140106 Nihonmatu-jo(二本松城) & Nihonmatsu Farm(二本松農園) in Fukushima(福島)

Date: January 6 (Mon), 2014, fine but occasionally snow

Place: Nihonmatsu-shi(二本松市), Fukushima Prefecture

Partners: My second son, Ryo, Ayumi and Daniel

My second son, Ryo, studied environment science at International Pacific College in NZ. He has been envolved in environment protection activities, and he is now in charge of Fukushima at NPO named JCN(Japan Civil Network).

http://www.jpn-civil.net/

So, I accompanied with him and visit Fukushima taking a highway bus from Shinjuku at midnight of January 5 (Sunday), 2014.

We arrived at Fukushima early in the morning of January 6 (Monday). We had a rest at his studio apartment near JR Fukushima station.

[Arriving at Fukushima, 福島へ早朝到着、후쿠시마에 이른 아침 도착]

[Map showing the nuclear contamination、核汚染を示す地図、핵 오염을 나타내는　지도 ]

[A view from a studio apartment, ワンルームの窓からの眺め、원룸의 창문에서]

[At the outlet of organic products, 有機野菜の小売店にて、유기농 야채 소매점에서]

We took a train from Fukushima to Nihonmatsu and arrived at Nihonmatsu station at 10 am.

[JR Fukushima ST. JR福島駅、JR 후쿠시마 역]

[JR Nihonmatsu ST. JR二本松駅、JR 니혼마츠 역]

Since we had no car, my son askied one of his activity-related friend, Ayumi for drive a day.

Ayumi, a young attractive lady, studied in Canada for 5 years, lived in Taiwan for 5 years and Okinawa for 5 years, is now working for the people in Fukushima, where her parents live.

She was with a Spanish youth, named Daniel. Daniel sounds like an international traveler, who already visited 40 countries, and now has a teaching English job in Mongolia.

He wants to study about Fukushima disaster case and let his Mongolian students know the reality in Fukushima. So he accompanied with us.

We met at the Fukushima Museum in front of the JR Fukushima Station.

[A museum in front of Nihonmatsu ST,二本松駅前の美術館、니혼마쓰 역앞 미술관]

There were several statutes in front of the station. One looked like a samurai student. He was one of “Nihonmatsu Shonentai” soldiers who fought against Meiji government armies and was killed on Sep. 15, 1868, the year of Meiji Restration.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nihonmatsu_Shonentai

Another statute was “Chieko”, a wife of famous Japanese poet and sculptor (March 13, 1883 – April 2, 1956).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K%C5%8Dtar%C5%8D_Takamura

[The Statute of Chieko, 智恵子の像、치에코의 동상]

[The explanation of Chieko-sho,『智恵子抄』の説明、"치에코쇼"의 설명]

Chieko Takamura was also a poet, the motif of the famous poem “Chieko-sho.”

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chieko_Takamura

We went to Gender Equality Promotion Center first, but unfortunately it was closed because of “Regular Holiday.”

[At Gender Equality Promotion Center, 男女共生センターにて、남녀 공생 센터에서]

Next, we went to “Nihonmatsu Castle” or Nihonmatsu-jō(二本松城)/ Kasumi-ga-jō霞ヶ城).

[At Nihonmatsu Castle, 二本松城跡にて、니혼마츠 성터에서]

Nihonmatsu Castle is one of 100 famous Japanese castles, and was destroyed during Boshin War in 1868,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boshin_War

[Statutes of Nihonmatsu Shonentai, 二本松少年隊の銅像、니혼마쓰 소년대의 동상]

[The explanation of Nihonmatsu Shonentai, 二本松少年隊の説明、니혼마쓰 소년대의 설명]

The whole caste was destroyed because of the war, but a part of its gate, “Minowamon” and most of the basement were restored in the past several decades.

[Minowamon, 箕輪門、미노와문]

[The guide map of Nihonmatsujo Park, 二本松城址公園の案内図、니혼마츠 성터 공원 안내도]

We climbed “Shirahatagamine白旗が峰” where the “tenshukaku” used to be.

[A view from "Tenshudai"、天守台からの展望、천수대에서의 전망]

[A view from "Tenshudai"、天守台からの展望、천수대에서의 전망]

[At "Tenshudai"、天守台にて、천수대에서]

It was a fine day, and we could see the twon of Nihonmatsu and Mt. Adatara clearly.

[The explanation of "Hikage Well",『日影の井戸』の説明、"그늘의 우물"의 설명]

["Aioi" waterfall, 相生の滝、아이오이 폭포]

[The explanation of "Aioi" waterfall, 『相生の滝』の説明、"아이 오이 폭포"의 설명]

After sightseeing Nihonmatsu Castle, we went to visit the office of “Fukushima Organic Farming Network.”

[The office of Fukushima Organic Farming Network, 「福島県有機農業ネットワーク」事務所、"후쿠시마 현 유기농업 네트워크"사무소]

[At the NGO office, NGO事務所にて、NGO 사무소에서]

Ryo, my second son, has been a member of “A Seed Japan” supporting organic farming. So it was one of his main activities.

Since it was not a season of producing many organic vegitables, their activities were not so active.

In stead, the interviewee introduced a recent topic of popular manga story “Oishinbo美味しんぼ.” The writer of the comic picked up their organization in the story and introduced their stuff members in the story.

[The comic, "Oishinbo," 漫画『美味しんぼ』、만화"맛의 달인"]

Then we went to visit a organic farm of “Nihonmatsu Farm.”

The owner of the farm, Mt. Saito was also introduced in the comic, so the story is not a fiction but documentary.

Mr. Saito and his group farmers had been working “organic farming” for more than decades. It was a difficult activity even before “311 disaster” in 2011.

[Portraits of Mr. and Mrs. Saito,斎藤夫妻の似顔絵、사이토 부부의 초상화]

But the disaster and nuclear plant accidents made the problem even more difficult. Now he is working hard to decontaminate his farm by taking the contaminated soil away, and refill the land with good soil.

[At the living room, 斎藤家の居間にて、사이토 집의 거실에서]

He checks every product from his farm, and after confirming the safety, he send his products to retail industries.

[Mr. Saito and Radiation Checking Machine, 斎藤氏と核汚染度計測機、사이토 씨와 핵 오염도 측정 기]

[Graph of gamma-ray energy measurements,ガンマー線エネルギー測定値のグラフ、감마선 에너지 측정치 그래프]

[A Geiger Counter, ガイガー計測器、가이거 계측기]

We went out with a Geiger counter to his farm, and checked the area of contaminated area and the area after decontamination.

[We went out to his farm, 二本松農園にて、니혼마쓰 농장에서]

[At Nihonmatsu Farm, 二本松農園にて、니혼마쓰 농장에서]

[Mr. Saito showing his farm, 農園を案内する斎藤氏、농장을 안내하는 사이토씨]

It was a hard task to get rid of the contaminated surface soil and to refill the area with good soil in deed.

[A bulldozer for decontamination work,除染作業用ブルドーザー、제염 작업용 불도저]

[The Geiger Counter on the land after decontamination work, 除染作業後の土の上のガイガー計測器、제염 작업 후 토양의 가이거 계측기]

On the way back to his office from the farm, I saw the inside of his greenhouse. There was a beautiful yellow flower among other vegetable.

Mr. Saito picked up the flower and gave it to Ayumi. It looked like a spring was just around the corner.

[Ayumi with rape blossoms, あゆみさんとアブラナ、아유미와 유채꽃]

After visiting Nihonmatsu Farm, we went to a “Michinoeki” or “Station Along the Highway.”

["Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』、미치노에키 "동화"]

[At "Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』にて、미치노에키 "동화"에서]

[At "Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』にて、미치노에키 "동화"에서]

[How to cook pumpkins, カボチャの煮方、호박 요리법]

We had a nice Japanese lunch there, then we went to a hot spring called “Namezu Onsen.”

[Daniel and lunch, ダニエルと和食定食、다니엘과 일식 정식]

“Namezu Onsen” is the closest onsen from the crippled nuclear power plant.

[Minshuku "Kinoko Kobo",民宿『季の子工房』、민박"키고코 코우보우"]

[Mt. Hayama, 羽山、하야마]

It was a simple hot spring flowed over source, not like “Super Sento” I could enjoy together with sauna. So, we spent not too long for this onsen and went back to the inn.

[Namezu Hot Spring, 名目津温泉、나메즈 온천]

The inn is a kidn of “Minshuku” or a private inn, named “Kinoko Kobo(季の子工房).” The price of a stay with two meals was 6,000 yen. I think it was very reasonable price, because of the good meals (supper and breakfast.)

[An Italian dish, イタリア料理、이탈리아 요리]

[At the minshuku restaurant, 民宿のレストランにて、민박 식당에서]

[A desert, デザート、디저트]

The chef is a son of the inn owner. He studied Italian cuisine in Italy. So, the dinner was very excellent.

[At the minshuku restaurant, 民宿のレストランにて、민박 식당에서]

We all enjoyed nice food and drinks. After the dinner, Ayumi and Daniel went back to Nihonmatsu, and my 2nd son, Ryo and I stayed overnight at “Kinoko Kobo.”(It was a tatami room.)

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

分類：旅行、日本、東北

月日：2014年1月6日(月)晴れ時々雪

訪問地：福島県二本松市二本松城、東和地区二本松農園

同行者：次男亮、あゆみ、Daniel

私の次男、亮はNZの大学(International Pacific College)で環境学を学んで以来、環境保護関連NPOで活動をしているが、東日本大震災以来、東日本大震災支援全国ネットワーク(JCN)の福島担当として働いている。

そこで、彼の活動を見るべく、1月5日、彼の新宿拠点から深夜バスで出発して1月6日未明、福島駅前へ着いた。

[Arriving at Fukushima, 福島へ早朝到着、후쿠시마에 이른 아침 도착]

[Bunk bed、二段ベット、이단 침대]

[An outlet of organic products, 有機野菜の小売店、유기농 야채 소매점]

[At the outlet of organic products, 有機野菜の小売店にて、유기농 야채 소매점에서]

とりあえず、彼の福島駅前の拠点でひとやすみしてから、JR東北本線で二本松駅で下車した。距離は22.5kmで時間にして約22分である。

[At Platform of Nihonmatsu ST, JR二本松駅にて、JR 니혼마츠 역에서]

二本松駅で下車するのは初めてだが、まず目を引いたのはちょんまげ姿の少年の切り込み姿の銅像と、智恵子抄の智恵子の像である。

[At JR Nihonmatsu ST. JR二本松駅にて、JR 니혼마츠 역에서]

[A statute of Nihonmatsu Shonentai, 二本松少年隊の銅像、니혼마쓰 소년대의 동상]

ちょんまげ姿の少年の像は戊辰戦争における二本松城落城(1868年9月15日)で散った二本松少年隊の像である。

智恵子の像は、高村光太郎の妻智恵子の生家が二本松にあることからその銅像があるということだ。

次男と私は、足回りがないため、NPO仲間のあゆみさんとスペイン人でモンゴルから被災地の視察・支援にきたダニエルという青年に会うことにした。

待ち合わせの場所は市民交流センターのある駅前の美術館で、あゆみさんの車は10:20に到着した。

[At People-to-People Exchanges Center,市民交流センター,시민 교류 센터]

あゆみさんは5年間カナダへ語学留学し、その後、台湾に5年、沖縄5年暮らしたのち、震災後に故郷の二本松へ戻ってきた。

ダニエルは世界をまたにかけたパックパッカーのようで、故郷のスペインを出てからすでに40か国を訪問したという。

現在はモンゴルで英語教師をしているが、休暇を利用して被災地の状況を視察、かつボランティア支援する目的で現在福島にいる。

我々はまず「男女共生センター」へ向かったが、あいにく月曜は休館日で、ただちに日本100名城の一つで別名、霞ヶ城・白旗城とも呼ばれる二本松城へ向かった。

[At Gender Equality Promotion Center, 男女共生センターにて、남녀 공생 센터에서]

二本松城の入り口には、二本松駅前にもあった二本松少年隊の像があった。こちらの像はグループなのでより分かりやすいし、家紋を縫い込む母の像もあり、戦争の残酷さ、悲しさを表現している。

[Statutes of Nihonmatsu Shonentai, 二本松少年隊と母親の銅像、니혼마쓰 소년대와 어머니의 동상]

二本松城は箕輪門や城郭が復元されていて美しい。我々は麓の駐車場に車を停め、標高345mの「白旗が峰」に築かれた城郭跡まで軽いハイキングをした。

[The explanation of Minowamon Gate, 箕輪門の説明、미노와문 설명]

[The guide map of Nihonmatsujo, 二本松城址の案内図、니혼마츠 성터의 안내도]

[Ayumi and Ryo at Minowa Gate, 箕輪門にて、미노와문에서]

天守跡の白旗が峰に登ると二本松市街が一望にできるのと安達太良山脈がよく見えた。

[A view from "Tenshudai"、天守台からの展望、천수대에서의 전망]

[A view from "Tenshudai"、天守台からの展望、천수대에서의 전망]

[At "Tenshudai"、天守台にて、천수대에서]

["Aioi" waterfall, 相生の滝、아이오이 폭포]

[Minowa Gate, 箕輪門、미노와 문]

二本松城を見学した後、われわれは次男の本業である有機農業支援活動の一環として「福島県有機農業ネットワーク」の事務局を訪ね、主事の祥子さんにインタビューをした。

「福島県有機農業ネットワーク」
http://www.farm-n.jp/yuuki/

[The office of Fukushima Organic Farming Network, 福島県有機農業ネットワーク」事務所、"후쿠시마 현 유기농업 네트워크"사무소]

[The interview, インタビュー、인터뷰]

[At the NGO office, NGO事務所にて、NGO 사무소에서]

この時期は野菜があまり出回る時期ではないので、販売活動は活発ではないようだ。代わりに最近発売された小学館の「ビックコミックスピリッツ」の人気連載漫画「美味しんぼ」にNPO法人「ゆうきの里東和ふるさとづくり協議会」がとりあげられ、理事長以下のスタッフが実名で登場することなどが話題になった。

[The comic, "Oishinbo," 漫画『美味しんぼ』、만화"맛의 달인"]

福島県有機農業ネットワークの事務所を訪ねた後、我々は実際に有機農業をおこなっている「二本松農園」の斎藤登さんを訪問した。

[At the living room, 斎藤家の居間にて、사이토 집의 거실에서]

斎藤さんは御自身の二本松農園に隣接する田畑を所有する農家が震災以降農業の継続をあきらめるなか、それらの田畑をレンタルしてむしろ農業の規模を拡大し、原発事故と戦っている人だ。

彼は民間の支援をテコに、1台250万円もする核汚染度計測機を2台も購入し、農産物の汚染度をつぎつぎと計測し、科学的な手法で農産物の安全さを検証している人だ。

[Mr. Saito and Radiation Checking Machine, 斎藤氏と核汚染度計測機、사이토 씨와 핵 오염도 측정 기]

[At the living room, 斎藤家の居間にて、사이토 집의 거실에서]

[At the living room, 斎藤家の居間にて、사이토 집의 거실에서]

彼の農地は震災後の原子力発電所のメルトダウンによる核汚染のにさらされ、表土をブルトーザーではぎとり、汚染されていない土を移植する方法で、除染作業をすすめている。

[A Geiger Counter on the farm, 農園に置いたガイガー計測器、농장에 둔 가이거 계측기]

現在はぎとった汚染土は専用のビニールの容器に入れ、農場の一角に野積みされている。

[Contaminated soil in plastic containers, ビニール容器に入れられた汚染土、비닐용기에 넣어 진 오염토]

現在進めている除染作業により、この汚染土の野積みは増え続けるので、最終処理地を探さなければならない。まだまだ続くたいへんな戦いである。

[Farmland under decontamination work,除染作業中の農地、제염 작업의 농지]

我々はガイガー探知機を手に、彼の農場を案内してもらった。実際、除染が終わった場所と、これからの場所ではガイガー探知機の値は1桁ちがう。

[At Nihonmatsu Farm, 二本松農園にて、니혼마쓰 농장에서]

[At Nihonmatsu Farm, 二本松農園にて、니혼마쓰 농장에서]

[The Geiger Counter on the land after decontamination work, 除染作業後の土の上のガイガー計測器、제염 작업 후 토양의 가이거 계측기]

視察の後で立ち寄ったビニールハウスにははやくも菜の花が咲いていた。息子はおひたしにする菜の花を農園主からいただいていた。

[Greenhouses of Nihonmatsu Farm, 二本松農園のビニールハウス、니혼마쓰 농장의 비닐 하우스]

[A yellow flower in the farm, 農場の黄色い花、농장의 노란 꽃]

我々は二本松農園の見学の後、道の駅で昼食にたいへんおいしい和食定食を食べた。

[At "Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』にて、미치노에키 "동화"에서]

[At "Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』にて、미치노에키 "동화"에서]

道の駅は有機農家が農作物を出荷する拠点にもなっており、意外と規模が大きかった。

[At "Michinoeki Towa", 道の駅『東和』にて、미치노에키 "동화"에서]

["Kokeshi" dolls, 道の駅のこけし、미치노에키의 코케시(목각 인형)]

[Lunch at Michinoeki, 道の駅で昼食、미치노에키에서 점심]

[Daniel and Ayumi, 民宿の前でダニエルとあゆみ、민박 앞에서 다니엘과 아유미]

[Mt. Hayama, 羽山、하야마]

昼食後、この日、宿泊する東和地区にある民宿を訪ね、その後、福島の事故原発から最も近い温泉という「名目津温泉」に入った。

[At Namezu Hot Spring, 名目津温泉にて、나메즈 온천에서]

源泉かけ流しの温泉だが、スーパー銭湯とは異なり、温泉の種類は1つしかないので長居はしなかった。

温泉後は、民宿へ戻り、民宿の食堂で夕食を食べた。シェフは民宿の御主人の息子さんで、イタリア仕込みの腕前。食堂の名前が「注文のきかねえ料理店」というのは宿の主人の好きな宮沢賢治の童話のギャグである。

[Restaurant that can not be ordered, 注文のきかねえ料理店、주문 할 수없는 요리점]

また、民宿の名前は「季の子工房」ふくしまなめこ農家のレストラン＆オーベルジュ〒二本松市太田字一本松7番地0243-46-2166で、御主人の武藤一夫さんは、「美味しんぼ」に実名で登場したNPO法人「ゆうきの里東和ふるさとづくり協議会」副理事長の武藤一夫さんである。

[Mr. Kazuo Muto, 民宿オーナーの武藤一夫さん、민박 소유자인 무토 가즈오 씨]

[At the minshuku restaurant, 民宿のレストランにて、민박 식당에서]

[An Italian dish, イタリア料理、이탈리아 요리]

[At the minshuku restaurant, 民宿のレストランにて、민박 식당에서]

[At the minshuku restaurant, 民宿のレストランにて、민박 식당에서]

夕食後、あゆみさんとダニエルは二本松市街へもどり、私は次男と共に民宿の二階に宿泊した。