Rice Planting

In Japan, May is a season of rice planting.

A photograph of a Japanese farmer, surrounded by rice fields.

At first we plant rice (seed) and make rice seedling. As we use rice planting machines, we will make rice seedlings in a designated container.

This rice planter can plant six rows of seedlings at once, two rows each with three arms.
Japanese rice fields are relatively small, so they are small in size.

In the center in the back is the part that grinds the fertilizer, if you put the fertilizer here.
Fertilizer is also sprinkled with the seedlings.
This fertilizer is capsule type fertilizer and it has been in water for a long time.
The capsule is broken and the fertilizer in it dissolves, and it seems to be the nutrition of the rice.

Rice planting was finished in about 1 hour in this size rice field.

Traditional divine wedding ceremony

I went to Turugaoka Hachimangu, the largest and most famous shrine in Kamakura.
It was founded when the capital of Japan was in Kamakura over 1000 years ago.
There is a big red gate called torii, and this is the beginning.
Gatekeepers, fictional animals, sit and guard on both sides.


The road from here to the main hall is called Dankazura.


I saw a couple of weddings on this day as it was a auspicious day.
The wedding procession has begun from the road leading to Turugaoka Hachimangu.
The first two people got a wedding, followed by relatives and friends.


There was also a dedicated photographer who took pictures of the wedding.






There is a main hall ahead of this red big Torii.


The lower building is the Maiden, and the upper one is the main building called Honden.
The wedding will be held at Maiden.


It is a place to clean hands and mouth before the worship.


The another wedding had already begun at the red-painted Miden hall.


The bride and the priest and various tools used in the ceremony

People who play Gagaku

The golden pot possessed by the shrine maiden contains divine sake


A pledge of vows


The golden pot possessed by the shrine maiden contains divine sake




Saisi who performs the ceremony and Maiden






People who play Gagaku


The priest wore something like a wooden shoe


The wedding was over without delay and the bride left.


The groom and the bride were smiling with Seiji who went to the ceremony


Groom and bride


congratulations


The main hall is on the top of the stone steps from Maiden.


It is Maiden and Torii that I looked down from the main hall.


Reference : Turugaoka Hatimangu

Menu of restaurant

At Japanese restaurants, the menu has paintings and food samples.
It is easier to understand than the explanation of any words.
I think that it is very convenient especially for foreigners.
I have never seen such a menu abroad.
Photos are easy, so I want them to spread around the world.

A. Paintings


1. Pizaa shop




2. Coffe shop







B. Food samples


A food sample is a model of a dish that is displayed at a storefront or in a restaurant.
Made mainly of plastic, non-perishable materials such as wax and synthetic resin, it makes the detail of the product visually visible.
Recently, it is also sold to the general public, and it is also popular as a model, accessories, and souvenirs for foreigners.
It looks very delicious in the picture but it can not be eaten.

1. Chinese restaurant












2. Jananese restaurant


Japanese noodle (SOBA)



Japanese noodle (SOBA)



Japanese noodle with TENPURA (TENPURA SOBA)



Small bowl dish



Pork cutlet (TONKATU)



Child lunch (OKOSAMA RANTI)


3. Ramen shop


Ramen