some pictures i had taken during the outside exposure or education of our student in the kindergarten. the park is near to the church. the children enjoyed it so much to play on the ground of the newly built city library.
2009年2月20日金曜日
a day in the park
some pictures i had taken during the outside exposure or education of our student in the kindergarten. the park is near to the church. the children enjoyed it so much to play on the ground of the newly built city library.
2009年2月16日月曜日
2009年2月12日木曜日
"crazy moments"#$#%&&#$%
i just recovered from what one calls "crazy moments". there are times that i feel i dont know myself. i dont have directions, no aim, nothing. but i just act as if nothing happens. these events are triggered by some moments in my encounter with people or a book that i read. i know am not fully recovered but its just crazy. i can laugh about it because i feel am back to normal. why am i wrting it here anyway??????
2009年2月9日月曜日
a view from kasaoka church
some pictures taken from kasaoka church. the church is very near the port. i really enjoy seeing the these boats from the church. we had our gathering today and the weather is perfect to take some shots.
2009年2月5日木曜日
some japanese culture
In the old lunar Japanese calendar, each season had its own day (called Setubun) to mark the change of the season. In the old calendar, the first day of spring (Rissyun) was considered to be the start of the New Year, so the Setubun at the end of winter was the last day of the year, and had special customs. Today it is the only Setubun still celebrated. In the modern calendar, it occours around February 3 or 4.
Today, various local family customs and manners of celebrating Setubun still exist. All the customs are events suitable for greeting the New Year: driving out evil, and wishing for good fortune in the coming year.
On the evening of Setubun, generally, an Oni-uchi (devil-extermination) and Mame-maki (bean-scattering) ceremony is held. Before nightfall people saute soybeans without oil, and in the evening, throw soybeans inside and outside of the house saying "Oni wa soto. Huku wa uchi! (Out with the devil! In with good fortune!)" in order to drive out any bad spirits.
In a related custom, many people make a meal of the remaining soybeans with each person eating one bean for each year of their age.
Another Setubun custom is to eat grilled sardines and mount the leftover heads on holly twigs, and set them next to the front door of the house. This will frighten away any demons atempting to enter. Depending on the area, garlic or another strong-smelling material is sometimes used instead of sardine heads.
In the Kansai area, some people also observe Setubun by eating an uncut sushi roll (Maki-zushi) while facing towards this year's "lucky direction." This direction depends upon the zodiac sign of the year. This year, the year of the mouse, the direction was south-south-east. On this one day, sushi shops don't cut their sushi rolls, but leave them whole.
Today, various local family customs and manners of celebrating Setubun still exist. All the customs are events suitable for greeting the New Year: driving out evil, and wishing for good fortune in the coming year.
On the evening of Setubun, generally, an Oni-uchi (devil-extermination) and Mame-maki (bean-scattering) ceremony is held. Before nightfall people saute soybeans without oil, and in the evening, throw soybeans inside and outside of the house saying "Oni wa soto. Huku wa uchi! (Out with the devil! In with good fortune!)" in order to drive out any bad spirits.
In a related custom, many people make a meal of the remaining soybeans with each person eating one bean for each year of their age.
Another Setubun custom is to eat grilled sardines and mount the leftover heads on holly twigs, and set them next to the front door of the house. This will frighten away any demons atempting to enter. Depending on the area, garlic or another strong-smelling material is sometimes used instead of sardine heads.
In the Kansai area, some people also observe Setubun by eating an uncut sushi roll (Maki-zushi) while facing towards this year's "lucky direction." This direction depends upon the zodiac sign of the year. This year, the year of the mouse, the direction was south-south-east. On this one day, sushi shops don't cut their sushi rolls, but leave them whole.
2009年2月4日水曜日
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