August 1, 2024
Today was a day of reflection on peace. I
attended the second part of the “Summer Talks Traveling to World Peace” held
this afternoon at Hinoharu Gakusha (the former Hinoharu Elementary School) and
listened to a lecture by photographer Ms. Ayumi Takagi. Ms. Takagi traveled
with her daughter through the Middle East and Europe for 110 days, interviewing
many refugees in the pursuit of world peace. Through her lecture, I was glad to
hear directly from Ms. Takagi about the importance of discarding prejudice and
how she has personally met with refugees and others to achieve this
understanding.
August 2, 2024
This morning, I picked another handful of
mini-tomatoes. I'm grateful that I've been able to harvest a similar amount of
mini-tomatoes every day recently. I also smiled as I watched bees dive into the
pumpkin flowers, thinking, "Thank you, bees, for pollinating the
pumpkins." Additionally, I noticed that a cicada had been clinging to a
tomato stem since yesterday. During my post-lunch walk around the office, I
also realized that many of the Fusiguro Senno (Lychnis miqueliana) flowers I
discovered the other day had bloomed without me noticing.
August 3, 2024
This morning, I made ratatouille with
summer vegetables. This is the third time I've made this dish. This time, I
added mini tomatoes from our garden to those from Hokuto City, and the taste
finally seemed just right. It was delicious with plenty of tomatoes. I used
green peppers instead of bell peppers this time. Since there were no eggplants
in the refrigerator, I went to the garden, picked a small eggplant, and added
it to the dish. The meal was made with local produce and seasonal ingredients.
August 4, 2024
I had a day off today, so this morning, I
made a summer vegetable curry with plenty of ingredients. In addition to the
summer vegetables I used in the ratatouille, I added potatoes, carrots, onions,
and other standard ingredients. I stir-fried the vegetables in three batches to
ensure the flavors were well-developed. Once the vegetables were fully cooked,
I added water and, finally, the vegetable-based curry roux. I also made cabbage
coleslaw and cabbage miso soup. I had these for dinner, and everything was
delicious.
August 5, 2024
This morning, I made miso soup with iriko
(dried sardines) for the first time in a while. I added eggplant, okra, mini
tomatoes, enoki mushrooms, and daikon radish. The umami flavor of each
ingredient came through, making the soup delicious. Additionally, the curry I
made yesterday didn’t have enough curry powder for the amount of ingredients,
so my wife, who was off today, added more curry powder and water, making it
taste just right. She also made dumplings and other dishes, all of which were
delicious. I'm grateful to be able to enjoy a meal as soon as I get home.
August 6, 2024
Today is the anniversary of the atomic
bombing. My late father was born in Hiroshima City and lost his parents,
brother, and two-year-old sister to the bomb while he and his two younger
sisters were evacuated during the war. On August 6, I always think of my
grandparents, aunts, and uncles and pray for peace. This evening, I made
stir-fried eggs and tomatoes for dinner. It turned out quite tasty. This
afternoon, while I was in a meeting at the office, I noticed the rain getting
heavier, and then lightning struck. It was the first time in a long while that
I saw a flash and immediately heard the sound of thunder. It cooled down after
that.
August 7, 2024
Lately, I've noticed a lot of flowers,
which I believe to be evening primrose (Oenothera), blooming around my office
and home. Initially, I was curious about the lemon-colored flowers, and when I
looked up the name, I found it listed as Oenothera glazioviana (Large-flowered
evening primrose), but after further searches, I realized it was actually
Oenothera biennis (Common evening primrose). When Osamu Dazai stayed in
Fujikawaguchiko Town, he wrote, “Fuji is well suited to evening primrose,” but
in fact, the flower he referred to was not the evening primrose but the
large-flowered evening primrose. Nowadays, it is said that the common evening
primrose is more widespread.
August 8, 2024
Today was a day off, and five members of
the staff dormitory gathered on the road under the Central Line overpass to
weed and cut grass for about 15 minutes starting at 6:00 a.m. The fifteen
minutes passed quickly. Then I went home and harvested potatoes in my vegetable
garden. The potatoes turned out better than I expected. Later, I went shopping
and bought a long-handled sickle at a hardware store. When I got home, I tried
out my new sickle by mowing the grass. This sickle is great because you can mow
while standing up without bending your knees.
August 9, 2024
Today, after returning home, I used the
long-handled sickle I bought yesterday to find and re-mow the grass I missed
during yesterday's mowing. As I swung the long-handled sickle, I considered its
advantages compared to a mower: (1) It is light. (2) Maintenance is as simple
as sharpening the blade. (3) No vibration. (4) It builds physical strength. (5)
Reasonably priced. (6) Ready to use immediately. (7) Requires no gasoline or
electricity. (8) Produces no exhaust fumes. With all these benefits, I plan to
start mowing the lawn gradually from tomorrow.
August 10, 2024
This morning, I mowed the grass for fifteen
minutes before work. I didn’t think I could cut much grass in just fifteen
minutes, but once I started, I was able to focus and get a lot done. While I
was working, a colleague passed by and took a picture of me cutting the grass.
When I looked at the picture, I noticed that the way I swung the sickle
resembled a golf swing. I’d like to add two more advantages to using the
standing sickle: (9) It’s quiet, so it doesn’t disturb the neighbors. (10) The
work feels like a sport, which is very satisfying.
August 11, 2024
Today was my day off, so I eagerly started mowing the grass in the morning.
During the first fifteen minutes, I mowed the grass that had grown over the
fence and onto the sidewalk. Then, I went to the other side of the fence and
experimented with various swings. I realized that swinging without applying too
much force was the most effective. Especially with softer grass, the standing
sickle didn’t cut quickly, so in those cases, I used a regular sickle. Before I
knew it, I had been mowing for about an hour and a half. After returning home,
I had the watermelon and peaches I bought the other day for breakfast, and they
were exceptionally delicious.
August 12, 2024
Today was another day off, and I was able to continue and finish mowing at the
same location as yesterday. While mowing, I thought this could be considered a
great sport. If mowing became an official event at the Olympics, the world’s
wastelands might get cleaned up. I also thought it would be interesting to have
different divisions in the competition, such as one for sickles and another for
mowers. Speaking of which, I remembered there’s a competition where
professional lumberjacks cut down large trees using axes, saws, chainsaws, and
so on.
August 13, 2024
This morning, I mowed the grass for about
30 minutes before work. I was mowing the
grass around the substation near my house. While mowing the grass, I left one
of the many flowers of the common evening primrose and lily of the valley.
Although it would be good to cut all the grass neatly and cleanly, I thought it
would be better to leave some flowers in their prime and enjoy them. I also
thought that the gardener must have looked at the plants and trees in the
garden and used his wisdom to decide which to mow and which to leave.
August 14, 2024
This morning, I mowed the grass again
before breakfast. Fortunately, since it rained last night, I was able to work
in cooler weather. Mowing early in the morning makes the whole day feel more
fulfilling. I’m already looking forward to deciding where to mow tomorrow.
Afterward, my wife and I went to a vegan
restaurant run by a peach farmer in Fuefuki City, where we enjoyed a
summer-only peach-themed lunch. The fried peaches were especially delicious. We
also bought some nectarines at the farm’s direct-sale shop and had them for
dinner. They were delicious.
August 15, 2024
Yesterday, as my wife and I were eating
watermelon from Hakushu’s farm, "Suika Baka," during dinner, we said
that this would be the last watermelon of the summer. Just then, a truck driver
delivered another watermelon from someone, and we were surprised by the perfect
timing of the delivery.
Today, besides mowing the grass before
breakfast, my wife and I volunteered at Food Bank Yamanashi. I worked with five
high school student volunteers, helping to pack boxes, assemble cardboard
boxes, and so on.
August 16, 2024
It was raining this morning, so I decided against mowing the grass and did some
stretching instead. After breakfast, I made egg rolls and miso soup with radish
and tofu for my bento. Actually, I had slightly strained my back yesterday
while mowing the grass in an awkward position, so the rain was a good excuse to
rest. In the past, I used to push myself to go out even in the rain, but two
years ago, I slipped on my bicycle in the rain and cracked a finger. Since
then, I've been trying to work in the field in fine weather and stay at home
reading when it’s wet, without forcing myself to go out in bad weather.
August 17, 2024
This morning, after the Shinsokan meditation and reading of the Songs of
Praise, I did Jiriki Seitai stretching exercises. After that, I mowed the grass
for fifteen minutes. After breakfast, I cooked two dishes: miso soup with
radish, green pepper, and tofu, and a stir-fry with radish, green bell pepper,
onion, shimeji mushrooms, and thick-fried tofu. After returning home, I
reheated the two dishes I made this morning. After dinner, I read a magazine
article and watched a video about mowing with a large scythe. I learned that
it’s better to rotate or slide the scythe using the waist rather than swinging
it with just the arms.
August 18, 2024
This morning, after Jiriki Seitai stretching, I sharpened two sickles, one
large and one small. The sharpening improved their cutting edge. I mowed the
grass for about fifteen minutes and then harvested mini tomatoes. It had been a
while since we last harvested mini tomatoes, so we were able to pick a small
bowl full of them. In the afternoon, I watched the livestream of the
"Memorial Service for the Victims of Natural Disasters and Global
Infectious Diseases," which was held at Seicho-No-Ie Uji Detached Temple
at 4:00 p.m. I read the Holy Sutra Song of Angels and Song in Praise
of Nature. Thanks to the livestream, I was also able to see my second
daughter perform as a Miko.
August 19, 2024
I watched the Urabon Memorial Grand
Festival live-streamed this morning from the Uji Detached Temple. I saw my
second daughter perform the Urayasu dance, and I felt relieved that she was
able to dance successfully. Speaking of the Urabon Festival, I recalled a story
I heard from Rev. Toshiyuki Kobayashi, who was then the Chief of the Shizuoka
Missionary Area, when I lived in Hamamatsu. After the festival, he was
approached by Rev. Seicho Taniguchi at Kyoto Station. Rev. Kobayashi mentioned
that the Nozomi train did not stop at Hamamatsu Station, to which Rev. Seicho replied,
"So, you have neither light (Hikari) nor hope (Nozomi), do you?"
August 20, 2024
Since yesterday, my wife and I have been in
Kure City for summer vacation. Today, for the first time in a long while, we
were able to visit the home of my teacher from my days at Kure National College
of Technology. My former teacher was my class advisor in my fourth and fifth
years at the college, and he was a great help to me. Today was my first visit
in about 12 years.
We reminisced about the old days, and
before I knew it, three hours had flown by. It has been 40 years since I
graduated from the college, and I am glad that I can still talk with my former
teacher.
August 21, 2024
Last night, I stopped by my parents' house
in Kure City. My mother, my brother, his wife, and my two nieces gathered for a
chat, and we enjoyed the conversation.
This morning, my mother, wife, and I
visited the grave. After that, we headed into town to do some shopping. For
lunch, we went to a restaurant I had been curious about for some time.
All three of us enjoyed a variety of side
dishes and were quite satisfied. I realized that even in this town where I
lived until I turned 20, there are still many attractive places I don’t know
about. My wife and I came to Kure this time, but I hope to return again with my
wife, children, and grandchildren.
August 22, 2024
During this stay in Kure City, I tried "Gansu" for the first time at
breakfast in the hotel. Gansu is a word from the Hiroshima dialect, and I
remember older people saying "so de gansu" (meaning "so it
is") when I was a child. However, I was surprised to learn that it’s also
the name of a local food.
Gansu is made from fish paste mixed with onions and chili peppers, coated with
breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. I’d like to try it again. "By the way,
'Gansu' in the Hiroshima dialect is a more polite way of saying 'so it
is.'"
August 23, 2024
From yesterday until this afternoon, we traveled from Kure to Uji to visit our
second daughter. Yesterday, my wife, our daughter, and I had meals together and
visited Byodoin Temple and the "Uji Taiga Drama Exhibition." Today,
my wife, our second daughter, and I went our separate ways. I stayed at the
hotel to send work emails and take care of other tasks.
For breakfast, we bought bread from a bakery that opened early in the morning,
and we had chasoba for lunch, making our time in Uji worthwhile. We said goodbye
to my second daughter at Kyoto Station and arrived home before 9:00 p.m.,
relieved to be home.
August 24, 2024
This morning, for the first time in a long while, I looked out at our garden
and saw that many lilies were in full bloom. The sunflowers in the field had
also grown much larger without me noticing.
Looking at the eggplants, I was reminded of a proverb my grandmother told me
when I was a child: "A parent's advice and a blooming eggplant flower are
never wasted." It means that nothing is useless in a parent's advice or in
an eggplant flower. I feel genuinely happy when the flowers of vegetables bear
fruit safely.
August 25, 2024
This morning, for the first time in about a
week, I was able to complete my entire morning routine. After doing the
Shinsokan meditation and reading the Holy Sutra, I practiced Jiriki Seitai (a
self-treatment method aimed at improving and preventing chronic disorders). I
also mowed the grass for fifteen minutes. I decided not to skip Jiriki Seitai
because I had injured my back while mowing the grass for over an hour the other
day. Fortunately, my back pain subsided during my trip, but I feel better when
I stretch. After breakfast, I used the remaining time before leaving for work
to prepare dried tofu with egg sauce. Later, after returning home, I made
German potatoes using homegrown potatoes and seafood sausage.
August 26, 2024
Today, I happened to be reading the Shinpan Shosetsu Shinsokan (New
Edition of Detailed Explanation of Shinsokan Meditation) when someone asked for
my advice. It was more like personal counselling, and I was able to guide her
by recommending specific pages from the book. This afternoon, I also happened
to meet someone from Vancouver who mentioned that she had met me at the
Vancouver Centre. I remembered that as well. I told her there would be an event
at the Vancouver Centre during my business trip to Canada in September, and it
seems she will be able to attend.
August 27, 2024
Today, I started my day with my usual morning routine. Around 7:00 AM, I mowed
the grass for about fifteen minutes. Just as I started eating breakfast, it
began to rain. I was glad the rain came right after I finished mowing. After
breakfast, I made ratatouille for the first time in a while. This time, I added
shimeji and shiitake mushrooms along with the usual eggplant, tomatoes, and
onions. After returning home, I reheated it and enjoyed it. The mushroom
ratatouille turned out quite well. Tomorrow is my day off, and I'm looking
forward to mowing the grass again.
