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Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
from Buenos Aires / Argentina

Sumiko Kuramitsu
Reiki Teacher / Hypnotherapy Therapist
Reiki teacher and hypnotherapy therapist. Fascinated by the Argentine tango, she moved to Buenos Aires and fell in love with the city, the sky, the culture and the people. She spends her days enjoying tango and photography while running a healing salon. I will share with you the charm of Buenos Aires.
4.12.2025
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Tattoos, wheat and Argentines.

In March, a tango teacher who had been helping me in Buenos Aires came to Hokkaido for sightseeing. She brought her son with her. She and I are the same age, and her son is already an adult. A mother and son traveling together. It makes me smile to think that this is very Argentinean, with its mother-loving temperament.
For me, it has been a long time since I have interacted with Argentines. It was two days that I remembered how Argentine people are like.
After picking them up at New Chitose Airport, I decided to give them a taste of Sapporo Ramen, one of Hokkaido's specialties. As soon as we sat down in the restaurant, they asked me, “Do you have any rice menu?” I remembered. Ah! That was it. I should have asked what Argentines cannot eat.

In Argentina, there are many restricted diet practitioners these days. Vegetarian, vegan, and, most mainstream of all, gluten-free diets.
In gluten-free, there are some specific diseases, but I have the impression that many of the attributes are more aimed at improving the body's constitution. There is a bit of a boom in the market.
Because of the large population, it is relatively easy to choose a gluten-free diet, whether it is commercially available or at restaurants.
I thought it would be easier in Japan, the land of rice, but when I put myself in her shoes, I found it surprisingly difficult. The hurdle to eliminating wheat is especially high when eating out.
Ramen and udon noodles, of course, but also fried foods, items that use roux, and most sweets all use wheat. Why wheat in these foods? Some may wonder. Even soba noodle specialty restaurants contain wheat, depending on the restaurant.
Having already spent four days in Tokyo, she said, “It's hard to be gluten-free in Japan.” I have a stomach ache, but I don't have a choice. I'm sorry, I'll take you to a ramen restaurant.
I'm sorry I brought you to a ramen restaurant. The disappointing atmosphere was lessened by the fact that her son was so happy to eat it.

Well, her son. His profession is a tattoo artist. Naturally, he has many tattoos on his own skin. Normally, sightseeing in Hokkaido = Onsen (hot springs), but public bathhouses in Japan are “No Tattoos Allowed”, so we quickly removed Onsen from our list of potential places to visit.
Come to think of it, there were many people with tattoos in Argentina. Among young people, it is already a part of fashion, and I have the impression that it is approved by the public. There are really many tattoo stores on the streets.
This time, her son included Hokkaido in his itinerary, which was strongly influenced by the manga Golden Kamuy. Looking up the synopsis online, it seems that Ainu culture and tattoos are the essence of the important story.
Historically, the Ainu had blue tattoos called sinuye, mainly on the backs of women's faces and hands. It seems that having a sinuye represented being a full-fledged woman.

He was interested in the Ainu culture, including their tattoo customs. I was happy to hear this and was eager to help him arrange a ticket to the Ainu Museum in Shiraoi, a train ticket, and information on embroidery and wood carving workshops.
He told me that Japanese tattoos have a long history and are highly skilled. He also learned some Japanese techniques in the process of mastering them. One of the purposes of his visit to Japan was to get a tattoo in Tokyo at the end of his itinerary. I didn't know there was such a fun way to enjoy Japan. How refreshing.
Whether it was gluten-free or tattooing, I was able to rediscover Japan from an Argentinean perspective. The two days I spent with them were a great time.
2.8.2025
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
I have graduated to having Armani, but not Michelin.

Even though there is still no way for me to travel to Buenos Aires, I cannot stop checking local information and news.
In this day and age, even if it is on the other side of the world, thanks to Instagrammers and YouTubers, I can gather information on restaurants in real time. I am very grateful for this.
As a result, my “list of restaurants I want to visit” keeps growing.
The other day, a friend of mine who lives in Buenos Aires said to me, “I'm interested in this restaurant. You should try it! I received a disappointing reply.
I can't go because I'm afraid I'll be disappointed. I heard that the restaurant industry in Buenos Aires has been deteriorating badly recently.
The news reports that President Mirei's policies have been successful and that the extreme inflation is under control, but this is not the case from a consumer's point of view.
The price of eating out continues to rise, while the quality of food continues to decline.

Does the store do so because they can't cover their expenses, or is it to pool funds just in case?
Perhaps the latter is more common in Argentina.
Too bad.
One of the pleasures of living in Buenos Aires is visiting cafes and eating out.
My sparkling “list of restaurants I want to visit” has suddenly lost its light.
What saved me from this despondent mood was a series of funny messages sent by my friends.
But Sumi-chan, you graduated from Armani, but not from Michelin?
Her observations are unique, and I have always liked them.
She equates brand-name goods with gastronomy. Interesting as always.
I pause for a moment and then think back. Why am I the one who unconditionally defines them as two different things?

Let's look inside again.
Buying and wearing expensive clothes and adornments? I am no longer obsessed or attached to this.
What about eating? If I'm going to eat something that doesn't matter, I'd rather be hungry. Even if I have to go through the trouble of researching, even if I have to wait a long time, I want to eat good food. I am willing to pay for it.
This desire falls into the “high importance” category in my mind.
I see. For me, “delicious” and “happiness” are very close. I will never be able to stop eating at Michelin restaurants.
I hope there will be more restaurants that can make me happy before my next visit.
Please, my beloved Buenos Aires.

12.5.2024
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Hello, goodbye, thank you, Me in the past.

This fall was a season of reunions for me.
I got together with friends from junior high and high school in my hometown for the first time in almost 40 years, and with work-related friends from 10 years ago in Tokyo. Then I traveled to Hokkaido to welcome friends from Buenos Aires, where I was until four years ago.
It was a series of reunions, so to speak. By meeting with old friends, I was able to reconnect with myself of that era, and I feel that I was able to look back on my own history in an unexpected way.
The old me that I saw through them felt as if I were a stranger. It was as if I was in a past life.
No, the events and feelings might be clearer in the past lives of hypnotherapy.
I could hardly remember the events and characters that my friends talked about. It is almost to the point of being astonished.
The subconscious past that is recalled in hypnotherapy is the event that needs to be remembered now, and by reliving it, the present is improved. Because of this role of memory, the content of the memory is still relatively well remembered even after a long time has passed since the therapy. Even if it was many centuries ago.

And yet, what does it mean that I have no memory of the past decade of this lifetime? I ask myself.
It seems to me that I have sealed up my memories because every period of my life has been a dark history for me. My bullying junior high school days, my shy high school days, and my Tokyo work days, when I was the representative of a firm, hardworking person. Although these are precious experiences that shaped me, they are things I never want to go back to.
When I think about it, the time in Buenos Aires, when I was freed from various things and had a chance to get closer to my true nature, still fits me the best.
I see. I had sealed up the memories of my younger days. I have realized that I had sealed up the memories of my younger self.
Then, like a therapist, I decided to clear them up.
In my imagination, I would embrace myself, tell myself how hard I had worked, and heal myself.
And then I let go. Goodbye, thank you. The old me.
After all of this, I feel as if I am even closer to my old friends. This is the effect of self-therapy.
The series of reunions also provided me with an opportunity to clear my past wounds.
I feel like I am in a zero position now, with my history of being a gloomy person washed away. I think my future has become much broader.
The photos in this issue are from a trip to Hokkaido with friends from my days in Argentina. It was a good trip where I was able to spend time in my natural state, beyond the fruitful reunion in the fall.

7.1.2024
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Use the money I have now only to improve my soul.

This summer, I plan to take my friends who are coming to Hokkaido from the Kanto region to Furano. I am now planning where to go and what to eat.
My filter of choice these days is the phrase, "Is money an issue? phrase. If I have time or other constraints, I have no choice, but if this ingrained "saving mode" is blocking me, I try to get rid of it and move on.
Currently, I live at home while taking care of my parents. In other words, I am a parasite with no regular job and no income. So the idea of doing something outside of my expenses may seem insane.
However, looking at the recent financial turmoil, I feel that there is more risk involved in unmoving savings and insurance. Wouldn't it be better to spend to enjoy the present rather than hold out for the future?
Similarly, the brand-name goods in my drawer that I haven't used in years seem to be on the verge of losing their value. I don't have any use for them, so I should sell them! I decided to do it, and the amount of money I received exceeded my expectations. Thanks to this, I did not have to worry about the cost of my last overseas trip.
I like this experience very much. I also like the fact that I am now free from the attachment to things and money.
My black history of getting rid of a lot of stuff after my divorce has made me a person who is not attached to things.

Living in Argentina, where the economy is unstable, money seemed like a piece of paper. In Argentina, the value of the peso, the country's currency, fluctuates wildly every day, so I lived my life trying to find the right moment to convert the U.S. dollar bills I had on hand into cash. Since I always think in terms of yen in my head, I am also concerned about the yen-dollar exchange rate, and the prices of goods at the supermarket are not the same as they were yesterday. What on earth is the best time to make a move?
Besides, strangely enough, the exchange rate changes between pin bills and old dollar bills. What exactly is the value of paper money?
After unraveling my confused mind, I came to believe that it is nonsense to be at the mercy of a piece of paper for the first time.
I was also influenced by the Argentine way of life. They have experienced many economic failures, so they do not trust the future of the country or money. If they have a large amount of money, they buy things that will last, such as real estate, cars, etc. If they want to save money, they hold it in dollar bills. They are willing to spend now to have fun with friends and family because the value of money tomorrow is unknown.
Today, all the cafes and pizzerias in Buenos Aires on the news and videos are busy. Statistics tell us that from last year to this year, Argentina has been suffering from severe inflation and consumption is down. But the connection between people and their daily enjoyment has not declined in that country.
The way things are going, I don't think it's time to put off the pleasures of life.
When we reach the end of our physical lives, we can't take anything with us. The purpose of the soul is to accumulate experiences and learn more. I would like to spend my money on such things as cherishing connections, loving, being moved, and satisfying the five senses.
In Furano in the summer, they would enjoy good scenery and eat plenty of good food. Share experiences with friends, satisfy your curiosity, talk with each other, and refine your soul. Don't worry about the cost.
4.15.2024
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
People on topics you shouldn't hear about.

Apparently, the topic of my Argentine boyfriend is something that I am not allowed to mention.
They feel like I shouldn't ask about him because he might have broken up before I know it.
Whenever my friends bring up the subject, they say, "I don't know if it's okay to ask..." and when I mention his name, they say, "I don't know if it's okay to ask. When I mention his name, they sometimes ask, "Are you in touch with him? When I mention his name, he sometimes asks back, "Are you in touch with him?
It is indeed a strange thing to stay in touch with a man from a Latin country over a long distance.
But in fact, he and I have a good relationship.
Perhaps it is because of the distance.
We have our own lives that are not visible to each other, and the only things we say to each other on the phone are what we think of the other and what has been happening recently.

He sometimes asks me to do Reiki for him when he is not feeling well.
When I do a reading of his condition while healing him remotely, I often see that his condition seems to be much more mentally demanding than he is telling me.
Making a living in Argentina, where inflation is over 200%, must be more stressful than expected.
At times like this, I am so glad I am a therapist.
If I had to worry anxiously about him because I was too far away from him to come to him immediately, I would have been more exhausted than he would have been.
I think that being able to help him get better by sending him healing has been helpful for our connection.
For me, it is the conversations I have with him that heal me.
When he asks me, "How was your day? I often tell him, “Nothing particular.
I've been editing videos and writing in my spare time," he says, with a hint of a pout.
In Argentina, "killing time" is expressed as "matar tiempo" (killing time).
He replies, 'What Sumiko is doing is hacer tiempo viva (making the most of time), right?
To him, it is like a play on words, but I like him for being able to say this.

When I am feeling down about caring for my parents, he has a nice way of getting back at me.
I would get frustrated and later feel down myself for the harsh words and abusive attitude I unintentionally let loose on my parents.
He, too, understands such situations because the mother he saw off had dementia.
In addition, he told me, "There is a saying, 'Uno no es de fierro' (people are not pieces of metal).”
It is natural that we have feelings because we are human beings.
There is no need to worry about it.
He told me that his grandmother used to say this phrase to him when he was a child, and as I listened to him tell me about his past, before I knew it, my blur had disappeared.
Whenever this happens, I think that this boyfriend is important to me. I think, "I love this boyfriend of mine.
2.10.2024
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Dancing in Paris, Dancing in Bangkok,
Argentine Tango

I enjoyed traveling abroad during the year-end and New Year's holidays for the first time in a long time.
During the month, I traveled to Paris and Bangkok.
I had friends in both cities and my main purpose was to visit them, but as a byproduct I was able to go to an Argentine tango milonga in both cities.
I had lost touch with tango since I started living in Hokkaido, and I wondered if I would ever be able to dance it. I was worried about whether I would be able to dance the tango, but once I started dancing, my body moved on its own.
Once I started dancing, however, my body moved on its own. I was so intoxicated by the comfort and fun of the dance that I wondered how I had been able to keep this pleasure away for so many years.
The joy of expressing music with one's body can be experienced even in a solo dance such as hula.
The enjoyment of communicating with others and the feeling of being free can also be experienced in the world of therapy.
However, the fun of sharing the music and the space with your partner, and dancing while communicating silently, is something that can only be experienced in a dance danced by two people.
And then there is the abrasso (dance embrace), which is the Argentine tango.
It is only through hugging that one can feel and feel what is being conveyed.
I wonder when was the last time I enjoyed the fun of just feeling good and smiling.
On the way home, I said out loud, "Oh, that was so much fun! I said out loud and was surprised at myself.
I had forgotten that such innocence had been lurking in me.

Tango in Paris and Bangkok are a little different from those in Buenos Aires.
It was also fun to find out.
I think tango in Paris is a little macho. I think so.
I feel that the men enjoy moving the women as they wish.
Is the French national character of being "very individualistic" reflected in tango? They are often led in fancy steps without regard to their partner's intentions.
The way the music was handled was no different, and sometimes I felt as if I were playing a sport, moving my body in time with the sound rather than listening to the music.
However, Paris has a large tango population, and it was unexpectedly fun to find my favorite dancers on the floor.
Tango in Bangkok is tango dancing.
The humid heat of the tropics, the soft air of Thailand, the land of smiles, and Argentine tango are hard to match in my mind.
At the milonga I went to, there were more foreigners and tourists living in Thailand than Thais, and it seemed to me that they had gathered what they thought was Argentine tango to make up the floor.
I genuinely enjoyed following the teacher who danced for me, as if I had taken a tango lesson.
People say, "Tango is your passport.
As long as you can dance tango, you can dance all over the world and make friends all over the world, even if you don't speak the language or know anyone.
After going to two milongas in two different cities, one in Europe and the other in Asia, two completely different cultural spheres, I found this to be absolutely true. I thought.
If there is Argentine tango in that place, there is a place for me.

12.10.2023
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Argentina's New Era of Presidents

On November 19, Argentina held a presidential runoff election in which Javier Millay, 53, an economist, libertarian (libertarian supremacist), third-party and far-right, was elected.
He will be the next president of Argentina.
Originally, the presidential election was to be held on October 22, but in an election in which five candidates ran, none of them met the 45% or more requirement to win, so the election was rescheduled for November with a runoff between the center-left Economy Minister Sergio Massa, 51, of the ruling coalition, who received about 37% of the top vote, and Milay, who came in second with about 30%.
To that extent, support was split.
As one citizen put it, "No matter who is elected, Argentina will be worse off or worse off." Many were cynical about the election.
In the end, Mr. Millay, nicknamed "Argentina's Trump" for his unprecedented behavior and promises, was elected.

Inflation in Argentina is over 140% higher than the previous year.
The impression of the citizens is that it has risen even higher, and it is said that 40% of the population is poor and cannot afford daily groceries and other necessities of life.
This result is the result of the people's will that they will not tolerate a current government that cannot improve this situation.
I wonder whether the people were right in electing Mr. Millay, or whether it is a reflection of their intention to say "No" to the current administration.
Mr. Millay's surprise-box-like promises include making the U.S. dollar a legal tender, abolishing the central bank, privatizing loss-making state enterprises, cutting state spending, eliminating import and export taxes, and so on.
As a weak party and with a small number of seats in Congress, people say there are barriers to actually fulfilling his promises.
However, having lived in the country for six years and having spent the last presidential transition period, my feeling is that it may be surprisingly possible. Argentina is a country that changes quickly.
Argentina changes very quickly.
I wondered how much the sense of life changes when the president changes! I was surprised at the direct connection between politics and life in a foreign country.
In his election speech, Mr. Millay said, "From today, the reconstruction of Argentina will begin. Today the fall of Argentina will end. I like that.
I like that. I think.
Former President Trump, who was also cited, caused surprise and consternation in the world when he was first elected, but now, many years later, the truth of his policies and achievements is beginning to emerge with legitimacy.
Looking at this, it makes me feel that Trump in Argentina is not so bad after all.
Argentina, which has been undermined over the years, must first be completely destroyed and rebuilt from the ground up.
To do this, a maverick character was needed, and I believe that the times are encouraging this.
I know that people born and raised in the powerful land of Argentina are big enough to take it.
It will be okay, the dawn is just around the corner.

8.5.2023
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
A day to give thanks to Mother Earth in South America

Living in the countryside of Hokkaido, the changing seasons are very close to home.
Although I have no freedom in my daily life as a caregiver, I do have some free time, so I go outside to take my eyes off the changing hues of greenery and photograph flowers.
When I get close to nature, I am reminded once again how delicate the energy of the Japanese earth is.
Whenever we step into a foreign country, we all notice something different, like, "Oh, it smells different. There is also a difference in the energy and chi of each land.
I feel the energy in Japan is delicate and cool.
When I am here, I feel as if I am being led to the essence of the place by the elimination of unnecessary things.
In contrast, Argentina has a powerful, uplifting sense of vitality.
Many of my friends who have visited Buenos Aires have said, "I feel invigorated. I don't think it has anything to do with the energy of the earth.

The deity that governs the chi of the earth is considered to be the South American goddess Pachamama.
Pachamama's name translates to "Mother Earth," and is derived from the words "Pacha," meaning "world" or "universe," and "Mama," meaning "mother," in the language of the Quechua, the indigenous people of the Andean region.
Although their appearance varies depending on the illustrations and figurines that appear on the market, they generally have a sturdy body and gentle expression that conveys a sense of richness and motherly love.
I am writing about this topic because August 1 is "Pachamama Day" in South America, a day to give thanks to Mother Earth.
This custom has continued throughout the Andean culture of South America since the time of the indigenous people, and in Argentina, the tradition still exists in the northern part of the country near Peru and Bolivia.
People dig a hole in the ground, and offer prayers by storing sake, fruits, grains, and other gifts from the earth in the hole.
August in Argentina is winter. Before spring comes and seeds are sown, people ask the earth for permission to dig up and cultivate the soil, and give thanks for the abundant harvest it will provide.
This year, Argentina's crops are not doing well due to the lack of water.
In Argentina, where agricultural exports are an important source of income, this has cast a large shadow over the economy, which is not good even if it were not.
Because of this, this Pachamama Day is going to be a day to deliver our prayers to the earth more carefully than ever.
I would like to pray from the other side of the earth with the intention of thanking the earth for its energy that cheers people up and for bringing us abundant harvests in the next harvest season.

6.10.2023
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Argentina Mom's Last Gift

One day in early May, at an unusual hour, I received a phone call from my boyfriend in Argentina.
It was to inform me that his 83-year-old mother had passed away.
It was not sudden, as she had been wheelchair-bound and institutionalized for several years, but the news still came as a sad surprise.
His mother was not the stereotypical Argentine mother figure.
In general, family ties are very strong in Argentina, family gatherings are quite frequent, and communication among family members is very close.
At first, the sight of a middle-aged man on the train talking to his mother on his cell phone, saying "Hola mama," seemed strange to me, but as I lived in the country, I came to understand that it was not unusual.
From a Japanese point of view, it may seem like an over-involvement in the family relationship, but in his home country, it is normal.
His mother was a person who had a sense of distance from her children, which may have been due to her profession as an actress.
This may be because she was an actress by profession or because she was a working mother who lost her husband early and raised her two siblings while working.
She changed careers from dentist to actress at the age of 66, playing the role of a dignified older woman in the theater and in several films.
She was very cool, with a sense of humor, socialite, fashionable and glamorous.
She was articulate, but also slow and gentle in instructing me, a foreigner, in the language.

When I burst into tears over the phone upon hearing the news of her passing, my boyfriend joked, "People other than me and my sister are much more saddened by my mother's passing than I am."
He said that there were so many comments of sadness for my mom who had lived a glamorous life on the stage.
I was relieved to hear him say this joke not with sarcasm but with love in his voice.
It was because I had been concerned about their parent-child relationship, which had been fraught with emotional entanglements and frequent conflicts.
Even though they were over 50 years old, my boyfriend and his sister still seemed to be hungry for their mother's affection and frustrated that they had not been given the love they expected when they were young.
The relationship between mother and daughter was particularly difficult.
However, when her mother became too weak to live alone, the daughter took her into her own home and devoted herself to her mother's care until she was transferred to an institution.
And during that time, it was as if she had reconstructed the relationship between herself and her mother.
At the moment of her death, Mom told her daughter, "I love you. A lot, a lot, a lot." She said, "I love you.
For my boyfriend, her older brother, the past few years have been a time of slowly preparing to say goodbye to his mother.
The strong, energetic side of Mom was gone, and she began to forget things, so he could no longer joke around or fight with her.
Since he was institutionalized, he could not see her frequently, and that was a "losing Mom" experience over and over again.
It feels as if the reason he is so calm and accepting of his mother's death now is because of these years that he had.
Looking at it that way, maybe the years after the illness were a gift from Mom to her son and daughter.
For the two children, it may have been a necessary period of preparation to see their mom off.
I wonder if Mom was waiting to leave until the tangled emotional relationships were settled and they were ready. I wonder.
The week after the funeral, the siblings traveled together to their hometown.
My boyfriend informed me that the trip to scatter their mother's ashes was very satisfying.
I felt as if everyone's feelings had been sublimated, and I was truly happy.

4.10.2023
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Lovers in limbo

When I live with my elderly parents, the topic that bothers me the most is that of my closest relatives.
My mother, who suffers from dementia, already does not remember many things, and so I ask her on a moment's notice, "What did your husband do today?" I ask.
Because of course she doesn't remember that her daughter divorced after 16 years of marriage, then went to Argentina, left her boyfriend over there, and returned home to take care of her.
I reply, "He's not my husband, but I don't care about that, he's in a foreign country".
Mom: "Why are you in a foreign country?"
I say, "Because he's a foreigner."
From this point on, there were two patterns of development.
One is, "Can he cook by himself ?" To my mother, it is important that the family is filled with delicious food.
Or, "Why do you stay apart? No, a man should never be left alone."
As a woman born in the early Showa period, it is natural for a couple to stay together.
Either way, "I'll bring him over next time and you can cook him a feast." In most cases, when I responded, "I'll bring him next time. Bring her over. My mother is always in a good mood.
Anyway, I usually end the topic of conversation early, leaving it ambiguous.
In fact, the long-distance relationship between him and me is also quite ambiguous.
When I temporarily returned to Japan from Argentina, he understood my reasons for leaving because I was taking care of my parents.
At that time, my plan was to return to Buenos Aires at least once, even if only for a short period of time, within two years, and after three and a half years, I would be free to leave my job.
However, now I cannot even schedule the day when I can return to Buenos Aires.
I still exchange messages with him regularly and talk to him on the phone.
We give each other updates on what's going on and worry about the health of each other's parents.
Sometimes we talk for half an hour or an hour at a time, but never about serious topics related to our relationship.
He is an oasis for me.
He is someone I care about very much, and I still love his pure heart.
Even though he is not in front of me, I feel that our feelings are connected.
So I don't really feel that I miss him.
I feel that "soul mate" is more appropriate than "boyfriend" anymore.
I don't really know what he thinks about that.
I am leaving it ambiguous, but I don't feel that this is a bad thing.
When things move, they will move.
At our dining table, my father continues the conversation we had earlier, "When Sumiko's boyfriend arrives, Mom will have to learn Spanish, so it will be tough for her. He continues to laugh.
It is a chaotic scene when I imagine it, but I think it might be exciting for my mother. I think it's good for her, too.
My brother also said I'll take him skiing, fishing, wherever he wants to go. I'll take him skiing, fishing, wherever he wants to go.
I had a faint dream of having my boyfriend see the country where I was born and raised.
I had always had a faint dream of having my boyfriend see the country where I was born and raised. The thought occurred to me that this might be the right time to make it happen.
Sometimes I think it is a good idea, and at other times I think it would be chaotic to have a tall Argentine staying in my house.
And then the decision is postponed.
Third spring in a row, with plans to invite her boyfriend to Japan also in limbo.
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2.8.2023
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
I made up my mind to buy a national team uniform
Argentina won the World Cup

It seems like a long time ago that the World Cup soccer tournament was over.
On December 20, when the team that brought Argentina its third championship in 36 years made its triumphant return, it is said that as many as 5 or 6 million people took to the streets of Buenos Aires.
The sight of people filling the city was extraordinary, and the bus parade of triumph took two or three different routes.
In the end, it took the form of a helicopter, with the players greeting the crowd from the sky.
I think it is very typical of Argentina that the Tuesday of this parade was suddenly made a national holiday after the victory.
This was the first glamorous event in a long time in Argentina, where the economy and politics were bad and the whole country was exhausted.
It was the World Cup that the country had been longing for for 36 years but for some reason could not win, and for the star player Messi, it may have been his last chance due to his age.
You don't have to be a soccer fan to stay silent at home.
The desire to share the excitement of the victory, the gratitude to the players, and the elation with as many people as possible must have lured people to the streets.
When the final was decided and on the day of the victory, many people took to the streets after the game to go to Obelisco.
If I had been there, I would have taken to the streets too, because I wanted to share.
Because I want to share this moment.
I want to share this moment.
How fun it would have been to wear Argentina's colors, jump around with strangers, and sing cheering songs.
With this fantasy in mind, I watched the final match alone on TV at my parents' house in Hokkaido.
Watching soccer live in silence in the middle of the night is boring.
For once, I regretted not having an Argentina national team uniform.
I wanted to sit in front of the TV wearing the team colors, even if I was all alone.
I had no choice but to grab a cup of yerba mate with the national flag design on it.
I have made up my mind to buy a new national team uniform the next time I return to Buenos Aires.
The design should have three stars on it to signify three championships.

11.7.2022
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
As one who remembers the abrasso (embrace) of the tango.

It has been almost two years since I left Argentina.
In Buenos Aires, I heard that the world of tango, where people can hug each other and dance without masks, has completely returned.
While I was not there, I received a number of sad obituaries as well as reports of what was happening there.
Many of the milongueros (tango dance party lovers) are elderly, and I had experienced the passing of milonga (dance party) acquaintances when I lived in Buenos Aires.
But in the past two years, there have been far too many of them.
In most cases, I learn of the fact through social networking sites.
I don't know about the rest of the world, but in tango circles, acquaintances and friends post photos with their memories of the deceased, or comment on the person's Facebook page with their condolences.
So, as soon as I wake up and lift my phone, I see a plethora of posts.
I am disturbed by the thought that I will no longer be able to greet them or dance with them starting in the morning.
Especially in the case of those who were close to me, I received news of their passing directly from their friends. In the past two years, I have received two such news.
One was a man who used to sit at the same table at the weekly milonga.
He was not an old man and seemed to be in good health, but he died suddenly on a trip.
He had a big body and danced with a gentle abrasso (embrace).
In between songs, the señor would make us laugh with the same, totally unimportant, lame, shallow emotional pickup lines every time.
A waltz one-tander (a one-cour of three songs) like Heidi's white bread that was quirky and reassuring.
The "usual that" between us will never return.

The second was a very important man.
I loved to dance with him.
I received news of his passing from a female friend who also loved his tango.
I had heard that he was ill a while ago, but what happened after that was too soon.
He danced in his own unique style and was a wonderful dancer.
It is not so easy to get into the list of milongueros who do not dance with everyone and have a clear preference.
One day, when he finally accepted my eye-line love call to tango with him, I was more captivated by his abrasso (embrace) than by the dancing.
All my girlfriends laughed when I told them it was like an electric shock, but it was something so unusual and special.
Later, when I unraveled my past life through hypnotherapy, I found out that we had been mother and son at some point in time.
He was my child in the past, and the loving feeling of holding him in my arms came back to me in the embrace for the dance, which was the reason for the special feeling.
Even after all these years, I still felt a thrill when I danced with him.
In my work I know that the soul is eternal.
Still, the thought that I will never again be able to tango in his passionate embrace is a great loss.
In the tango world, we dance and say goodbye.
At the milonga they used to attend, a flower is placed on the deceased's fixed seat, the organizer says a few words, and a tango is played for the deceased.
Then people would dance in memory of the deceased.
If you are the leader in the dance, you may be able to pass on their tango through your own unique steps and musicality.
Women in the role of followers can do less.
However, we know their tango in a way that only those who have actually danced with them as partners can understand.
The heat of the energy inside the embrace, the distance from the music, the new worldview fostered between the two of them.
What we can do is to continue to dance with pride as those who remember that embrace.

10.7.2022
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Argentine background essential to tell my story

It has been a while since I have had the opportunity to work on a face-to-face Reiki class in Japan, and I had the chance to introduce myself.
As a teacher, I believe that self-introductions are all about the goal of getting closer to the student in front of me.
I try to incorporate as much history as possible that the other person can relate to, and I try to add a little something extra to the story in areas where I felt a response.
The story of living in Tokyo for 16 years, marriage, management, and divorce brought us cuddly close.
Next, I talked about Argentina, and I could feel the listener leaning forward. I knew that in order for someone to know who I am today, I had to share my life in Argentina.
I told the following story roughly.
After leaving my job and getting divorced, I went to Buenos Aires, the home of Argentine tango, where I had learned to dance.
Since the itinerary alone requires 30 hours to get there on the other side of the world, it is difficult for working Japanese to go there on a short vacation because of the lack of time.
It was the perfect destination for me, as I was on an indefinite vacation.
When I returned to Japan six months later after extending my schedule by three months, I felt like I was no longer where I wanted to be.
I felt that it was no longer possible for me to "do it right.
I felt like I could never go back to being a member of society who could accomplish tasks that met people's expectations, or an adult who could behave in a manner that was not embarrassing to anyone. I don't want to go back to that kind of person.
I was surprised to experience a different culture in Argentina, a country where Latin people are free, cheerful, and carefree (pardon the pun), where work is not a priority in life, and where everyone is self-centered (pardon the pun). Is that okay? This was the first time in my life that I thought, "This is it. It was a major discovery in my life.
I was healed by friendly and warm relationships, and I enjoyed every day when I could take as many tango classes as I wanted and dance in authentic milongas.
On the other hand, I struggled with the language and cultural barriers.
The days were full of new and exciting experiences, and they gave me color again after I had burned out from working too hard at my job and in my marriage.
If I had stayed in Japan, it would have been difficult for me to recover.
Reiki, which was recommended to me by a friend just before I left for Japan, was very useful for my solitary life abroad.
The healing techniques that allowed me to take care of my mental and physical ailments and create peace of mind on my own provided reassuring support.
Reiki is more popular overseas than in Japan, and it was easy to start a conversation with local people.
Once she understood the strengths of Reiki, she took upper-level classes every time she returned to Japan for a short period of time, became an instructor, and began to give healing treatments and transmission classes in Buenos Aires for a living.
Currently, she is temporarily living at home in Hokkaido to take care of her parents.
This is how I introduce myself.
The change in my consciousness and the opening of another door in my life was triggered by the experience of living in a foreign country as an escape from reality.
I think I was too hard-headed to accept the change without such an experience.
But now I realize that I didn't have to work so hard to be the person I was before I went to Argentina. I wish I had been more carefree in my life. I wish I could have lived more carefree.
If I could realize and master the art of healing myself, my days would be easier, more enjoyable, and more radiant without having to make a big leap to another country.
I know that now.
I want those who are interested in my life to take more shortcuts.
With this in mind, I gave a Reiki class.

9.5.2022
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Home coffee bean selection, after wandering.

One of the things that people who have lived in Argentina say is, "I started putting sugar in my coffee when I came to Argentina.
The same is true for me.
Cafe con Leche (cafe au lait) or Cafe Cortado (with less milk than cafe au lait), which many people order at cafes in Buenos Aires, comes with a large bag of sugar.
And Argentines use many bags.
At first, I looked at them and thought, "I can't believe it. But when I tried it, I found that the drink tasted better with the sugar dissolved in it.
It is because it has a strong bitter taste.
If it were served without milk, it might not be drinkable.
Even so, the taste of coffee served at a table in a street corner café suits me.
The coffee I drink in the morning in my apartment is straight coffee.
When I started living in Buenos Aires, it was a long road to choose the brand of coffee beans for my home.
It is said that only a few coffee beans are grown in Argentina, even in South America, the world's leading coffee-producing country.
Most of the coffee beans lined up in supermarkets in Buenos Aires come from Colombia or Brazil.
In addition to these imported products, some imported beans are roasted and commercialized by Argentine brands, but the Argentine roasted coffee we tried was a brownish liquid with only a bitter taste.
Later, when I heard that the beans are roasted with sugar, it made sense.
It was close to a burnt bitterness.
I tried many products from the supermarket, but I could not find a coffee that I liked, as I like deep roasted coffee.
There is a Starbucks in Buenos Aires, but in the local sense, Starbucks is a high-end coffee shop.
The beans they sell are ridiculously expensive, and the prices are frequently revised as the dollar rises.
I tried the packaged beans that I was familiar with in Japan, and of course they tasted and smelled like coffee.
They are delicious.
But they are expensive.
And, I think to myself, "Why?
Why Starbucks when I'm in South America?
On second thought, I tried several coffee beans, including a brand name coffee from a local coffee shop chain and beans from a specialty coffee shop that roasts its own beans.
The wandering journey took a long time, because it takes quite a few days to consume a bag of coffee beans once you buy a sample.
And in the end, what I arrived at was Starbucks coffee beans.
My Argentine boyfriend said to me, "You must be crazy to buy coffee beans at that price." But this was the final result of my steady trial and error.
I could no longer compromise.
He nodded when I asked him, "This coffee is expensive, but it tastes good, doesn't it? He nodded his head in agreement.
It is a funny story, but now that I live in Hokkaido, Starbucks coffee has become a taste I remember from Buenos Aires.


7.9.2022
DAYS/ Sumiko Kuramitsu Column
Beloved Buenos Aires
Healing sent to the other side of the earth

Since I started living at home in Hokkaido, I have been working almost entirely at home as a therapist.
Reiki has a healing method called Distant Healing, which transcends time and space dimensions from a remote location.
I send healing energy according to the client's physical and emotional condition, and adjust the state of the chakras and aura so that the self-healing power is activated.
Some of my clients are Argentines who were my clients when I was in Buenos Aires.
Although the world is in a state of instability, Argentines are historically accustomed to recession and uncertainty.
Even in such a world situation, they are good at finding their own enjoyment and living optimistically day by day.
I like their resilience and learn a lot from them.
When I lived there, I was aware of this and did not doubt it.
Recently, however, I realized through remote reiki that they are also anxious and afraid.
I have been experiencing a series of cases that make me think so.
Specifically, the first chakra and the sixth chakra, two of the seven major chakras, were inactive. It appeared that the person was not firmly rooted in the ground and was not forcing himself to look into the future. Moreover, it was as if his subconscious mind was doing so intentionally.
If he puts down roots on the surface of an unstable country, he will be wobbly along with the country, and if he struggles to draw his own future prospects in the midst of economic uncertainty, his hesitation will deepen even further. That's how I would interpret it.
However, not all chakras are in disarray, and the seventh and third chakras are active.
It is a state of being in which we are receiving energy from the heavens, we are bright with inspiration, and our self-esteem is stable.
So I am beginning to think that this intended chakra imbalance may be their own way of surfing the waves to survive in the present.
Usually, the ideal spiritual state is one in which there is a strong connection with heaven and earth, and each chakra is active. As a therapist, I usually try to activate the chakras that are stagnant in the session.
However, in such a situation, it is not a good idea to focus on activating all chakras by force.
We send healing energy with the intention of doing what is best and most appropriate for the person's current situation.
You could walk on tiptoe through the scary darkness with your eyes dimly open.
It would be good if, at the time of the coming leap, we could seize the opportunity with well-tensioned antennae and stand up with trust in ourselves.
Surely.
I did the healing as if I was sending a cheer to that soul.
I also decided to send healing to the land of South America from the other side of the earth so that the future of the country of Argentina would also shine brightly.

