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Dear Customers & Friends
Hello from Japan! This is Kimono Flea Market ICHIROYA's News Letter No.291.
Firstly, we like to thank you for very warm e-mails about Yuka and Mugi's kimono dressing license. domo arigatogozaimasu!
Recently, we hear the news that sakura(cherry blossom) reach full bloom in places everyday. Because Japan has vertically long country, so sakura begin to bloom in southern area and sakura-zensen(cherry blossom front) rise up to Hokkaido during about two months.
Just front of our house, there are several sakura trees, and they are full bloom now.
In this letter, I would like to use the Japanese word 'sakura' instead of 'cherry blossom', because it fit better especially when we introduce Japanese poem.
From olden times, 'hana'(flower) indicates sakura. Before the Heian period(794-1185), it was ume(plum) blossom, but after Heian period, sakura becomes national flower in the literature.
Japanese people have been loving sakura, and during the long time, Sakura have been bred, and now it is said that about several hundreds species exist. Most usual species is Someiyoshino, which was made in Edo period, and planted all over Japan from Meiji period to now.
We would like to introduce old three poems about sakura, which express well our Japanese mind about sakura.
願はくは花の下にて春死なん そのきさらぎの望月のころ - 西行( Negawakuwa, hananoshitanite harushinan, sonokisaragino mochizukinokoro.By Saigyo )
I wish I die,
Under sakura blossom,
In spring,
When full moon shines,
In the April.
ひさかたの光のどけき春の日にしづ心なく花ぞ散るらむ - 紀友則( Hisakatano Hikarinodokeki Harunohini, Shizukokoronaku Hanazochiruran. By Kino Tomonori )
On the windless spring day with warm light,
Why sakura blossom fall,
Without peace of mind.
敷島の大和心を人問はば朝日に 匂ふ山桜かな - 本居宣長 ( Shikishimano Yamatogokorowo Hitotowaba Asahini Niou Yamazakurakana - By Norinaga Motoori)
If people ask the spirit of Japan,
It's like,
Yamazakura( mountain cherry blossom)
Blooms in the morning sun.
We learned these old poem at school, and I love the first and the second very much. Yesterday, we had full moon in clear sky, and sakura was especially beautiful under the moon light. It was so beautiful, I went out with my camera and tried to take pictures. Unfortunately, taking night photos was too difficult for me yet, and we can't show the beauty by photos now. I really wanted to die under sakura flower and full moon in such calm day( of course, in future!)
Now sakura petals fly in the wind and many roads are scattered with petals.We Japanese feel special kind of beauty and melancholiness when we see sakura petals are falling. We think you must feel the similar feeling if you see it.
During the WWII, last poem was used to boost national prestige and to promote war policy - Japanese man must become a soldier and die gracefully as if sakura blossom falls. In original meaning, writer seemed not to intend to say such meaning, but unfortunately this poem is often is quoted .
There are many sakura viewing spots in Japan. I(Ichiro) wondered where should to go, and in last week, I went to Shiga prefecture to see sakura.
Here is the photos of sakura viewing morning of us.
Click Here
-Hikone Castle
Now I am interested in not only sakura, but also castle, so I decided to go Hikone castle. Hikone castle is famous for the beauty of sakura blossom. And the reason I wanted to visit was that the castle is one of the genuine castle which remains the original 'tenshukaku(main buliding)'. There are many castles in Japan, but many of them were rebuilt after Meiji period(1868-). Original castle buildings were made of wood, so they were burn at the battles during the age of provincial wars. Rebuilt castles like Osaka Castle and Iga Castle are made of concrete, and are made mainly for tourists. Osaka castle has elevator inside, and very easy and comfortable to look.
However, you will have to want to visit genuine castles, which are as they were in the age of provincial wars.
Now 12 castles remain with original 'tenshukaku'( main building). The oldest is said to be Inuyama Castle, and most famous (and said to be the most beautiful) Himeji Castle is also one of such original castles.
I have been to Matsumoto Castle last summer, which is also original. At that time, I didn't have strong interest about castles, and we abandoned to enter the main building because we had to wait for an hour (it was obon season, and very crowded
Hikone Castle was built around 1610 and owned by Ii family. Tenshukaku has three floors, which were made of very thick lumbers.
Its outside is very beautiful and has strong image, but when I got inside of the castle, I understood immediately that this castle was built for 'war', not for tourists. Pillows are very thick, and wooden walls have window for gun and arrow. Steps are very steep and narrow, and I could not go upstairs without holding fast a rail. (It was so steep, the angle was 60 degree!) When enemies invade inside, they have to go up one by one slowly, so they will be attacked easily.
Floor is also wood, and in the second floor, squeak noise is heard along the steps of people in upstairs.
Most of them are left as it was built, and I could feel it enough.
Of course, cherry blossom were gorgeous. Full bloom seemed to come a few days later.
Inside the castle's land, there was a museum named 'Hikonejo Museum'. When I visited, armours of Ii family were exhibited. Red was their mark, and their red armors are exceptionally gorgeous. Besides the contemporary building, Japanese old style house and noh stage were re-built, and visitors can enjoy the atmosphere of samurai's old house.
By the way, when I visited, Hikone castle was very crowded with sakura viewing people. I had to wait 40 minutes to enter the 'tenshukaku', and also in the 'tenshukaku', I had to wait about 10-20 minutes before the very steep and narrow steps. Frankly said, entering tenshukaku was worth for waiting such long time, but I got tired with lots of people.
A few days later, I also heard that Himeji Castle was also in the similar situation.
So I would like to recommend you not to get two joys at a visit. Visiting the Hikone(and Himeji) castles in not-cherry blossom season is better.
Here is the photos of Hikone Castle;
Click Here
official site;
Click Here
There are several interesting spots in Nagahama/Kurokabe, which is near Hikone castle.
Here is more information.
Click Here
By the way, we have been put our news letter in our blog.
However, our blog is not access-friendly for introducing sightseeing spots.
So we have made new site, 'funfun-japan.com', and decided to put new articles and transfer old articles to it(transfering now). We will continue to post new articles on our blog for keep my original text, but in the new site 'funfun-japan', text can be easily edited by anyone. And of course, new articles can be added by anyone.
We are very happy if you rewrite my unskilled English, and add some comments, and introduce the Japanese interesting spots you visited.
Click Here
This site is made of pukiwiki, which is similar to WIKIPEDIA. It may be little bit bother to learn the edit rules, but only add/change text is not difficult.
Click Here
We are very happy if we( Ichiroya and customers) could make informative Japanese sightseening spots site together.
Today we will list some men's kimono, child kimono and bolts. We are very happy if you could find your favorite among them.
Have a nice spring Sunday!
Ichiro & Yuka Wada
Kimono Flea Market "ICHIROYA"
http://www.ichiroya.com
e-mail: info@ichiroya.com
address: Asia-shoji Bldg.301
1841-1 Nishi 1 chome
Wakamatsu cho
Tondabayashi city
Osaka 584-0025 JAPAN
TEL&FAX ****( international number ) - 81-721-23-5446
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