Arako Kannon-ji, the old temple where Enku-botoke statues stay

While I was traveling in the Nagoya with a friend, we visited Arako Kannon-ji temple.
Before the departure I had searched information about "Enku-botoke", the handmade wooden Buddha statues by monk Enku.
I had known many Enku-botoke exist in Chubu region which including Nagoya.
Then I learned the Arako Kannon-ji was famous for possession and exhibition of the statues.
So I made a plan to visit the temple in my travel.

Me and the friend came to Takabata station by subway.
Both of us had no sense of direction, so we strayed a bit, but finally arrived the temple.
Arako Kannon-ji temple was founded as a temple of Tendai sect in 729.
Also a warlord and later daimyo of Kaga province at the Sengoku period, Maeda Toshiie born near the temple.
In addition Arako Kannon-ji was the family temple for Maeda clan.

The temple had buildings, a big gate and a pagoda.
We entered a building.
We took off our shoes at the entrance and entered a hall.
There were some docents and other visitors like us.
At the front side of the hall there was an alcove and inside there the Enku-botoke were set on the altar.
After we took some instruction from an docent we went to near the altar.
There were various size and type of the statues.
According to the temple, totally 1240 of them were there.
Enku (1632-1695) left about 5300 of his handmade wooden statues in travel through Japan, so almost twenty five percent of them are in Arako Kannon-ji now.
Each statue had own gentleness and primitiveness.
That made me imagine the personality of Enku.
We appreciated the statues until we became tired.

I did a long train travel in asleep

As I wrote before, recently I traveled to Nagoya, Aichi.

I got on local trains for the travel.
It took about 3 and half hours from Osaka to Nagoya by the trains.
I had to transfer trains 2 times.
My first train of the day was from the Osaka station to the Maibara station.
2nd one was from the Maibara station to the Ogaki station.
Last one was from the Ogaki station to the Nagoya station.

I had not reserved any special seats as usual.
Fortunately, I could sit a free seat every time I got on a train in the day.
At the travel season local train is always crowded, so I was lucky to find seats so soon.
I had awoken earlier time than usual for a long travel, thus I was very sleepy.
As soon as I got on the first train, I fell asleep.
When I woke up, the train was almost arriving at the Maibara station.
I got off the train at the station.
I had some waiting time to got on the next train.
While I was waiting on platform, I was half asleep standing.
Next train arrived, I got on, found a seat, sat there and fell asleep.
When I woke up, the train was almost arriving at the Ogaki station.
I don't have any clear memory about my stay at the Ogaki station at the time, anyway it seemed I got on the correct train.
When I woke up, well, the train was almost arriving at the Nagoya station.
After I got off the train, I was getting awake.
I wandered around the station and after half an hour, I could meet my friend.
We enjoyed chats and a little trip in Nagoya.

I don't describe that again, but I was same in my way home as the way come.
I traveled in asleep again.
The Interesting fact was, while I traveled in asleep, I felt the long travel very short.
Sleeping in local trains is not very safe, because sometimes there are thieves or perverts.
So I don't recommend everyone to try it.
But in some cases, you can try a travel in sleep like me.
If you do, you will have a strange experience.

A nice green tea for your hungover

I have a terrible headache now.
Maybe I drunk too much yesterday.

This pain reminds me of a legend at the Kamakura period.
According to the legend, the last regent of Kamakura shogunate, Hojo Takatoki was suffering for terrible headache which came from hungover.
One day, Eisai, the founder of Rinzai sect of Japanese Buddhism served a cup of green tea for Takatoki.
The tea eased the headache of Takatoki.
In addition, Eisai dedicated "Kissa yojo-ki"a book about green tea to Takatoki.

From this legend, we can learn that the green tea was drunk as also a medicine not only a refreshment at that times.
A custom of drinking tea seems to be introduced at the Nara period to Japan.
Only noblemen and monks had enjoyed the custom long time, but since the Edo period, even common people came to drink green tea.
Green tea works for both refreshment and easing headache in your hungover.

I want to drink a green tea now, but I can't find any of them around me.
I hope I have a nice monk like Eisai who serves a tasty drink tea every morning for me.

You can enjoy the local food Kishimen at the platform in Nagoya station

I went to Nagoya, the capital of Aichi prefecture to meet a friend who lives in Nagoya.
We met at the Nagoya station.
It is a big station and also Shinkansen (the bullet train) stops there.
It was noon, and we were hungry.
The friend suggested me to eat Kishimen at the small restaurant which was located at the platform of the bullet train.

Kishimen is famous as an local food in Aichi.
It is a kind of noodles, and it is made in flat strips.
We see it as like an udon, but it's unique shape makes the taste quite different to ordinary udon.
The friend told me there are less Kishimen restaurants in Nagoya nowadays, besides Kishimen in those restaurants are a bit expensive as first food.

We bought an entrance ticket to the platform of the bullet train for 140 yen, and entered to the platform.
The friend explained Kishimen which served by the restaurant is very good in the history of Kishimen.
Also he said the Kishimen is cheaper than other foods in restaurants around Nagoya station even though we have to pay entrance ticket to eat the Kishimen.
The name of the restaurant is Sumiyoshi.
I guess the name come from the great Sumiyoshi shrine in Osaka.
Anyways, before entering the restaurant, we needed to buy food ticket from vending machine outside of the restaurant.
I bought a ticket for "Kakiage tamago-iri Kishimen (Kishimen with a raw egg and a mixed tempura of vegetables and sea food)" for 570 yen.
It was recommended by my friend.
My friend bought a ticket for "Nagoya Kochin Kishimen (Kishimen with the local chicken in Aichi)" for 870 yen.
We entered the restaurant.
There was a very limited space inside.
Also there were no stools.
Usually such type of small noodle restaurants at platform of train station serve noodles as a stand-up meal.
In the restaurant, customers faced to a counter and were slurping their Kishimen in hurry.
They were passengers of the bullet train or customers like us, who entered the platform for only the Kishimen.
We put our tickets on the counter and waited a bit.
Soon a worker inside the counter set our Kishimen front of us.

The Kishimen was beautiful.
In a bowl, there were that flat shaped noodles, a raw egg, a pile of minced green onions and a big Kakiage in soup.
Over them sliced dried bonitos were sprinkled.
Me and my friend ate our meal in hurry.
For there was only a limited space for customer, we had to finish our meal quick.
Even though that, the Kishimen was very nice as my friend told me, and I enjoyed a lot.

If you have a chance to get off the bullet train at Nagoya station, don't forget the nice small Kishimen restaurant at the platform.

Kokyuu choco (The chocolate which breathes) in Osaka

Kokyuu choco is a famous chacolate brand in Osaka.
A discount candy distributor Marushige provides the chocolate at their shops or online.
They claim the Kokyuu choco is so fresh as "it breathes" and it have been popular among people in Kitashinchi, the stylish town in Osaka.
"Kokyuu" means breath or to breathe.
Almond and mascarpone cheese is used for the chocolate, and it covered by cocoa powder.
I have tasted the chocolate once or twice, and it was quite tasty.

By they way, today I had a terrible experience for the chocolate.
I have a plan to visit a friend who lives in other prefecture, so I thought the Kokyuu choco will be a souvenir for him.
Kokyuu choco is sold only in Osaka, so sometimes people buy it as souvenir.
I went to a local Marushige shop.
I searched inside the shop, but their weren't any Kokyuu choko products.
I asked a worker in the shop about the chocolate.
"Excuse me, do you sell Kokyuu choco?"
She stared at me.
She looked a bit surprised.
"No, we don't."
I was a bit confused.
"But..."
"Marushige-san sells Kokyuu choco, don't they? It isn't Marushige shop."
I was shocked.
I have thought the shop was Marushige for long time, but it wasn't.
Long time ago Marushige shop was located same place.
However they moved away, then the other candy shop started their business at the place.
I haven't noticed the fact, because their interior were almost similar.
Anyways, I apologized to the worker and went away without Kokyuu choco.
I was ashamed so much.

If you want to buy Kokyuu choco products, please go to Marushige shop, not other candy shops.

I read a play "Chichi to kuraseba (English title:The face of jizo)" by Inoue Hisashi

Fukuyoshi Mitsue is a young lady who lives in Hiroshima city.
She has a job in the local public library.
She is afraid of thunder and lightning so much.

One day she escaped to her house from a thundering, calling her father for help.
Her father was in the closet at the time and invite his daughter near him.
Her trustworthy, lovable father.
Every time she hopes that her father stays with her, he appears.
He know everything what happened to his daughter in a day, moreover, what she felt with events.
They talk about the recent events on Mitsue.

Recently, Mitsue got to know each other with a young gentle man.
The man seems to love her, and also Mitsue has a good feeling to him.
However, each time he tried to befriend with her, she has refused him.
Because she has no right to be happy.
She believes so.
In the 6th day of August, 1945, she survived alone.
Her friends couldn't.
Her father couldn't.
Mitsue believes she has no right to be happy over the terrible deaths of her people.

However, her father encourages her to have a relationship with the man.
Also he tells her that the deaths of her friends and himself wasn't Mitsue's fault.
He tells her she has a right to be happy, moreover she have to be happy.

I tried to write a short outline of the play.
How do you feel of that?
The play consists of conversations between the daughter and the father.
They talk in the dialect of Hiroshima and their talks are humorous for the nice character of the father.
So even it is a very sad story, you will enjoy it somehow.
Simultaneously, you can learn how people in Hiroshima suffered and survived at the severe life after dropping of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima.

Tweeting in foreign language to learn

I have restarted tweeting in English since May.
I had used twitter long time ago, but my English at that time was worse than current my level, so it was hard to continue.
Besides, I didn't have enough motivation to continue tweeting in English.
Soon I stopped tweeting.
It took long time until I restarted tweeting again.

From my experience, I can say tweeting in foreign language makes improvement in the language.
Unfortunately I stopped my tweeting for lack of motivation, but if I have continued tweeting in these past years, my English must have improved so much.
I regret a little that I stopped that.

So I suggest you to tweet in your learning language even if you are still at beginner level.
You don't need to worry about making mistakes, because your first purpose for tweeting in foreign language is, to get used to the language.
Let's tweet about things in your mind without hesitation.
Do you care if some native speakers points out your grammatical errors?
In case like that, just appreciate them and fix your errors.
No need to be ashamed.
If your errors will be pointed out, that is lucky for you.
If no one does, well, someday somebody will, or you will notice by yourself.
Don't worry to start new things, just have fun.

A breakfast at the place everyone knows

This morning I went to a local McDonald's restaurant to buy my breakfast.
Recently I have been working at night shift, and I was hungry after the work.
I bought a breakfast set of avocado muffin.
I bought it to take out.
An avocado muffin, a hash browns and a large coke costed me 510 yen.
I guess it is not very cheap, but when you are very hungry and other restaurants haven't opened yet, you will be thankful that you can buy the meal at an early morning.
I enjoyed the meal.

In Japan, it is a bit difficult to find restaurants or cafes which open from early morning.
If you are in countryside, it is more difficult.
In contrast, McDonald's restaurants are open from 6:00 am or 5:00 am.
Some of them are open in 24 hours.
Besides, in most of the restaurants "Asa Mac (a breakfast menu)" is served from 6:00 am to 10:30 am.
If you want a breakfast or a little break with a cup of coffee at an early morning in Japan, try MacDonald's restaurants.

Cup noodles in a hurry

I need to go out in a half hour for job tonight.
I don't much time to eat, so I eat a cup noodle instead of a proper meal.

Cup noodles are kind of instant noodles which are sold in a paper cup.
Maybe you already have known them better.
The cup noodles are not very good meal for your health, but if we are in a hurry, they are so convenient.
Also for a budget travel, they will help you.
Sometimes I take some of them with me in travel, get some hot water in a destination and eat them.
I can't eat them as our every meal in travel, but I often feel they are helpful.
Moreover, there are always brand-new type of cup noodles in supermarkets or shops, so it is kind of fun to find and try these new type of noodles.

If you have a chance to visit Japan, I suggest you to search local cup noodles here.
You will find a one which can be a souvenir for yourself.

Let's find what you want to do with the foreign language

We can do anything we want.
We don't need any patience or effort for doing something we like.
So if we need patience or effort on to do something, maybe it is not the thing we want to do very much.

On learning foreign languages, many people are suffering to keep their study.
They say they "have to study" the foreign language.
If you are forced to learn or study foreign languages by someone or situation, you feel it is like a torture.
Sometimes we have to learn something we don't want to, because our school or job require that.
However most of time language learning which we are forced to do doesn't produce a good result.
Because we need much patience or effort to continue such unwilling learning.
We want to finish such learning as soon as we can.
That's not good to improve.
As long as we continue, we will improve the language.

When we do things we want, we can continue forever.
Then, if we want to learn language, we can continue it without patience nor effort.
Because we like that.
To come to like to learn, let's focus on what you want to do with the language.
Is it for speaking with foreign people, reading a foreign books or something another fun?
Keep what in your mind clearly, it will help your learning a lot.
If you want to learn speaking, you will improve better on speaking.
If you want to learn reading, you will improve better on reading.
You can do it without patience or effort.

In case you are being forced to learn language, I'd give you an advice.
Let's find a fun in your purpose of the language learning.
Even you are learning because your job require that, there are benefits for you in the learning.
If you improve, you may get promotion or new job.
Maybe you will get attractive foreign friends in business if you will be fully fluent with the language.
Imagine your future benefits, then you can continue your learning more enjoyable.

Tamagoyaki aka Akashiyaki in Akashi city, the noble twin of Takoyaki

Akashi city, Hyogo, is a famous place for seafood such as sea bream, conger and octopus.
Also there is a nice food which is famous among people in Kansai region.
It is Tamagoyaki aka Akashiyaki.
Akashiyaki is a small ball shaped dumpling.
The food is called tamagoyaki by local people in Akashi, but generally tamagoyaki means Japanese omelette in Japan, so in outside of Akashi, it is called Akashiyaki to distinguish.

Akashiyaki was one of origin of Takoyaki in Osaka, thus they look almost similar.
But there are differences between Akashiyaki and Takoyaki.
For both foods octopus is used as a topping, however in contrast to Takoyaki which has various toppings such as green onion or dried bonito shavings, Akashiyaki has only octopus.
It doesn't have another toppings except octopus.
Moreover, the quantity of eggs in the dough of Akashiyaki is more than Takoyaki has.
The most big difference is, we don't put any sauce on Akashiyaki as we do for Takoyaki.
We eat Akashiyaki with dipping it in a special soup.

The egg flavor in the dough is stronger than Takoyaki, using a soup instead of a sauce, so Akashiyaki has very different taste to Takoyaki.
If you have known the taste of Takoyaki before you eat Akashiyaki, you will have strange feeling when you eat Akashiyaki.
Both Akashiyaki and Takoyaki are different but tasty foods.
However in my opinion, I thought Akashiyaki is a bit more refined, because we need chopsticks to eat the food and we need some manner to dip the dumpling into a soup.
It is not similar to eat Takoyaki.
I am sure you will have new experience with Akashiyaki.

Suna-mushi onsen, the sand bath in Ibusuki

Suna-mushi onsen (natural sand bath) is a very unique style of onsen in Ibusuki, Kagoshima.
Along the coast of Surigahama in Ibusuki city, there are hotels or onsen facilities which serve suna-mushi onsen style bath.

When you take the bath, you will take the procedure below.
At first, you change your cloth into a yukata (Japanese bathrobe) in a building.
Then you go outside, and walk to the suna-mushi onsen place on beach side.
They set a roof over the onsen place.
You enter under the roof, cover your head with a towel and lie down on the sand bed following instructions of onsen workers there.
Then, the workers put plenty of sand on your body by spade.
You are buried in the sand bath except your face.
Onsen is go through under the sand bed, so you will feel a heat on your back soon.
You begin to sweat all over youｒ body.

When I went to the onsen place and tried the suna-mushi onsen, an onsen worker told me 10 minutes is enough to get the effect of the onsen.
Also he told me some customers didn't follow the instructions of the workers and stayed far more than 10 minutes.
According to the worker, finally the customers got burned by heat of the onsen.

Actually the suna-mushi onsen is very comfortable and good for your health, but it is not good to spend too much time on the hot sand bed.
When you go to there, please follow the instruction by the onsen workers and enjoy safely.

The refreshing tea from a southern country, Chiran green tea

Kagoshima prefecture is a largest production area of green tea in Japan next to Shizuoka.
Above all, Chiran is a representative place for green tea in Kagoshima.
Chiran, Minamikyushu city is located in a southern part of the Satsuma peninsula.

According to legend, Heike no ochiudo (fugitive of Taira clan, whose clan was ruined by Minamoto clan in war) came to Chiran and started to cultivation of green tea at the Kamakura period.
Full-scale cultivation of green tea was started since the beginning of the Meiji period in Chiran.

Today, you can drink Chiran tea or buy the tea leaves everywhere in Kagoshima.
Local restaurants or tea stores serve the tea for you.
Even you can buy Chiran tea in plastic bottle from vending machine on the street.
Chiran tea is aromatic and smooth to drink, so you will like it.

You can enjoy Chiran tea without to go to Chiran, but Chiran has a beautiful view of large tea field, so if you see the view, maybe you will be able to enjoy the tea more.

For when you are a bit hungry, The small Tokyo Ramen instant noodles

The "Tokyo Ramen" is a brand name of small size instant noodles.
Tokyo Ramen company provides the brand (a funny thing is, the company is located in Tochighi prefecture even though they have Tokyo on their name).
You can find the products in supermarkets or some groceries in all over Japan.

The noodles are small, and have a right size for a mug.
If you are a bit hungry, the products are convenient for a light snack.
Each Tokyo Ramen are sold in a set which consists of 4 noodles.
A set costs about 100 yen.
Currently they have 5 types of the noodles.
They are chicken, salty shrimp tonkotsu, kimchi, curry and garlic seasonings.

I often eat the noodles as a night snack.
When I eat the noodles, most of time I use 2 noodles at one time.
I like to mix the curry noodle and the garlic noodle.
It is a bit insufficient for a lunch, but enough for a midnight snack.

I won't recommend you to eat the cheap foods like the noodles everyday in your stay in Japan.
However if you like to do a budget travel through Japan, using the noodles may save your expense.

Getanha, a local traditional sweet in Kagoshima

There is a traditonal sweet named "getanha" in Kagoshima.
Getanha (Kagoshima dialect for "geta no ha") means a support part of geta (traditional wooden clogs).
The form of the sweet looks like a getanha, so it was named getanha.
The sweet getanha is a sort of cake and it is covered by brown sugar.
It has a bit crunchy texture in the surface of it for brown sugar.
But the inside was soft and easy to chew.
Getanha is very sweet food, however if you stay in very hot summer of Kagoshima, you must feel the sweetness is so desirable.
Hot weather makes us want more sugar.
That's why we can find very sweet foods in hot places like Kagosima.

Brown sugar is a special product in Kagoshima prefecture.
So Kagoshima has some local foods made of the brown sugar.
Getanha is one of them.
You can buy the sweet everywhere in Kagoshima with inexpensive price.
I enjoyed it with a green tea which also made in Kagoshima.
I recommend you to taste both getanha and green tea in Kagoshima.
I am sure you will love both of them.

Sometimes, I really can't write any articles about decent subjects

Yesterday morning, I went back to home from the travel to Kagoshima.
Still I feel a bit tired.

While I was traveling, a lot of nice ideas (at least I thought so) to write were in my mind.
However once I come back to my usual life, it is a bit hard to remember things in my mind while I was traveling.
I have written my diary in the travel days, so I will read it later to search the subjects for this blog.

Tonight I will go to bed soon without any achievements.
But I would start to write many articles about my travel and Kagoshima from tomorrow.
I promise.
Thank you for always reading my blog.
See you tomorrow!

Great Saigo Takamori

I respect Saigo Takamori as well as Shimazu Yoshihiro.
Saigo Takamori was a service man and politician from Kagoshima prefecture.
His character was impressed me so much, too.
I want to tour around the sites of him.

Notes: I will rewrite this article after I came back from my travel

The historical sites of Shimazu Yoshihiro

Shimazu Yoshihiro is one of my favorite daimyo and warlord at the Sengoku period.

His strong and manly way of life impress me so much.

At Kagoshima, I want to tour around the historical sites of him.

Notes: I will rewrite this article after I came back from my travel

Shirokuma ice cream at Tenmonkan

Besides Kagoshima ramen, the Shirokuma ice cream is famous in Kagoshima.
It is a sort of ice cream that used various fruits for ingredients.
I can buy Shirokuma ice cream in local super markets in Osaka.
However, if I try Shirokuma ice cream in its original place Kagoshima, I guess I can enjoy it more than before.
I am looking forward to it, too.

Notes: I will rewrite this article after I came back from my travel

Great Kagoshima ramen

Kyushu region has famous for its various Tonkotsu (soup made of pork born) soup style ramen.
Especially Fukuoka, Kumamoto and Kagoshima are famous for their Tonkotsu ramen.
I have been to Fukuoka several times and I love ramen there.
However I haven't eaten Kagoshima ramen before, so a bit hungry for them.
I will eat great Kagoshima ramen as many as I can.

Notes: I will rewrite this article after I came back from my travel

A travel to Kagoshima: day 1, the night on the ferry boat

I began a travel to Kagoshima prefecture.
I have been there in my childhood, but I can't remember how there was like.
Kagoshima has the beautiful view of Mt. Sakurajima.
I have wanted to go there again for a long time.

In the early evening of the day, I got on a ferry boat named "Sunflower" at the Nanko port, Osaka.
I have got the ferry boat once before.
When I was a little kid, me and my family traveled to Kagoshima with this same ferry boat.
So I was a bit excited to get on the boat in my memory of good childhood days.

The inside of the ferry boat was not so special, but clean and comfortable.
I went on deck, sat on a bench there and enjoyed the view of sea and the port in an evening.
The boat started to leave the port to Kagoshima.

After the departure, I went to the restaurant.
They served a buffet style dinner there.
It costed 1540 yen and it was not cheap for me, but I wanted to try it.
I tried and enjoyed it.
They had various nice foods I could enjoy.
I ate too much foods and felt stuffed.

I went back to my room, took a rest.
The ferry boat had various rooms of various grades, and I had reserved a kind of steerage room.
The passage fare for the room was about 7000 yen and it was suitable for me.
It was a big room with large floor.
You take off your shoes at the entrance of the room and step on the floor that covered by carpet.
There were pillow and other bedding for each passenger.
The ferry boat had a storage for variables so we can keep them safe, but you have to take large baggage with you.
The steerage room didn't have enough space for large baggage, so I put my backpack on my pillow side.

There were other passengers.
They were truck drivers, young parents with little children, elder couples and solo travelers like me.
Me and they spent the night in the same floor.
It was an unusual experience to slept with stranger in same space.
The room was not so crowded, therefore the bedtime there was almost comfortable.
One thing I hated was, tut-tutting sounds from some middle aged guys.
There were little children as I mentioned.
Sometimes they giggled with little voice for fun to spent a night in the unusual atmosphere.
I thought they were lovely, but it seemed the guys didn't like them.
Each time kids giggled, some of the guys did tut-tutting back.
I was rather irritated with the rude sounds the guys made.
In addition, one guy who made many tut-tutting sounds started snore as soon as he went asleep.
Another tut-tutting guy was talking loudly with a cellular phone in the room.
How could they blame the tiny giggling of little children?
I hoped the children and their young parents didn't care much about the rude guys.

Anyways I could sleep well at the floor with strangers, until the boat started shaking at the next morning.

A strong will to survive, Araki Murashige

Araki Murashige (1535-1586) was daimyo and a warlord at the Sengoku period.
At first he had served to daimyo Ikeda Katsumasa of Settsu (area consists of current eastern part of Hyogo and current northern part of Osaka) province.
He gained power under Ikeda family.
Then he left Ikeda family and served to Oda Nobunaga, the powerful daimyo from Owari (western part of current Aichi) province.
Murashige achieved military exploits under Oda family.
Oda Nobunaga gave Settsu province to Murashige in a reward for his achievements.
In other words, Murashige successfully got a larger area than his former lord Ikeda family had.

As a warlord Murashige had got credibility from Oda Nobunaga.
However in 1578, he suddenly raised a rebellion against his lord Nobunaga.
The reason he did it is not confirmed still.
He stayed inside of his Arioka (Itami) castle and fought against Oda family.
Murashige endured the battle in almost one year but finally escaped alone from his castle to Amagasaki castle, where his son managed.
He had left his family and the family of his vassals inside the Arioka castle.
Oda Nobunaga captured them and called on Murashige to surrender.
However Murashige didn't accept.
Oda Nobunaga executed all hostages.

Murashige moved to Hanakuma castle and fought his final battle against Oda family there, but his army was defeated again.
Finally Murashige defected to the Mori family which had fought against Oda family.

Murashige lost his wife, family, domain and good reputation.
Even though that, he and some of his sons survived.
After Oda Nobunaga died, Murashige become a master of tea ceremony and lived in Sakai.
Again, he survived the latter half of his life under the reign of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, the successor of Oda Nobunaga.

The Fujishiro shrine, the place relates to the name Suzuki and Minakata Kumagusu

The Fujishiro shrine is located in Kainan city, Wakayama.
It is very old shrine and on the route of the pilgrimage to the holy place Kumano.
It is one of the Kujuku (99) Ouji shrines (which founded on route of the pilgrimage to Kumano by mountain priests), and it is a high ranked one among the Kujuku Ouji.
Many Emperors and noblemen have visited the shrine on the pilgrimage to Kumano.

There is an another place that made the shrine popular today.
The Suzuki Yashiki (the residence of Suzuki) is it.
The place is in the precincts of Fujishiro shrine.
According to legend, the place was the origin of the family name Suzuki, which scattered all over Japan.
You can meet people who have name Suzuki everywhere in Japan.
The residence was for Fujishiro-Suzuki clan, the clan of the priest of Fujishiro shrine.
Since ancient times, priests from Fujishiro-Suzuki clan spread their belief of the holy place Kumano, and as their belief spread to all over Japan, people who influenced by them started using the name Suzuki for themselves.
That's why there are so many Suzuki san in Japan.
Today Suzuki Yashiki is deteriorated and no one is living there.
However still many Suzuki san come to visit the place of their origin from all over Japan.

Also a big old kusunoki (camphor) tree have been enshrined in precincts of Fujishiro shrine.
There was a famous naturalist from Wakayama, Minakata Kumagusu (1867-1941), and his name "Kumagusu" came from the tree.
Kuma means bear, and Gusu means kusunoki.
Kusunoki trees have been worshiped in Japan, and there was a custom to name baby the name which relating kusunoki tree.
Kusunoki trees live long and prosper, so I guess you see why people have named their babies kusunoki.

I am not a particular fan of Suzuki san, but a fan of Minakata Kumagusu.
So when I visited the shrine and saw the big old kusunoki tree, I was deeply affected.

Tokugawa Tsunayoshi, who was called Inu-kubou (the dog shogun)

Tokugawa Tunayoshi (1646-1709) was the 5th shogun of Tokugawa shogunate.
He was born as the fourth son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, the 3rd shogun.

Tunayosi is particularly famous for his "Shorui Awaremi no Rei (the laws for pitying all living things)".
This low was to prohibit people to abuse or kill any animals.
He made the law and punished harshly people who violated the law.
Especially Tunayoshi loved dogs, so if people abused dogs, they were severely punished.
Also he made huge shelter of stray dogs in Nakano, Edo.
Therefor he was called "Inu-kubou (the dog shogun)" by people.

His Shorui Awaremi no Rei has bad impression in Japanese context.
In some cases, people punished by the law even only they exterminated vermin.
This was extreme rule, so Tsunayoshi has been regarded as a foolish ruler in long time.

But recently, his achievements are being recognized again.
At the times of Tunayoshi, people had treated animals severely.
He seemed to want to change the attitude of people against animals.
Also he respected Confucianism.
He founded Yushimaseido (the school of Confucianism) in Edo.
He promoted studies to people.

Some theory says Tsunayoshi made the Shorui Awaremi no Rei after a monk told him to protect animals for gaining he a son.
Tsinayoshi had lost his children in their childhood, so he obeyed the advice from the monk.

It is hard to judge his true character today.
However, I guess he have tried to make his nation to better place.

Ashikaga Gakko, the oldest university in Japan

The historical heritage Ashikaga Gakko (Ashikaga school) is located in Ashikaga city, Tochigi.

The school had old traditional buildings, library, traditional Japanese-style garden and even vegetable gardens in the school grounds.

There are various theories about the origin of Ashikaga Gakko.

The theories say it was founded in Heian, Kamakura or Muromachi period. 

So the time the school build is still not confirmed, but it was sure that Uesugi Norizane rebuilt the school at the Muromachi period.

Uesugi Norizane (1410-1466) was on the position of "Kanto Kanrei (a deputy for Kanto region)" at the time.

He contributed texts of the Chinese classics to the school and invited the Zen monk Kaigen from Kamakura as the head of the school.

Like Kaigen most of teachers were monks, but Uesugi Norizane set the rule that the school didn't teach any Buddhism texts to students.

There had been Buddhism schools that was run by temples such as Enryaku-ji or Kongobu-ji in Japan, but as a school which didn't teach any Buddhism, Ashikaga Gakko was the first one.

The people came to study Confucianism, the art of divination, military science or other studies from all over Japan.

Ashikaga Gakko got a great reputation.

Also in 1549, the Catholic missionary Francis Xavier who came to Japan, called the school "The greatest, largest and most famous university of Kanto region".

Some of Graduates from the school hired by daimyo or warlords as strategists.

To become strategists, to enroll to Ashikaga Gakko was the most certain way.

Today Ashikaga Gakko is managed as a historical site and not a public school, but still they have some classes about Chinese classics for applicants.

If you learn the studies at the school, maybe you can have same experience as former strategists at the medieval period.

My lighthearted daily life with Haiku in English

Recently I have learnt to compose Haiku (Japanese traditional short poem) in English.
In Japan, students learn about Haiku in Koten (studies of Japanese traditional literature and language) class at junior high school and high school.
I forget about how the classes like in my school days, but I guess at least I have studied about the famous Haiku poets, Matsuo Basho or Kobayashi Issa.

Including the school days, I had not been interested enough to Haiku and other traditional literature until recently, so I didn't know about them so much.
So, naturally I haven't composed any Haiku in my life before.
But since I saw the Haiku in English which composed by western people, all of a sudden I wanted to compose Haiku myself.
Because the Haiku by foreign language looked new and very attractive to me.

Haiku consists of 17 syllables.
Basically we have to compose it in 5-7-5 syllabic form.
Besides that, Kigo (the seasonal words) is required in Haiku.
However in English Haiku, it seems the rules are less strict than Japanese ones.

Each Kigo are defined by things from the four seasons in Japan, so if you would be strict to original Haiku rules, you have to have Saijiki (a catalog of seasonal words).
However I decided to start my Haiku life with easy way (or lazy way) at first.
I didn't get any Saijiki, and I won't be so strict to rules of Haiku.
I only pay attention to syllables and seasonal wards as I can.
With this way, I can enjoy my Haiku life without much difficulty.

Sometimes I suffer for my lack of the knowledge of seasonal words to compose Haiku, so maybe I will learn more of the words or get Saijiki.
Until that time, I would go on my Haiku life lightheartedly.

Your lightheartedness
Nobody judges you until
the end of our summer

B.M.

Yoshimi Hyakuana, the hundred caves of Yoshimi

Yoshimi Hyakuana (the hundred caves of Yoshimi) is a cluster of tomb caves which is located in Yoshimi, Saitama.
It is a kind of tunnel tombs and was dug on the cliff of tuff.
Many Kofun (tumulus) were made at the Kofun period (between the end of 3 century to 7 century) in Japan, and Yoshimi Hyakuana was made at the later Kofun period, 6 century to 7 century.

At the early Kofun period, people had made big kofun for kings or heads of powerful families.
For the structure of the kofun at the times, the stone coffin inside had covered by stone huts and soil.
So when additional burials was made, people had to break the outside of the kofun once.

In contrast, tunnel tombs like Yoshimi Hyakuana was suitable for an additional burial.
People dug a cave and put a body inside, and set a cover made of stone on the entrance of the cave.
If they took off the cover, they could easily put another body inside again.
The big Kofun was for powerful people, and the tunnel tombs like Yoshimi Hyakuana were rather for ordinary people.

Ancient people made Yoshimi Hyakuana.
Besides that, also people in modern times dug tunnel under the same cliff of tuff.
In 1944 and 1945, a munitions factory was made under the ground of Yoshimi Hyakuana and area around there.
The factory was for making aircraft parts, and the tunnel for the factory was dug extensively under the ground.
Even today, the tunnel remains.

If you come Yoshimi Hyakuana, you can see that there are so many open caves on the cliff from the sidewalk.
Moreover, there is a precious thing to see.
In some of the caves, luminous mosses grow.
It is unusual that luminous mosses naturally grow in Kanto region.
It is worth to watch.

You can visit the caves of ancient tombs, the site of a factory at the war times and luminous moss at the same time.
Yoshimi Hyakuana will stimulate your imagination somehow.

The lady lord on the castle, Tachibana Ginchiyo

Tachibana Ginchiyo was born in Chikugo (part of current Fukuoka) province at the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
She was only child of Tachibana Dosetsu (in other name Bekki Akitsura), the legendary warlord of Otomo family.
Dosetsu had been in charge of Tachibana-yama castle in Chikuzen (part of current Fukuoka) province.
He couldn't get his son, so when he retired, he transferred the headship of the family to Ginchiyo in 1575.
At the times, it was unusual that women became a head of samurai family.
She was only 7 years old at this time.
Also she became the lord of Tachibana-yama castle.
According to legend, Dosetsu doted on her so much and taught her military tactics and military arts.
She was brought up as an independent lady.

When she was 13 years old she married Takahashi Munetora aka Tachibana Muneshige, a son of Takahashi Joun, another legendary warlord of Otomo clan.
Muneshige was adopted to Tachibana family to marry Ginchiyo.

Dousetsu hoped Ginchiyo and Muneshige retained Tachibana family together.
However their relationship was not very good.
As a strong and independent lady, Ginchiyo rarely obeyed to her husband.
Sometimes even she looked down Muneshige.
After Dosetsu died, their relationship grew worse and worse.
Muneshige got the Yanagawa castle in Chikugo province as a reward of war, and he moved to his new castle with Ginchiyo.
However, soon his wife got out of the castle alone.
That is, she chose to live apart from Muneshige finally.
Ginchiyo lived in a residence which was located far outside of the castle, with her waiting maids.

When the Sekigahara war broke out, Muneshige fought in siege of Yanagawa castle.
Yanagawa castle was great for defensive battles.
But Ginchiyo stayed in her residence.
She had fighting skills and tactics that her father told her.
She ordered to local peasants and fishermen to defend coast line.
So, the enemy couldn't invade her domain by seaside.
She survived her war with her armed waiting maids.

Finally the war was over by surrender of Muneshige to the enemy.
Munesige and Ginchiyo lost their domain.
Munesige became a ronin, and Ginchiyo had to live in a house of local peasant.
After 2 years later from the war, in 1602, Ginchiyo died for illness.
She was 34 years old.
Ginchiyo and Muneshige hadn't had any children.

The relationship between the wife and the husband was not good all the time.
But later, Muneshige got a promotion to daimyo in Tokugawa shogunate and came back to Yanagawa castle again.
At the time, he founded a family temple for Ginchiyo in his old domain.

Kaisen Joki, a high priest who had amazingly strong mentality

Kaisen Joki was a Buddhist priest of Rinzai sect at the Azuchi-Momoyama period.
He was born at Mino (the part of current Gifu) province.
Some theory told that he came from the family of the former daimyo of Mino province, Toki family.

He had been inaugurated to the head position of Myoshin-ji temple in Kyoto once.
After the days in Myoshin-ji he moved to the Sofuku-ji temple in Mino and became to the head priest of the temple.

In 1564, he moved to Kai (current Yamanashi) province for the request from daimyo Takeda Shingen.
Joki entered the Erin-ji temple in Kai.
Takeda Shingen respected Joki so much and asked him to teach Zen.
Shingen gave Joki a large area of domain and many gifts.
Joki became a Zen teacher to the daimyo.
Also he worked to connect Takeda Shingen to Saito Tatsuoki, the daimyo of Mino province.
As the result of Joki's act, Takeda clan and Saito clan could strengthen their relationship.

After Takeda Shingen died, his death was kept secret.
Then 3 years later Joki supported Katsuyori, a son of Shingen and held a funeral for Shingen.
Moreover Joki got a title from Emperor Ogimachi in 1581.
It was the peak of his life.
However, his end was coming.

In 1582, Takeda family was ruined by Oda family.
Takeda family had held former enemies of Oda family such as Sasaki Jiro from Rokkaku family in their domain.
In a panic after the downfall of Takeda family, the former enemies of Oda escaped to Erin-ji.
Joki sheltered them inside the temple.
So warlords of Oda family came to Erin-ji, besieged and set fire on the temple.
Joki and other many monks were burned to death by the fire.

According to legend, Joki left the death poem "Shinto mekkyaku sureba hi mo mata suzushi (if you meditate deeply, even the blaze can be cold)." in the fire.
This death poem is very popular today, so even people who don't know Joki know the poem.
There are various opinions about whether if the poem was read by Joki or wasn't.
In either case, the poem tells us the strong mentality or patience of the great priest Joki.

Our father of Japanese medical science, Ogata Koan

Ogata Koan (1810-1863) was born in Bitchu (the part of current Okayama) province as a son of lower-ranked samurai.
He had a weak constitution  for samurai so he aimed at become a medical doctor.

When his father was transferred to Osaka for work, he came to Osaka with his father.
While he stayed in Osaka, he learnt Rangaku (studies of western sciences) and medial science under a Ranpou-i (doctor who practices western medicine), Naka Tenyu.
Later he learnt Rangaku also at Edo and Nagasaki.

He came back Osaka and in 1838, he practiced medicine and founded Teki-juku, the school of Rangaku.
Also he married with Yae, a daughter of the Ranpou-i Okugawa Hyakki in this year.
At Teki-juku he taught students Rangaku gently but strictly same time.
He became popular for his gentle character and his great skill as both medical doctor and Rangaku teacher, therefore young people who hope to enroll to Teki-juku increased day by day.
Students came from all over Japan to Teki-juku.

Ogata Kouan started smallpox vaccination in Osaka, and saved many lives.
Also he strove to popularize the treatment among society.

For his great reputation, Tokugawa shogunate asked Koan to be a private doctor for shogun.
Kouan had to obey this offer, but it was not his wish.
He couldn't have better life in Edo than he had in Osaka.
He was getting weaker and died suddenly in 1863.

The way he died was a tragedy for a great person like him.
But he left great heritage to posterity.
The graduates from his Teki-juku flourished in society.
Moreover there were many great people in Japanese history from that graduates.
Such as Fukuzawa Yukichi (the founder of Keio university), Otori Keisuke (military leader), Sano Tsunetami (politician) and Tezuka Ryosen (the grand-grand father of Tezuka Osamu, the great manga artist).

Teki-juku was closed in 1868, but the building of Teki-juku was rebuilt in 1980 and still remain at same place before.
You can tour inside the traditional style building.
Now it was managed as a museum by Osaka university.
It is said that Teki-juku became the origin of the Osaka university.
Koan made a base of Japanese medical science in Osaka.

Chogen, the monk who governed province to rebuild Daibutsu and Todai-ji

Chogen (1121-1206) was a monk of Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism at the Heian and Kamakura period.
He is famous for his reconstruction of the Todai-ji temple and the Daibutsu-den hall (a hall for the huge statue of Buddha) in the temple.
According to legend, in his first half of life Chogen had experiences as a hijiri (the Buddhist missionary) and had been to China 3 times.
In addition some theory told that he met the monk Eisai (the founder of Rinzai sect) while they stayed in China.

In the former Genpei war between Minamoto clan and Taira clan in 1180, Todai-ji temple was burned by the warlord Taira no Shigehira of Taira clan.
The next year Chogen was appointed to the post to manage the project for the reconstruction of Todai-ji.
At this time Chogen was 61 years old already.
He managed to organize architects and missionaries who collect funds for the reconstruction.
Also he got support from Chinese architect Chin Wakei.
Chogen made 6 carts for touring places to collect funds, and even himself got on one of the carts and toured places.

In temporary he was given Suo (the eastern part of current Yamaguchi) province by Imperial court for his project.
From that he became kokushi (provincial governor) and was called "kokushi-shonin (the provincial governor saint)".
So he could have a right to get building materials and tax from these provinces.
But he had many obstacles on the process.
When he tried to get lumber in Suo province, local powerful families such as Ouchi clan interfered Chogen's business.
Also to get supporters who give fund to Chogen was difficult too.
Sometimes even he used dirty tricks to get powerful supporters.
He did everything to achieve success on the project.

He accomplished the reconstruction of Daibutsu (statue of Buddha) in 1185, then Daibutsu-den and some other buildings in Todai-ji in 1195.
He continued the project of reconstruction, however in 1206, he died.
He was 86 years old at the time.

Not only he dedicated his later life to the project, also he made various temples and maintained infrastructures at many places.
Especially in Yamaguchi prefecture, you can find many historical sites relating Chogen.
Even there is a daibutsu which was made of stone by Chogen in Houfu city.
Maybe it is fun to see and compare both daibutsu of Nara and Yamaguchi.

Yamashita Kiyoshi, the genius artist on wandering

Yamashita Kiyoshi (1922-1971) was a famous collage artist.
He left various great collage works to our society.
Also his travel to all over Japan have been a legend.

Kiyoshi was born at Asakusa, Tokyo.
He had a mild intellectual disability and was bullied in public schools.
Also his family background was not good.
His mother had trouble with his father in law (his biological father had died while he was very young.), and tried suicide with her kids.
Fortunately the suicide was prevented.
Soon he enrolled Yawata gakuen (Yawata institution) in Chiba prefecture which has supported disabled students.
At the school, they had an attempt to teach the art of collage to disabled children.
Kiyoshi resisted to his school life and caused troubles at first, but since he learnt the art of collage from teachers, he changed a bit.
He got a gentle attitude more than before.

However he escaped from his school life when he was 18 years old and started his life of wondering.
He hoped to see various interesting places in Japan.
He traveled to the places with begging foods to local people and working jobs in very short terms.
Most of time he got foods or money by begging.
Sometimes he performed something unusual (as an example, public nudity) to other people's eyes and even have been sent to police stations or mental hospitals.
But he didn't stop his wandering.
Always he tried to stay nights in station buildings and be scolded by local police officers.
Even though that, he continued his hard travels with his own way.

He had various obstacles to travel, but since he got a fame for his collage art once, his travel became going smooth.
Wherever he went, local merchants or rich people offered him a place for nights and asked him to make his art of collage for them.
So Kiyoshi no longer suffered to find places to sleep.
Also people offered him to buy his works, so he could got his own money.
He could enjoy his travel more than before at his later years.
Also he has traveled to Europe with doctors and teachers from Yawata gakuen.

Sadly, he died in 1974 at age of 49.
It was too early to die, but he left huge influence to our society in his short life.
We can see his delicate and gentle works of collage art today.

The unique Chinese style temple and Buddhist cuisine, Manpuku-ji

The Manpuku-ji temple in Uji, Kyoto, is the head temple of Japanese Buddhism Oubaku sect.
The temple built in 1661 at the Edo period.
Oubaku sect is not so old as a Japanese Buddhist Zen sect.
However it has unique temples for it's Chinese style of architecture.
The buildings in the precincts of Manpuku-ji look like ones from Chinese temple.

Oubaku sect was founded by the Chinese monk Ingen.
Ingen came to Nagasaki with his disciples for the invitation by monks in Nagasaki, and later he moved to Settsu province (the part of current Osaka).
At first he had a plan to go back China after 3 years, however his followers in Japan asked him to stay longer.
Besides that, Tokugawa shogunate apportioned him a land in Uji, and also Manpuku-ji was built for Ingen.
Finally Ingen abandoned the first plan and decided to stay in Japan forever.
At Manpuku-ji they had called their sect Rinzai first, however they changed the name Oubaku later.
"Oubaku" came from the mountain in China where Ingen had had his first "Manpuku-ji" temple before.

Ingen was respected by many people, and even former Emperor, Tokugawa shogun, high ranking governors and noblemen became believers of him.
Intellectuals in Japan gathered to meet him.
Ingen gave them Zen teachings and new knowledge which China culture had.

As an example, according to legend Ingen brought a sort of bean with him to Japan.
The bean is called "Ingen-mame (the bean of Ingen)".
Even today you can see Ingen-mame in super markets or vegetable stores in Japan.

In addition, we can have a Fucha-ryori (Chinese Style vegetarian gourmet) in Manpuku-ji and restaurants around the temple.
It is a sort of Shojin-ryori (Buddhist cuisine which served in Japanese Buddhism temples), but it has unique Chinese style.
It's origin was the Buddhist cuisine in China which Ingen introduced to Japan.
Manpuku-ji have served it to entertain people by tasty and novel vegetarian foods.
Still we can have it around the temple today.
However if you want to Fucha-ryori in a complete meal, usually you need a reservation to the temple or other restaurants.
Please keep it in your mind.

The great daimyo in Muromachi period, Ouchi Yoshihiro

Ouchi Yoshihiro (1356-1399) was daimyo in Suo, Nagato (these two provinces make the area as current Yamaguchi) and other many provinces at the Muromachi period.
The origin of Ouchi clan is not confirmed, but their ancestors seemed to came from Baekje kingdom in ancient Korea.

In his times, Muromachi shogunate had a problem.
Since before the shogunate founded, the Imperial Court had been separated to the Northern Court and Southern Court.
Muromachi shogunate had supported the Northern Court.
However the Southern Court hold their own Emperor in Yoshino, Yamato province (the area same as current Nara) and had resisted the Northern Court and Muromachi shogunate.
Also influential Kikuchi family in Kyushu region had resisted under the Southern Court.
Muromachi shogunate send Imagawa Sadayo, daimyo of Totomi (western part of current Shizuoka) to suppression Kikuchi clan and Kyushu region.
Ouchi Yoshihiro supported Imagawa Sadayo to defeat Kikuchi clan and warlords under the Southern Court.
This contribution made him to get new domains in Kyushu and Chugoku region.

In 1391, the war of Meitoku broke out.
In the war, a powerful daimyo Yamana family invaded Kyoto.
The war was caused by the provocation of shogun Ashikaga Yoshimitsu.
Yoshimitsu had attempted to undermine powerful daimyo, and made provocation against them.
The war of Meitoku was one of results of that.
Ouchi Yoshihiro fought well to defend Kyoto from the army of Yamana.
After they defeated Yamana, shogun Yoshimitsu took most of Yamana's domains.
From the domains, he gave Izumi (a part of current Osaka) and Kii (a part of current Wakayama) provinces to Yoshihiro as a reward for the fight.

Izumi and Kii adjoined Yamato, where the Southern Court located.
From that, Yoshihiro got a connection to the Southern Court.
Then, Yoshihiro helped the unification of the Northern and Southern Courts in 1392.
This raised his reputation.

Moreover he have traded with Goryeo (a Korean dynasty) and made a large fortune.
Surprisingly, he asked the Goryeo to give him a domain in the area where Baekje existed.
As the reason for that, he claimed he was a descendant of the prince Seimei of Baekje kingdom.
His request wasn't approved, but this episode show us how Yoshihiro had a strong relationship with Goryeo in that times.

However his peak of his power didn't last long.
The relationship between Yoshihiro and shogun Yoshimitsu worsened gradually.
Yoshimitsu worried about the power of Yoshihiro included the relationship with Goryeo dynasty.
Yoshimitsu provoked Yoshihiro, and in 1399, the war of Ouei broke out.
The war located in Sakai, Izumi province and finally Yoshihiro was defeated.

Unfortunately Yoshihiro was killed, but his family survived and later they flourished again.
He got great credit by his lifelong activities.

Sasaki shrine is located in the birthplace of the family name Sasaki

If you come to Japan, perhaps you will meet person who has the name "Sasaki".
Sasaki is one of typical family names in Japan.
The origin of the family name was the manor of Sasaki in Omi province (the same area as current Shiga prefecture).
The Sasaki shrine is located in the area where the manor of Sasaki had existed.

There was a reason why the family name Sasaki spread all over Japan.
At the Heian and Kamakura period, the warlord Sasaki Hideyoshi and his sons who based in the manor of Sasaki fought under the Minamoto clan.
Minamoto clan founded Kamakura shogunate, and for their contribution to battles, Sasaki clan got new domains and their offspring have spread to there.
As a result, Sasaki clan and also their name Sasaki extended.

At the medieval period, there were many family of daimyo or warlords which had came from Sasaki clan.
Rokkaku, Amako and Kyogoku were famous as medieval daimyo.
Especially, Rokkaku family have ruled the south part of Omi province which included the manor of Sasaki.
They were the direct line of descent of the Sasaki clan.
However Rokkaku family was defeated and ruined by daimyo Oda Nobunaga from Owari province (the western part of current Aichi) in battles, therefore they had to leave the birthplace of their clan.

Even though that, Sasaki shrine have been worshiped by the descendants of Sasaki clan as their guardian deity.
Today, people who have the name Sasaki come to visit the shrine from all over Japan.
The shrine is located in Omihachiman city, Shiga.
If you visit the shrine and find many tourists in the precincts there, some of them must be Sasaki san.

To get simple solutions, ask the instructor in your mind

Everybody has their problem.
I have some, and you must have some, too.
Sometimes we can't find any solution to our problem.
If we have somebody to ask, that is good.
However we don't always have friends or people whom we can rely on.

If you want simple solutions to your problem, there is one thing you can do.
To ask yourself and answer yourself.
Sometimes we think our situation is more complicated than actually it is.
From others, we may look like struggling with a simple thing.
We need to see ourselves as other people see us.
If we can do that, we will get what we can do for our problem.

I show you an example for how to ask ourselves.
Maybe I have a problem about the relationship with someone.
The someone got angry with my words and I don't know how to make friends again with him or her.
So, I ask myself.
"How can I make friends again with her?"
"Apologize to her. That's all."
"But I don't think I was wrong."
"I don't care neither you were wrong nor right. If you want to make friends again with her, just apologize to her."
"Well, OK."
That's quick.

Let's try one more.
This time I am suffering for a money trouble.
I need some money as soon as possible but I don't know how I can earn the extra money.
So, I ask myself.
"I need money."
"Good. Start a side business."
"But I am busy already."
"Don't you have any day off?"
"Well, I have Sunday."
"Spend the Sunday for your side business."
"I have to take a rest on Sunday. It is my only day off!"
"Then forget about the money. Take a rest."
"I need money."
"Get extra money or rest. Choose."
"OK...I will work on Sunday too."

Like that.
You ask yourself and answer yourself.
It is like asking a logical and strict instructor who living in your mind.
This asking technique will work to make your problem simple.
If you can't decide what you should do on your problem, try this asking.
But don't forget to do it in your mind.
Please don't ask and answer yourself aloud.
If you do it aloud, maybe it will cause another problem for you.

A beautiful scenic spot the Satta-touge pass had historical events

The Satta-touge pass is a must-see place for Mt. Fuji lovers.

The place is located in Yui town, Shizuoka.

The pass is on the road at the coastal Mt. Satta near Suruga Bay. 

You can enjoy the spectacular view of Mt. Fuji over Suruga Bay from Satta-touge.

Also the pass have been a important traffic point.

Satta-touge was on Toukaido route (the route between Edo to Kyoto).

To travel between Kansai and Kanto region, people often went through the pass.

Even army corps at the medieval times used this route in military action.

Moreover, battles have happened on the pass by them.

The first battle of Satta-touge happened in 1351, by Ashikaga Takauji and Ashikaga Naoyoshi.

Ashikaga Takauji, the first shogun of Muromachi shogunate, was confronted by his own brother Naoyoshi at the time.

Takuji encamped on the pass to fight against army of Naoyoshi.

In opposite, Naoyoshi surrounded the mountain.

At first the strength of Takauji's army was far lower than Naoyoshi's one.

However his allies from Kanto region fought well, then finally Takauji could defeat Naoyoshi.

The second battle of Satta-touge happened in 1568.

At this time, two daimyo Imagawa Ujizane and Takeda Shingen fought with each other.

Takeda Shingen of Kai province (current Yamanashi) started a military action to invade Imagawa Ujizane's Suruga province (current Shizuoka) and led his army to Suruga.

Satta-touge was located on the only route to Suruga from Kai, so Ujizane deployed his army there and stayed Seiken-ji temple, near the pass.

Their armies had the battle at the pass.

Ujizane fought well, however Shingen communicated to warlords of Ujizane secretly.

After Ujizane noticed the fact he felt danger and left to Sunpu (the capital of Suruga) from Seiken-ji.

As soon as his army know Ujizane's evacuation, the army collapsed.

A lot of soldiers must have died the pass with the battles, but today, we can hardly imagine the fact when we walk on the pass.

It is a beautiful place.

Now Satta-pass has observation place and trekking route which easy to walk.

From the observation place, Mt. Fuji looks so big and beautiful.

Kudara-ou shrine was where the royal family of Beakje remained

At the battle of Hakusukinoe (the battle of Baekgang) in Korean peninsula in 663, Japan and Baekje (one of the three kingdoms of ancient Korea) fought against Silla (another one of three kingdoms of ancient Korea) and the Tang dynasty of China.
As a result, Japan and Beakje were defeated and Baekje kingdom was ruined.

After the battle of Hakusukinoe, survived member of the royal family of Baekje exiled to Japan.
The prince Zenkou was in them.
He was given the family name "Kudara-ou (the king of Beakje)" by the imperial court as a vassal.
Also he was given a domain in Naniwa (an seaside area in current Osaka), and he lived there with his clan.

At the times of Kudara-ou Kyoufuku, the grandson of Zenkou, they obtained a rank and given another domain at Kawachi province (the eastern part of current Osaka) for paying golds to the imperial court.
They migrated to the domain of Kawachi from Naniwa.
Later, Kudara-ou clan founded Kudara-ji temple and Kudara-ou shirine the place.

Unfortunately Kudara-ji temple have burned down and buildings are not remained today.
We can see only the site of the temple.
However still there is Kudara-ou shirine.
The shrine and the site of Kudara-ji are located in Hirakata city, Osaka.
According to legend, the family of the priest of the shrine is a descendant of Kudara-ou clan.

A ordinary shrine in Japan is relating to an ancient Korean kingdom.
It is interesting, isn't it?

The first official Buddhist temple in Japan, Shitenno-ji

Shitenno-ji temple is located in Tennoji ward, Osaka city.
The temple founded in 593 by the founder of Japanese Buddhism Prince Shotoku, as the first official Buddhist temple in Japan.
"Shitenno" means the Four Heavenly Kings who support Buddhism.

According to legend, while Prince Shotoku had conflicts with Mononobe clan, he wished to win and promised to found a temple of Shitenno for salvation of people in all over Japan if he could win.
After the victory over the conflicts, he founded Shitenno-ji temple as he had promised before.

As first temple of the kind, Shitenno-ji is a very unique one among Japanese temples.

The style of layout of the temple called "Shitenno-ji garan haichi (the Shitenno-ji building layout)" and it is oldest one of styles of Japanese temple layout.
Nowadays you rarely see the style in Japanese temples except Shitenno-ji.
Also the temple ground of Shitenno-ji is huge, so you can see interesting Buddhist buildings there.

In addition, they have a religious ceremony of Bugaku (the traditional dance with music came from Western Asia in ancient times) in April 23 (the death anniversary of Prince Shotoku).
Still we can see the traditional culture of ancient times in it.
The ceremony shows us how Prince Shotoku have been connected strongly to foreign cultures.

There are many sightseeing spots around Shitenno-ji such us the Tennoji park, Namba city or Tsuruhashi town.
You can visit all of them at one day, so I recommend you to tour around Shitenno-ji.

Kouka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki, the residence of the lord of ninja

Kouka city, Shiga, is famous for their history of ninja as well as Iga city, Mie.

Ninja in Kouka got their popularity at the battle of "Magari no Jin" in 1487.
At the war, Shougun Ashikaga Yoshihisa took a military expedition against the hostile daimyo Rokkaku Takayori, however Takayori used Kouka ninjas who belonged to him effectively.
As a result, Takayori achieved successful defense, and he and his ninjas got a fame for the battle.
After that, thanks to the fame, Kouka ninjas have been employed by many daimyo as a mercenary.

Even though trails of ninja are hard to find nowadays, there are some clues.
Still today, a residence of the lord of Kouka ninja remains in Kouka.
It is called "Kouka-ryu Ninjutsu Yashiki (Kouka style ninjutsu residence)".

It is located in a residential quarter in paddy fields.
The residence was built at the Edo period for the one of Kouka ninja lord Mochizuki Izumonokami.
It looks ordinary traditional Japanese residence from outside, but you can find many interesting points inside.

It has secret windows, a secret door and hiding places inside attic and under the floor.
You can tour inside the residence with explanation by staffs.
Also you can see exhibitions of tools of ninja there.
Besides that, they serve you a cup of medicinal tea (it have been sold by Mochizuki family in hundreds of years) for free, and if you pay extra money, you can experience to throw shuriken (a throwing-knife) to targets or you can disguise a ninja.
When I have been to there, I tried to throw the shuriken.
In throwing that, I was not so bad as a ninja.

Mochiduki family has made medicine in peaceful times for their living.
They could get ingredients of medicine from a nature-rich surroundings such as Mt. Ibuki.
I hope you can enjoy history and nature of Kouka and Shiga.

The temple for mothers, Jison-in

The Jison-in temple is located in Kudoyama, Wakayama.
The temple is on the pilgrimage route to Mt. Koya, the sacred place for Shingon sect of Japanese Buddhism.
The temple was founded in 816 by Kukai (the founder of the Shingon sect).

According to legend, when the mother of Kukai came a long way to Mt. Koya to meet her son, she couldn't enter Mt. Koya.
In that times, women couldn't enter religious sacred places like Mt. Koya for the "Nyonin-kinsei (No women admitted)" rule.
Even a mother of the founder couldn't enter the mountain.

So she stayed Jison-in.
Kukai visited his mother at the temple 9 times in a month from Mt. Koya, so the area around the temple was named "Kudo-yama (the mountain of 9 times)".
They met there.
In addition, while she stayed the temple she worshiped Miroku Bosatsu (a Buddhist saint).
The word "Jison" of the temple's name is another word for the Miroku Bosatsu.
The temple is also called "Nyonin-Koya (Mt. Koya for women)" because of the mother of Kukai have spent her religious life and met his son Kukai at the temple.
While the ages women couldn't visit Mt. Koya, they have visited Jison-in instead.

Even though women can enter Mt. Koya as well as men today, still Jison-in is worshiped by women as a temple of mothers.
As the mother of Kukai came a long way to visit his son with her great motherly affection, many women visit Jison-in to worship Miroku Bosatsu and the mother of Kukai.

Inside the temple there are so many women's breast shaped models.
You may feel it a little funny.
However, the models have been dedicated by mothers to wish their abundant produce of milk.
If you have a chance to visit the temple, please don't forget that you are in a sacred place for women.

Yamanaka "Shikanosuke" Yukimori, the medieval samurai who was dedicated his life for his master

There was a great samurai in Chugoku region in Japanese medieval history.
Yamanaka "Shikanosuke" Yukimori (1545-1578) was a warlord of daimyo Amako family in Izumo province (the east part of current Shimane prefecture).

His origin and the first half of his life was not confirmed, but according to legends, he had joined military action since he was very young, and he have defeated enemies.
Shikanosuke succeeded in battles he joined, however in 1567, Amako family was ruined by daimyo Mouri family of Aki province (the western part of current Hiroshima).
The head of Amako family Amako Yoshihisa was captured and kept under Mouri family as a guest.
Shikanosuke lost his master, and became a ronin (unemployed samurai).

However, Shikanosuke didn't give up his fight against Mouri family.
He went to Kyoto and contacted Amako Katsuhisa, who was one of Amako clan.
Katsuhisa had been left Izumo before the corruption of his family, and was a monk that time in Kyoto.
Shikanosuke made Katsuhisa as his new master, and took Katsuhisa with him to fight against Mouri.

They went back to Chugoku region and started their military action.
Shikanosuke succeeded in a series of battles against Mouri family.
He was not only skillful in hand-to-hand combat but also good at strategy.
He made local samurais to join his side one by one.
Moreover he kept contact with enemies of Mouri such as Otomo (the daimyo of north parts of Kyushu region) and Yamana (the daimyo of Chugoku region) family and tried to attack Mouri with them.
Temporary, even he took most of area of Izumo back to his hand.

It was unfortunate that Yamana left their side and made an agreement with Mouri.
The event broke the military balance in Chugoku and Shikanosuke lost his power.
He left Chugoku temporary, then joined the family of Oda Nobunaga in Kyoto.
Since after that he and his master Katsuhisa have fought as warlords of Oda family.

They stayed in Kozuki castle in Harima province (the western part of current Hyogo).
They battled in siege to Mouri, but finally they had to surrender to their long time enemy.
Shikanosuke and Katsuhisa were captured.
Katsuhisa chose Harakiri (a traditional way of suicide) soon after their lost.
After the death of his master, Shikanosuke was murdered by Mouri.
His long-standing battle was finally over.
He dedicated his whole life for the family of his masters.
The spirit of Shikanosuke has been respected by many people.

Here is one more curious fact.
According to Kounoike family, the famous wealthy merchant in Osaka at the Edo period, their ancestor was Shikanosuke.
Kounoike family have succeeded in business and got a huge prosperity.
Even nowadays, we can see the name of Kounoike in many Japanese companies.

Some Japanese phrases for travel

When you travel to a foreign country, if you can speak local language the trip will be fantastic.
But can you wait until you will be fully fluent to the language?
I don't think so.
When you happen to want to travel is the best time to travel.
Don't wait for your language!

In case you have a plan to travel to Japan, I will tell you some useful and simple phrases.

At the shopping,
"Kore wo onegai shimasu (This, please)".
"Are wo onegai shimasu (That, please)".
"Kore wa oikura desu ka? (How much is it?)".
"Are wa oikura desu ka? (How much is that?)".
"Yasuku narimasen ka? (Can't I get discount?) ".
"Shishoku dekimasuka? (Can I try to taste it?)".
"Shichaku dekimasuka? (Can I try to wear it?)".
"Fukuro wo morae masu ka? (Can I get a bag?)"
"Ryougae deki masu ka? (Can I change my notes to coins?)".
"Housou onegai deki masu ka? (Can I get it wrapped?)".
"Kaigai hassou dekimasu ka? (Can I ship it overseas?)".

At asking destination,
"Tokyo tower ni ikitai desu (I want to go to the Tokyo tower)".
"Eigo wa wakarimasu ka? (Are you understand English?)".
"Chikaku no Kouban wa doko desu ka? (Where is the nearest police box?)".
"Basu tei wa doko desu ka ? (Where is the bus station?)".
"Soko made dou ikeba iidesu ka? (How can I go to there?)".
"Michi annai shite moraemasen ka? (Will you mind to take me there with you?)".
"Michi ni mayotte imasu (I am lost now)".

"Toile wa doko desu ka? (Where is toilet?)".

At the restaurant,
"Eigo no menyuu wa arimasu ka? (Is there menu in English?)".
"Koko de tabemasu (I would eat here)".
"Mochi kaeri shimasu (I would do takeout)".
"Okawari kudasai (A refill, please)".
"Fork to knife wo kudasai (A fork and knife, please)".
"Hashi wo kudasai (Chopsticks, please)".
"Satou wo kudasai (Sugar, please)".
"Koshou wo kudasai (Pepper, please)".
"Shashin wo tottemo iidesu ka? (Can I take photos?)"
"Okanjo wo onegaishimasu (Check, please)".
"Gochisou sama deshita (The meal was good, thanks)".

At the asking for help,
"Onaka ga itai desu (I have a stomach pain)".
"Kibun ga yokunai desu (I am feeling bad)".
"Memai ga shimasu (I feel dizzy)".
"Me ga okashii desu (I got a problem with my eyes)".
"Mimi ga okashii desu (I got a problem with my ears)".
"Kyuukyuusya wo yonde kudasai (Please call the ambulance)".
"Camera wo torare mashita (I had my camera stolen)".
"Saifu wo torare mashita (I had my wallet stolen)".
"Keisatsu wo yonde kudasai (Please call the police)".
"Tsuuyaku wo yonde kudasai (Please call a interpreter)"

At the train station,
"Tokyo eki ni ikitai desu (I want to go to the Tokyo station)".
"Tokyo eki made no unchin wo oshiete kudasai (Please tell me the fare to Tokyo station)".
"Doko de norikaetara iidesu ka? (Where should I transfer to train?)".
"Tokyo eki ni iku niwa dochira no home desu ka? (Which platform should I take to Tokyo station?)".
"Chikan ni aimashita (I was sexually harassed by a pervert)".
"Boukou sare mashita (I was attacked violently)".
"Ekiin san wo yonde kudasai (Please call station worker)".
"Kono hito desu (This person)".
"Ano hito desu (That person)".

I guess it is enough now.
Maybe I will add another articles for more phrases.
I introduced you the phrases but remember, the body language is basic skill for communication.
Besides, if you speak English very (or extremely) slowly, most of Japanese people can understand you (except very old people).
Body language and speaking very slow English will help.
Please keep that in your mind.

The descendant of Muromachi shogun, Awa Kubou

It was the Sengoku period.

A daimyo and one of most powerful clans in Muromachi period, Miyoshi clan had a trouble with shogun Ashikaga Yoshiteru.

So they plotted to back an another shougun up instead Yoshiteru.

In Awa domain (the area currently Tokushima prefecture), Ashikaga Yoshihide (1538-1568) was there.

Yoshihide's father was Ashikaga Yoshitsuna, and mother was a daughter of Ouchi Yoshioki (a powerful daimyo of Suo province).

The Miyoshi three (Miyoshi Nagayasu, Miyoshi Masayasu and Iwanari Tomomichi) who were in charge of Miyoshi clan, and Matsunaga Hisahide (a warlord of Miyoshi clan, even today he is famous for his many anecdotes) took Yoshihide to Settsu province (area between parts of current Osaka and Hyogo) and made him the 14th shougun of the Muromachi shogunate. 

Basically, successive Muromachi shogun had administered affairs in Kyoto, however Yoshihide had an ill and because of this, he couldn't enter to Kyoto.

He stayed in Settsu.

Unfortunately the reign by the shogun Yoshihide finished in only seven months.

Oda Nobunaga, the famous daimyo from Owari province (west part of current Aichi) invaded Kyoto taking Yoshihide's cousin Ashikaga Yoshiaki with him.

The Miyoshi three lost to Nobunaga and lost their power.

Nobunaga made Yoshiaki the 15th shougun of Muromachi shogunate.

Yoshihide had to escape to Awa (or according to some theory he escaped to other province).

Soon after that, his ill got worse and he died at the age of 31.

Since the death of Yoshihide his offspring have remained at Hirajima, Awa province.

The local folks called them "Awa (or Hirajima) Kubou" with respect.

The word Kubou was used to mean shogun at the times.

But actually, they had no power at all.

Besides, they have been treated coldly by daimyo Hachisuka family of Awa domain through Edo period.

They couldn't get enough income, so finally they started to sell their hand made "a charm against poisonous snake" to people to get money.

That was not suitable business for the family of former shogun, but they had to do that for living. 

Eventually they moved to Kyoto, but they couldn't get enough income there too.

At the Meiji period, normally daimyo and samurai could get the status by their former background, but Awa kubou couldn't get approved their status as samurai.

They lived Maiji period as a commoner.

Today, the site of the residence of Awa kubou is surrounded by only paddy fields, but there is a small museum "Awa kubou minzoku shiryokan (the Awa kubou museum of history and folklore)".

It is located Anan city, Tokushima prefecture.

The museum has exhibitions about Awa Kubou and the culture of peasants of Hirajima.

Even once His Imperial Highness of Japan have visited this museum.

There is a luxurious sofa that he took a rest.

Also you can sit on it after or before touring inside the museum.

How to build vocabulary in foreign languages

Have you learned foreign languages before?

If you have, I am sure you struggled to memorize words in the languages.

Every languages consists of words.

The more you memorize them, your language skills will be improved. 

However sometimes we can't be sure what we should do to memorize.

I am not a specialist of languages but just a learner, so I'd introduce how I memorize vocabularies to you.

At the beginning of language learning, I try to get a very basic wordbook or two.

I read it cover to cover, over and over again.

After I have read it over ten times, I became to know most of words in the word book.

If I want more improvement on the reading, I will read the same book more often.

How can't we memorize the words of a book after we have read the book over twenty to thirty times in a short period of time?

Maybe you may be bored to read the same book over and over again. 

If so, I suggest you to read many books or articles on the internet in languages you are learning.

Read them as many as you can.

You will meet same words in different contexts and memorize them gradually.

Just to read the same book is sometimes very hard, but if you use many books or articles to learn, you can keep your motivation to reading.

I read books in both ways depending on my mood.

Please try to keep the fact that you can memorize words you have met many times in your mind.

I hope you will be fully fluent in the language soon.

Kagiya no Tutsuji, the place the famous duel of vengeance was held

There are three famous duels of vengeance in Japanese history.

The duel of vengeance by Soga brothers in 1193.
The duel of vengeance by 47 ronin of Ako domain in 1703.
Then, the duel of vengeance by Watanabe Kazuma and Araki Mataemon in 1634.
Last one called "Kagiya no Tsuji no Ketto (the duel at the crossroads of Kagiya)".

The "Kagiya no Tsuji no Ketto" was happened at Iga province, now Iga city in Mie prefecture.
As the beginning of the events, a samurai Kawai Matagoro in Okayama domain fell in love with a colleague and beautiful young samurai Watanabe Gendayu.
Therefore Kawai Matagoro tried to have a special relationship with Watanabe Gendayu, but Gendayu refused him.
Devastated Matagoro killed Gendayu.
After his crime Matagoro left his domain and escaped to Edo.

Gendayu was a favorite boy of daimyo of Okayama domain, Ikeda Tadakatsu.
Tadakatsu got furious and asked Tokugawa shogunate to send Matagoro back, but he couldn't get Matagoro.
Few yeas later Tadakatsu got a serious illness and on his death bed he left a will that to revenge to Matagoro for the death of Gendayu.

In the situation, the brother of Gendayu, Watanabe Kazuma had to revenge for his young brother by the will of his master Ikeda Tadakatsu.
Unfortunately Kazuma was not good with sword skill to accomplish his revenge.
So, he asked help to his brother in law, the Yagyu style sword master Araki Mataemon,

Kazuma and Mataemon got information that Matagoro were hyding in Yamato province (current Nara) and was trying to escape to Edo again.
Kazuma and Mataemon made a plan to wait Matagoro at the Kagiya no Tsuji, the place located on the route of Yamato to Edo.
They waited their villain at the place.

Finally they met with Matagoro there.
Matagoro took his ten helpers including a spear master Sakurai Hanbei with him.
In contrast, the team of the avenger consisted of only four people.
The historical duel happened.
Even though they were in bad situation, the team of Kazuma killed or drove away the all villains except Kawai Matagoro.
Watanabe Kazuma and Kawai Matagoro had the last duel over long hours by only two of them and finally, Kazuma accomplished his vengeance.

Because of his work at the duel Araki Mataemon got a honer and left his name to posterity.
Also "koudan (Japanese story telling)" stories about the historical duel were made, and became famous.
But soon after the duel, Araki Mataemon died the mysterious death.
It seems the duel was related some complicated political matters, and there are some mysterious points about the duel still.
The Kagiya no Tsuji is a quiet place now.

Kakioko, the okonomiyaki with oysters in the Hinase style

Kakioko is a sort of okonomiyaki (a Japanese pancake with various ingredients) served in Hinase town in Bizen city, Okayama.
The word kakioko is an abbreviation of "Kaki (oyster) okonomiyaki".
As the name suggests, oysters are used as toppings.

Hinase town is located by the coast of Seto Inland Sea.
Fishery is the main industry there, and also they cultivate oysters.
At the okonomiyaki restaurants, local oysters are used abundantly for the okonomiyaki.
Usually, oysters are a bit expensive in Japan.
However at Hinase, they provide local oysters, so we can eat the kakioko with fresh oysters in cheaper price.

How to make Kakioko (okonomiyaki Hinase style) is different from both the Osaka style and the Hiroshima style.
In Osaka, people mix ingredients with dough and baked them together, later put pork meat on them.
Then they turn it over and bake other side.
In Hiroshima, dough and ingredients aren't mixed before people bake them.
As baking them, the dough and the ingredients such as cabbage, egg, noodles and pork meat are piled up one by one.

For kakioko, dough and cabbage are mixed and baked together.
Besides them, many of oysters are baked alone,
After the dough is baked, they put oysters and other ingredients on the dough, then pour another dough on top of them.
Finally they turn it over and bake other side.

Kakioko is served in the season of oysters (usually October to March), so you better visit Hinase the season if you want to enjoy fresh oysters.

Once I have happened to visit Hinase June or July.
But fortunately there was a Kakioko restaurant which had kept frozen oysters during the out of season, and they served kakioko even in summer.
The oysters were kept frozen so they were not seasonal, but I enjoyed them anyway.
If you don't care they are seasonal or kept frozen, you can visit Hinase anytime to eat kakioko.

The traditional dairy product from the ancient Japan, So

Today we often drink milk or eat dairy products such as cheese or butter.
But for ordinary people, the custom of eating dairy products is quite new.
We only started to eating them since Meiji period under the influence of the western culture.
However if we focus on noblemen, they had eaten some dairy products at the Asuka period already.

"So" was one of the traditional dairy products which eaten in the ancient Japan.
So was made of milk.
How to make So is to boil milk gently in a pan for many hours with stirring it frequently.
Then eventually, a solid substance remains on the pan.
It is So.
Despite no seasoning, So has nice milky aroma and slightly sweet taste.

At between the Asuka to Heian period, So was paid to Emperors and high ranked noblemen from dairy farmers as a tax.
Milk and dairy products were precious at that times, and the noblemen treated So as an effective medicine for their health.
Ordinary people couldn't enjoy such precious dairy products in those times.

In contrast, we can drink milk and eat dairy products now.
Moreover, we can try So, too.
Nowadays some dairy farmers in Nara prefecture make So and sell it.
We can buy it at their shops in Nara or at an online shopping site managed by one of them.

If you have a spare time, how about making So by yourself?
It takes an awfully long time to make it, but probably it is worth to try.
When you will make it, please notice me how it's taste was like.

Togeppo Saioku-ji, the scenic spot which founded by Socho

There is a nice place I like in Shizuoka prefecture.
This is Saioku-ji, a very small temple of Rinzai sect.
The temple is located in Mariko, Shizuoka city.

At first, a famous renga (linked poem) poet and teacher Socho (1448-1532) built Saiokuken, a thatched hut here.
Later Imagawa Ujichika, daimyo of Suruga (a middle part of current Shizuoka prefecture) rebuilt the thatched hut Saiokuken as the temple Saioku-ji.

He had served to Imagawa Yoshitada, Ujichika's father, in his young times.
Then after the death of Yoshitada, he left Imagawa family in a short time and went to Kyoto.
He learned renga poetry from Soughi, also a famous renga poet and teacher at the Muromachi period.
Also he have learned Zen Buddhism from Zen monk Ikkyu while he stayed in Kyoto.

Later he returned to Imagawa family and served to Ujichika.
As a poet teacher, Socho mingled with court nobles,  daimyo and powerful warlords in all over Japan.
He loved culture of Kyoto and built Saiokuken in imitation of Ginkaku-ji temple in Kyoto.
In particular, he brought bamboos from Kyoto to around the thatced hut and made a beautiful bamboo glove with them there.
Beside that, he made a borrowing landscapes garden in front of Saiokuken.

Togeppo means "the mountain peak which produces the moon".
Today, normally we can't stay inside the temple at night so we don't see the moon, but we can see the nice view of Marikofuji mountain through the garden and the bamboo globe.

When I visited to the temple, I felt like I was in the bamboo globe in Kyoto.
Also the atmosphere around Saioku-ji is quiet and nice.
Surely you can enjoy there.

Chin Wakei made a huge ship for Kamakura Shogun

In Japanese history, sometimes we can see many interesting people.
For me, particularly people at the Kamakura period look attractive.
So I want to introduce random person to you from time to time.

The anecdote of Chin Wakei (or Chin Nakei) is mysterious.
He was a Chinese craftsman in the Kamakura period.
He come from Song (a dinasty of China) to Japan, but still we can't confirm the year he came.
In 1183, he maintained the daibutsu (large statue of Buddha) of the Toudai-ji temple in Nara that damaged by a war, and rebuild daibutsuden, a hall for daibutsu.
He did them at the request of Chogen, a Japanese Buddhist monk who devoted his life to rebuild the daibutsu.

In 1195 Chin Wakei was offered to attend a ceremony for the rebuilding of the daibutsu by Minamoto no Yoritomo, the first Kamakura shogun.
But Chin Wakei refused Yoritomo's offer, because Yoritomo had killed so many people during the war times.
That was the reason according to Wakei.

20 years later, Chin Wakei appeared in Kamakura even he had refused Yoritomo's offer before.
He meet the 3rd Kamakura shogun Minamoto no Sanetomo (Yoritomo's son).
He claimed Sanetomo was the reincarnation of a legendary Chinese Buddhist monk, and gained Sanetomo's confidence.
Then Sanetomo dreamed of making a voyage to China and visiting his temple in his previous life, and ordered Wakei to build a huge ship.

Finally Wakei made a huge Chinese style ship.
He brought the ship to Yuigahama beach, Kamakura.
However, unfortunately the ship sunk into the sandy beach because it was too heavy, and Wakei never could bring the ship to the sea.
The ship was abandoned at the sandy beach.
Sanetomo couldn't travel to China.

There is no record about Wakei's life after the case of the huge ship.
How do you think what happened to Wakei after that?

How can we read books more quickly?

There are many ways of reading books.
However, it seems many people want to know how to read books as quickly as they can.
In Japan, there is the word "sokudoku" for speed reading.
So, I tell you how I read books quickly when I need to read many books in a short time.

Usually my purpose on reading is to know an outline or to get ideas from a book.
Besides that, I want to read books as many as I can within a time limit.
So I try the way of reading called "skimming".
Please try to read a book once like how I write down here.

As reading, move your eyes as fast as you can through sentences.
Don't stop your eye movement even in a moment.
Don't focus on words but read a sentence or some sentences at one time.
Also you don't need to care what each sentences are saying.
Forget about understanding and keep reading until you will finish.
If you finish to read a book quickly, you will understand easily what mostly the author of the book have tried to tell you.

Surely that is just one of ways I am doing for myself.
You can read books with each ways on your purpose.
If you want to understand the contents of books in detail, you better read books slowly.
Skimming doesn't suit for understanding or knowing every facts or details in books.
The advantage of skimming is for quickness and understanding outline of a book in a short time.
In case you want to read a book quickly or read many books in a short time, try skimming.

I am glad if skimming will help you to improve your reading speed and make your reading life happier.

Gyoki, the great Japanese Buddhist priest who called Bosatsu

If you visit Japan and keep interest to the sites of traditional construction, you will hear the name of Gyoki at somewhere related to him.

Gyoki (668-749) was a Japanese Buddhist priest.

He born in Kawachi province (a part of area in current Osaka) at the Asuka period.

Ancestors of his clan came from Korean peninsula.

His clan had rooted the area he was born.

At his birth place, currently in Sakai city, now there is Ebara-ji temple founded by Gyoki himself. 

Gyoki was respected by people in his times.

He helped poor people by mainly building and maintaining infrastructure on his own.

For example he have made so many ponds, bridges, harbors and temples for people.

Because of that he got popularity and poor people gathered around him.

People worshiped him so much, therefore the imperial court was alarmed by him first.

However when the imperial court had a plan to make daibutsu (large statue of Buddha), they used the power and popularity of Gyoki.

Gyoki and his disciples joined the project of making daibutsu.

His construction skill and workers he could gather were much help for the project

After his death, the daibutsu project accomplished in 752.

People called Gyoki "Gyoki Bosatsu (a Buddhist saint Gyoki)" with respect.

Gyoki have traveled all over Japan and helped people at each places.

So today, in all over Japan we can see the constructions Gyoki made such as ponds, bridges, temples, etc.

As his famous works in Osaka, there are Sayama-ike pond and Kumeda-ike pond.

Sayama-ike pond is huge and you can enjoy walking around it.

Eifuku-ji temple is where the grave site of prince Shotoku is located

Shotoku Taishi (prince Shotoku) was the person who introduced Buddhism to Japan first.
Literally he made the origin of Japanese Buddhism history.
Also as a great politician, he supported the reign of empress Suiko at the Asuka period.

According to a famous anecdote, he could understand talking from ten people at same time.
From this anecdote and other his achievements, he is a symbol of intelligence and gentleness to Japanese people today.

In Taishi town, Osaka, there is Eifuku-ji temple where Shotoku Taishi was buried after his death in 622.
The temple has majestic buildings, a tahoutou (two-storied pagoda) and the grave site of Shotoku Taishi.
In the grave site, Shotoku Taishi, his mother and wife have buried.

As a founder of Japanese Buddhism, Shotoku have been respected so much by people and Buddhist monks in later generations.
In addition, the founders of Japanese Buddhism sects or famous monks such as Kukai, Shinran, Nichiren, Ippen and others have visited the grave of Shotoku.

Once Eifuku-ji was burned down by Oda Nobunaga, the ruler in medieval time.
Later Toyotomi Hideyori, the son of following ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi, rebuilt the temple.
So most of buildings we can see there was build in 17th century.

Around the temple, there are also the grave sites of Ono no Imoko (the diplomat who was sent to China by Shotoku Taichi) or first three of Kawachi Genji clan (ancesters of Kamakura Shogun Minamoto no Yoritomo).
If you have a interest to Shotoku Taishi or the historical people, I recommend you to visit the area.

Hochoshiki, the beautiful demonstration of the traditional kitchen knife style

Hocho, the Japanese kitchen knife has a long history.
Hocho was introduced from China first, and it had developed in its own way in Japan.
With the history, also some traditional styles to treat these knives have founded.

At the Heian period, a kugyou (court noble), Fujiwara Yamakage (824-888) founded the Sijo-ryu　kitchen knife style.
The style is the original of the all traditional knife styles in Japan.
Later, Ikama-ryu style, Yamakage-ryu style and other following styles appeared.
They have know-how to cut seafood and flesh of birds properly.

Sometimes hochonin (master of the hocho styles) have a demonstration of their knife skill for Shinto rituals or other events.
It is called Hochoshiki or Shikibocho.
For the hochoshiki, hochonin wear a traditional Eboshi hat and dress and sit down before a chopping board on floor.
Then they start cutting particular fish (mostly a carp or sea bream) on the chopping board with using a knife and special long chopsticks.
They don't touch the fish with their hands.
They use the chopsticks to move or fix the fish on the board.
Hochonin don't only cut the fish but also show audiences beautiful movement of the knife and chopsticks.
The demonstration also meaning a ritual for Shintoism, so their each movements has meaning.

Even today, we can see the hochoshiki on special occasions.
Once I have been to Souji-ji temple in Ibaraki, Osaka, to see a ritual of hochoshiki.
Souji-ji temple is famous for its hochoshiki ceremony in April, so it was crowded when I went to there.
As a result, I couldn't see any movement by hochonin because of crowds.

We can see the demonstration on YouTube, too.
However if you want to see real ones, visit particular temples or shrines on the early time of the day the ritual held, before there will be crowded.