June, the 6th, after departure -
Message to Ryota and Mako, and to everyone I met
りょたさんとまこさんへのメッセージ
When I was preparing my trip to Japan and looking for hosts to welcome me, I don't think there was a single person in France who didn't say
Ollie Diary day20
June, the third
The last day. Nothing was particularly planned, so it's a day full of final surprises.
We have to return some seats borrowed for the wedding to a larger temple in Maniwa, which is the perfect opportunity to visit it. It is
Ollie Diary day19
June, the 2nd
It's my second to last day in Yono. I'm coming to the end of almost three weeks of staying here. I'm ending as I began: with a traditional ceremony at the shrine. The first was the carrying of the sacred mikoshi, and now it i
The following day always brings more energy and sunshine. To usher in the first of June, we started by following Ryota-san to the temple, Otsu Shrine, to pray the gods and get the new month off to a good start.
On the way back, I dipped m
The end of May brings another rainy day. The children from the village came to Aoki Honke guest house to learn more about the place from Ryota-san, who makes them walk around all the rooms and asks them questions.
Toto and I tried to intr
May the 30th
This day, which had been decided at the last minute, ended up being spent entirely with Kei-san, who first took us to the south of Maniwa to visit what will soon be his future home, where he plans to move in soon with his girl
May the 29th
We set off early for my last Wednesday here to return to Hiruzen region. Ryota and Mako-san drop me off at the beginning of Nakahiruzen hiking trail, the central mountain of the three peaks that form Hiruzen. I set off for thr
May the 28th
Today, the weather forecast calls for a typhoon to pass over part of Japan. It's raining cats and dogs from morning till night, so it's not a very active day.
I've got to go to the Irie-san's house at 9am to make ichigo daifu
May the 27th
The day began with rain, so I stayed at shared-house いとくる for a morning devoted to sewing little bags from the offcuts of the kimono.
But after lunch, Toto very kindly offered to lend me his bike, so I jumped at the chance to
May the 26th
For this second Sunday of my stay, Ryota-san took me to Hiruzen, on the northern part of Maniwa.
In the morning, an event is held in Chuka district. Organised around some environmental themes and located near a nature museum,
May the 25th
After a huge wash-up of the previous night's dishes, I spend part of the morning in the mountains near the house. Behind a shed, a small path leads to a very small cemetery, perhaps of previous families. I pass the tall headst
May the 24th
This morning, as I was starting to pull weeds at the back of the house, the neighbours beckoned me to come and see them. So here I am again at the Irie-san's house, but this time without a translator to help me. Irie-san point
May the 23th
After a half-Japanese, half-Western breakfast (miso soup, green tea and egg sandwich, made with bread given by Irie-san the day before), the morning was devoted to cleaning the room next to mine, with Toto and Ryota-san. Piles
May the 22th
To alternate again, today was a calmer day at home. I woke up early to begin a big, intense cleaning of the kitchen of the shared house, which needed it just as much as the living room.
I forgot to mention in the meantime the
