I always go to the studio in Kyoto for a radio program recording...But this time we recorded like this.Editing... the editing for a new documentary film has started.
I work hard to create a visual world in this room.
In this world, there appear four new-born babies and many other lives.
I wanna make this film like "welcome to this wonderful world!"
If we spend our lives enjoying very much, then the world will turn as we wish.
Like this world is really exciting and fun.

Let's enjoy our lives.
It's really cold. Please take a good care of yourself.

A mountain-burning event takes place every year at Mt. Wakakusa.
This year's fireworks were fantastic. It might be because of the memorial year of 1300, capital relocation of Nara.
Exactly 10 years earlier, I was shooting the fireworks for the climactic scene for the film "HOTARU."
I was just into making this film as much as I almost forgot my only son.
And this year, I watched the fireworks with my son holding him beneath my stadium jacket.
In "HOTARU" the protagonist Ayako is carrying a baby of Daiji inside her.
And she whispers to Daiji.
And Daiji also...
"Can you see, Ayako? The mountain's burning"
And for thousands of years, the mountain has been watching over us...

This year, the mountain burned well.
Foreign tourists might be startled at the sight if they don't know about the event
Saying "mountain fire!!"



Nara is a really wonderful place.
It's magnanimous, borderless, wide-open, and lovely.

After being premiered at Cannes last summer,
We presented "HOTARU 2009 version" in Nara.
We are happy to announce that we will screen the film at two theaters this time in Kanto area.

February 5th to 7th   TOKIO OUT of PLACE in Minami Azabu, Tokyo
March 1st to 3rd    Athenee Francais Cultural Center in Suido-bashi, Tokyo

I will come to Tokyo for speech on February 5th and March 1st.
My lovely "HOTARU."
I'm looking forward to seeing you all!

At TOKIO OUT of PLACE, the making film "Folks gathered at Hotaru kiln"
will also be screened for three days.

For more info, please visit our website!

Other information: TOKIO OUT of PLACE
(Information on Athenee Francais will be uploaded at the end of January)

I had the most delicious roasted riceballs in the world!

That was in the mountains in Nishi Yoshino.
To the place where we can get only on foot, we walked along with boxed lunch.
But we couldn't eat all the riceballs,
And we were about to leave,

We made a fire
And just roasted them,
But we just burned,
And they were not good...

A mountain guy told us
to put them on the charcoal fire.

We gave it a try and it was really delicious!
We could eat one after another,
And almost burst our stomachs.
By the way, it's really delicious having meals in mountains.

It'll be Sakura season next time.

It's a new year of 2010.
The number 2010 makes my heart twinge.
My eyes water watching a new year TV show...

And Michuki had sake for new year celebration,
Turning into high-spirits!
Surprised me!!!

And this year, grandma is in good shape going for a new year prayer...
Michuki got taller during the new year days, getting as tall as grandma.
It also surprised me!!

And for good luck,
Mommy got bitten by a lion...
This was in Miyazaki.

Due to the system error, the blog could not accept comments for a while.
We are deeply sorry for the inconvenience.

Now the system works properly, and we are looking forward to your comments. And a happy new year of 2010.

At last!
Komizu Tohta-kun, after a long request, visited us as a guest.
Hear! Hear!
And of course, a song!? Then here he goes,
The song "Sake to Namida to Otoko to Onna."
As I thought, he seems showy, though he acts in a discreet manner!?
And we air the program over two weeks.
If you missed today's air, please wait another week.

He got the new-type flu!
Fever of 39 degrees C...
It's such a big thing even just to bring him to a hospital.
I should avoid getting infected,
but it's not the time for saying such a thing?
Anyway, he got a 38-degrees fever this morning, though he was just fine last night.
My body might be going to break down as well while shooting a film for Nara-tive.
I better get immune strength!
I got to sleep anyway!
But I can't.
So hectic.

Watching over my son during night...
It's a miracle I didn't get infected!
On the second day, his fever went down and it makes him feel getting cured,
and so he licked my face over.
I don't know why he did it though.

By the way, I might have the immune system, thinking that I didn't get infected.
Against the new-type flu.
I'm sure I've got germs from traveling around and around the country!
It's a mystery, the new-type flu.

Please take a good care of yourself all

Loves picture books.
My son.
He's staring them with eager eyes.
Mother didn't read books at all perhaps because I was a girl or didn't like studying.
Daddy used to like reading picture books as well as studying...
He's taking after Daddy.
Great thing...
And we visited a professor specializing in fossils at Kyoto University museum.
My son got a trilobite, saying
"Trilobites can swim, do you know?"
"Trilobites can curl up"
and so on..., I was so proud of him telling such things.
Mother doesn't know anything.
Maybe when at school saying
"My mom doesn't know anything!"
He would blame me like this...
 
At any rate, it's such a joy watching children's growth!

Touta-kun of Tohtering that I mentioned here several times
(that handsome guy who cooks for film staff)
This is his father named Gaila-san, also a film director.
He runs a dining café making delicious curry and some other dishes
And there I visited!
Hatsudai in Tokyo...
One station from Shinjuku Keio-Line
It's such a nice place along a walking trail.
It was the first time in seven years, I guess.
I suppose I went there when he opened the café.

But it was closed this time.
Maybe because it was Saturday afternoon.
I guess I looked very hungry.
He cooked for me!
Full-course of curry.
It was delicious.

Nevertheless... the father and son both can cook well
Unbelievable.
Respect!

Please visit there. You can relax.