Kurashiki Customized Half-Day Tour — Guide Sam

What Is a Private Kurashiki Walking Tour Like? A Licensed Guide's Report

The guests were visitors from North America. I had initially assumed a different family situation, but some of the guests were waiting back in North America, and after this group returned home, others would set off for Europe. They were able to travel because the school break had begun in June. I had heard that one of the guests had experience studying in Japan and was fluent in Japanese; when I asked, I learned they had studied at a graduate school in Tokyo and earned a degree in a field of engineering. Even so, they were very modest. Originally born in Europe, they had later acquired citizenship in North America, and spoke an international, mid-Atlantic style of English. Friends from their study days some twenty years ago now live in various parts of Japan, and visiting them was one of the purposes of the trip. The previous afternoon they had traveled from Himeji to Kurashiki, and around 2:00 PM today they planned to head to Hiroshima, where they would meet a friend from their study days and have dinner together. A major purpose of this Kurashiki visit was educational, and I provided various explanations. The guests took an unusual interest in Bizen ware from Okayama, so we visited a relatively large Bizen ware shop, where they examined the pieces carefully and made a purchase. Along the way, a local broadcasting company requested an interview, but it was politely declined with the comment, "I'm not sure my answer would be helpful." The topic was "What do you think of the accommodation tax that Kurashiki City is considering introducing," which I personally found interesting, though the offer was declined. There was interest in the history of Ivy Square, and at the Kurashiki Story Museum they learned about local history. Every time I visit, I am struck by how wonderful this facility is. It preserves an Edo-period residence, and despite being free of charge, the information provided and the way it is presented are excellent. As a guide, it makes my work very efficient. Along the Kurashiki River in the Bikan Historical Quarter, a baby was born to the swans that have long lived there, but sadly two of the three cygnets died for some reason. The sight of the surviving one gliding across the water alongside its parents is heartwarming. It has been very hot recently, with daytime temperatures reaching 34 degrees, and I am grateful that the guests toured so enthusiastically even as their skin reddened in the heat.

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Tour Report by Sam

My name is Susumu Hiramatsu. I am a national government licensed guide interpreter. I became a guide interpreter in 1992. My educational background started with a BA in law, then an MA in English language education, and completed a doctoral course without a degree in English language teaching. My occupational career began with a bank officer, then shifted to a translation and interpretation company, finally became a freelance translator, interpreter, and college teacher. I handle conference interpretation, namely simultaneous interpretation. As for the guide interpreter, my interest covers wide areas including politics and business, but I deem cultural aspects to be fundamental. I am always encouraging myself to be filled with Japanese hospitality.