The only Bhutan Museum in Japan, "Bhutan Museum Fukui"

As I introduced in our previous blog that "Bhutan Museum Fukui" had its 6th anniversary, and they had the meeting commemorating the anniversary of the museum. I saw the speeches given by two guests. It was very interesting to know so much about Bhutan and how museums should be these days. I felt that it is important to keep our traditional things and combine it with the modern world.

Today, I would like to introduce the Bhutan Museum Fukui.

This is the only Bhutan Museum in Japan. All the Bhutanese people who had visited the museum were surprised and grateful to see it.

Open: Tue.-Sun. 11a.m.-5p.m.
Closed: Mon. *Except for Japan's National Holidays on Monday, in which case the museum is open on the holiday and closed the following Tuesday instead.
Admission Fee: 300 yen for adults (19 and over), free for students (18 and under).

Bhutan is near India and it is a small country that is surrounded by mountains. The surface area of Kyushu in Japan is roughly the same as Bhutan. The population of Bhutan is 730,000 and Fukui has 780,000. As you can imagine that Bhutan is not as busy as big cities like Tokyo, London, New York City, etc.

Since there's no ocean in Bhutan, the people who have visited Fukui and saw the ocean were very excited to see it.

It is a small museum, but it has many interesting things from Bhutan. The signboards that explain about the exhibits are placed right next to those exhibits. You don't only enjoy watching them, you can also learn so much about Bhutan. Moreover, some music or films of Bhutan are played there, so you may feel as if you are in Bhutan.

You can sit on the chair of the king. People from Bhutan were very surprised to see this, and they couldn't sit on it. Some of them told me that they can't even see king's eyes because they respect him that much.

There are colorful costumes, and masks with unique facial expressions. People wear them for a special festival.

               
                  The traditional Bhutanese clothing is colorful and beautiful.

You can try wearing the traditional clothing and take photographs. Staff at the museum take them with your cell phones and/or cameras for you. Some people who tried this, they said that these Bhutanese clothing was instagrammable.

          There are many documents, books, DVDs, and photographs of Bhutan.

You can enjoy shopping at the museum as well. There are several products from Bhutan. They are very colorful, and they were made of strong materials. They might be good for not only for daily use, but perfect for gifts as well.

I use a wallet from Bhutan which looks very similar to these. It is very pretty and handy, so it became one of my favorite things in my bag.


At the museum, you can enjoy not only watching the exhibits, buying things from Bhutan and learning about the country, but you can also enjoy the events that they sometime have.

The next event will be held on November 18th, 2018 from 13:30 to 15:00 on the second floor of the building that Bhutan Museum Fukui is located.
The event is a chatting about the happiness of Bhutanese people with Mr. Ugyen Dorji and other visitors. Mr. Ugyen Dorji is from Bhutan and he's studying as a teacher trainee at University of Fukui since around October of 2017.

If you have a chance to visit Fukui, how about stopping by Bhutan Museum Fukui, which is the only Bhutan museum in Japan. I'm sure you can have a good time there.

T.F

This is the video that introduces Bhutan Museum Fukui. Enjoy!

Shape of buckwheat berry

Mt.Somugiyama in the center, from the summit of Mt.Nogo-hakusan

Yesterday, I noted a nearby mountain at the summit of Mt.Nogo-hakusan and found out the mountain was "Mt.Somugiyama (mountain in the shape of buchwheat berry)". I'm sure they compare the prominent shape of that mountain to the triangle shape of buckwheat berry.

I have seen this characteristic triangle berry in cookings recently. I never eat buckwheat noodles because I am allergic to buckwheat.  And I'm afraid that buckwheat flour is used for cookings or sweets, so I check with salespersons or avoid eating if in doubt. If buckwheat berry is served in the triangular shape, it is easy to find but if it is crushed, it is hard to find.

I sometimes feel troubled when there is no description of ingredients or explanation in advance about food. For me, trips to local areas famous for buckwheat are like walking in a minefield.
T.S

The film "Bohemian Rhapsody"

I have been waiting eagerly for the release in Japan and I went to see the film on the opening day.

The film ”Bohemian Rhapsody” depicts Queen, which is a British legendary band, and half the lifetime of Freddie Mercury, the lead vocalist. Actually, I am a big fan of Queen. When I was in junior high school, I heard the cool guitar riff of "Keep Yourself Alive" by Queen for the first time on the radio and I still remember the shock.

It is a well known story that Queen first became popular in Japan. Also, Freddie loved Japan so much and his house had a Japanese garden. He even had read "The Book of Five Rings" by Musashi Miyamoto (a Japanese swordsman). In the film, there was a line "If you get a hit record, you can go on a tour in Japan.", and there also was a paper charm of Kinkakuji Temple (Kyoto, Japan) was pasted by the door in a house set that was supposed to be in Munich.

Mr. Itami, who was Freddie's personal security guard in Japan, even now wears a wristwatch by Cartier that was a gift from Freddie.


The film is a masterpiece the you can experience real Queen's life by the actors' outstanding performances, especially Rami Malek, who played Freddie.
The running time, 2 hours and 15 minutes, passes by like a flash with excitement and tears for Queen fans or rock fans. I didn't want the film to end. I would probably never see such a film again. Next, I am going to see the film at an IMAX theater , so I am very looking forward to it. (H.S)

 

500 Years Old Samurai (Japanese Warrior) House -Oldest Samurai House in Fukui-

I visited "Senko-no-Ie" the oldest samurai (Japanese warrior) house in Takeda district,

Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture.

 

The area where the house is located is surrounded by rich nature.

It was very soothing just to walk around in the area.

 

 

When I visited, it was in the beginning of autumn and the weather was very nice.

Japanese pampas grasses were constantly moving gently in the breeze.

I felt "fuzei" from the scenery. Encyclopedia JAPAN says that the Japanese word

"fuzei is one of the aesthetic feelings which have existed from ancient times in Japan".

 

 

As I walked into the grounds of the house, a big old house caught my eyes.

This is the residence of Tsubokawa's that is about 500 years old.

It is believed that the Tsubokawa family was founded in the 13th century

by Sadasumi Tsubokawa who was a high-ranking samurai.

In 1966, the national government designated the house

as an Important National Cultural Asset.

 

During winter, we have a lot of snow in this area (Takeda district in Fukui Prefecture).

It is unbelievable to see that the house is still here without missing parts or anything,

even the house must have had so much snow in 500 years.

 

 

It is enjoyable to eat by the irori fireplace feeling nice and warm.

 

 

Besides eating by the irori fireplace, there's a cozy cafe right by the Senko-no-Ie.

Noodles, light meals, coffee, tea, etc., are served.

If you have a chance to visit Fukui, how about visiting "Senko-no-ie"?

I'm sure you have such a soothing and beautiful experience there.

 

T.F

 

*You need advance reservation for meals/drinks.

Senko Cafe(website is only available in Japanese)

*Reservation is requested no later than one week before the date for having the meals,

and by the previous day for drinks.

 

This is the video of Charlotte from Australia visited "Senko-no-Ie". Enjoy!

Box works I met at the exhibition "Art Document 2018 Adventure of YOJI KURI"

Left) Home with a dachshund     right) Boxes with a leg

Last Sunday, I went to the exhibition "Art Document 2018 Adventure of YOJI KURI" held at the Kanazu Forest of Creation.

Of course art-animations are synonym of KURI, which I love. Also, there were exhibited a lot of comics and tableaux besides animations, and among them, I was particularly attracted to a series of these white box works .

In fact, I have also always liked the box works by Joseph Cornell for a long time. I think that paintings themselves are microcosms and these box works make me feel more this way.
T.S

A work that 90-year-old KURI drew by dripping enamel paint at the venue of the opening talk

(It is big as the height of adults.)

Art Document 2018 Adventure of YOJI KURI   ( Japanese only )

Aum Shinrikyo and "The place that was promised" written by Haruki Murakami

Shoko Asahara, who was the guru of Aum Shinrikyo and 12 condemned convicts were executed in July this year.

In "Underground" by Haruki Murakami, Murakami interviewed with 62 victims of the 1995 sarin gas attack by the Aum Shinrikyo. In "The place that was promised", he interviewed with members and former ones of Aum Shinrikyo. A former member from Fukui Prefecture was also interviewed.

Although I have read both books, I reread "The place that was promised" recently because I didn't want to forget the incidents caused by Aum Shinrikyo.

A former member said in the book, "Deep believers were chosen as the perpetrators of the sarin attack on the Tokyo subway system. And the guru said, 'You are specially selected.' He appealed to a sense of responsibility of the members. Devotion is the base of Aum Shinrikyo's belief. In the name of devotion, there was a self-aligned process in Aum. I have to remember the fact that the presence of Shoko Asahara functioned in the world even if only temporarily and that caused those incidents."

I think that's quite true. After rereading the book, I was shocked that the situation didn’t seem to have changed very much from 1998, when the book was written.

To prevent another sarin gas attack, we should once again closely examine the problems that Aum Shinrikyo came out, and hand down in the future. (H.S)

The 6th anniversary of the founding of Bhutan Museum Fukui

On November 11th, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,

the lecture meeting commemorating the 6th anniversary of Bhutan Museum Fukui

on the subject of "What can we learn from Bhutan" will be held.

Two guest speakers are invited to talk about the role of the Bhutan Museum Fukui,

and building nation and community in Bhutan.

Let's see what we can learn from their speeches.

 

 

At the museum, there are traditional costumes, musical instruments and

festival items from Bhutan. There are also boards with explanations for each item,

so visitors can learn so much about Bhutan.

 

Visitors can try wearing the traditional Bhutanese costumes

watching the photographs of successive kings, local people and

views of Bhutan on the wall.

It will surely let the visitors feel as if they are in Bhutan.

 

Bhutan Museum Fukui is located a 10 minutes walk from JR Fukui Station.

Come and enjoy learning about Bhutan!

 

 

T.F