野点

ゴールデンウィークで、滋賀県からおばあちゃんたちが遊びに来ています。今日はおばあちゃんたちを連れて、愛知県の緑化センターに行ってきました。桜やゆきやなぎの花は終わっており、ツツジやさつきの花の時期には少し早かったのですが、木々は青々とした葉っぱでいっぱいでした。
緑化センターの中には日本庭園があり、休憩所では野点をやっていました。久しぶりでしたが、甘いお菓子と抹茶のマッチングがバッチリでした。

日本庭園をバックに

結構なお手前でした？？？

緑の募金でお茶を点ててくれました

モーターランド三河

水泳の日本選手権開催中ですが、モーターランド三河でサーキット走行に行ってきました。久しぶりのサーキット走行でスピン・コースアウト・リムはずれもありましたが、楽しんで走ってきました。でも、足回りを固めて車高を落とさないとだめかな？その前に鈍った腕を磨かなくては。
ちなみに71周走ってベストタイムは30.186でした。

走行会に集まった車。手前のAWが私の車です。

原爆ドーム

日帰りの広島出張でした。学生のときに自動車技術会の会合で広島に一度行ったことがありますが、その時は原爆ドームを見る時間がありませんでした。今回も余裕はありませんでしたが、帰りの新幹線に乗る直前に10秒ほど見ることができました。
夜でライトアップされていることもありましたが、心に迫ってくるものがありました。

原爆ドーム

トヨタ博物館

今日はトヨタ博物館に行ってきました。会館17周年記念で入場料無料というのにつられてです。
開館当初に行ったきりでしたが、新館もできていて展示物が増えていました。
順路に従って見ていきましたが、ベンツ最初の３輪車は繁々と眺めてしまいました。レバー一本で前進のクラッチ操作とブレーキ操作を兼ねていたり、コーナーを曲がるときの駆動輪の左右回転数差に対応するためのディファレンシャルギヤをこのとき既に備えていて、しかもメカニズムがむき出しなので、どんなしくみになっているのかが良くわかりました。
展示車の中には、親が３６年前に初めて購入したスズキ フロンテも展示してあり、大変懐かしかったです。今からみるとほんとに小さい車ですが、これに家族５人が乗って大阪の万博まで行ったのを思い出しました。

1886年 Benz Patent Motorwagen

スズキ フロンテ

Spring Break

勝は金曜日から来週の日曜日までSpring Breakでお休みです。友達のRobert Steele一家と一緒に、Steele家の別荘のあるフロリダに遊びに行っています。
昨日写真を送ってきましたが、車好きのSteele家は別荘にもBenzやAlfaを置いてあるようです。

Steele家のフロリダの別荘

別荘に置いてある、Mercedes Benz 500 SEL

もう一台、'81 Alfaromeo Spider

始業式

玲奈は今日始業式で高校2年生の生活が始まりました。担任の先生はカスバートさんというオーストラリア人らしいです。今日は学級委員を決めたそうですが、英語のできる人が学級委員になって欲しいとリクエストがあったようです。どうも日本語より英語で説明したいようです。
ちなみにホームルームのルールも英語で書かれたものが配られていました。

Ann Arbor Newsの記事

今日、Ann Arborからの出張者が新聞を持ってきてくれました。先週3月30日の新聞に勝の記事が載っていたためです。勝の大きな写真と三つの記事が載っていました。

一つは、
Winning, and learning
Koba dominates in pool, assimilates into American life
という題目で、勝がアメリカの生活になじんできたことや、両親と離れて暮らすことで、食事や睡眠時間についてうるさく言われなくなって、生活が楽になり楽しんでいると書かれています。そうでもないとは思いますが。
また記事の中でAnn Arbor Newsの Swimmer of the Yearを２年連続で獲得したことも記載されています。

二つ目は、
Pioneer shows championship mettle
Pioneers defend state title after a dominating performance in 2005
という表題で、Pioneer HSのState Championに関することが書かれており、勝のことも少しコメントがあります。

三つ目は、
FIRST TEAM
という内容で、今年Ann Arbor近郊で活躍した11名の水泳選手がFirst teamとして取り上います。ちなみにSecond teamとして更に10名の選手の名前があがっています。

Winning, and learning
Koba dominates in pool, assimilates into American life

Thursday, March 30, 2006
BY JEFF ARNOLD
News Sports Reporter

Between the knit ski cap fitted snugly around his head and the purple Pioneer High School varsity jacket embroidered with his recognizable three-letter first name, Sho Koba has adjusted to life as an American teenager.

Three years after arriving in Ann Arbor from Japan, Koba has integrated into his new surroundings, spending his free time at the mall and comparing dream cars with his school classmates.

But in the pool, where perhaps he feels more comfortable than in any other setting, Koba has managed to separate himself from the rest of his competition. His performance in the final year of a standout Pioneer career capped by another pair of individual Division 1 state championships has earned him the title of Ann Arbor News Swimmer of the Year for the second consecutive time.

"He really is kind of a special person that only comes along once in a while,'' Pioneer coach Denny Hill said.

In the pool, Koba's numbers speak for themselves. During his final state championship appearance, Koba defended his state titles in the 100- and 200-yard freestyle, breaking his own state record in the 200. He also anchored Pioneer's 400 freestyle relay that set a new state mark.

Away from the pool, Koba has learned to integrate his Japanese heritage with an American lifestyle. Two months ago, when his parents returned to Japan after spending three years here, Koba chose to stay behind as a preparation exercise for his upcoming college career at Michigan State University.

"I just wanted to finish high school here, and just study more English before I go to college and learn more American stuff,'' Koba said.

Koba's indoctrination to the American way of life has been aided by teammate Jason Hass, who has filled the role of Koba's brother in a household where he is otherwise an only child.

Together, Hass and Koba have blended their two cultures, becoming closer while learning more about the other through a series of differences. Hass has learned to eat healthier while introducing Koba to such American favorites as fried fish.

Koba still finds humor in Hass' first experience with wasabi, where Hass learned first hand how spicy the traditional Japanese sushi condiment is when used in too big of a quantity.

Koba has also turned Hass onto flexibility exercises which keep him limber throughout the swim season. He has also taught Hass limited phrases in Japanese while becoming more comfortable with his English.

Koba's parents regularly check in with him, making sure he is getting enough sleep and eating healthy. But thanks to an American family, Koba's life has become easier and more enjoyable.

Koba will soon get his first lesson in fishing when he travels with Hass and his father to a lake in Jackson where they will fish for bluegills, sunfish and bass.

"I'll just learn from Jason,'' Koba said. "We'll go to the lake, and if I catch a fish, I'll just leave it without picking it up. But I want to go.''

As educational as Koba's life has become, having someone with different values and likes and dislikes has also been a new experience for Hass.

"I've tried to understand what he likes,'' Hass said. "He teaches me about things he grew up with, and I teach him things I grew up with. It's fun having a brother. I like it.''

Jeff Arnold can be reached at jarnold@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6812.

Pioneer shows championship mettle
Pioneers defend state title after a dominating performance in 2005

Thursday, March 30, 2006
BY JEFF ARNOLD
News Sports Reporter

All season long, the expectations were in place based on both tradition and past experience.

After the Pioneer High School boys swim team had cruised to the Division 1 state championship in 2005 with more than 100 points separating the Pioneers from the rest of the field, the bar had been set at an even higher level.

Not just to again finish on top, but to do so in an even more convincing fashion.

"Every year is a different story,'' Pioneer coach Denny Hill said. "You don't know who's going to come out of the woodwork, you don't know who's going to be real good.''

For the second consecutive year, the Pioneers' season ended at the top of Michigan's swim world, claiming another state title - this time by 18 points ahead of runner-up Birmingham Brother Rice. In all, the Pioneers captured three events, including two by Sho Koba and a record-setting performance in the 400-yard freestyle relay.

Pioneer also got a pair of second-place finishes by senior Chris Buck and one by Jason Hass to swim to the championship.

"I think, individually, we wish we could have gone faster,'' Hass said. "But we did what was needed. We won as a team, and that's all that matters.''

Without comparing this title to any other his program has swam to in the past, Hill said he will remember this year's team for its ability to achieve at a championship level when called upon to do so.

"This was a tough year for them because whatever they did, it wasn't going to be good enough,'' Hill said. "But I think they proved that they are the best team in the state, and I think that's what they should go away with.''

Jeff Arnold can be reached at jarnold@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6812.

FIRST TEAM
Thursday, March 30, 2006

Chris Berloth (Huron) - Berloth placed eighth in the 200-yard individual medley at the Division 1 championships and fourth in the consolation finals of the 100 butterfly.

Ryan Bordine (Milan) - The junior tied for fifth in the 100 freestyle at the Division 2 championships after qualifying for the state meet in five events.

Chris Buck (Pioneer) - The senior recorded a second-place swim in the 50 freestyle at the D-1 championships while finishing as the state runner-up in the 100 freestyle. Buck also swam the lead leg in the record-breaking 400 freestyle relay, helping lead the Pioneers to their second straight team title.

Pat Buck (Pioneer) - The junior placed third in the 100 backstroke and won the consolation championship in the 200 IM at the D-1 championships. Buck's time in the 100 backstroke also was within All-American time standards.

Sean Cleary (Chelsea) - The senior was the area's top diver in state competition, placing fourth at the D-2 championships. Cleary was 6-0 in Southeastern Conference competition and was 13-1 overall.

Jason Hass (Pioneer) - After winning a pair of conference titles at the SEC championships, Hass turned in a second-place finish in the D-1 100 butterfly and a fifth-place finish in the 200 IM. Hass also swam on the Pioneers' 400 freestyle relay.

Sho Koba (Pioneer) - The senior defended his D-1 state championships in both the 100 and 200 freestyle. In the 200, Koba broke his own state record with a swim of 1 minutes, 38.16 seconds. Koba also anchored Pioneer's 400 freestyle relay, which also broke a state record the Pioneers set in the D-1 preliminaries.

Kirk Kumbier (Dexter) - The junior placed fifth in the 100 breaststroke at the Division 2 meet while also finishing second in the consolation finals of the 200 individual medley.

Aaron Renton (Pinckney) - The senior capped his career by placing eighth in the 50 freestyle at the D-1 state championships after claiming Kensington Valley Conference titles in the 50 and 100 freestyle. Renton also holds the Pinckney school record in two individual events and was part of two record-setting relays.

Robert Steele (Pioneer) - Steele placed eighth in the 200 freestyle while rounding out Pioneer's 400 freestyle relay. Steele's time in the 200 freestyle qualified him within All-American time standards.

Scott Yarbrough (Tecumseh) - The SEC champion in the 100 breaststroke placed third at the D-2 state championships, putting the finishing touches on a solid season.

Top relay: Pioneer's 400 free relay (C. Buck, Hass, Steele, Koba) - The foursome capped Pioneer's team title with a record-breaking swim, breaking its own record set in the D-1 preliminaries.

五平餅＆枝垂桜

今日は奥三河方面へドライブ。お目当ては五平餅。
五平餅は、五穀豊穣を願う新嘗祭で神前に供えた御幣に代わるお供え物として小判形の餅を作ったという説や、五平さんという人が考案した携帯食とか、長野県伊那地方の宮大工の棟梁五平さんが飯を握って味噌を塗り、焚き火であぶって食べていたのが始まりという説などがあるようです。
飯田街道沿いのお店で買った五平餅は、これまで見たこともない大きな五平餅でした。久しぶりに食べましたが味噌ダレがいい味していました。

五平餅を食べてからの帰り道では、きれいな枝垂桜を見ることができました。アメリカに行っている間は、桜もどきの花しか見ることができませんでしたが、やっぱり本物の桜はきれいですね。

大五平餅

枝垂桜

Pioneer HS Swimming & Diving Banquet

昨日は高校水泳部のBanquetでした。一昨日のAASCに引き続き連荘のBanquetです。選手一人一人の今年度の活躍を紹介し、卒業する選手やコーチのスピーチが行われます。勝もスピーチしたはずなんですが、どうなったことでしょうか？ホームステイ先の家族がビデオを撮ってくれていると思いますので楽しみにしたいと思います。

ヘッドコーチDenny Hill、勝、アシスタントコーチLiz Hill。勝の髪の毛も少し伸びてきたようです。