Kameido Plum Blossom Festival Tour

Do you like to go see the cherry blossoms?  Well, it is a little early for cherry blossoms, but the plum flowers are going to be blooming soon.  In history, the Japanese people have been enjoying the plum blossoms for over 1200 years, even longer than the cherry blossoms.

We are happy to introduce you our walking tour to see the plum blossoms and find Japanese traditional culture in Kameido, an old town of Tokyo.  Kameido Tenjin Shrine in Koto-city is known as the place to worship the God of Learning or God of Study, and is also famous for the beautiful plum blossoms.  At Kameido Tenjin Shrine, you can find more than 250 plum trees with 50 varieties in colors and shapes.

If you like to take photos, you can also enjoy the view of the Tokyo Sky Tree, 

the beautiful shrine architecture, 

and the turtles and birds in the pond.

If you are interested, please join our Kameido Plum Blossom Festival Tour and feel the coming of spring!

The details of the tour are as follows: 

Tour date & time:

①Wednesday, February 18^th        1:30pm~3:30pm

②Sunday,March 1^st  

  10:00am~12:00pm   

Places to visit:

Meiji Street ~ Kameido Tenjin Shrine ~ Umeyashiki*  (Plum blossom mansion)  

                                           

*Place for tourists introducing the traditional crafts and the local products.  This tour finishes at Umeyashiki. 

Meeting Place:

Midori no Madoguchi (reservation counter) which is located outside of North Exit of JR Kameido Station (Soubu Line)  

Please arrive on time.   

Participant fee: Free

Booking:

Contact “Koto English-speaking Volunteer Guide Association” (a.k.a. KEV)

E-mail: koto.guide@gmail.com   

by K.T

Kameido Tenjin

Have you already made any New Year resolutions? Start learning new subject?  Keep studying foreign language? Or, are you challenging to an exam for next spring, entrance examination, or, to get certificate/license, etc., etc.

Or, do you wish the success in exams of your relatives, friends, or acquaintances?

If you are any of the above, we suggest you to visit Kameido Tenjin Shrine、Koto-Ku、Tokyo.

Kameido Tenjin is the place for warship the deity, “Tenjin sama”, god of “Learning”, or god of “Study”, when people want to pray for wishes anything related to educations, school, and intelligence all the time.

This is one of shrines of Shintoism, Japanese indigenous religion, and was built 17^th century, in Kameido, north eastern part of Koto-Ku.

Michizane Sugawara

The Deity, “Tenjin”  is deified spirit of Michizane Sugawara, born in Kyoto, year 845 and there were many anecdote about his genius talent from very early ages, as well as the beautiful poem which was read by him at age 5.  Through years, he was highly acknowledged by the emperor and promoted to serve as the trusted minister of the Right.  However, his outstanding promotion, and his distinguished results in literatures, he fell victim of slender by Fujiwara clan, who was the most powerful authority in that period.  And he was demoted and expelled to southern part of Japan, Dazaifu, and year 901.

His life in Dazaifu was remorsefulness and hardship, but he decided to spend his days without blaming the god, nor getting angry to people in the capital, Kyoto.  For two years, till his death of age 59, year 903, he made his best efforts to continue his academic studies and left quite a number of excellent literatures.

After the death, he has been respected by people, and worshiped as the deity of the study because of his intelligence and plenty of his works in the literature.  Around Japan, quite a large number of shrines were built to worship Michizane, and those shrines were called Tenjin, and about 12000 Tenjin shrines are across Japan. 

And, 700 year after, one descendant of Michizane Sugawara, has received the revelation of his dream which is to enshrine Michizane at an appropriate location.  After exploring several l locations, he has fortunately been offered the piece of land by Iyetsuna, the 4^th Shogun of Tokugawa government who had deep respect for Michizane,  = the deity of study = Tenjin,  for years.

Main hall of Kameido Tenjin

1662 was the time when Kameido Tenjin Shrine was built,  since then, though the building has been suffered from natural disasters and burning out by air raid during World War II, the Shrine itself has been at the current place, Kameido, Koto-Ku.

Apricot trees at yard

In the precinct yard of the Shrine, there are many relics and moments from Dazaifu.

Among all, Ume (Japanese apricot ) trees are very famous for this Shrine.  As Michizane= Tenjin, was very fond of apricot trees, here in Kameido-Tenjin, you can find more than 250 plum trees, with 50 varieties in colors, and shapes, in early spring.

This is the poem composed by Michizane,  "Ume (Japanese apricot) flowers! Please do not forget the spring even though your master has left from you. When a wind blows from the east, please make sure to send me your sweet scent." 

Besides Ume (Japanese apricot), Kameido Shrine is famous for the beautiful wisteria late April to early May.

Next month, we are planning a walking tour to see the plum blossoms at Kameido-Tenjin. The details will be coming soon in this KEV blog site.   

by Y.T

Are you interested in unique Japanese culture?
If so, please join our  free walking tours!

P.S. Tours for Kameido-Tenjin is coming soon !

Let’s enjoy Kiyosumi Garden. Breakfast in Kiyosumi Garden ?

If you are interested in trees and ponds in the garden of  the Meiji-period, and the architecture in the style of the tea ceremony house that reaches out into the pond, I recommend you visit  “Ryoutei” in Kiyosumi Garden.

Skipping stones and Ryotei

Photo on right: Skipping stones near the ponds edge to allow passage to visitors .

Over the pond, “Ryoutei” reaches out into the pond.

If you want to occupy this guestroom for only yourself, you can do it.

It costs 5500 yen per every 3 hours and half. For example, if you want to enjoy breakfast there, you can use this room from 9:00~12:30.

You can bring your own favorite breakfast. However please bring all trash to your home.

If your party is more than 5 people, there are also catering service of a rich Japanese style.

Reservations can be made as early as 6 months prior to the date required.

In addition, an admission fee is required. General admission is 150 yen

For details call 03- 3641-5892. Kiyosumi Gardens service center 9:00~17:00

Shishimai

Photo on left: “Shishimai” is performed on New years accompanied bamboo flutes and

drums. 

It is like a prayer for safety of your household.

Flowers covered by straw

Photo on right: During the winter time, flowers are covered by straw protecting them from the frost.

Access to Kiyosumi garden:

Toei O-edo Line and Tokyo Metro Hanzomon line,Kiyosumi –shirakawa Sta.
(3 minutes on foot)

By I.O

Are you interested in unique Japanese culture?

If so, please enjoy our  free walking tours!

Decorations for coming new-year

Christmas holiday has passed quickly. New year holiday, that is one of the most important events through the year for Japanese. Unlike western people, Japanese put more importance on new-year event rather than Christmas.

1.Kadomatsu

The first two photos are Kadomatsu, which is talisman against evil. Kadomatsu is usually set at gate of huge buildings or entrance of mansion. It is said that Kadomatsu protects houses or buildings from evils entering and welcomes only luck or happiness. Robust bamboos are set at center and pine leaves surround bamboo. Both bamboo and pine tree are assumed auspicious plants. Due to its strength, vitality and vigor power, bamboo is considered as the symbol of good fortune. For evergreen needle-leaved tree, pine is considered as the ever-lasting prosperity. 
The orange at the center is the seasonal fruit. Orange color attaches the cheerful looks and attracts the audiences.

2. A pair of Kadomatsu

3. New-year decoration

Not only Kadomatsu, but other figurine is 

also decorated at entrance of buildings. 

Third photo includes various figurines

representing the prosperity, wealth and

happiness. 

This decoration is put at the entrance of 

commercial facility. The combination of 

red and white colors show the celebration 

and happiness, bales of rice means bountiful harvests in coming new-year.  

The fourth photo is small decoration put on the entrance of common citizen’s houses. The straw rope is a miniature of a sacred straw rope decorated at entrance of shrines, that protects house from evils entering to house. Colorful strings put on straw ropes represent the happiness and celebrations.

4. Decorations for common houses

Setting these auspicious decorations, Japanese ready to welcome luck and happiness of coming new-year 2015.

Are you interested in unique Japanese culture?
If so, please enjoy our  free walking tours!

by A.C

Christmas time has come !!

Christmas time has just come around the corner. What is your plan for Christmas this year? In Japan, gorgeous illumination are decorated everywhere in town.

Those colorful and brilliant lights cheer people up  as well as remind us that it is ending of this year. 

Even Shintoism is the dominant religion, most Japanese feel joy for Christmas. Appreciating gorgeous illumination, eating delicious Christmas cake and giving Christmas present to family etc., are just formality of Japanese-style Christmas. 

After enjoying Japanese-style Christmas time, Japanese start preparing New Years ceremony.

Are you interested in unique Japanese culture? if so, please enjoy our  free walking tours!

by A.C

Universal Design Conference 2014 in Koto City

Fukushima prefecture’s exhibition booth

The 5th International Conference for Universal Design in Fukushima & Tokyo 2014 was held on 11-13 November hosted by International Association for Universal Design (IAUD) and co-hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Fukushima Prefecture and Koto City. 

The conference theme was “Glocalized Development for Universal Design—Towards Tokyo 2020. Universal Design in Fukushima & Tokyo 2014 was held on 11-13 November hosted by international Association for Universal Design (IAUD) and co-hosted by Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Fukushima Prefecture and Koto City. 

The conference theme was “Glocalized Development for Universal Design—Towards Tokyo 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games—“

Along with the symposium including keynote lectures, UD-related activities were introduced at exhibition booths by  government agencies, municipal governments, companies such as Toyota Motor Corporation and Fujitsu etc. at Tokyo International Exchange Center, Koto city.

Staffs from Fukushima prefectural government and

 KEV at Fukushima prefecture’s booth

Kibitan, Yuru-chara (an anime-style cartoon mascot)
 for Fukushima prefecture

KEV helped Fukushima prefecture’s booth as an interpreter. By working together with staffs from Fukushima, KEV members could learn a lot about the disasters and present situations in Fukushima prefecture caused by the big earthquake on March 11^th, 2011. It is expected that the Tokyo 2020 Olympics and Paralympic Games will create a lot of great things. Throughout this process we would be happy to do anything we can especially in Koto City and increase KEV’s activities in the future.

Kibo-no-Kakehashi

「第5回国際ユニヴァーサルデザイン会議 2014 in 福島＆東京」が、2014年11月11日から13日まで、江東区の東京国際交流館で開催されました（東京会場）。主催は（財）国際ユニヴァーサルデザイン協議会（IAUD）、共催は東京都、福島県、江東区。会議テーマは、「ユニヴァーサルデザインのグローカル展開 〜東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピックへ向けて〜」。

東京会場では、シンポジウムや基調講演と共に、官公庁、自治体、企業が展示ブースを設け、ユニヴェーサルデザイン関連の活動を紹介しました。江東区英語ボランティアガイド協会（KEV）も通訳として、福島県の展示ブースのお手伝いをしました。お手伝いを通して、東日本大震災の時の様子や福島の現状について、福島県庁の職員の方たちから直接お話を聞けたのは大きな収穫でした。東京2020オリンピック・パラリンピックには大きな期待が寄せられています。私たちも特に江東区内でのオリンピック関連でのお手伝いはもちろん、今後もKEVの活動の場を広げていきたいと思っています。　

These chopsticks called Kibo-no-Kakehashi, “ a bridge to the future” ( “hashi”  in Japanese is a homophone for “chopsticks” and “bridge”) 

“These are chopsticks made from timbers produced from thinning cedars in Iwate Prefecture, Miyagi Prefecture and Fukushima Prefecture, which were extensively affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake. Part of sales will be donated to disaster-affected areas.”

by N.T and Y.N

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. 

Want to learn more about unique culture of Japan? Join our free walking tours!

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