“La Peinture Naïve Française Contemporaine” Exhibition of Contemporary French Naive Painting —Fantasy companions in a fairytale world— has been held at the MINAMI-ALPS Municipal Museum of Art in the city of Minami-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan during July 19 through September 15, 2025.
Henri Rousseau
“Les flamints” – Exotic Landscape with Flamingos
MINAMI-ALPS Municipal Museum of Art, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 8/08/2025
An exhibition titled as “Everyone’s Car Exhibition: The History and Future of People and Automobiles” has been held at the Yamanashi Prefectural Museum in the city of Fuefuki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, during July 12 through September 1, 2025.
Kitaguchihongu Fuji Sengen Shrine (Northern Entrance-Head Fuji Sengen Shrine) is said that the initial shrine was built to pacify the frequent eruptions of Mount Fuji in 110 A.D. and later in 788, it was moved to the current location. The old trees near the main building were believed to be more than 1,000 years old. Behind the shrine, there is the starting point of the Yoshida Trail for climbing Mount Fuji.
Oga (or Ohga) sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) is said that the ancient lotus species was discovered in the city of Chiba, Japan by Dr. Oga Ichiro. The seeds were found in a peat layer and estimated to be about 2,000 years old. He succeeded in germinating one of the seeds and bloomed it. The plants originated from this scred lotus were named Oga lotus after him. The plants were transplanted into 35 locations. One of them is here in the city of Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan.
Sawara Pond, an altitude of 1240 meters (4,068 feet) above sea level, is located in the middle of the way to Mount Amari in the city of Nirasaki in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. Mount Amari’s elevation is 1,731m (5,679f) above sea level.
Taisho (Dashu, solar term) of 2025 in Japan fell on July 22. It was extremely hot as the calendar indicated all over Japan. The city of Fukuchiyama in Kyoto Prefecture recorded the highest temperature of 39.0 degrees Celsius (39.0℃). The city of Ichinoseki in Iwate Prefecture recorded 38.3℃, which was the highest temperature on record in the city.
In Japan, a day where the highest temperature reaches 35 degrees Celsius (or 95 degrees Fahrenheit) or higher is defined an “extremely hot day,” or “moushobi” in Japanese. It is a specific meteorological term used to categorize days with extreme heat.
Here’s a breakdown of Japanese temperature classifications for summer days:
Natsubi (summer day): A day with a maximum temperature of 25°C (77°F) or higher.
Manatsubi (hot summer day): A day with a maximum temperature of 30°C (86°F) or higher.
Moushobi (extremely hot summer day): A day with a maximum temperature of 35°C (95°F) or higher.
Nettaiya (tropical night): A night where the minimum temperature does not drop below 25°C (77°F).
Europe has been experiencing record-breaking high temperatures in 2025, particularly during the months of June and July, with multiple heatwaves impacting various regions. These extreme temperatures are linked to a combination of meteorological conditions and the effects of climate change, with some areas experiencing temperatures 2.5°C warmer than in the past.
A significant heat wave is currently impacting the central and eastern United States as well, with dangerous temperatures and high humidity affecting millions of people.
Takeda Shrine is a Shinto shrine located in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan, dedicated to the kami (deity) of Takeda Shingen. Takeda Shingen was a feudal lord in Kai Province durring the Sengoku period of Japan.
Shinto shrine guardian dogs, a pair of statues, often lion-like, are known as komainu that are traditionally placed at the entrance or within Shinto shrines to ward off evil spirits and protect the sacred space. These statues typically stand as a pair, with one often having its mouth open (representing the “a” sound, symbolizing the beginning) and the other with its mouth closed (representing the “un” sound, symbolizing the end). Together, they are thought to represent the totality of existence and are a common sight at Shinto shrines in Japan. Komainu are an integral part of the Japanese religious landscape, embodying both the protective function of guardian figures and the symbolic power of sacred spaces.
Oyanagawa (Oyana River) Valley is located in the town of Fujikawa in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The Oyana River is originated in the Genji Mountain running through the Oyanagawa Valley and runs into the Fuji River.
Oyanagawa Valley, Jikkoku, Fujikawa-cho, Yamanashi, 7/19/2025
Itajiki Valley is located in the town of Kawakubo in the city of Kofu in Yamanashi Prefecture, Japan. The Itajiki River is originated in the Deep Shosen Gorge running through the Itajiki Valley and runs into the Arakawa River.
Itajiki Valley, Kawakubo-cho, Kofu, Yamanashi, 7/20/2025
