Four Seasons in Japan

Monday, September 23, 2013

Foliage season started

Pacific sauries(秋刀魚, sanma) are in season now, but they are more expensive than usual. High sea temperature is preventing sauries from going southward.

Two annual Pacific saury festivals were held near Meguro Station on September 8 and 15. Miyako City in Iwate Prefecture provides free sauries to the festival on the 8th, and Kesennuma City in Miyagi Prefecture does them to the festival on the 15th. However, Miyako City couldn't provide sauries this year. Sauries from Hokkaido were provided. Kesennuma City managed to provide them to the festival.

The saury catch is increasing off Hokkaido, and its price is falling. So I enjoyed saury broiled with salt a few days ago.

The foliage season started on Mount Kuro(黒岳,Kuro-dake ), a lava dome in The Daisetsuzan volcanic group in Kamikawa-gun, Hokkaido.　The summit of Mount Asahi(Asahi-dake), a stratovolcano in the group, was capped with snow on the 19th.

Ginsendai(銀泉台), Mount Aka(赤岳, Aka-dake), a stratovolcano in the Daisetsuzan volcanic group

Ginsendai
photo by 無料の風景写真素材　『Nature Free』

Ginsendai(銀泉台), Mount Aka(赤岳, Aka-dake)

Aka-dake means mount red.

Ginsendai
photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

Mount Asahi(旭岳, Asahi-dake)

Mount Asahi
photo by 無料の風景写真素材　『Nature Free』

The third snowy valley of Mount Aka

Mount Aka
photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

Taisetsu Kogen Onsen(大雪高原温泉, Taisetsu Highland Hot Spring) in the Daisetsuzan National Park

photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

Taisetsu Kogen Onsen

photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

Sounkyo(層雲峡) in the Daisetsuzan National Park

photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

The leaves started changing colors at Mount Tokachi(十勝岳, Tokachi-dake) in Daisetsuzan National Park in Hokkaido.

Mount Tokachi is the tallest volcano of the Tokachi Volcanic Group.

Mount Tokachi
photo by VIEW OF KAMIKAWA

Common glasswort community at Cape Kimuaneppu on Lake Saroma in Saroma Town, Tokoro-gun, Hokkaido

They will be at their peak around the end of September.

photo by 無料の風景写真素材　『Nature Free』

photo by 北海道無料写真素材 DO PHOTO

a row of poplar trees in Hokkaido University, Sapporo City, Hokakido

Thursday, September 19, 2013

The 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition

The year's 18th typhoon Man-yi lashed Japan, causing wind disasters and floods. On the 16th, the area along the Katsura River in Arashiyama, Kyoto was also flooded just berore the autumn sightseeing season. About 10% of 200 shops and 20 hotels suffered damage from water, but lightly-damaged shops are already back in business.

September 19 corresponds to the 15th day of the 8th month in the lunar calendar this year. Moon Viewing is held on this day. It comes from the Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

The 60th Japan Traditional Art Crafts Exhibition(日本伝統工芸展) is being held at Mitsukoshi department store in Tokyo from September 18 to 30.

The exhibition requires the applicants to create sophisticated design based on high degree of professional skill in Japanese traditional techniques. The exhibition's winning works are available in each venue, but their prices are not indicated.

The Exhibition will travel through the following venues:

Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store, Tokyo
September 18-30, 2013
Mitsukoshi Nihonbashi Main Store:
http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/store/fcs/

Mitsukoshi Nagoya Sakae Store, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
October 2-7, 2013
Mitsukoshi Nagoya Sakae Store:
http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/store/fcs/

Takashimaya Kyoto Store, Kyoto
October 9-14, 2013
Takashimaya Kyoto Store:
http://www.takashimaya.co.jp/kyoto/floor/pdf_download.html

JR Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan Store, Osaka
October 16-21, 2013
JR Osaka Mitsukoshi Isetan Store:
http://osaka.wjr-isetan.co.jp/translation/index.html

Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecure
October 25-November 3, 2013
Ishikawa Prefectural Museum of Art:
http://www.ishibi.pref.ishikawa.jp/english/index.html

the Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art, Okayama City, Okayama Prefecture
November 12-December 8, 2013
The Okayama Prefectural Museum of Art:
http://www.pref.okayama.jp/seikatsu/kenbi/index-e.html

Shimane Art Museum, Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture
December 11-25, 2013
Shimane Art Museum:
http://www1.pref.shimane.lg.jp/contents/sam/en/ex/index.html

the Kagawa Museum, Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture
January 2-19, 2014
The Kagawa Museum:
http://www.pref.kagawa.lg.jp/kmuseum/foreign/

Mitsukoshi Sendai Store, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecure
January 23-28, 2014
Mitsukoshi Sendai Store:
http://sendai.mitsukoshi.co.jp/index.html(Japanese version only)

Mitsukoshi Fukuoka Store, Fukuoka City, Fukuoka Prefecture
February 11-16, 2014
Mitsukoshi Fukuoka Store:
http://www.m.iwataya-mitsukoshi.co.jp/index.html

Mitsukoshi Matsuyama Store, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture
February 18-24, 2014
Mitsukoshi Matsuyama Store:
http://www.mitsukoshi.co.jp/shop?EcLogicName=storeinfo.storetopInfo&tenpoCd=17
(Japanese version only)

Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum, Hiroshima City, Hiroshima Prefecture
February 26-March 16, 2014
Hiroshima Prefectural Art Museum:
http://www1.hpam-unet.ocn.ne.jp/english/

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

earthquakes

September 1st is Disaster Prevention Day. The day was established to mark the Great Kanto Earthquake which occurred at 11:58:44 am Japan time on September 1, 1923. August 30 to September 5 (the first week of September) was the Disaster Prevention this year.

Japan Tourism Agency provides emergency information to foreign tourists visiting Japan on the following site.

safety tips for travelers(English version only):
http://www.jnto.go.jp/safety-tips/pc/index.html

More than 105,000 people were left dead or missing by the 1923 Great Kanto earthquake.
About 90% of the victims burned to death. In Tokyo City at that time, the coincidence of 134 fires produced a large firestorm, and a produced gigantic fire whirl killed 38,000 people who evacuated to the site of a former army garment factory. In contrast, 20,000 people who evacuated to the Fukagawa Villa of the Iwasaki family were safe. The villa became open to local people as an evacuation spot after the quake. The factory site was a vacant lot, but the villa had many trees, shrubs, and a pond. More than 40% of the city's total land area was burned.

Yamashita Park in Yokohama was made in 1930 out of reclaimed land made from the rubble caused by the Great Kanto Earthquake in 1923. In this August, boring survey was conducted at the park in order to investigate the circumstances at the time. Discovered debris including broken pieces of roof tiles, bricks, bowls will be opened to the public at Yokohama Port Museum next to Sail Training Ship Nippon Maru from September 28 to November 17.

Annual comprehensive disaster prevention drills were held on September 1. The prime minister took part in the drills together with all Cabinet members. Although 1,330,000 people in 43 prefectures were scheduled to participate in the drills, they were cancelled due to torrential rains in Kyushu and Shikoku.

The drills had countermeasures for the Nankai Trough Earthquakes(the Nankai megathrust earthquakes). Japan has 60-70% chance of a magnitude 8-9 earthquake along the Nankai Trough which extends about 770 km from Suruga Bay off Shizuoka Prefecture to areas off eastern Kyushu. The trough have caused magnitude 8 earthquakes regularly with an interval of 100 to 200 years. It is estimated that some of these earthquakes were caused by the movement of several faults at the same time. It's been estimated that if some groups of the hypocentral region move at the same time, a megaquake will result in 230,000 deaths from tsunami, 82,000 from building collapse, 10,000 from fire.

Long-period earthquake ground motion is also a big problem. Buildings on the soft ground entered into resonance with an long-period earthquake. The 2011 Tohoku earthquake damaged a building in Osaka far away from Tohoku. High-rise buildings tend to shake on the soft ground, and low-rise buildings tend to shake on the firm ground. Upper floors of high-rise buildings shake badly.

Although we have made repeated attempts to minimize earthquake damage, earthquakes often exceed all expectations and baffle our calculations. Every damage from the past earthquakes raised new problems.

Seismic hazard assessment became valued more than earthquake prediction after the 2011 Tohoku earthquake in Japan.

Postseismic deformation of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake have influenced volcanos and active faults in other areas. Global positioning system (GPS) equipment can detect sub-centimetre changes in land movements. Experts have scoured past earthquake data. Geologists have analyzed tsunami sediments discovered in strata and the remains.

A slow slip event(slow earthquake) is a discontinuous, earthquake-like event that releases energy over a period of hours to months. Some seismologists think monitoring the changes of slip patterns could help in earthquake prediction. However, A linkage between the changes of slip patterns and major earthquakes cannot be unproved for now. Changes in well-water levels are seen by some as a portent of a major earthquake.

Hinako Sugiura(杉浦日向子, 1958-2005) said in her comic book "YASUJI Tokyo" written in 1988.

"It would appear to me that Tokyo is ready to return to a wilderness at any moment.

Even if Tokyo is flattened by a large earthquake or the whole Tokyo area is exposed to radiation, we would never think that is a dream then. We dream on the wilderness till then.

The wilderness makes us dream."

Tokyo(Edo) was repeatedly destroyed by many fires, earthquakes and air raids. A fire whirl is possible even now. The coincidence of fires could block escape route. Seismic retrofitting costs a great deal of money. Not all of communities can afford to take adequate measures. It is inevitable that fires will occur in densely built-up wooden housing areas in Tokyo and another cities. The 1995 Kobe earthquake caused fires in densely built-up wooden housing areas.

I thought it was not my turn on March 11, 2011 when the Great East Japan Earthquake occurred. However, the next megaquake might hit my area. Nowhere in the Japanese islands is quake-free. My aunt and her family experienced the 1995 Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in Kobe, and my cousin and his family did the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake in Miyagi.

Earthquake occurrence is nobody's fault. If one day suddenly we lost all things due to an earthquake, there's no one to take revenge on. We just have to accept our fates with resignation then. However, those involved in shoddy construction were accused in court after the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake. Some family members of tsunami victims are accusing companies, schools of having neglected their duty to ensure the safety of the victims.

Tainted water leaking from tanks at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant is a big thing to worry about right now. Some people said the government should give preference to the problem of tainted water over hosting the Olympics. Some said the holding of the Olympics leads to benefits for disaster areas because the world keeps strict watch on the problem until the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. I fear that only Tokyo flourishes and disaster areas are left behind.

Friday, August 16, 2013

fireworks festivals (4)

Shimanto City in Kochi Prefecture reached 41.0 degrees Celsius on August 12, and set a new record for the hottest temperature in Japan.

The annual Bon Festival started on August 13. I visited the family grave with my family. After preparation of the festival, we lit a bonfire outside our home to guide the deceased members of my family in the evening.　We will light a farewell bonfire to see our ancestors off this evening.

"PHOTO CONTEST 2012 the most beautiful villages in Japan" winners were announced.
the most beautiful villages in Japan (Japanese version only):
http://www.utsukushii-mura.jp/
photo contest 2012(Japanese version only):
http://www.utsukushii-mura.jp/photocontest2012

Sudden heavy downpour washed out the Suwa Lake Fireworks Festival yesterday. The trains were stopped because of the thunderstorm, and about 5,000 spectators spent the night at 15 public facilities.

Chofu City Fireworks Festival
(第31回調布市花火大会〜スポーツ祭東京2013開催記念〜)
Chofu City, Tokyo
August 24, 18:45～19:45
9,000 fireworks

花火/fireworks by hiyang.on /flickr

"Smiley"

IMG_8118 by y_uno /flickr

"Heart"

IMG_8121 by y_uno /flickr

IMG_8151 by y_uno /flickr

PA200028 by Zengame /flickr

PA200194 by Zengame /flickr

PA200195 by Zengame /flickr

IMG_8178 by y_uno /flickr

PA200130 by Zengame /flickr

Sagamihara fireworks festival
(相模原納涼花火大会)
Sagamihara City, Kanagawa Prefecture
August 24, 19:00～20:15
8,000 fireworks

相模原納涼花火大会 by sugagaga /flickr

Fireworks festival in Kagoshima by yuko_okuy /flickr

Kagoshima Kinko Bay Summer Night Grand Fireworks
第13回かごしま錦江湾サマーナイト大花火大会
Kagoshima City, Kagoshima Prefecture
August 24, 19:30～20:40
14,000 fireworks

Fireworks festival in Kagoshima by yuko_okuy /flickr

Red Hot ｂｙ Deacon MacMillan /flickr

Yokkaichi Fireworks Display
第26回四日市花火大会
Yokkaichi City, Mie Prefecture
August 25, 19:15〜20:30
4,000 fireworks

110827 ｂｙ yoco** /flickr
Gobo City fireworks festival

Gobo City Fireworks Display
御坊市花火大会 2013
Gobo City, Wakayama Prefecture
August 24, 20:00～21:00
2,400 fireworks

110827 ｂｙ yoco** /flickr

JOSO KINUGAWA FIREWORKS 2013
常総きぬ川花火大会2013
August 31, 18:20～20:20
7,000 fireworks

HanabiLusion2009 by inoc /flickr

Dandelion by inoc /flickr

Flower on the dark sky by inoc /flickr

HanabiLusion2009 by inoc /flickr

The 31st All Japan New Fireworks Competition
諏訪湖新作花火大会(全国新作花火競技大会)
Suwa City, Nagano Prefecture
September 7, 19:00～20:30
18,000 fireworks

photo by 高画質壁紙写真集無料壁紙

"Kiss of Fire"

At first, fireworks burst in two different parts of the water. Two fireworks move towards each other. The show was named "Kiss of Fire" because the fireworks appear to be kissing.

photo by 高画質壁紙写真集無料壁紙

Katakai Festival Fireworks Display
片貝まつり浅原神社秋季例大祭奉納大煙火
Ojiya City, Niigata Prefecture
September 9-10, 19:30〜22:20
15,000 fireworks

The fireworks display has a history of 400 years.
At this festival, a 120-cm(48-inch) diameter shell is launched at 10:00 p.m. on each day. It's the biggest fireworks in the world. It reaches 800 meters high and makes an 800-meter diameter when exploding.