Tag Archives: Art

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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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 22

January 17, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint manhole cover in Arai, which has since been merged to Kosai City in Western Shizuoka Prefecture!

I still have quite a few pictures of manhole covers in Shizuoka (out of more than 400!) to show.
I’ll try to introduce them in some kind of related order.
Let me take to the western part of Shizuoka Prefecture today!

The same manhole cover in Arai but without the colors!

A private water access manhole cover in Arai!

A fairly old manhole cover in Kosai City!

A cute water access manhole cover in Mori Machi/Mori Town!

An ancient manhole cover in Hamaoka which has been merged with Omaezaki City since!

A cute manhole cover in Omaezaki marine Park, Hamaoka, Oamaezaki City!

Another water access manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

Another manhole cover in Hamaoka, Omaezaki City!

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Yoshida Cho!

The same without the colors!

An old manhole cover for access to water provided by the Oi River!

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The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family) in Kanazawa City!

January 16, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

On the third day of our stay in Kanazawa City we decided to have a small tour of Naga District, which is famous for its ancient houses and architecture!

These walls actually are featured on every guidebook!
The walls are protected with fresh straw against the snow which will fall soon!

It gives a great insight of the city rich quarters in feudal times with the moats and stone abutments!

Some of the properties are enormous by Japanese standards!

The entrance of “The Ancient Site of A Samurai House (Nomura Family)”/official English name!

The first thing you notice is the large kura/warehouse, a prerequisite in a rich samurai house!

The actual entrance to the residence!

Japanese and English pamphlets are available, and although the translation is amateurish, the explanations are sufficient:

These are the ruins, or more aptly said the remains of a samurai house formerly owned by the Nomura Family.
Lord Meda Toshiie took over the Kanazawa Castle in 1583, and ensured a long and prosperous reign of the Kaga clan which spanned over three centuries thanks to his followers producing 5 million bushels (one million koku) annual rice yield.
At that time , one of his high-ranked followers, Nomura Denbei Nobusada, was granted by Lord Toshiie a fief of one thousand koku which was furthermore promoted to twelve hundred koku.
His descendants also served as senor retainers, each given a 1,000 tsubo (3,305square meter) estate.
The old family estate was retained until the 12th generation by the time of the Meiji Restoration.

Past the the portal and into the real entrance.

However, because of the break-up of the feudal system. many samurai houses were destroyed, some changed into vegetable gardens or others sold out.
Only parts of old gates and walls around these ancient houses are left as they were.
The Nomura Family did not escape the same fate.
The last piece of property was bought in the early Showa period by a local industrialist, Kubo Hikobei, who lived in Hashidate Village in southern Ishikawa Prefecture and traded with people in Hokkaido.
Kubo Hikobei moved the drawing room, part of a beautifully constructed old house from Daishoji town near his native village inside the House.
Today visitors can understand the prosperity of the industrialist in olden times through the gorgeous architecture and at the same time imagine the way of life of ancestors of the city when discovering the beautiful garden attached to the formal samurai house.

in March 2009 the Michelin Green Guide Japon awarded a 2-star ranking to the garden and in 2003 the American Journal of Japanese Gardening ranked the Nomuara House garden as the 3rd best in Japan!

Past the entrance you will discover a genuine samurai full armor in the lobby!

From the side!

The skirt and greaves (hip, thigh and leg armor)!

The Nomura Family mon/crest was a fan!

A magnificent rice cake New Year offering!

The living room with the tokonoma/alcove!

Invaluable ancient wood carvings!

Antique painted partitions!

Buddhist altar!

Intricate wood and paper windows!

Halberd!

There is a whole room designed as a museum!

Old coins!

1 gold ryo old koban coin!

Samurai swords!

Antique hanging scroll!

A lacquer work inkstone box!

Antique Kutani vase!

You have free access to the garden (although you are not allowed to walk inside!)!

The snow protection straw mats were already attached!

For a fuller view!

Beautiful pond!

Another corner of the garden!

You can climb an ancient stone stair leading to the upstairs tea room!

Garden view form the stairs!

The tea room is really tiny!

And the entrance is very low!

One can catch an overview of the graren through a wide bay window!

Great details of the roofs!

The last view before departing….

A SOCIETY FOR THE PRESERVATION OF NOMURA FAMILY
(one of the Ruins of Samurai House)
Above is the”official” naming!

Kanazawa City, Naga machi, 1 Chome, 3-32
Tel.: 076-221-3553
HOMEPAGE</strong>

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Traditional Trades in Japan on Pavement Tiles in Gofuku Chyo, Shizuoka City!

January 15, 2014 dragonlife 3 Comments

Japanese kimono!

It is always a welcome surprise to discover Japanese traditions being promoted in the most unconventional ways!
The other day Dragon pointed out some interesting tiles at the Hon Toori entrance of of Gofuku Chyo Street!

Right across from the Shizuoka Bank!
Can you see them on the pavement?

I decided to investigate them a bit more seriously yesterday!
“Gofuku CChyo/呉服町” means the “Clothing District”, that is in Edo Times cities were divided into districts according to their main trade.
Clothing and associated trades were concentrated in that particular area of Fuchu/Sumpu as Shizuoka City as it was called when the Shogun/overlord Tokugawa Ieyasu retired there in the 17th Century!

Geta/Japanese wooden clogs!
Shizuoka geta are still famous all over Japan!

Japanese umbrella represented from from overhead!

Cross sections of rolls of cloth!

A weaver thread roll!

Unfurled cloth roll!

A portable drawer chest!

A traditional Japanese purse!

Fine boat sails also used to be manufactured there!

An abacus!
Money had to be tallied!

A ceremonial mallet used as a rattler during festivals!

A Japanese had fan!

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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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Old Houses in Higashi Chaya Street and Vicinity in Kanazawa City!

January 14, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Higashi Chaya Douri/East Tea houses Street in Kanazawa City!

After having taken you through Nishi/West Chaya Street let’s have a look together at Higashi/East Tea Houses Street!

the dun color is so warm and attractive!

These houses are made of wood and are comparativelu light, but they can resist rain, snow and what else!

More modern architecture for this famous shop selling artifacts gilded with gold!

A paradise for photographers!
Actually we had to fend off the local TV channel crews!

Like in Nishi Chaya Street these tea Houses are typical for their second floor windows!

In summer they can be opened to allow the tea ladies and passers-by to directly communicate!

One can endlessly play with the natural lighting!

On the first floor is a famous sweet bean shop!

“Fu”, another shop famous for local foods, mostly vegan incidentally!

Shall we go to this Japanese restaurant to close the visit!

Next time I will take you to the ancient house of a Samurai!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 21: Shizuoka City Tachi Aoi/Hemlock type study!

1) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, blue and yellow with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

I had thought there were only 2 or 3 types of the Tachi Aoi or hemlock type manhole cover in Shizuoka City but the fact I alsways move on a bicycle along the streets and pavements of the city helped me understand it was a bit more complicated!

Apart of color types (more than 3 actually) there are sub-types depending on letter/number codes and central motifs!
It seems to be peculiar to Shizuoka City whose emblem is the hemlock, the flower on the crest of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the Japan Shogun/Overlord, who retired to our city in the 17th Century!

2) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and mauve with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

3) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: all white enamel with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

4) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “Shi no Hana/市の花/City Flower” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

5) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green and pink with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

6) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: medium-sized without the colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

7) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”! But in medium size! I have found only one so far along the Kitakaido!

8) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and brown with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

9) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka City central motif and inscriptions “T-25” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

10) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: green, white and light blue with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14” and “Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”!

11) the same type as 8) but in half size and a simpler general dessin with no colors!

12) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-14″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color!

13) Tachi Aoi/Hemlock Type manhole cover: no colors with the Shizuoka Gas Company central motif and inscriptions “T-25″ but no”Tachi Aoi/たちあおい/Hemlock”, and more numbers in golden color and inside a larger manhole cover discovered along the Kitakaido!

I wonder if another type exists?

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Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Shizuoka Prefecture 8: Okabe, Fujieda City with Atsuko Kurata!

January 12, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Hatsukame Brewery warehouse!

“Kura” (in Japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional 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 time my good friend, ms. Atsuko Kurata is taking us to Okabe, which was merged some time ago to Fujieda City!

if you do not have a car 8by bicycle is possible, though) you can take a bus from Shizuoka JR Station North Exit!
Take the no 84 or 85 bus from bus stop platform .
It is Chubu Kokudo Line/中部国道線 heading for Fujieda station. Buses leave every 20 minutes.
You will reach your destination in roughly 35 minutes ride.

Get off at Okabesyuku-Kashibaya-Mae/岡部宿柏屋前 bus stop.
The fare is 570 yen for one way. Children under 12 pay half price for 250 yen

You will find Hatsukame jouzou/is right across from the bus stop!

Hatsukame Brewery is a beautiful complex with an ancient house and a kura who will find on its right!

Can you spot the kura?

Getting close!

Behind beautiful pine trees!

When they build the new road the city pulled out all the pine trees on the east side!

Fortunately you can still see the pine trees on one side giving a good idea of the atmosphere around this brewery, the oldest in Shizuoka Prefecture (end of 17th century!)

Another view of the second side of the kura!

A closer view of the beautiful window!

There are actually two more warehouses along the same street!

This one is quite similar to Hatsukame Brewery kura!

For a closer view… It is completely surrounded by other buildings!

The second kura! Very imposing!

Very well preserved!

It is quite tall and certainly requires much maintenance!

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Manhole Covers in Shizuoka Prefecture 20: Eastern Shizuoka Prefecture 2

January 12, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

A beautiful mint water access manhole cover in Fuji City!

This is the second part dedicated to the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture!

The same without the colors!

Beautiful mint of another Fuji City type manhole cover!

Kaguya Hime Legend on a beautiful fire hydrant access manhole cover in Fuji City!

A sewer manhole cover in Fuji City!

Another beautiful mahole cover similar to the Fuji City one but in different colors found in Yoshiwara which has been merged into Fuji City since then!

Another sewer type manhole cover in Atami City I have just found!

Manhole cover in Gotemba City!

The same a above in Gotemba City but in white and black!

The same again in Gotemba City but without the colors!

Another beautiful mint manhole cover in Shimizu Cho!

The same as above in Shimizu Cho without the colors!

A gas access manhole cover in Shimizu Cho!

A cute manhole cover in Oyama Cho!

Not strictly east of Shizuoka Prefecture but in Izu peninsula. Beautiful black and white evrsion of a manhole cover in Amagi Yugashima, since then merged in Izu City!

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Old Houses in Nishi Chaya Street and Vicinity in Kanazawa City!

January 11, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

There are two streets and their vicinity that you must absolutely in Kanazawa City: Nisahi Chya/Wets Tea Houses Street and Higashi Chaya/East Tea Houses Street!
Today let me take you around Nishi Chaya Street.
Next time you visit Kanazawa City, I’m sure you will find thousands of spots to photograph!

All these tea houses, dating back hundred of years, are recognizable to their peculiar window rows on the second floor which allow tea ladies and customers to see each other!

This ancient building is actually the seat of the Tea Houses Association and is still actively used by tea ladies for practicing dancing and playing diverse instruments!

The same house with its access alley!

This grand house has been completely renovated by the owners of the sweet beans shop on the ground floor!

A Tea House of a different style. Expensive!

This house is owned by the famous beef store called Tengu!

tengu is a kind of deity in Japan.
Can you spot its red mask?

Its mask always bear a long nose!
Now. this nose is an inspiration for a variety of symbols! LOL

An ancient house probably used as a warehouse.
Note the mon/crests on the roof!

A beautiful portal!

Tamura Tea House!

Yuki No Juku Tea House!

More tea houses!

An elegant entrance!

The back entrance to Nishi Chaya Street with many shops!

Some shops like Rakugan are famous all over Japan!

In the vicinity some old houses are still restored in between modern buildings!

An old and small temple and and house from across a bridge!

I’ll take you along Higashi Chaya Street next!

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Kura: Japanese Traditional Warehouses in Kanazawa City!

January 10, 2014 dragonlife 2 Comments

Real gold-gilded kura!

“Kura” (in japanese 蔵 or 倉) means “warehouse” or “Storehouse”.
In traditional 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.

Kanazawa, a City replete with history and things of the past offered me quite sights when I stayed there beginning of this week!

This old kura whose wall are entirely gilded with real gold leaves could be seen only from the inside garden of a famous shop specializing in gold leaf accessories!

Not an easy picture to take at any time of the day or night!

The walls inside were also completely gilded in pure gold!
Of visitors are expressly requested not to touch the walls!

I couldn’t guess at first the purpose of this splendid kura restored to its full splendor!

Such a widow awning made of fired tiles is rarely seen!

From the opposite side.
Notice the “namako” pattern on the lower part of the wall!

The roof peak decoration gave me an inkling of what its real use was!

Looking at the side entrance I hadn’t noticed because of the fence wall I discovered its religious vocation!

A beautiful “mon” in the middle of another extravagant fired tile awning!

It was sheltering a praying wheel!

I belatedly discovered this kura inside “The Site of Samurai House” (aricle coming soon!)!

Beautifully restored, which was normal as it is part of a whole museum complex!

Th windows have actually been boarded up from the inside!

Very solid-looking architecture!

No, this is not a ghost light, but the reflection of lantern!

The reflection from another angle!

I suspect this kura has been turned into a direct access annex of the neighboring ancient house!

A sneak view of the side wall!

The door has been replaced with the wall but it was apparently boarded up from the inside!

But the lower wall base gives a clear indication its true origin!

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The Shovels are for he Snow in Kanazawa City!

January 9, 2014 dragonlife Leave a comment

I found these snow shovels at the bus stop near Kenroku Park in Kanazawa City!
Now, you understand that living in the snow country requires some volunteer work!

As the access to the bus and the bus stop shelter can be easily blocked in January~April these shovels are provided for such work by the city with the understanding that citizens participate to the work if they can.
Incidentally, it is clearly written that these shovels are provided for clearing the snow only! LOL

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Kanazawa City Symbol: Kanazawa Kenroku Park Stone Lantern!

January 9, 2014 dragonlife 4 Comments

This stone lantern in Kenroku Park is the symbol of that City!
You will see on every tourism pamphlet.
I know that some buffs take picture of that single art piece every season in every weather!