2025/07/24 Day 1 of stay in Nagano Prefecture

I'm on the Shinkansen thinking, 'I have a deadline tomorrow, what am I going to do?' It's just over an hour from Tokyo to Ueda. So fast. Trains and Shinkansen really are amazing. I've been taking nothing but buses lately, so this feels incredibly comfortable.

I kept my morning walk short, took a shower, said goodbye to the dogs, and set off with my brand-new, shiny suitcase. I finally replaced the suitcase that was ruined from being overworked at 'Attitude' just the other day. It couldn't be helped, but this one is so comfortable. It's quiet while moving, the front opens up, and the casters can be locked. I'm so happy. What is this? It's like a lie that I've been struggling with suitcases every time I had a performance or a business trip until now.

Getting carried away, I bought a book inside Tokyo Station. It was terrifyingly crowded and I had to wait forever, so even though I arrived with time to spare, I barely made it onto the Shinkansen. Safe. I bought a book for the first time in a while, too. 'Baba Yaga's Night' by Akira Oya.

I'm running out of money because I'm spending it, but please forgive me since it's been a while since I've stayed in Nagano. It's for work, anyway.

On the way, I think about the Kanazawa performance. Thoughts of Toyooka and Kanazawa are constantly crossing my mind, either alternately or in parallel. During my stay in Nagano, I want to visit the Shinichi Suzuki Memorial Museum for research.

Arrived in Ueda. One thing after another, touring Liberte and holding a workshop. This part got long once I started writing, so I decided to summarize it in a separate report. It had a vibe like a 'Hyakki Yagyo' (Night Parade of One Hundred Demons) of masks. It was the best.

For this stay in Nagano, I'm staying at someone's house in Matsumoto. I get on a local train while feeling quite exhausted. The local train between Ueda and Matsumoto takes about 1 hour and 40 minutes including transfers, and there aren't many of them. However, I've gotten used to it after riding it a few times. As long as I don't miss it, I'll be fine.

Along with the fatigue, the symptoms of the second day of my period arrive. My eyes are constantly dry, and there's a dull ache deep in my eyeballs. Fortunately, I was able to get a seat, so I distracted myself by reading 'Baba Yaga's Night' and closing my eyes.

Arrived in Matsumoto around 18:30. I quite like the open scenery in front of Matsumoto Station. I ate dinner, and while I was sitting in a random spot waiting for my ride, I kept reading 'Baba Yaga's Night' and reached the end. It was interesting. I thought it was a literary work, so my expectations were betrayed in a good way from the start, and I finished it in no time. I'm glad I bought it.

I arrived home at night and am writing this diary while collapsing. I'm not just sleepy, my eyelids are heavy. My stay in Nagano is until the 27th. Tomorrow is the Yamabiko Lab field work.