Mukashi Mukashi Arts

　　　　One of the good things about living in Hirakata city is the location that allows you to go to both central Osaka and Kyoto prefecture easily. When I first came to Hirakata city as a freshman I was really excited as a tourist to visit temples in Kyoto such as Kiyomizu temple or Yasaka shrine. Two years have already been passed since then and now I am getting sick of going to Kiyomizu for hundreds of times. But I still love Kyoto and want to discover something new from there. So my friend and me decided to set a theme before going to Kyoto. Our theme was to visit temples we had not been to and see Japanese old artworks. Temples we went are Daikakuji and Koudaiji.

　　　　Since we both had a class at 16:40 on that day we started our journey from 7am from Hirakata station. We took a train to Sanjo station in Kyoto and then took a bus from Sanjo to Daikakuji temple. Since it was really early morning we were the only ones who got off at the final but stop Daikakuji. Before we entered Daikakuji we encountered the great entrance with beautiful huge pine trees. 

 

Also they were displaying some flower arrangements in front of the entrance.

　　　　Once we entered inside of Daikakuji we saw many Fusuma doors (a thick papered sliding doors) with pretty paintings. Lot of them were painted by Kano Sanraku around 17th century but they are all still perfectly beautiful.

 

　　　　After we finished watching many works we took bus back to Sanjo and went to Koudaiji by walk. When we passing Yasaka shrine on our way we saw Rakugo-ka,(Japanese comic storyteller) Tsukitei Happou shooting TV show. 

 

Picture borrowed from Yoshimoto Kogyo 

　　　　I tried to take pictures of him but they did not allow me to. Also we saw some people experiencing to be Maiko (traditional Japanese female performer) on the street to Kodaiji. 

　　　　

　　　　When we got to Kodaiji there was another beautiful entrance with cherry blossom. 

　　　　In this temple we saw more gardens rather than paintings or sculptures. There was also a bamboo forest and we could fully enjoy the nature as an art form. 

　　　　After we finished our journey perfectly without getting lost or having any troubles we ate lunch at the restaurant and went to class! I will definitely make next plan for my new experience by visiting places I have not been to and learn more about cultures of my country.

Websites for Daikakuji and Kodaiji; 

Daikakuji (大覚寺) http://www.daikakuji.or.jp/

Koudaiji (高台寺) http://www.kodaiji.com/index.html

HATACHI

　　　　　It has been getting warmer in Japan and I am assuming many people will post about the beauty of Japanese spring or Hanami events since we have free topic for blogs this time. However I have decided to write about the “Coming-of-Age Celebration”.

　　　　　For the Coming-of-age celebration we have a ceremony hold by individual cities or a public organization in Japan in June. Most of girls tend to wear Japanese traditional dress “Kimono” and boys wear a suit. 

　　　　　Nowadays not many people wear Kimono or have chance to wear it so that many girls get excited to get to wear fancy (also pricy) Kimono for the ceremony. Which means that the Kimono industry trys really hard to get those Hatachi (20 years old) customers even before the year they turn to 20. This may sound extreme but they even get your information from somewhere and often call your house to offer fancy Kimono. 

　　　　　I received tons of mails or catalogs of Kimono as well. I was thinking to get a nice pretty Kimono for the ceremony when I was in senior year of high school. But once I realized how much they cost for total I changed my mind completely. (It depends on where you buy or rent them, but average is $2,000).  So I did not wear Kimono and decided not going to the ceremony but going there to take pictures of people who were dressing up afterwards. After the ceremony many people were just chatting with their old friends and taking pictures together.

　　　　　When they finish enjoying those conversation or becoming uncomfortable with tight Obi (tied over Kimono) they start going home and change to their formal Western style dress for the after party which usually hold by your junior high school at an another place such as hotel. 

 

 　　　　　This after party is a great opportunity to talk to your old friends better and easier than after the ceremony since there are only people from your junior high school years. There are lot of foods, drinks, and sweets to have a great time with. Also most of the time your old teachers come to the party and talks about the memories. You can enjoy seeing how people have been changed by having conversation with them or the way they dress. Or this can be a great opportunity to reunite with your friends.