[Date & Time] Saturday, March 26, at 14:00～17:00[Spot] Sankeien Garden
[Visitors] An American couple and their Japanese companion
[Attendant] 1 KSGG member
[Language] English
The visitors were a university professor in the United States who came to Japan to attend a meeting with his wife, and their companion who was a university professor in Japan. The weather was good and cherry blossoms came into bloom. We sat on the bench under the wisteria trellis and I explained the general information about Sankeien Garden, the main buildings, and the brief portrait of Hara Sankei. On the way to Kakusyukaku, they were delighted to see the beautiful view of the three-storied pagoda. We passed Gomon and Hakuuntei, and then, at Rinshunkaku, they stared at the sliding doors and the wall, which were painted by the Kano family. We walked through the historical houses at a slow pace. When we walked around the exit of the garden in Rinshunkaku, the professor stopped suddenly and watched several flagstones in front of him. He said, “ Why were these 3 stones shaped like this in an orderly line? How they are placed is important, isn’t it? “ I realized there were hexagon stones lined in order. He said that this was similar to molecular architecture for organic compounds. As a matter of fact, he is a world-renowned authority on organic chemistry. At Boutoutei in the Sankei Memorial, the wife delightedly tried having a macha (powdered green tea ) experience which I recommended. They bought Japanese cakes and fabric decorated with cherry blossoms. We walked through plum groves. Then, at Former Yanoharake House, I explained the attic rooms to raise silkworms. Although it could have been a two- hour tour, it took three hours to finish our tour after all.