Just this past weekend, I traveled with the Kome Kome Club up to the Yoshikawa River in Niigata Prefecture. Some impressions:
It's the middle of February, and the bullet train from Tokyo passes through snow covered mountains, popular ski and snowboarding destinations. The mountains open up a bit to terraced rice fields lying fallow for the winter; the area is renowned for its rice and sake. Just visible in the distance is the Sea of Japan.
We arrive at the old elementary school, now the community center, and sit down with members of the local community. Two of the club members have been recording the experiences of the older generation. After a short presentation, over hot food and good sake, we share laughter and conversation.
Usually, we would be spending time helping to clear the snow from the fields to prepare for planting, but the warm weather has left the fields almost bare. We go sledding instead. An old woman watching us play shares stories of how the snow used to pile so high that the children would sled from the top of the tall shed behind us on the slopes.
Afterwards, we relax in an onsen, or Japanese bath, steam floating in the air.
To my new friends: thank you for your graciousness and hospitality!
And dear reader, if you get a chance, go visit. It's worth the trip ^_^
It's the middle of February, and the bullet train from Tokyo passes through snow covered mountains, popular ski and snowboarding destinations. The mountains open up a bit to terraced rice fields lying fallow for the winter; the area is renowned for its rice and sake. Just visible in the distance is the Sea of Japan.
We arrive at the old elementary school, now the community center, and sit down with members of the local community. Two of the club members have been recording the experiences of the older generation. After a short presentation, over hot food and good sake, we share laughter and conversation.
Usually, we would be spending time helping to clear the snow from the fields to prepare for planting, but the warm weather has left the fields almost bare. We go sledding instead. An old woman watching us play shares stories of how the snow used to pile so high that the children would sled from the top of the tall shed behind us on the slopes.
Afterwards, we relax in an onsen, or Japanese bath, steam floating in the air.
To my new friends: thank you for your graciousness and hospitality!
And dear reader, if you get a chance, go visit. It's worth the trip ^_^
 Snow lantern |
 The old elementary school and snow lantern |
James Li
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