close to my ear
a single breeze
from a mosquito
只一ッ耳際に蚊の羽かぜ哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1793.
Trans. Ogawa Shinji.
#茶道 #teaceremony#CamelliaTeaCeremony#Kyoto #京都#Japan #matcha #summervibes
The gardens have tsukubai (purification basins), but we only use these during occasional tea gatherings. Each morning we change the water to keep them clean, and to prevent mosquitoes breeding!
Atsuko-san poses for a photographer in the teahouse garden.
During the summer we mostly keep the doors to the garden closed beside the tea room. Not only does this keep the cool air inside, it also traps the mosquitoes outside.
Atsuko-san throws open the doors to the teahouse garden to enjoy a quiet matcha moment.
Greg Lloyd
boosted
Byodo-in's 'Phoenix Hall', framed in autumn colours.
Uji's distinctive red Asagiri Bridge.
Tale of Genji monument by the banks of the Uji-gawa (depicting a couple in Heian period dress).
Scorbunny and Spinda (pokemon) manhole cover in Uji.
Byodo-in's 'Phoenix Hall', framed in autumn colours.
Uji's distinctive red Asagiri Bridge.
Tale of Genji monument by the banks of the Uji-gawa (depicting a couple in Heian period dress).
Scorbunny and Spinda (pokemon) manhole cover in Uji.
The eggplant 'oxen' is known as 'shōryō-ushi' (精霊牛 'spirit ox') and the cucumber 'horse' is known as 'shōryō-uma' (精霊馬 'spirit horse').
🥒🍆
Here is a great video about the 'spirit vegetables'
⬇️
https://youtu.be/0FoxADMvjBQ?si=Zya9sLAYvl1aYGOw
Ox statues are common in Tenmangu shrines. They are rubbed as a prayer (often people rub parts of the ox that corresponds to any illness or sickness they have on their own body).
An ox being led during the Aoi Matsuri.
Statues of horses are a common sight in shrines. They were once gifted as offerings (in some cases as specific prayers from rain or fine weather).
Statues of horses are a common sight in shrines. They were once gifted as offerings (in some cases as specific prayers from rain or fine weather).
Greg Lloyd
boosted
Turns out that it's very handy knowing an iaido master around this time of year😋...
#スイカの日 #watermelonday #スイカ #watermelon#Japan#Kyoto #京都 #居合道#Iaido
Cultivated for at least 5000 years (they are depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics), watermelons are 92% water!🍉
Cooling the watermelon in the water basin.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
'Watermelon Day' is celebrated on July 27th and, this being Japan, we have a play on words to thank for this date.
The pattern on a watermelon's skin is likened to a rope... 'natsu-no-tsuna' (夏の綱 = な (7) つのつ (2) な (7)) = 'summer rope'😲🍉🫤
Jellied sweet in the shape of a watermelon slice.
Woodblock print. A boatsman transporting watermelons is shocked by a man hitting his boat after jumping off a bridge.
Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of chunks of watermelon cut up for eating.
Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Jellied sweet in the shape of a watermelon slice.
Turns out that it's very handy knowing an iaido master around this time of year😋...
#スイカの日 #watermelonday #スイカ #watermelon#Japan#Kyoto #京都 #居合道#Iaido
Cultivated for at least 5000 years (they are depicted in Egyptian hieroglyphics), watermelons are 92% water!🍉
Cooling the watermelon in the water basin.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
Watermelon on a hot summer's day at the Iaido studio...at a time when it's useful have swords about.
🍉WATERMELON DAY🥤
Kameya Yoshinaga's (亀屋良長) adorable 'hito-suzumi' (ひと涼み 'cooling off') is the perfect treat for July 27th's 'Suika-no-hi' (スイカの日), 'Watermelon Day'!🥳🍉🙌
#wagashi #和菓子 #suikanohi #スイカの日#watermelonday#Japan#Kyoto #京都
Kameya Yoshinaga's watermelon inspired sweet, 'hito-suzumi'.
Woodblock print a grocer selling watermelons in Edo.
Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of a man jumping from a bridge onto a boat transporting watermelons.
Image thanks - https://ukiyo-e.org/
Kameya Yoshinaga's watermelon inspired sweet, 'hito-suzumi'.
jaz :twt: :wales_flag:
boosted
Maples and moss, vibrant in the rain.
Sagano's famous 'bamboo road'.
The mossy garden of Gio-ji.
A vibrant green canopy covers Jojakko-ji's rustic gate.
Maple leaves are famously celebrated at the end of their short life, when they bow out in spectacular yellows and reds...but their appearance in Kyōto is also cause for cheer.
Shinryoku (新緑 'new green') describes this period of dazzling fresh leaves (and is not limited to maple trees).
Young maple leaves at Gio-ji.
Irises bloom at Ota-jinja.
A heron hides amongst the startling fresh leaves at Eikan-do.
Wearing a green kimono, Atsuko-san all but vanishes amongst bamboo.
fresh new leaves-
the cat and the crow
quarrel
若葉して猫と烏と喧嘩哉
-Kobayashi Issa (小林一茶), 1821.
Trans. David G. Lanoue.
Jōjakkō-ji (常寂光寺) is the realm of Kurobee (くろべえ), a gorgeous black cat that lives in the ticket hut.
Kurobee, Jojakko-ji's black cat that works part time in the ticket office.
Looking down at Jojakko-ji's rustic gate through verdant leaves.
Kurobee, Jojakko-ji's black cat that works part time in the ticket office.
Kurobee, Jojakko-ji's black cat that works part time in the ticket office.
The rain goes by many names at this time of year...
🌧️Saikau (催花雨) = spring rain that hastens the blooming of flowers
🌧️Kokū (穀雨 April 20ish) = "grain rain"
🌧️Zuiu (瑞雨) = rain that helps grain crops sprout
🌧️Kanu (甘雨) = rain that falls at the right time to moisten plants
Maple leaves are famously celebrated at the end of their short life, when they bow out in spectacular yellows and reds...but their appearance in Kyōto is also cause for cheer.
Shinryoku (新緑 'new green') describes this period of dazzling fresh leaves (and is not limited to maple trees).
Young maple leaves at Gio-ji.
Irises bloom at Ota-jinja.
A heron hides amongst the startling fresh leaves at Eikan-do.
Wearing a green kimono, Atsuko-san all but vanishes amongst bamboo.
Maples and moss, vibrant in the rain.
Sagano's famous 'bamboo road'.
The mossy garden of Gio-ji.
A vibrant green canopy covers Jojakko-ji's rustic gate.