streamer goes up high around the town here.

The carp-streamer display from mid April to May 5th.(period would be depend on the area.)