A Happy New Year ”2018” ♪

＊New Year Decoration for the front door＊ 

On 23rd, I received sns called "line" that the preserved flower association called "Juillet" is holding the exhibition with other art associations. I bought one of the works for my front door (I can save the effort to arrange p;-)  I will show you their works only for the New Year  versions here. 

  Inside of the front door with the work I bought;

Above is their lovely work of しめ飾り (shime-kazari); which is another New Year decoration for outside of the front door.  Below is the one I bought at the department-store.  They are for protection of the year and welcoming the Gods etc.

Dusky thrush with Shachihoko "鯱鉾 "

Early this month, I found a Dusky thrush  on the Japanese style tiled roof.  And what is more, the roof has Shachi-hoko "鯱鉾" on both sides.  I checked about the detail of the ornament. What a place to perch ♪

*About Shachi-hoko  " 鯱鉾* 

Shachihoko has the head of a tiger and the body of a carp. The two Chinese character has meanings of "killer whale･Halberd".  I checked about the reason of the use of these characters.  This animal was believed to cause the rain to fall, so temples and castles were often adorned with this roof ornaments in order to protect them from fire.  And for the "Halberd" part, it seems they were used for the shinto ritual as time goes by. The two pictures below are from picture page of the famous shachi-hoko of the Nagoya-castle in Aichi-pref.

The other day, we attended the service at the family temple; the service is performed in perpetuity by a Buddhist temple for the repose of a departed soul. Temples and the old houses also have them. (sorry, it was a cloudy day)

       

Nations’ Birthday ♪

                                                                                                 

Our National Foundation Day (in Japan) by using my old post(2012)
"The origin of Japanese National Foundation Day (February 11th) is New Year's Day in the traditional lunisolar calendar. On that day, the foundation of Japan by Emperor Jimmu (first Emperor) was celebrated based on Nihonshoki (日本書紀), which states that Emperor Jimmu ascended to the throne on the first day of the first month (around BC.660).  In the Meiji period (19th century), the Japanese government designated the day as a National Holiday."

  Have a great Holiday, dear friends in America,

  Wishing you all will have a wonderful weekend.

          ps; I'll be able to visit you later today.  See You SoonLove, Miyako*

*Coming May 5th is Children's Day "子供の日"or Boy's Day celebration *

Boy's Day Festival exhibition held by local Handicraft Association

I've explained about this day here;  On this day, we celebrate Tango no Sekku (端午の節句) and wish that our sons will grow up healthy and strong.    'タンポポの会 tampopo no kai' which is the same association held Girl's day exhibition (I posted here) had Children’s Day exhibition in collaboration with the Ceramics Federation.

Happy to see dolls for this day made of "Cocoon Filament" like the girl's day ♪

 The bottles (earthen ware) below used as vases are sulfuric acid bottle container.  Next city where is my husband's birth city used to have thriving ceramic engineering  (pottery industry).  "sulfuric acid, is for refining gold and silver" for coins. 

Here is my post about it.

 *Works by Indigo Dying*

I'm surprised that the Matsutake-mushrooms look so real and even they put fragrance on the Hard Tip of them (hope the right word).  We call the part 'ishizuki  石づき'

I really LOVED this work which expresses the old scenery with the lovely old couple.

I really felt heartwarming to see this sweet old couple; we'll be soon p:-)

*The Ceramics Federation side*

*Hinamaturi '雛祭り';  Girl's Day Festival exhibition by local Handicraft Association* 

Knowing from the local TV news, I went to next city's department store to see this exhibition. 

This association is called 'タンポポの会 Tanpopo no kai'.  I was so amazed at the big scale of exhibited works. I couldn't post pictures as many as I satisfied to show you p:-)  Even so, please bear me with this long picture post.

*First time to see Hina-Doll made of Cocoon Filament*

＊Japanese bride wearing Kimono bridal costume*

*Works with Monkey's Design which is this year's Oriental Zodiac Sign*

Thank you very much for stopping by;