Category Archives: Photos

【News】 University students and old hands join hands to open way for resurgence of broom corn and zashiki brooms in Japan (Sept. 21, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada – Zashiki brooms (Tochigi Prefecture) – Zashiki brooms are one of the specialties of Tochigi Prefecture that can date back to the Edo period. To carry on the tradition for future generations and help old hands to make brooms using locally-harvested broom corn, a group of Utsunomiya University students are now trying hard to grow broom corn plants in Kanuma-shi, Tochigi Prefecture. ◇                    ◇ “It turned out better than we expected,” said Yoshiaki Tsukui, 21, a senior student in agriculture and a member of the broom corn resurgence project in Kanuma-shi, Tochigi Prefecture while harvesting the plant at a quick pace. The project started in April 2013 voluntarily by … Continue reading

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【News】 Kabuki shout echoes through mountains (Sept. 14, 2014)

Hiroki Arai – Hinoemata Kabuki (Hinoemata, Fukushima Prefecture) – Hinoemata Kabuki performed by Hinoemata villagers is one of the traditions that can be traced back to the Edo Period. It was started by a villager who watched a kabuki play in Edo. Learning from what he saw, ancient Hinoemata villagers created Hinoemata Kabuki as a performance in dedication to the gods. Since then, it’s been handed down through generation to generation for more than 270 years. On the evening of September 6, 2014, a shrine located in the central part of the Hinoemata village was packed with people waiting for a kabuki play to begin. It was the day for … Continue reading

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【News】 Make ties and sail boats for future (Sept. 7, 2014)

Kotaro Yamada – Reed Boat School (Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture) – Three and a half years ago, the great earthquake hit the eastern part of Japan and tsunami swept away a large part of reed fields along the Kitakami River. Today, a specified non-profit organization (NPO) organized by local residents of Ishinomaki-shi, Miyagi Prefecture, is trying to restore the fields. In late August, it had an event for approximately 30 people, mostly the local and some from other areas, to offer an experience of building reed boats. The event was held for the first time by the organization, inviting Jin Ishikawa, a professional adventurer, as a lecturer. Ishikawa has learnt reed … Continue reading

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【News】 Can children follow Kappa’s teaching? (Aug. 31, 2014)

Tetsuya Onda – Yokkabui (Kinpo-cho, Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima Prefecture) – On August 22 every year in Takahashi district of Kinpo-cho, Minamisatsuma, Kagoshima Prefecture, Yokkabui Festival takes place to pray for avoiding water accidents. This festival is one of Japan’s intangible folk culture assets and has a long history of over 300 years. Its highlight comes when faceless “Ogarappa (big Kappa’ or big water imps)” try to catch children. At around 9:30 in the morning, a bell rang loudly to announce the start of the festival. Then some young male villagers with masks made of palm tree skins and in nightclothes headed for Tamate Shrine from the Community Hall with straw bags … Continue reading

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【Series】 Japanese food worth sharing with world – Steamed Eggplant with Sansho Pepper Soy Dressing from Hyogo Prefecture (Aug. 22, 2014)

Refreshing, Piquant, and Loved for Many Years “Steamed eggplant with Sansho (Japanese pepper) soy dressing” is one of the popular dishes in summer in Sasayama-shi, Hyogo Prefecture. Steamed eggplant with a delicate, silky texture soaks up the fresh piquant Sansho soy sauce and the flavor will permeate the dish. You will simply love it. The recipe has become popular among busy rice and soybean farmers in the region as a quick-and-easy recipe that can be made from only a few ingredients: Sansho peppercorns from their gardens and eggplants from their fields. The dish is also served at a local restaurant called Satoyama Kobo Kumobe, which is owned by a limited … Continue reading

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