Hakone’s contribution to Japanese art is one that melds nature and man and far surpasses the output of other cities with more than 10 times its population.  Blend this with the magnificent views of Lake Ashi and Mount Fuji and the respect and appreciation of life shared by all of the townsfolk and you have a superb destination for escaping Tokyo.

Hakone is blessed with some fantastic scenery and some of the finest is to be found as you approach the Hakone open-air sculpture garden where images of lush forestry, which covers the rolling hills are reflected in an ever-changing kaleidoscope of color that changes with the seasons.  The picturesque valleys are also home to outstanding works of man-made art by some of the most famous practitioners of sculpting to of worked and combined they make for many a striking visual.

The indoor exhibition rooms are without doubt amongst the most well stocked of Japanese art galleries and are home to a series of works by Renoir and Picasso.  Within are approximately 300 pieces of rare ceramic work and once you have walked your way through that you can rest your feet in the foot baths that have been made by utilizing the natural hot springs of the town.

All of the photographs here have been taken from walking around the outside gardens and the works that are display there, amongst 70,000 square meters of grass land are works by sculptors including Henry Moore and Rodin.

Boasting a great literary heritage in Japan as well, once being home to noted literii, politicians and foreign dignitaries in the Meiji and Taishō and early Shōwa periods and should also be noted for its contribution to craftwork with parquetry.

One of the greatest joys of visiting Harkone is, of course, the people themselves.  Polite, meditative, always ready to help and, if there is a single way to characterize the local people – it is living life to its most beautiful, creating and maintaining a fantastic atmosphere so much in evidence across town – so go and see for yourself.

Despite its stunning scenery, however, the track has not had such a glorious showing on the world stage where a series of accidents gained it a reputation for reckless endangerment in the 1960s and allegations of a pro-Toyota bias effecting it when the circuit once again hosted the Japanese F1 race in 2007. The race was more of a success the following year, but financial troubles at Toyota have convinced them to stop promoting the race for now and the next Japanese GP will be returning to Suzuka, the figure of 8 circuit in Mie Prefecture that is owned and operated by Toyota rival Honda.

I went to Fuji Speedway recently as part of an organized race weekend that was open to private drivers, wannabes, amateurs and other petrol-head types. Some who went were sponsored by local racing clubs, others by small car manufacturers and the like but many were there also just for the chance to drive their own Ferrari, Porsche or Skyline at the speeds they were designed for and that Tokyo living just doesn’t allow.

After a few safety lessons on the etiquette of driving at high speed, we were allowed to enter a race. The first few laps are tense; you are worried abut any small mistake, you don’t want to make a fool of yourself and you are gripped with a sense of whether or not you can really do it. Once a few laps have zipped past, though, you begin to loosen up and get a feel for it. The nerves are replaced by a sense that you are the next Jenson Button and then you can really start to enjoy your day.

For those who can’t drive, or want to experience the thrill of racing at Fuji Speedway from afar, the track appears in various computer games including the Gran Turismo for Sony’s PlayStation and at Aqua City shopping mall in Odaiba where, in the nearby car museum, a giant simulator recreates the experience, vibrations and all.

After that, we went to Shikata for the last day of hanabi (Cosmos.) We were allowed to trim as much as we can! By the way, I was with my sisters Coleen and China, sensei Inaoka and Saori. It was so much fun with them!!!

Thank you so much for the sweet comments you gave me, especially to those who add me as their favorite on chictopia!

Lastly, if you have suggestions to improve this blog, please do comment below. If you have any favors or anything, don’t be shy to tell me!

While the Sixties bring to mind images of hippies, Woodstock, students on the street, The Beatles on a rooftop and Jimi’s guitar on fire, the decade wasn’t all colour and light. In Japan, from the late Fifties through the Sixties, while campuses became battlegrounds, a government project to rebuild national pride was underway. Only four castles – Himeji, Hikone, Matsumoto and Inuyama – had survived the war, and a massive rebuilding programme was undertaken. There was just one flaw in their plan: no one told the government that not only is concrete not a traditional building material, but it is hideous to look at. The larger and more famous castles got the attention they deserved, but many of their smaller brethren were left with the kind of unnatural pockmarked façade we used to associate with Michael Jackson.

Kiyosu castle, near Nagoya, escaped this fate through the simple act of being ignored in the original project. Despite holding an important place in Japanese history – it was the military and administrative centre of Owari, and the launching point for Oda Nobunaga’s ascension to power. It was only surpassed in importance when Tokugawa Ieyasu had it dismantled and used the pieces to build Nagoya castle – despite this, the castle was not rebuilt until 1989. By this time lessons had been learned. Kiyosu is one of the most beautifully and faithfully reconstructed castles in Japan.

The dark-stained wood and blood-red ornamentation are a welcome change from the monochrome normality of the vast majority of castles, and the sculpted Zen garden – all sharp rocks and raked gravel, bamboo and coy – is a peaceful retreat mere minutes from modernity and its bustle. Immediately outside the gate is Otebashi, a beautiful light-veneered bridge curving gently over the river, adorned with eye-catching red lamps.

After paying the princely sum of 300 yen and removing shoes, the first room the visitor encounters, is the armoury. The usual swords and knives are there behind their glass, but an array of modern-made armour is on display and available to the touch. Geared more towards children than six plus foot foreigners (I’m used to clothes shops saying “we don’t have your size” but this was the first time it had happened in a castle), dressing up as a warrior and being photographed looked like a lot of fun. Although there was one kid whose grandfather kept insisting, “don’t smile: Samurai never smiled.” Not sure how factually accurate that is, but the family now possess photos of a six year old sulky samurai.

The reconstruction work inside is as delightful as the exterior. The wood is rich and light, smooth to the touch and easy on the eye. Higher levels exhibit the usual paraphernalia: original roof tiles and carvings, resurrected pottery from the excavation, statues of those who controlled the castle over the years. The general theme is that of Oda Nobunaga, surely the most famous of all Kiyosu’s lords, and Tokugawa Ieyasu gets little mention; apparently dismantling the castle and abandoning the city does not endear you to the citizens, nor their descendants.

The view from the top level is stunningly uninspiring. The castle is the single spot of beauty in Kiyosu, and whatever compass point you stare at, you are always looking away. It may be better in the spring, when the cherry blossom by the river is blooming, but surely even that cannot distract from concrete, corrugated rust and miles of cables. Much more pleasant is a seat by the river looking at the castle.

Kiyosu can be reached by a short walk from either Shin-Kiyosu station on the Meitetsu line, or from JR Kiyosu station. Both are on the respective Nagoya – Gifu lines, just before Ichinomiya.

What makes this one so special?  If you check the photo at the side you can see somewhere in the murky depths a leaf from a tree.  Especially for Autumn, this bottle of umeshu included an fresh leaf that is picked and then added to the bottle for a little extra (grounded) taste.

Umeshu is also a favorite of those that don’t like to drink so much alcohol in Japan.  Often to be found in Tokyo, the drink is  popularly mixed with others including soda water or green tea to create a cocktail of old and new.

Hey all, it’s me, Akie your Akita bijin in one of my funky moods.

I am lying here on my futon after my ofuro (bath) thinking about one of my favorite historical figures, the legendary Ono no Komachi. Now, if you look back at my past blogs, you’ll notice that I mentioned her and told you that I would be talking more about her again. So here we go!

It is said that Ono no Komachi was born in Akita, which we are very proud to boast. Much so, that our delicious renowned rice is named after her. Our baseball stadium and our local Shinkansen also bear her name. The area, which she is said to have come from, is called Ogachi and she was born in a small village called Ono around 834, during the Heian period in Japanese history. Little is really known of her life outside her poetry, but legend has it, she was a woman of amazing beauty and grace; no one compared to her. Wow!

In her youth she was said to have had many suitors but was often cruel and nasty towards them. I read somewhere that she was punished for this by living to become an old, ugly, lonely and poor woman! Better watch out girls! So the legend goes.

What is known about her is that she was a major poet of the time.

Some say she is the greatest poetess of erotic and passionate love in any language. She often wrote waka (Japanese poetry) about the solitude of love, nights dreaming and anticipating the arrival of her lover…. hey, that sounds like me!

So this is the heritage we Akita bijins are graced with! A very long linage of beauty passed down from Ono no Komachi. Now, let me see if I can compose a really erotic poem like hers.

“Roses are red, violets are blue………hehehehe mata ne!….

I’ve lived in japan for almost 5 years and visited about 10 times in the last 13 years and until recently I always missed it. I’ve talked to several Japanese who’ve also never noticed. So what is this form of art that many people miss?

Manhole covers. Every city has their own unique manhole covers. I’ve started to photograph them and put them on Flickr. Now that I’ve noticed them I’m really kicking myself for not noticing them earlier. In my early years living here, I traveled a lot and I think I missed out on a lot of art.

I have found a Japanese Manhole Cover Flickr group. I strongly suggest taking a look on Flickr. Don’t miss out if you like Japanese art. Whatever city you’re in, LOOK DOWN. If you’re lucky, you may be able to find a beautifully paint one.

For more on art, culture and the regions of Japan check the GaijinPot In Japan pages.

ElevenColors is a Japan vlogger who has both an English and Japanese channel. He makes a variety of videos including footage of his band’s performances and stories about his experiences in Japan. He was kind enough to participate in a quick interview on what brought him to Japan and YouTube.

Q: What brought you to Japan?
A: In part, not knowing the cafeteria schedule and a clerical error.

Despite studying Japanese and doing well in class, I wasn’t getting much closer to speaking or understanding. During junior year of college, saw an ad posted for some government funded program that put engineering students in Japan at an engineering university for eight weeks to study Japanese. (My degree’s in electrical engineering BTW.) Did the course, and all of us got interviewed at the end by the host university for employment after graduation as translators and interpreters for foreign professors. Entered fourth year of college with a job set for after graduation. Figured it’d be a good opportunity to nail down the speaking and listening ability I was failing to nail down in school.

For the full story, check out http://www.youtube.com/user/ElevenColors#p/u/122/A2kp13W8QmE

Q: What brought you to YouTube?
A: The need to create something. The need to spread the good word about good music that doesn’t fit the usual MTV/SpaceShower/Sony/avex mold of what sells.

Q: How would you describe your YouTube channel?
A: No idea. And I try to keep it that way so I don’t get stuck in too much of a rut of all my videos having to fit a particular format.

For more about ElevenColors, check out his channels.
His English channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/ElevenColors
His Japanese channel
http://www.youtube.com/user/Juuichiiro

Daichen is a Japan vlogger who talks about his life and music among other things. He was kind enough to participate in a quick interview on what brought him to Japan and YouTube.

Q: What brought you to Japan?
A: To be closer to my family and find better job opportunities, and to improve myself as a person.

Q: What brought you to youtube?
A: Originally started as a viewer, watching all the shows from Japan, US, and China. When copyright thing kicked in and were no longer allowed to post TV shows anymore, I decided to use YouTube as a way to get my music out into the public. Ended up being a regular vlogger at the same time.

Q: How would you describe your channel?
A: I would describe my channel as a place where people can laugh and every so often listen to my style of music. I get satisfaction from knowing that my videos are able to put smiles on people’s faces.

For more about Daichen you can see his vlogs on either of his two channels
http://www.youtube.com/user/Daichen
http://www.youtube.com/user/daichensworld

My interest in this album started back in Scotland in 2007 during the Triptych festival. Indie senpai The Pastels were joined onstage by Saya and Takashi from Tenniscoats and the music they played captivated the audience until an amplifier blew and stopped the show. I stocked up on Tenniscoats albums – of which there are many, under various guises – and became a firm fan. Periodically tantalising comments would appear online about a proposed record collaboration between the two bands. Indie otaku waited with baited breath and increasing impatience until suddenly, this summer, Geographic and Domino Records announced the release of Two Sunsets, preceded by the single Vivid Youth.

And boy was it worth the wait. From the fuzzy bass, angelic voices and ethereal percussion of the opening track Tokyo Glasgow through to the late summer melancholy of the marvellously titled Start Slowly So We Sound Like A Loch, this is a piece of pure indie pop genius. Tenniscoats’ avant pop sound melds perfectly with The Pastels influential brand of guitar pop, producing a sound both fragile and uplifting. Trailing single Vivid Youth set the tone for the album – laid back, 60s tinged melodies, sensual vocals and the feel of a summer evening with friends at the water’s edge, content, at peace. All this was captured perfectly in Blair Young’s nostalgia-tinged video, which you can find on youtube and Pastel’s myspace. Saya herself described the sound as “Pastels underneath, sounding beautiful like a big cloud, with Tenniscoats flying over”.

Stand out tracks include Song For A Friend, the simply titled eulogy for DJ Klock, who committed suicide in 2007. Part celebration of life, part mourning of passing; the woodwind mixing through male and female voices is quietly beautiful. Also worth a mention is About You, a campfire retake of The Jesus & Mary Chain song which contains the power of the original within a softer instrumentation.

This is an album built around the haiku aesthetic, where less is more, and silence can speak louder than mere words ever could. While Stephen and Katrina sing in English, Saya slips effortlessly between English and Japanese, highlighting the mixing of cultures, the harmony of influences this album and its title encapsulates. Music speaks for itself and vocals are one facet of that language. The opening track Tokyo Glasgow is instrumental. Other lyrics are one or two lines repeated. Pop’s obsession with words is abandoned here in favour of unity, equality of sound. Tenniscoats are out on the fringes of music, playing with the boundaries and the spaces. They ignore the rules of song writing, esteeming internal logic and instinct in their place. While the charts are filled with an endless cycle of unimaginative rehashing, here is an album that shows a new direction, a bravery, searching for originality and honesty, music as art and language rather than the consumable commodity so many view it as.

The two bands have recently played some shows together in Scotland, but there are no plans in place for a joint tour of Japan. The album Two Sunsets and single Vivid Youth are out now online and in most record shops.