１１月１８日（月曜日）２０２４（長文の報告です）
　ロネとジージのクラウンライブ「ムーンライト セレナーデ」とクラウン講座が終了しました。ライブは両日とも満席、講座も去年の２倍のお客様。お出でくださった皆様には心から御礼申し上げます。

もっと広くて設備の整った会場ならどれほどいいかと出演者やお客様に申し訳ない気持ちになるのですが、数日前から多賀入りしたクラウンたちは心強い有志の手を借りて丁寧に会場を作ってくれました。主催者としては既にこの時点で熱いものが込み上げていました。

さて、ジージ書き下ろしの新作「ムーンライト セレナーデ」は多賀が初公開。何をやってもうまくいかない男の耳には雨の音がやがて万雷の拍手に聞こえ、そこに現れた月うさぎに誘われて夢の世界へ....。観客は何だろうと思いながら知らず知らずロネとジージの巧みなジャグリングやマジック、コミカルなクラウニング、見事な歌唱、それに何回もの早替えに圧倒されながら面白さに引き込まれて、笑ったり拍手を送ったり。ライブショーの醍醐味を味わいました。ボールや長いクラブのジャグリング、ディアボロといわれる中国ゴマの技を目の前で繰り広げるのですから、前のお客様はハラハラドキドキ、TVや遠くのステージを観ているのとは訳がちがいます。お客様の反応が素晴らしくクラウンたちを元気づけているのがわかりました。

ライブの後はクラウン講座。これがまた素晴らしかったのです。クラウンの基本となる形の紹介、欧米人の笑いのツボ、高齢者や介護を受けている人を楽しくさせるコツ、表情についての考察etc.ステージのおボケキャラのロネとはまるで違う高野呂音さんのトークは聴衆を唸らせるほどの博学。それでいて謙虚な人柄。参加者の質問もあり充実した時間でした。続いてジージによるコミュニケーションのコツの紹介と実践。背景の違う参加者の皆さんは大いに役立ったとコメントをいただきました。このクラウン講座は多賀あさひやの特別企画。クラウンがいかに奥深いものであるか。私たちが生きやすくなるためのヒントが満載です。もっともっと多くの方に聞いていただきたいと思います。

今、多賀あさひやは片付けも終わり、また元の和室に戻りました。大勢の人の笑いや熱気に包まれたあの空間は夢のようにも思う今の不思議な気持ち。ロネとジージ、それにアシスタントのマギーのクラウンへの情熱とお客様のニコニコ顔、手伝ってくださったスタッフの皆さんに支えられて今回も公演と講座を終えることができました。感謝でいっぱいです。

Clown Live and Clown Talk finished last weekend. All the seats were full for both live performances and the Talk had twice the number of participants as last year. I thank all of the participants very much.

I feel sorry for the clowns and participants because if we had a bigger space and better equipment, they would be much happier. Clowns who arrived at Taga a couple days before their performance and reliable helpers transformed the Japanese room into a special stage for the Clown Show. I was so impressed about it as an organizer.

Now," The MoonLight serenade" written by Gigi at Taga Asahiya was the first public release. It started with a story about a man who cannot do anything right. When he was providing hand-tissue papers to the pedestrians on the street, the rain started falling. While he was listening to the sound of the hard rain, he thought that it looked like an applause of the audience for him. He entered into his imaginary world and a white rabbit appeared there. RONE and Gigi showed their skillful juggling with balls and juggling clubs, funny clowning, amazing singing, diabolo, etc.. It is very different to watch the real show just in front of the audience rather than to watch on TV or far away from the stage. The reaction of the audience was very good and it encouraged clowns very much.

Clown Talk was followed by the show and it was also amazing. RONE showed us several traditional clown forms, explained about the difference between the laughing points of western people and Japanese, techniques of making fun of an aged person or person being cared for, and talked about facial expression. Audience was overwhelmed by RONE's wide knowledge and her humble personality. After RONE's talk, Gigi introduced the techniques of communication to other people. Many participants gave their comments which were very good and useful to their work. This clown talk was special in Asahiya and didn't exist in other clown shows.

Now, the Clown stage was all dismantled and now the room is back to the usual Japanese guest room. I feel something strange because it was so different between now and that time when clowns were performing. The previous space was packed with people and I feel I was in a dream. Clown lives and Talk were successfully finished and were full of passion of two professional clowns and assistant Maggie, big laughs from the audience and help from staff. I thank all of those people.　　　

櫻井早苗さん提供

櫻井早苗さん提供

櫻井早苗さん提供

クラウン劇団OPEN SESAME 提供

１１月１０日（日曜日）２０２４
　東近江市あかねホールでの「ロネとジージの赤い鼻の魔法」は実に贅沢な楽しい公演でした。

　ビッグイヤーズショーは私自身これまで何度も見てきましたが、今回のような劇場公演は初めてで、序奏となるプロローグから始まってお馴染みのロネジジのビッグイヤーズショーの流れ、加えてロネのマジック、迷子の子供に扮した二人のハンドベル演奏、いないはずの人と怪しげに抱き合うジージのマイムなどが展開し、もうびっくりするぐらいの妙技に、会場は子どもたちの歓声と大人たちの感嘆の拍手に包まれていました。ジャグリングだけでも一体何種類見せてもらったでしょう。照明と音響はロネジジたちを知り尽くした東京のプロのスタッフの力でステージは一層盛り上がりを見せました。


　東近江市の人たちにホンモノを見せたいと今回のロネとジージの招致にご尽力くださったOさんの熱意は観客にしっかりと伝わったと思います。クラウン・ロネとジージの実力に今更ながら脱帽です。

I went to watch the Clown show "RONE and Gigi's Red Noses Magic" at Akane Hall in Higashi-ohmi city. It was a fantastic and joyful performance!

I have watched their Big Ears Show many times before but this time was the first time for me to go to their show on the theater stage with lighting and sound by professional people from Tokyo. It was much longer than the regular Big Ears Show. They started with prologue and magic by RONE, handbell played by two clowns who looked like lost children, pantomime by Gigi which looked like two people holding each other, followed by the regular Big Ears Show. It was really amazing! The hall was full of children's screams of delight and applause by adults.

I was thinking of Ms.O who invited clown RONE and Gigi to the area, saying it is important to show the authentic performer to the people and put her efforts to make it come true. I think her enthusiasm came to fruition and I was overwhelmed by those two clowns' high leveled technique and ability to entertain.

（写真：クラウン劇団OPEN SESAME 提供）

１１月１日（金曜日）２０２４
　薄曇りの少し肌寒い霜月のはじまり。今日から１１月。別名のように昔の人は白い霜や雪に季節の趣を感じていたのでしょう。

　さて、開店の支度をしていると、表にどなたか立っていらっしゃる。見ると彦根のA先生。慌てて中へお入りいただくもお急ぎのご様子。新聞紙の包みを手に持って「福島の蓮根です」と渡してくださいました。ご高齢のご兄弟を訪ね昨日の朝採ったものをお持ちくださったのです。いくつも繋がった蓮根の前兆は５０センチ余り、直径も８センチぐらいある立派なもの。泥の中から蓮根を収穫するのは大変だと聞いていたので、どれほど貴重なものかわかります。店頭で見る蓮根は土つきか洗ったものですが、採りたての蓮根は白くて透明感あるものだそうで変色してしまって申し訳ないとおっしゃいました。いえいえ、こんなに新鮮で立派な蓮根を手にするのは初めてで恐縮しているのは私のほうです。

カフェで提供するいなり寿司には蓮根を入れるし、お弁当のおかずにもよく蓮根を使っており、いくつかレシピが頭に浮かびました。蓮根の効用をみると沢山ありすぎて列挙しきれないくらい、実に健康的な食材です。

１１月のお朔（ついたち）は新鮮な蓮根の到来からはじまりました。

November has just started with a cloudy and a bit cold morning. Since it was called "Shimo-tsuki (Frost Month)" by people in the past, it seems they felt beauty in nature in white such as frost and snow.

When I was preparing my cafe, I saw someone standing outside the cafe. It was Mr. A from Hikone. I opened the entrance sliding door and let him in. He seemed like he didn't have much time and gave something wrapped in the newspaper to me saying it was lotus root from Fukushima. He said that he visited his old brother in Fukushima and the family member took some lotus roots from a bog just the morning of his leaving day. It was a beautiful fresh lotus root which was about 50 centimeters (1.64 feet) and 8 centimeters in diameter. I heard that taking lotus root is very hard, so I appreciated this precious gift. We find two kinds of lotus root at the shop, one is with mud and another one is washed, but according to Mr. A, it's white and clean when it appears in the air. He apologized for being late to bring it to me after it had turned a darker color. It was the first time for me to receive such a fresh lotus root. I thanked him very much.

I like lotus root very much and use it often in my cooking. It is also a very healthy ingredient. There are several recipes in my head.

My November has started with receiving a fresh lotus root!

１０月３１日（木曜日）２０２４
多賀町中央公民館での月３回のヨガ教室。今日は「外ヨガ」と称して紅葉が少し始まった胡宮神社で行われました。

銘々ピクニックシートの上にヨガマットを敷いて、北京子先生の指導のもとにヨガが始まるのですが、自然の中でのこうしたレッスンは精神的にさらに解放されて呼吸も深くなります。名神高速道路のそばなので、騒音が気にならないと言ったら嘘になりますが、ヨガの開始とともに集中力のせいか騒音はどこかへ行ってしまい、時折、木々を飛び交う鳥のさえずりや遠くでキャッキャッと猿とおぼしき鳴き声も聞こえ、暑くも寒くもない外気の気持ち良さを実感。視界に入る木々の緑やほんのり色づき始めた紅葉に囲まれての贅沢な時間に身も心もすっかりリラックスできました。

終わって遅いお弁当タイム。それが終わると、参加者ほぼ全員がカバンからオヤツを出して、円く座った私たちのところに回してくださったのには、びっくり！皆様さすがにお気遣いが半端ない！私ですか？コンビニでシュークリームを一つ買ってそれを自分だけ先に食べ、その後、次々に回ってくるおやつも食べるというチョー浅ましい有様。皆様、ご馳走さまでした！！

I am taking a Yoga lesson three times a week at the town community center. This Thursday, the lesson was held outside and it was on the grounds of Konomiya Shrine.

Each person put a yoga mat on one's picnic sheet, and took the lesson by Ms. Kita's instruction. It was a very different feeling because of the atmosphere. Usually we have a lesson inside the building but this time we were outside and had the very fresh autumn air. I was so free both mentally and physically. Since the highway was near the field, the noise disturbed us, but it was not a big problem. We could concentrate on hearing the instructor's voice and follow the movement. We even heard birds singing and monkeys' voices far away. The temperature was perfect, it was neither hot or cold and I felt so good. We were surrounded by the green of the trees and some autumn foliage which had just begun. It was really gorgeous and I appreciated the valuable time to be able to relax.

After yoga, we had a late lunch and after the lunch, I saw most of the participants took out candy packs or some small sweets from their bag and circulated them to us. I was surprised at this sight. They brought something for others! I didn't have anything for others. What I did was that I ate my own sweet which I bought at the convenience store and ate other candies and sweets as well. I was embarrassed but I enjoyed the treats anyhow.

ロネとジージのコメディライブIN多賀「ムーンライト セレナーデ」とクラウン講座のチケット状況：

11/16（土）14:00~15:30　クラウンライブ　残席あり
11/17（日）12:30~14:00　クラウンライブ　満席
11/17（日）16:00~18:00　クラウン講座　　残席あり

日本には、漫才・落語、新喜劇、狂言など様々な「笑い」がありますが、ロネ＆ジージの笑いはそれとはまた別のコメディスタイル。チャプリンを生んだ欧米の笑いの作法を使い、さらに独自に歌やダンスを入れて、ロネジジならではの笑いの世界を創ります。その実力とセンスの良さには圧倒されます。芸達者な二人の笑いを皆さんの目と耳と肌で体感してください。

チケットのお申し込みは：多賀あさひや（0749-48-0186）またはFBでどうぞ❗❗

Comedy live by Clown RONE & Gigi in Taga. Here are seat availability.

11/16（土）14:00~15:30　Clown live show      Few available seats
11/17（日）12:30~14:00　Clown live show      Full
11/17（日）16:00~18:00　Clown's Talk            Few available seats

There are many laughter styles in Japan such as Manzai (a funny conversation by two), Rakugo (traditional comic storytelling), Shinkigeki (new comic plays), and Kyogen (traditional short comedy play). However, RONE & Gigi's comedy style is different. They use the method of Western laughter style which was also used by Charlie Chaplin, who was a great English comedian. RONE & Gigi add dances and songs and create their own world of laughter. We are overwhelmed by their ability and comedy sense. We hope you will enjoy the sights and sounds of their show first-hand. 

Please reserve the seat at Taga Asahiya (749-48-0186 ) or by email.

１０月１４日（月曜日）２０２４
　朝のもんぜん市で「おやっ？」と思って、見たら「綿の花」と書いてありました。初めて見るものです。
アメリカ南部のプランテーションで黒人奴隷が労働力として綿花を積む姿が頭に浮かびますが、まさか多賀でこれが見られるとは！

「綿の花」と言っても、実際はこれは花ではなく夏に咲かせた花が後で実をつけ、その実が膨らんで１０月ごろから１２月にかけて中からこの白い綿毛を出すそうなのです。これが木々についているのを見ると、まるで白い花が咲いているように見えるとのこと。

ふわふわっで、まるでぬいぐるみのウサちゃんのしっぽ？それとも他に何を連想するかなぁと思いながらじっと眺めています。こんな純粋で赤ちゃんみたいな無垢のものを前にすると、却って現実の重さがひしひしと感じられます。

When I visited local morning market, I found interesting things which was written "Cotton Flowers" on the label. I saw them for the first time. My image of cotton flowers is the scene in which black slaves were picking cotton in the field in a southern plantation in the US but I have never imagined that I would see it in my town.

People call it "Cotton Flower", but it actually is not a flower of cotton. It is more akin to a dandelion. Cotton balls begin to fill and open up where the flowers once were. People say it looks as if white flowers are blooming on the cotton tree.

It's fluffy like the tail of a stuffed rabbit or maybe something else I can imagine. It's so pure and innocent like a baby. Returning to reality, I feel some complicated depressing problems around me.

１０月１１日（金曜日）２０２４
　秋晴れの爽やかな一日、午前８時過ぎに丘の上の中学校へ向かいました。朝の読み聞かせです。「ぼくは川のように話す」。これはジョーダン・スコットというカナダの詩人による「吃音」の少年を描いた絵本です。作者自身の体験です。

　教室に入って、吃音と書いて読める生徒がいなかったので「きつおん」と読み方を書き、それでも意味が分からないようだったので「話し始めのタイミング障害」＝「どもる」と補足して読み始めました。インパクトのある絵と原作の英語を原田勝氏が日本語訳にした大変いい本です。最後に著者自身の後書きも読み加えました。

　吃音で悩み学校でもいじめられる少年が、川のそばで父親に「川の水。あれが、おまえの話し方だ」と言われます。川は自分より大きなもの、広い場所をめざして、気負わず、たゆまず流れていく。だけど途中で泡立って、渦巻いて、波をうち、砕けていく。そして、急流の先でゆったりと流れ、なめらかに光る川となる。これが僕の話し方。川だってどもってる。こうして少年は自身の障害に納得し自信を持つようになります。

　後書きに、「自分にしか分からない恐ろしいものを言葉にするためのイメージや表現があることを知った。父が吃音を自然の中の動きにたとえてくれたおかげで、自分の口が勝手に動くのを感じるのが楽しくなった。」と書いています。吃音でなくても、話すことにコンプレックスがあったり、話すことを避けている思春期の中学生は少なからずいるはずです。そんな子供たちへの応援歌となれば幸いです。

It was a refreshing autumn day. After 8 am, I went to the local junior highschool which stands on a hill in order to give storytelling for the students. The title of the book was ”I Talk Like a River" by Jordan Scott/ Smith Sydney and it is a story about a boy who is a stutterer and it was the written author's actual experience.

In the classroom, I wrote the word "stuttering" in Chinese letters, but since nobody knew the word, I wrote how to read it and the meaning like "it is a timing problem when people start to speak" and added the common name.　All the pictures are very impressive and the translation into Japanese is also very good.

The boy is bullied at his school because of stuttering. One day his father took him to the river and pointed at the river and said "Look at the river flow. your way of speaking is just like that.". The river flows toward a bigger and wider place without feeling pressured and continuing. It, however, bubbles, swirls, undulates and breaks in the middle of flow. Beyond the rapid stream, it flows relaxingly and becomes a smooth shining river. The boy thought it was his way of talking and the river was also stuttering. He accepts his difficulty and has confidence.

The author wrote in his afterword that he found the image or the way of expression other than the word which he felt frightening. He also wrote that because his father compared his difficulty to the movement of nature, it really made me feel lighter and I was able to enjoy the feeling that my mouth moves on its own.

There must be some young students who are not stutterers but have a complex about a way of talking and therefore avoid talking. I hope this book encourages them.

１０月６日（日曜日）２０２４　

クラウンデュオ・ロネとジージの関西ツアーがまもなく始まります。ライブは「ムーンライトセレナーデ」。何と今回のためにジージが新作を書き上げたとのニュースが飛び込んできました。おぉ〜っ！と主催者としては歓声があがります。

一時は再起が危ぶまれるほどの大怪我を負ったロネと続くジージの骨折。信じられない事態から見事に復活した二人ですが、クラウンに込めた情熱と再起に向けた努力はどれほどかと思います。

クラウン文化が一般的な欧米で日本人のロネとジージは数々の賞を勝ち取り、世界でその才能を認めらていますが、日本でクラウンを知る人はまだまだです。どこにも所属せず、自分たちで果敢に道を開いて今日まで歩いてきた二人の原動力は、見る人の笑いと拍手だと言います。

長い修行で会得した数々の技とクラウニングと呼ばれる型、それに歌とダンスなどを入れた独自のスタイルのライブショー。全てが絶妙で品が良く他に例を見ません。観る者を笑いの世界へ誘ってくれます。

ロネのクラウン講座は旧ソ連や英国、アメリカでの修行経験の中で研鑽してきた欧米と日本の演劇の違い、国民性、笑いのツボなどが話され非常に貴重で深いものがあり、続くジージによるクラウンの型、笑いの実践紹介など、他では見られないプログラムです。

古民家「多賀あさひや」でクラウンライブ。この違和感も楽しいのではないでしょうか。チケットは限られています。お早目のお申し込み（0749-48-0186）をお待ちしています。


The tour of Clown Live by RONE & Gigi in the Kansai area will start soon. The title of the show is "Moonlight serenade" which was written by Gigi for this tour. What exciting news!

Last year, RONE had an unexpected accident and seriously damaged her body which we were very much worried about and Gigi also broke her left leg shortly following RONE's accident. However they came back to the stage this year. Their passion toward clown and efforts for recovery are amazing.

RONE and Gigi were awarded many times in the US and Europe where clowns are well known and very popular but not in Japan. They have been paving their own path by themselves in Japan. They say their energy comes from the audience laughing and applauding.

RONE and Gigi use a lot of skills and special forms called clowning which they gained through long years of training, and they created original live shows with singing & dancing. Everything is superb and of good quality. You will be invited into their world of laughter.

RONE & Gigi who trained in Russia, England and the US will talk about the difference of theatre arts, and national character between Japan and western countries, the point of laughter, etc. which will be very interesting and valuable.

There are a limited number of tickets. Please reserve the tickets early!

９月２７日（金曜日）２０２４
　広重の中山道の宿場町にも登場する愛知川。近江鉄道愛知川駅に隣接したギャラリーで多賀町敏満寺のキルト作家、竹内綾子さんの作品展に行ってきました。

　国際キルトフェスティバルで何度も賞を獲得という経歴の竹内さんは一貫してその作品に古布を用いて独自の世界を表現しています。どの作品も、何度見ても、竹内さんが暮らしの中で見てきた道具や風景が何とも温かく優しく、時にユーモラスにそこかしこに散りばめられていて作品の前に立つ者を幸福にしてくれます。技法もパッチワークはもちろん、刺繍やビーズ、アップリケなど細部に工夫がしてあり、その感性と才能に驚かされます。キルトとかパッチワークと聞くと、幾何学的なデザインが頭に浮かびますが、竹内さんの作品は直線をわざと外した歪んだ線が多く見られます。この辺りも独自の表現で楽しいです。

Echigawa is an old post town and Hiroshige, a famous printmaker in Edo period left behind a wood print of a scene of Echigawa as one of a series of 53 post towns. There was Ayako Takeuchi's quilt exhibition at the gallery next to Echigawa station. Ms. Takeuchi is a resident of Binmanji in Taga.

Ms.Takeuchi, who was awarded many times at the International Quilt Festival in the past, expresses her own world by using old Japanese used clothes. In her work, she often put old tools or scenery which were familiar in her daily life and they were expressed warmly, gently and humorously. We feel very comfortable and happy with them. She uses various techniques and ideas such as patchwork, embroidery, beads, applique, etc. and these are really amazing. When we hear "quilt" or "patchwork", we imagine geometric design but Ms. Takeuchi often uses crooked lines and not straight lines. I think it is her own idea and wonderful.

９月２５日（水曜日）２０２４
　湖南にお住まいのO様から新米と老舗のお醤油、それに素敵な御香を頂きました。O様は兄上のK様と一緒にカフェを営業してまもなくから現在まで色々な面で応援をしてくださっています。お兄様が今年お亡くなりになり何とも寂しく無念な気持ちでおりましたが、この度は思いがけず重いお米と数々の贈り物をお持ちくださり驚きました。

　新米はアグリ甲賀のもので地域の耕作放棄地を覚悟を決めた若者が引き受けて今では美味しいと評判の「きぬむすめ」を出荷するに至っていると説明書に書いてありました。O様の温かな支援の手がここでも伺われます。箱を開けたら５kg入りの新米用のきれいな袋が２つも入っていました。御歳８０歳を過ぎて車で来てくださったのも恐縮ですが、女性には重すぎる箱を抱えてカフェに入ってきてくださったのには本当に驚きました。

一緒にいただいた丸中醤油。名前は聞いていましたが、愛荘町にある２００年続く老舗です。時間をかけて低温でゆっくり熟成させて良い香りを出すと評判の貴重なお醤油です。それから、以前も頂いた京都の松栄堂の御香。芳輪堀川の香りは大好きですが高価で私にはなかなか手が出せません。贅沢な香りを楽しませていただきます。

O様や亡きK様の温かな支援に今更ながら感謝でいっぱいです。O様にはK様の分もこれからもお元気で過ごしていただきたいと心から願っています。

I received gifts of new harvest rice of the year, soy sauce of the long-established store and my favorite incense from Mrs. O who was from Konan city. Mrs. O is a person who has been supporting me with her elder brother since just after I opened my cafe. Unfortunately her brother, Mr. K passed away early this year and I am so sorry for him. Nevertheless she has been continuing to cheer me up.

This time, she brought two very heavy 5kg rice bags, and others. I was very surprised when I saw her holding a heavy rice box into my cafe.

In the note the new harvest rice was from Aguri Farm, whose owner first grew rice in an abandoned cultivated land and kept growing rice up until now. It has a high reputation among people. I guess this farm also gets Mrs.O's warm support.

I also received soy sauce which was aged for a long time with low temperature to a nice taste. The last gift from Mrs. O 's was my favorite incense from Shoeido in Kyoto. I will enjoy these nice gifts.

I really appreciated both Mrs.O and Mr.K's warm support for me. Although I am not able to see Mr. K any more, I hope Mrs.O will take care of herself and live a long and healthy life for him.

９月２１日（土曜日）２０２４
　幼馴染４人で信州の昼神温泉と赤沢森林鉄道のバスツアーに参加しました。
心配したお天気も取り越し苦労に終わり、日本一星空が美しい所として知られる阿智村の星座観測ツアーでは首が痛くなるほど頭上を見上げて解説付きで星空を眺め、トロトロ感の昼神温泉は美肌効果を期待しながら夜と朝、ゆっくり露天風呂を楽しみました。また対向車が来ないよう祈りながら、細い道をバスで木曽上松に向かい、渓流に沿っての赤沢森林鉄道で神秘的な森の空気を深く吸って心と身体の元気を取り戻しました。
近年、山の木を切り倒しての大規模な太陽光発電には不快感極まりないのですが、今回は信州の山の懐に飛び込み温泉に浸かり星空を眺め、まさに日本の宝を肌で感じました。日頃の生活環境が違う幼友達とのおしゃべりもまた貴重で愉快なものでした。

I joined a bus tour which went to Hirugami Hot Spring and got on Akazawa forest railway in Nagano with my childhood friends. In spite of our anxiety that it would rain during the tour according to the weather information, it didn't go that way and we could watch the starry sky with an explanation by the guide in the Night Tour. We also enjoyed the open-air bath at the Japanese style hotel. The next day, we went to Kiso Uematsu, which was more mountainous, going through a very narrow road by bus. There was a mountain railway for the tourists. Taking in the fresh forest air, I felt so good mentally and physically.

These years we see in many places mega solar panels being installed after cutting down mountain trees which I hate very much, but this time we got into the mountain side in Nagano and enjoyed the hot spring as well as the beautiful starry sky. I was so happy to be able to touch Japanese treasures. Traveling with my old friends whose living environment is very different now was also very precious and fun.

９月１７日（水曜日）２０２４
　今年も１１月に多賀あさひやにてロネとジージによるクラウンライブと講座をいたします❗

昨年、海外でステージからの落下事故でロネは瀕死の重傷、その後ジージも骨折。この思いもよらぬ事態から完全復帰した二人のコメディライブと大好評のクラウンのお話タイム。お待ちかねの方も多いとおもいます。プロのクラウンの二人が絶妙な笑いと技で私たちを楽しませてくれます。

チケットは電話（多賀あさひや 0749-48-0186)　またはemail でお早めにお申し込みください。
もちろん、カフェ「多賀あさひや」でもお買い求めいただけます。
皆さまのご参加をお待ちしております❗❗


RONE & Gigi 's Clown live performance and clown talk will be held in November at Taga Asahiya this year, too.

Last year, RONE fell from the stage resulting in a traumatic injury at a performance overseas, after which Gigi suffered a right leg fracture. They recovered completely from these serious accidents. They will give their comedy live performance as well as talks which were a great success last year. Many people must be looking forward to watching them. They will entertain us with their skillful techniques and funny movements.

Please reserve your ticket early by phone (0749-48-0186) or email. Of course you can get it at the cafe as well.

We hope you will enjoy their clown show and talk!!

９月１４日（土曜日）２０２４
　ロネとジージのコメディMusicライブを観てきました。
連休の始まりとあって新幹線も品川駅も人、人、人。あまりの多さに圧倒されながら青山の会場へ。

    今日の「仮面舞踏会」、クラウンの動きや中国ゴマ、マジックなど初めて見る技が次々展開され、ロネジジの芸の幅広さには驚嘆します。二人の息の合ったクラウニングは何気なさそうに見えますが、難しい技であることは私にも分かります。また個々の得意技も印象に残ります。沢山ありますが例をあげるならロネのクリスタルボールを両手で滑らせるように操るのは美しくうっとりするし、ジージの観客を巻き込んで笑わせるあの間と言葉の可笑しさは何なんでしょう。誰にも真似できません。

    音楽もまた印象的でした。同行した友人が終演後ピアノのAYAJIさんにしゃぼん玉の歌が讃美歌に似ていると話していました。後でパンフレットを見たら、日本に輸入された最古の讃美歌の改変であると記してあり、敬虔なクリスチャンの友人ならではの気付きだと思いました。

    終わって、表参道で開催中の三重の伝統工芸「伊勢型紙」の彫刻師、内田勲氏の展示会を友人の案内で見に行きました。初めて知った日本の素晴らしい工芸技術です。友人のお嬢さんが米国の大学でデザインを勉強した後、内田氏から技術を習得し、現在は独自の世界観で美術品を制作し注目されていると知ったことも嬉しい限りです。


I went to the live performance of RONE & Gigi at Aoyama in Tokyo. Since it was the beginning of three consecutive holidays, both Shinkansen (bullet train) and Shinagawa Station were full of people.

The title of the show was "Masquerade ball". I was amazed by their range of skills such as clown movements, Diabolo, and others which I experienced for the first time. Their clownings with two clowns look easy but require difficult techniques. The individual special skills are also impressive. For example, the way the crystal ball slid between RONE's hands was so smooth and beautiful. Also, the Gig's timing and words, and her ability to get the audience involved and make them laugh, are all very professional and nobody else can do it.

The music in the show was also impressive. My friend who watched with me talked to the pianist after the show about one of the songs which had a similar melody to a hymn. It was true. They sang a familiar Japanese children's song in the show but there was an explanation about the song in the program of the show that it was modified from a hymn when it came from Western society in the Meiji period (1868-1912). She noticed it because she is a Christian.

After the show, we went to an exhibition of Japanese traditional crafts by Isao Uchida who is an engraver of Ise pattern paper and holder of Important Intangible Cultural Property. I saw his works which were so beautiful. My friend's daughter, Risa Kojyo, is an artist who learned the technique from Mr. Uchida, and she is creating her own crafts for Kimonos which have attracted attention from many people. I heard about it from my friend and it made me very happy.

９月７日（土曜日）２０２４
この夏１ヶ月も家を空けて帰ってきたら庭が雑草でジャングルになっていました。
背の高さほどに伸びた草、地べたを這うように横に張り出してきている植物、よその茎や枝やフェンス、だれかれ構わずまとわりネジリ上げ伸び放題のツル性の植物。

雑草は嫌われても強く逞しく生きる例えでしばしば登場しますが、このツル性の植物だけはあまりに図々しいので正直忌々しいです。軒を貸して母屋を乗っ取られようにまとわりつかれた側はやがて生気を失い枯れていく運命にあります。よく似た雑草（black swallow-wort) がボストンの家の生垣にもあり、こちらはもっとやっかいで小さな青いサヤがついていて中のタネが溢れるとさらに繁殖するという恐ろしいツル性植物。新聞にもこの植物だけは黒いビニール袋に入れて廃棄するように指示がありました。前は見なかったのにと思いながら、夫の取り残したあとを生垣の棘に触れないよう注意深く根気よく取りました。

裏庭に話を戻すと、どこに本来の植物があるのか分からないほど酷い状態にただただ呆然。ジャングルに踏み込む勇気がなかなか出ませんでしたが、そうも言ってはいられないと、完全防備で挑み始めて数日。ジャングルはまだあちこちにありますが、雑草を取り除くと土が見えて庭にお礼を言われているようで、こちらも気分が良くなります。

I went to Boston for about a month and came back home. Then my back yard turned awful like a jungle. Weeds grew high, and some weeds ran through the ground. Climbing plants wrapped around other plants and net fences.

People sometimes praise weeds, comparing them to a person who lives strongly even if he/she is stepped on, but I don't like these climbing plants because they are so impudent. There is a saying, "to lend out the eaves but have one's whole house taken", and these plants are just like that. The original plants will dry out eventually. I found the same kind of plant in Boston this summer named black swallow-wort. This one was much worse because it has little pods and when they pop and drop the seeds on the ground, they grow and multiply. It is a really terrible climbing plant. I tried to take them away after my husband removed them.

Getting back to my backyard, I was stunned when I saw my neglected yard which no longer had any original plants. I hesitated to go in and remove the weeds but decided to start to do it little by little.

There are still untouched places, but I can see the soil at the places I removed weeds. I feel as if my yard is happy and saying thanks to me, and then I feel so good.