Japanese
November 10, 2005: Kyushu - Latvia Snow Club
(No.7) Thank you party
The late Dr. Ukichiro Nakaya was a Japanese snow and ice 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.
In the evening, we were guided to an old house in Old Riga. In USSR occupation days, many families lived in this house. After the independence, the house was investigated minutely and many precious facts were revealed such as the house had once been a residential zone of 16th century merchants. The house was then preserved by the government. There are two depots in the basement and on the top floor.
This is the kitchen. The cooker grilled meat using an old oven that reminded us of the then time life.
One of our members, a prominent chef of French cuisine, helped to slice out the grilled meat.
Pork and assorted Sauer Klaut were very good.
The large round table was filled with many kinds of local dishes and wine. Japanese Sake "Ukichirou" brought in from Japan this time was introduced to all and served by Ms. Fujiko Nakaya.
The director of National Museum of Natural History started the party with a few words. Many people who supported this time exhibition attended the party this evening.
Latvian attendants welcomed us with Latvian folk songs and we replied for them by Japanese familiar song "Snow falls."
Japanese poet Mr. Mutsurou Takahashi, one of the Japanese side advocator of the exhibition, cerebrated the party by singing Japanese old folk song Kuroda-Bushi in a fruity voice.
After that, we exchanged good songs. Latvian sang famous folk songs one after another. We Japanese answered back by Japanese local songs like "My birthplace", "Otemoyan", and even "Coal mining song."
In the end Mr. Takahashi and Mr. Nakaya sang "Kiso-Bushi" sonorously. I felt relieved.
Good exchanges were everywhere.
The director of National Museum of Natural History is a very beautiful lady attracting attentions of the attendants. She got many fans tonight.
In the back room was a huge table on which good beer made by traditional brewing was served. At the end most room was said old oven.

The party sponsored by "The dialogue of ice and snow exhibition" group was really great.
The left end was Mr. Kentarou Nakaya, the center female was the director of the Museum and on her left was a young Latvian interpreter.
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