chikyu-biyori... style JAPAN

"Gruuuuu!!! I am Monster!!"

This is my daughter.

"Setsubun" is the third of Februray in Japan.

"Setsubun" is the day means to devide the seasons. According to to the calendar,

the spring will come from the next day of "Setsubun".

The people thought that the bad spirit ( we call "Jyaki") can easily come into daily life

 at the time seasons start to chenges from long time ago.

That's why special event which is exorcise bad spirit still going on.

"Jyaki" is about illness, disaster and starvation and so on.

Ancient people were afraid of them a lots.

And then, people made a "Oni" as a symbol of those bad things.

I think "Oni" is quite interesting existance.

It's perfectly evil!

At any rate he is bad guy.

Appearance is also make us very frightened.

....like this illustration?

I took a long time to find out suitable picture.

Their skin's color is red or blue, has a bull's horn on their head and

wears tiger's tusk and fur.

He holds a iron's bar, rowdy monster!  

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

Wander from the subject of "Setsubun".

Oni appear at many Japanese events.

Not always "Setsubun".

Oni is always villain.

The person will be a hero who exterminated Oni.

However, we have rare story it like,

" To tell the truth, Oni is faint-hearted, unexpectedly good guy

and in the end Oni feel regret and said so sorry to the people."

Because of people might be felt Oni is too poor to killed by hero

everytime.

Therefore, you can see this different kind of images with Oni.

                                                          ↓Hurray!

Oh yes, Do you know the heroine of "Urusei-yatsura" ( this is Japanese comic.)

who is quite popular among the world.

Her name is "Ramu-cyan".

She should be also Oni.

Her father is Oni. His appearance is classic style's image of Oni.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・

 Now back to the "Setsubun" story.

I wrote before that we will do event which exorcise bad spirit on the third of februray.

The event called "Mamemaki" (scatter parched beans.)

We scatter parched soybeans which believes has a special power from long time ago.

Why parched beans?

Because of prevent from beans grow up after scattered.

 Exactly like this phot.

We put beans into square box made by wood.

We call "Masu" about this box. We scatter beans toward to "Oni".

We believe that Oni will come up after get dark.

So, "Mamemaki" should be at night time usually.

We shout "Oni is out! Luck stays inside!"

At first, from inside of house to the outside,we scatter shower of beans.

And then from the inner room to the entrance, we scatter a little beans

again and again. Forced out Oni to outside.

According to the first pidture of this article, It's ok whether somebody wears Oni mask with

playing role of Oni or not.

In a word, important thig is "Spirit".

 "Mamemaki" is typical event at kindergarden in this season.

Neighbor wears Oni mask, and visit my daughter's kindergarden.

Children will scatter beans to Oni.

However, my daughter planing to absent from that day with pretend to be ill.

Becase of the player make frightened children in really.

 "Gruuuuu!! I am Oni~~!!"

Suddenly tiny Oni coming up!

 She is fine if tiny Oni like her will come up

to kindergarden.

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Every day is still cold in Hamamatsu.

Maximum temperature is 12℃, minimum is 2℃ now

I feel so cold when  I turn on the stove in the morning, and I hold my 2years son at midnight

when he start crying.

At that time, This kimono is so useful. We called " Hanten".

"Hanten" is special kimono in Japan, it came into fashion among the people at

the Edo period.

This is waist-length jacket, we used to be wear on top of kimono.

There is a cotton inside. That why so warm!!

( By the way,we have a different kind of  "Hanten" which doesn't have cotton inside.

When the time was Edo period, Carpenters, craftmans and firefighters wore this kind of

"Hanaten" very well.)

We can buy this new style "Hanten" in these days. This is a checked pattern.

A cuff has elastic band, there is a many pockets. It is good for housekeeping.

And the front side has a buttons not strings.

In really, I wear this type now.

There is a cotton inside, so so warm!

When it get duty, I can wash by myself.

With Japanese moral sense,

maybe, It's no problem if you go to garbege bump with wearing "Hanten" ,

but not for shopping.

This is for kids!

I bought this to my daughter at old kimono shop.

This is better than anyone's else in my family.

I thought that this is so cute!

It's remind me of a little boy who appear in the old tale.

It's 3 years since she wore.

Getting small .....

My son wears "Hanten" too.

But he has never wear at daytime in order to he is the person who is sensitive to the heart.

I made him wear "Hanten" for taking a picture by force.

He loves to wear the time after took a hot bath and catch a cold.

It seems he likes this warm taste at that kind of occasion.

Economy is booming in Japan in these days.

Wear "Hanten" getting popular not use an air conditioner often.

Thus, there are various kind of "Hanten" now. 

On the one hand, it is western teste which like I wear.

On the other hand, you can see very Japanese taste's "Hanten".

The price is about ...from 8000yen to 5000yen for the adult,

about 3000yen for the kids.

A person who hate gets clod, shall we wear "Hanten" together

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Continue from last week, I 'll introduce yours to Hiroshima again.

The first picture is Hiroshima castle.

It started building from 1589, and then 2years later, the lord "Terumoto Mouri"

started live in here.

After that, Hiroshima castle was the symbol of Hiroshima during long time.

But, when atom bomb was dropped down in August 6 1945,

Hiroshima castle was also destroyed.

Present castle tower has been rebuilted after World War Ⅱ.

There is a moat and gate around the castle. It's park now.

Anyway, Hiroshima is so convenience for sightseeing becasue of there are

Hiroshima castle and  the skeletal domed building for memorate the atom bomb

at the city center.

There is a Miyajima ( Miya island) which is acknowledged as a world heritage too.

I think Hiroshima is a great sightseeing place.

Opposite side from Hiroshima castle,

there are baseball stadium, pool , and planetarium, museum and so on.

It is a gymnasium on the right side of above's picture.

It was designed by SUMO wrestler's hair style.

The hair style called "MAGE".

When you turn to next corner,

you can see this scenery....yes,

I took a picture from passanger seat.

Let's enjoy drive with me.

Population of Hiroshima is

1,170,000 people.

Unexpectedly, big city, there are

many high building.

City center of Hiroshima has a tram.

I 'm get used to see tram from childhood, that why I don't feel any special with tram.

However, it's rare to see such a sight in Japan.

Tram is so popular among the turist.

This tram is new type, there is a also very old type.

The tram is still running which re-started few days after the atom bomb dropped down .

I couldn't happen to see old type in this time. It's sad....

But they runs many.

By the way, the parking garage is kind of fun I always use when I do shopping.

There is an underground of high building,

at first, drive into underground in this way.

Along the sign, drive to the building you want to go, and get parking ticket.

Go ahead more, there are an alphabet letters entrance from A to F.

You can park wherever you want.

There is a stuff at every booth, he will guide your car. Like this!

When you get off your car, enter into the door,

there is a such a place like this picture ↑.

You can go to underground city directly from here.

Your car is put on a belt conveyer, sliding the side,

housed in a parking garage. ↓

I can't smell the typical stinky smell with exhaust gas at all.

It's no problem even if you are not good at parking.

When you spent 2,000yen for shopping, the fee will be free with 2 hours.

  How useful isn't it?

The person who working at here, he asked me that why I take a picture such a place.

I answerd " Because of it's rare! ".

He explained to me" The head building of MATSUDA's parking garage is more incredible than

hereThe car will go up in a moment not sliding."

But I couldn't figure out what he wanted to say me!

( Hiroshima is the head city for MATSUDA. MATSUDA is the name of famous car maker in

Japan.)

When you go home,

there is an unhebited booth with

opposite side .

Put the ticket into the machine,

your car will be came up with

sliding from the entrance which

has a car sign on top of the door.

 Shopping was so fun today too!

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I took a various pictures when I was in Hiroshima at New Year's day.

This isn't introduce famous place of Hiroshima, Sorry,

I just want to show yours where I always go in Hiroshima.

Please enjoy to read this is normal Hiroshima citizen's life

The first picture is the entrance of the department store which placed at city center.

An entrance hall built in wellhole style like 10 floors,

It's so comfortable big space.

Depend on the season, the decoration has been changed.

Now it was New Year's decoration , you know!

There are many stores, hotel, offices and restaurants in this building.

It's also connected to large underground city.

I'm addicted to 100yen shop at this city in these days!

There are many goods which looks like not 100yen.

This shop is so popular.

There is a lots of people everytime!

Girls tends to admiring goods, like

french taste(?).

Therefore, those goods are also

popolar at here.

On the other hand, cute japanese

goods are also popular in these days.

That's why, half of goods is franch

taste, lest of half is japanese taste

in this shop.

We moved middle of city by car,

and then, we ate lunch at restaurant of hotel.

Entrance of hotel , they decorated the new years decorative pine, we called " Kadomatsu".

This hotel called " Oriental Hotel Hiroshima".

I love this restaurant, " New York Cafe".

We called " Viking" (this is a strange word isn't it??) about "buffet-style".

(If you have a plan to visit Japan, I prefer, you had better remember this word.)

When you ordered main dish, after that, bread, soup and salada, drink, dessert

are buffet-style in this restaurant.

The price is about 1800yen.

Buffet-style for dessert isn't

rare in Japan.

Especially, cake, pudding and coffee

are so yummy in this restaurant.

You can also enjoy chatting at large

space with eating delicious lunch!

You can get food many times as much as you want. Not one time!

Waiter bring new cake, macaron and pudding from kitchen one after another.

The person who loves sweets,

don't you think want to visit here once??

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A HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Thank you for checking Miko's blog in this year!

It has been over a year since I started blog, still I have a lots of topics

in my head.

Please enjoy my blog from now on!

Anyway, I came around new year's day at my parents house

which is located at Hiroshima-city, Hiroshima prefecture.

From December 31th to January 1st, Hiroshima had a heavy snow.

I enjoyed scenery of snow after a long interval.

( Yes, Hamamatsu doesn't have a snow at all !)

My kids excited their first snow in their life,  I said many times

" you have to go home, It will be cold soon, Be careful!"

But it was too excited to come home!  

They had been continue rolling snowman,

 it became too big to put up snowman's head on it.

Hiroshima city located on the southwest from Hamamatsu.

Here is warm place, but around my

parents house has a big snow about

once a year.

Because of there is a secluded

place in the mountains.

My mother decorated entrance with new year's style.

Shellfish in front of flower arrangement and small Kite on the wall

are lucky ornaments.

Family and relatives were came around,

we ate "Oseti" ( festival food for the New Year) together.

We drink a sip of Japanese sake  for a toast in reallly.

It called " Otoso".

However,  there are many young people who doesn't

drink Japanese sake, so we drink a toast with champagne

in these years.

I think "Oseti" is good with wine and beer.

Children are looking forward to get " Otoshidama".

Children are given about 3000yen small money by adult at New Year's day

from long time ago.

Above picture is " Potibukuro" ( tiny envelop).

Adult put new money into this small envelop and then give it to children.

Children can get "Otoshidama" from uncle, neighbors and so on.

And then, they goes to city for buy toys which they really wanted to buy

in this day.

But they already got Christmas present before the New Years'day.

Besides,parents bought toys to them normaly.

Therefore, they are not so excited with "Otoshidama" anymore.

When my father was child, "Otoshidama" was the only money he could use

with free once a year.

Now, this custom was changed completely.

......But   when they get "Otoshidama", they hold envelop with both hands and bow,

It seems they are still very Japanese!!

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I went to my parents house with my familiy for spend new years day together.

Japanese highway used to be so expensive.

But from this year, government made reduce the price to 1000yen only for weekend and

holiday. (This rule is for car which carried ETCsystem.

ETC mean is Electoronic Toll Collection System.)

My car has ETC, when the day we used highway was holiday.

I expected the price might be 1000yen...!??

However, it was 2500yen. I don't know why, but we used pay 12000yen!

Compare to 12000yen, it still cheap, well, all right

When we take on the highway, go throught Hamamatsu,

At first, there is a beautiful scenery of Hamanako( the name of lake).

And then, there is an industrial area which represented Nagoya and Yotsukaichi in Japan,

Toyota is the most popular industrial company in Nagoya.

Yotsukaichi is also famous as a chemical industrial area from long time ago.

There are huge tanker and many chimney of factory at harbor.

I think service area is so fun in Japan in these days.

People who works at service area make big effort to show their local originality

for make tourist want to stop at service area .

"Kariya highway oasis" is the most famous service area in Japan.

Here is in Aichi prefecture.

There is a ferris wheal, but here is not amusement park.

There is a ferri wheal, hotspring, and huge souvenir stores in big service area.

It looks like kind of theme park.

There are many souvenir stores.↑

This service area is placed on Kariya, there are not only Kariya's local products,

but also Nagoya, Ise and Hamamatsu's local products.

←　This is very famous luxury

bathroom!

I think this bathroom is the best in Japanese service area.

Because of the floor has beautiful rug,

there is a big-name brand sofa.

Anyway, so wide space,

washstand and powder room are like

gorgeous hotel.

when women tired for long journey,

it makes us relax.

By the way, man's bathroom' s design

was like futurism.

←　This is natural hotspring.

This is outside, only for foot hot

spring.

We called " Ashiyu".

Fee is 100yen.

There are many "Ashiyu" in Japan,

but we seldom find "Ashiyu" at

service area. so here is popular.

We sould had to drive more and more, we couldn't take hotspring so long.

We just drunk free tea (!) at cafe, and continued our journey again.

Pass through Aichi prefecture, here is Mie prefecture.

We can see "Nagashima supa-land"(amusement park) soon.

They have famous roller coaster which may speed is 153km, fallen down from

97m hight at the falling angle of 68°

I don't want ride on this ever never!

We went through Iga, Kouga( here is famous for Ninjya) in Mie prefecture.

We took a rest at Otsu in Shiga prefecture.

They have the biggest lake which name is Biwako.

There is a service area around Biwako.

When we went to restaurant for lunch, we found this ornament near by entrance.

This area is famous as town of pottery.

It called "Shigaraki-yaki".

This raccoon dog is represented on Shigaraki-yaki.

There is no japanese who don't know this raccoon dog.

He holding sake bottle with one hand,

holding bankbook with the other hand.

Lucky ornament!

Normally, they are placed on entrance

at Japanese restaurant.

Do you want to buy???

We ate soft ice cream at Otsu service area.

There are lots of soft ice cream with local original taste ones at Japanese service area

from long time ago somehow.

Peach, muscat grapes,milk taste and so on.

There is a taste of Boysenberry which grown at this area.

This was yummy!

We should had to drive more until get to Hiroshima prefecture.

After Otsu, kids were fall in asleep. Terefore we didn't take a rest anymore.

550km from Hamamatsu to Hiroshima.

550km seems long long distance for us. But for example,

it is not so faraway for Franch or American people their country has huge land.

Next time I will introduce yours to Japanese new years day at Hiroshima prefecture.

Have a great new years day!!

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Finally I got Swine flu.

This flu is so popular at all over the world.

How about your country?

The number of Swine flu's patient became up to 12.46 million from this July in Japan.

Many elementary school and kindergarden are still closed.

Students has to wear mask when they go to school at my neighbor's school.

And when I go out, there is a disinfectant liquid everywhere.

This has never happen in Japan until a year ago.

We have a special order for the patient who has a fever or cough.

At first, They have to report about their symptoms,

and have to wait separated room from normal waiting room or

have to wait at their car  until their turn came!!

                                                             ↑Disinfectant liquid at the entrance of

                                                                grocery store

In fact, when I went to see a doctor, they let me waited 40min in my car!!

( It was so hard to wait in my car! Unbelievable!)

My husband went for work, so I asked my neighbor to take care of my 2 kids during

I were in hospital.

And then, I could go to see a doctor. After I had a check, I knew I got the Swine ful.

My doctor prescribed Tamiflu. When I took it, my fever went down soon,  I seems recovered.

I heard that the symptom of Swine flu is depend on the person.

I seems that my case was a mild.

Most of Japanese company has a strict rule which is if one of their family member get

Swine flu, they can't go for work.

(Because of they already might be get Swine flu.)

My husband couldn't go for work during 2days.

Anyway, at last government just started to do vaccination for Swine flu.

 We don't have enough vaccine. Therefore, government made the order of priority.

The people who work for medical treatment, the people who has a disease,

pregnant women, under 10years old kids. (my children couldn't take a vaccine yet.) 

Speaking of shortage, we also don't have enough Tamiflu for children.

Doctor uses Tamiflu for adlut to children.They open the pill, and make small amount

for children one by one at the pharmacy.

You can see clearly how Japanese medical system get in trouble with Swine flu.

Anyway, I am tottally fine now.

Please take care of yourself!

Don't you use MIKO's blog for study language?

Please enjoy new blog sait MICODICO!  You can see 2 different kind of languages

at once.

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I got comment " I would like to see Japanese church " on the other day.

I visited my favorite small church at Hamamatsu. Because of Christmas will come to soon

There is in a forest near by lake which name is " The Catholic Hamamatsu Church".

This church is hard to find, but they say mass regulary.

By the way, why am I like this church.....

The reason is, when I open the door,

there is an extremely beautiful like take my breath away! 

It is totally opposite from the exterior of a church.

As you can seen, their roof is made by wooden frame. It is like the bottom of the ship.

The part of the ceilling is only made by glass, you can see a nature light.

When I stand at here, I always feel warm and calm like I am in a forest.

This is the picture when I looked up.

Most of beam and pillar are made by good wood.

The light from above is not too bright, not too dark, I feel so comfortable.

Red and green parts are staindglass.

There is no letters and pictures on it. Is there any reason with it?

Sorry, I can't figure out.

When I came here last year, The christmas Belen doll were decorated.

It was not yet in this year.

What is the name of this stuff which is hanging from ceilling in front of altar.

This design remind me of a folded japanese paper.

Don't you think so?

About Japanese style, there is a shoji(a paper sliding door) both side of an aisle.

Maybe, I think architect dare to put shoji at here.

There is a common silence between architect in Japanese culture and western church.

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New open, Miko Diko, you can read 2 diffrent languages at one screen.

Please check it at once!

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 This is the maple tree.

I took this picture at the park I often visit.

Autumn is the season leaves chenges their color into red or yellow in Japan.

This maple leaves was fresh green from spring to summer, But the color has been

changed to the red now.

Especially, I love the way of changes their color in this tree.

I had a hunch that the color would became red, and then I went to the park with camera.

How coincidence!

The maple trees are at their best now! Not too late, not too early!

A forest is surrounded by load in the park.

I will introduce you to other beautiful trees which has a flower, and many autumnal tints trees.

Do you know what kind of tree's leaves they are?

Except for maple tree, I think this tree also very Japanese style's one.

The answer is..  Ginkgo trees (Ichyo)!  A half of leaves already had been falled.

you can see many ginkgo tree at the temple and old school.

That's why, I feel nostalgic to this tree somehow.

This is the camellia.

About 4meters high, big camellia.

Many people plant camellia their garden, because of they can enjoy various kind of colors and

figures.

We can make an oil from this tree's fruit, We called " camellia oil" ("tsubaki").

Camellia oil was very handy to keep Japanese women's black hair beautiful at the old time.

The treatment soap with camellia oil is popular among Japanese women now.

And this is green tea's field after reaped. So quiet.

In fact there is a my favorite flower in this season too.

This is a flower of green tea tree.

Don't you think how sweet and beautiful flower it is??

Very smal flower like 3cm, White petal....it is pure white.

And again, maple tree once more.I wish I could gaze at this tree forever.

Why the color is so beautiful which is made by nature....

The human being can hardly make it.

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I am reading the book " The COMPLETE BEATLES Recording sessions" now.

My friend, Kinoko-san gave this book to me.

( I made link to Kinoko-san's sait "ochagayu" on the left side of my japanese page.)

I started listen The Beatles  when I was 12, after then, I'm fan of them.

I listened many kind of music after I knew The Beatles, The Beatles is still be fresh, and they

are in my core of heart.

When they were broken up, I was not born yet.

So, sometimes I imagine how the people was shocked who knows

The Beatlels at that time get shocked by broken up.

Are you listen The Beatles?

Perhaps, Many people might have this book.

" The COMPLETE BEATLES Recording sessions" is not story.

This is only about record of The Beatles's member, it like when, how, which song they

recorded. This is very thick book.

But, this book is extremely fun for the fan of them who listen their music again and again.

I listen The Beatles with reading book in these days,

They are so cool even if I listened many many times,

Mico's favorite album ..."The Beatles (White Album)"

Mico's favorite songs best 5 ( However this is cahgeable!)

         Dear Prudence

         All My Loving

         I'm So Tired

         Blackbird

         Nowhere Man

Tell me your best 5

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