More Torii

Torii:

A Japanese structure that has fascinated me since early 1960 is the TORII

Literally meaning "where the birds reside",torii are gateways at the entrance to Shinto shrines or sanctuaries.
They are typically made of timber,stone or sometimes iron;

Most wooden torii are painted red!

Some buddhist temples also have torii probably because at one time the two philosophies overlapped and merged to some degree.


The large timber torii with bronze decoration is at the Meiji Shrine close to the
Harajuku district of Tokyo.Dedicated to the Emperor and Empress Meiji it is a particularly fine example of Shinto architecture.
The torii measures some 17 metres in height and 15 metres in width and marks the entrance to the shrine itself.

Rinko's Shichi-go-san

On November 15,this adorable little three year old took part in a Shichi-go-san ceremony........literally 7,5,3 when parents celebrate their children with prayers for the child's healthy growth and longevity.

The customs followed today evolved in the Meiji era (1868-1912) and November 15 was chosen for the celebration because it was considered the most auspicious day of the year.
As Shichi-go-san is not a national holiday,many failies choose to celebrate on the weekend prior.

Accompanied by her parents and grandparents, Rinko visited a Shinto shrine dressed in traditional kimono.........(.she actually showed me her gorgeous costume when we met her grand-parents in Himeji in late October.)

Most children carry a bag decorated with cranes and turtles which symbolise longevity,and into these are placed chitose-ame (longevity candy sticks.
The candy and bag indicate the parent's wishes for a long prosperous life for their children.

My sincere wish for a long and happy life dear Rinko
October 29

Hiroshima: Children's Peace Monument

Hiroshima

War is the work of man
War is the destruction of human life
War is death
To remember the past is to commit oneself to the future

To remember HIROSHIMA is to abhor nuclear war

To remember Hiroshima is to commit oneself to
PEACE.

(attributed to Pope John 23)




I originally planned to blog my travels in order of visit,but my visit to Hiroshima Peace Park and the Memorial Museum,had such a deep emotional effect that I needed to share with my readers........



At 8.15am on August 6, 1945,the city of Hiroshima (with a population of approximately
350,000 souls)
fell victim to the world's first atomic bombing.
The entire city was virtually levelled and approxim,ately 140,000 lives were lost.

At the instant of detonation,the temperature at the centre exceeded a million degree Celcius,generating an enormous fireball .

At the moment of the explosion,an extremely high pressure of several hundred thousand atmospheres was created.
The surrounding air was thrust violently outwards and produced an intensely strong blast.The blast pressure 500 metres from the hypocentre was an enormous 19 TON per square metre.
Buildings were crushed and people were flung through the air.

To walk through the Memorial Museum and view the exhibits is a most sobering experience:
Tattered scraps of clothing;crockery fused into earth;
the diorama with wax figures of Atomic Bomb Victims..............very graphic and disturbing.

More temples and Shrines!

Historic neighbourhood

Just around the corner from Yanaka Ginza we found yet more history!
Old timber houses /shops,retained as a reminder of earlier times.
Then there was the Tsukijibei Fence:A traditional stone fence that followers of Ninja movies will recognise.

Tokyo streetscapes

YANAKA GINZA is a small street market that retains the warm atmosphere of

Shitamachi,the traditional section in Tokyo with origins from the Edo period.

Yanaka is also known for its cats,and I was intrigued by the various figurines of cats in the Yanaka Ginza.

The two above are known as Maneki Neko ,or "prosperity" or even "Beckoning cats"
Many were seen like the two above at the entrance to a business.
It is reckoned that if the left paw is raised,it is beckoning customers into the business premises;If the right paw is raised it's meant top be attracting money or good fortune!
Along this lane there were cats on the awnings and roofs in all sorts of poses......
and just around the corner in a small temple was a live cat sunning on the shrine steps,until a monk came out and fed it!

Quirky Tokyo

Tokyo can yield some interesting sights..................
Strolling down the Ginza our fist day revealed some "interesting shoe fashions for the coming winter!

Home again!

After four weeks travel in Japan,I'm once again home in Oz!
I had many reasons for visiting Japan ............and one was to see the Autumn foliage;

When we arrived in Shinagawa October 13,Nature had not yet decided that it was actually the Autumn season,and flashes of colour were few and far between, which I found a tad disappointing,but as the days rolled by,so the foliage colours changed:

At first,there were hints of gold and then red,orange......a veritable explosion of colour.

WAT's on Television Tonight?

Okay,the article in today's edition of the Redcliffe Herald did not scan as well as I'd hoped (sorry about that).
Last night's rehearsal went quite well.
Producer and director are stressing just a tad,but the cast is enjoying themselves.

Back to the sewing machine as adjustments are required.

Japan bound! (and) WAT's on Television tonight?

Back in July I mentioned that I was commencing language lessons in Japan.........a friend and I were contemplating visiting Japan in the northern Spring of 2009.

However,as often happens,plans change and we are departing in 20 days time!
As Gail has lived in as well as visitting the country several times,I have left the planning in her very capable hands.

The photos included in this post are indicative of the travel literature and language text books I am trying to digest

The third pic is to prove that Australian made souvenirs can still be found,if one hunts hard enough!

I had hoped to use some of my work as presents for our hosts and friends , and am yet to make the decision.


Re: WAT's on Television Tonight"

It is a small review being staged by a group of about 16 people as a fund raiser for the recently established Redcliffe Hospital Foundation,
by WAT .....Workshop Art Theatre, a non audtioned group of enthusiastic amatuers from the Redcliffe Peninsula.

I will try and sneak some photos tonight at dress rehearsal,to share with you.

Ciao for now

Postmark'dArt......Recycled

Finally,I'm ready to mail six of my postcards for the Round 7 of Postmark'dArt swap.

These cards come under the category RECYCLED.

Card #1 features wrist watch 'bits' encased in a vinyl 'bottle' and mounted on some (recycled tissue wrapping paper that was manipulated into paper fabric a few months back.
The song "If I could put Time in a bottle" echoed at the back of my mind for ages.
I wish I could recycle on the time I waste dreaming.



Card #2 also features the recycled paper fabric.This time it's one of my doodle pieces cut to shape.















Card#3: We all 'know'that cats have nine lives,don't we?
So,recycling offcuts from other projects,I've recycled this cat's ninth life.
Card #4: About two years ago,this formed part of an attempt at a Journal Quilt depicting stagnation in the Murray River.
I was dissatisfied with the quilt,but recycling part to a 6by 4 inch format makes it work I think.

The times they are a changing!

My " three score and ten" natal celebration on July 8,seems to have marked a watershed in my life!
I've finally started trying things I've dreamed of since my teen years:
Gliding
Going back to theatre work;
Chorister;
and being "ME"
For so long,I have been : Mrs C; mother;corporate wife;farmer; trying to be a fibre artist...........
and now,it's "enough already"----
what I do now is for "ME" and no one else.
I no longer have to worry about tidal surges affecting others...........

Lately I have joined into not only choral groups; Indoor bowls groups; Theatre workshop group;
Gliding;Japanese conversation (more about that later) Sight singing and vocal techniques;but I feel so ALIVE......................!!

To my older online friends

Don't wither away and die: Use your talents!!

We are dead a very long time................use it or lose it!