Japan's Largest Ston Staircase

This is the largest stone staircase in Japan. There are 3333 steps which run continuously up a hillside in Misato-machi - leading to a Shaka-In （釈迦院）temple at the top, which has over 1200 years history. From top, there is a great views of the surrounding countryside.

The staircase is located at Kumamoto prefecture Shimomashiki-Gun central town Izumi-Mura, Misato-machi. The altitude is a little over 2km, it was finished in 1988. All the stones were provided world wide, starting from Japan, then China, Korea, India, Brazil. The altitude is about 2km.









































Many people and companies donated for building the ston staircase.

















03/20/2008 is the day of the vernal equinox(春分の日). It is a holiday in Japan. We the whole family went for the challenge.




































You can climb the steps anytime, but in mid November a special festival is held. Participants have to estimate their arrival time at the summit (watches not allowed!) - and there are some great prizes on offer for the best guesses - return tickets to Osaka and Kyoto etc. The fun starts at 8.30am - and lasts until 2pm. Fancy dress is encouraged.

Paper Cutting

Today, the school project for hand craft （図工）was paper cutting. I saw a lot of paper cutting pictures online, however when I actually have it on hands, specially from my son who is only a elementary school kid. I really is amazed.

In Japan, the hand craft cause is one of the subjects for all kids from 1st grade to 6th grade. It includes drawing, making things, neating, sewing, paper cutting, paper folding and so on. The students use their imagination to create a lot of cool things that even the adults may not be able to. I think this is one of the strong points in Japanese education system.

Skyhouse -- A refreshing example of a house which seems to float above its two small supporting hills.














Have to find out what this is?
















Water gate -- A proposal for a house to control the flow of a river. It was designed by the French architect Ledoux(1736-1806), and demostrated a very progressive idea, even though it occurred during the reign of Louis 16.















University of Tokyo Clock Tower

The White Day

March 14 is the day the men return the chocolate to the women, one month after Valentine's Day. In Japan we called "The White Day".

I am working at the development which the men are 10 times more than girls. However, with the company many-year traditions, we bought chocolate to all the men on Valentine's Day. In return, we received a big amount high quality chocolate in White Day.

Happy White Day to all!

GODIVA -- very popular and high quality chocolate.









Very testy white chocolate cookies.













White Day 2008, sweet candies.

Hinamatsuri in Japanese Families

The doll festival has been a Japanese tradition for more than 1000 years. Families who have girls display hina-dolls around March 3rd, and will put all the dolls back to the boxes usually not later than March 10th.

During the Hinamatsuri, my friend had chance to visit a Japanese family, who has 3 girls. The family was displaying a big set of Hina-dolls in their Tatami(畳) room to wish their daughters health and happiness (Seven Tier of Steps).

The dolls are not the everyday play dolls, a heritage of the household, handed down, many of them, from generation to generation. The grand parents love to buy new sets of dolls for a grand girl baby born as a gift.

A set of Hina-dolls usually consists of at least 15 dolls, all in the ancient costumes. The dolls most highly valued are the Dairi-sama, which represent the Emperor and Empress in resplendent court costumes of silk. They are attended by their two ministers, three kanjo (court ladies), and five court musicians. All are displayed on a tier of steps(usually five) from 3 to 6 ft. long and covered with bright red cloth.

A Balloom Giraff

A big and long diraff made by my son. Compare to the rat, it is much taller.

Chinese Water Art "Four Seasons"

My mom has many telnet on handicraft and art. Here, I introduce her last year Chinese Watercolor Art "Four Seasons". She never had special training on paintings, however her hand painting all are our family's precious. She had the four pieces done during her illness days, because she wanted to give me as 2007 new year's gift at the time I went back to visit her. The painting was done by my mom and the writing was done by my dad.

Spring


















Summer

















Fall


















Winter

Visiting Mountain Aso in Winter (阿蘇山）

Mount Aso (阿蘇山 Aso-san), located in Kyushu's Kumamoto prefecture, is the largest volcano in Japan.　However, this time, I am going to introduce the fun of snow playing in Aso mountian in winter.

Every year February is the best time to go snow playing. Last year we went at the right time, but this year we went in beginning of March, which you can see the snow is melting. However, it always have so much fun to make the snowman.



The right picture and two below were taken last year. As you can see it was the snow world! the whole mountain was covered by snow.














The kids enjoyed making snowballs and made a cute and tiny baby snowman.

This year there weren't lot snow to directly make a snowman, kids had to collect snow from other places near by to make it. However we made a much bigger size one and even gave him clothes and a hat.











This year mountain was so attractive because there were a lot of fog floating around it. It makes you feel that you are watching a movie.







Senri grass (草千里) is the place in the north of Aso mountain crater, the grassy plain of the diameter approximately 1km which spreads to the north base of the official post peak. The ceremony marks a double crater, grazing will be held and developed an idyllic landscape. Above picture was taken during our trip.

Sunday March 23rd, 2008 Easter

Easter 2006, Sunday 16th April
Easter 2007, Sunday 8th April
Easter this year is: Sunday March 23, 2008

As you may know, Easter is always the 1st Sunday after the 1st full moon after the Spring Equinox (which is March 20). This dating of Easter is based on the lunar calendar that Hebrew people used to identify Passover, which is why it moves around on our Roman calendar.

Based on the above, Easter can actually be one day earlier (March 22) but that is pretty rare. This year is the earliest Easter any of us will ever see the rest of our lives! And only the most elderly of our population have ever seen it this early(95　years old or above!). 　And none of us have ever, or will ever, see it a day earlier!

Here are the facts: The next time Easter will be this early (March 23) will be the year 2228 (220 years from now). The last time it was this early was 1913 (so if you're 95 or older, you are the only ones that were around for that!). The next time it will be a day earlier, March 22, will be in the year 2285 (277 years from now). The last time it was on March 22 was 1818. So, no one alive today has or will ever see it any earlier than this year!

See Easter Date from 1875 to 2124
See Easter pictures

Happy Easter.

The Chinese Face-Painting Art

Over 10 years ago, a couple gave this beautiful and precious face-painting art piece to our family as a Christmas gift. They bought it in Hong Kong during The Second World War. Today, I would love to share the art to you.

The Chinese face-paintin art was developed from the mask painting art which was initiated by Lang-Ling Hwang in the Pei-Gee dynasty and by Wu-Hsiang Dee in the Song dynasty. The painted masks were originally used in the fields of battle to make dreadful figures to frighten the enemy. Later on the masks were employed in the stage to show.

Social standing and disposition of characters. Owing to difficulty and inconvenience of manufacturing and wearing masks, the colors were directly painted on the faces, afterwards. Generally speaking, the face without painting represents faithful and nice fellows, the multi-colored face represents wicked people, the red face represents loyal and straight characters, the black face represent bravery and preseverance. The buffoons are painted with coloured spots. Up to now, there are many types of face-painting. The Tien-Kong Arts Association is the now painting various faces of Chinese historical figures for the purpose of popular enjoyment.

Drawing Made By A 16 Years Old Girl

The drawings here were from a 16 year-old girl, who never had special trainings on drawing. However, she used her sense to tell us what is beauty.





Black and blue only design brought the elegant to me.


















A simple red dress on a model, express "simple is pretty".

















A space for thinking.
















A different style of beauty.

March 3rd Hinamatsuri

In Japan, every year March 3　is to pray girl’s growth; it is called Hinamatsuri (The Japanese poultry celebration).　From the traditional doll decoration on the right, you can see the man poult and the woman poult are in the center called "Imperial Palace poult", decorated with flower of the peach. The paragraph phrase celebration with whit liquor is enjoyed. In addition there are many service dolls that are offering and accompanying to the "Imperial Palace poult" is also decorated.



Around March 3rd, almost all the stores sell Hina decorations. My Japanese friend gave me a package of Hina special rice ball things, it is very common treads and very delicious.












Yesterday we went to a electronic store and saw the decorations there. We took the picture with the electronics.

March 6th, we went to the restaurant "Chef no Maekake". A becautiful Hira-kazari in front of the restaurant. I was allowed to take the picture. Please enjoy it.