Otto's blog

Flowers #1

2月

24日

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After my last blog post, I thought you might like something more pleasant to look at. These are some plum blossoms near my house. Nice, aren`t they?

Spring is coming!

Konomiya Shrine Hadaka Matsuri

2月

18日

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On Tuesday my Japanese friend & I joined a team from his hometown of Haruhi for this year`s Konomiya Shrine Hadaka Matsuri.

After polite introductions & a discussion about the day`s schedule, we all changed into our loincloths (fundoshi). Then, after some final preparations, & a lot of complaints about the cold, we began a tour of the neighbourhood, while carrying a long piece of bamboo with good-luck messages tied to it. We shouted "Washai! Washai!" which I guess means "Freezing! Freezing!"

We stopped at various houses to drink sake & greet people, then we did something I didn`t expect - we went to an old-people`s nursing home, where the main doors were opened for us, & we went straight into the lobby. Suddenly I was standing half-naked, holding a piece of bamboo, in front of a room crowded full of old people in wheelchairs, all clapping & cooing. It felt pretty strange...! But it made me proud to be a member of my group, & thankful to whoever arranged for us to visit the old-people`s home. They looked happy to see us.

On our 5-hour journey to Konomiya Shrine we also visited a couple of pre-schools. I realized that this festival is not just about irresponsible behaviour, but is also a kind of community bonding activity.

Next year the festival will be held on February 4 - a Saturday - so it will be much bigger than this year.

I`m looking forward to it.

Coin Purse

2月

17日

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At Teragoya, we have a lot of gifted students with interesting skills & hobbies.

This is a present I received from a student. It`s a hand-made, cloth coin purse.

Thanks, Makie - nice work!

Konomiya Hadaka Matsuri Ｑｕｉｚ

2月

11日

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One of Japan`s most interesting festivals is Konomiya Shrine`s `Hadaka Matsuri` - Naked Festival. This year it will be held on Tuesday, 15th of February.

Do you know it? How well? Let`s find out with this quiz!

1. Although it`s called `Naked Festival`, participants wear:
a) loin cloths (fundoshi)
b) traditional Japanese split-toed footwear (tabi)
c) headbands (hachimaki)
d) all of the above

2. Sake is a big part of the festival. Participants (san`yosha? kanyuusha?) drink it:
a) before the festival
b) during the festival
c) after the festival
d) all of the above

3. Participants arrive at the shrine after walking a few hours from:
a) nearby suburbs
b) suburbs far away
c) they don`t remember
d) any of the above

4. Participants carry:
a) long bundles of bamboo (naoizasa)
b) cartons of sake
c) other participants who can`t walk anymore
d) any of the above

5. To keep warm, participants:
a) scream "Waaah! Sabuiiiii!!"
b) try to keep moving
c) drink sake
d) all of the above

6. If a participant gives you a piece of coloured cloth, you should:
a) wash it
b) wash your hands
c) keep it for good luck
d) all of the above

7. At the climax of the festival, everyone rushes towards:
a) the `Shin-otoko` (a special man chosen by the shrine)
b) the toilets
c) home
d) all of the above

If you`re free on Tuesday, why not take a look? Konomiya Shrine is right beside Meitetsu Konomiya Station.

By the way, d) is the answer to all the questions!

Cool Cars in Ichinomiya #4

1月

28日

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Actually, I came across this car in Gifu, not Ichinomiya.

It`s a 1989 Nissan Pao. Not many were made, & now they`re kind of collectors items.

I don`t usually take photos of the inside of strangers` cars, but I was so impressed by the retro dashboard design of this car, I couldn`t resist.

I love it!

Australia Day, 2011

1月

26日

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26 January is Australia Day. It celebrates the arrival in Sydney of several ships full of English criminals (they used to be sent to America, but the Americans learnt how to make their own).

From The Morning Post, London, 1 November 1786:

“This thief colony might hereafter become a great empire, whose nobles will probably, like the nobles of Rome, boast of their blood.“

Not a great empire yet maybe, but we are in the finals of the Asian Cup - it`s a start!

Happy Australia Day!

Japanese Brick House

1月

23日

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Traditional Japanese houses are made from wood, or a wood frame with the spaces filled with bamboo & clay. However, nowadays almost all houses are either concrete, or use a wooden frame covered by steel panels.

Brick houses are very rare in Japan. One reason is that they can be badly damaged by earthquakes. However, today I saw one being built not far from my home. I was surprised.

I hope it lasts longer than 30 years - the average lifespan of a modern Japanese house.

Snowfall at Iwato Shrine, 16 Jan. 2011

1月

21日

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These are some photos I took at Iwato Shrine in Imaise last Sunday. I think Japanese shrines & temples look especially nice & photogenic (good for taking photos of) in the snow.

Last year I bought a waterproof camera for the prupose of taking pictures of sea fish when I go snorkelling, but I realised it`s also handy for taking photos in the snow. I don`t have to worry if it gets wet from the snow.

Click on the above picture to enlarge (& click again to enlarge more).

Snowman

1月

18日

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There has been a lot of snow around here the last few days. On Sunday I made a snowman with Owen. It`s a Japanese-style snowman - it`s made from 2 spheres. In western countries, people usually use 3 spheres when making a snowman.

In most pictures of snowmen I`ve ever seen, a carrot is used for the nose, so I asked my mother-in-law for one. Unfortunately she only had big ones, so my snowman looks a bit like me (because of the hair too...?)

I want to try making a bigger one, so I hope the snow doesn`t disappear too soon.

Brisbane Flood

1月

16日

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This week there was a bad flood in my hometown of Brisbane, Australia. It has been on the news here in Japan. Fortunately my family members & their houses are okay (thanks everybody who asked me about them). The flooding was worst on the west side of the city (the bottom of this photo), but my family mostly live on the east side of town (the top of the photo).

The flood was also very severe in places west of Brisbane, like Toowoomba, where it arrived suddenly. Some people have died, but nobody is sure how many yet.

It`s shocking to see familiar views so transformed by flood waters.