Yamabudo 山葡萄 (英語と日本語)

yamabudo

In Kojiyamachi, Nagasaki, there’s a tiny cafe I’d like to show you. The name is Yamabudo, and it’s the home of the best cake in Japan. Won’t you join me?

長崎は麹屋町にあるとても小さなカフェを紹介します。名前は「山葡萄」、ケーキのおいしいお店です。さぁ、ごいっしょにいかが?

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Just around the corner, a dark green mini cooper is the sign that you’ve arrived. It’s small and cute; not from around here and yet perfectly at home.

角を曲がると見える深緑色のミニクーパー。すっかりまわりに溶け込んだちいさくてかわいらしいその車が「山葡萄」の目印。

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Inside everything is warm and comforting. Yamabudo feels like a provincial French kitchen, and smells of freshly baked cakes. The furniture is raw, hand-crafted wood, and reminds you of a long-forgotten home. Cakes and cookies are in the cabinet, and cooling on the counter and other spare tables.

引き戸を開けるとそこにあるすべてのものが温かさと安らぎに満ち溢れています。焼き菓子の香り漂う店内はまるでフランス片田舎のキッチンのよう。生の木材で作られたハンドメイドの家具に触れると、きっと忘れかけていた故郷を思い出すはずです。ケーキとクッキーはキャビネットに並べられ、カウンターやテーブルでは出来立ての焼き菓子が冷やされています。

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The cake is delicious. Baked cheesecake is served with a miniature cream puff and a tiny creme brulee. It’s unlike any cake in Japan. And only you will know why. (The first bite, and every one after, brings a smile to my face.)

ケーキは絶品です。ベイクドチーズケーキには小さなシュークリームとかわいいクレームブリュレが添えられ、それは日本のどんなケーキとも異なっています。その理由はここを訪れればきっと分かるはず。(ひとくち食べたその瞬間から私の顔はほころびます。)

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The man who makes the cake. Mr. Nishitsu and his wife are the heart of Yamabudo. They welcome you home with incomparable warmth and generosity. Simple pleasures are the best, and this is the place to find them.

ケーキを作るNishitsuさん、そしてその奥さんが「山葡萄」のハート。ご夫婦は溢れんばかりの温かさと思いやりであなたを迎え入れてくれることでしょう。素朴な喜びこそ最高の喜び。ここ「山葡萄」ではそんな素敵なひと時が味わえます。

Posted on November 22, 2009 at 10:17 pm in Words and tagged with , , , , , , . Follow responses to this post with the comments feed. You can leave a comment or trackback from your own site.

2 Responses

  1. Bill B says:

    Dave,
    I love the story … I can nearly taste the cake ! It makes me miss all those Japanese transits I had ..even if it was only Narita Village. Finding little cafes/bakehouses was always a joy especially with the snow falling outside (always good outside !) and a good book in hand with a well crafted cup of coffee. I used to waste (?) hours looking for places like Yamabudo in Nagoya, Narita and Kansei.
    Hope you’re well. bb

    • Dave says:

      Thanks for your lovely comments Bill. I know exactly what you mean. Finding places like this is such a treasure, and the time spent looking for them is never time wasted. Cheers!

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