Behind the History !

by Kazu

The newly activated hydrogen producing unit in Mikasa City where tons of coal had been produced until decades ago.  Half-burnt wood chips and sawdust creates Carbon mono-oxide and by adding mist, we can get hydrogen (H2) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). 

The Carbon dioxide will be mixed up with the ash from the boiler and the water in the shaft and gallery of abandoned coalmine. The mixture will be poured in the gallery and shaft so that it becomes carbonate. 

The hydrogen creating unit was built on the premises of the abandoned coalmine in Mikasa City. The tower to roll up and down the lift in the shaft is still standing on the ground. It is the symbolic icon of the coalmine. I hope the city will rise again.

 

So Complicated !

by Kazu

Have you ever seen such complicated structure of machine ?　It is impossible for me to draw the blueprint of such complicated structure. The theory could be understood but to design such art work of science was too tough for me.

As I mentioned on the previous post, CO+H2O=CO2+H2 was the theory of the complicated unit but the actual flow of the gas and the treatment of that can not be managed without ample knowledge and skill, I thought. 

The stakeholders, citizens, City Councillors, former coal miners, scientists and various kinds of people visited there and listened to the explanation by the staff of the unit.

 

Toward the Hydrogen Society !

by Kazu

The hydrogen making unit started to work in Ponbetsu, Mikasa City where top quality coal had been produced before. Even now, hundreds of thousands tons of bituminous coal must be under the ground.   

So complicated structure of the hydrogen making unit seemed to be tough to maintain and I could not understand amply the flow of the gas created by half-burning sawdust and coal. 

I had an impression of the thinness of the pipes and delicate devices of the unit. I heard that the unit was imported from Germany and the custom-made facility was so expensive.I imagined the long way toward the future supported by hydrogen.

 

Hidrogen Extraction Unit in Mikasa City Activated !

by Kazu

This is the facility to extract hydrogen from half-burned wood powder and coal. It was like CO+H2O= H2 +CO2. The CO2 would be mixed with waste water from the closed coalmine and fry ash from the boiler of the electric power factory in adjacent towns.  

Getting enough money from NEDO New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization, Mikasa City built this factory to transfer the technology to Asia. Many challenges could be anticipated but so far, it must be the best choice.  

This "Ponbetsu" mine has a hectic amount of coal under the ground and a small flame would be kept burning under the ground and extract H2 after extracting . It was the godsend to the world, I thought.  

 

Buckweat Noodle Bar " Gen An "in Iwamizawa !

by Kazu

I heard that the well-founded Japanese buckwheat noodle restaurant "Gen An" in Iwamizawa City moved to the residential district of the same city. We had lunch in the new "Gen An" on our business jaunt to Sorachi Sub-prefectural Area .

My choice was "Katsu-don", Pork Cutlet Rice bowl and buckwheat noodle. As you may know, Katsu-don is topped with pork cutlet boiled with soy sauce, broth, egg and onion slice. It was the go-to menu of the restaurant.  

 

Niseko Developing !

by Kazu

It was our trip by train to Kutchan/Niseko Area and we walked around Hirafu Slope Area. We found a new condominium type accommodation Hotel Moor Niseko was built.  

The public parking lot was not so crowded but in winter ski season, it would filled up with automobiles of skiers and snowboarders. On the opposite side of the Hirafu Slope, a new accommodation was being built. 

 

Changing Countenance of Mt. Yotei !

by Kazu

The cloud over the peak of Mt. Yotei seemed to be called "Kasa-gumo" which means "Cloud shaped like an umbrella". The name is used in the name of a dinner course in the Restaurant "Kumo" of Hotek Skye Niseko at the foot of Mt. Niseko Annupri. 

The sunlight from the setting sun make the clouds orange, pink and gray. It was our last stay in our favorite Hotel Setsu Niseko in this year but we would visit Kutchan /Niseko area by car again and stay in Hotel Nikko Niseko Style two weeks later. 

I was wondering if I would be able to visit and stay in the hotel more frequently and longer than before. I think once you stayed in the hotel, you would not be satisfied with other hotels' facility and design.

 

Mt. Yotei Stood Still !

by Kazu

That was our trip by train, so we asked the staff of Hotel Setsu Niseko to pick  us up at Kutchan Station beforehand. It was the first time for us to visit Setsu by train and shuttle car.  

Mt Yotei was wearing white chapeau with long drapes. The foliage of the trees around the hotel had already started to change their colors and made so nice contrast with the bright blue sky.

With the sunshine of setting sun, the chapeau over Mt. Yotei turned to pale orange or pink. Soon the hotel would be closed to prepare for the guests in winter. The staff had to check up all the facility and maintain the functions.  

 

Welcome to Kutchan !

by Kazu

A single car train was coming to the station carrying some tourists and citizens. For weekend, very few people were on the train. My wife seemed to have itchy feet to take on the train and we took it to go back to Kutchan Station.

 I remembered the crowded train filled up with tourists including train manias who preferred single seats to enjoy amply the scenery to be seen from the window.

this is unmanned Hirafu Station. An old building of Japanese Inn "Ryokan" was still on the backside of the station but not in service. A log house was next to the station. Somebody is living there. 

 

The Soup Curry House next to Niseko Station !

by Kazu

The soup curry restaurant "Jamii" adjacent to Noseko Railway Station seemed to sell T-shirts and other goods for the advertisement and as souvenirs. The display  was so interesting and a stage for music players was set at the deepest part of the restaurant.

The old building of Niseko station was almost empty other than the in-house cafe "Nupri". I could not find any train manias on the platform except for my wife on that day, to be surprised. 

The bright sunshine was still strong but the winds gave us the sign of summer passing away. It was so comfortable and the landscape made us forget the negative office choirs and negotiations.

 

Transportation Systems in our like !

by Kazu

The real life in Niseko Town is supported by this train and even the tourists including train manias are supported with their stress relief and refreshment against the backdrop of this wonderful landscape. 

The train so many people use even now were leaving. We are so concerned about the railway and train because the bullet train would be in service in the year of 2030? or later. So many local railways in rural area were got not-in-service after the bullet train got in service beside them.      

Adjacent to Niseko Station, so famouse and popular soup curry restaurant was founded some years ago. We had lunch there for the first time on that day. We had to choose the level of the hotness and spiciness precisely but the taste was much better than we expected.