JapanLive - Little Stories from Japan

Taken in a department store in Narita on November 3, 2017. In Japan, seasons are not related to nature anymore - they are mostly related to shopping events. Beginning with November 1st, we have left the Halloween season and entered the Christmas season. So instead of "Merry Christmas" it might become "Merry Shopping". If you visit shops in this season, you are getting to hate Christmas songs. Wish I could hear this one more often instead: The Season's Upon Us I haven't seen yet the first Christmas illuminations on garden fences, trees or houses but they are following the shopseason's footsteps.

If you are in monsters and ghosts, you might be interested to help starting a new book on Kickstarter. The Book of the Hakutaku: a Bestiary of Japanese Monsters A fully illustrated encyclopedia of yokai: ghosts, spirits & monsters of traditional Japanese folklore. Over one hundred illustrations!  by Matthew Meyer@ Yokai.com Become a supporter here: LINK to Kickstarter

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

It is most probably special to Japan that you are thanked for peeing. Thank you for using. Please don't forget anything. Sakura Station You are here .

Have you seen these "street signs" in Japanese malls? Stop and bow It is a sign for the employees. It says, "here you enter the customer zone, stop and greet(bow)". Also, when the employee leave, they have to stop here, turn towards the customer area and bow again.

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

What a drag - only water. Seen at the Ryuushouin Kannon Temple - 龍正院 （滑河観音） in Namegawa, Narita

What did all these English teachers in Japan do? (Pachinko in Sakura)

Greeting the visitors of the museum When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning, or in rain? When the hurlyburly's done, When the battle's lost and won. That will be ere the set of sun. Where the place? Upon the heath. There to meet with M. I come, Graymalkin! Paddock calls. Anon. Fair is foul, and foul is fair: Hover through the fog and filthy air. Meanwhile, we visit the new exhibition at Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art. Details at the homepage - in Japanese - in English .

Kawamura Memorial DIC Museum of Art in Sakura, Chiba The museum has some impressive art works under display. A few of them are shown at the Google Cultural Institute or at Wikipedia . Apart from the museum itself, the museum area consists of a 30 hectare park - entry is free with a museum ticket or 200 Yen without a ticket. A short visit has been produced by Google "Parkview" in October 2011. The park is famous for its magnolia trees, cherry trees, rhododendron, water lilies, hydrangea macrophylla, lotus, lilies and many more flowers .  lotus flowers  hydrangea macrophylla  water lilies

I really enjoy people calling themselves "Intercultural Trainer" after having spent a minute time in a foreign country. That's about the same as selling snake oil . Here a link to a report about such a salesman . "Riddikulus" to say it with Harry Potter.