Japanese October 22, 2005: The start meeting of "Kyushu - Latvia Snow Club."
The late Dr. Ukichiro Nakaya was the fierst researcher who created artificial snow crystals for the first time in the world. Mr. Kentarou Nakaya, a nephew of Ukichiro, one day introduced us of a very good tour to Latvia to join an official meeting called "The dialogue of ice and snow exhibition" to be held at National Museum of Natural History in Riga City in November. We soon decided to join it.
To commemorate this time tour, a small club called "Kyushu - Latvia Snow Club" started today and had the first meeting in "Setsuangou" of Kamenoi-Besso Hotel in Yufuin. Setsuangou is the restored old house of Dr. Ukichiro.
	Ten people joined today from Oita, Fukuoka, and Saga prefecture. After checking the schedule distributed from a travel agency, Miss Karina, a Latvian student studying in Japan introduced us about the land, climate, and the point of interest of Latvia.
We moved to Yunotake-Ann restaurant to enjoy the dinner. After toasting the start of the club, we had a very good food by listening Miss Karina's pleasant talk in Japanese.
	Baked Shiitake mushroom with seasoning, hot-pod of duck, and Japanese noodle boiled in the soup were very good.
	This is Japanese sake named "Ukichiro"; using yeast fungus gathered in the hill at the back of Ukichiro's parents'home. The fungus was then used to brew "Junmai-Daiginjou sake" (special　pure sake made from finely polished rice grain after a long time slow-brewing.) The essence of the sake has very clear flavor and taste of real Japanese culture.
In the opening ceremony of The dialogue of ice and snow exhibition, we are going to sing a nursery song "Falling snow flake" in Japanese and in Latvian. Miss Karina was a good teacher but Latvian was not so easy for Japanese.
	We stayed at Shouya, special guest room of Kamenoi Besso Hotel.
After bathing in the hot spring, I relaxed at the Irori room. The autumn in Yufuin was already cold enough to warm myself by the fireside.
	Next morning, I found a very beautiful faint autumnal red color in the garden.
We took breakfast at the main dining room. Abundant fresh seasonal vegetables were decorated on the bamboo tray. I called back the good food served at last dinner.
	Good vegetable display was in the restaurant.
The breakfast was prepared by using local products. It was very good over pleasant talk of unknown Latvia.
Morning calmness in the hotel. Autumnal color will deepen day by day from now.
	NEXT:(No.2) Departure to Latvia at last