Matsumoto, Inaka kaerimashita

2/12/7
monkeys, sansai, koshi mado, Narai, delicious water, Suve a place to wash horses, Hirasawa laquerware, Kobayashi Taketo- a nice little kid/ international embassador at the soba shop eating the ice, Jomon Kamisama, wasabi farm, a warm room, a beaming grandmother, A blindgrandfather, lets not forget Taka, rumi, and the most relaxed parents around, who happen to be in charge of the community meeting hall right now, so much food, so much generosity,
They cooked me the most succulent salmon, possibly ever, and spinach fresh with fish flakes, and daikon, and gyoza, and hot miso shiro- I remember the ogisan had asked if I liked miso shiro, like the Japanese version of my own grandfather, he then went on about history. I was on the bus leaving Matsumoto, writing this down, not looking up, when Taka, my friend from Nagano Daigaku hands me a bottle of tea. He had run onto the bus at the last minute, just to be extra generous. That pretty much typifies my stay. Then he ran off, its funny it is so nice.
2 weeks in Nagano is like a year any where else and 3 days, well thats like a long time in terms of humanity and generosity demonstrated.
As we drove to the station the yama (mountains) were pink, the new snow glowed. Such a beautiful place. Taka had explained that this region's mochi is so simple (just a bun with vegetables) because in the mountains they often did not have enough food. Maybe that is why they are so giving.
We, all the passengers of the bus, all have the same look on our faces, going back to Osaka. A look of contentment. We have been well cared for.
The mountain environment is very beautiful: delicate trees, stones, a natural garden. The people here have taken that like beautiful wood, its grain and warp intact, and built a strong and delicate bridge over the rapid and fresh mountain river.
Kazu, in Kyoto, said that is very hard to speak really good Japanese, be both very polite and very welcoming and warm. They do that here I think.
The dialect of this region has basically become the standard for the whole nation, and Naganoken is a very high standard to meet. Matsumoto lies in a valley and perhaps teh people here aspire for the sky and the moon... after coming here, I do to.

karakuni, shortened to "rakuni." Maybe it is just a Nagano word, but it is what you need to be when you are "very very tired."