Rapunzel

It was a beautiful day today! Before Christmas, it had been rainy and cloudy but on Christmas, sun came back. When sun comes out, it is warm. Especially in winter, we appreciate the warmth of sun.

Thank you for your season's greetings, everyone!! I hope all had a wonderful Christmas and will have a happy holiday. And thank you very much for your lasting friendship!! I am a happy and lucky woman!!

On Christmas, I watched "Tangled". The title in Japan was "Rapunzel on top of the tower". I was supposed to watch it at theater but it was officially released on March 12th 2011 in Japan, the next day of the Earthquakes. After the disasters, trains stopped. Although a few movies were on schedule, they might had been cancelled due to the rotated blackout. In addition to that, many were afraid of going to crowded, small and dark places while aftershocks continued.
Considering those days, Japan recovered a lot although the damaged areas are still recovering. For 25 years from next month, we have to pay for "Special Reconstruction income tax". Under the new government, our consumption tax may be raised in the nearest future. Our hardships continue....
Whenever we see dark gloomy sides, we can't stop counting. So we just shift our focus from dark sides to bright sides. The more we think in a positive way, the more we can attract positive reality, I believe.

So finally, I could watch Rapunzel! It became my another favorite Disney story along with "Beauty and the Beast"!!

Enjoy the music titled "See the light"!
And I happened to find its sequel which was funny.
Please enjoy both!!

 

 

open-minded Japanese Buddha

Japanese tend to accept all kinds of religions. We are originally Shintoist. Buddhism came to Japan in the 6th century. We mixed Shinto and Buddhism, and call it Syncretistic Religions. We still have a Buddhist temple and a Shinto shrine at the same precinct. We visit both and offer money to both at the same time.

In the 16th, Christianity came to Japan. After historical controversy, we don't have any state religion now although most of us are cremated according to the Buddhism way.

We are basically very flexible to religions. We celebrate Christmas and go to a temple or shrine on the New Year.

One of my friends introduced this unique video. Buddha celebrates Christmas in Japan!!

It's very funny even to us!! The Japanese characters on the video were all comments from the viewers. They were also surprised!!

Please enjoy watching until the last!!!!

 

Beautiful Life

Christmas is coming soon!! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy Holiday!!!

It is the winter solstices today(Dec. 21). We eat pumpkins wishing for wealth and take a bath with citrus fruits wishing for good health on the winter solstices.

I also wish you wealth and health!!!!

I went to a concert of my favorite artist, Masaharu Fukuyama with my sister. This has been our year-end event for several years.

It is a 10-day concert tour at the same place. 18,000 each day and 180,000 for 10 days. He is the first male artist in Japan who has such a long-day concert tour at the same place.

We had a wonderful time before the year 2012 ends. I like all of his songs but especially love this song titled "Beautiful Life" This song is a commercial song for Japan's cosmetic company, SK-Ⅱ. He wrote this song for all women. I want to be like a woman in his lyrics

 

(music and lyrics by Masaharu Fukuyama)

I have hated people without knowing how to forgive them
"They should hate me like I hate them."
I have deceived myself by telling this lie

with you who are beautiful, I feel I can start all over again
with your heart knowing only forgiving can change things

your smile everybody can see and your genuine face nobody can see
between them and in this daily life
wish I can find genuine joy

I can't be innocent enough to believe everything about myself
but while doubting, it's not easy to
get over this journey, I know

with beautiful you, I feel I can be reborn
with your heart choosing to believe although you are hurt

I like you both being at a loss and keeping looking for.
giving up and not giving up
if you suffer between them, I am the same
I am the same

with beautiful you, I can feel life is beautiful
with your heart choosing to accept although you are betrayed

YOU others wishing who you should be and YOU you wishing who you want to be
between those differences and in those contradictions
wish I can connect with people I don't want to loose
wish I can smile together
with you

(translation by Chiaki)

Disney Princesses

 

Last weekend, I went to Harajuku and Omotesando in Tokyo.

There were soooo many people everywhere!

  

It's a must to come for all foreigners!!
It is a narrow and short street but is introduced in all guide books.
Especially it is CRAZILY CROWDED on weekends.

Towns are beautiful with Christmas decorations.
The photo with my sister was taken in front of  Omotedando Hills. http://www.omotesandohills.com/english/

It is BEAUTIFUL inside too!!!
The Christmas decoration here is gorgeous and wonderful every year.
Disney Princesses are featured this year.

Every 15 minute, this stage is rotated with Disney music for 3 minutes.

I'm sorry I couldn't take all photos of princesses.
My sister and I had a really good time last weekend!

Do you love Disney?
Japanese LOVE Disney very much!!
Disneyland and Disneysea are very successful in Japan.
Some have a-year passport.
Not only children but also adults love to go back there again and again.
Disney give us lots of DREAMS!!
Please keep have dreams in your heart all the time!!!

wishing my own happiness



It is the last new moon in 2012 today(12-13).

I wished my own happiness and made this accessory.

 

 



This is a coral polished by hand.
I bought it at the Mineral Show last weekend.
I was supposed to make one for my friend.
But since this was the special day, I decided to make special one for myself.

I made a pot of excellent tea for myself.
I spent time of high quality.

This is what I made!!
I was very happy while I was making it.
And I'm satisfied now!!

I'm often the last one I put priorities on.
But I learned I should put priorities on myself at first and make myself happy at first.
I'm the only one I can listen to my heart and let myself do whatever I like to do.
When I'm truly happy, I can be kind to others and do something for them naturally.
That is the circulation of happiness and love, I think.

I wish me happiness.
And I wish you happiness.

Let's be happy together truly!!
 

still fall in Tokyo?

 

Until a few years ago, all fall leaves were gone at the end of November.

But now colorful leaves are still at peak in Tokyo.

 

 

And we can enjoy Christmas decorations at the same time.

Today, 2012-12-12, I took the first step toward a kind of new business.
I hope it will take me to a more fun stage!!

Have a wonderful 12-12!!
 

Love Crystals!

I went to Tokyo Mineral Show this weekend.

A variety of crystals all over the world are sold there.

This event is from 7 to 10 Dec. and two floors of the building have only booths to sell crystals, stones and fossils.

Many buyers come to find unique and special stones at very cheap prices.

This event is held all over the world and in Tokyo, the event is usually held at the beginning of Dec.

 

One of my best friend helps a stone seller, her friend there.

I went to see her and to find special stones.

 

 

These are what I found this weekend!
Corals, tiger eye crystals, rutilequartzs, minty amethyst, citrines and chaines of crystals.
I'm not supposed to be a jewelry designer, but I LOVE stones and to make something.

These are what I made!
Last year, I bought only 3 stones from  the shop and my friend taught me how to make them.
Now I can do all by myself! So I decided to buy many this year!!

me, Mr. Yamada and Keiko

Mr. Yamada is a shop owner and gave me a VERY good discount!!!
Keiko is my best friend, and she is a skillful wired accessory designer and a crystal healer.

She made 2 pendant tops for my birthday this and last year!

After I finish my job next week, I devote myself to art, making accessories and potteries and painting pastel.



 

Have fun!!

at Enoshima Island

How's everyone?
I spent busy days and I'm moving to Hiroshima again on 22nd by the way of Kyoto.
I'll be an interpreter for a spiritual teacher at healing workshop from 23 to 26.
After a 4-day workshop, I'll take a short trip around Hiroshima with my sister and friends.
I'm going back to Miyajima Island.
I'm so excited!!
I feel something magical will be happening!!

When I'm back, December will start.
Another one more month in 2012.
Please enjoy all the moments never to regret!
Have fun!!

my sister and me
 

 

Farwell Dinner

Finally, It is the last article about my last tour.

 

The tour was from Oct. 8th to 19th 2012.

12 days!

We traveled in Chugoku region, the southwest of Japan.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ch%C5%ABgoku_region 

 

This is a map showing you where we visited.

Can you see the number, 1 to 11?

I didn't include the first day from the airport to hotel.

The last day numbered 11 tells you how long we drove from Hiroshima to Kansai International Airport in Osaka.

We drove totally about 1730km, 1081miles.

Considering the length of Japan is about 3000km, 1875miles, we drove more than half distance of Japan's length!!

 

 



 

 

Farewell dinner at Hiroshima city after coming back from Miyajima.

 

 

Nice meal and smile!!

Most of them were born in Japan and moved to USA.
They have their own unique stories.
I always love to hear them whenever they come back!

Ikuko-san and Harold-san

I was touched by their love story!
Harold came to Japan to study at university and met Ikuko at Ping-Pong court.
(By the way, our emperor today met his future wife at tennis court.)
But he went back to USA and contacted with her only by writing for 2 years!!
No telephone since it was very expensive at that time and no meeting.
Only letters!!
He was on the fishing boat and her letters always found him.
2 years later, he came back to Japan and Ikuko went to USA with him.
They have been married about 50 years!
They said they never doubted each other and believed they were meant to be from the beginning.

WOW!!
I know it was hard but beautiful!

Harold, am I right about your episode?
If not, please let me know.

Besides their love story, all of them have their special stories.
Compared with this time when everything becomes very convenient,
they must have had a hard time especially after the war.

I respect their courage and strong will all the time.

Thank you so much!
I had a great and memorable time with all of you.
I will never forget!
See you again in Japan or US!!
Love
Chiaki











 

Miyajima Island

The last destination of the tour was Miyajima Island in Hiroshima.

http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/index.html

 

Hiroshima is famous for the site where the first atomic bomb dropped.

We didn't go to places related to the A-bomb.

Personally, when I visit those places, I always feel sick.

People who are sensitive to energy sometimes have the same reaction.

 

Instead, we went to only Miyajima.

Miyajima was designated as World Heritage Cultural Site by UNESCO

and it is one of the "Three Most Beautiful Spots" of Japan including Amanohasidate and Matsushima.

Since we went to Amanohashidate during this trip, we visited the best 2 scenic spots in Japan!

 

 

Many of you may see this red gate in the ocean.
This is the symbol of Miyajima and it is a Torii Gate(barrier or boundary) to Itsukushima Shrine.
http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/spot/spot_ootorii.html

Miyajima is off the main island and we take a ferry to get there.
Only 10 minutes.

There are many wild deer in the island.
They are sometimes very hungry and violent.
Be careful!

When we arrived at the island, it was lunch time!
We had Okonomiyaki, Japanese pancake.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Okonomiyaki



Hiroshima is famous for Okonomiyaki along with Osaka.
There are MANY Okonomiyaki restaurants.

He is cooking oysters.
Oysters are also famous in Hiroshima.
We can eat Hiroshima oysters throughout the year.

The master spoke only Japanese but they could communicate well!

After lunch, we walked to Itsukushima Shrine.
http://www.miyajima.or.jp/english/spot/spot_itsukushima.html
Buses have to stay on the main island and tourists have to walk in the island.

It was after the first high tide of the day when we visited.
There are 2 high tide everyday. On that day, 11:30 and 23:00.
And low tide was 17:30.
Views with and without water are very different!

When we visited, the wedding ceremony was started.
Usually the wedding ceremony is held on weekends but it was Thursday.
We were very lucky!
Actually my first time to see the ceremony here although I visited this shrine many times.

They are Shinto dancer and musicians.
Can you see the red gate behind them?

The couple dedicated the dance to Shinto Goddesses who are enshrined here.

This dance is called "Ran Ryo Oh".
It was Chinese legend which was introduced to Japan.
The prince in this legend was a very strong worrier but very beautiful.
In order to scare the enemy, he had a scary mask at battle field.

Again, this was my first time to see this dance.
I took a short video of this.
I hope you have a glimpse of  Japanese sacred ceremony.

We took a ferry back to the main island.

The last day was very special and beautiful!!

 

the last night at Ryokan

I'll skip photos of several places we visited and I just like to post the photos of my guests.

 

At Hori garden in Tsuwano town.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tsuwano,_Shimane

 

It was raining all day on that day.

But luckily it was the only day we had rain.

 

In the morning, we went to Akiyosido Limestone Cave.

http://www.japan-i.jp/explorejapan/chugoku/yamaguchi/yamaguchi/d8jk7l0000000ovw.html

The rain didn't bother us a lot.

 

And in the afternoon, we drove to Tuswano.

Hori Garden was the last destination on that day.

Rain stopped and we enjoyed the quiet Japanese garden although it was early for autumn leaves.

 

 



It was the last night at Ryokan, traditional Japanese inn.
At 7 out of 11 nights, we stayed at Ryokan with hot spring and Kaiseki meal.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kaiseki

Gorgeous tour!!
I ate too much!!

Our Ryokan was located in Yamaguchi prefecture which is famous for Fugu, blowfish.
The amount of Fugu caught in Yamaguch ranks No. 1 in Japan.
We ate a variety of Fugu, sashimi, boiled, marinated, fried....

Fugu steak!
It was my first time to eat Fugu steak.
But it was delicious!!

Karaoke night!!
And Dancing!

We enjoyed the last night at Ryokan.