Commemorative Celebration for the Registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Today, Sunday, December 1, a celebratory gathering was held at the Ara-Odori Hall in the Sakamoto district to mark the registration of “Gokase Ara-odori” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage in February of Reiwa 3 (2021).👏✨ Because the registration around Reiwa 3 fell during the COVID-19 pandemic, holding a celebration then was difficult, so today’s event was finally realized.🥹 After the opening, the ceremony proceeded smoothly with greetings from the Ara-Odori Preservation Society and congratulatory messages from guests, followed by kagami-biraki (sake barrel opening) accompanied by the powerful sounds of Ara-odori drums, bells, and matchlock gun volleys.🍶🔨 Later, Mr. Fujimoto, the lead dancer, gave the toast and the banquet began.👏 It was a wonderful gathering where members of the Ara-Odori Preservation Society, the dancers and their families all shared their various feelings about Ara-odori.😌 During the banquet, the host conducted interviews in which, somewhat shyly, everyone spoke passionately about Ara-odori.🤭✨ When people had enjoyed enough sake and conversation, the event concluded with three cheers of banzai.🙌🙌🙌 In Miyazaki, a land that preserves many traditional performing arts such as kagura, the registration of Gokase Ara-odori as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage truly felt like a great achievement.😳 Going forward, we hope these traditional performing arts, preserved and passed down in each district, will continue to be treasured.✨

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of the Rustic Son of Nishikosenba Towns.

⛩ Gion Shrine Niiname Festival and Final Kagura Performance 👹 On November 23rd, the Niiname Festival and the final kagura performance were held at Gion Shrine in the Kuraoka district.⛩ First a Shinto ceremony took place, followed by a kagura dedication at the kagura hall.👹 Today we welcomed visitors from overseas and guests who came from Tokyo.😮 The gingko trees at Gion Shrine had turned color, creating a carpet of yellow.😆✨ Gokase Town is getting colder, and it looks like winter is finally arriving.⛄

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession at Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float procession in front of Kawagoe City Hall. It is a festival float of Ieyasu in Wakita Towns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. This is the residence of Shintomi Town 2-chome.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of the bell of Tong Towns.

In addition to scenery and food that can only be seen and eaten in Japan, calligraphy, a traditional culture that can only be experienced in Japan, is one such example. When providing services to foreigners visiting Japan in the form of experience tourism, we are conscious of "learning" that leads to cultural understanding, such as deepening understanding of the history of calligraphy in Japan and conveying the meaning behind each kanji character.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float from OteTowns.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry is greeted by a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. In front of the Kawagoe Chamber of Commerce and Industry, it is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

—Nakasendo Tsumago Inn Bunka-Bunsei Parade②— November 23rd is the busiest day of the year in Tsumago inn✨ At lunch break, people enjoy rice balls wrapped in bamboo bark🍙 Catching a shot of someone eating one makes a great photo! I wonder if people used to carry and eat rice balls like this on the road back then💭 Someone is handing out large sheets of paper called Kawaraban, which were like newspapers in the Edo period. They were sold and distributed to inform ordinary people of urgent news at the time💭

Autumn leaves picking at Ryuzoji Temple in Yamaguchi City. "Autumn leaves are past their prime!" I nodded my head and looked at my feet ・・・・・💖. I don't know whose work it is, but "GOOD JOB!"

Wagashi (traditional Japanese sweets) Japanese Sweets Making Experience Learn about Japanese food culture Wagashi plays an important role in learning about Japanese food culture. Beautiful appearance By making them beautifully, such as in the shape of seasonal flowers, you can enjoy not only the taste but also the appearance. As a samurai, I must strengthen my character from the experience of making traditional cultural wagashi. I must continue to perfect my spirit.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A wild festival float has just turned around.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. A festival float is greeting the Sumiyoshi Pavilion.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The pigeon rings its Hyoshigi to signal the departure of the festival float. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a wild festival float that passes in front of Resona Coedo Terrace.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Festival floats greet everyone in Saiwai Town. The festival floats cannot be rotated, so they face the front.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. I stopped the festival float and greeted the crowd. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of Kawagoe City.

That day, greedy Kawanishi visited a wagashi shop he had long been curious about! It was Koshido, located in Suehiro, Suwa. I spoke with President Kurita. To my surprise, this long-established wagashi shop has been in business for 99 years since Taisho 14 (1925). The current president appears to be the third generation. By chance, five days before my visit, a local newspaper ran a story saying students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School had designed the shop’s classic packaging and stickers. Even amid such history, I was charmed by this flexible approach and arranged an appointment. According to the president, the Suwa Confectioners’ Association once included 60–70 shops, and many were in the city, but now only 17 remain. I want to cherish the wagashi culture left by earlier generations and pass it on. I personally love anko (sweet red bean paste), so I’ve always liked wagashi. That day I learned that wagashi can be enjoyed in every season, and I gained new insights!!! In spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi; for the equinoctial week there are botamochi and ohagi; in autumn there are inoko-mochi and tsutsugayu, and more. I hope to introduce these delicate and delicious wagashi to everyone! ◎ Koshido 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture ☎ 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/ That day, I went to Koshido, a traditional Japanese confectionery shop in Suwa. Mr. Kurita is the shop’s president and craftsman. The shop has been open for 99 years, and he is the third generation. On November 9th, I saw a newspaper article about the shop: students from Suwa Jitsugyo High School designed stickers for the product. He told me that long ago there were 60–70 wagashi shops in Suwa city, but now only 17 remain. I feel it’s important to preserve this great tradition for future generations. I didn’t know wagashi could be enjoyed across the four seasons! It’s true. In autumn there are dango, inoko-mochi, and tsutsugayu; in spring there are sakura-mochi and kashiwa-mochi, among others. I still have much to learn about traditional Japanese sweets, and I will continue to write about seasonal wagashi from now on! ◎ KOSHIDO 📍 Suehiro 12-12-9, Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, Japan ◎ Tel: 0266-52-0920 ◎ Business hours: 9:00 – 18:00 ◎ Regular holiday: Closed on Wednesdays ◎ Online shop: www.okashi-net.com/mall/koshido/

[Event: Report on the November 9 (Sat) Salt Road Walk!] Here is a report on our autumn Salt Road Walk, where participants felt history underfoot. The walk began in the Sha district at Nishina Shinmeigu Shrine. The morning started shrouded in mist, but the sky cleared into perfect blue as the day progressed. Participants enjoyed walking while gazing up at the snow-capped Northern Alps. Thank you to everyone who joined us 😍 A brief introduction: we plan to hold this event again around the same time next year. If you’re interested, please check our association website in the fall. Omachi City Tourism Association

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. The head of the phoenix rings the Hyoshigi and the festival float begins to move. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

Photographed 10/20/24. It is the second day of the Kawagoe Festival. Before the festival float is towed out, a wooden song is performed by the doe. It is a festival float of Ota Michikan in Renjaku Town.

The reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "The beauty of the Japanese language. I often hear that the reason why foreigners are interested in the Japanese language is "the beauty of the Japanese language. Using the calligraphy skills learned through the calligraphy experience, students write their favorite kanji characters on fans and hanging scrolls of their choice. The master calligrapher will then take the kanji back to your bag with his expert brush strokes. Since each kanji character has multiple meanings, it is important to know what other meanings they have. Knowing the meaning will make the bag shine.

Honoring the Samurai girl The more onago is bullshit, the more the world will be bullshit. The stronger you are, the calmer you will be.  The more you can hang your head and bow low, the more genuine nobility and strength you will acquire.

Calligraphy masters apply Japanese kanji characters to the native language names of foreign customers. Since each kanji character has its own meaning, enjoy this traditional cultural experience, including the meaning of the kanji used in your name. You can take home the engraved wooden Dojo-fuda as a souvenir to remember your visit.

It is an approach to the temple of the Koyasan Shingon sect bekkō honzan "Kuzan Kannonji Tennoin" in Shinoguri Towns, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture. In autumn, the Autumn leaves that envelop the entire Temple are amazing.