Are you fascinated by Japan or Japanese culture? I hear about lots of different events and groups connected in some way with Japan. I'd like to share this information with you!
Why not come to some of the events on our calendar page or visit the businesses & clubs on our directories? We all love to talk about Japan--come share our interest!
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posted Sep 23, 2011 3:27 PM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Sep 23, 2011 4:05 PM
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Here I am taking pictures of autumn grasses again. Can you guess why? Because fortune has once again stopped my car! Last time I was stuck in a traffic jam, this time I had a tire blowout on my way back from Japan Fest Altanta. But I couldn't have had a nicer day for it! I had pleasant friends along, some mochi for an impromptu picnic, beautiful weather, and speedy roadside assistance. So here's a quick look at autumn in South Georgia.
Speaking of fortune, fair or foul, I bought an omikuji (御神籤) at Japan Fest. This is a slip of paper with your fortune on it that can usually be bought at shrines in Japan. First you pay, then shake a container with bamboo strips each having numbers printed on them. The bamboo you tip out will be matched with a fortune. Mine was "Lesser Good Fortune" that included a warning against unnecessary travel...but I had to get home! When you draw a bad fortune, it's customary to fold up the paper and tie it to a pine tree or, nowadays, a rack of wires located by the side of the shrine. Supposedly, then your bad fortune will wait there and not go following you home. I kept mine, though, since the remainder of the prophesy wasn't too bad. (^_^)
Here's the wire set up at Japan Fest...and a photo of similar fortunes tied to a tree in Nikko (from my trip back in May 2010).
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posted Jul 22, 2011 2:23 PM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Sep 23, 2011 3:25 PM
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Bahia Simons-Lane of the JET Alumni Association of Florida posted an update on their Facebook page about the " Wa Project" Facebook Community. I had originally called this website The Wa Project (and still do, though it's not in the banner). So that got me thinking about my site and I decided to update. The JETAA's Tampa Natsumatsuri is tomorrow and I've learned of some more Japan-related cultural groups and people through volunteering. There are now two Buddhism entries on the Culture Directory, plus a Sumi-e teacher in Indian Rocks Beach, a Kimono Club in Sarasota, a J-Pop singer in Clearwater, and a new Bonsai nursery in Plant City! I've added a couple of additional restaurants to that directory too. If you know of something I'm missing, please tell me. You can contact me by posting a comment on this blog entry. |
posted Jan 3, 2011 11:47 AM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Jan 3, 2011 11:51 AM
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HAPPY NEW YEAR...
from Esther & Tampa Japanese Meetup http://japanese.meetup.com/571 |
posted Oct 28, 2010 7:15 AM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Sep 23, 2011 3:26 PM
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On October 24, I gave myself a real treat! I traveled to Gainesville, FL and saw the Bunraku Bay Troupe from Missouri perform two traditional Japanese puppetry pieces: Kotobuki Shiki Sanbaso (寿式三番叟) and the Lion Dance (獅子舞). Both were well done and very enjoyable. Members of the troupe routinely study in Japan to perfect their art. I look forward to seeing this group perform again.
"Sanbaso" purified the outdoor theatre and conferred good luck upon us all; a nip from the Lion promised us increased intelligence and long life. The performers ended each piece by taking the puppets into the audience--bringing the good luck directly into our midst, and giving us a close look at the finely crafted characters. A question and answer session and another chance to examine the puppets followed the performance. If they ever play in your area, try to get out to see them!
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posted Oct 15, 2010 3:28 PM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Oct 15, 2010 3:47 PM
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Well, the nice weather returned. It was a beautiful day.
On my way into work this morning there was a traffic problem, so I drove along at 5 mph for about 20 minutes. This gave me a chance to look at the plants growing alongside the road. These are just weeds at the side of the interstate highway off-ramp, but they spoke eloquently of autumn to me. The lowly grasses are putting forth their best efforts to welcome the turning season!
In Japan there's something called the Slow Life Movement which asks people to ease up a little bit on the pace of life. It must have been the more leisurely pace of times past that fostered the strong attachment the Japanese have for seasonal plants, motifs, and foods. You just don't notice the changes when you're travelling 60 mph...but when you're forced to move at a walking pace, you see things. Maybe putting on attire with autumn colors and patterns makes you feel connected to the speed of life in which such things are fully appreciated. |
posted Oct 13, 2010 10:37 AM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Oct 13, 2010 11:17 AM
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About a week ago in Tampa, we had a nice cool spell with low humidity. It was so nice and made us all think Autumn had come at last. My bellflowers were blooming in the flower garden! Now it's humid again, and I think fondly back to last week and encourage Autumn to make another attempt to settle in upon us!
This photo shows my bellflower and a variety of Lespedeza or Japanese bush clover. These are two of Japan's traditional Seven Flowers of Autumn (秋の七草 - あきのななくさ) mentioned in a famous 8th-centry Japanese poem.
When I count on my fingers the flowers that bloom in the autumn fields, I find there are seven.
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posted Oct 8, 2010 1:18 PM by Esther Searfoss
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updated Oct 8, 2010 1:23 PM
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This image is a collage of a pictures I took on a visit to Tokyo and Kamakura in 2004. I had a great time! The weather in late March was cool and nice. I caught the very beginning of Sakura season. Japan's an amazing place with a rich & subtle culture, and wonderful people. I returned to Tokyo in 2010 and took LOTS more pictures. You can look at them in the Tampa Japanese Meetup's Photos section. |
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