August 1 1997

My nephew(Mr.Tadashi Matsui) in Tokyo visited my house in Oita on his way of the business trip to Fukuoka. This is the first time to meet him in two years. He is a newspaper reporter and is very interested in the Internet. We enjoyed the Internet by connecting COARA or taking pictures by a digital camera. He took some pictures to have them show to his wife.

August 2 1997

My nephew already goes home today. He visited COARA office today because as a reporter of a newspaper, he is very interested in the Internet. He was really delighted to meet with Mr. Ono, the secretariat of COARA. After the meeting, we three took the lunch at a hotel. He connected to the Internet from the table using PHS system. He was relieved to know that there was no big news. On the way to Oita air port, we dropped in Ohga herb garden. He was very much moved to see the large open field of the garden and rich nature of the private beach.

August 14, 1997

Today I joined an off-line meeting of braille square of an electronics conference of COARA. I went to yufuin to see the Sekines who came from Tokyo. Mr.Kimura and Mr.Goto the chairman of the braille square, Mr.Matsuki, Mrs Ishida, and Mr.Kiuchi shared the table. After a long time, the weather was fine in Yufuin. I was very glad to have a chance to chat with my close members.

August 15 1997

We have the Bon festival today. I drove up to Oita air port with my son, who is home for the summer vacation, to see Ms.Sato from Kitami of Hokkaido island. She is a member of "Aurora Net" and visited here in Kagachi town of Oita prefecture to revisit the grave of her ancestors. She told me that her late grandmother moved from the town to Hokkaido. She had visited the town in January to trace back her roots and discovered the grave and the spot where her grandmother once lived. We drove around Kunisaki peninsula and stopped at the Chinese noodle restaurant run by Mr.Tanaka, one of the members of COARA. We enjoyed delicious dishes and chatting with him. We could see many old friends in Bon season, indeed.

August 16th 1997

My son is in home since the 14th for Bon vacation. He came home after a long time and we have the pleasures of the happy home. Today, he polished up the car completely. As a businessman of a car maker, he might have felt uneasy about my dirty car. He will be already coming back to Tokyo tomorrow. I baked pound cakes and Conconble for him. We he goes away, we are going to be very lonely.

August 20th 1997

From October 3rd through 12th, we will have "Muicipal Industrial Exhibition" at Oita Castle park. The officials asked us, COARA secretariat and its members, to make a demonstration booth of the Internet. We are now preparing for it through E-mails and face-to-face meetings at COARA office. "We can enjoy the Internet in this way, we can send such pleasant information, and we can polish ourselves through the Exhibition." It was confirmed to promote the plan under the close ties.

August 30th 1997

Just two days are left in August. We drove to the mountainous area of Oita after a long time. The weather was clear and the breeze coming in through the window brings us the touch of early fall. I was refreshed by looking up the fleecy clouds while lying down on the grassy plain. We visited a newly opened "Kuju local beer village" and enjoyed a grand panoramic landscape of Kuju mountain range and Aso volcanic peaks. On the way home, we dropped in a favorite cool spot in Yufuin town, Kotokotoya coffee shop.