Author: Benkei

It was a misty and rainy day. Thick clouds were over the Kofu Basin.

Looking down the Kofu Basin from the Wada Mountain Pass Observation Deck, Wada-town, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/23/2024

Today, the 23rd of February (02/23) is called Mount Fuji day in Japanese wordplay, Goroawase (literally meaning “phonetic matching”). However, it was too cloudy to see Mount Fuji today.

Kofu Castle Ruins, also known as Maizuru Castle Park, is located in the city of Kofu and the only modern castle built in Yamanashi Prefecture. It has a 400-year history. Because of urbanization, the surrounding landscape has changed drastically; yet, it has been protected as a historic site where the stone walls during the construction period remain well.

(https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/staff-journal/201905_kofu_castle.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maizuru_Castle_Park)

The Yamanashi Prefectural Buried Cultural Properties Center has been conducting excavations in the castle and renovating the stone walls since 1990 to preserve the historic site for future generations. Stone walls of Kofu Castle are mostly made of andesite most likely brought locally and constructed by the method of uchikomi-hagi, fitting stones together by pounding and eliminating the gaps between them. Some stone walls are constructed by the method of kirikomi-hagi, connecting with adjacent stones more firmly using precise cutting of shaped stones. They seem to be repaired later in the Edo period. Another method, called sangi-zumi, was used for the corners of stone walls. In this method, stones were shaped into rectangles. The long and short sides were piled alternately. The alternating stones increase the pressure and strengthen the corners of the wall.

(https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/maizou-bnk/)

About Japanese castles: https://japanese-castle.com/en/home-en/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japanese_castle

Most of Kofu Castle Ruins are built on the andesite bedrock; some remains of andesite rocks, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Stone walls; Nozura-zumi stacking natural stones as they are, uchikomi-hagi, and kirikomi-hagi, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Stone walls; Large stones called mirror stones were used to reflect the power and authority of the lord of the castle, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Remains of the bore holes used to cut the stone made by stone masons 400 years ago; and the drainage culvert, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Corner stone walls constructed by the method of sangi-zumi, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Stone walls constructed by the method of kirikomi-hagi, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

A toll stone wall, approximately 17 meters high, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Stone walls covered with moss and lichen, Kofu Castle Ruins, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/18/2024

Mount Minobu Kuonji Temple is the head temple of Nichiren Shu Buddhism and located in the town of Minobu in Yamanashi Prefecture. Also, please refer to the GALLERY, MINOBU 2017/01/05 (https://ymmt.etsuo.tokyo).

https://kuonji.jp/english/; https://www.nichiren.or.jp/english/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nichiren_Buddhism

Aerial Tramway ride to the Okunoin of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

Views of Mount Fuji from the Observation Deck of the Okunoin of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

View of Mount Notoridake, Mount Ainodake and Mont Kitadake, and a view of the Mount Yatsugatake Range from the Observation Deck of the Okunoin of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

The Okunoin of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

A huge cedar tree in the Okunoin of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

The sign showing that there are breeding grounds for the Oriental dollarbird (Eurystomus orientalis) in Minobu town and a map of the Mont Minobu Kuonji Temple, Minobu-town, Yamanashi, 02/12/2024

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

Chinese New Year 2024 starts on Febuary 10. According to Chinese astrology, 2024 is the year of the Green Wood Dragon.  This years’ Spring Festival holiday is held from Feburuary 10 through 17 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinese_New_Year). In the traditional Chinese calendar, a year is divided into 24 solar terms and the first term is known as lichun in Chinese and risshun in Japanese (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lichun). Therefore, in the calendar, the first day of spring is lichun or risshun. Risshun in 2024 in the lunisolar calendar was February 4 in Japan.

Setsubun (literally meaning “seasonal division”) is the day before the first day of spring, risshun, in the traditional calendar in Japan. Winter ends on the day of setsubun. Setsubun in 2024 was February 3 in Japan. Some rituals are held on the day to drive away evil spirits and welcome good fortune. One common ritual is “bean throwing.” People throw roasted soybeans out from the front door of their homes or shrines while shouting “Devils out! Fortune in!” You need to roast soybeans to kill off all evil spirits. If you use live soybeans, they might grow buds, implying something bud things might happen to you.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Setsubun; https://www.seattle.us.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/2021_Setsubun.html

Another ritual is the eating of the “lucky direction sushi roll” The sushi roll is composed of seven ingredients considered to be lucky. The ritual consists of eating the uncut entire roll without speaking while facing the direction considered to be auspicious that year (east-northeast in 2024), determined by the Chinese zodiac.

(in Japanese) https://www.maff.go.jp/j/keikaku/syokubunka/k_ryouri/search_menu/menu/39_13_osaka.html; https://www.maff.go.jp/j/keikaku/syokubunka/culture/wagohan/articles/2301/spe13_04.html

Flowers and fruit of Japanese allspice (Chimonanthus praecox), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Kankobai (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Tojibai (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Benitoji (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Benichidori (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Tamabotan (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Osakazuki (Prunus mume), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Japanese Apricot Shrine, Furoen Garden, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Kai Zenkoji is a Buddhist temple belonging to the Jodo Shu (Pure Land Sect) Buddhism and located in the city of Kofu, Yamanashi Prefecture, in Japan.

https://www.yamanashi-kankou.jp/english/recover/kai-zenkoji-temple.html; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/17

https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat16/sub182/item587.html: https://jodo.or.jp/en/; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Ddo-sh%C5%AB

Kai Zenkoji Temple with a welcome calico cat, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 02/09/2024

Also, please visit the article “Zenkoji Temple” on October 2023. Zenkoji Temple is located in Nagano-city, Nagano Prefecture.

Views from Fujiyama Twin Terrace from the Shindo Pass in winter. Also, please refer to the article on November 22, 2023.

Lake Yamanaka, Lake Kawaguchi and Mount Fuji from Fujiyama Twin Terrace, Ashigawa-town, Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/29/2024

Japanese alder (Alnus japonica) and Nikko fir (Abies homolepis), On the way to Fujiyama Twin Terrace, Ashigawa-town, Fuefuki-city, Yamanashi, 01/29/2024

Chinaberry (Melia azedarach) is a member of the Mahogany family (Meliaceae) and is known as “China Tree” and “Pride of India.” Chinaberry is a round, deciduous shade tree with fragrant lilac flowers. It is native to India, China, and the Himalayas. Chinaberry trees are commonly planted in parks, public gardens, stream banks and along footpaths or roadsides in Japan. The fruit, seeds and leaves of the Chinaberry tree are poisonous to humans.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melia_azedarach; https://sites.redlands.edu/trees/species-accounts/chinaberry/; https://www.pharm.or.jp/flowers/post_16.html; https://www.japic.or.jp/garden/index.php?mod=detail&id=145; https://www.takeda.co.jp/kyoto/area/plantno259.html

Fruit of the Chinaberry Trees, Bank of the Arakawa River, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 01/22/2024

The collection of the Jomon pottery excavated from the Imojiya Ruins in the city of Minami (south)-Alps in Yamanashi Prefecture has been displayed in the Folklore Museum of Minami Alps-city until the end of January 2024. The Jomon pottery is a type of ancient earthenware pottery which was made during the Jomon period in Japan. Jomon means rope-patterned in Japanese and describes the patterns that are pressed into the clay. The earthenware pottery crafted during the Jomon period is generally considered to be the oldest pottery in Japan and among the oldest in the world.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J%C5%8Dmon_pottery; https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/jomo/hd_jomo.htm

Goddes of Childbirth ”La Vie”, The Folklore Museum of Minami Alps-city, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 01/20/2024

The Folklore Museum of Minami Alps-city, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 01/20/2024

The Folklore Museum of Minami Alps-city, Minami-Alps, Yamanashi, 01/20/2024

There is some snow on the mountain, Mount Kaikoma, Kofu-city, Yamanashi, 01/17/2024

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