L L B C (13)  Salt field 

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (13)   🗾

The Kira (吉良) town was a center of a salt industry in the Edo era. Salt was produced at the salt fields (塩田) placed near the coast. It was carried to the Suwa lake (諏訪湖) lake in Nagano Pref. passing through Okazaki city and Asuke (足助) town. The route was called the Sanshu Way (三州街道). We suppose the Way was developed by the item essential for life, salt. 

If you want to know about Asuke, we mentioned something in the article 'Asuke castle.' 

Please visit.

We remember a old time incident, the Nagashino War (長篠の戦). Takeda Katsuyori (武田勝頼) marched from the Suwa lake to the Nagashino castle in Shinshiro (新城) city using the Sanshu Way. The reason of the march of Takeda Katsuyori might be the salt produced in the Kira town. Tokugawa Ieyasu (徳川家康) based in the Okazaki castle might be advantageous situation because of the salt produced in the Kira town.　The salt was fatal product for the every living things. 

If you want to know about the Nagashino War, we mentioned something in the article 'Arquebus 3' and 'Damine castle.' 

Please visit.

The way to produce salt is a complicated process as below. At first, people deliver sea water on the sand all around the huge salt field. And the strong sunlight dries the sand. Then the sand on the salt field became quite salty, or became to contain a lot of salt. People gather the surface sand at one place. And they put them on a huge pot, and add sea water on them, and boil down them until they lose water. After the boiling down, they gather the boiled surface juice which has high concentration of salt. They continue this cycle several times. When the surface juice lose whole water, it became the pure salt. Then, they finally produce pure salt from the sea water.

    

You can learn these things at the Kira-aibajio-no-sato (吉良饗庭塩の里) museum.  https://www.aibajio.jp

At the museum, we can experience a demonstration of salt producing. If you want to join it, you should call 10 or more attendees. The reason we suppose is because the work would be such hard labor. Furthermore, you should also submit the demonstration at 10 days in advance. The participation fee is 500 yen per person at the moment. One more additional information, when it becomes rainy day, you can't do the outdoor actions.

 L L B C (12) Garden park

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (12)   🗾

At Hamanako Lake in Shizuoka Pref., there's the botanical garden named 'garden park.' From April 6th to June 2nd in 2024, the event called 'Hanahaku' is held there. During the event period, you can enjoy so many beautifully decorated gardens there.

And the site is unbelievably wide and countless spring flowers are fully blooming now. There are dozens of gardens decorated in kind of western style, if you ask the style for me but I don't know the style exactly. 

 

Entering the entrance gate, you'll find spacious area like plaza. You can eat lunch which you brought, and if you didn't bring, looking around, you can find several food stalls. In the center of the park, wide canal is lying down. So, the gardens covered with pale-blue flowers are beyond the shining water surface, very attractive.

In the deeper area, you can find elaborated theme gardens which remind us various countries. Such as Chinese, Tibetan, Indnesian, Austrian…of couse Japanese. Every gardens are decorated gorgeously and impressively.

In the deepest position, you'll find 'Impressionist's garden' and countless types of flowers are blooming all at once. And also, you'll find a pond which reminds us Claude Monet's pictures. You can stroll around the pond and you'll find many good places to take photos.

   

We visited there without background information, however, we fully enjoyed. 

One thing that we regret is that we couldn't get around whole sites in one day.

L L B C (11) Autumn leaves

Autumn leaves

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (11)   🗾

This summer, Japan experienced very fierce heat. Especially, the temperature in August rose up quite high. And, the trend continued in September. And also, the summer days appeared quite often in October. At the beginning of November, we still felt hotness. Then quite suddenly, the coldness covered Japan. So, we didn't have refreshing Autumn this year.

For the trees, if I think for them, the situation was same as the humans. Autumn leaves, leaves beautifully changed to red and yellow didn't attract us this year. This unnormal weather is not special phenomenon this year, according to the specialist. I happened to bump into this tree whose leaves changed to red, so I recorded as a memoria. We may not expect to appreciate this beauty next year. 

 <I'll draw several figures of hot summer days and summer days in Tokyo.>

🌞August: this year's hot summer days = 31days, last year's = 21days

🌞September: this year's hot summer days = 20 days, last year's = 12 days 

🌞October: this year's summer days = 11 days, last year's = 7 days 

🌞November: this year's summer days = 3 days, last year's = zero   

L L B C (10) Japanese plum tree

 Japanese plum tree

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (10)   🗾

Early March is the season when Japanese plum blossoms are in full bloom. The flowers are graceful, elegant and pretty. 

But having said that, I think Japanese cherry blossoms are more popular. Once they begin to bloom, the atmosphere changes and everybody focuses on them. On the contrary, Japanese plum blossoms are a little less popular. Even among Japanese people, the flowering of plum blossoms is not so much passionately accepted. 

The information about the flowering is treated like local news. In a news show, if there is a big news, it will be omitted sometimes. Even though, you should visit Japanese plum trees' gardens. 

By the way, the Wikipedia tells something:

"Its common names include Chinese plum, Japanese plum, and Japanese apricot. The tree's flowering in late winter and early spring is highly regarded as a seasonal symbol. The flower, long a beloved subject in the traditional painting and poetry of Sinospheric countries is usually called plum blossom."

And also said:

"Plum blossoms have bee well loved and celebrated across the East Asian cultural sphere. They are often mentioned in Japanese poetry as a symbol of spring, as well as elegance and purity. When used in haiku (俳句) or renga (連歌), they are a kigo (季語) or season word for early spring."

In my opinion, haiku is still doing pretty well but renga is not the culture popular nowadays. And if the writer mentioned 'haiku' and 'renga', why he didn't come up with 'tanka (短歌) ?

"The blossoms are associated with the Japanese bush warbler and depicted together on one of the twelve suits of hanafuda (花札) (Japanese playing cards). Plum blossoms were favored during the Nara (奈良) period (710-794) until the emergence of the Heian (平安) period (794-1185) in which the cherry blossom was preferred."

The Japanese bush warbler is one of popular birds in Japan. So, I think it's a good point he mentioned the relationship between plum blossom and Japanese bush warbler. However, in my opinion, hanafuda is also not popular now.  

L L B C (9) Prayer for success

 Prayer for success

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (9)   🗾

February is the season of entrance-exams for high schools, colleges and universities. For young students who try the exams, it's a gloomy season. They have stabbing pains in their stomachs.

What are these small tumbler dolls? They are related with the entrance-exams. Each doll is put into certain examinee's heart.  

Japanese examinees pray for success in their entrance-exams, except for the people who have great confidence in themselves. For the majority of the examinees, these shrines are the ideal places. They worship and feel calm. And, they have certainty about the success that they will have in the near future.

L L B C (8) Kyoto Station Building

 

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (8)   🗾

The other day, I walked around inside the Kyoto Station. The Kyoto Station had been reconstructed in 1997. Soon after the reconstruction, I had visited this station but only for transportation to visit several sightseeing places in Kyoto City. I had glanced its huge atrium space but I hadn't walked around it.

However, I had information that this station was adjoining a hotel, a department store, a park area and so on. So, I was thinking that I would like to explore this building someday. But until this visiting experiment, this station was only for transportation facility for me.

Now, I was standing in front of the main entrance. It seemed cramped for me. I supposed it was because there were so many passengers there. But I thought that there would be one more reason. That is the layout of the concourse. Both sides of the main entrance are the long stairs and escalators, so, the concourse looked narrower than it actually was.

By the way, this inspiration was not important for me. Because my interest was focused on something existed at the high end of the stairs. At first, I went up the right escalator. This stairs were quite long, so, I saved my power to walk around.

In the midway to the top, the width of the stairs was changed. Upper side of the stairs was very wide and picture perfect. At the end of the stairs, there was a hanging garden. It was 50 meters above the station concourse. From there, there was an air corridor and I admired scenery of the Kyoto Tower.    

L L B C (7) Ginkgo

🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (7) Ginkgo    🗾

The road in front of the building where I'm working is a 4-lane boulevard street trees planted. I want to explain these street trees this time.

Before I start the story, I'd like to mention the unusual weather of this year. During late June and the beginning of July is a rainy season named 'Tsuyu', so, usually we have much rainfall every year. 

However, this year is different. There were few rainfalls and the weather soon became very hot instantly.  

A little ago, people believed that many people sprinkled with water at the same time, then the temperature went down. Because the vaporization of the sprinkled water takes away the heat in the air. We experienced the event to sprinkle water at a same time with all of citizens.

Recently, I don't hear the information of such event, maybe city officials learned that such effort was useless against the violence of global warming. 

By the way, I hear that ginkgo trees are resistant to polluted-air from vehicles. So, ginkgo trees are popular as street trees.

Ginkgo leaves change color to yellow in autumn. This sight of ginkgo trees makes us feel the change of the season to autumn. Furthermore, their nuts which covered with smelly flesh cover the pavements. By this smelly and uncomfortable event also makes us feel an elegance of autumn in Japan.  

Until quite recently, I didn't notice the importance of existence of ginkgo trees in summer. They make shadow by their plenty of leaves. They avoid the violent sunbeam from the sun.

I see many boulevard streets uncovered by street trees. Even if there are street trees, they are cruelly pruned. But this 4-lane boulevard street has street trees covered with plenty of leaves. Thanks to them, I can spend a little acceptable atmosphere in front of my working place.

L L B C (6) Lavender

🗾  L's Life in a Big City  (6) Lavender 🗾

Recently, I read an Internet article which described the flowering of lavender at a park nearby my living place. So, I visited the park to see the lavender.

Immediately after arrival, I found a flower bed changed into lavender color. That was real lavender. Then, I first wondered the article said about this flower bed.

However, in the article there was a word "lavender fields," so, I reconsidered there would be another wide field of lavender flower. Even though I knew the size was not the same scale of the ones in Hokkaido. So, I continued the investigation of another lavender field.

Several minutes later, I found the lavender field which was really small. However, up to that point, the development of my effort was within expectation as I imagined, but...

In the lavender field, there wasn't lavender flourished. And, I found the signboard in which the lavender flowered was the early bloomer lavender. And real lavender will flourish in June or July. So, I have to finish my investigation in this point.

L L B C (5) Shirotori Garden

 

 🗾  L's Life in a Big City  (5) Shirotori Garden 🗾

The Shirotori Garden is located in the southern part of the downtown area of this city. You should ride a subway for five stations long when you visit this garden. It was constructed as one of facilities of the exposition held in 1989. 

This garden is made by the style named Chisen-kaiyu. 
"Chisen" literally means pond and "Kaiyu" refers to a circuit that follows a loop. Gardens made by this style represent so-called Japanese gardens. When people list Japanese style gardens, they choose gardens made by this Chisen-kaiyu style. In a Chisen-kaiyu garden there is a wide pond. And people stroll paths around the pond and appreciate changes of scenery. 

The Chisen-kaiyu style gardens were developed between the end of the Momoyama era and the beginning of the Edo era. They were made in the residential properties of Daimyos, feudal lords at that time. 

In summer

This Shirotori garden has no relationship with the Daimyo governed this area at that time. However, if he made the garden, he would make the same kind of, such as width, grace and dignity. In the autumn, you can enjoy the leaves turn yellow/red there. Furthermore, in a several days there will be lit up and opening time will be extended. How about appreciating a moony night tour? 

L L B C (4) Cherry Blossoms

 🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (4) Cherry Blossoms  🗾

　

Two cherry trees are there beside an entrance-exit of a subway station. These trees are becoming to full-bloomed nowadays. (I took this picture at March 27th.) So, I feel appeased nowadays too. 

The custom of cherry-blossom viewing has a history of over a millennium. The signatures were, for example, in some Waka-poems' anthologies. By the way, the Muromachi Shogun's residence in Kyoto was known as the "Hana (flowers)" Palace. Speaking of "Hana (flowers)", I remember cherry-blossom. Well then, were there any relationships between the "Hana (flowers)" Palace and cherry-blossom? (A supplementary note: I'm talking about a history during the Muromachi period (1336-1573).)

We have already uploaded a couple of articles. If you want to find additional information, please visit there.

Temple of Shogunate 1

Temple of Shogunate 2

Temple of Shogunate 3

There are some theories about the name of the Palace. One theory is that the owner, the second Shogun (Ashikaga Yoshiakira) bought this premise from a nobleman and the name was the "Hana" residence. Unfortunately, according to this theory, there wasn't a relationship between the "Hana (flowers)" Palace and cherry-blossom. According to another theory, the reason for the name is that many beautiful flowers were planted in the garden of this Palace. Then, people at that time called the "Hana (flowers)" Palace. And, there was a some type of cherry-blossom tree (weeping cherry tree) I saw beside an entrance-exit of a subway station. (There is a description about the weeping cherry tree in the "Hana (flowers)" Palace in a diary written in the early Muromachi period.)  

I overheard that the temperature of Japan is rising year by year. And, if the trend continues, the blooming of cherry trees' flowers would not occur. Because cherry-blossom comes out only when the cherry trees spend the cold in winter and face to the sudden changes in temperature in spring. They say if the Global Warming continues furthermore, cherry-blossom trees wouldn't grow in Japan anymore. The custom of cherry-blossom viewing is essential for Japan's spring. I very worry about this point.

L L B C (3) Star Trek !?

 🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (3)   Star Trek !? 🗾

I would like to introduce a little more about the event square I mentioned in a last article. When I saw it from this angle, I thought it was the Spaceship Enterprise landed on the earth.

The massive oblong roof is named "Water Spaceship." So, I became convinced of influence of the Star Trek. I believe this structure's design was inspired by the Spaceship Enterprise.

In the center of the Water Spaceship, there is a huge basin or actually a pool. And, under the water you can look down the event square.

The event square is placed underground level and the massive roof is on the third floor of this structure. So, the large space can be used for the large scale event.

This structure was built in 2003. This year is the 20th anniversary for it. And in addition, in this place, the World Cosplay Summit is held every year.

   

L L B C (2) Spring storm

 🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (2) Spring storm  🗾

This time, I'm planning to tell a little about "Spring storm." The day I took these photos, March 26 was a day rain and wind were strong all day long. It's rare to see this weather this season.

 

By the way, I got the word that a weather like this was described "Spring storm."  And I learned "Spring storm" was one of meteorological words in Japan. It means a weather condition that low air pressure grows and a rain storm develops especially during March to May. It's not so popular but when I heard this technical word I didn't feel the uncomfortable feeling against the unfamiliarity. 

More than that, I imaged a relationship between the word "Spring storm "and a literary work. Because there is a famous novel named "Spring storm" in Japanese translation. That is "Geryrud" written by Hermann Hesse (1877-1962), a famous Swiss novelist. And I suppose I'm influenced by the image of this novelist. You may think you don't know who Hermann Hesse is! To tell the truth, I haven't read "Spring storm" or "Geryrud" written by Hermann Hesse. I'm not so exactly remember the days' of my elementary school or my junior high school, but I believe I read one of Hermann Hesse's stories then. To a sensitive young, Hermann Hesse expressed a strong influential power. So, one of meteorological words also inflames my imagination.

Now, people in downtown feel daily life after March 21 when the covit-19 restriction was narrowed a little. This scenery was an event square downtown. Rain and wind were strong all day long but people were coming back!

L L B C (1) Poster

 🗾   L's Life in a Big City  (1) Poster  🗾

For a while, one of us will report one's everyday life. And, we want to name this report "L's Life in a Big City." It's an extra edition until being eased the coronavirus restrictions. In "L's Life in a Big City", L will capture moments of L's usual life. The first report is a photo in a train carriage. Here we go.  

 

This photo is an ad of a university recruiting students. If you can read Japanese, you will understand which faculties are recruiting now. "環境科学部" literally means "Environmental science faculty" and "心理学部" means "Psychology faculty." Of course I'm interested in "Environmental science faculty," but this time I'll cover "心理学部." You can see a photo of a man standing beside a car. He's using the police radio and a Kojak light is placed on the car's roof. This image is describing the result of studying in "Criminal psychology department" or "犯罪心理学科." Then, why this photo symbolizes "Criminal psychology department"?

You can find many detective TV dramas even in Japan. There are several ways of stories. And "crime scene investigation police dramas" are very popular, which are only adaptations of the American TV series. In these dramas, heroes hunt down criminals using their sharp insight especially "using psychological approach." I think several "Criminal psychology departments" are already existing in traditional universities. However, this university is going to start the department now. Because they think criminal psychology is a theme which is worth learning for the youth aiming for universities now. And they are dreaming getting such kind of jobs in the future. Moreover, they may think they become cool detectives.