The weather forecast says that the low under 10℃ will continue for the next several days on June.I have put away the heating equipments except a kerosene fan heater to enjoy the short summer of Akita.

Long onion "Naga-negi" is useful for Japanese hot pot cuisines and so on. They can overwinter after being harvested.

The winter is so long in Akita. I had lived in several areas in Japan, and I feel happiest here when spring is coming.

It is cold at morning and night on May in Odate every year. I bought some kerosene for heating today. On the other hand, my friend in my hometown told me that she had left off using heater on March. akitaodatelifeen.hatenablog.com

The yellow and white flowers are blooming everywhere in Odate. When I lived in Yokosuka, I often saw narcissuses in winter. I feel again that I am in the snow country.

I put away the winter working clothes. Odate has beautiful four seasons. I think that winter is the most impressive.

It has resumed dedicating water to a couple of frogs on both side of the gate of my work place because recent warm temperature does not freeze it. In Japanese frog is called “Kaeru”, and getting back home is called “Kaeru” too, that is, it…

The snow had melted because of the heat in daytime, and the road appeared for the first time in months. Many Japanese butterbur scapes may be on the skirts of mountain, but I am afraid of wildlife coming out of winter sleep so I can not go…

It is called “Hanten” around Tokyo, but people in Odate call it “Donbuku”. It is like a Kimono coat filled with cotton, warm and comfortable. In April the cold days will continue here so this is useful.

I harvested many potatoes in my field last autumn. They can be stored at cold and dark area long time. I made “imomochi”, like rice cake made with potato.

It was useful at the new highly airtight and highly heat insulating apartment house that I lived at first in Odate, but now it is not active at my old drafty house. In Akita the cold weather models that have antifreezing outdoor unit are s…

Lately snow has been melting at the site of my house and around. Jpananese butterbur scape “fukinoto” that is a symbol of starting of spring has just appeared from under the snow today.

Japanese traditional Kotatsu is a table with a heater and blanket.

It has been made as a preserved food in Japan especially at snowy areas like Akita. Dried persimmon is very sweet, so I like eating it with a cup of sugar-free coffee.

When I drive the concrete mixer truck on 2nd gear, it could not go up the steep slope of snowy road. My senior taught me to change the gear to 3rd and then it could climb the hill. I learned in some cases low gears can not move the truck u…

It runs by electricity and warms up close by its front quickly. When in Tokyo I used them at the urban small living room, I never thought that they would work at the storeroom and bath dressing room in snowy Akita.

It is filled with hot water to warm bedding comforter. I put it under the quilt in winter night.

It works with kerosene and dry batteries and warms up surrounding and upper much, in addition, can bake something or be put a pot on the top.

Although I was going to buy kerosene, I had forgotten to bring the empty cans from home! I found it when arriving at the shopping area where is 30min far from my home by car.

It works with kerosene and dry batteries, warms up front and upper much.

It is loose-fitting and elastic waist pants for working. It is comfortable, and this is warm type, so I wear it as a loungewear in winter.

Concrete mixer trucks have water hose outside to wash their body. In winter after using the water hose I have to drain water in order not to freeze, however short time is untill next using.

I use about 200l kerosene to keep my home warm for a month. Akita is a northern cold area, much more at my large old house.

It starts burning quickly, so I turn it on at first when getting home.

They are used to wipe snow on car away. In winter a snow brush is standing in the car.

It heats a whole room, in addition, can bake rice cake or be put a pot, and so on. In Japan wood stove has become like symbol of rural life.

In Akita it has been cold also in March. I have used more than 10 heating equipments in my large house.

It is used to push and slide manually to carry away snow. We call it “Snow dump” in Japan, when I heard the name first time I thought every home in snowy area has their dump truck!

Wiper blades need to be put up on a cold day in order not to freeze.

I cooked dried horse mackerel and sandfish on the woodstove at home. They go very well with Sake.