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The Way of the Kiseru

(Author)

@Tim Shaw: Thank you, Tim. I love how beautiful design is integrated into all aspects of Japanese tobacco culture. Pipes, tobacco pouches and ashtrays may have been introduced from abroad, but the Japanese did something very special with what they were handed. It is amazingly elegant and unique.

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Love this article, probably because I really enjoy Japanese design at the historical and domestic level.

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"The New Year in Japan"

(Author)

@Ted Taylor: Yes, I loved watching that when I still lived in the Kansai.

Thankfully, the custom has not completely vanished. I have seen the occasional kite at a park during the first few days of New Year, and the Kota Takoage Matsuri in Aichi Prefecture still celebrates the custom (although cancelled several years in a row now).

There is also the Hamamatsu kite-flying battle. But it is during Golden Week…

Maybe there are more kite festivals that I am not aware of?

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You can still see kite flying on the upper riverbanks of the Kamogawa. At least for the first few days of the year…

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(Author)

@Glennis: Thank you so much. I am glad you like this article. I love how these photo books by Takagi show a topic from many angles.

Allow me to add one more Japanese New Year custom to this article. Before January 1, the term Yoi o toshi o (良いお年を) is used, and then Akemashite omedetou gozaimasu (明けましておめでとうございます) to wish Happy New Year.

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I did not know karuta was a favorite New Years game. I’m fascinated by the old playing pieces with the beautiful hand calligraphy.
Another great post! Agemashite omedetou gozaimasu!

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Hi Kjeld-
I came back to this article to tell you I saw a senninbari here in LA at the Japanese American National Museum this past weekend! And thanks to you, I knew what it was! It’s an interesting one that was made in the Japanese concentration camps here for men being sent off to war to fight for the US in WW2. It has a lovely sumie painting depicting a tiger on it as well. Photos will be posted on my blog today. It was really great to see one in person. Hope all is well with you!

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Tokyo Station

(Author)

@Matthew Hall: Thank you, Matthew. I seem to recall I have seen elevation drawings. Unfortunately none in my collection yet. I will keep my eyes open!

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Thank you for this historical write up and the great picture in the top! I just love this hotel and read / study whatever I can about it and its history. I would love to find some architectural drawings / elevation drawings of this beautiful building.

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Matsushima Brothels

(Author)

@Noel: Thank you for sharing. Yes, that is a great site isn’t it!

I found it very helpful for a study I wasn commissioned to do by the Netherlands Embassy in Japan last year.

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As I was looking for some information on Dotonbori I’ve stumbled across this amazing website researching Osaka’s urban history .

I hope it’ll add to your research as well :)

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Off to War

(Author)

@Tim Hornyak: Glad you liked it, Tim. Sometimes I am surprised about the images I find in my own collection! All of these work so well together to get this story across. And sometimes art tells a story better than a photograph. I especially like the ukiyoe from 1937 showing the two women doing senninbari. Purchased it specifically for this story, all the other images were already in my collection.

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(Author)

@Glennis A Dolce: Thank you so much for the kind words. NHK did a documentary on the movie. I have tried to find it on YouTube, but no luck so far…

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Excellent article with some moving photos. Keep up the good work!

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another wonderful post. the photographs… the faces. I did not know about senninbari at all but so very interesting. the videos too- i’d love to see that found film… Again- thank you!

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Headman, Hunter, Fox

(Author)

@Noel: Thank you. That is a great book. Will try to find an original copy. The salesperson mentioned in this explanation often comes up. He apparently shouted three words in a row very similar to the three characters in the game. But historians now say it is not clear if Tohachi really came from a person by that name, or whether such a person even existed.

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There is also a short description of the game in the book “We Japanese” by Frederic de Garis: Google Books

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(Author)

@Noel: That is so kind of you to say. Thank you very much. I really enjoy delving deep into the histories of the customs and traditions shown in these images.

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As always I’m in awe with the amount of research put in every article.

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