Kenko no Mori

Information: Meeting in June 2009

http://homepage2.nifty.com/611028/
Please check the place !
Date:June the 19th(Friday) Time:9.30am~14pm starting from Aeon Shopping Mall Goshono, Mr Dounuts entrance.

What we need:lunch(rice balls or bread)/ drinks / dish / coffee cup/ soup cup/chopsticks or knife and fork

*Please come to the Aeon Mall Goshono, Mr Dounuts, meeting place at 9.30 a.m. There we shall orgainize transport with cars and go altogether. Nobody getting lost. If need be cars can be parked and left there.

*You had better wear long sleeves and rain boots aginst insects, bugs or snakes.

Remember WE ARE MEETING EVEN IF IT IS RAINING.

*We will join the activity of Akita Kodomo no Mori http://yaplog.jp/kodomonomori/, by about 10 a.m. We will walk together(with small children and babies) and have a barbecue party at Mr.Seitaro Sato's garden!

*Please bring 300yen for the barbecue cost.

*Stuffs of Kodomo no Mori will cook us pizza ,bread,coffee. We will cook chicken soup for us all. If any member wishes to cook something else on the BBQ please bring it. Just bring enough for 2 or 3 only to share. Please keep in your mind that we don't have to bring a lot of rice balls or bread.

*If there is someone who can please small children with magics, singing songs, picture reading or so on, please show us your entertainment! Stuffs of Kodomo no Mori show us "Ohanashi-Kumiki-story telling with wooden dolls"

JIZAIYA a wonderful experience, visiting

Wednesday May 20 2009 　Report by J. I.

Through the introduction of Ms S.S.the IWA in Akita (for its 3rd meeting) was introduced to a wonderful experience, visiting JIZAIYA http://homepage3.nifty.com/jizaiya/


The weather was perfect and our 6 members set off in 2 cars from Ms I’s house by 9.45 a.m. After a short drive of about 35 minutes on Route 13 and 46 we arrived at Jizaiya and were welcomed there by Mr & Mrs Kawai.

Jizaiya is a large, old, Japanese traditional farmhouse, which has been in the family of Mr Kawai for 50/60 years. It has a great feeling of space and charm. It’s set in rural surroundings with nature everywhere to be seen and the birds singing beautifully.

Food prepared is almost all organic and everything is very organized and very clean and the day’s programme well arranged.

After familiarizing ourselves with the house we all set off, with Mr Kawai in front, on our country walk away from the hectic life we all lead.

Mr Kawai showed us so many interesting facts about the plants and shrubs and how to pick them and how they are used. The mountain vegetables we picked we brought back to the house and Mrs Kawai cooked Tempura…needless to say they were delicious.

Whilst at Jizaiya we had a lot of friendly conversation, mainly English and Mr Kawai demonstrated how we would make KIRITAMPO and Salmon Rice Balls(DAMAKO). They had already made a wonderful vegetable stew/soup, which had been cooked over the traditional charcoal, open fire(the origin of the name Jizaiya comes from Jizai-kagi at the open fire). There we toasted the Kiritampo. Then with the cool breeze drifting through the house we sat on tattami and had a real banquet with many dishes Mrs Kawai had prepared whilst we were out walking.

For me, still a visitor to Akita from the big smoke of Kamakura, this was a fantastic day, travelling back in time with a most relaxing, cordial, rewarding and fulfilling atmosphere.

Each member paid 2,000Yen for this wonderful gourmet experience! Plus we brought home loads of food to share with our family members. Value for money!!!

I think the IWA should visit Jizaiya at least once a year.

Jizaiya is generally closed from the beginning of November until May. Bookings for the other times should be made in advance, as it is very popular.