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Last weekend, I came through the scenic driving "Hakusan Shirakawa-go White Road", which connects to Shirakawa-go of Gifu Prefecture from Shiramine of Ishikawa Prefecture. It was raining, but this kind of scenery was also good because the autumn leaves were moist and looked calm. Wild monkeys who were on the side of the road looked chubby in preparation for the winter, I couldn't take their photos, though. The service period of this road is until November 10th. Soon It becomes impossible to see that sight until next year.
T.S
I saw the NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC photo exhibition -The Truth of Earth- held at Fukui City Museum.
"National Geographic" is known for documentary photography and wildlife photography.
Mitsuaki Iwago was the only Japanese whose photographs were used on the cover twice.
Mitsuaki Iwago and the two "National Geographic" magazines with his photographs on the cover. (From the official website of National Geographic Japan)
The photograph of lions of the flyer above was also taken by Iwago.
The photo titled "Battle between life and death", which captures a male lion challenged another male one in the group to a fight. After the intense fighting, the challenger's head was crunched down.
The shooting was done under imminently dangerous situation in which Iwago himself might have gotten attacked by the lions.
You can watch the videos for photography and interviews with the photographers for several works among many other photographs. Paul Nicklen's photograph of a leopard seal underwater was very especially impressive. It seemed that the leopard seal had been mistaken him for its company which was not good at hunting and it carried him a penguin that it hunted again and again. Nicklen said "Probably the leopard seal thought of me as a starving company. I am completely happy that I had such experience as a photographer."
Of course, I was overwhelmed with photographs that were taken for photographers' lives. However, I also was deeply touched by wildlife photography.
I feel that I was once again reminded that the earth is not only for the human beings. (H.S)
At the park, there’s a café, restaurant, amusement park, farmer’s market, etc.,so the visitors can relax and enjoy all day.
As I walked into the park, there was an adorable monkey with a cute costume and it was showing the visitors amazing performance. The name of the monkey is “Koume-chan”(a small plum in Japanese), it’s a 'girl' and she has been performing at the park for about one year. Her performance was so good that it seemed she has performed more than one year. She ran up and down the stairs, and she put her hand up as she heard a sign.
If you have a chance to visit Kobe, how about visiting “Michi-no-eki Kobe Fruit & Flower Park Ozo” as well?
Sometimes I see trucks that carry demolition debris of buildings to a disposal site.
Although it is a big one, the amount that can be carried at one time will be just a little from the whole building even for ordinary one. It's difficult to imagine how much such effort would cost when demolishing a high-rise building.
But before that, I am interested in technology to dismantle tall buildings.Hearing the topics of skyscrapers that are the highest in Japan or the highest in the world, I wonder how such buildings will be dismantled.
I'd like to take videos of that kind of demolition sites by a drone.
T.S
I went to the Yuri*-no-sato Park in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. *Yuri means lily in Japanese.
As the name says, the park is well known for lilies. However, the season of lilies is around every June. Now, instead, you can enjoy roses. A couple of big typhoons hit this year, so a lot of the flowers had fallen. Yet some of them were survived and I was able to see different types of roses.
In the spacious park, there are a lawn area with play equipment, a roofed barbecue site,
a water wheel and a fountain. So, you can enjoy in summer, too. There is a coffee shop which you can watch the beautiful sunset from the rooftop. You can take out their menu
and you can eat it anywhere you like in the park like a picnic. Also, there is a farmer's market, so mothers can buy foodstuff for dinner after you played a lot with children.
The park is illuminated and shows images by projection mapping in the evenings all year. So, it seems that the park provides a different atmosphere to the visitors at night. (H.S)
Happiness Festival 2018 was held at Phoenix Plaza in Fukui City, Fukui Prefecture on October 6th, 2018. Five groups participated in the event and the visitors enjoyed their performances. It was held by Japan Rotary club.
First group, “Fukui Kids Chorus Family” sang songs which made everyone smile.
The members of this group are from 0-year-old to 30 years old. The group looked like a big family. The older ones helped younger ones and the younger ones seemed to be comfortable being on the stage with them without crying or anything.
Second group, “Golden Age” is a singing group that its members are older than 60 years old.
This was such a large group that as they started singing, it looked and sounded very powerful.
Third one was “Wada Hachiman-gu Fujin Taiko”. 27 members are in the group and the 10 of them performed that day. They appeared on the stage and stood confidently. All of them had solemn look on their faces. Their powerful performance gave me goose bumps.
Fourth one was Kimuyan who has appeared in some of our videos. Everyone at the concert listened attentively to his amazing guitar works. Every time I listen to Kimuyan playing the guitar, I always forget that he can’t hear anything. That’s how he plays the guitar naturally and skillfully.
The last group was “Dixie Happiness” which is a Dixieland jazz group. The audiences enjoyed their uplifting music and some of them were even moved along with the music.
Music events are enjoyable for everyone from infants to elderly with any culture background, and with or without disabilities. If you have a chance to visit music events, enjoy it with your friends and families, or make new friends at the events.
I watched a topic of cute souvenirs given away for free at the badminton venue of Fukui National Sports Festival on TV news yesterday. They are small dolls of the event's official mascot "Hapiryu" made by Katsuyama citizens using waste shuttlecocks which are generated in large numbers in badminton competitions. Those also are scrap arts, aren't they?
Works using things treated as garbage such as discarded mechanical parts or driftwood, have unique textures. And I'm attracted to the artists' imagination more than anything else.
The photo above shows works of a Japanese paper craft artist Kozue Kato, who lives in Fukui City. They are displayed in the exhibition held at Fukui Kougeisha Craft Gallery until October 15th. Their legs are waste materials of an eyeglasses factory, and the bodies are fallen chestnut burs in the park. Japanese paper is used for the eyeballs and head ornaments.
T.S
This exhibition includes two valuable items which are shown for the first time. One is an original letter of Ryoma Sakamoto with written seal mark. And another is a kimono with family crest of Sanai Hashimoto.
The Ryoma's letter informed Ujihisa Murata, a retainer of Fukui Domain, that Ryoma would go to Kanto area with retainers of Satsuma Domain. The Ryoma's original letter with written seal mark is the only one in the nation, which is very precious.
On the other hand, the kimono of Sanai Hashimoto, whose mother Umeo had kept it as Sanai's belonging. The outer material is black silk and the lining is indigo-dyed. The indigo looks bright even now, and I felt like I witnessed Sanai was really young. *Sanai was executed at the age of 25.
In addition, a hanging scroll of "Keihatsuroku", which Sanai had written himself (from the Museum of Imperial Collections) was displayed. His handwriting was well-organized
and I could tell that he was so smart.
Other than these, the letters and historical materials of Shungaku Matsudaira, Kimimasa Yuri, Shonan Yokoi, Ryoma Sakamoto and Takamori Saigo were displayed, which were worth seeing. (H.S)
The season for autumn leaves is finally starting, and it is one of the highlights of autumn in Japan. Especially in Kyoto, many visitors enjoy watching Japanese scenery which has old temples, shrines or traditional Japanese gardens, and the beautiful autumn leaves together.
Today, I would like to introduce some of the amazing spots for enjoying autumn leaves in Kyoto.
This is the video of 4K KAWATE “2017 Autumn Leaves in Kyoto TOFUKUJI [4K]”. Tofukuji Temple has such stunning autumn leaves that it has been listed third in a popularity ranking of autumn leaves spot in Kyoto. Especially, Tsutenkyo-bridge is as known as the best spot to view the autumn leaves there.
As you can see in the video that there are many visitors at Tofukuji Temple, so make sure to have enough time and patience to enjoy it.
1.Kodaiji Temple
Peak: The middle of October ~the beginning of December
*Kodaiji Temple is the most popular spot for viewing the autumn leaves in Kyoto and visitors can enjoy the illuminated garden, the area around it and autumn leaves together.
2.Tofukuji Temple
Peak: The middle of November ~ the beginning of December
*It is said that the view of autumn leaves from Tsutenkyo-bridge is the best one at Tofukuji Temple.
3.Kitano Tenmangu Shrine
Peak: The middle of November~the beginning of December
*Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is covered by about 350 of the blazing yellow and red colors of maple leaves during the season of the autumn leaves. At night, visitors can enjoy the illuminated colorful maple leaves and bamboo forest.
4.Eikando Temple
Peak: The middle of November~the beginning of December
*Eikando is called “Eikando of Momiji” in an affectionate way. The reflection of orange and yellow autumn leaves, and the hall of Eikando on the pond are amazing.
5.Rurikoin Temple
Peak: October 1st~December 10th
*It is stunning to see the garden of Rurikoin Temple, covered with the autumn leaves which looks like a painting.
In Kyoto, visitors can enjoy viewing autumn leaves, shrine or temples at the same time.
I’m sure that it lets the visitors feel Japan and the nature.
What does the photo above look like? I thoght it was like the sea covered with drift ice.
Actually they are the clouds floating in the sky. There are various names for clouds depending on their shape. So what should I call this one?
The cloud appeared last Tuesday when the weather was good. It looked like a huge column standing.
The clouds themselves are just water drops, so after all the shape of the clouds seems to be the shape of the air reflecting the physical condition of its humidity, density and temperature.
It is fascinating that the air draws various shapes like this. I am not tired of seeing clouds in the sky, like the flame of bonfires.
I sometimes go to the Il bosco as it is not so far from my house.
The other day, I went there for lunch with friends.
The following are some of dishes that we had that day.
Appetizer sampler
Hot and fresh focaccia is put in a wooden box and served.
Focaccia can be taken out.
Pizza with prosciutto and arugula grown in Awara City
Homemade tagliatelle with bacon and spinach in cream sauce
Sauteed Spanish chestnut pork with Marsala sauce
Inside the restaurant is filled with customers.
The appearance of Il bosco
The signboard
Each dish is authentic Italian cuisine and so good. Although Il bosco is not such a big restaurant, it has many staff, so they serve customers well. They provide a special lunch menu on weekdays. You should make a reservation
on weekends. (H.S)
Mikuni is one of nice towns to visit in Fukui Prefecture. Today, I would like to introduce some areas in Mikuni. Soon after turning an arterial road along the seaport in Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture, there is a small street which has townhouses and merchant houses.
It used to be a busy area around here from Edo period (1603-1868) to the beginning (1868~1889) of Meiji period (1868-1912) for the trade of Kitamae-bune cargo ships. It is fascinating to walk in the historical townscape. It makes visitors feel as if they had stepped back in time.
The former Kishina house
The former Kishina house was built about 190 years ago (late in the Edo period), which was a machiya house. Machiya house is a type of residence and/or store in the central part of a city.
The Kishina family which used to run a lumber business and the family had lived in this house for generations. The house has been designated as a cultural asset of Sakai City, Fukui Prefecture. The house has been preserved to pass down the culture and history.
There is also an amazing gelateria, stylish cafes, variety stores, restaurants where you can have fresh fish and shellfish, etc. I can recommend you to see the ocean and relax at the beach, walk around the small street which has townhouses and merchant houses, learn some history of the area, and enjoy having Japanese foods, gelato and/or coffee.
