Category Archives: Design

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manholes, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 25: Mount Fuji Manhole Covers! (富士山のマンホール)

February 13, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

The mint Manhole Cover in Shimizu City before it was merged in Shizuoka City depicting the World Cultural Heritage of Mount Fuji and Miho Matsubara Beach!

Mount Fuji is partly in Shizuoka Prefecture as many in Yamanashi Prefecture will rightly if somewhat insistently point out, but we also have the Miho Matsubara beach which is included in the World Cultural Heritage!
Mind you, I will be extremely happy to add Mount Fuji manhole covers from Yamanashi prefecture anytime if someone is kind enough to send them to me!
As for people who think that Mount Fuji lies in Kanagawa Prefecture or Tokyo, I’m sorry to disappoint them although they also have the cahnce to see it on bright days!

The same found in Sodeshi, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!

The same but for rain waters instead of river waters without the colors!

The same as above but with “Shizuoka City” instead of “Shimizu City”!

Found in many places in Shizuoka City!
A rarity in a sense as it is dated in “2007”!

Also found a bit everywhere in Shizuoka City!

Found in Yui, Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City!
Note the sakura ebi design for which Yui is nationally known!

The same as above in blue!

A beautiful mint manhole cover for Fuji City, a city named after Mount Fuji!

The same design but in different colors!

The same without the colors!

The same again, but half size!

The same as a mint manhole cover but in different design and colors!

Arguably the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan found in Yaoshiwara, Fuji City, depicting Kaguyahime of the Legend, The Bamboo Cutter’s daughter!

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Fujieda City!
Although the City includes “Fuji/藤”, it means “Wisteria”, not “Mount Fuji/富士”!

The same as found on a pavement in Fujieda city!

Another mint of the same but in different colors!

the same as found on a pavement in Fujieda City!

Found in Gotemba City!

Beautiful mint in Shimizu Cho at the foot of Mount Fuji!
Not to be confused with Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!

Found in Nirayama merged with Izu no Kuni City!
Famous for the Hansharou Foundries and strawberries!

Beautiful mint manhole cover for Yaizu City, a fishing port city known all over Japan!

The same as found on a pavement in yaizu City!

The same without the colors!

Still looking!

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-Sake: Ichi For The Michi by Rebekah Wilson-Lye in Tokyo, Tokyo Through The Drinking Glass, Tokyo Foodcast, Urban Sake, Sake World
-Wine: Palate To Pen, Warren Bobrow, Cellar Tours, Ancient Fire Wines Blog
-Beer: Another Pint, Please!, Beering In Good Mind: All about Craft Beer in Kansai by Nevitt Reagan!
ABRACADABREW, Magical Craftbeer from Japan
-Whisky: Nonjatta: All about whisky in Japan by Stefan Van Eycken
-Japanese Pottery to enjoy your favourite drinks: Yellin Yakimono Gallery

Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, History, Japan, Kakegawa City, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Traditional Japanese Houses: Shimizu Bank Branch in Kakegawa City!

February 11, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

In Kakegawa City on the way to the Kakegawa Castle you will discover and old traditional house with some interesting story!

On a bright day it does provide a great sight for photography!

All facades will show you a different facet of the architecture!

Wait for the green light before crossing! LOL

This is a story which was actually the source for the name of a local sake brand!
Kazutoyo built Kōchi Castle. His life spanned the closing years of the Sengoku period, the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and the beginning of the Edo period.
Just four years after he became Lord of Tosa, Kazutoyo died without issue aged around 60, and was succeeded as Lord of Tosa by his nephew Tadayoshi.
Chiyo, as a wise and beautiful wife, helped her husband Yamauchi Kazutoyo up from an ordinary samurai to the governor of an entire province, Tosa.
In 1590, Lord Yamauchi Kazutoyo 山内一豊, a great horse lover had been looking for a special mount of his own.
His wife spent untold time and efforts until she found, brought and gave a great horse to her beloved husband.
The story is also the source of the 45th NHK Taiga drama (2006), a dramatization of the life of Kazutoyo, with his wife Chiyo as the central character!

Lord Kazutoyo and his wife, Chiyo!

Another facade!

We are certainly thankful to the Shimizu Bank for preserving such a beautiful traditional Japanese house!

Even this Shimizu Bank sign is an antique!

Beautiful latticed windows!

I didn’t have much time on that da, but I’m sure there are a lot more pictures on offer!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, 静岡県, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kappa, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Statues, Tourism, Yaizu City, 河童

Kappa (Water Goblins) Street in Yaizu City!

February 11, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Kimono-clad female kappa!

If you get off at Nishi Yaizu JR Station and go to the Kappa Museum, you will discover at one moment little stone statues of kappa (water goblins) in front of homes or stores indirectly advertising that Yaizu City holds a Guinness World Record in the shape of a 10,000+ collection of kappa in a private museum (report coming soon)!
For more information on Kappa/河童, read HERE!

These are all very cute kappa, but do remember they are still feared in some areas in Japan!

The kimono-clad female kappa in front of a cake shop!

Kappa enjoying his sake!
A kappa cannot live without a river, sake, cucumbers and plenty of raucous fun!

Cucumber-eating kappa!
Have you ever wondered what was the meaning of a “Sushi Kappa Maki”? Now, you know!

Tortoise-riding Kappa!

A Kappa calling for a refill!

A Kappa sleeping off his sake!

A kappa builder!

A studious young Kappa!

A beckoning Kappa!
Careful with that one!

A welcoming Kappa!
Careful with that one, too!

A young Kappa bringing flowers to her Mummy!

Naturally in front of a flower shop!

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Non gastronomy must-see sites by Shizuoka Residents

HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Fuji City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 24: Yoshiwara (now merged to Fuji City)

February 7, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

kaguyahime/The Bamboo Cutter Daughter, considered by many as the most beautiful manhole cover in Japan!

The same. It is framed in yellow on the road to help firement find it at night as this is a fire hydrant manhole cover.
It is located in the middle of a narrow street at the bottom of Bishamonten Myoyouji Temple.
Apparently there is only one sample!
It was made when before Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City as demonstrated by the crest!

Mount Fuji water access manhole cover!
This was installed after Yoshiwara was merged with Fuji City!

The same as above but half size!

A large Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover!

Another double Yoshiwara fire hydrant manhole cover of a dufferent design!

A similar fire hydrant, but single and over a water tank access!

An older Yoshiwara rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover!

An old small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover!

Another small Yoshiwara valve pit manhole cover with a totally different design!

A very old ans small water access Yoshiwara manhole cover!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Traditional Japanese Houses and Inns in Utsunoya, Shizuoka City!

February 5, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Utsunoya was an intermediary stage between the two Old Tokaido Route stations, Mariko in Shizuoka City, and Okabe in Fujieda City.
Even during the Meiji Era travelers had to go through it before climbing up and down steep slopes between the two stations.
Accordingly many visitors stopped overnight in one of the “Shuukuba or Kashiya/inns.
Such establishments can be seen for the sole pleasure of the eyes learning the history of the region.

The access is now very easy!
Just take a bus to Fujieda City from platform 7 in front Shizuoka Jr Station and get off at Utsunoya Iriguchi bus stop just before the Fujieda Tunnel.
Cross the large road by using the overhead bridge and start walking up the street!

You will walk past this beautiful Shizuoka City fire hydrant manhole cover!

The first houses you will meet are not the inns of Utsunoya but they will prepare you to the further sights!

These houses have been for a long time and often repaired but you can catch glimpses of old wooden architecture!

Depending on the season they will make for great photography!

Just walk at an easy pace as your goal is not that far!

This sign indicates one of the great soba restaurants in this Prfecture called Kishigami!

The all-important sign!
Take the left-hand path!

Getting near!

You have reached Utsunoya which was depended on the Mariko Old Tokaido Route Station!

A little historical reminder: travelers had to climb past Utsunoya Pass before the Meiji Toll Tunnel was opened in 1870!

Enter Utsunoya!

On that particular occasion we walked through it on a beautiful winter afternoon, but you ought to imagine the same location in all seasons and weathers!

Rare blue glazed roof tiles!

All these former inns had names finishing with “ya/屋”

They share all the same wooden architectural design!

One can still discover stone foundations even older than the houses!

Antique rain water stone jars!

A postcard view!

now the owners have generally turned to farming!

I can’t start to imagine the work involved to build those inns atop stone walls on such steep slopes!

Walk the stairs keeping an eye for interesting details!

A typical example of the old architectural design of the tiled roofs!

Try and imagine tired travelers stopping there overnight!

Looking down on your tracks up the slope!

How many had these tiles to be replaced/ It is a cold part of Shizuoka City and exposed to the natural elements!

Even now it is worth visiting for the sole purpose of eating at traditional Japanese restaurants: Udon Restaurant!

Soba Restaurant!

Souvenir Shop and restaurant!

And don’t forget to visit the Meiji Tunnel only a little distance away!

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レシピ, 美食, Design, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 魚, 魚海の幸, Fish, Food, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Life, Life in Japan, Recipes, Restaurants, seafood, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Cuisine, Shizuoka Prefecture, Shizuoka Seafood, Tourism

Sushi Millefeuille at Sushi Ko: “Hagetora, s’il vous plait!”

February 3, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Service: Pro and very friendly
Facilities: Very clean. Excellent toilets
Prices: Reasonable to slightly expensive
Strong points: Great variety of seafood from Shizuoka Prefecture and the rest of Japan. Great list of sake and shochu

To the surprise of our neighbors (it is not on the menu!) we challenged Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん at Sushi Ko in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, to come up with a different/new millefeuille sushi!
Chef Kenta Birukawa/尾留川健太さん obviously likes the challenge and as long as the place is not too busy he is more than willing to comply to such requests!

Moreover he knows that photos will be taken and kept for posterity!
This time the ingredients placed between layers of sushi rice were pieces of raw ika/cuttle fish and boiled shrimps!

The toppings were pretty complicated as they included tamagoyaki/Japanese omelette, anago/conger eel, tako/octopus, leek rolls, menegi/leek sprouts and tobikko/flying fish roe!
Not to mention the dressing artistically placed around the millefeuille!

Now the naming of this millefeuille was a bit of a revenge to make him work so hard! I was already in my cups wen I made a mistake ordering sake, that is I asked for “hage tora/bald tiger”! The “s’il vous plait” is a jab at my nationality! LOL

Mind you, I had my own revenge, destroying the whole succulent edifice!

SUSHI KO
420-0032 Shizuoka City, Aoi Ku, Ryogae-cho, 2-3-1 (Aoba Park Street)
Tel.: 054-251-9701
Business Hours： 17:00~25:00. 17:00~23:00 （Sundays）
Closed on Wednesdays
Reservations recommended
Credit cards OK
HOMEPAGE</strong> (in Japanese)
Smoking allowed. Private room can be arranged for non-smoking (4 people)

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, 静岡県, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Signs, Tourism

Pavement Tourism Signs in Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 26, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful design found outside Hamamatsu City JR Station North exist welcoming tourists and commuters to the City!

Cities in Shizuoka, and I’m sure in many cities in Japan have an interesting, artful and subtle way to advertise their tourism as well as to introduce their many symbols: pavement signs!
I can guarantee you it could develop into another urban art photography album!

Hamamatsu City has recently applied some sturdy “stickers” on the pavement in front of the North Exits of their JR Station and around Act City Building Complex not only to welcome all visitors, but also to advertise they are in fact the music capital of Japan thanks to the big music instruments makers such as Kawai and Yamaha!

If you look carefully at them you also understand that Hamamatsu City is the home of great flower and garden parks!

And last but not least Hamamatsu City gastronomy is famous for its eels!

Other cities and prefectures should take heed to promote their tourism!

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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Hamamatsu City, Japan, Japanese Culture, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Urban Art: Zodiac Pavement Tiles in Hamamatsu City!

January 26, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

The Crab/Cancer/♋!

If you go out of Hamamatsu JR Station and through the North Exit and then walk between the railway line and the ACT CITY Buildings you will discover tiles on the pavement describing the 12 symbols of the Zodiac!
They are not following the order of the modern Zodiac as far as I could determine but I will introduce them below in the walking order!
For a bit of interesting study I included Zodiac order, symbol, the ecliptic longitudes, with their Latin, Greek, Sanskrit, and Babylonian names (but note that the Sanskrit and the Babylonian name equivalents denote the constellations only, not the tropical zodiac signs). Also, the “English translation” is not usually used by English speakers. The Latin names are standard English usage.
Source: Wikipedia

4 ♋ 90° Cancer The Crab Καρκῖνος (Karkinos) Karkata (कर्कट) AL.LUL “The Crayfish”

5 ♌ 120° Leo The Lion Λέων (Leōn) Simha (सिंह) UR.GU.LA “The Lion”

6 ♍ 150° Virgo The Maiden Παρθένος (Parthenos) Kanyā (कन्या) AB.SIN “The Furrow”; “The Furrow, the goddess Shala’s ear of corn”

7 ♎ 180° Libra The Scales Ζυγός (Zygos) Tulā (तुला) ZIB.BA.AN.NA “The Scales”

8 ♏ 210° Scorpio The Scorpion Σκoρπιός (Skorpios) Vrśhchika (वृश्चिक) GIR.TAB “The Scorpion”

9 ♐ 240° Sagittarius The (Centaur) Archer Τοξότης (Toxotēs) Dhanusha (धनुष) PA.BIL.SAG, Nedu “soldier”

10 ♑ 270° Capricorn “Goat-horned” (The Sea-Goat) Αiγόκερως (Aigokerōs) Makara (मकर) SUHUR.MAŠ “The Goat-Fish” of Enki

11 ♒ 300° Aquarius The Water-Bearer Yδροχόος (Hydrokhoos) Kumbha (कुम्भ) GU.LA “The Great One”, later qâ “pitcher”

12 ♓ 330° Pisces The Fishes Iχθύες (Ikhthyes) Mīna (मीन) SIM.MAḪ “The Tail of the Swallow”, later DU.NU.NU “fish-cord”

1 ♈ 0° Aries The Ram Κριός (Krios) Meṣha (मेष) LU.HUŊ.GA “The Agrarian Worker”, Dumuzi

3 ♊ 60° Gemini The Twins Δίδυμοι (Didymoi) Mithuna (मिथुन) MAŠ.TAB.BA.GAL.GAL “The Great Twins” (Castor and Pollux)

2 ♉ 30° Taurus The Bull Ταuρος (Tavros) Vrishabha (वृषभ) GU4.AN.NA “The Steer of Heaven”

Great fun, ain’t it?

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Culture, Design, Environment, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Life, Life in Japan, Photography, Tourism

Drainspotting/Japanese Manhole Covers by Remo Camerota!

January 25, 2014 dragonlife 8 Comments

The cover represents a fire hydrant Manhole cover in Fuji City, Shizuoka Prefecture!

Last Wednesday, my good friend Philip Kreiner made a man very happy when he gave a book called Drainspotting, Japanese manhole Covers by Remo Camerota!
Remo Camerota had an inspiration calling his book so as everyone has heard about the film, “Trainspotting”!

The book was issued by Mark Batty Publisher in New York in 2010 but I couldn’t manage to get in touch with them.
Maybe more information could be got through WHITEWALL STUDIOS.

Remo Camerota, a New York-based writer authored the book with his pictures and those of friends during a trip through Japan.
A must for all lovers of Urban Art, and Urban Art in Japan in Particular!

NOTE: If Remo happens to read this introduction, I would be extremely grateful to him for contacting me!

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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Pavement art, Pavement signs, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Pavement Art? Illegal Bicycle Parking Children’s Drawings Posters in Shizuoka City!

January 15, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Some kids do have a great imagination to reflect on the plight of a bicycle!

Shizuoka City is apparently the city in Japan with the largest number of bicycles per capita, but the least that could be said it seems an open war has been ignited between the bicycle owners who do not know where to park them and the city which is spending money on large stickers applied on the pavements in some areas of the city!
The sign posters in this article were all found in Aoba Park Street in Aoi Ku, Shizuoka City, starting from behind the city hall.
Primary/elementary school were drafted by the city government to draw different pictures to appeal the public recently and I just discovered these pictures recently.
A young policeman seeing me taking pictures of them couldn’t hide his smile……..

Red seems to be the prevalent color for chidren tp express anger!

Why a sun and a cloud?

A forceful and concise message!

This kid is commenting on the lack of space left for pedestrians between rows of bicycles!

This kid decided to escape to the beach!

An interesting use of balloons!

Tears, tears!

A giant bicycle?

Ecological bicycle?

Beautiful bicycle, I must admit!

Is that a fox behind the poster?

A lot of love for a bicycle!

A child with an attitude!

A giraffe bicycle?

A girl with a sense of fashion?

Interesting picture showing bicycles impeding with the yellow markings designed to help pedestrians with impaired eyesight!

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Design, Environment, 金沢市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kanazawa City, Photography, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Kanazawa City!

January 8, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A splendid fire hydrant manhole cover with the symbol of Kanazawa City, the stone lantern in Kanazawa castle park!

I’ve just come back for a 2-night, 3-day trip to Kanazawa City in Ishikawa Prefecture, so you can expect quite a few reports in the days to come!
I start with what I could see ta my feet, namely manhole covers!

A brand new style of sewer manhole cover!

A large water access manhole cover with central motif “金” for “金沢/Kanazawa City”!

A large, probably private manhole cover although there were quite a few around!

A large rectangular manhole cover seen here and there.

The same as the brand new above but obviously a lot older and used above a fire hydrant!

The same a s above. Fire hydrant are immediately recognizable as they are painted in yellow or the pavement around them also painted in yellow!

A beautiful double manhole cover in the middle of the street!

A fairly old big manhole cover!

Interesting police manhole cover over access to traffic lights control machinery produced by Fukunishi Foundry!

A manhole cover with the city emblem motif blending into its pavement environment!

An old type of manhole cover over access to electricity machinery produced by Ohtake Foundry!

Gas valve pit manhole cover. Green seems to be the universal indicator for gas!

A medium-sized valve pit manhole cover!

A newly made intricate manhole cover!

Beautiful sewer cover (not manhole) found along the Higashi Chaya Resort Street!

Another round manhole cover with a different central indication!

Another manhole cover blending into is surrounding pavement along the street to the Ishikawa Prefecture Museum!

This type of fire hydrant manhole cover is found all over the country but each city, as shown here again, has a distinctive symbol!

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HIGHOCTANE/HAIOKU by Nick Itoh in Shizuoka City

Design, Environment, 静岡県, 観光, Izu Peninsula, Japan, Japanese Culture, Manhole covers, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 17: Izu Peninsula (Part 2)

December 30, 2013 dragonlife 2 Comments

A magnificent mint manhole cover in Itoh City with the characters of “The Izu Dancer” story by Yasunori kawabata!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Itoh City!

The same in black and white!

Sea bathers on a mint manhole cover in Itoh City!

The same in black and white!

Camelias Manhole covers in Itoh City!

Fish design manhole cover in Itoh City to remind you that Izu Peninsula is surrounded by one of the richest seas in Japan!

A fire hydrant manhole cover in Itoh City!

A very ancient medium-sized sewer manhole cover in Itoh City!

A beautiful mint water manhole cover in Izu Nagaoka which has been since merged into Izu no Kuni City!

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Shuzenji which has since been merged into Izu City!

Irises manhole cover in Shuzenji!

A beautiful mint Manhole cover in Nagaizumi!

The same on a pavement!

A beautiful fire hydrant manhole cover in Nagaizumi!

A cute mint manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho, a touristic spot!

The same in black and white!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho representing the Teishi Koina Festival and lobsters!

A sewer manhole cover in Minami Izu Cho!

Fireworksand Bon Odori dance in Minami Izu Cho!

A double manhole cover in Matsuzaki!

Fish manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A small manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A rectangular manhole cover with a map of Higashi Izu Cho!

A rectangular fire hydrant manhole cover in Higashi Izu Cho!

A manhole cover type found elsewhere but with the central motif of Naka Izu Cho!

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Cakes, 美食, Design, Desserts, 静岡県, 静岡美食, 静岡市, 観光, 農業, Food, Food Health, Gastronomes, Gastronomic Photography, Gastronomy, Japan, Japanese Culture, Japanese Gastronomy, Photography, Recipes, Shizuoka, Shizuoka agricultural products, Shizuoka Cuisine, Tourism, Vegan, Vegan Cuisine, Vegan Dessert, vegetables, Vegetarian cuisine

Vegan Christmas Cakes & New Year Confectionery: Japanese Wagashi!

December 23, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

Pyramid-style Christmas Tree?

Here are some more suggestions for Christmas Cakes through re-published articles!
Have fun!

NOTE: I’m an unrepentant agnostic hedonist (and an omnivore to boot!), but since some of my vegan and vegetarain friends are Christian, I hope these pictures will inspire them!

Flowery Christmas!

What’s in Santa’s bag?

Bring your forks and knives!

Holy (Holly) Christmas!

For the toddlers!

Pity you have to eat it!

Definitely Japanese-style!

They almost look like sushi!

Elegant simplicity!

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Design, Environment, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, History, Japan, Japanese Culture, Kura, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Tourism

Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 6: Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City with Atsuko Kurata!

December 15, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

We will have to check this ivy-covered kura again in the summer!

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditonal Japan, especially during the Edo Era, as most of buildings and urba/village structures were made of wood, fires were the bane of society by and large.
However well-protected a fire would consume a house or buildings and all its properties within minutes.
Hence a special building or warehouse was needed to protect goods and properties against such a catastrophe.
But erecting a storehouse solely made of concrete, stones and some metal cost a vast amount of silver and gold and only rich merchants and nobility could afford them. Even castles could not be built entirely of stone then.

This posting again features sights by my good friend, Mrs. Atsuko Kurata who is turning into a real detective when she found no less than five of them in her native Shimizu Ku in Shizuoka City!
No wonder as Atsuko’s family name includes the word Kura/倉, the modern form of kura/蔵!

I certainly wouldn’t mind living there!
It stands in Hon Machi (Main District)

Another old kura in Minato machi (harbor District)!

You must remember that Shimizu has had always been and still is a major harbor in Japan.
It may have seen better days as there were enough rich people in need of such warehouses!

But Atsuko thinks that this particular one might be haunted!

This particular kura was owned by Yohei Suzuki, the founder of Suzuyo Company, the largest transport company in Shizuoka Prefecture and the owner of Fuji Dream Airline!

Atsuko also discovered this cute kura in Hon machi!

The first owner must have been rich as it is a double kura!

A far view of the roof!

View of a window with its shutters open!

The “inner” kura which saw its first floor transformed a long time ago!

Atsuko also found this brown kura in Hon Machi near Shimizu Municipal Nursery(清水区立清水保育園)!

The pole sign indicating the address: Hon Machi 11!

The colors white and brown are the most popular colors as some owners wanted to be noted whereas others did not!

Even the shutters had been painted brown!

Care to join Atsuko in her search?

RECOMMENDED RELATED WEBSITES

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Design, 静岡県, 静岡市, 観光, Japan, Japanese Culture, Photography, Shizuoka, Shizuoka City, Shizuoka Prefecture, Tourism, Wall Painting

Wall Painting: 183 Popular Paintings in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City: 41~60!

November 7, 2013 dragonlife Leave a comment

No 41) Mummy, Look at this Cute Cat!

SYNOPSIS

The other day in Shimizu Ku, Shizuoka City, just as I was about to cross the bridge over the Tomoe Riverjoining S-Pulse Street and Jirouchou Street I noticed a long low wall on my left covered with paintings apparently left there by illustrious unknown amateurs!

The paintings are the works of students from art departments of Shimizu Minami High School Shimizu Higashi High School, Shimizu Kokusai High School, Tokai Dai Ichi High School and Shizuoka Seibi High School.
All paintings were on the 24th of July 1998!
As they are starting to fade away as well as being interfered with by local fishermen I decided to take all of them for posterity!
As there are no less than 183 of them I will introduce them in a few installments!

This is the 3rd installment!