Saturday, June 30, 2007

Grain for design, Eikando Temple, Kyoto

Grain for design, Eikando Temple, Kyoto
This photo is the outer wall of a main building in a temple. The grain woody texture of the wall goes well with the one of the pillar. In this way, the grain pattern often is used as an element of the design in Japanese wooden architecture and skillful eyes and technique are needed to choose materials, cut them out of logs and come out the beautiful grain. The grain is, I think, one of better points of view, when we see Japanese traditional architecture.

Friday, June 29, 2007

Paper lanterns at Yasaka Shrine, near Gion, Kyoto

Paper lanterns at Yasaka Shrine, near Gion, Kyoto

Thursday, June 28, 2007

Powdered green tea, Matcha in Japanese

Powdered green tea, Matcha in Japanese, Kyoto
This is green powdered tea, Matcha in Japanese. It is very bitter and we take it without sugar partly because the added sweet with the tea is rather sweet. The tea has rich caffein and was used for making Zen monks awake during meditation training. The tea is also full of Vitamin and very healthy. By the way, the best volume for a person at a time is said to be three and half sip though I don't know why. And we take it while it is hot since the colder it is, the worst it tastes. But we enjoy cold green tea, not powdered one.

Some of people in Kyoto take the powdered tea every morning and I wish I could take it every day...

Wednesday, June 27, 2007

Deer, one of holy animals in Shinto religion, near Kasuga Shrine, Nara

Deer, one of holy animals in Shinto religion, near Kasuga Shrine, Nara
These deers are living in the park near Kasuga shrine, Nara. Around the park and the shrine are many deers because deers are thought to be one of divine messengers and holy animals in this shrine. By the way, a shrine is a house of Gods of Shinto religion, something of Japanese native religion. The kind of holy animal changes up to shrines. Some shrines honor rabbit, or monkey, or mouse, or fox, cattle and more. If we go to shrines in Japan, we can see some animal's statues there.

Tuesday, June 26, 2007

A leaf on the stepping stone, Katsura Imperial Villa

A leaf on the stepping stone, Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto
I prefer the little beauty, made with the small natural elements around us.

A news

I just would like to let you know that I was interviewd by a web site, the travel cooler

Here is my interview.

I think that thanks to Eric and other members, kindly allowing me to join in your wonderful community, I was interviewed.

Thank you again!

Monday, June 25, 2007

Rustic gate, Katsura Imperial Villa

Rustic gate, Katsura Imperial Villa , Kyoto, Japan

Sunday, June 24, 2007

A paved path with tiny pebbles surrounded with fresh green, Katsura Imperial Villa

A paved path with tiny pebbles surrounded with fresh green, Katsura Imperial Villa, Kyoto

Saturday, June 23, 2007

Tenugui, Japanese traditional handkerchief, shop

Tenugui, Japanese traditional handkerchief, shop, Kyoto
These are Tenugui, Japanese traditional handkerchief. I am sometimes surprised at the difference of the handkerchief between Japan and the Western.

We dry our hands and wipe away the sweat with it, and blew our nose with tissue paper. On the other and, I sometimes happen to see the Western people blew their nose with handkerchief. I'm wondering, don't they have a custom of using tissue so much?

Friday, June 22, 2007

Temporary floor above a river

Temporary floor above a river, Kyoto
This is a temporary floor above a river and used only in summer. People have a lunch there to get cool breeze. In those days, there are no air conditioner and only the water was able to make the hot summer cool.

Thursday, June 21, 2007

The details on the roof, Toji Temple

The details on the roof, Toji Temple, Kyoto
On the corner of the roof in a temple are put some decorative tiles. These have been said to be put to keep evil spirits away from temples. That is why the design of the tiles are designed, based on some Japanese devil.

Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Hydrangea in season

Hydrangea in season, Kyoto, Japan
Now hydrangea, Ajisai in Japanese, is in season and this flower reminds most of Japanese people of rainy season in June and snails on the leaves.

Tuesday, June 19, 2007

Old mask, the mask of Noh

Old mask, the mask of Noh, Kyoto
This is the mask of Noh. Noh, combining drama, dance and both instrumental and vocal music, is Japan's oldest theather and the origin of all Japan's performing arts.

By the way, the facial expression changes up to the position where you will see. If you see this mask from below, like this photo, the mask looks smiling slightly. On the other hand, if from above, this looks a little sad. The mask may seem to have little expression but seeing it from various angles will show you that it has many kinds of expression.

By the way, Here is the article about Modern mask.

Monday, June 18, 2007

Japanese sword, Katana in Japanese

Japanese sword, Katana in Japanese, Kyoto
This is a part of Japanese sword for Samurai, a warrior, and made some hundreds ago. Being put on the silky cloth makes the sword look more sharp. Now such a sword is not used for original purpose anymore and is only displayed at Tokonoma, an alcove of the guest room, to appreciate its beauty.

Sunday, June 17, 2007

Shadow shaped by the sunrays through leaves

Shadow shaped by the sunrays through leaves, Kyoto

Saturday, June 16, 2007

Fresh green

Fresh green, Kyoto

Friday, June 15, 2007

An old wooden house, about to go down

An old wooden house, about to go down, Kyoto, Japan

Thursday, June 14, 2007

The rainy season

The rainy season, Kyoto
The rainy season, tsuyu(梅雨) in Japanese, reportedly started in Kyoto some days ago this year. The season usually last about for a mouth and it doesn't rain all during the season. But it rains very frequently. I don't like the season so much, but the rain changes streets, full of neon at night, into artworks. The rain at night makes the surface of asphalt and pavement full of gems, together with modest light of incandescent lamp. So I prefer wandering around the street at night in the gentle rain, just appreciating the free gems of luminous lights put on the mirror of wet surface, after drinking.

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

Maiko 4, dancing with decorative paper fans

Maiko 4, dancing with decorative paper fans, Gion, Kyoto

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

a velvety carpet of mosses, Saihoji Temple

a velvety carpet of mosses, Saihoji Temple, Kyoto

Monday, June 11, 2007

Paper lanterns at a Kabuki Theater

Paper lanterns at a Kabuki Theater, Kyoto

Sunday, June 10, 2007

Spotted azaleas on the round trimmed vegetation, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto

Spotted azaleas on the round trimmed vegetation, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto

Saturday, June 09, 2007

The fish for love, called "kiss"

The fish for love, called
I love this fish, called "kiss" in Japanese though the word has no meaning of "kiss" in English. I don't know why it is called in this way.

The fish is white flesh and he tempura of this fish is really delicious and I love to kiss "kiss".

Friday, June 08, 2007

At a glance of trimmed vegetation in the garden, Shisendo Temple

At a glance of trimmed vegetation in the garden, Shisendo Temple, Kyoto

Thursday, June 07, 2007

A quiet and peaceful path, Shisendo, Kyoto

A quiet and peaceful path, Shisendo, Kyoto

Wednesday, June 06, 2007

Roof, Sento Gosho, Kyoto

Roof, Sento Gosho, Kyoto

Tuesday, June 05, 2007

Golden folding screen, Daikakuji Temple

Golden folding screen, Daikakuji Temple, Kyoto

Monday, June 04, 2007

Regent's Park in London


I came back from London just now and it had been perfectly sunny in London during my staying.

Excuse me because this photo of rose is not taken in Kyoto but in London. I would like to share the beauty of rose in the Regent's Park and so I uploaded this photo in this blog.

Sunday, June 03, 2007

a narrow path in Kyoto

a narrow path in Kyoto

Saturday, June 02, 2007

Modest light at the entrance of a house, Kyoto

Modest light at the entrance of a house, Kyoto, part 2

Friday, June 01, 2007

Theme Day for the month of 1, June: A view from my bedroom

Theme Day for the month of 1, June: A view from my bedroom, Kyoto
Actually it is not a view from my bedroom because I live in Tokyo now. But it is typically a view from traditional house in Kyoto. The bamboo curtain allows modest wind to go into the room and keep away the sun light from it. This curtain tend to be in use during summer season.

PS. I cannot reply to your comments because I am now in the beautiful country of roses. I'll be back in Tokyo and read them on 5th June.

Many other city daily photo blogs participate in this theme day today, why don't you pay them a visit? Remember, due to time difference they might not all be ready when you visit them.

Seattle (WA), USA - Manila, Philippines - Albuquerque (NM), USA - Singapore, Singapore - Toruń, Poland - Baton Rouge (LA), USA - Seoul, Korea - Saint Paul (MN), USA - Vantaa, Finland - Madison (WI), USA - Saarbrücken, Germany - Cleveland (OH), USA - Chicago (IL), USA - Cottage Grove (MN), USA - Omaha (NE), USA - Bellefonte (PA), USA - Melbourne, Australia - Stockholm, Sweden - Grenoble, France - Lubbock (TX), USA - Boston (MA), USA - Arradon, France - Hyde, UK - Joplin (MO), USA - Kyoto, Japan - Tokyo, Japan - Kansas City (MO), USA - Naples (FL), USA - Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina - Manila, Philippines - Sydney, Australia - Stavanger, Norway - Bucaramanga (Santander), Colombia - London, UK - Chandler (AZ), USA - Nelson, New Zealand - Singapore, Singapore - Hamburg, Germany - Sydney, Australia - Tenerife, Spain - Moscow, Russia - Lyon, France - Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia - Villigen, Switzerland - Anderson (SC), USA - Oslo, Norway - Evry, France - Hayle, UK - Mumbai, India - Kitakami, Japan - Wassenaar (ZH), Netherlands - Menton, France - Monte Carlo, Monaco - Los Angeles (CA), USA - Cypress (TX), USA - La Antigua, Guatemala - Paderborn, Germany - San Diego (CA), USA - Ampang (Selangor), Malaysia - Madrid, Spain - Lyon, France - Selma (AL), USA - Shanghai, China - Baziège, France - Cologne (NRW), Germany - North Bay (ON), Canada - Rotterdam, Netherlands - Stayton (OR), USA - Sharon (CT), USA - Austin (TX), USA - Hong Kong, China - Trier, Germany - Joensuu, Finland - Paris, France - Greenville (SC), USA - Wailea (HI), USA - Budapest, Hungary - Cork, Ireland - Bastia, France