2018年11月08日
TEPPEN-RIDE 2018 レポート 5日目 宮崎みちくさツアー最終日
2018年11月07日
TEPPEN-RIDE 2018 レポート 4日目
1981年度(昭和56年度)の1日乗降客数は44人
1992年度(平成4年度)の1日乗降客数は16人
2011 - 2015年(平成23 - 27年)の11月の調査日における乗降人員平均は「1名以下」
2012 - 2016年(平成24 - 28年)の特定の平日の調査日における乗車人員平均は0.0人
2013 - 2017年(平成25 - 29年)の特定の平日の調査日における乗車人員平均は0.0人
2018年11月06日
TEPPEN-RIDE 2018 レポート 3日目
美深、と言うと個人的にはKENSOの名曲「美深」が思い出されます。「ZAIYA LIVE」でのギターソロが素晴らしく・・・・おっと話が逸れてしまいました。
おお!初生鮭です。いや、刺身ではありません。筆者、河で泳ぐ鮭を見るのは初めてでした。
「北海道」の名付け親は、幕末の探検家 松浦武四郎 その基となる「北加伊道」は、音威子府村で発送されました
2018年11月05日
TEPPEN-RIDE 2018 レポート 2日目
初日のルートは、まず旭川駅から石狩川沿いのサイクリングロードを北上。その後塩狩峠を経て、剣淵町で昼食、名寄駅前がゴールの約94km行程です。普段からキャンプツーリングを行っている筆者とともに、これまでの最長距離が30kmという副編集長有田が参加しました。大丈夫なんだろうか???
自転車は、今回はレンタルを利用。旭川のはっとりスポーツさんの全面的なサポートを受けました。なんと社長御自らサポートカー体制で臨まれました。
先を急ぐ我々は、トイレもそこそこに出発。塩狩駅を横目に、国道から離れ、いよいよ「これぞ北海道」なロードへと向かいました。
はじめはそんなに降らないだろうとタカをくくっていると、次第に周りも暗くなり、本降りになってきました。
みなさんの温かい拍手に迎えられて、副編集も無事到着しました。よく頑張りました。初心者が100km近くを走りきったことは、ほんとうに素晴らしいことです。おめでとう!
2018年11月02日
TEPPEN-RIDE 2018 レポート 1日目
ちょうど稲刈りのシーズンで、黄金色の田んぼが広がっていました。
2016年10月11日
Hazuka plant
(Physalis alkekengi)
The “Chinese Lantern” plant was cultivated in Japan ever since the Edo period as a medicinal plant, believed to relieve fever and ease the discomfort felt by pregnant women. The belief originates in a 200 years old story that took place in the Seisho-ji Temple from Shiba (Minato-ku, Tokyo)
These Hozuki(Physalis alkekengi) fruit are a bright orange color and also nicknamed Japanese or Chinese lanterns.
Like the ladies of Prince Genji’s court, the hozuki (Physalis alkekengi) hides its beauty behind a veil. The veil is an unusual, lantern-shaped pouch, which protects the berry. It forms from the small “cap” of sepals after the flower has faded. At this time of year, you can find pretty white flowers at the top of the plant, as well as green lanterns that have already formed toward the base. As the fruit matures, the lanterns change to a lovely orange-red color, and by winter some fade to lacy “skeletons” revealing the fruit inside. The fruits are sometimes called “winter cherries” in English. In Japan they were used to make small toys and a tonic (they contain vitamin C).
Abundant and easily available physalis alkekengi (also known as strawberry or ground cherries)has inspire Mr. Keisuke Kuroki, a resident of Nishimera Village for making magical lanterns. He also teaches it to the visitors of Nishimera Village. It is worth mentioning that our Company Ai-road Inc. plans these exciting trips to encourage visitors to appreciate the beauties of Nishimera village and talents of its villagers. I tried making this stunning lantern with my husband during our trip in Nishimera. Every time we look at these wonderful art works we made, it reminds us of our wonderful trip and the sweet memories we made in there.
By: Ateffa Jalali
2016年08月25日
MOMO
I am really impressed after knowing the reason behind the name of this amazing shop. Momo is the name of a children fiction story by the author of the never ending story, Michael Ende. It is the story of the time-thieves and the homeless girl “Momo”, who brought the stolen time back to the people. In other words, she is against civilization and wants to keep art, recreation, imagination and other social activities alive. Now that is exactly what this Momo collection shop does!!
Momo collection shop is an interpretation of the village. It depicts the happiness, pleasures, and beauty, of Nishimera Village and talent of its villagers’.
I couldn’t take my eyes off these amazing paintings specially the one portraying Hanabi Festival. As the population of this enchanting village is estimated as 1,298, it is a great place to visit for enjoying Hanabi Festival. Other places are usually very crowded during this festival so hard to enjoy it.
This unique shop has arts that portray every beauty and unique parts of this village; attractive origamis’; handmade loudspeakers and pens made from bamboo; Christmas tree decoration stuffs; and much more.
Oh how can I forget about the “Sekobozu” or ground cherry lantern?
Coming to an art promoting place, you may also want to make something to show your skills. You can try making this unique lantern I already have three at home. They remind me of the wonderful experiences I had in this enchanting village.
http://michikusan.seesaa.net/article/434128943.html
In addition, there are many stationaries and other useful items like towels, umbrellas, insect bite bracelets and all the handy items you usually find in a convenient store, which is not available in Nishimera Village.
I also loved the balcony, which was a very simple yet pretty comforting place to sit while drinking coffee and starting daydreaming or any sort of imagination. I can assure you no noise will disturb you here.
In short, it is a complete package of exceptional arts and hand made things and obviously worth visiting.
By: Ateffa Jalali
2016年08月16日
Camping at Aoshima Beach
Watching sunrise in the land of the rising sun!
Every new experience is exciting and has the power to make you thrilled easily. We could even feel some butterflies while we were planning for it.
August 12th was our 2nd wedding anniversary and we wanted to do something new, memorable and exciting. So we decided to go for camping in Aoshima beach.
It was just a one day camping but you wouldn’t guess so if you had looked at the luggage (camp equipment, tea, dinner, etc.). We carried them in our cycles to the train station and then went by train and few minutes of walking.
We enjoyed the dinner in the beach summer restaurant with wonderful lightings and music before we set up our tent.
Setting the tent was like building a small world of us and labelling one part of the beach by our name even if it is for one night.
Later, we were so tired already that the tea with dry fruits tasted just extra ordinary.
Actually, we weren’t allowed to make fire at the beach but they didn’t say we can’t light candles haha so that was what we did. It was hard to light them when the weather is little windy but we kinda buried half of the candles to light it up.
The weather was somehow hot so we preferred sitting outside the tent to do star gazing for a while.
The lights in the beach were on until 11:00pm I guess and soon everywhere got real dark and we thought we were the only ones left in the beach. Even wave sounds got louder to scare us, all at once!
After few minutes we could hear Japanese chatters and guess what we got unexpected company. There were two other groups a group of girls and a group of boys who were celebrating something; we didn’t ask what it was though.
We took three hours nap, actually I took a nap, but my husband was awake protecting me or what; any ways I enjoyed being a wife to be taken care of. Haha
It was 3:45 Am when he woke me up and we went for a walk and take something to drink. We could still look at wide shinning sky full of amazing stars.
The beach had started to brighten up a bit and we were excitingly waiting for the sunrise which is very popular in Japan. As the Japanese name of Japan is Nihon or Nippon that literally means ‘the sun origin’. Also, it is translated as land of the Rising sun.
And I know you can guess how wonderful will be swimming in the sea in the early morning or watching the sunrise from middle of the sea relaxing in a swimming tube. That was the most memorable and exciting part of the camping.
The experience was great, but I guess very short as the next morning we didn’t want to remove our camp or go back home. Next time we will do coming for longer than that.
By: Ateffa Jalali
2016年07月08日
Eid al-Fitr
Happy Eid To all!
Eid al-Fitr, is an important religious holiday celebrated by Muslims worldwide that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting. The religious Eid is a single day during which Muslims are not permitted to fast.
It is a festival celebrated very traditionally along with families, so it’s sometimes sad to be away from them in a foreign country. However, we have wonderful Eids even here in Miyazaki, Japan.
Wednesday, 6th July was first day of Eid al-fitr. At the night of Eid, Muslim women get together and do hena their hands. I love doing hena, so I painted many hands of our friends with it. For me, hena is an important part of Eid. I enjoy it a lot. When I was small I used to put hena and not wash it until morning to have a richer and brighter color. Waking up with the smell of hena in my hand was a great feeling then. Have a look at some of hena designs may be you would like it too.
We started our first day of ‘Eid with Eid prayer followed by some tea and snacks together. Everyone looked so happy wearing their new and traditional clothes hugging each other, wishing happy Eid with smiles.
How can I forget about the tradition of giving “Eidi”, which is a gift like money or presents given to small children or someone smaller than you in Eid. I loved the act of one of our guest, Danial from Saudi Arabia, who is an exchange student and visiting Miyazaki for only two months, she gave Eidi to all small children from different countries. It touched my heart being a guest for a short time she was thinking of every one.
After the prayer, Muslims visit their families and friends for having either tea or meal together. Our first day’s guests were our Egyptian friends and we went to beach after eating homemade Pizza together, a lunch after a month! I know we weren’t kids, but even we received Eidi and shared all our funny Eidi stories of childhood.
There is a common saying among Afghans that women have longer Eid like seven days haha. Following that tradition afghan women in Miyazaki keep visiting each other’s homes for drinking tea, cake and dry fruits for a longer time.
It is such a great feeling to enjoy food after one month of fasting but we will miss the precious and spiritual feeling we had in the holy month of Ramadan.
By: Ateffa Jalali
2016年07月04日
2nd Annual Iftar Tent Event
An event representing love, peace and cooperation of Muslims
Sunday 3rd July, was the second annual Iftar (Breaking fast) tent event which is held every year in the holy month of Ramadan http://michikusan.seesaa.net/article/438977553.html , organized by MCM (Muslim Community of Miyazaki).
In this event all the Muslims of Miyazaki coming from different countries and speaking different languages cooperated as brothers and sisters representing the real brotherhood of Islam and made a prosperous event like this possible.
We were privileged by having honorable guests including Tsuyomu Ikenoue President of UOM, staff of UOM, many other respected professors and students .
We began our program with recitation of some verses of Holy Quran by Mr. Ziaurrahman Hejazi, followed by the informative speech of Mr. Ahmad Farid Azizi, President of MCM, and Prof. Tsuyomu Ikenoue.
Later, Mr. Abdul Jabar Maeda, who is a Japanese Muslim, gave speech about Islam and Ramadan.
The last speech was by me about Status of women in Islam. As most of time only the limits and restrictions of woman in Islam is discussed, I wanted to talk about rights and privileges of them. I could see the content of my speech was very surprising for some guests and I felt accomplished to answer those common questions about woman rights in Islam. My husband and lively announcer of the event, Emran Nasery was little worried that his responsibilities increased after I knew even the small details about my rights haha. Yet he was not my target, because he is the best husband and has given me all my rights.
After my speech, it was time for Iftar and the food was organized in buffet style a very colorful dinner table with delicious international halal food from Afghanistan, Indonesia, Egypt and more.
All the guests enjoyed a lot.
The purpose of having such event is to show the world how loving, kind and generous Muslims are and all they want is having a peaceful life.
We ended the event after taking some memorable photos.
Waiting to see this large number of amazing guests increase in the next year.
By: Ateffa Jalali