Author Archives: mikio

Cherry Blossom ! Spring has come in Japan

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Now, Japanese people enjoy spring time. It is a time for most plants and trees start flowering all over. Especially, the Japanese is anxious for cherry blossom of which front moves from the south to the north. In Tokyo, cherry blossom was stated twelve days earlier than that on the average year. It is quite unusual phenomenon.
We enjoy a happy time in drinking and eating together with family, friends, working associates under the cherry blossom. This is a shot of one of temples in the Ueno park which looked mysterious in lighting and full blossom.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Hina dolls for the Girls’ Day

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amazing-dolls
The Doll’s Festival or The Girls’ Festival is held on March 3rd in Japan, We wish the sound growth of girls in the family. We displayed a set of Hina dolls in beautiful ancient court costumed on a tier of 5 or 7 shelves. It was believed that the dolls protect people from ill, misfortune and the like.

Kounosu-shi (city) displays an amazing 1,300 Hina dolls on a tier of 31 shelves(7m high). The display is regarded as a national biggest one in Japan. Kounosu is one of the major doll making areas from Edo era.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Tableware Festival in Tokyo

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The Tableware Festival 2013 is held from February 4, 2013 to February 11, 2013 at the Tokyo Dome. The big baseball field is full of many vendors’ booths and “table setting” display. Almost all visitors are female. There are many familiar potters show and sell their interesting pottery including sake cups.
This festival is one of opportunities to meet them. The photos are of “Table Setting display” (top) and “Oribe Square” (bottom).

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Kourakuen Garden in Okayama

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Kourakuen
Okayama Korakuen Garden is one of the most famous garden in Japan. The garden is of the Kaiyu (scenic promenade) style with a total area 133,000 square meters. The initial one was completed by a Japanese feudal lord in 1700. Visitors can enjoy a grand scenery with Okayama Castle all the year around.
Bizen-Yaki is a famous unglazed pottery in this area.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

What a beautiful tinted-leaves in KYoto

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It is the best season for tourists to visit Kyoto. We can enjoy the beautiful tinted-leaves together with traditional heritages at various spots in Kyoto. One of such spots is Tofuku-ji Temple which is a famous Zen temple. In the precincts, there is a famous bridge, called as “Tsuten-kyo(bridge)”, connecting major inside temples. The view from the bridge is extremely amazing with beautifully tinted-leaves.
There is another interesting area making Kyo-Yaki pottery nearby. About 30 potters are gathered together to make their own unique Kyo-Yaki. They held a pottery festival for the tourists in this season. So, we can enjoy the tinted-leaves and Kyo-Yaki together.
What a wonderful season!

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Asakusa, sightseening spot in Tokyo

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Asakusa is one of the most popular sightseeing spots in Tokyo for foreign and Japanese visitors. Asakusa is a temple town with Sensoji, Nakamise, Kaminarimon and so on.
Cokorful Nakamise is lined with almost 90 little traditional shops and souvenir stands. So this area is the ideal place to get Japanese souvenirs.
Sensoji Temple is a center of this area. It is said that two brothers fishing in the nearby Sumida River found a statue of the Goddess of Mercy (Kannon) and built a small temple, an origin of Sensoji Temple, to worship it. Kaminarimon (see photo.) is a first gate for Nakamise leading to the temple.
You can surely enjoy Japanese old downtown atmosphere at this area.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Time for Potttery Festivals all over Japan

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Spring and fall are time for Japanese people to enjoy and buy a wide variety of traditional ceramics. Many pottery and porcelain producing areas will hold festivals with their fascinating products at a discount. These are occasion for us to meet new potters and artists and interesting their works efficiently
The picture is of the festival of Echizen-Yaki , one of the government recognized craftworks..

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Shinkoro Tower, “The eight O’clock Drum Tower” in Izushi town

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In 1871, the drum tower was founded near the Izushi Jo (castle) to signal eight o’clock daily. By the signal, the feudal lord’s retainers proceeded to Izushi castle. The tower became the clock tower with a big clock donated by a doctor in 1881. Hereafter, the tower is a well-loved landmark among town people and tourists.

Izushi was romantic castle town with many remains such as Izushi castle, samurai residences, temples, etc,. Izusi-Yaki is well-known traditional porcelain. It is said that the porcelain is so white and pure that if you look closely at the surface your soul will be reflected.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

The reconstructed Heijo Palace (Former Imperial Audience Hall)

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Kyoto is well-known as the former capital in Japan. Before Kyoto, the capital was moved from Asuka to Fuiwara-kyo, then Heijo-kyo in 710. Heijo-kyo capital flourished as Japan’s first international capital in present Nara Prefecture.

The reconstructed Former Imperial Audience Hall, or Daigoku-den in the photo was a center of the Heijo Palace Site. There are so many historical sites and buildings reserved inNara Prefecture which are surely fascinating visitors. Akahada-Yaki (stands for the “red skin” ware) is traditional pottery with “Nara Picture Eof the overglaze enamel decoration.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan

Spectacles Bridge in Nagasaki

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There are many historical and scenic spots in Nagasaki where only one area was open to Chinese and Holland by the national isolation policy in the Tokugawa era. So, Nagasaki has a quite different air with Chinatown and Catholic churches. It is said that the Meganebashi or Spectacles Bridge was the oldest stone arch bridge built in Japan in 1634. It received he nickname “Spectacles Bridge” because its two arches and their reflection in the water create the image of a pair of spectacles.

Other Mike’s Sites
* Online Sake Cup Shop : http://sakeware.net
* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan