Tucked in a quiet corner of Tokyo's Ota Ward is a little treasure of Nihonga art. The Ryushi Memorial Museum is dedicated to the life and work of Nihonga artist Kawabata Ryushi (1885-1966). Ryushi (Japanese artists are usually known by their given names) began working the Nihonga style after encountering it at a Boston art … Continue reading Ryushi Memorial Museum: little museum with big art
These days, Gunma's Tomioka is best known as the site of the World Heritage-listed silk reeling factory, Japan's first modern production facility. But it has more ancient roots and more modern history as well. Some of this can be found on a hilltop about a 10 minute walk from Joshu-Ichinomiya Station. Nukisaki Shrine: Nearly fifteen … Continue reading Ichinomiya: an historic hilltop in Tomioka
I recently enjoyed a lesson in yabusame, Japan's traditional horseback archery. What an interesting sport! What fun! Read about it in this article in All About Japan.
Not long ago when speaking to a friend in Korea I mentioned that I was going to be visiting Ibaraki Prefecture for a few days. "Oh," she exclaimed. "You'll eat well. Ibaraki is famous for good food." Indeed, I soon discovered that one eats very well in Ibaraki. Famous Fish: Ayu and Anko My first … Continue reading Eating well in Ibaraki
Mizusawa-dera is nestled in the foothills above the Gunma town of Shibukawa. The temple is known for its statue of Kannon, the Buddhist goddess of mercy. This statue has eleven heads and a thousand arms, so that she can hear all prayers and reach out to help those who need it. Although many of the … Continue reading Mizusawa-dera and the Kannon who rescued a princess
Manazuru is a small seaside community in Kanagawa Prefecture. Many travelers from Tokyo bound for Atami or the Izu Peninsula pass along its picturesque coastline, but neglect to stop. Until recently, I was guilty of the same neglect. But now I have had the chance to learn a bit more about the place. Like many … Continue reading Mining and ministrations in Manazuru
This article describes a couple of locations in and around Tokyo associated with Admiral Togo Heihachiro, a major figure of the Meiji Period and beyond. (Archived article – Originally published by Japan Today.)
Visit any Japanese Buddhist temple, or any Japanese home that maintains a Buddhist altar and you are bound to encounter Japanese senko, sticks of incense lit and stood in the ash accumulated in the bottom of an incense burner. Incense is thought to purify the air and sharpen or attune the mind. Some people even … Continue reading Senko Incense Produced Sustainably
Tokyo has been expanding itself into shallow parts of Tokyo Bay through landfill and land reclamation for four centuries. It is thanks to such expansion that Tokyo's southeastern-most ward, Ota-ku, can claim the largest area of any of Tokyo's 23 wards. One of those Ota-ku landfill projects was begun in the 1940s and by 1960 … Continue reading The Parks of Peace Island: Adventure, Relaxation and maybe a bit of History
My favorite way to observe the new year in Japan is by a midnight visit to a shrine. But this year below freezing temperatures convinced me to stay at home at midnight and make my shrine visits in daylight--temperatures above freezing with a bit of a cold breeze. Consequently I decided to do a seven … Continue reading Starting 2022 with the seven lucky gods of Tokai
In keeping with annual tradition, my December article for Japan Today provides information on how to do a seven lucky gods walk during the first two weeks of the year to build up good luck. This walk, which only takes a couple of hours at most, is in Shitaya, an older working class neighborhood of … Continue reading Seeking seven lucky gods in Shitaya
According to one Japanese legend, long, long ago one of Japan's many gods decided to descend to earth and asked both Mt. Fuji and Mt. Tsukuba to play host the visit. Mt. Fuji, so beautifully formed, arrogantly declined, while Mt. Tsukuba offered hospitality. As a result, to this day Mt. Fuji's flanks are barren and … Continue reading Climbing Mt. Tsukuba for Christmas
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