Mother Farm

Emiko took one day off to drive to the Mother Farm in the countryside in Chiba Monday, November 17th. On the way, we were worried if the farm would be closed for Mondays. To our delight, we joined hundreds of weary city dwellers and kids to enjoy a refreshing day on the farm.

The Mother Fram was founded by Mr.Hisakichi Maeda who started Sankei Shinbun Daily Newspaper and Tokyo Tower. Maeda opened the Mother Farm on a 250-hectare land at Kanozan on Chiba Prefecture's Boso Peninsula in 1962 to remember the leaner times in suburbs of Osaka where his mother had said their family would be all right as long as they had a cow.

Our first stop was the duck parade. It was fun to watch the duck march according to the bell sound of trainers. I learned how to distinguish male and female ducks. In general, females make the classic "quack" sound and their tails tilt higher. Then Emiko and I ran with Soleil for a while on the big farm. Soleil was so happy that she jumped here and there.

While I participated in sheep parade, Emiko took Soleil for a good run at the park for dog run. Soleil is a lucky dog. Emiko loves her companion so much. I was very cautious when I took Soleil for a walk when Emiko went to work. Emiko would kill me if anything happened to her beloved Soleil. Soleil is seven years old, but energetic and slim like a 3 or 4 years old puppy.

After lunch, Emiko and I saw a animal parade show of sheep, cows, alpacas, goats, pigs, ostriches, sheep-shearing show, introduction of sheep from all over the world, and the pig racing. It reminded me of the fun days in New Zealand.

At the changing of the year 2014 to 2015, parents and children waited in line to take photos with ponies (2014 Year of the Horse) and sheep (2015 Year of the Sheep). After the good year of my husband born in Year of Horse in 2015, I look forward to my good year born in Year of Sheep in 2015

After a long drive home, Emiko made the oyster shabu shabu for dinner. We had tea and pineapple cakes for desserts. What a wonderful and memorable last evening in Tokyo. I just can't thank Emiko enough for her hospitality to be able to enjoy the beach life on Tokyo Bay and farm life in the countryside to enjoy with the nature in Japan.

PS: Mother Farm is accessible via a free shuttle bus from Kimitsu Station in Chiba Prefecture.