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≦)ムププ
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~バイバイ
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)
何?何?何?溶けてしまった?!What?! Hahaha you’ve become as sadistic as Tamaki san!! XD well, I’m sure nothing harmful happened, otherwise I owuld have known LOL
….btw, can’t believe about the shrine and the village! you know? in Italy there’s actually quite a similar situation too. And the only thing you can see from the lake is the church bell tower. I’ve passed by there like 6 times in my life, but always in summer..残念!
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Ahaha!! Sorry! I will write everything in the next part. But you know he is fine now 🙂 so don’t worry.
Thank you for always reading! Only if I knew about that place in Italy!!! I eould have sent them a message and ket tgem know right after the show was aired!!! Can you let me know the nane of the place?! I really like these things XD
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Don’t thank me! I should be the one thanking you for doing this! It’ must take you a long time every time but it’s fun to read and I get to feel as if I was there watching too 🙂
Here you have the link https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reschensee
It’s not as tragic, because not many died..they evacuated the village before creating the artificial dam(n) lake. But to me the fact that many acres of fertile land were submerged just so that a Swiss company could earn money off it it simply makes me go nuts. 人間は最低や!So it’s not as tragic as the one he showed to the viewers of the show..but it reminded me of this story because the two things that are coming out of the water are both linked to religios belief.
Any which way, if you want to share this with them let me know if anything happens out of it, will you? 😛
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