Another, Less Pleasant Fertilizer, Gives New Meaning to the Expression KUNPU (薫風, Fragrant Breezes of May)- in my neighborhood
A steaming pile of pig manure, an incessantly barking dog, and a dead crow dangling from a pole- just outside my window to greet me on a fine spring day!
Regular readers of this blog know how much I enjoy living in Tsukuba. I would like to make it very clear, however, that life out in the Japanese countryside is NOT ALWAYS a bed of roses. In fact, if you are not good at TUNING certain things OUT, and even more importantly- KEEPING YOUR SENSE OF HUMOR ABOUT YOU, you would probably not be able to stay sane around here for very long.
You might remember that I have previously described the annoying bonfires which local farmers seem to keep continously going throughout late autumn and winter. They do this to burn off their agricultural and other waste, and sometimes to keep themselves warm on cold days. For some it just seems to be a hobby! I have described how the thick, strong smelling smoke these bon-fires give off is frequently blown through open windows into homes and also often leaves laundry hung out to dry smelling....well..... smokey.
And though I usually just LAUGH at the absurdity of it all whenever I get blasted in the face by a pillar of smoke after I expectantly open my window on a beautiful autumn day, I have known other foreign residents who have not taken the matter quite as lightly- some have actually packed up and left Tsukuba, claiming ironically that in Tokyo- that huge gray megalopolis, the air was fresher than it was out here in the country!
Unfortunately, to those whose autumns have been SMOKED OUT by agricultural bonfires, it is NOT POSSIBLE to offer the consolation of things being better in THAT OTHER SEASON in which we would hope to open the windows wide- SPRING.
The truth is they can get MUCH WORSE !
Let me tell you (from today`s experience) how they can.
When spring finally breaks through winters firm and stubborn hold, and all around fresh greenery and colorful flowers burst forth , on beautiful days with pleasant breezes, the Japanese might say poetically: KUNPU NO KISETSU NI NARIMASHITA ( 薫風の季節になりました)- meaning: the season of fragrant winds has come !
This year (2010), spring had been unusually long in coming, and Ive had to use my kerosene heaters ( thats right, no central heating!) until as late as May 12th! There have been few opportunities to open the windows and give the house a very well needed airing out, and to tell the truth I have been starting to feel closed in and claustrophobic.
When I looked out my bedroom window today I was greeted with a sight for sore eyes- Mt Tsukuba in bold green surrounded by dazzling blue skies spotted with puffy white clouds.
I then got a call from a friend, a retired teacher who wanted to confirm our appointement for later in the day.
I said: Good morning! Its a beautiful day! He responded: Yes ! The season of FRAGRANT BREEZES has arrived!
After hanging up, I hurried gleefully downstairs intending to throw open all the windows. On the way down I realized that the neighbors dog was barking even more hysterically than it usually does ( every morning for two hours!), and also heard the hum of a large vehicle which was apparently backing up ( since it was beeping rhythmically).
Just as I drew the curtains open, I saw with horror- a whole load of PIG MANURE being dumped right next to my house. I watched wide-eyed as it plopped heavilly onto the ground forming a neat pile. My neighbor will be spreading this out, as he does each year, to fertilize his vegetable field.
As you can imagine, I put the OPENING THE WINDOWS PLAN on hold, and instead started searching fevervishly for anything with which I could SEAL up any cracks or openings around the windows and doors which might let the imminent stench in.
Still, as if seeping through the walls, my neighborhoods special FRAGRANT WINDS OF SPRING started to fill the room. My head began to swim.
As the dog kept up its crazed barking I stared out the window in a depressed daze. To add insult to injury, I noticed that as a scarecrow my neighbor had suspended a dead crow from the top of a pole. Was this done purposely to mock me? Does he know that I spend alot of my free time rescuing live,wild birds who are caught in nets and left suspended upside-down? Couldnt be. I must just be getting paranoid.
I let out a laugh ( what was I gonna do, cry?) This cannot be happening, I thought. But it was. Just another spring day in the Japanese countryside.
For the immediate future, until my neighborhoods own distinctive FRAGRANT WIND OF SPRING dies down I`ll be staying away from home as much as possible.
.....and I just might start hunting for another place to live . Far from the countryside.Perhaps in Tokyo, or some other big city- where the air is fresh and clear!
An unpleasant scarecrow
For more on Tsukuba`s smokey winters ( and late autumns) read my articles:
http://blog.alientimes.org/2008/11/tsukubas-smokey-autumn-air-the-gomi-moshi-problem/
UPDATE !
Where does it stop! A different neighbor burning his waste just by my house on May 17th 2010. Maybe he is trying to smoke out the smell of the manure!
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At Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden You Don`t Need a Special Exhibit to Enjoy Japan`s ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES
One of Japan`s many endemic chrysanthemums- at Tsukuba`s botanicla garden
By Avi Landau
When conditions are right, living things reproduce, proliferate and spread. Two of the things that would hinder many life forms from extending the bounds of their territory are large bodies of water and high mountains. For that reason, Japan, a mountainous island nation off the coast of Asia ( which has within its borders numerous smaller islands- some of them far-flung and isolated) is home to many ENDEMIC SPECIES- that is species of animals or plants WHICH CAN BE FOUND NOWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD.
According to specialists at Tsukuba`s Botanical Garden, where a special exhibition on Japan`s endemic plants species (KOYU-SH-, 固有種) was held in November, one out of every three of Japan`s approximately 7,000 classified plant species is endemic. That means that within Japanese territiory there are more than 2,000 endemics ( according to a pamphlet given out at the exhibit the exact number is 2,545 species, including sub-species and variants).
I visited the botanical garden several time during that special exhibit and found it to be interesting though NOT spectacular. What I did find exciting was the map showing where the highest concentrations of endemic plants are located. As you can probably guess from what I have said above, the hot spots are either in outer islands, or on high mountains. The eight places with the highest numbers of such species are
1) Chichijima Island in the Ogasawara (Bonin) Island Group- 26 hours by ship from Tokyo.
2) Yakushima Island off the coast of Kagoshima Prefecture ( this island also has a high mountain- Mt Miyauranodake- the highest in southern Japan)
3) Hahajima Island in the Ogasawaras
4) Amami O-Shima Island in the Amami Island Group between Kyushu and Okinawa
5) Mt. Yu-baritake (夕張岳), a 1668 meter tall mountain in Hokkaido
6) The Japanese Southern Alps ( especially Mt. Kita-dake, 3193 meters in height)
7) Mt. Apoi Take in Hokkaido, only 810 meters in height but located on a peninsula on the south-eastern tip of the island
and
8) Mt. Yatsugatake (in Nagano Prefecture)-2899 meters high.
(Though endemic palnts can be found in all parts of Japan - in Ibaraki Prefecture especially along the coast, or on Mt. Tsukuba!)
Endemic chrysanthemums in bloom at Tsukuba`s botanical garden- November 29th 2011)
The truth is, however, that most ( are even all) of these unique Japanese species are humdrum in appearance, and thus when displayed indoors in pots ( as was the case for this event), are just not something to write home about.
I found that feeling to be disappointing since each of these plants ARE treasures- which can be found nowhere else in the world.
Well, after the special exhibit was over, I was back at the botanical garden ( with the recent exhibit still in mind) and noticed that among the permanent outdoor displays there were a high percentage of endemics. These are marked by a little yellow sticker ( with a little pencil drawing of Japan on ) which read： 固有種 （ＫＯＹＵ－ＳＨＵ).
At Tsukuba`s botanical garden- this little yellow sticker indicates that a species is endemic- you will be surprised by how many you will find!
When I first realized this fact I started to note their names in my memo book, but as I walked along I found that there were so many of these endemics that I had to give up the task and JUST ENJOY THEM- which I found much easier to do outdoors in a more natural setting
( though in Tsukuba`s late autumn some of these plants- native to subtropical climes- seemed a bit miserable!)
Still in bloom were many of the chrysanthemums sub-species which have developed in the wild in Japan over the centuries ( after they were introduced from China)
Across the bridge, on the other side of the pond, I found Japan`s most special endemic- a tree called the Ko-yamaki. This tree is a GENUS, FAMILY, and SPECIES of its own, and exists only in Japan.
An endemic KO-YAMAKI tree which makes up a whole GENUS, FAMILY, and SPECIES of its own!
As you can imagine, MANY of these unique Japanese plants are endangered- and as you know from the definition of the word- if any of these species disappears from Japan, it means it will be completely lost to the world. Its good to know that scholars and the government are trying to raise awarenwss of these precious organisms.
When you visit the botanical garden ( off Higashi O-Dori)- and you should- OFTEN, keep an eye out for the little yellow endemic species stickers ( dont confuse them for another type used there with an image of Mt. Tsukuba- which indictes flora which can be found on that mountain). These plants might not be spectacular, but you will not see them anywhere else - and they do amaze you with the shear variety of form and function that life on this planet can take.
Another one of Japan`s endemic plant species which grows at Tsukuba`s botanical garden
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Azalea Festival
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 plants will be illuminated along the cable car route from 6:30pm to 8pm. A round trip on the cable car costs 1000 yen for adults and children of elementary school age and under are free.
Getting There By Train
From Tsukuba Station, take the Mt. Tsukuba Shuttle Bus (筑波山シャトルバス -- Tsukuba san shuttle bus) and get off at the entrance to Mt. Tsukuba Shrine (筑波山神社入口 -- Tsukuba san jinja iriguchi). Walk for 5 minutes.
If you come from a station other than Tsukuba Station, and you are planning on using the cable car or ropeway, you might find the Tsukuba Express Mt. Tsukuba Ticket to be convenient.
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Azalea festivals in Tsukuba and Kasama
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) Tsutsujigaoka StationMay 5(sat) Children's Day 11am
Children's Day free gifts given to first 200 kids at Miyawaki Station and Tsutsujigaoka StationMay 12(Sat) 11am
Machitsuki (pounding of "mochi" or rice cake) and tasting of mochi
at the "outlook floor" in front of aerial tramway Nyotaisan Station. Tasting of mochi is limited to first 200 people.May 19(Sat) 11am
ガマの油売り口上(performance by a tradionational "Toad's Grease" seller) at the "outlook floor" of the building in front of Tsukuba Sanchou Station1pm
Charity "Tsukamidori(grabbing)" game at cable car Miyawaki Station (I don't know what, but it looks like you have a chance to win nice prizes) First 100 people
I don't know how much it'll cost to get into this festival, but it shouldn't be that expensive. The azalea festival in Kasama has already started last weekend. I've been to the one in Kasama twice, and I really liked it!
第３６回笠間つつじまつり(The 36th Kasama Azalea Festival)
April 14(Sat) to May 13(Sun) 8am to 6pm
Admissions: 500yen for adults(high schoolers and up), Junior high kids and under are free
Events:
April 28, 29, May 2, 5 from 10am to 3pm
tea ceremoriesMay 3 10am to 3pm
琴(koto or Japanese harp) concertMay 4 10am to 12pm
稲荷ばやし(Inari bayashi), traditional Japanese festival music in KasamaMay 4 12pm to 3pm
岩間ばやし(Iwama bayashi), traditional Japanese festival music in IwamaMay 5 10am to 3pm
sales of local produce
The site of Himatsuri, the big pottery fair I mentioned in this blog before, isn't far from this azalea festival, so you can visit two festivals in one day. If you have a time (and energy!), I highly recommend visiting Kasama Inari Shrine near the azalea festival site because the Japanese wisteria at Kasama Inari Shrine is simply just breathtaking!!
ぼたん・しゃくやく・バラ祭り(tree peony, Chinese peony, rose festival)
at Tsukuba Peony Garden
April 21(Sat) to July 15(Sun)
Open 9am to 5pm on weekdays and 8am to 5pm on weekends and holidays Admissions: 800yen for adults, 300yen for kids*
*If your child(ren) attends a public school in Tsukuba, then she/he should have received a free ticket from school last week.
You can eat the soba noodle, made from soba grown in Tsukuba in the restaurant inside this garden.
A special exhibit on サクラソウ(sakurasou or primrose) will also start tomorrow at Tsukuba Botanical Garden. The weather's been crazy lately, but spring is definitely here!
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Camellias (tsubaki) Create Special Spring Soundscapes And Groundscapes
Fallen camellia (tsubaki)
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 of huddling up by the noisy little kerosene heater or hunkering up with my legs roasting in a kotastu (a heated table), I can open the large windows, one set facing the garden, and the other the DOOMED Nakane Konda-Dai (Nakane Kondadai) woods, and let the warm, pollen heavy breezes drift in, occassionally bringing the intoxicating scent of some newly blossomed flowers to my nose. With this delicious air, and the raucus chatter of birds busy with their mating and nest making rituals, it is just about impossible to concentrate on reading , writing, or anything else for that matter. The only option seems to be to savor the moment.
Tsubaki
One reason for the camellia`s popularity is its deep beauty. Its leaves are a rich green all year round, and its flowers are a sensuous red, pink or white. The fact that the flowers bloom in early spring (or late winter) have made them an important symbol of that season. In fact, the character used to write tsubaki is not the same as that used in Chinese. It is an original Japanese character (KOKUJI), that uses Chinese elements which mean SPRING TREE (椿）. Because of its evergreen folliage and flowers which bloom in the cold of the early year the year, the camellia had been considered a sacred tree long before the samurai class started frowning upon it. The Emperor, his family and the court used carved ritual sticks of camellia wood, called udzuchi (卯d槌)and utsue (卯杖), to beat the ground and drive away evil, around the New Year. Some scholars also believe that the numerous sacred camellia groves which can be found along the Japan Sea side of Japan were planted by wandering mendicant nuns called BIKUNI (比丘尼), who used camellia wood to perform various rituals.
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