On January 19, a celebration party was held at Healthy-Spa Hall in Yufuin in commemoration with getting a prize of "Transport Culture Award." The winner were two giants of the town: Mr.Kunpei Mizoguchi (left) and Mr. Kentaro Nakaya (right.) The Minister of Transport, Keijirou Kawasaki, highly rated their activities to boost up the village through the effective use of transportation. The prize is regarded as very valuable one.

Many people in Yufuin were delighted by hearing the news and some of them planned the award-winning party. They made an appeal to the residents. Tonight, every participant paid 1,000 yen for oneself and some dishes were brought-in by supporters. I brought two dishes for the celebration party. Six proposers are on the stage (left), and Mr. Yoneta, general secretariat of Yufuin Sightseeing Committee Office, takes the chair.

More than 100 people mix pleasantly by chatting, laughing, and enjoying dishes and drinks. A big pod that can boil "Oden" (a Japanese dish containing all kinds of ingredients cooked in a special broth of soy sauce, sugar, sake, etc.) for 500 people is simmering with mouth-watering vapor, it is now ready for serve.

At the center of the main table is a fresh-bamboo tray that holds mini-sized carrots and Japanese white radish. They are dipped into a bowl of malted miso in front of the tray. The vegetables were one of wonderful present from nature of Yufuin, the masterpieces of the small local village. A piece of Ume flower was laid quietly on the dish (right.)