Hiroko’s Diary

I was born and raised at a small village named Yasumatsu in Izumisano near the Kansai International Airport. It’s near both the sea and mountains.

There are a lot of farms near my parents’ house and it’s very quiet and peaceful around the area. You can see a cabbage butterfly and a swallow-tailed butterfly around the farms. When we visit my parents, my children play in the front garden and the back garden of the house. My mother plants a lot of beautiful flowers. There is also an orange tree and other trees. The environment is quite different from the place I live now. So for my children to visit their grandparents means a lot.

People live in Yasumatsu put importance on keeping Japanese traditional customs. They are very religious and respect neighbors. If someone dies neighbors help the "Otsuya" and the funeral. Usually women prepare meals for the people who come to the "Otsuya". They cook plenty of dishes. I respect those women. I’m pround of my hometown.