I'm Always Being Made to Cry by Binetsu-san: A Trip to Iida, Nagano
♪ Tomorrow, I will set out on a journey ♪ ("Azusa No. 2")
Hello, this is Panda Gorogoro.
I recently traveled to Iida City, Nagano Prefecture, to attend Binetsu-san's book cafe.
Since it was my first time going to Iida, I consulted a "transfer guide" and was presented with three options:transfer guide ①
Express bus (Shinjuku to Iida) ②
Shinkansen to Toyohashi, then JR Iida Line (Shin-Yokohama to Iida) ③Azusa No. 21 to Okaya, then JR Iida Line
(Shinjuku to Iida)
These were the three options suggested.
I chose route ③, and the reason I picked it, I think, is that I was drawn to the name "Azusa No. 21".
As someone from the generation that grew up listening to Karyudo's "Azusa No. 2" in real-time, the train name "Azusa" evokes a sense of travel for me.
At the same time, there was a reason I felt a sense of travel regarding the Iida Line as well. I had previously read a short story by the master of travel mysteries, Kyotaro Nishimura, titled
"The Iida Line of Love and Death" (included in "The Farthest Blue Train: The Express 'Tampoku' Murder Case" (Kobunsha Bunko)). Although I forgot the plot, the name of the Iida Line remained in a corner of my memory.
When I received the email from Binetsu-san inviting me to the book cafe, I decided "I'm going!" immediately because I had felt disappointed about not being able to attend Binetsu-san's previous book cafe in Ikebukuro.
The previous event was held on May 6th. I had fallen and fractured my left knee on March 5th, and I returned to work in the final week of April. After being off for nearly two months, it was hard to ask for time off again right after returning.
However, I really wanted to meet Binetsu-san.
My first impression after reading Binetsu-san's articles was that they were someone who writes incredibly charming, powerful, and passionate prose.
Their way of life is also full of ups and downs, with passion seemingly gushing from their entire being. When I read the article about their experiences with their husband, the power of the writing combined with the author's real-life experiences stirred my emotions, and I couldn't stop the tears.
How can this person write like this?
Why is it that they can captivate people so completely?
If I can meet them, I want to meet them.
That wish was about to be fulfilled.
I arrived at the destination the day before, on August 13th, by taking the Azusa No. 21 train departing Shinjuku at exactly 12:00 and transferring to the Iida Line.
The next morning, after checking out of the hotel at 10:00, I headed to the venue.
The venue was on the opposite side.
The doors opened at 11:00.
When I arrived just after 10:00, the book cafe preparations were already underway, thanks to those who had arrived earlier.
I greeted everyone.
Kosshi-sanand his son,Soutai-san,Mamechi-san.
A beautiful woman of a lovely age was handling the reception.
Nemuineko-san.
And then, meeting the real Binetsu-san in person, I was thrilled!
How should I put it? My impression was of someone fair-skinned and slender, as supple and graceful as a young tree.
Yet, the way she laughed was like a mischievous boy from a foreign picture book.
Then, I chose the books I wanted to take home.
Mamechi-san aims to open a bookstore where you can read books while drinking alcohol. It is scheduled to be realized this autumn.
At the book cafe venue, I was treated to a fruity non-alcoholic beer.
The iced coffee was, of course, Binetsu Black.
Everything, including the tandoori chicken curry, was delicious.
The famous Binetsu-san coffee had a clean, gentle flavor despite being black.
Because Ohitachi-san could not come due to poor health,Kuma-sancame withYuuyu-sanusing the Shinkansen and a bus.
I have been made to cry several times by the articles Kuma-san writes.
What kind of person is the real Kuma-san?
I was nervous.
And when I saw the person who arrived, the first thing I thought was,
'She has an aura like an actress.'
She looks like someone...
Yes, she looks like Fuka Koshiba.
Between Nemui Neko-san, Kuma-san, and Mitsumame-san, why are there so many beautiful women here?
Hehe, I'll say it in advance, but using the excuse of
'I'm taking the highway bus home, so I'll excuse myself early,'
I begged for a hug, saying,
'So, please give me a hug before I go!'
and I was hugged by
Binetsu-san, Kuma-san,Richi-san and others.
Ah, pure bliss.
Since it was my first time meeting Richi-san, I secretly checked her creator page while sitting next to her and found an article themed around Agatha Christie's 'Absent in the Spring'. As a fellow Christie fan, I decided on the spot to declare us friends.
I grabbed Wodehouse's 'Lord Emsworth' first because I only knew the Jeeves the genius butler series. I'd seen
'Before the Coffee Gets Cold' in a newspaper ad before. I chose Yasushi Kitagawa's
'The Sage's Book' because I enjoyed 'The Driver' by the same author, which I read after Miiko-san recommended it to me.
I put Binetsu-san's special handmade book covers on the three books and tucked one bookmark into each of them.
Ayumi-san and tree-san are both people I'm meeting for the first time. I greeted them while trying to be on my best behavior. tree-san gave me a hand-knitted pink bear-ear coaster. The bear ears look a bit like a panda's, which is cute.
BlueJam-san also greeted me.
Binetsu-san brought over the dessert and hot coffee. The strawberry ice cream was beige; she said that's the color it turns when you make it without adding anything unnecessary. The Binetsu Gateau was incredibly rich. The rosemary garnish added a refreshing scent. The Binetsu Black was delicious as always, even when served hot.
Kuma-san's macrame class began. On the right is the mother of the beautiful mother-daughter pair,
ram-san. On the left is her daughter,
Shima-san.
Sitting between the two of them in the front, I listened to Kuma-san's explanation while watching their hands as they continued their work.
The fun times passed, and eventually, the time came when I had to leave the venue to catch my highway bus.
As I wrote a little earlier, I exchanged hugs with the three beautiful women and said my goodbyes to everyone.
I quickly bought some souvenirs at the Namiki Market next door and headed to Iida Station.
After a while, the rain started pouring down.
While I was waiting on the bench, the bus bound for Shinjuku arrived, and I boarded it.
On the way, there was a 90-minute traffic jam at the Kobotoke Tunnel, and it was 9 o'clock by the time I arrived at Busta Shinjuku.
Even so, my connection to the Shonan-Shinjuku Line went smoothly, and I was able to get home just after 10 o'clock.
Binetsu-san, and everyone who participated in the book cafe,
it was so much fun.
Thank you very much.
Since I got back, I've been made to cry by Binetsu-san again.
I was surprised and said, 'Oh!' It seems she used to be a Japanese language teacher. The reason I was surprised is that I have never been liked by teachers in the past. (Omitted) From the moment she first greeted me, it really came across that she liked me, and I couldn't help but rub her arm. She laughed, 'Ah, I have no regrets now that I've met the real Binetsu-san,' with a 'hehehe' sound. I really love that way of laughing. Later, I looked at the photos a participant sent me and it all made sense. It was probably taken when she was leaving, and she is bowing deeply with her back straight toward everyone and me. Wow, but it's a surprise. So there are teachers who like me! I thought all teachers only liked the smart kids! That's why she is the first teacher in the world to like me. It made me feel really proud of myself. I was happy she came from so far away. Next time, I want to go there. I really love and admire the land where she lives. When I travel there, let's go to the sea or a temple together!
After all, I gave Binetsu-san a big hug.
I do what I need to do.
I love you, Binetsu-san.
Please continue to be happy forever.
Thank you for reading until the end today as well.
いいなと思ったら応援しよう！
記事を充実させるための活動費、書籍代として使いたいと思います🐼