TiramisuHappy (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Many a famous Japanese poet has written a Haiku (about their seasonal observations) watching this exact same scene hundreds of years ago... Simply gorgeous!!

softypapa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you for your kind words and for sharing your lovely poem. I really think that your words have accurately captured the atmosphere and feeling on this setting. Thank you again for sharing! -Kurt :-)

pressmyeasybutton69 (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you for sharing your experiences online. I just discovered your site and have enjoyed a few so far. After enjoying this one of the farmer burning weeds, I was inspired to write a tanka poem that I would like to share with you. There in the distance the crackle of burning weeds flickering upwards nearby crickets chirping sounds echo from my former home I look forward to viewing the rest of your videos.

Peekingduck (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I love the fact that in Japan the smell of burning wood is so pleasant and somehow different from the way it smells at home... It seems to be all around in autumn and spring. BTW, it seems like autumn will come early this year. It's cooling down faster than I can remember it has ever before in Kanto too. Thanks for the clip : )

softypapa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hello guardiansun, Thank you for viewing and for your kind and encouraging words. I hope that you will have many chances to visit Japan. Thanks again! -Kurt :-)

guardiansun (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Thank you so much for sharing these lovely videos. I happened upon them just by randomly surfing, and you truly make me want to visit japan as quickly as possible. Maybe I'll be fortunate enough to visit some time soon. =) Keep those vids coming! Arigato!

softypapa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Hello angrymallard, I'm not a farmer or gardener so please consider me ignorant on these issues. However, I do notice that many farmers in our area burn waste vegetable matter in their fields and then leave the ash to dissipate on its own. Perhaps, as you suggested, they are simply converting the organic materials to ash in order to improve the soil? The practice is certainly common in this area and the sight and smell of smoke in the fields is common during late summer and early autumn. -Kurt

angrymallard (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

I wonder, does Japanese traditional farming use composting or ash or neither? Back at my home farm, we only burned waste we couldn't otherwise use or convert into warmth inside, so the apparent waste of material and warmth seems odd to me.

BusanKevin (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Wow...feels like stepping back in time! Thanks :)

softypapa (November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am)

Ah, Saitama. Very nice! :-) I do like sharing a bottle of beer over a summer bbq or a bit of sake on a clear autumn night. I hope that you enjoy a nice tsukimi this season. -Kurt :-)