MY REAL JAPAN: January 2013

Wednesday, January 30, 2013

Mt.Fuji from Kamakura(鎌倉）

Last Sunday ,my husband and I visited the Kencho Ji temple(建長寺） which is the first-ranked of the five great Zen temples of Kamakura and is also the oldest monastery in Japan. It was constructed under the order of the Emperor Gofukakusa during the regency of Hojo Tokiyori (1227-1263).The work was completed in the fifth year of the Kencho Era(1253),from which the name of the temple is taken.
We climbed the small mountain just behind the temple and luckily we did appreciate the wonderful view of Mt.Fuji , which took our breath away at the observation platform.

Somon(General Gate)

Many Sakura(Cherry) trees were planted .

Sanmon(Main Gate)=Important Cultural Property

Behind the Sanmon (The carpenters didn't use nails)

Bonsho(Temple Bell)=National Treasure

This bell (27 tons) was cast in 1255.

These trees(Juniper), designated as National Treasures ,were planted over 750 years ago from the seeds that the Founder brought from China.

Drooping Sakura tree

Torii(Gateway at the entrance to a Shinto shrine.

This shrine is protecting Kencho-ji temple.

observatory

Mt.Fuji

Sagami Bay(相模湾）

The bamboo trees and a camellia

Monday, January 14, 2013

It's snowing now !

( Sankei News Paper on 15 January)

It's snowing now here in Yokohama and is first time in this winter season!!
When my husband opened the door to take a news paper, he shouted 'it's snowing!'
That's why it's so cold this morning!
According to the weather forecast it will continue snowing until next morning.
It's a shame as many ceremonies for the young of twenty years old　(成人式） are being held today to celebrate all over Japan and the problem is that most ladies would wear gorgeous Kimonos!

The bamboo trees.

The pine trees.

The tree left is Sakura.

The orange trees are standing in the snow!

The camellia is over there.

I followed the neighbor's footprints.

Friday, January 11, 2013

87 year- old Japanese woman spoke English for the first time!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!( At the Japanese Association in Singapore)

Kadomatsu (門松）is a decoration consisting of a set of pine branches and bamboo .
It is places at the front door of the buildings and houses during the New Year holidays.
Kadomatsu symbolizes longevity and prosperity. [あけましておめでとうございます]is [Happy New Year} in Hirakana.巳 means a snake in Kanji(漢字）as 2013 is the year of the Snake by the Chinese (and Japanese) zodiac.

My husband and I spent our holidays in Singapore for 2 weeks.
During our stay,my mother- in-law(84) and her elder sister(87)joined us there.
We showed them around the island.
They were excited to experience the mixed cultures of the Chinese,Indians , Malays and British ;as they cannot get to see these in Japan.
Amazingly,they could learn many things in Singapore even in their eighties.
When we had an afternoon tea in the Fullerton Hotel,they started to speak in English with whatever knowledge they had in the English language.They had no chance to study English in Japan as it was regarded as the enemy language during the period of the war.
Mano,who was my son's English teacher,and currently 1 of my best friends ,and I were surprised;the sisters themselves were surprised too!They told us that her warm and kind aura relaxed them.
My another best Chinese friend,Ms.Kim invited us to her house which made them extremely happy as they knew the historical facts and did appreciate her very much.At the many places when they went to pray for the war victims beyond countries, they pleaded not to repeat history again.