「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。

「幸三郎の世界」ページに戻る

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Please see previous diary entries here

June 13th (Sat) Sunny

The weather in the morning was similar to yesterday...the sky was like that. So I was prepared for another thunderstorm.

I opened the kiln door first thing in the morning. The results of yesterday's firing were quite satisfactory; I'll introduce them on the website.


Now, I have two tasks to complete today. One is firewood splitting, and the other is a hair trim...

It's only around 9 AM, and the sun isn't quite deadly yet, but I got out the log splitter and started splitting the firewood into smaller pieces.

When making firewood in the mountains, the logs vary in length from 180cm to 200cm. Therefore, when cutting them to the required 35cm length, scraps of 5cm to 25cm are produced.

The logs cut to 35cm are split in the mountains using this log splitter and then dried in a well for the summer.

However, the scraps are brought back, these are cut into smaller pieces, dried thoroughly, and prepared for easy kindling in the stove. As usual, I had prepared to use a parasol if the sun was too strong, but it wasn't necessary.

In the afternoon, Kawaguchi City announced the first "photochemical smog warning issued for the entire city" this year via its disaster prevention radio.

After finishing chopping firewood and trimming my hair with clippers, I feel refreshed and ready to welcome summer.

June 12th (Fri) Sunny...Thunderstorm

At this time of day, as usual, I was having breakfast and making contact with "local stations..." when another station requested a "break-in!" This morning I was making contact with three stations. The station operator who wanted to break in seemed unable to receive any signal from the other station driving through Toda. The call sign is JK1000... In the past, stations with so-called "J-calls" were all veterans, but now it seems that "7-calls" are the main force in the radio world, and J-call stations are new radio stations that have just obtained licenses and entered the market.

"When we're communicating with 'all stations...', even if you can't hear us, there are others (I can hear the station operators' voices on my antenna), so please make sure you understand the flow before breaking in.

In the world of radio, a kind response is expected even to station operators during these break-in sessions. This wasn't an emergency break-in, so I explained that "your antenna and other radio equipment cannot be included in this 'all stations' communication" and asked them to leave.

Please feel free to call us again when the conditions are good and there are two stations communicating.

I also remember making a similar mistake and causing trouble when I got my radio license over 30 years ago. I hope this newcomer will quickly understand and master the mysteries of the radio world and become a full member of the community.


Yesterday, I painted and glazed the unglazed pottery and set it in the kiln. This morning, I fired it up.

Just as the temperature was about to reach 1000℃, a torrential downpour began. Fortunately, at this point, I was using a kerosene burner for temperature control, which saved me.

The rain stopped after 3 PM, and I switched from kerosene to firewood to improve the texture of the pottery. I was able to finish successfully.

June 11th (Thu) Cloudy

After the typhoon last week passed, we've had a string of gloomy days, and the weather has been unsettled for almost 10 days now.

Today, the temperature rose somewhat during the day, and it felt humid, but only for a short time.


I'm thinking of firing the pottery pieces I bisque-fired the other day, so today I applied the underglaze.

As a budding artist, I thought I should have more skill in drawing than the average person.

But that only applies to drawing on a flat surface.

Today, I tried to draw thin lines on a teacup again, but...? I still couldn't draw the lines the way I wanted.

To draw the same line, you pull the brush back on the protruding parts of a three-dimensional object, and press the brush deeper into the recessed parts...and the line becomes even.


Anyway, putting aside such technical explanations, I proceeded to paint the intended pieces and apply the glaze.

By evening, I had placed those pieces in the kiln. I made arrangements for the final firing tomorrow, and that was the end of the day.

Evening walk...the temperature has dropped, and it's still comfortable. I brought my handsaw today...and there was a fallen bamboo on the animal trail that had been buried under it until today. I cut it down and removed it today.

June 9 (Tue) Cloudy

The rainy season has officially begun... It's been raining since this morning, and the temperature is low; I don't need the heater on, but I need to wear an extra layer.

The forecast from the Japan Meteorological Agency was better than yesterday, and the laundry symbol was even a circle, but today the sun hasn't come out at all, defying their prediction.


Well, I'm getting older, so I was planning to spend rainy days relaxing at home, reading and contemplating peace and tranquility.

Was this year's rainy season 16 days earlier than last year...? It was early, but still around the usual time... or so they say.

Looking at my "After Reading" homepage, I now understand the concept of "working in the fields when it's sunny and reading when it rains." Last June, I had only read one book, but in other years, I seem to have read about one book a week during the rainy season. I might be a little strange for trying to deduce the weather from these records (lol).


The bear that had been causing fear among residents in the central area of ??Utsunomiya City for some time has finally been captured with a tranquilizer gun, bringing a sense of relief. My dear friend, whom I always called by the nickname KUMA-san, was indeed a fine young man living in Utsunomiya City...? Or perhaps a fine elderly man now.

I was relieved that the bear was captured, even though it happened in a different region.

Well, bear countermeasures in various regions recently will likely be highlighted as a problem that governments must seriously address.

June 8 (Mon) Rain...Cloudy

The rain that started last night continued into the morning. The temperature was low, truly a chilly rainy season day.

The weather forecast said the rain would stop by noon, and that's exactly what happened.


I trusted the forecast and planned to take my usual walking route today instead of going to the Aeon Mall.

In the afternoon, the temperature was still low, but the sun started to peek through.

This made for perfect walking conditions.


It was warm when the sun was out, but still a little chilly when it was cloudy... I set off for my walk in this unpredictable weather.

The Minuma Canal is probably using a lot of water for rice paddies and other purposes now. The irrigation canal was filled with plenty of water flowing leisurely. The walk was sunny and warm, making for a pleasant finish.



June 10 (Wed) Cloudy

This morning's weather was probably the best so far this week. It didn't rain, and I was hoping it would stay sunny.

However, it didn't look like it would clear up, and the temperature remained around 20 degrees Celsius, similar to April or early May.


Today is the day to go to the pool. Actually, it's so cold that I don't feel like getting in the water.

I considered various reasons, but it's almost time to leave.

Speaking of which, last Wednesday, Typhoon No. 6 directly hit the Kanto region, causing flooding in Kawaguchi city.

I also decided against going to the pool on such a day, thinking there was no need to risk danger.

I couldn't find any other excuse to cancel, so I headed to the pool.


It was so cold!! I did feel a bit nervous the moment I stepped in, but once I got past that, it was a heated pool at 29°C, after all.

Because of the temperature and the time I chose, there weren't many people, so the water was crystal clear and felt even colder.

Anyway, I accomplished my daily routine for today.

June 7th (Sun) Cloudy

It was a Sunday, the first time in a while I couldn't practice table tennis, so I didn't have to get up early and slept in to my heart's content.

When I saw the morning news, it was reported that the rainy season had started in Kanto-Koshinetsu. Is it the chilly rainy season...? It was a cold day.


Yesterday, I was reading a novel and it was reaching its climax, so I felt an urge to finish it even late into the night.

That's why I stayed up quite late last night, even though it was before midnight. So, I naturally woke up after 8 AM.

Rubbing my eyes, I went downstairs to the living room and was preparing some tea when "Ding-dong!" Oh, who could that be on a Sunday morning like this?


She was a table tennis friend who lived near me. Yesterday, she contacted me on LINE, but I didn't get a reply. This morning, I called twice at a time when she would normally be awake, but there was no answer.

Could it be...? I don't think so, but I don't want her to say something like, "I didn't know, even though we live nearby..." My friend said.

Sorry! Last night, I finished reading the novel I was reading, even though I knew I could sleep in today.

By the way, how about we have a drink today like we usually do?

So, today, the two of us drank alcohol from lunchtime and talked about all sorts of things. We're both 84-year-old table tennis friends; we still have so much life left... Let's enjoy it!

June 6th (Sat) Cloudy

I don't set my alarm on Saturday mornings unless I have a special reason to.

I slept as long as I wanted, and the weather was nice, so I woke up after 7:30.


What's going on? After the typhoon passed, the temperature hasn't returned to that sticky, humid state even once.

And today is mostly cloudy... Even inside the house, I feel a little chilly unless I wear something.

I've been reading a long novel since the typhoon, and I'm at the climax now... I'll just make today another day of reading.


The sun came out in the evening.

But how long will this comfortable temperature last?

I think I'll finish the book I've been reading tomorrow.

I went for a walk before dinner. I didn't get drenched in sweat (lol)

I wish days like this would continue forever.



June 5th (Fri) Cloudy

This morning, the temperature was crisp, the sky was bright blue, and the sun was shining brightly?it looked like it would be a lovely day.

But then, after about an hour, the sky became cloudy, and it turned into a cold day with no significant temperature rise.


Such a uneventful day is perfect for reading. I started reading a long novel of over 600 pages that I'd been meaning to read for a while.

I only managed to read half of it, but it was already lunchtime.

After a short rest, I thought I could enjoy a leisurely walk in the pleasant afternoon.


Today, I went out on my usual walking route with my camera. I'd like to introduce my route. As usual, I start from my house and follow the Minuma Canal... you're probably familiar with the photo. From there, I climb the hill, and I think the highest point is near Asahi Shrine at the top. I descend the hill, following the animal trail that I frequently maintain with a sickle and scissors. From here, I climb the hill again and reach a hill with a great view. When I get close enough to spot my house, I think I'm at the fourth corner of the course.

After descending a slope for about 200 meters and then climbing it again, I arrive home.

When I reach the front door, the lilies, currently in full bloom, all seem to be calling out in unison, "Welcome home!"


June 4th (Thu) Cloudy

Typhoon No. 6 did what it needed to do and then quickly disappeared. My condolences to those affected, but I like typhoons like you.

Also, because it passed along the Pacific coast at this time of year, the temperature was pleasant throughout, and it's cool and comfortable even after it left. But I wish it had at least fixed the tangled carp streamers.


Well, yesterday I spent the whole day reading, but it seems my body isn't built for such a quiet day.

After a crazy day of moving around, I got sleepy right after dinner, and lately, if I don't get 9 hours of sleep, I still find it hard to wake up in the morning...

So, on days when I didn't move at all and only read, I stayed up until around 10am for the first time in a while, but it wasn't as difficult as my usual mornings.

I thought to myself, before I fell asleep, that if I don't exercise even when I'm at home... I might become useless.


And so, I decided to get up and do the training I'd been thinking about to build those muscular chest muscles.

Last season, I participated in my first cross-country skiing competition. I was fairly confident in my legs and core, but my pole work was weak. I bought some elastic cord from a home improvement store and pulled it from a beam, and I'm going to start by doing it for at least two minutes every day.

I believe that by continuing to practice every day, even if it's just a little at a time, you can become considerably stronger.

When I posted that on Facebook, I immediately got a comment from professional skier Dynamite Hara: "That's amazing! Senior, I'll do my best by following your example." He was my mentor, the writer for Ski Note magazine when I first started skiing.


June 3 (Wed) Rain

It must have been raining this morning. I think I could hear the sound of rain even in my half-asleep state.

When I woke up, sure enough, it was raining heavily outside the window, and everything looked hazy.


Typhoon No. 6, which had been reported to be approaching the Kanto region, ran straight up the Tokai coast and, as predicted, made its closest approach to the Kanto region this morning.

Just taking the newspaper from the mailbox by the front door this morning felt like I was being splashed with water.

I heard that the amount of rain this time of year was more than double the usual monthly rainfall, and that it was recorded in just half a day.

I think the rain was particularly heavy around here around 10 o'clock.


My plan for today was swimming, but with this kind of rain, there might be flooding in various parts of the city. I had decided to cancel swimming today.

So I decided to spend the day reading.

And by 3 p.m., the sun was even peeking through the clouds, as if signaling the aftermath of the typhoon.

Sure enough, when I watched the evening news, it was reported that there had been flooding in various parts of Kawaguchi city, so I smiled, thinking my decision to stay home was correct.

Then I immediately received a worried call from a friend living in Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture. "Thank you, my house is on high ground on the outskirts of the city, so there were no problems at all..."


June 2 (Tue) Cloudy

The morning temperature wasn't much different from yesterday, but there was no further temperature increase, and it seems the temperature remained similar throughout the day.

The news is constantly warning of an approaching typhoon. I'm wondering what to do about today's schedule...


It might start raining here as early as late afternoon... so walking outdoors today seems impossible.

It would be safer to do it at Aeon Mall, just like in the middle of summer. Okay! Today's walk is decided: Aeon Mall.

Since it opens at 10:00, starting my walk at 10:10 should allow me to greet the shop owners without being bothered.

At this time of day when I start walking, I see many people who are clearly there for a walk. I give them a slight nod and offer them my best wishes.


But what about people these days...? It seems like no one is trying to receive this message from my eyes.

Many people don't even try to make eye contact when we pass each other. It's as if they're saying, "I live my life alone..." I feel this everywhere.

Well, I don't think I'm a particularly approachable or likeable old person myself, but I'm always ready to smile and greet anyone who makes eye contact.

After my walk, I enjoy a delicious coffee as a reward, watching people go by from a spot facing the walkway.


June 1 (Mon) Sunny

The morning temperature is already 25℃. The humidity is still relatively low, making it comfortable.

When it gets more humid, my aging body starts to develop eczema-like bumps in various places, which is troublesome.


Today was my regular check-up at the nearby clinic, where I get my blood pressure and gout medication, which I do once every two months.

I consulted them about symptoms on the skin around my stomach that are different from itchy eczema.

They said that as I get older, people who never had problems before might develop allergic hives, and prescribed a week's supply of medication for that as well.

If there's no improvement after a week, let's get a referral to a dermatologist...


And if walking around the neighborhood is no longer possible... then it's time to switch to the walking course at the nearby Aeon Mall.

Until last week, it seemed possible around 3 PM, but today the afterglow is quite persistent, and it's only around 5 PM that we finally see a few people along the Minuma Canal.




May 31st (Sun) Sunny

I woke up at my usual time of 5:45 AM to my alarm. I still have some aches and pains in my joints.

Well, today's club table tennis practice... doesn't seem too painful to skip.


I read the newspaper while drinking tea, and at 6:30 AM I do my usual morning radio calisthenics.

Preparing breakfast starts with cutting the ingredients for miso soup, then warming the rice, and warming up the side dishes delivered by the co-op.

I start breakfast while watching the 7 AM news on TV... about 30 minutes. Instead of milk, I have 250g of homemade yogurt.

From 7:45, I take a break for lunch, make a sports drink in my bottle, and change into my table tennis practice clothes.

On hot days, I can stay in my clothes, but today it's somewhat cool. I put on my training wear and watch "A Little Journey" on TV for 20 minutes...and then I set off.


The nearby sports center is being rebuilt, so I'm commuting to a sports center that's a 20-minute drive away.

It's been three years now, and in one more year the nearby sports center will be renovated and completed.

Once table tennis practice begins, I completely forget the aches and pains in my joints and become engrossed in the morning's practice. That's the end of my work for today, and I'm exhausted for the rest of the day.


May 30th (Sat) Sunny

Every Saturday morning, I don't set my alarm. I'm in Katashina Village chopping firewood, so I get plenty of sleep, but even so, a good night's sleep in my own bed at home is special.

The weather was good in the mountains, so I naturally woke up around 5am, about 30 minutes before my alarm. However, in my bed at home, I woke up around 7am...


I've had a feeling this would happen since yesterday... The midday sun was certainly deadly, but the humidity was low in the shade, making it relatively bearable.

I went to Germany in June, and although it was over 40 degrees Celsius during the day, I experienced a pleasant breeze in the shade.

Yesterday and today remind me of that kind of weather.

Even so, the rising temperatures since spring are predicting something incredible year after year.

The lilies growing wild in the flowerbed by the front door are about to bloom. I planted them 50 years ago to celebrate my daughter's birth, and they used to bloom in early July, but it's been getting earlier every year.


Whoa... it's only May, even though it's the end of the month. This is the first time I've seen lilies bloom this early.

I'm bracing myself for what this summer will be like, and I've renewed my resolve to face it head-on.

I thought walking would be impossible in this sunshine... but after 4 pm... hey! It feels pretty good!


May 29 (Fri) Sunny

I woke up at the Oze Katashina roadside station again this morning. I usually fall asleep before 8 pm every night, so I woke up a little after 5 am, before my alarm.

It's very cold. It's the same every year, but at this time of year, the bedding here is still for the middle of winter.


It got quite hot during the day, but the temperature drops in the evening, and by morning it's winter.

Therefore, the temperature difference between morning and evening is probably more than 15℃.

Yesterday, I managed to finish the basic firewood splitting and stacking the split wood into towers.

Unfortunately, Thursday was the regular closing day for the nearby hot spring, Hokkori no Yu, so I reluctantly went to Sasano Yu, which is a little further away.

This place isn't really suitable for impatient people like me, but since I went around 4 pm for the first time in a while, I was able to fall asleep in the lukewarm open-air bath for about an hour.


Therefore, I got plenty of rest last night and woke up feeling refreshed this morning.

I had already said my goodbyes to the charcoal burner and Kyoko-san with the thatched roof yesterday, before they started their morning activities, so I headed home.

Driving slowly along the roads for four and a half hours, I arrived home at noon, in the scorching heat.


May 28th (Thu) Sunny

I worked hard from 8 AM.

After 9 AM, the sun came out and the temperature rose. It was a pleasant heat.


After 10 AM, the sun became intense. If I continued working like this, I would definitely get heatstroke...

However, if I took a break in the shade, there was a pleasant breeze and it was relatively easy to bear.

I wonder if I should use the blue tarp I brought with me as a sunshade.

It's much better now, thanks to that, work went smoothly. The sun was strong until around 2 PM... I took off the sheet and worked comfortably. And when the firewood splitting was finished, the stacking of the crisscross was also done...

This year's seasonal tradition in Katashina Village is complete.




May 27 (Wed) Sunny...Cloudy

The temperature was around 25℃ this morning, but unlike yesterday, the humidity was a bit high and it felt uncomfortable.

I was planning to go to Katashina Village in Gunma Prefecture. I wanted to finish the firewood splitting work before the rainy season started...


After four hours on the general roads, I arrived in Katashina Village.

The climate is a little different; this is Katashina Village, located at the entrance to Oze National Park. The opening ceremony for Oze Marsh had just taken place yesterday, but the air was refreshing.

The charcoal maker I've been going to every year, whose kiln owner is 20 years younger than me, prepared some thinner logs this year that are easier for me to handle.

I'm so happy! Logs that are 20-25 cm in diameter and 2 meters long are quite a challenge for me physically.

Today, they prepared some that are about 10 cm in diameter just for me. These are manageable even for me.


I finished cutting all the logs at 4 pm and jumped into the hot springs near the roadside station. ~~...Pure bliss...

A can of beer after a bath really hits the spot! Delicious!

My usual spot at the roadside station is in front of the main gate of Katashina Elementary School, where marguerite flowers greeted me.


May 26th (Tue) Sunny

I went to a neighbor's farm and had them load all the things I had on top of the car back onto it using a forklift.

It had been in a special, formal state for the vehicle inspection, but I'm happy it's back to its familiar, family-like appearance.


This vehicle inspection was a crucial test! The final undercarriage inspection resulted in a "fail!", and I had decided to undertake one last major repair.

Each car part has a lifespan, and repairs and replacements are unavoidable.

And speaking of the life of a car... that's the engine. With careful and regular maintenance, it can work almost indefinitely.

Therefore, I have always made sure to maintain it, and as a result, it still produces the same light and crisp engine sound as when it was new.

Every ten years, the clutch plates need replacing, which is unavoidable... and the muffler assembly, which is the fate of cars that drive on salty roads in winter, has also needed replacing. I've replaced both of these twice.


Besides that, there have been countless unexpected breakdowns, but I've managed to keep it going with repairs and replacements. This car and I... I've declared my commitment to it accompanying me to the very end in my hobbies.

And the interior of the car has also been transformed by removing the rear seats to create living space? ...No, it's back to how it was before. Well, I have a packed schedule starting tomorrow.


May 25th (Monday) Sunny

Considering the worst-case scenario, it takes two hours to get from my house to the Omiya branch of the Land Transport Bureau. Therefore, to arrive with plenty of time to spare, I wanted to leave home by 7:00 AM.

Even so, due to the morning commute, it took an hour and a half, and I arrived with temporary license plates on my car, whose inspection expired yesterday.


I've taken many tests and exams throughout my life. Some I passed without any problems, while others I couldn't overcome no matter how many times I tried.

This year's vehicle inspection, although it only happens once every two years, is a "user's inspection," where I personally inspect and maintain my car and take it directly to the Land Transport Bureau's inspection center for inspection by an inspector.

I've always performed user's inspections on this car myself since it was new.

However, at this point, there was apparently one part that was deemed unacceptable among the maintenance work I had done, so I had a professional repair it.

And today, I passed the inspection.


Just in case... I had set the temporary license plate's validity period to two days, but I changed it back. Well, there were twists and turns, and it took almost a month to pass this year's vehicle inspection, but that made it all the more meaningful.

I arrived home just before noon. I immediately toasted with the wine I received as a belated birthday celebration!


May 24th (Sun) Cloudy

Today was the day of the Kawaguchi City Table Tennis Federation's ranked team tournament. Since there was a drinking party afterward, I took several buses to the Shiba Sports Center.

As usual, I wake up a little early for tournaments and make a special meal of rice balls.


Our class is in Division 4... In terms of skill level, playing in Division 5 is always close and nerve-wracking, but the next level up is too high.

Well, depending on how you look at it, no matter how hard you try, you can't win. So, enjoying the game becomes the priority... I suppose.

And our opponents are around the same age as our grandchildren.

Meanwhile, our team is the oldest in Kawaguchi City, with members aged 83-84.

We lost to every team and were relegated to the 5th division in the second half of the team competition.


Team B, with a younger composition than us, won the 5th division. We'll likely swap places with our C team. Teams A and D will remain in their current positions.

We had a debriefing session at a nearby family restaurant for about two hours, eating and drinking. Overall, we enjoyed the tournament.


May 23 (Sat) Cloudy

A cloudy morning...the rain has stopped and it looks like it might not rain any more today. However, the temperature is low, like early April.

They said my car repairs would be finished and ready to be handed over before noon today. I went to pick up the car at 11:30.


The main reason I don't like repairs at dealerships is that I want to know how the faulty parts were fixed and what the result was.

Especially in this case, with the underside of the car, it's absolutely essential to see how it was repaired.

Therefore, I made it clear beforehand that I wanted to see what had been done while the car was on the lift before picking it up.

"Please take a look..." When I went to the factory with the sales representative, there were no technicians there anymore. ...I couldn't ask any questions.

That's why I don't want to consult about repairs or malfunctions at the dealership.


The entire muffler was replaced. It should last another 10 years. I learned that my repaired muffler installation... while solid, wouldn't pass inspection. And the pointed-out parts were neatly completed with genuine parts.

May 22 (Fri) Rain

A cold rain from the morning... It seems the forecast for today is that it will be like this for almost the entire day.

Well, it's quite chilly today, but when it gets hot in the summer, I'll base my walks at the air-conditioned Aeon Mall.


It's been a while, so I thought, "Okay, I'll go for a walk at Aeon Mall today, and I'll also enjoy a delicious professional coffee while taking a break."

As planned, 10 minutes after opening... the floor is still quiet and comfortable, even after the greetings and bows at each store's entrance are finished.

I'm reminded again how sparkling clean the floor is...! The lighting from the ceiling reflects off the floor, making it dazzling, as usual... I even feel dizzy.

And what's more annoying compared to the city are those street touts! They hand out cheap tissues and start conversations.

These persistent solicitations in commercial facilities are not subject to regulation.

I make sure to act like I'm seriously engaged in walking so I don't get bothered by them.


Since it's been a while, I had my walking posture measured using the equipment at the "Advice on Your Walking Posture" corner on the walking course for the first time in a year.

Your walking age is 63... Well, it doesn't seem to have changed much from last year.

May 21 (Thu) Rain

It had started raining by dawn, but it was a damp morning, the complete opposite of the dry weather of the previous days.

As time passed, the temperature dropped further, and the wind seemed to shift towards a northerly direction.


My plan for today was to go to the city hall branch office to get a temporary license plate because my vehicle inspection certificate had expired.

Is it really that easy, just by filling out an application form? I went first thing in the morning, and they said it would be OK as long as I had the necessary documents for the inspection, so I submitted my vehicle registration certificate, compulsory liability insurance certificate, and my My Number card to prove my identity.

My liability insurance certificate...the new one is valid from June of this year until June two years from now. That means it doesn't match the dates for the temporary license plates.

What?! I brought my latest insurance certificate for renewal! The old one should be in the pocket of the car being repaired. Couldn't they be a little more flexible? (Angry!)

In the end, I went to the car repair shop to get my old insurance certificate (actually for the current warranty period) and they issued me temporary license plates.


I felt a little excited to hold a temporary license plate for the first time.

Even though I went through such a lot of trouble, I feel joy every day at the new experiences I've had.


May 20th (Wed) Sunny

When I woke up this morning and stepped into the living room, I wondered why it was so cold... Oh dear... all the windows were wide open.

I must have enjoyed the pleasant night breeze last night. I just turned off the lights and went to the bedroom.


And once again, our garden is quiet this morning!

The titmouse chicks that the couple had been feeding non-stop until yesterday have now left the nest, and the garden is back to its usual quiet state.

My eyes were somehow looking upwards, but when I looked again, I realized that the weeds in the garden had grown quite tall.

While eating, I thought I should at least mow the grass while it was still cool in the morning.


That's right, the titmouse nest box is right nearby, so I refrained from mowing the grass.

Even while I was firing up the kiln for my pottery, the parent birds diligently continued feeding their chicks without paying any attention.


I finished mowing the grass, making the sound of the lawnmower engine roaring for the first time in a while.

And since today is Wednesday, I took a swim in the pool. It was still cold when I got in!


May 19th (Tue) Sunny

My vehicle inspection for this year is not yet complete. The headlights and slip test, which were flagged during the inspection, have already passed.

The undercarriage inspection failed, and while I've requested a repair shop to do it, scheduling an appointment has been difficult.


Once I received notification from the repair shop that the parts were ready and the car was prepared for repair, I booked an inspection for after the repairs were completed.

However, even with online booking, the earliest available appointment was June 3rd, the second round, at 10:30 AM. At this rate, I'll just go to the Land Transport Bureau in person and negotiate directly...

In other words, I have to wait 12 days after the repairs are completed before I can get my car inspected. Furthermore, it was well outside the two-week timeframe for a re-inspection after the initial inspection. I explained at the renewal inspection counter that I had previously done user-conducted vehicle inspections and that "the two-week timeframe was not possible due to long holidays," and despite the delay, I pleaded for a renewal inspection, showing a chronological account of the inspection history. I was surprised... they don't consider holidays during the inspection process as a grace period... In other words, even in my case, the rule is that I have to get the vehicle inspected again. Perhaps intimidated by the intensity of my plea, the inspector simply said, "That's right... Please enter the re-inspection line the day after it's finished!" I involuntarily nodded firmly in front of the counter. I thanked the compassionate inspection officer and left the office. The weather outside was beautifully sunny, and my mind was clear as I left the Department of Land Transport.

May 18 (Mon) Sunny

Lately, we've had several days where summer-like temperatures are predicted. However, the mornings are cool and pleasant, so I spend the day with the living room windows wide open.

Just a stone's throw away is a titmouse nest box. This morning, the parent birds were already working frantically, bringing food to the chicks, alternating between the male and female every five minutes or so.


If you look closely, you'll see that after the parent birds bring food into the nest box and feed the chicks, they pick up the chicks' droppings in their mouths and discard them.

Therefore, the inside of the nest box is remarkably clean after the chicks have left the nest. "A bird leaves no trace"?this proves that point clearly when you look inside this nest box.

As I was cleaning up after breakfast, I heard a commotion in the garden. I looked at the nest box and saw chicks coming out one after another and flying away. It had been a long time since I'd been home on the day the titmouse fledged and witnessed it.


A chick that failed to take flight and is wandering around on the balcony.

A chick successfully lands on a nearby tree branch.


The parent birds encourage the last chick to leave the nest box.

The last chick left the nest box after 6 pm, but it was too dark to fly. It will probably spend the night on the perch in front of the nest box.


May 17th (Sun) Sunny

This morning, with summer-like temperatures predicted, the temperature and humidity were so pleasant that it made me wonder if it would really get hot.

Yes, it was a truly refreshing May morning.


Next week is the Kawaguchi City Table Tennis Federation's first-half team tournament, and today was our final practice session before it.

The humidity was low, making for a very comfortable environment for practice, allowing for easy movement.

Although the temperature is still rising, it's not yet the humid heat of midsummer, but this year, air conditioning has been installed.


Until now, I'd only go to a large fan to cool off when there was no other option, but I wonder if it will be a little easier this year.

I'm still not sure how helpful it is... or rather, how effective it really is.


When I got back to the car after practice, wow! This must be the midsummer sun.

The steering wheel was so hot I couldn't touch it. It's finally time to seriously consider countermeasures for the midsummer heat.


May 16th (Sat) Sunny

Last autumn, due to events such as the 50th anniversary party of my ski club, we didn't have an opportunity to discuss club management at the general meeting.

This year, we decided to hold an extraordinary general meeting today to address the issues that arose from that situation.


The meeting was held at "New Maruya," a famous retro-style Western restaurant in Nippori, owned by a senior member of my club.

We discussed topics such as accommodation bases for next season, camp content, and entry procedures to strengthen club leadership.

It was a discussion focused on practical management policies, different from usual. Associate members who attended also commented that it's wonderful to have a club with such an open atmosphere where everyone can freely express their opinions.


We had a get-together, and despite the small fee, we were surprised by the amazing food and drinks. By the way, the drinks we had today were apparently the prize for winning the Hatsuh?-Ri All-Japan Tournament. Thank you for the treat! And the senior who provided the venue said he's reopening his restaurant the day after tomorrow, even though it's been closed for a while.

However, the menu prices were almost the same as when it was closed, so we all unanimously agreed, "That's not right!" We asked him to adjust the pricing to reflect rising prices and to implement a business system that doesn't strain his health (proper holidays).


May 15th (Fri) Sunny

Oh! It was quite cold this morning, and I was wrapped up in my blankets when my alarm went off.

The morning was relatively cloudy, but as time passed, it became pleasantly sunny.


The pottery pieces that I had prepared since yesterday are already in the kiln.

Since it's bisque firing, the temperature rise must be slow and steady, without rushing... First, the temperature is raised from charcoal, and the first stage is careful, reaching 100°C to prevent steam explosions.

After that, firewood is added, and the next careful temperature is around 400°C, where organic matter in the soil gasifies, and it is confirmed that there are no explosions or other abnormalities.


After this, I just focused on steadily raising the temperature of the kiln without worrying too much.

Oh! That reminds me, while I was struggling with the kiln, there was a titmouse nest box right in front of me. I heard the titmouse's warning call, "...jijijiji...", many times, but I was too preoccupied to pay attention.

Eventually, the titmouse seemed to realize that the old man here wasn't going to attack them, and it became completely absorbed in feeding them.


May 14th (Thu) Sunny

The titmice seem quite busy feeding from early in the morning.

Even when I'm reading the newspaper in the living room, I can see the parent birds rushing towards the nest box out of the corner of my eye.


However, the little birds move so quickly that before I know it, they're out of sight.

Especially for me, by the time I transfer the image from my retina to the shutter, the bird is already gone from the monitor.

Unless I understand the birds' habits before pressing the shutter, I can't share what I see with you all through photographs.


I always thought the food the parent birds brought was always larvae... caterpillars or grubs. It seems there are also adult insects with wings.

The first thing I noticed when I returned from my trip was that the chicks had started chirping.


The nest box is right in front of me, so when I hear the chirping and look over, I see the parent bird with a large piece of food in its beak.

And today, I chased away a stray cat that had invaded my garden. I guess the chicks' chirping attracts snakes and other things.


May 13th (Wed) Sunny

Such good weather couldn't last... Yesterday, the clouds increased in the afternoon, and the sky looked unstable.

I woke up at the hotel in the morning, as usual, not expecting much, but the sunlight streaming through the gaps was surprisingly bright.


When I opened the blackout window, a wonderful blue sky and crisp morning air rushed in.

And so, I jumped up and started getting ready for the day.

I hadn't yet decided on my plans for the day. I searched the bus timetable from Numazu to West Izu and decided on a departure time.


There's one bus per hour from Numazu towards Mitsuhama, so I tried my best to catch the 8 o'clock bus. It's about 40 minutes to Mitsuhama... Great! The weather was perfect, but the summit of Mt. Fuji was shrouded in clouds. I was happy to see that the area around Enoura, which I visited when I was younger, was just as I remembered it. Looking into the water from the cliff, the beautiful underwater scenery is captivating. I took the Shinkansen on the way here, but on the way back I took a regular train... and a Green Car at that! It was very comfortable! I recommend this option.


May 12th (Tue) Sunny

I've always wanted to come here, but I never had the chance... Numazu.

As expected, there were hardly any foreigners, so I was able to enjoy Japan to my heart's content... and well, I came to paint.


Just as I imagined, Japan's coastline is surrounded by high breakwaters, and you can't see the compositions of old ukiyo-e prints anywhere.

And today, we're not in the center of the high-pressure system from yesterday; its center has moved eastward over the sea.

Well, it was a nice day with no rain, but the mountains were mostly shrouded in clouds, so the scenery wasn't great...


I'd finished painting, and I was getting hungry, so I walked to the nearby Numazu fishing port.

The beach was deserted except for fishermen, and I thought the fish market would be empty at this time of day... but when I got there, there were tons of tourists.


The stalls mainly selling dried fish were also bustling. I had a boiled whitebait rice bowl.

May 11 (Mon) Sunny

The weather forecast predicted sunshine and possibly summer-like heat... The wind occasionally picked up, but it still felt like a refreshing season. This morning was also sunny, so the male and female titmice in the nearby nest box were constantly bringing in food and feeding their chicks. There were no chicks chirping yet, so I thought this year's breeding season must be quite late...


I went out into the garden today for a little work, but it's not something I'm particularly interested in... or rather, I have other things to worry about!









May 10th (Sun) Sunny

Lately, we've been having pleasant early summer-like weather, typical of May.

Today, we were able to hold our club table tennis practice in comfortable temperatures.









We'd been using Angyo Sports Center for a while, but today the gymnasium was unavailable due to a district tournament... so we went to Shingo Sports Center.

Everyone carefully checked the club practice schedule, so they gathered here without any mistakes.


.

.


May 9 (Sat) Sunny

This year, I was lucky enough to observe a great tit incubating its eggs, probably at the time the chicks hatched and the parent bird was just beginning to feed them.

I once saw a TV program where skylarks flew down from a high place far from the nest before heading towards it.


Later, I saw on TV how birds of prey raise their young, and it seemed the parent birds flew directly down to the nest where the chicks were.

Great tits, like skylarks, are weak birds, so they seem to be wary of empty nests, landing nearby first and then gradually approaching the nest box cautiously.

However, after feeding the chicks, they seem to fly directly from the nest, just like skylarks (lol).


I bought tickets for a short trip next week.

The round-trip fares are different, which made me realize once again how strange train fares are. The price of the outbound ticket, which includes using the Shinkansen (bullet train), is different from the price of the return ticket, which uses only local trains.

Well, it's a short trip, so the price difference isn't that big of a deal, but it makes me curious about JR's fare rules.


May 8 (Fri) Cloudy

For the past 10 years, I've been measuring and recording my blood pressure morning and evening in my blood pressure management log... My 13th log is full, so I've made a new 14th one.

The booklet I used to get from my doctor was small and thin, with a short recording period. I copied it, and my 13th log, which lasted two years, is now finished.


I decided to remake it using a form that's the A4 size I'm used to, rather than such a small booklet.

This new one has sections that last for four years, so I'll probably be over 88 when I make my 15th log.

The cover uses a calendar of ski World Cup racers to inspire a daily commitment to health management as an athlete. Why did I start measuring my blood pressure? Looking at the first day of the No. 1 booklet, I realize that 10 years ago, I was seeing a cardiologist at a large hospital to get my medication.

When that doctor retired, there was a hospital reform where everyone was referred to a local private doctor... and if necessary, they would receive a referral letter for necessary treatment.


The young doctor at the nearby internal medicine clinic said, "Your previous sloppy blood pressure management won't do! I'll buy a blood pressure monitor and strictly adjust my medication while measuring it daily." My previous diary entry from 2016/2/24 shows that the blood pressure monitor I bought arrived and I measured my blood pressure at home.

Since then, I've also noticed something strange during measurements! Three years ago, I used this to detect and understand changes in my health, which led to arrhythmia surgery, and I learned the importance of self-management.

May 7th (Thursday) Sunny

The Golden Week holidays in May are over, and everyone who was working is back at work today... My morning radio buddies are probably also back at work at their usual time. "Can you hear me, local stations? 7N3FBV..." "Good morning...!" "Good morning." "Please wait, I'll find a sub-channel." Our daily morning radio communication has resumed after about 10 days. Everyone was safe and healthy, and we exchanged the joy of communication again. Today, the sun was shining from the morning, and perhaps because of that, we could see parent birds frequently coming and going from the titmouse nest box.

I can't hear the chicks chirping yet, so they're probably still growing quietly, their eyes not even open yet.


The parent birds are busily bringing food, but I wonder, "Hey, won't those big pieces of food get stuck in their throats...?"

Well, there's nothing I can do about it.


May 6th (Wed) Cloudy

Personally, it's a rest day... and a club table tennis practice day, but I've decided to practice every other day, so I'm taking today off.

As usual, the alarm went off at 5:45! I turned it off immediately. Then, after a healthy second nap, I woke up naturally at 7:00, a full 11 hours of sleep.


Even after sleeping this much, various parts of my body are still screaming in protest. It seems that sleep alone is no longer enough to recover from physical exhaustion.

Even in my late 70s, I was able to continue daily club practice during the holidays, but even now, the accumulation of fatigue is something that age can't overcome.

But my friends the same age as me are participating in practice every day... but his stance doesn't change... I guess that's because I move around more than necessary.


Meanwhile, today is the last day of the long holiday, and highways and public transportation in various places are experiencing traffic jams.

I can only pray that everyone gets home safely. I'm hoping to travel or take a quiet trip starting next week.


Today I spent the whole day quietly working on pottery in my studio. The air was neither too dry nor too humid, so the work went smoothly.




May 5th (Tue) Sunny

It's a typical season for early May. It seems there was snow in some parts of Hokkaido, but the Kanto region had pleasant weather.

I didn't have any plans to go anywhere during this long holiday, so I thought I'd go to table tennis practice as much as my energy allowed.


Thirteen members came to practice today, and it was a lively session.

I can't go every day, so I'm planning to participate in practice every other day.












May 4th (Monday) Sunny

The morning was gloomy and unclear, but it gradually cleared up.

The birdhouse, probably only about 5 meters from the breakfast table, seemed somewhat bustling.


Until last week, the birds would occasionally fly to the nesthouse, then be absent for a while.

Perhaps the eggs had been laid and the female was incubating them, with the male occasionally bringing food for her, or the female going out to eat on her own.

While eating breakfast, I could see the tits going in and out of the nesthouse within 10 minutes.


Occasionally, the two chicks return to the nest box at the same time... and they even flap their wings as if to say "go ahead," suggesting they're working together to bring food.

This year, I've been mostly working from home without going anywhere, so I'm waiting to observe them closely. I can't hear the chicks chirping yet.


Image taken with a Canon EOS camera set up by a 4m window And another Image taken with a Canon zoom shot.

Once the chicks grow up healthy and start chirping, snakes will hear the sound and target the nest box. Observation will be difficult.


May 3rd (Sun) Sunny

I went to my first club practice of the month, coinciding with the long holiday in May.

At the same time, the World Table Tennis Championships have begun, and I've seen many things I'd like to incorporate into practice.


One of the things that hasn't been seen much before is that if a player objects to a table tennis umpire's call, a video review will be conducted.

I've already seen this in overseas tournaments, such as baseball: an umpire calls a ball, and the catcher objects.

Then, the call is often overturned to a strike after a video review. It seems that a similar system is being adopted in table tennis.


Now, in our amateur table tennis practice, while it's unthinkable for younger players, there are quite a few older players who still can't break away from their old serving styles.

We sometimes participate in official tournaments. Matches sometimes involve mutual refereeing, so we must referee according to the rules.


I've made sure to communicate this clearly to my teammates.

Let's aim to improve our skills, especially by strictly pointing out any unfair serving techniques.


May 2 (Sat) Sunny

I intended to sleep in, but I woke up around 6:15 AM, only 30 minutes later than usual.

The sunlight was so strong that I could clearly see it through the blackout curtains in my bedroom.


At this time of day, the sunlight is so strong that it feels like 10 AM.

The weather forecast said it would be hot today, possibly a summer day.

I was prepared for it, but it was a pleasant and comfortable day all day long.


On such a pleasant day, the koinobori, which had served me well for a year, was completely faded and showing signs of wear.

I decided to replace the old carp streamer with a new one that I had prepared some time ago.


The breeze is perfect, a truly refreshing gentle breeze.

I hope it will encourage me for another year.


May 1st (Fri) Rain... with some sunshine in the afternoon

It seems to have been raining since last night. When I woke up this morning, the rain seemed to have intensified.

And today is garbage collection day... I don't feel like going to the collection point with an umbrella. I'll put it off until next Tuesday.


The weather hasn't been clear lately. Well, on days like these, I think I'll just enjoy reading quietly.

So, after breakfast, I decided to brew a particularly delicious cup of coffee and enjoy a day like this while reading.

As usual, I can't confirm whether the parent birds have left or entered the titmouse nest... I can only see traces in the corner of my eye.


I, too, would rather not stay indoors all day if the weather is nice; I can't live such a hermit-like life.

The weather cleared up in the afternoon, just as I was about to finish the book I was reading.


Damn it! How about this! It's a little early, but I poured myself a glass of wine and started drinking.

I finished reading by dinnertime. The weather looks good tomorrow, so go play outside and have a blast, Kozaburo.


April 30th (Thu) Cloudy

The weather is the same as yesterday. It's been gloomy since morning... and the temperature is low, so I've switched the air conditioner to heating.

The trees in the garden have grown their branches and leaves quite long, making me want to trim them.


Looking back, the great tits were diligently carrying moss and other materials into the nest box on April 5th.

Then, on April 18th, the day after I returned from my trip, I confirmed that they had put what appeared to be animal down, probably from a dog or cat, into the nest box.

Since then, the number of titmice flying around has drastically decreased. Does that mean they've already finished laying eggs and are now incubating them?


The chicks usually hatch in about two weeks.

When I set it up, I intended to observe the feeding closely, but now the branches and leaves have grown so thick that it's barely visible.


I've set up the camera and am planning to take pictures using a remote control.

It looks like I'll be able to take pictures from the dining table by operating the remote control switch.


April 29 (Wed) Cloudy

The weather has been a little cooler lately. However, this is an important time for those who play sports, so we're still not used to the early summer weather.

I've been training to become a competitive player through table tennis practice this year, but I'm still far from being considered a full-fledged competitor unless I give it my all.


"Let's get fired up!"... This is a phrase that applies to all sports.

Well, as someone who has repeatedly challenged the world championships in skiing, this is a mentality I've deeply felt.

Table tennis is fundamentally different from skiing. You face your rivals face-to-face and compete in a practical, real-world match. It's fundamentally different from skiing, where each person competes at a different pace.


This is a good example, but in sumo wrestling, matches between wrestlers from the same stable are not held in the same rank except for the championship decider.

When practicing with a stablemate, you get to know each other's strengths and weaknesses completely. And even if there is a considerable difference, you gradually get used to it.


Beyond that, club practice... practicing with a stablemate is indeed important practice for improvement.

In today's club practice, I felt that I had almost reached 4.9, almost 5 minutes, both mentally and technically.


April 28 (Tue) Sunny

The Kita Sports Center, the base of my table tennis team and the closest sports center to me in the city. We handed over the Kita Sports Center after a four-year construction period, with the promise that it would be built alongside a 50-meter indoor swimming pool operated by Saitama Prefecture. With one year to go, I can see from my walking route today that the dome of the main center building is almost complete, making it feel more real. And construction is also progressing on the surrounding soccer fields, baseball grounds, and some kind of golf course...? From my walking path, I can see the work being done on piles of material, resembling a soil recycling plant.


The pile of miscellaneous waste soil is scraped from the right, sifted through the sieve in the middle for sorting, and the sorted soil is stored in the pile on the left. You can almost see the soil being transported by dump trucks to various grounds around the area. When I first heard the plan... we'll be 85 when it's finished... will I even live that long? Just one more year, hang in there!

April 27th (Monday) Rain followed by sunshine

My car is due for its 11th vehicle inspection, as it's approaching its 21st year. I applied for the inspection online today.

I woke up at 5 AM to leave home at 7 AM... I had breakfast at 6 AM, and the rain was getting heavier.


To get to the Saitama Land Transport Bureau for the inspection, I had to leave home by 7 AM, about an hour and a half before my appointment.

I arrived at 8:30 AM as planned, paid the weight tax and inspection fee, and finally entered the inspection line, third in line.

First round, three issues were pointed out: 1. Misalignment of the headlight axis, 2. Lateral wobble?, 3. Inadequate muffler mounting.


As expected, the improper mounting of the muffler on car #3 was... so I'll have to take it back to the dealer for repairs. While temporary fixes that I thought were safe are important in an emergency, the inspector insisted that it be properly secured with the correct fasteners. For cars #1 and #2, a local repair shop specializing in after-sales service took care of it for about 2,200 yen, and I was able to take it back to the inspection line and pass. I had to take it back for inspection within two weeks... and thanks to the long weekend, the local dealer in Kawaguchi finished it just in time on the 10th, so I had to take it back for inspection on the 11th.

April 26th (Sun) Sunny

Thankfully... or rather, this is probably the normal temperature, but it's a little chilly.

This is the club's table tennis practice during the last week of April. It's been a while since we've had such a large turnout of 14 people.


It seems that everyone's motivation for practice is increasing in preparation for the team competition in May.

I, too, would like to participate in the national tournament for the first time this year... To do that, I must first pass the prefectural qualifiers.

And this year, I intended to participate in the greetings, but naturally, my feelings towards practice felt different than usual.


I need to do my best against those I absolutely must beat, as always.

And I need to develop the habit of beating those I've always been evenly matched with.


Well, the practice went pretty much as planned.




April 25th (Sat) Cloudy...Sunny

The weather improved far more than expected; the sun came out almost in the evening.

I went to the farm across the street to have the forklift I'd asked to remove the carrier from my car.


We both knew the procedure well, so when I went to the farm with ropes tied around the four corners of the carrier, the iron bars were already attached to the forklift and waiting.

This time, due to my circumstances, I loaded the carrier onto the trailer and returned.

I replaced the air suspension on the trailer's jet bag with a new one this spring, but it was so strong that the welded part of the carrier came undone, so I reinforced it with wire for a while.


Since it involved welding, I couldn't create sparks on top of the car... so I took this opportunity to bring it home and welded it today.

Well, there were also other things I wanted to reinforce while I had it off, so I was very busy.


And the lights that were deemed insufficient during the last vehicle inspection.

Following the procedure, the lights are now bright and clear, good!


　４月　２４（金）曇・・晴れ

朝一番から間もなく寝る時間まで‥私の公のSNSアイテム・フェースブックには私への誕生日祝福メッセージをたくさんの方から頂きました。

そうでした、本日私は８４歳の誕生日を迎えました。順風満帆とは言えません、幾度か座礁しかけたり転覆しかけての航路でした。


たしかに１９年前に最愛の妻をガンで亡くした時にはあわや私も座礁しかけたことを思い出します。

でも私はその船長・・２級船舶操縦士、状況判断においては第３級無線技士、暗雲ただ込める進路に見つけたものは「自覚」でした。

社員として勤めていた会社では一般成人病検査というのは義務化されています。ですから退社した後も定期的に健康診断は実施していましたが「あなた、もう生きることをあきらめたのですか？」・・と医師から伝えられたのです。


時間は自由、生活のリズムも自由、食べるもの呑むものも好き勝手・・、妻を亡くしたほんの１年間に私の身体は魔物が完全支配していました。

そうか、オレには好きなことがあったんだ・・。絵ももっとたくさん描きたい・・とか、中途半端な陶芸ももっと極めたいとか。


人間って不思議な動物です。目標が決まればちゃんとその目標に向かえるのです。・・気がつけば「このまま今の生活を維持してください」あの医師の言葉です。

今年度は日本卓球連盟に選手登録しました。スキーだって何の段位もない私が２０年頑張ったら世界マスターズでメダルを取れたのです、１００歳くらいになれば卓球でも入賞くらいできるんじゃない？(笑)


April 23 (Thu) Cloudy to Rain

The weather had been stable with no major changes for a while. It might be the first rain since the evening of the first day of my trip last week.

The forecast says it might start raining around here as early as the afternoon.


My usual time for walking is around 3 PM, but it might be raining then.

Therefore, walking in the Aeon Mall on a scorching hot day... to do that, I need to go around 10 AM when it opens, otherwise I won't be able to walk comfortably.

If that's the case, then since I'll be going around 10 AM anyway, I might as well go for a walk in the morning before the rain starts.


This is about halfway along the course; last summer, it was practically an animal trail unless the grass was mowed.

I once passed through here in early autumn, after a long period of intense heat, and it was overgrown with weeds... there was no sign of anyone having been here.


Climbing the hill again from here and reaching the wide road, I found magnificent azaleas in bloom on the embankment of a farmer's field. The temperature is still suitable for this 3km walking course.


April 22 (Wed) Sunny

Looking back, it's been almost a month since I put away my skiing for the season, and finally, the day has come when I can go to the pool.

Until then, my skiing plans were still the main focus, and other plans kept popping up to fill the gaps.


However, today, Wednesday, is my usual pool day, and I'm continuing to do so.

Every year, from December until the end of April, I can't swim in the pool, not even on weekdays like Wednesdays, because of skiing.

That's right, I've been away from water for five months... I always thought that on the first day back at the pool each year. And today is no exception...


Before getting in the pool, my body was still cold, and the moment I entered, I was hit with a chilling cold shower.

Swimming after a long time... I really feel how much my physical strength has decreased compared to before. This feeling grows stronger every year.


On my first day today, I swam half the time and walked the other half. The amount of energy wasted in the water was truly unbelievable. I realized that again.

After returning home and having lunch, I slept soundly for almost an hour! Well, that's normal, I suppose.


April 21 (Tue) Cloudy, then Sunny

It was sunny in the morning, but by breakfast time, clouds had rolled in... The wind was getting stronger, so I wondered if the weather would get rough.

The weather forecast said it would clear up in the afternoon, but in my area, there was only a light drizzle before it cleared up.


Even when it cleared up, the breeze was somehow pleasant, and I felt good in my sweatpants during my afternoon walk.

On my walking path, a young elementary school girl came walking towards me on a path that no one walked on last summer, a path I had mowed the grass to make accessible to everyone.

She greeted me first with "Hello," but I quickly returned the greeting. I wonder if anyone will walk here by the height of summer this year... It's almost May, and although we fly carp streamers year-round, the reality is they get quite damaged. The carp are all tattered... the cheap metal parts like the wind vane are peeling and rusting, it's truly pathetic. We'll replace the carp, but the wind vane is still functional, so I painted it to look somewhat decent with oil paints.


April 20th (Monday) Sunny

As predicted, the weather was sunny around noon, just a little short of the summer day indicator.

It's only mid-April... What will May and June be like?


My car inspection appointment is in a week. The plan is to return the car's interior to a normal passenger car this week, perform my own maintenance check and create a checklist, and then have a nearby farmer remove the overhead carrier using a forklift over the weekend.

Luckily, the weather was fine. I stored the insulation sheets for the coldest months that were molded to the window frames, stored the futon that allowed me to sleep soundly even in the snowy mountains in the middle of winter, and removed the equipment that gave the car hotel functionality.

Especially regarding electrical components, I removed the 3000W inverter, microwave, TV, etc.


I chose this car because of its selling point that "folding down the rear seats creates a flat surface," but to actually live on that surface, modifications are necessary to make it perfectly flat.

In my case, I laid thin plywood sheets all over the surface, then added floor pads used as flooring material on top, essentially turning it into a hotel room (lol).


I also aired out the futon, so it's time for summer... I also removed the sheets and washed them.




April 19th (Sun) Sunny

The forecast that it might be a summer-like day in some areas was not applicable to the gymnasium today.

The temperature was comfortable throughout, making for a good practice session.


Most of the club members and younger people went off in large numbers to another friendly tournament, so today it was just us older folks.

There was one person in their 40s, but the other five were all in their late 70s to 80s.

Compared to a normal practice, there were enough people to play two rounds of practice matches.


Personally, I thought it was a very good practice session.

The goal is, of course, to play against younger players, but to enjoy the Masters tournament, it's important to understand the opponent's tactics well.


...I see, practicing from this perspective is also important, I thought.




April 18th (Sat) Sunny

It was a slightly chilly morning, but this temperature is said to be about average for this time of year.

I thought it was a bit cold because the temperature had been a little higher than average until now.


That's right, because the weather up until now felt like a sunny May day... so the temperature was definitely too early for half a month.

This morning I didn't set an alarm and enjoyed sleeping in to my heart's content.

Yes, yesterday I was riding my bicycle around Takayama town, even though it was electric-assisted, so I should be quite tired.


I finished breakfast a little after 9 am.

I had lunch a little after 1 pm, and then walked my usual walking course for the first time in a while. It was already the season when the green of the cherry blossoms was vibrant.


The temperature is just right for a long-sleeved sweatshirt; this is probably what the season should feel like.




April 17th (Fri) Sunny

I returned to Tokyo in the evening. Mount Fuji was still there to welcome me.

Thank you to the Tokyu Hotel in front of Takayama Station for taking care of me this time. Today was mostly cloudy, but the weather was pleasant, perfect for strolling around Takayama. It wasn't too hot or too cold.

I asked about bicycle rentals at the tourist information center at the station, and they told me there was one very close by.

It was an electric-assist bicycle...it felt more like a motorcycle.


I overslept a little this morning, but I heard that Takayama's morning market is open along the Miyagawa River until around noon, so I went to check it out. Bicycles are so convenient; I just parked there for a bit...

For some reason, this place is also full of foreigners. But today I mainly visited shrines and temples located relatively high up in the hills of Takayama City. Electric-assist bicycles... they're so easy to use, I could get addicted to them.

Even at such a secluded shrine, foreigners still come.


April 16th (Thu) Sunny

I had planned to go to Shirakawa-go today, but I was told that booking a bus this early, just one or two weeks in advance, was impossible!

So, I decided to go early and catch a local bus. Therefore, I went an hour early and waited at the terminal.


There were many passengers today, so they added an extra bus... and my first bus departed at 8:20 AM, 30 minutes earlier than scheduled.

I arrived in Shirakawa-go a little after 9 AM. The magnificent scenery unfolded one after another, and I was excited as I strolled around.

I was surprised by the large number of Gassho-zukuri houses, far more than I had expected.


So many tourists... How can I paint in a place like this? I found a quiet spot and sketched. Thanks to arriving early, I was able to explore the village while it was still relatively empty. Then I took the 1 PM bus back to Takayama while everyone was still wandering around.


Actually, I didn't see the town of Takayama yesterday because of the rain, so I walked around it again under clear skies. I walked a lot, so I'm going to bed early tonight. Thank you for a wonderful day.


April 15th (Wed) Cloudy...Rain

I took some time to head to Tokyo Station. I couldn't get a reserved seat on my desired train, the Hikari, so I decided to go early and board a non-reserved seat.

When I arrived at the station, a nearly empty local Kodama train was about to depart. That's right, taking this wouldn't change my arrival time.


Since I was just going to be sipping my drink and watching the scenery change anyway, I roughly counted 38 trains that passed me and 29 that overtook me by Nagoya... everyone must be busy.

From Nagoya, I boarded the Takayama Line.

I've traveled on most of the major railway lines across Japan so far, but the only railways that cross from the Pacific Ocean to the Sea of ??Japan are probably the Ban'etsu Line, Joetsu Line, and the Hokuriku Shinkansen. This time, the Takayama Line runs from Nagoya to Toyama, but it's currently undergoing disaster recovery.


The train ran through the beautiful scenery along the Kiso River and stopped at the station where the famous Gero Onsen is located. The next station was a pass-through because it was an express train, but I was surprised to see the furigana (pronunciation guide) read "J?ro" (上呂).

In Takayama, a night festival was scheduled for today, but it was cancelled and the performances were held in front of the station instead.


Lion dance, Children's procession...it would have been quite a sight if the weather had been nice.




April 14th (Tue) Sunny

I can't leave the garden with peace of mind, let alone protect the flowers, unless I make some improvements to the watering system for the flowerbeds.

I've experienced water leaks and water discharge accidents twice, and several times with minor issues.


Normally, I use a watering shower for watering the flowerbeds, and as a precaution, please close the main valve after watering is finished.

In other words, this is a message to stop the water flow at the watering valve. Following this would mean that in order to operate the automatic watering system, I would have to open the water valve at the time it's supposed to work and then close it afterward, which defeats the purpose of automatic watering.


A slightly more specialized store sold taps, though I wouldn't recommend them for residential or building plumbing...

Regular shut-off valves cost 2,000-3,000 yen and are screw-type, but this one is for agricultural use or as a tap for water storage tanks... 580 yen.


Well, it's not perfect, but it seems I can safely leave the house and let the watering system run automatically.




April 13th (Monday) Sunny

It's already the middle week of April. This week I have a trip planned, next week a class reunion, and the week after that a car inspection is scheduled.

Preparations for the inspection have already begun, but I'm also making some minor adjustments to the areas that affect the appearance.


It's been over four years now, but ever since I suffered a major scratch in a collision with an oncoming car on a snowy mountain road, I've been doing my own repairs.

There's a material called putty used for car repairs that you use to fill dents, but while it works well for depths up to a certain point, it cracks in larger dents.

There were no problems during the last inspection, but this time there was a large crack. So I had just repaired it with urethane resin.


After almost two hours, the resin had hardened and filled the cracks, so I applied a finishing touch.

Well, it will pass the vehicle inspection, but I tried my best to make it look as good as possible.


The weather has been nice, so I'm glad I was able to do this.




April 12th (Sun) Sunny

Unlike yesterday's ridiculous weather, it's a pleasant day with a real sense of the season.

Two new members have joined our table tennis club at the same time. They're in their 60s and 70s, but they're younger than me and quite skilled.


They'd been dropping in for practice occasionally, but today they officially joined the club.

Until now, our club has fielded three teams (A, B, C, etc.), but for the upcoming team competition, we'll have four teams.


This is the time of year when we're most focused on practice, and I was worried about yesterday's weather, but today was good.

I'm not quite back to full form yet, but I want to use this full practice period to raise my level to what it was last autumn.

Well, don't rush.







April 11th (Sat) Sunny

It was a warm morning, not much different from the morning temperatures we've been having lately.

Oh, as time went on it got warmer... → hot! Probably some areas even experienced summer-like temperatures.


I spent some time in the living room, but soon the temperature rose to the point where I wanted to turn on the air conditioner.

No, no... I know I can stay cool in the studio.


During the winter, this is the coldest room in our house... so it's unbearably cold without the wood-burning stove.

That's why coming to the studio on a day like this is so comfortable. But there are all sorts of toys here... I can't help myself.

I spent some time making teacups out of clay for the first time in a while.


Yes, that's the kind of room it is, so I can only listen to the radio here. Listening to the radio, I also enjoyed my haiku class today.




April 10th (Fri) Cloudy

The weather is unpredictable, and rain is forecast for today. That means I can't go for my usual walk.

So, I resorted to my secret weapon: the walking course at Aeon Mall, which I used during last summer's heatwave.


I've become quite accustomed to it and am starting to cheat. Right after opening, the owners of each store are suspiciously greeting customers at their respective storefronts.

So, what about 10 minutes after opening...? The store owners have retreated to the back, allowing for a comfortable walk.

However, even now, suspicious, immature employees from mobile phone companies are still handing out tissues and persistently trying to sell their services. This is prohibited in the city, isn't it, just like the red-light district? I thought there would be a lot of people at Aeon Mall today because of the rainy weather, but it seemed surprisingly empty. After I finished walking the planned two laps around the entire mall, my body was warm enough to break a light sweat. Why is there a coffee shop in such a nice location? As expected, the coffee brewed by a professional is delicious! As I was relaxing, the crowd, which had been slow to arrive, gradually started to increase.

April 9th ??(Thu) Sunny

Due to a lack of snow, the ski competition I had planned for the end of the year was cancelled, so I decided to retire from skiing this year.

I decided to go on a trip instead. And what I always think about when I go skiing every year is the beauty of the scenery with lingering snow, so I decided to go paint such a picture.


I've always wanted to go to Shirakawa-go, adjacent to Takayama City in Gifu Prefecture. First, I searched for the route online... Hmm? Something's wrong with the train schedule.

The JR Takayama Line runs through mountainous areas from Nagoya to Toyama, but it seems there are currently sections that are out of service.

Normally, I would have made a reservation on my computer and bought the ticket at the nearest ticket machine, but today I headed to the interactive ticket machine at Kawaguchi Station.


The usual location with three ticket machines... seems busier than usual.

Machine number 1 is the interactive ticket machine, and there are two people ahead of me. The operator is probably also communicating with ticket machines at other stations.

During the call with the person before me, it said there would be a 10-15 minute wait before they could speak with me. After a while, it seemed the process finally began.


Then it was my turn. The operator was already communicating with others, and it showed a 22-person wait. But after about 15 minutes, they were able to assist me. I can't get a reserved seat on the outbound Shinkansen... I couldn't get a reservation on the Tokaido Shinkansen before either, it's because of the inbound tourists. I'll have to go a little early to secure a non-reserved seat.

April 8 (Wed) Sunny

It was a beautifully sunny morning. However, although the northerly wind from last night had subsided, there was still a slight lingering breeze.

During the day, to my perception, it felt like a May day, but perhaps the season is already a month ahead.


My car's inspection is due this May.

Since receiving the new car in 2005, I've always opted for a user-conducted inspection, and this will be my 10th inspection.

In other words, this spring my car will enter its 21st year.


The Land Transport Bureau has a vehicle inspection reservation system, and by accessing it, you can see the distribution of reservations two weeks in advance.

Yesterday, I tried to check the schedule, but they hadn't yet accepted reservations for my desired date. It fills up so quickly!

When I opened the reservation system first thing this morning, there were only a few slots left for my desired date, April 27th (Monday). Everyone seems to be quick!


It's still two weeks away, but I regularly inspect my car, so I'll deal with it as soon as I notice anything...




April 7th (Tue) Cloudy

It's been overcast since this morning. The forecast is for rain around noon.

I was expecting rain, but even after noon there was no sign of it. What a bonus... I went for a walk.


When I went down to the Minuma Canal, the walking path was covered in white petals.

And the cherry trees themselves have grown so much that the young green leaves are dazzling; it's truly the peak of the cherry blossom season.

I had a lot of ski competitions and other events cancelled, so I think I was able to fully enjoy the cherry blossoms this year.


The other day, I had drinks at my house with the elders of my table tennis club.

Right now, we're enjoying table tennis within the Kawaguchi City Table Tennis Federation, but my friends say, "You won in Kawaguchi City, but you don't have any ambition to go to the prefectural or All-Japan tournaments..."

If you want to challenge yourself, I'll support you.


Our club, "Yuyukai," has registered with the All-Japan Table Tennis Association, and our application for membership was approved by the Saitama Prefectural Table Tennis Association today.

I've also registered as a player for the All-Japan tournament. Technically, I'm far from top-notch in both skiing and table tennis, but in Masters tournaments, the one who's energetic and can move wins!


April 6 (Monday) Sunny

Today was a pleasantly warm and sunny day, and the weather forecast said it might even be a summer day...

Well, it didn't quite reach that point, but it was a fairly warm day.


My old vacuum cleaner stopped working the other day, so a new model arrived.

A friend told me that Dysons are prone to breaking, but it still lasted 8 years, so I guess that's okay.

The new model is a little lighter, has fewer accessories, and seems to have more features.


A corded vacuum cleaner is no longer suitable for this living room, so it's important to continue using this familiar cordless one.

I hope this one lasts a long time... at least 10 years.

Wait a minute, then I'll be 93 years old then?


Well, it's become a competition between them to see how long they'll stick with me.




April 5th (Sun) Sunny

The rain that started yesterday afternoon had stopped by this morning.

The rapid changes in weather are both welcome on days like today and frustrating in terms of making plans.


Today was a table tennis club practice day, and since the rain had stopped, I set off feeling refreshed.

The weather forecast for today predicted some summer-like temperatures, so I thought it would be a hot practice day, but it wasn't that hot in Kawaguchi.

Even so, a record 18 club members came to practice, monopolizing 8 of the 10 table tennis tables at this sports facility.


After finishing practice and returning home for lunch, I noticed titmice busily flying around the garden. Looking closely, it seemed they were carrying something into the birdhouse; it looked like cushioning material. At this time of year, when new buds begin to appear, the titmice always prepare their nesthouses like this, getting ready to raise their young. As spring truly arrives, I also have to work in the garden, often facing the intimidation of titmice raising their young. Please, I'll head back inside once I've finished my business.

April 4th (Sat) Rain

It's raining again. The weather hasn't been lasting long lately.

Last week, after practice, the table tennis club elders suggested we have a New Year's party to celebrate my return to table tennis.


It was lunchtime, the meeting time, but only one person was there... I thought he should be here by now... but he didn't come.

I called him again to confirm, and he said, "I forgot... I just had an appointment at the hospital..."

Well, we guys over 80 have to get used to this kind of thing... seriously.


We had quite a lot to talk about, and the topic of aiming for the All Japan Championships, if not the World Championships, came up.

Okay, I'll handle the paperwork, so let's aim high and manage our health accordingly.

So, for now, I've registered you as a player with the Saitama Prefecture Table Tennis Federation.


Well, I've completed the senior player registration, hoping that many more players from this club will aim for the All Japan Championships.




April 3 (Fri) Sunny

I use a cordless vacuum cleaner mainly for the living room on the first floor, a corded vacuum cleaner for the studio on the second floor, and a corded vacuum cleaner for the bedroom on the third floor.

My friends are coming over for drinks tomorrow, so I thought I'd do some cleaning... but it won't start.


Many of those vacuum cleaners have worked for me on the first floor over the years, but they never lasted long. At one point, I even had a really stupid robot vacuum cleaner.

I'd set it up and start it before going out, but when I came back, it was stuck somewhere and asking for help... it was a really stupid robot.

In the end, I've had this Dyson cordless vacuum for nine years now, and I even replaced the battery two years ago, but it won't work today.


"Damn it!" I was furious and called Dyson's call center. I wanted to clean in this weather, but when I grabbed my vacuum cleaner, it wouldn't move!

The operator, with a voice like tinkling bells, kindly listened to my current feelings and thanked me, saying, "Thank you for your patronage over the past nine years..." (I was so happy!)

"I've been had!" After the call, I found a memo in my hand with the date and time for the delivery of the new model I ordered...


"I guess I'm still young. Don't let any scam groups read this diary and try to trick me!"




April 2 (Thu) Cloudy Rain... Then Sunny

It had been raining since morning, and it seems that rainy days have been prevailing lately.

...Or so I thought, but after noon the sky cleared up into a bright blue, and the temperature rose along with the sunshine.


I also spent the morning reading because of the rain.

The weather improved rapidly after noon, but the weather forecast says that a cold north wind will pick up and the temperature will drop.


Therefore, I thought it would be best to take a walk while the sun was still shining and the weather was still mild.

When I descended to the Minuma Canal, the path looked as if it had snowed with the petals that had already begun to fall. And as I walked, a cold wind began to blow strongly from time to time, and the cherry blossoms under the trees were in full bloom, creating a flurry of falling petals. Rain is forecast again from tomorrow.


April 1st (Wed) Cloudy Rain

It's April today. I need to renew my driver's license and get my car inspected this spring.

First, I renewed my driver's license. This time, since my My Number Card is also valid for my license, I registered for renewal using both.


Basically, I keep my driver's license in the driver's seat compartment of my car. In other words, I needed to keep it there at all times to avoid forgetting it.

Therefore, when I wanted to use a rental car for travel, I had to take it out from there.


Once, I went all the way to Iwate Prefecture, got off the train, and went to the rental car company I had reserved, only to realize I hadn't brought my license, so I had to cancel.

Because of that frustrating experience, this time I had my driver's license information entered into my My Number Card as well.

For a mere 100 yen, you can have information on both driver's licenses.


I always carry my My Number Card with me, so I think it will be convenient even if I suddenly want to use a rental car while traveling by train.

First, I've finished one of the spring renewals related to cars.


March 31 (Tue) Cloudy and Rainy

As I get older, I gradually experience more and more inconveniences in various parts of my body.

And for things that don't cause much pain, I sometimes just accept it, thinking, "This must be due to age..."


I don't know when it started, but I can no longer wring out towels tightly, and I can't open plastic bottle caps...

For plastic bottles, I can use a rubber non-slip aid, which allows me to open them...


However, it's not just the decrease in grip strength; for some time now, the flexion and extension of my right middle finger has become somewhat difficult, and I've been putting up with it.

I think I should see an orthopedic doctor.

Well, I had an X-ray, and it seems the cartilage in my second joint is wearing down...


I was prescribed a topical ointment, but I don't think it will actually cure it; it's just a placebo.

The doctor doesn't seem to take it very seriously unless there are particularly severe symptoms like pain.


March 30 (Mon) Sunny

It's so much warmer than when I'm in the mountains... in fact, it's a little too hot.

That's the impression I've had when going to bed for the past two or three days. At this rate, how much hotter will it get?


Just before a series of competitions including ski races... on March 12th, I had my first gastroscopy and CT scan of the year, the first in two years since my esophageal cancer treatment.

Today, I visited the Prefectural Cancer Center to receive an explanation of the results from my doctor.


All the results were normal.

It's reassuring that the results are based on a comprehensive assessment by multiple doctors, rather than relying on subjective symptoms.

At the cancer center, the attending physician explains the results on a monitor, but the data is not allowed to be taken home by the patient.


However, although it's a roundabout way of doing things, you can rest assured that all of this data can be obtained from the hospital's administrative office through a formal information disclosure request for a few hundred yen.

I was also able to report the results of this test with a circle (〇) on the "My Esophagus" section of my website.


March 29 (Sun) Sunny

I participated in club practice for the first time this year at my table tennis club, Yuyukai.

In two months, there's an important team competition in Kawaguchi City that involves ranking changes, so that's my immediate goal.


Two new members joined the club while I was away.

And they're much stronger than me... I was worried I might be left out of the team for the competition.

However, with the addition of new members, our club has decided to field four teams instead of the usual three.

This means our team composition won't change, which is a relief.

Well, today is the first day, so I'll take breaks and just introduce myself to my teammates... I'll do my best to get used to the reliable members by the end of May.

March 28th (Sat) Sunny

Since it was a day off, I didn't prepare breakfast early in the morning or head to my radio.

I slept in late and enjoyed a spring nap. Even so, I woke up at 6:30, about an hour later than usual.


As the weather forecast predicted, it was a little cloudy in the morning, and there was still some lingering chill from last night.

However, by midday, it was perfectly sunny and the temperature had risen.

On this warm day, After clearing away the remnants of the old flowers and tidying up, a beautiful flowerbed appeared. I planted the flower seedlings I bought yesterday in the flowerbed. All the flowers are still as quiet as borrowed cats.

From now on, the watering will be done automatically and regularly, and I think in about a month, the individuality of each flower will start to emerge, and the flowerbed will become lively.


I think we'll be able to welcome our drinking guests in about another month.

March 27 (Fri) Sunny

It's been two weeks since I last took a walk, and the cherry trees along the Minuma Canal are about 40% in bloom.

And although the Minuma Canal, which hadn't flowed for a while, now has about 40% water flow, it will be full during the rice planting season.


It's warm today, and I've been thinking about tending to the flowerbed by the entrance, but the weeds have grown quite a bit.

Among them, wild garlic is growing in quite a cluster in the flowerbed, so I harvested some large ones.


Eating wild plants requires a certain amount of time and effort; it's not something you can just cook right away.

After much struggle, I sorted out about half of the harvest and blanched them in the microwave.

Eating them again like this with vinegar and miso... I really feel the bounty of spring.

March 26th (Thursday) Rain

It's been raining since this morning. Well, it's just as the weather forecast predicted, so I'm not too worried.

I had planned today's schedule before the ski competitions, so I just had to execute it.


In other words, I had applied underglaze and glaze to the unglazed pottery and placed it in the kiln.

Therefore, today all I had to do was light the fire first thing in the morning.


After breakfast, to avoid the smell of the kerosene burner this time, I heated the kiln to 400 degrees using firewood.

Then, at 400℃, I lit the kerosene burner. This way, I only needed to adjust the valve and didn't have to touch it until it reached around 1200 degrees.

However, it took longer than expected to reach the target temperature, so we switched to firing with firewood to achieve the desired texture after 4 PM.


Although it was a little late, we turned off the fire around 7 PM today.

March 25 (Wed) Cloudy

Last night, we had our usual snow-viewing sake party with three friends at Pension Mokumoku in Marunuma Kogen.

We happened to be staying at the same guesthouse as a professor and his wife from Yokohama University of Art, and we ended up collaborating with them, which made for a lively time.


We've been wandering around for a while, but tonight was our last night. Usually, we spend our snow-viewing sake party quietly with just the three of us, but tonight we had a great time with the other guests.

Every year, someone always seems to get injured...? But this year, all three of us finished the season in good health.


Actually, yesterday at a roadside station, I filled a plastic bottle with Katashina's famous water, left it on a bench, and peed there too. But then I completely forgot about it and went to the mountain banquet hall.

This morning, on my way back, I stopped by the roadside station and the water bottles were patiently waiting for me. Sorry.




March 24th (Tue) Sunny

There's no need to leave in such a hurry. Even so, we left the hotel in Oigami Onsen a little after 8:00.

Everything was going smoothly until I stopped at the Oze Katashina roadside station and filled two plastic bottles with spring water.


I left the plastic bottles on a bench nearby... then I thought I'd stop by the restroom, but I forgot the bottles!

Well, I decided to give up on finding them. I'll just pick them up tomorrow if they're still there when I pass by on my way back.


Now, there's about 5cm of fresh snow on the mountaintop, making it perfect for skiing. And it's warm with no wind today.

I took off the jacket I'd brought just in case, and enjoyed the pleasant spring weather.

Around this time last year, I was struggling here trying to build up my stamina, but this year I felt happy just enjoying myself.


Last night, I'm going to Pension Mokumoku with two friends for a get-together...is it going to be a success? Celebrating...

March 23 (Mon) Sunny

Yesterday, after a leisurely awards ceremony and changing clothes, I headed towards Torii Pass, the opposite direction from my usual route home.

And before it got dark, I spent the night in my car at the Nakayama Basin roadside station and greeted the morning.


The weather forecast was wrong; it was sunny from the morning. I immediately took a walk around the roadside station area, which I couldn't see yesterday, and had breakfast around 8 o'clock.

I departed at 9 o'clock and headed for my accommodation for the night, Oigami Onsen. Before that, I stopped by Numata Park. How are the cherry blossoms? ...They're almost there.


It was so pleasant that I finished reading the book I was reading under this cherry tree. From here, you can see the beautiful mountains towards Mt. Hotaka, where we're heading. At the usual budget inn in Oigami Onsen, "What? The popular open-air bath is out of order?" How disappointing.


March 22 (Sun) Sunny

The second round of the Rossignol Cup was held. The weather was nice, and with radiative cooling, the slope was once again rock hard, which I dislike. The competition starts at 8:00, but my race probably won't finish until around 8:30, so the slope will still be rock hard. My starting bib number today is 30, meaning that even starting with the women's senior category, with 30-second intervals, I'll start around 8:15. Even after the competition is over and I've changed, it won't be 8:30 yet. As I returned to the inn to change, I heard the sound of a woodpecker echoing.

There's no more snow around the inn; the trees have a spring-like appearance, which is very pleasant.

The awards ceremony was in the afternoon. I came in 3rd place today, but it was a fun competition.


March 21 (Sat) Sunny

Radiative cooling, the slopes were rock hard! It was impossible to compete.

The course started on a steep slope in Sugadaira, went straight to the right, then up a moderate slope, straight again, then a gentle slope... to the finish.


Sharing the time, the older folks started at 8:00. Thanks to that, I struggled on the steep slopes, realizing that this kind of skiing wasn't good enough... but I managed to ski well on the intermediate and final gentle slopes.

What?! Second place?! I lost first place to an 80-year-old athlete from Aichi Prefecture, but I managed to beat another young athlete from Aichi Prefecture by a narrow margin.


The prize was a crystal trophy, a certificate, and 3kg of rice! I'm so happy!!






March 20th (Fri) Sunny

I woke up at the Raiden roadside station. It feels like spring has truly arrived; it's not cold, and I'm enjoying a pleasant spring nap...? My plan for today is just to go to my accommodation in Sugadaira in the evening. I can spend the whole day here reading. I have plenty of time, and although I'd like to go back to their breakfast place since it was delicious last time, today I'll cook my own meal in the car and enjoy a leisurely meal. Even though it's a weekday, the atmosphere at the roadside station is different from usual; there's a constant stream of cars coming and going, with cars leaving and coming in next to me...? It must be a public holiday today.


Meanwhile, a family with Gunma license plates stopped next to me. They glanced at my car, and when our eyes met, the wife (I think) gave me a thumbs-up and started talking. "You're having fun, aren't you?"

"We're going to Yunomaru Ski Resort today..." The husband and son were both smiling, and it was such a pleasant encounter with this family that I gave them my business card.

Then, I was able to spend nearly four hours reading, including lunch, until my departure at 2 PM.


It takes less than an hour to get from this roadside station to Sugadaira Ski Resort. I arrived at Sugadaira Ski Resort after a leisurely drive along a local road off the main thoroughfare.

Even though it was only March, the sight of a little snow still remaining on the main slopes caught my eye.

Thinking that winter would soon be over this year, I arrived at my usual lodging, Kusabue Sanso, a little after 3 PM. I'll do my best in the two-day race.

March 19 (Thu) Rain, Cloudy, Sunny

Oops... I woke up briefly at my usual alarm time, 5:45 AM, but I quickly turned it off and fell back asleep.

I'm not sure how long "a while" was, but I woke up around 7 AM, and it was a morning at the roadside station where the rain had stopped.

After slowly getting ready and having breakfast, I think I left here around 9 AM.

Today, I plan to travel to Tomi City in Nagano Prefecture. I often follow this route, but when I'm in a hurry I use the Kan-Etsu Expressway - Joshin-Etsu Expressway... However, today I took the general roads over the mountains. From Numata, I crossed National Route 17, went through Takayama Village, and passed through Kawaba. From National Route 145, I took Route 144 along the way, and then arrived at the Tomi City Roadside Station via Kazawa and Yunomaru Ski Resort. It was already completely sunny, and I was able to spend the whole day here reading. Tomorrow I'm heading to Sugadaira Ski Resort.

March 18 (Wed) Cloudy

As the weather forecast predicted, it was cloudy. I left the inn hoping it wouldn't rain.

Although it was mostly cloudy, the temperature was relatively high, making it a fairly comfortable climate despite being in a high-altitude area.


The course at this year's All Japan Masters was, in a sense, a steep slope. No matter how hard I tried, it didn't give me a chance to attack using my usual pattern.

In contrast, my senior, who has been involved in alpine skiing for a long time, despite being the oldest in the 80s class, improved even further from yesterday and finished in 7th place.


I also did my best, and I did manage to finish 12th, but no matter where I went on this course, my skill level simply wasn't enough to attack it effectively.

By the way, for this course lap, Manabu Sawaguchi, in his 70s, ran in the 55-second range, while I ran it in 1 minute and 17 seconds... Wow, there are so many amazing people!








March 17 (Tue) Sunny

The 50th All Japan Masters Ski Championships, first round.

The course itself was almost the same slope from start to finish, and quite steep. The course was set up with 25m intervals, making it a rather uninteresting 1000m course.


I finished skiing without any complaints, but if I had to say something, it would be that I was able to complete the course.

However, the oldest member of the club this year, a senior member of the class, managed to finish 9th, which was a great achievement.


I was about halfway through the race... I finished 14th, but I was satisfied.










March 17th (Tue) Cloudy

For me, it was a agonizing 1 minute and 17 seconds. The competition course took 3 seconds longer than yesterday.

Well, it depends on the set, so I can't say for sure, but it was certainly a set that took longer than yesterday's.


Well, while running on the course at the competition, I often feel this, and what I felt strongly both yesterday and today, is that the course is just too cruel for me, and the finish line is still far away...?

When I'm pushing myself hard, I often think, "Huh? I'm already so close to the finish line..."

However, this seemingly ordinary slope was actually a moderately steep slope, and the intervals were precisely 25 meters, a busy set.

And during the competition, I couldn't even appreciate the scenery (lol), the painful turns, and the feeling that the finish line was still far away...

My senior club member, despite being the oldest in his class, made another leap in the rankings today, finishing in 7th place.


My spring still seems far away, but the weather has suddenly become cherry blossom season...?





March 16 (Mon) Sunny

I woke up in my car at the Oze Katashina roadside station. Thankfully, it wasn't as cold before dawn as it used to be.

With the All Japan Masters Ski Championships tomorrow, I went to the slopes at Marunuma Kogen to make adjustments.


At this altitude, the slopes seemed quite cold, and considering the competition starting tomorrow, I wanted to adjust on a softer slope.

I waited until around 10:30. The sunlight was getting quite strong, but it didn't seem like the slopes would soften by midday.


For today, we'll call it a day and head to our accommodation in Iwakura.










March 15th (Sun) Sunny

I left home at 10am and was surprised to find the gasoline price at 184 yen/liter.

This is the first time the price has risen by more than 30 yen in a week. It can only be because of that damn Trump.


I arrived at the roadside station in Katashina Village, Gunma Prefecture, and after taking a bath, a car belonging to a ski club friend pulled up next to me.

After having a drink in my car for a while, we said goodbye and went our separate ways in our respective cars.













March 14th (Sat) Sunny

It's quite something; I somehow woke up. Just as I was about to look at my phone to check the time, my alarm went off.

That's quite something, but if you ask me if I don't need an alarm, on a cold morning, even if it rings, I don't want to get up.


I also had in mind that I wanted to apply the underglaze and glaze to the pottery pieces I bisque-fired yesterday and put them back in the kiln today.

So, perhaps because my plan for today was so clear, I wanted to get up even earlier to start working.


You might think that pottery work is better in the cold because you're dealing with fire, but such warm and cozy work is only a small part of the time.

Most of the work involves cold water, so ideally, I'd prefer to do it when the water has warmed up.

Anyway, as planned, after unloading the bisque-fired pieces, I applied the underglaze, applied the glaze, and set them back in the kiln. The whole process was completed by noon.


After lunch, I went for a walk along a warm walking path. The cherry blossom buds along the Minuma irrigation canal, which I passed first, were only about 30% open, with the tips starting to turn a little green.



March 13 (Fri) Cloudy

It's been cloudy since this morning. When I woke up, the eastern sky was clear, but there was a beautiful sunrise. I thought, "This means bad weather..." The sunrise until around 6 AM really seemed to foreshadow the day's weather; there was some weak sunshine, but it was a chilly day. This year, I was aiming for four All Japan Masters Ski Championships, including entries in cross-country skiing, which I've been working on since last year. However, the low-altitude cross-country skiing was cancelled due to the rapid snowmelt caused by the recent extreme heat. Since there was a gap in my schedule that would have normally led me to the ski resort, I scheduled pottery firing today.

The temperature was just right, so it was warm and comfortable to be near the kiln after lighting it.

Since it was bisque firing, the process involved turning off the fire at 750℃, and it was finished by 3 PM.


I didn't notice any particular abnormalities, so I'm confident that everything is going smoothly.






March 12 (Thursday) Sunny

After esophageal cancer surgery and anti-cancer treatment, you are required to undergo follow-up examinations for five years under a set program.

In my case, I am required to undergo 15 endoscopic and CT scans over five years, and the data is managed by the government as a huge volume of data.


Four examinations per year in my first and second years, three in my third year, two in my fourth year, two in my fifth year, and so on for a total of 15. If all goes well, I will graduate.

I'm still in my second year, so I will have four examinations this year as well. Today is my first examination of my second year.


I've also had a gastroscopy for adult disease screening, and here they offer over an hour of rest after the examination.

In other words, the test is performed under almost complete anesthesia, so you won't remember any pain during the procedure, making it much easier than a regular health check.

But maybe it's because of my age... Since my usual diet is mainly breakfast, skipping breakfast is the hardest part.


All the tests are finished and I can go home around 3:00 PM... So, as a reward for my hard work today, I went to a sushi restaurant.


I got off at Urawa Station and went to a slightly upscale conveyor belt sushi restaurant. I had seven plates... and I was already full.



Wednesday, March 11th, Sunny

The temperature has dropped a little for the village, making it a crisp morning. But the sunshine is shining, so let's have some fun outside.

I thought about digging into the flower bed by the front door, or even digging around in the soil, but the wind was surprisingly cold, so I gave up.


Last weekend, our ski club, Nijukaishi Alpine SC, held their final training camp of the season.

One of my friends works as a first-class architect, creating complex designs using CAD and other tools, but his hobbies are more primitive.


He sometimes sleeps in his car, just like me, and seems to enjoy woodcarving in his free time.

The other day, I brought a ton of cypress shavings to the training camp dormitory and asked if anyone wanted any.

I immediately brought back a plastic bag full of shavings.


I've enjoyed floating cypress lumber in the bathtub to soak up the scent, but today I tried scattering these sawdust around.


I really enjoyed the scent.

It was quite a chore to clean up (lol).

March 10 (Tuesday) Rain... Snow... Sunny

It was raining in the morning, but as time passed, large snowflakes began to fall.

The weather forecast predicted that it would clear up and clear up in the afternoon, and that's exactly what happened.


Every morning, my amateur radio station is on the air while I eat breakfast.

I've been having a lot of trouble lately. The other station is oscillating S, but sometimes the modulation isn't coming through. In other words, the radio meter is responding at full scale, even though I'm supposed to be talking, but I can't hear what they're saying...


Finally, today I solved the problem by consolidating the cables I'd previously connected with connectors into a single cable.

First, remove all connector wiring.

Each connector has eight connecting wires, each color-coded differently. Each wire is soldered according to its performance.


It seemed to be completed, so I connected it, but the radio didn't respond. I reexamined the performance of the connecting wires and carefully redesigned it from scratch.


I reconnected it and asked, "Please let me know the modulation report." I received reports of 5-9 (best performance) from all parties.

After a quick cleanup, we celebrated the completion with a glass of wine.

March 9th (Monday) Sunny

Gas dampers... are something we rely on a lot in our daily lives, but their existence may not be widely known.

Even though the hatchback of a familiar car is quite heavy, with just a little effort to lift it, it opens and stays open with ease.


I've had fun building boat trailers using used car parts, and I've used gas dampers everywhere.

Car-mounted ski carrier bags are attached to the roof of cars, and people usually use a stepladder to load and unload skis.


If I could just slide the case up to where I'm standing, I'd be able to easily load and unload skis, even though I'm not very tall.

I designed and built a ski bag with this in mind, and I used this gas damper.

However, after years of use, it deteriorated, the gas leaked out, and it no longer supported the load, so I ordered a new one online and it arrived.


I made an attachment out of metal plate to fit the slightly different length.


For a while, I'll be able to comfortably take my skis in and out of it, and my friends will be teasing me about it being a missile launcher... and I'll enjoy it.

March 8 (Sun) Snow to Cloudy

It was our last morning at Minshuku Kurata, our training base for the Nijukaishi Alpine SC.

Last night, the club expressed their gratitude to Kurata for their support over the past 40 years.


Unfortunately, as predicted by the weather forecast, snow and wind arrived early in the morning, making for a bearable final training camp.

Perhaps the club was feeling a little flustered by the new training camp structure. While preparing for camp, we suddenly realized, "Oh no! We forgot to bring batteries!"


It seemed like the camp would be canceled, but then a friendly club offered to let us use their drills and other equipment.

I immediately expressed my gratitude and told the camp manager, "Of course, he's exempt from camping!!" With everyone's agreement, we were able to proceed.

It was a morning practice, and the first half was spent in a blizzard and strong winds. However, the slopes were solid, so we were able to practice well while taking good care of ourselves.


I also had an hour left, but I voluntarily left practice to watch and closely observe the young people's skiing.


On the way home, I felt extremely sleepy, so I parked my car in a safe place in the mountains and took a few minutes of deep sleep! That made me late getting home, but I arrived just after 6:00 p.m.

March 7 (Sat) Cloudy to Snow

The morning temperature was warm enough to feel like early spring in a guesthouse area.

The thermometer on the road leading up to the ski resort read +1°C, so I knew it was coming.


Around noon, the wind direction changed and snow began to fall.

The wind also got stronger, forcing the gondola to the summit to stop running.


We were practicing with our poles set up, but this problem became apparent when we were waiting for the lift.

As the temperature dropped and the wait time for the lift increased, our warmed bodies began to cool down.

I voluntarily stopped practicing before 3 o'clock. I hope the weather is good tomorrow.







March 6 (Friday) Sunny

This weekend is Nij?kaseki Alpine... My ski club's final training camp of the year.

The recent snowfall seems to have improved the ski resort somewhat, but I can only hope it ends safely.


My biggest concern is the snow at the cross-country ski resort. Unlike the Alpine resort, the snow melts at a lower altitude, which is a huge problem.

I arrived a little early to check the conditions there, so I went to the XC ski resort. I see... it seems they've given up on the course near the parking lot that was used last year.


Originally, this was the site of a ski resort called Hotaka Ranch Ski Resort, and during the skiing boom, the lifts even reached the shoulders of Mt. Hotaka.

In other words, there's still plenty of snow if you climb higher.

That's why they're currently clearing snow from the roads within the ranch all the way to the venue.


It seems the efforts of everyone involved in organizing the event are no joke.


This evening, the organizing committee announced that this year's cross-country skiing event has been canceled! What a shame!

March 5 (Thursday) Sunny

The strong westerly wind that had been blowing since yesterday still occasionally swayed the branches of the trees in the garden this morning.

However, the sunshine was already incredibly strong, and even without opening the windows, the warm sunlight was still warm.


In winter, once Thursday rolls around, it feels like the weekend already, as most people plan to leave the next day, Friday.

Also, despite the unexpected warm weather recently, I hear that many ski resorts across the country are struggling with a surprising lack of snow.


First of all, the All-Japan Masters Tournament, which will be held next week, will be held as scheduled, although the Katashina Village Board of Education, which is in charge of organizing it, has said that the tournament may require some course adjustments.

The only grass tournament I signed up for, the Rossignol Cup, had a lottery draw, but all four members of my club who signed up were selected, so everything went according to plan.

And the Tokyo Ski Masters, which will likely be the final tournament, will be held in Niigata, so I thought it would be fine, but surprisingly, it looks like the snow is melting faster than expected... it's all uncertain.


The wind died down in the evening, so I set off for my usual walk.

Even though the scenery is so peaceful, they say the weather will start to deteriorate tomorrow.

March 4 (Wed) Sunny

As the morning sunlight streams into the living room, my home is already in full bloom.

And the bonsai I've been training since last fall has sprouted new leaves, providing a refreshing visual experience.


I had some shopping to do and other things I needed to do in the morning, but... why?! When I tried to exit from the right, the road was blocked by power line construction.

When I tried to exit from the left, the road along the bus route was dug up, causing a huge traffic jam. Could it be that construction work to use up the March budget has begun?


The other day, a skiing friend gave me the powder that's the base for that yellow mustard. Apparently, the main ingredient is mustard seeds, which resemble rape blossoms.

No wonder the flavor blends so well with rape blossom soup.

I tried making it into mustard vinegar miso, and it was delicious. I even added so much regular natto that I almost cried... (lol).


This week's ski club training camp will be the last of the season. Due to circumstances on both sides, the guesthouse that has been our training camp host for many years will also be closing.

I am truly grateful for all the years that have passed. I hope that you, my uncle and aunt, stay healthy and happy for many years to come.

March 3 (Tuesday) Rain

I knew it would rain today, so I planned to sleep in for the first time in a while.

Even so, I woke up around 6:00, but I enjoyed a second sleep and got up around 7:00.


Unlike recently, I've been feeling physically and mentally energetic, so I'm keeping an eye on how things go today, even though I've been doing Nordic training for two days.

Fortunately, I only have a few pleasant muscle soreness left.


I've entrusted all my payments, including occasional online purchases, special orders, and hotel reservations, to Japan Post Bank.

However, my pension and all the other essential payments I make come from the Shinkin bank. I've been using a little bit of my savings to top up my savings at Japan Post Bank.


I hope I can continue to survive frugally as I have.

I've been going out a lot lately, so I've been ordering meals delivered, and today they arrived.

There was a small Japanese sweet called "sakura mochi" next to it. I'm grateful for the precious food that helps build my body.

March 2 (Monday) Sunny

I was able to wake up feeling refreshed after a relaxing soak in the hot springs at Oigami Onsen last night.

I had breakfast at 7:00 and set off again for Hotaka Ranch.


In any case, the situation at this venue is threatening the holding of the All Japan Masters Cross-Country Skiing Championships, just two weeks away.

Around 10:00, members of the Katashina Village Board of Education, the tournament organizers, came to inspect the site, intending to make a decision after viewing the site.


Well, I was practicing alone, but it seemed they had come to a decision and headed home.

In other words, it seemed that two committee members had gone on a snowmobile inspection to investigate the possibility of holding the event in the upper area.


The two of them looked rather sour and said they wanted to return to the town hall to discuss the matter further before making a decision.

Everyone's gone now, but it's lunchtime, so I'm preparing dinner....

It seems that ski resorts everywhere are struggling with a lack of snow, regardless of the heavy snowfall.

March 1st (Sunday) Sunny

I woke up at the roadside station, Raiden Kurumi no Sato. They serve breakfast starting at 7:00 AM, which is nice.

I immediately ordered the grilled fish set meal. It was so delicious I ate it all, and I feel like I'll be able to ski with energy again today.


After dinner, I headed to Katashina Village in Gunma Prefecture. The cloudy skies from yesterday were still lingering, which made me a little worried, but the sky cleared up completely.

I arrived in Katashina Village around 10:00 AM, and immediately found some local children at the cross-country ski resort on the site of the old Hotaka Ranch Ski Resort, where I greeted them and joined them.


No matter how many times I try, I can't seem to get the skiing I want, but I'm determined to enjoy it at my own pace without rushing.

By lunchtime, everyone had left, so I relaxed while eating lunch alone.


I'll come back tomorrow and practice using classical running techniques.

I was surprised at how much snow melted in Sugadaira yesterday, but it's also pretty bad here. It looks like the competition won't be possible unless we change the venue.



Saturday, February 28th, Cloudy

Breakfast at 6:00 AM! This is a so-called B-class ski tournament in Tokyo, so there are a lot of participants.

Therefore, they're probably making various efforts, but it's not very efficient considering how much time it takes.


Also, in this slalom competition, sometimes everyone gets to ski a second run. And since it's based on the official Masters system, each class is divided into groups in strict five-year age increments.

My class was the 10th men's group, meaning it was a battle between the 80-85 age group. My club had two members, my senior Seki and myself.


The clubs I had to beat included two members of the Mita Demons who just turned 80, and the Musashino City Ski Federation, which had three formidable opponents.

In the first run, I came in second, and Seki came in third... so I got off to a good start. In the second run, Seki came in first, and I came in third, but in total time, Seki from my club came in first, and I came in second, for a complete victory.


The awards ceremony ended just after 4:00 p.m., when the sun was already setting. I then returned to my lodging, changed, and left before 5:00 a.m.

I arrived at the roadside station, Raiden Kurumi no Sato, around 6:00 a.m., but I was so exhausted I didn't feel like drinking or anything and went to bed.

So I wasn't able to write my diary.

February 27 (Friday) Cloudy

The weather continues to be unsettled, neither sunny nor rainy.

The temperature is still reasonably high, so it won't interfere with morning activities.


Today is the day to take out the household trash, so I quickly took care of that after dinner.

Today I'm heading to the mountains, but I haven't loaded any gear into the car.


I had packed everything I needed to pack yesterday, so all that was left was to load the car. My ski gear for the competition and two sets of Nordic skis, which I'm planning to take afterwards.

We left after 9:30. I'll probably stop for lunch along the way, so this will be the limit of my time.


From National Route 122, I enter Gunma Prefecture and take National Route 354 to Takasaki, stopping for lunch at a roadside station in Tamamura along the way. After merging with Route 17, I head to Nagano on Route 18, and from near Karuizawa, I take the Sunrise Asama Line to the Sugadaira trailhead.

From the trailhead, I can see Mount Asama, a familiar sight in winter, with most of the snow melting and the mountainside visible. It looks like the snow is melting early this year.

I arrive at the inn at 3:00 and head to bed early in preparation for tomorrow's club slalom.

February 26 (Thursday) Cloudy

My alarm woke me up at exactly 5:45 AM. But it was dark outside the curtains, like I'd set the wrong time.

When I pulled the blackout curtains, it seemed the sky was overcast with thick clouds. Huh?! Why...?


The weather forecast, which had predicted sunny skies today, lied again. And when I looked at the morning forecast, it said, "Sorry, but it'll clear up in the afternoon..."

Well, I'll forgive that. Thanks to that, I'll finish reading the book I'm almost finished reading.


I'm leaving for the ski resort tomorrow, but I haven't packed my skis in the car yet. After the SL race, I'll move to another ski resort and practice cross-country skiing for two days.

So I waited until the afternoon when the sun would come out. Oh no... it's almost 3 o'clock and the sun still hasn't come out!!


This means I'll have to load my slalom skis and two sets of XC skis just before tomorrow's departure.

It was already almost time to go for a walk.

In the end, it was a gloomy, cold day.

February 25 (Wed) Rain

I wonder how many times I've had to renew my senior driver's license. Even if seniors have no accidents or violations, their licenses are only valid for three years.

...and so, I've already gone to my fifth senior driver's license, a form of bullying.


Bullying...especially for seniors, comes with cold rain like today, a designated training location far away, and a mugging for 6,600 yen, though I don't know what it's for.

There are many reasons why people continue to drive even in their senior years. Especially on days like today, people say, "Take public transportation..." but I'm sure there are elderly people who continue to drive because that's not possible.


I'm lucky, so I managed to get there by taking two buses.

Until now, the course was held at a police station, but for the first time in about 10 years, it was held at a regular driving school.


It felt a bit strange to see young people about to get their driver's license and older people telling them to give theirs up in the same waiting room.

As always, I took the course for a full two hours.



February 24 (Tuesday) Partly Cloudy

The number of miles driven during the winter is decreasing every year. To me, this is a sign that winter activity is decreasing.

It's not just winter, but it's definitely a decrease in car travel throughout the year overall.


I've always had my engine oil changed at the designated mileage. Until last year, this usually happened just before the winter season.

My car has 235,500 km on it. While it was lifted for an oil change, I observed the condition of the underside of the car.


This spring will be my 12th vehicle inspection. I plan to have my vehicle inspected again this year, so I'll be inspecting it at every opportunity.

I've noticed that my oil has been dropping a lot lately, so I'll add some oil improver and use it as a reference for my next inspection.


A neighbor of mine lives right in front of the garbage dump, and he makes stickers for a living. When I went to throw out the trash, he showed me his new sticker.

He said he'd give it to me if I wanted it! So I took it and put it on my car right away.

"Wow! It gets me excited before I drive..."

February 23 (Monday) Sunny

Oh no! I set my alarm, but my phone... didn't ring.

Thankfully, when I woke up, it was already light outside... and warm. I overslept by 45 minutes.


It's my third day back from Hokkaido, and I'm probably still tired from the 24-hour wait at the airport.

Last night, I went to bed at 8:30, prepared for this morning, but I ended up sleeping for 10 hours, even though I woke up to go to the bathroom.


When I came down to the living room, the sun was already shining brightly, and the air conditioner's heating felt pointless.

And since I missed my usual radio exercise time, I ended up doing the radio exercises I have on YouTube on my computer for the third day today.


At the end of autumn, I dismantled a potted tree that had gone dormant, reducing the roots and creating a bonsai.

And today, with the warmth, I discovered new leaves sprouting from the dead branches, and before I knew it, the first spring wind had arrived.

At this rate, I'm worried about how hot this summer will be.

February 22 (Sunday) Sunny

I predicted another pleasant day like yesterday, and it turned out to be just as pleasant.

I should have pushed through my fatigue and waxed my skis yesterday, but I was confident in today's fine weather.


Recently, the sun has been shining more and more, and there's been no cold wind, making it ideal for waxing skis.

Although it's been a bit cloudy, the warmer temperatures mean it's not a problem at all.


Many of my friends are skiers who have stopped using the iron to work the wax into their skis.

Perhaps this is due to the changing times, which has led to easier and quicker waxing. Sales of pre-applied wax are also booming.


I'm thinking of switching to something similar, but this Hotto wax isn't particularly cheap. I'll stick with it until I use it all up.

Looking at it, it took quite a bit of time to tune up my slalom skis, giant slalom skis, free cross-country skiing, and classic cross-country skiing.



Saturday, February 21st, Sunny

I didn't sleep as well as I'd hoped in the airport lobby. I was drowsy, wanting to get home quickly and sleep in a warm bed.

I went to bed just after 7:00 last night and slept incredibly well. I woke up once to go to the bathroom, but I managed to get 12 hours of sleep.


As I was preparing a late breakfast, the morning sun shone into the living room, giving me a pleasant feeling of spring.

If the flight hadn't been canceled, I would have gone to the ski resort for a club training camp as planned, but I'm glad I took the day off.


Thanks to that, I'm going to pretend I didn't have any plans for today and just relax all day.

I went to the Yamato Transport center to ask if my skis had arrived, and they were already there. Apparently, the parcel delivery service arrived before me.


After shopping, lunch, and watching a historical drama, the sun still seemed warm.

I put on my spring training clothes and went for a walk. It felt great.

And the plum trees scattered throughout the area were in full bloom.

February 20 (Friday) - A Calm Day

I spent the night at New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's largest airport.

Actually, that night, there was a bit of a commotion between passengers and airport staff.


New Chitose Airport, Hokkaido's flagship airport, has experienced frequent flight cancellations due to weather conditions.

This airport serves many regional airports in Japan, making it quite busy.


Flight cancellations due to storms are often necessary here. However, this airport is inherently prepared for such unforeseen circumstances, yet has no plan for dealing with them!

In extreme cases, passengers who are forced to spend the night in lobbies or other areas have even been reported on the news. This is a normal practice at airports in any country.


Airports generally shut down after the last flight, so passengers with nowhere to go due to canceled flights are asked to leave...

No joke, the airport staff and about 50 foreign passengers, including myself, who were unaware of the situation, asked me, who speaks Japanese, to negotiate.

"Staff, have you been treating passengers with such a ridiculous attitude every time something like this happens?! Delays and cancellations happen at every airport in the world, but in those cases, passengers come first!!"

The employee also understood this well, saying, "As you said, passengers should directly appeal to our higher-ups..."

For now, please take responsibility for finding a place to sleep for me and the other 50 passengers. It seems there are still some ridiculous airports like this in Japan.

February 19th (Thursday) Blizzard

We checked out early, expecting bad weather, and sure enough, it was a fierce blizzard.


At this rate, our flight reservation was in jeopardy.

Even the express train to the airport was 30 minutes late and packed to capacity.


Unfortunately, it was cancelled.

We decided to vent our frustrations in the airport lobby.






Wednesday, February 18th: Cloudy with Snow

No matter where I head from the hotel, I pass in front of the Sapporo Clock Tower. However, there's always Chinese being spoken, making it difficult to take photos in peace.

Today, I was able to take a photo with the clock tower for the first time.


Today's weather forecast is cloudy with snow... but it should be fine in the morning. The outer course I skied on yesterday at Classical Ski Resort was already rock hard, so I didn't feel very good, so I looked around the park.

I built a course by myself in a vacant lot where a large circuit could be made.


Although we took breaks along the way, we were able to create a wonderful course in about two hours.

Those coming here from tomorrow onwards, please feel free to use this course and enjoy it.


Now, for the evening session... well, I prefer to go to bed early. I guess the atmosphere is limited to this area.

The shops in Susukino open at 6pm, and older guys don't like to hang out that late.

It started snowing heavily, so I said goodbye to Susukino.





Tuesday, February 17th, Sunny

I woke up this morning wondering if yesterday's snowfall was still continuing. Oh no! It was a clear, blue sky and a beautiful sunny day.

It seemed like the city of Sapporo had put on a light coat of paint to welcome me yesterday, as the winter scenery was truly beautiful.


The famous Sapporo Clock Tower, located right behind the hotel, shone beautifully in the morning sun.

After this, I walked three subway stops to Nakajima Park.


Once you pass Susukino, the snow on the sidewalks remains, creating a truly picturesque snowy townscape.

Today, I enjoyed a leisurely stroll through the park on classic skis.


On the way back, I took the Namboku Subway Line from Nakajima Koen Station to Odori, two stops away.

Tonight, I'm having a drink at Hanamaru Sushi Restaurant.

Tachipon...? A new ingredient, and it's delicious! .

Monday, February 16th, Sunny

I went to bed early last night, so I think I got a good nine hours of sleep.

I didn't set an alarm, hoping to wake up slowly. I woke up at 7:00.


Boarding passes these days are completely unrefined. The back of my meal delivery slip is blank, so all I have to do is print out the boarding form and scan the QR code.

I thought I wouldn't need this form anymore, but it seems I still need the QR code, as I was asked for it when boarding.


Today's flight was at 12:30, so even though I took my time heading to Haneda, it was still two hours early.

After enjoying the airport observation spot on the 6th floor rooftop and having lunch, we boarded the large jet.


New Chitose Airport was sunny, which was great... but as we boarded the train to Sapporo, the weather turned to snow, and the city was completely covered in snow.

The view of the intersection in the city... it reminded me of the crosswalks at ski resorts in the Kanto region.

First, we stopped off at a nearby izakaya to say hello to our arrival in Hokkaido.

Sunday, February 15th, Sunny

Continuing from yesterday, we were blessed with good weather for pole practice.

Practicing slalom with poles, which is something we don't usually do as practice, was really fun.


Some of our club members had participated in the All Japan Class B Championships, so this was pole practice for the so-called "leftovers," so we decided to take this opportunity to try slalom.

Some of our friends from our friendly club said they would love to join us if we were doing slalom, so we had a very enthusiastic practice session.


And thanks to the good weather, the ski resort was packed with more visitors than usual, making it a very lively event.

I was hoping for an efficient practice, but as a result, I had to wait for the lifts, which made it a bit silly, but for me, it was a good break...

And so, the fun practice ended before I knew it.

I have plans to go to Sapporo tomorrow, so I returned home early to pack for Hokkaido, and my busy day came to an end.

Saturday, February 14th, Sunny

It felt like it had been a while since I had the chance to practice poles on a spacious practice barn.

And most importantly, the view was great... the barn was bathed in plenty of sunlight, which was fantastic.


This barn was also a great environment, with ample space to set up intervals.

There was no sense of rushing during individual practice.


For me, it was the best practice environment of the year.







February 13th (Friday) Sunny

Leaving my house under cloudy skies with no sign of sunshine, I arrived at Kazo, on the edge of Saitama, and found a clear blue sky.

While listening to the radio, the announcer lamented that the clouds above the Shibuya studio never cleared.


So, I set off for the ski resort today in high spirits. I made sure to check the house and lock all the doors.

Since I'm planning to return home on Sunday and head to Hokkaido on Monday, I stopped by the Kuroneko Yamato center to have the skis I'll be using shipped to my hotel.


In the spring-like sunshine, my work today required travel, so for the first time in a while I took the Jobu National Highway, taking the southern route around Mount Akagi to Katashina.

It's fun to change up your route every once in a while for a change of pace.







February 12th (Thursday) Cloudy, then sunny

Happily, the morning temperature has risen by one point each week this week.

However, a lingering front off the south coast delayed the weather recovery today.


Since there was no sunshine this morning, I spent the day heating with the air conditioner on.

Since I didn't have any work outside, I spent the day drinking coffee and reading a book... a relaxing day.


Even after noon, the sun still shone occasionally, but the clouds didn't clear up.

After lunch, I watched Papillon on NHK's BS Western Movie Theater.

Steve McQueen, Dustin Hoffman... it was a great movie.

It was already 3:30, but when I went out for a walk, the sky was brightening from the north.

It was a bit disappointing, but I missed the daytime sunshine.

Wednesday, February 11th: Rain, then Cloudy

The morning temperature dropped a little, but it felt much more bearable.

Today is a national holiday, but some of my radio buddies are on the regular shift, so I'm on air with them.


As expected, since it's a national holiday, morning traffic seems quite different than usual.

Places that are usually congested seem to be flowing smoothly today. And even though it's only just after 7:00, it seems like it's already raining in Tokyo.

There are still a lot of clouds around my house in Kawaguchi, but there's no sign of rain. The forecast predicted it would rain around 10:00...and that turned out to be true.


After cleaning up after dinner, I stopped watching the morning drama, but then I saw "Hospital Radio" hosted by Sandwichman.

It was recorded at Saitama Cancer Center, where I was hospitalized until last year and still go there five years later, working toward a full recovery, so I listened with nostalgia.

All three patients who appeared were very positive.

So it was comforting to watch. However, in reality, there are many patients who say that despite doctors doing their best, they are in despair.

Cancer can affect anyone these days, and as long as it is detected and treated early, there is nothing to fear. The scariest thing is when patients themselves run away, saying they are "afraid to know."

Tuesday, February 10th, Sunny

The morning temperature had eased a bit, and by the time the sun came out, the temperature had risen enough to herald spring.

The flowers I bought from the florist yesterday to paint were still in bud, not yet big enough to paint.


I left them in the sun, and the buds quickly opened and began to bloom into beautiful flowers.

I wonder if my beloved calendula will grow big enough to be painted by this weekend.


At the Olympics, I watched the Nordic men's and women's classical sprint qualifying rounds, a competition I hadn't really been interested in until now.

Wow, it was so dynamic.

I've been doing alpine skiing for a long time, but I feel like the Olympic athletes' skiing is on a whole other level.



February 9th (Monday) Sunny

I got home late last night, so I ate dinner, finished various chores, and went to bed late.

I turned off my alarm and went to sleep, but I didn't wake up once, waking up just as the sun was rising.


In other words, today's activities were two hours behind weekdays, so it was quite a busy day.

I was planning to go to Sapporo next week, so I needed to get some work done in advance.


After finishing all the laundry and doing the necessary shopping... I couldn't look it up online and was in a hurry, so I had to get there on foot.

I went to two specialty stores in a large shopping mall, and although this may be against the rules, I asked the store clerk, "If you know of any specialty stores in the area, could you tell me about them?"

The store told me, and when I went there, I was so grateful to find that the variety and quantity of products was far greater than those at large shopping centers.

By noon, the sun was shining brightly, and by evening, the heavy snow had melted.

February 8th (Sunday) Snow

I was hoping for a clear day today, given the cloudy skies yesterday, but it seems a little snow fell overnight, and the slopes were covered in 10cm of fresh snow.

I was hoping for clear skis, but snow fell during the afternoon pole practice, and the low temperature made for a tough session.


GS practice was on the relatively gentle Erro-bahn, but the temperature was low and visibility was occasionally poor.

I didn't change my set, but I carefully de-la-paged the run to make the run wide and safe, and I think it turned out to be a good practice.


I returned home late in the evening, and it seemed that Kawaguchi had also snowed, as the whole area was covered in snow.

I think the snowfall at my house was about 10cm.

This time it snowed on the mountain, and even when I got home, it was haunted by snow. I'm sick of it.



Saturday, February 7th, Cloudy

This is the first pole practice day of the season for my ski club.

Unfortunately, the weather forecast predicted a cold wave, with numb hands and feet.


As for the snowpack, at this time of year, the snow was like a potato, made up of chunks of snow from stomping on the piste in the morning.

I decided to restrain myself and only ski two runs this time.


Everyone was captivated by the giant icicles that Marunuma is famous for, appearing from the restaurant window.

I'm hoping that the forecast of heavy snow tonight will be wrong.



February 6th (Friday) Sunny

On the road from Oigami Onsen to the former Hotaka Ranch Ski Resort... I'm probably the only one heading there.

This year's All Japan Masters Ski Championships Cross Country venue was indeed deserted.


I did some warm-up exercises and started off with the idea that today's free skating would be the best.

Up until now, I've been self-taught, both in this free skating and in the classical skating I did at the Kurohime competition! That sounds good, but these days, you can find all the necessary technical knowledge online.


The only thing left to do is to internalize the knowledge I've acquired. Having come this far, I have no choice but to push myself as far as I can.

However, some members of the LINEgroop XC-Ski Study Group I started this season have been training me from the basics since my student days. I'd like to somehow get some of their help before the next one.

My goal this time was to conquer the three slopes, and although I'd conquered two, I wanted to conquer the steepest one yet...

I started from the bottom, gradually increasing my altitude, and finally managed to ski from the very top.

February 5th (Thursday) Sunny

It looks like we'll be hit with another cold snap this weekend.

This week, I'm heading to Marunuma Kogen, my home slope, for a club pole practice camp on both Saturday and Sunday.


I'm leaving a day early, relaxing at Oigami Onsen today, and planning to go cross-country skiing at Hotaka Ranch Ski Resort tomorrow.

The north side road I always take on Akagi is usually icy and shiny at this time of year, but there's no snow now and the sunlight is soft, making me feel like spring is here.


Then, when we arrived at Sonohara Dam downstream of the Katashina River, the water level was also significantly lower, but the lake surface was completely frozen, making us worry about how cold it would be at night.

We arrived at our lodging at Oigami Onsen just after 3:00 p.m., soaked in the wonderful hot springs, and went to bed early again.





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

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 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





〜 ... 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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