Bean-Throwing CeremonyーYoshino Mountain,Nara （節分）

 

This is "Kinpu-Senji" Temple, located at the top of Mt.Yoshino,Nara.
This Temple is Unesco World Heritage.
The founding year of this Temple is not sure,but it has a long history of more than 500 years.
It takes 20 minutes by car from my house to this Temple.
(Many priests live in seclusion in this temple and practice asceticism,
and after ascetic practices,they're spiritually awakened.)
http://www.yoshinoyama-sakura.jp/english/events.htm

Today,February 3,we have "Setsubun" ceremony here.
"Setsubun" is the bean-scattering ceremony celebrating the coming of spring.
On this day,almost all the Oni (demon or ogre) in Japan come to this Temple.
Actually,they were getting rid of a nuisance from everywhere in Japan,and they escaped and got as far as this Temple.
we throw beans toward Oni (demon or ogre),to drive away the evil spirits that bring misfortune and bad health with them.
Then the Demons repents their sinful behavior,and they swear to turn over a new leaf.

This is Oni.(Demon)

Young people in this town disguise themselves as Oni today.

This is green Oni.

They have an iron rod in their hands to threaten people.

A brave child approached Oni fearfully,and is speaking to him.

This priest is blowing on a conch shell horn to drive Demons away.

Today musical concert was also held at this Temple.

After we go back home,

we ate sushi.

On this day,we Japanese people eat sushi.

It is our custom.

The ingredients are mostly seafood,like a sea urchin,sermon,a sea eel,etc.

They are so good.^ ^

Nishiki-Market (Kyoto) ②

This is famous hardware store in Nishiki Market, "Ari-tsugu".
This store is established in 1560,a long-established store.
These are copper handmade cooking utensils,like pans with a handle,saucepans,etc.
Great deal of labors are needed to make these handmade products.
(So they're a bit expensive.)

Their works need very careful attention....

This is a pottery store.

Their colorings are lovely..

This is Japanese sweets cafe.

You can have your choice of these sweets...

So many sweets for souvenir...

This is handmade craft doll shop,"Shouki-ya".

Please look at these cats,

they are the beckoning figure of a cat displayed in shops to bring in customers.

In Japan,cats are thought to bring us good luck.

All of these dolls are thought to bring us happiness in Japan.

For example,"Red Dharma" is thought to improve our fortune,

and "Frog" is thought to bring us a long life.

Can you see big "Sushi" crafts?

They're elaborately made handy crafts.

This is like real sushi.

As you see,"Nishiki-Market" is like a treasure island.

So please visit and make a lucky find here!

Map

Get off at Hankyu Kyoto line "Karasuma" station (Exit 16),

then walk for 3 minutes.

Nishiki Market is located near Hankyu Karasuma station (Exit 16).

Nishiki-Market (Kyoto)

Nishiki-Ichiba(Nishiki-Market) is the most famous marketplace in Kyoto,

located on a road one block north and parallel to Shijou-Street and west of Teramachi Street.

There are always so many people,including tourists here.

Here you'll find many kinds of pickles,Japanese sweets,fresh seafood,fresh vegetables,etc...

This marketplace is worth visiting.

http://www.kyoto-nishiki.or.jp/english/

So many people here...

This shop sells Japanese traditional bean snack.

These are lovely sweets...

These are soft Japanese sweets,called"Nama-gashi".

She is grinding Japanese pepper in front of her shop.

She is giving a demonstration now.

And please try these Kyoto pickled vegetables!

Kyoto pickled vegetables have an excellent reputation in Japan.

They're so good!

"Kyoto-Vegetables" are local harvest.

They are very popular among many people in Japan.

I found a nice restaurant, named "Mochitsuki-ya".

Please look at these dishes.

These are very look like real dishes,but they're not.

They're imitations!

In Japan,imitation dishes are often displayed in front of the shop,

They're like "menu". We can easily understand what kind of dishes we can eat in this restaurant.

This is appetizing...

These are yummy...
These are toasted rice cake,
covered with sweetend yellow soy bean flour,dried laver,
adzuki beans,and soybean paste.
Please try them.

To be continued....

David VillaーHope you'll soon recover

He is David Villa,Barcelona's star FW.
Unfortunately he broke his leg in the last Club World Cup (Japan) semi-final against Al-Sadd.
"He will be a long time. It's a big blow to the team.
We just hope that he can play again as soon as possible." his manager said.

Wish you a quick recovery.
See you in Munich at Champions League Final 2012.

New Year Japanese archery competition (Sanjuu-sangen-dou Temple,Kyoto)②

She fixes an arrow to a bow....

And draw a bow to the full...

They aim at these targets.

Hurry! It's my turn...

New Year Japanese archery competition (Sanjuu-sangen-dou Temple,Kyoto)①

This is "Sanjuu-sangen-dou" Temple in Kyoto.
Today we have an annual Japanese archery competition here.
Young men and women (age 20),who have an experience of archery, gather at this big Temple,and compete with each other.
Another meaning of this event is a cerebration of coming-of-age.
This traditional event dates back to Edo era.
About 600 years ago,samurai people competed their skills of archery at this Temple,and that is the origin of this event.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEzWiN6XaAQ&feature=related

They wear special costume,called "Hakama".

Today is the long-awaited day for them.

They practiced strenuously for today's competition.

Finally the competition started...
They focus all of their concentration on a target...

(To be continued)

Rakugan sweets (Kyoto)

This is "Rakugan". Traditional Japanese sweets.

When we hold a tea ceremony,we enjoy this kind of sweets.

"Rakugan" is a hard,dainty sweet made of soybean and rice flour mixed with sugar.

Originally Rakugan was introduced into Japan from China,about 700 years ago.

With tea ceremony spread throughout Japan,Rakugan become popular sweets in Japan. 

This is "Namagashi".

We can feel a sense of the season from them.

The left sweet is made in the shape of  "Japanese bell".

In New Year,every Japanese people goes to shrine,rings a bell,and prays to God.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IrCpmfgpN7c

So "bell shape" means "New Year".

The right sweet is made in the shape of "a narcissus".

A narcissus is known as a typical winter flower in Japan.

This flower begins to bloom in this cold season.

That is why we enjoy it in this season.

Right sweets,in the right season.

This is the heart of Kyoto sweets.

If you go to "Kinkaku-ji",you can't miss this shop.

"Nichiei-ken" is the shop name.

So many lovely sweets are here!

You'll be at a loss what to choose...

This shop is located near Kinkakuji-michi bus stop.(bound for Hakubai-chou).

(There are two Kinkakuji-michi bus stop.(going and coming).So just be careful.)