Category Archives: Japanese Legacy & Culture

Traditional Japanese sword making area, Osafune, Okayama

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Inbe town of Okayama Prefecture is well-known as a Bizen-Yaki producing center,which is one of the Six old Kilns in Japan. Within easy driving distance, thereis a traditional Japanese sword making area, called Osafune. Since the area havebeen producing high-quality iron sand for steel and red pine tree for charcoal
making. Osafune sword has been designated as one of the five traditional swordmaking areas. To complete a Japanese sword making, many specialists likeswordsmiths, metalwoekers, scrabbard makers and the like are involved. In thephoto, a sword polisher sharpen and polish a sword.

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Ashikaga Gakko of Japan’s oldest school

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Ashikaga Gakko is known as the oldest academic institution in Japan which is located in Ashikaga City, Tochigi Prefecture, in the north of Tokyo. There are several theories when the school was founded, from Nara period to Kamakura period. It was restored in 1423 by Duputy Shogun Ueshugi Norizane who donated the many books which are designated as national heritages now. The school had become the greatest institution in Japan, with about 3,000 students from all over the country. The pioneering Roman Catholic missionary, St. Francis Xavier noted in 1549 that the school was the largest and most well-known one of eastern Japan.

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Hina dolls for the Girls’ Day

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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The Five-story pagoda, “Yasaka no To” in Kyoto

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Here is the five-story pagoda, known as Yasaka Pagoda, one of landmarks in Kyoto. The official name is Honkan-ji Temple which was founded in Muromachi period (1440). There are famous temples and spots nearby, visited by many sightseers. Together with small shops and Japanese-style bars, the scenery with the pagoda gives us nostalgic feeling.
Kyo-Yaki, pottery and porcelain with overglazed enamel decoration is produced here. Their wide variety of products outnumbers that of other areas.

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Takehara, “The Little Kyoto of Aki”

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Takehara, Hiroshima Prefecture is called as “the Little Kyoto of Aki”. This area was selected as the Special Historical District of old warehouse, one of Japan “100 Most Scenic Towns”. We can still feel a deer air of old Japan on the merchant houses, warehouses and streets.
Occupying a strategic location on the Seto Inland Sea, Takehara became well-known as a port city in the Muromachi ara and flourished as a base of the salt industry.

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* Twitter : http://twitter.com/CeramicsJapan