Tadaima! ただいま！

Tadaima (means "I'm home" in Japanese)!

ただいま！

As soon as I landed in Matsuyama, my father took me home, so that I could say hi to my mom and my brother, and then he drove me to see my friend from high school, Kayo. Kayo drove all the way from Kochi to see me (it takes 2 hours if you take the highway and 3 hours if you take the mountain road). We were originally going to have lunch together, but because my flight circumstance has changed, I could not fly in any sooner than 8 pm, yet she waited for me to get in. I offered her to stay the night after our dinner, and so she did. She had searched and reserved a wonderful Japanese food restaurant called Saikontan for me.

松山空港に着いた私は父に迎えられ、母と弟に「ただいま」と言うためにまずは家に行き、そのままの足で高校時代の友人加誉（かよ）と会うために待ち合い場所までまた父に送ってもらいました。加誉はわざわざ高知から来てくれていました。（高知、松山間は高速で2時間。下の道を使うと3時間。）本当はお昼ご飯を一緒にする予定でしたが、フライトの変更があったため、会う予定だった日の20時過ぎに会うことに。それまでずっと待っていてくれました。なのでその日の晩は松山に泊まって行ってもらうことに。加誉は菜根譚（さいこんたん）という料亭を探して予約を入れてくれていました。

When we went there, there were no other customers, and it was that way the entire time, so it was like we rented the restaurant to ourselves :) We sat on the counter seats. It was a very cozy, heartfelt place. Two chefs named Setsuko-san and Kayoko-san prepared each meal with so much care. Every vegetable they cooked must have been happy to be treated that way.

着いたときには他にお客さんがおらず、私たちが食べている間も誰も来られなかったので、まるで貸し切り状態でした :) カウンター席に座りました。それはそれはとても心地の良いところでした。節子さんとかよこさんという料理人が、一品一品に心を込めて用意してくださいました。

Every dish we ordered was so tasteful. Setuslo-san and Kayoko-san have been running this restaurant for 12 years, and this is their 13th year. We had nice conversations with them, and Kayo and I even had some sake, which was made, in the local region. Because I rarely drink any type of alcohol, and I was so exhausted from the long travel, after a couple of sips, I could feel that it was settling in me, so I asked Kayo to finish it up.

お二人がされるように調理された野菜は幸せだろうなと思うほどの心の込みようでした。加誉と頼んだもの全てが美味しかったです。お二人はこの料亭を12年間されていて、今年で13年目なのだとか。お二人との会話も楽しみつつ、愛媛のお酒も頂きながら、普段から全くアルコールを飲まない私は旅の疲れも重なってか、 お酒が回ってくるのが感じられ、残りは加誉に終らしてもらいました。

The chefs drew each drawing on the chopstick case.
節子さんとかよこさん、このお箸入れの絵を描かれるそう。
すてき。

It was a great way to be welcomed home – with a good friend and yummy Japanese food. At last, I was home!

心の知れた友人とおいしい日本のご飯に迎えられた、日本帰国最初の晩となりました。あぁ、やっと帰ってきた！

Then we moved to another location to chat some more. There were lots to catch up. At mid night, I called my parents to let them know that I was coming home. My dad was still awake and offered to come and pick me up. I said, "No, no. It's late, and you'll have to work tomorrow, so I'll go home by myself." But he kept offering, so I said, "Fine. If you want to pick me up that badly, I'll wait here." Then Kayo jokingly said, "Oh, what a bold statement!" Then we laughed together. So a father who loves his daughter came all the way to pick her up and took her home to a mother who loves her daughter very much.

その後、場所を移動してまたおしゃべり。久しぶりに会うので話すことも沢山。深夜に「これから帰ります」と実家に電話を入れたところ、まだ父は起きていて迎えにくるとのこと。「いいよ、もう寝てよ。明日も仕事でしょう？自分で帰れるよ。」と言うのに、それでも迎えに来てくれるとのこと。「そんなに迎えに来たいが？（土佐弁）」と言うと、「おぉ、あかり強気の発言！」と加誉に突っ込まれ、二人で笑いました。そんな娘おもいな父がわざわざ迎えに来てくれて、娘おもいな母のもとへと帰っていきました。

Saikontan
5-6-6 Sanbancho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-0003
089-934-4711
6 pm to 11 pm
Closed on Sundays and Mondays

菜根譚
790-0003 愛媛県松山市三番町５丁目６−６
089-934-4711
定休日：日と月
18時から23時まで

With Kayo
加誉と