for rainy days 雨でもいざと言う時には

IT GOES WITH OUT saying, Japan is located in a Temperate zone and we have rain season annually, which called Tu yu or Bai u 梅雨.
It starts around June and ends in early July.
Last week the end of Tu yu was declared and now we are in the middle of the summer.
About 80% of the archipelago is mountains with green and waters. So there is a rain almost once in three days. That means about twice a week is a rainy day. Sometimes rains all days of a week!
This year's rainy season is finished but there might be showers or drzzling, sprinkling rain or whatsoever.
Of corse I am not complaining about our climate and I do not like much grumbling in general, I' d prefer enjoy myself rather than complaining about it. Riding, enjoying bicycle in the rain is one way of my life.

先週全国的に梅雨が開けた様ですね。
日本は多雨な国ですので自転車での雨対策は必須です。「雨は嫌いやな、うっとうしいで」と言う声も多いですが、現実に三日に一回は雨の様です。だったら文句を言うよりそれを楽しんだ方が良いでしょう。
そう言う訳で雨でもブロに乗ります。

I am not a follower of trends, I mean I am not spending much money for clothing and things. I do not buy magazines these days especially on fashions, trends, etc. But I DO HAVE my tastes towards clothing, outfits, costumes and things, you know. I just can not follow some fashion, like very tight fit ones which made out of jersey or polyester and do not want to something looks like alien's skull put on my head when I am riding my bike whether it is an ordinary commuting or recreational cycling. I do not care about cycle fashion, simply.
I do not spend much money for clothing than my younger days, however, I have got some tastes, in and out, yes or no.
I am not a racer or competitor so I do not want to wear these fashion.
Then last week I got an e-mail from Brompton about invitation of Brompton World Championship
http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/index.asp

The mail says.

"Rules for the event are not overly onerous, but poor dress sense will not be tolerated: a
suit jacket, collared shirt and tie are de rigueur for participants; sports attire is not
permitted, and Lycra shorts/leggings are specifically named, shamed and excluded.
Competitors will be expected to demonstrate their folding skills in a Le Mans style start.
Prizes will be awarded for the fastest male, female, junior (under 17), veteran (60 plus)
and team competitors, and also for the Best-Dressed. "

Yeeees! I like it!! Suits and tie are my usual attire for my btommie and I will never wear sports stuff for my brompton.　I love this sense of humour.

自分は流行を追っかけたり、若い頃に比べて服装にうるさくなくなってきました。けど、自分の好みはハッキリと持っています。どちらかと言うと、スポーティーな感じはあまり好みません。ジャージとかポリエステルのバリバリのレーシーな感じの服を着たくないです。エイリアンの頭みたいなヘルメットにピタピタ、ピチピチの上下はとかちょっとです。所謂サイクルファッションはあきません・・・、わたいには。
等と常に思ってる所ブロンプトン社からメールが届きました。
例のワールドチャンピオンシップへの招待状です！

それに寄ると・・・・。

『ルールは格段に厳しいものではありませんが、服装に無頓着な方のご参加はご遠慮ください。　背広の上着、ネクタイ、襟付きのシャツは最低必要条件です。スポーティーな格好は厳禁です。ポリウレタン製の短パンや股引は特に御法度です、これらの着用者はさらし者にされます。
出場者はル・マン・レースの様なスタートで折り畳み技術をご披露ください。
出場者には男性、女性、若年（１７歳以下）熟年（６０歳以上）そしてチーム別のそれぞれの最速記録者には賞が出ます。更にベストドレッサー賞もあります。』

って、これは良いよ！！！
さすがブロンプトン社のこのセンス。イギリス人特有の皮肉の効いたユーモアのセンスに溢れてると思います。このイギリス英語独特の誘ってんのか、断ってのかどっちやと言う面白さ。その辺がうまく訳出できてるでしょうか？　
さて、招待状の届いてない方にはこちらをご参照ください。英文のみですが。

http://www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/index.asp



this is made by Mont-bell, an outdoor sports brand from Osaka. Its very nice i mean the price the function etc. but unfortunately its not for biking!
the material is developed by the brand. Gore-tex is the best material in this field maybe but this one is cheaper and not breathable but allows moisture to penetrate. i put it in my pannier bag just in case.

http://en.montbell.jp/products/goods/list.php?category=2000


こちらはモンベル製のポンチョです。しかし残念ながら自転車用ではなくその辺が少し不便。
素材は、ゴアテックスに迫る勢いとも称される、同社開発の素材で等質性があるスーパーハイドロブリーズ。いつもパニアバッグに忍ばせていざと言う時に備えてます。

http://webshop.montbell.jp/goods/disp.php?product_id=1128470





I chose a poncho for a rain gear.
I do wear Kimonos and I would prefer suits than cycle fashion, so poncho can use for those fashion because its design is simple pullover.
If you wear a rain suit, you should care about gloves, shoe covers. And if you use Brooks leather saddle you need a cover for a rain. But you do not need things because poncho covers not only saddle but almost everything from bottom bracket to top tube, handle bar etc.. It is just better use latest rain suit on your cycle fashion and gloves, maybe a saddle cover?

私はポンチョを雨天用に使います。
これなら、着物でもスーツの上からでもすっぽりと被るだけですみます。もしレイ ンスーツを使っていたら、手袋、シューズカバー迄必要になってきますし、もしブルクッスの革サドルを使っていればそれ用のカバー迄いります。でもポンチョ なら一枚でサドルからハンドル、それに足回りも覆ってくれます。サイクルファッションに身を包むなら多分レインスーツに手袋にサドルカバーで良いんじゃな いですか？


this is made by koyanagi, a clothing maker mainly for builders and workers. design is nicer than red one but its cheap and not function-able.
the material is waterproof polyester so its very hot to wear in june, july, august...
sorry no english.
http://www.kk-koyanagi.jp/

こちらはコヤナギのサイクルレインポンチョ。このメーカーはスポーツ系ではなく作業着系の会社。
透湿ではなく夏には向かない。
http://www.kk-koyanagi.jp/








In fact, ponchos are not fashionable these days!
You can hardly see a serious cyclist wears poncho in town.
There are some Obasan (Obahan in Osakan dialect)or middle aged women who use their ponchos, and those tribes are also on the verge of extinct. Modern obasans do not use ponchos these days.
But that's the crunch isn't that!
There are so many cyclist with sporty cycle fashion who rides MTB, Road Racer or Fixed gear. Apparently, they do not want to ride bike in the rain except for a race or a competition. And I am sure they choose rain jacket and rain trousers for some reason. Well, I choose traditional poncho.

ところで、ポンチョはもう流行遅れです。
マジな自転車乗りでポンチョを用いてるのを殆ど見かけません。大体がおばはんの道具と言う感じですかね。しかもそう言うおばはんも減ってる。最近のおばはんはポンチョを使いません。
MTBやロード、それにピストに乗ってスポーティーなファッションに身を包んでる人は沢山見ますが、こう言った人たちは雨天時には乗りたがらない様です、レース以外では。
で、彼らはレインスーツを選ぶ様ですが、ここは一つ、昔ながらのポンチョを選びたいですね。


I know this one but I did not want to buy it for some reason.
They say seeing is believing and that must be true!
http://www.carradice.co.uk/rainwear/duxback-rainwear.shtml


It sure is much nicer than I expected but I just can not buy it for I am living in this climate! Perhaps you can buy it without the function of body moisture to escape in the climate of european countries though you can not use it humid and hot weather here I suppose. But this is the nice one! For its design, the look,
function and history etc.. yes, I like it.
This is The Carradice's classic.
See detail at my friend's shop.
The bike shop is committed to sell small wheelers and folders, especially Brompton.
http://bicitermini.com/b/page/3/

これも大変良いのですが、日本の気候などを考えると素材やなんかが向いてないかなと思っていましたが、実物は矢張りとてもいい感じです。
サイトには日の丸があり、一見日本語表記がありそうですが、ありません。
随分前からこのままです・・・。
http://www.carradice.co.uk/rainwear/duxback-rainwear.shtml

うーん、やっぱり欲しいですけど、透湿性能はないしこれからの季節は厳しいな・・・でも格好エーしな・・・。
定番中の定番、英国製キャラダイスのレインポンチョ。
僕の友達の店に実物を置いてます。
小径車、特にブロンプトンに力を入れてるお店です。
http://bicitermini.com/b/page/3/



Conclusion:
At the moment there is not the best gear for rainy days from the functional and fashionable point of view.
The red one is not good design for bicycles and the blue one is not wearable in humid weather the same thing is to say to the green one. So I decided to order to make one. In the near future, I can show you on this website, perhaps.
And this is also important! BROMPTONS ARE made to fold.
YOU DO NOT HAVE TO cycle in the rain. All you have to do is just fold and take it with you on the tube, bus, taxi etc..

結論
今の所、これぞ決定打と言うポンチョはないです。それぞれ、デザインとか機能とかに一長一短があります。赤いのは、自転車向きではなく、青いのは夏向きではなく、黒いのも夏にはダメでしょう。なので、自分で良いのを作ろうと思ってます。近いうちにここで紹介できるでしょう。
そして、更に大事な事はブロンプトンは折り畳みです。
なので、無理して雨の中を乗る必要もなく、いつでも折り畳んで地下鉄、バス、タクシーと持ち込めば良いのです。

mobile tea ceremony 移動式茶席

EXCUSE ME, I WAS WONDERING,,,er,,, what are you doning here?
a fortuneteller?? or,,,,???
A girl asks a bloke out of curiosity. He wears Kimono and Hakama
trousers and a very unusual hat on his head. She doesn't know well
about kimonos or things but she could tell that his appearance is very
different from conventional models.
The style of him reminds her of much more historic,
or old fashion,,,indeed Kimonos are old fashion, but that is not the point,,,
Now she is complicated. She came to here because her friends had told
her the outdoor event. That sounded very interesting. Musicians, DJ's or
performers are going to play on the special stage. There are some stalls
selling clothes,accessories, some foods and booze. Then she find this
bloke light up by blur candle lights on the green,,,.


I was asked repeatedly like "a fortuneteller r u?!"
when I was making some tea at the event!


あのぅ、すいません・・・あの、ここは占いやってるんですか？
と、女の子が興味更かそうに男に聞いた。そいつは、着物を着て袴をはき、
ちょっと変わった帽子を冠っている。
彼女は、着物とかそんな事は詳しくは解らないが、その着物やなんかは、
ちょっと普通と違ったような感じがした。
何か、もっと古い様な、それは勿論着物だから古風なのだが、
そんな事が彼女の言いたい事ではなく、かなりこの格好に戸惑って
しまった。彼女は今日のこのイベントの事を友達から聞いていた。
ミュージシャンやDJ、それに他のパフォーマーたちがこの日の
特設ステージで演じて、フリマやお店も出て、飲み物も食べ物もある。
そして会場の草むらの中に蝋燭にポワーンと照らされたこの謎の男・・・。


この日はお茶をたててましたが何度か聞かれました「占いですか？」と。






A friend of mine organizes regular event called "Sakaians",
which means peopleof Sakai. Sakai is very old city.One of the
oldest city in Japan.There are so many tombs of ancient Kings,
Emperors and powerful clans of5th century around.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emperor_Nintoku

The city was one of the most important area during the Middle
Ages. Kyoto, the capital of Japan at that time, was devastated
by war lords. Sakai maintained its neutrality by autonomy.
The system was like European guild founded by merchants.
They are freeman. They loved peace and hope,
history and culture but at the same time very open to
something new, unknown things, people from foreign countries.
Many intellectuals, artists, clergy men, performers, sophisticated
and culturedpeople were born and lived here. Tea culture is
brought up here. Master Sen no Rikyu is a native of the city
and a member of an autonomous society founded by rich merchants.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sakai%2C_Osaka
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sen_no_Rikyū


We don't have to go back to our ancestors style but we do
enjoy our life as they did, don't we! I just don't want to say
"come back glory days of Sakai". Naturally, I like my town.
So I was asked to do it(making tea) when I was helping
my mates in the park the day before the event.

サカイアンズと言うイベントを友達が定期的にやってます。
大阪堺と言えば、歴史と文化の街として有名です。
この街を築いた先人に倣って、この街をもっともっと面白くして
行こうと言うのがねらいの様です。堺は中世の頃に絶頂期を迎え、
文化的自治都市として世界中に知られていました。京都の戦乱を避けて、
文人や富裕層や知識階級などがここにたどり着いたり、この街独特の
文化も華開いたのです。有名なところでは千利休などがその中に
いてます。お茶の文化は堺から発信されたと言えるかもしれません。

そんな昔の栄光にすがるつもりはありませんが、この街を好きな人間が
集まって、何か楽しい事をやって行こうというのが
サカイアンズと思います。





one of sakaian's regular events@ Daisen Park.
サカイアンズ恒例の屋外イベント＠大仙公園

As I have been telling you in my blog, I really love teas. Teas, I mean
not only Japanese green tea but British brew and Chinese Kung Fu thing.
I don't drink alcohol much and don't like it much. I do drink coffee when
I' m out because you can't have a nice cuppa in town. It's strange, isn't it!
You know Japan is famous for its tea culture but you rarely served
a really nice cup of tea except from posh restaurants. You can't have
a nice cuppa even though there are so many cafes and tea houses
available in town. Their menus telling they serve black tea, and
you order one of them, then you will find a cup of tea and saucer
with a tea bag in it. Maybe a slice of lemon or a small container of cream
but not milk is served with it. NO POT! Actually, the whole things
GO TO POT.JUST A CUPPA and a tea bag. Some times you can have
a cuppa and a pot in a cafe.But DON'T LOOK inside of the pot I worn you.
You will not find any of tea leaves in the pot. If you really like tea, you
should avoid having tea in town especially if you are not a man/woman
about town or cafes.
So how about Chinese tea? These days there are so many chinese
neiboughrs and tourist you can hear Mandarin or Cantonese in the streets
and in some shops, restaurants.I think the level of Chinese food has been
improved for that reason.
Tea must be,,, yes, maybe I could say. But most of Chinese restaurant
serve bloody Suntry tinned Oolong tea with ice! NO HOT TEA because
it's tinned. And you have to pay for it(in Japanese restaurant tea is
free of charge). Do you? I WON'T.

Coffee is easy. It doesn't make you complicated situation.
Just order a cup of coffee and nothing will happen. And some places
treatyou refills! Easy.
BTW I like tea and DIY is better I suppose.

ブログで書いてきましたが、お茶が大好きです。日本茶、紅茶、
中国茶どれも好きです。お酒はあまり好みません。コーヒーは
外に出たら飲みます。ちゃんとしたお茶が外に出たら飲めません
から。これって、ちょっと変ですよね？　
日本文化の一つとして、茶文化は世界でも認識されてるのに。
勿論、高そうな料理店に入ると緑茶は出てきます。
でも最近は外食産業では水を出す様です。そして普通にそこらにある
喫茶店に入って紅茶を頼んでもマトモな紅茶は殆ど出てきません。
来るのは、ティーバッグの入ったカップと皿。
それにレモンの輪切りかフレッシュとか言う牛乳と違うものが
付いてきます。ポットで出ません。これだけです。
けど、これではおいしく抽出されません、物理的に。
最近はポットサービスを謳った店もありますが、ポットの中を見ては
行けません！　そこには葉っぱは入っていません・・・。なので、
その街の喫茶店事情に詳しいか、知ってる店以外で飲むのは大変危険です。
では、中国茶は？この数年で中国人の隣人や旅行者が激増のお陰で
中華料理のレベルは全体に上がったと思います。
お店やレストラン等で頻繁に中国語を耳にします。確かに、
全体的に本格的な味付けに近づいた様ですし、中国茶も
身近になりましたが、殆どの中華料理店ではサントリーの缶入り
ウーロン茶をアイスで出します！
なんで、そんな冷めたお茶をだすのか？！
しかもこれは日本茶の様に無料というのでは無く、別に料金を
払わなければなりません。僕はこう言うのはたのみません。

コーヒーなら無難です。コーヒーを頼んでもこんなややこしい事を
考えたり躊躇させる様な事は起こりません。
しかもお替わりOKのとこもあります。
お茶は自前が安全です。





these pics were taken in a suburb of Ireland, no, in Daisen Park!
アイルランドで取りました、うそです大仙公園です。


This time I was going to make Teas like above. Not only Japanese
green tea but Brit brew and Chinese tea.
My brompton loaded up with gears and tools. Cups, bowls, tea leaves,
a kettle,and a gas burner etc. I wore Kimono and Hakama.
If you use conventionaldiamond frame bikes you can not wear
these things. Maybe you can but you
need some experience in an acrobatic stunt or gymnastics.
The bike is much nicer than road racers or MTBs for that part.
Kimono friendly!

I was wondering when I was shopping for some stuff for my Cha seki
(Cha, tea. seki, seat. in this sense, tea room or ceremonial area) ,
what if no one takes care of it!
What will happen to these sweets I have just bought?
Well, I will eat all of them. I have a sweet tooth.
Contrary to my worry, my Cha seki was quite popular.
I didn't have much time even nature calls!!
They required Japnese green tea most. No one can imagine
this old fashion bloke serves British brew or Chinese tea, no wonder.

I hear the next event will be on the day of October.
You might be able to see a strange fortune teller is serving a nice cuppa.
And may be there will be a nice bike with him.

日英中のお茶を入れるつもりで、色々と一応用意はしました。
お道具は勿論ブロンプトンに積んで行きましたよ。で、着物に袴でブロに
乗ります。もし、普通の自転車に乗っていたらなかなかこうは行きません。
アクロバットかスタントかやってないと無理でしょう。
着物で乗れるのがMTBとかロードよりもこの自転車は凄い。

買い物をしてる時にふと思いました。もし誰も興味も関心も示せへん
かったらどうしょう？こんなにお菓子買って大丈夫か！？　
いや、まぁ余ったら全部食ったらエーか、俺は甘いもん好きやし。
などと思ってましたが、実際には意外と評判でトイレ以外
休憩もとれませんでした。結局みんな抹茶を希望しました。
そりゃ、こんな格好してる人間から英国式紅茶、中国茶とか想像でき
にくいでしょう。

次のサカイアンズの野外イベントは１０月にあるらしいです。
もしかしたら、不思議な占い師がお茶を入れてるのを目撃できるかも
知れません。
そして多分、ちょっと格好いい自転車がそこにあります。

mob. kitchen PT 2 Shall we have a nice cuppa tea or a bowl of tea ? モバイル台所2 これぞお茶飲み友達、ジェットボイル

...the continuance from the last time.

THE JET BOIL is suitable for a Brompton.
Why ? It is just correct in its one of front luggage collections,which called TOURING PANNIER,
the largest front bag(28 lts !).
Very useful, the toughest one, I think.
And I am sure that the luggage system of Brompton Bicycle is the best ever so far ! Especially if you use a small wheeler/folder.

前回からの続きです。

ジェットボイルはブロンプトンにピッタリです。
どこが？　特に専用のツーリングパニアにはしっくり
来ます。この鞄は２８Lも入りますし、
使い勝手と言い、
何と言っても最強の鞄です。
この便利さは他で太刀打ちできません。
特に折り畳み、小径車に乗ってる方なら分かると思います。

BTW, SO WHY with touring pannier? that's the crunch,
isn't it !
Let's see it....

では、どこがツーリングパニアにピッタリか？
見て行きましょう。




this is the back side of my tourin pannier. the bulged part contains the jet boil. just fit in this part & doesnt touch the handle bar. (coz its design sometimes it touches when u put the things in lots)
ツーリングパニアの裏側です。膨らんでる部分にジェットボイルが入ってます。 この中にすっぽりと入ってハンドルに干渉しません。 （構造上ここに入れすぎるとハンドルに当たるんです）




so there's plenty of room to put the stuff in the main compartment of the bag. u can bring not only tea but some nice dinner as i did last time.
ここに、ジェットボイルをすっぽりと収められるんで、鞄本体にも色々と 他のモノを入れられます。お茶以外にも軽食や更には本格的に野外料理の道具なども 可能でしょう。ソレくらいは充分の空きがまだまだあります。

ok,let's do it outside,shall we!
では、実際やってみましょう。



Ohmiwa Jinjya Shrine, Nara pref. a part of its HP is translated in english. http://www.oomiwa.or.jp/eng.html

ここは奈良の大神（おおみわ）神社です。 http://www.oomiwa.or.jp/index.html




receive water in a purifying basin. then boil the water by jetboil.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chozusha

手水舎にてお水を戴きます。これでお湯を沸かします。




mine isnt made by montbel but they selling nodate set or outdoor gear for japanese trad green tea. http://en.montbell.jp/products/goods/list.php?category=330000

僕の野点の道具はモンベル製では有りませんが、モンベルでも 野点のセットを販売しています。 http://webshop.montbell.jp/goods/list_search.php





i do drink a coffee of course. Utubo Park, osaka city
お茶だけではなくコーヒーも勿論飲みます。大阪のウツボ公園です。


jet boil and brompton.
http://www.jetboil.com/
http://www.brompton.co.uk/


ジェットボイル本体のサイト。英語版です。
http://www.jetboil.com/

一部を翻訳した物が、前回リンクをはらして頂いた川崎一さんのHPにあります。
http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~nature1/jetrecipes.htm


ジェットボイルは日本ではモンベルが代理店契約をしています。 http://webshop.montbell.jp/goods/disp.php?product_id=1824308

ブロンプトンはミズタニ自転車が日本で一部の商品を扱っています。 http://www.mizutanibike.co.jp/brompton/index.html

mobile kitchen part 1 モバイル台所 １

right in front of the main gate of Heian Jingu-shrine, Kyoto.

　　　　　　　　　 平安神宮の門前です。

A Happy New Year, a little belated though...

Anyway, new year has started.

Greetings for new year is much important and usual, however, kurisumasu or christmas became almost a Japanese word and its meaning is not religious or spiritual at all, it is a very commercial thing here.

In Japan, It is common to visit the shrine on the new year's day.

I do not have regular shrine to visit for the new year's day.

I change the shrines to visit year by year, I know it's unusual, and apart from the topic, people take me as unusual anyway. Yes, I KNOW!

But of course being unusual is not my aim if you ask me. I have been telling I am just doing what I think interesting but not picking out something odd or strange specially.

Naturarul born stranger? Well, I do not mind, do I ? No, never mind.

Usually go to shrines like Sumiyosi, Ikutama or Tenmaguu in Osaka City or maybe some local small shrines and then go to Nara prefecture for visiting old grand shrines/temples.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sumiyoshi_Taisha

http://www.osaka-city.or.jp/orc/rekishi/uekita/p68e.htm

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Ikukunitama-jinja

official sites but no English

http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/index.shtml

http://www.tenjinsan.com/

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

from last year i got a nick for ridin my brompton with kimono.and its the new years day i better wear montuki or formal black kimono coat with my family crest on it.

去年の夏から着物でも乗っていますが、今回は正月なんで紋付袴でブロンプトン。

少し遅いですが、明けましてお目出度う御在ます。

今年も宜しくお願い致します。

毎年正月には初詣に行きますが、（まぁ普通日本人は大概どっか初詣に行くでしょが、このブログは少ないながら海外の方が読んでるのでこんな変な書き方になる。）特に行く所を決めていません。大体、住吉、生國魂（いくたま）、天満宮などの大阪市内や近所の神社に行き、さらに奈良方面に足を伸ばしたりします。

大体、初詣に始まり年間５００回くらいは神社仏閣に行きますかね。

それぐらいは行くので、簡単な祝詞や真言も少しは覚えてます。

http://www.sumiyoshitaisha.net/index.shtml

http://www.tenjinsan.com/

さて、僕はお茶が結構好きです。紅茶、日本茶、中国茶どれも頻繁に飲みます。

それで、早速外でもお茶を楽しめる様にしました。

モバイル台所と呼べる、ジェットボイルです。

詳細は先達の記事をご参考下さい。

http://www12.ocn.ne.jp/~nature1/jetboil.htm

他にもjetboil/ジェットボイルでググルと色々出てきますので、そちらをご参考下さい。

ラーメンを作ろうとしてる動画です。

http://homepage.mac.com/jhalstead/iMovieTheater4.html

更に、横にしても大丈夫！！

http://homepage.mac.com/jhalstead/iMovieTheater5.html

日本ではモンベルが取り扱ってます。

http://webshop.montbell.jp/goods/disp.php?product_id=1824308

http://jetboil.com/

A bit of long introduction, but I had better to write above for

some readers abroad, especially for those who is not know Japanese custom well.

I have been doing my blog both in (broken) English and Japanese.

Sometimes it makes me very prolong explanation and extra translations for some readers.

And my point of view is a little different from standard Japanese perhaps.

I like visiting shrines and temples.

I remember some prayer for Shinto and Buddhism by heart, which is very unusual for modern Japanese people. Visiting shrines and temples over 500 times in a year, I think. Well, it is not common, I konw.

Having a cup of tea is very common, of course. And maybe you will find a tea house in a tourist place serving a bowl of green tea in a very casual way.There are many people training tea as known as chado, or the way of tea which quite popular world widely.

But actually, when it comes to something to do maccha (powdered green tea, a bowl of tea, not in a cup), we would expect some kind of away-from-this-world or obsolete, may be it's existing but irrelevant to day to day life.

My favourite things are in this field.

Still you might find somewhere else but people do not care much,

like Noh, Kabuki, Bunraku, but people go to Hollywood films, Rock Star from abroad, Dancers from west instead

of these conventional performing art.

I love teas, I mean tea not only Japanese green tea but British brew, Chinese kung fu style.

I would go wether it is Japanese traditional music or latest club DJ from UK, interesting film from south Asia, moving fiddle players from eastern Europe....

I would like to keep Japanese good tradition in my way anyway.

So I have got a mobile kitchen for tea!

Let's hear about jetboil from a senior user.

http://thehowzone.com/how/Jetboil

Making a ramen.

http://homepage.mac.com/jhalstead/iMovieTheater4.html

Not vertical!!

http://homepage.mac.com/jhalstead/iMovieTheater5.html

Googling the word 'jetboil' , you will find some useful information.

Maker's site.

http://homepage.mac.com/jhalstead/iMovieTheater5.html

This years hatugama or New Year's tea was here at Kashiwara Shrine,

Nara prefecture.

http://www.geocities.jp/general_sasaki/kashihara-shrine.html

http://www.urasenke.or.jp/texte/organ/e_hatsu2006/e_hatsu2006.html

making kaiseki or light meal for tea first. todays special is a otyazuke or tea over rice using Darjeeling tea for it.yup, VERY UNUSUAL, I KNEW, BUT IT'S GOT A BEAUTIFUL TASTE BELIEVE ME.

まず、懐石にお茶漬けを頂きます、それもダージリン紅茶を使って。

えあ？！キモイ？？　マジで巧いですから、任して下さい。

　　　　　　　

a nice cup-pa, darjeerin. ya, british brew for japanese traditional cuisine!　

紅茶、ダージリンです。これを使ってお茶漬けです。

i usually eat cereal mixed rice. rice includes beans, wheat, foxtail millet etc.

この十年くらい白米ではなく、自分でブレンドした雑穀米です。

inside the bag in front of the burner is tea set. bowl, tea container, tea whisks, tea scoop.

手前の巾着が野点セットです。

the black bowl is made by my favourite pottery artist SAINEN Akio.

手前の黒い茶碗はお気に入りの陶芸家、西念秋夫氏制作のものです。

2 b con'd

次回に続く・・・・

Book, CD, DVD, cafe and internet ツタヤで無線LAN

TUTAYA is a name for the chain stores for book seller,video & CD rental service.
Almost every city or town in Japan you will never miss one of these.
A unique style of book selling and cafe mixture, that was the beginning of this
virtually-dominated-the-market company's story which started in Osaka.
http://www.tsutaya-ltd.co.jp/english/index.html
http://www.ccc.co.jp/index_e.html

天王寺のツタヤは一階が本とCDの販売で、中にはカフェもあります。
ここのカフェは、PCを二台程置いていて、確か一時間は無料でネットに繋げた
のでは無いかと思いますが、たしか料金は発生しなかったと思います。
http://www.wiredcafe.jp/shop_abenobashi.html



At Abeno branch, they sell books and CDs and rent CDs and DVDs upper floors.
The ground floor includes cafe space where you can use the PCs on the bar of the cafe.
There are PCs that you can use the net without any charges.

sorry no English
http://www.wiredcafe.jp/shop_abenobashi.html

I just can not remember how long you can use the PCs by free of charges, but at least an hour or so you might be able to use it, I think.

Recently, many book stores doing "chair services" -you can read your favourite book while you are relaxing and sit back in the chair the stores prepared.
TUTAYA Abenobashi branch also is doing like many book sellers do. The thing is that this store allows you to having a cup of coffee not only you are net surfing but also browsing the books in the store.


ここは最近の本屋の傾向に多い、ゆっくりと座りながら本が読めるのは所ですが、
驚きは何とここのカフェで注文した飲み物を飲みながら本屋スペースで読める事です。
それも、自分が買った本でなくてもOKなんです。
カフェは２４時に閉まりますが、本屋と言うか、ツタヤは朝の４時までやってます。
もっとも、本屋と言っても美術書やサブカル系の本や一部洋書もあり明らかに
セレクトショップ系の本屋ですが、このエリアでそれをやってのけてるのは凄いと思います。

I think this idea of browsing books and having coffee is marvellous!
Why? Because of the area, I should say.
The area is not bad place to live, for shopping, doing things like watching films, going to museum, zoo and so on. It is very popular place to visit although it is not city centre like Minami or Kita. It is sure, place to visit, for knowing a typical Osakan lives. But at the same time, neighbour town like Airin-district is one of the dodgiest area in country. There are some 24 hour shops. And lots of escort services are available in the area (the very place of noh pann kissa or no panties cafe, where you can served by hostesses who does not wear panties but only skirts,was born. Very unique lip-service-only style parlour is invented around here.)
The largest card board city in Japan is includes this area.No need to say, very safe town centre, I mean compare to other country's cities, towns and streets. Maybe the safest country in the developed world.
But there are rogues, sick, junkies, pushers, pimps, street girls(actually very old! ).
One of the toughest area in country, that is for sure.

The toughest area though it is, the area is one of the historic place and very cultured area at the sametime. The area called Abeno, Tennouji is dating back to the ancient era. Tennouji is name after Shitennouji,one of the oldest temple in Japan. Built in the 6 century by order of Prince Shoutoku.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shitennō-ji

Abeno also is very old place.
http://www.city.osaka.jp/abeno/english/attract/attrac04.html
http://www.city.osaka.jp/abeno/english/attract/attrac10.html

So I went to the shop many times in the midnight hours. There were not strange people who you supposed to see in the 24 hour open cafe after you missed the last train in Minami or Kita. Always peace and quiet.
Serving drinks and snacks with trendy cafe-style and collections of fashionable magazines, foreign books under the name of Culture Convenience worked well? Perhaps.

The cafe in the shop started FREE SPOT service.
http://www.freespot.com/map/list.php?District=%2Fmap%2Flist.php%3Fds%3D27&City=%C2%E7%BA%E5%BB%D4%B0%A4%C7%DC%CC%EE%B6%E8&AC=&x=28&y=1&BC=

大阪の以外の人にはイメージしにくいと思いますが、このエリアは難波程の
繁華街ではないにしろ、深夜営業してる店も多く、風俗店も多数有り（ノーパン喫茶は
この地区で”発明”されたし、ファッションマーサージもこの辺りが発祥地。）
通天閣、新生界界隈に近く西成のあいりん地区も目と鼻の先ですし、路上生活をしてる
人達が日本でも一、二位を争う場所です。

聖徳太子の建てた四天王寺に近く、古くはシルクロードの終着点。歴史に登場する
世界に向けての南大阪の玄関口で、歴史と文化を堂々と誇る街なんですが、
タフな街としての側面もあるには間違いないでしょう。

私も何度か夜中にこの店に行った事がありますが、難波や他の地域のこの種の
「終夜営業していて、お金のかからない場所」の割にはめっちゃ胡散臭い人があんまり
いてないのが不思議に思います。ツタヤのちょっとお洒落路線を意識した店舗や
本のセレクト等が功を奏したのでしょうか？

さて、このカフェですが最近FREE SPOTを導入しました。
http://www.freespot.com/map/list.php?District=%2Fmap%2Flist.php%3Fds%3D27&City=%C2%E7%BA%E5%BB%D4%B0%A4%C7%DC%CC%EE%B6%E8&AC=&x=28&y=1&BC=



BASIC INFO
power point : not available.
environment : around the chairs & book selling corner.
no smoking area : inside the building is basically no smoking area.
theres tables & chairs outside where u can smoke while u r net surfing.

基本情報
電源　　　無し。
環境　　　カフェスペース全域と本売り場受信可能。　
禁煙席　　建物内は禁煙、外にカフェテラスがありここは喫煙可。ネットも繋げる。