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Plum Blossoms, Green Tea, and Pretty Geisha – Ume Matsuri in Kyoto

Thursday, March 3rd, 2011

To celebrate plum blossoms and Tenjin-sama, the god of learning, a festival is held at Kitano Tenmangu Shrine in Kyoto where geisha serve visitors matcha green tea.

Since it was my birthday I thought I would have tea with those geisha as one does.

Kitano Tenmangu Shrine is a beautiful shrine especially during Plum Blossom season and when the geisha come but it hides a dark past of political manipulation, fear, guilt, and the need for appeasement of a vengeful spirit.

Setsubun 2009 – Japanese Devils, Celebs, Samurai, and Sumo

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009

Setsubun is an old Japanese tradition going back to the Heian Period (794-1192) where Japanese drive bad luck or evil out of their homes by throwing beans.

The evil is represented by devils called Oni and often fathers will don an oni costume so their kids can pelt them with beans – ouch! In America, dads dress up like Santa Claus and get milk&cookies for their troubles!

At temples and shrines, they do a mame-maki where they throw beans and other things to gathering crowds. People go crazy trying to catch these beans.

Setsubun is one of my favorite Japanese traditional events and for the last 4-5 years I have always gone somewhere to celebrate it. This year I started Setsubun a few days earlier by going to the small neighborhood of Shimokitazawa where they had the Tengu Matsuri. Tengu is a long nose goblin who protects the area.

On Setsubun I went to 4 places in and around Tokyo – Narita, Kanda Myojin Shrine, Hosen-ji Temple in Nakano, and Ashikaga in Tochigi. I saw sumo champions, Japanese celebrities, samurai, J-Pop stars, and fighting Buddhist monks.

I recorded the vlog part of the video around 3 in the morning because I had to catch a really early flight from Haneda to Hokkaido so I’m speaking low so as not to wake my neighbors. Plus I was tired!

For photos check here:

Setsubun 2009

A Bit of Christmas in Japan

Friday, December 26th, 2008
Although Christmas is not an official holiday in Japan, it is observed in other ways. On Christmas Eve and Christmas, one can find lines of Japanese standing ... [Continue reading this entry]

Zen Priest Playing Shakuhachi Flute

Sunday, May 11th, 2008
Zen Priest Playing Shakuhachi Chance Encounter with Zen Priest Komuso were Zen Buddhist Priests who used to travel about playing the Shakuhachi (Japanese Flute) for meditation and ... [Continue reading this entry]

New Year’s at a Japanese Temple in Tokyo

Saturday, January 26th, 2008
New Years at a Japanese Temple Prayers, Fires, and Rice Cakes ring in the New Year at Zojo-ji in Tokyo Here are some scenes of New Year's Eve Activities at Zojo-ji Temple in central Tokyo. [Continue reading this entry]