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The 28th (and the evening of the 27th) of Each Month is the day for prayer meetings at Tsukuba`s ( and the surrounding area`s) Fudo-Halls (不動尊)
It was the 27th, and July is an odd numbered month (the 7th), so I knew where I could find Mrs. Okamino. I built up the determination to s....
26 Sep 10:07 am  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Japanese Custom of O-Higan- Remembering Ancestors Are On and Around The Equinox Days (O-Higan)- Revisited
The Japanese never go very long without taking care of their ancestors or departed loved ones. In fact, there are many who pray and make of....
25 Sep 12:18 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Japanese Custom of O-Higan- Remembering Ancestors Are On and Around The Equinox Days (O-Higan)- Revisited
The Japanese never go very long without taking care of their ancestors or departed loved ones. In fact, there are many who pray and make of....
25 Sep 12:18 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
A Look at Moon-Viewing ( O-Tsukimi, お月見) in Japan- Tonight (Sept. 22nd) is the Ju-Go-Ya, while tomorrow night, September 23rd, will be the night of the full moon
The full moon of mid-autumn (chushu no meigetsu , 仲秋名月） with pampas grass (susuki) When they followed their traditional LUNISOLAR....
22 Sep 2:39 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Japan`s Prehistoric Staple Food – The Chestnut ( KURI, 栗), Is One of Tsukuba`s Most Outstanding (and dangerous!) Features- revisited
My neighbor, out early in the morning with boots, basket, and tongs! Sept 2010 Kuri on the tree in September. This year`s (2010) chestnut cr....
22 Sep 2:00 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Making Cloth Zori ( nuno-zori, 布草履)- a perfect gift for Respect for the Aged Day, or for anyone who appreciates fine traditional foot-wear!
Beautiful cloth zori sandals ( and the strips of fabric they were created form) made by my zori making teacher- Asako Seo  They are attract....
19 Sep 11:04 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Getting Ready For The Big One- The Great Ishioka Festival (Ishioka no Omatsuri, 石岡のおまつり) this coming Saturday, Sunday and Monday
  One of the several shops in Ishioka City which specialize in MATSURI wear and paraphanalia. These establishments were doing brisk busines....
17 Sep 10:07 am  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Teshirogi`s O-Washi Jinja (手代木の大鷲神社)- Its Tachibana（立花) Fireworks Festival and its Mysterious Straw Snake (大蛇)
the The curious straw snake which can always be seen hanging atop the torii gate at Teshirogi`s O-Washi Shrine in Tsukuba Thanks to their e....
15 Sep 2:33 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Fiery (and noisy) Fun at The Tabanka Festival (タバンカ祭) Held at The Venerable Daiho Hachimangu Shrine in Shimotsuma- on September 12th and then AGAIN on the 14th!
Young men dressed in white run around swinging burning bundles of straw at the Tabanka Festival A unique tradition! Tatami mats, wooden kett....
13 Sep 1:53 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Rude Awakenings! Today`s Early Morning Explosions Explained- Tsukuba`s AIZU NO HANABI (合図の花火)
  I found this fireworks launcher, set up and ready to go, by the ruins of the old Konda Castle at 5:45 AM. The technician was getting read....
11 Sep 9:53 am  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Solemn OPEN HOUSE Event at the Old Nogi Residence (next to the Nogi shrine in Tokyo) on September 12th and 13th- the Anniversary of the General`s ( and his wife`s) Ritual Suicide (s)
The blood stained kimonos worn by Gen. Nogi and his wife at the time of their ritual suicides are on display (along with their other persona....
8 Sep 2:28 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Praying For Good Tobacco Harvests at Mt. Kabasan`s Kiseru Matsuri (きせる祭)- The Giant Tobacco Pipe Festival !
Though it is already September and ostensibly Autumn, down on the heavilly deforested and extensively PAVED expanses of the Kanto Plain it ....
5 Sep 6:20 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Extremely Hot Summer In 2010 Leads to Slightly Disappointing Rice Harvest
Harvesting the rice in Tsukuba- September 3rd 2010 In Tsukuba, since it hardly ever snows, we rarely get to experience the thrill of waki....
5 Sep 3:53 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
With Japan`s Abundant Spider-life, Do Not Forget WEB-SEARCH before you near your front door
Some of the spiders, and their webs, around and inside my house in Konda, Tsukuba After a hard day at work or play (or both!) you are exhaus....
3 Sep 3:37 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Kattate Matsuri (かったて祭り)- Sets Makabe`s Mt Gongen-Yama Aglow!
Carrying torches to the top of Mt Gongen-Yama during the Kattate Matsuri ( August 31st 2010) Every year on the 31st of August, the parishion....
1 Sep 3:08 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Anniversary of The Great Kanto Eathquake (Sept. 1st) is Disaster Prevention Day in Japan- and the connection between eathquake prevention and the Kashima Grand Shrine
Tokyo`s Shita-Machi burning after the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923- note Mt Tsukuba on the right There used to be a cannon, located in the....
30 Aug 4:53 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Tsukuba`s Very Own (?) Nebuta Parade- At this weekend`s Matsuri Tsukuba Festival
Last year`s Nebuta procession as part of the Matsuri Tsukuba Festival I have always thought it CURIOUSLY inappropriate that the center-pie....
26 Aug 1:45 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Tsukuba`s Very Own (?) Nebuta Parade- At this weekend`s Matsuri Tsukuba Festival
Last year`s Nebuta procession as part of the Matsuri Tsukuba Festival I have always thought it CURIOUSLY inappropriate that the center-pie....
26 Aug 1:45 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Hand-Held Fireworks (Te Hanabi) Make Japanese Summer Nights Sparkle!
Kids playing with fireworks in the family garden I have said it before- In Japan summer means fireworks. I forgot to mention, however, that ....
24 Aug 1:11 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Last Night`s Full-Moon was the Bon-Moon (Bon no Tsuki, 盆の月), for those who still celebrate the ancient O-Bon Festival in its MOST AUTHENTIC way
Bon no Tsuki- The Bon Moon, on the night of August 23rd, 2010- with my cell-phone camera I have already told you in the pages of Tsukublog....
24 Aug 12:45 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
TSUNABI (綱火), Ina-Machi`s Fire-and-Smoke Spewing Puppets on a String- This year on August 22nd and 23rd!
  Though the greatest fireworks event around here (and one of the best in all of Japan), the Tsuchiura Hanabi Taikai, takes place in autu....
20 Aug 5:26 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Tsukuba`s Indefatiguable Bird-Chasers are Back Again! This Time in Force ! Come Watch ( and hear) Them in Action, as they keep our groundscapes safe!
  Using amplified distress calls to drive away the starlings that come to roost at Tsukuba Center ( Aug. 18th 2010) Summers  have always....
19 Aug 3:04 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The POWER SPOT Boom Has Thousands of Women ( and a fair share of men, as well) Flocking To Meiji Shrine`s Gyoen Garden- But Unfortunately, the Presence of All These Ladies Has Driven Away All the Tits- the Varied Tits (parus varius or yamagara in Japanese), that is!
A Varied Tit ( yamagara) in Meiji Shrine`s Inner Garden Harajuku, that trendy neighborhood right in the very heart  Tokyo, has long been....
18 Aug 1:04 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Around Yasukuni Shrine, New Regulations and Police Tactics Keep Noise and Violence Down During August 15th Demonstrations
Entering the precincts of the Yasukuni Shrine on August 15 2010 at 1PM August 15th, 1945  has been called Japan`s Longest Day.  It was on ....
16 Aug 7:18 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Last Straw? Yoshiro Yaguchi Keeps Unique O-Bon Traditions Alive in Tsukuba`s Shimo-Hiro-Oka Neighborhood
A tray for offerings (O-Zen) made from Makomo grass by Yaguchi-San on Aug. 12th 2010 Traditionally, the summer O-Bon Festival, in which Jap....
13 Aug 1:19 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Kakuo-Ji Temple in Tsukuba is a SITE FOR SORE EYES each year on August 11th, with the Yakushi Mando Ceremony
At dusk, the stairway leading to the temple is lined on both sides with lit candles During the summer, many of Japan`s ( and Tsukuba`s) Shi....
12 Aug 6:20 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
The Kakuoji Temple ( 覚王寺) In Hanamururo Will Be Lit Up ( by candles) Tonight For the Beautiful Yakushi Mando Ceremony
 After dark every August 11th, residents of Hanamuro, one of the  traditional Hamlets which lies within the borders of what is now Tsuku....
11 Aug 2:32 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Tobacco- One of Ibaraki`s Most Important Traditional Crops ! The Tobacco Shrine on Mt Kaba ! And, why the Tokugawa Shogunate Tried to Ban Smoking!
Tobacco growing in Tsukuba`s Matsushiro Neighborhood (July 2010) Though I am right here in Japan`s Ibaraki Prefecture, sometimes, lost in t....
10 Aug 5:04 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Remembering August 1945
 August is a time of remembrance in Japan. Not only is there the traditional O-Bon festival, in which the spririts of deceased ancestors ....
9 Aug 10:07 am  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
Religious Symbols Used To Discourage Littering (and Urinating in Public)-again
When I spotted the small vermillion torii (gate) up ahead by the side of the mountain road,  I tried to catch a glimpse of the shrine ....
7 Aug 9:37 pm  from  alientimes   [Profile]  [Recent] 
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