Tsujunkyo Bridge

– A continuation of the last story –
After leaving Heitate Shrine I visited Tsujunkyo Bridge.  Both are located in Yamato-cho.
Tsujunkyo Bridge is Japan’s largest stone-arch aqueduct bridge, which was built in 1854 for water supply to local farmers. For more information  please click Japan Web Magazine.

Fancy meeting Kumamon there!

Fortunately, I was able to see the waterfall which is a rare occurrence.

A Spiritual Place – The Heitate Shrine

The other day, I drove to a country side “Yamoto-cho” where it took an hour and a half to get from Kumamoto city.   There are several sightseeing spots in Yamato-cho.  One of them is the Heitate shrine.   Most people living in Kumamoto don’t know it.   However it is famous among some Japanese because it is known as a spiritual place, where a mystic force provides energy, good luck and healing to a person who stands there.   It seems that many people outside Kumamoto visit there.

You have to go up a long stone stars to reach the shrine.

This is the main shrine.

The history of the shrine is written on the board.   It has a long history as nobody knows when it was founded.   It worships several Shinto gods.

There are many huge trees around the shrine.   Somehow I felt refreshed.

The Shinto priest was performing a purification ceremony.    Some Japanese go to shrine to pray or purify something such as wishing their happiness, good health, or exorcising a person or place of evil spirits.   I’m not a religious person, but I have also gone to a shrine for a purification ceremony a few times before.

The Keroro Tram

This post is about Kumamoto where I live again.   In Kumamoto city, the tram cars run around downtown.    I sometimes see a tram painted colorfully.   The other day, when I was driving my car,  the Keroro tram passed by me.   Have you heard  “Sgt. Frog” (Keroro Gunso)?    It is a popular cartoon in Japan.     Check out Wiki.    This comic artist grew up in Kumamoto.

Here is another Keroro tram.    I watched Sgt.Frog on TV for the first time when I traveled to Hong Kong.   He seems to be popular even overseas.

In the tram, Keroro announces the next stop.   His voice is very cute.

Forest Bathing

As I wrote in the last post, I climbed Mount Kimpo in June.    In fact, I also went to a river last month.   My daughter wanted to go somewhere richly endowed with nature.   So we decided to go to Kikuchi Keikoku where it takes one hour drive from my house.

Kikuchi Keikoku is located close to Mount Aso area in Kumamoto, Japan.     There is rich nature there.   You can enjoy forest bathing,  which means spending some time in a forest for the health benefits such as relaxation.    It is famous for a good spot to play with water in summer.  You can walk in the shallow stream.    In fall,  many people come to see the autumn foliage.

The water is very cold and clear.   There are several springs, which create the stream.

I think these pictures can’t convey the atmosphere to you enough without the sound of the stream.    I should have brought a video camera.    Instead, I link a YouTube video.

Mountain Climbing

Have you heard of Yuichiro Miura?   He is a famous skier and mountaineer in Japan.   In May, he successfully reached the summit of Mount  Everest (8,848 meters) at the age of 80.　　To read his amazing story, please click here.　Mail Online    The news of his accomplishment inspired me.   I climbed a mountain twice last month, but the mountain I chose was Mount Kimpo near my house which is only 665 meters above sea level.   I also drove  halfway up of the mountain. lol  There was  beautiful scenery of terraced rice paddies along steep hills at the base of the mountain.

Hydrangeas are a typical flower in the rainy season, June.  They were blooming beautifully.

Why don’t you listen to the birds singing while you read?   I recorded the melody of the little cuckoo and bush warbler.

After parking my car, the picture below is the place where I started climbing. There were two course: the easy and the hard trail.  Of course, I chose the easy one, but it was still a little hard for me. The distance to the peak was only 1.3 km though.

I enjoyed being immersed in nature.  The cool breeze was comfortable.

The trail was steep, stony and slippery.

I took a little break.  A whole view of Kumamoto city and  the Ariake Sea can be seen from the mountain.

Finally, it took about 45 minutes to reach the summit.    There was a shrine at the top.

By the way, I came across an interesting creature on the trail.  At first, I thought it was a blue rubber hose, but then it moved!

Collaboration between Kumamon and Hatune Miku

The Hatune Miku version of “Kumamon Dance” was released this month.    Miku just sings the theme song.   I want her to dance with Kumamon.   Kumamon is very good at dancing.    His dancing looks very cute.   I wonder who the man inside the stuffed suit is.   For your information, Miku sings the song of Bon Dance Festival of Koshi City in Kumamoto.   Additionally, Kumafes that I mentioned before will be held this year again.    Kumamoto might be a unique place.

Kumamon Did Bungee Jumping

I heard the news that Ituki village advertises for people to do bungee jumping.    Ituki is a quiet, small country village, located in Kumamoto, Japan.    The village will put on the bungee jumping event during 16-31, March.    The height of the bridge is 77 meters.    If you want to dive, check it out.　 bungyJapan     Last summer Ituki held it for the first time.    Kumamon did bungee jumping at that time.    As for Kumamon, please read the previous post.       What a brave man wearing the stuffed animal suit!

Japanese Anime Festival “Kumafes” Cosplay

Kumafes Final Report

Finally, this is the last post of the series.   It took longer than I expected to finish the reports.  The final report is about cosplay.   Many cosplayers gathered in Kumamoto Castle.    Cosplayers dressed up in the costumes of their favorite anime heroes and heroines.   I could take only this photo on a street because I couldn’t get in to the event area.  What did he intend to cosplay as?

I found another cosplayer’s photo on Yue’s photozou.   This is cool.   The background is the stonewall of the castle.   There are more photos on Cosplay at Kumafes

This is just a aside note.   A conspicuous car was running in front of me yesterday.  The car is owned by the locally famous confectionery company.  Is it Itasha too?

I would like to say thank you for reading my blog this year.    May your holidays be filled with peace and joy and happiness.  Happy New Year! ヽ(^o^)丿

Japanese Anime Festival “Kumafes” Japanese Dance

Kumafes Report, Part 4

After Hatune Miku, Masahito Hishiki did Japanese dance to the tune of an anime theme song.   It brought me a fresh sense combined a Japanese traditional culture and the latest one.    I hope he will inspire the  Japanese traditional dance field.  His dance may have a positive impact on young people who aren’t interested in Japanese dances.     I think his dance would have been better if he had sharper movements.    I couldn’t help comparing with my mother’s dance, who is learning a  Japanese dance for decades.   I hope he will be a help to preserve Japanese culture.   I hear he is also an actor.  I look forward to his activities in the future.

This is the theme song of anime “Gunslinger Girl” sung by Kokia.  It has a beautiful sound with sadness.   Masahito Hishiki chose  good music.  Did you dance on the last post?  Then, sing a song this time!

Japanese Anime Festival “Kumafes” Itasha

Kumafes Report,  Part 1

A series of Kumafes starts today.  Kumafes is a manga, anime and pop culture festival in Kumamoto, Japan.   It was the first time this event has taken place on December 2nd.   ” Grand 12″  organized it.   Grand12 is  working to make Kumamoto a famous mecca for manga.   That’s a good idea!

Unfortunately, it was a very cold rainy day.   First,  I saw Itashas(痛車).    Itasha is a car decorated with cute anime, manga or game characters.   This was the second time that I saw Itasha this year.   The first one was Toyota’s  Itashas for its promotion in September.   Toyota Itasha    This time,  these were anime fans’ cars.

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Itansha(痛単車)

Decorated bicycles (痛自転車) were covered with plastic sheets to protect from the rain.    There are more photos on my Facebook page.   Please check it .    Facebook Happy Yuan     I would appreciate it if you would give a like to my page.

The next post will be about a hilarious dance.   I hope you look forward to reading it!