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I give lessons at the spacious ski slope of Karigahara ski area in Katsuyama City.
Practicing 'Compulsory flying' with the mark on the ground.
Since I've been using drone for taking videos, I became an instructor of drone as well.
Although it is often misunderstood, there is no so-called 'public license' to manipulate drone, and in principle anyone can fly one.
However, for safety reasons, there are restrictions on places where you can freely fly it. Whether it is a hobby or a job, if you want to fly at a certain place, you need to receive 'permission / approval' of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
And I give lessons to get this permission / approval.
The lessons are held on applicant's preferred dates on a one-to-one basis.
People with various professions came for various purposes such as aerial photographing, surveillance, inspection and so on.
It is one of my pleasures to hear the stories of those people.
The “Kaika-tei sou-an", which is the annex of a long-established restaurant located in quaint Hamamachi Street. A famous Japanese architect, Kengo Kuma designed it and
its appearance which is covered latticed wood is very unique and modern-looking.
That is a restaurant to visit on a special day. A friend asked me to celebrate her birthday at the “Kaika-tei sou-an”, so I could visit the other day for the first time in years.
In a quiet and sophisticated atmosphere, I could enjoy the excellent meal and drink, which was such a luxurious moment. (H.S)
The latticed wood is a moderate screen from the outside.
It looks cool and calm especially during the summer season.
Dynamic summerlike flower arrangement at the entrance
Appetizer ‘Sea urchin tofu, water shield, young corn’
Soup ‘Conger pike with green tea and arrowroot, red and white thin noodles’
Grilled dish ‘Tilefish with XO, spinach sauce’
Special dish‘Grilled Japanese beef with white miso souce’
Rice dish ‘Steamed rice topped with eel, miso
soup’
Gion Matsuri (matsuri means festival), the festival of Yasaka Shrine in Kyoto is one of the three major festivals in Japan. The other two are Tenjin (Osaka, Tenmangu Shrine) and Kanda (Tokyo, Kanda Myojin Shrine) festivals.
Gion Festival is held during the entire month of July (July 1st-July 31st) every summer.
It has over 1100 years of history, and many people from all over the world visit the festival every year to see the gorgeous floats.
Main events are Saki-matsuri (early festival) and Ato-matsuri (later festival) in which Yamaboko Junko (the parade of decorated festive floats) is conducted.
Saki Matsuri (early festival)
Saki Matsuri (early festival)
Hashibenkei Yama (The float of the famous tale of the powerful and undefeated monk-warrior Benkei, and the child prince Ushiwakamaru) ByThings to do in KYOTO
The Saki-matsuri (early festival) was conducted on July 17th this year, but festival-goers can still enjoy the Ato-matsuri (later festival) which will be held on July 24th. At the Ato-matsuri, the Hashibenkei float leads a van of 10 floats.
I visited Gion festival for the first time last year (2017) from July 15th-17th. The streets, which are usually very busy during the day, were temporarily closed to vehicle traffic for the festival. There were many food stands and many festival-goers, and the streets got extremely crowded. It reminded me of the countdown at Times Square in New York on New Year’s Eve. That’s how crowded it was.
I saw many events in the town.
There were Maiko with beautiful kimono participating in the festival. Even people living in Kyoto hardly ever see Maiko, so this was a rare experience.
Even after it got dark, I saw many people walking around the town.
On July 16th, as I was walking in the town, I saw some floats in the middle of town, being ready for the main parade for the next day.
It was very hard for anyone to walk through the town because there were long lines of people waiting to get on the floats. Although the floats were gorgeous and amazing, I couldn’t spend a lot of time watching them because I wanted to get out of the crowd and the heat.
There are many things that you can enjoy at Gion festival in Kyoto, such as gorgeous floats, beautiful traditional music and many events throughout the entire month of July. It is worth visiting!
The beer garden where you can drop by easily was opened in a wooden deck square
“Shinsakae Terrace" in Shinsakae Shopping Street in the center of Fukui City this year as well.
It’s attractive that they cooperate neighboring 16 restaurants and can send out for varied multinational foods.
It is an open space that you can feel the pleasant night breeze.
I think it’s good for an after-party, too. (H.S)
The wooden deck has an atmosphere of summer.
Moderate outdoor lighting
It’s closing time.
Indonesian restaurant next to the square
Of course, you can order food of the restaurant.
They are open on Fridays and Saturdays (6 p.m. to 10 p.m.)
until August 11th.
When you order a drink, you need to order one dish at least.
Closed on rainy days
I was not able to focus precisely on ladies' tresses flower with a smartphone.
Of course, Starland Sakadani is famous for sunflower fields at this time, but yesterday I was also attracted to the ladies' tresses blooming all over the grass yard.
Unlike sunflowers, this flower is treated as weeds, but it also tells steadily of the arrival of summer.
It's attractive to watch carefully the adorable color and its geometric spiral shape.
Incidentally, in Japanese, this flower is called "Nejibana" (spiral flower).
T.S
Starland Sakadani in full view
A lot of ladies' tresses were in bloom in the central square. At the bottom of the photo is a sunflower field.
“Keihatsuroku” is a guideline for Sanai’s own life consisting of five clauses below.
It still has been read by people as a teaching which can be adapted even today.
1.Stop being childish and dependent
2.Feel motivated
3.Set a goal
4.Learn from excellent persons
5.Value good friends.
I referred to the book by Yoh Ishikawa for this blog.
Sanai Hashimoto, who was born in Fukui City, went to Osaka when he was 15 years old, studied Western medical science under Koan Ogata at Tekijuku. At the Tekijuku, although it is not known since when, a rumor that Sanai goes somewhere in the middle of the night had spread. Some even said that he might have seduced by somebody. But, in fact, he was examining poor sick people who lived under Tenma Bridge.
Sanai wrote with a strong determination from his soul in the “Keihatsuroku” when he was 15 years old.
He read the “Keihatsuroku” again just before he was executed at the age of 25, he added “No need to correct even a single word” in it. And, 18 years after that, when Takamori Saigo died in war at Shiroyama, he had a letter from Sanai.
[Sanai’s death poem]
I greatly regret because I was unable to prove my lord’s innocence.
When I lie down in prison, I am sad and my heart aches.
When I raise my head, I get lost in thought.
Last night, we had the first frost of the season in Edo.
Who knows my heart would never fade?
Just as Sanai was about to be executed, he sobbed. It was not because he was sad or scared, but he regretted as
he could not see how Fukui and Japan would be and could not help any more.
Such 25 year-old knowledgeable and brightest young person had to make a death poem should not be allowed to happen again.
If Sanai had saved from execution and acted as a young leader, the history of Fukui and Japan might have been different.
I should not forget that an outstanding figure Sanai Hashimoto lived in Fukui and his way of living. (H.S)
Here is our new video about Sanai Hashimoto “Visiting the places associated with Sanai Hashimoto, a brilliant
person at the end of Edo Period”.
This video is a digest version of the 12th Echizen City Summer Festival Fireworks Display which was held on August 15th, 2017. Please enjoy.
＊The ranking result of the Echizen City Summer Festival Fireworks Display is from 2017.
There are several amazing traditional events during summer time in Japan such as summer festivals, fireworks display, traditional dance parties, etc.
Today, I would like to introduce one of the Japanese traditional summer events, fireworks display. Let’s see the top 3 firework displays in Fukui Prefecture for this year (2018).
＊The ranking result is based on the numbers of searches done for each fireworks display in the website,Fireworks display (*only available in Japanese) from May 1st~December 31st, 2017.
1 Wakasa Oi no Super Ogase (Ogase=big torch)
Scheduled date and time: August 4th, 2018, from 19:00~21:00
*From 12:00, there will be performances of characters (characters of animated cartoons on TV, or those of squadron series, etc) held, various local food stands will be scattered throughout in the venue.
Venue: Narumi, Umimpia Oi
Location: Narumi, Oi-cho, Oi-gun, Fukui
*3 minute walk from JR Wakasa Hongo Station
For more information:
JAPAN TRAVEL AND TOURISM ASSOCIATION
3 reasons why you should visit Wakasa Oi no Super Ogase (Ogase=big torch)
1. It is very impressive to see about 70 young men carry, push and turn the burning Ogase (big torch) around by the ocean. The big torch is 20 meters (about 66 feet) tall and 1 ton. As the fire on the big torch begins to fade, they push it into the ocean.
2. In only 30 minutes without any break, they shoot 10,000 fireworks on the sea and around it.
3. The performance of “drum of flame” (Oi blaze) is powerful and entertaining.
2 Toro nagashi (sending off the spirits of the dead on lanterns floated on the waters of sea) and Tsuruga fireworks display
Scheduled date and time: August 16th, 2018, from 19:30~21:30
＊Toro nagashi starts from 18：30～
Venue: The beach by Kehi no Matsubara (Pine Tree Park)
Location: Matsushima-cho, Tsuruga City, Fukui Prefecture
*By bus: Take the Matsubara-sen line Commnunity Bus from JR Tsuruga Station to Kehi no Matsubara Bus Stop (Approximately 12 minutes)
*By bus: Take the Tsuruga Excursion Line Bus from JR Tsuruga Station to Matsubara Coast Bus Stop (Approximately 15 minutes)
For more information: Tsuruga Tourism Association Tsuruga Guide
3 reasons why you should visit Toro nagashi and Tsuruga fireworks display
1. It is sunning to see about 6,000 of a red, blue and yellow lanterns abound in the seashore while a Buddhist monk chanting a Sutra.
2. They shoot 13,000 fireworks on the ocean and around it. The number of fireworks is the largest in the Sea of Japan area.
3. The venue is at the beach by Kehi no Matsubara (chosen as one of the 3 greatest pine tree parks in Japan)
3 Echizen City Summer Festival Fireworks Display
Scheduled date and time: August 15th, 2018, from 19:00~21:00
Venue: Hino River in Murakuni, Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture
*5 minute walk from JR Takefu Station
For more information: TORAMEGA OH! MATSURi
4 reasons why you should visit Echizen City Summer Festival Fireworks Display
1. The location of the fireworks display is great. Since the location to see the fireworks is extended over a large area, so the festival-goers can see it from several places such as the riverside, bridges, streets, mountains, etc.
2. Because there are several places to see the fireworks from, the crowd does not concentrate in one or two places. Overcrowding isn’t a problem, they can enjoy it comfortably.
3. The venue and the places around it are very close to Takefu train stations (there are JR Takefu station and Echizen Railway’s Echizen Takefu station.)
4. The venue is surrounded by mountains so the sounds of the fireworks echoes in Echizen City. The sound of the Echizen fireworks is one of the highlights.
I saw Echizen City Summer Festival Fireworks Display last year, so I would like to see a different one this year. I am planning to go see it in Wakasa or Tsuruga.
If you have a chance to visit Fukui during summer time, how about enjoying the fireworks display as well?
I have been joining Kanaz Forest of Creation pottery class for last several years, and there is a class of July this week. Although it is 'class', they allow me to do as I like because I'm an experienced member. So recently I do pottery without knowing what I can finally make. Like improvisations? No, I guess that is just a child playing with clay.
It costs 22,000 yen per year, and a total of 10 classes are held for 2 consecutive days once a month (closed in August and January). Besides that, members can use the studio for free at any time and so it seems some of the members go there almost every day.
When I came back to Fukui, I also felt about the use fee of the tennis court, it is a pleasing point that adults do not need to spend much money on their playing compared to urban areas.
T.S
Typhoon Prapiroon occurred and it was the 7th typhoon this year. On average, there are about 26 typhoons occur every year, and about 4 of them strike Japan. (The average numbers were calculated from the typhoon record of 2011-2017)
From July to October, it is the typhoon season in Japan. There are 3 major damages caused by typhoon which are wind damage (including storm, salt damage, fire caused by a foehn-like hot and dry summer wind blowing and tornado, etc.), damage from heavy rain (including land slide and flood) and waves damage like tidal waves. We must be very careful with these damages.
The numbers of the typhoon which occurred in the world / landed in Japan from 2011 to 2016.
Year
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
2011
Numbers
of typhoons
27
26
27
23
31
25
21
Typhoons landed in Japan
4
6
4
4
2
2
3
On average, the numbers of the typhoon which occurred in the world from 2011 to 2016 (monthly).
This is the video of Asuwa River which I took last year (2017).
You can see that the river level increased within 20 hours in Asuwa River in Fukui City.
The 21st typhoon of 2017 occurred, and it had struck Fukui from October 21st to 23rd, 2017.
On October 22nd, as I was walking outside (I didn’t want to go outside but I needed to, for the voting and taking care of a few things), I saw every tree in the city was swayed by the strong wind making so much noise, some parts of houses and/or buildings were destroyed and they flew in the air, and the rain was very heavy. It was terrifying to walk in the town that day.
Because of the heavy rain from the 21st typhoon, the Asuwa River which flows through Fukui City was risen. The path by the river which usually has people jogging and biking was covered with water. Luckily, the water did not go above the bridge, so Fukui City was not flooded.
After the typhoon was gone, as I was walking in Fukui City in the morning on Oct. 24th, I saw so many leaves, tinplates of houses and/or buildings and broken flower pots on the street.
Please stay safe when a typhoon strikes where you live.
Our samurais’ fight at the FIFA World Cup
2018 is over.
They advanced to the final 16 for the first
time in two tournaments and
whole nation has been filled with
excitement, but a ruthless ending was to befall them.How frustrated they were! With football, it is said that leading 2-0 poses
the highest risk.
Until they lost a point in the game with Belguim,
they looked like they were in a ‘zone’ (intense concentration).
I think ‘zone’ means being:
*lucid
*sharpen senses
*confident
*fun
*unwearying
However, the ‘zone’ may be disappeard by a brief
moment of inattention like a spell is broken.
Although it’s very difficult for me to
understand their chagrin,
I think that a strong spirit will born when
they get over it.
Thank you, the Japanese national team, coach
Nishino and staff.
I am looking forward to the next World Cup.
(H.S)
Photo is from the official Twitter of the FIFA World
Cup @FIFAWorldCup
The above is a picture I took at Rokko Mountain the other day. It is not so clear but there are four swallows on the branch.
Several young and a little slender swallows are also singing a lot around my house in Fukui City.
Although it is a natural scene and so I have not thought about it in particular, swallows are decreasing and some prefectures designated them as endangered species.
I hope these young birds will grow safely and return here, and that they will remain familiar birds forever.
By the way, the word "young swallow" also means young lovers of older women in Japan.
The origin is that a young painter who became the husband of a female liberation activist Raicho Hiratsuka supposedly expressed himself as such. However, the impression of the word I read in the novel "Beauty in Disarray" is stronger for me, and in that book, the word was said by Raicho.
I read the book long time ago and I hardly remember the story, but I still think that the title "Beauty in Disarray" is a proper saying.
T.S
Satoshi Kako, who was a picture book author from Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture, died at the age of 92 on May 2nd. It is unimaginable from his generous picture books, but
he was a militaristic young person who aimed to be a fighter pilot during the war. However, he had bad eyesight and gave up becoming a pilot. His classmates who aimed to be a pilot became Kamikaze pilots and died. He regretted from the heart about his judgement and hopeed that children wouldn’t have a mistaken
idea. So, he devotedly continued creative activities for children until right before his death. He was truly a person of strong conviction.
Although he was already 92 years old, I believed that he would continue being well yet.
I wanted to commemorate him and to feel the world of his works, so I went to the “Picture book museum of Satoshi Kako” located in Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture.
When I got its parking lot, I found that there were a few cars from other prefectures.
Inside the museum, it was impressive that not only families but also even adults were quietly reading picture books by Satoshi Kako.
You can read his popular series, “Human”, which is known for its precise description
and “Beautiful paintings”, which introduced famous paintings by Gogh and Picasso there.
Also, they sell items related to Kako’s books. On the second floor, the original drawings
by Mr. Kako and I knew that he was a serious and well-organized person. I was moved by the fact that how great he was. (H.S)
The signboard of the museum
At the entrance, a photo of Mr. Kako and the familiar characters of his books welcome you.
There are “Daruma” characters on the wall as well.
There was a message corner for Mr. Kako. (Until end of June)
The appearance of the museum
A sign saying “Don’t follow strangers!” at the parking lot.
The“Daruma” has a strong impact, doesn’t it?
