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2016年2月5日金曜日

Castle in the snow (Matsumoto castle)

In middle of January, heavy snow fall in all around Japan.
It was Monday morning, what I saw was white world.
Cars, houses, buildings, and roads, every thing were covered with snow.

In the weekend of this week, I went to Matsumoto castle to see it with snow.


However a week had passed since the snow fall, there were still lots of them were left.




That week was so cold, the temperature were around -5 degrees in Celsius, 25 degrees in Fahrenheit everyday.

Near the castle, the roads were frozen and so slippery.
I had to be really careful not to trip over.


Getting inside, there were a lot people came to see the castle.
They were all walking a little slowly not to slip.


The color red of the bridge seemed beautiful, shined in white world.


This bridge is under repair and people can't go over now.
I think it is repairing for years, and I have never use it yet.

A swan was swimming under it. It is so small, but you may can see him in the picture above.
He came near me swimming.


As it is so cold, his neck seemed a little thick than as usual.
The birds also have to keep heats in their body.

The castle from the other side.
As this day was a festival, people could get inside of the garden for free.
An entry fee costs 610 yen for an adult, and 300 yen for a child.


Getting inside, there were a lot of snow left.




The garden seemed so different from other season.
It was like this in autumn.

The castle in autumn.

The trees were covered with weed covers.


The covers protects trees from the insects. To protect themselves from cold, the insects digs holes in the tree. Those holes may kill trees, so those covers are needed.


The snow didn't fall so match since that day, but there are still some of them are left.
If they fall again, I will go out and take more pictures again.


Thank you for reading!
One more day to go for weekend!

Have a good night!


2015年11月21日土曜日

The castle in autumn (Matsumoto castle/松本城)

Leaving Okamiya shrine (岡宮神社), I went to Matsumoto castle (松本城).
The weather was so good!

People seems having fun. Not only, people, even dogs seemed enjoying the holiday.


The blue sky was spreading over the castle.





Beside the moat, the tree leaves were changed to red.
I found swan there.



I want to introduce you the museum next to Matsumoto castle.
It cost 600 yen for adults, 300 yen for kids to go inside.

There were armor for the Samurai.


In 16th century, the gun had brought to Japan from Europe.
The gun also changed the way of the war in Japan, too. It seemed stronger than swords, spears and bows.


The armor which shot by gun.
I felt scary seeing this aromor. Three holes were in the armor...


I found Oinari-san (お稲荷さん), the foxes in shrine, here too.


The float used for festival.
I thought that design of the dragon's and the emblem's were like Chinese.
I felt the culture's connection seeing this display.

This float was said used until about 10 or 15 years ago.


The steam pumper truck.
I thought this was train, but it was a firetruck!


These were just a little part of exhibitions.
If you visit Matsumoto castle, please also visit a museum next it.

It is good to take time to see them, but if you don't have time, it maybe not bad just glancing at them and pass quickly. You still can feel the cultures of Japan here.

Thank you for reading!
Have a nice weekend!

松本城, 白鳥, 松本市立博物館, 武者, 鎧

2015年9月29日火曜日

We celebrates harvest moon (Cyu-syu no meigetsu / 中秋の名月, Beautiful full moon in middle autumn)

In Japan, people enjoys full moon in September.

We calls the full moon night "Cyu-syu no meigetsu."
"Cyu-syu" means "Middle of autumn" and "meigestu" means "beautiful full moon".


At the end of August, we harvests vegetables.
When October comes, we harvests good rice.

In the middle period of harvest, people thanks for good vegetables, and wishes for good rice.

It maybe near to Thanks giving day in U.S..


Not only flowers, we decorates silver glasses and dumplings at this time.




In front of Matsumoto castle, a small festival was held at this day.
Ladies Kimono were serving Japanese tea.




I heard music of Japanese instruments from the castle.


In the soft lights, people seemed enjoying night walking.




I didn't know that this days was global-scale moon day, "Super moon".
Isn't it fantastic that every one in the world were watching the moon this day?

I think we can still see beautiful moon today.

Thank you for reading.
Have a nice evening!!



中秋の名月, 松本城, 観月, お月見, 団子


2015年9月7日月曜日

Japanese drama, played outside in the middle of summer season. (Nou play / 能, Matsumoto castle / 松本城) vol.2

September came and it is getting cooler here.
(I heard it is still hot in Tokyo, though...)

Before the autumn comes, I have some more themes which I want to introduce here.
I have to make little more time...

Anyway, I will write about next Nou play.

The act's name is "Ten-Ko".




Before the night comes, the fire was lit on fire woods.


Craftsman sets the woods.


The fire was brought by priestess.


Fire were lit by the students from Taiwan and France.
I'm glad to see the foreign people participates this kinds of event.





 I wish the students liked the event and interested in Japanese culture.

After the night came, the act started.


"Ten" means "Heaven" and "Ko" means "hand drum".

At era of "Kan", a kingdom in old China prospered about 2200 years ago, a boy named Tenko born. At a night day before he born, his mother saw strange dream.

A hand drum came down from the sky, and it went inside of her body.
When he born, the hand drum really fell from the sky.

Tenko grown and loved the drum.
When he plays it, the beautiful sound spread in the air.

The emperor heard about the drum, and he wished to have it.
Soldiers came to Tenko, and took the drum.
Not only robbed the drum, he was killed by the soldier even he was just a child.

The parents were in distress over losing Tenko.

Few years later, father were called by the emperor.
The drum never made a sound and emperor thought his father may can play it.

The act started from the scene Tenko's father met emperor.


When he saw the drum, he reminded Tenko, and break down crying.


He thought he also can't make the drum sound like someone else.
If he can't, he knew that he will get killed.

He was prepared of his death, and started beat the drum.


The drum made beautiful sound, and emperor was moved.
Emperor soon realized that it was mistake that he killed Tenko.


He apologized father and promised to hold a mass for Tenko.

At that time, the soul of Tenko came, and started to play the drum and dance.







As he was just a child. He seemed really happy and fun playing the drum and dancing.




He danced through out the night, until the morning comes.
When the sunlight came up, he disappeared.


Before morning comes, act ended.


In the light of fire, Nou play seemed beautiful.
I'm glad if my picture can show it's beauty a little to you.

Thank you for reading!

松本城, 薪能, 夏, 8月, 天鼓