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.

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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.