Urabandai (1)

Hello my friends!

It’s time for another Hikyo report!! Sorry for my absence last week (｡・ε・｡)

Today I will be writing about Tamaki Hiroshi’s visit to Urabandai, in Fukushima prefecture! Another interesting journey with lots of adventures!! So please stay with me until the end (ﾟ∀ﾟ人)

Urabandai is located in the north part of Fukushima prefecture.

Mount Bandai (1816m) is a very famous mountain in this city which

has had many eruptions and keeps many stories in its heart.

We will get to that later ^^

As for now. let’s see where Tamaki san is going to take us!

Standing under the bright bright sunshine,

and in front of the frozen lake…

Tamaki san says :

“Of course it’s a lake but it doesn’t really look like it with 

the frozen surface and all the the snow piling up on it!

It will definitely be a totally different landscape during the summertime.”

Then he adds: “With all the snow piling up on the ground,

you might think it must be freezing here!!

But it’s actually really warm today!”

And yes! The summer face of the lake would be something like this:

But the frozen lake looks cool too XD

So let’s go wondering around the city with him!

Walking on the street,

Tamaki san says that living in cities with so many

snowfalls every year must be quite difficult.

They have to take care of all the snow piling

up around their houses and the streets…

While talking about that, he finds someone who is actually

shoveling the snow in the street…

He gets closer and greets him XD

But he doesn’t even turn back!!

hahahahaha maybe not that interested XD

Then Tamaki san asks him if he is busy melting the snow?

And then he turns back and looks at him: “Melting?!”

ahahahaha!! Really not interested  XD

Then Tamaki san asks him if he has to do this everyday

during the winter and he says yes!

Of course around his own house.

And it seems like the face of

the mountain will be as white as it is now,

until mid-May every year!!

Then the old man asks Tamaki san if he is in the

entertainment business!!

ahahahaha!! XD

And Tamaki san says that he is an actor.

hehehe then the man asks him his name and

he tells him XD I can’t believe he didn’t even know his face!

He used to be in many many commercials just a few years ago!

Tamaki san thanks him and says goodbye!

Keep walking again in the street…

he finds something he is interested in…

A row of tiny white things hanging like laundry under the sun!

What could it be…

He gets closer and takes a better look…

Then says that they look like the Jerky snacks for dogs!!

(^_^;

Well, when you don’t know the answer to a question,

you just have to ask someone!!

So he calls out for the owner…

XD

An old lady comes to the door…

He greets her and apologizes,

then explains the situation and asks her

about the white things!!

She becomes a little bit confused but

gets what he means after a second,

and says that they are dried daikon!!

So it was Daikon!! XD

Tamaki san says that they look so tiny to be daikon…

And she explains that they cut the daikon into 3 pieces

and then hang them outside like this to dry.

They will be here all the time and absorb a lot of vitamin D.

Seems like they are simmered and then eaten.

Then the lady (Toshima san)

kindly offers him to try some inside…

they are actually having it right now with her neighbors!

XD

Really?! Who would not accept such a great offer!

Tamaki san gets inside the enterance area

and the lady opens the door…

hehehe…

the other two ladies inside are surprised…

happy or perhaps embarrassed? ^^

Tamaki san gets inside and puts his camera somewhere safe.

Then gets into the kotatsu, next to the ladies.

Here’s the dish with the dried daikons in it.

Toshima san says that they have had this way of

drying daikons for many years around this area.

This is their own way of making conserved food,

so that they can use them in all seasons with no worries.

While Tamaki san is still talking to Toshima san

about the process of making the daikons,

the other lady next to him offers him to try some!

Then she uses her own chopsticks

and put some in the plate for him ^^

Tamaki san thanks her and then

Itadakimasu…

starts with a daikon!!

Oh… don’t forget to smell it XD

hehehe! As always!!

The soup is absorbed in the daikon and

the taste is strong and delicious.

He also picks up a takuan and tries it out.

Everything is home made and Tamaki san

says that even thought this is the first time he is trying it,

the taste makes him feel calm and at home.

The lady next to him says that

the same kind of products may be sold wherever you go,

but the taste of them is actually different

when they are home made!

And it’s not the same even in two different households.

After the eating is done,

the lady sitting next to Tamaki san (Kaneko san) asks him if he

had already visited “Oyamazumi shrine” which is nearby…

And Tamaki san says not yet!

They explain for him that there are two gates

near the shrine by the lake.

But one of them is covered with the water

all year long (Except for its head)!

And you only get to see it when it becomes cold

and the water goes down and freezes!

Which makes it now!!

Tamaki san is interested …

Kaneko san asks him if he wants to visit the place

and of course he says yes.

Then asks the ladies if he can go there

by foot, and they say he can.

Hmmm… but we need a guide XD

So Tamaki san asks Kaneko san to be his guide

and show him the place XD

Heading to the the shrine with Kaneko san…

she shows him a way to go up to the hill

and get close to the lake…

It’s steep and slippery!

But Tamaki san is used to walking and

even climbing in the snow.

So he goes up in a second without any problems XD

Kaneko san praises him for that ^^

They go up and reach the place where the shrine is located

… and the two gates appear in front of their eyes!

It’s true! One of them is placed in the water and even now

we can only see half of the whole thing.

Kaneko san explains that the eruption of Mount Bandai

in the year 1888 (Meiji 21), caused a big change in this landscape.

Many rivers of hot water came out of the mountain

and started flowing down.

As a result, the villages around this area were all

sunk deeply in the water in a short time.

And the lake was actually created here after that.

It’s a sad story but interesting at the same time…

imagining there’s a village down there in the water…

Tamaki san finds this all a very mysterious situation XD

Saying that he cannot imagine how this gate

which he can see clearly right now,

would be going back inside the water in the summer again!

He is amazed by the great history behind the place.

Of course he starts taking photos…

and photos again ^^

This place has a lot of memories buried inside!!

It deserves the title…Don’t you think so? XD

So… it is decided!

The remains of the Oyamazumi shrine

are selected as the

Kokoro no hikyo #13

By Tamaki Hiorshi! (≧ω≦)d

☆

Getting back to the road again…

Tamaki san encounters a man who is digging the snow(?!)

He greets the man and asks him what he is doing XD

And he says that he is digging for daikons!!

Daikon?! Tamaki san is surprised!

But then he explains that they put the daikon in the snow like this

and then take them out and use them in their daily life during the year.

Amazingly, there are 1500 daikons being stored here!

Tamaki san is shocked again!! That many?! XD

Then the man (Endou san) asks him if he wants to try some..

(He has a very strong accent and

Tamaki san has trouble understanding what he says!)

This type of Daikon can be eaten raw!

So he takes out a Daikon for Tamaki san.

It’s huge!!! He peels the rough skin of the daikon

with his scary knife XD

Just by looking at the daikon,

Tamaki san says that he can tell how juicy it is!

Endou san cuts a piece and gives it to him on the knife!

The way he wants him to try it right away is kinda cute!

Tamaki san takes a bite and says it’s delicious…

Even though he is eating Daikon, it feels like he is eating fruits!

Must be sweet… ▼*ﾟvﾟ*▼

Then Endou san cuts another piece and puts it on the head of his knife!

And takes a bite from the daikon on the knife! Σ(ﾟдﾟlll)
Tamaki san is amazed by his way of eating XD

Tells him that his way of eating directly from the knife is like bandits!! (^_^;

hahahahaha! Being too straight again… Tamaki saaaan!! XD

Then he asks Endou san if the reason why the daikons are so juicy,

is because they have stored them in the snow.

But he explains that this type of Daikon is juicy by nature and

it’s not because of the way they have stored them here.

They are sweet and soft. Loved by everyone.

Then he do the same thing again and eats the daikon over the knife!!

Tamaki san says that it’s his first time seeing someone

eating with the knife like this!! XD

Then Endou san says that they have “Daikon Steak” served in their

guest house and asks him if he wants to have some.

Tamaki san has trouble understanding everything I guess,

but just to confirm he asks if he means that he can eat Daikon steak?

And then Endou san says more and to be honest, I don’t understand most of it XD

But when it’s over, Tamaki san says that he could not understand half of what he just said XD

hahahahaha!! Well but he wants to try the daikon steak with no doubt!

Heading to the guest house for some Daikon Steak!!

Endou Guesthouse

As they enter… Endou san calls out for his wife!

We have a guest XD

Endou san’s wife comes out and sits there and bows to the guest.

Endou san asks her if she knows the guest XD hehehehe

She says that she has seen him on TV!

Following Endou san’s wife,

a cute little girl comes out with her mother

(Endou san’s daughter-in-law).

I love the soft “Hello” Tamaki san says

especially for the little girl ♡

Then Endou san asks him to say his name,

And Tamaki san introduces himself!

XD

And here comes the Daikon steak!!

Wow!! It really is huge and looks delicious…

Tamaki san is a “Meat” lover XD

So his eyes goes for the tiny piece of meat in the plate!!

But that’s just side dish XD

The main dish is the Daikon steak!!

Tamaki san cuts a small piece with his chopsticks,

and goes for a bite!!

It’s juicy and the taste of the soup is absorbed in it!

Soft and delicious.

 

Next he tries another dish which they serve in their

important ceremonial occasions! A dish for celebrations.

Daikon is used of course…

Tamaki san finds the daikon and goes for it!

Picking up with his chopstick,

says that this is again another shape of it! It’s different.

this time it’s shaking like jelly. interesting XD

Eating a bite and he says that the taste is totally different as well…

as if he is eating something else.

Such a warm and pleasent hospitality!

Thank you!! (*ﾟｰﾟ*)

☆

Heading to his next destination,

Tamaki san gets back on the road again!

This time he is visiting a small factory…

What could they be making here?…

He enters the place and greets the person in charge (Kuriki san).

Then asks him what they make here and surprisingly

he answers “Salt”!

Don’t you do that somewhere near the sea

and not in the mountains?!

Tamaki san is surprised!!

But Kuriki san explains that the water they use here

to make the salt, is not water sea…

it is taken from the hot springs in the mountain.

Then he is guided into the main room with

huge stoves and big pots of water boiling on top of them.

He gets close and looks inside.

The water is not as salty as the sea water of course.

They boil the water for 3 continuous days.

Kirikuri san then explains for us that the history of

this salt making process from Hot spring water,

goes back to 1200 years ago in (Muromachi era)!!

Tamaki san tries mixing the salt and then

picking up some of it with the spoon like tool they use.

Despite the looks, it’s pretty heavy he says!

After separating the salt drains from the water,

the next level is also done by hand!

Finding any kind of unnecessary thing in the shining,

white drains… and taking it out with care!

Tough job!!

Then Kuriki san asks Tamaki san to try the taste of the salt.

How was the taste…?

Tastes like salt! He says of course XD

But it’s not as salty as the normal salt,

and the taste is milder he says.

Then a female member of the factory staff,

makes them some onigiri (Rice ball)

to try out with the salt.

While watching the lady making the onigiri,

Tamaki san and Kuriki san have a chat

about how salt is used in

almost all the meals and

Tamaki san says that as he gets older each year,

his desire to take the meals in the most simple way

increases as well.

Being it Tempura or Meat.

Salt is what brings out the taste of the food

in the most simple and natural way.

Then Kuriki san asks him

if he would like to make the onigiri?!

XD XD XD
(Can’t help remembering the bakudan onigiri in Oki!!

↓↓↓↓

(o´艸`)

Tamaki san says with a serious tone:
“I’m terrible at making them!… sorry!”

ahahahaha!! Kuriki san laughs and gives up but

the lady washes her hand and passes him the

bowl of water and the rice!! hihihi

Thank you for doing that ( ≧艸≦)ﾑﾌﾟﾌﾟ

Now he can’t get away!

Tamaki san takes off his rings…

and the onigiri making starts!

hmmm I’m sure you are forgetting something…

hmmm what could it be?! XD

Well let’s go on…

ahahahaha!! But as soon as he tries to shape the rice,

he realizes that the tiny rice grains are sticking into his left hand!!

I really hated myself for laughing

after hearing him say: “Why?!” (/ω＼) with a sad tone!

Someone should have reminded him!

But everyone including the filming crew started laughing!

Yes… He forgot to wet his hands

with the water before taking the rice!!

Kuriki san tells him and

he tries putting his left hand in the water…

But the grains sticking to his hand

won’t be washed away that easily!

It probably feels even stickier than before >__<

“It’s a mess!” he says in a nervous way!

Holding the rice with his right hand and

trying to wash his left hand…

The lady gives him a plate to put the onigiri down…

and now his right hand

is covered with the rice grains as well…

Tamaki san becomes a little bit nervous and says:

“What should I do now?”

 It’s OK… Don’t give up ( ˘ ³˘)

Then Kuriki san tells him to

wash both his hands in the water and

start from the very beginning!

So he becomes serious!!

And…

He makes the onigiri in a few seconds

and no sticky rice on his hands!

“If I get serious I can actually make them… Sorry! 

But if I give up somewhere along the way…”

Keeping the cute onigiri he made in his right hand:

“Here!!”

The onigiri is made! No problem at all… I told you XD

The shape is perfect as well ^^

Then he uses the salt made by the factory,

and pour some on top of the onigiri!

Now let’s try… Itadakimasu!

“Delicious!” he says!

Also adding that somehow,

it’s the perfect amount of salt needed!

not too salty and not too plain.

☆

Going out in the snow again…

seems like it’s getting hotter and hotter every minute.

Tamaki san complains about the bright sunshine XD

Saying that it’s too bright being it from the sky or

the reflection of the light on the ground, covered by the snow!

“Want to keep walking with my eyes closed!”

hahahaha! He has got a weak point for this.

A few steps away from him,

there’s a group of men standing there with their snowmobiles.

Tamaki san gets close and asks them what they are up to!

And they say that they want to go on a ride over the frozen lake.

Tamaki san is interested in one of the vehicles which is not a snowmobile!

He gets closer and one of the men asks him

if he is interested and of course he says that he is!

He has never seen this type before, he says.

He keeps looking at it with joy in his eyes…

So the man

offers him to get on it and see how it feels like!

And he does!!

After getting on, he asks the man

what type of driving license is needed to ride this.

(Where does that question lead to I wonder! XD )

The man says that a normal driving license is needed,

if you want to ride on the road.

But if you don’t get on the road,

you can easily ride it without a license.

Tamaki san is not getting off!

Sitting there like that, the man comes to him and says:

“Do you wanna have a ride?”

And before he even finishes his sentence…

“Yes! I wanna have a ride!!” says Tamaki san XD

Everyone laughs and the man starts explaining

for him how the vehicle works in general.

While he explains, Tamaki san himself looks carefully

and finds out things by himself.

He is the type of person who would start using

the new things he buys without reading the user’s manual!

And he is surprisingly good at it XD

And also he has a boat riding license which makes it pretty

easy for him to understand how this vehicle works…

after just a few seconds,

He finds out whatever he needs to know!

So….

Off he goes!

Take care… ( ´・ω・｀)ﾉ~ﾊﾞｲﾊﾞｲ

As expected from him…

He can easily ride it on the snow…

no problem at all…

And he is enjoying the ride with no doubt…

BUT w(ﾟｰﾟ;)w

Something is about to happen!!

A hot day on a frozen lake…( ノ__<)

But let’s leave that for the next part of the report!!!

hahahaha!!

(￣ｙ￣)

Forgive me for my Sadistic way of ending this part!!

If you are worried about him on this frozen lake…

please stay tuned and I will be sharing the 2nd part soon!

Thank you all!

See you…

(End of part 1)