Author: Benkei

Metori Water Spring located in the southern foot of the Yatsugatake Mountains is one of the 100 Brand-Name Spring-Waters in Japan. It is a very important water source for the drinking water in the Nagasaka region, located in the town of Nagasaka, the city of Hokuto in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Metori Water Spring, Nagasaka, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 10/08/2023

Sanbuichi Water Spring, Nagasaka, Hokuto, Yamanshi, 10/08/2023

Statues of Kannon, the Deity of Mercy, Nagasaka, Hokuto, Yamanshi, 10/08/2023

Harvesting rice (Oryza sativa) plants in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Rice Fields, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/07/2023

Indian fritillary (Argyreus hyperbius) male in the bank of the Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Indian fritillary, Arakawa River, Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/07/2023

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida) trees are bearing red fruit in the ground of the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Archaeology, Yamanashi Prefecture. They are common street trees in Japan. Asahi Street in Kofu is known for its Hanamizuki (flowering dogwood) trees (refer to the article on April 30, 2022 http://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo/2022/04/). (https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/kouko-hak/).

Flowering dogwood, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Archaeology , Kofu, Yamanashi, 10/04/2023

The exhibition of Thermae: Ancient Rome, Japan, and the joy of bathing has been held at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum of Art during September 9 through November 5, 2023. (https://www.art-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp/exhibition/, https://www.art-museum.pref.yamanashi.jp/english/)

One of the exhibits, a container for bath ointments, is shown below. The container was used to put oil and balm that were applied on the body after bath.

FYI:

Oita Prefectural Art Museum (https://www.opam.jp/en/)

Ancient Rome was the most prosperous in world history. Among its culture, Public Bath Thermae interests us. Manga “Thermae Romae” by YAMAZAKI Mari got the recognition of the facility better. In this exhibition, the main character Lucius guides Ancient Rome, Japan, and the Bathing Culture. As his experience of time travel, you will get what bath would have been like at the time.

Period: November 25, 2023－January 21, 2024, Oita Prefectural Art Museum　 Tel: +81-(0)97-533-4500 (https://www.opam.jp/en/exhibitions/detail/1124)

Autumn is near here. Some trees and plants started flowering, changing colors and bearing fruit here in the ground of the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture.

Katsura (Cercidiphyllum japonicum), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 10/02/2023

Kaki Persimmon (Diospyros kaki), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 10/02/2023

Red Pine (Pinus resinosa), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 10/02/2023

Simon Bitter Bamboo (Pleioblastus simonii), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 10/02/2023

Hurricane Lily (Lycoris radiata), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 10/02/2023

Griffith’s ash (Fraxinus griffithii) is a tall evergreen tree that is distributed from the Okinawa Islands in Japan to Taiwan, the Philippines and India.

Griffith’s Ash, Kofu, Yamanashi, 09/29/2023

The Yabusame Horseback Archery Festival which boasts an 800 year tradition was held at the Omuro Sengen Jinja Shrine in the Shimoyoshida district, the city of Fujiyoshida, in Yamanashi Prefecture on September 19, 2023. Unlike other Yabusame festivals which are meant as samurai skill training, in this Yabusame Festival, a fortune is ritually told based on the horses’ hoof prints (https://fujiyoshida.net/event/155, https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/fujiyoshida/event/yabusame.html).

Shimoyoshida Station and Honcho Street, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 9/19/2023

Omuro Sengen Jinja Shrine and Its Mikoshi Shrine, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 9/19/2023

Yabusame Horseback Archery, Omuro Sengen Jinja Shrine, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 9/19/2023

Purification of the ground and Fortune Telling Ritual, Yabusame Horseback Archery Festival, Omuro Sengen Jinja Shrine, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 9/19/2023

One of the Jazz At Mountain Temple series featuring The Swing’n Melrose and FEELING JAZZ ORCHESTRA was held at the Nagasaka Community Center on September 17, 2023.

The Swing’n Melrose: Akiko Nakajima (piano and vocal), CHIEMI (vocal), Masashi Yamaguchi (bass) and Hideo Yamazaki (drums), https://www.facebook.com/groups/1386494028425776

The Swing’n Melrose, Nagasaka Community Center, Nagasaka, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 9/17/2023

FEELING JAZZ ORCHESTRA is a big band based in Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, https://www.facebook.com/fjo.kofu/

FEELING JAZZ ORCHESTRA, Nagasaka Community Center, Nagasaka, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 9/17/2023

Kawaguchi Asama Shrine was established in 865 in order to bring Mount Fuji’s volcanic eruptions under control. It has been known for its huge seven cedar trees which are said that they are about 1200 years old. (https://asamajinja.or.jp/; https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/discover/kawaguchi-asama-shrine.html). Also, please refer to the article on Japanese Swordsmanship, 2017/2/11 (EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE https://etsuo.tokyo/).