Let me intoroduce myself. My name is Sayaka Kaji. I was born in Takamatsu City, Kagawa Prefecture, Japan on October 6, 1984.
I am a first year student at Kagawa Junior College in Japan. Our class home page is http://www.kagawa-jc.ac.jp/~steve_mc/students. My major is Elderly Care Socal Work
My hobby is classical ballet. My favorite foods are grapefruit & pudding. I don't like to eat sea urchin.
Ayako Takeshita Miku Tojo Chiaki Hirose Kana Takeuchi Kumi Tomiie Itsumi Muguruma Yuta Sakai Tsuyoshi ogami
Japanese-English Quiz - Lesson 1
Takamatsu City
-the Gateway to Shikoku-
Takamatu is the capital of Kagawa Prefecture , which has traditionally been called the gateway to Shikoku, with the whole land of the prefecture jutting out into the Seto Inland Sea linke a porch.
JR Takamatu Station next to Takamatu Harbor is the terminal of the Kotoku Line for Tokusima Pref. , the Yosan Line for Ehime Pref. and the Dosan Line for Kochi Pref. , while serving as the bus terminal to Tokushima, Matsuyama and Kochi City. Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station is the terminal of Kotoden trams to and from Kotohira, the seat of 'Kompira-san;
The New Takamatsu Aiport handles non-stop rlights to and from Seoul, Korea.
Another place in Takamatsu appropriate as a gateway to Shikoku is the Takamatsu Heike Monogatari Historical Museum Takamatsu heike monogatari shiroukan that features not only the famous historical literature called Heike Monogatori but also about 50 great historical figures closely associated with Shikoku or native to Shikoku.
Takamatsu became the capital in 1587 with the advent of Lord I as governor of Sanuki Province. The castle he buito on the harbor was succeeded by 4 genertions of his descendants, and then by 11 generations of Matsudaira lords, governing Takamatsu Province with a fier of 120,000 koku .
One ninth of the former castle ground is preserved as Tamamo koen perk across the street from JR takamatsu Station. The donjon is gone, but two of the 15 turretsu and Mizute Gomon Gate from the 17 th cen tury (Important Cultural Properties) survived the air raid in 1945. Admission: 100 yen.
Traditionally the popular sightseeing spots in Takamatsu are Ritsurin koen Park near downtown and Yashima Plateau overlooking the city and the Inland Sea. They arr accessible by bus or tram, with terminals at Takamatsu Chikko just opposite JR Station.
The busy street in front of JR Takamatsu is the main street of downtown Takamatsu, and leads to the main gate to Riturin koen Park, a National Special Scenic Spot. This spacious garden laid out wits shapely mounds, cool ponds and about 160 varieties of trees and rlowers provides a classic example of a Japanese garden or even a Chinese Taoradise fit for meditation.
Originally it belonged to a local warlord, and then to Lorrd Ikoma. When it was transferred to the Matsudairas, they spent five generations developing it into a larger stroll-type garden for their villa. Seasonal charms of flowers and blossoms such as ume (Japanese plum blossoms) in February, camellias in March, cherry blossom in April, wisteria and azaleas in May, Irises and Japanwater lilies in June, giant lotuses in Augast, and Japanese bush clover in Septenmber, and brilliant maple leaves in November add to the pleasure of strolling.
Kiugetsu-tei , one of the pond-side teahouses, was originally one of the Matsudairas formal buildings. The museum just inside the main gate sanuki minngai kan houses a variety of mostly local handicfts. There is a zoo, too, inside the gate. Open daial. Abmission to the park: About yen300.
Bus: 30 minutes' ride from Chikko to the terminal (kotoden Bus for Yashima-sanjo or Yashima Hilltop).
Tram + Cable:30 minutes' tram ride from Chikko to Yashima(Shido-sen line ) + 5 minutes' cable-car ride.
Yashima, a pine-wooded tableland to the northeast of downtown Takamatsu, is one of the world's rare lava mesas, about 290 m high, 3 km wide, jutting 5 km out inoto the sea. The hilltop, overlookin the archipelago of the Inland Sea, features Yashima-ji (No.84) 1, anaquarim 2 and observatories all linked by forest promenades.
One of the observatorise, Dankorei 3, commands a view of the inlet fringed with memorials to the Gempei Yashima Battle (the second last battle in Gempei War fought between the tow rival clans, the Minamotos and the Tairas).
Once a British poet, Edmund Blunden, visited Yashima and wrote a poem that was engraved on a stone here at Dankorei odservatory:
- Like a long roof, men say, and will they say,
- This hill of warrior ghosts surmounts the plain...
In 794 Kyoto became the capital of Japan and it enjoyed peace for about 350 years (811 - 1155) - the longest peace Japan hsa ever attained in her history.
The last 30 years of this period, however, were far from peaceful. In1156 the first battle took place in the capital, thus opening up a new era dominated by martial emotions. Two martial clans - the Minamoto and Taira clans-began to acquire through fighting against each other ih the name of the Emperor or the Ex-Emperor".
In 1159,the Tairas succeeded temporarily in staving off the Minamotos rise to increasingly control the Imperial Family, inviting animosity from the reigning Emperors, the ex-Emperors, powerul priests, warriors and lords, to say nothing of the Minamotos in exile.
In 1181 the patriarch of the clan Taira no Kiyomori died just when the Tairas faced more battles against the Minamotos, who were gradually consolidating their power.
In 1183 the Tairas were driven from the Capital along with the 6-year-old Emperor Antoku and his mother, who was Kiyomori's daughter. They wandered far in search of supporters, while fighting losing battles.
Now in 1185 , Minamoto no Yoshitsune attacked the remaining Tairas here at Yashima, then at Dan-no-ura in the was ternmost corner of the Inland Sea, where the proud Taira finally fell, the noblewomen casting themselves into the sea with the child Emperor antoku.
Thus the age of ancient nobility yielded to the age of Shoguns (1185-1867).
Yashima-ji Temple treasures in i ts museum a folding screen depicting the Gempei no Kassen Battles. (see p.42) The bell in the belfry, cast in Kyoto in 1223, was dedicated here for the repose of the defeated Tairas. but no one can strike the bell, as there is no hammer. They say, Strike the bell, and invoke the ghosts of the Tairas."
On the last wwwkende in March the Gempei Yashima Festival is held, whose highlight is the Warriors' Pageant.
It was an insurrection caused by the discord be- tween Emperor Goshirakawa (1127-92) and Ex-Emperor Sutoku (1119-64). Sutoku was deferable death 8 years later. His ashes were buried at Temple 81. In 1184 thecourt elevated him to Shinto deity to placate his ghost. (see p.50)
Minamoto no Yoshitsune (1159-89): By bringing about victory in the civil war, Yoshitsune had greatly helped Minamoto no Yoritomo, his elder brother, who in 1192 was to establish the first Shogunate at Kamakura. But Yoshitsune had to spend the rest of his life escaping Yoritomo, until four years later he killed himself. His tragic life and death was so appealing to Japanese sentiment that he has taken on heroic proportion in kabuki, Noh and Jonuri plays, based on what is called Yoshitsune Literature.
Very few Japanese visit Yashima without being reminded of an episode shown in the picture above:
It was on the afternoon of February 19, 1185 , that Minamoto no Yoshitsune mounted another surprise attack against the Tairas at the they Yashima Island. Frightened by the imagined immensity of enemy forces, the Tairas jumped into their boats and sailed off. A fierce battle lasted for hours.
Now the snu was sertting. Both sides began to retreat when a fair vessel parted from the Taira legions and stopped about 80 m from the beach. Then a beautful lady appared from the cabin, produced a pole with a bringht red fan on its top and beckoned to the puzzled warriors on the shore.
"What does she mean?" said Yoshisune.
"Perhaps she is inviting one of us to shoot the fan. Or she may be inviting you to come out onto the front line for her archers," said his attendant.
"Then let it be shot down by someon,"said Yoshitsune.
Soon a young man called Nasu no Yoichi appeared on horsebak with bow and arrow in his hands. The north wind was strong. The boat was tossing up and down. The fan painted with the golden sun at its center was fluttering on the pole. all the Tairas in the boats and all the Minamotos on the shore were watching Yoichi. What would he do? Would he succeed?
Yoichi rode into the water as far as he could. But it was still about 70 m to the target. He closed his eyes and prayed. Then the wind fell for a moment or two, came floating down, glittering in the setting sun. There was great applause from both sidws.
Then a man in armor appered in the same boat. He began to dance an elegant dance perhaps in genuine appreciation of Yoichi' s archery. Then Yoichi got another order and shot down the dancing man, "Not fair." The Tairas were silent this time. Was it a precursor of their demise? Two monthe later, the Tairas finally fell.
3 minutes' walk after leaving the bus at Toshogu-mae (Kotoden Bus: Yasima-sajo Toshogu-mae Chikko)
3minutes' walk from the cable -car station. This is an open- air museum laid out at the foot of Yashima Plateau. about 20 old rural builbings from various a Farmers' Kabuki Theater, peasants' houses, a fisherman's house, a sugar mill, a shed for steaming mulberry bark to make paper, and workshopsfor making soy sauce and so on. There is a reprica of Kazura-bashi from Nishi Iyayama-son, too. open daily: 8:30-16:30. Admission: yan500
On may 5, people including children from shodoshima Island,from which the Kabuki Theater came here, stage an annual performance of their traditional farmers 'kabuki.
Takamatsu Heike Monogatari Historical Museum 3 minutes' walk from Nihon Tabako-mae Bus Stop af ter 10 minutes' ride from JR Takamatsu. (Kotoden Bus: Asahimachi Line)
30 minutes' walk from JR Takamatsu Station.
Japan's largest wax doll museum. The first floor is dedcated to the 41 dolls of historical figures or modern men and women of celedrity who have been closely associated with Shikoku. The one of kobo Daishi (p.190-199) in his nyujo (p.195) has its own corner as a special exhibition.
The other dolls include: Sakamoto Ryoma (p.124-127) Nakaoka Shintaro (p.124, 143) Nakaoka manjiro(p.139-142) wenceslau de Moraes(p.162-163) Inokuma Genichiro (art: p.46) Takahama Kyoshi (p.73) ninomiya Chuhachi(p.92) Setouchi Jakucho (literature:1922-) Makino Tomitaro (p.132) Yasuoka Shotaro (literature:1920-) Kagawa Toyohiko (religion, social work, literature: 1888-1960) Yokoyama Ryuichi (cartoons:1909- ) Terada Torahiko (science, essay: 1878-1935) Ade Yoshishige (philosophy, education: 1883-1966) Nambara Shigeru (philosophy, education:1888-1974) Masaoka shiki (p.70, 73-74) kotoku shusui (p. 137) nakae Chomin (p.137) Kikuchi Kan (literature: 1888-1948) Manabe Hiroshi (illustration:1932-) Yoshida Shigru Itagaki Taisuke (p.128-129)
The second floor exhibits abolls portraying the 17 scenes from the Heike Monogatari or The Tale of the Tairas.The saga,composed of a large number of revealing episodes, was and still is an inexhaustible source of Japanese literature and art. Some of Yashima Piateau at the northeastern tip of Takamatsu (p.35).
one hi-tech doll seen at the end of the exhibition is what was called biwa hoahi or a blind biwa-playing bard who traveled around chanting The Tale of the Taira Family even before it was written down in the first half of the 13th century. Its opening passage is especially famous for its Buddhist ides of impermanence that goes as follows:
- The bell of Gion Monastery tolls
- The impermanence of all worldly things.
- The color of sal blossoms shows the truth that
- Even the most prosperous inevitably decline.
- The proud willfall like a dream on a spring night.
- The valiant must perish, too, as Frail as dust blown by a puff of wind.
The doll begins to talk and sing the first line of the opening passage when it senses visitors approachiing. open daily . Admission: 1200yen
(High school students: 800 yen Children: 600 yen)
*yoshida shigeru (1878-1967), Prime Minister from 1946 to 1954, is credited with giving Japan direct-ipn through her most difficult times after the war.
The Kojima-Sakaide Route , popularly known as the Seto ohashi bridge setoouhasi , was completed in 1988. It is the world's longest tow-tiered bridge system, stretching 13.1 km from Kojima to Sakaide , connecting the 5 islands in between.
The 11 bridges in the systen inclued 3 suspension bridges , 2 twin cable - stayed, 1 truss and 5 viaducts. the uppen level accommodates a motor expressway of four lanes, and the lower contains Japan Railway' s system for a dual track ordinary line at present and for a dual track superexpress line in the future. The first person to air the idea in the future. The first person to air the idea of the Seto Ohashi Bridge was okubo Jinnojo 81849-1891), a kagawa native, who at that time was constructing the first Shikoku Roads to link all the prefectures on the island. In 1889 Jinnojo disclosed his dream in a congratulatory speech he made as a member of the prefectural Parliament at the opening ceremony of the first railroad in Shikoku between Marugame and Kotohira.
Exactly a century later, the bridge come into being after decades of planning and ten years of construction, 13 million workers involved (with the loss of 17 lives), and costing 1, 190,000 million yen.
Surprisingly, Jinnojo had also foretold man's traveling to the moon in his favorite drink-ing song of his own making , which went as follows:
I'll tell you, dear, Don't laugh at me, a hundred years from now, I'll be seeing you flying to and from the moon in a space ship. Its port, let me tell you, dear, will be that mountaintop over there!
One of the best points to view the bridge is Yoshima Island 1 , a central pier of the brige. It also serves as a sightseeing outpost for the shikoku and Inland Sea Districts, providing 2 parking areas for those who like to enjoy bridge-viewing, seafood and shopping.
To Yoshima: 20 minutes from JR sakside by Seto Ohashi Express Bus.
Another is a rotating tower 132 m tall at the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park 2 seto o hasi park at the foot of the Bridge in Sakaide. The Memorial Hall Provides all kinds of information on the Bridge and its construction, while the park itself applies moderm art to stone and water.
Admission to the tower: 800 yen .
Admission to the Hall 510 yen.
To the Seto Ohashi Memorial Park: 10 minutes from JR Sakaide by shuttle bus (free of charge).
The Gold Tower 3 near JR Utazu Station offers a marvelous view, too. The 144 m tower made of half-mirror glass is the tallest of its kind in Japan, housing the Sky Lounge, restaurants, stores and a World Toilet Museum. Open Daily. Admission to the tower: 800 yen/ 1000yen(Toilet Museum included9.
To Golde Tower: 8 minutes' walk from JR Utazu. Bridge- viewing cruises are available from Keihan Fisherman's Wharf on Yoshima 1, Memorial Park 2 and Sakaide Port 4 . (1,00yen-1,500)
25 minutes' train ride from JR Takamatsu. *To the Castle : 15 minutes' walk from Jr Marugame.
The three-storied donjon on top of a green hill crowns the city of Marugame. When a Marugame Province of 53,000 koku was formed in 1641, an old castle was reconstructed and the castle seen tpday dates back to 1660, one of the few genuine Edo Period castles remaining in japan.
The present-day marugame is famous for uchiwa or round paper fan manufactur-ing , producing about 90 % of theae fans in japan.
The Castle Park, 15 minutes' walk from JR Marugame, is surrounded by moats, featuring the donjon, a couple of main gates (all Important Culturl Properties) and walls from the 17 th century . The 4 - level 60 m ramparts , the tallest and among the most beautiful in Japan, also contribute to the beauty of the castle.
O-shiro Matsuri Castle Festival is held on 3rd weekend in May.
The Inokuma Genichiro Modern Art Museum adjacent to JR Marugame station is ded-icated to Inokuma Genichiro(1902-93)(p.40)
Banshoen Garden built in 1688 as a villa for the Lord of the Province is 10 minutes' drive from downtown Marugame. One of the galleries there houses Chinese ceramic ware and a collection of Iranian earthenware and glassware dating back to 2500 B.C. through the 1200's A.D. Open daily. Admission to the Garden& Galleries: 1000yen (Students:600yen, Children: 400yen)
10 minutes' walk from Nakazu-bashi Bus Stop after 10 minutes' ride from Marugame Toricho near the castle. (Kotosan Bus for Zentsuji via Tadotsu)
(from JR Kotohira) 5 minutes to JR Zentsuji by ordinary train.
(From JR Takamatsu) 40 minutes to JR Zentsuji by express trin (Dosan Line).
*25 minutes' walk from JR Zenttsuji along the street in front of the station.
Zentsu-ji temple (No.75),is known as the birthplace of Kobo Daishi Kukai . (see p.190: THE SHIKOKUPILGRIMAGE). kukai is one of the greatest geniuses Japan has ever produced. He made a great contribution in remolding Japanese religion, while making unparalleled achievements as scholar, poet, artist, calligrapher, sculptor, architect, educator, social worker, inventor, discoverer and civil engineer.
The giant camphor trees near the five-storied pagoda in the East Precinct are said to have already been several hundred years old when Kukai was born in 774. The Miedo Hall in the west Precinct at the foot of the green hill is the Birthplace. Visitors may traverse the basement of the hall along a pitch-dark path. This introspective journey is called kaidan-meguri. The entrance is at the right - hand corner of the Hall. The entrance fee includes the admission to the Museum. (300 yen)
The utter blackness along the path symbolizes the darkness of the human mind or human ignorance of the Truth. Thenotice says: "Go along with the palm of your left hand pressed against the left- hand wall. The wall, painted with mandalas, angels and lotus flowers, is the Buddha's way. You will be safely guided as long as you are on His Way."
After the kaidan-meguri, arrows guide you to the Museum. The teple treasures exhibited there include a smallclay pagoda kukai molded at 7, a bowl used by Kukai as a mendicant priest, a rode and a ritual stick (a National Treasure) of Indian make, both presented to Kukai ry his Chinese master Abbot Hui-kuo, and a sutra scroll (a Nationnal Treasure ) witheach of the Chinese characters accompanied by a little Bodhisattva on a lotus pedestal; Kukai did the calligraphy, his mother the painting.
Shorinji Kempo is not merely a sport or martial art, but a religious exercise to approach the Buddha's spirit in the principles of "self- realization" and "help each other."
It was started by so Doshin I (1911-1980)in 1947. Two years before he had been repatriated from Manchuria, the northeastern part of China that "Imperialist Japan" held for 13 years till the end of World War 2. Doshin had seen how people could be dehumanized in the dire extremities of war and i ts aftermath.
"Developing good humanity is the only was to save Japan and the world at large, "he kept saying to himself . Doshin, who hsd learned various martial arts in China, pondered over the Zen philosophy of Bodhidharma, trying to restore the martial art that Bodhidharma himself was said to have practiser about 1,500 years ago when he brought Zen from India to China. Finally, Doshin succeeded in restoring and reorganizing the whole body of that art, which he named Shorinji Kempo.Now its Headquarters has more than 100 branches in 23 countries in the world.
The Shorinji Kempo Headquarters (087)733-1010 is on the southern slope of Toryo Koen Park Hill 15 minutes' walk from JR Tabotsu Station. The Bodhi dharma Festival is held on the 1st Sunday in October.
[from JR Takamatsu to JR Kotohira]
60 minutes by shuttle train (Dosan Line).
[From Takamatsu Chikko]
70 minutes' train ride to Kotiohira (kotoden)
[From JR Okayama]
67 minutes' train ride by special express. 2 hours to Kotoden Kotohiras Station by seto ohashi Kosoku Bus.
Especially Noted Product: Ittobori woodcarving.
Kotohira-gu , a great shrine complex,often affecionately called Kompira- san, has been a celebrated destination for pilgrims and tourists for hundreds of years.
According to legend, Kompira-san came into being when Kumbhira-a guardian god of Buddhism, originally a Hindu crocodile god of the Ganges, was beckoned by a Buddhist priest of Matsuo-ji, a thousand- year - old temple in this neighborhood.
Kumbhira from the holy waters of the Ganges was naturally believed to be a mighty patron deity for seamen, fishermen and rice - growing farmers, and in later years came to be considered a Great Incarnation of the Buddha himself.
But the temple remained a Shinto shrine in part, with Omononushi - no - mikoto, the native god of fertility, medicine and commerce also summoned from the mythological land of Izumo.* Omonoushi- no- mikoto, along with Daikoku-ten rwpresenting Chinese folk religion, were then identified with the Indian god Kumbhira(Kompira), a case of religious internationalism in classical Japan.
In1868 Buddhism and Shintoism were separated by law, and Omononushi became the chief god along with the deified Emperor Sutoku who had been enshrined here in the 15th century. Yet " Kompira Worship" continued to flourish, for the Hindu Deity had already enshrined himself deep in the hearts of the Japanese people.
There are 785 stone steps to climb before one reaches the Main Shrine . Fortunately its route consists first of a colorful street of souvenir shops and then of a quiet promenade lined with gradens, shrines and museums. The numberless granite lanterns, fences and tablets bordering the approach were all dedicated by Kompira worshippers nationwide,as were the stone steps themselves.
Many of the shrine treasures in the Homotsukan Museum 1, the Gakugeikam Museum 2, Omote-shoin and oku-shoin Art Museum 3 ware offered by famous artists, poets, lords of Provinces and characters of historical renown. In the 17 th cen turythe Tokugawa Shogun, too, dedicated a stipend of 330 koku to the shrine, augmenting its prosperity.
Asahi - no-yashiro Shrine 4 in the Buddhist style is the fromer Main Hall. The present Main Hall 5 is a few more flights of stone steps above.
Emado Hall 6 near the Main Shrine is a gallery for votive tablets and offerings mainly from seamen. In March 1889 there was offered a photograph of the Brooklyn Bridge in New York- the Eighth wonder of the world at that time - dedicated by a Japanese acrobatic troupe that had completed a tour around the U.S.A. so it is thought that okubo Jinnojo, seeing the photograph here, was inspired to envision the Seto Ohashi Bridge that he proposed in May that same year.
Adout an hour's walk to Okusha or the Inner Sanctuary 7 further along the path through primeval forest is enjoyable to nature- lovers, though one has to climb 583 more stone steps.
On the night of October 10, a grand procession starts at the Nain Hall at 9 p.m., slowly march ing down the 758 stone steps into the downtown streets as for as o - tabisho, the Sacred destination This is the highlight of the 3 - day Grand Festival of this time- honored shrine.
Izumo: An ancient city in Shimane Pref. on the Japan Sea; one of the political and religious centers dur- ing the mythological age.
At the foot of the mountain there stands Kompira Oshibai Kabuki Theater 8 , the oldest Kabuki theater remaining in Japan. A guide shows visitors around the building including the primitive but ingenious device to operate the rotating stage. Open daily except Tuesdays. Admission: About 300yen In Kabuki season in mid- April or May, first-class Kabuki actors are invited from Tokyo or Osaka to perform under almost the same conditions as their ancestors did in 17th through 19th centuries. For further information about the dates and tickets call the office of JR Shikoku in Takamatsu: (087) 823-0973
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