Excective Director Mr. Junichi Suzuki and Ms. Wakako Suzuki
took me to the restaurant Tamaki on the night of my arrival to Yamagata prefecture.
And what surprised me, is that there was a British flag welcoming me at the entrance!
Such a sweet hospitality.
「銀嶺月山」の醸造元、山形の月山酒造さん訪問にやってきました。
山形に着いた日の夜、鈴木潤一専務と鈴木和香子取締役に
料亭玉貴さんへ連れて行って頂きました。
なんと入口には、ロンドンから訪問した私のために英国旗！
思いがけないもてなしに、感激。
Another surprise!
The hundreds of Hina dolls for Hinamatsuri, Doll / Girl Festival in March 3rd.
Yamagata has been in close contact with Kyoto culture for long time
since lots of products were transported to Kyoto through Mogami River in Yamagata.
One of those cultures exchanged was Hina dolls, and there were so many Hina dolls
from different periods in the restaurant welcoming me.
そして次のサプライズは館内に溢れる雛人形！
山形は金沢のように、最上川流通にて栄えた京都との文化交流の深い場所でした。
そのひとつに多くの旧家に残る時代雛があり、
各年代を代表する数百もの古い雛人形が私を迎えてくれました。
Hina Dolls, which has been loved throughout the ages.
My mother, has been always decorating our house in Japan
with beautiful Hina dolls in every March.
From mother to daughter, daughter to grand-daughter.
Mothers' love has always been passing down.
If I get a daughter in the future, I will celebrate her every March with Hina dalls
like my mother did to me.
時代を超えて愛でられてきた雛人形。
私の実家にもとても立派な雛人形があって、ひとり娘の私のために
母親が毎年雛人形を飾ってくれました。
沢山の母親の愛が、母から子へ、子から孫へ受け継がれる
素晴らしい日本の文化。私もいつか娘ができたら
必ず雛祭りのお祝いしてあげたいと思います。
The special Tamaki sake made by Gassan Brewery.
玉貴さんプライベート日本酒は、もちろん月山酒造さんのもの。
雛祭りの定番メニュー、潮汁。
唯一無二の自分の貝殻の相手を想い頂くお椀。
Ushiojiru, a salt-based soup with clams in the shell is popular dish for Hinamatsuri.
Clam shells is the symbol of a united and peaceful couple,
because a pair of clam shells fits perfectly, and no pair but the original pair can do so.
The dining table was also full of Hina festive charms.
I am full of happiness.
No girl can hate the Hinamatsuri.
食卓もお雛様でいっぱい。幸せでいっぱい。
お雛様が嫌いな女の子なんて、いないでしょう。
So much of the sceneries around Gassan brewery was about Mt. Gassan.
I had learn for the first time that mountains laugh in the spring time,
moisten in summer time, get dressed in autumn and sleep deeply in winter.
Abundant source of natural ingredients and culture had developed
as if they replied back to the this beautiful mountain.
The sake of Gassan Brewery, is Mt. Gassan itself,
That was the conclusion I reached, at the end of my visit to this region.
月山の山無しには語れない、月山酒造さんを作る土地文化。
春は笑い、夏は滴り、秋は粧い、冬は眠る月山の山。
それに応えるように育った多くの自然や天然食材、地元の方々の気質は
山形の大切な誇りです。
月山酒造さんのお酒は、凛と佇み土地を守る月山そのものなのかもしれない。
そう感じられた訪問でした。
