Author: Benkei

A Daruma doll is a hollow, round, Japanese traditional doll modeled after Bodhidharma, the founder of the Zen tradition of Buddhism. Most of Daruma dolls are made in the city of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture, Japan.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daruma_doll; https://takasakidaruma.net/multilingual/english/; https://artsandculture.google.com/story/iwWBdP-p-nmkKA?hl=ja

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodhidharma

Daruma dolls, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/03/2025

A leaf of Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acer_palmatum, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025; Furouen (Plum garden of eternal life) https://www.furouen.jp/english

Wintersweet or Japanese allspice (Chimonanthus praecox) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chimonanthus_praecox

Flowers and fruit of Wintersweet or Japanese allspice, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025

Japanese apricot or Japanese plum (Prunus mume) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prunus_mume

Japanese apricot, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025

Oriental turtle dove (Streptopelia orientalis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oriental_turtle_dove

Oriental turtle dove, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025

Wooden statues of a rabbit and a Japanese racoon dog, Furouen, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/01/2025

There are some hiking courses in Yamanashi Prefectural Atagoyama Children’s Country. https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/kosodate/atagoyama.html; https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/70?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en. A hiking to Mount Ohgasa was enjoyable.

Chinaberry tree (Melia azedarach) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melia_azedarach

Chinaberry tree, Mount Ohgasa, Atagoyama Children’s Country, Kofu, Yamanashi, 2/02/2025

The Eurasian coot (Fulica atra) in the Arakawa River in the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eurasian_coot; https://flightforsurvival.org/birds/common-coot/

Eurasian coots, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/29/2025

The Arakawa River is a river primarily flows through the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture. It merges with the Fuefuki River after crossing the Chuo Expressway and the New Yamanashi Ring Road. The Fuefuki River is a tributary of the Fuji River.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuefuki_River; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fuji_River

Mallards and grebes in the Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025

Facing Yatsugatake (eight mountains), Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Yatsugatake_Volcanic_Group

Facing Akaishi Mountains, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/28/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akaishi_Mountains

FYI: Chūō Expressway https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%AB%C5%8D_Expressway; The New Yamanashi Ring Road is a planned regional expressway that will encircle the city of Kofu area in Yamanashi Prefecture.

A common ladybug or seven-spot ladybird (Coccinella septempunctata) strolling.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coccinella_septempunctata

Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/26/2025

A restaurant ChrysanThème Shigetomo in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

ChrysanThéme Shigetomo, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/25/2025

Pine trees, Yotsuya, Shinjuku-ward, Tokyo, 1/24/2025

Kai Choshizuka Tumulus, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kai_Ch%C5%8Dshizuka_Kofun; https://www.sonekyuryo.jp/en/map/map06/; https://etsuo.tokyo/2022/02/

A tree in Kai Choshizuka Tumulus, Sone Kyuryo Park, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/18/2025

Views of Mount Kita, Sone Kyuryo Park, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/18/2025

The first full Moon in Japan this year was observed on January 14, 2025. According to the Old Farmer’s Almanac in the USA, the full Moon in January is called the Wolf Moon.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Farmer%27s_Almanac; https://science.nasa.gov/solar-system/skywatching/the-next-full-moon-is-the-wolf-moon/; https://eco.mtk.nao.ac.jp/koyomi/yoko/2025/rekiyou253.html.en

Full Moon, Kofu, Yamanashi, 1/14/2025