Tsuruga Train Festival

Last weekend, I had a four day weekend off from work. Saturday and Sunday were the weekend, Monday was a holiday from February (the Emperor's birthday) that my company moved to March, and Tuesday was Spring Equinox Holiday. I traveled from my home in Shizuoka Prefecture to western Japan, going through Shizuoka, Aichi, Gifu, and Fukui prefectures the first day. It was a rainy day, but the rain had stopped by the time I reached Tsuruga where I spent the first night. I was surprised to see a small festival at the train station when I arrived. It was a typical, family friendly, local festival. I loved it!

Even the Bounce House was in the shape of a train.

There was plenty of hands on train stuff for all ages.

The sky was dark, but the rain held off until evening.

This is the train station.

Friday Finish - The One Word Dictionary

The word is 月,  which means "Moon" in English.  The cover moon of the dictionary is stitched with glow in the dark thread on red felt. (Back cover is the same red felt.)

The inside has two pages. The left side page is the kanji character for moon. The right side page is the full moon. If you look closely, you can see the rabbit in the moon. (In the US, we look up and see a man in the moon.  In Japan, we look up and see a rabbit in the moon.)

Real moon photo taken near my apartment some time ago.  Do you see a man or a rabbit? (I see a rabbit).

Dangerous Train Photos

 

Taking train photos can be so dangerous! Stay behind the yellow line.

Work In Progress Wednesday

This is another little Jeannette Douglas freebie, which can be found here. It's another fast, fun stitch project.

I started these felt snowman ornaments last weekend on the train. (I'll have pictures from my trip soon.)

I worked on this section of the scarf this week too.

Little Toolie Tuesday - the Cohana Set

 

I absolutely love this Cohana toolie set!  They are made in Japan and I received them as a gift from an American friend. The needle threader is "Iida Mizuhiki Needle Threader (Pink)".  The tiny scissors and leather case are "Mini Scissors from Seki (Winter Gold)". The marking pins are "Marking Pins with Parquet Star (Winter Gold)".  I only use these tools at home because I would be very unhappy if I took them out and then lost them. 

The brand name comes from the goddess of Japanese mythology.  Princess Konohana Sakuya is as beautiful as the flowers of cherry trees bloom, and is revered as the god of Mt. Fuji, which symbolizes Japan. (from the English version of the Japanese website.)

Spring Equinox

Tomorrow is a national holiday in Japan - Spring Equinox Day. It marks the beginning of spring and the end of winter. Where I live the cherry trees are just starting to bloom and the days are getting warmer.  

Are the seasons changing where you live?

Japan Has Lowest Percentage of Women Studying Science

Among 36 comparable OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) member countries, Japan has the lowest share of women studying science, according to the organization's latest annual report. The report pointed out Japan's significant gender gap in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathamatics) areas and said Japan needs to inspire women to pursue studies in these areas. 

The proportion of women entering STEM fields at the university education level in Japan was only 27 percent, far below the OECD average of 52 percent. Slovakia was on top with 65 percent, followed by Poland at 63 percent and Czeck Republic and Lithuania which were both at 60 percent. The second lowest Belgium, at 40 percent is still much higher than Japan's 27 percent. 

In the fields of engineering, maufacturing, and construction, women in Japan were at 16 percent.  The highest levels were Iceland at 39 percent, followed by Poland at 36 percent, and Greece at 33 percent. 

Why does Japan rank so low? Last week at the International Women's Day event at the company where I work, the company leadership addressed the situation at the company and advocated for hiring and promoting more women to management and leadership positions. I hope that happens, but I expect it will take a very long time.

Yakuza Boss Arrested for Making Supermarket Point Card

The Japanese mafia is called the Yakuza, and the Japanese government makes it hard for them to do things everyone else takes for granted. Every sign up or contract in Japan contains the "Exclusion of Anti-Social Organizations" clause, which says the signer declares he or she is not part of an illegal organization such as the yakuza.  I made a post last summer about how this prevents yakuza members from getting smart phones. Seventy-three year old yakuza member and boss in the Yamaguchigumi's Aichi group, Takuya Machinaga, found out that it also prevents members from getting a supermarket point card.  

Point cards are loyalty programs offered at every type of chain store supermarket, drug store, convenience store, electronics store, etc. Card members can earn points on every purchase that can later be used on later purchases. Unfortunately for Mr. Machinaga, signing up for his local supermarket's card got him arrested for violating the Exclusion of Anti-Social Organizations clause, which is also known as the "yakuza members not allowed" rule. 

There is no problem with shopping at the supermarket. The problem is that signing the card application constitutes fraud, which was what he was arrested for. He won't need to do any grocery shopping while he serves his time in jail. It pays to read the fine print.

Friday Finish - Felt Needlebook

 I finished the little felt needlebook I started last week.  This is a kit called Tesoros by Deborah Gale Tirico.

Front

Back

Inside

Stitch Group Sunday

We had a great get together on Sunday!  One of our members just got married! She is very busy and couldn't join us for the stitching session, but was able to come for tea time. 

We all had to look at her cake before she arrived. (I will tell you, it was as delicious as it was beautiful).

We are continuing to work on our stumpwork projects. My stitch group friends are so creative! This stitcher is making small and large pansies for her box top.

Aren't these two pansies sweet?

The Bride has arrived! We are all so happy for her!

Happy Day and Best Wishes for a long and happy life together!

Work In Progress Wednesday

This is another tiny Jeannette Douglas freebie (that can be found here).  These little cross stitch pieces stitch up quick.

At stitch group on Sunday (post about that tomorrow), I worked on stitching the cording to the outside of this box top.

I worked on the white thread area of this Betsy Morgan piece.

I continued working on the needle book this week.  The stitching is finished and I am ready to put it together to make the needle book.

I've also been playing with some other felt and cut out some things for future travel stitching.

Little Toolie Tuesday - Boro Stitch Wallet

I finished my boro piece into a little stitch wallet. It has a felt strip for pins and needles, a triangle pocket and ribbon to hold scissors, and a pocket across the bottom to hold other things. 

Front - closed

Back - closed

Inside - open

Outside - open

It is handy to have a set of toolies in every UFO project, so when I am ready to work on something, I don't have to move scissors, needles, etc. from one project to another.

Monday Morning Star Count

Here are my 42 hexagons all connected.  You might have guessed, but if not I'll tell you.  My plan is to make this into a seat cushion. The next time I have the chance to go to the fabric store, I will see if I can find some type of cushion to be the inside.