Visiting Fukui City Osagoe Minkaen Garden

The other day that was sunny spells during the rainy season, I strolled in the Fukui City Osagoe Minkaen Garden.　

In the garden, five old folk houses and a wooden storehouse in the Edo period were relocated from some areas in Fukui Prefecture.　

The old folk houses, including the Jochi Residence located previously in Ono City, which is the biggest one in Fukui Prefecture, from Awara City, Echizen City, Fukui City and Wakasa Town, are lined and you can enter each house freely. 

As I entered an old folk house, an administrative man was eating lunch by the fireside that was actually put wood on the fire. When I saw the scene, I caught a glimpse of a traditional life. 

Since the garden is not that far from Fukui Station, it is a good place to take guests from other prefectures with Yokokan Garden and Mt. Asuwa. It is located on a higher ground, so you have a good view and can spend a quiet time that can make you forget a busy daily life.    

The old folk houses are used for experience learning for elementary and junior high school students. Also, anyone can apply to use for events. Actually, sometimes events and concerts are held in the garden. (H.S) 

　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　Irori fireplace and a spacious wooden floor 

　　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　

　　　　　　　　　　　　　Open zashiki (Japanese-style room)

　

 　　　　　　　You can see Fukui City's urban area from the veranda.

         

                            There is Mt. Osagoe behind the bamboo forest.

              The pond in the garden and hydrangeas that are "Flower of Fukui City"
                   

       

                       Fukui City's urban area from the walking path in the garden

Cardboard art

I found the corner shown in the photo above in Yuko Hirata's exhibition space at Fukui Kougeisha Craft Gallery. The works are that Haru, who is an acquaintance of Hirata, made for his children beside his work for a cardboard company.

Nowadays a lot of artists including its pioneer Katsuhiko Hibino, make art works with cardboard. But I didn't know that there also was a cardboard artist here in Fukui. Though cardboard is a common packing material, its texture has an intriguing attraction.
T.S

Even the stencil mark was depicted on the badminton racket. It's amazing that he focused on small details as well.

Speaking of cardboard, two years ago, I went to Onagawa Town, Miyagi Prefecture to see this "Damborgini" made by some staff members of Konno Packing Co., Ltd.

The 160th Naoki Award-winning novel "Hero's Island" written by Junjo Shindo

The novel's editor says that the manuscript is the best he has ever worked on and recommends it risking his career as an editor. Shindo himself also says that he is so proud of the novel. 

The novel depicts three young people grow in Okinawa after the war with actual persons and incidents. When Kamejiro Senaga appeared in the novel, I cheered, but as for 

the scene of US Air Force F-100 crashed into Miyamori Elementary School, I fet twinges of 

horror with the cruelty and outrageousness. 

Throughout the novel, it was like a hot, deep, strong adventure mystery movie. As a matter of fact, Shindo once intended to become a movie director, so that makes sense. I have read several pages every day. It was so much fun to read it and I wanted to read furthermore but even felt it was too nice to finish, and really overwhelming. 

He put Okinawan readings on many words in the novel. I admire that he took the time and trouble to do it despite not being an Okinawan. And, his supplemental remarks were funny and they made me giggle. I like his sense of humor. 

By the way, upcoming June 23^rd is the memorial day of Okinawa Prefecture commemorating all who died in the Battle of Okinawa. The day is a public holiday in Okinawa Prefecture. On this occasion, I would like to think deeply about the current situation in Okinawa and the victims' souls. (H.S) 

                    The author's autograph message, and it also says "Please read."  

Napoleonite produced in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture

Size: width 85 cm, depth 40 cm, height 55 cm
The big Napoleonite was exhibited in the lobby of Ono City Hall. It was found in Managawa River in 1965, and the discoverer donated it to the city last year. Currently, it is on display at Ono City History Museum.

At any rate, the patterns look unique. I looked at the stone for the first time when I visited the city hall in March this year (2019) and thought it was a fossil of an ancient organism like Fusulina or Trilobite. But in fact, the patterns with circles are the mineral crystals grew in magma. Such a big Napoleonite seems quite unusual.

The stone's official name is spherical diorite and it is designated as a natural monument of Ono City as "Napoleon Stone". The name comes from the fact that Corsica, in which Napoleon was born, is a good producer of the stones. And, Shimowakago district  (upstream site of the Managawa River) in Ono City is one of the only four production areas of the stones in Japan.
T.S

I went to Kohfukuji Temple to see the statue of Ashura (a national treasure)

On the second day in Nara, I visited Kohfukuji Temple (a World Heritage Site).

I have passed through its precincts before, but it was the first time that I took time to pray and to see there.

Of course, I wanted to see the Central Golden Hall, which was rebuilt for the first time in 300 years and opened last autumn. Nevertheless, now that I am in the Kohfukuji Temple, I cannot leave until I see the statue of Ashura. 

The statue of Ashura in the Kohfukuji Temple is very famous for the realistic sad look on its face. "The Exhibition of the National Treasure Ashura" held in Tokyo and Fukuoka in 2009 attracted about 1.95 million people, and an Ashura boom arose in Japan. The number of visitors was far more than the exhibition of Vermeer, ancient Egypt and Da Vinci. Also, I have heard that there is a fan club of the statue of Ashura. 

The statue of Ashura is exhibited in the Kohfukuji National Treasure Hall, which was renovated recently. The inside was modern atmosphere, simple and sophisticated such as a picture of Buddha was used for a pictogram.

The statue of Ashura was exhibited with other Buddha statutes and not in a separate room. As I came to the front of the Ashura and faced the handsome features, I couldn't believe that it was made in Nara Period (the 8^th century) and didn't look old at all. I wondered what the characteristic face with a frown showed. Maybe it did suffering, frustration and sadness. The site that Ashura fought with Taishakuten was called "Shuraba" in Japanese, which means a dreadful scene.

The statue of Ashura is a dry-lacquered one and its weight is only 15 kilograms, so they could take it out every time the temple was struck by repeated fires. That is why the statue is still remains. At any rate, it's amazing that in the Kohfukuji Temple, there are 18 Buddha statues out of 136 ones designated as national treasures in Japan.  

It is said that the Kohfukuji Temple was a huge one that there were 10,000 priests at its peak. Since its foundation, the Central Golden Hall was burnt down seven times and the eighth rebuilding was completed last October. At the ceremony to celebrate the completion, the chief priest read in the announcement as follows.

The golden hall of the Heisei era

We pledge to keep it long with the heaven, the earth and the years. 

Although it sounded a quiet poem, what I felt was a solemn vow for the future and passion. (H.S)

                 
                         The signboard in front of the National Treasure Hall   

                             The reconstructed Central Golden Hall

               It is about the same size as Daigokuden of Heijo-kyu Palace.

                 

                                 Looking up at the Central Golden Hall 

   The Five-Storied Pagoda and the Eastern Golden Hall viewed from the square in     front of the Central Golden Hall (Both are national treasures) 

                               

           Goshuin (ink writing and stamp that are given at a shrine or a temple) of               the Kohfukuji Temple. You can choose one among five designs.

                             

                                   Japanese deers in Nara Park on their break 

Originally the Nara Park was the precincts of the Kohfukuji Temple. It recalls the vastness of the past. 

 The video is from Kyodo News YouTube channel.

 The Central Golden Hall of the Kohfukuji Temple was rebuilt for the first time

 in 300 years. 

Soy sauce pork cutlet rice bowl of "Shimomura" in Ono City, Fukui Prefecture

Now I'm involved in a drone school that is taking place in Rokuroshi highlands in Ono City, and I have more opportunities to eat in the city. And so I ate "Soy sauce pork cutlet rice bowl" for the first time, which recently came to be known as a new local food of Ono City.

There seems to be some variations depending on a restaurant. The "Shimomura" is its birthplace, so probably their style is standard.

They serve the rice bowl with shredded cabbage under the pork cutlet, grated radish, chopped green onion and green perilla as toppings. Separately soy sauce is served in a small bowl and customers can add it according to taste.

It was delicious than I expected and I began to often eat it when I go to Ono. However, I don't like the texture of shredded cabbage on rice, so if there were no cabbage, I would be so much happier.
TS

A national treasure "Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl" | Nara National Museum

I went to Nara City last weekend. At that time, the Nara National Museum was holding a special exhibition that the national treasure "Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl" has been displayed to the public, so I visited the museum for the first time to see the tea bowl.

The Yohen Tenmoku tea bowls are said to have been made in the Southern Sung period (the 12^th to 13th century) in China, only three have been passed down in Japan, and all of the three tea bowls are designated as national treasures. This year, the three Yohen Tenmoku tea bowls were respectively exhibited in Seikado Bunko Art Museum in Tokyo, Miho Museum in Shiga Prefecture and the Nara National Museum almost at the same time. The large and small lazuline spots appeared on the tea bowls called Yohen give off a radiance like stars in the universe. The reason why these spots appear on them has not been completely explained yet and it is said that it's impossible to replicate it.

I could enter the museum without waiting but when I entered into the exhibition room, I saw a long line to see the tea bowl that is displayed in a separate booth that the lights were dimmed. So, I saw other exhibits first and got in the line. And then I had a long wait for seeing the tea bowl. And at last when I saw the tea bowl, it caught my breath at the brilliance like jewelry. It can be seen from all directions, so the lazuline spots look different depending on from where you are viewing. I was able to enjoy the beauty of the Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl that looked as if there was the galaxy in the tea bowl and I wanted to continuously watch it forever. 

At the special exhibition, other nine national treasures and fifty three important cultural properties were also exhibited from Fujita Museum, which were simply overwhelming. (H.S) 

     

                        The Yohen Tenmoku tea bowl viewed from above

                        (Photo is from the web site of the Fujita Museum) 

                                Corner for taking photos in the museum 

               

               In the courtyard of the museum, there is a tea house and you can

               walk across there. 

     

                 

        

        I also saw Nara Buddhist Sculpture Hall on the museum's property. 

        (The museum entrance fee covers the hall) This is the west side of the hall. (Photo is from the museum's website) In the hall, over hundred Buddhist sculptures are exhibited, which is the must-see hall for those who love ones. 

After long viewing, I had cool Kuzukiri (translucent sliced arrowroot) at 

Kurokawa Honke in Yumekaze Hiroba in front of Todaiji Temple, which was                    so delicious!

Impressions when I visited a site there was an abandoned building to take photographs by a drone

Traces of elementary particles

I associated a photograph of elementary particles in an accelerator experiment with the curves drawn by the ears of the dead silver grasses that emerged on the dark background.

Green monster

I thought it was a chimney covered with ivy from the distance, but it was a utility pole. In time, the ivy may extend laterally along the wire.

The only flower in the world

The purple orchids bloomed around the building were beautiful. Various flowers bloom in this way around us. By the way,  I just don't like the Japanese popular song "The Only Flower in the World". Because the lyrics say that ”flowers in a flower shop never compete, by contrast, many people always compare themselves to others”, but that's not true. They are the only flowers that have won fierce competitions to be chosen as merchandise.
T.S