Monthly Archives: December 2002

Do you know Mayuko Matsumoto’s mailing address?  I wrote her a card and then　realized that she only gave me her email address.  I wanted to send her a card,　because I wrote my message in Japanese, and I can’t send her a Japanese email.  Thanks!

Allison

　松本真由子さんの住所をご存知ですか。彼女にカードを書いたのですが、メールアドレスしか貰っていないことに気付きました。残念ながら、私のコンピューターからは、日本語のメールを送れません。彼女に日本語でカードを書いたので、是非、送りたいと思っています。宜しくお願いいたします。

アリソン拝 Continue reading →

When we go the Onsen I always have problems finding a Yukata that is big enough. The first Yukata that I tried on only came to my knees.  My wife’s mother called the front desk and had them bring a larger one. That one came to half past my knee. Wife’s mother kiyoku-san called the front desk again. They finally found a XXX large yukata that fit. I guess they don’t see many tall americans at that Izu onsen.

温泉に行った時のお話です。聞いてください！

　温泉に行くと、私に合った大きさのゆかたを探すのに、いつも苦労します。私 がはじめて着たゆかたの丈は、私の膝までしかありませんでした。そこで、義理の母、きよ子さんがフロントに電話をしてくれました。そして、もっと大きい ゆかたを持ってくるようにと言いました。次のものは、膝とかかとの中間まででした。母は、また、フロントに電話をしました。旅館の人は、ついに、私に合う 超特大のゆかたを探して来てくれたのでした。恐らく、あの伊豆温泉の旅館では、背の高いアメリカ人は、そんなに多く見かけないのでしょう。 Continue reading →

 
In order to help improve my Japanese language skill and visit some friends, in November of 2002 I went to Japan for two weeks.

First I went to the Kansai area (Kyoto, Osaka, and Kobe), where I stayed with my friend Motoki and his family in Kyoto.  Kyoto is very rich with history.  There are many temples, shrines and streets that are hundreds of years old.  To ensure these places are not overshadowed; new buildings in Kyoto are not allowed to exceed a certain number of stories.

While in Kyoto I visited numerous places.  It would take several pages to tell of everything I saw and everywhere I went.  So I’ll only write about two of my favorite places.

 The first is Ryoan Temple.  It is most famous for its rock garden, which was built in the 15th century by a painter and gardener named Soami.  The garden is very simple.  It has a total of 15 rocks surrounded by white gravel.  All but two of the rocks sit on islands of dark green grass.  There are no trees or bushes in the garden.  It is very simple but unique.  I was told that there are not five islands of grass but actually six.  And to see the sixth you must close your eyes and allow your spirit to find it.  I still haven’t seen it.  But I like the garden anyway. Continue reading →