It's been a year now since last year's earthquake and tsunami and there have been many memorial services all around Japan today.

The main one in Kamakura was at a Buddhism temple called Kencho-ji with all the different religions coming together again. There were Shintoh,Buddhism,and Christian priests and nuns and vicars whom all offered their prayers one after another. They were expecting nearly 10 thousand people to come to this one alone. I'm not sure how many actually turned out but the place was packed.

The procession of the religious leaders went round the grounds of the temple while praying and then arrived in the main building. At 2:46 PM,the time when the earthquake had hit,the temple's huge bell was struck and a minute of silence was held in prayer. It was extremely moving in that in an instant,although there were so many people,there was absolute silnce. I've never experienced such a sad silence before. The temple is surrounded by mountains but I don't think even the birds were singing in this one minute. It really felt as if the whole of Japan was as one at that moment.

It's nearly a year now since the huge earthquake and tsunami. Everyday life goes on,but this whole year has felt like a year of mourning. As the 1st anniversary approaches the media here in Japan has been taken over by the event,reminding us about the shock we felt then and following up on how people are having to cope after their lives have been taken away. It's very difficult to face all the problems that we have and very upsetting but I think that it's good that we are reminded that there are still so many people struggling with their lives and still in pain. Sadly,it is so easy for us to forget...

I know that I've been neglecting my English blog. I am still alive and life goes on.
This has been a very cold winter for us here in Japan and everyone is eagerly awaiting the spring to come.
I found one single plum flower in bloom yesterday which is a sign that spring is nearly here.

Although I guess it is not headline news anymore abroad, Japan is still very much damaged by last year's March 11.It will soon be the first anniversary and everyone is bracing for it. I just saw on the news how they've reinforced people to find those whom are still missing. There are still people missing in the thousands.

In the past year I have visited Kamaishi three times to do volunteer work. It is one of the towns which was hard hit by the tsunami. I first visited there in June and although much of the damage was still left untouched with buildings and roads still full of debris and the huge tanker ashore on the port,there was a sense of unity and optimism to try and get over this terrible disaster together.

The second time I went was in November. It was amazing to see how quick so much of the debris had been cleared and already new buildings - shops and places to eat - had appeared. When I went to the base camp and visited the temporary homes though I could sense that mental fatigue and depression was wide spread. The days were becoming shorter and seasonally we were heading for winter so spirits were very low. I got very much caught up in it myself ( how can you not?) and it mad me realize how serious and complicated the future for these places will be.

The third time was just last month. Although it was bitterly cold,I think because the New Year had come and that we are heading for spring now, there was a sense of new hope and optimism again. Of course every individual is different but the feeling of the places and people that I had been in contact with were definitely more positive than when I had visited in November. It felt very promising.

Everyday life where I live here in Kamakura is totally back to normal. It is so easy to forget that this is still an ongoing thing and that it will take years for those people whom have been robbed of their lives to find some kind of "normality".

It's really been a life-changing experience for so many of us here in Japan,but I hope that we will not forget what we had felt and seen and continue to be compassionate towards those whom have been affected by it. I really feel that every moment that we have shouldn't be taken for granted and that the way we live each moment must not be wasted.

P.S. Seems like I haven't written about music for quite a long time! It's all interconnected but I'll try to write something which might be more relevant to this website next time!!!

Wishing the world a Happy New Year!
Please forgive me to be a bit selfish but I really do hope that Japan will have a really good year.
2011 was a terrible year for us as a country and we still very much feel the damage from all the events. I hope that we will be able to find joy and happiness in this New Year which will help us overcome all that has happened.

Wishing the world peace,love and joy!

Only a few days now till my recital on the 10th.
I've been pushing myself for the past few weeks and it's really been hard work. Although it's very satisfying and rewarding with new discoveries everyday, it's still a very lonely process.

Just found out though,that someone whom I had met in June when I did some volunteer work in the earthquake/tsunami hit area in the north had lost his girlfriend by the tsunami.

It just put things into perspective. I should be so grateful for what I am doing and to be able to do it.I definitely will be giving it my all and trying my best!

The past few weeks have been totally dedicated to getting myself ready for this recital on the 10th of this month. Japan has been really hot so it's been a struggle practicing the Appassionata and Dante Sonata in the heat! It's a relief that it's cooled down a bit. At last I'm not constantly worried about being heat stricken!

I did a small recital on the 23rd of September in a place called Chigasaki. It came about when I was talking whether it would be possible to do a charity concert to contribute to the tsunami affected areas. I found out that someone whom I've known for many years ,Mr.K, has been going to a particular area in the north called Natari,which he just found on the map and thought might be cut off from any relief efforts coming in. He's kept in close contact with the mayor of Natari, and goes there regularly - about once a month - loading his car with things that might be necessary and things that are difficult to get hold of. In the beginning apparently it was mostly food - fresh vegetables,fruit,flour,pasta,ham,sausages, - then eventually toys for kids,clothes,summer blankets,etc. I think he even took a washing machine at some point! He's an amazing person!

Anyway,they organized this concert for me,and with the cooperation of the International Soroptimist of Samukawa we were able to raise money to help this area called "Natari".
I am really happy that I was able to contribute in some small way.

As for my performance...
I think I had been working too hard and had lost my way in the process.
Someone gave me some really good comments and advice though,so I'm back on track and I feel like I'm heading in the right direction. My aim for the 10th is to actually enjoy the music myself. It seems like an obvious thing,but that's never been my aim in a performance! Now that I feel that this might be possible,I'm suddenly thinking," What have I been doing all these years! " I totally missed the plot!

Can't believe that 10 years has passed since 9/11. I still remember the day vividly though...
It's also exactly 6 months since the earthquake and tsunami which hit Japan in March.So many lives lost and so many people's lives shattered.....

May there be peace to all those who passed away and all those who have lost so much.

So,food.

I love good food and wine and have always enjoyed it,but my experience in France was a whole new ball game.

There were so many things that I had tasted and just couldn't believe how delicious they were. And it's not just the tastebuds which are involved! It's actually a feeling that you get from it - which I've never experienced with food before.

And it wasn't even food specially prepared in fancy restaurants! It could be simply the fresh croissants /baguettes in the morning ,the pates from the butcher or the fruit from the market. My stomach would never give me the signal that I was full as it seemed that the pleasure I'd be getting from my tastebuds would totally overtake my brain! A very dangerous situation to be in! That's why I now understand why gluttony can become a sin!

There are so many delicious things that I remember from this trip. The chicken and lemon terrine from the butchers,eggs poached in red wine, the pear tart that I had on my birthday,the salmon mousse appetizer (which had a poached egg in it) from Fauchon, the super thin and light gallette at a tiny restaurant in Paris and of course all the beautiful wines to go with it!

There are two things that I will never forget though,because of the feeling that I had got from them.
One was a "rose and raspberry meringue gateau" which I had at the cafe of the Musee Jacquemart-Andres in Paris. The beautiful surroundings played a big part too but there was something so exquisite about the taste that it just felt like it had taken over all my senses. It was the perfect combination of the perfume of the rose, the tartness of the rasberries,the richness of the cream and the sweetness and texture of the meringue. Pure heaven!!

The other one reminds me of a scene in the film "Ratatouille". In the film this really mean restaurant critic asks for the speciality of this French restaurant and the chef brings out,what seems to be an arrangement of a simple wholesome "ratatouille" . The critic takes a bite and it immediately takes him back to his childhood and fills him with the warmth of his mother's love and his heart just melts.

This happened to me on the first night that I had arrived in Morgon. The owners of the Chateau, James&Sarah,had prepared us a wonderful dinner with the beautiful wines that they make,and at the end of it,they presented us with a cheese board. It was one of these cheeses that had blew me away. I really can't describe why it was so special. It was just a creamy,not so salty cheese,but for some reason it reminded me of my mother. Not of my mother's cooking but of my mother! It was just a really gentle but soothing taste.

So,I'm hooked. This trip has been a real eye opener in so many ways!
I am so glad that I don't live in France though. If I did,I would be in big trouble as I would become so big that I don't think I'd fit in front of the piano anymore!

I've been working really hard for this concert in October and have been busy getting the administrational side of it done but I think it's now under control and feel that I can now sit down for a moment and write a bit about my summer.

I came back feeling totally refreshed and inspired after my trip to England and France. It is always so nice seeing old friends and enjoying London and absorbing the cultural vibe there. This year though, there was an added dimension to my trip where I was given the opportunity to play the Elgar Piano Quintet with the Bridge Quartet in a Chateau in the Beaujolais region - a place called Morgon - in France. My whole stay there can be described in one word - BEAUTIFUL. Everything about it was absolutely beautiful - the scenery,the sky,the food,the Chateau,the people and the music. I felt so lucky to have been given the chance to play the Elgar and I was so excited about playing it even when practicing it on my own in Japan. It was such a treat then to play it with the Bridge Quartet and I thoroughly thoroughly enjoyed it. It is such a beautiful piece. The piano - an Erard - was also perfect for the solo Liszt pieces that I had played and I was truly inspired not only by the sound but also by the surroundings. The atmosphere was so warm and welcoming and it just seemed like the perfect evening.

The time that I had spent in Morgon really has given me a lift. I think the affects of the earthquake and tsunami which happened here in Japan in March really has taken a grip on everyone and I have been finding it hard to separate myself from it. Not that I want to or will forget about it,but I feel that my experience in Morgan has given me a chance to start on a clean slate and start again afresh.

I'll have to write about the FOOD in France in a separate blog . I never knew food could bring so much pleasure. I now totally understand why gluttony is a sin!