JAPAN 2010
Japan in a nutshell: efficient, clean, safe and hospitable.
Japan or "The Land of the Rising Sun" -127 million people living on 4000 islands, stretching for 3,000 kilometers from north to south.
The four largest islands are Honshu, Hokkaido, Kyushu and Shikoku represent 97% of Japan's land area
The Land
Mount Fuji (3776 meters) is Japan's highest and best known volcano.
You have to consider youself lucky to get a clear view. We just got a view.
â The caracter ç° (ta) means 'rice paddy field'. It is also a common family name
The cherry blossom is Japan's unofficial national flower and symbol. Plum blossoms are the next in line.
The red pine and the Japanese maple are widely cultivated in Japan and are a regular feature in the classic Japanese gardens.
'Niwaki' is the art of pruning, training and shaping the trees for a dramatic look. Many Japanese homeowners equate the term "gardener" with "tree pruner."
Japan is home for over 600 species of bamboos, the fastest growing grasses in the world ( growing up to 60 cm per day). The shoots of bamboo are edible. Bamboo is used everywhere: construction (flooring, gates, gutters), for furniture, basketry, archery bows, musical instruments ....and chopsticks.
Gardens
There are 3 types of Japanese Gardens:
Chaniwa Gardens are built for the tea ceremony.They contain a tea house, stepping stones that lead towards the tea house, stone lanterns and a stone basin, where guests purify themselves before participating in the ceremony.
Karesansui Gardens reproduce natural landscapes in a more abstract way by using stones, gravel, sand and patches of moss for representing mountains, islands, boats, seas and rivers. They are strongly influenced by Zen Buddhism and used for meditation.
Tsukiyama Gardens (artificial hills). Ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges and paths are used to create a miniature reproduction of a natural scenery. Smaller gardens are usually enjoyed from a single viewpoint, such as the veranda of a temple, Larger gardens are experienced by following a circular trail.
Kanazawa Kenroku-en Garden
is considered one of the "three most beautiful gardens in Japan".
The name Kenroku-en means âSix Attributes Gardenâ which is thought to be the
perfect garden if it has 6 atributes: spaciousness, seclusion,
artificiality, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas. It is difficult to find
a garden even with 3 or 4 of these attributes. Kenroku-en has them all.
Kanazawa's Kenroku-en Garden is considered one of the "three most beautiful gardens in Japan". The name Kenroku-en means âSix Attributes Gardenâ which is thought to be the perfect garden if it has 6 atributes: spaciousness, seclusion, artificiality, antiquity, water-courses and panoramas. It is difficult to find a garden even with 3 or 4 of these attributes. Kenroku-en has them all.
Bridges
Ginkakuji Temple in Kyoto has a sand garden with a cone shaped structure rising 2 meters up called the Moon-viewing Platform
There are several theories about this: some believe it is meant to reflect divine light into the hearts of the visitors....or to resemble Mount Fuji...others say it was designed as a simple mound of sand used to replenish the walkway.
Nikko: Shinkyo sacred bridge, considered one of the most beautiful structures in Japan. It could be used only by the emperor before. Now it is used by paying tourists.
The simplest bridge is a step-stone bridge, letting a pedestrian to cross a natural watercourse or a garden's water feature.
The zig-zag Japanese bridge myth: they prevent evil spirits from moving through them. Reality may be just that zig-zag bridges are attractive and interesting to walk over.
Rhythms and Patterns
Traditional Japanese architecture is very simple, especially viewed from a distance. However, various patterns and visual rhythm of the basic elements can add "interestingness" to the simplest wall or fence
Traditional Towns and Villages
Old mountain villages with farmhouses, traditional merchant towns with latticed houses and samurai mansions, narrow roads with shops, restaurants...and castles
Castles
Nijo Castle is a complex of vaguely fortified buildings and nice gardens created in the 17-th Century. They were used as the Shogun's. The castle is best known for its fantastic interiors with huge painted walls and sliding door panels. Floors squeak like nightingales when someone walks on them (a security measure against intruders).
Matsumoto Castle also known as the "Crow Castle" because of its black exterior was built in the 1580's on complete flat land with a large perimeter moat.
Thatch Roof Houses
The Shirakawa-go & Gokayama remote regions are famous for their traditional farmhouses some of which are more than 250 years old.
The area has been declared a UNESCO world heritage site.
Steep thatch-roof & farmhouses were built for large families.The 'gassho-zukuri' (praying arms) roofs are designed to shed the heavy snows in the winter. These roofs, up to a meter thick, are made from thick reeds and can last 25-35 years. No nails are used. The structure is held together with wooden pins or straw rope.
As many as 200 people take part in replacing a single roof. The re-roofing of one house is done in one day. Some people stand on the roof beams and put the thatch in place while others hand the thatch up to them.
Some of the farmhouses have been converted to museums, restaurants or 'minshuku' guesthouses where people eat and sleep the traditional way.
We had an overnight stay in Ogimachi at a place called Juemon. The owner spoke limited English but entertained us playing the 'shamisen, a Japanese string instrument
Traditional House Interior
The traditional Japanes house, called "minka" is made of wood beams and columns.
The "engava" is a space outside, like a veranda.
" Fusuma" are the opaque, often painted, sliding doors that partition the interior. Thy are made of a light wood frame and rice paper.
"Ramma" are the carved wood lintels above.
Tatami mats" cover the wooden floors of the formal rooms for guests. They are standard size within each region. Room size is usually
measured in tatami mats.
The " irori", the hearth, is the main sourse of heat and used sometimes for cooking.
The "tokonoma" is a wooden alcove used for displaying a scroll and flowers or ceramics
"Butsudan" buddhist altar is found in many homes together with a simpler Shinto shrine
Arts and Crafts
There is no clear distinctions between arts and crafts in Japan. They both a continuous blend of traditions and influences from other
oriental countries, mostly China and Korea.
Straw can be used in constructions as well as weaving of useful objects like ropes, boots, dresses and hats.
Rice straw can be also processed into paper, which is used for lanterns, partition walls or various objects.
Most of the Japanese sculptures derived from the idol worship inshinto and Buddhism.JizĆ (God of Mercy) is one of Buddhaâs main attendants and is one of the most popular modern deities in Japan. He is venerated as the guardian of unborn, aborted or miscarried babies. JizĆ statues are commonly found in Japanese graveyards. Little Jizo statues are usually clothed in small bibs, adorned with toys, wearing tiny hats, protected by scarfs, and piled with tiny stones offered by sorrowing parents as a prayer. Parents cloth the Jizo statues in hopes that Jizo will clothe the dead child in his protection.
The Japanese modern sculptures are a mix of Western concepts and Buddist ideas. Outdoor sculptures became fashionable after the famous Hakone Open-Air Museum opened in 1969. Cities and architects support outdoor sculptures for parks, plazas and major urban buildings. The Hakone Open-Air Museum has over 300 works by Picasso, a large collection of sculptures by Henry Moore, Rodin, Bourdelle, Miro and much more.
