unfortunately, the book corner

I love this book corner of hotel where I just entered it for hot springs with several friends.
How relax you can after the hot springs , here!

Unfortunately, we have not enough time to read book here.

plates

Do you love the plates? the flower is so cute!

money box(saving bank)

what a lovely wood cat!! it is a money box!

oil painting

I do love this oil painting !!!

what is this?

what is this? it is a post!

And this machine will clean your shoes automatic!! (are you brave enough to try?)

Japanese Gardens

Beautiful Japanese gardens in the grounds of ancient temples and parks... Many Japanese feature a central pond with rocks and trees arranged around it 1. TENRYUJI, a zen temple built in the 14th century, located in the mountains in the west of Kyoto, it has a very a spacious garden. There are many natural rocks arranged around the pond. This big group of rocks on the slope represents a waterfall.
2.KATSURA-RIKYU in Kyoto boats what has been described as the most beautiful garden in Japan. In the vast grounds of this Imperial villa, a microcosm of Japan's breathtaking landscapes was created, using a wide spectrum of techniques. This pond was specifically designed to allow people to cruise around in small pleasure boats. This is the view as you pass under an arched bridge. Taking a boat ride, guests could enjoy the scenery from another perspective, very different from strolling around the pond. Garden design techniques like those are described in a treatise titled SAKUTEIKI, written 1000 years ago. Here's an example of what it says:"when placing stones, one must follow the shape of the land and the pond, and keep in mind the look of a natural landscape". Recalling magnificent scenes of nature and re-creating them using natural materials. That's the essence of Japanese garden making. The design principles and techniques devised 1000 years ago are still very applicable today.
3. RYUANJI temple in Kyoto features another major style of Japanese garden a KARE-SANSUI, or dry landscape garden. Made solely from rocks and ground, without using any water whatsoever, this kind of garden originated in Japan. 15 rocks of varying shapes and sizes are placed seemingly at random. But no matter where you view them from, you can never sell all 15 rocks at the sometime. A change of position may give you a better view of one rock, but then another one becomes obscured. Who came up with this unusual layout, and when and why was it created? It's all a mystery, At any rate, this is a garden that fires the imagination of all who see it. The development of most KARESANSUI gardens was closely liked to ZEN Buddhism. Countless monks have sat before a KAREKI-SANSUI garden and meditated. Now days, Japanese gardens attract attention from overseas, and gardens like these are now being created in many corners of the world.

kyomai MTV

Christmas eve.

Today is the Christmas eve. What are you doing?
I drunk the India tea CHAI. Every delicious!

And this? The India and Nepal local beer! (not me, my friends)

And, this is the main dish: Curry!

So.. like this, I had a dinner with my several girl friends.

sea isizaki MTV

the nice sea view!

tea ceremony

I have introduced the Japanese tea ceremony several times before.
this it the set of Japanese tea ceremony. it names"tyasyaku,natume,tyasyaku,tyawan"

and there is very beautiful sister who will serve you the MATHA.

here is it ! the MATYA and WAGASI.

this up pic is from a side when another sister served my friend(as a fact my friend is learning the SADO. the tea!)

because I do love the Japanese traditional clothes"KIMONO", I asked the sisters(yes! sisters no matter how old are they) to refuse me taking a pic of them. Un, nice pic!

And , finally , all these are free!!

tatami with flower sign

Do you remember TATAMI ? which I introduced you before. And, I found!!! a TATAMI with flower sign on it!!

how lovely

hot spring hotel

I have introduce you the hot spring before, remember?
this is a Japan traditional hot spring hotel .

and it is very high, in front of the entrance (lobby), I find this sign. it says: here is 1350 meter high.

Soba

Affordable, casual and tasty.... Soba buckwheat noodles are one of the most popular foods in Japan. They are eaten nationwide, especially for lunch or at parties. In recent years, there is been a boom in home-made noodles. Soba-making classes held all over Japan attract many students. Soba noodles are served in many different ways.
some type of Soba which is eaten cold,with a dipping sauce. Wasabi horseradish and finely chopped Welsh onions are often served as condiments.Alternatively,Soba can be eaten hot. In many cases, it is served in a soup made by mixing broth with the rich dipping sauce used for cold soba. Varying the toppings opens up numerous possibilities.
1)KITUNE, or "fox"soba : according to Japanese folklore, foxes love deep-fried TOFU, and that is how this dish topped with deep-fried TOFU got its name, or so it's said.
2)TANUKI soba: which usually features bits of deep-fried TEMPURA batter.
3)TUKIMI or "moon-viewing" soba : because the egg yolk resembles the moon.
All these dishes are very popular in Japan.
When you eat soba, this is the way to do it. SHUSHU . the noise! Soba should be slurped up with GATSU! noisily slurping draws in plenty of air with the smell of the buckwheat. This courses through the nose, amplifying the aroma.
The cultivation of buckwheat in Japan dates back over 1000 years. In the old days, farmers had to submit rice as a levy to the ruler. In upland areas, however,rice production was low, whereas buckwheat was relatively easy to grow. So buckwheat became important to farming families. Both as an alternative crop to pay taxes and as a source of nutrition.
In japan , there is a custom to eating soba on New year Eve, known as TOSIKOSI-SOBA. The long, thin noodles are considered auspicious. By eating them, people wish for longevity and good fortune for their families. Soba noodles are more than just a deeply ingrained part of Japanese food culture; they are also regarded as a special kind of food imbued with people's wishes.

sea view MTV

saka MTV

flower arrangement 1

I will up more a little flower arrangement(kado) here:
this balance is great!

what about this?

the colour is beautiful!

simple is best!

kado MTV

ranryouo gagaku -MTV

kyoumai2 MTV

KENDO

Blows are exchanged with bamboo swords, accompanied by fierce yells. Two swordsmen attack one another. Their movements are just a blur to the eye. This is one of Japan's martial arts. KENDO.

KENDO is a one-on-one martial art. Practitioners wear protective gear modelled after SAMURAI armour, and fight with opponent scores one point. The first to score two points wins the match.

There are several ways of earning a point.
1. The first is a blow to the head- a technique called MEN.
2. The second one is KOTE - an attack aimed at the opponents padded gloves.
3. The last one is TSUKI - This requires the sword to be trust forward, so that its tip hits the opponent's throat protector.

However, simply landing one of these blows is not enough for a point to be awarded. There are three conditions that must be met; these are known as KI-KEN-TAI.
KI means "full of spirit". As you attack, you must give a high-spirited shout to indicate to target point on the opponent's body.
KEN means "swordsmanship". To score a point, the correct part of the sword must strike the target with axact precision.
TAI means "having the correct form". Having landed the blow, the attacker must assume the correct stance, without losing concentration.

KENDO is a sport in which the objective in not simply to defeat your opponent but also to train your own mind. The mental aspect of KENDO that prevails among today's practitioners is thought to have originated, for the most part, in the 17th century. Master swordsman MIYAMOTO MUSASI is regarded as one of the leading figures in the development of the "way of the sword". In the book of FIVE RINGS, MUSASI not only described the essence of combat, but also laid out his philosophy for living. The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Perseverance in training is essential. Be better today than you were yesterday, an then strive to become better still.

Continue training so as to develop unwavering self-discipline. MUSASI's philosophy is till very relevant in the world of KENDO today, where emphasis is placed not just on technical refinement but also training of the mind.

kyougen MTV

kyougen MTV

bungaku1 MTV

the bungaku too

Folding fans

A folding fan is a portable cooling device. It is easy to carry around folded up, and it can be snapped open in an instant to generate a breeze. During Japan's muggy summers, a fan is an essential accessory. Typically, fans are made of bamboo ribs and paper. The metal pivot, called a KANAME, a vital for keeping the ribs in place. If the KANAME is fixed too tightly, the fan will not open and close smoothly. But if it is too loose, the ribs will wobble. This part must be adjusted delicately, as it will have a great effect on how easy the fan will be to use. Paper is pasted over this framework, so that the fan will create a slight breeze when it is waved. And they are they are used to cover the face in moments of embarrassment, folding fans are often used as a form of silent communication between lovers.

Folding fans also play an important role in the world of the tea ceremony. When guests bow to greet the loss. they place their folded fans horizontally between themselves and the host. This it an expression of respect.

Folding fans also had an immense impact on the development of Japanese art. In the early 17th century, TAWARAYA SOTATSU, who had started out as a fan painter, created one of the masterpieces in the history of Japanese art. It is a folding screen depicting the God of Wind and the God of Thunder. The two delities are placed at the far edges, with a large empty expanse left in the centre. It is a dynamic composition that was very unusual at that time. A closer examination of the relative positions of the two delities reveals that they are oriented a long radial lines from a single centre point. It is thought that SOTATSU employed the compositional principles of fan paintings to create this masterwork. As these examples show. Folding fans have had a major formative influence on Japan culture

bungaku MTV

bungaku !

responda MTV

a lovely animal!

okinawa dance MTV

enjoy it!

flower arrangement

Do you remember the Japanese traditional flower arrangement what I up before?

what about this one?

and this?

and this?

well , my favor is this:

AWAODORI - MTV

Do you know the AWAODORI of Japan? it is very famous.

red bicycle

what a good-looking bicycle! It will very comfortable to take it at this season!

Japan traditional - hot springs

No matter where you go in Japan, you can find hot springs, these places where geothermally heated water wells up have been treasured by Japanese people since ancient times. Currently there are more than 3000 hot spring resorts in Japan. In addition, more and more new hots springs are being drilled each year. The large number of hot springs in Japan is closely correlated with the country's high concentration of volcanoes. The hot water mainly wells up in the vicinity of volcanoes. many kinds of minerals can be found in hot spring water, including sulphur, iron and calcium. These minerals are believed to have specific health benefits,, such as promoting circulation are recover from fatigue.
#the up pic is the enterance of the outer hot spring

What is a typical trip to a hot spring resort like? Most people stay for a night or two at lodging a located close to the hot spring. During their stay, they wear the casual cotton KIMONO knows as YUKATA and enjoy meals featuring local specialities. And it is not unusual to soak in the hot spring baths several times each day.

# the up pic is the outer hot spring

The baths com in two types; indoor ones called UCHIYU and outdoor ones called SOTOYU. SOTOYU outdoor baths, also known as ROTENBURO , are highly popular. A great variety of ROTENBURO can be found all over the country some seashore hot spring, which allows you to relish the great out doors,actually appears only at low tide. Some one is located in the middle of now where, deep in the snow country. Listening to the sound of birds or the murmuring of a stream, bathers can take in beautiful mountain or ocean views. This sense of communing with nature is what makes ROTENBURO so special.

#this up pic is near the inner hot spring where you can wash body and hair.

There is also a unique practice that involves hot springs. People stay for extended periods at hot spring inns to recover their strength TOJI. To improve their physical health, some people even stay for several months. There are usually kitchen facilities available, and many of the guests cook their own meals. Besides reducing food expenses. This allows guests to cook the kind of dishes best suited to their personal nutritional weeds. These TOJI lodgings provide the setting for social interaction where guests can develop deep friendships and share useful tips.

In all these different ways, Japanese people have long enjoyed hot springs.

sport ceremony MTV

This pic is about the students' sport ceremony, In Japan there are lots of sport ceremony in autumn.

here is the MTV, you can see how they fall there energy in there!

kaiseki ryori

KAISEKI RYOURI is a traditional Japanese multi-course meal prepared from fresh, seasonal ingredient. Some dishes are served hot, while others are served chilled or at room temperature - just the way they're meant to be enjoyed.

The courses are served in turn, to match the pace at which people are eating.

A formal KAISEKI meal starts with a small tray, with three dishes - rice soup and a dish called MUKUZUKE - arranged on it. The MUKOZUKE will typically be a morsel of SASIMI or a preparation seasoned with a vinegar dressing.

The next course is a simmered preparation, known as the NIMONO-WAN, also served in a bowl. This will be followed by the YAKIMONO- a grilled dish, usually consisting of fish or meat.

Using a wide variety of techniques time of year. That is the very essence of KAISEKI RYORI.

This cuisine has it is origins in the 16th century. It developed from the style of food served at tea gatherings by the tea master SEN NO RIKYU. Up until then, the conventional way of serving food to guests had been to layout many dishes all the once. However, RIKYU thought that serving small portions of food, one course at a time, would be the ultimate gesture of hospitality. Because each dish could be enjoyed at its absolute best. This formed the basis of modern day KAISEKI RYOUKI.

Let"s look at one of the clever ways to evoke a sense of the season. Some recipe features tile fish, which are in season during the winter. However , ingredients associated with other seasons are also included in the winter meal. Some are MATUTAKE mushrooms, a typical autumn delicacy. An ingredient from the season that"s just passed is called NAGORI. And some are arrowhead bulbs. Which are typically associated with spring. An ingredient used ahead of its season is called HASIRI. Serving NAGORI and HASIRI ingredients along with those in season is a delightful way to enjoy the changing of the seasons.

Recently, there has been growing interest in KAISEKI RYOURI around the world. Top french chefs have been visiting Japan to discover its secrets. Meanwhile, a new genre of food is emerging in Japan, a fusion of traditional KAISEKI and more modern, western ideas. Alothough KAISEKI RYOURI is a lucid reflection of the Japanese aesthetic, it's not static; it continues to evolve from day to day.