March 3rd is the Doll’s Festival for girls in Japan.
The Doll’s festival for girls.
People display a set of dolls and pray for the sound groth of girls in the family.

A set of dolls , the Emperor, the Empress, three court ladies, five court musicians.

Today, we eat at that day traditional dishes like scattered sushi, rice cake cubes,etc.

Doll’s festival song:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFS9RZXu3YA

Today I was in Shinzuku for work in the afternoon.

Shinjuku is well known for the red alntern district in japan and many commercial establishments and leading department store .

A bunch of skyscrapers cluster are on the west side of shinjuku.,which is commonly called " the West Shinjuku".

Night club’s workers of men and women gather at the Kabukicho area.There criminal rate is higher .

Actually , there is aalso an area with Showa era retro atmosphere , which is named 2 Kagurazaka#" There many French people live , so it si calle d " little French".

Mountains play animportant part in Japan.
2/3 of the land are covered with the mountains.
We can say that thanks mainly to the mountains , Only 17 % of the land can be cultivated.The very abundance of lovely scenary hides the real hardness of life in Japan.
So, Japan is one of the most crowed areas in the world.

We the japanese not only worship, but also love our mountains,and indeed the landscape of japan.
Japan is a country of endlessly beautiful panorams.
There are no deserts, no wastelands, but everywhere the green of a fertile and well- watered country.

Mountains are in fact the spiritual homes of the Japanese .They are where the souls go after death, and as the permanent gathering place of the souls of hte ancestors and the family gods, are the source of the prosperity and the hapiness.

Towns in small areas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5o-AEGtv4dI

Beautiful Mountains every where
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIoy8J9OgIM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=00uSO9kU0t8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUTznMXR3wk

Here in Yokohama it was so cold and in the afternoon snow was falling. it was almost 0 C.
While in Okinawa it was 25C like in summer.
I was looking at the snow falling down from the sky so silently through the window in the lunch time.

Most major cities in japan can be reached by high -speed bullet trains called Shinkansen.
This high speed network has spreading thorughout the country.
If you use both bullet trains and regular local trains, almost every part of the country can now be reached.

"Bullet train" is hte nickname for Shinkansen, as the trains look like bullets and are very fast.

Their maxmum speed is 300km per hour , and they can connect, for example, Tokyo and Fukuoka in Kyushu(1174km) in about 5 hours.

Only fault is too expensive.!!

Tokaido shinkansen(Tokyo-Osaka)

Tohoku shinkansen(Tokyo-Aomori)

Sanyo sinkansen(Osaka-Fukuoka)

Kyuushu sinkansen

Zyoetsu sinkansen(Tokyo-Niigata)

Sinetsu sinkansen(Tokyo-Nagano)

etc.
You can see how fast they move.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rJZ4Ab9VFMM

From inside
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lmd-vG7ueRE

In snow areas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_p1_ui4-LKU

Today I was a cold day, but in the afternoon I had to go to Tokyo.
I went to Akasaka, and I found there so much changed.
In Tokyo changing speed is so rapid.
We can not find the hotel (upper foto).now, instead new building has already build.

Still it is too cold, but cherry blossoms will Begin to bloom from the south to the north in March.
As I live near Tokyo and I like the northern part of Japan, I will introduce you the places where I would like to see sakura there.

Nagano
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uQfbJB4l2A

Tokyo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLPkThYJDKg

Watarase in the Tochigi prefecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUmReIJGdPc

Aizu wakamatsu in the Fukushima prefecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEhNmFEzjv4

Inawashiro in the Fukushima prefecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IzIq3p3icG0

Shiroishi in the prefectire Miyagi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSH_cvDDzto

Hirosaki in the Aomori frefecture
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YYh-omEwmV8&t=199s


I hope you will visit these places and enjoy the beaty of Sakra blossoms some day.

How people act in the society in Japan?

" Harmony,in Japanese Wa(和、わ), is the bacis value in the society defined as the acting regulations of people to cooporete and work together.

Japan is a country whose traditions developped out of an agricultural society and people lived in a small town together.
People were forced to work closely together on a limited amount of land.
In order to maintain this type of society, he needs of the village were more important than the needs of the individual.
The spirit of Harmony is so importnat to live in Japan.

To behave , thinking what other people are thinking.Here that is important.

That is why ,a society developped in Japan where value is placed on understanding those other people , with whom people must interact and on taking action in groups.

So here sometimes collectisme is more important than individualism.
We can not live alone, we need a lot of help by the people around us.
How can we survive when we suffer from the nature desasters?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VLyxyzpL2ls

Yokohama is the second largist city in Japan.

I live in the northern part of yokohama.
In this area are devided into almost three parts.
One near the Tokyo Bay , there are a lot of industrial factories, like Nissan, Kirin Beer, . This area is called " Keihin industrial Area"
My father had the work there.

☆ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jY66G8kGTIg

The second part is the comercial area , where near the station are down towns and so many shops around.

The 3rd part , a little far from the Bay where a lot of hills are and people live.
Also i live here up on the hill.

.In this area of Yokohama populatongrew rapidly after the world war second.

In this northen area of Yokohama there is a famous temple and park.
I often visit these places when the weather is fine or when the cheery bloosoms are in full bloom.

☆　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=digS-lELJQo&t=88s

☆　https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yih__MiHg0Q

If you ask me where is the most favorite place in Tokyo, I will answer definitely , it is Ochanomizu. and around.
When I have a chance to go there,I walk around and I enjoy the atomospher of this town.

There we can find a lot of scondhand booksotes, ,musical instrument stores, sporting goods storres.
Let us walk around with these videos with me.

We can find there so many electric guiter shops.!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8dSRflgK0VY

So many second hand bookstores.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG3zrLcbxpQ

There around we find also a lot of universities . So we can call the town of students.

Also we can find there around small, but nice coffee shops.

There has a long history from the era Edo.

So I like this district more than Shibuya,Sinzyuku, Ginza.and any other town.

Dont you find Japanese ukiyo-e just absolutely fascinating?
I can certainly understand why Claude Monet (1840-1926) and other impressionists of the 19th century were influenced by japanese art.

1 The lack of perspective
2 The absence of shadows.
3 The simple lines
4 sense of tranparency.
5 asymmetry,
6 Flatness
7 decorativeness

Monet was a great collector ofukiyo-e. he had a particular liking for Hokusai,Utamaro and Hiroshige, and not only had he collected together more than 230 japanese engravings by the time of his death, he also had a Jpanese bridge built over a pond in his garden.

Many of Toulouse- lautrec’s posters look as if they could have been woodprints bya Japanese artist.

Also don’t forget Vincent Van Gogh,
He became fascinated by ukiyo-e and this fascination resulted in
The Blooming Plum Tree
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As5BPMAuXg8
La courtisane
Portrait of Pere Tanguy,
all of which are instantly recognizable as Japanese-influendworks.

☆Van Gogh, Dreaming of Japan - Hiroshige, the Art of Travel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZbDL44O1yw

☆What did Van Gogh learn from Japanese prints?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boxyIJrNxRg&fbclid=IwAR28VJLLtRiAXhLam1_1iNTUjY48HtgshOnaN0IIdxAD6YsQL3BWwxYlRvc

Vincent van Gogh and Japan"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mnBo87-T80

☆What is Japonisme?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhleOd5WmqI&t=5s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PubHMeST-tg

☆FASZINATION JAPAN: Monet · Van Gogh · Klimt | Videopodcast
https://edit.diarynote.jp/home/diary/edit/?time_id=201902092128154335

※　Gustav Klimt (July 14, 1862 – February 6, 1918) was an Austrian symbolist painter and one of the most prominent members of the Vienna Secession movement. . Klimt’s primary subject was the female body, and his works are marked by a frank eroticism.. Among the artists of the Vienna Secession, Klimt was the most influenced by Japanese art and its methods.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gustav_Klimt

He made classics such as "Late spring(Banshun)," Early summer(Bakushu)", "Tokyo story(Tokyo monogatari" and became a heavy hitter in the Japanese movie scene.
Alongside Kenji Mizoguchi, Mikio Naruse, Akira Kurosawa , Ozu is highly regared and his work "Tokyo story" is particularly popular in Europe.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pss-7_5Xh0&t=97s

Tokyo story is the drama film in 1953
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FmwyXp8I0Q&t=220s

a film about growing up and growing old. Quiet and calm film.
It tells the story of an aging couple( shukiti and Tomi) who travel to Tokyo to visit their grown children.
The film contrasts the behawior of the children, who are too busy to pay much attention , with that of their widowed daughter -in -law Noriko,, who trats tchem wwith kindness.Tokyo story is widely regarded as Ozu’s masterpiece and is often cited as one of the greatest films ever made.
In 2012 , it was voted the best film of all time .
https://www.bfi.org.uk/news/sight-sound-2012-directors-top-ten

The couple remark on how their children have changed, and they leave for home earlier than planned. tomi takes ill during the journey..
when they reach home, Tomi falls critically ill and died.
their son arrived too late,ashe has been away on business. after the funeral children leave immediatly ,only Noriko remains.
funeral, Noriko (Setsuko Hara) tries to console her sister-in-law Kyôko (Kyôko Kagawa), who is highly disappointed with her brothers and sister due to their selfish behaviour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-Rli20oPO8

Noriko informs her father -in -law that she must return to Tokyo . Shukichi tells her that she has treated tchem better than their own cchildren despite not being related by blood.
Shukichi encourages her to remarry as soon as possible , stating that he wants her to be happy.

at the end, Noriko travel back to Tokyo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R65wTHVUCGk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPIo6Civtok

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hUGhS7t903c

How I spend time on Sunday.
Usually I get up late on Sunday.

I watch TV at noon , eating lunch.
Usually I eat Ramen on Sunday lunch.
Ramen is soy sauce flavored noodle.
I watch The match of GO on TV.
If you dont know Go game, then watch this.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWdgqV-8yVg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN1HKbZW4B4

After lunch I go to my room and there is a Kotatsu.
Kotatsu is a traditional Japanese heating appliance . It is low table with thick blanket laid over it, and an upper tabletop which hold the blanket in place. The inside of Kotatsu is heated , and people place their legs underit, while sitting on the floor.
It is very warm and comfortable.

I spend time in Kotatsu sometimes reading books , watching PC ,listening to the music in youtube ,or checking emails.
I want to learn forreign languages, but it needs time.

Sometimes I have to go out for cigarettes to Konbini store-Seven-Eleven .
Konbini means convenience store. We can buy almost allthings like foods,cigaretts, battery,papier, cosmetics, beer, wine, sandwiches, sweets,ice creams.
Seven Eleven, Lawson, and Family mart are most famous.
Konbini sores offer 24 hours services including ATMs, copy machines and sales of movie, concerttickets.

In the evening while I eat dinner , I also watch TV ,usually I watch tv program. " Cool Japan"every Sunday evening from 6 pm.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP8hrxP7TMI
Its funny and interesting TV show.


That is my lazy Sunday.

tomorrow February 3rd is the day of Setsubun.
Setsubun refers to the the day before the begining of each season( the first day of spring, summer, fall and winter.
The literary meaning of the word Setsubun is " division of the season".
Setsubun signifies the ending of winter and the begining of sspring.
Setsubun is the coldest day of the year.

It is believed that devil ( Oni in japanese) comes when the seasons change in Japan.
There are many rituals to exorcise devil.
To get rid of the devil, people scaatter roasted soy beans both inside and outside of houses.

The phrase " Out with the devil! In with good fortune," is said when throwing soybeans.

There are many setsubun events held in diffrent temples and shrines.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%e7%af%80%e5%88%86+english&&view=detail&mid=0756D7AEED1A61F334510756D7AEED1A61F33451&&FORM=VRDGAR

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%e7%af%80%e5%88%86+english&&view=detail&mid=07B3B2602FB51E63B0C207B3B2602FB51E63B0C2&&FORM=VRDGAR


https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=%e7%af%80%e5%88%86+english&&view=detail&mid=E8212D2299EBA6124A8DE8212D2299EBA6124A8D&&FORM=VDRVRV

I love this old folk story.Beautiful and sad story.and I think a lot.

Long, long ago there lived an man in a village. he was very poor but very kind.
One cold snowy day the man went to the town to sell the woods. On his way back home he saw something moving in a snow- field.
"What is that?"
He found a crane in a trap. The more it moved, the harder the trap pressed against it. He felt very sorry for it.
"Stop, don’t move. I’ll help you."
He helped it out of the trap. It flew away toward the mountain.
Some days later after that there was the sound of knocking at the door.
"Who is it?" said he.
He opened the door, and found a beautiful lady standing there.
" Excuse me, but I came to this village to visit my friend. It is snowing heavily outside and I got lost in the dark. Please let me stay with you for a while."
"It is very cold tonight. Why don’t you come in? I am so poor and I don’t have good bedclothes. But if that is okay, you can stay with me."
The lady was very happy to hear such kindness and decided to stay there.
The next day and the day after that, it still snowed heavily. She had to stay there for several days.
She was so kind that she cooked and did everything for him. And he fell in love with her..

One night she said to them,
"Please make me your wife."
He was very happy to hear it and answered "Yes" without hesitation.
One day she said to him.
"I want to make fine cloth. So please, will you buy me thread for it."
He bought her thread. While she prepared to make fine cloth in her room, she said to him.
"From now on, I’ll make fine cloth. While I am working, promise me you will never look into my room, Never. Never."
"Yes, I promise. We will never look into your room. So please make your wonderful cloth."
She spent all day in her room, making cloth. In the evening she didn’t come out of her room. The next day and the following day, she continued weaving in her room.
He was always listening to the sound of her work.

Three nights since she had begun, the sound stopped, and she came out of her room with a roll of cloth.
" please look at this. I made it."
It was the most beautiful cloth that he had ever seen.
"What a beautiful cloth this is! I’ve never seen such a beautiful thing before." He was astonished by the beauty of it.
"This is called a crane textile. Why don’t you go to the town and sell it tomorrow? And please buy me more thread.".
The next morning He went to the town.
"Fine crane textile! Fine crane textile!" he said, as he walked the street.
Soon it was sold at a very high price to a rich man. He bought thread and other things with the money, and returned home happily.
The next day, the lady began to work on a textile again.
Now he was richer and became very lazyand tought.
"What a beautiful textile she makes! I wish I could look into her room."
"A little, only a little." He tought.
And he opened the door and peeked intoher room. and there he found the crane was making the textile using her long bill; she was plucking out her feathers and mixing them into the thread.
She had almost used up all her feathers.
"There is a crane making the cloth." .
That night the lady came out of her room with a roll of cloth.
and said ". I’ll never forget your kindness. I am the crane you helped from the trap on that cold snowy day. I came here to help you, but I had my true figure seen. I can’t stay here any longer. I must say goodbye to you. Thank you very much".

He begged her to stay, but it was impossible.
Opening her arms, she changed into a crane and flew up in the sky, circled over the house and flew away toward the mountain.

☆　Opera from this folk story Yuuzuru:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcExsz2WR34
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pnLyQyjOfj0

☆　Anime for kids
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=etGR9Ir7rBM

Mata ne

Hello! Talk about fashion.
Some of the world’s most famous fashion designers are Japanese. Names like Issey Miyake, Kenzo, Yoji Yamamoto, Comme des Garcons and Hanae Mori. ...
.
☆　Takada Kenzo
Takada is known as the director of the Kenzo brand, under which clothing, perfumes and skincare products are sold.
. In 1970, six years after settling in Paris, Takada’s designs finally started to get noticed. He presented his line on the catwalk for the first time and opened his first store. His work continued to grow in popularity. s. His influence in the world of fashion, however, lives on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHgL9hFBUPk

☆　Kawakubo Rei (Comme des Garcons)
Her concept was to make clothing for women which was boy-like (thus the brand name), and for nine years she solely produced womenswear until there was a large enough demand for a menswear line, which she then launched called Homme.
She later moved to Paris, where she presented her first collection as well as opened a boutique of her own, and from that moment on she began to gain global attention for her non-traditional and unique style of garments

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XN2w70iyl54

☆　Mori Hanae
Hanae Mori is one of Japan’s greatest designers who introduced Japanese culture, aesthetic, and artistic expression to the west. She often featured Japanese imagery such as cherry blossoms, kabuki, and Japanese kanji characters and applied them to western designs.
One of her most famous trademarks is the butterfly and this is still a central theme in all of her works ranging from her spectacular gowns to eau de perfume collections.
Unlike Kenzo or other avant-garde Japanese designers who used unconventional styles and fabrics, Hanae Mori did not attempt to break the system of western fashion or alter its concept of clothing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1EM3P7zmi0Y

☆　Miyake Issei
futuristic, technology-inspired designs have put his company on the map. He started his fashion house, then called Miyake Design Studio, in 1970. Miyake was always researching new ways to work with fabric, and his groundbreaking pleat designs were used for European ballet troupes in the late 1980s.
He is also well-known as being the iconic producer of former Steve Jobs’ black turtleneck sweater, which the former Apple CEO wore every chance he got.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zgMhuon0VjQ


Which do you like??

Mata ne

Hello ! Every day it is cold here. But, outside in spite of cold winter flowers are blooming.

☆ Camelia
Now red and white camelia flowers blooming beautifully outside.around.
Here it is said that camelia oil is good for hairs.

☆　Daffodil
daffolils are coming into bloom also in a sunny garden and parks.
Daffolils recaal us this beautiful folk song.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=usmi0Qrgh3o

☆　Japanese plum blossom(Almond tree, ume)
japanese plum blosoms will start blooming in Febrary.
Japanese plums (Ume) are the the first important flowers in the early spring.
It will be in full bloom in March.
Plum flower viewing festival will be held in Febrary and Marxh in some places.
LIke In Soga in Kanagawa prefecture or In Mito in Ibaragi prefecture.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hD67jY5R4W0

☆　Japanese plum(almond) flower is also famous for the pictures of Van Gogh.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WE_wA09owhg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=As5BPMAuXg8

When the plum tree bloos with each new bloom, it is becoming warmer

☆　Cyclamen
Many people put the flowers of Cyclamen near the windows in winter.
Cyclamen is famous for this song :
Smell of flowers Cyclaen(1975)-- I love this song.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CnbmToBXc0

Do you like theseflowers and songs?


Mata ne

Do you know Japanese traditional musical instruments?

☆　SHAKUHACHI flute ---five holed vertical bamboo flute
The strong, somewhat harsh sound is saaid to resemble the wind blowing a bamboo grove.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmRPECd9Yig
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOel6BFQzg

☆　Koto---string musical instrument consisting of 13 strings.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L24Nb4CJzV4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xgs4qq_ZsfE

☆　Shamisen---Japanese 3 stringed musical instrument with neck
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqFCgm-ybaI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ8adlsHGaE

We can listen to the contemporary music with traditinal japanese instruments.
like this :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_xTet06SUo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NZ8adlsHGaE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKEAZv-w89Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1MU1os6psQ

I hope youwill enjoy japanese musical instruments.

Mata ne

Hello? Do you know"Taiko"?
It is a Japanese traditional instrument.
It is used for festival since long time ago.
The rhythm of Taiko is so exciting.
Now Taiko is spreading all over the world.
So lets enjoy the sound and rhythm of Taiko.

☆　In Japan
Kodo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L6h-s5VSmU
Yamato
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2EWoFJW_kOo
Students of Senzoku university
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZagsLrNzg3I
Tao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DInMrFfc2jA&index=6&list=RDVB8NqxH0CKs

☆　Germany
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvGgucD4ACI

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

☆　Denmark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylyT41eqYLo

☆　Hungary
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22pn_Ps0vIY&t=1278s

☆　Romania
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHLs-QzCVEk

Argentin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TqTo4FeAAH0

★　Kendo and taiko
Before the matches of Kendo, Kaiko performers play Taiko to encourage the Kendo players.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWEf50Iso1I&t=41s
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0BrOFwuBsc

Hello? Do you want to practice Karate?
Karate is a traditional martial art of self-defense that was in the past mainly practiced in Okinawa.( Ryukyu kingdom).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kGjIfzgQY-Q
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYg_JG7TFMk

Karate means " weaponless "

Nowadays , karate is practiced both inside and outside japan, and recently ,karate has been adopted as an offcial sport at 2020 tokyo Olympics.

☆　Watch the karate power.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2gkBhN4A9Dw

☆　Kata
There were originally several dozen forms(kata), however,some of them disappeared , and some were invented after Meiji period.
It is characterized by sharp,quick blows , delivered with hands and feet.
See how kata is shown here.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iiiznDpoapQ

☆　Lets see how to practice karate.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7lNv83sy4U
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOtiNcye6mw&t=42s

☆　movie
karate girl
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzVfzAel2Qo&t=276s

Mata ne