ダニエルカールのんだっす！

山形県、飯豊町のファン・クラブ真冬イベント — Iide Town Fan (Fun) Club Mid-Winter Event

Jan 18

雪の多い今年だからこそ、盛り上がりました。山形県飯豊町（いいでまち）のファン・クラブの真冬の集い。雪国を楽しんでみたい方々が集まり、スノー・モビールに乗ったり、雪遊び、雪のろうそく、小正月のどんど焼き、そば打ち体験、等などを。飯豊町の名物（アスパラ、米、いいで牛、etc.）たくさんあるなか、特に真冬のものといえば、やっぱ、ドブロクだべ。簡単なビデオに、まとめましたんで、どうぞ。このリンクも是非見てけらっしゃい　＝　http://bit.ly/uhKczS　CLICK HERE

I went up to the northern Town of Iide in Yamagata Prefecture recently to participate in their annual Mid-Winter Fan Club (also known as the “Fun Club”) Event. I go up every year to ride snow mobiles, enjoy the scenery and unique winter decorations, but this year was great. They snow was PERFECT. We also got to eat some of the local produce (asparagus, rice, Iide Beef, etc.) but the topper was the DOBUROKU — a sort of “pre-refined” sake. It’s thicker and creamier than regular sake you buy in the stores, and, CAUTION, it is DEFINITELY habit-forming. I threw together a little video of the event. Check it out.

キーワード: doburoku, Iide, snow, snow mobile, travel, winter, Yamagata, いいで, いいでファン・クラブ, どぶろく, ダニエル・カールの世界, ドブロク, 冬, 山形, 旅, 濁酒, 飯豊, 飯豊町

鹿児島さ行ってきた Went to Kagoshima

Dec 25

個人ブログ / Personal Blog, 講演 / Speeches I have given | コメントなし

講演のため、鹿児島の「原田学園のハイテック・スクール」に行ってきました。社会人になる寸前の生徒さんの前に立って、ちょっとアドヴァイス的な話しをしましたが、役に立ったのかな？　天気が抜群でしたから、久しぶりに桜島がきれいに見えました。歓迎・噴火もしてくれましたので、記念写真を撮りました。トンボ帰りの出張の仕上げは空港での豚骨ラーメン。んっめかった。

Went to the “Harada Gakuen School of High Tech” in Kagoshima recently for another speaking engagement. Good group of students. I gave them some pointers about how to deal with their upcoming inauguration into adulthood.
Luckily, the weather was beautiful and Sakurajima, that humungous volcanic peninsula in the middle of the Bay, was at its most glorious. I finished off my day-trip with a bowl of the local pork-boned based Ramen. Yumm.

キーワード: Kagoshima, speech, travel, 旅, 講演, 鹿児島

岡山のもう一つの不思議

Dec 9

Walking Diary / ウォーキング日記, 個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

岡山さ時々行くけんど、ひとつちっとめんずらしい光景に興味がある。それが、農家の屋根。昔、茅葺き屋根だったお家を改築して、茅葺きの代わりにトタンにするのが、全国的にも見られるものだが、なぜか岡山県内の場合、シルバー色の屋根は結構多い。特に「和気」（わけ）という地区に多いような気がする。なんでだろう？

Another interesting thing to look for when you visit the countryside in Okayama are the roofs of old farm houses. Many of these houses used to sport thatched roofs. But since roofing thatch is now hard to come by (and the people who know how to replace thatch are also now few and far between), many of these roofs have been replaced and/or covered over with sheet metal. Of course, you can see this phenomenon all over Japan, but for some reason, in Okayama, many of these roofs are now covered in shiny silver sheet metal. They REALLY stand out. This color seems to be especially popular in and around the Wake region of Okayama Prefecture. Though I have no idea why. Anyway, an interesting aside.

キーワード: Okayama, travel, walking, ウオーキング, 岡山, 旅

岡山でウオーキング・Walking in Okayama

Dec 9

Walking Diary / ウォーキング日記, 個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

この間、久しぶりに岡山で一泊する事になりました。なつかしい町です。大学生の時代、冬休みの間、大阪の関西外大から岡山まで．ヒッチハイクした事がある。すんごいアドベンチャーになった。そのとき、もちろん、岡山の後楽園や岡山城(烏城）を見物しましたが、残念ながら、なぜか、写真は一点も撮らなかった。カメラ忘れたのかな？

とにかく、今度こそ写真を、と思って、仕事前に岡山市内をウオーキングしてみた。大変歩きやすい町です。道路はまっすぐだし、案内地図と標識は具体的で、英語も、中国語もハングルも、バッチリ。ノー・プロブレム。見るもんもいっぱい。

ウオーキング・アルバムをどうぞ。

I found myself staying overnight in the City of Okayama recently between jobs. It had been a long time since I some spare time in that burg, so I took off from my hotel a little early to explore.

I first visited Okayama over 30 years ago when I hitchhiked down this way in my college days from Osaka. I did all the tourist destinations including, of course, the famous Japanese gardens of Korakuen and Okayama Castle. But for some strange reason, I took no photos during this trip. Must have forgotten my camera.

Anyway, I wandered from my hotel near the main station straight down what they call “Momotaro Dori”, the main road leading toward the Castle. Okayama was pretty much destroyed during WWII, so there really isn’t much in the way of “historical buildings” that I could find. But there are a number of spots that have been rebuilt to evoke the old days. There is a pretty large “tera-machi” (“temple town”) area. Castle towns like Okayama often have a neighborhood where the temples of the various sects are clustered, usually strategically located as a buffer zone against attack against the castle itself. Okayama, like many of the major cities in western Japan, also features “street cars” or “trams”, or whatever you call those one car light rail trains.

All in all, Okayama is a very pleasant town to stroll about — flat, lots of maps and signs to guide you, a castle to photograph, etc. Round trip from Okayama Station to Okayama Castle is about 6 KM.

キーワード: Okayama, travel, walking, ウオーキング, 岡山, 旅

長野さ行って来た — Went to Nagano

Dec 3

個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

番組の取材のため、長野さ行って来た。てんてんと県北部の村を回りながら、「ご年配の方の元気さ」と「長野の食文化」のつながりを調べています。取材はまだ終っていない。来週また行く。放送日は後ほど、お知らせします。

取材中は善光寺と青鬼村の農家の写真を撮ってみた。

横から見る善光寺。T字の形をしている建築が非常にめずらしい

Went to northern Nagano for a TV gig a few days ago. We are doing a report on the connection between the local diet and the fact that the elderly folks in this part of Japan are so healthy. Should be interesting when we get done. Gotta go again next week. I’ll post the broadcast date as soon as I know. In the meantime, I took a couple of photos of world-famous Zenko-ji Temple in Nagano City and the (formerly) thatched roof farm houses of Aoni Village, WAAAAAY up in the hills.

Now THAT'S what I'M talking about.

キーワード: Nagano, travel, 旅, 長野

和歌山・印南町さ行って来た

Nov 10

仕事ブログ / Work Blog, 講演 / Speeches I have given | コメントなし

今日、和歌山県印南町でジェッフ・バーグランド先輩と人権関係のイベントに参加してきた。

ジェッフ先輩とは久しぶりでした

I was down in Inami Town in Wakayama Prefecture today for a speech/event about human rights today.

Jeff and I go WAAAAAAY back. He showed me the ropes when I first started working as a reporter on TV here.

It was great to see him. It’s been maybe ten years since we last did a gig together.

ジェッフさんとは、もう１０年ぶりだったかな？

相変わらず、元気で、語り部の技は半端じゃなかった。

印南町はきれいな町。廻りの山は緑豊富で、ミカンの段々畑と梅干しで有名らしい。

印南町のシンボル・マークはこの橋だべな。遠くからも見える、超目立つこの橋は「蛙橋」。

渡る皆さんは無事に帰るように〜。

The Town of Inami is quite pretty. It is surrounded by beautiful green mountains accented by stepped tangerine orchards. The town is also near the center of the main “umeboshi” producing region of Japan (“umeboshi”, of course, being those overwhelmingly powerful “pickled plums” that you find in your box lunches).

But I suppose the most outstanding feature of the downtown area is this bright red, frog-shaped bridge. It’s called the “Frog Bridge”. The word for frog in Japanese is “kaeru”. It is a homonyn for the verb “to return home”. Hence, if you cross the “Frog Bridge” it is wishing you a safe return home. Anyway, it’s kind of cute.

無事に帰れますように祈る「蛙橋」

キーワード: friend, speech, travel, Wakayama, 友達, 和歌山, 旅, 講演

岐阜県土岐市さ行って来たWent to Toki in Gifu

Oct 29

個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメント 3

岐阜県の土岐市さ行って来た。土岐市の消防団の皆さんのインタービューのためだ。 I visited Toki City in Gifu Prefecture to interview the members of the local Volunteer Fire Fighters.

消防団の皆さん

土岐市下石（おろし）の消防署、はっぴの彩り

土岐市を中心に周辺で生産される陶磁器は「美濃焼」と呼ばれ、台所・食卓用品における日本の陶磁器生産量の６０％以上を占めています。すごい。Toki city has been a center for ceramics for centuries. The local products is called “Mino Ware”, and Toki produces roughly 60% of Japan’s kitchenware.

でっけ〜 Now that is one huge sake flask!

橋までも陶磁器で飾られる

消防団のインタービュー前後はちょっと町中をぶりっとしてみると、どっこ見ても手作りの陶磁器が現れる。さすが、陶磁器の町だ。橋の上、消防署の前、等々。　Both before and after my interview of the Fire Fighters, I strolled around the town. There are hand-made samples of their wares EVERYWHERE you look. On bridges, in front of the Fire Station, all over the place.

Fire fighting sake flasks?

Fire fighting sake flask with hook.

Fire Fighting Sake Flask with Hose

キーワード: Gifu, travel, 岐阜, 旅, 消防団

沖縄さ行って来た、えがった〜

Oct 29

個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

沖縄さ行って来た。日銀の関連の講演だったけんど、首里城の観光も出来た。台風の雨でちっと大変でしたけんど、皆さん頑張って下さった御陰さまで、無事にOKでした。お疲れサッマでした。

お世話になりました皆さん

ツーリストだなっす

首里城のガードしっかりしている

色も形も格別の首里城

改善中の首里城、２０１１年４月で完成

今、まだ改善中だが、来年４月で出来上がりだそうです。

皆さん、見に来てけらっしゃらい。めんそーれ。

Went to Okinawa for a speech recently, There was a typhoon in the area so it rained all day. But we braved it to visit Shuri Castle, the place where the old Ryukyu Kingdom held court. They are in the middle of refurbishing the main buildings, buit it should be done by April 2011. Ya’ll come over for a visit.

キーワード: Okinawa, speech, travel, 旅, 沖縄, 講演

つったらぱったらしてる！ What a week!

Oct 24

個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

いやあああああ。忙しかったよ、先週。山形の東根、東京の大田区蒲田、秋田の横手、三重の津、北海道の紋別、岩手の山田、静岡の静岡福祉大学。全部行ってきました。来週は沖縄と東京と新潟と、えええと、どこだっけ？

Man, what a week I had last week. I went to Higashine in Yamagata, Kamata in Tokyo,

Yokote in Akita, Tsu in Mie, Mombetsu in Hokkaido, Yamada Town in Iwate, and Shizuoka Welfare University in Shizuoka. Next week, I’m heading to Okinawa, Tokyo, Niigata and –uh–where else?

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東根はサクランボで有名だけど、もう一つの名物はこの大ケヤキ。１５００歳で、幹の周囲は１６m、高さ２８m。ケヤキ番付で「東の横綱」になってるよ

北海道にまけねーど

Higashine is famous for its cherries, but another claim-to-fame is its “Big Keyaki Tree”.

It’s 28m tall (93 ft.) and 16m around (53 ft.) near the base of the trunk. In Japan, there is actually a “Sumo Ranking Sheet” for these Keyaki Trees, and this one in Higashine is known as the “Yokozuna of the East” (Grand Champion of Eastern Japan). Cool, huh?

東根はフルーツの宝庫

ぼちぼち旬となるよ、東根のりんご。

Higashine is, of course, best known for its cherries (June – July), but we are coming up on the season for another of its famed products — apples.

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よこてダンサーズと記念写真

本番中、よさこいの一種かな

B級グルメの王様じゃ

Yokote is probably best know for the igloos they make out of the deep snow that falls there in the winter. You build an igloo out of packed snow, set up a little Shinto shrine inside, and sip “sweet sake” to ward off the cold.

But Yokote is also better known recently for its Yakisoba (fried noodles). Yokote Yakisoba, with its distinctive sunny side up egg on top, has recently won several awards in those so-called “B-Grade Gourmet Contests”.

Since the economy is slow, people here are more interested in less expensive yet tasty ways to eat-out. This dish fits the bill perfectly.

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三重県津市の身田中生が金融研究の結果を発表

三重県津市に行ってきました。身田中学校の生徒達が、会社の設立の事、いろんな職業と業界を調べて習った事を発表しました。自分のみらいについて、真剣に考えている生徒さん達の顔を見て、心強くなりました。お疲れ様でした。

I made a speech down in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture this last week too.

A bunch of Junior HS students made presentations about research they are doing into careers and the business world. I spoke a little bit about how kids in America learn about careers and money matters.

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岩手県山田町のカッパ

岩手県の太平洋側のリアス海岸のほぼ真ん中（宮古と釜石の中間）に

山田町といういい町がある。漁港でホタテ貝で有名なスポット。

海のあんなにきれいなところ、めったに見ない。町のキャラは「ホタテ・カッパ」です。普通、カッパは「河童」と書くけど、山田町のカッパは川から海に降りてきたものだから、「海童」と書く。つまり「うみがっぱ」なんだそうだ。さらの上にホタテの貝殻を帽子のようにかぶるから、ちょっとめんずらしい。

I also visited Yamada-Machi in Iwate last week. As any fan of Old Japanese Folk Tales will know, Iwate is famous for its various legends of supernatural creatures, including the “Kappa”, a sort of green, frog-like water sprite. “Kappa” usually inhabit rivers, but the “Kappa” of Yamada is a “Sea Kappa”. It wears a large scallop shell on its head like a hat. The town’s Chamber of Commerce recently published a children’s book about the creature to instill a sense of local pride in the town’s youngsters.

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Some of the modes of transportation used during my trip

Good old reliable Y-Shink

Local airports use these babies

キーワード: cool places in Japan, speech, Tohoku, travel, 旅, 東北, 講演

北海道の紋別に行ってきました

Oct 24

個人ブログ / Personal Blog | コメントなし

上陸したガリンコ１号

今週、紋別に行ってきました。僕にとって、３回目なんだけど、今回ちょっとだけ観光出来たから、写真を載せるね。

紋別はすんごいいい所だ。気に入った。ホタテ貝、いか、かに、等々海の幸にめぐまれ、また、流氷の研究センターがある。左は「ガリンコ１号」、流氷の見物のために作った観光船。先端の大きなスクリューで流氷をガリガリしながら進むデザインだから「ガリンコ」という名になったのかな？

I went up to the City of Mombetsu in northern Hokkaido this week for a speech. It was my third time there. I did a little sightseeing, so I’ll post some photos.

Mombetsu is a really cool town. They catch a lot of scallops, squid, crabs, etc. so if you are into seafood, this is a great spot. They’ve also got the “Okhotsk Sea Ice Flow Research Center” here. The town is famous for the ice flows which come in from the Amur River in Russia. (Best time to visit and see the ice flows is probably February — dress warmly.) This first photo is of the original “Galinko #1″, a tour boat which actually goes out into the ice flows. Notice the huge grinding screws on the front underside of the hull.

オホーツク・タワー

浜から見るオホーツク・タワー

オホーツク・タワーからも流氷見物出来る。海面下７mまで降りれる。上からも下からも流氷を。

Also in Mombetsu is the Okhotsku Tower, an ice flow observation tower. You can view the ice flows both from above AND below the water line — it descends to the sea floor, about seven meters or 23 feet deep.