Webmaster visited Hokekyo-ji Temple in Chiba Prefecture last month. Access: Tokyo (local train 0:04) Akihabara (local train 0:23) Shimousa-nakayama (walk 0:10) @ It can be a half-day trip (for three hours) from Tokyo . Besides a five-story pagoda, there are other historical buildings in the precincts. The approach with So-mon Gate from Simousa-nakayama Station to the temple … Read more →
Shinto is the Japanese traditional religion. As far as Webmaster understands, it was originally formed as the fusion of animism and chiefship in which any natural creatures and phenomena were considered as deities, and the ancestors of powerful families were also respected as deities. The website of Jinja Honcho (Association of Shinto Shrines) may help your further understanding of… Read more →
Webmaster introduces you to leaf-shaped coasters of Ojiya textile. It’s about 18 cm long and 10 cm width each. Webmaster chose only three among many designs. This product is available only at Takuminoza on the second floor of a complex “Sun Plaza” in Ojiya City. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:40) Urasa (local train 0:30) Ojiya (bus 0:10 or… Read more →
T-shirts with nishikigoi print on its back. The kanji are pronounced and mean “nishikigoi”. Not only black, but there are several colors. A small logotype on the breast The t-shirts are available at the shop “Ippin-kan” on the second floor of a complex “Sun Plaza” in Ojiya City, which is next to Nishikigoi-no-sato. Access: Tokyo… Read more →
T-shirts with nishikigoi print on its back. The kanji are pronounced and mean “nishikigoi”. Not only black, but there are several colors. A small logotype on the breast The t-shirts are available at the shop “Ippin-kan” on the second floor of a complex “Sun Plaza” in Ojiya City, which is next to Nishikigoi-no-sato. Access: Tokyo… Read more →
In relation to Colored carp, one which Webmaster introduces you today is Japanese sake “Nishikigoi” produced by Imayo-tsukasa Brewery (Imayo-tsukasa-shuzo, 今代司酒造). As you see, the bottle and package are designed to image colored carp. It has received various prizes on design and taste. A bottle in the box (left) and a bottle taken out from the box (right). The… Read more →
Last week, Webmaster visited Nishikigoi-no-sato in Ojiya City where one can meet hundreds of nishikigoi (colored carp). Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 1:40) Urasa (local train 0:30) Ojiya (bus 0:10 or taxi 0:06 or walk 0:20) Honcho-chuo (walk 0:02) @ Even the entrance of a pedestrian underpass in front of Ojiya Station has the shape of nishikigoi. You can take… Read more →
Yesterday, new item “Colored carp” was uploaded on the Top page. Colored carp (Nishikigoi) firstly appeared in the first half of 19th Century in Nijumurago (二十村郷, a part of present Ojiya City and Nagaoka City in Niigata Prefecture). They say “strangers” in color appeared by mutation among black common carp which were farmed for food. Since then, our seniors continued… Read more →
The second item Country-Japan presents you as souvenir is a soft toy of coelacanth, which is available at the museum shop of Numazu Deepsea Aquarium. There are several sizes of them, small, medium, large and very large. One which Webmaster bought is the small one with about 25 cm long (see below). Many coelacanths on the shelves of the… Read more →
Webmaster visited Numazu Deepsea Aquarium (Numazuko-shinkai-suizokukan) last week. Access: Tokyo (shinkansen 0:53) Mishima (local train 0:05) Numazu (bus 0:15 or taxi 0:10 or walk 0:25) Numazu-ko (walk 0:02) @ The main attractions here are deep-sea life and coelacanth. There are various kinds of deep-sea life with curious forms. Then, coelacanths!! There are five specimens. Two… Read more →