This is a photo of a friend at the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine in Kyoto. I hope that the kimono, which is a part of Japanese culture, and the Fushimi Inari Taisha Shrine, which is popular both in Japan and abroad, will remain for a long time.

One of my very heart touching memories in Japan which I want preserve in my mind for ever is the spring trip to Tokyo. During the trip my wife and her friend wore Japanese kimono and enjoyed cherry blossom. It give us an authentic and Traditional charms of Japan. Japanese traditional dress and japanese national flower a very nostalgic memory.

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishimaonnai Bon Odori" Part 8 That's it for the photo post. It was a charming and wonderful Bon Odori that made me want to go see it again next year.

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishiba Onnai Bon Odori" Part 7

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishimaonnai Bon Odori" Part 6

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishiba Onnai Bon Odori" Part 5

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishimaonnai Bon Odori" Part 4

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishiba Onnai Bon Odori" Part 3

Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture's "Nishimaonnai Bon Odori" Part 2 This is a continuation of the previous post.

Located in Ugo Town, Akita Prefecture, Nishi Baonnai Bon Odori is a summer festival with a history and tradition of more than 700 years, which is counted as one of the three major Bon Odori dances in Japan along with the Gujo Odori of Gifu Prefecture and the Awa Odori of Tokushima Prefecture. The venue is Nishimaonnai Honmachi Street, which is the central village of Ugo Town, and it is a bon event held for 3 days from August 16th ~ 18th every year. It was mysterious and gorgeous to see dancers dressed in distinctive torioi hats (knitted hats), colorful and beautifully stitched kimonos and yukatas, dancing gracefully to the beating of taiko drums and songs. Especially this year, as it was the first regular event in four years, people from outside the town were able to participate in the dance, and many people from inside and outside the prefecture came to see it. Photos of the festival will continue after this, but I hope you can see it.

One piece at the local festival "Nakatsu Gion". She is procession while dedicating a dance in her own town. One of the pieces of this summer festival.

Wearing a yukata for the first time at the festival. I was so happy and fun that I was smiling all the time!

It is the Arimatsu Shibori Festival. I wore a new yukata that I hemmed myself!

Takekoma Shrine, located in the center of Iwanuma City, Miyagi Prefecture, is a venerable Inari shrine that is counted as one of the three major Inari shrines in Japan. Every year from July ~ the end of August, "Summer Visits" are held here, and during the period, glass wind chimes and original wind chimes of white foxes are displayed on the approach to the shrine grounds, and summer attire that feels cool is applied. The wind chimes swaying in the wind play a summery tone, so you will feel cool.

I walked along the bank of the Arakawa River to fireworks festival. After all, a yukata suits fireworks. It is a fireworks festival of Toda City, Saitama Prefecture

It's a summer evening in Kyoto. It is a couple from a foreign country who are taking a walk wearing a yukata as a memory of Japan

Summer traditions of Japan / Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture

[English/Japan] The other day, we had a summer festival as a school event. At that time, we went to Hiyoshi Hachioji Shrine, a 5-minute walk from the school. Girls wore yukata and boys wore happi of Okunitama Shrine. It was a very hot day, but the breeze through the shrine grounds was very pleasant. The other day, we had a summer festival at a school event. At that time, I went to "Hiyoshi Hachioji Shrine", which is a 5-minute walk from the school. Girls wear yukata and boys wear happi from Ōkokutama Shrine. It was a very hot day, but the breeze passing through the precincts was very pleasant.

I ate the first watermelon of the year on the porch of my house! This is Japan summer!! Children who don't care about their yukata getting dirty and put on a watermelon and smile widely!

[English/Japan] Things that surprised foreign students when they came to Japan. ～Fashion (2) Continuing from last week, this week I would like to introduce the fashion of Japanese people. Mysterious message written on a T-shirt One of the most famous Japanese fashion items that made foreign tourists and international students laugh was the English logo T-shirts. An English logo T-shirt is a T-shirt with English stylishly written on it. Most Japanese people who wear these T-shirts sometimes wear them just because they are "fashionable" or "cool" without thinking about the meaning of the English written on them. However, the content of the English written on them is often strange, and they are sometimes laughed at by English-speaking foreigners. One person told me that when she was standing in line at the checkout counter after shopping at a supermarket, the staff member (a Japanese woman in her 50s or 60s) was wearing a T-shirt with "born in L. A." written in large letters on it, and she had a hard time holding back her laughter. However, this is not only Japanese. Some Western tourists also wear T-shirts (and tattoos) with strange kanji characters. However, this is not the case with international students who are learning Kanji. Let's all study Japanese and try to read the kanji on the T-shirts properly. The More Natural the Makeup, the More Time Japanese Spend on It Many foreigners are surprised to see Japanese women applying makeup in the restroom or even on a shaky train. Compared to other countries, Japanese women are famous for wearing makeup more often. Japanese makeup is characterized by a heavy application of foundation and a focus on eye makeup. However, all of these are not flashy makeup; the emphasis is on how to make it look natural. Also, since they started wearing masks due to the influence of Corona, more and more people have started to be particular about their eye makeup. Furthermore, cosmetics for men have recently been marketed and are very popular. It is now commonplace for high school boys to trim their eyebrows, which was rare a few years ago. Japanese makeup products are also popular overseas, and many people take them as souvenirs. I hope you will give them a try too. Regional differences in fashion I've written before about regional differences in the Japanese personality, but there are also regional differences in fashion. For example, even in Tokyo, Marunouchi is an office district, so many people wear stylish suits. Harajuku is also known as the fashion district, with people walking around in unique fashions such as Lolita and punk. In Osaka, many people like to wear very flashy patterns such as leopard print, and in Nagoya, it is said that many people wear brands. In areas where there are many people, fashion also varies. Of course, there are trends, but no matter what kind of fashion you wear, it is unlikely that people will look at you strangely. Please enjoy Japan in your own way and in the fashion you like. Have you learned a little about Japanese fashion? Our school holds an event to wear Yukata (summer kimono) before the summer vacation. I'm sure you'll love these yukata, so airy and with great patterns! What surprised international students when they came to Japan. ~Fashion(2)~ This week, continuing from last week, I would like to introduce the fashion of Japan people. Mysterious message written on the T-shirt One of the most famous fashion for Japan people who made foreign tourists and international students laugh is the English logo T-shirt. An English logo T-shirt is a T-shirt with English written stylishly on the T-shirt. Most Japan people who wear this T-shirt wear it only with the image of "fashionable" and "cool" without thinking about the meaning of the English written on it. However, many of the English contents written there are strange, and foreigners in English-speaking countries sometimes laugh at them. One person said that when he was shopping at a supermarket and was standing in line at the cash register, the cashier staff (Japan women in their 50s ~ 60s) was wearing a T-shirt with the words "born in L.A." written in large letters, and it was difficult to hold back her laughter. But this applies only to Japan people. Western tourists may also wear T-shirts (tattoos, etc.) with strange Chinese characters. However, this is not the case for international students who are learning kanji. Everyone, let's study Japanese and read the kanji on the T-shirt properly. People who spend as much time as natural makeup Japan Many foreigners are surprised to see Japan women fixing their makeup in the toilet and putting on makeup even on a swaying train. Japan women are notorious for wearing makeup more often than in other countries. Japan people's makeup is characterized by applying foundation well and sticking to eye makeup. However, these are all emphasized not on flashy makeup, but on how natural it looks. Also, since they started wearing masks due to the influence of Corona, it seems that the number of people who are particular about eye makeup has increased. More recently, men's cosmetics have also been on sale and are popular. It is now commonplace for high school boys to trim their eyebrows, which was rare a few years ago. Japan's makeup products are very popular overseas, and many people take them as souvenirs. Please give it a try. Regional differences in fashion I previously wrote in a column that there are regional differences in the personality of Japan people, but there are also regional differences in fashion. For example, even in Tokyo, Marunouchi is an office district, so there are many people wearing stylish suits. Harajuku is also said to be a fashion town, and there are people with unique fashions such as Lolita and punk walking around. It is said that many people in Osaka prefer to wear very flashy patterns such as leopard prints, and many people wear brands in Nagoya. In areas where there are many people, fashion also varies. Of course, there are trends, but in any fashion you are unlikely to be seen strangely by people. Please enjoy Japan in your own fashion and your favorite fashion. Did you get to know a little about Japan fashion? Our school holds an event to wear a yukata (summer kimono) before the summer vacation. I'm sure you'll love yukatas with good ventilation and nice patterns!

fireworks . . . Postscript. Fireworks are good, aren't they? Sort of? It's kind of nice, isn't it?

Summer begins. . . . Postscript. Summer of Japan. Summer is supposed to be enjoyed with friends or loved ones. I hope that someday such a wonderful "summer" will come again.

In Kyoto... Wearing ♫ a yukata along the Kamo River in Kyoto

Kyoto/Yasaka Tower Hokanji Temple ✨, a symbol of Higashiyama, Kyoto Popularly known as "Yasaka Tower" The presence that towers over the city You can't 💕 help but take pictures It's always a lovely place 😊 to come to

Kyoto / Kifune Shrine When the night began to fall The lanterns are lit The stone steps create an ethereal atmosphere ... ✨ 

This is a scene of the Bon Odori held at Meriken Park in Kobe City, Hyogo Prefecture. There were many people dancing in the big tower, and everyone seemed to be having fun.

This is Touka-san, a festival in Hiroshima. This festival, which is held in June, is also known as the "Yukata no Kimono Matsuri" and young people in yukata fill the city.

Tokyo Minato At Nogi Shrine At the summer festival Yukata play sparkler Water balloons summer festival Summer of Japan festival

Tokyo Minato At Nogi Shrine At the summer festival The wind chimes are cool Summer of Japan festival