There are so many folk dancw festivals in the country.
Enjoy these dance festivals,

☆　Hokkaido Soran dance
Traditional work song of Hokkaido, herring fishery workers.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zon426FmjcA

☆　Sansa dance in Iwate prefecture
Iwate summer scenary Morioka sansa dancing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW1RRhSb6Ww
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bvxAxysmelI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIBxzhCCQws&t=1784s

☆ Yamagata Hanagasa Festival
Yamagata prefecture is located in the north part of Japan ,facing the Sea of Japan.
The climate of Yamagata is characterized by long hot humid summer and long snowy winter.
The largest festival in Ymamagata is hte Hanagasa festival.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bATvXC_Nu4w&t=14s

☆　Most gorgeous dance festival is:
Awaodori Festival in Tokushima prefecture.
it has the 400 year history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R1Dv2-25Kc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XmMGvLP07Ss
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A9dVUSwoxGI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MppmNFaTUBc

Mata ne

Hello, Do you like folk dance?
Yosakoi dance is a unique style of dance that originated in Kochi prefecture in Shikoku.and ,that is performer at festivals and events all over the country.
I have never been to KOchi,but in my city Yosakoi dance festival is held once in a year too.

Dncers wear thick makeup to harmonize with the beauty of their costume.
This hte Yosakoi festival held in Koti prefecture.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8e37u7xxkU

☆　In the street
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVNPeeLbGgY&start_radio=1&list=RDCVNPeeLbGgY#t=15

☆Held before the city hall in Tokyo in　 Shinjuku.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vA8aUWBhooY

☆　In Yokohama
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lbe4-8j4gA

☆　Nanao city in Ishikawa prefecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etS1om4Blvg
Which do you like?
☆　original song is this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sMrd02ncmOY
Song that remained the soldiers of their hometown in Kochi.

I have never been to Okinawa islands , but I like Okinawa folk songs callled -Eisa.
If look at this video, how Eisa looks like karate.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcll21OwaSs

Yes, Karate is from OKinawa.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yCpcfUwOM

☆　Most famous song is this :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ng-QV2LOwq4


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RenWkkj_XCg

☆　Home Island Okinawa
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1VGgM7R50

☆　like rock style
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrrMpyyCRMI

☆From Fest in Shinjuku, Tokyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Nk7krGgKg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcll21OwaSs


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3yCpcfUwOM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK3bLb4WTpY

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RenWkkj_XCg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lz1VGgM7R50



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tg35VyCwJo4



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Nk7krGgKg


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15hlbvn-Fyg

Hello ! Dont worry about tomorrow., for tomorrow will worry about itself, Todays troble is enough for today.
Life has its ups and downs but today let’s make only ups for each other

So, lets dance with this song AKB48s Fortune Cookie.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFf4AgBNR1E

What does AKB stand for?

AKB stand for Akihbara.

Akihabara is famous for its many electronics and anime manga shops. , located in downtown nearby Ueno.

Akihabara is a birhtplace of manga culture. and you can meet many cosplayers .
They like to dress in as manga ccharactors and want to become their favorite charactors.
So, as it were , Akihabara has become the center of Japanese new pop culture.
Akihabara is the Otaku mecca and has its own unique atmosphere.

Look, how Akihabara looks like:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5sX7_IXmTw

☆　English translated lyrics
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHt3eUWRJHY

☆　how to dance
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYJSQJJW31w&start_radio=1&list=RDAYJSQJJW31w
☆　with a lot of people
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TbBnYPoY4-Y&t=534s

I wish I would like to dance with you with this song again.

Mata ne Take care

Hello ! Do you know Japanese poetry Haiku?
First EU President Herman Van Rompuy(Bergian) recently published his haiku books in Dutch.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/eu/7595054/Herman-Van-Rompuy-publishes-haiku-poems.html

You can see his Haiku collections here.

https://twitter.com/RompuyJP
(As yiu can understand dutch, you can probably enjoy his haiku)

He respects haiku master Basho Matsuo(1644-1694).

"Haiku" is a japanese three-line poem. with seventeen syllables in the pattern of 5-7-5,including a seasonal word in it.

Poet Basho writes in his book " Narrow road to a Far Province."
:
The passing days and monthes are eternal travellers in time.
The years that come and go, are travellers too.
Life itself is a journey.

I like his poems like these:

Gathering the rain of summer,
How flows swiftly,
The river Mogami

Coming by a mountain path,
Somehow pretty and modest
Little violets

Enja made a this song inspire by this Baso’ poem.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXD21CaN0n4


Sick on the journy,
My dreams wander
in the wiithered field


Stormy sea,
Stretching over Sado Island,
The Milky Way


He found the never ending eternaty in the nature with the contrast of an instant.

☆　Four Basho Haiku: III. Stillness

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OKqXEYs5ll4


Mata ne , Take care

How are you? Today it is a national holiday. I do not need to work. So I am relaxing home and listening to the KyaryPamyuPamyu songs in youtube.
.
She was born in 1993 in Tokyo. She is 158cm tall.

She looks really Kawaii and her songs make us happy.So we can only enjoy simply pleasant.

Her fashion comes from Harajuku( center foto) ,nearby Shibuya.
Harajuku is the town of young fashion

Pamyu Pamyu is often called "Japan’s Lady Gaga".But she does not look sexy . only kawaiii.

During the "HARAJUKU KAWAii!!!!" events held at the French convention "JAPAN EXPO", Kyary Pamyu Pamyu performed live in front of thousands of her European fans.

She is really the "J-Pop Princess" or "Harajuku Pop Princess.

So lets enjoy her songs :

☆ KYARY PAMYU PAMYU / HARAJUKU IYAHOI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr3rtja2OPg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAGyQ5Rmz7o
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHO_eErDBCE

☆ KYARY PAMYU PAMYU / Easta　

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OSiE4I-tRY

☆ PONPONPON , Kyary Pamyu Pamyu

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yzC4hFK5P3g

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5opOCbT4aoU

Mata ne

Hello ! How are you ? Today I will inroduce you Tokyo a little.

In Tokyo there is a line called the cirlurar Yamanote line which links all important stations of the city.
The principale stations are Tokyo, Shinagawa, Shibuya, Shinjuku, Ikebukuro, Ueno.(upper pic).
We can change for other lines from trains or metro.

In 1923 , Tokyo was destryed by the great earthqueke (center pic).

During the World War Second Tokyo was destroyed by the air-bombing.

so there are very few historical buildings in Tokyo.
It is hard to find old historical town scenery remaining in old period atmosphere.

For me Tokyo seems only a large. business and comercial megaropolis.

☆　The great Tokyo air bombing in 1945, nonselective bombing. war crime in amerika
They believe the japanese are all cruel.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4uNzPO5ZSQc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJXIQRnf6Ts

☆　tokyo night view

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8hmG5dOh7E

What do you think about it ???

Mata ne

Hello, How are you?How is hte weather where you live?
It was showing here in Tokyo today..it is cold all day long.
I was in tokyo today afternoon . It looked more like freezing rain than powder snow.
The snow is wet in Tokyo and It doesn’t last long usually..
There is no snow on the ground right now.
People living in Tokyo are not used to living in the snow.

When I was a child and it snowed much , we played Snowball fighting, making a snowman.

The snow is rare in Tokyo, but, Snow festivals are held in this season In Hokkaido and Tohoku area , where a lot of snow falls in winter.

For example:

☆　The Sapporo Snow Festival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Dxf2JBy07w

☆　The Yokote Kamakura Snow Festival

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BG2nlc5w7Uw

How to enjoy in winter snow season traditionally in your country??

Mata ne

Hello ! How are you?
Life is a long journey . And We are travellers of every day.
I hope that you will continue the good journey today.

We have a long weekend .
Next Monday we have national holiday.
This holiday is for celebrating those who have newly become adults..

It is called Coming-of Age Day,

Many women wear traditional clothing KImono.

Each towna nd city has its own ceremony for the new adults.

New adults become legally responsible, and are required to behave and participate in society as responsible people.

They also start a long journey as new adults.

May new adults be happy in the future.!!!

Do you have this kind of ceremony in your country??

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9U_84AzAA8U


Mata ne

Hello ! I know you like sushi.
, So today I talk about sushi.

Sushi is raw fish on vinegared rice. We love it from EDO era.

Originally , sushi was pickled for preservation.
But, in the Edo period, people in Edo started using fresh fish instead of pickled fish. They put raw fish slices on the top of small vinegared rice balls which were rolled by hand.
This is called " Nigiri-zushi" , typically known as "sushi " in Japan and allover the world.

Usually, many kinds of fish are served , both red and white, shrimp, all kinds of shellfish. There are tremendous variety of topping.

Now, we have several types of sushi, such as Nigiri-zushi, Chirashi-zushi, Temaki-zushi and so on.

We normally enjoy Nigiri-zushi at the sushi restaurant and Chirashi-zushi and Temaki-zushi at home.

You can eat Nigiri-zushi with your hands or chopsticks.

Wasabi , which is a hot green paste, is put between fish or shellfish and vinegar rice.
if you dont like wasabi, you can order sushi without wasabi.

upper foto- Nigiri-zushi
Center foto-Chirashi-zushi
Lower foto-Temaki-zushi

I am hungry. I want to eat sushi right now.

yammy

☆Nigiri　Peter Frankl , Hungarian mathimatician who lives in Tokyo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XKy_aVFgqDQ

Who is Peter Frankl? Why he lives in Japan?

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/community/2011/03/15/our-lives/juggler-of-two-professions-in-japan/#.XDYiEOQUmUk

Mata ne

Hello ! How are you?
Today it is Saterday. You may be relaxing at home.

As you are interested in Buddhism, I will introduce you today the thought of Buddhism " Mujo"

Nothing exists foreever.Everyting is fleeting.
This is the thoughts of Buddihissm.
We call it " Mujo"..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impermanence

Everything, whether physical or mental, is a formation (Saṅkhāra), has a dependent origination and is impermanent. It arises, changes and disappears

Japanese culture is deeply influenced by Buddhism, which contains the thoughts of all things constantly changing.
All the things connected with ordinary daily life can only continue and exist for a short time..

The cherry blossoms live only for a very short period , and we find the beauty in their short life.

We can say that in the Japanese mentality, this short period in full bloom and the beauty of these cherry blossoms can be compared to human life.
Sakura reminds us how human life is short and fragile,but then again, so beautiful.

Relationships between people are also fleeting.

Usually our mind is too busy focusing on diary trivial things and everyday works.
Feeling and emotions are so changeable..
Seldom seen, soon forgotten.

The opening sentence of Hōjōki (written 1212) is famous in Japanese literature as an expression of mujō

"The current of the flowing river does not cease, and yet the water is not the same water as before. The foam that floats on stagnant pools, now vanishing, now forming, never stays the same for long. So, too, it is with the people and dwellings of the world."

☆　Impermanence
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqV5uWsdadU&t=277s

☆ Turn, Turn, Turn
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0RDz4Z0RoI

Mata ne

Hello ! .How are you?
I hope yor cold is getting better.

Todoy it is my first working day of this year. Usually we restart our work from the 5th of January. So the train was not full in the morning.

In the afternoon I checked the New Year’s cards called < Nen-gajo> from clients.
is a postcard of greeting.
Here in Japan we have the habit to exchange the New year’s card between clients, friends to celebrate the New Year.
Recently young people exchange the New year’card by email.

In the afternoon I worked outside.

I went to to see the elderly person to manage the property of the elderly.
In Japan there are so many cases that elderly people are living alone.
So there is a need to protect the property of the elderly.
Also there is a need to find a place to live the elderly.
Japan is an ultra-aging society.
Japan’s population is aging so fast.

Fraud to fool the elderly has beeen widespreading.


In this way my first working day in this year came to an end quickly.
I want to relax in this weekend ,dringking a few beer at home.

☆Japan: Super-Aging Society Preparing for the Future
https://academic.oup.com/gerontologist/article/51/4/425/599276

Mata ne

Hallo. How are you today?
What are you doing today? I am praying you will recover from your cold soon.

Today I got up early and went to Tokyo to visit museum.

First I visited the Ueno Royal Museum.
Now in this museum is open the Vermeer (Holland , 1632-1675,Delft) exhibition.
Vermeer is recently very populat here in Japan.
There are a lot of visitors waiting for before the opening hour.

The building of this museum is a cheap stracture. Entrance fee is too high. It is prohibited to take photos in this Museum.
We have to pay almost 20 euros for this special exhibition.
I was only there almost 15 minutes.

Then I visited the National Museum of Western Art nearby .
Ths museum was designed by Swiss-French archtect Le Corbusier and recently was added to the World Heritage UNESCO list.
I saw the permanent exhibition here . There were few visitors there. we pay only 2 euros.
We are allowed to take pictures there.
There a lot of famous works from the Renaissance to the early 20th century.
Like Manet, Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh,Gauguin, Piccaso, Miro, :


it was so early in the morning to visit there and it was still so early , so I did not go to the museum shop and the tea room.


I returned back to Yokohama. and took lunch in the Chinese restaurant.
In the afternoon I took a short sleep.

From tomorrow I will start to go to work.



☆exhibition of Vermeer
https://www.vermeer.jp/pictures/

☆The National Museum of Western Art
http://www.nmwa.go.jp/en/

Mata ne

Happy New Year 2019 !

May this be a happy and fruitful year.

Thank you for all last year.

My personal decisions and promises to myself for this year are :

☆　travel to some foreign countries

☆ learn more intensive and master some foreign languages

☆ less smoking


New Near day is the most important day for us .So usually we take vacation from the end of December to the first some days of January to spend time with family.

We visit shrines or temples during the first three days of January and we wish health, happiness, and so on. and buy omikuzi ( good luck charms) and Hamaya( sacred arrows) to invite good fortune .

It is fun to donate some money in a donation box.

We eat New year dishes that are specially prepared to be eaten during the first three days of January.

We decorate the front door of houses, shops, company buildings with a pair of pine branches and bamboo. Itsymolizes long life, prosperity and purity.


children receive gifts of money from parents , adult relatives such as uncles, aunts and grandparents.
Children generally use the money to buy the toys they want.

Watch these videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JDUF9jdJC5s&t=66s





Mata ne

Hello, How are you? I hope you are fine.

Today it is the last day of hte year.

We call the 31 December " Omisoka ".

In the evening of this day we have the habit to eat Japanese noodle to see the old year out and the new year in.(see the foto ).

☆　New Year’s Eve Bell

Around 12 o’clock in the midnight Buddist monks ring the bell of their temple 108 Times.
This tradition is called " Jo-ya no kane " .
In some temples , no only Buddhist monks but also people take part in the event.
The striking of the bell on New Year’s Eve is often shown on television at the end of the year..

According to the Buddihism Human being has the 108 non- spiritual or non- religious desires by birth ,that makes him in agonies.and pains.

Each bell of hte temple removes our 108 earthly desires , so that we can Begin the new year feeling refreshed.

And with refreshed mind we celebrate New Year day.


☆ Listen to the bells of New year Eve’s bells in youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOwQN8zsiKk

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADNUbWAblgo


I wish you a Happy New Year.


Mata ne

Hello, Maybe you got a cold again. So, take care of your self.

Today it is sunday. and I was all day long at home. Usually all most all the people take holidays from yesterday at least till the 3 rd of January. It is our custom. and habit.

Today I would like to introduce you ,,Winter weather in Japan". This winter weather will continue till the end of February.


There are 4 seasons in Japan and each season is so typical and characteristic..

In winter on the side of the Japan sea there are so many cloudy and snowy days.
On the contrary on the side of the Pacific ocean almost aldays are sunny , windy days. rainny days are few. it is very dry . so, flu and influenza spread around.

In Japan middle or inland parts are spread higher up than other parts with a ranges of mountains from north to south like its backbone.

Extremy cold winds from Syberia blow to Japan and absorb sea and make clouds .Then cold clouds hit the mountains and make snow and fall..
Only the dry and cold wind overcome the mountains . so the pacific parts are windy and dry.

So here inTokyo and Yokohama area in winter almost all day it is sunny and dry .windy and cold.

In Hokkaido ,in northern part of Honshu, like Akita, Niigata, Toyama almost every day falling snow., that makes these area famous ski resorts area.

Watch these beautiful winter snow video:

☆ Extreme Snow Winter Weather Japan 2017 /

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr4OFk4vqnQ


☆ Best Railway Shots of my Last Trip to Japan "Winter 2018

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vg7mWn4i-dI

　　Mata ne

Dear Kitty,
.
While I am writing this, I dont know what you are doing. So, I can do is only to pray for you a lot of happiness.

So today , I would like to write about the city Nagasaki.I visited this city only once when I was younger. So I dont know much about this city.

Nagasaki is located in Kyushu, which is the southernmost island of Japan’s major four.

Here in Nagasaki the second atomic bomb was dropped after Hiroshima in 1945.

Nagasaki is also well know for being only the international port city ( only to the Holland ) during the period , when Japan closed the dooor to yhe world between 1639-1854.

Through this port we could get to know the science and other knowledges of Europe. The studies of Europe is called Rangaku( Dutch study).


Nagasaki is also the place on which the opera Madame Butterfly was written by Puccinni.
Do you know this opera ? This is a beautful tragedy opera. Madame Butterfly took her own life , leaving her loving son.

You can see this opera in youtube

☆https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=acQkdboQXSQ

☆☆final scene .she committed suicide befre the Budda

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov7lp7ESmF4


I also recentry found out that this opera was performed in one of the cities
in Translylvania　in Romania. .
That was a big pleasant surprise. for me.

☆　watch .this information:

https://budapestinformer.com/22865/madama-butterfly-hungarian-opera-house-at-cluj-napoca-budapest-video/



Mata ne

It is one of the best entertainment to see the snow, while taking a bath in the hot spring in winter.

So when you vist Japan in winter, please enjoy open-air bath.You can feel extremly cold air from the face, your body is gradually heated up. It is the best kind of sensation.

bathing in aa hot spring heals your acculated fatigue.

Since japan is made up of volcanic islands, you can find hot springs throughout the country.These hot springs are called Onsen in japanese

We can find Onsen nearby the sea, nearby the rivers, int he high mountians,near the cities.

I recomennd to go to the following onsens:


☆https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sl20O8cIz3E

☆https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1xHbdmjXYE