“Hacksaw Ridge” directed by Mel Gibson

I saw “Hacksaw Ridge” directed by Mel Gibson.

The title “Hacksaw Ridge” means Maeda escarpment in Urasoe City, Okinawa Prefecture, where was the most fierce battlefield during World War II. Even the US Army described it as “Gathered all Hell”.

The movie is about Desmond Doss, a combat medic.

It depicts battle scenes realistically and its another major theme is belief.

There is a scene that “Murder is the most serious sin” from the Bible.

I felt something was wrong about saying “It’s the most serious sin, so you must not kill people” (Maybe it was because of the Japanese subtitles).

Doss said “I also fight for my country. But I want to save people, not kill.” and he persisted his belief. Meanwhile, he said that the attack on Pearl Harbor made him decide to volunteer for the army. And it reminded me how American people were shocked by the attack. 

In the film, needless to say, the war was absolutely depicted through the eyes of the US Army. It didn’t touch on frightened Okinawan people at constant naval gunfire and fire radiation by the US Army at all. According to the US Army, the Japanese soldiers who are not scared of dying were very eerie in the film. And, from the Westerners point of view, probably “Harakiri” is a must, so a Japanese soldier was taken in close up only in the scene of killing himself.    

According to the History of Urasoe City, about 45 percent out of its 9,217 population died in then Urasoe Village. 549 people were killed in Maeda district alone. With the film release, Urasoe City had associated events. And, a guide who shows around Urasoe Castle ruins said that she has guided over 100 people including US personnels in a day.

Near the end of the film, the US troops forced to retreat many times raised morale again and rushed to Maeda escarpment. When I saw the scene, I felt bitter resentment because I couldn’t understand why they still charge, what lay ahead. Is this justice,  bringing the death of many people?

Desmond Doss passed away in 2006 aged 87. After the war, he visited Okinawa twice and had given a media interview. In Okinawa, a fund-raising activity has started to build Doss’s monument because he tended the wound of Japanese soldiers too. When it is built finally, it will be a new monument symbolizing peace in Okinawa, where the phrase “Life itself is a treasure.” still keeps living. (H.S)

　　　　　　　　　From “Hacksaw Ridge” Japanese official website

　　　　　　　　Photo from a battle site tour of Maeda escarpment 

　　　　　　　　     (From the official website of Urasoe City) 

On Google Maps, “Desmond Doss Point” is marked on the Maeda escarpment.

Barbecue in the rainy season

Now is the time when I can’t wait for the rainy season to be over.
By the way, I enjoyed a barbecue with friends the other day.

Usually, people enjoy barbecues in midsummer though, it also seems that the rainy season is good for barbecue because the weather is mostly cloudy, so it’s not too hot.

We had it on the left bank of Itagaki-bashi Bridge over Asuwa River in Fukui City. There is no washing place, no toilet facility but there is a public toilet facility at the north end of the Itagaki-bashi Bridge.

We didn’t use the city’s equipment such as the tables or the hearths and did
the barbecue under the Itagaki-bashi Bridge. Because it was the pathway of winds and comfortable, we won’t be wet by a sudden rain and are able to avoid the sun
if it’s sunny.

We shared food and desserts each one brought and could not stop talking with beer and wine. (H.S)

　　　　　　　　　　Making preparations on the table. 

                        It’s beef on the grill’s front and mutton which are a friend’s                                   souvenirs from Hokkaido on the backside.  

                     

The Dutch oven's heat is strong. 

                                   Shallow water of Asuwa River 

                                He had several drinks and dozes off. 

                              They are busy talking with each other.  

24 Hours Ice Shop in Fukui, Japan

Naver matome / photographs of beautiful ice (https://matome.naver.jp/odai/2134095238237307201)

 

　

It has been very hot in Japan recently. Eating snow cone and/or touching ice would be nice in this kind of hot weather.

There are several ice shops in the downtown area of Fukui City. There is even 24 hours open one as well. This is a self-serve ice shop. This is an ice shop has no salesclerk.

 

As you walk in, you will see a sign which says that “block ice for 300 yen” on a large refrigerator. Since it’s large ice, so this type of ice can be used for making snow cones for business purpose.

They sell crushed ice as well. This can be used for drinks as well.

To keep foods and/or drinks cold, “Kuzu Kohri” (Kuzu is waste and Kohri is ice in Japanese. Kuzu Kohri is the leftover ice which was made after cutting the ice for block ice and crushed ice.)

The sign says “Mr. Crushed” and “Unique Ice!”. I wonder what they look like.

And in the back of the ice shop, there is a screen for security cameras.

To pay, put the money into an envelope with your name on it and put it into the box in the photograph above. This is amazing that the owner of this store must be confident that people pay.

 

I think this is the best spot for this kind of shop because it is in the middle of a downtown area and people need ice all the time.

 

This shop was introduced in a TV program in NHK (famous Japanese TV company)

NHK documentary, 72 hours “self-serve ice store in Summer of Fukui”. https://www.nhk.or.jp/docudocu/program/210/1199146/index.html *Only available in Japanese

 

T.F

 

If you have a chance, how about stopping by the ice store “Sakura Kohri”?

"Sakura Kohri"

Shishido Building, 1-17-2 Junka,

Fukui-shi, Fukui-ken

Strolling along “Naramachi” street

I visit Nara for a music festival for recent years as I wrote about in my previous blog, and I go to one place each year between the events. I have visited Kofukuji Temple, Todaiji Temple and Kasuga Taisha Shrine and, this year I strolled “Naramachi” street, not a shrine or a temple.

 “Naramachi” is located on the south side of Nara Park and 15 minutes walk from Kintetsu Nara Station. The area used to be in the precincts of Gangoji Temple Gokurakubo and the extra section of the ancient capital in Nara called Heijokyo.

There are temples that were founded in Nara period, tradesmen’s houses since the late Edo period and modern new shops in Naramachi, so you can enjoy both old and new in the quiet and the somehow familiar area where has a lot of narrow alleys. Also, in June, cat-lover shopkeepers in Naramachi appeal their affections for cats display their products which have the motif of cats.

So, if you are a cat lover, why don’t you come to Naramachi in June? (H.S)

   The five-story pagoda of Kofukuji Temple can be seen from Sarusawa Pond. 

                          Information board with its back to the bloomy oleanders.

The main shop of Yu Nakagawa(Nakagawa Masashichi Shoten), which I extends across the country such as at GINZA SIX and famous department stores. 

There are deers on either side of the shop logo.  

                There are beautiful tradesmen’s houses with a lattice door like this. 

I had “Black curry with black rice and locally grown vegetables” for lunch in Nara 

at a cafe where I perchance saw, it was pretty good and not that spicy. 

Black rice is a kind of ancient rice. The cafe grows black rice by themselves.

Hydrangea

As we introduced in our blog in May that Asuwa river is listed among “Japan’s Top 100 Cherry Blossom Spots”. The area is filled with visitors during the cherry blossom season every year. In spring, you can enjoy seeing the cherry blossom trees and you can enjoy seeing a lot of beautiful hydrangeas in rainy season which is from the mid May to the beginning of July.

The other day, I was walking on the side walk of the Asuwa river and I saw many beautiful hydrangeas. Most of the colors of the flowers were purple. The purple of the flowers stood out in the color of the sky and trees which kept my eye for a while.

 

Hydrangea lets us know that rainy season in Japan has arrived and it also makes the atmosphere in our city. If you have a chance to visit Asuwa river in Fukui City in Japan, how about enjoy taking a walk on the sidewalks of the river?

 

In Fukui City, there is another spot for hydrangeas which is in Mt. Asuwa and it's called "Ajisai (hydrangea) Road". I’m sure that you will get to relax and enjoy seeing the hydrangeas there as well.

 

Guide to Outings Around Fukui: No.1 Mt. Asuwa area Beautiful Natrure Walk: http://www.fukuicity-navi.com/090_others/walk_english/pdf/pdf_outings_asuwa.pdf

 

T.F

Musikfest NARA 2017

The Musicfest NARA is a music festival which has been held in Nara Prefecture in every June since 2012. This year, it was held from June 10th to 25th, and now it has become a seasonal tradition of June in Nara.

During the festival, there are always some concerts of different genres of music from inside and outside Japan, mainly classical music every day. They are held at shrines and temples where include world heritages which Nara is proud of, art museums and halls.

Among those concerts, I have come to Nara with the aim of seeing “Songs and entertainment of Okinawa” concerts, which have been held on the third weekend since 2014. It is an open-air free concert, and held in Kasugano-enchi, where is located in the back of Nara Park and has view of Mt. Wakakusa. Although it’s free, great musicians come on the stage every year. They are all irresistible musicians for Okinawan music fans.

And this year, Kazufumi Miyazawa, who was a member of former THE BOOM, appeared and gave an amazing performance such as “Shimauta” and “Shinkanuchaa”. In nature surrounded by greenery, it was really great and I trembled all over with the performance. Also, it brought the audiences together. I admire Nara Prefecture that they hold such substantial free concerts every year. (H.S)

Male duo D-51. They sing their greatest hit “NO MORE CRY” After all, it’s a good song! （The photo is from Musikfest NARA 2017 official website)

　　　　　　Happy people who are dancing in a dance area at the back．
 　　　　　（The photo is from Musikfest NARA 2017 official website)

The second day was “Sanshin Day” and some people brought their own sanshin and they played together.
 （The photo is from Musikfest NARA 2017 official website)

People are dancing Kachaashii(Okinawan dance)in their own way, in front of the stage. (The photo is from Musikfest NARA 2017 official website)

Relaxed fawn with its mother deer. It’s nice to see mother and child any time.

At the same time, Oktoberfest originated from Germany is held in the Nara Park. It seems that performances on the stage there were also warmed up.

Local line schedule, Kadohara station in Fukui, near Mt.Arashima

Kadohara station

On the other Thursday, I took a short ride of Etsumi-hokusen, a local train between Fukui and Ono, from Kadohara to Shimo-Yuino to go back to the place I parked my car, after hiking in Mt.Arashima.

Because there is one of entrances of Mt.Arashima 1,523m (4,997ft) near here, many hikers use this station to approach that mountain.

It is not so high but being an isolated peek with outstanding view, and because a famous writer Kyuya Fukada chose it as one of "One Hundred Mountains in Japan" back in the 1960s, the mountain is very popular among the hikers ever in Japan.

Kadohara station and a train operated without a conductor

There are few trains on the schedule here as you see above, and it's not so convenient for us especially on weekdays. However, I saw quite a number of people in the mountain, who came from Hokkaido, Tokyo and the other places far away. That's "One Hundred Mountains in Japan".

T.S