March, 2008:

Biwako Bunkakan shuts down on March 31, 2008

Mar 31st, 2008

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The Lake Biwa Cultural Museum (Biwako Bunkakan 琵琶湖文化館), shaped like a castle on the shore of Lake Biwa in Otsu, closed on March 30, 2008 after 47 years. Admission was free on the last day. The museum opened in 1961 and served as an art museum, centering on Buddhist art, and aquarium for lake fish. Parts of the museum’s collection were later transferred to other museums in Shiga. Its collection of about 5,000 pieces includes National Treasures and Important Cultural Properties. The lookout deck on the top floor gave a panoramic view of the lake. The rooftop also had a dragonfly sculpture. Due to financial reasons, the cash-strapped prefecture decided to close the museum which will continue to store its collection.

Hokuriku Line sees little passenger increase

Mar 31st, 2008

by philbert.

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The Hokuriku Main Line running from Maibara Station to Tsuruga Station in Fukui Pref. converted to direct current power in Oct. 2006, enabling trains to run directly from Kyoto all the way to Tsuruga. Passengers no longer have to change trains at Maibara or Nagahama Station when going beyond Nagahama. Anticipating a substantial increase in visitors, the train stations along the line built new station buildings. However, by March 2008, the passenger increase was only 0.5 percent, far below the target 14% increase.

Millennium of the Tale of Genji

Mar 31st, 2008

by philbert.

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Click image to see more photos.

Otsu is celebrating the Millennium of the Tale of Genji 源氏物語千年紀 (Genji Monogatari Sennenki) with various exhibitions and events mainly at Ishiyama-dera temple from Mar. 18 to Dec. 14, 2008.

An event venue called Genji Yume-kairo 源氏夢回廊 (main path leading to the temple entrance) at the temple has a few temple buildings holding various exhibitions related to the novel. Admission is 600 yen or 1,000 yen which includes admission to the temple.

I saw it March and here are my pictures: Ishiyama-dera Temple 石山寺

It was in 1008 when Lady Murasaki completed the epic novel Genji Monogatari after four years. She wrote it in a little room with a view of the moon at Ishiyama-dera in Otsu. The temple itself is a major tourist attraction with National Treasure buildings, spring lfowers, and autumn leaves.

Web site in Japanese.

New train station names in Otsu

Mar 31st, 2008

by philbert.

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Two train stations on the JR Kosei Line have been renamed:

Nishi-Otsu Station (西大津駅) changed its name to “Otsu-kyo” 大津京駅 on March 15, 2008. This is an attempt to have people recognize that Otsu was once the capital of Japan.

Ogoto Station (雄琴駅) changed its name to “Ogoto Onsen” おごと温泉駅 on March 15, 2008. This is an attempt to get more people to visit Ogoto Spa. The station also has a free foot bath with hot spring water where you can relax your feet.

Changing the train station names cost Otsu taxpayers a total of 110 million yen paid to Japan Railways.

Lake Biwa Rowing Song music video

Mar 26th, 2008

by philbert.

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I created a music video for Lake Biwa Rowing Song and now you can see it on YouTube:

Ohmi Railways Screen Station opens

Mar 20th, 2008

by philbert.

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On March 15, 2008, a new train station opened on the Ohmi Railways Taga Line called Screen Station (スクリーン駅). Located between Takamiya and Taga Taisha-mae Stations, it serves mainly the employees of Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co. Ltd.’s semiconductor R&D center. The station was built by the company at the cost of 100 million yen. There are also many more direct trains running from Maibara and Hikone Stations to the Taga Line, making it unnecessary to transfer at Takamiya Station.

Event notice: Shiga ALT art exhibition at 琵琶湖文化館

Mar 20th, 2008

by philbert.

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Shiga’s Assistant Language Teachers (mainly English) are having an art exhibition at the Biwako Bunkakan. About 16 teachers are exhibiting paintings, photography, etc., during March 20-23, 2008.

It is on the 1st floor of the museum. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm. Free admission.

I also have my Lake Biwa Rowing Song pictures on display as well. I will be there on Sunday the 23rd (last day) from 3 pm to 5 pm. If you have time, please visit us.

The museum is near Shimanoseki and Ishiba Stations on the Keihan Line.

As you may know, the museum will close down at the end of this month. If you’ve never been to this museum, this is your last chance. It has a lot of Buddhist art, including National Treasures. The top floor also has nice views of the lake. This museum has been a landmark in Otsu for many years (since 1961). I think they will keep the building, but it will be closed to the public.

Web site: http://www2.ocn.ne.jp/~biwa-bun/

Koka’s English Web site

Mar 7th, 2008

by philbert.

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Koka finally has an English Web site:
http://www.city.koka.shiga.jp/english/index.html

It’s not bad. However, one common error is “Koka City.” It should just be “Koka.” If you say “Koka City,” it means “City” is part of the city’s name. The city’s name is “Koka,” not “Koka City” (=甲賀シティ市).

For example, in the US, we have “Kansas City” and “New York City.” In both cases, “City” is part of the city’s name.

In Japan, we don’t have any city names where “City” is part of the name. We can say “city of Koka.” And for Japanese cities whose name is the same as the prefecture, we can say for example, Niigata city, Saitama city, etc., to avoid confusionwith the prefecture’s name. In such cases, “city” should not be capitalized.

English Web page for Aisho-cho

Mar 7th, 2008

by philbert.

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I’ve made a simple Web page in English introducing Aisho-cho:
http://photoguide.jp/txt/Aisho-cho,_Shiga

Also Google Map of Aisho:
http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=105501786212832952601.0004442a73a914bb420f1&z=13&om=0

Vories in Japan Times

Mar 5th, 2008

by philbert.

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The Japan Times printed a pretty interesting story about William Vories on Feb. 28, 2008:

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fa20080228a1.html

The writer says that his architectural designs were not original. They were taken from existing styles of architecture. Of course, they were Western-style, so in Japan, those buildings stood out.

Vories designed 1,091 buildings in Japan and South Korea, and today only about 100 remain. Omi-Hachiman has 28 buildings designed by Vories.

I look forward to seeing the inside of the Toyosato Primary School when they open it to the public someday.