Hosokawa-shi, a traditional Japanese hand-made paper (washi), has been made at Ogawa Town in Saitama Prefecture. The Japanese government designated the technique of making Hosokawa-shi as an Important intangible Culture Asset in 1978. And in 2014, UNESCO listed hosokawa-shi to Human Intangible Cultural Heritage as “Washi, craftsmanship of traditional Japanese hand-crafted paper”.
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It is the Doll’s Festival, or “Hina Matsuri” in Japan on March 3rd. It was believed that the dolls would protecte people, girls in this case, from sickness or misfortune. We display a set of dolls wearing graceful court costumes of the old era on a tier of 5 or 7 shelves for the day. Konosu city, my home town is one of the well-known doll-making centers in Japan. The city display a large number of “Hina Dolls” in the city hall every year. This display has 7m high and 31 tiers with about 1,820 dolls, which might be the highest one in a pyramid in Japan.
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It is essential to use kilns to fire the pottery and porcelain products. A traditional wood-fired kiln like an ana-gama (or hole kiln) or a nobori-gama or (climbing kiln) was very popular for the long time. However, these days, due to smoke from the kilns and cost of the wood, the wood-fired kilns face difficulties to use while gas-fueled kilns and electric kilns are getting popular due to easy control of temperature and cleanness. . This kiln is called Ja-gama (snake kiln) , a form of climbing kiln with a length of 50m and 9 chambers , at Konda-cho of Tanba which was built 140 years ago. Now, many potters here are trying to restore to practically use it.
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There are unique sake cups in Japan, so-called “Pegu Hai” by which sake lovers enjoy a lovely sake time among their friends. They are forced not to put their cup on the table and to empty their cup to the last drop. It might be a joyful game in drinking sake.
With the first one, they are forced to take a cup out of the different size of cups, as indicated by a spinning die. The second one has a pointed bottom, meaning no base to put on. Sometimes, a stand for the cup will be offered to relief their duty. Naturally, they have to drain their cup every time. The third one has a hole in the center of cup. Again, they have to empty their cup to the last drop by holding the center hole with a finger in drinking.
It is quite fun, but you should be careful to try these cups!
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Ouchi-juku was an old posting station located in South Aizu area, along the Aizu West Kaido (Highway) which was connecting Aizu and Nikko. Ouchi-juku is famous for the numerous traditional thatched buildings, where the village lead their daily life. Many buildings have been preserved as they were before the Meiji restoration. The area has been designated as an Important Preservation District for Groups of Traditional Buildings. Tourists can take a trip back in time to Edo period.
A producing center of Aizuhongo-Yaki is situated nearby.
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Ginzan Onsen has the nostalgic environment of Taisho era (1912 – 1926). We can rest both the body and the spirit in the quiet environment with hot spring baths, old-fashioned inns and nature. We feel at home, which has been disappeared these days. Due to such nice settings, this place is used for many TV dramas.
There are two Kaminohata-Yaki workshops & galleries at the entrance to the Ginzan Onsen. The Kaminohata-Yaki is traditional porcelain, which is quite unique in the Tohoku ragion.
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A Happy New Year !!
Japanese people visit shrine or temple nearby for “Hatsumode”, their first wishes of the new year on the first, second or third day of the year. So, the well-known shrines and temples are very crowed on the days. They generally buy a written oracle and new charms wishing “Good Luck” there. The written oracle will be tied onto a tree on the shrine grounds after reading and the old charms are returned to the shrine so they can be burned
There are many street vendors selling various foods and mascots along the front approach to the shrine and temple.
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This is an additional picture of the Ogawawashi in serial form. The photo is of “Paper making”. He is the 4th generation of the paper making family of Shoutaro Kubo. We are using this Ogawa Washi for wrapping wooden boxes of sake cups.
The Ogawa Washi (Japanese paper) is one of the famed hand-made Japanese paper in Japan. Ogawa town, a center of production enjoy a clean stream and a good paper mulberry for Washi making. The origin of Ogawa Washi go back 1,300years ago when many naturalized Koreans introduced a technique of hand-made paper making in the area. During the Edo era, Ogawa town became major area of washi supply to Edo (Old Tokyo). There are many paper crafts by using the Ogawa Washi.
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Ogawa Washi (Japanese paper) is one of the famed hand-made Japanese paper in Japan. Ogawa town, a center of production enjoy a clean stream and a good paper mulberry for Washi making. The origin of Ogawa Washi go back 1,300years ago when many naturalized Koreans introduced a technique of hand-made paper making in the area. During the Edo era, Ogawa town became major area of washi supply to Edo (Old Tokyo).
There are many paper crafts by using Ogawa Washi. We are using this Ogawa Washi for wrapping wooden boxes of sake cups. The photo is an exhibition hall of Ogawa washi.
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Sports Fukiya (Draft-blowing through a blow gun) game was held with about 700 participants in Saitama. The Sports Fukiya is one of growing hobby, especially among elderly people because of its simple rule in addition to lighter exercise. Although it is easy to start Sports Fukiya, they will learn soon that stable breathing and mental factor are important to get higher score. Player can blow five drafts a game at a distance (6, 7, 8, 9 or 10m depending on their levels) and get a score from 0 to 7 points per shoot. So, a perfect shoot becomes 35 points.
In this Sports Fukiya game, many lovely children competed each other.
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