2010/8/31
[道後温泉～内子]
We reached 道後温泉 in Matsuyama around 5:00
in the evening.
After putting our baggage in our room at a hotel,
my friend M-san and I strolled through the streets.
（道後温泉本館）
（からくり時計）
（道後温泉駅）
The next morning we left the hotel at 8:00.
Our bus ran to 内子.
We walked along the street with old wooden houses.
I fondly remembered my good old hometown.
We reached 道後温泉 in Matsuyama around 5:00
in the evening.
After putting our baggage in our room at a hotel,
my friend M-san and I strolled through the streets.
（道後温泉本館）
（からくり時計）
（道後温泉駅）
The next morning we left the hotel at 8:00.
Our bus ran to 内子.
We walked along the street with old wooden houses.
I fondly remembered my good old hometown.
2010/8/31
[Tokyo～Fukuyama～しまなみ海道]
When I was a high school student,
I went on school excursion to Kyoto, Nara and Shikoku.
I remember a lot of Kyoto and Nara.
But I remember little of Shikoku.
Where did I go in Shikoku?
What did I see there?
-----------------------------
This time I joined a package tour to Shikoku.
At Tokyo Station, we took the Nozomi Superexpress
and got off the train at Fukuyama Station.
(Kyoto--from Shinkansen)
Then we got a sightseeing bus at Fukuyama.
Our bus ran along しまなみ海道 from Onomichi to Imabari.
(from my bus window)
On the way we saw a beautiful view from 亀老山展望台 in 大島.
When I was a high school student,
I went on school excursion to Kyoto, Nara and Shikoku.
I remember a lot of Kyoto and Nara.
But I remember little of Shikoku.
Where did I go in Shikoku?
What did I see there?
-----------------------------
This time I joined a package tour to Shikoku.
At Tokyo Station, we took the Nozomi Superexpress
and got off the train at Fukuyama Station.
(Kyoto--from Shinkansen)
Then we got a sightseeing bus at Fukuyama.
Our bus ran along しまなみ海道 from Onomichi to Imabari.
(from my bus window)
On the way we saw a beautiful view from 亀老山展望台 in 大島.
2010/8/27
I was surprised when I knew Ichiro Ozawa would run
in the DPJ's presidential election.
Ichiro Ozawa said he decided to do so as former Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama would back him up, which also made me surprise.
It is only three months since both of them resigned their posts
because of money scandal.
Alas! Where is Japan going?
By the way, I'm going to Shikoku tomorrow.
See you next week.
in the DPJ's presidential election.
Ichiro Ozawa said he decided to do so as former Prime Minister
Yukio Hatoyama would back him up, which also made me surprise.
It is only three months since both of them resigned their posts
because of money scandal.
Alas! Where is Japan going?
By the way, I'm going to Shikoku tomorrow.
See you next week.
2010/8/24
Manami-san, koharu's mother's good old friend,
came to see them yesterday.
She stayed overnight at koharu's home.
koharu and her mother went to meet Manami-san
at Tokyo Station.
They went to 新丸の内ビルディング.
The building is a 38 -story skyscraper
with 4-story basement. It is 198 meters tall.
They had lunch at one of the restaurants
in 丸の内ビルディング.
The building is a 37-story skyscraper with 4-story
basement. It is 179.2 meters tall.
Then they went to Ginza and enjoyed window-shopping,
koharu said.
koharu had never walked about the streets lined
with skyscrapers.
She was surprised that 'Tokyo' was quite different
from Kodaira.
"What a big city Tokyo is!" koharu told me excited.
Today they enjoyed Helicopter Cruising.
They enjoyed Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo City
from the skies above.
So yesterday and today I stayed at koharu's house again
taking care of her pets.
(today's sky)
(Tokyo Sky Tree from Helicopter---by koharu's mother)
(koharu's paper)
came to see them yesterday.
She stayed overnight at koharu's home.
koharu and her mother went to meet Manami-san
at Tokyo Station.
They went to 新丸の内ビルディング.
The building is a 38 -story skyscraper
with 4-story basement. It is 198 meters tall.
They had lunch at one of the restaurants
in 丸の内ビルディング.
The building is a 37-story skyscraper with 4-story
basement. It is 179.2 meters tall.
Then they went to Ginza and enjoyed window-shopping,
koharu said.
koharu had never walked about the streets lined
with skyscrapers.
She was surprised that 'Tokyo' was quite different
from Kodaira.
"What a big city Tokyo is!" koharu told me excited.
Today they enjoyed Helicopter Cruising.
They enjoyed Tokyo Sky Tree and Tokyo City
from the skies above.
So yesterday and today I stayed at koharu's house again
taking care of her pets.
(today's sky)
(Tokyo Sky Tree from Helicopter---by koharu's mother)
(koharu's paper)
2010/8/19
Five days have passed since I stayed here
at koharu's house with her pets,
Maro-chan and Donald.
Donald, goldfish, sleeps around half past six
in the evening and Maro-chan gets up
when I turn off the light.
In order to make their pets' life comfortable,
I make it a rule to get up at six in the morning
and go to bed at ten.
I usually sit up till a little after midnight
in my apartment.
So I wake up very early in the morning
when I go to bed at ten.
This morning I woke up around three o'clock!
I didn't get up but stayed in bed listening to the
radio.
Wow! A good old song came from the radio!
It was one of my favourite songs I've not sung
for a long time.
The singer 芹 洋子-san was singing the song
「遠くへ行きたい」.
My heart filled with joy and loneliness.
---------------------------------------------
遠くへ行きたい
(作詞 永 六輔 作曲 中村 八大）
知らない街を 歩いてみたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
知らない海を ながめていたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
遠い街 遠い海
夢はるか 一人旅
愛する人と 巡り合いたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
愛し合い 信じ合い
いつの日か 幸せを
愛する人と 巡り合いたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
at koharu's house with her pets,
Maro-chan and Donald.
Donald, goldfish, sleeps around half past six
in the evening and Maro-chan gets up
when I turn off the light.
In order to make their pets' life comfortable,
I make it a rule to get up at six in the morning
and go to bed at ten.
I usually sit up till a little after midnight
in my apartment.
So I wake up very early in the morning
when I go to bed at ten.
This morning I woke up around three o'clock!
I didn't get up but stayed in bed listening to the
radio.
Wow! A good old song came from the radio!
It was one of my favourite songs I've not sung
for a long time.
The singer 芹 洋子-san was singing the song
「遠くへ行きたい」.
My heart filled with joy and loneliness.
---------------------------------------------
遠くへ行きたい
(作詞 永 六輔 作曲 中村 八大）
知らない街を 歩いてみたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
知らない海を ながめていたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
遠い街 遠い海
夢はるか 一人旅
愛する人と 巡り合いたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
愛し合い 信じ合い
いつの日か 幸せを
愛する人と 巡り合いたい
どこか遠くへ 行きたい
2010/8/13
Tomorrow koharu's family will go to Ohita by plane.
They will stay at koharu's father's parents' home
until August 21.
While they are in Kyushu, I think I will stay
at koharu's home at night in order to take care
of their pets, koharu's hamster Maro-chan
and her brother's goldfish Donald.
It has been awfully hot not only for us but also
for the pets.
I am afraid it will be too hot in the living room
where their pets live, especially during the night.
So I will stay and sleep in the living room
of koharu's house.
I will care for your pets during your absence,
Grandchildren.
Enjoy your days in Ohita to the full!
(today's photos---in the nearby farm)
(nobody picks these chestnuts or grapes)
They will stay at koharu's father's parents' home
until August 21.
While they are in Kyushu, I think I will stay
at koharu's home at night in order to take care
of their pets, koharu's hamster Maro-chan
and her brother's goldfish Donald.
It has been awfully hot not only for us but also
for the pets.
I am afraid it will be too hot in the living room
where their pets live, especially during the night.
So I will stay and sleep in the living room
of koharu's house.
I will care for your pets during your absence,
Grandchildren.
Enjoy your days in Ohita to the full!
(today's photos---in the nearby farm)
(nobody picks these chestnuts or grapes)
2010/8/11
The day before yesterday, I left my apartment
at half past eight in the morning.
It was raining but I was glad it was not hot at all.
I hurried to Tokyo Station and took the Joetsu Shinkansen.
I got off at Nagaoka Station at noon.
Alas! how hot and muggy in Nagaoka!
I met my good old friend there, took lunch with her and
enjoyed talking a lot.
After saying good bye to her, I took a bus for Tochio.
It took me about an hour to get to Tochio by bus.
I stayed overnight in Tochio.
My parents' grave is in a village deep in the mountains.
It stands on the hill in the village.
I'm afraid the day will come when I'll find it very difficult
to go up the hill to stand at my parents' grave.
I believe my parents are there and they are waiting for me.
Anyway, I was happy I could visit my parents' grave.
＜ふるさと＞
(from Nagaoka Station)
at half past eight in the morning.
It was raining but I was glad it was not hot at all.
I hurried to Tokyo Station and took the Joetsu Shinkansen.
I got off at Nagaoka Station at noon.
Alas! how hot and muggy in Nagaoka!
I met my good old friend there, took lunch with her and
enjoyed talking a lot.
After saying good bye to her, I took a bus for Tochio.
It took me about an hour to get to Tochio by bus.
I stayed overnight in Tochio.
My parents' grave is in a village deep in the mountains.
It stands on the hill in the village.
I'm afraid the day will come when I'll find it very difficult
to go up the hill to stand at my parents' grave.
I believe my parents are there and they are waiting for me.
Anyway, I was happy I could visit my parents' grave.
＜ふるさと＞
(from Nagaoka Station)