June(1)

                     The roses at my local temple flowered this year too. On May 18th, local children and temple workers carried a big  basket of roses to the main hall on the hillside

                                                                      This is a ritual event held every spring, here at this temple.

                                                                                                                                               in the garden of the temple

                                                                         The roses were beautiful under the sunlight, and the water spray of the fountain in the garden was also bright.

                                                                                                                                                      Tomoko

May(2)

                                    One day in May, I walked around the Nara Park. Many tourists visit this ancient Nara to enjoy the lots of temples, buildings and atmosphere.
                                    Some local people sitting by the Sarusawa pond in the Park, and painting the image of the day is a familiar sight there.
                                   

                                         This is one of the painters I meet and speak sometimes at the same spot. His painting is a bit special, which is called pointillism with black ink.
                                His one set of 3 paper painting work is going to complete soon in October. It took him 2 years. He said with smile.

                                                                                                         Thank you for allowing me to take your art!   
                                                                                             I look forward to seeing you by the pond in the Park  again.

                                                                                                                               Here, life is passing very slowly...I like it.

                                  　　　　　　　　　　　 お天気の良い日に出かけると、同じ場所でよく出会う絵かきさん。お会いする度に絵が出来上がっていきます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　コツコツと月日をかけて描く姿に心うたれます。写真も快く撮らせてくださいます。
                                                                                

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tomoko

May(1)

  Our sons and a daughter-in-law sent me this beautiful flowers on Mother's day.

   This is not a composite photo....yes, the reflection on the lid of my piano.

                                                                                                Finding the beautiful reflection on the lid, I tried to take the device of  piano too.

                                               

                                                                                                                                                very photogenic!

                                                                                                                I am so happy to find that there are so many beauties in my room.

                               

   


                                                                       

                                                                                               Driving Miss Daisy, I watched countless times 20 years ago is unforgettable film.

                                    

                                                          The main players are Miss Daisy, 72, a proud old wealthy Southern lady, and her chauffeur Hoke, he is a black man.

                                                          The story explores their relationship over 25 years. No special event happens; the days just pass quietly.
                                                                         Over the years, they are going to realize that their existence is important.The story looks at humans getting old and dying, 
                                                         mentions racism, and touches my heart with their exquisite words.
                                                                
                                                          I started reading the dialog of the film 5 monthes ago. With my English teacher's great help, the reading is going to the end soon.
                                                          It was fun but very difficult!!!
                                                          

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　長く使っていたピアノですが、色々な角度から見ると中々面白いと発見しました。身近に撮影出来る物があるのは楽しいですね。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　一枚目の写真はピアノのふたに映ってるのを斜めから撮りました。

                                             　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　    
                                                                                                           いつも訪問して頂き有難うございます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  中々パソコンを開く時間がありません。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　まだしばらくコメント閉じさせて頂きます。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

                                                                                                      Tomoko

                                                                       

                                                                           

                                                                             

Diary.....April(2)

                                     　　　　  I feel that while cherry blossoms were making Japanese people festive, the days in April were flying so fast.

                                       I missed enjoying the cherry blossoms this spring, but I found this lovely weeping peach tree quietly blooming at a nearby shrine.

                                   　　　　　　　 　　　　　　　　　　　　  See? Single tree has white and pink flowers on it.

                                                                                                                                    源平しだれ桃(genpei weeping peach)

                                                                     This is my piano student who has been studying with me for over 13 years.

                                                                   She had dreamed since childhood of playing the piano, but  she never had a chance to try.

                                                                   When she retired, she came to my piano studio and started learning piano from the basics

                                                                                                        　　　　Here ,she plays Chopin's Nocturne Op.9.No.2.   

                                                Many students age from 4 to 80 were playing with me for more than 30years.Now she is my only student.

                                                I think, when she stops learning piano, it will also be my time to retire as a piano teacher.

                                                Then I will enjoy playing the piano for my own pleasure in everyday life.

                                                Until then we will continue practicing piano, encouraging each other as friends rather than as a teacher and student.

                                                      　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　  　　　　 　 This is her favorite piano song.
                                         　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　For Elise ...Beethoven Op.173
                                  

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　   最後のピアノの生徒さん。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　彼女の頑張る姿に励まされています。


                                              　　　　　　　　　　　　         Tomoko   

                               
                        

Diary......April(1)

It is fun .

Let's take a look at how to prepare mochi by pounding in the traditional way.

 April 2,I had lovely guests from Hawaii,Sandy and her partner Bert.

Sandy was my first teacher at an English converstaion class.

20 years ago, she moved back to Hawaii after living in Japan for 4 years as a teacher

and then we have been keeping in touch with each other by e-mail.

I took them out around Nara Park with my camera, but totally  forgot to take pictures!

too much fun being with them and the time was passing so fast.

This video was taken by Bert at a mochi shop near the Nara Park.

Tomoko

                                                         

Diary....March(2)

only photos......

It has been cold theses days, but Sakura is beginning to bloom here in Nara.

 This is a peformance of Japanese Calligrahy by the local high school students at a neaby shrine.

Even with the rise of technology like computers, phones and tablets,Japanese Calligraphy has survived.

                                                                                                                                                        March 21



                                  After writing, some parts of the calligraphy has much ink than other areas, so the students are using unusable wast papers to get the wet ink out 

                                                                                                                                         Thank you for visit.


                                                                                                            Tomoko

Diary .......March (1)

                                                        As Spring is just around the corner, it will soon be time for April's rice planting. Rice is the basis of most meals in Japan.
                                                        Each day Japanese people usually consume at least one rice dish. Japanese farmers have used the best available lands
                                                        to cultivate the important rice crops.

                                                        Hundreds of rice -planting festivals to pray for abundant annual harvests are held this time of the year all over Japan.

                                                        These photos were taken at a nearby local rice-planting festival.

                                                         Although this particular festival ceremony is somewhat simple in style, it still is very entertaining to watch.

                                                                                                                                                                                               February 25

                                                                   
                                                                       Thanks to bountiful year....... the first harvest of rice offered to shrine.
                                                                      This photo from my archive   was taken 8 years ago at another local shrine.

                                                                                                                      今年も豊作を祈るお祭りが行われる時期になりました。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　
                     
                                                                                                                         Thank you for visit.