研究室から 2016年度（デンマーク在住）

We’ve had a whole week of beautiful weather here in Denmark. It’s been warm enough to go out in a T-shirt, and we made the most of it with a picnic lunch in a park near my campus.

There’s so much lush greenery, even in the heart of the city. The sunlight is so bright that I can barely keep my eyes open, but the dry air and gentle breeze keep me comfortable without breaking a sweat.

Two wonderful days at the Sakura Festival in Copenhagen! The festival was packed with Japanese culture, and I was blown away by the quality of the performances and activities. It was truly moving to see Japanese traditions celebrated so beautifully here.

There was so much to enjoy: taiko drumming, Bon Odori folk dancing, karate, judo, aikido, calligraphy, tea ceremonies, and sumo, along with yukata, samurai armor, cosplay, karaoke, and Japanese idol performances. And, of course, there was plenty of Japanese food—udon, ramen, beef rice bowls, taiyaki pastries, shaved ice, and much more!

I had such a great time with my friends, enjoying the food, performances, and beautiful cherry blossoms together.

The University of Copenhagen offers many opportunities to learn new skills. I’d like to put what I learn here to use in disaster preparedness planning in Kumamoto.

We got together on April 23 for a Japanese cooking workshop. It was so much fun making Japanese food together and sharing a meal with everyone!

We got together for a last-minute dinner tonight. I was planning to make something simple, but it turned into quite a feast! I tried roasting a whole chicken in the oven for the first time. The ginger pork and spring onion miso were fantastic, too. Everyone is always welcome—feel free to drop by anytime!

When I said we had ice cream, everyone burst out laughing and asked, “Why are you screaming?” Apparently, my “ice cream” sounded like “I scream”!

A visit to the University of Copenhagen’s South Campus (Søndre Campus). The IT building, cafeteria, and lounge are amazing! Students and staff can use these spaces to study, exchange ideas, and work on creative projects whenever they like. It reminded me just how important it is to create open, welcoming spaces.

We had a little dinner party at my apartment tonight as a trial run for a bigger gathering. We made Japanese meat and potato stew, and Rasmus prepared blanched spinach in a savory dashi dressing. Miguel made an omelet that was absolutely delicious! Next time, I’d love to invite more people over. Everyone is welcome—feel free to drop by anytime!

We got together for dinner at Restaurant Tokyo tonight. I had shabu-shabu for the first time in about ten years, and it was delicious! We wondered how they managed to slice the meat so thinly, since we never seem to find thinly sliced meat in Copenhagen. Shimon is really good with chopsticks, and Mino does a great impression of my English accent. I guess I need to work on my pronunciation…

We visited Køge Museum on March 30, and I really enjoyed it! Køge had a population of about 36,000 in 2015. It’s around 45 km from Copenhagen Central Station—a 40-minute train ride—and has a beautiful townscape. The museum had some contemporary artworks by Japanese artists. So cool, fascinating… and a little strange!

I took a break from my work for the university back in Japan and headed downtown to enjoy the beautiful weather!