Mountain bounties of“Ubusuna House” are food, pottery and people

We do what it is called “multiple agriculture” where my son takes charge of the field while my husband and myself grow eggplant, leek, and rice. We sell our produces and make living out of them. While Ubusuna House is open, I work there and also look after five people in the facility called “Group Home”. I have six people in my family including myself. As I am always with five to six people, I don’t feel lonely at all. I get lonely easily by nature but I am grateful for leading cheerful life thanks to everyone.

We discuss like “we can have three of us here tomorrow” or “two of you should be able to manage”- in order not to overspend on labour expense. Shizuko Mizouchi, the leader, always trust us – that is wonderful and make us think “Oh Shizuko needs us. We should do our best”.

I always liked cooking even since I was a little girl. I received the best award for lunch-box contest organised by Agricultural Cooperative. I mixed Tsukena (pickled greens), distinctive winter flavour with rice, turned a scallion into pink in shiso-leaves and sprinkle sansai (mountain vegetables) to finish off. I would call it “bashful mountain bento” – isn’t is lovely? I don’t have particular cooking I would say I am especially good at but I have always been making my family content. 

We exchange contact and I sometimes give a call to their phone. We are like friends. I received a phone call from one of those people saying “I saw you on TV” when I appeared with my husband on a TV show called“NHK Nodo-Jiman” (a TV show encouraging people to participate in a singing cotest) at Koide Cultural Hall. It made me feel happy. I even receive a phone call asking“do you happen to have that ingridients I ate last time I visited Ubusuna House?”I feel most happy when people rely on me in such manner and I pack the vegetable and send it straight away.

When I met Mr Kitagawa for the first time, I touched his beer belly by saying “what is this?” – and then he said “don’t you touch my belly”. I wasn’t aware he was unhappy and continued to ask “are you wearing it for colour TV?” by pointing out his rather outstanding striply shirt – and he replied “this is the only shirt I have.” I thought “I had never met anyone that grumpy.” He kept visited us and said“keep going” to us working in the kitchen as he left. It made me think that “he is so invested into this house. We shouldn’t let it go”. 

I found my job in the community I live where I can meet visitors, make friends and use vegetables I grow. I cant ask more. That is why I would like to enjoy and do my best to keep this house.