Japanese

July 27, 2000: Eve of the 26th YMF
	I woke up late in the morning at Kanakana-Tei cottage. Surrounded with thick forest and looking a big carp in the pond, I enjoyed a wonderful taste of morning coffee.
We will have an Eve from 8:00 in the evening today. I arrived at the municipal hall around noon. Ms. Shigematsu prepares a wonderful flower arrangement.
	A banner is hung down in the eaves of Yufuin railroad station.
In the gallery of the station, pictures by Ms. Chikako Goto - one of the YMF staff- are displayed on the wall. Many passengers enjoy the pictures while they are waiting for the train.
	The theme of the display is "Visible Music" that expresses all kinds of music by pictures. She sticks on it and paints wonderful rhythmical pictures. Cross over your mouse pointer on the left picture, and you will see "Tokyo Stock Exchange rhapsody." She commuted to TSE for a half year to get an over-heated image of the bubble.
A YMF billboard was set on the entrance of the hall.
	Mr. Sawada from Toyama prefecture works as a staff as he did last year.
The reception table was set up.
	Mr. Yawara Watanabe, a regular music commentator from Tokyo, works hard on a PC.
Steering committee members carefully check exchanges and tickets, from left Ms. Fuchino, me, and Mr. Sato.
	Ms. Kubota and Ms. Eto set up a flower box at the entrance of the hall. They want to express a dynamic image of "Wildness of Yufu plateau."
	On the stage, Mr. Kono (left, cellist) and Mrs. Kono (center, pianist) and Mr. Kuroki (right, contrabassist) rehearsed the play many times for the opening night.
At the interval of the rehearsal, greens were brought in and set in the proper position.
Final rehearsal is in its peak.
	Many guests joined the opening eve.
A performance on eve: flute by Naoko Kirihara, piano by Michio Kobayashi.
	Co-performance by Mr. Kobayashi and his daughter Sumiko.
After the eve, a small tea party sponsored by Yufuin Hotel Union was held. From right, Ms. Shide of Musouen Hotel, Ms. Kuwano of Tamanoyu, and Mr. Nakaya of Kamenoi Besso Hotel.
	Ms. Shide of Musouen Hotel made a few words on behalf of Yufuin Cultural Section. Mr. Kunpei Mizoguchi of Tamanoyu stands back on the right.
Artists and volunteers enjoy the party together.
	Female volunteers, from left, Aso, Koyama, Mie, Hino, Kawano, and Matsuno.