Kyoto Self-Help Group Tour ③: Eureka Moon

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This is Umino.

Just the other day it was pouring rain with thunder and lighting, but now the rainy season ended at record speed and already we’re in full summer heat with the sun blazing, and Umino is completely wiped out (sweat).

And then, because it was too hot, I cranked the AC and ate way too much ice cream, which led to my stomach rumbling and diarrhea… sob (Sorry for the gross talk, sweat).

Please be sure to take care not to let your body get too cold.

Now, while I’ve been discussing self-help groups lately, it was around late November last year that I resumed my self-help group activities.

“Resuming” implies there was a period before that when self-help group activities were ongoing…

That was exactly three summers ago.

At that time, the pandemic was still lingering, so few self-help groups had resumed in-person meetings. Among them, one group in Kyoto had restarted, and I went there.

Actually, I wrote about this topic in a past blog post, but I only touched on it briefly back then, so I thought I’d revisit it and write about it again this time.

The name of the group is ‘Eureka Moon’.

As the name suggests, it is a self-help group for people with developmental disabilities hosted by someone named “Eureka.”

Incidentally, “Moon” is a name given to most groups belonging to the Sakai Development Friends Association, a self-help group. Having “Moon” in the name means the group belongs to the Sakai Development Friends Association (though there are exceptions).

The venue has since changed, but at that time it was the Kyoto City Kuretake Cultural Center.

The nearest station is Kintetu Railway’s “Kintetu Tamba-bashi” Station.

It is a short walk from there.

When I opened the door to the room, I found a slightly plump older lady – my apologies! – the host, “Eureka-san, seated in the center of the tatami room (Huh? Didn’t I write about this part in my last blog too…?), who welcomed me with a smile.

There were three participants in total: two men, including myself, and one woman.

The other man was a fellow member of my self-help group, and the woman was someone he brought along.

So, it basically turned into a gathering of just acquaintances lol.

The theme for this gathering was “harmony,” and amazingly, Eureka-san prepared matcha for us.

Each person brought their own tea bowl, and we proceeded with the gathering while enjoying matcha in a refined, tea ceremony-like manner.

The small group and calm atmosphere made it a very comfortable experience throughout.

The group has since changed its format, becoming a self-help group for couples and families with Eureka’s husband joining, so as a single person, I find it harder to participate now. However, if you’re struggling with family or martial relationships, why not give it a try?

For details about the group, please check the announcement site “Koku-cheese” or Eureka’s X!

Here’s the URL for “Koku-cheese” just in case. If you’d like, feel free to check it out from here♪

https://www.kokuchpro.com/group/eureka/

Thank you so much for reading it to the end. See you next time!

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Author

海野さざなみ(Umino Sazanami)
A "Awamijin" (Shiga Prefecture resident) suddenly appeared on the "Kyoto People's Blog.
He is a man in his 30s with a shaved head and glasses. His hobbies include reading, creative writing (novels), and cooking.