(Almost) Wordless Wednesday - A New Friend

A new friend arrived today. This gorgeous fellow has come a long way and was nervous and overwhelmed at being so far from his native South Africa.

But he wasn't lonely for long... the welcoming committee did what they do best and welcomed him warmly!

In fact one sweet little Japanese penguin was very friendly and sidled right up to the newcomer... A Japanese-South African romance in the making, perhaps?

Then and Now - Nikko Kanmangafuchi Jizo

More photos from the Nagasaki University's Metadatabase of Japanese Old Photographs... And more Nikko!

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This year U and I both had work/study we needed to do over the holidays, but decided we wanted to get away for a few days. So we drove to Nikko on New Year's eve, rang in the new year at Nikko Toshogu, spent a few days relaxing at the lovely Turtle Inn Annex, and then drove to the onsen town of Nasu where we "hiked" (a 15 minute walk down a slippery snowy and icy path) for two nights at an onsen hotel that has been forgotten by time. It was the perfect relaxing vacation and we both got lots done - in between relaxing in hot outdoor baths surrounded by a foot of snow!

While in Nikko we went for a short walk from our hotel and went to see the Jizo statues in Kanmangafuchi. It was the perfect walk for a winter day, and the Jizo were bright and cheery in their red caps and colourful origami decorations.

Some say there are 70 Jizo statues here, some say 100, and some say that you never count the same number twice because the Jizo get up and move around... However many of them there are, however, I love how each one is unique.

While poking around on the Nagasaki University's Metadatabase of Japanese Old Photographs, I found a familiar scene...

Tuesday Then & Now - Chuzenjiko

More photos from the Nagasaki University's Metadatabase of Japanese Old Photographs... And more Nikko!

Lake Chuzenjiko, to be exact.

During the Meiji period:






And November 2012 -

Happy Birthday little Dragon

Last year a friend was pregnant, but when I asked about colour choices for a baby blanket or sweater, I was told that the baby, her fourth, was well-stocked with newborn knitting, and maybe I could make something for the little one to wear when (s)he got a little bigger. A beautiful and healthy little girl made her entrance last May and I looked through the patterns on Ravelry trying to find a cute little dragon sweater for the year of the dragon baby. I ended up falling in love with a different type of pattern and embarked on making my very first knitted stuffy.

The end result was nowhere near as cute as its recipient, but got to its new home just in time for the other little dragon's first birthday.

Happy Birthday little dragon! May you grown strong, healthy, and happy. May you love, be loved, and dream big!

Tuesday Then & Now - Otonashi Bridge

More photos from the Nagasaki University's Metadatabase of Japanese Old Photographs... I missed the cherry blossoms by a few weeks, but the little park along the Shakuji River below Otonashibashi Bridge, behind Oji station, is a peaceful little oasis.

These photos (and their captions) tell a story of industrialization of the area.



"Oji Station is built over Shakujii River. In this area the river is called Otonashi River. The reason for this name is as follows. Toyoshima Gonnokami Kiyomitsu, a medieval feudal lord, hailed from Kishu (present-day Wakayama Prefecture) and thus established a shrine to Jakuichi Ouji Gongen (Kumano Gongen) that later became Oji Gongen. Consequently, this area was called Oji, and the river was named after the Otonashi River of Kishu. Upstream on the Otonashi River, Takinogawa Village gained fame for its autumn colours. Taken in the mid-Meiji Period."

"A woman looking at Otonashi River (Shakujii River) from a restaurant in Oji. The river was so clear during the Edo Period that tea made from river water was praised for its high quality. The hillside along the Otonashi River was also suited for tea growing, and the tea grown here was valued on a par with the famous tea from Uji. People were probably able to enjoy this tea here. Taken from a magic lantern made around 1897, this photograph shows that the river was still clean in the Meiji Period."





"The photographs of Takinogawa taken during the Meiji Period capture the beauty of the autumn colours. However, after World War II, the development of the residential areas changed the area upstream. The river banks were covered with concrete and the river started to smell due to waste water from houses. The local people launched a movement to protect the river, and finally the government built the Otonashi River Shinsui (Water Friendly) Park in 1985. Spring water is mixed with the natural flow and filtered. Thus, clean water is circulated in certain areas. Depicting the area under present-day Otonashi Bridge, this photograph was taken by Kusakabe Kinbei between 1877 and 1887 (second decade of the Meiji Period)."





And April 2013 -

TILT

Here are some of the things I'm loving this Thursday:

- four day weekends with U
- our new fridge! freezer space!
- spending time on my own research
- lunchtime walks in the park
- spring flowers

What are you loving today?