Blog　2018年03月の記事

2018年3月10日

Camellia at Kurotani-san

The Konkai Komyou-ji (金戒光明寺), also known as Kurotani-san (くろ谷さん), is an old temple in Kyoto established by Honen Shonin (法然上人, the religious reformer and founder of the first independent branch of Japanese Pure Land Buddhism called Jōdo-shū). In front of Eiun-in (永運院), one of the sub-temples in the premises, there is an enormous Tsubaki (椿, ・・・

2018年3月10日

Dandelions and Adonis Flowers

After the arrival of the plum blossom season, Tanpopo (たんぽぽ, Dandelion) and Fukujyuso (福寿草, Adonis) flowers begin to appear on many grassy roadsides. Dandelion is a strong plant which can bloom even at cracks of asphalt. Though it is merely a weed, it always brings a happy sense of early spring to us. Fukujyuso is ・・・

2018年3月8日

Monument of Battle at Gokonomiya Shrine

This year is the 150th anniversary of Meiji Ishin (明治維新, Meiji Restoration), as well as the Battle of Toba and Fushimi (鳥羽伏見の戦い). In the Fushimi (伏見) district, Gokonomiya (御香宮) shrine, the former battlefield of the severe war, is located. During the war, the shrine was used as the headquarters of the new government army, and ・・・

2018年3月6日

Yuzen Nagashi (Washing Kimono Silks in the River)

In Kyoto, surrounded by mountain ranges from three directions, run many beautiful rivers from the north to the south. In the old times, people utilized the clear water from the mountains for a dye-art technique called Yuzan Nagashi (友禅流し), or washing kimono silks in the river to remove the masking paste and excess dye in ・・・

2018年3月4日

Kimono for Hinamatsuri (Girl’s Festival)

Hinamatsuri (雛祭り, Girl’s Festival) is a Japaneses traditional event annually held on March 3rd, where people celebrate and pray for the health of their daughters. There are various opinions about the origin of the festival, and there’s no historical evidence to identify the beginning of the custom. Some say the Hina asobi (雛遊び, doll play ・・・