Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
tanabata amulets
tanabata festival amulets. wishes are written on bits of paper and tied to bamboo branches.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
still more shiramine shrine, tanabata dances
Girls do a very slow circle dance with drums around the tanabata.
shiramine shrine, tanabata dances
Tanabata dances were held at Shiramine Shrine. Tanabata is a mid-summer festival, also known as the Star Festival. It's a celebration of thwarted love [in the vein of Romeo and Juliet]. "Wish Trees" are made from bamboo and paper wishes are tied to the tree.
Friday, July 17, 2009
shiramine shrine, kenmari games
Imagine a cross between 4 square and soccer played in heian period silken robes, and you come pretty close to kenmari, and ancient kick ball game, recreated for this festival at shiramine shrine.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
japan toy museum
on the outskirts of himeji, tucked in between rice paddies, housed in six exquisite plaster kuras, is the wonderful japan toy museum. not only is it chock full of all kinds of beautiful and interesting examples of japanese toys dating back over one hundred years, it also has many hands on exhibits and a lovely garden. as you can see, i was smitten.
more japan toy museum vintage folk toys
japan toy museum: vintage regional folk toys including kokeshi dolls, daruma figures, paper fish and a plaster dog.
himeji castle
himeji castle, built in the 16th century, is both beautiful and imposing. i was particularly taken by the surprisingly modernist sculptural white plaster walls with round, square and triangular shaped defensive holes perforating them.
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