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清水寺 Kiyomizudera 清水寺
こんにちは
清水寺 Kiyomizudera ("Pure Water Temple") is one of the most celebrated temples of Japan. Founded in 780 it remains associated with the Hosso sect, one of the oldest sects of Japanese Buddhism. See picture. Kiyomizudera is in Kyoto and is incidentally mentioned in Akutagawa Ryunsuke’s story ‘In a Grove’ later to become the film ‘Rashomon’.
So what else is in Kyoto and who can we find there?
Gion Corner Theatre presents a condensed package of traditional Japanese performing arts twice nightly at 7:40 and 8:40 from March to November. The routines are performed by Kyoto geisha. The show includes bunraku (puppet shows), gagaku (courtly music), koto and shamisen music performances, the full gamut of Japanese stage arts.
I couldn’t find a famous person from Kyoto but this seemed a very colourful introduction to Noh theatre in Kyoto. (Click on the underlined link.)
I did find misono (born October 13, 1984 in Kyoto Prefecture, Japan) was the former lead singer of the J-pop group ‘day after tomorrow’ until they took a break in August 2005.
Signing off, this is your Message from Japan.
また
posted by Message from Japan on Thursday, December 14, 2006 2 comments
Time Travel
I've just traveled back in time to 1992, when I first visited Japan. This was long before the advent of digital photography, so I've had to spend many hours scanning my old prints. The results of my efforts are in Gallery 3. The question is, was it worth it?
posted by Kevin on Wednesday, December 06, 2006 1 comments
A Visit to a Matsuri
Matsuri. (祭り, or sometimes just 祭)
This is one web journey I’ll try more than once. Thanks to Wikipedia again for its help.
In search of snow I will look for Yuki Matsuri in Hokkaido.
The Sapporo Snow festival is magnificent, and not to be missed. If you have the opportunity to go to Sapporo City at this time of year, go.
In 2007 it is from Tuesday February 6th to Monday February 12th. In Japanese it is called the Sapporo Yuki Matsuri.
So who will be there?
Try Wallace and Gromit! Or Spirited Away. (Last years pictures.)
Or the Susukino Ice Queens, and try YouTube for amateur matsuri videos.
The next matsuri is Tenno Tanjoubi (Emperors Birthday) on December 23rd.
The pictures on the Hokkaido and Yuki Matsuri web sites are amazing. The autumn picture with the red sky, the see though ice castle!
Remember coloured underlining is a link to a related website.
posted by Message from Japan on Saturday, December 02, 2006 1 comments