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‘Missed this fragrance’
I couldn’t stop buying a pot, Japanese pepper tree
as my first balcony-guest in my new Tokyo-home.
懐かしい山椒の葉の香り。
引っ越した東京のおうちのバルコニーの
最初のひと鉢になっていただきました。
Love this Japanese Spring fragrance.
I tried. But it can’t grow in Tropical weather.
Every morning I give water to her.
She replies with waiving leaves and fragrance,
Everyday roots are growing, leaves are sprouting.
春の特別な香り。
南国では育たなかった日本の木。
毎朝水をあげると、
葉を揺らして香りで答えてくれる。
毎日根を伸ばしと葉を開く。
I settled down in Tokyo.
settled down in my new yoga room
It’s time to grow my roots and new leaves.
May my days grow and sprout with graceful fragrance.
東京に落ち着きました。
新しいヨガ部屋にも。
根と葉を伸ばしはじめよう。
これからの日々が善い香りで育ちますように。
Evert time I go back Kyoto, I sit in an old tea house next of Imamiya-shrine,
have fresh baked sweets, Aburi-mochi.
Tiny rice cakes are threaded onto bamboo skewers, dusted with soyabean flour, baked over charcoal fire, served with sweet white miso sauce. All are done by auntie’s hands.
Take a sip of tea, recall the first visit here, girls laughing voice. I was a junior high school student.
This tea shop is far old, established over a thousand years ago. The current tea house was built about 300 years ago. No change. Still alive.
Aunties bake them every every day, piece by piece, serve in fresh baked.
I taste it, the taste of this moment in long long period of time with gratitude.
古い茶屋で焼きたてのお餅を
京都に帰ると、いつも今宮神社隣の古い茶屋に座って、あぶり餅。
竹串に小さなお餅をつけ、きな粉をまぶして炭火であぶり、甘い白味噌のたれをからめてお皿へ。全部おばさんたちの手作りだ。
お茶を一口。初めて来た日を思い出す。友達の笑い声。まだ中学生だった。
でも、この茶屋はずっと古くて創業は千年以上前、現在の茶屋は３００年位前に建てられたもの。変わらず、そして、今でも息づいている。
おばさんたちは日々、一つづつこしらえ、焼きたてを持って来てくれる。
ひとつ、いただく。長い長い時間の中の今の瞬間を味わう。
Open Facebook. See full of Sakura – Cherry blossoms photos.
Miss Spring in pink at my home town.
Miss dreamy yet real life sparkles in 2016.
Sakura 2012 near the Nuclear factory Fukushima.
4 years ago mankind need to wear radiation protect suits.
This year villagers are allowed to stay home one night.
Think of villager’ hearts. What a long way to home.
Think of Sakura’s soul. What a long time to see love ones.
桜 ２０１６
フェイスブックを開くと桜の写真でいっぱい。
京都の春を、桜を想う。今年の夢のようなでもリアルな生命の輝きを想う。
桜 ２０１２ 福島原子力発電所近くの風景。
５年前、放射線防護服なしには立ち入れなかった。今年、一晩の帰宅が許された。
村民のこころを想う。お家までなんて遠いのだろう。
桜のいのちを想う。再会までなんて遠いのだろう。
Amazing Japan.
Every summer and winter I visit Japan, see the changes.
People wear same style clothes but not same with last year ‘this year’s uniform’.
I hear the same words again and again from different people ‘this year’s words’.
‘Relax please. You misunderstand.’ with something-wrong scene,
followed by showing a trick. People laugh and relax.
Having so much stress, never-ending worries. Threaten our own. Need relax.
World is so unpredictable. Worries are useless, even though preparation is useful.
No need to trick others and ourselves. See beyond what we see.
Be present. Be supple. Be strong. Believe institution, untouched center axis.
The photo is “Hanabira-mochi’ Japanese New Year sweet.
White soft Gyuhi, like mochi, covers sweet white miso paste.
Straight burdock is at the center.
安心してください
日本って不思議。
盆と正月に日本に帰ると、毎回変化を感じる。みんなほぼお揃いの、でも去年と違う服を着ている。「今年の制服」
なんども耳にする「今年の言葉」。どこか変な光景と共に「安心してください」そしてタネ明かし。みんな笑って安心する。
ストレスが高すぎて、尽きない心配をして、自分自身を脅迫している。安心したい。
世界は予測できない。準備するのは大切であっても、心配は役に立たない。
他の人を、そして自分自身を騙さなくていい。見えるものを超えてを見る。
現在を見据え、しなやかに、強く。直感を、何ものにも侵されない自分の中心軸を信じる。
写真の花びら餅は、日本のお正月のお菓子です。柔らかい求肥が白味噌と真っ直ぐな牛蒡を挟んでいます。
Welcome New Year 2016! Be happy healthy in each breathing and peacefully in between.
あけましておめでとうございます。幸せに元気にひとつずつのいきをして、その間の瞬間を心静かに。
‘Hello Mum. I’m in front of gate about to have breakfast you made for me.’
This is my usual last call before leaving Japan
with Starbucks’ ‘Houji-cha latte’ as the last sip of Japanese drink.
*
Starbucks starts selling Houji-cha latte
at outside of Japan.
Nice to have home-reminder in any time.
At home? Yes.
*
How to make is same with chai.
Put more than 1Tbs of Houji-cha
and small amount of water in small pan.
Heat over medium flame.
Let it boiling up for a while
till water change into brown.
Add a cup of milk or soya-milk
and brown sugar.
When it turns into brown,
strain and pour into a cup.
*
Have a sip of warm heart wherever we are.
‘This is farewell present for you. We will open and drink together after a decade.’
My friend gave me a package of Pu-Erh tea, when I left Singapore. We promised.
Today is the day after a decade.
*
Yogis believe the words we said become true.
Japanese believe once words are pronounced, they get sprit.
I moved back to Singapore.
*
One day we get together, open and drink this tea.
Boil water. Warm tiny cups. Wait with smiling each other.
Good taste takes time to come out. Maybe a decade.
*
Being born in Japan, I was spelled from childhood.
*
Japan economy must progress every year as much as possible, otherwise we tiny islanders can’t survive.
Life must be devoted to the economic progress. That is for society, Japanese way of life.
Happiness? You consume whatever you like. That is for our economy too. Work and buy happiness!
*
Having got out from Japan years and years, the spell was gone.
*
Be able to realize I was never blissful in that way of life.
Be able to see what is neglected, what is lost, what is destroyed
which were hidden behind of desires.
Never be spelled again.
Keep opening inner eyes.
Happiness is here in my heart.
*
Special thanks to Mr. Tomoyasu Hirano, whose words inspired me.
‘Red and white’ is Japanese celebration color. Present red and white sweets is for sharing happiness.
In the heart of celebration sweets, bean paste is always.
Off cause red bean and white bean!
Bean paste ball
1. Soak red or white (lima) bean 300g in cold water over night in fridge.
2. Drain it. Put the bean in vacuum pot (I use Thermos Shuttle Chef) with 600cc water.
3. Place the pot over hight flame. Once it boils up, add 200cc cold water.
Re-boils up for 2-3 min.Drain and wash beans.
4. Put the bean back into the pot with 600cc water. Repeat 3 once more.
5. Put the bean back into the pot with 600cc water. Boil up again.
Place the inner pot into outer shell. Leave half day.
6. Boil up again and put in inner shell.
Do this 3 day 3 night until the beans become very soft.
The second day add 300g sugar and a pinch of salt.
For lima bean, when the bean’s outer cover coming out, take it out.
7. Drain bean well. Put in food processor and grind it.
Make a small balls. It can be froze.
Put inside of jelly or cup cake. Or eat with ice cream.
Green tea flavor is recommended.
*
The soup from the red bean (the water at step 7, not 2 & 3) has nice flavor too.
Red bean ice candy
Mix the red bean soup, some cooked red bean and whipping cream.
Place into silicon candy mold (I bought at one coin shop). Place bars. Freeze it.
*
Happy me! Happy every one! Cheers!
*
What ever happens, Sakura blooms gracefully, hugging us with unconditional love.
This is the photo, taken in nuclear high polluted area in Japan.
Human can’t stand without special wear but Sakura does.
*
Are we a part of mother Earth?
Are we cancer cells of our mother?
桜 ２０１２
どんなことがあっても、桜はうつくしく咲く。無償の愛で抱きしめてくれる。
この写真は、日本の放射線で汚染された場所で撮影されました。
人間は特別な服を着ることなしに立ち入ることはできない。
でも、桜はそこに立ち続ける。
私たちは母なる地球の一部なのだろうか？
私たちはがん細胞なのだろうか？
A summer day in the city of Angels 