Muza-chan's Gate to Japan

A Japanese Song per Day: T-BOLAN - Bye For Now

Muza-chan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 10:30:30 +0000

T-BOLAN - Bye For Now:

A Japanese company with an unlikely name, Lotteria

Muza-chan — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:01:14 +0000

Although the name is somehow misleading, Lotteria is a Japanese company and it’s not related to any lottery. It is, in fact, a… fast-food restaurants chain. The parent company is called Lotte (hence “Lotte-ria") and was established by Shigemitsu Takeo in 1948. And the company’s unusual name comes from “Charlotte", a character from Goethe’s novel The Sorrows of Young Werther…

In today’s photo is one of its most popular restaurants, located in Harajuku, Tokyo, at the intersection of Meiji-dori and Omotesando, near the entrance to the Meiji-Jingūmae subway station.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Lotteria, Shibuya, Tokyo

EXIF Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 11mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/640s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 640

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Bamboo and Three Friends of Winter

A Japanese Song per Day: Utada Hikaru - Flavor Of Life

Muza-chan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:13:47 +0000

Utada Hikaru - Flavor Of Life:

Bamboo and Three Friends of Winter

Muza-chan — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:01:55 +0000

In the Japanese tradition, a group of 3 plants are know as Suihan Sanyou, the “Three Friends of Winter". The reason is that during winter, while most of the plants are losing their green, the pine (matsu), the bamboo (take) and the plum (ume) (plum), even under the snow, are resistant to the winter’s cold. Taken together, the Suihan Sanyou are symbols of perseverance…

But taken separately, these 3 plants are also symbolizing traditional values: the bamboo, because it bends in the wind but never breaks, is a symbol of flexibility, while because it is green all around the year is a symbol of longevity.

More than this, in Japan the bamboo is sometimes planted next to shrines or temples to protect them against evil spirits. And in some cases, the temple was built next to a bamboo forest, like the Tenryu-ji from Kyoto, built next to the beautiful bamboo grove from Arashiyama…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Bamboo groves, Arashiyama, Kyoto

EXIF Info:

Fuji X100
Lens: Fujinon
Focal Length: 19mm
Aperture: F/4
Shutter Speed: 1/80s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 1000

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese architecture, Kanazawa Station

A Japanese Song per Day: Schwarz Stein - Last Hallucination

Muza-chan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 10:07:56 +0000

Schwarz Stein - Last Hallucination:

Japanese architecture, Kanazawa Station

Muza-chan — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 00:01:48 +0000

Continuing an architectural tradition which began in 1914 with the construction of the Tokyo Station, Japan still builds impressive train stations, designed to inspire the traveler.

I already discussed about the ultra-modern Osaka Station (the third busiest train station in the world), about the futurist Kyoto Station (the second largest train station in Japan) and about the impressive Nagoya Station, the tallest railway station building in the world.

Today, I would like to show you another architectural masterpiece, the Kanazawa Station, built in 2005. Combining old and modern elements, a giant glass dome with a futuristic yet traditional wooden gate, the Kanazawa Station is one of the most creative buildings I have seen.

The wooden gate is inspired by a Japanese traditional drum called tsuzumi (hence the name Tsuzumimon) and the dome’s name is Motenashi Dome, which means the “Welcome Dome".
This is how Kanazawa is welcoming its visitors…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Tsuzumimon Gate, Motenashi Dome, Kanazawa Station, Kanazawa

EXIF Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 8mm
Aperture: F/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/50s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 640

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Perfect view of Mount Bandai, the Fuji from Aizu

A Japanese Song per Day: Field Of View - Last Good-Bye

Muza-chan — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 09:56:17 +0000

Field Of View - Last Good-Bye:

Perfect view of Mount Bandai, the Fuji from Aizu

Muza-chan — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 00:01:38 +0000

Japan offers a great number of beautiful scenic places and, over time, the Japanese people selected them, creating top lists like the famous “Three Great Gardens of Japan” (Nihon Sanmeien) or the “Three Views of Japan” (Nihon Sankei). But there are also larger lists, like the “100 Famous Japanese Mountains” (Nihon Hyaku-meizan) 「日本百名山」.

The first selection of mountains, called “A collection of maps and pictures of famous Japanese mountains", was made during the Edo Period by Tani Bunchō, a samurai known as a painter and a poet. His collection included 90 mountains and developing his idea, in 1964 Kyūya Fukada published Nihon Hyaku-meizan, a list of 100 mountains selected to be taller than 1,500 meters, having a great history and a spectacular beauty.

Of course, Mount Fuji is the first mountain that comes to mind when speaking about Japan, but here’s another beautiful mountain: Mount Bandai, Aizu Bandai-san 「会津磐梯山」, nicknamed Aizu-Fuji because of its shape that reminds of Fuji, affectionately called the “treasure of Aizu” in an old song from the Fukushima area.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Mount Bandai, Aizu

EXIF Info:

Nikon D700
Lens: 24-70mm F/2.8G
Focal Length: 50mm
Aperture: F/7.1
Shutter Speed: 1/1000s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 250

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Kanrensetsu, Lotus flower viewing in Japan

A Japanese Song per Day: Katori Shingo & Yamashita Tomohisa - The Monsters

Muza-chan — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 10:00:22 +0000

Katori Shingo & Yamashita Tomohisa - The Monsters:

Kanrensetsu, Lotus flower viewing in Japan

Muza-chan — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 00:01:58 +0000

Similar to Hanami, the Sakura celebration, in Japan there’s also a celebration of Lotus flowers: Kanrensetsu, the Lotus flower viewing.

Both these flowers have a deep meaning in the Japanese culture: because it lasts for only a few days, the Sakura is the symbol of what is ephemeral, while the Lotus is the symbol of purity, because its roots are deep in mud but the flower blossoms over the water.

Of course, Kanrensetsu is not nearly as popular as Hanami, but Lotus flowers can be admired in many Japanese gardens. The flower from today’s photo was photographed in the Shinobazu Pond from Ueno, one of the best places in Tokyo for Lotus viewing…

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Lotus flower, Shinobazu Pond, Ueno, Tokyo

EXIF Info:

Nikon D300
Lens: 18-70mm F/3.5-4.5G
Focal Length: 70mm
Aperture: F/4.5
Shutter Speed: 1/640s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japanese traditional architecture, Tsukiagedo

A Japanese Song per Day: Yosui Inoue - Riverside Hotel

Muza-chan — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 10:28:55 +0000

Yosui Inoue - Riverside Hotel:

Japanese traditional architecture, Tsukiagedo

Muza-chan — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 00:01:14 +0000

Unlike the Western houses, which were using glass windows since the 17th century, the traditional Japanese houses were built with windows covered with semi-opaque washi paper, which let the light pass through it while being resistant enough to withstand the wind and the rain.

But in some cases, like in this tea-house from Kodai-ji, Kyoto, to ventilate the rooms or to enhance the interior lighting, some windows were left uncovered, being protected by large wood-and-paper shutters called tsukiagedo or tsurido. Hinged on the top, the tsukiagedo was fixed open with small poles, giving the house a distinct appearance.

Click on photo for higher resolution:

Kasa-tei, Kodai-ji Temple, Kyoto

EXIF Info:

Nikon D90
Lens: 8-16mm F/4.5-5.6G
Focal Length: 16mm
Aperture: F/5.6
Shutter Speed: 1/125s
ISO Sensitivity: ISO 200

Yesterday’s Japan Photo: Japan Rail Pass alternatives