HAIR SPRAY in Tokyo

They are starting in 5 minutes!
I'm exciting !!

The main tower of Kumamoto catsle

A general Kiyomasa Kato who was born in my hometown Nagoya in 1562 worked for Hideyoshi Toyotomi and Ieyasu Tokugawa.

He was given this area from Ieyasu, and he built this castle.
It was said impregnable castle!

Transcending the time

A scene today viewed from a building 400 years old.

An original tower of Kumamoto castle

All the buildings were rebuilt exept for one which remains original.
It's amazing that such a building made of wood and soil 400 years ago can be seen even today.

fresh SASHIMI !

I'm in Hiroshima.
Our friends who play music in Hiroshima took us to a nice restaurant after our concert.

Kirara!

I'm mooving to Matsuyama by highway bus from Kochi prefecture.
She is my friend's daughter Kirara!
Cute!

Niigata=Rice!

What a beautiful rice field!

These rice baby grow up and become delicious shining white rice!

Niigata bland rice is the best in Japan.

this week's stages

I was in Niigata prefecture this week.

Our orchestra played in gymnasiums of elementary schools for educational concerts.

We had 3 concerts a day~~!!!!

1st stage 9:00am~ 2nd stage 11:20am~ 3rd stage 2:00pm~

I became healthy because I woke up at 6:00~6:30 every morning. hahaha...

Gran Torino

It was a beautiful movie.

GREEN TEA

My grand mother sent me the first tea of the season.

The tea leaves are softer, and the tea tastes fresh and the smells good.

You can enjoy it only this time of year.

Fukushima

We had the last concert for TKWO's northeastern tour today in Fukushima prefecture.

I drove to Fukushima last night. 

After the concert, I stopped at the Nasu highlands rest area on the highway.

There are farms near there, so you can buy milk, cheese, bacon, beef croquette, etc...

And I saw beautiful sunset!

Onsen!! (Hot Spring)

Dai Onsen in Hanamaki Iwate. I went there with my coworkers after a concert.

I like a rural hot spring resort like this.

The onsen was great!!

TKWO concert tour

I've returned from a concert tour of northeastern area last night.

We played in Hachinohe Aomori, Hanamaki Iwate, Kurihara Miyagi, Sendai Miyagi.

I thought it was colder than Tokyo, but it was hot there!

This is a road in Sendai. The main roads in Sendai are wide and there are a lot of zelkova trees on the both side of the roads. Those fresh green leaves were so beautiful.

BBQ~~~~~~~~~!!!

Yes! Texas=BBQ

It's overflowing...

Hotel at Austin

It was nice room!

The hotel is on the premises of the university, and the conference center which the CBDNA was held is in the same building.

that means I only was in the university for 4 days!

That was OK! because I went sightseeing for a few days after finished CBDNA:-)

By the way, we went to Austin right after Japan won the WBC final 

A big Ichiro's picture was on the USA TODAY that was reached my room. And the newspaper said [Congratulation the championship for Japanese team] in Japanese!

Austin Texas

CBDNA(College Band Directors National Association)was held in University of Texas from March 25 - 28.

My main purpose of my visit USA was participating CBDNA.

So I flew to Austin after adjusted my jet lag in NY and joined my colleagues.

What a huge university!!!

It's almost a town.

It's snow today

Asukayama Park is old beautiful park in my neighborhood.I took a walk in the park this morning.

The cherry blossoms are at their best now!

I went to there first time today.

I wonder why I didn't go there so far???

It was soooo beautiful!

It was pink snowing around the cherry blossoms when a lovely spring breeze.

Musical Carousel

I've played in this musical.

Here is my place. Do you know where are we?

We are on the stage set. The top of the wall.

So high! We walk up the narrow spiral staircase,and duck under the entrance of the orchestra pit.

This is the first time to play in the musical.

It's fun!

My friends in NY

I was also happy that I could see my friends in NY!

It was short of days to stay...

I wanted to spend more time with them.

I went to NY♪

She is a great soprano singer Natalie Dessay.

I went to see Met opera "LA SONNAMBULA".

These beautiful green shoes that Natalie is wearing were impressive in the opera.

Of course her voice were amazing!!!

NY Philharmonic, Broadway musical "In the Heights", and Blue Note..

I was happy that I could see many wonderful performances even though only 4 days stay.