JapanLive - Little Stories from Japan

  The Complete Guide to Japanese Systems 全図解 日本のしくみ  I just saw the new edition of this book at my local library. This seems like a book worth to study. Important topics in Japanese "daily" life are briefly addressed. Short but they can serve as an entry point for further study. The older editions have a few bad "reviews" on Amazon. I call them bozo reviews, just giving points, no explanations => no meaning.   So, better have a look for yourself when you visit your preferred bookshop. If you have to say something about this book or the older editions, please comment. Thank you.  Click on the photo with the contents view to see it enlarged.   Publisher：IBCパブリッシング Authors：安部 直文（著）／Michael Brase（訳） publication date：2023/11/04 ISBN-13：9784794607881 220 pages MRSP 2200 yen

Do you know where the sword of the Japanese emperors, Kusanagi no Tsurugi , one of the three pieces of the imperial regalia, comes from. Obviously you know it is from Amaterasu , the sun goddess. But where did she get it from? Short answer: it is a gift from her brother Susanoo who found it stuck in the legendary eight-headed, eight-tailed serpent Yamata no Orochi (八岐大蛇). He killed the serpent after feeding it strong sake. The same method is still used today by some bars - you are lucky, you don't lose your head, just your wallet. Long answer is told e.g. on Yokai.com, the online database of Japanese ghosts and monsters. Read it here . Picture is from Wikipedia LINK You can see the serpent in natura at the Hamada Children’s Museum of Art in Shimane Prefecture. Picture

The auction catalogues of Kogire-Kai are published on issue.com: LINK The newest is the 98th. A good chance to see a lot of Asian art at one place. A book about Chinese ornaments is re-published digitally at the French National Library and at archive.org: LINK FNL LINK archive Examples of Chinese Ornament selected from Objects  in the  South Kensington Museum and Other Collections Owen Jones  1867