Greetings from Iinomachi

For my family purpose I am now Iino, is a small town of the Fukushima Prefecture. It lies within 200 kilometers of Japan’s capital of Tokyo. Fukushima is the third largest prefectures of Japan. The map-shape of Fukushima is resembles to  Australia. Fukushima Prefecture is famous as ‘hot springs paradises’ of Japan. To go Fukushima it takes 4 hours by bus and 1.5 hours by Shinkansen (Japanese bullet train) from Tokyo .

Now here is winter, daily average temperature is minus 1.2 – 4 º C. It is very cold for Bangladesh. I got first experiences to see son and frosting. Although facing suffering to adapt, but new culture and lifestyle. Every house has seating table ( Kotatsu) with electronic hitter. Now I am writing from Kotsu, and feeling hot in winter! After daylong work, drinking and taking delicious food as like as Japanese I also enjoy ohuru ( bath in hot ) in night. During taking ohuru, I feel myseof as half boil, but it gives new life and refresh to all of my cell. I am very impressed by Iino’s life, sea food, hospitality. I am enjoying Japanese creativity, disciplines and modest life style. Its really a creative nation!

Note: The official website of Fukushima: http://www.pref.fukushima.lg.jp/site/english/

February 8, 2005