Tadaima!

That's what Japanese say when they return. I'm glad my blog is still alive, and my dog is happy and healthy.


Here is a new haiku:

Absent for nine months
For a new challenge in life
Shiro was patient



Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Pre-schoolers at Lake Chabot

Someone once said, "If you ever closely observe animals, it's hard to say that we are separate from them."

The goslings that I observed during the summer of 2008 at Lake Chabot made me think of pre-schoolers. Shiro and I first spotted them on a hill side when they were small and yellow, looking and sounding just like chicken babies. They were surrounded by several geese, all watchful and some stretching out their necks. I believe it was around the beginning of April.

Later in June when we showed up, a babysitter cornered a group of goslings and said, "Here they are again. Don't be too trusting of people or their pets."

Two babysitters gathered all the goslings and escorted them away from me and Shiro. They told them to stay in the "green zone."

Pretty soon some curious ones moved back toward us, making the babysitters follow. One babysitter said, "Why are we going this way?"

... and later in a more panicky voice, "Turn around. Turn around, now!"

"Hurry. Others are waiting, and the sun is setting."

"Form a neat line and get in the water one by one. No cheating. I'm right behind you."


An excursion to the left, and an excursion to the right. "We'll all sleep tight and won't let the bed bugs bite."

Icy Photos from Hokkaido

The traveling couple from Hong Kong that I met in the Akan bus #30 and shared the excitement of seeing the Tancho cranes with in Tsurumidai on December 31, 2007, have created a wonderful album containing the photos of their Hokkaido trip.

You will see Ohotsk Ocean, drifting ice, frozen lakes, seals, "kita kitsune" (the glacier fox), the beautiful couple, and more. I love the photo of them looking cozy inside "kamakura" (igloo-like snow house).

Here is the link to Alex Chan's Gallery

Thank you, Alex!

"Stairway to Heaven"

Shiro loves to climb the steps and run down the side of the mound.

A brilliant artist transformed my dream into reality and called it "Stairway to Heaven." I then decorated it with the plants mentioned in this haiku:

Beckoning to us
With strawberries, thyme, and moss
Stairway to Heaven

Can you see Shiro and me?

I have a mound...

This is a dream-come-true for Shiro and me. I will share the photo of the mound with Shiro on the top as soon as the dog cooperates.

Return of another video--"Haiku with Music"

I am happy to report that a new version of "Haiku with Music" is available on the left. My friend created it by using the same three haiku I wrote about the Tancho cranes and his new selection of music (Brahms). Please check it out.

Return of a Video

I am happy to report that the YouTube video of "Dance of the Crane" is back (with a new sound track). You can check it out by clicking on the small video screen on the left. My friend recreated the video using his friend's music that is not copyrighted. The birds appear to dance to the beat of the music. These are the very cranes we saw in front of us. Saikou ni ureshii desu. (I am delighted!)

Happy Valentine's Day!

What, No Videos?

I'm not kidding. I am disappointed to report that some of the videos I was linking to had been deleted by Yahoo in Japan. I think what happened is that the sound track contained copyrighted music. Therefore, you will notice that YouTube videos like "The New Year Sunrise" my friend made have disappeared.

What, No Shortcakes?

According to a Japanese article, the name "strawberry shortcake" is believed to originate from "shortening," one of the ingredients. Japanese shortcakes are believed to come from the butter cake which was available in early 20th-century America and was decorated with sweetened fruit and whipped cream.

Rin'emon Fujii, the founder of the bakery "Fujiya," brought back to Japan the American shortcake and adjusted it to the Japanese taste. After his return from America, in 1922, he introduced the initial shortcake with strawberries, whipped cream, and sponge cake. The article also states that when most Japanese think of cake, they think of strawberry shortcakes first.

I agree. Once when my sister and I went to a cake shop, we had the clear image of strawberry shortcakes in our minds. When we went up to the counter and saw everything except strawberry shortcakes, together we said, "No strawberry shortcake? For what does this bakery exist?" (and laughed). We bought some other cake--I don't remember which--got our coffee, and enjoyed our time together.

Here is the haiku that captures our mood at that moment.

Anticipation
Strawberry shortcakes sold out
Did the earth just shake?

Here is a picture of Strawberry Shortcake

Hokkaido Map & Akan Bus #30

I found a map of Hokkaido with a list of road stations. Here is the link:

Map of Hokkaido

To see the Tancho cranes, you want to go to the powder blue area, which is the Kushiro-Nemuro area in the east. The bus to take is Akan Line #30.

Here is the bus route with its six major stations:

Kushiro Eki (Kushiro Railroad Station) --> Kushiro Kuuko (Kushiro Airport) --> Tsuru Koen (Crane Park) --> Akan-cho (Akan Town) --> Tancho no Sato (Home of Tancho Cranes)--> Akan Kohan (Akan Lakeside)

I took this bus from "Kushiro Eki" because it was right in front of Kushiro Tokyu (not Tokyo) Inn, where I stayed.

Here is another link for travelers to Akan: Attractions in Akan

Winter Camellias

Camellias in the morning.

Camellias at dusk.


Two mornings ago I opened the curtains and was amazed to see my camellias in full bloom. I wondered why they blossomed profusely on such a cold day. It was as if they were fed by the winter cold.

霜降りの ..........(shimofuri no)
朝を肥やしに ....（asa wo koyashi ni）
寒椿 .................(kan-tsubaki)

Translating this haiku into an English version was difficult, but here is an approximation.

Winter Camellias,
Why do you burst in full bloom
In the frosty air?

The above translation emphasizes the beauty of the blooms. If I were to emphasize the force of nature (which was my original intent), the following would be the translation:

Frosty morning air,
Did you feed my Camellias
To burst in full bloom?

Here is another haiku from another perspective:

霜降りて ................ (shimo orite)
今日がためにと .... （kyou ga tamenito）
咲く椿 ................... (saku tsubaki)

Having experienced the severe morning, the camellias may have thought that there may not be a tomorrow and burst into full bloom.


Copyright 2009

"The Child of Pain"

There are many moments of pleasure in one's life. In my case, filling my mouth with the sweetest and juiciest watermelon, or a freshly ripened fig, on a hot summer day is one. Gazing into a dog's eyes which are gazing into mine is another. Listening to the sound of chicks—the world’s most delightful music to my ears—coming from the nest of my society finches is another. There are many more, and each is unlike and as precious as any other.

But sometimes at the peak of pleasure, I hear this tasty voice singing this line “... pleasure is the child of pain” out of a song. If these moments of pleasure happen to be various forms of temptation, have I suffered the consequences of being tempted? Yes, I have. Do I regret being tempted? No, ultimately. Even the later pain of responsibility, separation, or loss has given me something I needed. I will probably be asking the same question when the time comes for my door to this world to be closed.

That song is called “Antonio’s Song” and has been beautifully sung by Salena Jones, Japan’s long-time favorite. One of the few belongings I brought with me from Japan was a phonograph record of her album “Melodies of Love” containing this song. With Kenny Burrell’s guitar, this album was recorded by Salena Jones and Tadao Tokoro at Victor Studio & Hitokuchizaka Studio in Tokyo in September, 1980. It was a big hit in the 1980’s.

I found a YouTube video of Salena Jones singing "Antonio's Song" accompanied by a flutist in "hakama" (a type of traditional Japanese clothing usually worn on formal occasions). I don't know who he is, but what a virtuoso he too is.

Moment

I remember the joy and excitement, and then the moment it was all over, in each of my trips to Japan. I can't count how many times this realization has struck my heart.

空港で　(Kuukou de)
始まり終わる (Hajimari owaru)
旅時計 (Tabidokei)

Oh, at the airport
Begins and ends silently
My time of travel

Copyright 2009

New Year Sunrise

My friend shot this "hatsu hinode" (New Year sunrise) while traveling on a ferry near Toisaki, Japan.

Happy New Year!

Akemashite omedeto!

"Kakizome" is the tradition of writing with brush and ink on January 2nd. "Kaki" means write and "zome" means first occasion.

Copyright 2009

On New Year's Day last year, I was in Kushiro to see these birds. My heart instantly flies to Kushiro as I watch these crane photos beautifully compiled by my friend--a traveler that I met at the sanctuary, Akan Tancho no Sato.