Hina-Ningyo (Takatori,Nara)

They're"Hina-Ningyo". I happened to see them in Nara,on this March.

People use bamboo to display these dolls.

This style of Hina-Ningyo dispray is not always seen in Japan, 

I think this kind of display is rare in Japan,but it's interesting.

They're tiny and cute...

This is an ancient kimono.

These are balls of cotton wound tightly around with threads of many colors for bouncing.

The two people(on the top shelf) are emperor and empress.

The three women are servants.

This is one of typical way of dispray.

This is also emperor and empress,and their servant.

These dolls are also disprayed.

This girl is carrying a balance.

This doll has a hat decorated with wisteria. 

You can see these Hina-Ningyo in Takatori,Nara,on March,(March 1ーMarch 31)

This is an annual event in Takatori,Nara, and every year,many tourists visit to enjoy this event.

Aoi-Festival (masquerade parade) Kyoto （葵祭）

"Aoi-matsuri" is known as  most graceful and elegant festival in Japan.

This is like"masquerade parade",

everyone disguise themselves as nobles in Heian era,

and they march along the main street.They're about 500 people.

They recreate the 9th-century Japanese aristcrat people and their culture.

The origin of this festival dates back 1400 years ago,

Bad weather and bad harvest caused people great distress,

so  they prayed to God, and they had a  horse race,

and the wind and rain died down suddenly.....

And they had a good crop,and they recovered peace and quiet.

This is the origin of this festival.

People in Kyoto has maintained this traditional festival faithfully.

   

 This man disguise himself as an aristcrat in Heian era.

This is an ox-drawn carriage,used by nobles in the Heian era.

These kids are also marching,wearing colourful ancient clothes.

This is a portable shrine,only for noble person. 

This flower umbrella is believed to protect people from evil.

This man disguise himself as an imperial bodyguard.

He carries arrows on his back.

He is in a very good mood (^_^)

Kyoto-Sweets （京菓子）

The name of this sweets is "Otogi-Zoushi".（おとぎ草子）

This means "a fairy tale" about 700 years ago in Japan.

"Yoshinoya",the sweets shop,always pay attention to express the sense of  the season,

when they create these sweets.They look so lovely.

http://www.kyoto-yoshinoya.co.jp/

Yuzen Atelier "You" （遊） Furisode

Today I'd like to tell you about Japanese traditional Furisode.
Yuzen Atelier "You" (in Kyoto) creates these Furisode.


The cherry blossoms branches are hanging down...
These are standard designs of Furisode,and very popular.
This is handwritten design,and have scarcity value.
(If you interested in this kimono,let me know by e-mail.)



Mandarin ducks and Japanese Iris design.
Mandarin ducks are also standard design of Furisode.
This gradation of color needs high skills of artisan.
The marerial for Furisode is silk crepe.


 This is chrysanthemum design.
 Artisan used wax to express this fine,thin line.It needs high skills,too.

Atelier homepage
http://some-u.com/

The Tale of Genji MuseumーKyoto,Uji

He is "Hikaru-Genji", he's visiting his favorite girl,"Utsusemi".....

These two girls are enjoying "Go"(Japanese boardgame).

        The left girl is "Utsusemi".

        Her husband is away on business trip now,

         so she's having fun with her daughter-in-law....

     Genji's love toward Utsusemi(married woman) grows stronger and stronger...

     He knows this is"forbidden love",but his love burns even brighter.....

      Do you know "The Tale of Genji"....?

       It is a classic work of Japanese literature in the early 11th century,

       Heian period.

       The auther is a woman,Murasaki-Shikibu(紫式部）,

       she vividly described the love affair of  Heian Imperial court society.

       It is sometimes called the world's first psychological novel,

       and universally hailed as a masterpiece.

      This is "The Tale of Genji Museum".

       http://www.uji-genji.jp/en/

       This is visitor-friendly facility,

        and provide us a wealth of information on The Tale of Genji,

        both domestically and internationally.

           This is "Murasaki-Shikibu",

            the author of "The Tale of Genji".

            Murasaki is considered one of the greatest writers

            of Japanese literature.

This is an ancient picture of "The Tale of Genji",

Becoming disital, and it's beautifully restored.

       The ancient noblewoman in Kyoto played with these beautiful shellwork

        with paintings, which depict the nobility's life in Kyoto in the Heian period,

        toward the 9th-12th century.

                    This game is radical guessing.This is also 9th-12th century's game.

                    Players were required to match the right half of a character

                    with the proper radical.

              This is "Byobu",Japanese ancient screen.

               In Heian period,byobu design progressed

               from a standing single-panel screen

               to multiple-panelled folding screens.

In Fukushimaー Don't make light of their lives

In Fukusima,people who live within a radius of twenty kilometers of the nuclear plant have to leave their houses,because of air pollution.
So many livestock,like cattles,are being abandoned now,so many domestic animals in that area are dying by starvation.....because of no foods,no water....
They're destined to be killd by the Government....Because of prevention of contagious disease.
Why do farmers have to abondon them? Because the Government enacted legislation against taking livestock out to another place recently.
Why do they have to be treated cruelly like this?
Was the Government policy toward nuclear power plant proper...? Maybe not.

Sakura and handicrafts shop in Yoshino,Nara

They're Japanese double flowering cherry trees.

They're in full now.

This is weeping cherry tree.

This is handicrafts shop in Yoshino,Nara.

They're all made of Japanese cypress.

They're elaborately carved by sculptor.

They're like jigsaw puzzle.

Lump is one very important piece of furniture

to complement the house interior.

This is lump made of  Japanese cypress,

in the shape of a raft,with cherry blossoms pattern.

This is also handmade lamp furniture,made of Japanese cedar.

This lamp is in the shape of Yoshino mountain,with Sakura design.

Such warm wooden interiors create relaxing atmosphere.

Japan Earthquake Emergency Relief website
http://www.unicef.or.jp/kinkyu/japan/en/2011_0402.htm
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/info/quake-donations.html