Rikka
Beginning of summer.
New leaves are bright and green.

Rikka
Tango Festival
Wishing for children's growth.

We're going to pick "warabi" (bracken).

It's a field trip.

Oto, Gojo
2.5-hour drive from temple.

Hello, Mr. Tamai.
Thanks for your time today.

- Are we crossing a river?
- Yes, this beautiful one right here.

- Is it cold?
- I can't tell yet.

Be careful!

Here's some "warabi!"

- It's cute.
- There's more on your right.

Look! Here!

So much.

Quite a few thick ones.
Amazing!

So pretty.

I bet it's tasty.

I think I'm going to dream about
picking "warabi" tonight!

- Here's some "itadori."
- Quite thick.

"Itadori" is used in traditional
herbal medicine.

It helps with aches and pain.

When I was a child,
we'd peel it like this and...

It has a sourness to it.

When we were up in the mountains,
we'd eat this to quench our thirst.

- There's nothing inside.
- It's hollow.

- Good, isn't it? You don't need water.
- You're right. It's tasty.

- It's good, once you get used to it.
- I guess I was thirsty.

Otowasan Kannonji Temple
Nara Prefecture.

- Should I chop these finely?
- Yes, please.

- This "warabi" is nice and tender.
- It looks delicious.

This is so gooey!

- It's sticky. How does it taste?
- All I taste is "warabi."

"Shira-ae" mashed tofu
topped with ground "warabi"

Next, cooking the "itadori."

Soaking changes the color.
It's sour if you eat it as is.

So you pour hot water and peel it.

Then you soak it overnight
to remove the sourness.

That looks tasty.

Let's make "kimpira" stir fry first.

We stir fry it with sesame oil
and flavor it with soy sauce.

It's good. Nice and crispy.

Time of year
when all things grow and flourish.

- It's a nice day, so...
- Don't do that, Osamu!

- He's getting vaccinated today.
- So we're cleaning him up first.

- Sorry, Matchan. You're soaked.
- It's no problem.

It'll turn out better
if we use juicy daikon radish.

We're making sorbet with daikon.

We made candied "yuzu" peel
using the citrus from last year.

- You're cutting it too small!
- Really? Oh well, too late.

You don't think the people will be able
to tell what it is they're eating?

It smells good.

The villagers are coming to help
mow grass and clean ditches.

This will be a little treat for them.

Could you clean up over here?

There are lots of dead branches here.
They block rainwater.

Now the waterway is clear. But before,
it would be like a river when it rained.

- Should we switch places?
- I got it.

How are we doing...?

- That's a huge rice paddle!
- It's hot!

- I'll hold it like this.
- Keep it there.

The sesame seeds smell good.

This is "takana" mustard green.
The villagers worked hard to grow it.

- And you pickled it with salt?
- Yes.

It's surprisingly big. That's why it's
called "mehari" (eye-popping) sushi.

- Is this big enough?
- It should be bigger.

Let's make it even more eye-popping!

That scoop wasn't for me?

I was waiting for you
to give me more rice.

I bet this will make your eyes pop.

I'm wrapping mine first!

The villagers will be hungry after
all that work and walking around.

Good morning. Thank you.

Good thing the weather is nice.

- This looks delicious.
- It's a simple meal, though.

- Please enjoy.
- Thank you.

It's so big!

This is good.

- I can taste the "yuzu" citrus.
- The yellow bits?

This tastes like grated daikon.

- Refreshing, isn't it?
- Yes, it is.

It's healthy, too.

- I'm feeling energized.
- So, can you work some more?