July 20, 2014

Tokamachi Stone Sculpture Symposium/十日町石彫シンポジウム

On July 19, I had to drive my daughter to the athletics stadium in Tokamachi city and back home, which gave me another opportunity to explore the Tokamachi and surrounding area for three hours or so. At first, I thought I would visit some Echigo Tsumari Art Triennale artworks, but unfortunately, the weather was rather bad, so I decided to explore some of the stone sculptures scattered here and there around JR Tokamachi Station.
7月19日、十日町市にある陸上競技場に娘を送迎する必要があり、また十日町やその周辺地域を3時間程度散策するチャンスができましt。最初は大地の芸術祭の作品を幾つか見ようと思ったのですが、天気があまり良くないので、JR十日町駅の周辺に点在する石像を探索することにしました。

JR Tokamachi Station
JR十日町駅
  
Tokamachi city is featured in Episode 11 of Season 3 of Kodoku no Gurume. This is the confectionery store where the main character eats some sweets.
十日町市は孤独のグルメのシーズン3の第11話に出てきます。ここが主人公がお菓子を食べるお菓子屋さんです。

I took photos of all the sculptures I found around the station. Shown below are just a few examples.
駅の周辺で見つけた石像は全部写真に撮ったのですが、その中のほんの一例を載せます。 
Title: Perpetual motion
タイトル:永久機関


Yuki warabe (snow children)
雪わらべ

Kissing Fish
Kissing Fish
All the sculptures were equally impressive, but if I had to choose one, I'd select this one.
どの石像も印象的でしたが、どれか一つ選ぶとしたら、これです。
Yuruyakana Hitotoki (Slow Moment?)
ゆるやかな ひととき

The second choice would be:
二番目はこれ:

Silent Language
Silent Language
To view other sculptures, visit this site:
他の石像を見るには、下記のサイトに行って下さい:

Not only stone sculptures but also other common objects in the city were impressive.
石像だけでなく、他の普通のオブジェも印象的でした。








And, this large old house, too.
この大きな古い家も。



Unattended sales stand:
無人販売所:

Two tigers are watching you.
虎が二匹見てます。
Free-of-charge rest house:
無料休憩所:
Neige is waiting for you.
ネージュ君が待ってます。
I truly enjoyed the two-hour walk around the station. Later, I dropped by the supermarket,
駅周辺の2時間の散策をじっくり楽しみました。後で、スーパーに寄りました。
where I found, surprisingly, Yaki Chicken!
そこで驚いたことに焼チキンを見つけました!
My daughter used to love it, but the manufacturer had discontinued this particular product.
娘が大好きだったのですが、メーカーは製造中止していました。
Edited to add: I have learned from the official website (Japanese only) of the manufacturer, Nisshin, that three versions of Yaki Chicken were released on July 7, 2014.
I posted abou the first version of Yaki Chicken here in my blog.
追記: メーカー(日清)のオフィシャル サイトで、3種類の焼チキンが2014年7月7日に発売されたのを知りました。
最初の焼チキンについては、このブログのここに書いてあります。

7 comments:

Fräulein Trude said...

Those tigers are very cute. They would fit perfectly into my garden.

Hiroyuki said...

Kiki: Are they? But they are there to make sure that you don't do wrong with the produce and the money in the safe, I suppose.

I, for one, thought I'd like to live in an old, traditional house like that.

Sissi said...

Very interesting. I loved Kodoku no gurume... Only for a food geek. I must remember to check the addresses and names before I go to Japan next time (last time I forgot).

Hiroyuki said...

Sissi: You may find this list useful:
http://matome.naver.jp/odai/2134944816103593101
in Japanese only, though.

Sissi said...

Thank you!

Katrin said...

Hiroyuki: The sculpture you like best reminds me of one particular well in Oerlikon, not very far from where I live.
I have to go there tomorrow. I'll try to remember to take my camera, take a photo and post it.
(Sadly there are no photos of food from our recent vacation in Sri Lanka, only one photo of a prawn dish at Dubai Airport.)

Hiroyuki said...

Katrin: You are sweet! I'm looking forward to it!