Monthly Archives: August 2014
KI-MO-NO-GA-TA-RI
08/25/2014 Yamato Gokoro
Hi everyone! Today, I’d like to introduce a Japanese book written by my KIMONO master: Naoyuki Kanzaki. The title of this book is “KIMONOGATARI – NOKOSHITAI MONO, KODAWARI NO KOKORO” (The tale of KIMONO – Things we want to leave to later generations and the dedication to it). In this book, he says: “Thinking …
OBON Festival
08/20/2014 Yamato Gokoro
Konnichiwa everyone! Have you ever heard a Japanese word “OBON”? “OBON” is a shortened form of Buddhist festival “URABONĒ” and held in July or August in Japan to welcome, honor and send the spirits of one’s ancestors. In general, OBON starts from July (or August) 13th by burning a welcome fire called “MUKAE-BI” at the …
TŌHAI-SAI and Japanese mountain worship
08/15/2014 Yamato Gokoro
Hello everyone! As I mentioned a little bit in my profile page, I am living in TOCHIGI prefecture of which a city called “NIKKO” is famous for its temples and shrines registered all together as UNESCO World Heritage in December 1999. Last week, I participated in a MATSURI called “TŌHAI-SAI” of “FUTARASAN Shrine (Mt. FUTARA …
A Shinto Matsuri in KITSUREGAWA
08/08/2014 Yamato Gokoro
Hello everyone! Now, it is the highest of summer in Japan, that festivals (MATSURIs) are being held here and there. Of all MATSURIs, a Shinto MATSURI is an important religious event for worship. During this event, the Divinity(s) who resides usually in each local shrine makes a tour of the area once a year, taking …
YAMATO GOKORO
08/04/2014 Yamato Gokoro
Hi everyone, how are you? As you might have noticed already, the sub-title of this blog is “Inspired by Yamato Gokoro”. Do you know what does “Yamato Gokoro” mean? It means the spirituality or character that more or less we Japanese have deep inside of our hearts from ancient times. It is not too much …
