2016年1月27日水曜日

Kohfukuji Temple


Kohfukuji Temple
興福寺

Originally founded in the 7th century. 2010 marks the 1300 anniversary of the foundation of this temple. The five-story pagoda, a symbol of Nara City, was reconstructed about 500 years ago (1426) after it had burned down five times. A lot of national treasures and cultural treasures are exhibited at the temple's museum, Kokuhokan.

法相宗の大本山として知られる奈良の興福寺。五重塔で有名ですが国宝館に展示されている阿修羅像はもっと有名です。興福寺を訪れたら国宝館も忘れずに見学しましょう。

Kohfukuji Temple
興福寺
Kohfukuji Temple
About Kohfukuji Temple

Google map
https://goo.gl/maps/LkyPHpK6ALL2

National Treasures
The Eastern Golden Hall (Lt), The Five Storied Pagoda (Rt)
国宝 東金堂、五重塔
The Eastern Golden Hall (Lt), The Five Storied Pagoda (Rt)


 We can see the various statues, paintings, books, craftworks and historical documents at the National Treasures Museum, Kokuhokan. 

国宝館もお見逃しなく
The standing Asura
阿修羅像
The standing Asura


Shinkansen
Shinkansen



Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Chagayu ; tea flavoured rice gruel
茶粥
Chagayu ; tea flavoured rice gruel

Ekiben ; Box lunch sold on a train or at a station
駅弁
Ekiben ; Box lunch sold on a train or at a station

Chawan-mushi ; Japanese steamed egg custard 
茶碗蒸し 
Chawan-mushi ; Japanese steamed egg custard

Sushi
寿司
Sushi

Asari no Miso Shiru ; Miso Soup with Asari Clams
あさりの味噌汁
Asari no Miso Shiru ; Miso Soup with Asari Clams


 About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the nuclear power plant accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.
 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
 As PM Abe said, Nara Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nara Prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.
 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the nuclear power plant accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.


Public Health Network in Japan
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan

2016年1月22日金曜日

Nagoya Castle


Nagoya Castle
名古屋城

 Nagoya Castle was constructed on the orders of Ieyasu TOKUGAWA in order to secure an important position on the Tokaido road and to ward off attacks from the direction of Osaka. Construction was completed in 1612, and the castle is typical of those built on flatlands. Until the Meiji Restoration, Nagoya Castle flourished as the castle in which the Owari lineage of the Tokugawa family, the foremost of the family’s three lineages, resided.
 In May 1945, during the air raids on Nagoya in the Second World War, most of the buildings including the main and small donjons, and the Hommaru Palace, were burned down. Fortunately, however, three corner towers, three gates, and most of the paintings on the sliding doors and walls in the Hommaru Palace survived the fire, and have been handed down as Important Cultural Assets.
source http://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/13_english/index.html



名古屋城は徳川家康が天下統一の最後の布石として築いた城です。天守閣の南側には近世城郭御殿の最高傑作と言われた本丸御殿がありました。しかし1945年の空襲で焼失し、現在の名古屋城は戦後再建されたものです。


English leaflet (PDF:2.4MB)
http://www.nagoyajo.city.nagoya.jp/13_english/pdf/eigo.pdf

Google map
http://goo.gl/maps/HzDZz

These pictures were taken on September, 2015.

Nagoya Castle
There are golden dolphins (Kinshachi) on the roof.
名古屋城
Nagoya Castle

Kinshachi ; golden dolphins
金鯱
Kinshachi ; golden dolphins

Main Gate
正門
Main Gate
Nagoya Castle

Kimono
着物
kimono

Nagoya Castle
Nagoya Castle

Wonderful view from the castle
view from the castle

There is a museum inside the castle.
Guns
Guns

Helmet
Helmet

Helmet
Helmet

Palanquin
Palanquin

Katana ; sword
Katana ; sword

Kinshachigolden dolphins
金鯱
Kinshachi
The best-known items associated with the Nagoya Castle are the golden dolphins, or kinshachi. It is said that the first dolphins (shachi) to adorn the main ridge of castle roofs, added when the basic construction of the castle was completed, appeared in the Muromachi Era (1334-1400) as symbol of the feudal lord’s authority.
Although Nagoya’s golden dolphins shared the fate of the dungeon, being consumed by flames in the Second World War, they reappeared along with a rebuilt dungeon, in 1959, to the delight of the people of Nagoya.


Hommaru Palace
名古屋城本丸御殿
Hommaru Palace
Hommaru Palace
Hommaru Palace
 The Nagoya Castle donjon was rebuilt in 1959 as part of post-war rehabilitation efforts but hopes for the reconstruction of the Hommaru Palace are yet to be realized. Edo period documents and a number of photographs and measured drawings of the Hommaru Palace remain to this day, making it a distinct possibility to faithfully bring the former palace back to life. Restoration work began in January 2009, and Genkan, the entrance hall and Omote Shoin, the main hall opened to public viewing in 2013. The restoration project is progressing in 3 stages. Taimenjo, the Reception Hall will be completed in 2016. Completion of the entire project is scheduled for 2018.


Shinkansen
新幹線
Shinkansen


Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Kishimen ; noodles made in flat strips
きしめん
Kishimen ; noodles made in flat strips

Miso katsu ; Pork Cutlet with Miso Sauce
みそかつ
Miso katsu ; Pork Cutlet with Miso Sauce



 About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the nuclear power plant accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.
 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
 As PM Abe said, Nagoya is very far away from Fukushima, people in Nagoya have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in Nagoya have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Nagoya. So people in Nagoya are living without any concern about the nuclear power plant accident.
 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of the accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.




Public Health Network in Japan
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan


2016年1月12日火曜日

Kamogawa SEA WORLD


Biological monitoring at Kamogawa SEA WORLD, Chiba prefecture.

 I visited Kamogawa SEA WORLD to see biological impacts of Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant accident. Though I have visited various places in Japan to see the health consequence of the accident, I have never found any effect against creatures in Japan.
 Kamogawa SEA WORLD is a world class aquarium, well known throughout Japan for its killer whale family. In addition to the killer whale show, main attractions of the facility are the dolphin show, sea lion performance and beluga whale performance. Approximately 11,000 sea creatures of 800 species are on display. You can enjoy a fun and relaxing time watching these creatures of the sea with your family, friends or someone special.
 So I visited Kamogawa SEA WORLD to see effects of the nuclear power plant accident against marine creatures which are grown up by Japanese food and water.
 Fortunately, I can see them grown up safely and I cannot find any impact of the accident. It seems that there is no problem for childbirth and child-rearing in Chiba Japan.
Posted by Yoshitaka Kiriake from Japan on January 12, 2016.



These pictures were taken on October, 2016.



千葉県の鴨川シーワールドではシャチやイルカなど海洋生物による豪快なパフォーマンスが楽しめます。彼らの持つ高いコミュニケーション能力と知能に驚きです。



Killer whale show
Killer whale show

Kamogawa SEA WORLD
Kamogawa SEA WORLD

About Kamogawa SEA WORLD

Google map




PINECONE FISH
Monocentris japonica
マツカサウオ
Monocentris japonica

Palette surgeonfish
Paracanthurus hepatus
ナンヨウハギ
Paracanthurus hepatus

Orangespine unicornfish
Naso lituratus
ミヤコテングハギ
Naso lituratus

Clown triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
モンガラカワハギ
Balistoides conspicillum

Blackspot tuskfish
Choerodon schoenleinii
シロクラベラ
Choerodon schoenleinii

Loggerhead Sea Turtle
Caretta caretta
アカウミガメ
Caretta caretta

Longhorn cowfish
Lactoria cornuta
コンゴウフグ
Lactoria cornuta

White Spotted Char
Salvelinus leucomaenis 
イワナ
Salvelinus leucomaenis

Caspian seal
Pusa caspica
カスピカイアザラシ
Pusa caspica

Australian pelican(Lt)
Pelecanus conspicillatus
コシグロペリカン(左)
Eastern white pelican(Rt)
Pelecanus onocrotalus
モモイロペリカン(右)
Pelecanus conspicillatus, Pelecanus onocrotalus

Walrus
セイウチ
Walrus

Japanese dace
Tribolodon hakonensis
ウグイ
Tribolodon hakonensis

Japanese perch
Coreoperca kawamebari
オヤニラミ
Coreoperca kawamebari

California sea lion
Zalophus californianus
カリフォルニアアシカ
Zalophus californianus

Steller Sea Lion
トド
Steller Sea Lion

Harbour porpoise
Phocoena phocoena
ネズミイルカ
Phocoena phocoena

Beluga
ベルーガ
Beluga

Bottlenose dolphin
Tursiops truncatus
バンドウイルカ
Tursiops truncatus

Pacific white-sided dolphin
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens
カマイルカ
Lagenorhynchus obliquidens

Killer whale show
シャチパフォーマンス
Killer whale show
Killer whale show
Killer whale show
Killer whale show

We were soaked with seawater.
Killer whale show
Killer whale show
Killer whale show

Killer whale show
Killer whale show
Killer whale show

Ocellaris clownfish (False clown anemone fish)
Amphiprion ocellaris
カクレクマノミ
Amphiprion ocellaris

Chum salmon
Oncorhynchus keta
サケ
Oncorhynchus keta

King Penguin
Aptenodytes patagonicus
オウサマペンギン
Aptenodytes patagonicus

Gentoo penguin
Pygoscelis papua
ジェンツーペンギン
Pygoscelis papua

Twofin flashlightfish  (splitfin flashlightfish)
Anomalops katoptron
ヒカリキンメダイ
Anomalops katoptron



Japanese foods are good and safe.
Because of stricter food safety law by Japanese government, we have no worry about foods.

Beluga shaped steamed bun
Beluga shaped bun

ice
ice

"BOSO" Lobster Curry & Rice
"BOSO" Lobster Curry & Rice

Grilled abalone
Grilled abalone

fruits and cakes
fruits and cakes

Croissants
Croissants



 About 5 years have passed since Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident. I have visited various places of Japan to see the health consequence of the accident.
 Fortunately I have never found any impacts by the accident among Japanese creatures. As far as I know, nobody has health problem which is caused by the accident in Japan.
 Our Prime Minister Abe assures that "The situation is under control. The influence of the contaminated water is completely blocked within Fukushima. There are no health-related problems until now and there will never be health problems." He also said that "Tokyo is 250 kilometers away from Fukushima, and the kind of danger that you imagine does not exist in Tokyo. Tokyo is a very safe city."
 As PM Abe said, Chiba Prefecture is very far away from Fukushima, people in there have no concern about the nuclear power plant accident. People in there have already forgotten the accident, because they think radioactive materials cannot reach there.
 We know there is no problem for childbirth and child rearing in Chiba prefecture. So people in there have no concern about the accident.
 I continue to visit various places in Japan to see the effects of Fukushima nuclear power plant accident, because I can meet various creatures which are more sensitive to radioactive materials from the environment. It is important to see their health for our safety.



Public Health Network in Japan
公衆衛生ネットワーク
Public Health Network in Japan