In higher elevations, it snowed and the leaves are beginning to drop from the trees.
Autumn colors in Japan (Japanese version only):
http://kouyou.yahoo.co.jp/
http://kouyou.nihon-kankou.or.jp/
http://koyo.walkerplus.com/
http://www.mapple.net/sp_koyo/
The Deer Antler Cutting Ceremony was held at Nara Park in Nara Prefecture on October 12th and 14th. Although male deer shed their antlers before winter and grow them back in spring every year, the event started in 1671 to prevent antlered deer from injuring people or another deer. They have no pain because nerves are not located in the mature antler. Antlers are dedicated to the deity. This event is held in accordance with ancient ritual, but the antlers of about 250 deer in Nara Park are cut from the end of August through March.
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1_large by merec0 /flickr |
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PA112472 by merec0 /flickr |
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PA112495 by merec0 /flickr |
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182_large by merec0 /flickr |
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188_large by merec0 /flickr |
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198_large by merec0 /flickr |
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204_large by merec0 /flickr |
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237_large by merec0 /flickr |
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277_large by merec0 /flickr |
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287_large by merec0 /flickr |
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164_large by merec0 /flickr |
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around five-storied pagoda in Kofuku-ji Temple photo by euzim.net |
Visitors can see many deer around Nara Park. They are unafraid of humans, but they are wild animals. It's dangerous to come close to male deer in estrus and mother deer with fawns.
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around five-storied pagoda in Kofuku-ji Temple photo by euzim.net |
Their staple food is the native plants around the park. Many deer died of the human foods that tourists gave to them or of plastic food packages that tourists threw away. We are not allowed to feed them. The park has no garbage to prevent deer from accidentally eating them.
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at Todai-ji Temple photo by euzim.net |
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at Todai-ji Temple photo by euzim.net |
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IMG_3825 by tetchang /flickr Shika-senbei |
Only Shika-senbei(cracker containing rice bran and cereals) is sold as a snack by Foundation For The Protection Of Deer In Nara. The foundation is engaged in protection activity for them. A part of earnings from these cracker sales are used to protect deer.
The foundation operates Rokuen (Deer enclosure) for sick or injured deer, bucks that have potential for harming humans, aggressive rutting bucks, pregnant does and does with fawns. This facility was closed to the public, but the foundation turned to open it to convey to visitors the real state of deer in Nara last year.
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293_large by merec0 /flickr |
Fawns are born in late May to early July at Rokuen in Nara Park. Visitors can see fawns for only a few hours from June 1 to 30 at Rokuen. Mother deer and fawns return to the park around mid-July. Mother deer are wary of human smells. It is best not to touch fawns.
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kensai_kodak_eb-3_217s by yingtak /flickr |
For more information about Foundation for the Protection of Deer in Nara:
http://www.naradeer.com/ (Japanese version only)
The foundation announced that 1,094 deer live in Nara Park and Mount Wakakusa as of July 16, 2013. They include 210 bucks, 736 does, 148 fawns. In one year, 100 deer had died of traffic accident, 144 had died of disease, and 115 had died from other causes.
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Deer by David McKelvey /flickr |
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IMG_4551_Enhancer by fortherock /flickr |
From February to mid-March, Shikayose(Herding Deer by Blowing a Horn) is held at Tobuhino(飛火野) in Nara Park. When a player blows a horn, a herd of wild deer comes running up to the player to get acorns. The annual event started to herd deer in 1892 when a deer shelter was built in Nara Park.
Except during the above period, visitors can enjoy this event for fee. Advance reservation is required.
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奈良の鹿寄せ 2011 - 02 by Sekikos /flickr Shikayose |
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奈良の鹿寄せ 2011 - 04 by Sekikos /flickr Shikayose |
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奈良の鹿寄せ 2011 - 08 by Sekikos /flickr Shikayose |
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Deer Antler Cutting Ceremony at Kinkasan photo by Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division |
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at Kinkasan
photo by Miyagi Prefecture Tourism Division |
About 500 wild deer live there. The deer have been regarded as the messengers of a deity, so they are wandering around the shrine. After the antlers of about 15 bucks are cut, they have a medical checkup. Some people say that they are kind of shy compared with deer in Nara.
Even throughout Japan, deer overpopulation is a serious problem. They feed on crops, garden plants and kill forest trees by feeding on young trees and the bark of trees, by rubbing antlers against trees.
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Deer Tori by xxspecialsherylxx /flickr |
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Yezo deer |
Obiage is a scarf-like piece of cloth that covers up the obimakura(a small oval cushion) for keeping the upper part of the obi knot in place. Obiage is tucked into top of obi and is relatively big when kimono is dressed up.
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Kimono enchantment by br1dotcom /flickr |
The design of this card comes from the following waka poem by Sarumaru no Taifu(猿丸大夫). He was a waka poet in the eighth or ninth century, and is also known as Sarumaru Dayu. His date of birth and death is unknown.
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Deer in the trees by WordRidden /flickr |
Wow, I never knew all these things about deer in Japan. I only knew the deer seemed to be all over the place in Nara! Thank you for so much information.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your comment. The deer in Nara are famous internationally, but many people don't seem to know why many deer live in Nara.
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