Embassy in Minato ward, Tokyo

Minato ward, Tokyo has 82 embassies accounting for more than half in Japan. Why are there so many embassies in Minato ward?In the Edo era there were many Daimyo feudal lord’s residence there. In 19th century after opening the nation to the foreign country , Meiji government offered the site of Daimyo residence as foreign Embassy.  As Minato ward was accessible to port Yokohama and the Japanese government Embassy increased there.Although the national flags are wrapped because of strong wind, which country’s embassy can you guess?          

Tsukiji fish market

Tsukiji fish market crowded with overseas tourists. Early in the morning the narrow streets of outer market are filled with nice smell of grilled chicken, tuna, whale and scallops. Long lining for bite size egg roll. Hurried up by the busy turres and workers tourists pass thru the intricate street while fascinated by splashing fish and tuna filleting. Tsukiji market is the best place to buy not only fresh fish but vegetables and fruits, tea, dried fish, pickled vegetables and kitchen utensils. Long line of tourists wanting to eat raw fish on the spot in front of sushi restaurants before noon. Tsukiji is food park, the right place to encounter […]

Shibuya Scramble crossing & Statue of Hachiko

Shibuya Scramble crossing!! Shibuya crossing is popular for film “lost in Translation” “The fast and the furious: Tokyo Drift” is world’s busiest intersection where hundreds of people cross at a time from 5 directions. Fearful of being lost some tourists holding each other’s hands shout “1,2,3, Go!!” as if to bungy jump from Kiyomizu temple. They struggle their way to meet in the center where fewer people than expected shoot a photo from every angle. Starbuck’s 2nd floor across from Shibuya st is perfect for overlooking the chaos every tow minute, many colorful umbrellas on rainy days. You can see many colorful umbrellas gathering on rainy days. Hachiko in Shibuya […]

Tea & Sweets

On fine greenery day I went to Hamarikyu Japanese garden with a friend. After walking a long distance we rested at tea house crowded with many foreign visitors. We ordered powdered tea & sweets and waited looking around us. The hostess brought tea & sweets on the tray to the foreigners fluently saying in English “ These are the sweets of cherry blossom and wisteria Enjoy the tea.” and she left. “ How beautiful and looks delicious!! “ Excited visitors almost started to eat, but “wait! how?? How should we eat them? “ It might be good to just eat regardless of the manner. But this is Japan! home of […]

Family crest

Japanese family has each different family crest. They are mainly flowers, trees and insects as Shintoism worships nature. By looking at a family crest we can tell what someone’s family origins are. There are said to be more than 10000 different family crests in Japan. Today, family crest can be seen on ceremonial kimonos, called montsuki. Family crests first appeared during the Heian Period when aristocrats placed them on clothes and cow carriages. Warriors then began to use family crests on their flags to identify themselves on their battlefields. Merchants and kabuki actors were permitted to use in the Edo period, then ordinary people in the Meiji period. Emperor’s family […]

SUGITAMA

A round ball hung down may look like a big honeycomb but  it is actually Sugitama a traditional symbol of a sake brewery, also called Sakebayashi. The brewers used to gather branches of sacred cedar and made a ball by combining and trimming and hung it under the eaves to notify that a new sake was produced. Sugitama originated from Miwa Shinto shrine in Nara. Mt. Miwa and cedar trees there were worshiped as the god of sake. Soft cedar has long been used for making buckets, barrels and measuring containers called masu for sake. The fresh green color of the ball when sake was newly made gradually changes into […]

Hanko seal

Japanese use Hanko seal with signature Although this custom may look old fashioned, use of seals has a long history in Asia. Around the 12th century Zen Buddhist monks started to use them for their writings. In the late 19th century use of hanko seals for legal documents became the law. So Japanese still believe seals are more reliable. Most people have three seals; jitsu-in for important legal matters such as mortgage contract, ginko-in for opening bank account and mitome-in for daily use such as receiving packages from delivery or post office. You can buy custom made seal at hanko store. They will make hanko in hiragana, katakana or romaji […]

Kimono

You may see women dressed up in kimono on New Year’s days and Coming of age day. Kimonos today were originally a kind of underwear called kosode under long robes in the Heian period. At the end of Muromachi period women started to wear kosode without robes. In the middle of Edo period kimono became more decorative and obi sash more wider. The bottom used to drag along the ground until women started to adjust their length by tying at the waist using obi sashes.　We wrap obi around the waist twice and tie in the back with a beautiful bow. Today most women wear kimonos only on special occasions such […]

Shichi Fukujin Seven Gods of good fortune

Seven Gods of good fortune are believed to arrive on a ship full of treasures and bring good fortunes to the people. They are modeled after Indian, Chinese and Japanese gods.  One of them called Daikokuten standing on bags of rice with a lucky hammer and a big sack is the god of agriculture. Benzaiten playing the biwa is the Goddess of Arts and knowledge. Ebisu holding a fishing rod is the god of fishing and commerce. First worshipped in the Muromachi period and became popular in Edo period. Even today during the New Year’s season many people visit shrines and temples housing Shichi Fukujin statues. And it is believed […]

Chinowa-Kuguri, passing through a hoop ceremony

Chinowa, large hoop made of kaya grass,  is placed in front of the shrine sanctuary two times a year, early in summer and around end or beginning of the year (different depending on the shrine). People can be purified and protected from illness and evil by passing through three times in such a way as to draw a number of 8.  This is an old shrine tradition with roots in a very old Japanese legend: “Once upon a time the man called Susanoo-no-Mikoto asked one night’s shelter to the villagers during his trip. While the rich man named Tanshorai wouldn’t give even a night’s shelter, his elder brother named Somin […]