みち草1

「みち草」してってよ・・・。赤提灯の「カアちゃん」みたいな挨拶ですみません。
各方面で優れた方々と言うのは実はとんでもない「みち草」の名人が多かったと聞きます。
ましてや私のような凡人は同じ人類として、優れた方の何倍もの道草を頂かないと秤のバランスが取れません。
卓球、登山、ボート、水泳、スキー、利き酒、薪割、アマチュア無線、アウトドア－・・広く、浅く、遊んでってネ。

Please see previous diary entries here

Wednesday, February 4th, Sunny

The temperature rose again today, becoming a very warm day that continued into the evening.

I was forced to vote absentee again for this weekend's House of Representatives election.

For last week's mayoral election, my ballot arrived on Wednesday, and I left on Friday, so I was able to vote absentee with ease.

However, for this election, my voting ticket still hadn't arrived this morning. Since I was leaving tomorrow, I went straight to the absentee voting station.

You can receive your voting ticket by identifying yourself with your My Number card and filling out the necessary documents.

The necessary documents...the print is too small to read. As I was writing the date, the attendant said, "That's your date of birth."

My colleague, also completing the procedure at the table across from me, said, "Yeah, I guess this form was made by a child."

Tuesday, February 3rd, Sunny

It was chilly this morning, but as the day progressed, the sunlight steadily warmed, bringing with it a spring-like feeling.

By around 10 o'clock, the temperature outside the glass window had reached a tropical level, making it comfortable even shirtless.

I laid two sheets of newspaper in the sun and gave myself a haircut with clippers.

I can't remember the last time I had my hair cut, but it might have been my first haircut of the year.

When I cut my own hair, I always worry about leaving any hair behind, so I've come up with some clever ideas, like being meticulous and checking with two mirrors.

Today, we had plenty of time and it was exceptionally warm... After careful and thorough work, it looks like we won't miss a single patch of grass.

Today, as the sun began to move west after 3pm, my head suddenly started to feel cold.

When I went for a walk, I made sure to keep my head warm so I wouldn't catch a cold.

February 2nd (Monday) Sunny, then cloudy

I made an effort to get plenty of sleep at the ski resort lodgings and successfully completed the competition.

I usually take the local roads home, but yesterday I took the highway. There was no traffic, so I got home at 5:00.

For the first time in a while, I enjoyed sleeping in. The clear winter sunshine filtered through the gaps in the blackout curtains, and I woke up just after 8:00.

Breakfast finished after 10:00, and since my meal delivery hadn't arrived this week due to a mishap, I went to the supermarket to buy some groceries.

At this time of year, even I tend to make mistakes if I don't check the schedule regularly.

It's probably just a misunderstanding on one of my parts, but it turns out that my meal delivery won't be arriving this week. I've been asking for online communication instead of phone calls for a while now, but old habits just don't go away.

I was feeling a little low on energy, but I went for a walk. It was beautiful sunshine all day, but by 3 o'clock the sky was covered in clouds.

Sunday, February 1st, Sunny

This photo was taken near the giant slalom start at the top of Mt. Omatsu, the highest peak at Sugadaira Ski Resort.

The view was great today, and from the start, the finish line could be seen at the foot of the mountain to the lower left.

Competing in such beautiful weather is truly enjoyable, and it's a moment when I think, "Ah, I'm so glad I'm skiing."

The start house was quiet and majestic again today.

Giant slalom is all about speed. I tried my best, but I'm still not used to the speed.

Even with such beautiful weather and good conditions, I wanted to push myself even harder, but I still need more practice.

I skied safely and enjoyed myself...and it was truly fun.

I didn't win a medal, but I received a certificate for fifth place and returned home in high spirits.

Saturday, January 31st (Sunny)

Today is the slalom competition at the FIS Masters Ski Championships, the only International Ski Federation-sanctioned competition in Japan.

Last week, I developed shingles, and although it was a mild case, I tried to conserve my energy.

So, although I knew this week's competition was important, I couldn't be completely sure, so I focused on driving safely.

The weather was clear and windless...perfect conditions for the start of the competition.

In the slalom, the winner is decided by winning two runs. Amidst all the ups and downs, I received a medal?a bronze for third place?and was very happy.

Even at home, I was able to recharge my batteries with 10 hours of sleep.

Naturally, I'll be in bed after 8 o'clock tonight and ready to compete in tomorrow's giant slalom.

January 30th (Friday) Sunny

It was beautiful weather. After breakfast, cleaning up, and checking my house, I left home at 10:00.

Today, I'm heading to Sugadaira Ski Resort in Nagano Prefecture, just like last week. Today is a travel day, so I just need to arrive at my ski resort lodging by the evening.

I took National Route 122, Route 354 in Gunma Prefecture, Route 17 from Takasaki, and then Route 18, which branched off to head towards Usui Pass.

I waited at the front of the line at the traffic light entering Annaka, and a car entering at the change in traffic light got ahead of me when my light turned green.

Hey, hey, this is a national highway... Why am I driving at a slow 30km/h? And there's a one-lane no-passing zone ahead.

In the blink of an eye, about 20 cars are lined up behind me, and I'm getting annoyed.

I hold on tight, this old lady (I'll call her a damn old hag) has been driving at a slow 30km/h for 15 minutes while passing through Annaka.

Wow, what a sight!

January 29th (Thursday) Sunny

There was a forecast of snowfall again this afternoon, but the day was uneventful.

Please spare me the weather delay. Last week's snowfall during the convention was a nightmare... I hope it clears up this time.

Although it didn't become severe, I did indeed suffer from shingles. My doctor advised me to stay calm and wait for recovery.

I'm feeling better every day, but I want to be in top condition for this week's convention. So I'm trying to rest as much as possible.

That said, maybe it was a bad time to be watching TV. I tend to prefer NHK and don't watch much commercial TV.

However, this public broadcaster devotes a considerable amount of time to the political campaign broadcasts of House of Representatives candidates.

I would like to hear the candidates' opinions seriously, but there are also people who say, "Hey, come on... you don't need to appear..."

Well, I guess I'll have to be patient for a while.

January 28th (Wednesday) Cloudy

Yesterday, the temperature was low, but the sun was shining and it was so warm. But today, the clouds obscured the sunshine.

As a result, I spent the whole day with the air conditioner on heat.

I was diagnosed with shingles yesterday, but today it's still mild and I haven't experienced any particular symptoms. My doctor told me to stay calm.

Well, it's cold, so as you suggested, I've decided to skip today's pool plans and read instead.

By the way, the sudden House of Representatives election and the previously scheduled Kawaguchi City mayoral election have turned into weekly elections.

However, since I'm away this ski season, I'll be voting absentee in the mayoral election today.

Also, next week is the House of Representatives election.

January 27th (Tuesday) Sunny

It was quite chilly this morning. However, with the sunshine, the temperature gradually felt better.

Our house is already 20 years old. We had a 20-year inspection conducted by the Hinoya Group.

When we were considering which construction company to use to rebuild our house, we chose this company, which meets ISO international standards.

Since then, we have completed 5-, 10-, and 15-year inspections, and today we had our 20-year inspection.

The interior and exterior conditions are closely observed and compiled into a checklist.

Then, the specialist inspector photographed the underground conditions through the basement access hatch. All inspections were completed without any significant findings.

While traveling around the country skiing, I started to feel something was wrong with my body. About four days ago, I started to feel something strange in my stomach area.

I had a gastroscopy in December and nothing was found... but gradually, I started to feel itchy on my left side... and yesterday I noticed a red rash.

When I looked at it today, it was clearly a case of shingles.

I immediately went to my doctor and got a prescription for medication. They say the lack of pain is thanks to the fact that I had already received the preventive vaccination.

Monday, January 26th, Sunny

My alarm went off at my usual time at home. I turned it off and went back to sleep.

I finally woke up two hours later. It's not like this usually, but I'm finding it increasingly difficult to wake up.

I told my radio friends that I'd woken up feeling refreshed and ready to chat over breakfast.

Even young people said that yesterday's giant slalom was a very tough competition, but it was even tougher for me.

But I cheated and woke up around 7:00, and the first thing I had to do was loads of laundry... I guess I'll have to do it three times today.

The sun is a blessing in the dry, clear winter weather of the Kanto region.

I had enough time to stop by the local supermarket before noon to stock up on groceries.

In the afternoon, I went out for my usual walking route while it was still warm.

I went to bed a little earlier tonight, so I think I'll be able to work from home as usual from tomorrow.

Sunday, January 25th - Snowstorm

This morning at my lodging in Sugadaira, the scenery outside was a stark contrast to the previous day, a pure white, deep snowscape.

And the amount of snow was incredible?nearly 30cm had accumulated near the lodging.

We had breakfast at 6:30 and left for the competition slopes just after 7:00.

It took just over 10 minutes to carry my skis from the lodging, and on a snowy day like today, it was quite a strenuous undertaking.

By the time I reached the lift ticket booth at the bottom of the slope, I was exhausted.

Inspection had already begun, so I was able to ski in, but the blizzard made it impossible to properly check the course.

I didn't even practice pole skiing, and only did yesterday's slalom, and today's giant slalom, even in bad weather. I thought it might be okay to try it, depending on the situation.

Well, I treated it as practice and completed the course without pushing myself too hard.

Sometimes competitions like this happen.

Saturday, January 24th, Sunny with occasional clouds

Well, I wonder how today will go. I'm competing in this competition straight away without any pole practice.

And this competition is in the 70+ division... I'm not aiming to win or get a top time in my class, just treat it as practice.

And because of the gap in my time, I was at a disadvantage, starting from a few places further back without any points.

So I was able to skate more comfortably. On the other hand, many of the people who went for it fell into unexpected traps and had to retire.

Although the number of skaters who advanced to the second run was significantly reduced, the starting order was 30-person flip... and because of the flip, I started second.

When we started, the slope was beautiful and still uncrowded after the women's group had finished, so we were able to enjoy ourselves to the fullest.

Even in this second run, some skiers got really excited, and although I finished second from the back, I finished 16th overall in my class, half a point back.

Tomorrow is the giant slalom, and I'm looking forward to finishing off the race with a good feeling.

January 23rd (Friday) Sunny

Even in my fully protected car, it felt like it had been a while since I'd felt this cold.

That said, it wasn't so cold that my bottled water froze and I couldn't boil water like I used to.

Roadside Station Kurumi no Sato Raiden is often used for live coverage of ski competitions in eastern Nagano Prefecture.

It was a clear day with no wind, but the bone-chilling, dry cold was something you don't experience in the snow-covered Katashina Village.

The weather forecast predicted heavy snowfall in this area, but there was no sign of snow at all.

Today, I only traveled to my lodging at Sugadaira Ski Resort, and with this fine weather, I was able to stay warm without heating.

I finished the book I was reading in between skiing, so after breakfast, I spent some time relaxing in the car, writing my thoughts about it.

So, with all that going on in the morning, it was already lunchtime? I ate Shinshu miso ramen from the food in the car.

We set off for Sugadaira Ski Resort, following a path that looked like it might be covered in snow.

January 22 (Thursday) Snow, then Sunshine

Last night I was invited to attend a New Year's party at Seiichi's house.

It was a small gathering of just five people, but it was quite a lively gathering.

This was my second time staying at Seiichi's house.

Although it was only a party of about five people, it felt quite lively.

I also had my first meeting with the president of Katashina Ski Resort, which I occasionally visit.

Not only is he a ski resort owner, but I realized he's also a man who has put the know-how of hospitality into practice throughout his career.

I also became friends with him on Facebook, and I'm looking forward to it.

Today, with all the snow, I decided to take it easy and head towards Ueda.

Instead of taking the shortest route through the mountains, I took National Route 17 to Maebashi, then drove diagonally to join Route 18, and stayed at the Toomi Roadside Station tonight.

January 21st (Wednesday) Snow, then Sunny

After a front passed through the Japanese archipelago, a strong cold wave moved south and is expected to remain for a long time...

Even in the roadside station parking lot, snow started falling at midnight and accumulated to about 5cm, so I prepared myself for the weather today.

I arrived at the ski resort, but visibility was poor, and there was no sunshine like yesterday.

I decided not to push myself too hard and canceled today's alpine skiing.

Then I practiced free (skating) cross-country skiing.

Come to think of it, this was probably my first time cross-country skiing on fresh snow. I had a wonderful time skiing.

After descending the mountain, I was having lunch in my car at a roadside station when many of my ski buddies knocked on the car and greeted me.

Seiichi also knocked on my car and invited me to a New Year's party at his house.

I wrote my diary entry a little early and will be taking a bath before he invites me over.

January 20th (Tuesday) Lightly Cloudy

A cold wind blew on the slopes, and although there was sunshine, it wasn't warm at all.

Still, I skied downhill on a relatively bright slope using GS skis, but the low temperature made my fingertips tingle.

I'd been skiing nonstop for about two hours on the bright, aerobic slopes, but I decided to call it a day.

My boots are relatively soft, but even so, they're difficult to take off after coming back from the freezing cold slopes.

Next, I'll go check out the condition of the cross-country slopes I checked yesterday at the Katashina Village Board of Education office.

From here, it's about 40 minutes from Hanasaki no Yu, and then on to Hotaka Ranch.

The roads have been cleared of snow, but they're still hard because no snow-melting agent has been sprayed.

It's a shame that only two students from Oze High School were at the All-Japan Cross-Country venue.

January 19th (Monday) - Partly Cloudy

The fine weather we had until yesterday is starting to turn a little cloudy starting today.

After cleaning up after breakfast, I checked the house, turned off the air conditioner's timer, and even turned off the water heater's warm setting.

I also made sure to water the potted plants...

Well, my usual considerations when going out haven't changed much.

I left home at 9:30 and first stopped at a gas station to fill up my tank... 140 yen/L, thank goodness.

After a leisurely ride, we arrived at Katashina Village Roadside Station at 2:00 PM, where we decided to take a dip in the hot springs.

How unusual! In just 30 minutes, I was able to meet up with three of my skiing buddies, all here for the first time in ages.

Sunday, January 18th, Sunny

This week, the pole camp was canceled, and I also had to take a cognitive function test to renew my senior driver's license.

In the end, I took a week off from skiing, but starting tomorrow, I'll be heading to the mountains and making my own adjustments.

For the first half of the week, I'll practice slalom and giant slalom at my home slopes, even though I won't have poles.

Since ski waxing is difficult in the mountains, I applied a base cold-weather wax today as a relief.

As time passed, the wind shifted to the north, making the weather colder.

The weather forecast predicts that temperatures will remain low across Japan for a while as cold air moves south.

I'm determined to retreat to the mountains... and then head to Sugadaira for actual combat.

Saturday, January 17th, Sunny

It was a relatively warm morning. The warm weather that had continued until today is expected to suddenly turn cold starting tomorrow afternoon.

While I was firing the kiln and plotting the temperature rise, I realized that this was my first kiln of the year.

While the snowy mountains had been experiencing steady snowfall, things have been a bit sluggish lately... The first alpine skiing event starts next week, but this week's pole practice has been canceled due to a lack of snow.

If I were a younger, more dedicated ski fanatic, I would probably be traveling around searching for ski resorts with good conditions to practice at.

However, in a long life, there are always years like these, and they will likely become more frequent with each passing year.

If it doesn't work, I'll just accept it and plan to fire some pottery today.

This would be the perfect time to fire pottery, but the long-awaited ski season has prevented that luxury.

Today, I thoroughly enjoyed firing some pottery this winter.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's firing.

January 16th (Friday) Sunny

TV and radio have been buzzing with breaking news since the morning.

Apparently, Yamanote Line trains have been unable to operate from the first train.

However, this power transmission problem appears to have affected not only the Yamanote Line, but also the parallel Keihin-Tohoku Line and trains to the Shonan area.

Well, it's not just someone else's problem, but if this had happened yesterday, I would have been affected, and if it had happened tomorrow, it would have had a major impact on the dates of the University Entrance Exams.

Some trains were able to resume service later, but they soon went down again, resulting in a suspension of service for almost half a day.

Recently, even with a crisis management system like Japan's, even minor mistakes have caused significant damage.

It was a bit of an embarrassing accident.

January 15th (Thursday) Sunny

The government has released the actual situation regarding recent cancer treatments by unifying statistical data.

I wasn't able to see all the data, but even in treatment settings, data-based treatment decisions are becoming more prevalent.

For elderly people, a completely meaningless dementia function test has long been administered when renewing their driver's licenses.

Today, as part of that, I walked 20 minutes from the station to Warabi Police Station.

Accidents involving drivers confusing the accelerator and brake pedals, which are completely unrelated to cognitive function and are caused by insufficient vehicle performance, are still occurring frequently.

"Humans are erroneous animals" is a fundamental tenet of occupational safety regulations. I'm infuriated that they're subjecting a three-year-old to such a stupid test, making the same mistake as the Land Transport Bureau's serious mistake of allowing someone who makes such a mistake to drive a clutchless car.

I console myself that even as I get older, I'm still living my life, even though I'm being subjected to such a ridiculous test, and I'm still following the rules of adulthood and upholding social order...?

It was a bit of a detour, but I was able to calm myself down by going to Akabane, even though I'm sure it was a nuisance for Loach.

Wednesday, January 14th, Sunny

This morning's temperature is relatively warm for my body, which is used to the cold.

However, with this sunny spell and low humidity, hand moisturizer is essential.

Last year, I was hospitalized. I also observed the nurses' work every day. Yes, they always protected their hands and wore rubber gloves.

I'm old-fashioned, so disposable rubber gloves always seemed a little strange to me. But once you get used to them, they start to seem natural.

It's been a year since I was discharged from the hospital, and I've adopted the habit of wearing disposable rubber gloves. Even this winter, I always wear them when washing dishes and other things.

Thanks to this, I haven't suffered from cracked hands this year. Also, since I'm being so careful, I'm also constantly applying moisturizing cream, which is probably effective.

A reasonable skiing plan. The skiing schedule won't put too much strain on my body, especially since this is the year I need to renew my driver's license and tomorrow is my dementia test, so I'm staying home this week and going to the pool, so on this day I took a rare chance to relax in the pool.

The weather in the Kanto region was calm and sunny, with stable winter weather. Wild birds were bathing in my garden, and titmice and Japanese white-eyes seemed to be waiting their turn.

It seems that visitors to my apartment are coming in early this year, looking for spring lodgings.

January 13th (Tuesday) Sunny

Compared to yesterday's cold, today's temperature is uncomfortably warm, and a look at the weather chart once again confirmed my point.

The winter-like pressure pattern of high pressure in the west and low pressure in the east has long been a staple in Japan. However, perhaps due to climate change, this will not last long.

Anyway, I was determined to start pottery in my studio this morning.

The temperature is a little high, but that doesn't affect the coldness of the clay.

I'm kneading the clay, but it's already so cold that it's making my blood pressure rise all the way to my head.

I tried to make five sets of coffee cups today, but one of the saucers failed.

The important thing here is to attach the handle to the bowl later, but the drying time of each part and the timing of attachment are crucial.

Monday, January 12th, Sunny

I'm still not used to our regular morning routine this year. I woke up to my alarm at 5:45 AM.

Oh! It's still dark. I turned on the light, got dressed, and headed to the living room.

Once I get this far, I'm used to it, but it's a morning ritual that guides me.

I make tea, read the newspaper, take my temperature, blood pressure, etc., and confirm that my health hasn't changed since last year.

After some radio calisthenics, I prepare breakfast. I guess this is where I need to use my brain a little more... I wonder what ingredients I should use for miso soup today. Oh, I bought a ton of green onions...

I was supposed to communicate with my radio friends while eating... However, since today is a holiday, I decided to go to table tennis club practice.

Although today would normally be a rest day between ski practice sessions, the weather was not suitable, so I refrained from skiing.

At times like these, I'm grateful to be able to practice with my table tennis friends from home.

Sunday, January 11th, Sunny

The morning temperature was a little high... but it felt quite warm for me, having just returned from the mountains.

However, the wind was strong, so it felt quite cold outside.

The inter-prefectural women's ekiden was held in Kyoto. This tournament is interesting because it features mixed teams, including junior high and high school students.

In the first half, the powerful Nagano team had an absolute advantage, and perhaps thanks to their daily training in the mountains, they dominated the undulating terrain.

However, in the second half, Hyogo and Osaka showed superior skills, and after a dramatic comeback, they decided the match in a one-on-one battle.

Today in Kyoto, conditions were also difficult, with flurries of snow and strong winds.

It's already past 3 o'clock. The wind is blowing quite hard, but I went out for my daily walk.

Yes, this course is hilly...I enjoy it as if I'm running a Nordic competition course.

January 10th (Saturday) Sunny

I'm staying at the Sanrakuso, a hotel directly managed by Itoen Hotel in Oigami Onsen, with three friends from my ski club.

We got a weekday discount for consecutive stays...meaning two nights and four meals, plus all-you-can-drink alcohol at dinner? It all came to just 11,400 yen.

Since the beginning of January, I've switched to traditional alpine skiing.

Last week, I switched from skis to ground-skiing skis, and it felt perfectly natural. I enjoyed them yesterday for the first time in a while.

After watching the pole practice of our friendly club, the Marunuma Kogen Racing Team, I'm gradually getting into the alpine mood.

Today's weather forecast is sunny... but a heavy snow warning has been issued again. I'm amazed at the Japan Meteorological Agency's "boy who cried wolf," but I really hope it snows heavily.

My plan for today is to transport the delayed firewood and store it in my firewood storage rack while the weather is good.

I hitched the trailer loaded with firewood I'd brought to the hotel parking lot to my car and headed home on the highway for the first time in a while.

I joined a major transport company's convoy of vehicles traveling at 80 km/h to safely transport the firewood to my house, and by the afternoon, I'd finished storing it in the rack.

January 9th (Friday), Sunny

It's morning at Itoen Hotel and Oigami Onsen Sanrakuso. It was a fairly chilly morning, but the weather is hard to predict early in the morning.

After breakfast, our three friends set off at their own pace. Today's parking lot at Marunuma Ski Resort is empty.

I decided to park early at the sunny Kogen Station parking lot.

It's just the right time for some sunshine, and it's warm and windless, so I take my time getting ready.

From here, it's just a few minutes to the first lift station, and this is probably the closest point to the lift station from the parking lot.

It seems like it's a bit unusual, but the largest restaurant in the ski resort is closed.

Apparently, this is part of work style reform, and they're giving employees the day off, even in the middle of the season.

I'll be skiing until 2 a.m. and heading to the thatched roof house to pick up firewood. I'll be gone for a while... Stay healthy until spring.

January 8th (Thursday) Cloudy

I left first thing this morning... I was supposed to leave my house at 8 a.m., but I ended up being about 15 minutes late.

The weather forecast this morning warned of a "snow warning for the Tone-Numata region!" So, I guess I won't be able to pick up firewood.

Sure enough, by the time we were driving along National Route 50, Mount Akagi seemed completely shrouded in snow clouds.

However, by the time we entered the road north of Akagi, the sky had cleared up.

At the firewood storage area in Katashina Village, the weather was calm and clear, a relief!

Just as we hurriedly loaded the firewood onto the trailer and felt relieved, the wind picked up and snow began to fall.

We were lucky enough to get everything done.

The thatched roof was also newly re-stained this New Year, and it looks lovely.

January 7th (Wednesday) Cloudy

When I woke up, it was still dark outside, so I didn't notice. Just after 6:00, I glanced out into the garden and saw traces of snow on the balcony.

It had stopped snowing, but it seemed like it had snowed so much that the whole area was covered in white.

And as the weather forecast said, the Kanto region would be mostly cloudy today, and the lack of sunshine would make it even colder.

I figured there was no point relying on the air conditioner in the living room, so I decided to go ahead and crank up the wood stove in my studio.

I decided to make a shallow saucer for a bonsai pot I had been planning to make out of cold clay.

Even after lunch and well into the afternoon, the sun still lingered in the clouds.

I prepared myself fully and set off for my walk.

The cold wind made my eyes water and my nose relentlessly ran...

January 6th (Tuesday) Sunny

It was a chilly morning, but the sunshine kept it warm in the living room. The wind was especially cold.

That's right... today was the first day to take out the trash since New Year's. The collection area was literally a mountain of trash...

Coincidentally, railway photographer Seiya Nakai was covering Aomori's railways today.

Among the various domestic competitions for masters ski athletes, the one at Owani Ski Resort in Aomori Prefecture is an important one.

I've participated in the competition many times, and since I usually travel there by train, the heavy snowfall is always a problem for me.

However, today's broadcast showed the train operations of the Konan Railway Owani Line, which runs almost parallel to the JR line.

I've never actually seen it in operation, but I was able to see some impressive footage of the snowplow.

As I had imagined, the snowplow was indeed impressive.

January 6th (Tuesday) Sunny

January 5th (Monday) Cloudy, then sunny

Although the isobars across the Japanese archipelago are weak, the weather chart shows a winter pattern. This means the Kanto region should be blessed with pleasant sunshine and clear winter skies.

But for some reason, the Kanto region is covered in thin clouds, making the sunshine difficult to come by.

It seems there's cold air overhead, which is causing cloudy skies and a colder day without sunshine.

In winter, my front porch gets plenty of sunshine around noon, making it perfect for waxing skis...

The sun finally began to peek through the thin clouds in the afternoon.

The shadows of the sun's rays had already started to fade, so the sun's rays were about to disappear.

Tomorrow's forecast doesn't look very promising, so I decided to wax my skis while I still can.

The weather forecast looks like it'll be a while until it clears up.

January 4th (Sunday) Sunny

All things considered, this is the second day since I put on alpine skis since the start of the season.

The day before yesterday I used SL skis, and yesterday I used long GS skis for the first time in a while, but I felt a great sense of joy in being able to ski without any problems.

Contrary to the weather forecast, it seems that snowfall continued on the mountain until last night, so it's probably the best run for skiing on fresh snow.

I decided to go home today to cherish the feeling I had finally gotten to experience.

Driving in the opposite direction from the ski resort, I passed many cars heading towards the resort, and it felt like I was going the wrong way.

I drove through the villages for a while, enjoying the scenery almost entirely covered in fresh snow on my way home.

Once I left the mountains and entered the so-called metropolitan area, the sunshine became so warm and the scenery so urbanized that I no longer remembered it had snowed.

The journey usually takes four to five hours, but today the road conditions were so good that I was close to my house in three and a half hours.

To my surprise, there was still snow around my house, and even my balcony was covered in it.

January 3rd (Saturday) Snow

The snow that started falling yesterday afternoon seems to have continued through the night.

Today we were supposed to enjoy the fresh snow, but it hadn't stopped snowing yet.

My energetic friends got ready in the morning and headed to the ski resort. I had planned to take the day off.

I was watching the Hakone Ekiden on TV, but by around 10:00, the sky had begun to brighten.

I thought I could go skiing, so I got ready and arrived at the ski resort around 11:00.

However, the weather didn't improve, and we ended up skiing in the cold until around 3:00.

But most importantly, today I used my long skis for GS for the first time in a while, and they worked flawlessly, so I felt great.

January 2nd (Friday) Sunny

The weather may have been declining, but it was sunny, but the temperature was low.

I arrived at the ski resort after 9:00 AM, barely managing to get into the large parking lot.

I quickly got ready and hit the slopes. It had been a while since my last alpine ski... I was a little nervous, but after years of experience, I felt at home on the second run.

The Blue Course is my home for basic skiing, and despite the light snowfall, I was able to practice without any problems.

I practiced nonstop until around 11:00 AM, had an early lunch, and then wrapped up the afternoon with just an hour of practice to avoid feeling too tired for the next day.

My friend had an old ticket to Shakunage Onsen, so I asked if I wanted to go. I immediately agreed.

It's been a while since I've been able to relax and enjoy the hot springs.

Reiwa Year 8 (20 25)

New YearAkeMashiteoto MedetougoThank you for

We hope you will enjoy this year as well We look forward to seeing you

My First XC-Ski

～ ... January 1st (Wednesday) Sunny It was a calm, sunny day.

A new year has arrived, and I would like to extend my congratulations to everyone on their continued success.

Once again, we have come around to the Year of the Horse...or rather, the Year of the Horse.

Coincidentally, I have now reached my seventh year as the oldest man in the world.

I am grateful to all of you for allowing me to remain healthy and happy despite the many ups and downs I have experienced.

Today, I am leaving for the ski resort, and on New Year's Eve, I will exchange New Year's greetings with my skiing friends.

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