the view from japan

senkō

hugh ashton — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 06:03:47 +0000

senkō (線香) is the incense (”joss sticks”) burned at temples and shrines, as well as in butsudan, the home shrines honoring the dear departed (we have one for my mother-in-law and father-in-law, though neither my wife nor I is Buddhist). Usually sold and burned in bundles like this and often placed in a large bronze bowl about 1m in diameter in a bed of ash at temples.

This was taken at Zeni-Arai Benten, about 20-30 minutes’ walk from our house in Kamakura. It’s the shrine where you can wash money and Benten, whose theology is ferociously complex (just see her Wikipedia page), blesses you with your money being increased once you’ve washed it (it worked really well for a friend of mine when I did it for him by proxy – he cashed in his Microsoft share options and became a very rich man indeed).

Straight out of the camera, by the way. Nothing added, nothing taken away.

nannohana

hugh ashton — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:16:40 +0000

nannohana – brightens the February fields, and the dinner table. Often boiled or even fried, and eaten as a vegetable.

ume

hugh ashton — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 06:06:19 +0000

ume is usually translated as “plum”, but apparently these trees (梅) are closer to apricots than plums, if you want to be pedantic about it. They’re the first splash of color after New Year, and they make you feel that spring is in the air. The skies are blue, the air is dry, and the smell of these things is heavenly. Then it starts to snow… and you know winter is still with us. But ume remain as a symbol of the time of year, and in many ways are preferable to the rather more vulgar cherry blossoms. Apparently at one time hanami (flower viewing) referred to ume, and not cherry.

This is, of course, two photos (of different ume trees) with some elementary Photoshopping. The sky is untouched, though – it really was that color that day.

fuyu

hugh ashton — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 06:08:49 +0000

fuyu (冬) – winter – not much more to add to this…

yamabushi taking the train

james a. jack — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 06:00:21 +0000

A Shugenja (Yamabushi) on his way to Kyoto.

sake

hugh ashton — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 06:00:02 +0000

sake forms an integral part of many Japanese festivals. At New Year, many people drink a rather sweetened warmed sake, but this (I think) is the ordinary stuff, though served from a golden “teapot” at Hachiman, Kamakura. I really took this for the smile, though.

city of the living, city of the dead

james a. jack — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 06:00:03 +0000

Kyoto cityscape as seen from a Buddhist graveyard.

koma-inu

hugh ashton — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 05:42:41 +0000

Although these beasts in front of Shinto shrines are called koma-inu (dogs), they’re actually closer to the Chinese lions that guard temples. One says “A” with his mouth open, and the other says “N” with her mouth closed.

This was taken close to our house. I desaturated the background to increase the 3D effect of the statue popping out of the picture.

early morning on the train

robert b. staehlin — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 06:00:47 +0000

Taking the first (non-rapid) train from Narita Airport back in to Tokyo on a lazy Tuesday Morning. Was quite surprised to see how empty it was….

yatai

james a. jack — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 06:00:22 +0000

Tanabata festival in Daito, Shimane prefecture.
A young boy is waiting in anticipation for the fried potatoes he just ordered at a “yatai” street vendor.