Hamada Childrens Museum of Art (inside)

Here in Shimane we have more museums and galleries per capita than any other Prefecture bar one. This may partially be due to the continued haemorrhaging of the population to the big cities, Shimane's population is decreasing faster than anywhere else, but it is most probably due to the massive influx of construction money from Tokyo. Shimane continues to vote LDP.

One person who has benefited from this influx of construction money is local-born architect Shin Takamatsu, the designer of the Hamada Childrens Museum of Art.

Architecture, modern or otherwise, lends itself easily to photography that leans towards the anstract, as does mine.

In the late afternoon and evening the sun creates fantastic patterns of light and shadow.

While all the big cities in Japan have their fair share of interesting modern architecture, its fun to explore the rural areas of Japan to find such things.

Singing Grasshopper

During the evenings usually the only light on in the house is a small lamp above my desk.

It tends to attract all kinds of bugs.

The other night this guy came and hung around for a while and didn't mind me poking a camera lens at him/her.

Its a Kirigirisu, a Singing Grasshopper.

During the Edo period they were sold in small bamboo cages as pets, something that still goes on today.

Ther are a lot of bugs in Japan, so its no surprise that they are still collected by boys.

Witchcraft in Kyoto,

Went to watch some kagura last night and was very excited to see a dance I had never seen before. The Kifune dance tells the story of a Kyoto wife whose husband has left her and she visits the Kifune (Kibune) shrine north of Kyoto to seek help getting revenge.

At the shrine she is given instructions as to how to transform into a demoness and then be able to curse her ex husband. Just to remind you, the female parts in Iwami Kagura are played by males. I thought this guy did an excellent job.

The dance is based on a Noh drama called Kanawa (the headress she is wearing with three lighted candles on it) and it is based on a tale in the Heike Monogatari about events in the eigth Century.

The next part of the dance concernes the afflicted husband who visits Japans most famous wizard Abe no Seimei for help ridding himself of the curse. This part of the dance is played as pantomime and one of the tools used by Abe no Seimei is a vuvuzela!!

This is now a rare dance as it was banned in early Meiji as the subject matter of witchery and magic was considered "superstitious" and primitive. Teaching that the Emperor was descended from the sun, on the other hand, was the basis of the new State Shinto.

Inasehagi Shrine

Inasehagi Shrine is located in the tiny fishing village of Sagiura on the coast of the western end of the Shimane Peninsular. and is a relatively important shrine being mentioned in the 8th Century Izumo Fudoki and also in the Engi Shiki, a tenth Century document that lists shrines that received support from the Imperial government.

The main kami enshrined here is Inasehagi who is sometimes described as a guide to Amaterasu's envoys who descended to Izumo to convince Okuninushi to hand over to japan to her descendants, and sometimes described as an arbitrater for the discussion (Kuniyuzuri Myth)

All variations of the story say it was Inasehagi who went from Inasa Beach to the eastern end of the peninsular (now Mihonoseki) to fetch back Okuninushi's son Kotoshironushi (Ebisu)

Inasehagi was the son of Amenohohi, one of the five male children created by Susano and Amaterasu. In fact Amenohohi was the first envoy sent by Amaterasu to Okuninushi, but he changed sides and settled in Izumo without reporting back.

Amenohohi is considered to be the ancerstor of the Senge, the priestly family that has run Izumo Taisha since its founding and were previously governors of Izumo.

It is not clear whether Inasehagi came with Amaterasu's envoys or was already in Izumo with his father.

There is a subsidiary shrine in the grounds to a kami called Hakuto which seems to be connected with the white rabbit of Inaba,

Kuro Oni. Black Ogre/Demon

It's been a very long time since I finished a new mask.

Garden, firewood, and home maintenance seem to have taken more of my time than usual, but I am hoping to get working on my masks again soon as all this winters firewood is already ready.

I have about 20 masks in various stages of construction, but I just finished this one.

Like all my masks they are in the Iwami kagura style, but being a barbarian I tend to experiment a little.

It is of course for sale.

My other finished masks can be found here

I married a bag lady!

And she has been busy making more bags using Ainu designs and embroidery.

These first two are made of wool and much bigger than the ones she usually makes.

These next four Yoko says are cases for sunglasses, but I reckon they could be used for regular glasses, cigarettes and lighter, cell phone, etc etc

These last two are made using material from old Obi's, the sash used with kimonos.

If anyone is interested in owning one of these and wants to know sizes and prices., email me and I will pass it on to Yoko

Some other Ainu-design bags of hers can be seen here, but they have all been sold already.

A detailed view of Korakuen

Korakuen in Okayama City is one of the three top ranked gardens in Japan.

Before posting some shots of the garden, I thought I would show some of the details that attracted my eye. If you like koi, more posts here.

I also posted some shots of lotus blossoms from Korakuen earlier.

I posted a sequence of red umbrellas at Matsuo shrine earlier.

Bentenjima Shrine

The small shrine on Bentenjima (Benten Island) enshrines the female kami/goddess Benten, sometimes known as Benzaiten. Associated with water, and sometimes equated with Ichikishimahime, Benzaiten is the only female among the seven lucky gods of Japan.

Originally the Hindu Goddess Saraswati, introduced into Japan through Buddhist sutras, so one can find both shinto shrines and buddhist temples dedicated to her.

Benten Island itself is actually just a big rock on Inasa beach, and in the Kuniyuzuri myth the rock was thrown here by Takemikazuchi while engaged in a competition of strength with one of Okuninushi's sons.

Nanafushi: Stick Insect

Displaying one of the best examples of the art of camouflage, the Stick Insect, known as nanafushi in Japanese, are usually difficult to spot.

However, when they are crawling up your door they are much easier to see.

There are 18 species of Stick Insect in Japan, and I have no idea which one this is.

Kawamoto Summer Matsuri

On saturday evening we went upriver for the annual summer festival in Kawamoto. One street is blocked off to traffic and a stage erected. Along the street stalls selling food and drink.

The opening event was a rather poor performance of Yosakoi.

Next up was a performance by the local school brass band. Not exactly my cup of tea, but the performance was technically flawless. As it should be considering the amount of practising the poor kids have to do on weekends and during so-called school vacations.

And then some kagura. I noticed that Iwami kagura music now has the same effect upon me as Celtic music or Reggae..... my feet start tapping involuntarily.

Not sure how to describe the next performance. Yoko called it a play.

Next up the local taiko group. I always enjoy Taiko. This group was formed 40 years ago to cheer up the locals who had just suffered a devastating flood.

Thousands of floating candle lanterns were then set off to drift down the river. I would have liked to get closer to get some better shots but the river was fenced off and patrolled by dozens of security guards..... aahh!... safety Japan.

The finale was the obligatory firework display.

Kawamoto is a small town, but it services a large rural area, and the matsuri was well attended.