| Japanicus Interestingus |
| The oft heard about but rarely seen outside of Japan, Japanese style toilet affectionaltely known as the "squatty potty". If I don't show you this, who will? |
| Pictures from the little bar down the road from my place. It holds about eight people, well six if I'm there. |
| Hanami, sakura (cherry blossom) viewing, is a national pastime in Japan. Japanese people gather in droves to picnic and get drunk under the blossoming trees. It is said that the bloom and eventual fall of the cherry blossom is a metaphor for the fraility of human life. I think people just think they are pretty. |
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| Kabuki is a traditional drama of Japan. To learn more about it consult a library or webpage. In Nagahama City in Shiga Prefecture they put on a Children's Kabuki. Apparently the tradition stems from the warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi, whose children put on their own Kabuki performances over 400 years ago. |
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| The Kyokusui no Utage Festival at Jonangu Jinja in Kyoto is an annual festival where they float sake' down the river and compose poetry. It was raining so that had to be cancelled. They proceeded with praying and performing in traditional Japanese and Shinto garb. |
| Hana Matsuri (Flower Festival) is celebrated on the Buddha's birthday. In Biwa-cho, Shiga Prefecture the children of the town gather up flowers and then make a float out of them. They carry the float to each house to show it off. You give the kids some money and they pour you a glass of sweet tea. |
| After a long hard week in the city I head up north to the relaxing rural Shiga Prefecture. Included are photos of Japan's largest lake, Lake Biwa, and other scenes from around the prefecture. |
| Picture from the ancient archery contest at Shimogamo Jinja in Kyoto. This contest is thousands of years old. I have come across it in Japanese literature many times. Once the realm of princes and aristocrats, it is now performed by Japan's premier archers on horseback. |
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| Since there wasn't much going on on the top of buildings in the city, some great human decided to use that space to build all-you-eat and all-you-can drink pleasure palaces. This is the place to be in the summer in Japan. |
| In Japan, karaoke is king. Its totally different than America. The building has dozens of private rooms, and drinks and food are delieverd right to your room. |
| Mt. Hiei (Hiei-zan) hovers over the ancient capital of Kyoto. The monk Saicho established the first buddhist temple in the new capital on Mt. Hiei to practice Tendai Buddhism, which he learned while traveling in China. |