Hamamatsu Kite Festival

One of the things I did over the Golden Week holiday was take the train to Hamamatsu to attend the Kite Festival. I went once before to this festival before the pandemic. 

The history of this festival goes back to the Eiroku era (1558 - 1569) when the ruling lord of Hikuma Castle (now Hamamatsu Castle) flew a large kite in honor of the birth of his first son. There are records of kite flying in Hamamatsu dating back to the late 1700's. This practice grew even more popular during the Meiji era (1868 - 1912). The Nakatajima Sand Dunes, which is one of two venues for this festival, face the Enshu Sea, which is favorable for kite flying due to the strong winds.

The current festival was established in 1950. This area has a long tradition of hatsudako (first kite) to celebrate the birth of one's firstborn child. This is one of the few Japanese festivals that isn't tied to a shrine or temple. It is a festival for and by the people of the town. 

Japan is a very clean, tidy country. As festival go-ers enter the festival area, they are offered tongs and plastic bags to pick up any trash they see. Isn't that a great way to keep things clean for everyone?

The kite flying area is a huge field surrounded by tents for vendors and others for the kite teams. The kites are very large and take many people to get them up in the air and to keep them there.  In addition, each kite team has a team of musicans of all ages to act as a little parade for the kite.

To get a better view, you can climb up the big hill and look out.

The second venue of the festival is around the train station. In the evening there is a parade of these big carved wood carts.  I did not stay for the evening session, but I did look at the carts on display.  There were volunteers who would put the Japanese festival jacket on visitors and take pictures.

The festival is held May 3, 4, and 5th every year.

Work In Progress Wednesday

Candlewicking progress. This will soon be a little zipper pouch, with the rabbit fabric for the lining.

The Quiltmaker progress

Japanese Pattern 4 - These four are stitched with three strands of DMC 311 on white or beige aida 14.

Please Use a Handkerchief!

 

Monday Morning Star Count

I pressed the backing seams and am pin basting the top and the back. It takes up all of my floor space. There is no batting, just the top and backing, as this is a summer bedspread.

I also made more hexagons for the flip edging and cut squares to make even more.

The Male Hippo is Really a Female

 

The Osaka Tennoji Zoo has announced that the 12 year old hippopotamus, named Gen-chan, which has been kept as a male, is actually female! So, what made them suspect the animal was not male?  Gen-chan never showed typical male behavior, such as scattering feces. Because of this, the zoo conducted a genetic test and discovered she is female. Twelve years to figure that out! The zoo will keep the same name, because everyone knows and loves the hippo by Gen-chan.

Nyakuichinouji Shrine in Fujieda, Shizuoka

It looks rather simple, but has a long history.

Information from the Tokaido Guide website.

This shrine was founded in 730. In the "Lore of Nyakuichioji Daigongensha" written in the middle of the Edo era (1603 - 1868), when Minamoto No Yoshiie came east along the Tokaido Road in the late Heian era (794 - 1185), he saw wisteria blooming on an old pine tree at this shrine. He wrote a poem, saying "Wisteria branches bloom on pine in Ichioji, bring beauty to this shrine throughout the ages". This poem is said to be the source of the name Fujieda (meaning "wisteria branch"). The laurel forest on the mountain in the premises behind the main shrine have been designated as a natural monument of the prefecture, because it is the northern limit of where plants that favor warm climates can grow in the prefecture.

Friday Finish - June Bride

This is a Paula Vaughan Golden Needle Collection kit called June Bride, using 32 count linen and DMC floss.

Akasaka Palace Imperial Garden Party Held Last Week

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet guests during the spring garden party at the Akasaka Palace imperial garden in Tokyo.

Every spring and fall, garden parties are hosted at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens.  The Emperor and Empress invite about 2000 guests, including Heads of the Diplomatic missions in Japan and other Diplomats and Heads of consulates; government officials; people who have rendered distinguished service in various fields including industry, culture, the arts and social activities; along with the spouses of all of these people. In addition, the Crown Prince and Crown Princess and the rest of the Imperial Family also attend.

Work In Progress Wednesday

New Start - The Quiltmaker from Lavender & Lace

Spring Bride is getting very close to being finished. I spent a lot of time outlining this week, but there is still more outlining to be done.

 

New Start - Huckweaving Practice

I've done Huckweaving before, but I kind of forgot how to do it. You can see one kitchen towel I made in 2015 here and another one here. I did this little practice piece on aida 14 fabric (front and back).  I have no idea how to figure out how much thread I need for each pass, without wasting too much.  If anyone knows, please help me.

Candlewicking progress

Japanese patterns - 1, 2, and 3.

Enmyozan Daikeiji Temple, Fujieda, Shizuoka

I can't pass by a temple or shrine without taking a look around. I am always amazed by the history.

Here is the history of Daikeiji Temple (googled translated from the website - I know there are some weird things):

About 760 years ago, in the spring of 1253, Nichiren Shonin visited this place of Kyoto Hieizan Yugaku, and the couple of Doen and Myoen, who ran a teahouse, were preached and planted one pine tree as a memorial. That is "Kuon no Matsu".
After that, the couple built a Hokke-do Hall behind their home and opened the foundation of Daikei-ji Temple.
It is said that Hyuga, a six-year-old monk, passed this place in 1313, and solded that he squeed a splendid pine, but later it became a place where a Zen master lived, and there was a time when it was called Keishoan. In Tenbun 5 (1536), Daienin Nichizun came here to avoid the law, and finally built a large temple by building a large temple by propagate at the Hokke-do Hall, and became the founder of restoration.

Many temples and shrines have very big, very old trees.  This pine tree is one of the oldest and biggest in Shizuoka. This is what the website says about the tree (also google translated):

Nichiren Shonin's hand-planted pine is a black pine tree that is more than 750 years old, and the tree is strong and the branches are stretched out in all directions, which is truly and wonderful.
It is the best age as a pine and a large tree rarely seen in the country. It is designated as a natural monument in Shizuoka Prefecture. It is 26m high, 30m high, 7m around the root.
It was selected as one of the "100 Best Pines in Japan" in 1983. There are three types in Shizuoka Prefecture: "Miho no Matsubara", "Numazu Senbonmatsu" and "Kuon no Matsu". Only "Kuon no Matsu" is selected as a single pine in the prefecture.

In June 2020, it was certified as a constituent cultural property of Japan Heritage.