Uncovering Japan

Statue of Liberty: Symbol of Recovery

2011-04-13T16:05:00.007+09:00

It stands upright in the midst of the rubble in the port city of Ishinomaki, where over 10,000 people are reported as missing.

A 30-feet replica statue of liberty was established in Ishinomaki by a local company. It was built as a tourist attraction due to the geographical resemblance of Ishinomaki city to Manhattan.

“I did not like the statue at all.”

Genjiro, a 55-year-old man changed his mind after the goddess saved his life. He was once swept up by tunami, but made a miracle come back.

While drifting around the rubble, he found a sweet bun among debris. “I need to get something to eat”. He picked up the bun and swallowed it with mud. Indeed, he was not able to have any food three days after then.

“I might have been dead if I did not eat it. Maybe the goddess gave it to me”, he prayed for the statue from the top of Mount Hiyori, commanding the view of the whole city.

“I hope the goddess will become the symbol of recovery”.

The deal toll is 12.321 million as of 5th April. There are still 15.347 people who are missing.

Source;

Nikkansports newspaper on 19th March, 2011.
Reuters, http://jp.reuters.com/article/domesticJPNews/idJPJAPAN-20438620110405

The city of Hiroshima

2010-10-31T20:45:00.006+09:00

"A dragonfly flitted in front of me

and stopped on a fence.

I stood up, took my cap in my hands,

and was about to catch the dragonfly

when..."

Hiroshima is a city on which an atomic bomb was dropped.

Hiroshima is a city with many memorials for the lives lost.

Hiroshima is a city which continually seeks peace.

Everyone, please look at Hiroshima's path over the last century.

Distant memories, bitter remorse and alarm at an age past.

Everyone, please, look at what the atomic bomb brought.

Suffering, pain, anger, and apprehension toward an uncertain future.

...Hiroshima,

in this nuclear age, will continue holding high the flame of hope.

Customer Testimonial

2010-10-30T22:20:00.003+09:00

Hi Sae!
Thank you for your patience and the wonderful tour you gave of Kyoto (Gion)! We really enjoyed your comprehensive tour and explanations. Your English is really good! Pursue your passion in your guiding! Please take care and hope we can see each other again :)
Kathleen and Alvin, Oct 17th, 2010

Autumn Griefs

2010-10-26T23:31:00.003+09:00

This night the cheerless autumn moon
Doth all my mind enthrall;
But others also have their griefs,
For autumn on us all
Hath cast her gloomy pall
Chisato Oye, A hundred verses from old Japan

I took a shot of the bright but shading moon, which represents my grief not having my husband besides me tonight!

Customer Testimonial

2010-10-24T16:14:00.006+09:00

Dear Sae,

We want to thank you for a lovely day we will always remember! Your choice of what to see was exceptional! Your sensitivity to our needs was unparalleled. Your explanation of the tour sights was interesting and informant. Your command of English was exceptional! We enjoyed your restaurant choice. You are an intelligent, charming individual and a marvelous tour guide. We can't wait to return to Japan and have you as our tour guide.
Fondly,
Vicki & Dick Sharp , Oct 10th, 2010

Customer Testimonial

2010-10-24T16:06:00.005+09:00

Hi Sae,
We would like to thank you for the lovely day in Kyoto. We really enjoyed the spots you picked for us and the way that you connected them walking through local paths. You also explained us really well the different places that we visited. But you are not just a nice guide, you are also a lovely person and we really enjoyed your company!
We wish you the best,
Natalia and Toni, Sep 25th, 2010

Customer Testimonial

2010-10-02T22:44:00.008+09:00

Sae is an excellent tour guide. She is very friendly and personable, and she is very knowledgeable and articulate on all aspects of Japanese culture, traditions and history; and modern society too.

Sae gives a lot of thought to making the tour tailored to your interests and experience. Her suggestions are invariably worthwhile - take her advice!

I have used many tour guides and Sae is one of the very best I have ever seen.

September 26th, B. C. from Australia

Customer Testimonial

2010-08-24T07:30:00.007+09:00

We had a wonderful time in Kyoto, all thanks to your expertise in guiding us around the city. Your English is excellent and your knowledge of the historical significance of the various sites we visited made our visit much more meaningful. Japan is a beautiful country and its people were gracious and welcoming – especially you! We hope to return to Japan and visit Kobe. When we do, we’ll be counting on you to once again take us under your wing.

July 21st, Denise Jones and her family from Wisconsin

Customer Testimonial

2010-08-21T23:26:00.007+09:00

We had a great time touring Kyoto with Sae. Our group had grown from 2 to 20 and was quite large for 1 tour guide. However, Sae was able to accomplish all of the sightseeing we had planned. Sae demonstrated a VERY high level of patience with the very diverse group and accommodated the various agendas that we had. Her knowledge of the sites we visited was well presented and kept the interest of the entire group. Our family and group appreciated her time and sharing of knowledge about Kyoto.
Thank you Sae!
Kavin Paris

Thank you so much for the wonderful tour of Kyoto. You made the city really come alive for us. We were all impressed at how well you managed our large group (21 people) an were able to answer everyone's questions. The lunch place you chose was fantastic! I can't thank you enough for showing your time and insights with us.
All the best,
Grace and Abby Benn

Sae is a wonderful guide, very knowledgeable and informative. She handled a large group of us all by herself without any trouble. All of us were very impressed. Thank you very much Sae! I recommend her without reservation.

Frank Kosa

Thank you for the wonderful tour of the city. You explained everything extremely well and your patience with a group of 21 was remarkable. Hope to see you again.

Alyson&Lauren
Arigato!

Sae was an excellent guide. She has great knowledge of Kyoto and its history. She has great patience and kindness, and is an excellent English speaker. We enjoyed the lunch she arranged, and appreciate that we had the choice of Japanese and Western food.

Thank you,
The Palmer Family

Customer Testimonial

2010-08-20T23:29:00.009+09:00

Ron, & I truly enjoyed our day spent with you. Visiting Arashiyama was very special. My favorite was the moss garden at Gioji temple. The architectural elements that you showed me on your i-pad were fascinating, the technology is amazing. You were right....the temples and shrines are more beautiful in the rain.
June 21st, Jann Chisholm from New York City

© contributed by Jann Chisholm

Edible Aquarium

2010-08-16T09:27:00.004+09:00

This gold fish aquarium is made from sugar and agar.

Japanese confectionery enchants your eyesight and delights your palate!

Kobe Fireworks

2010-08-09T12:38:00.004+09:00

Fireworks at the port city Kobe was beautifully displayed on the 7th, August.I wish I was a better photographer to share the real dynamism.

The photo was taken at the observation deck of Herb Garden.

If you want to enjoy fireworks with city view, it's the place to go next year!

Original Wagashi in summer

2010-07-14T15:00:00.008+09:00

Sunflower Tart

Centered in chocolate mousse, yokan petals make the tart look gorgeous. Ground almonds add spicy savor and crunchy texture!

Wave and Plover

Slices of sticky rice cake hold delicate white bean paste.The pale blue lines made from yokan express summer sea wave. Plovers are ironed.

Hydrangea Tart

To maximize the tart flavor, almond powder is mixed in the pastry. Green tea mousse is topped with Hydrangea petals made from bean paste.

For more about Japanese sweets, please visit http://ameblo.jp/chun-zhi/.

The art of Udon

2010-06-21T12:39:00.012+09:00

Hand-kneaded udon is very different from the package you buy in supermarkets.

You just mix flour quickly with salt-content water and generate gluten by kneading the dough.

The flour I use is low in ash content which makes the color whiter. It should also contain an appropriate amount of protein that makes the noodle chewy and smooth.

and flour should be fresh to maximum the flavor!!

Rainy Sunday Afternoon in Kyoto

2010-06-20T13:59:00.000+09:00

Sunshine is delicious, rain is refreshing, wind braces us up, snow is exhilarating; there is really no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of good weather.

Customer Testimonial

2010-06-09T00:11:00.004+09:00

Hi Sae,

Sadly Bradd and I are back in Melbourne after our much loved trip to Japan. I want to thank you again for showing us around Kyoto. It was a perfect start to our trip. I still look at my photo's from Arashiyama and can not believe that a place as beautiful as that exists.
Oh, and thanks a million for emailing us those photo's they are great!
We have been encouraging our friends to take a trip to Japan and we will definitely be giving them your contact details!!
We will make sure to stop in Kobe for a visit next time we come to Japan!
Until then, Take care.

April 24, 2010, Bec and Bradd from Melbourne, Australia

Customer Testimonial

2010-06-06T16:09:00.009+09:00

We had a wonderful time with Sae as our tour guide in Kyoto. She took us on routes through Kyoto that we would not be able to find ourselves. Her English was excellent and her knowledge was superb. Thanks for a great day!

May 29, 2010 Dunn Family from Santa Monica

I always enjoy taking family visitors in and around Kyoto.

They are so curious about history, culture, and buildings of different cultures.

The Dunn family was also curious about Japanese food.

We had a quick tofu lunch at a udon stand in Kiyomizu, but next time, let's try tofu at a famous place Okutan!

Secret Route to Kiyomizu temple

As Seisho-Nagon stated, Kiyomizu temple is always crowded with visitors and worshipers, still it is the spot you cannot miss! Therefore I picked up the hidden route in the cemetery on the east side of Gojo-zaka. You never breath exhaust from tourist coaches and you never suffer from hundreds of school kids around you! After about 10 mins hill hike, you see a breathtaking view of Kyoto city on the back.

Three Wise Monkeys

2010-05-18T00:26:00.005+09:00

The philosophy of these monkeys is universal.

In the west, it's translated as "See no evil, speak no evil, and hear no evil "

There seem to be similar maxims all over the world.

The origin is still unknown.

In Japanese, this proverb contains a world play.

-mizaru, iwazaru, kikazaru-

Did you notice the three phrases had a common sound.

In this proverb, the sound -zaru has a double meaning.

"zaru" as a suffix is a negative verb conjunction.

"zaru" as a noun represents monkey

This is the reason of the maxim being always associated with monkeys.

If you know where the monkeys are in Kyoto,

you are the Kyoto connoisseur!

Wedding procession of Fox Bride

2010-05-07T23:49:00.012+09:00

Fox is considered a spiritual creature under Shinto spirituality

...sometimes deified but sometimes feared...

People in Japan sometimes saw fireballs in a distant mountain at night.

It was considered as a wedding procession of a fox bride.

Photo©My friend Robin Niklaus

In the present day of Japan, the expression Kitsune-no-Yomeiri, a wedding procession of fox brides, stands for a sudden shower under the sunlight.

Indeed it's a weired feeling as a fox wedding procession.

Customer Testimonial

2010-04-29T17:00:00.003+09:00

I just want to thank you again the great time we had together.
Having the chance to meet local people like you and the other volunteer guides have been the highlight of our trip.

April, 18, 2010 Eva Calduch from Barcelona

Flames of jealousy

2010-04-28T00:12:00.005+09:00

It was in the late afternoon...

on the 2nd of July, in 1950

Kinkaku-ji, so-called the golden pavilion was engulfed in flames.

It was an apprentice monk Hayashi Shoken who set fire.

"I could not conceal my jealously against the perfect beauty."

Turning into Leaves

2010-04-14T19:46:00.004+09:00

Cherry blossoms are turning into leaves now.

The pink Wagashi in the following photo is specifically for this time of the year.

Can you see the green leaves on top of the pink blossoms?

Spring Slumber

2010-04-11T16:07:00.002+09:00

It's Sunday afternoon.

The last weekend to appreciate the fragile pink.

Oh god!

Please don't wake me up!

Hanami Party

2010-04-11T01:04:00.005+09:00

Vigorous Cherry Blossom??

Hustles of the people drinking under cherry trees have never ceased....

Cherry blossoms in this year lasted over two weeks!

Where is the transient beauty we appreciate?

Anyway, it's a great excuse for us to go out for drinks!!

We call this once a year event as HANAMI, flower gazing.

I made my dinner box and visited Maruyama Park in Kyoto.

Maruyama park was crazily noisy with the people who were intoxicated by the beauty of blossoms...of course not by alcohols!

Fancy Spring Yokan

2010-04-10T02:05:00.006+09:00

Fancy Spring Yokan

Yokan is a thick jelly dessert made of red bean paste, agar, and sugar.

This fancy yokan represents spring blossoms in full bloom.

Not only pleases your eye sight, it truly pleases your palate with its fine sweetness.

The colorful flowers are made of Nerikiri.

Nerikiri is like a Western marzipan. It's often used to shape decorations after tinted and molded.

Its softness and thickness are just suitable for this purpose.

If you can read Japanese language, please also visit the original blog.

http://ameblo.jp/chun-zhi/

Happy New Year

2010-01-04T23:31:00.005+09:00

Seasonal Greetings

May your new year be blessed with peace and joy

Sending you my heartfelt wishes with joy that never ends

Wishing you a very happy new year!

Flaming autumn color

2009-11-27T00:20:00.005+09:00

Flaming autumn color

splendor of colored maple leaves...

Ripe orange persimmons...

and the emerald green mantis looking for a place to hatch.

The Pillow Book 5

2009-11-26T10:09:00.008+09:00

Things that make your heart beat fast

"Things that make your heart beat fast - A sparrow with nestlings. Going past a place where tiny children are playing. "

- Sei Shonagon, the Pillow Book

It was so nice to see a little kid tried to play with a deer family.

The photo was taken in Nara park under beautiful Ginkgo trees.

Find out more about the Pillow Book.

Kofukuji-temple

2009-11-15T23:15:00.009+09:00

Longing for Ashura-statue

Ashura is now back to his home Kofukuji-temple.

I was waiting for this opportunity to finally meet with this beautiful statue...if you could see my previous post...

However, there was a long line waiting for the ticket.

You have to wait at least an hour... maximum four hours.

Isn't this crazy...?

I know how attractive he is...

but still...

It was a feeling something similar to jealousy... ;)

Japanese people, including me, are willing to pay 1500 yen (15 dollars) and wait for four hours just to have a look at the Ashura statue.

It is interesting to know that the same statue was almost broken down by Japanese people due to the movement of Buddhism abolishment...just about 150 years ago.

Today we gave up to get in the line, and enjoyed the lighten-up pagoda instead.

Spiritual Walk

2009-11-15T22:05:00.009+09:00

The color of the sky was pinkish-gray in this evening.

We were on a "spiritual walk"...

... not the time travel :)

Can you guess where we were?

The destination was Nara-park!

There are1200 friendly deer in and around the park.

Unfortunately, the number is decreasing due to tragic traffic accidents...

Daibutsu, the great statue of Budda is always here to open your eyes.

You cannot tell its dignified presence and sublime beauty from my photos...

Daibutsu Data

Year completed: 757

Height: 14.85 m

Weight: 380 t

Number of Rahatsu (curling hair): 966

Rahatsu Diameter: 18 cm

Length of Eyes: 102 cm

Building period: 12 yrs

Number of people involved in the construction: 2.6 million

Material: Copper 499 t, Tin 8.5 t, Gold 440 kg, Mercury 2.5 t

History 3 Prehistory

2009-11-11T16:20:00.002+09:00

Chinese people introduced rice farming techniques to Japan!

The period from 400BC to 300BC is referred to as the Yayoi Period in Japan.

While the Jomon culture was continued for over 10 thousand years in the northern part of Japan, people from China started to migrate in the southern part of Japan at around 400BC. Most of them escaped from the turbulent condition of the Chinese feudal society.

They brought rice farming techniques to Japan. The rice farming later expanded to all over Japan, which made the existed band societies into bigger villages with powerful leaders.

The most famous site to see the life of the Yayoi Period is “Yoshinogari” in Saga prefecture, Kyusyu. This site is also famous as possibly being the Yamataikoku, the country of the legendary queen Himiko.

History 2 Prehistory

2009-11-11T15:34:00.004+09:00

The largest relic of the Jomon Period

The time in Japanese prehistory from about 14000 BC to 400 BC is referred to as Jomon Period. The climate at the time is similar to the one we experience today in Japan. People formed “band societies”, the simplest form of human society which consists of a small kin group.

The greatest inventions of this period are clay pots and archery. People started to save their crop in clay pots, and hunt animals by bows and arrows.

To see the trace of people's life in the Jomon period, visit “Snnai-Maruyama” in Aomori prefecture. It is the largest relic of the period, with a watchtower of 10 meters high and neatly placed pit houses, graves, warehouses, and mounds of debris.

It is believed people exchanged a trade with several cities. Jade brought from Niigata, obsidian from Hokkaido, and amber from Iwate were excavated from this site.

Also, they seemed to enjoy drinking alcohol made from grapes and strawberries.

The site of Sannnai-Maruyama is still under investigation for further discoveries of the Jomon life.

History 1 Prehistory

2009-11-11T15:26:00.003+09:00

Who are Japanese? Where and when did they come from?

The land of Japan was connected with the Asian continent 30 thousand years ago. People categorized as “proto-Mongoloid” came to this area to catch large-sized animals. Some of their descendants live in Okininawa and Hokkaido today.

About 12 thousand years ago (BC 300), the sea level rose after the ice age. It was the formation of the Japanese Archipelago. The current Japanese people are the mixture of the proto-Mongoloid and the new-Mongoloid who came from the Korean Peninsula later.

Customer Testimonial

2009-10-20T00:36:00.003+09:00

Sae, thank you for the wonderful time you spent with us on our last trip to Japan. The places you showed us were really interesting and I really enjoyed to experience the Japanese young culture at it’s best. Thank you so much for all the attention you have given us, before, during and after our tour. Hope to see you again in a few years, on our next trip to Japan.
Take care, Susana Carmona Portugal

October 19, 2009, Susana and Mario from Portugal

The Pillow Book 4

2009-10-16T01:56:00.017+09:00

The messenger of God

People who seem enviable

“…You have an urge to go on a pilgrimage to Fushimi Inari Shrine, and as you’re laboriously gasping your way up the steep mountainside to the middle shrine, you’re filled with admiration to see others who’ve obviously started behind you go climbing straight up without the least effort. When you arrive, there they stand, already at their worship!... “

-Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book

One day I climbed up the pilgrimage course behind the main shrine of Fushimi Inari. It was a two-hour hiking course.

I did not have a plan to complete the course, but as started, for some reason, I could not stop walking deep into the mountain…as if I was charmed by the row of mysterious torii gates.

After a while, I realized there was nobody around but me…Most people seemed to turn back around the halfway...Oh my got I was so lonely in the middle of the mountain…

And then, I found a little snake staring at me.
I could feel my heart beat quicken...and finally started running to climb down the mountain.
By the time I went back home, my legs became like lead...and were actually shaking.

That probably came from the tension of the muscles...but maybe from the fear of the sacred snake!

My mother used to say snakes are the messenger of God. If that is the case, I should be very lucky to meet the snake in the Fushimi Inari Shrine, the god of business success.

More posts on "The Pillow Book"?

The Pillow Book 3

2009-10-16T00:16:00.008+09:00

Things that create a disturbance

The eighteenth day of each month is dedicated to the Kannon Bodhisattva.

Things that create a disturbance

"…The crowed that goes to Kiyomizu Temple on the eighteenth day of the month for the retreat…"

-Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book

Kiyomizu never stops attracting visitors over a thousand years.

Today it is always crowded with tourists…even not on the eighteenth day.
Especially at this time of the year, there are full of cheerful school kids running around the precinct. There is no way you can expect the sublime beauty of Kiyomizu in a romantic atmosphere.

To avoid bustle, the best time of visiting Kiyomizu is early in the morning. It’s open from 6 am!

Febreze Dog

2009-10-13T21:28:00.006+09:00

Do you think I am just an average dog?

Do not get me wrong...

I can blast you...

...with freshness

Oh my god!

Please don't rip off my cloth!

Shitenno-ji

2009-10-12T13:52:00.012+09:00

Faith staying alive!

By spinning the Wheel of Law on the Paradise Gate at Shitenno-ji temple,

you have the same effect as orally reciting the prayers. (photo:sha-fei)

It was late in the afternoon, when my husband and I visited the area, we saw many old people sat on the streets and were having leisurely talks with their friends.

The atmosphere of this city was completely different to the one in the north Osaka. Even in the heart of Osaka, people seemed to spend a slow life here in the south...

Shitenno-ji has been in the heart of Osaka city since 593.

It was established by the prince Shotoku, the founder of Horyuji-temple in Nara. At first I thought Shitenno-ji also looked like the brownish wooden style like Horyu-ji.

However, it looks different in color and in construction materials. Many places are covered with concrete, entrance doors are made by glass, and hand rails are covered by dust.

I was sort of disappointed that the appearance of the temple was not what I expected.

...but I was wrong.

As I saw many local people kept visiting the temple in a raw, I realized the significance of this temple.

Shitenno-ji temple still plays the important role to the local people.

Even as an oldest temple in Japan, this temple is never content to this honorable status.

I feel like Shitenno-ji is refusing to be "a relic" to be preserved, and trying to be a living beliefs for people who need help.

Unlike other temples, Shitenno-ji accepts all people regardless of their Buddhist sects.

Maybe that is a pride and confidence as the Buddhist temple with the longest history.

Nishiki Market 2

2009-10-10T00:46:00.012+09:00

The busiest food market in Kyoto

Nishiki Market is on a street one block north of Shijo in downtown Kyoto. This market has a history of 400 years and is still popular among local people as well as tourists from home and abroad.

It is specialized in seasonal vegetables and local foods, of course, of the best quality.

Here are some photos from Nishiki Market.

These are called "Nuka-zuke". Vegetables are pickled and fermented in rice-bran paste.

My favorite ingredient is "Daikon", Japanese radish. The texture is crispy, and the taste is salty. It goes really well with white rice!

(C) Matthias Hoffmann-Kuhnt

These are "Tsukudani". Small fish and seaweed are simmered with soy sauce and sweet sake.

Tsukudani is popular as a side-dish due to its good keeping quality.

Most local foods are available from Nishiki Market...tofu, eel, fish paste, dry food, tea, sweets, bread, and sushi.

Thanks to my friend Matthias for offering beautiful photos!

Cat Temple

2009-09-29T20:33:00.023+09:00

The legend of a faithful cat

There is a temple called Shonen-ji in the Nishijin-district of Kyoto. It was established in 1606 with great financial support from Matsudaira Nobuyoshi, the lord of Tsuchiura castle in Ibaragi prefecture. Since Nobuyoshi passed away, the temple had been deserted due to the loss of financial support from the Matsudaira clan. The temple started to flourish again thanks to a faithful cat kept by the third monk of this temple.

Here is a little story about the cat and the monk, once had resided in the temple.

***

Once upon a time, at a temple called Shonen-ji in Kyoto, there was a Buddhist monk whose name was Kansho. He had a cute cat as his pet. His temple once flourished thanks to the strong financial support from the Matsudaira clan, but lost its prosperity after the lord of Matsudaira passed away. Therefore, the monk needed to live off as a ^(*1)takuhatsu. Even in dire poverty, he never deserted his pet cat.

One day, on a beautiful moonlight night, he came back to the temple worn out, after a long day of his work. As he approached to the main shrine, he was startled and petrified for a while.

A beautiful princess in elegant attire was dancing gracefully with a fan in the evening’s moonlight. Sliding doors behind her reflected the shadow of his beloved cat. He was shocked to realize, this elegant princess was in fact his cat personified. The monk became angry and said,

“I am working so hard to make a living for us, how can you dance so jovially and ignorantly as this!?”

…and he kicked her out of his temple.

A few days after, she reappeared to the monk in a dream.
“If you welcome and entertain a warrior who visits your temple tomorrow, your temple will flourish again”, she said.

In the next morning, a samurai warrior from the Matsudaira visited the temple, as the cat had predicted, to give burial to his deceased princess. The temple and the Matsudaira were since reinstated, and the temple became more prosperous than ever.

***

Shonen-ji temple is also known as "Cat Temple" derived from this story. It is now renowned for holding memorial services of pet animals.

In the precincts of the temple, there is an old pine tree. It was said to be planted by the monk of this story to commemorate the death of his cat. The tree is commonly called “Cat Pine” as the extended figure looks like a sleeping cat.

To get there from Kyoto station, take City Bus 206 and get off at Kenryuko-mae stop.

Note (*1) Takuhatsu is a traditional form of alms, common to Buddhist monks in Japan. In the practice of takuhatsu, monks travel to various businesses and residences in order to exchange chanting of sutras for donations of food and money.

The Pillow Book 2

2009-09-22T22:28:00.012+09:00

The charm of Japanese autumn

"Autumn is best at twilight – the blazing sun has sunk very close to the mountain rim, and now even the crows, in threes and fours or twos and threes, hurrying to their roost, are a moving sight. Still more enchanting is the sight of a string of wild geese in the distant sky, very tiny…and how inexpressible when the sun has sunk, to hear in the growing darkness the wind, and the song of autumn insects."

-Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book

September 23rd is Vernal Equinox Day in Japan. Many people visit their family graves and hold family reunions. My husband and I also went home to spend some time with my family. (Maybe more importantly to be released from daily housework for a few days...I always end up gaining some weight by the time I come back...no exception in this year. )

On Vernal Equinox Day, night and day are almost equal in length. Night becomes longer after this day and people feel the autumn deepens. They enjoy longer evening by reading a book, having a leisurely talk with their family over drinks, or maybe muse over past memories.

When looking up sunset, I always experience a feeling of nostalgia. In the evenings of autumn, the song of insects and the rustling of rice plants add melancholy to my feeling…

On the way home from my hometown, I held my husband's hand firmly to make sure he was really there, and realized a simple but supreme happiness.

The Pillow Book 1

2009-09-19T23:38:00.015+09:00

Timeless Sensibility

"Spring is best at dawn.
The hilltops gradually lighten while the light grows brighter, trailing purple-tinged clouds through the sky."

-Sei Shonagon, The Pillow Book

This is a quote from the introduction of The Pillow Book, written over a thousand years ago. The author is Sei Shonagon, a court lady who served the empress at the period. This book is her essay depicting everyday life of the court ladies.

It is very exciting to know what the nobility’s lifestyle was like. They were maybe surrounded by luxurious garments and had a different style of education, culture, and diet. As you read, however, you will find out human emotions are universal. People get delighted at a birth of new life and shed tears over the loss of beloved someone.

The rising sun from mountains always brings to my mind the line from the Pillow Book. I feel sympathy for her over a thousand years of time. It is the most fascinating and romantic part of learning history. I am going to read through her essay and share some stories with you.

Nishijin

2009-09-02T20:48:00.006+09:00

Texitle Art - the perpetual drive for beauty

The Nishijin textile industry is the oldest industry among some traditional industries in Japan.

The weaving technique was originally brought from China by the Hata-clan back in the 5th or the 6th centuries. The splendid brocade was especially favored by Imperial Coat, feudal lords, and other rich people in the past. In the present day of Japan, the products vary from kimono fabrics to neckties and scarves. Nishijin textile now pervades every life of Japanese.

Although there were difficult times and danger of extinction during its history, the Nishijin textile industry still keeps developing by integrating modern technology with traditional techniques. Nishijin is also evolving into a form of artistic expression. Artisans started to apply their techniques to artfully reprint some significant paintings by the Nishijin textile.

Unlike other traditional industries such as ceramics and paintings, a Nishijin product is not created only by an artisan. To complete a product, there seem to be some 20 different processes, which are done by a group of skilled artisans.

To complete one product with a group of people really shows the Japanese characteristic to place importance on harmony and uniformity.

Also, you will be convinced the technical excellence of the Japanese by witnessing the attitude to keep elaborating their products and techniques over thousands of years.

Nishiki Market

2009-09-01T20:00:00.004+09:00

Enjoy Kyoto's indigenous vegetables

Kyoto is famous for having its original brand vegetables. They are called “kyo-yasai”. Generally speaking, Kyoto’s indigenous vegetables that started its production before the Meiji Restoration, in 1867, are designated as such.

The reason of having such a brand is Kyoto’s distance from the sea and its Buddhist culture. Located in the center of the mainland of Japan, Kyoto-city has had difficulties in obtaining fresh seafood. That is why people elaborated vegetable breeds to make them more nutritious. Also, as an ancient capital, the Buddhist culture has been ingrained into its people, encouraging vegetarian diet in accordance with its discipline.

There are currently 41 kinds of kyo-yasai including extinct ones. The typical vegetables are Daikon (Japanese radish), Kabu (turnip), and gobou (burdock). The Kyoto brand vegetables often have a funny shape compared with conventional breeds as a result of pursuing its flavor and nutrition.

If you are interesting in kyo-yasai and its cuisine, explore the Nishiki Market in the center of Kyoto, or just visit a restaurant there.

Need recommendation from me? You are always welcomed!

Japanese sweets

2009-07-22T21:55:00.014+09:00

Hand-made wagashi -seasonal sweets-

Wagashi is a traditional confectionery developed along with tea ceremony. The outstanding characteristic is its seasonality. It changes as the seasons change, reflecting the beauty of nature at each time of the year.

The main ingredient of wagashi is azuki bean paste. Natural herbs or fruits are used to color bean paste to represent a variety of seasonable objects.

My mother is a self-proclaimed pastry chef and devotes herself to make wagashi these days.

The pink flower-shaped wagashi has two-colored dough made of bean paste wrapped around a bean-jam center, and marked with delicate lines representing chrysanthemum petals. The interesting ingredient is “yam,” a kind of viscous potato with a large root. The potato was grated after steamed, and mixed with bean paste dough. The grated yam deepens the taste, and makes the feeling on the tongue softer.

The translucent-skin buns are called mizu manjyu. The translucent body is made of agar, gelatin made from seaweed, and covers colorful bean jelly flavored with cassis and green tea.

The jelly with green and transparent layers expresses a cooling stream of a summer river. Red beans in between the layers represent pebbles wafting on the bottom of the river.

The creation of wagashi demands sensitivity to the subtle and constantly changing faces of nature, and techniques to express the flavor as tangible expressions.

I believe you could see the expression of summer on these sweets. This is one of the esthetic sensibility Japanese people have. Here is some more colorful wagashi made in different seasons.

For those who want to know more about the aesthetic sensibility of Japanese, please read on the following article. The aethetic sensibility of the Japanese

Business Culture

2009-07-17T22:28:00.006+09:00

Bureiko -Distinctive business culture

Most Japanese companies are hierarchically-organized and people normally cannot be frank to their bosses. Social drinking parties are the only occasions to talk to their boss in a relaxed manner. This is called bureiko. They are allowed to communicate frankly regardless of rank and seniority. However, even where bureiko is formally permitted, one should be careful to have a certain extent of courtesy and loyalty to his/her boss. The word bureiko sometimes does not mean to be ... "really bureiko".

Kabuki

2009-07-16T21:23:00.012+09:00

Kabuki - It was a girl who broke the ice!

Did you know kabuki was originated by a lady?

Kabuki is one of the traditional stage arts developed in the 17th century. After the period of the Civil War in the 16th century, Japan eventually entered into a peaceful era. As people expressed unabashed joy of welcoming a new era, colorful and dynamic culture started to develop during this period. Kabuki was the typical example that represents the Edo culture.

In present day of Japan, kabuki is exclusively performed by male actors. However, it was originated by a lady called Izumo-no-Okuni. She created a dynamic performance with active dancing wearing a fancy dress and elaborate makeup, which was completely different from conventional performances. She then formed an ensemble composed of female dancers. They performed both men and women, and its open-air performances gained huge popularity among commoners. Their rival groups soon appeared and started attracting man to prostitution. This type of performance raised eyebrows of the government officials and women were finally prohibited from the kabuki performance. Since then, kabuki has been exclusively played by male actors.

Unlike the static movement of Noh, kabuki performance expresses dynamic and active movement. Exaggerated dances and facial expressions attracted huge number of enthusiastic fans. 50 percent of the people at the time in Osaka was said to have visited the performance.

Kabuki is still popular in present day of Japan. It is not easy to reserve a good seat unless you budgeted 20,000 yen (US $200). However, the gate is wide open to everybody. Why don't you spend a whole Sunday viewing kabuki? Check it out before the renovation work starts at the Kabuki-za Theater in Ginza, Tokyo. I am a big fan of Nakamura Shido, a very sexy kabuki actor. I wish I could get a ticket of his performance someday!

Noh

2009-07-15T18:56:00.012+09:00

Noh - the oldest form of stage art

Noh is the oldest form of Japanese stage art. It originated in the 14^th century exclusively for the people in the samurai class.

Being in a turbulent era, samurai always sought salvations as they had to take life of their enemies. Noh play was one of the forms of dedication to the spirit of the dead. Therefore, Noh has religious connotations and is characterized by its static acting. By eliminating unnecessary movements and expressions as much as possible, Noh put emphasis on the inner spirituality.

In the typical story line, a Buddhist monk listens to grudges of the restless ghost to repose his soul.

Imperial Succession

2009-07-14T21:53:00.019+09:00

Dispute over Imperial Succession

Such a touchy issue today – the dispute over the Japanese imperial succession

The Japanese imperial family is assumed to maintain its lineage for over 2000 years. (I would rather not to talk whether it is true or not...) Maintaining the bloodline seems to be the foremost importance of deifying their authority. This concept is the root of the controversy over the imperial succession.

Under the current Imperial Household Law, only men have a right to succeed the throne. This regulation was made to protect the lineage of the imperial family. In contrast, 76 percent of Japanese people agree with the amendment of the law to allow “empresses”, mainly from the perspective of gender equality. In my opinion, this result shows the indifference of Japanese people about the imperial system. The real issue is not the notions of woman’s equality but the tradition of the imperial lineage.

To have an empress means the ending of their long-lasted bloodline, and could expose the country at risk. If she gets married to a man from outside the family, their children would no more have the “pure” imperial blood. In the worst scenario, her husband may have an ambition to conquer Japan under the name of the emperor.

There are two options for the immediate solution. Firstly, to allow empresses until next possible male successor can take over her post, with reservation of her being single while enthroned. Secondly, to establish a harem for an emperor and make more candidates. These customs had been practiced until not long ago.

However, I personally think this is old-fashioned and primitive. Thinking about the respect of human rights of women in the Imperial family, the only choice is that they stop maintaining their bloodline and giving up their deified authority…that is the abolishment of the imperial system.

The imperial system no longer has a significant meaning for most people in Japan.

Disclaimer - This post is thoroughly based on the personal point of view and does not represent the opinion of Japanese people.

Nostalgic twilight

2009-07-09T22:21:00.003+09:00

The summer in Japan is hot and humid, but the cool breeze in summer evenings instills a nostalgic feeling in many Japanese people.

Imagine the sound of wind chimes…, the buzz of cicadas…, the chirp of crickets…, and the tiny musical sounds resonant from local religious festivals.

They all add to the attraction and romance of summer twilight.

In this summer, you should definitely visit local festivals to experience the charm of Japanese summer.

Romantic Star Festival

2009-07-07T22:40:00.003+09:00

July 7th is a very special day for the mythical lover, Orihime (Vega) and Hikoboshi (Altar). They are separated each other by the Milky Way and allowed to meet only once a year on this day.

Orihime was a hard-working weaver and Hikoboshi was a good hunter. The two fell instantly in love with each other when they met, and got married shortly thereafter. Once they got married, however, they no longer worked as hard as they used to. Orihime’s father, the god of the universe, was deeply disappointed at their negligence and separated the two lovers across the Milky Way in anger. Since then, they are only allowed to meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.

Japanese people cerebrate this romantic day as “Star Festival” for the once-a-year meeting of the couple deeply in love. The most famous star festival is held in Sendai, Miyaghi prefecture from August 6^th to August 8^th.

Palm-Reading

2009-07-05T23:40:00.010+09:00

TV shows in Japan these days feature palm reading. Famous palmists are doing fortune-telling for famed actors.

Riding on the wave on the popularity, I myself visited a palmist one day to have my palm read.(It was a campaign of a bookshop to sell ~~silly~~ clever spiritual books.) According to the palmist, I’ve got a strong sense of curiosity and a service minded personality…and as such, a tour guide is an ideal job for me.

Wow, she inspired me a lot.

Ashura Statue

2009-07-04T12:31:00.023+09:00

Ashura - how cute!

These days, the urban-style tourism seems to be more popular for overseas travellers. Tsukiji Fish Market, anime museums, and amusement parks are the unique part of Japanese culture.

In contrast, Japanese people nowadays pay more attentions to the traditional part of the country. Indeed, the Ashura statue in Koufukuji-temple is the most popular Buddhist statue among Japanese girls.

Ashura was originally a wicked deity. The state of an Asura usually reflects the mental state of a human being obsessed with force and violence, always looking for an excuse to get into a fight, angry with everyone and unable to maintain calm. He was trying to interrupt people from listening the sermon of Buddha.

However as he listened to the words of Buddha, he eventually became a believer of Buddha. The Ashura statue in Kofukuji-temple expresses his joy of becoming a Buddha follower.

He is probably the most handsome Buddhist statue, and as such, he gained popularity among Japanese girls. The special exhibition of Ashura statue in Tokyo National Museum attracted over 900 thousand visitors only in two months. He is travelling to Kyusyu National Museum and will entertain more people in this summer.

I think I have to wait until he comes back to his home in Nara.

Horyuji-temple

2009-07-03T11:18:00.009+09:00

The oldest wooden structure in the world

Standing in the ancient capital of Japan, Horyuji-temple in Nara prefecture is the oldest wooden structure in the world. It is considered to be there for over 1400 years!

Horyuji-temple was established by a prince Shotoku-taishi in the seventh century. He was the first Japanese leader who introduced Buddhism as a national religion.

There still are many misteries about the origin of this temple. Childen in Nara are taught that Horyu-ji was created by space alians....maybe it is the only way to explain the logics of this perfect construction...

The philosophy of WABI

2009-07-02T10:08:00.005+09:00

If you want to show off your knowledge about traditional Japanese cult

ure, all you need to say is" the sense of mortality".

Japanese culture has been developed based on the praise to the sense of mortality. Unlike the Western concept of finding beauty in eternal life, Japanese people find beauty in transient nature of life.

In my opinion, Sen-no-rikyu (16C) left the most significant concept "Wabi" in the Japanese sensibility. He was the most influential master in the tea ceremony, and still is regarded as a legend.

He was the one who completed the Wabi style of tea ceremony. The philosophy of "incomplete, imperfect, and impermanent". This concept is based on the acceptance of transience. He found an ultimate beauty in the transient nature of life. Therefore his collection of tea utensils and tea room structure had simple and rustic style without any unnatural decorations.

To feel his Wabi philosophy, visit Kyoto or Sakai city, Osaka.

The aethetic sensibility of the Japanese

2009-07-01T00:52:00.003+09:00

The Japanese love of cherry blossoms is probably the well-known fact.

In my opinion, cherry blossoms best represent the aesthetic sensibility of Japanese people; wintry branches burst forth in renewal, the spectacular full-bloom, falling petals, and the emergence of fresh-green leaves. All of these happen in two or three weeks. This fleeting nature of cherry's life evoke sentimental feelings in most Japanese, as it overlaps transient nature of human life.

The attached photo was taken at the nearby local park. The contrast of the cherry branches reflected on the water and the floating petals is very romantic.