The Tanabata Festival (the Star Festival) is celebrated on 7th July in Japan and other East Asian countries. The Star Festival is based on a Chinese legend on two stars, Vega and Altair. The two stars were in love but lived on different shores of the Milky Way. Their master, the heaven’s lord, allows them to meet just once… Read more →
A huge wreath made of pampas grasses called “chinowa” is set in the precincts of many Shinto shrines in June by the lunar calendar, which approximately corresponds to July by the solar calendar. In our tradition, we believe chinowa has magical power. If we pass through for three times as shown in the photo, we can get rid of… Read more →
Spring is coming. Early-blossom varieties of cherry have started to bloom. One day in this week, Webmaster had a walk to citrus groves in the hillside of his home town. Most of the deciduous trees do not bud yet. The season of mandarin oranges, which is the most popular and most produced, has finished already, but some other… Read more →
6th August is the memorial day of Hiroshima on which the atomic bomb was exploded 75 years ago, at 8:15AM of 6th August 1945. (Wikipedia) Some 350 thousands people lived in Hiroshima City at that time. 80 thousands were killed directly by the explosion, and 140 thousands had died until the end of the year by the acute symptom… Read more →
It’s still in rainy season in the central part of Japan. Rice plants are growing up well. When having a walk after the rain this morning, Webmaster encountered many frogs resting on leaves at the riverside of a stream. Those are amagaeru frogs (Hylinae japonica), the commonest frog in Japan. Well grown individuals become more… Read more →
Now, many Green fruits have started growing bigger! Oranges Grapes Pears Kaki (Persimmons) We can enjoy them in July to October. Please visit countryside of Japan! End. Read more →
5th May is the Children’s Day in Japan. It’s national holiday. A family with children (boys) puts up koinobori – carp-shaped streamers – in their garden this day wishing the boys can be strong and courageous as carp. (Traditionally in Japan, carp is the symbol of vigor and vitality.) Of course, today, we celebrate this day for both boys… Read more →
Webmaster found a wild hydrangea “tama-ajisai (Hydrangea involucrate)” in Hakone. The buds on top of sprays. Its name “tama” means a ball because of the shape of the bud. It starts to bloom. Now in Bloom. End. Read more →
It’s rainy season now in Japan. The typical flower of the rainy season is hydrangea, which is planted in many parks and gardens all over the country. Hydrangea (Hydrangea macrophylla) is common indigenous shrub in Japan. Now, many horticultural varieties have been developed. … Read more →
It is early summer now in Japan. Rice seedlings are being planted in paddy fields. We shall soon have a rainy season for one month and half. End Read more →