Japan’s month long rainy season (tsuyu, 梅雨) usually ends in mid-July, and that means there are precious few days left to savor its SPECIAL BEAUTY. Many Japanese consider Ajisai (紫陽花, or hydrangea) to be the quintessential flower of this season, as they look just right when wet, and enshrouded in mist. And though these flowers can be found almost anywhere [...]
Even in Japan’s mild-wintered Kanto region, in most years, on February 4th, radio and television weathercasters can do nothing but complain about the inappropriately cold weather. This year, however, on that day, afternoon temperatures actually reached a toasty 14 degrees centigrade, an unusual case of the weather properly befitting the occasion, Risshun (立春), the first [...]
Continue reading about A Glimpse (and Whiff) of Things to Come
The Mt. Tsukuba Azalea Festival runs from April 26 to May 18. There are about 3000 red and purple azalea (ツツジ — tsutsuji — in Japanese) bushes on the mountain. Special events will be held on Saturdays through out the festival and on Monday, May 5. From May 3 to 6, the [...]
筑波山つつじまつり(Mt.Tsukuba Azalea Festival)
April 22(Sun) to May 20(Sun)
Events:
April 28(Sat) 11am
Kocarina * Concert at the “outlook floor” of the building in front of Tsukuba Sanchou Station on top of Mt.Tsukuba (*Kocarina is a music instrument from Republic of Hungary )
April 28(sat) 1pm
100 baby azalea trees give away at the cable car(tramway) Miyawaki Station and ropeway(aerial tramway) [...]
Continue reading about Azalea festivals in Tsukuba and Kasama
In DEEP SPRING , my household has finally emerged from its state of FUYUGOMORI (冬篭り), the shuttering up, bundling up, and holing up, that those of us living the traditional Japanese way do (that means without central heating!) , for a few months out of each year. Now, when I sit in my tatami-matted Japanese style room, instead [...]
Continue reading about Camellias (tsubaki) Create Special Spring Soundscapes And Groundscapes
tsukubans speak