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