The Yaki-Imo Truck Song
by Hanna
(From Hello Sandwich, by Lily and Isabelle.)
For a lighter form of Japanese nostalgia than the pictures I posted yesterday, here is a beautiful recording of the sound of a yaki-imo truck song. Yaki-imo are roasted sweet potatoes that are often sold by trucks that go through residential neighborhoods playing a song that advertises their product. It might be compared to the ice cream trucks that would come through my neighborhood where I grew up in the US, except that the song is very different. I don’t miss the ice cream truck songs much, but whenever I leave Japan for an extended period of time, this sound as well as that of the warabi mochi truck I miss. Often it’s not until I do hear it here, which is rare, that I know how much I had missed it. . .
(I need to work on resizing the YouTube window, but for now, I’ll just put it up although the balance is off. I have to run to the doctor to get this cold checked like a good Japanese person. Haha!)
Just read that the first e-book is out about 3/11
It is called “2.46 – Aftershock” and the proceeds will go to
Red Half Moon. It is on Amazon and looks kind of interesting.
Wish it would be out not only on Kindle.
Hope your cold is getting better.
CH
Dear Christiane,
I’ve heard about this book through Twitter, but I didn’t know really what it was all about. Too bad I didn’t start writing about my experiences until about three weeks after the quake. Else, I might have been able to contribute something. . . Oh well.
As to the issue of digital vs. print, I just found the editor’s take on exactly that problem here: http://www.ourmaninabiko.com/2011/04/turning-digital-with-passion-quakebook.html
As always, thank you!
Hanna, everything you posted and wrote is worth printing and publishing digitally or on paper …or both.
I am a BIG fan of yours and just wanted to thank you again for taking the time to write so beautifully.
You are a brave and smart woman and I am so glad I found your blog. SInce 3/11 one only can admire your courage and calmness – your friendship with your Japanese host country – and your attitude towards danger and sadness, your compassion and your love for the arts – I really hope you have many readers, who feel like I feel about “SleepingMountains”.
My thoughts go to you in Tokio, all the best and I hope you are feeling better when you read this.
Be save,
christiane
Dear Christiane,
I hardly know how to reply to this comment. I’m not used to hearing praise like this, but I’m moved to hear you think so highly of my blog.
Your support in the comments has really been wonderful. When I see them, I feel reassured there’s someone out there reading.
Thank you very, very much!