The bean-scattering ceremony in Yoshinoyama,Nara （節分 吉野山）

We are in Mt.Yoshino now.

This steep stairs leads to the Big Temple,Kinpusenji.

We're having the bean-scattering ceremony ,

and some other events in this temple tonight.

Many people gather here for the ceremony,

including people from a distant place.

web  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ao0c-NleQEY

Can you see the ogres in the darkness? Can you see their horns?

The  young people disguise themselves as devils.

(They're menbers of young men's association in this town.)

We throw beans toward them,to exorcise evil spirits from us.

The bean scattering is our custom early in February.

Every year on Feburary 3,we scatter beans,all over the country.

This day is called "Setsubun" （節分）in Japan.

And we eat sushi (which is rolled in seaweed with various ingredients).

Another performance started in the temple.His performance is acrobatic,using torches.

It's his showtime now!

Next,beating drum performance started.

A young lady play the drums very skillfully.

Her performance is so powerful that our evil spirits are all gone and dissapear!  

May this year be happy and healthy for you,too!

Spring has comeー Kitano Tenmangu（北野天満宮） Kyoto

It seems that spring has come in Kyoto.The plum trees are now budding.

Kitano Tenmangu is good shrine in Kyoto.It is worth visiting 

This gateway is a symbol of Kitano Tenmangu shrine.

This is a stone gurdian dog at the gate.

This is the entrance of the shrine.

This is outward appearance of main shrine.

This flower smells sweet!

This is main shrine,which is national treasure.

Kitano Tenmangu is dedicated to Sugawara Michizane,who is a nobleman in Heian era (about 1200 years ago)

He was a brilliant person,so he is known as "god of study" for everyone. 

So this shrine is very popular among students preparing for an examination.

Now is the season of entrance examination,so students from all over the country come to this shrine to pray for success in the entrance examination. 

web  http://www.kitanotenmangu.or.jp/

The pink plum.

maiko in Tenmangu 

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MUg0B1oxAs

She is Heian Hime.

Her sweetheart is a bad correspondent,so she is anxious about that.

She expressed that in her poetry.

Students write their wish on these votive tablets,and dedicate them to this shrine.

For example,"I'll definitely pass the entrance examination this year!" etc....

Like new year resolution.

This tablet is called "Ema".

May God answer their prayers!

Yuzen Dyeing Atelierー Sensho Ichikawa （染匠市川株式会社）, Kyoto ②

In this room,artisans are coloring Yuzen.

She is coloring the seeds of ivy.

This is a cloth-convey system so that they can work smoothly.

Another woman is painting.

She is coloring buds of Japanese apricot.

This design is a combination of Japanese chrysanthemum,Japanese apricot,and fan.

This man is also painting.

He gives the cherry blossom a few finishing touches.

The closest attention is needed to draw fine line.

The cherry blossoms are described vividly.

This is a reference room.This room is like small library.

They refer to these books for drawing designs for a kimono.

These books are about ancient Japanese pictures.

These books are very expensive.

For example,they refer to this kind of ancient picture.

Yuzen kimono is created through long long processes.

It takes at least 2 months to create Yuzen kimono.

It is the product after their strenuous efforts.

Yuzen Dyeing Atelierー Sensho Ichikawa （染匠市川株式会社）, Kyoto ①

 Japanese Uzen Kimono fascinate every people.

 But how is that created?

This is Yuzen Dyeing Atelier,Sensho Ichikawa（染匠市川株式会社）in Kyoto.

web   http://www.sensyou-ichikawa.com/

The nearest subway station is Marutamachi.(丸太町）

They create,sell,and repair Yuzen kimono.

This is one of the leading companies of Yuzen in Kyoto.

Atelier observation is always welcome.(A reservation is needed.)

What is "Sensho"?

"Sensho" is people who control and give a command every artisans and contractors when they create Yuzen kimono.

Sensho is like headquarters in creating kimono.

There are about four processes in creating Yuzen.

First,they decide composition of kimono,(draw a rough sketch of kimono)

And secondly,they decide and choose skillful artisans,and give them direction.

Thirdly,they decide color arrangement of kimono.

And last,they give artisans final direction. (embroidery,gold-leaf folding,etc...)

These are Yuzen (made here). The description is delicate and vivid. 

These are processes of dyeing Yuzen.(photos below)

This is the rough sketch of Yuzen.This is drawn by green grass.

And they trace all the outline by specilal paste.

This is the preparations before dyeing.

Wow! It is dyed.That's great.

This is the preparation,too.

We have to dye background.

If dyes run and spread,it ruins everything,

So this preparation is to avoid running dyes.

Oh,it's really wonderful.

This is also preparation before dyeing.

This is the reverse side of the cloth.

In kimono,the left designs and right designs should be matched exactly,

like when we put together a jigsaw puzzle.  

This is the main front part of a kimono.

To be continued...

New Year Archery Competition in Kyoto,Higashiyama （三十三間堂 通し矢）

This temple is famous "Sanjusangen-dou" （三十三間堂） in Higashiyama,Kyoto.

I dare say,when you visit Kyoto,you should go this temple.

It is really worth visiting.As many as 1000 Statue of Goddess are set up inside the temple.

They're unbelievable.they're one of the highlight of this temple.

Website    http://sanjusangendo.jp/

But today's highlight is the Competition of Japanese Archery.

There are 2000 participants from all over the country.

Every participant is an experienced person,or a holder of a rank.

Most of participants are 20 years old,but others are the veteran players.

They are participants of this competition.

They're "debutants".

This competition is like "debutants ceremony".

She's going to the ground where the competition is being held.

The contest has already started.

The atmosphere is very tense....

They concentrate on the target.

The distance from the target is about 60m.

The target has a diameter of about 90cm.

They're veteran people.Their movements are excellent.

The contest is very hot and heated...

Who will survive?

Who will win in the finals....?

Access

It takes about 10 minutes from JR Kyoto station by municipal bus to this Temple.

(The bus number is 100,or 206,or 208,and get off at "Hakubutsukan-SanjuSangendo-mae".)