EXPERIENCE YAMANASHI AND MORE _ EXPLORE YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yamanashi_Prefectural_Museum; https://jomon.co/en/point/detail/11/

1917 Milburn Light Electric and TOYOPET Crown Deluxe

1917 Milburn Light Electric and TOYOPET Crown Deluxe (FR/3MT), Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 8/06/2025

https://heritagemuseumsandgardens.org/hmg/1917-milburn-light-electric/; (In Japanese) https://www.webcg.net/articles/-/48132

TOYOTA 2000GT and SUBARU 360

TOYOTA 2000GT and SUBARU 360, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 8/06/2025

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_2000GT; (In Japanese) https://toyota-automobile-museum.jp/archives/stories/detail/852.html; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subaru_360; (In Japanese) https://members.subaru.jp/know/museum/subaru360/

Jinrikisha or Pulled rickshaw https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pulled_rickshaw; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rickshaw

Jinrikisha or Pulled rickshaw, Yamanashi Prefectural Museum, Fuefuki, Yamanashi, 8/06/2025

FYI

Toyota Automobile Museums: https://toyota-automobile-museum.jp/en/; https://www.tcmit.org/english

Subaru Automobile Museums: https://members.subaru.jp/know/museum/; https://automuseums.info/japan/subaru-visitor-center; https://www.subaruofrochestermn.com/subarus-secret-museum/

Rickshaw in Tokyo: https://jidaiya.biz/index-e.html; (In Japanese) https://www.rickshaw-asakusa.com/; https://tokyo-rickshaw.tokyo/

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.

https://sengenjinja.jp/english/index.html; https://www.mlit.go.jp/tagengo-db/R1-00147.html; https://www.fujisan-climb.jp/en/trails/yoshida-trail.html

Kitaguchihongu Fuji Sengen Shrine, Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi, 8/02/2025

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.

Sacred lotus (Nelumbo nucifera) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nelumbo_nucifera; https://www.illinoiswildflowers.info/wetland/plants/sacred_lotus.htm

Flowers and receptacles of the Oga sacred lotuses, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/30/2025

https://history-here.com/en/stories/ohga-lotus; (In Japanese) https://www.nirasaki-kankou.jp/kankou_spot/kouen_bijyutsukan_shiryokan/kouen_teien/4330.html; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E5%A4%A7%E8%B3%80%E3%83%8F%E3%82%B9

https://www.bbg.org/article/plant_profile_sacred_lotus_nelumbo_nucifera; https://nas.er.usgs.gov/queries/FactSheet.aspx?speciesID=244; https://www.nparks.gov.sg/florafaunaweb/flora/2/2/2257

Receptacle https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Receptacle_(botany)

Water lily (Nymphaeaceae) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nymphaeaceae

Leaves of the water lilies, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/30/2025

Sounds of the cicadas surrounding the scene:

Cicadas https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cicada

Meadowsweet (Filipendula multijuga) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipendula; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filipendula_multijuga

Filipendula multijuga, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Japanese Spiraea, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Lilium leichtlinii (Lilium leichtlinii) https://www.gardenia.net/plant/lilium-leichtlinii-leichtlins-lily; https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lilium_leichtlinii; https://nikko-bg.jp/nikko-old/5_jokyo/species/Lilium_leichtlinii.html

Lilium leichtlinii, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Japanese thistle (Cirsium japonicum) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cirsium_japonicum; https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/noazami.htm

Japanese thistle, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanguisorba_officinalis; https://nikko-bg.jp/nikko-old/5_jokyo/species/Sanguisorba_officinalis.html; https://www.pharm.kumamoto-u.ac.jp/yakusodb/detail/003687.php; https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/wildlife-explorer/wildflowers/great-burnet

Great burnet, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Geranium yesoense var. nipponicum (Geranium yesoense) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geranium; https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/hakusanhuuro.htm; (In Japanese) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%8F%E3%82%AF%E3%82%B5%E3%83%B3%E3%83%95%E3%82%A6%E3%83%AD

Geranium yesoense, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Fireweed (Chamaenerion angustifolium) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chamaenerion_angustifolium; https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/55983-Chamerion-angustifolium

Fireweed, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Dianthus superbus L. var. longicalycinus (Dianthus superbus)

Dianthus superbus, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Aquilegia buergeriana https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aquilegia_buergeriana; https://www.ootk.net/cgi/shikihtml/shiki_1136.htm; https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%95%E3%82%A1%E3%82%A4%E3%83%AB:Aquilegia_buergeriana_08.jpg; https://mikawanoyasou.org/data/kibananoyamaodamaki.htm

Aquilegia buergeriana, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Common self-heal, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Siebold’s plantain lily (Hosta sieboldiana) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosta_sieboldiana

Siebold’s plantain lily, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Sium suave Walter var. nipponicum (?), Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Anaphalis margaritacea https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anaphalis_margaritacea; https://neko-net.com/hana/archives/2018

Anaphalis margaritacea (?), Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Japanese lady bell (Adenophora triphylla) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adenophora_triphylla; (In Japanese) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E3%83%84%E3%83%AA%E3%82%AC%E3%83%8D%E3%83%8B%E3%83%B3%E3%82%B8%E3%83%B3

Japanese lady bell (?), Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

(In Japanese) Wildflowers in Mount Amari https://www.nirasaki-kankou.jp/kankou_spot/amariyama/amariyama_flower/6670.html

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.

Sawara Pond, Asahi-machi, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Old man’s beard (Usnea lichens), the peak of Mount Amari, and a view of the Kofu Basin, Mount Amari, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/28/2025

Listen to the surroundings:

Also, please read the article on June 19, 2025 https://yamanashietsuo.net/mount-amari-in-nirasaki-and-japanese-azalea/

I will talk about the wildflowers around the Mount Amari area in the next article.

Bulrush (Typha latifolia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha_latifolia

Bulrush, Riverbank of Kamanashi River, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/24/2025

Common walnut (Juglans regia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juglans_regia

Common walnut trees, Riverbank of Kamanashi River, Nirasaki, Yamanashi, 7/24/2025

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dashu_(solar term) ; https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/06/japan/heatstroke-alert-issued-in-tokyo/

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).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Japan; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heat_wave

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.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2025_European_heatwaves; https://climate.copernicus.eu/heatwaves-contribute-warmest-june-record-western-europe; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/28/europe-on-alert-as-first-major-heatwave-of-2025-pushes-temperatures-to-42c

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. 

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/heat-domes-extreme-heat-and-humidity-triggers-alerts-across-eastern-u-s/; https://edition.cnn.com/2025/07/21/weather/heat-dome-midwest-south-east-climate; https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jun/28/us-heatwave-climate-crisis

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. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Shrine; https://kofu-tourism.com/en/see-and-do/11; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takeda_Shingen; https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sengoku_period

Also, please visit the article on https://etsuo.tokyo/2019/12/.

Guardian Dogs, Takeda Shrine, Kofu, Yamanashi, 7/20/2025

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. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komainu; (In Japanese) https://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8B%9B%E7%8A%AC; https://www.kyohaku.go.jp/eng/learn/home/dictio/choukoku/komainu/

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

Oyanagawa Valley, https://yamanashi–hiking100-jp.translate.goog/course/detail/49?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en; https://www-town-fujikawa-yamanashi-jp.translate.goog/kanko/docs_kanko/2023090800075/?_x_tr_sl=ja&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=ja

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

https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/en/

Itajiki Valley, (In Japanese) https://www.shosenkyo-kankoukyokai.com/%E7%A7%98%E5%A2%83%E3%82%B3%E3%83%BC%E3%82%B9.html

Human activities have been significantly impacting the natural world, leading to a range of environmental problems like habitat destruction, climate change, and pollution. These issues, in turn, threaten biodiversity, ecosystem health, and human well-being. From the recent scientific articles, let’s see the current situations of the earth.

The five biggest threats to our natural world … and how we can stop them https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/oct/14/five-biggest-threats-natural-world-how-we-can-stop-them-aoe 

From Pollution to Solution: a global assessment of marine litter and plastic pollution

https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/8047115

https://www.unep.org/interactives/pollution-to-solution

Biodiversity: Around one-quarter of freshwater animals threatened with extinction

Sayer, C.A., Fernando, E., Jimenez, R.R. et al. One-quarter of freshwater fauna threatened with extinction. Nature 638, 138-145 (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08375-z

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-08375-z

Environment High concentrations of nanoplastic particles found across the Atlantic

ten Hietbrink, S., Materić, D., Holzinger, R. et al.  Nanoplastic concentrations across the North Atlantic. Nature 643, 412–416 (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09218-1

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09218-1

Climate change: Whales faeces record warning-related toxic signal blooms

Lefebvre, K.A., Charapata, P., Stimmelmayr, R. et al. Bowhead whale faeces link increasing algal toxins in the Arctic to ocean warming. Nature (2025).

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09230-5

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09230-5

Ecology: Inhibiting locust swarm behaviour

Guo, X., Gao, L., Li, S. et al. Decoding 4-vinylanisole biosynthesis and pivotal enzymes in locusts. Nature (2025). 

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-025-09110-y
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-025-09110-y

More general information:

Biodiversity: state of habitats and species https://www.eea.europa.eu/en/topics/in-depth/biodiversity

Biodiversity – our strongest natural defense against climate change https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/climate-issues/biodiversity

Human Impacts on the Environment https://education.nationalgeographic.org/resource/resource-library-human-impacts-environment/

Human impact on the environment https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_impact_on_the_environment