Oct. 14 - Shirahama Parade

October 14 is the eve of the Nada Fighting Festival every year.  The festival began more than one thousand years ago. 

 

The Shirahama area consists of 7 towns.  Each town has one yatai or portable shrine, so there are seven yatais in total.  Each yatai marches to their own town in the morning of Oct. 14.

In our case, our yatai passed in front of our place around 10:30 a.m.  My husband and I took the pictures from the veranda upstairs.  

 

 

At first please watch the one minute and half youtube site below:

 

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RxysTDrxROYn

 

 

 

Please click then  (↓)

 

http://www.onozomi.com/2015/08/20/nada-kenka-matsuri-fighting-festival/

 

To write this article, I visited the web page of Onozomi.com and revised some parts as the eyes of a local citizen.

QUOTE


 There is a parade of 7 yatai (portable shrine), called Neridashi from 11 am at Matsubara Hachiman Shrine. They march from their villages to the shrine and enter the ground. After all yatai gather, they have carrying competition called Neriawase. Even though it looks dangerous when all yatai try to attack one another, the main event on next day is even harder!


As the word ‘Kenka’ means fighting, this is a festival dedicated to the God of fighting. 3 mikoshi (portable shrine) fight and try to break down one another in front of the god. In addition to that, carrying competition of 7 yatai (gorgeous portable shrine) from 7 areas in Shirahama town, Himeji city is also main part of this festival. The harder their mikoshi and yatai crash, the more the god is pleased. This very a tough, dangerous but very exciting festival and is surely a must-see event for autumn!

On 15 October, there is a ritual bathing ceremony from 5am, followed by the opening ceremony called Miyairi, at which 7 yatai gather in the ground of the shrine again (this will be at around 9am). After this, 3 portable shrines from one village which is in charge of hosting the festival (*7 villages take turns.) fight. They fight twice, taking place in front of the main building of the shrine and in the battleground set on the foot of Otabi Mountain. When the fighting finishes, 7 yatai enter the battleground and start fight with one another. You can see exiting collisions and feel the passion of participants. After all fighting are ended, 3 portable shrines and 7 yatai are carried to the top of the mountain, humbly given to the God.


‘Kenka’ sound booming all over the mountain
Big sounds are made every time the mikoshi and yatai clash, carrying men keep shouting vigorously throughout the festival, Japanese drums are played along with ‘neriawase’ and ‘kenka’. Spectators also shout as they felt the excitement of the battle. This festival is full of booming sound as if is the whole mountain is shaking all over.


Where to watch?
There are standing seats available for everyone behind the special seats at the foot of Otabi Mountain. It is a little bit far from the ground, but it is free. Also there is a big television set next to the battleground, which is broadcasting the festival for free. It is much safer choice to watch the live broadcast if you are scared of watching the ‘kenka’ closely!

UNQUOTE

More information below:
Japan National Tourism organization: the official guide
http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/location/spot/festival/nadanokenka.html

Oct. 11 - Okuyama Festival

I went to the shrine in my neighorhood today. 

 

They had the festival today, and I took photos of the portable shrine there. 

 

You can find how it looks like by visiting the link here. 

 

 

The drawings of Samurai were gorgeous and elaborately. 

They were made by embroidery (needle work). 

 

 

Oct. 10

I love making crafts.  I don't know when it would be, but I would be interested in selling my original items someday. 

 

I have found an interesting website recently.  The homepage owner, one Japanese female doll artist, used to sell her dolls to customers overseas.  All of the stuffed dolls were made.  She has received many messages from abroad.   I would like to receive these kinds of messages on my own site, too. 

 

It seemed that she arranged her websites by herself.  I love her sites because they are very unique.  She wrote many things both in Japanese and English.  She seemed to use automatic translation system when she wrote in English.

 

I think that she is getting old these days, and she has given up selling her dolls anymore. 

 

Suppose you were her, what way would you write?  (I am studying English.  Could you please give me some example sentences in proper English expressions?)  I tried the translation with RJ tutors. 

 

HERE'S ONE EXAMPLE  

 

Q1:  Do you sell your patterns?

A1:  Sorry, but I don't sell any patterns.  Could you please visit my sites and look for your favorite patterns.  I would be grateful if you can adopt some of them according to your tastes / requirements.) 


Q2:  Will you send me your patterns?

A2:  Sorry, but I don't send any patterns.  Please print them in your side.

Q3:  Can I have patterns which you don't provide now? or May I request you to make a pattern for me?

A3:  I'm sorry, but that's not possible.  Please check my sites once in a while.

Q4:  Are you going to add new instructions and patterns of other dolls or garments?

A4:  I always think about something new.  But one project takes time and effort. 

Q5:  May I sell things using your patterns?"

A5:  Yes, you may.

Q6:  May I put your contents or photos on my page?

A6:  I'm afraid that I can not agree to that.  My creations are part of my intellectual property.

Q7:  Where can I buy the materials you use?

A7:  You may purchase them from several specialty shops in Japan.

Q8:  Do you sell your dolls?

A8:  I'm afraid that they are not for sale.

Q9:  Do you sell underwear which you made?

A9:  No, I'm afraid not.

Q10:  Can I order customized dolls?

A10:  Sorry, I don't accept any orders.

Q11:  Why do you bother to make these things?

A11:  I think that exhibiting my free patterns and publishing instructions are part of my mission / passion on earth.

Q12:  May I link to your page?

A12:  Yes, please.

Q13:  Will you add my website as a link in your page?

A13:  It depends on the content of your site.  I cannot decide right now.  Ask me another 10 years.

Q14:  How can I enlarge the patterns?

A14:  You may use a copy machine. 

Q15:  How can I find the file of the second pattern?

A15:   Please close the window of the first pattern.  Then click the second link.

Q16:  How can I print the verge of your pattern?

A16:  Please minimize the margin.

Q17:  Can I ask you a favor?

A17:  Please don't ask me any further.

Q18:  I couldn't understand some sentences you wrote.  Could you please elaborate in other words?

A18:  I'm very sorry, but please do it in your own.   

Q19:  I have another questions.  May I ask you by email?

A19:  I would rather that you write it on the Q and A board.

Q20:  Why don't you reply to me?

A20:  Sorry that I cannot reply all the messages I received.

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If you have questions, please write them on the Q & A board.  I would reply to you as soon as I can.  Sorry, but I don't accept any emails.

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*******  HER ORIGINALS ******* 

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

Q : Do you sell your patterns?

A : No, I don't. I never sell my pattern.

Q : Do you send me pattern?

A : No, I don't.

Q : Can I get patterns which you don't provide now?

A : No, you can't.

Q : Are you going to add the instructions and patterns of other dolls or garments?

A : I always think about something new. But one project takes time and effort.

Q : May I sell things made using your patterns?

A : Yes, you may.

Q : May I put your contents or photos on my page?

A : No, you must not.

Q : Where can I buy the material you use?

A : In Japan.
Read About materials.

Q : Do you sell your dolls?

A : No, I don't.

Q : Do you sell underwear which you made?

A : No, I don't.

Q : Do you make a doll at my order?

A : No, I don't.

Q : You sell nothing. Why do you make?

A : I think exhibition of free patterns and instructions is my job.

Q : May I link to your page?

A : Yes, please.

Q : Do you link to my site?

A : I'm not sure.

Q : How can I enlarge the patterns?

A : Use a copy machine.

Q : I can't find the second pattern file.

A : Close the window of the first pattern. Then click the second link.

Q : The verge of the pattern is not printed.

A : Set the margin less. Notes.

Q : Can you?

A : Don't ask me "can you" or "could you".

Q : I can't understand some sentences you wrote.

A : Very sorry. Make a conjecture.

Q : I have another question. May I ask you by email?

A : No, you may not. Write it on "Q and A board".

Q : Why don't you reply to me?

A : I cannot reply to every message. Sorry.

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You can post to this board a photograph of dolls you made.

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When you have question about my webpage, write it on Q and A board.
This board is the sole method to get my answer.
I don't give you any teaching nor advice by email.

When you post a question ...

• Use only English.
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Oct. 7 - The shy boy

My husband, 62 years old, had an appointment with his doctor at 9:00 a.m.  yesterday.  He and I left our place before 8:30 in the morning.

Tanu-chan, my husband, had pneumonia, and he was hospitalized for two weeks in the national hospital last April. 

Until yesterday, he had seen his doctor only twice: once in May and the other in July. 

It was the first time for him to see his doctor in three months.  I accompanied him yesterday because I had something to say to the doctor.

The national hospital is located next to Himeji Castle. 

I took the picture on Oct. 6 in front of the hospital.
 

There were so many visiting patients in the waiting room, and we had to wait for more than one hour.  

When the doctor called my husband's name, I accompanied him to the doctor's room.  I told the doctor, whose specialization was internal medicine including respiratory illnesses, that my husband goes to the toilet every 30 minutes, and I have been worrying about it for the past few years.

I told the doctor the same thing when my husband was hospitalized last April.  But it seemed that the doctor didn't care about it at all.  I have been very dissapointed with him.  

In fact, when I told the doctor about it yesterday, he said: "Why don't you see a urologist?"

I was amazed with what he told us.  He has been working for a big hospital which has a urology department in the same floor.   He could have written an endorsement letter to his colleages earlier.  We didn't want to go to a small clinic which is not equipped with excellent or cutting-edge technologies like the national hospital.  How could we go to the urology department without his endorsement? 

The doctor finally realized what he should do.  He arranged the document for Tanu-chan immediately.  He could have done that when Tanu-chan was hospitalized in April.

It was around noon time when Tanu-chan was able to see a urologist.  After urinalysis and echo inspection, the doctor found that Tanu-chan's prostate became four times bigger than an ordinary person's ones.  It is a disease called prostatitis. 
 
The doctor prescribed a particular medicine to him for three weeks.  The doctor also asked him to have blood inspection before leaving.  The result of the blood test will tell if the patient has cancer.  We hope not.  Knock on wood.  He will see the urologist again three weeks later.   

* * * * *

Until yesterday, he used to go to the toilet every 30 minutes or so.  In worst cases, he used to go every 10 minutes.  How inconvenient if we should go to the toielt that often!! 

Only the two of us live in the house and we have two toilets so I can use one toilet when Tanu-chan is using the other one.  

* * * * * * * * * *

He took the medicine this morning.  Eight hours have passed, and I noticed that he didn't go to the toilet that often.  Anyway, he enjoys writing for as many as seven blogs, and he seems to be busy updating them.

My husband said, "The autumn season has come.  It's comfortable to
stay outside so I started taking care of my Christmas roses."   
 
 

 The picture shown depicts only some of his plants. 

He collects them as a hobby.

 

 

* * * * *

 

(Additional writing) 

 

I feel dizzy when I use iPod more than I should.  I don't watch TV at all.  I am at my menopausal stage, and I go to see my doctor every month.  I also hear that women in my generation have similiar health problems.

 

I enjoy listening to different radio programs where my favorite personalities are all in their early 60s.  They say that they cannot go outside comfortably without going to a toilet.  They also say that they have problems with peeing. 

 

I cleaned our garden for one hour this morning.  My husband's gardening tools and paraphernalia were disorderly, so I tidied them up. 

Sept. 29 - The 62-year-old Boy

I live in the countryside where there are many rice fields.  While I was having my morning walk, I noticed some farmers checking their rice fields.

 

 

 

 

The red spider lily was in full bloom.
 

It is getting close to harvest time.

A black-colored rice variety is planted.  

The taste of black rice seems interesting!  

The sunflower is still in bloom. 

They have already harvested the rice in some parts of the field.

 

  

It is still September, but I've already bought a planner for 2016. 

I thought the red cover was attractive and that it would be out of stock soon,

so I bought it right away.

 

 

I like making my schedules in advance.  I don’t work at the moment, and I don't have a lot of activities to do.  Even so, I like organizing my daily activities. 

These are the things that I usually do:

Planning meals for lunch and supper

Buying the groceries
Doing the laundries
Cleaning the house
Taking care of our garden

These are the activities that I sometimes do:

Going to shopping malls
Walking in the parks
Going to hot springs


I live with my 62-year-old husband who retired from his work last spring.  He survived cerebral infarction, a heart attack, and high blood pressure.  He stays at home 24/7, and he doesn't help in any house chores. 

He graduated from a national university which has a good reputation in our area.  I noticed that his mind works quickly.  I would say that  he is a very proud man.   He thinks that cooking meals, cleaning the house, and doing the laundry would be the ladies' chores.  These simple tasks are not suited for him.  He always needs a wife who serves him, and he doesn't want his wife, me to work outside.  He also considers that I am responsible for taking care of all the house chores.  He is a very impulsive person who doesn't make his schedules at all.  Once he decides to do something, he does it right away.

He's the boss!

The center is Tanu chan.

The picture was taken at Tatsuno Parade held in April 2014. 

 

I enjoyed wild-bird watching a few days ago.  I finally found a blue-and-white flycatcher for the first time in my life.  Many Japanese bird watchers dream of seeing this bird.

I went back home and told him that I was able to take the picture of the blue-and-white flycatcher.  I was so excited to report it to him, and I was also thirsty after a 60-minute walk. 

I took this picture of the blue-and-white flycatcher that day.  
The size of the bird is just about the same as a sparrow's.

 

 

He asked me to add the pictures into his memory stick immediately.  I told him that I was too thirsty to do that at that time.  Then, I had a glass of water and I went upstairs to feed my pet birds.  I guessed that they must have been hungry.  When I descended, Tanu-chan who must have been impatiently waiting for me, handed me his memory stick saying "Please do it right away."  He must have decided to upload those pictures in his blogs.  

* * * * * * * * * *

He has been growing approx. 500 pots of Christmas roses for the past 10 years.  Due to his health condition, he doesn't take care of his plants anymore, so I take care of them instead.   

He can drive a car.  I can be considered as "a paper driver", which means that I have a driver's license but cannot actually drive.

He sometimes takes me to botanical gardens to take pictures.  We both love visiting gardens and taking pictures.  I like visiting with him because it gives me chances to exercise. 
 

* * * * * * * * * *

He likes to go to hot springs, and he always asks me to accompany him.  All of the hot springs that we have visited are located in the countryside which are not accessible to any public transportation.

Tanu chan was reading a magazine while

holding an ice cream in his hand.

However, he stays in the resting place of the hot springs for 3 hours or more because he usually takes a nap.   Most of the customers stay in the resting place less than 30 minutes and go home.  I don't really enjoy spending my time that way.  I used to bring 5 or 6 books to the hot springs to kill time.  
 

Tanu chan was occupying the resting place at the hot spring. 

The green scenery from the big window was great!

If I don't wake him up, I can't go home because there is no public transportation available in this area.  If I disturb him while he is taking a nap, he will wake up in a bad mood.  

If he asks me, I should say: "I don't want to go today because I already have something planned."   However, the problem is that I am basically a person who loves to stay outdoors so when he says: "Let's go now," it's hard for me to say "no." to him.  I leave our place without finishing my task. 

For example, last week I told him: "How about visiting the Hyogo Flower center next week because dahlia will bloom around that time?"  

He replied "Let's go now.  How soon can you prepare to leave?  If is it possible, can you make it in 30 minutes?"

I told him again: "Dahlias will be in full bloom next week so let's wait until then."  But then, he said "We can visit there today and once again next week."

In the end, we went there 30 minutes after we talked about it.  I should not tell him anything in advance.  Thus I write down my schedules in the planner to clarify the activities.      

* * * * * * * * * *

I was amazed when he went to see his doctor complaining about his wife, yours truly, could not finish the house chores and our house has been messy.  It became the main cause of his stress.  Ouch!!!

Sept. 24 - Notice from the Local Police

I read a bulletin board on our street, and I found one report from the local police particularly important.  At first, I thought where I live was safe, but I had to change my mind.  Crimes are actually happening, and robbers are still at large. 

I would like to translate the local police report into English today.

"We would like to report that a series of snatching incidents involving pedestrians' and cyclists' bags is happening in our area.

Here are information taken from our recent records.  The first victim was in Oshio on Friday, Sept. 4.  The second was in Shikama on Saturday, Sept. 5.  The third was in Kameyama on the same day.

All of above happened between 8:00 p.m. and 1:00 a.m.
All of the suspects were riding motorcycles.

* * * * * * * * * *

To prevent this from happening to you, here are our suggestions.

1.  When you are walking along the street, you must carry your bag at the side where there are buildings.  Do not carry them at the side where vehicles can pass.  

2.  When you are riding your bicycle and put your bags into the front basket, use a basket cover so that it would be difficult for anyone to snatch your belongings.

 

 

 

 

One example of the bicycle's front basket cover

3.  Even if there is a short cut to your home, if it is already dark, pass through a well-lighted street that is frequently used by other pedestrians and vehicle-owners. 

4.  Not only what you can see in front is important, you must also pay attention to what is happening at the back.  

- If you are using your smart phone or earbuds in listening to music while walking, you cannot notice someone getting close enough to snatch your bags.

If it should happen to you, shout so that someone would notice the snatcher.  Try to remember what the suspect looks like as well as details of his motorcycle.  Call the police at 110 immediately."



(My opinion ・・・ I would like to avoid going out alone after dark.  I think that the way he hangs the handle of his bag on his opposite shoulder is much safer compared to how the girl does it with her own bag.) 

When you have a body bag with a long handle, it is safer to wear the handle on the opposite shoulder (not on the same side) so that a snatcher would not succeed in snatching it away from you.

Sept. 23 - Tamba-no-Yu Hot Spring, Hyogo Prefecture

My husband and I went to visit the Tamba-no-Yu Hot Spring today.

It was our second time to visit the hot spring in the countryside.  There was scarcely any traffic, so I was comfortable during the 90-minute drive.

The train was passing through Hokke Guchi Station of the Hojo Tetsudo Line. 

* * * * * * * * * *

Luckily, we were waiting for the traffic signal to turn blue while this one-coach-train was passing in front of us.   I was very fortunate to take a picture of the short train. 

"Tachan's restaurant" 

 

There was only one restaurant, very noticeable, in the middle of the rice fields.  I felt that the place we saw on the way was more remote than the place where we live.

On our way to the hot spring, I noticed this wooden board with a drawing of an old man.  It says "Go left to the hot spring.  It is 1.2 kilometers from here."

To my surprise, there were already many cars parked at the parking lot.   We had a hard time to find a slot, but we were finally able to park our car.  My husband took a picture in front of the sign which says " perennial youth and long life." 

This hot spring owner grows its own Chinese herbs, which the staff members put in the bathwater.   The herbal bath is said to be good for the body.  We can relax by taking the bath.  It is believed to give us a longer life. 

Their herbal park is located next to the spring, and visitors can go there for free.  We walked around the park for 10 minutes or so.

Here's my husband taking a picture of the herbal garden's map.

Plant Name: Yaburan or Liriope muscari
Herbal Medicine Name: Dai-You-Baku-Mon-Tou
Effective parts: Roots
Effective Use: Nourishing tonic, removing phlegm

Plant Name: Shiran or Bletilla striata
Herbal Medicine Name: Bya-Kyu
Effective parts: the surface of stems
Effective use: bleeing, nose bleeding
Effective Use: Nourishing tonic, removing phlegm

These boards particularly interested me.

I have been easily irritated by petty things these past few years, maybe because of my menopausal age.  My doctor recommended some Chinese herbal medicine that is supporsed to be effective in solving this problem.  I've been taking the prescribed medicine every day.  If I forget to take it on a given day, I get easily irritated about small matters the next day.  That's why I was interested in the information printed on the boards.   

The building contains the hot spring and the restaurant. 

We went insie the building.  During the silver week, customers who are over 65 were given bath free of charge.  I saw many senior citizens there. 

Both my husband and I had to pay the admission fee because we were below 65.

I noticed one old lady who was asking for free admission at the front desk.  A female staff member replied "Please show us your driver's licence or health insurance card so that we can check your age." 

However, the lady looked obviously over 75 years old to me.  I thought it was foolish to ask her to show her driver's licence.  She cannot probably drive because of her age.  For her health insurance card, her family may have advised her not to bring it to a crowded place.  She may lose it easily.  Her hands were full with bags which may contain her bath towel, and new clothes for changing. 

She couldn't show her ID card there, so she had to pay the admission fee.  I felt a pity for her.