Japanese Language School

I recently completed another session of Japanese Language Class provided by the Shinagawa International Friendship Association (SIFA)

2 of my classmates, and my 2 teachers.  From left to right, Sebastien (France), Kinoshita-sensei, Te-san (Singapore), Koizumi-sensei, and a student from another class

 Non-alcoholic Compai!!!

I got to wear a traditional Yukata, or casual summer weight kimono

Am I that big or are they that small? 

Kinoshita-sensei lead all of the students from each different level in traditional bon-odori, or summer festival, dances.  I was able to escape participating by taking pictures.  I know I am not much of a dancer, but trying to do it in wooden sandals that were about 5 sizes too small was not helping much.

Summer Vacation in Kiyosato

From August 10th to the 15th we escaped the heat and bustle of Tokyo for the cool and calm of Kiyosato

Miyakoda-san shows off his flower arrangement, and his bulging bicep

 3 arrangements Aya and I made mostly from grasses we found in a field near the house

Miyakoda-san's 'natural style' arrangement blends in with mountain landscape

nothing says class like a budweiser christmas stein vase (pronounced vahz)

time for a few afternoon beers.  Compai!!! 

 Fishing in a small pond near the mountain house

 Aya jokingly called it 'Avatar Pond' because it felt so lush and there was so much wildlife, including some huge fish

We could see a bunch of fish, including large carp and a few trout...but I guess they could see us to because they were not biting.

Yoshiko-san explores the pond, and points out all of the fish Miyakoda-san and I are not catching

Yoshiko-san tries to teach us how this works

 After a few hours of unsuccessful fishing in the pond we decide to move on and scout a new spot on the river

 This area of the river is stocked, and for a small fee you can fish your allotted pool, for 2 hours

So they next day we return with Kinoto to try our 'luck' on the river.  For about $35 they will put 15 trout in your pool and give you 2 poles and 2 hours to fish.  Not a bad deal considering you get to have 2 hours of fun, and keep all the fish you catch.

It doesn't take Kinoto long to catch the first rainbow

Then a second

Aya with her first catch, and her first catch of the day - heyooooooo

 Miyakoda-san walks out on the weir to get a better angle on the fish.

You can see all of the pools and people fishing upstream of us.  The nice thing about being at the bottom is that you get a chance to catch the fish that escape the upstream pools

My first catch of the day

 Aya's second catch of the day

 Yoshiko-san decides to give it a try

Another catch for Miyakoda-san

And it does not take long for her first catch 

 Time to count our fish and head home.  In about an hour and half we landed 12 rainbows. Not a bad deal for $36.

In typical Miyakoda fashion we are the last to leave (after catching a few fish from the surrounding pools)

Kinoto guts the fish, Aya skewers them, and Yoshiko-san seasons them while Miyakoda-san and I prepare a roasting fire

Time to do some grilling 

Flip it once 

The first batch of grilled trout, looks delicious.  So how is it everyone?

I think Yoshiko-san is enjoying her's  

 Kinoto likes it

mmmmmmmmmm..... seems everyone likes it and is not afraid to eat like a bear

Except for Miyakoda-san who likes to be sophisticated and eat his meal with utensils...there is a first time for everything.

Just like the real thing only Smaller

Seems that there are a lot of things that in Japan are just a bit smaller than their American  counterparts...Hummers apparently are no exception

 Pretty sweet 'murdered out' kit if you ask me. 

I dare you to try to parallel a full sized Hummer in Tokyo 

 The best part is that if you get stuck in the mud in this Hummer you can just get out lift your car out of the mud and keep going.