Christmas is coming

Now town is illuminated for Christmas.
and you can found many many Christmas trees here and there.
I found beautiful scenery.

Most Japanese think Christmas as a celebration of Christianity.
On the other hand, many Japanese are technically Buddhist.
But most people are far from religious.
So we don't care about what Christmas is.

In Japan, Christmas day is not a holiday.
In fact, 23th Dec is public holiday because it's The Emperor's Birthday.
But these illuminations are not for Emperor, definitely.

We just like some of the happy ideas associated with Christmas like Santa Claus, Christmas trees, cake, music, presents and so on.

Here is west-Umeda area in Osaka city.

A big glittering Christmas tree is set up.

Candle Night @ OSAKA

An art event called "Candle Night " was held in Chayamachi area, Osaka city.
http://www.candle-night.org/en/?

Originally "Candle Night" is a movement to propose to turn off the light and use candle for 2hrs on the evening of summer and winter solstices.

Do something special . . .
Read a book with your child by candlelight.
Enjoy a quiet dinner with a special person.
This night can mean many things for many people.
A time to save energy, to think about peace,
to think about people in distant lands
who share our planet.


Original idea was a movement began in Canada.
In 2001, Canadian citizens held a voluntary blackout to protest the U.S. Bush Administration's energy policy to build one new nuclear power plant each month.


The event held in Osaka aimed at promoting this movement.
Candle art created by artists, students studying art, citizens were exhibited.


Around this area, there are some malls, restaurants, and business buildings.
Some of them cooperated with the event and turn of their illumination.



This is Tsutenkaku!
(I introduced in previous post :D )

Tea ceremony

Last Sunday, I went to Kyoto with my friends.
One of my friends took us a tea salon.

There we could experience Japanese tea ceremony.
I'd never tried it.

In the tea ceremony, tea is made by putting powdered tea leaves(Maccha) into a cup and then adding hot water.
It is then stirred till foamy with a tea whisk and drunk.
That was all I know about tea ceremony before this class.

However, tea ceremony has long history and unique philosophy.
And we could lean part of them.

It was very impressive experience!

Surprisingly, the teacher of the tea was from Canada.
He is more familiar with Japanese culture than average Japanese.

The shop is "Ran-Hotei".
(http://www.15-1a.com/eng/index.htm)
You'll can enjoy Japanese style tea time.


In the class, I won a game and got a gift!
Nice cup!

This is tea bowl used in the tea ceremony.
But I don't have any chance to try tea ceremony at home.
So I'll use it as soup bowl or for other uses :D

Floating duck

This is floating duck traveling all over the world
created by Dutch artist Florentign Hofman.

The duck knows that there are no political borders in the world.

He stayed in Osaka in September.
These photos are that I took at the time.

He has strong message.
...Meanwhile, he is so cute and funny!

He was traveling to India.
And he will come back to Osaka in this month!
From Dec 12th to 25th, he stays here.

I'm looking forward to see him!


http://www.florentijnhofman.nl/dev/index.php

autumn color 2

Some hills or mountains are set ablaze with beautiful tints.
But I prefer the autumn leaves in Japanese style gardens or architectures.

The steps ware filled with leaves.



This stand sells some different kinds of sweet rice dumplings.
Some of them have bean paste inside it. Or seasoned with soy sauce.
I like the one with red bean paste fillings and roasted :)


In a garden.

autumn color

Now Kyoto is the foliage season.


I went to Jingoji temple and Saimyoji temple in Takao area, Kyoto city.


These temples are famous for the beautiful colored maple trees.




Its rich colors add to the beauty of Kyoto's autumn.


These places are crowded with tourist at this time of year.
So people who want to take beautiful pictures have to go there early morning.

I could have very good time.

Shinsekai

Tutenkaku is the tower located in Shinsekai area.
It's a well-known landmark in Osaka.


Shinsekai is an old neighbourhood in Osaka city.
It's one of a major tourist spot but has also negative image as dangerous and poor area.


There are a few fugu restaurants and some of them have large fugu-shaped ad displays.

Another famous food in this area is kushi-katsu.
Many kushi-katsu restaurants stand side by side around here.
Kushi-katsu is very popular because it's low-cost and people can enjoy the unique style and energetic atmosphere.

I haven't eaten kushi-katsu in Shinsekai yet.
I wanna try!

Art On Shutters

On a Sunday morning, I walked around Americamura.


In this area, there are many shops for young people selling clothes, accessories, music records and so on.


Most shops open at 11:00 a.m. or later.
I found many pictures on closed shutters.


For years, there has been problem about graffiti in this area.


People who loves Americamura wish to clean up the town.

Owners of shops and locals started to clean the graffiti off
and changed the shop shutters into canvases.

They thought youngsters may hesitate to draw graffiti over the paintings.


Many of pictures on shutters were drawn by students studying art.
They also love this town.


You can fined many more pictures on shutters when you walk around this area.

vineyard

The wind was green and sweet scents.

I ate many grapes and got full stomach.


it's not mature yet


Here is Kobe Fruit and Flower Park.
At the garden, people can pick various fruits of the season: grapes, peaches, apples and pears.
There are many other facilities like flower garden, hotel, hot spring, amusement park etc.

a white gourd-melon soup

Dotonbori2

"Kuidaore taro" is a symbol of Dotonbori.
Tourists were waiting to take photos with him.



I found A Ramen-ya restaurant that has no wall.
Good smell.

Dotonbori

Major tourist destination in Osaka.
Most people have the image of Osaka, not stylish but energetic and friendly.
Here is one of the street you can feel such typical sense of this city.

Maybe
motorbikes are cherished.


I traveled Vietnam.
LOTTERIA is a Japanese chain of fast-food restaurants similar to McDnald's.
but of course Japanese don't park motorcycle in the restaurant.
So it was very interesting sight for me.