エービー・エンタープライズBlog

Back in Britain, I always enjoyed camping and hiking.  Luckily, I lived near to some beautiful countryside and so most weekends I would either be riding my mountainbike or camping or hiking (or perhaps all three!).
One of my favourite things is to cook food on a fire.  Smoked bacon cooked in butter, then sandwiched between two slices of homemade bread is really good.  

In Britain, there are no mukade‘s so camping is a little more relaxing.  Unfortunately, the weather is unpredictable and often bad.  On good days, when the sky is blue and the air is crisp, walking up a mountain is very relaxing.  Below is a picture from a famous limestone region called Ingleton.  The landscape is dotted with lots of craggy limestone boulders and cliffs.  You can see a hand-built dry stone wall, to keep sheep in, at the bottom of the picture.  They are like works of art. 

One day last year, a famous Japanese comedian visited Kamiyama.  I had no idea who he was!  His name was Zakoba.  He came to a local  restaurant and his camera crew followed him.  Many people came to have dinner in the restaurant and it was very hot and busy inside.  I was interviewed by Zakoba in Japanese and apparently he was very rude to me but I couldn’t understand him!
The television program was broadcast sometime last year but I couldn’t watch myself!!  Did you watch it?  

Zakoba

 When I first moved into Kamiyama I was nervous about all the creepy crawlies. 
I heard that there were spiders as big as your hand, poison centipedes and huge dangerous hornets. 
Well, I have seen them all and honestly, they aren’t too bad!
I was bitten by a mukade (poison centipede) on my ear and it did hurt, but the pain went away very quickly.  It was a really tiny one though…  I have seen some mukade a long as a pencil and as thick as a my finger, and I certainly don’t want to get bitten by one of those!
The huge spiders keep the house free of cockroaches and other insects and aren’t dangerous at all.  They just move fast and look dreadful. 
The hornets are always busy so they have no time to chase you (thankfully!). 
The most dangerous animal here is the mamushi and it is a deadly snake.  Everyone is scared of those… so watch your step when you walk in the woods!!

Today it’s very hot.  It is perhaps the hottest day of the year so far..
It must be spring!
In Kamiyama, the ume blossom is blooming and the smell is delicious.  Kamiyama was once upon a time famous for ume (plums) but now sudachi is the main export. 
I recently moved house and it came with about 50 sudachi trees and a beautiful garden!  The view from my new house is amazing, but in summer it will be boiling (very hot)!  Luckily, it is close to the river so we will be able to cool off with a swim and then later perhaps drink some icy sudachi soda!

The farmer artist

Alright (Hello), how are you?
My name is Rufus and I am 29 years old.
I am from Lancaster, a small town in north-west England (so I am English).
I am the new teacher here at A.B. Enterprise and if I haven’t met you yet, I look forward to it.

I have lived in Japan for 2 years now and my home is a place called Kamiyama, deep in the mountains of Tokushima.  I live in a small village called Kawamata beside a river and it is very quiet.

My hobbies include walking, exploring old footpaths, hunting inoshishi (wild boar), farming, painting, writing, making films and music and baking bread. 
 
I have a cat and I live in a big old sake shop with my wife. 

I need to make some lesson plans now, so see you later!     

I saw this recently and felt that it was so fitting for my life in Japan. Reflection and calmness… I am enjoying new adventures and so happy for it!

Japan is a wonderful place. I am so happy to have this experience.

Iya Valley, known in the west as a hidden valley, has beautiful scenery that is beyond breathtaking and from what I have seen in Japan, quite unique. The water is a wonderful aqua blue. I haven’t seen water that color since my trip to the bottom of the Grand Canyon.

The best adventure of the trip was a walk across the vine bridge made from Wisteria branches. For those afraid of heights, it can be quite a feat to cross, as you can see through the bridge to the water below.

Iya Valley in West Tokushima

Another great place to visit in Tokushima. I am so glad I got to see such an amazing place.

Although I am have been here in Tokushima for a few months, the beauty of this area still strikes me. We have had some cold temperatures here lately, but there is still a need for sunglasses with the bright sun! After living in New York City for two years where you never get to the see the sun or stars, I find myself looking up to the sky a lot here in Tokushima. The sunsets have been quite spectacular. I look forward to catching the sunset in different locations around the area.

Where is the best place in Tokushima to see the sunset?

Here is the view from Naruto city.

We are back with a fresh start to the New Year! It is great to be back!

In America it is common that people start the new year with a goal. (It is called a New Year Resolution). Some people start exercising more, stop drinking coffee, or eating healthier. It is a fresh start for a new you!

Do you have a resolution for the new year?

We have resumed classes after our winter break. It was great to explore more of the area around Tokushima during the holiday. I was able to take the expressway out of the city and see a few new places. My friend and I went on a search for the best Tokushima Ramen. We may have found it, tucked in a small little restaurant next to a fantastic onsen that over looked the Iya Valley. It was nice to see a little snow and warm up with a delicious bowl of Ramen.

Tokushima Ramen in Iya Valley

I am Jennifer from America. I am new to A.B Enterprise and I am happy and excited to be teaching all the great students at our many schools here in Tokushima. I have enjoyed getting to know everyone and I look forward to learning from, as well as teaching my students.

I am an artist and before Japan I lived in New York City for two years. I have traveled all over the United States many times and lived in the Northwest area of the United States. I lived in California state — near the Redwood forest and Mount Shasta, Washington state — near Seattle, Oregon state — in Portland, and San Juan Island in the Puget Sound. I have also lived in the Southwestern desert area of the country in Arizona state– near the Grand Canyon. This is a new area of scenery and an amazing culture so far.

Please stop and say “Hello”, if you see me!

Hat shopping on the street in NYC.