3 in 30 - 2001.01.08 Monday
If you have trouble reading some of the text, it is because I have included some elementary Japanese. In order to view the characters, Mac OS 8 (or above) has the capability of viewing them. I don't know what other operating systems will do with them.
東京に一年に一回だけ雪がきます。今年一月にきました。基地でしごととまりましたでもあそとでたのしい時間をしました。
こちらはじてんしゃ
From our experience, it seems that snow only comes once a year to Tokyo. This year snow has come in January. Five inches of snow closed down operations on the air base, but outside the fence it is an enjoyable snow for us. Partly because today is a Japanese holiday and partly because of the snow, it seems to be very quiet.
These bicycles are undisturbed in the snow.
前でわしたちたちさこなかさんのせいもんを見ました。雪でもっときれいになりますね。
We have seen Sakonaka-san's entry gate before—in the spring. The snow has made it even more beautiful, don't you think?
さこなかさんのむすめさん雪がすきですだから雪でかまくらつくりました。後で雪で犬つくります。
Sakonaka-san's daughters enjoy the infrequent snow so they were out early making a small kamakura (a snow house rather like an igloo). This one is built for the dog. These little snow huts are quite popular in the northern island of Hokkaido. Not only are they made by children, but we have seen advertisements for tourists to travel north and spend the weekend holiday in these kamakura.
When we first saw these snow huts, we wondered if there might be some relationship to the ones we stereotypically associate with the western hemisphere Eskimo.
じてんしゃのちゅしゃじょとなりにこのきある
This tree growing next to the bicycle parking area has some ornamental oranges on display. What a nice contrast with the dark blue-green leaves, the orange orange and the blue-white snow.