1/28/2008

more icicles

  
  



02 icicles




long icicles -
the frogs frozen
in mid-air





03 icicles big





:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/25/2008

snow and icicles

  
  





03 one drop



midnight -
the icicles grow
steadily





01 foxes at night





ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo ooo




06 early morning Buddha



early morning
meditation in snow
and sunshine







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Enjoy my snow !
. . . My Album, form here to Number 11 !



. . . Read my Snow Haiku from yesterday


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/24/2008

Icicles

  
  







icicles -
the joy of catching
the right moment





06 tip of ice






with my foxes


START the tour from HERE !






with my badger Tanuki


04 tanuki and mouse







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. . . The next morning is HERE !


Winter in my garden
Look at more in my PHOTO ALBUM !



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/23/2008

snowy evening

  
  




01 garden in snowclouds - till Nr. 07




winter evening -
the snowclouds hide
my mountains





03 birds landing branch






empty bird branch -
so cold and wet and
wintery



CLICK to continue here in the Album !







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Basho Daruma

  
  



芭蕉 だるま



Basho Daruma !
the missing link between
my friends !





CLICK for original LINK



Daruma sama
Oku Hosomichi no
Bashoo kana






© Photo from Kuro San / 黒さん絵日記


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


This Basho Daruma is an unexpected find in the WWW!


ダルマさんがころんだ 道草の森  
キミとボクの夢の跡 

Natsukusa Dayori 夏草だより~
http://slowbiz.exblog.jp/11444867/



Basho Memorial Day (Basho-Ki) Japan



It is cold and rainy outside today, but I fell like christmas and new year have come again with this wonderful Basho Daruma find !!


Now Lary tells me:

Indeed, the year has not yet drawn to its close if Christams and New Year's Day have come again! I am reminded of a haiku of Basho's, and a haiku in response by Buson:

toshi kurenu kasa kite waraji hakinagara

The year draws to its close:
I am still wearing
My kasa and straw sandals.


Basho, trans. Blyth

bashoo satte sono nochi imada toshi kurezu

Since Basho left the world,
Not yet has
"The year drawn to its close."


or

Basho left us,
And since then,
The year has not drawn to its close.


Buson, trans. Blyth



年暮れぬ笠着て草鞋はきながら
toshi kurenu kasa kite waraji hakinagara
. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Basho travelling in Japan

. Matsuo Basho 松尾芭蕉 - Archives of the WKD .


. . . Read my Haiku Archives

[ . BACK to WORLDKIGO . TOP . ]
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: 

1/21/2008

snowed in

  
  



 CLICK for more snow photos in my album !




snowed in -
the bamboo hangs its head
so low











10 bamboo hanging lower / END






visitors ...



09 visitors






The Terraced Rice Fields - Tanada


CLICK for the Photo Album !







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


More SNOW photos from today are in my ALBUM ! till Nr. 34



more of my SNOW haiku


the bamboo is maybe just a second before breaking ...
yuki-ore, a kigo



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/20/2008

Heavy Snow

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



大雪のおそれありての南無阿弥陀


we are expecting heavy snow tonight ...
namu amida


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Updated Jan 20, 2008 8:00 PM
Current Okayama Weather Conditions

Moderate Snow Moderate Fog
Temperature: 0°C Dew Point: 0°C
Barometer: 102.1 kPa Wind: ENE 5 km/h
Humidity: 100 % Visibility: 0.6 km

http://www.weathercity.com/jp/okayama/



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/18/2008

snowflakes

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



early morning -
such tiny snowflakes
racing through sunrays




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::




Usually our snowflakes are rather large and heavy and wet.
This morning, they were really tiny ... and the sunshine from the side made them look like little diamond dust !
This amazing blizzard lasted for about half an hour before the sunshine won the day.



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/16/2008

two demons

  
  





01 small demon




winter visitors -
two friendly demons
smile at me





03 hanya







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



般若 ... Hanya . Hannya Masks of Japan
More ONLINE Photos


Hannya Masks / Wikipedia




Demons and Hungry Ghosts and Haiku

Daruma and Japanese Ghosts


and soon we have the DEMONS OUT .. Festival of Setsubun
February 3 !


. Men, omote 面 masks of Japan .



. . . Read my Haiku Archives


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/15/2008

diet

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



winter diet -
a bite of broiled fish
and miso soup








:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/10/2008

Bishamonten

  






a centipede
just crossed my line -
Bishamonten









:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. . . Bishamonten, Centipede and the First Day of the Tiger



More about

Bishamonten Festival and the Centipede




. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/07/2008

Frosty morning

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



frosty morning -
sipping hot tea
sipping happiness




:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/05/2008

First Shrine Visit

  
  



初詣



50 ceramic lanterns and holy smoke


first shrine visit -
two beauties sourrounded
by their beaux







36 uppermost shrine complex


first shrine visit -
the smell of incense
in our hair






:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Join me here on my visit with a slide show:
(Take your time to visit ...)

. . . . . First Shrine Visit 2008 / Photo Album


Fox Shrine Saijo Inari, about one hours drive from my home
It is a mix of Shinto worship and main temple of the Buddhst Nichiren Sect.


We visited on January 4, just right between the first three day crowds and the next sunday crowds. Even though, just to get a parking space took about 45 minutes waiting in line. And the special fee for the parking spot was just ... well ...

The blend of Buddhist and Shinto worship is remarkable here. Everyone takes incence and puts a stick in front of each of the many small memorial shrines. Some throw coins on the roofs of two smaller shrines and if the coin does not fall down, they will have good money luck in the coming year.


O-Negai Yokocho

All kinds of talismans and lucky charms for any kind of endeavor are sold here. During the new year celebrations, there is even a special shopping mall for this.

The big sacred rope of the shrine (shimenawa) is renewed every year. Look at it in the album.


The weather was warm to start with but turned rainy by the time we left ...
Yet, in the end at our local Hachiman Shrine I found a rather special present waiting for me, hanging in the bark of my favorite cedar tree ... look at the last photo in the album.


And the car smelled of incense all the way back home !



40 new year decoration



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Saijo Inari Shrine
is one of the three most famous Inari shrines in the country, and is a noted Buddhist shrine for prayer. The shrine is located in Okayama, Okayama Prefecture, a city famous for its picturesque views of the Kibi Plains.

The shrine was built around 1200 years ago by Houon Daishi. The main building of the shrine suffered losses from fire when Toyotomi Hideyoshi attacked the Bichuu Takamatsu Castle during the Warring States period. Yet, since the patron deity of the shrine was hidden under the building in a secret compartment 8 tatamis large, and covered by rock slabs, it was kept safe from harm.

Since that time, the patron deity became famous across the country for its miraculous efficacy, drawing the faith of the masses. The deity is famous for answering prayers for success in business, traffic safety, and for increased scholastic ability. Every March during the "First Day of the Horse" Hatsu-uma Festival, the shrine overflows with people who have come to pray for luck and good health.
 © nippon-kichi.jp







Japanese (written on the many red prayer flags):

最上位経王大菩薩

Saijoo Ikyoo-Oo Daibosatsu
(さいじょういきょうおうだいぼさつ)





. 最上稲荷 . Japanese Home Page of the Shrine





Thanks Gabi san!



Thank you, Angelee from India.




Read my Haiku Archives


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/03/2008

Reflecting Life

  
  



77 floating branches



初詣




79 persimmon tree in water




first temple visit -
reflections of
a good life






78 clear water and tree







:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


Join me at the First Shrine Visit 2008 !!!
Fox Shrine Saijo Inari



:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::


. . . Read my Haiku Archives 2008


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1/02/2008

DaiDai

  
  





Happy New Year !
May the orange bring you
many children ...










The two mochi discs are variously said to symbolize the going and coming years, the human heart, "yin" and "yang", or the moon and the sun.

The "daidai 橙、代々", whose name means "generations", is said to symbolize the continuation of a family from generation to generation.

Good luck for many generations is carried by the DAIDAI color of the orange which is placed on top
of the white mochi cakes.









:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::



Color DAIDAI 橙色 だいだいいろ
#ee7800 in the BOX above




WKD : Rice Cakes for the New Year (kagami mochi)



. WASHOKU
New Year Food and Decorations
  



. New Year Decorations (o-kazari)   



Read my Haiku Archives 2007


:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .