Hiroshima FF 09, Getting Ready

Tens of bird-shaped origamis symbolizing peace in the Peace Memorial Park.

Second day of the festival, May 4, 09. As the main attraction of the festival each  year, candles are put in all open area like in this Pond of Peace, in front of Peace Memorial Park.

Mitsujo Tumulus (V)

Different point of views of this ancient burial mound.

Horse-shaped haniwa. The second time I came to this site, they were already replaced with new horse-shaped haniwas like we see on the right image. 

Image on the left is the sunshade-shaped haniwa. It was modeled after a sunshade of the Kofun period. The underpart of this represents the shade and top of it is a model of an osprey. Image on the right shows a house-shaped haniwa. The ruler lived in the house similar to this one during his lifetime. 

The Japanese word Haniwa means "cicle of clays" and it refers to the unglazed red clay cylinders which were placed around imperial burial mound to stabilized the ground and support the roof of the tomb. First produced by the guild craftsmen of the Kofun period, Japan's Iron Age (3rd-6th centuries), haniwa evolved from simple cylinders into representations of people, animals and houses.

*Thanks Gary, for the link.

The last tumulus is Mitsujo No.3. This facility has a rectangular stone coffin about 1,5 meters tall and 0,2 to 0,5 meters wide. Nothing was discovered inside this coffin. It is now covered with tiles replicating the remains underneath.

The original tumuli were restored after they had laid for in the earth about 0,7 meters on deep.

These photos end my Mitsujo theme today. I hope you enjoyed them.

I am coming with a new theme tomorrow.

Hiro San: Kairimashoo (Let's go home)

Yuri San: Haik (Okey)

Mitsujo Tumulus (IV)

This facility has a rectangular stone coffin, however much is still unknown about this coffin because some of the relics were lost. For this reason, the coffin is covered with red brick sand.

This girl is sitting on the tumulus No.2. Mitsujo Tumulus No.2 is a circular mound of about 25 meters wide and about 3,5 to 5 meters high. This tumulus also has paved stone around the slope of the mound but has no haniwa encircling it.

* Tomorrow, I'll show some details of this tumulus which are called Haniwa (Vogon Poet asked about them in my first post of this theme).

Kumori

Just love it, the darker the better :).

You have bajillion photos but don't know which to post today. Does it happen to you, too? I'm back with not so appealing photos from the street in front of my apaato. I was heading to an Indian restaurant, when got caught by rain. I liked it, unfortunately my camera didn't.

Hiro San: Ame no naka ni utatteiru (I'm singing in the rain...)

Yuri San: Ee, Jamie Cullum? (Jamie Cullum?)

* Kumori=cloudy, about to rain.

Treasure Hunt

This lid is about 50cm diameter, fits one man. It is for dirty water pipe hole.

For covering drinking water valve.

Looking down on the street, I found many steel lids covering holes that may compete the numbers of vending machines around the town. Don't stop your car on this orange lid, something electrifying is happening beneath.
In the middle of the lid is city emblem of Higashi Hiroshima. According to the city website, the characters of bird-like shape are equivalent to the “Hi’s” in Higashihiroshima and represent a Japanese alpahbet "Hi". This expresses the hope of the academic city, surrounded by greenery, for Higashihiroshima City’s unlimited flight and development.

Yuri San : Koko de tomatte mo ii? (Can we stop here?)
Hiro San : Abunai desyoo (It's dangerous)

Pure

Get the brochures for free.
Next to the Kamoizumi, another sake house with a display room. When I went there, it's open, yet closed :).
The man is carrying a basket of pure rice.

Pure water and pure rice are the two ingredients that make Saijo sake as one of the best.
Actually, Saijo's very best water is concentrated in a very narrow strip of land. That's why most of the area of sake breweries were established in a very small section of Saijo.

Right across the house I posted yesterday, our today sake house is Kamoizumi. On the top of the house is an ornament which is usually found hanging on the front.
For more information, here's the link and you can enjoy more photos by H.Orihashi whose collection is really awesome. I envy him so much...

Yuri San: Shasin o torimasuka? (You take pictures?)
Hiro San: Haik, sumi desu (Yes, it's my hobby)

No trespassing!

The door for employees to enter the house.
Ignore the empty pet bottles :). This is at the back of the house. My guess again, the door is closed permanently.
It's not open for public during normal days. There's a schedule available at the Communication Corner if you want to visit these places, and they will provide you with a guide to take the tour. But the best time to come is of course when the festivals.
This is probably the biggest sake house in town. It is situated between two streets.
Yuri San: Ookii desu ne (It's so big)
Hiro San: Yahari sake ga ippai desuyo! (Must be a lot of sake in there)

Irasshai mase...

You can buy sake in a ceramics container or in a wine-bottle-like.
Sakagura Yokocho, is the first sake house when you enter the area from the station.
Yuri San: Irasshai mase (Welcome, how can I help you?)
Hiro San: Ano, sake onegaisi masu (I'd like to buy some sake)

Kirei

The same house I posted yesterday. I love the details in every traditional house in Saijo. It's either a place of worship or a museum. Perhaps it's only open during the sake festival. I couldn't enter as you can see there's a barrier on the stairs up to the house..
* Kirei = beautiful

Doko desuka?

A traditional house in old part of Saijo not far from Saijo Station. In this area we can find many sake production houses, and it is one of must see places in the town.
This photo was taken two weeks ago, the weather was cloudy, but the lights were good for taking pictures. I was trying to take a different POV, this was the best I could find without having any unwanted background but the sky.
For pp, added warmify effect .
Hiro San: Koko wa doko desuka? (Where is this?)
Yuri San: Saijo, sake no machi desu (Saijo, the sake town)

Seems like my photo blog is in a mess. Random picture pops up everyday.
From now on, I'm going to upload photos in certain categories. Thanks to Christopher for the idea.
This is the first post of Sake Photo Series. Taken last week, it is a gate of a Sake house.
Happy weekend every body, I'm waiting for your recent photos.

Sleepy Sunday

After rained all day yesterday, today's weather was totally warm made you feel so sleepy like this small restaurant. Already 1pm, it was still half opened. Another place found not far from Saijo Eki. How do you like the curtain? Care to have one? Wish your weekend was going well.
Hiro San : Kyo wa nani o shimasu ka? (What are you doing today?)
Yuri San : Arimasen, nemui desu ne... ( nothing, so sleepy...)

Kiiro Biru, for Yellow Theme Day :)

Hey, I got yellow fever, too :).
Just came back from wandering the old part of the city several hours ago. Got caught in the rain and wind, I headed home earlier. This photo was taken one block in front of Saijo Station . Still have no idea what building it is. My guess, it's a beauty salon. I'll ask my teacher :). There are two words on the board, the top one is in Chinese character or Kanji, and the word below written in Hiragana characters is "Katsuya", which is probably the name of the building.
I'll try to include some simple daily expression for each post. It helps me to review my Japanese lessons, and I hope you can enjoy it, too.
Yuri San : Kore wa hoteru desu ka? (Is this a hotel?)
Hiro San : Ie, kore wa biyouin desu. (No, this is a beauty salon)
Care to try the short talk?
* Kiiro biru = yellow building.

Iwakuni Sayounara photos...

We've gone too far from Saijo through my postings today ;)). Nevertheless I did refresh my mind of this place.
Should you interested to go there too, Iwakuni Station on the Sanyo Main Line is about 45 minutes from Hiroshima Station, and is in the center of the city. From Saijo Station to Hiroshima Station, it takes 30-45 minutes by train depends on the train, regular or rapid.
I prefer going there by bus. Do the share with friends to rent a mini bus for a day. It just costs you about 4000 Yen and is worth it. There are some interesting place to see during the way to Iwakuni, why not stop and see what's there?

by the river...

Try to see the river along using one of these boats. This was taken on right side of the bridge end before entering Kikko Park. I forgot to tell you earlier that we have to pay for some amount of money at the locket (I think it's 500 Yen).
In the summertime on the Nishiki river, we can see traditional cormorant fishing where the fishrmen wear traditional clothing such as the noble’s headgear called “kazaore eboshi”, aprons, straw skirts, and straw sandles, perform this over 300 year old fishing technique. The fishermen control the cormorant, making them catch a fish, which is then retrieved from the cormorant’s mouth by the fisherman.

Tabemashoo....

Along the Nishiki River, people are enjoying their lunch time while sightseeing.
Some are even playing in the shallow river.

Sakura at Kikko Park

Sakura, seen from across the Nishiki River. On the other side of the Kintai Bridge, we can see enter Kikko Park The park has a big fountain and contains numerous shops as well as a variety of flowers. Kikko Park is also home to a sanctuary for white snakes. These snakes are found only in Iwakuni, and have been designated as special national treasures by the Japanese government. The white snake is a symbol of Benten, the Japanese goddess of wealth. The white snake is considered a sign of good luck in Japan. Many people come to pray to the snakes so that they might be successful in their businesess. Far in the background, on the hill is Iwakuni Castle.
We're going there later :).

Last Year Series in Iwakuni

I visited this place in the spring, April last year (2008). For me as a tropical person, it's a wow ;). Tourists from both Japan and overseas who visit Hiroshima and Miyajima often extend their travels to include Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture. In early spring, the sight of sakura, along the Nishiki river is unforgettable. What is famous in Iwakuni besides its cherry blossoms/sakura? This is the Kintai Bridge which spans the Nishiki river and is made completely of wood, without nails.

last year...

Spring is already here, yet not the Sakura (cherry blossoms). There's an event that is not gonna be missed by the Japanase during this season. Hanami festival or seeing Sakura.
I'm now waiting for Sakura to come, probably in the next two weeks.
For now, let me just show some photos I took during Hanami last year in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture.

Wandering Miyajima

He's waiting for the passengers who want to take a ride in a rickshaw for sightseeing around Miyajima.
When you are in there, don't forget to take a ride on this rickshaw. The ricksahw has several names, among them are Jinrikisha and Shafu. For Miyajima information, you can visit this link