Archive for 'Lifestyle' Category

The last BlueTrain finishing its operation in March

The “Blue Trains” are  popular express trains  with sleeping berths that launched operation in 1958. Most of the Blue Train series have terminated services due to decrepitude or old systems. The only remaining in service is “Hokutosei”(/The Polar Star) that runs between Ueno  station in Tokyo and Sapporo station in Hokkaido. And Hokutosei, the Last Blue Train,  is terminating its service in this March 14th because of aging and the need for JR to rearrange its railroad tables and systems for the plans of  the upcoming bullet train services in Hokkaido.

A lot of railroad fans take travels using Hokutosei or take its photos  sparing the short and precious remaining days of the Blue Trains.

Tokyo Marathon 2015 held, with about 36,000 participants

“Tokyo Marathon 2015” was held on Feb.22 in Tokyo. (http://www.tokyo42195.org/2015en/)  That was the 9th of the annual events with about 36,000 participating runners.

The course covered some central parts of Tokyo starting at the front of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government building.  Iidabashi~Hibiya Park~Shinagawa(turinig point)~Ginza~Azumabashi(turning point)~Toyosu(the Tokyo fish market is moving in here)~Tokyo Bigsight.

The runner of the Marathon Men finished first was Endeshaw Negesse from Ethiopia with the time record of 02:05:59 and that of Marathon Women was Birhane Dibaba from Ethopia at 02:23:15.  The first runner of Marathon Wheelchair men was Kota Hokinoue from Japan at 01:30:21 and that of Marathon Wheelchair Women was  Wakako Tsuchida from Japan at 01:46:28. There were some other categories of marathons in the event, all of which were popular. More than 34,000 runners successfully finished the total courses.

The 20th anniversary of “1.17”,the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

This year we Japanese people commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Great hanshin-Awaji Earthquake on the January 17th.  In the damaged areas, municipalities hosted special commemorative ceremonies and private societies also hosted events sush as charity music conserts and so forth.  Kobe City, Nishinomiy City, Itami City and others in Hyogo Pref,  Osaka, Kyoto and other rigions and areas in the western part of Japan keep helping sufferers and their bereaved  families of the victims.  ( http://19950117hyogo.jp/other/),(http://www.city.kobe.lg.jp/foreign/index.html)

Children who were born in that year of disaster now have come of age this year. TV shows, dramas, articles and even personal blogs featuring this anniversary and related events are around. Though all the places and areas have miraculously recovered from the damages and rebuilt so well, we still retain the sadness and would keep consoling the souls of the victims and strive for improving the situations for even better.

 

 

“Ushiwaka-go” in Mount Kurama in Kyoto

A lot of people visited Kurama-dera temple on Mount Kurama for “hatsumode”,the first visit of the year in the fist couple of weeks of this year. 

Whai is quite unique to the visiting practice of this temple is that there is a funicular railroad that is 200m  long. The cable roalroad connects the Mountain Gate station and  Tahoto(two-storied pagoda) station on the mountain side which is as steep as 27 degree.

    

People who visit the temple use this cable car service and the car is called “Ushiwaka-go”. This name if from a historical hero. The temple is said to have been established in 770 and is on the top of the  Mount Kurama which is 584m high and located about 12km north of  the center of Kyoto City.  In 12th century  a boy called Ushiwakamaru who was a son of a powerful warrior who had lost and killed in a civil war and he was forced to live there to become a Buddhist monk by his father’s enemy. Ushiwakamaru, however, trained so hard to become a warrior to make an avenge for his father. There is a legend that he was so dedicated to efforts to be a strong  warrior, natural deities who lived in the mountain helped him trained him to become really strong. Later on, Ushiwakamaru changed his name and became Yoshitsune Minamoto, who was known as a great hero to lead troops to succeeded in completing his father’s avenge.  He was also a brother of  Yoritomo Minamoto, who established the Kamakura Shogunate, the first warrior- managing government of Japan in 1192.  Yoshistune was finally kiiled by Yoritomo and still is popular as a tragic hero.  The funicular car’s name is from Yoshitsune’s childhood name of Ushiwakamaru.

Miyu Koike’s fan event of the first visit to Meiji Shrine

A young female idol Miyu Koike, who has become popular especially due to a TV show called “God Tongue”(http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/god/), hosted a special fan- meeting event  of  the first visiting of the year to Meiji Shrine in Harajuku Tokyo on the Jan. 3rd.(http://koikemiyu.cm-ent.jp/)

She sings “Nakimushi Princess”(/Crybaby princess) that is the theme song of “Anime mashite”, a TV show of featuring anime information.(http://www.tv-tokyo.co.jp/anime/animemashite/index2.html) So, noe she is a popular singer and idol of subculture. This time she prayed at one of the most popular shinto shrine with a lot of  fans of hers for good luck fo the new year.

“Hatsu-uri”(the first sale) at Washimiya Shrine

The “Hatsu-uri”(the first sale of the year) of manga, anime related items was hosted at Washimiya Shrine in Kuki city Saitama Dec.31,2014 -Jan.3,2015. (http://www.wasimiya.org/hatsu/)

That Shinto shrine is well known as a setting of  a popular manga work “Raki-suta”(/LUCKY STAR) and relating items were sold. Special fortune-telling lotteries of the shrine featuring Raki-suta were available. Some other work’s related things were there as well. Local cafes and establishments provided special services for customers in style of collaboration with the first sale market of the subculture art works.   As a destination of “hatsu-mode”(the first visit to a Shinto shrine or a Buddhist temple of the year), that shrine is also quite popular and more than 500,000 people visited there on the new year’s holidays.

The 56 Japan Record Awards Grand Prix “R.Y.U.S.E.I” of J Soul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE(the third genereation)

The 56th Japan Record Awards ceremony was held today Dec.30th in Tokyo.(http://www.tbs.co.jp/recordaward/)  “R.Y.U.S.E.I.” of JSoul Brothers from EXILE TRIBE (/sandaime, the third generation) received the Grand prix. (http://www.jsoulb.jp/)

○The Best Rookie Singer Award/  Mariya Nishiuchi,  ○The Best Singer Award/ EXILE ATSUSHI,   ○The Special Singer Music Award/ Hiroshi Itsuki, ○The Special Film Theme Music Award/ “Anna and The Snow Queen”,  ○The Special Award/ “Youkai Watch”, ○The Best Album Award/ “TRAD” of Mariya Takeuchi, and some other wards ere given to excellent singers, composers, lyricists, and other music artists.

Tokyo Station celebrated its centennial anniversary

Tokyo Station, which is one of the symbols of Tokyo and Japanese modernization, in Chiyoda-ward Tokyo near the Imperial Palace, celebrated its centennial anniversary on this Dec.20th. (http://www.tokyostationcity.com/100years/)

At 9:40am on the 20th,  JR East (Japan Railroads East) started sell the 100th anniversary Suica, the IC passes but suspended  the event due to the too many people people rushing there.

However, two days later, JR east annnounced to sell them again so that everyone that wanted the passe can purchase it.  After the completion of the renewal construction of its building, that station has became even more popular and accepts huge number of visitors including tourists.

The Buzzwords of the Year 2014

The Buzzwords of the Year 2014 of U-Can were selected and  its award ceremony was held on Dec.1st. This year “Dameyo, dame, dame !”(/No, that is no good at all) which is a part of a dialogue of  a comedian group Nippon Erekiteru Rengo and “Colelctive self -defense” , which was  a hot subject in Japanese politics were selected, though the due rightholder, the current prime minster Abe of the latter refrained from receiving the award. Ten words including the above two becoming so popular this year  have been chosen as well. (http://singo.jiyu.co.jp/)

A blue cave illumination over Meguro River

Meguro River, which runs through Nakameguro area that is a sophisticated bustling district in Tokyo popular among young people, now has a special illumination service for the first time Nov.23-Dec.25.

In this service the the roads along the riverbank are all decorated with special blue lights all the course of about 500 m long. The illuminated areas look like fantastic  “Grotta Azzurra”, the Blue Cave on Capri Island in Italy.   Meguro River is very popular in spring for the cherry avenue along the river provides breathtaking beauty of  the cherry blossoms, So, this time Pink in spring and blue in late autumn-early winter can make a coloful contrast to make visitors there relaxed and comfortable.

Washi, the traditional Japanese paper officially registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cutural property

Washi, the traditional Japanese paper, and its crafting techniques  were officially registered as a UNESCO’s Intangible Cutural Property at its committee meeting in Paris France on Nov.27th. As I wrote those were recommended last month here, they have been formally designated this time.

An artisan of washi, Mr. Nobushige Akiyama held special demonstrations of washi-making in Italy as a part of cross-cultural activities on Nov.29th.  Italy has a long history of making artisan-based paper as well. This time’s designation is expected to hugely expand general recognition and interest of washi and paper culture in the international  community.

4,029 people received decorations on the Culture Day

Nov.3rd is the Culture Day, and  4,029 people including some foreigners who were considered to have made a huge contribution to the Japanese society or nation were conferred of decorations by the emperor. Some of them are such as,  Kirin Kiki,an popular actor, Yuzo Kayama, a famous singer, actor,and lylicist, and  Sumitaiyu Takemoto, a great master pappeteer of Bunraku, the traditional Japanese pappet theater.    

Washi, Japanese-style paper recommended intangible cultural heritage

Agency for Cultural Affairs  anounced washi(Japanese-style paper) and its traditional manual making techniques were recommended as a World Intangible Cutural Heritage by the affiliated organization to UNESCO on this 28th.(http://www.bunka.go.jp/english/index.html)

 

There has been no case that recommended item be turned down at the official process of UNESCO ,and  washi and related techniques are highly expected to be listed on the heritages of UNESCO at the coming inter-governmental committee  at  the headquarters in Paris on the Nov.24th.

The handmade washi and its culture are traditional items since the 8th century and there have been some different schools and approaches. This time three schools of  Sekishu-banshi from Hamada City in Shimane Pref., Honmino-shi from Mino City in Gifu Pref., and Hosokawa-shi from Ogawa Town and Higashi-chichibu Village in Saitama Pref.  have been recommended. Sekishu-banshi was registered as a heritage in 2009 but Honmino-shi was not because it was regarded  quite similar to Sekishu-shi method, Therefore, this time all of the three were re-applied as “washi” as a whole.  The mayor and civil- servants of Ogawa Town expressed their joy in jumping  upon receiving the notice of the recommendation.

KIRARITO GINZA opened on 30th

A new commericial complex ,”KIRARITO GINZA”(a gleam in Ginza) opened this 30th in 1st block in Ginza, Tokyo.(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/)(http://www.kirarito-ginza.jp/pdf/language.pdf)

The  building is 66m high and has 12 floors, each of which include first-rate stores, restanrants,and  other establishments of totally 52. The basic concept is a bright shiny space like  diamonds and the “brilliant life” image is adopted.  jewelry stores, clothes shops, and even a wedding hall are there.

 

 

Ding Tai Fung, a  popular Taiwanese restraunt chain which was selected one of the top 10 restaurants of the world by New York Times, opened a branch in the new complex and only there special xialongbao(Chinese soup dumplings) whose primary ingredient is truffles are served in Japan. (http://d.rt-c.co.jp/ginza/)

Visit Japan Travel Mart and JATA Toursim EXPO Japan 2014

Two huge international travel marts were held at Tokyo Bigsight in Tokyo. One was “Visit Japan Travel Mart 2014″(Sep.24-26)(http://www.vjtm.jp/) and the other was “JATA Toursim EXPO Japan2014″(Sep.25-28)(http://t-expo.jp/en/index.html).  

More than 310 foriegn buyers and about 390 Japanese sellers joined VJTM2014 and had passionate exchanges of information and ideas and hosted busines seccions.  Buyers from Asian countries were especially a lot and about the half of the Japanese sellers were municipalities or relating associations of such local governments.

On the other hand,  a lot of domestic and foreign sellers and buysers joined  JATA Tourism EXPO Japan 2014. Such participants were embassies, tourism bureaus, travel agents, food companies, municipalities, railroads, airlines, hotels. universities, guide associations and so forth.  The main targets were end users of travel services and a lot of  lay Japanese people visited there and the total number was 157,589.  Upon the opening of the event, an ward ceremony  of  good  services and efforts of related promotions was hosted and the Best Tourism Award was given to The Tourism Authority of Thailand and Embassy awards were for  Thailand and Mexico, the best transporatation award was for Japan Railways East, the domestic inbound award was for  the tourism department of Tokyo Metropolis, the publicity award was for a TV show of CXTV, and the chairperson special award was for Okinawa Convention Bureau. (http://t-expo.jp/en/program/cms.html)   I personally visited the two big events and collected a lot of interesting information and exchanged ideas with the participants, some of whom were my friends or those I sometimes work with. I enjoyed the delicious food provided by tourism- related restaurants and local specialities and impressed by the greatly enthusiastic atmosphere of energies of the expos as well.