World PAC Map

A couple of months ago the HPAC office asked me to write a short piece about my hometown for their program.  There is a regular section of the program where an HPAC member introduces the members of the audience to their country.  April is my month, and while I can't read the final version, I can share my original (below).  It was an interesting exercise in reflecting on my hometown, what makes it unique and similar to where I'm now living.  In a few days I'll be going back to America, to California to play some concerts, and I've been thinking about what it will be like to be back there, even though it isn't Cincinnati.  I've grown used to so many things in Japan.....

HPAC program

■ Could you please tell us about your country or the area in USA. (weather, people, any characteristic of the area. Also, what's the charm of the area that you can brag about? (ex. Scenery, nature, architecture, history etc...)

America is a very large country and just like Japan, there is a lot of variety in the climate, food, people and culture from one area to another.  Every city and region has a unique personality.  I grew up in the region of the countrycalled the Midwest.  This is a fairly large area made up of several states to the south and west of the Great Lakes and my hometown is the beautiful city of Cincinnati, Ohio.

The climate and land in Cincinnati is actually much like the Kansai region.  It has green rolling hills and lies in the Ohio River Valley so there are beautiful bridges that cross the water.  The weather is also very similar though a few degrees colder throughout the whole year.  The summer is hot and humid, the winter is cold but fairly mild with little snow and the fall and spring are really beautiful.  

The city thrived in the mid-1800s when lots of settlers came from Germany.  They used the river for trading and built beautiful red brick  buildings in the downtown area that make it look a lot like Europe.  It was during this time that the first professional baseball team, The Cincinnati Redstockings (now the Cincinnati Reds) was founded.  

■ If your friend would visit the place for the first time, where would you take him/her for sightseeing? Could you recommend your favorite place, shop, restaurant, sightseeing spot?

I love the parks and the architecture of the city.  There are many big green parks on the hills with beautiful views of the city.  I love to go there to watch the sunset over the river and see the lights of the city turn on.  The downtown area (called "Over-the Rhine" because it looks so much like the Rhine River area in Germany) has beautiful buildings with more and more colorful murals on them every time I visit home. There are lots of delicious restaurants and interesting shops in this area and it is become more and more popular as a place to shop and dine.   

■ Please tell us famous local products or cuisine or tasty food in the area!

Probably the most famous food is Cincinnati chili.  It is a meat sauce with special spices that is served over spaghetti and topped with lots of cheddar cheese.  It might sound crazy but it is delicious!  Also, just over the river to the south of Cincinnati is the birthplace of Kentucky Fried Chicken.

■ Could you tell us if you have your favorite concert hall or theatre?

Music Hall is Cincinnati's beautiful red-brick concert hall in the neighborhood of Over-the Rhine built in 1878.  It is the third largest in the United States and is the home of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra.  It seats 3,516 people and has beautiful chandeliers and gold trimmed decorations on the walls and stage.

■ Please tell us famous people in the area. (Musician or any famous people if there is.)

There are a lot of notable people that grew up in Cincinnati.  Some of the most famous are the movie director Steven Spielberg, the actor George Clooney, the conductor James Levine, the soul/funk musician James Brown, and the baseball player Pete Rose.

■ What is the significant difference between where you are from and Japan? 

It's hard to say what makes a place feel a certain way.  Maybe it's the  buildings, or the size of the roads, or the pace of life.  Maybe it's the food or the way people serve it.  There are so many little things that make Japan and my hometown different but somehow, despite these things, they seem very similar.  Both are beautiful places to live with wonderful people to know.