Congratulations to Miki Ito who won the World Cup dual moguls event today (Feb. 24, 2013) in Inawashiro, Fukushima. She is from Hino, Shiga Prefecture. It is her first freestyle moguls World Cup victory.
Dual moguls has two skiers compete against each other on each run. Ito, along with Aiko Uemura and Junko Hoshino, advanced to the final round of 16 competitors. For her final run, she beat an American to win the World Cup. She is gunning to appear in the Winter Olympics.
Hina dolls in Gokasho. Click image to see more photos.
Hina-matsuri dolls (雛祭りの雛人形) are being displayed at various locations in Shiga to celebrate Girl’s Day on March 3.
On the weekend of Feb. 23-24, 2013, Gokasho in Higashi-Omi is having a unique event of live hina dolls called Ningen Hina-matsuri (にんげん雛まつり). Yes, they are real girls, ten of them, dressed as Hina dolls. They will appear twice on both the 23rd and 24th at 10:00 am to 11:30 am and at 1:30 pm to 3 pm at the Omi-shonin merchant home of Tonomura Shigeru (外村繁邸).
Gokasho, Higashi-Omi: Normal hina ningyo dolls are also displayed in the Omi-shonin merchant homes and museums. They are on display until March 20 (9 am to 4:30 pm) in the former residences of Tonomura Uhee (外村 宇兵衛), Tonomura Shigeru (外村 繁), Nakae Jungoro (中江 準五郎), and Fujii Hikoshiro (藤井 彦四郎邸). The homes are large, stately Japanese-style mansions. Must-see for architecture buffs. Buy a single 600 yen ticket and you can enter all the homes. Closest train station is Ohmi Railways Gokasho Station. Google Map
Omi-Hachiman: Former Ban family residence (旧伴家住宅) until March 17, 2013 (closed Mon.). Omi merchant home which also served as a girls school and public library until 1997. Spacious room with a large display of Hina dolls. The former Nishikawa Residence (Kyu-Nishikawa-ke Jutaku 旧西川家住) also has doll display. This is a large Omi merchant home designated as an Important Cultural Property. The Kawara Roof Tile Museum and some shops in central Omi-Hachiman will also have hina doll displays. Google Map
Hino: Omi Hino Merchant House (近江日野商人館) until March 10, 2013. The former home of Hino merchant Yamanaka Hyouemon was donated to the town in 1981. Now a museum exhibiting the history and artifacts of the Hino merchants. Admission 300 yen. Another place is Hino Machikado Kan-okan (日野まちかど感応館) which is a former home along Hino’s main road. It is also a tourist information office. Free admission. Some shops and homes in central Hino will also have hina doll displays. Google Map
Enjoy Girl’s Day!
Japanese hina-matsuri map: http://www.omi-syonin.com/htm03/index.html#page=1
Nagahama Hokoen Park plum blossoms.
Plum blossoms, called ume (梅) in Japanese, have absolutely the sweetest and most pacifying fragrance of all the flowers in Japan. Whenever you see plum blossoms, put your nose right next to the flower and smell. It will sooth your soul. There are many varieties of plum blossoms, but they basically white, pink, or red and each color smells differently. The white ones have the most dainty smell, while the red ones have a stronger and more concentrated sweet smell.
Plum blossoms have been an intricate part of Japanese culture, art, and aesthetics for centuries. The term shochikubai (松竹梅), meaning pine, bamboo, and plum blossoms, is an auspicious and favorite aesthetic concept in Japan that you can find on folding screens, sliding fusuma doors, and Japanese paintings. In my bedroom in Shiga, I have hand-painted fusuma on two sides of the room with beautiful paintings of shochikubai. My dad had excellent taste when he bought them in Hikone before I was born. I have treasured them ever since I became old enough to appreciate them. Sadly, they don’t make them like that anymore, at least at affordable prices.
In most parts of Japan, plum blossoms bloom in Feb. and March. In Hokkaido, they bloom in May, at the same time as cherry blossoms. When they reach full bloom depends on how cold/warm the winter is. The colder it is, the later they bloom.
Although Shiga does not have huge plum blossom groves like in Minabe, Wakayama; Kairakuen Garden in Mito (Ibaraki Prefecture); or Ome in Tokyo, Shiga has a few good plum groves called bairin (梅林) or plum gardens (baien 梅園) and plum blossom bonsai displays called bonbaiten (盆梅展).
Nagahama Hokoen Park 豊公園
Although Hokoen Park is most famous for cherry blossoms, it also has a decent number of plum trees. Great place to photograph them with Nagahama Castle in the background (photo above). They bloom in March. Near JR Nahagama Station. Google Map
Nagahama Bonbaiten in Keiunkan.
Nagahama Bonbaiten 長浜盆梅展
This is perhaps Shiga’s most famous plum blossom bonsai exhibition, held annually for 62 years since 1952. The venue is the stately Keiunkan (慶雲館), a Japanese-style former guesthouse originally built in 1887 to accommodate Emperor Meiji when he visited Nagahama. It’s near JR Nagahama Station. They have 90 bonsai trees on display, including one that is almost 3 meters tall or 400 years old. Don’t touch and try to smell these prized trees. Nagahama also has another bonbaiten in Azai. Until March 10, 2013. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, Admission: 500 yen (200 yen for high school and younger) Google Map
Kamo-no-sato Bonbaiten, Maibara 鴨の里盆梅展
Held in Green Park Santo (グリーンパーク山東), a large recreational park in Maibara. Inside the Spark Santo hall (すぱーく山東) are about 120 bonsai plum trees raised by over 30 devoted growers. They also have an orchid show at the same time. Near JR Omi-Nagaoka Station. Until March 10, 2013. Hours: 9:30 am – 5 pm (enter by 4:30 pm), Admission: 400 yen (200 yen for high school and younger, free for elementary schoolers) Google Map
Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (Omi-Fuji Green Acres), Yasu 近江富士花緑公園
Sandwiched between the foot of Mt. Mikami and Kibogaoka Bunka Park, Omi-Fuji Karyoku Koen Park (also called Omi-Fuji Green Acres) is about flowers and greenery, including plum and cherry blossoms. They have a blog showing the progress of their plum blossoms blooming. Buses from JR Yasu Station go to Kibogaoka Bunka Koen Park’s Kibogaoka Nishi Gate from which you can walk to the park. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm. Google Map
Statue of Saint Shinran in front of the plum tree he planted at Homanji temple in Echigawa, Aisho.
Homanji temple, Aisho 宝満寺
This temple in Echigawa has a historically significant plum tree in front of the Hondo main hall. While traveling, Saint Shinran, founder of the Jodo Shinshu Buddhist Sect, was unable to cross the Echigawa River due to flooding. So he stayed at this temple temporarily. During that time, he planted a plum tree which bloom red plum blossoms. Near Ohmi Railways Echigawa Station. Google Map
Plum blossoms at Ishiyama-dera temple. Smell the different varieties.
Ishiyama-dera, Otsu 石山寺
Ishiyama temple has an impressive 400 plum trees in three hillside plum groves. Since there is a variety of plums, there’s a good chance of seeing at least a few in full bloom in Feb. or March. They have a blog showing how much the plums are blooming. Ishiyama-dera also has an indoor plum tree ikebana (Mishogoryu School 未生御流) exhibition called Ume Tsukushi-ten (梅つくし展) until March 18, 2013 in one of their temple buildings called Myoo-in (明王院). This indoor exhibition is free if you have paid the temple admission fee. Near JR Ishiyama Station and Keihan Ishiyama-dera Station. Hours: 8:00 am – 4:30 pm (enter by 4 pm), Temple admission: 500 yen Google Map
Sakamoto Bonbaiten, Otsu 坂本盆梅展
I’ve never seen this, but it looks worthwhile. About 50 small and medium-size plum blossom bonsai trees are exhibited in the noted garden of Kyu-Chikurin-in (旧竹林院) in the temple town of Sakamoto. Near Sakamoto Station on the Keihan Ishiyama-Sakamoto Line. Peak period is from mid- to late Feb. Until March 3, 2013. Hours: 9 am – 5 pm (enter by 4:30 pm), Admission: 310 yen (150 yen for kids) Google Map
Facebook is the most popular Internet service I’ve ever seen. In the United States, a staggering 7 out of 10 Internet users are on Facebook. Despite the enormous popularity, I have declined to create a Facebook page for shiga-ken.com even though I’m an active FB user.
Here are my reasons:
The main attraction of Facebook is the quick feedback and interactivity you can get from posts. Eliciting comments and likes from friends can be addictive. It’s also extremely easy to post on FB. Much easier than posting on a blog. But in the long run, a blog is better than FB because I can have complete control, ownership, and archival capability of my content. Content that anyone on the Internet can see or subscribe to. I’m not at the mercy of Facebook which can change its terms and conditions or system at any time. Facebook is a great way to keep in touch with my best friends, especially in times of emergency. That’s about it.
Went to see sumo on January 25, 2013, the 13th day of the New Year’s sumo tournament at the Kokugikan sumo arena in Tokyo. I finally saw Nionoumi (鳰の湖), Shiga’s only sekitori (a sumo wrestler in the second-highest Juryo or highest Makunouchi/Makuuchi Division).
It’s been two years since Nionoumi (pronounced Nio-no-umi) first made it to the Juryo Division. He has since been going down and up in the ranks. At this month’s New Year’s tournament in Tokyo, he ended with a decent 8 wins and 7 losses. Since he was already ranked at the bottom of the Juryo Division, it looks like he will retain his rank or be slightly promoted in Juryo for the next tourney in March in Osaka.
This is good news. The difference between Juryo and the lower Makushita Division is huge. There used to always be a Shiga sumo wrestler in the top Makunouchi Division, but not anymore. At least we got one in Juryo who will hopefully get back up to Makunouchi.
Born in 1986 as Shinji Tanaka (田中 真二), Nionoumi is from Otsu and a graduate of Ojiyama Junior High School. He practiced judo as a child and became quite formidable, becoming one of the top 16 junior high school finalists in a national judo tournament. After graduating from junior high school, he entered Kitanoumi Stable run by former Yokozuna Kitanoumi (one of the greatest yokozuna ever) and current chairman of the Japan Sumo Association. Nionoumi made his sumo debut in March 2002. At 175 cm and 148 kg, he’s kind of small for a sumo wrestler and looks somewhat stocky.
His ring name “Nionoumi” means, “Lake of Little Grebes.” This is Lake Biwa’s nickname which stems from the lake’s numerous water fowl including the Little Grebe which is Shiga’s official bird. I think it’s a great ring name. It also retains part of his stablemaster’s ring name of Kitanoumi (Lake of the North 北の湖) which refers to scenic Lake Toya in Hokkaido where Kitanoumi grew up and has his Yokozuna Kitanoumi Memorial Hall museum.
Nionoumi (right) is pushed out by Oiwato on Jan. 25, 2013, the tournament’s 13th day. Video of this bout: http://youtu.be/VPxD8mbxgDk
Nionoumi was first promoted to Juryo in Jan. 2011. But his Juryo debut ended disastrously with 5 wins and 10 losses and he was demoted back to Makushita. After two tourneys in Makushita, he climbed back up to Juryo in Sept. 2011. In Jan. 2012, he even made it to the top Makunouchi/Makuuchi Division as Maegashira No. 16. Unfortunately, his Makunouchi debut ended terribly with 5 wins and 10 losses which demoted him back to Juryo. He has since been struggling in Juryo. Let’s hope that he will keep winning in 2013.
Meanwhile, we have three other sumo wrestlers from Shiga in the lower sumo divisions. In Sandanme, there’s Koryuyama (b. 1979 甲龍山) from Koka and Naniwaryu (b. 1982 浪花竜) from Otsu. And in Jonidan, Tomonofuji (b. 1977 智ノ富士) from Ritto. Although they are already in their 30s (which is quite old for a sumo wrestler), good luck to them as well.
Links: Nionoumi Bio | Koryuyama Bio | Naniwaryu Bio | Tomonofuji Bio
Koryuyama (right) is quickly defeated by Tamanotaka (left) on Jan. 25, 2013, the tournament’s 13th day.
Naniwaryu (right) is pushed out by Nishiyama on Jan. 25, 2013, the tournament’s 13th day.
Video link: http://youtu.be/n-SfD9DFxOg
This is my cutest video of Shiga so far. I have three Japanese kids from Shiga who appear as my English reporters in this video of Katsube Shrine Fire Festival held on Jan. 12, 2013. The youngest one is age 4.
All three kids are studying English and were eager to speak English as they witnessed the festival. Although I coached their English on the spot, it’s mostly unrehearsed and they were free to say anything in English. I want the kids (and parents) to discover/rediscover and experience their hometowns and become proud and proficient enough to tell other people about it. As you will see, it’s a lot more interesting (and cute) to have ordinary local folks introduce their towns rather than foreigners (including myself) or professional reporters.
Until now, I’ve never had any narrators or reporters in my video clips of Japan. I don’t ever appear or narrate my videos either since I don’t want to divert any attention to me. The kids enjoyed it and want to do it again along with a bunch of their friends (and other parents). If you know of any kids who are studying English and willing to appear in my videos, let me know. This is a totally voluntary and non-profit project.
More photos of Katsube Shrine Fire Festival: http://photoguide.jp/pix/thumbnails.php?album=190
Click on image to see more photos of this island.
This is an island in the Seto Inland Sea in Yamaguchi Prefecture. When seeing this kanji name (大津島), those of us in Shiga cannot help but to call this island “Otsushima.” However, it is actually called, “Ozushima” (おおづしま). Not only that, on the map’s upper left, you can see a place called 近江. Again, we in Shiga would call it “Omi.” But it is actually “Chikae.” Wow, very interesting. I thought that this island must have some connection with Shiga Prefecture, but I was told that there was no connection.
Ozushima is a short boat ride from Tokuyama Port near JR Tokuyama Station. I visited in fall 2012 and the main attraction is the Kaiten human torpedo museum and the training facility that still exists. The kaiten went on suicide missions with manned torpedos hitting ships. It’s sad story of 105 men who died driving a kaiten. More photos of Ozushima here.
This has become an “I told you so” story. People who were opposed to Kada joining hands with Ichiro Ozawa must be repeating this a lot.
Most of us can recognize that Governor Kada had good intentions for Shiga from the start, and that she was only victimized by a expert political manipulator and an overwhelming political machine. Her opponents view her as neglecting her gubernatorial duties and seeking national attention.
On Jan. 4, 2013, the first work day, Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada announced that she was resigning from her Tomorrow Party of Japan (Mirai no To) political party that she and Ichiro Ozawa formed a little over a month ago.
Ozawa has enhanced his reputation as a political party “destroyer.” This goes to show that politicians mainly care about themselves and the huge government subsidies (over 800 million yen to Ozawa’s party) given to political parties rather than the people and the country. They spend much time and thought on how to get ahead politically, how to increase their numbers, and then if they have time, they might think about us.
Tomorrow Party of Japan’s Diet numbers shrank from 61 seats to only 9. When the party was formed, Ozawa told Gov. Kada that they would secure 100 seats. He lied, and Kada now reflects that she shouldn’t have believed him. One thing for sure, Ozawa’s political influence is on the decline even though he got re-elected.
Basically, the Ozawa camp were unable to manipulate Kada as the party head. They thought she could be their puppet. But when they found that she had her righteous ideals and could not be molded, they cut her off. They say that they split the party between Ozawa and Kada or that Ozawa left the party. Not really so. Ozawa ousted Governor Kada, took over the party (offices and infrastructure), changed the name, took almost all the Diet seat winners (thereby receiving a huge subsidy for political parties having at least 5 members) and left Kada with only the party’s old name and one Diet seat.
Related news articles:
Nippon Mirai breaks up as Ozawa, allies veer off
Ozawa, Diet cohorts keep party, subsidy, leave Shiga Gov. Kada with Nippon Mirai name only
Kada rues falling for Ozawa’s 100-seat victory overture
Governor Kada on NHK TV national news.
What seemed to be totally out of the blue, our Shiga Governor Yukiko Kada has formed a new political party called Nippon Mirai no To (日本未来の党) which means “Party for Japan’s Future.” (Most English news media are translating it as “Japan Future Party” even though there is no official English name as of this writing.) At a press conference on Nov. 27, 2012, she announced the formation of her new party with the primary goal of abolishing nuclear power in Japan in 10 years.
A good number of minor political parties have already joined hands with Governor Kada’s new party, including those led by former political kingpin Ichiro Ozawa and Shizuka Kamei. This news is still breaking, but they have already counted 70 people lining up to be members of the new party. The party is aiming to field 100 candidates in the upcoming elections on Dec. 16 and become the real “third choice or force” in Japan’s national government, something which Osaka Mayor Toru Hashimoto’s Nippon Ishin Party wants to be vis-a-vis the ruling Democratic Party of Japan and Liberal Democratic Party.
The formation of the new party was actually in planning for weeks if not months, pushed mainly by Ichiro Ozawa who seems to be making his last stand in Japanese politics. This explains the sudden and almost simultaneous agreement among the other parties to disband and join Kada’s party. Ozawa has a history of quitting a party when there was disagreement and forming or joining a new one.
Overnight, Governor Kada has become a national figure with her name and new party making front-page news in Japan. She is now being hounded by the press in Otsu. Unlike Shintaro Ishihara who recently quit his job as Tokyo governor to form a new political party (Sunrise Party or Taiyo no To which later merged with Toru Hashimoto’s party), Governor Kada plans to remain governor of Shiga and act as the new party’s chief without running for a Diet seat.
Governor Kada was spurred to form a new party after learning that many voters did not like any of the major parties. Toru Hashimoto’s promising new party withdrew its initial stance of abolishing nuclear power after pro-nuclear Shintaro Ishihara joined Hashimoto’s party and received a leadership role. Many minor parties opposed to Hashimoto are riding on Governor Kada’s coattails, attracted by her fresh and clean image and her sincere motivation of protecting Lake Biwa from nuclear accidents. Neighboring Fukui Prefecture has the highest concentration of nuclear power plants in Japan.
Governor Kada’s timetable for phasing out nuclear power in 10 years.
With the lackluster Democratic Party of Japan struggling to secure votes in the next election, opposition parties smell blood and they are all coming out of the woodwork and jumping at the chance of wrestling power and votes away from the ruling coalition. We have a plethora of large and small political parties in the midst of what I call a Warring Political Parties Era. Since the smaller parties have no chance of gaining clout, they are allying themselves.
However, the problem is that most political parties in Japan have always been and still is fragmented, factional, and short-lived. Even if Governor Kada succeeds in gathering enough little parties, it will inevitably and eventually struggle with internal policy differences between the little groups. This also occurs in the larger parties. Parties and politicians also keep changing their positions. Hashimoto’s about-face regarding nuclear power was very disappointing and put a damper on his party’s prospects of revolutionizing Japan’s government. It has become apparent that he has put priority on party size and unity rather than on policy. And Shintaro Ishihara abandoned the Tokyo governorship to form a new party only to soon disband and join Hashimoto. Politicians are basically just puppets of the bureaucrats who really run the government.
Ichiro Ozawa meets with Governor Kada in early Dec.
The fact that Ichiro Ozawa and Shizuka Kamei will be in Governor Kada’s new party doesn’t bode well for many of my friends in Shiga. Although the new party is saying that Ozawa will have no formal leadership role or title in the new party, we cannot ignore the fact that he will be bringing 48 Lower House members from his disbanded party to Kada’s new party. It is all but certain that his group in the new party will be the largest, and thus have the most influence. Governor Kada, citing her inexperience and Ozawa’s long experience in national politics, has also said that she will be seeking Ozawa’s advice. Ozawa certainly does not need a formal title or position in the party to wield his influence behind the scenes. Within a few days of the announcement of the new party, he already has close aids as the new party’s deputy leader and accountant. Tetsunari Iida, who was appointed by Governor Kada as the new party’s acting leader, has been demoted to deputy leader.
We wonder whether Governor Kada can keep these political heavyweights in line and whether she can effectively work as governor of Shiga while she heads her new party. Or whether she will only be a figurehead while Ozawa pulls the real strings. Governor Kada is starting to look like that she does not have the time, experience, and expertise in managing a new political party and will have to depend on Ozawa quite a bit. Ozawa knew this all along. Ozawa is turning out to be a very clever manipulator, using Kada as a front for his political gain.
On Nov. 28, 2012, the head of the Shiga Prefectural Assembly, Takanori Sano, asked Governor Kada to resign the governorship if she decides to continue being the head of her new party. He said that it would be difficult to work as both governor and party leader. The Governor declined to offer her resignation saying that her policies on nuclear power and child-rearing would not otherwise be heard at the national level.
Meanwhile, the DPJ, LDP, and Hashimoto are all understandably deriding Kada’s new party. All they need is another major force that can take away votes and influence. I’m disappointed that Hashimoto and Governor Kada cannot work together since they are from the same region of Japan where the nuclear power issue is very important. Shiga supplies water to Osaka via Lake Biwa which is vulnerable to radiation contamination by a nuclear disaster in Fukui.
With her sudden national prominence and fresh new face, I wouldn’t be surprised if Governor Kada pursues a career in national politics after her governorship ends, culminating as a Cabinet minister or even prime minister. This is not unprecedented. Masayoshi Takemura, who was Shiga governor during 1974-1986, was Japan’s Finance Minister in the mid-1990s.
Good luck to Governor Kada. (Nippon Mirai Party official site: http://www.nippon-mirai.jp)
Related articles:
http://mainichi.jp/english/english/newsselect/news/20121130p2a00m0na012000c.html
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T121128004551.htm
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20121128a1.html
Eye-catching outdoor art at Seian Univ. of Art and Design. They are gazing at Lake Biwa.
I recently visited Seian University of Art and Design in western Otsu (near Ogoto Onsen Station on the JR Kosei Line) for the first time. (In Japanese. the university is called Seian Zokei Daigaku 成安造形大学.) I was impressed with their slogan of being an ”Art Museum on Campus.”
It is indeed like an art museum with numerous galleries on campus open to the public. I visited of few of the galleries and found out that the university holds a major art exhibition in spring and fall. Right now, painter Brian Williams is showing at the university’s Gallery Art Site until Dec. 1, 2012. Most of the time, the galleries show work by the students. They undergo a screening to get an exhibition slot, so you can bet that the quality is high.
When you arrive at the university, get a campus map of the galleries. There are a few outdoor pieces as well (see photos).
Outdoor art at Seian Univ. of Art and Design. Cafeteria Yui (made of scrap wood) is nearby.
One of the galleries at Seian University of Art and Design. This is sculpture by Hiromu Okuda (奥田博士), a Shiga-born artist
Seian University of Art and Design is Shiga’s sole art university. It’s a small university with about 800 students or 200 students per class from freshman to senior. It offers five programs/faculties and over half of the students belong to the Illustration Program (includes manga). Not so many belong to the FIne Art Program (painting, sculpture, etc.).
They also accept and have a small number of international students, mostly from Asian countries (one is an American from Chicago). International students must be conversant in Japanese. They undergo an interview in Japanese and the university decides whether their Japanese is good enough. They don’t need to take/pass a Japanese proficiency test nor be proficient at reading/writing Japanese.
The university also strives to take an active part in the local community and be an active contributor to the local community. For example, they recently published a well-illustrated brochure created by students to introduce eateries along the Kosei train line near the university.
The university also has a pleasant cafeteria called “Yui” near the lake shore where you can have lunch. The campus is lucky to have views of Lake Biwa. I wish all the students at Seian University of Art and Design the best for a bright career. Web site: http://www.seian.ac.jp/ Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/pEOdj
