カテゴリー: JAPAN

カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE Health JAPAN LIFE MLE Travel

KotoToi Dango

KotoToi Dango.

A kind of Japanese sweets.

I wonder why I feel the need to put the word “Japanese” every time I show something originated in Japan?

Because, people are not familiar with.

OK, so here it is!

Another Japanese sweet.

KotoToi Dango.

Dango means this kind of round squashy food.
(For exmple, if they are made of meat, they are called Niku Dango, meatball. However, a ball is not called Dango. A ball is called Tama in Japanese. Hey, complicated! Sorry.）

OK, I got the Dango part. But why the name KoToi?

KotoToi is the name of a street in Tokyo.

KotoToi Dango is originated from there.

カテゴリー
Beauty Blog in English CULTURE Health JAPAN MLE Travel

Japanese Sweets

When I visited Kyoto this New Year, just before getting in Shinkansen to Tokyo, I popped into a small Japanese style cafe at Kyoto Station.

And I had a wonderful little treat.

This yellow round thing is Nama-Yatsuhashi, with Kinako powder sprinkled over.

The black small cup on the left is Kuro-Mitsu, the Japanese sweet syrop.

The brown cup on the right is Japanese tea.

The most famous Japanese sweets for travelers to Kyoto is YatsuHashi.

YatsuHashi is a kind of cookies, seasoned with cinnamon.

When it is served unbaked, then it is called Nama-YatsuHashi, as Nama means raw or fresh.

It is soft and delicate.  Happy!

Taste Japan.

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カテゴリー
Beauty Blog in English CULTURE JAPAN MLE Travel

The SoundScape of Secret Spring Water

Another healing soundscape from Elica.

This is the sound of secret spring water for tea ceremony in Ginkaku-Ji.

It was discovered in the 15th century when the pavilion was built.

Actually, the pavilion was built because of this spring water.

Feel the smoothness of the beautiful fresh green rocks and drippings of water.

The filming day was very quiet, but you may hear people’s footsteps and voices as well.  I think they too are the soundscape.

Enjoy.

カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE JAPAN MLE Travel

Silver Pavillion

I have shown you some sounds and photos of Ginkaku-ji temple. It is also known as the Silver Pavillion.

It was built in the15th Century by a strong Shogun Ashikaga Yoshimasa, to spend his life after retiring.

And after his death, it was turned into a Zen temple, after his wish.

The spirit of Zen is tranquility.

People try Zen to find calmness in the heart.
[Today’s IKI]Check out the word Zen.

Zen needs to be explained more in detail, like Yoga, but leave it for now and enjoy the picture.

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Beauty Blog in English CULTURE Health HEART JAPAN Travel

Sound of Waterfall of Ginkaku-Ji, Kyoto

Another healing video of only 12 seconds.The sound of a tiny waterfall in the Ginkaku-Ji temple.

https://youtu.be/rWbzod79E8I

It is interesting to see rich people’s gardens in the world.

They tell me their mind and philosophy of the people and of the era.

This waterfall made with natural spring direct from the mountains behind also tells us what the Shogun of Ginkaku-Ji needed in his mind.

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カテゴリー
Beauty Blog in English CULTURE FUN JAPAN MLE Travel

Van Gogh and Japanese Painting Style Ukiyo-E.

I found perfect pine twigs to take a photo like Ukiyo-E.

Van Gogh was very fond of the Ukiyo-E style, and he left many paintings in the style.
　　　　　↓

One of the points of Ukiyo-E is its exaggeration.

But look at my photograph!

Far-away temple peeping from between the voluptuous pine twigs.

This is no exaggeration.
This is a real angle you can enjoy at Ginkaku-Ji, Kyoto.

Think of this, what Ukiyo-E painters saw might have been quite real for them.

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カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE Health JAPAN MLE Travel

The Sound of Water in a Japanese Garden

Relaxing time!

Enjoy the sound of water in a Japanese garden.

The garden is one of the exclusive Japanese Tofu restaurants in Kyoto, Junsei.
http://www.to-fu.co.jp/en/


Every new year, I visit here.  Now it becomes almost my ritual to spend a day of the. new year festive season.

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カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE Health JAPAN MLE Travel

Yuba

これが湯葉鍋

We have many many kinds of soya cooking.

Tofu, Miso, Syoyu (Soy Sauce), AbuRageh, Ganmo, AtsuAgeh, and Yuba.

The meaning of Yuba is “The leaf of hot water”.

What?!

Yes, « Yu » is hot water, and « Ba » is a different form of « Ha » which means a leaf or leaves.

Look at this video, and you will know what Yuba is.

Fresh Yuba is like this.
KumiAgeh means “fresh from the pot”.

You can get dried Yuba in shops to bring back home.

Enjoy Japan.

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カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE Health JAPAN LIFE MLE Travel

Sand Garden of Kongo-Buji

蟠竜亭手前から見たところ

Have a peaceful time watching this quiet video of the sacred garden.

It is of Kongo-Buji, the main temple of Mount Koya, one of the world heritage.
Sand garden or Rock garden may be well known as a typical Japanese style.

The sand on the ground represents the sea.

The rocks sometimes represent places related to Buddhism, sometimes literature, and sometimes animals such as this.

The idea of the garden is « Two great dragons meeting at the centre of the universe ».

Very Samurai!

カテゴリー
Blog in English CULTURE JAPAN MLE Travel

Simple View of Nara, to Koya-san

Feel the deep and spirit of ancient Japan, watch this simple movie of the scenery from the train window.

The train is from Yoshino-guchi station to Koya-san, the world heritage.


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