Local Exquisite Masterpieces

   

 1) Japanese candles

 Japanese  Candle’s history goes back to the 14^th C., the Muromachi era.

It is made of wax extracted from the seeds　of lacquer tree or wax tree (sumac), which required so much labor and courses of manufacturing, resulting Japanese candle to be the luxury for the rich exclusively. 

In the 17^th C., Edo era, it came into general use together with the spread of lump shade, candle stand and lanterns, making its price reasonable for the common people.

Thanks to the opening of the country to the other countries than Holland and Quin in 1858, candles made of paraffin wax which is practical in use and reasonable at price spread into the daily life of the people, making the Japanese candle leave the main hall. 

Photographs here are Japanese candles with　beautiful paintings; they were popular during　the Edo era in the deeply snowed region of Japan. 
They were dedicated to the Shinto household alter　instead of the fresh flowers.  The aged believed that　the painted flowers will be delivered to their late family members by burning the candles.

They are beautiful work of art, but are scarcely seen now due to the lack of wax tree and traditional artisans. 

Last 2 photographs are Japanese candles made of honey comb wax and paraffin.

 

2) Edo Kiriko Cut Glass

    Edo Kiriko with its intricate patterns is truly work of art.  The techniques of Edo Kiriko which originated from the British cut glass have been handed down through generations. 

It is said that the Edo Kiriko started in 1834 when a glass whole seller, Kyubei Kagaya imitated British cut glass and applied engraving to the surface of glass by emery powder. 

Edo Kiriko developed mainly along the Arakawa River where the ships carrying silica sand, the law material for the glass from Fukushima, the mining area of silica at that time, cruised along to the downtown Edo. 

The glass undergoes a rough grind with a coarse diamond wheel first, then on to the shaving of patterns (3^rd grade grinding), smoothing with a grindstone, and then finally polishing for miraculous radiance. 

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Wrote/photos by K.K

N.B. : The products mentioned in above 1) and 2) are available at shops in Kameido, Koto-ku, Tokyo.
For further queries, please write to: koto.guide@gmail.com

Children in kimono visit shrines for 7-5-3

Aoi, 7, and Haruto, 5, visited Tomioka Hachimangu Shrine
 with their parents and grand mother.

 You may have seen children dressed in colorful kimono, Japanese traditional clothing, recently. Perhaps that's for 7-5-3 (shichi-go-san) .

7-5-3 is a ceremony to pray for children's health and happiness. 7 year old girls, 5 year old boys and 3 year old boys and girls visit local shrines with their parents around November 15. Most children wear beautiful kimono on this day.

This custom is said to have originated in Heian Period more than a thousand years ago, to celebrate the passage of their children into middle childhood. When mortality rate of children was very high, this was especially important.

Today, children's mortality rate is very low, but the number of children keeps declining in Japan. On the other hand, the number of elderly people keeps increasing.

That means many grandparents have only a few grandchildren. Therefore, they are eager to spend a lot for them. 7-5-3 is one of the best chances. They are happy to buy expensive kimono for them.

To attract these families, many photo studios offer dressing up and making up services for this day, not only for children, but also for their mothers and even grandmothers.

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(Seiko)

The exhibition of National Treasures of Japan at Ueno

The leaves of a big tulip tree are started to turn yellow. In Ueno the best season for art has begun.

The poster of exhibition

Tamamushi shrine- a cabinet, decorated with the feathers of the jewel beetles. Made in753.

The exhibition is from October 15 to December 7 2014.

The exhibition -National Treasures of Japan- is being held in Tokyo National museum.

More than hundred valuable treasures are here. For example, A rolled book-Nihon shoki, A painting by Tohaku on the folding screens, A Standing Zenzai doji by Kaikei.  

by K.K