Sunday morning drive in Kyushu, Japan…

My first sumo match and I’m hooked! I hope to go back again and watch with a little more understanding… : ) I love the fact that Japan is steeped in tradition and traditional activities. I feel as though I can view history first-hand.

“Constructed by Saga businessman Itami Yataro over a nine-year period from 1892, this garden incorporates the natural beauty of the surrounding landscape and bursts into beautiful color in the fall.” Bursting into beautiful color is an understatement for Kunen-an and the nearby Niiyama Shrine. This area is only open for 9 days each year and I was fortunate to be able to go. I headed that way about 5 in the morning because I didn’t know how long it would take to get there-it was about 2 hours. It isn’t the distance, but the less than 32 mph, that makes up the trip. I do miss driving fast on occasions. I do plan on posting an album of photographs in my gallery, so please check when you have time.

The Saga Balloon Festival is this weekend plus Monday and Tuesday. Saturday was nice even though I didn’t spend much time there. I went back Sunday morning, but it started to rain, so back home I went. It was fun while it lasted. I did get some okonomiyaki and some sweet potato fries…I hope to make it back Monday or Tuesday night for the balloon glow.

Driving around Kyushu today, we found high country plains. I’m not sure that is the exact or proper term, but it was like being in a different part of the world. It was one of those places that I just happened upon and parts of the roads don’t register with my GPS. THAT can be a little disconcerning…lol But on the way up and down, a lot of people were out on this holiday, for both Americans and Japanese, harvesting rice. The rice is turning a beautiful shade of gold. I came across a lady working and I asked her if I could take her picture, and at first she was no, no, no. Then she started working so I could take some pics. That was great. And in the way it seems to happen on Japanese roads. I ended up at the first place I turned off from the highway.

Swimming in rice

Every year in Hasami, Japan, the area puts together a Scarecrow Festival. They can be about anything from traditional to political. The one of the swimmer has been there several years and is one of my favorites. This year there was a “crow” about swine flu and Michael Jackson. Last year they had an Olympic gymnast and newscasters. Driving up the mountain you are likely to encounter people working-to close to the street for me, then you realize that they are all apart of the displays! So if you are near Hasami during the first part of October be sure to come check out this fun event.

Young Japanese dancer

There was a festival at a local temple and there were men sculpting in ice. It was amazing what they could do with a saw and some time. As the evening progressed, women dressed in traditional clothing appeared onstage and started dancing. It was mesmerizing! While I couldn’t understand the Japanese, it was easy to see the stories unfold with each dance. Then this very young girl came out to dance. I was enthralled with the pose and practice that she displayed on stage. What dedication she must have to preserving traditions. It made me think about what traditions I need to preserve. All in all, it was a fabulous evening!

Kabuto

This is a small sample of the 4,900 kabuto students and teachers folded to honor the fallen in OPeration Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Koi Nobori

 TANGU NO SEKKU or Children’s Day started out as Boy’s Day. This is celebrated on May 5th. It is to promote respect for children and for children to appreciate the care that they receive.

You will see many of these koi nobori flying on tall bamboo poles from the middle of April through May. I have come to love how they look especially when the wind picks them up and you can imagine they are koi swimming upstream to become dragons. Koi has come to symbolize strength, energy and power.

This is a part of Golden Week, a week strung together by different national holidays. Around here, it means shopping in the pottery towns. Good deals are to be found all over!

After moving to Japan, I felt like I missed lots of interesting shots and started taking my camera everywhere. I think I surprised people on those occasions where I don’t have a camera in hand. I keep a point and shoot handy to document myself at different places or events, but it’s my daughter who is the queen of selfies. Or is it selfees? I suppose that will be a new dictionary term soon, so then I will know how to spell it correctly. lol