tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51199276539102770072024-03-05T22:53:01.708+09:00Japanese Hand Craft owner blogOwner of web shop Japanese Hand Craft presents traditional Japanese culture and fine goods to people all over the world. Through the blog, I hope all the people understand real Japanese culture.Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.comBlogger96125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-40910639073092817602010-05-14T11:02:00.004+09:002010-05-14T11:14:14.309+09:00Manners at Shinto shrines<span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>1. Torii</em> (gate)<br /></span></strong>Stand in the front of the <em>Torii </em>gate and make a 90-degree bow. If you have a hat or cap, you should take it off.<br /><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><strong><em>2. Sandou</em> (gravel path to the main building)<br /></strong></span>Try to avoid walking in the center of the <em>Sando</em> way. We Japanese believe the center of the way is for the <em>kami-sama</em> (god). However, it is not a must for you to do. Actually, I never minded myself until now.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>3. Mitarashi</em> (washing hand hut)</span></strong><br />Before meeting the <em>kami-sama</em>, you have to make your body pure at the <em>Mitarashi</em>.<br />Ladle water with your right hand and wash your left hand. Switch the ladle to your left hand and wash your right hand. Then pour some of the remaining water in your mouth with your left hand. Attention: do not touch your lips to the ladle. Put the mouth of the ladle just under your lip. After, spit the water in the basin at your feet or ditch and NOT in the place where you got the water from. This is sure to get your thrown out of the country. Finally, wash your left hand again and replace the ladle standing up letting the water run along the length of the ladle from mouth to handle. We Japanese believe that this cleanses the whole thing.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>4. Oinori</em> (praying or wishing to the god)</span></strong><br />There are many ways to do this in Japan. It is dependent on the particular shrine or religions. There is usually a sign telling you what to do since there are a countless number of shrines and temples here. I will tell you the basic way.<br />First throw your offering in the box. You might not get your wish from borrowed money!<br />Make two bows, clap your hands loudly twice (to get the god’s attention) and make a final single bow.<br />My grandfather followed <em>Izumo-Taisha</em> (one of the oldest shrine in Japan). He would clap 4 times. I follow my grandpa’s way. Please feel free to do the same if you like.<br /><br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>5. Omikuji</em> (paper fortunes)<br /></span></strong>Now is your chance to see what your future holds. There is usually a box with sticks. First pay the fee. Then shake the box until the stick comes out. Tell the priest or priestess what number is written on the stick and they will give you your fortune. Some shrines are self-service so you will have to find your fortune from a set of drawers. After you are done reading it, you can fold it up and tie it on one of the ropes or trees nearby specifically for this purpose. If it is a good one, you can take it home with you. Bad ones are usually tied at the shrine for the god to think about.<br /><br />There are many food stalls along the <em>Sando</em>. However, you should not buy or eat anything before finishing <em>Oinori</em>. Since you must have finished, you can now buy and eat anything you please on your way out of the shrine.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;"><em>6. Torii</em> (gate)</span><br /></strong>Before leaving, turn to main building and make a bow again.</span><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com82tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-40660998485614307812010-04-03T15:50:00.000+09:002010-04-03T15:52:01.149+09:00Matcha<span style="color:#666666;">Matcha has been drunk in Japan for over 800 years. Matcha is made from the dried leaves of the tea plant. But, matcha is different from other teas. Matcha is made by grinding the tea leaves into a fine powder. Other teas are the distillation of tea essence from the leaves, leaving the leaves in the teapot unused. Matcha uses the whole of tea leaves leaving nothing behind. It is very unique.<br /><br />How to serve matcha:<br />Using a bamboo spoon, put the matcha powder into a tea bowl. Afterwards, using a bamboo ladle, add hot water into the bowl. Then, using a bamboo whisk, whisk the contents quickly. It is very simple. However, there are many methods, styles and deep meanings to go with them. For example, I mentioned that all the tools are made from bamboo. I think there is some special meaning for why everything must be bamboo.<br /><br />Matcha is made using the first leaves of the season and only the highest quality leaves. Those leaves are picked by hand with care. The leaves and plants are covered by sheets to prevent sun from shining directly on them. Covered tea plants grow slower than others and don’t dry out as fast. This generates a rich flavor. The growing method is the same with sencha, another high quality Japanese tea.<br /><br />Matcha is a healthier drink than regular tea, because it contains much more caffeine, tannin, polyphenol, catechine and vitamins.<br /><br />The contents and the flavor are very distinct when matched with other foods. Matcha desserts are especially famous. You must know green tea ice cream. I know of many other desserts in Japan using matcha: chocolates, cakes, cookies, candies, soy bean paste and wagashi(traditional Japanese sweets). I also know of matcha-salt which is used for tempura. </span>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-14796819170200493922010-02-16T10:33:00.004+09:002010-02-16T10:45:39.671+09:00Tokoname teapot burning<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DdVdTsA0YLgzVxus_pKFnocbHhAMBpCse2vwQgeh6maAGn4Tq9cdAhZgadEcUQQIPIgPBCTfcyw54GZf0z3xSgTCFfsAeas6G3ZsbmtIGTPYvOGtH8KL6n8bAeVezm5RtWyoQk1sK10/s1600-h/IMG_6294.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438650502282811826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-DdVdTsA0YLgzVxus_pKFnocbHhAMBpCse2vwQgeh6maAGn4Tq9cdAhZgadEcUQQIPIgPBCTfcyw54GZf0z3xSgTCFfsAeas6G3ZsbmtIGTPYvOGtH8KL6n8bAeVezm5RtWyoQk1sK10/s320/IMG_6294.JPG" /></a><br />Gray Hidasuki<br /><br /></div><div align="center"><br /></div><p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5KN1tHR8ynVmI-ajrVL221rB9KUS7iEu_Tp4cFQqJhKYVr988DHuIYOAHT4nf97w55BVg_1ucJPoOgzW8CHTs5lirKhcSumf3nH17nwvn9aWgShA4D_8-HFRWAhXzKFA9NmY6DHFINc/s1600-h/IMG_6270.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5438650316827626994" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5KN1tHR8ynVmI-ajrVL221rB9KUS7iEu_Tp4cFQqJhKYVr988DHuIYOAHT4nf97w55BVg_1ucJPoOgzW8CHTs5lirKhcSumf3nH17nwvn9aWgShA4D_8-HFRWAhXzKFA9NmY6DHFINc/s320/IMG_6270.JPG" /></a>Kokudei Inka<br /></p><p><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I went to tabletop show 2010 spring in Nagoya city on Jan 13th in order to get new items. I could meet a potter who is Teruyuki in Tokoname and asked about processing the Tokoname teapot. I have gotten some his special works in the show. He has been providing new styles and models of teapots for the show. They are not for regular items.<br /><br />This time I got two types. One is Gray Hidasuki. The other is Kokudei Inka.<br /><br />The Gray Hidasuki teapot was burned three times. The first burning was kept 650 degree-C and made Hidasuki patterns. Hidasuki was made by straw burning on the teapot surface. Second burning was 1200 degree-C with oxidation atmosphere. The process made white color on the surface. The third burning was 1200 degree-C with deoxidization atmosphere. It made gray color surface.<br /><br />Kokudei Inka teapot was burned a couple times. The first burning was 600 degree-C. After that he painted outside with red and green color. The second burning was 1150 degree-C.</span> </p><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com121tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-77641959858992086442010-01-21T11:19:00.003+09:002010-01-21T11:34:35.375+09:00Chopsticks & Fish<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_JFkRRPk06LIlAd22wh4u1X-oc9Mv0LNu8cOiQ4u2N-ZjgKtZYEzV_cKxvjw5CBc_jdsCX7vZwqNhGehyphenhypheniGww6PgmJHSE_oSKFntZmsGRK5wbkYR4y-2gvKgQsHBrowxsN00CHh0YRU/s1600-h/sisyamo_01.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429014316356984002" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_JFkRRPk06LIlAd22wh4u1X-oc9Mv0LNu8cOiQ4u2N-ZjgKtZYEzV_cKxvjw5CBc_jdsCX7vZwqNhGehyphenhypheniGww6PgmJHSE_oSKFntZmsGRK5wbkYR4y-2gvKgQsHBrowxsN00CHh0YRU/s320/sisyamo_01.jpg" /></a> <strong><em><span style="color:#666666;">Sisyamo<br /></span></em></strong><br /><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#666666;">Japanese have loved eating fish since the Stone Age. This is probably because Japan is surrounded by the sea on all sides. I think Japanese eat fish more than Chinese do. You know, we Japanese have learned much culture from China & Korea. Some examples: <em>Kanji </em>(Chinese character), rice cropping, pottery, iron work, building styles, etc. Chopsticks also came from China. However, the shape is different. Chinese chopsticks have a square shape with a uniform width. Japanese chopsticks taper from one side to the other. This shape was developed in Japan. It is understood from history that this modification comes from eating fish in the Edo period (the 18th -19th century). Fish that live near the coast are small and have many small bones. It is hard to separate meat from bone with wide chopsticks.<br /><br />I used to work in a steel plant in North Carolina. Like Japanese and unlike Chinese and Koreans, Americans also do not normally eat fish with the head still attached. Japanese do eat small fish like sardines whole. I could get my hands on some fish with head in Atlanta, Georgia. Specifically, I could get the fish I especially love, <em><strong>shishamo</strong></em> (a saltwater smelt) which is 6” long 1” wide that still has fish eggs in its belly. It can be eaten whole, head and all. My wife would cook the fish for my lunch box. When I ate it, my friends and coworkers would leave my table. They thought I was crazy for eating the whole fish! My dad eats <strong><em>inago</em></strong>, a locust, a kind of grasshopper. It has very bitter taste, and when I ate it in childhood I thought he was crazy too! </span></div><BR/><BR/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-32160251427555206062010-01-07T10:54:00.003+09:002010-01-07T10:58:23.717+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 7 Pine plants<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocNNyeJYL02z4fd48atSISWcNw6RJkhqKGVaqezdvIyNP6g4naCTiHRfF-k50LUurhuvWp95tY6wOyiLtbIERjtFu4pvoE4G-_5aHhCkv1fwgt2JDS3nS_yOw_Qz2_V3sM55XcxLRQg8/s1600-h/IMG_5513.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423810811054739890" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiocNNyeJYL02z4fd48atSISWcNw6RJkhqKGVaqezdvIyNP6g4naCTiHRfF-k50LUurhuvWp95tY6wOyiLtbIERjtFu4pvoE4G-_5aHhCkv1fwgt2JDS3nS_yOw_Qz2_V3sM55XcxLRQg8/s320/IMG_5513.JPG" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#666666;"><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Pine plants</strong></span><br />There are pine plants around stone walls and moat. These plants are full of sharp thorns and only the foolhardy would try to cross them. The plants are also very dense so they are difficult to cut and even if burned they retain their strength.</span> </div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-38205804792204459982009-12-11T10:38:00.006+09:002009-12-11T10:51:15.316+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 6 Wells<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHq2qe8riJIKUsXMb_E-Vom8Rv2R6Mhmqm81ZFIQrSP_4MqouCMGGd5ze7zj2Ynj1ux0LZpL52k6pZscUptCXb56yd-3b0vN08JN_u1dm1kVQzG_7rfTsZQ_iCBCWPvQrDTFiIA_SQ4/s1600-h/IMG_4977.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413789748162768930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpHq2qe8riJIKUsXMb_E-Vom8Rv2R6Mhmqm81ZFIQrSP_4MqouCMGGd5ze7zj2Ynj1ux0LZpL52k6pZscUptCXb56yd-3b0vN08JN_u1dm1kVQzG_7rfTsZQ_iCBCWPvQrDTFiIA_SQ4/s320/IMG_4977.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwofWlJsCxyTVGdxHngPZ9uoYWOjuW3ms4EukgPCjHqrYOBXntSvb5CbPWJJTLkmMk4LOiWvs55IUSFFzlqRy9vbzYeIrG5vF-RUQReKZYBWuQwTblYCc3GwilYm5hQy9eK5R6d1OTV8/s1600-h/IMG_4901.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413788823939201266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDwofWlJsCxyTVGdxHngPZ9uoYWOjuW3ms4EukgPCjHqrYOBXntSvb5CbPWJJTLkmMk4LOiWvs55IUSFFzlqRy9vbzYeIrG5vF-RUQReKZYBWuQwTblYCc3GwilYm5hQy9eK5R6d1OTV8/s320/IMG_4901.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfuClBVXUGKM8KSkECXHnuweZZI4Nu12IXJSTLqit0BYStS88wJUBhuVxDX2rJnCbjqvk5_7xMFTiJJDr2fkKXXtivmRVrVJe0hjUfOOw7_XUWoTUM9Io1ozx5QFoecRMthL5O1wHYK8/s1600-h/IMG_4886.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5413788410722135234" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfuClBVXUGKM8KSkECXHnuweZZI4Nu12IXJSTLqit0BYStS88wJUBhuVxDX2rJnCbjqvk5_7xMFTiJJDr2fkKXXtivmRVrVJe0hjUfOOw7_XUWoTUM9Io1ozx5QFoecRMthL5O1wHYK8/s320/IMG_4886.JPG" /></a> <div><br /><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Wells</strong></span><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Water is also very important for defense and in case the castle was sieged. There were 33 wells in Himeji castle. 13 wells are left in the present time. One of the deepest wells is 100 feet deep. You can see from the numbers how important wells were to the castle.</span> </div></div></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-20812109911790251432009-11-21T13:29:00.007+09:002009-11-21T13:59:10.760+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 5 Inside of the castle<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmzLsXwDI8TRohSLKaGgN19P70a4Jrsnppm_M4Hm3akwjluU5fV2IGYVmefE5mh0IYwq5JujxJUxQ0f-JIp0a765EMMSwC32F_rbuswURJ-M2Ki5I41r-Ci-UnZRnvpaikXw4ExTASo8/s1600/IMG_4955.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406415254593653826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmzLsXwDI8TRohSLKaGgN19P70a4Jrsnppm_M4Hm3akwjluU5fV2IGYVmefE5mh0IYwq5JujxJUxQ0f-JIp0a765EMMSwC32F_rbuswURJ-M2Ki5I41r-Ci-UnZRnvpaikXw4ExTASo8/s320/IMG_4955.JPG" /></a> Entrance<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3mAeP_z7C28-DDUD3WpRU-27AbgPOGloYyVN5gghYho5fpcK91IDtCDbZsgbRZGbGheKwx8TbRw-S315AzEjIwTeEPE9erTALp28KkmELTZZM99vmmwVVyvdcwH7_tQ2lGYRTsEJTrM/s1600/IMG_4954.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406414997797600322" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh3mAeP_z7C28-DDUD3WpRU-27AbgPOGloYyVN5gghYho5fpcK91IDtCDbZsgbRZGbGheKwx8TbRw-S315AzEjIwTeEPE9erTALp28KkmELTZZM99vmmwVVyvdcwH7_tQ2lGYRTsEJTrM/s320/IMG_4954.JPG" /></a>Stairs in entrance<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LflLCpvWAJzpieSYpIZfMO0zqtXiM8tqntfmX1zrc2VTkwSSK4tdDI2pgeX99J2YvFRE8wwzwXD3PuWRaVHPmQZgmmXfHX6JFpO3k8hfXRoS_5oI13OY2NnkmT-EqeZ2lyKdC3ySRbA/s1600/IMG_4953.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406414743451720178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1LflLCpvWAJzpieSYpIZfMO0zqtXiM8tqntfmX1zrc2VTkwSSK4tdDI2pgeX99J2YvFRE8wwzwXD3PuWRaVHPmQZgmmXfHX6JFpO3k8hfXRoS_5oI13OY2NnkmT-EqeZ2lyKdC3ySRbA/s320/IMG_4953.JPG" /></a> Door that covers the stairs<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl9q3LUbjp4ulehKiOdZl-BMaaIpTV8LXmSz83bBl1isdU-L2eRu8DGTM0TsKn2BEBYwTAI7RGztKBZSvYMP-Tp2Fd1dq-rbnl6q5WVPdzTWIvJdh3wsEe4TOunqtjMxfA7isXl2ymcg/s1600/IMG_4916.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406414311255929410" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyl9q3LUbjp4ulehKiOdZl-BMaaIpTV8LXmSz83bBl1isdU-L2eRu8DGTM0TsKn2BEBYwTAI7RGztKBZSvYMP-Tp2Fd1dq-rbnl6q5WVPdzTWIvJdh3wsEe4TOunqtjMxfA7isXl2ymcg/s320/IMG_4916.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div></div>Storage for weapons<br /><br /><div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd55kttrfTXshxp_3_gSAVpV8OnTCqQNxN5HPsfazh-ZEXrEUph_jNdz7YTjGczDPC-XBHo02sGrPA0icDgV6wwnGMRjZhxudM_LJSyv7u1kqYs43DAKiip17BwzycLzaCiodRPww1SS4/s1600/IMG_4942.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5406414003418565378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd55kttrfTXshxp_3_gSAVpV8OnTCqQNxN5HPsfazh-ZEXrEUph_jNdz7YTjGczDPC-XBHo02sGrPA0icDgV6wwnGMRjZhxudM_LJSyv7u1kqYs43DAKiip17BwzycLzaCiodRPww1SS4/s320/IMG_4942.JPG" /></a> Storage for guns and lances<br /><br /></div><div align="center"> </div><div align="left"><span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="color:#333333;">Inside of the castle</span></strong><br />There are also some interesting devices in the castle. There are small stairs just inside the main front door. There is a door that covers the top of all stairs to prevent entry by attackers. All the stairways are built in the same style. The 2nd and 3rd floors have storage for weapons and also hidden storage spaces for when visitors would come to the castle.</span> </div></div></div><br /></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-77426453226632793752009-11-14T11:18:00.006+09:002009-11-14T11:30:56.529+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 4 Drop roof (murder hole)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0TtFW6rEnsp1R2ku7XuvK2-rvlU9-2C19gHoxI1BIrwsjlUzXvx7i5dUXFAau39IgjJcaQ4lQUfqB8iSZOmpo9FKOeXFjGPrL0_-fEdjDBU_p5Tfxq8GmhWP8mAWBWXSKKboti0mgVU/s1600-h/IMG_4891.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403780825588770130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0TtFW6rEnsp1R2ku7XuvK2-rvlU9-2C19gHoxI1BIrwsjlUzXvx7i5dUXFAau39IgjJcaQ4lQUfqB8iSZOmpo9FKOeXFjGPrL0_-fEdjDBU_p5Tfxq8GmhWP8mAWBWXSKKboti0mgVU/s320/IMG_4891.JPG" /></a> <div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe5l3js9jLN3btqo6bNTOyjHBvPtIvS4BBSNVrlKrfZFtzG_Xh23dif8MCiP8rZUghWQ_X8F40w6duwchGKEea8us7d3nxMduOGFeh3NmPDD10XbF6xY-3wgmIWVoUOWu_ecqMjteVkc/s1600-h/IMG_4973.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403780669913788690" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFe5l3js9jLN3btqo6bNTOyjHBvPtIvS4BBSNVrlKrfZFtzG_Xh23dif8MCiP8rZUghWQ_X8F40w6duwchGKEea8us7d3nxMduOGFeh3NmPDD10XbF6xY-3wgmIWVoUOWu_ecqMjteVkc/s320/IMG_4973.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIBhGCq9eqcfmvw4qFJCoDmTvepRvtOtA1C15ITmIEAex5ikDP8o4JBxrwhv8m5TOTXE4MZhDBZudh9WJKTsLTa5fspWMG-c5QFZo3Q5AmtUXsk1mxiDhCGm3sywVWfGoXnz3yLo8vSI/s1600-h/IMG_4893.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403780128853673474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIBhGCq9eqcfmvw4qFJCoDmTvepRvtOtA1C15ITmIEAex5ikDP8o4JBxrwhv8m5TOTXE4MZhDBZudh9WJKTsLTa5fspWMG-c5QFZo3Q5AmtUXsk1mxiDhCGm3sywVWfGoXnz3yLo8vSI/s320/IMG_4893.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic1EGAnjajoaGYx6n_V41SbGvZP1bSkffSVSAiyakwm_2DYh4a5bmX3zxajmHc2cqnOQasBYHO3iIzeXCzxoHA3P_ul-Tfa6vUF71IFKMjsejxCt3uhxYCRMWPECUQDgwTK4aXDmN_Ss/s1600-h/IMG_4964.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403779584824418354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjic1EGAnjajoaGYx6n_V41SbGvZP1bSkffSVSAiyakwm_2DYh4a5bmX3zxajmHc2cqnOQasBYHO3iIzeXCzxoHA3P_ul-Tfa6vUF71IFKMjsejxCt3uhxYCRMWPECUQDgwTK4aXDmN_Ss/s320/IMG_4964.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_x1dW_69rlbXFx7N9B0zCvEvOo6bnRpmc7MjGCrYhoLAOT-bi7W4q8DfnxylhckPhablFtWnuSpnav1EgLVtXwJLvRLmG7oN24ix9XwjRV1g4RoqlkjCed5RNwhd05-j0QmtQhJhVi4/s1600-h/IMG_4967.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5403779200998570802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY_x1dW_69rlbXFx7N9B0zCvEvOo6bnRpmc7MjGCrYhoLAOT-bi7W4q8DfnxylhckPhablFtWnuSpnav1EgLVtXwJLvRLmG7oN24ix9XwjRV1g4RoqlkjCed5RNwhd05-j0QmtQhJhVi4/s320/IMG_4967.JPG" /></a><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="color:#333333;">Drop roof (murder hole)</span></strong><br /><br />Castles and gates feature drop roofs. There are also larger ones located on the outer corners of the castle. Defenders would drop stones, hot water and hot oil when enemies attempted to climb the stone wall.</span> </div></div></div></div><br /><BR/><Br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-337734846042381302009-11-07T10:57:00.010+09:002009-11-14T11:18:29.212+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 3 Shooting Hole<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dPuFNh2Pnhm2VFvdLjg7P0U57-HMWD5GDhkkBTruk3i0QwzF3vHbTeWjJa1SE4JRKHS1UVtD1XStXA_ysc2-YohtwV5DTGQv89Wa4iLcLVDo3U2bA3GXxmfWbRy4V3GgGLR8HyI7fvY/s1600-h/IMG_4975.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401178969057425074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dPuFNh2Pnhm2VFvdLjg7P0U57-HMWD5GDhkkBTruk3i0QwzF3vHbTeWjJa1SE4JRKHS1UVtD1XStXA_ysc2-YohtwV5DTGQv89Wa4iLcLVDo3U2bA3GXxmfWbRy4V3GgGLR8HyI7fvY/s320/IMG_4975.JPG" /></a> on the wall (outside)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVRE4dmc39aAcoS5YYEofaw04CfCaXCpkZxg7YUrdJNdcWuR2KV-mfazPbhojk5A1_bj5O0pbPMsjcD-ldzd88dgidiiXzJhwrSAg73DOSnf0HQRSxSGE4U_6aGjQ4YbA5LbgZPn_sJE/s1600-h/IMG_4976.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401178761954867394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLVRE4dmc39aAcoS5YYEofaw04CfCaXCpkZxg7YUrdJNdcWuR2KV-mfazPbhojk5A1_bj5O0pbPMsjcD-ldzd88dgidiiXzJhwrSAg73DOSnf0HQRSxSGE4U_6aGjQ4YbA5LbgZPn_sJE/s320/IMG_4976.JPG" /></a>on the wall (inside)<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwDWwlA7IjIhvJxqHJ8SZOTuglFcoJmz9GUaJKv4PCL8Fr2tg0AVS5xlz2t6wU6rDKS1OFkn5_yewkAwV9Y8ozjkDJ2WvBae2saxxuAotK8IT5yiAyTqEO9ITg2Svf1QdbLwJyiBL58U/s1600-h/IMG_4948.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401178531246542930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCwDWwlA7IjIhvJxqHJ8SZOTuglFcoJmz9GUaJKv4PCL8Fr2tg0AVS5xlz2t6wU6rDKS1OFkn5_yewkAwV9Y8ozjkDJ2WvBae2saxxuAotK8IT5yiAyTqEO9ITg2Svf1QdbLwJyiBL58U/s320/IMG_4948.JPG" /></a>In the castle<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaJ8uNPAAu7QyK9Ru8Eukmv7OnsLIjghSMCwk1v2VtIRrWXULWbA9w7EaLW7nPnvLXLQcvOp7UIchbpUl7NRcqd3tKi0WuAYWGjWgk9OXUDCtHE5R4UaKTTJiPzLKtMsVWan_ZXr418I/s1600-h/IMG_4981.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401178310571366274" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaJ8uNPAAu7QyK9Ru8Eukmv7OnsLIjghSMCwk1v2VtIRrWXULWbA9w7EaLW7nPnvLXLQcvOp7UIchbpUl7NRcqd3tKi0WuAYWGjWgk9OXUDCtHE5R4UaKTTJiPzLKtMsVWan_ZXr418I/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" /></a>on the gate (inside)<br /><div></div><div></div></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WkjFwap5mCVKhYzN_yW9OrwVFHMEVbticNmxeYL9k4aTZrmRzgs0JMeiCTa1mgtjy0agkL0UaeSXLBJqkVU2f5OwaHsXNs3uPn0X4MGkfg7hvahICnWdA8FS2ZjaU51jCMFPDthk4x0/s1600-h/IMG_4885.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401177467151561458" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-WkjFwap5mCVKhYzN_yW9OrwVFHMEVbticNmxeYL9k4aTZrmRzgs0JMeiCTa1mgtjy0agkL0UaeSXLBJqkVU2f5OwaHsXNs3uPn0X4MGkfg7hvahICnWdA8FS2ZjaU51jCMFPDthk4x0/s320/IMG_4885.JPG" /></a>on the gate (outside)<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzIyLLRmoSuIuFpjFyqYzPR6uOjHqD7oKcRs4-z9JIFoB_h7EfvM5hqocW-b7STn0HccJ8mT-65dkwmAnxqE7Dr1yg5xS6FLW82wxXeq8wT7EOVQnw-f9V-vMZ_Mj0Zi0-8pHraa2tJI/s1600-h/IMG_4889.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401177270235691506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifzIyLLRmoSuIuFpjFyqYzPR6uOjHqD7oKcRs4-z9JIFoB_h7EfvM5hqocW-b7STn0HccJ8mT-65dkwmAnxqE7Dr1yg5xS6FLW82wxXeq8wT7EOVQnw-f9V-vMZ_Mj0Zi0-8pHraa2tJI/s320/IMG_4889.JPG" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div align="left"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGivG5d4ZYTztckQ7GyGFwiRRWN6XlhkNCKxl8ifMSdY9aej75_SvXFKZU1Guv3MZFQbhq6hEPFan7e7xSo-YINJReQC-cY0G92jkPSkSQZi4qPhSsbNvI67phqEmjhAEPmoWGjCKt7g/s1600-h/IMG_4957.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5401176198097098130" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWGivG5d4ZYTztckQ7GyGFwiRRWN6XlhkNCKxl8ifMSdY9aej75_SvXFKZU1Guv3MZFQbhq6hEPFan7e7xSo-YINJReQC-cY0G92jkPSkSQZi4qPhSsbNvI67phqEmjhAEPmoWGjCKt7g/s320/IMG_4957.JPG" /></a> <div><br /><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Shooting Hole<br /><br />The walls also feature defenses. The walls and castle buildings have round and triangular shaped holes. These holes are used for shooting arrows and guns. The holes taper down in width from the inside to outside. This allows for more flexible aim from the inside and presents a smaller target from the outside. </span></div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-17779252893318916802009-10-24T11:32:00.013+09:002009-11-07T10:57:00.044+09:00Shiro ( Japanese castle) Vol. 2 Gate<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKREPqbbKmFNzqvIsU4rAXVyCxpmhzuokFbaBmU-_WODVLsUtgUsSflFLzi5SCpdP-Nxzj3eGp5hw5-Db-7U1Vccf_GJUM-amtAUwBPF2R5kbTtZMmOvWQGW17whz6vo3LUapfG_nQ5I/s1600-h/IMG_4999.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395993949999610834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMKREPqbbKmFNzqvIsU4rAXVyCxpmhzuokFbaBmU-_WODVLsUtgUsSflFLzi5SCpdP-Nxzj3eGp5hw5-Db-7U1Vccf_GJUM-amtAUwBPF2R5kbTtZMmOvWQGW17whz6vo3LUapfG_nQ5I/s320/IMG_4999.JPG" /></a> 1st gate with moat (outside)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zd9mi-LUXkkEGgpdiLhe9WbdV2rmRt5dlqmMtArMwtiEUjPE-x67b8cE_viS-xnh1lM3NQNGTzHQMT42HQ8MdzJ3IMcvSnX9DE5F1DR-EiqSsfCR7-yyCWJ5hP9eINnchic3yghYRUA/s1600-h/IMG_4885.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395993660404239474" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Zd9mi-LUXkkEGgpdiLhe9WbdV2rmRt5dlqmMtArMwtiEUjPE-x67b8cE_viS-xnh1lM3NQNGTzHQMT42HQ8MdzJ3IMcvSnX9DE5F1DR-EiqSsfCR7-yyCWJ5hP9eINnchic3yghYRUA/s320/IMG_4885.JPG" /></a> Gate "<em>Hishi</em>" (outside)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux3IlaTb5uNQqK9urdjNRq7wsSKO8IEHywYXbEa3d9nujKiiW9u4p9r6toRffnQAGZMoQ_SJzCDQ8hxfkctyK2cBer7Ztl28FEkCbepsBDxU72ZxjC7N7EHLZ_GyjRJr241ErtPqmzMM/s1600-h/IMG_4982.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395993404394738210" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjux3IlaTb5uNQqK9urdjNRq7wsSKO8IEHywYXbEa3d9nujKiiW9u4p9r6toRffnQAGZMoQ_SJzCDQ8hxfkctyK2cBer7Ztl28FEkCbepsBDxU72ZxjC7N7EHLZ_GyjRJr241ErtPqmzMM/s320/IMG_4982.JPG" /></a>Gate "<em>Hishi</em>" (inside)<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyVe5ocl2qw1YvzU8FSoN1pY77PgbFTT9L31U6OQ2L3e4tB7LzRWy9kZ2bVHpomspvKNhtdEBDKNWTyoUya7r7D0uS46YWsfpjLqMy3WGRTMH8SOh_cJJwPV0M5_LsoE1OU2yVZ4lmnQ/s1600-h/IMG_4986.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395993135633702450" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuyVe5ocl2qw1YvzU8FSoN1pY77PgbFTT9L31U6OQ2L3e4tB7LzRWy9kZ2bVHpomspvKNhtdEBDKNWTyoUya7r7D0uS46YWsfpjLqMy3WGRTMH8SOh_cJJwPV0M5_LsoE1OU2yVZ4lmnQ/s320/IMG_4986.JPG" /></a>Gate "<em>I</em>" (outside)<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvuDtC-aZ2rtgSr-DQji8vS_lxJpennY0J-kbK2uhYtEs2sTNj6A8QEMFjfX6dL3xPjuRegvM7HxcsiYMHMJhG2r9WJtlF8sr4a4S6eGZWCFSj34qt8WZ1vxHP1sH6o2HOyCfi1-hgro/s1600-h/IMG_4981.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395992779421936242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRvuDtC-aZ2rtgSr-DQji8vS_lxJpennY0J-kbK2uhYtEs2sTNj6A8QEMFjfX6dL3xPjuRegvM7HxcsiYMHMJhG2r9WJtlF8sr4a4S6eGZWCFSj34qt8WZ1vxHP1sH6o2HOyCfi1-hgro/s320/IMG_4981.JPG" /></a>Gate "<em>I</em>" (inside)<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yaUaHCHqeu69aqSIyNmEHKFJHWeD-lHV8uxXn4p05VI7B7biUbcE2WDlIz23thvozc_jRCuV-XLR0nLOhQUqDfcwWzbi58O1g7fArfCcF4pFz16wN_gLYivInJpzby99jqCh6hp7KUk/s1600-h/IMG_4979.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395991951347234162" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9yaUaHCHqeu69aqSIyNmEHKFJHWeD-lHV8uxXn4p05VI7B7biUbcE2WDlIz23thvozc_jRCuV-XLR0nLOhQUqDfcwWzbi58O1g7fArfCcF4pFz16wN_gLYivInJpzby99jqCh6hp7KUk/s320/IMG_4979.JPG" /></a> Gate "<em>Nu</em>" (outside)<br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZPmIq_RghKBkg1sCUvu4LzvxvbAid_m_OwzTs0hkE6kJQbBrCeTD3_nCtzmZzvxiZiDy_sBH9ekoAxatMj8cAv8bY8i8T9IP6YZo0A8WZt60-OLUZwT5UvEEO_N-TxxSzQYAucnGpik/s1600-h/IMG_4978.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395991717973141298" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAZPmIq_RghKBkg1sCUvu4LzvxvbAid_m_OwzTs0hkE6kJQbBrCeTD3_nCtzmZzvxiZiDy_sBH9ekoAxatMj8cAv8bY8i8T9IP6YZo0A8WZt60-OLUZwT5UvEEO_N-TxxSzQYAucnGpik/s320/IMG_4978.JPG" /></a> Gate "<em>Nu</em>" (inside)<br /><div></div><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABl8CDDFepLtmClvByADubB8SXfHjiqcECQejWXYrzN12oDaZPn3YTDyYFzNGItwcTpjUh-3L769CmdOsoKXbZMNGeAq6eOP9pBDkUmTy0MNCc0mBLckws77pGfh8xxX_8VZmmzPdc0s/s1600-h/IMG_4959.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395990865581510834" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABl8CDDFepLtmClvByADubB8SXfHjiqcECQejWXYrzN12oDaZPn3YTDyYFzNGItwcTpjUh-3L769CmdOsoKXbZMNGeAq6eOP9pBDkUmTy0MNCc0mBLckws77pGfh8xxX_8VZmmzPdc0s/s320/IMG_4959.JPG" /></a>The last gate (door of the castle)<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9d2ohbto63ovrcNdWgumYYlR07QXUJMu80c014i1vYV3e8noP1Ab3Sg___aTRQJ1yRCPvZ574-jpOUB7eBPuLIq9x_Ttf81glzqwYpQQUgX2HOTQ9MvzEM1N9Kd9o8kkkoGzkZpYZBQ/s1600-h/IMG_4999.JPG"></a></div><div></div><div></div><div align="left"><br /><span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="color:#333333;">Castle Gates<br /></span></strong><br />There are 21 gates in the castle area. There were 84 gates in the past. Attacking enemies would have to pass through more than 10 gates from the outer area of the moat before reaching the main building. The outside of the gate area are widened and shaped in an L-pattern. Enemies would have to pass the inner part of the L to reach the gate, but they would be attacked from all sides from the safety of high arrow-slits on the walls and murder holes where rocks or liquid could be dropped on them.Some gates feature another type of defense. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#666666;"></span> <br/><br/></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#666666;">Some gates (gate Nu) have stone stairs and stone walls that slope down towards the gate on the inside. If enemies reached the front of the gate, defenders could break the stone stairs and put the stones behind the doors of the gate. This way the enemies could not breach the gate easily. The only way to pass the gate would be to break the door down first and then remove the stones. In this time the defenders could continue shooting them from above the gate.</span> </div></div></div></div></div><br /></div><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-80552383952703493382009-10-20T11:24:00.002+09:002009-10-20T11:29:24.848+09:00Shiro (Japanese castles)<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9j1ftyCUUHpx2A7MZjcFsYwlw51ktbKPp_t8cZWL59Cqt985kYZaUeqMQlA1bWK9niPf1ZwW7ulKnH6o8TObDP4WBMs3cptTF-wklmEosxrdwk-MgawVSXl46IdlzO5N86Uywhdciak/s1600-h/IMG_4908.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394503441247062674" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9j1ftyCUUHpx2A7MZjcFsYwlw51ktbKPp_t8cZWL59Cqt985kYZaUeqMQlA1bWK9niPf1ZwW7ulKnH6o8TObDP4WBMs3cptTF-wklmEosxrdwk-MgawVSXl46IdlzO5N86Uywhdciak/s320/IMG_4908.JPG" /></a><br /><div><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGOQEZXZ0JEDZiTnay6AWf1QN_baUry1TbT47x6ytbLS0JJNwbEz4zWQVk-lYrjn6etwQrKgDTvCcPl7jVeJVNUv49jgq7YH1mSH6Ds1mgrPW3DdnefR0M4Rqs1BQP8eXVYegIUCZ7zU/s1600-h/IMG_4905.JPG"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 214px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394503146842789362" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOGOQEZXZ0JEDZiTnay6AWf1QN_baUry1TbT47x6ytbLS0JJNwbEz4zWQVk-lYrjn6etwQrKgDTvCcPl7jVeJVNUv49jgq7YH1mSH6Ds1mgrPW3DdnefR0M4Rqs1BQP8eXVYegIUCZ7zU/s320/IMG_4905.JPG" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">There are only 12 remaining original castles in Japan that are still standing since the 16th or the 17th century. The rest of the castles in Japan were rebuilt after being destroyed in World War II. Osaka castle and Nagoya castles are the most famous of the rebuilt castles. There many rebuilt castles and abandoned castles all over Japan. No fewer than 36 of the capital cities of Japan’s 47 prefectures were originally castle towns. In front of Tokyo station is the ruins of Edo castle. Edo castle was the biggest castle in Japan and was owned by the Tokugawa family. Now the area is owned by the Japanese royal family and they have been living in that area since Edo period ended.<br /><br />Japanese castles were not only homes for warlords and nobles, but they also served as an impregnable fortress. Japanese castles have massive walls of stone, moats, several layers of gates and many other devices for protecting from enemies. I will present these using Himeji Castle in Hyogo Prefecture as an example.<br /><br />Himeji Castle is the biggest castle of the 12 of well-preserved original castles and it was finished in 1618. The castle is called Shirasagi-jo (white egret), because of its elegant white plastered walls and grouting. The white plastered walls and castle stone walls have been well maintained in their original forms. The building and the area has been designated by the World Heritage Committee of UNESCO as one of the world heritages in Japan. </span></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-36416384889793305292009-10-01T09:44:00.005+09:002009-10-01T09:54:45.969+09:00Urushi vol. 2<div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=73"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387426988561174930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65_oxcJ1zxx7yk2WGob11rItDpUbOgDfNiAU6j83LmhFmbShkXgoOvFzxmSGMeaBHda6ricF6zW69TU6bYiekzEqLx6HmeB-8IoVZrtU66kqRCk23EFn-OB_EhZBlDdUoD4oF-WbVVRY/s320/IMG_3372_edited-1.jpg" /></a> Teacup Saucer<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNPi_KFCHXkh3LOXLefE0DFCWoDPXAHPDkMnhsGNmkQp2Ae4p44UGdh_w0nQTsi1sGoPiA95XlWz3QqziCT-FqsS1FcPvF2vxfT57s3RAhSyBm2ZFJmdikg0pq-nU4jrxx5oLswUdIdz4/s1600-h/IMG_3555_edited-1.jpg"></a><br /><br /><br /><div align="left"><br /><span style="color:#666666;">I presented <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/01/urushi.html">a story about <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Urushi </span></strong></a>in the past. This time I’ll continue the story.<br /><br />Urushi comes from tree sap. When the trunk of the tree is cut, it produces a resin to try to repair the cut area. It is like a rubber tree. This resin is urushi. Because the resin can cause a rash if it touches the skin, it was commonly believed that urushi had special powers to ward off evil.<br /><br />A single tree can only produce a few grams of resin each time it is tapped. Urushiware must be painted with many coats until the beautiful shining color appears. So, this sap is quite valuable due to its limited quantity. That is the reason urushiware is expensive.<br /><br />Black and red colors are famous in urushi, because, the red is connected to Japanese custom. In ancient times, red was believed to be an auspicious color that kept away evil spirits and brought good luck.<br /><br />Urushi is called Japanese lacquer in English. In the 17th century, urushiware was shipped to Europe. Europeans felt it was very graceful tableware. They held it in such esteem that it was called <strong><em><span style="color:#333333;">‘japan’</span></em></strong>, as people call beautiful potteries, <em><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>‘fine china’</strong></span></em>.</span> </div></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-82929419323845178322009-09-23T12:06:00.003+09:002009-09-23T12:12:15.831+09:00Yasokichi Tokuda Dead<a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=90"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5384494469945105842" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgygIrYdOrJUGZHAYk1Sfr5jT4e_3Jb5varXJu-4VZAOR5STP7Tavprtnkew3sJj8HKfrQJgZbPqG7kyRUwdvwFBuSRJnmz0EK-a9YluumXL1Nrp2BhYM4Qk4KNmpbyOC3gUwwjB2s1Dck/s320/IMG_4182_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><div></div><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;">One of the living national treasures, <strong>Yaokichi Tokuda III</strong>, passed away on Aug. 26th. 2009. Pneumonia killed him. He was 75 years old.<br /><br /><strong>Yasokichi Tokuda III</strong> was one of the best potters in the Kutani area. He developed 100 colors from the basic Kutani colors: Yellow, Green, Blue & Purple. His blue color is very famous. His gradation color from Blue to Green to Yellow is very beautiful. This gradation can be seen in his many works.<br /><br />So, his works will never be made again. Their value will not drop, but will increase year by year. Of course, it will be increasingly difficult to purchase his newer works from my vendors.<br /><br />My dad has one of his vases and a sake cup. I should inherit them. They are my family’s treasure!</span></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-18991992100299804102009-09-05T12:00:00.005+09:002009-09-05T12:17:43.796+09:00Bizen Gallery vol. 3 Hidasuki<div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=128"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377813947064351586" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBsFnos_I4nMn5XWRMTSPUnQpgwuUydi-0BNcPiUjh3Obp6njvfPopHlCyuym8YhyHnyw61N3ao9rnm1khBktrBabsNBP4AbMaXc4-0Plqy_-bwxgsxUH8P3o4kDD6qJrqveqHxyJvpg/s320/IMG_4098.JPG" /></a>Hidasuki Green tea cups (right)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=138"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377813727990109538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiskPHgtZONl_l5Fo72HuIhZSmtENK5ePxFJJlIzIzVGMfHDbZ-iP2d57zPN8nyht1c4SX7ZzF_jeVCreb5jMjBgZW-VcGJQ1VeQ-2pCyjVwtn7j6dJrnK9aFbwCsVDeAplHyJhT7CP5ZM/s320/IMG_4010.JPG" /></a>Hidasuki Beer cups (right)<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=138"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377813626825163266" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixrKmh8rm2QHM5NvXFQJoZmGggSdjyzhZOIPInP_6qV7gn-n9TTg90fLDF1J62qhUXKkv7xeay7n3i5FgMsw67kCh7KXS26Oq6nPvcvbfvUZcVt1dtx0IiK6eEpBraNYm7Azdfr5lmLgQ/s320/IMG_2911_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Hidasuki Beer cups (right) </div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-65642270370120979312009-09-05T11:34:00.008+09:002009-09-05T12:16:07.555+09:00Bizen Gallery vol. 2 Sangiri<div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=127"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377810037869407570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgku0aMQBM6uKJRBqWxkyC8Cezn2zu4ijnvqVejVh7sjjkFRLg4tWBimFQFZ2Abi07FzJiL7pT8QaXrA0eF-fy9q9mIHQnFr1JAJD_pRK6W2zSFg1agcEO1UrufBVLiGGxhpoMDY-EaQbk/s320/IMG_8875_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Teapot<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=139"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377809467742678722" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC7qJ6iF7AO7GhF0gMQn5pT8c0SQqR9aza60YMjSMKgNr4Uadys2CEHxNrehsM4_AAgkIJQXnGcEXcT3U9IZaCIn7LJC_NYWbyHVVATYkn6olZhcBj-TWDFBuMEYR5ZopKlSs-cg5EAyc/s320/IMG_2930_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Green tea cups<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=137"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377809036869685138" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguQFaAQjWDYagRRXs8K0oU1EldhLG7M63sz9xnyGATBNb0Ilg1w5PUs0RXVC8yWXNzMy8bcnrXxWvWQ-SWqZN3-3p0gwjLC_ucI0bVQeaFcG2idXDcYet3vERgBmThQcMnt1URnAOt62E/s320/IMG_2718_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Mugs<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=114"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377807469010233506" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3CIM5rDSD-l31ol3arBZ7ueIqv1Hh9dzPvsliatjAQW37HzAG2ydWzqNteDMDeaiza6HJ7tiQaq-9ZwS4Ozeo5Pfd310cRJJCCS-SjsmOPOi8i9iwLPo4lQnGelOA0mXwfjbUEoVmsXo/s320/IMG_7251_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Green tea cups<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=114"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377807290806811618" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj93iIUyFSzuyFR2uez-N7mjFg7xItPySJLfkZzDsCiZwEn-XFuMhGsd_QWiW_mMYSTIo58bgWyawduT8B2tqbsdJp8IuGVOclbyC6AoHfcFVR0yLYi2RJXCsHwph6SR9ZmOMklqHSOnxw/s320/IMG_7196_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Sake cups<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=114"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377806639744982370" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCSccPZg6-I_syIpWEh4_li_QM1dyseMxb2fXXAlD0s6K-xzrDALcxwHxvZjYa8okxE_NEQ49TYsFHgyMQVRunMZG9exEfkaVyCFKzfKqFWw2O6WhFOjoci_y3mo43GqD6UbuBE2hmm74/s320/IMG_7167_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Sangiri Sake cups<br /></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-87032800579130871212009-09-05T11:28:00.007+09:002009-09-05T12:19:48.481+09:00Bizen Gallery vol. 1 Goma<div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=143"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377811623965215442" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSa0DDYt7hP_cGz8YlxEcwHTncaJeRfnDX3zdZcFPZuCkDo5eni8tOTbleVv9bFvzgRqxSoWbEn3DvHpKqItKkDthvPHeidQsWSTf9fiT9WhixNagzQhg1fGuooPfkQ4Cu3HJ6KyRqxFw/s320/IMG_4078.JPG" /></a>Bizen Goma Soy sauce bottle</div><div align="center"><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=112"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377805968363844514" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl3yaPeAgPXnI7xRbHv1aHh7kdOg_yo4YICGks-7eQgikP6mt6GIP5mrP2-fMiFG0SLA2C_MTGj9FOenYFnWeuNGQpP4x0cLqV8MHx3zSMivyEMFsmYr0sQLduPlZvK_XXognC4zdA9ME/s320/IMG_7241_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Goma Sake bottle<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=112"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377805755483886226" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKBrhsN7tzCA905aZeaP7pWhl5WOh9jMlk-wh6O518uiZOXagx6v4xu6SuukNXwoGhTbXCMgD75KavGEqlXzD1FBb0YkjRMJznrGa2qI38kO4NkKIEMhyphenhyphenYt6umEfJFI3JS1Wg06tbM5qM/s320/IMG_7178_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Goma Sake bottle<br /><br /><br /><div><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=112"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377805366906849666" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEge7pNdLi-bDV_lQCylczFCU19Hv8CNfEOWB0ioi_-L_KR_Lan7J2a551rWZnKdXoqggF6ClTvS16upZNgxrOQyCrB0wYxFujlOjGjWhTK8iR40lx_ZAF9oJ5tdYuBMhf2vfdsyVrVSTvc/s320/IMG_8911_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Goma Sake cups<br /><br /><div></div><div><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=112"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377805039377007250" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieAMNM-Qqdt3bRWG0Bby9zgdO-GYIiMaxVwzUELM-BPpzjNqeOBye-qk2E14iAgrvI3a7g0KjB2bDTVr_egYbzWLVAdRltwRxtwkF-niH9YI3m0VyByb-OCbaGNa5iMsoxO4grI3gmi5E/s320/IMG_7154_edited-1.jpg" /></a>Bizen Goma Sake bottle</div><div></div></div><br /></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-19272132278820679672009-09-05T11:14:00.003+09:002009-09-05T12:21:10.217+09:00Patterns of Bizen ware<a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=136"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 240px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5377804374075741122" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5KWHS72YnoGmOIOcSHssZuZNS1RL3RyiTm5A1ogaYBwezSNbHhbbLtqn6yKUqAIdGseZGC836TMVgGX9CWGFxp54sQXsxFrlesOhPxavZLY55HybevvRuLTcxQMcpHdsZnFVCxoLpm9U/s320/IMG_7174_edited-1.jpg" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiigU3v2VTLq7EPn7M17fKu-WnJsFAnEKhgQaI9JtHHukQZq8FfAukmeFl-dpebKzGovgRxPthai6vMSha5SpFrUGT34-1ICyufqoD3BXbhUnBLo4odH-u8fi50SaliHtI1Y_NpBVbSZ4/s1600-h/IMG_7154_edited-1.jpg"></a><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;">Bizen ware is designated into 5 types depending on the pattern.<br /></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"></div></span><br /><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Goma</strong>: This pattern is made by firewood and ash. They are melted by being heated in a kiln and become light brown, beige and bright yellow in color. Some patterns look like sesame seeds on the ware. Sesame is <em><strong>goma</strong></em> in Japanese. That’s the reason this method is called <em><strong>goma</strong></em>.<br /></span></div><span style="color:#333333;"><br /><div><br /><strong>Sangiri</strong>: The area in a kiln is divided by pieces of wood. When the potteries are laid beside the wood while burning, some areas are not directly reached by the flames this is the method of reduced flame burning (low oxygen). These conditions make gray, gold and silver colors. The name Sangiri is actually two words (San-Giri). “San” means <em><strong>wood partition</strong></em> in Japanese, and “Giri” means<em> <strong>dividing</strong></em>.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><strong>Hidasuki</strong>: <strong>Straw</strong> is placed on the pottery before burning. Iron from ashes of the burning straw reacts with the oxidized flame and then makes red marks on wares. The contrast between red and light brown looks very graceful. This way was found by accident. Potters put straw between potteries in order to prevent them from adhering to each other before burning. This method is the result of that accident.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><strong>Botamochi</strong>: <em><strong>Botamochi</strong></em> is a Japanese sweet and has a round shape. This method is named for the dumpling shaped ceramic put on the ware before the burning process. Thus some areas are not covered by ash during the burning. This makes for a distinct color difference between the covered and uncovered areas. In this method bowls are sometimes used for covering larger areas.<br /></div><br /><div><br /><strong>Ao-Bizen</strong>: Regular Bizen ware is burned by an oxidized flame. Ao-Bizen ware is burned with a reduced flame (low oxygen) and has a blue color. Iron produces a red color in an oxidized atmosphere and makes a blue color in an oxygen reduced atmosphere. “Ao” is <em><strong>blue</strong></em> in Japanese.</span></div></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-9956821015746666102009-03-06T09:47:00.006+09:002009-03-06T10:01:25.974+09:00Why 5 pieces set in Japan?<div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=100"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309872332545097746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtbgckXZrfK39kyR78UlS5pyshHwE6dVIZzdCeGNiutE2B-lDws5rZpszCkvkNWbSe4DldMj1H5CG6Rn2JpKZc5DZpwtV7TjvWBeUQvtH77zHReIq26HG2FemnuIb8gzxva46JkWoylYE/s320/IMG_5292_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a> Wakasa Chopsticks</div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /></div><div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=57"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309872206328106338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFDSytYGdxciKowOXWS6bEx_ZysJV8vSObLIqOjd0wrbFng7J5D3GnExtQy5e94P0VnVI6PIkvt8m8_0DabjskF8WVKFDdKqYsV5CZHreamO-baMlEjKKewYOHuVkA34lyemaO28c4sJA/s320/IMG_2276_edited-2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Imari Chopsticks Rests<br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=24"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309871630138710834" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMbcIwItg3vuH6TjW8P_zrjsmijeKVbUXyQFZ_-h-6tpM2kpjxO1S79bNILkvbahCFI05bQ9mZXPRZ9n6P6TBpqCDAwHDlj2WL3woqb_GAOewsPaxHPO-5RP4zj6-6hxuL6YzQ3OXcJ4/s320/Green+Tea+cup+set+Imari+Botan3.jpg" border="0" /></a>Imari Green tea cups<br /><br /><div></div><br /><div align="center"><a href="http://www.japanesehandcraft.com/handcraft/servlet/HandcraftItemView?item_id=2"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5309871380734218242" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjZvPwtynxC5tPNXnVybLLIqwz6z1olPUSBjLAYAUYuFRsnmVWj4cb05iAeek_8yHXPsvlrVBfpZewwZXGQBfOhCHBNwNPpm30PeFpLiNatXb8S3z7HxKL3ubMD9C1TgqENOmcgcAB6l4/s320/Sake+cup+5+pcs+set+Imari+Egawari8.jpg" border="0" /></a>Imari Sake cups<br /></div><div align="center"><br /><br /></div><div align="left"><span style="color:#666666;">I got a question from my customer why most Japanese wares are in 5 pieces?<br /><br />I investigated it and found three reasons as follows.<br /><br />1. Japanese prefer odd numbers rather than even numbers. We have celebrations on Jan. 1st, March 3rd, May 5th and July 7th. But, we do not have any holidays on Feb. 2nd, Apr. 4th and June 6th…<br />2. 4 is considered a bad luck number and is connected with “death”.<br />3. Asymmetrical is good in a tea ceremony. 3 and 5 is better than 4 and 6.<br /><br />In China, a table is set to mark the 4 points of the compass. They believe it is good luck. Therefore, Chinese ware comes in a set of 4.<br /><br />It was an interesting story for me. I appreciated my customer giving me a chance to investigate.</span></div><br /></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-39683067246698766272009-02-17T10:52:00.002+09:002009-02-17T10:57:01.726+09:00White Day<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZG_pSFfGS1ltbyWPOGu_Cu8ThIdiwYFPN8h4d29P3w1kR_BqLhQj42u3yM9L7lVn6THMvYXmFfcosG4Vv_32ZqkxIAEGqtRpJfl_Z2mvN-wjDYd8ndrL7snQhU0wSgn4FSIeGatxqTw/s1600-h/pic_p_vt05-l.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303579312533067810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ZG_pSFfGS1ltbyWPOGu_Cu8ThIdiwYFPN8h4d29P3w1kR_BqLhQj42u3yM9L7lVn6THMvYXmFfcosG4Vv_32ZqkxIAEGqtRpJfl_Z2mvN-wjDYd8ndrL7snQhU0wSgn4FSIeGatxqTw/s320/pic_p_vt05-l.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;">Previously, I presented <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-day-in-japan.html">Valentine’s Day in Japan</a>, when women send gifts and sweets to men. This time I will describe <strong>White Day</strong> held on March 14th. The event was originated by candy makers in 1980’s as a way for men to return to the favor to the women. Why it is white? Candy is made with sugar which is white. <strong>White Day</strong> is also funny story.<br /><br />If a man gets some sweets or gifts from a woman on Valentine’s Day, he has to give back some sweets with gifts on <strong>White Day</strong>. <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2009/02/valentines-day-in-japan.html">Giri-chocolate </a>was not meant to be a gift of obligation.<br /><br />Between students, boys just give back sweets to the girls. It is simple. But, in the business world, it is little bit complicated. Some office ladies send many Giri-chocolates to their coworkers and their bosses, because they expect good gifts back from them. It is the rule, that if a man gets something from a woman, he has to give back gifts worth three times as much to her. It is not only on Valentine’s Day, but also at Christmas time. It is a kind of investment. She spends $100.00 for Valentine’s Day and then expects $300.00 gift value on <strong>White Day</strong>.<br /><br />When I was single, I bought dinner for my girlfriend during the<strong> White Day</strong> season. It was not three times…<br /><br />Gift giving in Japan is not always a happy time. Boys and guys must think ahead about the next step.<br /><br /></span></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-76163691590883692682009-02-07T12:01:00.002+09:002009-02-07T12:09:09.112+09:00Valentine‘s Day in Japan<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmikICd3BsmtKvNqm-_qReD8SWczN9aE1rdVGZsoG2bzRF1q09ZJvA6GS1fKB1oy1goMQjMqFsVbor0PUXF0RGB1RO0fZIzfPF1IuPbBz9YBAuz6NZe_TAgyb-_d7oYhZ5e-o_us1-UvE/s1600-h/kamenosuke_y2008va04.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5299886934931031826" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmikICd3BsmtKvNqm-_qReD8SWczN9aE1rdVGZsoG2bzRF1q09ZJvA6GS1fKB1oy1goMQjMqFsVbor0PUXF0RGB1RO0fZIzfPF1IuPbBz9YBAuz6NZe_TAgyb-_d7oYhZ5e-o_us1-UvE/s320/kamenosuke_y2008va04.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><div><span style="color:#333333;">I was surprised to discover that there is a big difference between the way the Japanese and Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day.<br /><br />Valentine’s Day is a huge event in Japan, especially among single people. I was so surprised that in the United States Valentine gifts are exchanged between spouses, as well as, between single people. In Japan this day is a big event when single girls and ladies make romantic overtures to boys and guys by giving them chocolates. Japanese women are normally shy, but on Valentine’s Day it is the first time they have a chance to say “I love you,” to a particular boy or man.<br /><br />We see a lot of chocolate commercials on TV beginning in February. I saw a newspaper article that said this custom was created by chocolate industry in the 1960’s to increase their sales. Now, most women give chocolate to men. This holiday makes up 20 % of sales for one year. It is a national event.<br /><br />When I was a junior high school student, I was so nervous the night before Valentine’s Day. Boys took pride in how many chocolates they received. I got one or zero chocolates on that day every year. If I did not get any, I was very disappointed that evening. Sometimes, my mother gave me chocolate, but that did not work for me. I wanted chocolate from girls instead of my mom. Star players in sports get many, many chocolates. Idols get tons of chocolate.<br /><br />In the business scene, ladies give chocolates to co-workers and their boss. It is called “Giri-chocolate”. Giri means obligation in Japanese. So, it means “I give you chocolate, but it is not because of love.” If men get the Giri-chocolate, men have to give back chocolate or some sweets with gifts on White Day. I will explain White Day in the next issue.<br /><br />All generations of women buy chocolates for this season. Girls give it to boys. Single ladies give it to single guys or their boss and co-workers. Mothers give it to their sons and husbands. In the first weekend of February, all department stores have a special chocolate gift center. If you go to there, you can see tons of women shopping. It is a kind of glorious view.</span><BR/><BR/> </div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-17835842311904333552009-01-22T11:04:00.006+09:002009-01-22T11:18:48.412+09:00Roots of Japanese pottery vol.2 Sueki<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C6102ZibdvkwX0wYsW9d9bh85hL6vzh1FndMi0hw1k_-N7BIA3ZPxCFxNLEm3fRueHP-i1j6tyorM-c-QLuovBWhTBRkJbNDsP490fa0fxajQga8qBt7TACZXXufiFj8NxQOp-W2PqI/s1600-h/3-11-2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5293934308253954594" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 147px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1C6102ZibdvkwX0wYsW9d9bh85hL6vzh1FndMi0hw1k_-N7BIA3ZPxCFxNLEm3fRueHP-i1j6tyorM-c-QLuovBWhTBRkJbNDsP490fa0fxajQga8qBt7TACZXXufiFj8NxQOp-W2PqI/s320/3-11-2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="color:#666666;"><strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki </span></strong>is a second generation pottery technique developed from Doki (<a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/09/roots-of-japanese-pottery-vol1-doki.html">Please see vol.1</a>.). <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki</span></strong> techniques came from South Korea in the 5th century. It is the first pottery made using a kiln. Doki pottery was burned with no cover, at a temperature of 600-800 degrees C. The lower temperature made brittle, red-brown ware. The <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki</span></strong> kiln technique burned pottery at a temperature of 1,100 degrees C which made pottery, stronger. The kiln was a hole in the ground and used an oxidation burning method. The color was dark gray with blue.<br /><br />In the beginning, <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki </span></strong>ware was made for noble families in Osaka and Fukuoka. The production of <span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Sueki</strong> </span>ware further spread to most of western Japan, and by the 9th century, had reached northern Japan.<br /><br />After that new technique came from Korea. <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki was developed in <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/04/rokkoyo-vol6-bizen.html">Bizen</a>, <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/04/rokkoyo-vol5-seto.html">Seto</a>, <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/03/rokkoyo-vol1-tokoname.html">Tokoname</a>, <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/03/rokkoyo-vol2-shigaraki.html">Shigaraki</a>, <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/03/rokkoyo-vol3-tanba.html">Tanba</a> and <a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/2008/03/rokkoyo-vol4-echizen.html">Echizen</a>.</span></strong> We call these cities “<a href="http://japanesehandcraft.blogspot.com/search/label/Rokkoyo">Rokkoyo</a>”, because they have each created their own unique version of Sueki technique. Please see the story.<br /><br />A <strong><span style="color:#333333;">Sueki </span></strong>technique had also been used for making Kawara -a type of Japanese roof tile. You could see them on old temples and shrines in Kyoto and Nara.<br /><br /></span></div>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-40141914610419661472009-01-08T10:05:00.001+09:002009-01-08T10:08:02.873+09:00Slender waist is not sexy in kimono world.<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-ylLfxuRueeh7S-ElPGgem4a6PBJDZoecJHF0vQPPZHfvyJSm7RvD5Mv0sPIUkC_wowSNC2571imyrx3LVMhCcTd3T4Pq1hwOEYjLb2Ht8mmD7FsqmqCtKh669hmz3eKT8uuTQ0yHcY/s1600-h/IMG_9699_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288723221603413858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 274px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-ylLfxuRueeh7S-ElPGgem4a6PBJDZoecJHF0vQPPZHfvyJSm7RvD5Mv0sPIUkC_wowSNC2571imyrx3LVMhCcTd3T4Pq1hwOEYjLb2Ht8mmD7FsqmqCtKh669hmz3eKT8uuTQ0yHcY/s320/IMG_9699_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div><br /><br /><span style="color:#333333;">Some Japanese wear kimono for the New Year holiday, because they invite families and friends to their homes, or they go visiting. I have also worn a kimono Jan 1st and 3rd this year. My parents and I invited an American couple to my parents’ home on Jan. 3rd. We let them wear kimono and visit a nearby Shinto Shrine. We had a very good time.<br /><br />My father mentioned that average weight guys look nicer than skinny guys wearing kimono. This is also true for women. I saw many singers who sing traditional songs wearing kimono on TV. I feel older singers look better in kimono than younger singers, because most of them are skinny. Kimono is well-suited for older people.<br /><br />Many couples wear kimono for weddings. My mother is a professional kimono dresser. She told me that most young ladies put towels under their Obi (kimono belt) and around their breasts, because they are too skinny. She told me that a skinny body breaks the balance and doesn’t look as good.<br /><br />She told me kimonos were developed by the Japanese a long time ago. People were not tall and skinny. Today Japanese is taller and skinnier than in the past. Of all the developed countries, Japanese people are the skinniest. I feel Americans look better in kimono than current Japanese. Japanese are growing away from their traditional culture, while Americans are growing toward traditional Japanese culture. I’m just kidding. </span></div><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-24962706863034492008-12-09T10:29:00.005+09:002008-12-09T10:36:44.031+09:00Christmas in Japan<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX0IAdEImPJGBX1YmAAnpgmJP_QHP5-_QPPftNjkefbZWIhInCMfD7KOgilRfqQxvuoymEi0qQb99SK8_rEnMUS-0ntNFNIdTJZhSs4vYQvf30SdX3wDhKQa7QnRFxoVnoPDwnR3upqo/s1600-h/il3002.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277596675871132338" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzX0IAdEImPJGBX1YmAAnpgmJP_QHP5-_QPPftNjkefbZWIhInCMfD7KOgilRfqQxvuoymEi0qQb99SK8_rEnMUS-0ntNFNIdTJZhSs4vYQvf30SdX3wDhKQa7QnRFxoVnoPDwnR3upqo/s320/il3002.jpg" border="0" /></a> Nagoya train station<br /></div><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">2 million Japanese Christians live in Japan, which is only 1.6% of the Japanese population. Most Japanese enjoy celebrating Christmas, regardless of their spiritual beliefs. It is a funny custom.<br /><br />When I was a kid, I believed Santa Claus gave me a gift if I was a good boy. I learned about Christmas from my parents and my kindergarten teacher, but not from Christians and ministers. My family was not Christian, but we had Christmas parties. We did not sing any gospel songs. We sang some Santa Claus songs in Japanese. When I was young, I didn’t know Christmas was Jesus’ birthday. I enjoyed the party and gift from my parents.<br /><br />When I got a girlfriend, I knew I would have to spend time with her on Christmas Eve. We exchanged gifts. The young man has to buy a more expensive gift than the young women has to buy. Of course, the young man has to pay for dinner and a hotel, if necessary. It is a common rule among singles. It is not so bad for men, because most women do not want to be alone on Christmas Eve. It is a huge opportunity to impress a new girlfriend. One of my friends told me this day was the toughest in the year, because he had to choose one girl from his several girlfriends. So, it is the worst day for playboys in Japan.<br /><br />I don’t know why most Japanese eat chicken for Charismas Eve dinner. Most families do not have big ovens. They have to buy grilled or fried chicken at the stores. No doubt, KFC could make record sales at that time of year. </span><br/><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-87350616112399144852008-10-15T11:50:00.003+09:002008-10-15T11:58:20.732+09:00Avocado in Sushi<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCI3jLpMKTcKGwvWkLp6uwLmqtB860Mz2vdlPmls_IuRhFfh0ZUfEr1piHGCbCZbSprdzy0b8oKyQ4972EUk9ao9hEVDdavXEkP1euJkdt-wWqGNkwXYWoy9gMMXA4zGDLRLZr8RN5k4/s1600-h/C314A1A3614E3997B1B383EA9A1BE36B.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5257208340830599986" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqCI3jLpMKTcKGwvWkLp6uwLmqtB860Mz2vdlPmls_IuRhFfh0ZUfEr1piHGCbCZbSprdzy0b8oKyQ4972EUk9ao9hEVDdavXEkP1euJkdt-wWqGNkwXYWoy9gMMXA4zGDLRLZr8RN5k4/s320/C314A1A3614E3997B1B383EA9A1BE36B.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">Over 12 years ago, on my first trip to America, I discovered something strange. Americans were eating <strong><span style="color:#333333;">avocado in sushi</span></strong>. Then, about 10 years ago Japanese sushi restaurants began to use avocado. The idea came from the US! <span style="color:#333333;"><strong>Avocado in sushi</strong></span> has been popular ever since.<br /><br />I ate a rainbow roll at a Chinese/Japanese restaurant in Western North Carolina in 1997. I was so surprised and loved the combination taste. While I lived in America I tried many kinds of American sushi,<br /><br />Here are my three, favorite American sushi;<br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;">No.1: Dragon roll</span></strong> is made with cooked eel, avocado and sweet soy sauce on the top. I think cooked eel and avocado are a great match.<br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;">No. 2: Rainbow roll</span></strong> is made with avocado (inside) and several kinds of sashimi on the top. The sashimi can include tuna, salmon, red snapper and others. These sashimi are very colorful and beautiful.<br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;">No.3: Sunrise sushi</span></strong> is very rare. It is wrapped with tuna sashimi instead of nori (black seaweed paper). There is egg yolk from an “uzura” and tobiko on the top (“uzura” is a small chicken). The egg and tuna complement each other very well.<br /><br />I eat avocado with tuna sashimi now. It is a very<span style="color:#333333;"><strong> easy recipe.</strong></span><br /><br />Cut tuna sashimi and avocado into 1/2” squares.<br />Put them into a dish and mix.<br />Put sesame, chopped nori (black seaweed paper) on the top.<br />Sauce is made by mixing soy sauce, wasabi and lemon juice.<br />Put the sauce on top of the tuna and avocado.<br />Optional: tomato, green onion<br />Salmon can be substituted for the tuna.<br /><br />I went to Ohio on a business trip. My customer told me he couldn’t buy any sashimi in his town. He enjoyed avocado with soy sauce and wasabi. It tasted very similar to good tuna sashimi. He enjoyed it instead of real sashimi.<br /><br />I do not know who started to eat avocado with soy sauce and cook avocado in sushi. The idea is great and a wonderful combination - Japanese culture and avocado!<br />I welcome that kind of combination and will keep searching for it.</span><br /><br/><br /><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5119927653910277007.post-61563048807563100052008-10-02T10:15:00.003+09:002008-10-02T10:23:15.594+09:00Pentagon Chopsticks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ESgtnBSsUnVnDQ4lqV8Tz5GLgjj1k05qUCJRBQG93LXtNp-zfpvG_2FwSDArhYT_pxkzE3mvifqrVxCkIMFcY5i_94cq51XX7Sw3vm9KY89J6C-MmmeTOL41869ZWZHSzi2VWAvKfyE/s1600-h/IMG_8953_edited-1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252359321436746754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7ESgtnBSsUnVnDQ4lqV8Tz5GLgjj1k05qUCJRBQG93LXtNp-zfpvG_2FwSDArhYT_pxkzE3mvifqrVxCkIMFcY5i_94cq51XX7Sw3vm9KY89J6C-MmmeTOL41869ZWZHSzi2VWAvKfyE/s320/IMG_8953_edited-1.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div><span style="color:#333333;">I can tell you these chopsticks are the best chopsticks in my store. I prefer the new<strong> pentagon shaped chopsticks</strong> and here are some reasons why:</span><br /><br /><span style="color:#666666;">The <strong><span style="color:#333333;">pentagon</span></strong> shape is a modern, non-traditional shape in chopsticks. Most Japanese chopsticks have a square or round shape. Why a pentagon shape? Because in Japanese “Gokaku” translates to pentagon and ”success on an examination”. </span><span style="color:#666666;">This item has become more and more popular among students and parents.<br /><br />The pentagon shape is uniform from top to bottom. The edges are also pentagon-shaped and are useful for handling. <strong><span style="color:#333333;">They can hold slippery foods</span></strong>, such as noodles, very easily. Have you eaten noodles with round chopsticks? It was very hard, wasn’t it? Even the Japanese have difficulty sometimes.<br /><br />The chopsticks are crafted with compacted plywood and resin, which make them very strong but still light weight.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#333333;">Slim chopsticks provide very good handling</span></strong>, especially when eating grilled fish. You can separate fish meat and bones with ease.</span></div><br /><br/><br/>Yutakahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11378818109418446611noreply@blogger.com0