2018.04.25
スーザンの印象
佐藤賢太郎

 ホームページを担当してくれる御沓さんから、「今度は文章が単独ですね？」と電話がありました。「二人（Ｎさんとスーザン）の応対に忙しくて、書く暇がなくて単独になりました」と私は答えました。

 スーザンから最後のレポートが届きました。英語の文章ですが努力して読んでください。彼女は日本語ができません、しかしスマートフォンで日本語に変換し、笑いながら会話する時もあります。それを楽しみました。

 彼女はオーガニックの食事がとてもおいしかったと、絶賛しています。その料理を家内に学びたかったと書いています。

豊実の春は桜が咲き、この世とは思われぬほど風景が美しかったこと。そして私がタフであり、彫刻や里山アート展の作品を制作する姿に共感し、感動し、楽しんでいました。たった１週間ではなく、彼女はもっと滞在したかったといったほどです。

私は楽しみながらも、その時に応じ、先を見越して、努力をしたと思います。初対面の外国人を楽しませることなど、この過疎地ではそうざらにはないでしょう。

 さらに私の英文を直し、短くしてくれました。その文章を掲載します。

My plan  for  2019

I will have  an international  exchange  at  Toyomi  Village in  July 2019,  for either  one week  or  two  weeks.

Exchange programme:

Activities will include art , farming, cooking, clearing the forest and learning other cultures from each other.

I am accepting wwoofers now for this programme.

If you would like to participate please e-mail

   kentaro 1234554321@yahoo.co.jp

kentaro sato

スーザンの言葉

KentaroThis was my first wwoofing experience, and I am so glad it began with Kentaro San and his wife Makiko San. The village of Toyomi is tiny, and I arrived as the cherry blossoms were still in full bloom. Being a lover of nature, I felt I had died and come to heaven. It is such a beautiful, serene place, and one could feel it pulsating with new life.
I am a woman, 62 years of age, and for me, I was not discriminated against because of this. Kentaro does not expect you to do anything, he doesn’t do himself.
Every day the fire had to be lit for the bath, which is a natural onsen Kentaro has built himself, and is fed with the mountain water. It is amazing after a hard days work.
I chopped wood, carried logs, lit the fire every day and helped keep it going.
I helped in the fields planting, hoeing, weeding, mulching.
Preparing fields for future rice planting, Raking and burning. I helped with general maintenance around the studio and house.

Every day was different. Even though hard physical work, it was lots of fun.
I also got to pound mochi and help with an art installation.
Kentaro appreciates initiative, and will often leave you alone to complete your chores.
It has been an unforgettable experience and I am forever grateful to Kentaro for accepting me.
A final reflection as I walk up to the bath house this evening, with my new friend, Chiro the wonder dog. It is that soft and glowy time of the day that I truly love. The air is warm and it seems that every tree now is bursting with renewed life. I am sad I won't get to see the finale. It is stunningly beautiful and fills one with with such a sense of peace and harmony with nature. I look out over the freshly dug fields and feel a sense of pride that I contributed in some small way to the next crop of potatoes and rice.
I turn on the taps to fill the baths, and open the doors wide and gaze out over tree tops to the mountains. The sun is slowly disappearing behind the mountains bathing everything in its glow. Ah... feel the serenity!
Kentaro, is one of the hardest working men I have ever met. He never stops. I have so much respect for his creativity, passion, and vision, and feel quite privileged to have caught a tiny glimpse of his life and the dream he is living. At 7O years old he has more drive and energy than someone half his age. He is a creative genius, which is reflected in his many sculptures in his studio, home , in the rice fields and in many parts of his village.
His wife Makiko is the most warm hearted, kind and generous woman. She loves her sake and beer, has the most wonderful sense of humour, and is hilarious. She is the most amazing cook and every meal was a work of art. She treated us a special guests in her restaurant every day. Her love of cooking and sharing that love made this foodies soul sing. My only regret is that I did not get to spend any time in the kitchen with her to learn.
Hoziku, Kentaro's young student apprentice is also an extraordinary young woman. She never complains, no matter how hard the task is that is set for her, and has a beautiful happy nature. I loved working beside her. These people really know and understand true happiness I feel. It exudes from them. They welcome people from all over the world. I would surely encourage anyone to spend some time with them.
I wish I knew more Japanese, as it was frustrating for me not to be able to join in the conversation, however, laughter is the shortest distance between any culture and speaks the same language. We certainly had many times with much laughter.
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