Oh, my deer!

 Through my lens  4 Responses »
Jun 052011
 

Surprised deer in Nara, Japan

Bikkuri shika asked to share its feelings on:

Shinto shrines on Risshiri and Rebun Islands

 Through my lens  5 Responses »
May 292011
 

Taking opportunity of this weekend’s typhoon, I am importing my old photos to Aperture and struggling to sort them. I have found something with a definitely better weather.

Risshiri and Rebun are two small islands close to northernmost cape of Hokkaido. Shinto shrines there have appearance somewhat different to those in other parts of Japan.

Shinto shrine on Risshiri Island
Shinto shrine in northern Japan
Shinto shrine in Hokkaido
Shinto shrine on Risshiri Island
Shinto shrine in northern Japan
Shinto shrine in Hokkaido

And let it be my contribution to this week’s Show Me Japan.

Warning for Mr. Samurai

 Through my lens  6 Responses »
May 202011
 

Let’s put things straight.

When I take pictures at historical events like reenactment of the Battle of Sekigahara or the Asakura Sengoku Matsuri, I want to catch at least a glimpse of historic atmosphere.

If you don’t respect it…

Samurai in Sekigahara making fun

You’ll end up like this…

Samurai in Sekigahara

And on the top of that, I will also report you to Show Me Japan. Clear?

Kurumazaki Jinja – artists’ shrine in Kyoto

 Through my lens  2 Responses »
May 192011
 
Tags with artists' names in Kurumazaki Jinja

Kurumazaki Shrine in Kyoto holds Mifune Matsuri every year is also famous for a smaller shrine in its precincts.

It is dedicated to artists and attracts many actors, musicians, comedians, and geisha. They either buy an official offering from a shrine (like a fence pale) or just glue a tag (fuda) with their name or photo directly to the shrine building.

Entrance to Kurumazaki Jinja in Kyoto
Tags with artists' names in Kurumazaki Jinja
Fuda with artists' photos in Kurumazaki Jinja
Kurumazaki Jinja in Kyoto
Kyoto Kurumazaki shrine
Interior of Kurumazaki Shrine

When the Saints Go Marching In

 Through my lens  4 Responses »
May 142011
 

A ceremony commemorating pious Princess Chujo was held today in Taimadera, Nara Pref.

In addition to Buddhist rites, a procession of Boddhisatvas took place on a narrow catwalk inside the temple grounds.

The masks severely limited vision of the performers, and amateur saints were accompanied by seeing-eye helpers. But two “professional” saints performed a unique dance all the way on an elevated walkway.


Long time no see, but straight to Show Me Japan by BudgetTrouble blog.


Snow in Osaka

 Through my lens  No Responses »
Feb 112011
 

Does it snow in Osaka?

Yes it does. But the temperatures rarely remain below zero during daytime, so it melts quickly.



Kobe beef for cheapskates

 Through my lens  4 Responses »
Feb 092011
 

So you heard Kobe beef is delicious but expensive? Here’s a venue in Kobe that will overturn both stereotypes serve you a very good burger.

世界でここだけ 神戸牛バーガー
Only here in the whole world!!!Kobe beef burger

Kobe beef burger shop in Nankin-machi

Ok, 12 USD for a beef sandwich is not cheap, but still for Kobe beef one zero is missing, I guess.

Edit: And I was wrong with my sarcasm! The Kobe beefsteak burger served there is really good. Quite some time ago it was served in two pieces in a folding box, that you had to fold and clap to combine the pieces, but now it is served in a paper tissue. It looks like this:

Kobe beef burger (beefsteak, tomato, lettuce)

Chinese New Year in Kobe’s Nankinmachi

 Through my lens  4 Responses »
Feb 062011
 

On February 3rd, when Japanese people were celebrating the last day of traditional “old year” with Setsubun holiday, Chinese people were celebrating a New Year’s Day.

Chinese New Year in Kobe
Kobe's China Town celebrates New Year's Day
Chinese New Year's Festivities in Kobe
Chinese acrobats during Nankinmachi Shunsetsusai

Nankin Machi is the name for a famous China Town in Kobe. At the time of Chinese New Year huge celebrations are held in the neighborhood.

Lion dance, dragon dance, acrobatic and martial arts shows take place in the central square.

And let it be a Show Me Japan entry for this week BudgetTrouble blog.

Japanese high-speed rice cake pounding

 Through my lens  5 Responses »
Jan 262011
 
Fast speed rice pounding in Japan

This is how you prepare rice cakes in Nara. You take the rice and beat it until it gets green! :)

Japanese rice cake made from glutinous rice is called mochi (餅). It requires quite laborious process to produce a smooth mass. Most cakes sold nowadays are machine-made, but beating the rice is still a popular outdoor event in Japan in winter.

A special kind of rice is first boiled then put into a wooden mortar and pounded with wooden mallets.

Nakatanido (中谷堂)—a shop in Nara—offers not only fresh pastry, but also a performance when preparing it. The rice mass is pounded manually (at least in the last stage) in a high-speed show that the shop owners became famous for.

How Japanese rice cakes taste?

The rice cake itself is not sweet, however filled with anko sweet bean paste it becomes a confectionery called daifuku mochi (大福餅). You can read more about it in a Wikipedia article.

The green color comes from yomogi grass. The rice mass is put into a machine that forms the cakes and injects sweet bean paste. Then the cakes are wrapped in kinako soybean flour.

You can visit the shop online at Nakatani-do (unfortunately all in Japanese), but it’s better to come in person and taste their yomogi mochi. One piece costs 130 yen and you can buy it almost immediately as it was prepared.

Nakatanido mochi rice cake shop in Nara

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