すぐそこにある《インバウンド》(SS;4,200文字…実質この1/2ぐらいかな?)
「どうしたの、おばあちゃん、そんなにあわてて? え、庭にカメラを持った金髪の大男が入ってきた? おにぎり食べながら辺りにゴミを捨ててる? 迷惑系観光客らしいから警察に連絡するって? ダメだよ! 願ってもないビジネスチャンスじゃん! ボクが相手するから、お湯沸かして待ってて! あ、それから、なんでもいいから和服用意しておいてね!」
Hi, Boy, How are you?
「Good! I am Yuta. Where are you from?」
From US。
「Welcome to the beautiful Japanese garden!」
Beautiful? ……It’s just wild!
「No! This is the world of "Wabi, Sabi"」
Oh! I know "Wabi, Sabi"! Very impressive!
「You must be tired。How about taking a break? Please be seatd here on "Engawa"」
How nice!
「Would you like a cup of tea?」
Oh! Yes, thanks!
By the way、Do you know where I can see "Geisha" girls?
「You can't, in this town。You need go to big cities, but with big money」
Oh……No chance……。
「I guess, you just wanna be entertained by pretty girls in Kimono ?」
Well……Yeh……。
「Then、Shall I arrange a party with Kimono-ladies? ……At a reasonable cost」
Oh, really?
「Guaranteed。あ、おばあちゃん、ありがとう」
A…A-RI-GA-TO! Oh、I like this snack! Good matching with green tea。
「It's "Karinto"、One of Japanese laxuary sweets」
Oh、I can see, it's laxuary。
「OK、See you later in "Kominkan" this evening, for the party with Kimono-ladies」
This evening? Your work is so fast! Impressive! See you later。
「This is the bill for the tea and "Karinto"」
Are you going charge money for them?
「Of course。I asked if you would like tea、And, you answered "Yes"」
Mmm……But, I didn't order the sweets。
「Oh、You'd better know Japanese culture "Otohshi"? A small food is automatically served and charged when you order a drink」
Oh……all right……here it is。
「Tips are also very welcome!」
I know, there is no tipping culture in Japan。
「Oh、You must learn good old Japanese culture。Decent Japanese customers give "Kokorozuke", similar to American tips, to hotel staff or restaurant waiters when they want to show special thanks for nice services」
All right……Here is "Kokorozuke"……。
「Thanks! See you later!」
**********
……Is this the "Kominkan"?
「Yes、Follow me。This is the party room, Kimoto ladies are waiting for you」
Hi! ……How…How…How old are they?
「It is not polite to ask ladies their ages」
Oh, sorry……but……Yuta, you said "pretty girls"
「You see, they are pretty, and it's like a girls-party、I asked them to come wearing Kimonos just for your sake」
O…Oh, thank you so mush。But all the ladies here…I mean "all", not "old",…anyway, all the ladies wear black Kimonos, how come?
「They wear a formal type of Kimono to entertain you。The type of Kimono for a wedding party」
Really? Thank you, ladies。
「── え、何、おばあちゃん? 急に出せる着物なんて、みんな喪服しか無かったって? いいよいいよ、気にしなくっても。デイサービス友だちの皆さんも無理なお願いを聞いてもらって、ありがとうございました! お料理も持ち寄っていただき、このお客さんも喜ばれると思います」
What did you say to them?
「I thanked them for their coming and setting the party at such a short notice, just for you。── え、おばあちゃん、こんな芋の煮っころがしや茄子の揚げびたしのような手料理でいいかねえって、もちろんだよ! こういう『お袋の味』はお店で食べられないからね! それどころか、このおじさん、民泊に泊ってて、コンビニで買ったモノばかり食べてるみたい。きっと感激しちゃうよ!」
What did you say to them?
「I just asked them to make you happy。── じゃあ、みなさん、『お・も・て・な・し』よろしくお願いします。このおじさんには『心付け』についても教えておいたから、期待できるはずだよ!」
I know you just said "Kokorozuke"? The one in Japanese culture?
「Yeh!If you are a decent customer, don't forget nice old-days Japanese custom, "Kokorozuke"!」
Ye…Ye…Yes!
「Enjoy!」
