Visiting Echizen Great Buddha of Seidai-ji Temple -Bhutanese Family Visiting Fukui-

In our previous blog, I mentioned that I visited Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family. Today, I would like to introduce Echizen Great Buddha of Seidai-ji Temple which I went with them after visiting the dinosaur museum.

 

Echizen Great Buddha is located in Seidai-ji Temple in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture. It is 17 meter tall in a sitting position and it is 2 meter taller than the Great Buddha of Nara. Echizen Great Buddha is so large that I get scared by its powerful presence.

 

 

Around the large and tall buddha, there are 4 wakiji-butsu (attendant statues of images of Buddha) and there are 1281 buddha statues. And the recorded sutra keeps playing over and over in a loop in the main hall, it creates solemn atmosphere. I felt weak at the knees there.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family, even his son who is only 2 years old prayed silently. I was impressed by his son’s respectful attitude.

 

 

Outside of the main hall, there is a five-story pagoda with the height of 75 meters, a stone fence with gorgeous dragons drawn on it, and a beautiful Japanese garden.

 

Since the temple was founded in 1987, it doesn’t have that long history as much as many other temples in Japan. Even with a short history, the large Great Buddha and many buddha statues make me feel calm and peaceful.

 

If you have a chance, how about visiting Seidai-ji Temple in Katsuyama City, Fukui Prefecture to see Echizen Great Buddha?

 

 

T.F

Talk show about Japanese solitary confidential agent Kei Wakaizumi

The other day, I went to listen to a talk show about a scholar in international politics, Kei Wakaizumi(1930 – 1996) , who was born in Fukui Prefecture.
Mr. Ryuichi Teshima, who is a foreign diplomacy journalist and knew Wakaizumi, gave a talk.

                                       Mr. Teshima during the talk

At the opening of the show, the host gave a talk that 21 years passed after the death of Wakaizumi and the numbers of people who know his achievement have declined. And four years later, it will mark the 50th anniversary of Okinawa’s reversion to Japan, so he wanted to spread Wakaizumi’s thoughts much more widely for the occasion. He said that Wakaizumi was just like Kissinger in Japan but Mr. Teshima objected to only about it because the two men’s personality was very different.

As I wrote about Wakaizumi on our blog before, Japanese confidential agent for Okinawa’s reversion, he looked quiet, calm and humble despite he was under immeasurable pressure. Also, there is an exhibit like this related to Wakaizumi in Fukui International Activities Plaza.

Mr. Teshima said that Wakaizumi is not history and he still shows a controversy which we should face, and Okinawa’s reversion to Japan would be delayed so badly without Wakaizumi. Also, his thought has been handed down through Mr.　Shotaro　Yachi, who is an early disciple of Wakaizumi and the first head of Japan’s National Security Council.

Coincidentally, a North-South summit was held for the first time in 11 years. If Wakaizumi were alive, what would he think about the situation? What will happen to the U.S. military bases in Okinawa, which Wakaizumi was deeply distressed? I want to see the transition period of this rare international situation carefully. (H.S)

 [Profile of Mr. Ryuichi Teshima]
Former NHK political correspondent. During the Gulf War, he reported from the front line. When 9.11 occurred, he had a live at the site for 11 days night and day. He retired from NHK in 2005 and the following year, he published Japan's first intelligence novel which was a big hit. Now, he teaches younger people about foreign diplomacy and security at university and a foreign diplomacy research institution. 68 years old.

Visting the third best dinosaur museum in the world! -Bhutanese Family Visiting Fukui-

I visited FPDM (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum) and Seidaiji Temple to see Echizen Daibutsu (the great Buddha of Echizen) with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji is studying as a teacher trainee from Bhutan at University of Fukui since around October of 2017. And at the end of March of 2018, his family arrived in Japan as well.

 

First, we went to FPDM (Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum). There are not many museums that specializes in dinosaurs in the world and this museum is one of them. And this is the third best dinosaur museum in the world. 80% of the dinosaur fossils found in Japan are from Fukui Prefecture.

 

There are 44 complete dinosaur skeletons exhibited in the museum and it would you feel as if you are enjoying a dinosaur dictionary in real life. Explanations in Japanese and English are available for the exhibitions, so it can be a good educative experience for you as well.

 

 

When you enter the museum, you go down to the basement by taking a 35 meters long escalator.

There are only a few escalators in Bhutan, so Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family were very excited to take that long escalator.

 

 

After reaching the basement, we went through “Dino Street”. There were fossils exhibited beautifully on both side of the wall.

 

 

Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his son were amazed by “Dinosaur World” which is a huge oval-shaped space without pillars (84 meters long, 55 meters wide and 35.7 meters height).

 

 

In “Dinosaur World”, there are 44 complete dinosaur skeletons. You can also enjoy “Biology of Dinosaurs”, “Dino Theater” with 200-inch screen, “Forests during the dinosaur age” with moving dinosaurs, and “Dinosaurs of Japan and Asia”. They all look extremely powerful. How the museums was built with a great sound system, somehow you can hear the echo of your voice and dinosaur howling. You would feel as if you are in the Jurassic period.

 

 

Mr.Ugyen’s son was getting a bit scared but more than that, he was having fun.

 

 

There are also rocks, minerals and gemstones exhibited. You can see how they conduct researches strata.

 

 

Everyone seemed to have fun. Even after we went out of the museum, Mr. Ugyen Dorji’s son was still excited. He is usually quiet and shy but he was laughing and running alot.

 

How about visiting FDPM ((Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum) when you have a chance?

 

Next, we headed to Seidaiji Temple to see Echizen Daibutsu (the Great Buddha of Echizen) which is 10 minutes away from the museum by a car. Stay tuned for more blogs about Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family’s experiences in Japan.

 

T.F

 

 

Official Website of Bhutan Museum Fukui

Official Website of Fukui Prefectural Dinosaur Museum

Recommendation of a trip to a remote island | Miyako Island #2

Miyako Island is connected with surrounding Ikema Island, Irabu Island, Shimoji Island and Kurima Island by bridges. Irabu-ohashi Bridge was opened three years ago. 
It boasts its total length of 3,540 meters and it is the longest bridge in Japan as a toll-free one. This time, I crossed the Irabu-ohashi Bridge and Kurima-ohashi Bridge.

Tori-ike Pond

Tori-ike Pond are actually two ponds located in Shimoji Island next to Irabu Island. The two ponds are connected underground, and furthermore connected to the sea. In fact, I have heard that a diver sometimes emerges from the water.
I can see its deepness as the water color is dark. Looking at the pond, I feel a little fear, and it’s a really mysterious pond. By the way, the red antennas in the distance of the photo shows there is an airport there. It is Shimoji Island Airport which is used exclusively for touch-and-go training of civilian pilots. Recently, it seems the training has rarely done but on that day, I could see a plane circling many times. I realized that pilot’s training was hard work. As it turned out afterwards, it was a Vanilla Air’s plane.  Indeed, the Shimoji Island Airport plans to have flights of low-cost carriers. Come to think of it, I saw some hotels under construction. Many cruise ships already made a stop at Miyako Island, but frankly I don’t want the island to be crowded with tourists.

　　　　　　 

　　　　　　 Hibiscuses in a farm shop “Utopia Farm Miyakojima”

       　　　　Hibiscus has more than 250 species.

       　　　　Many kinds of hibiscuses were in bloom beautifully in the farm. 

　　　　　

　　　　　　 　　　Bougainvaillea in the farm was spectacular!

       　　　　　　　When you visit Miyako Island, please stop by the farm.

       　　　　　　　And fruit desserts at the parlor in the farm are delicious.

　

　　　　　　　　　Live show at an izakaya

       　　　　　　  The yellow kimono made in Miyako Island is brilliant. 

　　
　　　　　

Finally, please enjoy spectacular view of Miyako Island by drone. (H.S)　

Landscapes of the alleys

When walking in the downtown I sometimes get attracted by the ordinary landscapes of the alleys.

There are various interesting things such as the unexpectedly exposed walls where the next house was demolished or the arrangement of outdoor units of the air conditioners mounted randomly on the back of the building.

As for this picture where you can see the hotel's emergency staircase,
I like the accent color of the central staircase that fits perfectly with a part of the wall seen on the left, and also the unity of the total color in the scenery.
T.S

Recommendation of a trip to a remote island | Miyako Island #1

Last weekend, I went to the Miyako Island for the first time in a year. It was my fourth visit to the island. So, it was something of a homecoming, I fit into the atmosphere of the island and became familiar with the town.

Of course, I like other islands of Okinawa, but I think that the Miyako Island Sea is the most beautiful. And, if you stay in a hotel in the city center, many izakayas with live Okinawan music are accessible by foot, which is very convenient.

If you want to get away from your busy daily life and relax in an island somewhere, how about going to Miyako Island? （H.S)

Yonaha Maehama beach is well known as the most beautiful beach in the orient. All Japan Triathlon Miyakojima is going to be held on April 22nd and it starts from the beach. In the hotel lobby I stayed, big cartons that look like with bikes inside of the participants had started to arrive.

　　　　　　 When I come to Okinawan islands, Orion beer first anyway!

                                Peanut tofu, which I like very much.

                       
                                      Water basin with hibiscus
                                      Only southern islands could this.



Miyako Island’s folk song live by Miwa Yonashiro at an izakaya in Miyako Island. (taken on April 13th)

 

First Hanami in Japan! -Bhutanese Family-

I went to Hanami with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and his family. Hanami is a Japanese flower viewing tradition. In Japan, during the cherry blossom season, we enjoy and appreciating the blooming of cherry blossoms. We celebrate it by having picnic parties under the cherry blossom trees.

Mr. Ugyen Dorji is from Bhutan and he’s studying as a teacher trainee at University of Fukui since around October of 2017.

His family arrived in Japan at the end of March. It had been 6 months since the last time they saw each other. They seemed very happy to see each other. He said that he was worried that his son would not remember him at all. But his son smiled at Mr. Ugyen Dorji as soon as his son saw him. Mr. Ugyen Dorji was very happy about it.

It was interesting for them to see the moving dinosaurs in front of Fukui Station.

They said that it was their first time seeing cherry blossoms in real life and they were amazed by them. It was such a beautiful day so we all felt nice walking under the cherry blossoms.

It was also their first time to have Hanami (a Japanese flower viewing tradition), they seemed to enjoy it. They brought some homemade Bhutanese food. I tried it and it was spicy and I liked it very much. It was such a great and interesting experience for me to have Hanami eating Bhutanese food, hearing Dzongkha (Bhutanese) and communicating people from outside of Japan.


T.F