EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

It took about 20 minutes from Shimoyoshida station to Chureito (Five-Storied Pagoda) in Mount Arakura. The top of Mount Fuji was hidden behind the clouds.

Shimoyoshida Station, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

Arakura Sengen Shrine (the message says that “Pets are not allowed to enter the ground of the shrine”), Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

Mount Arakura Sengen Park, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 7/30-31/2023

FYI

・Article by Shunta: Japanese or English (https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-chureito/, https://fujiyoshida-kanko.net/photo-sakurapagoda/)

There are a lot of traditional handicrafts in Yamanashi Prefecture.

Thirteen of them have been designated as “Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi.” These are Koshu Crystal and precious stone carving, Koshu Inden (lacquered deer leather), Koshu hand-carved seals, Amehata Koshu ink-stone, Koshu Oishi Tsumugi (silk) woven fabric, Nishijima Handmade Washi (Japanese paper), Koshu warrior/carp streamers, Koshu Oni (demon) tile, Parent and child daruma doll, Ichikawa Daimon Handmade Washi, Jewelry of Yamanashi (Yamanashi gem cutting), Fuji-Katsuyama suzutake bamboo crafts and Koshu Fireworks. (https://www.porta-y.jp/en/leisure_culture/20591)

House of Yamanashi Traditional Crafts, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 7/31/2023

Traditional crafts in Japan have a long tradition and history. These are handicrafts produced by an individual or a group, as well as work produced by independent studio artists working with traditional craft materials and/or processes (Wikipedia). The Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry has designated handicrafts that meet the conditions under the “Law Concerning the Promotion of the Traditional Crafts Industry” as “Traditional Crafts” (https://www.japan-kogei.com/dento-about-eng.html, https://www.japan-kogei.com/index-eng.html).

In Yamanashi Prefecture, three items are designated as “Traditional Crafts”: Koshu Crystal and precious stone carving, Koshu Inden (lacquered deer leather) and Koshu hand-carved seals. And also, the Government Office of Yamanashi Prefecture has designated 13 items as “Traditional Crafts of Yamanashi,” including the three nationally-designated Traditional Crafts. The 10 items are Amehata Koshu ink-stone, Koshu Oishi Tsumugi (silk) woven fabric, Nishijima Handmade Washi (Japanese paper), Koshu warrior/carp streamers, Koshu Oni (demon) tile, Parent and child daruma doll, Ichikawa Daimon Handmade Washi, Jewelry of Yamanashi (Yamanashi gem cutting), Fuji-Katsuyama suzutake bamboo crafts and Koshu Fireworks.

KOSHU PRIDE

(https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/list/?pref=19),

(https://www.pref.yamanashi.jp.e.aao.hp.transer.com/shouko/kogyo/jibasanpin/index.html),

(https://hq-yamanashi.jp/article/a00182/)

FYI

(https://kogeijapan.com/locale/en_US/), (https://www.galleryjapan.com/locale/en_US/)

An exhibition titled “Mishiranu Mori (unknown woods) II” by Takahiro Yoshino has been held at The Yatsugatake Kogen (highland) Lodge in the village of Minamimaki in Nagano Prefecture from July 18 to 31, 2023.

Some of the Displaying Artworks of Takahiro Yoshino, Yatsugatake Highland Lodge, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

FYI: https://masutomiart.wixsite.com/masutomi-yama-art/blank-34

It was another hot summer day in the Kiyosato district, the city of Hokuto, in Yamanashi Prefecture and in the Nobeyama district, the village of Minamimaki, in Nagano Prefecture.

Views From Hana-no-Mori (Flower Wood) Park, Yatsugatake Mountain Range and Mount Kitadake (not seen) covered with clouds, Road Station South Kiyosato, Hokuto, Yamanashi, 7/24/2023

Flowering Scarlet runner beans (Phaseolus coccineus), Nobeyama, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

Chinese Cabbage (Brassica rapa) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea) fields, Nobeyama, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

Raised lettuce beds covered in plastic mulch, Nobeyama, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

Bales of hay wrapped in plastic to preserve the quality of the hay and prevent it from deteriorating over time, Nobeyama, Minamimaki-village, Nagano, 7/24/2023

(https://www.plasticexpert.co.uk/why-are-bales-of-hay-wrapped-in-plastic/)

The golden-rayed lily (Lilium auratum) is one of the true lilies and it is native to Japan. The lily does well in plain or acidic soil; rich or fertilized soil will kill the plant (Wikipedia). It is listed in the Yamanashi Red Book as one of the Near-Threatened Species in Yamanashi Prefecture. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilium_auratum)

Golden-Rayed Lilies, Kitagawa, Minobu, Yamanashi, 7/22/2023

As legend goes, a dragon god with four tails used to live in the lake. Shibireko means Four Tails Lake. There are nice campsites by the lake.

Lake Shibireko, Ichikawamisato, Yamanashi, 7/22/2023

For the old articles between (January 01, 2017 and March 29, 2017) and between (October 07, 2018 and May 16, 2023), please visit my previous website: EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ ETSUO YAMAMOTO (https://etsuo.tokyo/).

A heat wave is hitting the city of Kofu area. It has been extremely hot. Hot days have been continuing in Kofu and in most of the towns all over Japan. In Japan, we have three words for hot days, Natsubi, Manatsubi, and Moshobi. Natsubi is summer day, the day with the highest temperature of 25℃ or higher, Manatsubi is hot summer day, the day with the highest temperature of 30℃ or higher, and Moshobi is extremely hot day, the day with the highest temperature of 35℃ or higher. (Refer to Japan Meteorological Agency, https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/kishou/know/faq/faq3.html, https://www.jma.go.jp/jma/indexe.html, )

In Kofu, the temperature hit 37.8℃ on July 17, 2023. The summer day has been observed 7 times (days), the hot summer day has been observed 5 times (days), and the extremely hot day has been observed 7 times (days) so far in July, 2023. (George’s Web Sites: http://www.tvg.ne.jp/george/weather/gw_stat_temp.html?city=kofu)

Take care and avoid heatstroke, everyone!

Five swallow chicks are preparing for flying soon.

Kofu, Yamanashi, 7/19/2023