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The course of a matsuri The sacred ceremony A matsuri generally takes place in two parts : the sacred part where the priest or the higher priestess, gûji sama, invokes the divinity by incantations and asks her to "descend" into the relic of the sanctuary, the physical incarnation of the kami , that the guji sama will place in the main mikoshi that it will seal. This sacred ceremony takes place "behind closed doors", inside the sanctuary ( honden ), where the relic of the kami is deposited. Only members of the sanctuary and a few personalities can attend these rituals. Access to the honden is still prohibited to the public. This very ritualized sacred ceremony is followed by the procession of mikoshi , a popular festivity imbued with dynamism and gaiety where the sacred character of the festival is sometimes difficult to detect ... Mikoshi carriers The mikoshi bearers are generally divided into three groups : the members of the sanctuary, sometimes dressed in white, a symbol of purity. Ordinary people , in general the inhabitants of the neighborhood, sometimes wearing a yukata and… the yakuza . Yes, these members of the Japanese mafia, usually excluded from Japanese society, are an integral part of these Shinto festivals. This is explained by the fact that those who run the stands during the festival were hawkers placed under the authority of an oyabun (godfather / leader). Some of them could wear the mikoshi. This corporation gradually developed into a mafia and the yakuza did not want to lose the role they had during these festivals. In the parties where they have always participated, they are accepted de facto. We recognize them by their tattoos, which they can proudly show off during the party. Formerly, only men (women, considered impure, were excluded although in antiquity shaman priestesses were venerated!) From the shrine district had the right to carry mikoshi or to pull chariots. Little by little, women were accepted. Nowadays, with the depopulation of the countryside, the number of young people and modern entertainment, some villages or neighborhoods lack participants and accept or even ask for the participation of people from outside. Sometimes you can even see foreigners wearing the mikoshi. They are generally residents. The mikoshi procession Guided by a sumptuously dressed Shinto priest who waves his sacred pine branch ( sasaki ) to bless the neighborhood, mikoshi bearers parade through the streets to the sound of traditional Japanese instruments such as the taiko (Japanese drum) or the flute. Sometimes they are accompanied by dancers and are always followed by residents of the neighborhood or anyone wishing to join the procession. The parade of mikoshi and / or floats passes through the streets of the city to ask the deities to bring their blessing to the inhabitants but also to entertain them and show them their neighborhood. This is why the "divine palanquins" are, during the procession, sometimes strongly agitated from top to bottom and from left to right: we want to amuse the gods and show them the fervor of their faithful. All this under the very dynamic "song" of “Oissa! Oissa! ” or others "Washoï, washoï". The procession ends in front of the shrine, with redoubled energy to shake the portable temples. During well-deserved breaks, local shops and restaurants offer mikoshi carriers drinks and snacks. At the end of the party, each porter receives a small gift: fruit, cakes ...

On an average year in Koenji, a neighborhood on the west side of Tokyo known for its bohemian vibes, late August sees dozens of dance troupes flood the streets as they pound taiko drums, wave their arms and parade down the town’s main concourses in a two-day frenzy. Based on a centuries-old summer festival from Tokushima Prefecture, this matsuri is known as the Koenji Awa Odori, and the commotion draws about 1 million visitors, making it one of the capital’s largest summer festivals. On an average year, that is. Of course, the years between 2020 and 2022 were anything but average. Starting in 2020, the Koenji Awa Odori was canceled for three summers in a row because of the COVID-19 pandemic — the first full-scale cancellations in the festival’s history, which dates back to 1957. Now, the first Koenji Awa Odori since 2019 is set to take place this weekend. To learn about the effect of that four-year gap and to see how preparations for the 2023 edition were progressing, I spoke to several people involved in the festival in the weeks leading up to the main event. Inheriting a festival Takeyuki Tomizawa, executive director of the Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Promotion Association, which oversees the festival, was born into the Koenji Awa Odori tradition: His parents were shop owners on Koenji’s Pal shopping street, which initially brought the summer festival to Koenji as a way to boost summertime sales. “In those days, only people from the shopping street were allowed to dance, and children of shop owners were forced to participate whether they wanted to or not — I hated it!” says Tomizawa with a laugh. Awa was the name of a province on the eastern edge of Shikoku (present-day Tokushima Prefecture), and “odori” is the Japanese word for “dance.” The Awa odori ren (dance troupes) typically dance in a two-step rhythm called zomeki. Women wear large, pointed straw hats and dance on their tiptoes in wooden clogs with their arms waving in the air, while men take a crouched position, sometimes wielding uchiwa (fans) or chōchin (lanterns). They’re followed by the hayashi, or instrument section, which features thundering taiko, gongs, shamisen and flutes. For the inaugural version of the festival in 1957 (in which Tomizawa’s mother danced) Koenji shop owners chose Tokushima’s Awa odori not because of any particular ties to the region, but because unlike other summer festivals, which require bulky mikoshi (portable shrines) or giant nebuta (floats), the Awa odori could be danced with ease down Koenji’s narrow streets. “I think the close proximity between the dancers and the audience is still one of the biggest factors in the appeal of the Koenji Awa Odori,” Tomizawa says. “Both groups feed off each other’s energy, and spectators get fully enveloped in a shower of sound.” Because no one in Koenji had actual Awa odori experience, the initial years of the festival didn’t look much like the Tokushima original, but it slowly came to resemble the real thing as the years went on. The celebration also expanded in scope, with several other Koenji shopping streets joining in on the action. As the festival grew, so did management challenges, like dealing with the large amount of garbage left in the event’s wake. Tomizawa, now a recent university graduate working at his parents’ shop (and having recovered from his childhood hate of the festival), was drawn into festival management thanks to owning a certain item. “Before PCs were common, I had an early word processor, so shop owners would come ask me to make flyers and other documents,” he says. “That got me more involved with festival operations.” By the early 2000s, the festival was beset with organizational issues, says Tomizawa: the ren were linked up in a haphazard way with no one thinking about the festival’s overall budget. Festival leaders decided to turn the Tokyo Koenji Awa Odori Promotion Association into a dedicated nonprofit to handle such issues, headquartering the new NPO on the same shopping street where he had grown up. Tomizawa, having long recovered from his childhood hate of the festival, became executive director in 2011, the year of the Great East Japan Earthquake, when the festival’s start time was pushed up by two hours in the face of power-saving measures. That (plus torrential rains which forced the cancellation of one of the festival’s two days in 2001) was the closest thing to a full-scale stop in the 60-plus-year history of the festival — until 2020.

My pet golden knee tarantula building his house. #arachnid #exoticpets #tarantulalovers #spidersofinstagram #nature #tarantulaofinstagram #tarantula #tarantulasofig #photography #tarantulasoftheworld #spidersoftheworld #tarantulakeeper #macro #tarantulas #gang #tarantulaworld #tarantulapet #legs #spiders #vogelspinnen #vogelspinne #arachnidsofinstagram #arachnids #arachnophobia #tarantulalove #fang #tarantulasofinstagram #spider #worldwide #theraphosidae

Walking through the grounds of a small temple in Ueno Park.

Water lotuses are a beautiful fragrant flower with exotic foliage that steals the spotlight of any pond. They are exotic, majestic, and dramatic and have a deep history beyond its beauty. The meaning and symbolism of the lotus is rich and stems from three major groups: the ancient Egyptians, the Buddhists, and Hinduism. The Lotus is a plant that belongs to the Nelumbo genus, and it has been connected with purity, rebirth and divinity. The lotus flower symbolizes rising from a dark place into beauty and rebirth, as this is precisely how a lotus flower grows. Lotus flowers bloom directly out of muddy and murky waters and produce beautiful colored blossoms. What is prominent about the lotus is that although it often grows in mud, and returns within it at night, it always blooms clean the following day, which makes it a great element to use for a metaphor. Due to how its grown, the lotus flower has come to be associated with purity and beauty in the religions of Buddhism and Hinduism, respectively. The ancient Egyptians saw that at night the lotus closed its flowers and sank into the water and opened up in the light hours. They came to associate the flower with rebirth and the sun. Fun fact: the Lotus slowly emerges from a pond over a three day period and then blooms in the morning until mid-afternoon. In Buddhism, the lotus is associated with purity, spiritual awakening, and faithfulness. The flower is considered pure as it is able to emerge from murky waters in the morning and be perfectly clean. It is also known to symbolize purity of speech, of the body, and of the mind. The breaking of the surface every morning is suggestive of desire, which leads to it being associated with spiritual enlightenment. A main line of thought in Buddhism is that a person’s path in life is similar to that of the lotus. Starting at the seed stage, early in the karmic cycle, through to the bud emerging from the dirty water, representing a person following the path of spirituality and leaving attachment behind, and finally blossoming, this is when a person has become fully awakened and has achieved nirvana. There are a variety of colors of lotuses that are connected to different aspects of Buddhism: The blue lotus flower is associated with a victory of the spirit over that of wisdom, intelligence and knowledge. The white lotus flower is known to symbolize Bodhi (being awakened), and represents a state of mental purity, and that of spiritual perfection; it is also associated with the pacification of one’s nature. This lotus is considered to be the womb of the world. The purple lotus is known to be mystic and is associated with esoteric sects. It can be shown depicted as either an open flower or as a bud. The eight petals of the purple lotus are representative of the noble eightfold path; one of the principal teachings of the Buddha. Following this path is thought to lead to self-awakening, and is considered one of the noble truths. The pink lotus flower is the supreme lotus and is considered to be the true lotus of Buddha. The red lotus is related to the heart and the meaning is associated with that of love and compassion. Hinduism has similar symbolism but also carries different meaning associated with the lotus. Hinduism equates the lotus with beauty, fertility, prosperity, spirituality, and eternity. The most common lotus seen in Hinduism is the white lotus flower. However, the pink lotus flower is considered to be the most divine and only awarded to those of the highest standing. Many of the gods and goddesses of Hinduism are linked to the flower, like the goddess of prosperity, Laxmi, is usually portrayed as being seated on a fully opened lotus flower. Similarly Brahma, the god of creation, is shown as emerging from a lotus that crawls from the naval of the sustainer Lord Vishnu. The lotus is considered to represent a wise and spiritually enlightened quality in a person and is representative of a person who carries out their tasks with little concern for any reward and with a full freedom from attachment, similar to the Buddhist thought. It is fascinating how the open flower and the unopened lotus bud forms are associated with human traits. The unopened bud is symbolic of a folded soul that has the ability to unfold and open itself up to the divine truth or become awakened to the spiritual reality. #uenopark #shinobazupond #waterlotus

Listening to the sounds of Japanese summer in Ueno, Tokyo.

5 Main Types of Sushi Nigiri A topping, usually fish, served on top of sushi rice Not all nigiri is raw, though this dish is best for people who want to appreciate the flavor of the fish, shellfish, or other toppings Sashimi Fish or shellfish served alone (no rice) This is best for people who really love to taste the fish or shellfish since it comes with nothing else Maki Rice and filling wrapped in seaweed This is what most people think of when they think of sushi rolls Uramaki Similar to the above, but rice is on the outside and seaweed wraps around the filling These rolls often have lots of toppings and sauces — they may either be cooked or raw Temaki Sushi that has been hand-rolled into a cone shape The cones are not as easy to share as the rolls (though very delicious!)

Japan’s famous cherry blossom festival season begins around the end of March and lasts for approximately 2 weeks, depending on location. Cherry trees can bloom right through until May the further north you travel, so dedicated sakura viewers can head north to enjoy even more sakura spotting. Top viewing spots like Maruyama Park, Mount Yoshino, Himeji Castle, and Fuji Five Lakes are some of the most atmospheric places in the world and are wonderful places to see the beautiful blooms. For those who would like to enjoy a more scaled-down celebration of spring, there are plenty of lesser-known viewing spots where visitors can picnic in peace. The aristocrats of days gone by often wrote poetry or painted pictures to celebrate the beauty of the cherry blossom. These days, viewings are more about eating, drinking, and coming together to celebrate the beginning of spring. Public parks, rivers, and other attractions where cherry trees are found will fill up with the smell of barbecue, food stalls, and the sound of celebrations during the season. So popular are the seasonal festivities, it can be hard to find a space in some of the more popular viewing locations.

Close to the Shinjuku area is an exciting change of scenery from the regular Tokyo spots: Shin-Okubo. Tokyo's 'Korean Town' is not just for those obsessed with the pretty faces of the Korean Pop world. Actually, the small but vibrant area in Shin-Okubo boasts a ton of street food, karaoke, markets, restaurants and bars that show off the South Korean vibe and way of life.

The vast landscape of Tokyo has some of the best skyline views in the world. On a clear day, you can see Mt. Fuji to the west and Tokyo Bay to the south, as well as plenty of unique buildings and towers. And at night, you'll feel as though you're looking out at a sea of stars. Don't miss the many breathtaking sights you can take in while looking at Tokyo from above. And make sure to take some pictures—they’d be great as your computer wallpaper or smartphone background! Best spots to see Tokyo city views If you want to catch a sweeping view of the Tokyo cityscape, one good option is to go up! In high-rise-heavy districts like Shinjuku and Shibuya, there are bars and restaurants situated near the tops of buildings where you can gaze out on the urban expanse. There are also many spots that are landmarks in their own right, and that offer fantastic views and fun attractions. A few examples: the VR experiences at the top of Ikebukuro Sunshine, the Mori Art Museum on the top floor of the Roppongi Hills Mori Tower. Tokyo Tower 333-meter-high Tokyo Tower, which was built in 1958, is still a landmark of Tokyo, as well as a symbol of Tokyo’s rebirth after World War II. The tower, located on the hills of Tokyo, has two observation decks which provide extensive views across the city. You can take the elevator or walk up 600 steps to the main deck, located 150 meters above the ground. If you are lucky, on sunny days you can even catch a glimpse of Mt. Fuji rising in the distance. The top deck, at 250 meters, was renovated in 2018. TOKYO SKYTREE The tallest structure in Japan is the TOKYO SKYTREE! Located on the east side of Tokyo, it stands 634 meters tall. There are two observation platforms: the Tembo Deck (350 meters) and the Tembo Galleria (450 meters). Ikebukuro Sunshine Stimulate your senses with the views at the Sky Circus Sunshine 60 Observatory, up at the top of the Ikebukuro Sunshine tower. Not just a viewing platform, this 251-meter observatory has a series of interactive experiences, including a tunnel full of optical illusions and some cutting-edge VR setups. (Ikebukuro Sunshine also has tons of great food & shopping.) Roppongi Hills Mori Tower For an awesome spot right in the heart of Tokyo, check out the Tokyo City View’s outdoor observation deck called Sky Deck. This observation deck is on the roof top of Mori Tower and offers 360-degree views of the metropolitan landscape day and night. SHIBUYA SKY at SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE The area around Shibuya Station has undergone major redevelopment in recent years, and November 1, 2019 marked the grand opening of SHIBUYA SCRAMBLE SQUARE, an approximately 230 meter-tall large-scale complex (Shibuya's tallest!) topped with an observation area dubbed SHIBUYA SKY. It offers superb, panoramic views of Tokyo that include Shibuya Scramble Crossing, Tokyo Tower, TOKYO SKYTREE, and even Mt. Fuji. Free observation decks Tokyo has countless places to catch a beautiful view of the cityscape, but what if you don’t want to eat, shop or pay an entrance fee? What if you just want to take in awesome views for free? Plenty of buildings and complexes have free roof decks or observation platforms. Here are some great options. Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building Located in Shinjuku, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government Building offers great daytime views and the chance to see Mt. Fuji. You do need to go through a security check, but then it’s a quick elevator ride (from the 1st floor of Main Building No. 1) 202 meters above the ground. There is both a South Observation Deck and a North Observation Deck. Yebisu Garden Place Tower Located on the 38th floor of the fashionable Yebisu Garden Place complex, come here for both daytime and nighttime views, and stay for the great shopping and dining options. Visitors can even take part in beer tastings at the "Tasting Salon" inside the Museum of Yebisu Beer. Head to the top of the massive Caretta Shiodome commercial complex for panoramic views of Tokyo Bay and an assortment of cultural facilities, including a theater and the Ad Museum Tokyo, the only advertising museum in Japan. The 46th and 47th floors are also home to the Sky Restaurant, where you can enjoy a meal while gazing across Tokyo. (Not free, but a great restaurant to know about nonetheless!) Bunkyo Civic Center Observation Deck From the observation deck on the 25th floor of the Bunkyo Civic Center, you can see TOKYO SKYTREE. Visit in the autumn to see the changing leaves of the Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens. For something more low-key, try the “Sky Carrot” observation areas of the Carrot Tower, located in the Sangenjaya neighborhood, which is right next to Shibuya. Often overlooked for more famous observation decks, this spot is popular among young couples for its ambiance. And of course admission is free!

Gernot Rumpf (born April 17, 1941 in Kaiserslautern ) is a German sculptor and medalist . Rumpf is known above all for his fountains and sculptures with Palatinate and biblical motifs, which were not only found in German cities, but e.g. B. can also be seen in Jerusalem and Tokyo . Part of the work came about with the artistic participation of Rumpf's wife the sculptor Barbara Rumpf. Miyogadani Located two stops from the large centre of Ikebukuro, Myogadani Station is in a central location but serves the mainly residential area of Koishikawa and is seldom busy except at rush hour. Surrounding the station is a small commercial area with a few shops, supermarkets, izakayas and restaurants. It is close to several of Tokyo's universities, including Ochanomizu University and University of Tsukuba. It is also close to the Koishikawa Botanical Garden, which is affiliated with the University of Tokyo. The residential area just to the north of Kasuga-dori Avenue, on which the station is situated, is laden with parks and green belts, which is rare for such a central neighborhood.

Chiba Castle - 千葉城 , is located in Chiba City’s Inohana Park (亥鼻公園). It is also commonly known as “Inohana Castle“. Tsuneshige Chiba of the Chiba family built the castle in 1126. The Chiba Clan assisted Yoritomo Minamoto who wanted to become the first shogun in Japan. After many years of being useful to the shogunate, the Chiba Clan slowly lost their influence. In 1455 Makuwari Yasutane, who was a relative of the Chiba Family, attacked the castle. He took control of what was left, but abandoned the castle while keeping the name of Chiba. He built Motosakura Castle shortly after that.

Chiba Shrine The god of warding off evil spirits, familiarized by the "Myoken Festival" that has continued since the Heian period. The god of the North Star, Hokushin Myoken King, also known as "Ame-no-Mikoto Okami," is the main god enshrined, and is known to have power over the stars that lead people to good fate by removing "misfortunes" such as illness, accidents, and injuries. He is known among locals as "Myoken-sama," and worshipers come from, not only within the prefecture, but also from all over the country in the search of the power of good luck that eliminates evil. The shrine was founded in the year 1000 (Choho 2), when Taira no Tadatsune, a representative military commander of the mid-Heian Period, established and began maintaining the monastery. From the year 1127 (Taiji 2), the "Myoken Festival" was held without once being interrupted until the present day, and has been gaining deeper reverence and attention. This festival lasts for a week (August 16th to 22nd of every year) and is also called the "One Word Myoken Festival" due to the saying that when one wish is made during this time, it will surely be granted. The outstanding shrine is characterized by the rare multi-storied structure with a worship hall on both the 1st and 2nd floors. Although it was burnt down by an air raid during the war, it was later rebuilt and re-established in the Heisei Era. Chiba Tenjin Hall, which enshrines Sugawara no Michizane, the god of learning, is built on the shrine grounds, and sacred water could be taken at the Enju Well, a famous spiritual spring where one wish is said to be granted. The amulets are available throughout the year, including the ones used to prevent getting senile, are decorated with star crests such as the Sanko crest and Navagraha crest, both related to the deity of the North Star.