Daruma doll on bonfire

 Happy New Year.

It is an annual tradition among the Japanese to bring New Year's decorations and other stuff to the temple or shrine and say goodbye to them one or two weeks after the New Year's day. It is believed that Year God/Toshigami (年神) descends on houses where the entrance is decorated with pine trees and bamboo called Kadomatsu (門松). The Osechi cuisine (御節料理), a traditional food served in New Year's day, used to be the offering to Toshigami. After spending 7 to 10 days in the house, Year God returns to heaven. When the god is gone, New Year's decorations are stripped off but are not thrown in the trash bin. Instead, they are brought to the temple or shrine where purchased for ritual purification.   

Along with New Year's decorations, the daruma doll that represented the semi-legendary Buddhist monk, Bodhidharma, a founder of Zen Buddhism is one of the objects to be purified annually. The reddish round doll has blank white eyes in its original figure. When the owner sets a goal or makes a wish, the left eye is painted black just like Far East Asian eyes. If the dream or wish comes true, the right eye is filled. The doll is used for facilitating the owner to make the owner's dream come true. When it's achieved, the doll is purified on a bonfire...

Tengu Carving in Kushida Shrine

 Tengu carving in Kushida shrine (櫛田神社) in Hakata, Fukuoka city, my favorite town!

Yamaguchi Daijingu

Photos taken in Yamaguchi Prefecture continue...

Yamaguchi Daijingu (山口大神宮), located in Yamaguchi city center nearby Prefectural Office (山口県庁), is established in 1520 by dividing the spirit of Ise Grand Shrine (伊勢神宮). It follows the same style as Ise Grand Shrine - Naikuh (内宮) enshrining Amaterasu (天照大神), as well as Amanotajikarao (天手力男神) and Yorozuhata-Toyoakitsuhimenomikoto (萬幡豊秋津姫命) and Gekuh (外宮) - enshrining Toyoukeno-ohmikami (豊受大御神), as well as Ninigi (天津彦彦火瓊々芸命), Amanokoyane (天児屋根命), Amanofutodama (天太玉命), Takeminakata (建御名方神) and Yasakatojinomikoto (八坂刀自命)

Naikuh (内宮)

These Halls are built based on a traditional shinto style called Yuiitsu shinmeitzukuri (唯一神明造) characteristic structure is seen on a rooftop. 

Another view of Naikuh

Takamine Inari shrine (高嶺稲荷神社) and Taga shrine (多賀神社) are also in the area of Yamaguchi Daijingu.

Taga Shrine

Naritasan Temple

Just prior to taking an airplane at Narita airport, I visited Naritasan temple (成田山). 

Main hall

The actual name of the Buddhist temple complex is called Naritasan Shinshoji (成田山新勝寺) that was established in AD 940. It belongs to the Shingon school Chisan branch (真言宗智山派)

Three-storied pagoda image taken by Infrared camera

Acala (不動明王), a guardian deity of fire, is worshipped there.

Somon gate taken by an infrared camera

This is Weekend Black and White 27th of June entry.

Shoin Shrine in Hagi City

I had a chance to visit neighboring cities thanks to the generous offer from a Yamaguchi native!

There are two Shoin shrines (松陰神社) in Tokyo and Hagi city in Yamaguchi and I, of course, visited the latter one.

The first Torii gate taken by Infrared camera

I think almost all Japanese can recognize him as one of the indispensable personnel in achieving Meiji Restoration (明治維新).

Probably due to his given name, Sho (松= pine) in (陰), lots of pine trees are planted there.

Tsunetomi Hachimangu in Yamaguchi City

Currently, I have a short stay in Yamaguchi city, located at the very western tip of the mainland, for around four weeks. This is my first weekend and I rambled new neighborhood on Sunday.

Sure, I visited a couple of local shrines! Two shrines are combined there: Tsunetomi Hachimangu (恒富八幡宮) and Takakurakou Shrine (高倉荒神社). Since it's named Hachimangu, Hondawakenomikoto, also known as Emperor Ohjin (応神天皇) is enshrined in Tsunetomi Hachimangu, as well as Ichikishimahime no mikoto (市杵嶋姫命), Takirihime no mikoto (多紀理毘売命), and Tagitsuhime no mikoto (多岐都比売命).

Tsunetomi Hachimangu taken by Infrared camera

On the contrary, Takakurakou Shrine enshrines Sumanoo (須佐之男神) and Ukemochi (保食神)

It's a brand new building as they lost almost all buildings by fire in February 2002 (local newspaper article here in Japanese). 

Street Snapshots in Shanghai

Shown are a couple of scenes I happened to encounter while rambling Shanghai.

Chuzenji Lake

Photographed at Chuzenji Lake in Nikko city.

This is the Weekend in Black and White entry.

Bronze Statue Of Sacred Horse

It was a beautiful day today, though it was cold... When we went to downtown, I stopped at Futaarayama shrine (二荒山神社) to photograph whatever looks interesting. I captured the bronze statue of the sacred horse there.


This is a Black and White Weekend entry.

Have a wonderful Christmas Holiday!

Mikoshi Procession

Summer is the season for the festival in Japan.

The festival we went today is called Miyaichi festival (宮壹祭). In principle, mikoshi (a portable shrine) is owned by each district and the carriers in the district wear the same uniform with its logo. At Miyaichi festival, you can only see ONE mikoshi carried by a variety of participants coming from Utsunomiya downtown, as well as mikoshi freaks coming from outside of Tochigi prefecture.

This year, we have several mikoshi carriers coming from the tsunami devastated area in Tohoku... Though they also could be refugees that had been evacuated to Utsunomiya city...

This is an entry for Show Me Japan Vol 1, Issue 32. If you want to see nice photos taken in Japan, don't forget to visit!!!

Update: For those who are curious about how I took this photo, here is the answer.
I was not on the mikoshi, but my camera was approx. 3 meters high from the ground. I am not a mutant in the movie X-Men. So I don't have the ability to jump 3 meters, stay in the air, and take photos...
What I did was attaching monopod and remote cable release to the camera and doing the blind shooting by walking backwards in front of mikoshi! Does it make sense???

Ying And Yang Stone

Photographed in Nikko city.

This is a Wordless Wednesday, Black and White Wednesday, Watery Wednesday, and Outdoor Wednesday #113.

                      

Snowy Day

We have snow fall from time to time, however in many cases, it does not stay for long. By next day, it's either gone or it turns into sleet.


This is a Black and White Weekend and Weekend Reflections #76, Sunday In My City.and PhotoSunday. The theme is "Glare".

                  

This is also an entry for Show Me Japan Vol 1, Issue 16. If you want to see nice photos taken in Japan, don't forget to visit!

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

Candle Light-Up In Nikko

Photographed at Kanmangafuchi Abyss (含満ガ淵) in Nikko city. On Valentine's Day, we had a candle light-up ceremony. These Jizo statues are called Bake Jizo. It is called so because whenever you count the number of statues, you are always confused and the number is not consistent...

Why??

Because numerous numbers of Jizo statues are there. Some are pretty small and you may miss them. Some are not full figured because they were flushed away by flooding that happened around 100 years ago...

This is a Black and White Weekend, Shadow Shot Sunday #145 and Scenic Sunday 136

                 

Have a wonderful weekend.

That's What Moms Are For

Photographed at Futaarasan Chugushi Shrine in Nikko city. Kids wearing traditional kimono were well-behaved and moms took good care of them.

This is a Black and White Weekend, Shadow Shot Sunday #144, Weekend Portrait #2.

                   

Safe Bridge

Three days ago, I posted a photo of a damaged bridge found in Lake Chuzenji (photos below).

            

Damaged Bridge

And one more

This bridge is obviously safe and used by several boat owners.

And also for Black and White Weekend, Shadow Shot Sunday #143, Scenic Sunday 134 and Weekend Reflections #73.

                 

Have a nice weekend.