After gobbling up the chimaki, there's a certain way to fold up the leaves and twine (to make it easier for the host to clear away).
#GoldenWeek #Kyoto #京都 #Japan #和菓子 #wagashi #chimaki #ちまき #teaceremony
Symbolising determination, the carp motif was based on the Chinese legend of a carp that swam upstream to become a dragon.
The black carp nowadays represents the father, red the mother, and blue the children (originally the eldest son was blue, each new son a different colour).
Illustration of carp streamers.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Illustration of carp streamers flying outside a traditional home.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of a mother carrying her son (who is holding on to a carp streamer).
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
Woodblock print of carp streamers.
Image thanks - https://ja.ukiyo-e.org/
It's always great fun digging out the chubby (unamused) baby warrior and his tiny treasures for Kodomo-no-hi (こどもの日)🎏
#こどもの日 #childrensday #Kyoto #京都 #goldenweek #Japan #doll #chubbywarrior
Children's Day decorations in the teahouse sofa room.
Unpacking our doll baby samurai for Children's Day.
Unpacking our doll baby samurai for Children's Day.
Nao-san unpacks the Children's Day decorations.
Kameya Shigehisa's (亀屋重久) owner and master confectioner kindly demonstrates how each chimaki is prepared.
The store is located across the road from Myōshin-ji's (妙心寺) north gate.
➡️https://www.kameya-shigehisa.com/
⚔️
Iris leaves, thanks to their shape, have long been associated with swords...both protecting against & cutting through misfortune.
The word for iris, 'shōbu' (菖蒲), is also a homonym for 'warlike spirit' (尚武), and from Kamakura times the flowers came to symbolise the warrior.
Around May 5th people bath in water strewn with iris leaves. It was believed this offered protection from ill health and bad luck.
Part of our Children's Day set features tiny bundles of iris leaves.
Miniature armor for our samurai doll.
Iris leaves illuminated by the sun at Ota Pond.
Kameya Shigehisa's (亀屋重久) owner and master confectioner kindly demonstrates how each chimaki is prepared.
The store is located across the road from Myōshin-ji's (妙心寺) north gate.
➡️https://www.kameya-shigehisa.com/
🌄🚃THE GOLDEN WEEK⛱️😎
April 29th is the start of 'Golden Week' (ゴールデンウィーク), a series of national holidays that follow in short succession.
We begin with 'Shōwa-no-hi' (昭和の日 'Shōwa Day'), the birthday of Emperor Shōwa (昭和天皇 aka Hirohito 裕仁 1901-89).
#Japan #GoldenWeek
Nao-san copies sutras at Shorin-ji.
The checkerboard moss and stone garden at Tofuku-ji.
Nao-san enjoys a morning matcha at Shorin-ji.
Beautiful flower arrangement in the purification font at Shorin-ji. A small clay frog and giant salamander omikuji holders sit on the font edge.