The professional bicycle race in SAKAI,OSAKA ( 16TH TOUR OF JAPAN 2013 SAKAI STAGE)

 

Today we are in SAKAI,OSAKA to see professional bicycle race.

This bicycle race is called "TOUR OF JAPAN 2013".

The schedule is as follows;

 

1st stage - In SAKAI (Osaka)    May 19

2nd stage - In MINO Gifu)     May 21

3rd stage - In NAGANO   May 22

4th stage - In Fuji Mountain  May 24

5th stage - In Izu   May 25

6th stage - In TOKYO  May 26

 

The players change places every day,and compete the race,from May 19 to May 26.

16 teams participated this race,

7 teams are from overseas; from Australia,Italy,China,Korea,Singapore.

And 9 teams are from Japan.

 

My husband is a big fan of bicycle race,he was so excited today.

The cycling race had already finished when we arrived the game venue,

so we could see Individual Time Trial in the afternoon.

The weather condition was really bad today. 

I uploaded the movie on YouTube.

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw2AWUyL-Ug

 

Hope you'll enjoy it.

 

This is  a starting and goal line.

  

 It was raining heavily,so players are taking shelter under the tent,waiting their turns.

The race results are displayed on the electoric board.

The champion is Taiji Nishitani,AISAN RACING TEAM,Japan.
All the players did their best in spite of the bad weather condition,and the race finished successfully.

Thank you for your visiting,
Please have a great day!

Maiko and Kyoto Museum of Traditional Craft

 

 

Hello,I hope you're having a wonderful day^ ^

 

Today I visited "Kyoto Museum of Traditional Craft" in Kyoto.

On every Sunday,we can see maiko's dance and crafts artizan's demonstration.

During maiko's dance,photos are not permitted,it's a pity,

but after dance,she had a look around this museum,

so fortunately I could take a photo of her.

Let us check her fashion.

Today's her fashion is based around the color bright green and red.

Maiko is very season-conscious,

"Bright green" is considered to be the most suitable color in this May season.

 

And please look at her kanzashi(ornamental hairpin),it is wisteria.

In May,maiko wear this wisteria kanzashi.

Because May is the season of blooming wisteria.

 

And this big obi is interesting.

Maiko wears this big obi.(Geiko doesn't wear this big obi.)

This is a design of river streams,

the color contrast of white and red is interesting.

 

She seems enjoying walking around the museum.

I found lacquer ware artizan.

 

This lacquer ware box is made by him.

As you see,it is really shiny,lustrous,

it is beautiful.

He said that it took him 6 month to make this box.

It costs around hundreds of thousands yen.

This dragonfly is realistic.

Its wings are made of mother-of pearl,he said.

And these flowers are Houttuynia (kind of herb),he said.
Gold powder is sprinkled,this technique is called "Makie".
"Be realistic" is one of the characteristics of Japanese traditional design.

This museum is located near Heian Jingu shrine.Sunday afternoon is good for visiting,

Thank you for visiting my blog,I'm happy if you enjoy it.
please have a wonderful day!

World Foods Exhibition 2013 in Osaka, South Port

Today I went to "World Foods Exhibition 2013" in Osaka with my husband.
We can enjoy varieties of World Foods here today.
 (Foods from central and eastern Europe,Asia.)
It's so exciting!

So many people!
Today is lucky day for us,because we can enjoy rare foods from lots of different countries^ ^
The air in this room was thick with the enthusiasm of the participants.
We Japanese are all gluttonous!

This is Romanian foods booth. Let's go.

I wanted to eat this "Mititei", (I think it's meat dish,) but unfortunately it has already sold out.
This is never enough to be regretted.

Instead,I bought Romanian beer "URSUS" for souvenir.
I want to try it later. ^ ^

This man is cooking seafood paella. I want to try it.

Wow!
This is just what I want to eat!

This is Belgian food booth.
We can enjoy Belgian beer here. Let's try it.

She served me a delicious looking beer with lovely smile ^ ^

Wow,what a spread!

These are British dishes.

Curried Tuna hamburgers,sausages,and mashed potatoes.

We are going to eat them with chopsticks.  (This is Japanese style.)

And Belgian beer! I love it.
It has a gentler fragrance and deeper flavor,compared to Japanese beer.

Here's to your health!

Thanks for always visiting and reading my blog.

Sakura is blooming in Japan now

I am sorry I'm late for updating my blog.

 

Now Sakura is blooming in Japan now (^_^) 

 

These pics are taken near my house today.

 

The flowering dates is very earlier than last year.

 

Unfortunately, it is raining today....
Had the weather been good!!

A Coming-of-Age Day 2013

Today is "Seijin-Shiki" throughout Japan,as you know.

This is the scene of the ceremony (feast) of coming-of age celebration.
These new adults are opening sake barrels by breaking lids with wooden hammers.
This is called "Kagami-nuki".
In this year,1,220,000 people became new adults in Japan.
I wish you all happiness!

Winter-blooming peonies - Hase-dera,Nara

 

 

These are peonies that bloom in winter. They are rare species.
They are protected by straw cover,against cold weather in January.
They're blooming beautifully, enduring freezing weather.
And their straw tents are so lovely :)

Visiting Kashihara Jingu Shrine (Hatsu-Moude) 2013

Happy New Year!

I'm now walking the approach to Kashihara-Jingu Shrine,Nara.

So many people are here!

At the beginning of the year,everyone visits Shrines or Temples to make a petition to the gods in Japan.

It is called "Hatsu-Moude".

This is the Main Hall of the Shrine.

 

What a big votive tablet!

Can you see big snake on it?

Why snake?

Because in Japan,this year is a "snake" year,according to Chinese astrology.

Snake has long been regarded as "sacred animal" in Japan,like many other countries,

so this animal has long been an object of faith,even now.

 

This old lady is praying eagerly for God.

Maybe she's praying for the well-being of her family,or be healthy,or success in business,etc.

Unlike Christianity,our great concerns are whether this God is beneficial and responsive to us or not.

We offer money (coins) to a deity before praying,and in return,we expect God to benefit us!

Benefit is important,yes,our motives are not so pure,compared to Christianity.We admit that :)

 

These are ritual arrows to drive away evils.

It costs $37.

They're tieing the fortunetelling slips.

This is dedication.This is Japanese custom.

 

 

This is my fortunetelling paper!
What is it saying?
My fortune is "a little luck" this year.
It's saying "Stay calm,and wait for a good chance."
Well,it seems that I made a good start this year.

I wish you all happiness and joy this year! :)