Little Miss Piggy

With spring struggling to make an entrance, I hardly feel like hearkening back to winter. But the event I am about to document may go unnoticed if I do not do so. A few weeks ago, during A & E's midterm school break, we headed up to Hokkaido for some skiing (remember I live with mountain people) as we have done for several years running. As usual, we chose Nisseko where the mountain may not be that challenging but the snow is unparalleled according to the resident experts. Something about winds blowing in from Siberia coupled with the ocean clime.

One day, while said experts were off searching for steeper slopes and uncharted territory (fortunately they did not tell me about their off trail adventures until the end of the day), I parked myself with James from Portsmouth UK in the hope that this would be my big, break-through year. If you looked beyond his stringy, shoulder-length locks and general surfer-dude demeanor, James, who habitually said things like "Let's have a positive attitude, shall we?", did have a certain English charm. But, truth be told, the highpoint of my lesson was when we descended the mountain and found a pig (I kid you not!) strolling down the bunny hill. The portly little lady with her stubby legs and black bristles was quite a sight against the backdrop of pure white snow. Skiers of all skill levels stopped dead in their tracks to whip out their cell phone cameras or simply watch the scene unfold.

Subsequently, James informed me that the pig (more likely an until-recently-wild boar) is one of several resort pets. The following afternoon, the girls and I paid a visit to Miss Piggy and the other critters -- an antler crowned deer with soulful eyes, an adorable red fox, a very friendly goat and a whole family of yellow ducks. But due to Abby's great love of pigs and my affinity for wild boars (I am inushishidoshi according to the Chinese horoscope borrowed by Japan), the porker was the main attraction by far.

Affectionately called "Ramu" by her keepers, she passes her days in a snow pen where visitors are free to crawl inside and get to know her better. As if fully aware of Abby's proclivity, Ramu took an immediate liking to her and nuzzled right up. After visiting Ramu on her home turf, we accompanied her on her daily constitutional. Bribing her with treats, Ramu's orange-clad caregiver escorted her down the slope, periodically breaking into a jog lest overindulgence ruin piggy's girlish figure.