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Hello, Good evening and good morning.
My nickname is “Kazu-chan”, the young master of a hot spring hotel in Iizaka Onsen (hot spring), Fukushima.

As someone mentioned before, we planted sake rice which is called “Gohyakuman-goku” on a rice paddy with some foreigners and local children on May 20th.
We could carry it out smoothly with a bunch of help from well-skilled local farmers. 
The rice plants have been growing so healthily and rapidly since we planted. 
In addition to that, the rice started to flower.
So, in order to protect our important rice from birds, we installed some scarecrows and other bird deterrents on the rice paddy with the foreigners and children on August 5th. 
When we made those bird deterrents, we hanged CDs from ropes and bamboo sticks. Allegedly, birds are discouraged by the reflection from the glittering CDs. In upcoming fall, we are going to harvest the rice. I can’t wait. I guess everyone in my area is excited like me.

In the afternoon, after we set up the bird deterrents, our shamisen band “Dabeshitas” performed “Iizaka-kouta” (A folk song which was made in the beginning of the Showa-era (about 80-90 years ago)) in front of the foreign participants. Then we requested them to play the shamisen as a trial. I was so surprised by them because a male person could handle it well (maybe he can play the guitar basically), and a female person played a Japanese traditional song, “ Sakura- Sakura (Cherry blossom)”.
In the end of our concert, we taught them how to dance “Iizaka-Nagashi-Odori (a kind of folk dance in Iizaka Onsen) and asked them to dance it to the shamisen in a circle.
I really hope that all of them will be able to attend the rice harvesting event in upcoming fall. I would like to contribute to the brand new Japanese sake of Iizaka brand and I really hope the foreigners to work together for it.
Of course I hope them to attend “Iizaka-Koutanagashi-odori (a folk dance event in Iizaka Onsen)” , which will be held on August 18th.

Kazunari Wada
(The young master of the “ Horieya-ryokan” hotel)

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こんにちは、こんばんは、おはようございます、
旅館の若旦那カズちゃんです。
5月20日に、飯坂町東湯野地区の農家さんの協力をいただき、酒造好適米五百万石を外国人、地元の子供達や地域の皆さんと田植えを行いましたが、その稲もわずか2ヶ月でスクスク、いやグングン育ちました。そこで7月21日には、鳥たちに折角育った稲が食べられない様に、CDを紐に吊るして、鳥避けのカカシ作りを、外国人の方々、地元の子供達と一緒に行いました。
CDを吊るすと、光の反射で鳥が嫌がるそうです。(多分)
秋には稲刈りもありますので、今から楽しみですね。
その日の夕方、飯坂温泉内にある旧堀切邸にて、一緒にカカシ作りした外国人の方々に、旅館の若旦那三味線ユニット飯坂だべした〜ずによる、飯坂に昭和初期頃から伝わる、飯坂小唄を弾き唄い、三味線を実際に体験してもらいました。
ギターをやってるのか、指使いが上手い男性に、三味線弾いた事がある女性もいて、さくらさくらを披露してました。
最後に、8月18日に飯坂温泉で行われる、飯坂小唄流し踊りファイヤー祭の踊り方も教えて、みんなで輪になって三味線の音色に合わせて踊りました。
秋の稲刈りも是非、外国人の方々に参加して頂き、一緒に美味しい飯坂産の日本酒を造りたいと思います。
そして8月18日に行われる飯坂小唄流し踊りにも是非是非、外国人の方々に参加して欲しいです

和田 一成
(ほりえや旅館若旦那)

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