The Nara pref gallery and the surroundings

Mission, the Nara pref gallery and the  surroundings.(researched 27th Oct 2013)

 

"We thank "C" for his dedicating assistance on me in my wheel chair to carry

out the mission."

 

 

 I researched the Nara pref gallery and the surroundigs. Here is what I saw.

The gallery.

 a, no car park is available. ( there are several private car parks are on offer aroud the place for the tourists. Cost you ￥1500-￥2000 for one day.)

 b, admission fees. ￥400 for adult. ￥150-￥250 for child and student.(you and an assistant are allowed to get free admission with a disability  certificate)

 c,  a priority toilet is located on the first floor.

 d, an elevator and the accessible slopes are installed.

 e, the hire wheelchires are available.

 

 Over all

 The gallary has a few special exhibitions in a year. You may ask'em what's on before you go.

 In terms of accessibility, I had no problem all the way in the building. While, It was a bit bumpy on the sidewalks nearby.

 

 

 

How to get there

Train and bus

It takes 5min from the Kintetsu Nara station (the 1st exit).Heading the East.

Bus goes there from the JR Nara station. The gallery is located closely from the bus stop (Kencho-mae 県庁前)

 

Ph 07442-23-3968

 

Address 10-6 Noborioji, Nara city 🏣630-8213

 

URL http://www.pref.nara.jp/11842.htm

 

The surroundings.

I list a few spots which are near there.

1,the prefectural office building (refer  ACCIDENTAL MISSION Nara prefectural office. Researched Jun 2013)

 

 

2, shopping malls (the higashimuki-shotengai mall 東向商店街, the sanjodori-shotengai mall 三条通商店街) there is a couple more shopping malls nearby.

3, the Nara park

4, the Sarusawaike pond

5, The Kofukuji Temple

 

In fact, the pref gallery is located in the most touristy area of Nara city. I advice you to visit those spots after or before the gallery.

 

 

 

Conclusion

We went down the shopping malls to the JR Nara station, had solid lunch at an Indian restaurant at the Sanjodori-shotengai mall. (there are enormous restaurants, cafes and stuff at the malls)
How ever, a good, tough companion is reqired to explore the area.

I will research the area to provide you farther information some time. Stay tuned. If you plan to visit the area by car. Please leave me a comment for more information.

How can I survive disasters in Japan?

Mission, surviving disasters in Nara (Japan) (researched 19th Oct 2013)

 

You are advised to ask "the Nara prefectural foreign resident support centre" regarding the issue.

Address 2F Silkia Nara, 8-1sanjyo, Nara city 630-8122

PH 0742-81-3320V

FAX 0742-81-3321

E-mail nara-icsc@office.pref.nara.lg.jp

 

There are several types of disasters in Nara.

1, earth quakes (地震) "jishin"

2, floods (洪水) "kozui"

3, land slides (地滑り) "jisuberi"

4, sever winds, storm (暴風) "bohuu"

5, sever rains, storm (豪雨) "gou"

How ever, except the earth quakes, they are able to practically forecast when and where the disasters come because those disasters are caused of typhoon (台風), tornados(竜巻) and other abnormal weathers.

 

What you should do to prepare yourself for those preventable disasters

1,  regularly gather information, check waters around you, check your evacuation routes, store water and food for a few days.

2, keep good communication with your neighborhood, exchanging greetings is essential. If you get to know each other, ask 'em about the issue.

3, designate a meeting spot for your family members and friends.

4, identify things you take to run with, such as passport, banking books, banking cards, credit cards and so on.

5, watch and listen to the radio ,TV and the inter net. There are many information sauce is on offer. I personally watch the NHK (ch2, ch12) in case of emergency.

There 4 more major channels are on TV (the Kansai area) 4ch, 6ch, 8ch, 10ch.

Generally, the radio stations (FM) have more multi lingual information

1, FM Osaka, 85.1

2, FM 802, 80.2

3, FM CO CO LO, 76.5

4, NHK FM, 87.4 (奈良市 Nara city)

5,Alpha- station, 89.4

 

The NHK Nara FM has the local frequencies   

東生駒 Higashiikoma 83.4MHz / 3W

宇陀 Uda 88.5MHz / 100W

栃原 Tochihara 83.7MHz / 30W

西吉野 Nishiyoshino 89.0MHz / 10W

山添 Yamazoe 82.3MHz / 10W

川上東川(うのがわ) Unogawa 83.3MHz / 10W

下北山 Shimokitayama83.4MHz / 10W

十津川小原 Totsukawaohara84.7MHz / 10W

御杖土屋原 Mitsuetsuchiyahara 84.8MHz / 10W

天川川合 Tenkawakawai  89.6MHz / 10W

Personally, I recommend you FM CO CO LO, 76.5 to listen to the multi lingual information.

How ever, you should watch the weather forcast regularly to see what happens in the sky.

What you should do in case of the floods or tsunami. (not in Nara)

1,Running up to higher ground (高台 takadai) and get away from the coast ASAP.

2,Stay upstairs, if you are in a building 

3,try to find the nearest evacuation centre

 

On the other hand the earth quakes are still unpredictable. They only critically deriver you warnings through mobile phones, TVs and other devices on line.

The Chinese characters which you will see with those warnings are listed below.

1, 地震 (jishin) earthquake

2, 震源 (shingen) epicentre

3, 震度 (shindo) scale of an earthquake

4, 余震 (yoshin) aftershock

5, 警報 (keiho) warning

6, 注意報 (chuiho) advisory warning

7, 津波 (tsunami) tsunami

8, 避難 (hinan) evacuation

9, 到達 (totatsu) arrival

10, 時間 (jikan) time

 

When those Chinese characters appear on the screens with unfamiliar buzzer,

you must take actions.

The types of actions are listed below.

1, try to stay under a table or some solid item to protect yourself against falling things.

2, try to stay away from the unstable things, for instance a wardrobe, a refrigerator and so on.

3, turn off the gas or stove to avoid causing a fire

4, make an escape route, open the doors to prevent 'em locked by accident

5, don't panic and run out the house, check the surroundings carefully and make sure your shoes are safe to put on. (be careful of broken glass)

Turn off the circuit breaker and gas before leaving the house.

 

In case you are outside

Watch falling things such as signs and pieces of broken glass, avoid walls.

 

In case you are driving a car

1, carefully stop the car on the left side to leave some room for ambulances or fire trucks.

2, leaving the car key in side, and evacuate with out the doors locking.

 

In case you are near the coast

1, run up to higher grounds and get away from the coast ASAP . (you must run from tsunami)

 

Japanese language you will see at an evacuation centre are listed below.

1, 避難 (hinan) evacuation

2, 避難所 (hinannjyo) evacuation centre

3, 受付 (uketsuke) reception

4, 登録 (toroku) registration

5, 被災者 (hisaisya) disaster victim

6, ライフライン (raihu rain) essential utilities

7, 給水 (kyusui) water supply

8, 安否確認 (anpikakunin) safety confirmation

9, 非常食 (hijiosyoku) emergency food

10, 炊き出し (takidashi) food provision

11, 配給 (haikyu) distribution

12, 救援物資 (kyuenbussi) relief supplies

13, 備蓄品 (bichikuhin) stockpile

You might face the cultural gap at an evacuation centre. The people may occasionally be aggressive. All you need to do is that "be cool," "treat the others as you want to be treated.

 

Over all

To manage emergencies, you have to get through the initial disorder on your own. Don't estimate to be saved by someone else, store supplies, drill evacuation procedures.

 

Conclsion

It was worth attending the lecture. I had given ideas to talk about the issue on my blog.

How ever, there are 2 million foreign residents in the nation. (11 thousand foreign residents in Nara pref )

On the other hand, a variety of disarstors have been happening across the nation every year.

What we (the interpreters  and the translaters) need to do is more attending the international exchange activities to help people understanding the protection against disasters and the other culturers.

Are you lost?

Mission, the written oracles at The Daianji Temple (researched 11 Oct 2013)

 

Written oracle=0mikuji おみくじ

Daruma=ダルマ 達磨

 

 

 

We researched the uniquely shaped written oracles at The Daianji Temple to introduce you Japan's "omikuji"culture.

 

 

 

 Today, I'll tell you a few things before you go for omikuji.

1, omikuji appears at the religious sites, regardless temples or shrines.

2, omikuji comes in variety of shapes and process. (ask'em befor you try)

3, you are allowed to knot your slip on a twig of surrounding trees or reserved area.

 

 

4, in general, omikuji expires in a year

5, you are also bring your slip back home (take it back on to any shrines or temples after a year.)

6, pray the gods or Buddha prior to draw omikuji.

 

However, omikuji is a way to communicate with what they worship, therefore, what it says is more to advice you how you go with your life. Don't take it too serious.

 

 

 

This is how it's written in a slip.

大吉 daikichi=great blessing

中吉 chukichi=middle blessing

小吉 shokichi=small blessing

吉 kichi=blessing

凶 kyo=curse

半凶 hankyo=half curse

大凶 daikyo=great curse

 

As you can see a written fortune at The Daianji Temple is shaped "daruma". Daruma symbolizes patience and accomplishment.

 

 

 

Over all

The Daiaji Temple is not very friendly for the wheel chair users. The accessible slopes are old, beat up as well as too steep,dangerous to use.

The courtyard is fully gravelly. I was stragling in my wheel chair. In addition the monks are unhelpfull, they were just looking at me getting stuck. No priority toilet is available. Free car park is located nearby (2min walk). There is another entrance on the East side (a lot easier for wheel chair.)"a monk told us about it after all."
 

 

 

Cost

¥400 per person, ¥ 360 per person with disable certificate , you are allowed to have 2 assistants (¥360 per assistant).

Free to go in to the temple. They charge you to see the statues of Buddha.
¥300 for a daruma shaped omikuji

 

 

 

The Daianji Temple was built in the Asuka period (year 6??)

The temple accommodated monks from South East Asia to study.

Today, The Daianji Temple is known as an effecting temple for anti cancer.

 

 

 

Conclusion

As I expected, the temple was not well accessible. While it was a good fun to buy a daruma shaped omikuji. My daruma shaped omikuji turned out to be "chukichi"中吉. I take it for "every thing gonna be alright."

 

 

 

Tips

A written slip is hidden somewhere in a daruma. Better ask some one to translate ( a lot more things are written in a slip.) A good, tough assistant is needed to accompany with your wheelchair.

 

 

ONIGAWRA

Mission, roof  tiles at "Gado" 瓦道 (researched 04 Oct 2013)

 

 We researched "Gado" 瓦道 (the roof tile manufacturer ) in Nara city to see what's there.

 

 

roof tile = 瓦

鬼瓦 onigawara = a gargoyle

 In Japan, the roof tiles are the most general and traditional building materials. You can see the materials on the roofs of the houses all over nation.

 

 How ever, we found something that is very rare as well as indeginous at Gado.

 

 

Here is what they do.

1, manufacture and construct special roof tiles for the major historic buildings across the nation. For example, The Kofukuji Temple (Nara pref), The Kasugataishya Shrine (Nara pref), The Entsuji Temple (Tokyo pre), The Himejijyo Castle (Hyogo pref) and so on.

2, administrate those buildings to maintain them in good conditions.

3, inherit the skills and the tradition.

The roof tiles first came in from the Korean peninsula 1400 ears ago.

They have kept the roof tile culture for centuries.

4, let the public know our roof tile culture.

A manufacture lesson is available, cost ¥2000 per person. (my wife tried it, says it was a good fun.)

 

 

The souvenirs are available (I bought a key ring.)

 

 

The brief history of roof tiles.

 In the beginning, according to Nihon-shoki (the oldest chronicles of Japan), the roof tiles came in to the nation from the Korean peninsula for construction of the religious buildings in the year of 588.

In the Medieval Period, the temples were decreased to be built. Wile, the castles were more to be built.

In short, the roof tiles were still to be used as building materials after the big change.

Nowadays, the roof tiles are far more developed to deal with today's needs. As a result, roof tiles are seen across the nation,

 

"How ever, I was working for a roof tile constructor during the summer, when I was very young. It was a good opportunity  for the young man experiencing the true spirit of workmen. The summer is very much memorable for me."

You can make your own small replica "onigawara" in a lesson.

 

 

How to get there.

Bus

Bus from JR/Kintetsu Nara station. Take a Nara kotsu bus at 2nd platform (the Aoyama housing line), get off at Narasaka, 1min walk from the bus stop to Gado (瓦道)

Car

It takes 10 min from the Kizu exit of the Keinawa motorway.

It takes 20min from the Koriyama exit of the Nishimeihan motorway.

 

Car park is available.

Open 9am-5pm

Manufacture lesson   ¥2000 (postage be added)

A lesson takes 1hour

 

Ph 0742-22-2391

Fax 0742-22-2393

URL http://www.gado.co.jp

 

Bookings are essential to take lessons. 

Disposable aprons are available

 

 

Over all

It's accessible for wheel chair at the factory.

A Western type toilet is available. (there are 4 steps to enter the toilet.) "better ask for assistance."  

 

Conclusion

I and my wife had a good time at Gado trying a manufacture lesson as well as come across rear findings . The research was successes all the way.

Only in the autumn.

Mission, grilled eggplant topped with the authentic bonito flakes (researched 27th Sep 2013)

 

 

 

 

 

It's full on autumn here in Nara Japan. Today, I'll let know an eggplant dish that is very much in season.

As I told you before, eggplant is the best in the autumn. Now, eggplant

Is not only juicy but fully pumped. In addition, the dish requires good bonito flakes to be topped with.

Coincidently, I have the authentic bonito flakes from The specialized grocer (researched 18 Sep 2013) in the fridge to be used today.

 

This is how my wife cooked at her kitchen.

1, wash an eggplant well under running water.

2, cut the head end off.

 

3, preheat the grill.

 

4, prick an eggplant by a stick from the tail end (half the way)

 

5, grill as many as you want, grill 'em till skin gets burnt (heat one side to the other, takes around 20-30mim) 

6, skin off the burnt eggplants.

 

7, cut one into a bite size.

To serve.

1, put the pieces  in a nice bowl.

2, let it cool. (normally, grilled eggplant is served cold)

 

3, top 'em with bonito flakes (enough to cover)

4, trace soy sauce before eating.

 

Conclusion

Grilled eggplant is normally served as a side dish, is occasionally served

a Whole at places like "izakaya" 居酒屋. 

 

Hope you to enjoy the dish.     

The old man and the bonito flakes

Mission the Nishiguchi Bonito Flake Co (researched 18 Sep 2013)

 

 

 Bonito Flakes=Katsuo-bushi (鰹節)

 

I've told you two recipes to cook Japanese dishes on this blog so far.

 

I suppose bonito flakes would be the one that is very crucial ingredient As well as a wonder in recipe.

 

To day, I'll tell you Nara's unique specialized bonito flake grocer and a bit about bonito flakes.

 

The bonito flakes (鰹節)= small pieces of dried bonito shavings, mainly used to make dashi stock to cook Japanese food.

Generally, dashi stock is made out of combination of kelp and bonito flakes. Therefore, the quality of bonito flakes is significant in Japanese cuisine.

 

The brief steps of making bonito flakes (鰹節)

1, filleting bonitos, taking bones and bowels away.

2, boiling bonitos for 60min~90min

3, let  'em cool out doors.

4, dry 'em on heat from burning wood

5, dry 'em once again under the sun right.

6, shape 'em into what they are with a specially designed knife.
(the above step make 'em looking what thery are as well as looking trimed)

7, putting edible mould on the processed bonitos. Keep 'em in "muro" (a room that provides high temps and humidity) to boost mold growing, get 'em back on drying process. The above "muro" process generally repeated some times . At last, let 'em fully dry to complete making dried bonitos

8, shaving dried bonitos into flakes by a plane.

Also, dried bonitos are known as the world's hardest food.

 Bonito flakes remind  me  wehn I was in practise at a specialized Japanese restaurant in Toyohashi, Japan.

 "The owner-head chef shaved a dried bonito into flakes by a plane to make dashi stock. And then, I went for a bin run (taking rubbish out). That was just another cold cloudy winter morning."

 

 Nowadays,  bonito flakes are mass produced to sell every supermarket across the nation, the products are packed in small amount to be sold.

 The major bonito flake producers are trying to make  flakes more convinient for domestic use.

 On the  other hand, the Nishiguchi Bonito Flake Co is run by an old man. The old man does all those processes at his place to sell his products by weight.

 

 

 How ever, his business is obviously old fasioned, he is far behind the main stream.

 

 If you cook Japanese food at home. I urge you to try the Nshiguchi Bonito  Flake Co. You will know  that the old man’s products are as good as the foods can get.

 

How to get there.

 

 

 It is located 300m from the Kintetsu Nara station, is in front of the Nara Women's university.

 No car park is available.

 Ph 0742-22-4389

 Open 11am-7pm

 Close on Sundays and Public holidays.

 We went there by car, parked our car in front of the grocer to shop.

 The old man (store runner) get you whatever you want to your request.  ( Japanese language is required to communicate)

 The accesblity  for wheel chair doesn't exist here. Assistance is essential.

 

 

 

 

Moon Palace

Mission, the autumn full moon parties in Nara (referred the my town Nara 7th Sep 2013 issue) (written 12 Sep 2013)

 Several full moon parties are going to take place in the 19th night of September in Nara prefecture.(the North area) (details are listed below.)

 1, The Sarusawaike Pond -Miko matsuri.

 Address, 49 Noborioji, Nara city. The event starts 5pm. Ask 0742-22-3900

 The two boats (shaped a doragon  and a phoenix) float on the water to go around the pond.

2, The Toshodaii Temple-Togetsu sanbutsukai

Address 13-46 Gojo, Nara city. The event starts 6pm-9pm.

Ask 0742-33-7900

Tea ceremony will take place at The Mikagedo Hall ( where the stature of Ganjinwajo is in).

The  full moon over The Mikagedo Hall is worth watching. No admission is required for the temple after 6pm. (In fact, The Mikagedo Hall costs adult ¥500, child ¥300 or ¥200 to enter. )

3, The Sanshozenji Temple-Sogetsunocyakai

Address 26/10 1-Hichijo, Nara city. The event starts 6pm-

Ask 0742-44-3333

The temple provides Zen at 6 and a tea party with a little recital of koto and shyakuhachi. The tea party will be carried out to be associated  with YANAGISAWA Yasumitsu (the lord of Koriyama Castle) who built tea rooms to enjoy watching  the Moon.

4, The Matsodera Temple-Togetsu meisokai

Address  683  Yamada, Yamatokoriyama city. The event starts 6pm-9pm.

Ask 0743-53-5023

The temple is known as the place for self disciplin, provids the beatiful moon and the night view. Tea will be made for the public at the tea room. The full moon Buddhist memorial service and the meditation lessons will be conducted. (free to join, NO bookings are essential.)

5, The Jikoin Temple-Togetsukai

Address 865 Koizumi, Yamatokoriyama city. The event starts 5pm-9pm.

Ask 0743-53-3004

The temple has one of the greatest gardens in Nara. The garden was  designed to be in harmony with surroundings. A tea room will be set for the public in the Taketori monogatari ( the Taketori tales) style, costs you ¥1500. The shojin cuisine dishes served 5pm to 7pm on the 19th (bookings are essential)

6, The Ogamijinjya Shrine (The Miwajinjya Shrine)-Togetsusai

Address 1422 Miwa, Sakurai city. The event starts 6:30pm-

Ask 0744-42-6633.

The 1000 lanterns are placed all over the place to be lit up at dusk.

Kagura and Gagaku will be performed by miko to dedicate at 6:30. More plays to be performed. Ask them for more information.

Generaly, these  religeous sites are not  accesible for the wheel chair users. Please  assk  me to gather more information  on specal  needs   by leaveing  me a comment.

 How ever, The Ogami Jinja Shrine  sounds good to me because  the shrine has the gigantic "torii" as well as the old wallking track called "Yamanobenomichi"nearby. "When I was a kid, I and my brother had crazy bike sessions there, got a moutain bike on steep down hills to have a good thrill, was a agreat fun." I don’t know  if they still let you in on a moutain bike though.

 Conclusion,  our traditional  "otsukimi" full moon party was  origenally conducted by the farmers to express their appreciation to the moon for the autumn harvest.

Therefore, our "otsukimi" is different to the "go crazy" kind  of psychedelic full moon parties on the beach.

Otsukimi requires no drugs, no tequila, no loud music. While You can experience things very Japanese and fantastic. 

I am addicted.

Mission Wakayama ramen (researched 03 Sep 2013)

 

Wakayama=located down South West from my home (Nara). It takes 2h by car.

 

 Ramen noodles=noodle soup

 

 Ive been to Wakayama two days in a row

 I had Wakayama ramen noodles for lunch in the day1(couldnt make it twice back to back.)

 Yes I  damn love the filthy ramen noodles becaus they not only taste good but they have  unique back ground.

 

 Today, I will tell you about Wakayama's unique ramen noodle culture  and the history of Wakayama ramen noodles

 

 The ramen noodles were first served in Wakaysma was just after  WW2. The locals launched  small business on the streets.

 This is when the ramen noodle stands were born to be a part of todays local rich food culture.

 How ever, Wakayama ramen  can be  divided in to two versions.

1, pork bone with soy sauce broth version. The version appears clouded and slightly thick.

2, soy sauce with pork bone broth version. The versiom looks clear, brown and slightly thin.

I recommend you the pork bone with soy sauce version. Because the pork bone with soy sauce broth version is all about Wakayama ramen.
 

 What you will encounter at Wakayama ramen noodle restaurant is listed below

 1, you will see a crowd of people lined up for the food to be served.

2, you will smell what you will be served. The filthy smell strikes your nose.

3, the simplest menu is presented, it only tells you the sizes of ramen noodles.
　　the sizes are as follows, extra large "特盛" large "大盛” standerd "並".

4, Haya-zushi (a type of sushi) and boiled eggs are lined on the table. You are allowed to pick one up, if you want, pay for it later on.

 

5,order what you want to eat.(don't forget to tell 'em which size you want.)

6,you won't leave your bowl unfinished.(chopsticks are recommended to use. All you gotta do is " go nuts")

7,you must let 'em know what you have had to pay, when you go. (the self declaration system rules Wakayama ramen restaurants.)   

Farther more, I recommend you two noodle restaurants, those two restaurants are specialized in Wakayama ramen noodles, have high reputation.

1, Ide shoten (井出商店), they are the standard of Wakayama ramen, serve the pork bone with soy sauce broth noodles, well known across the nation.

2, Marusan chuka-soba (丸三中華そば), they also serve the pork bone with soy sauce broth noodles, have better reputation among the locals.

 

 

Over all, I suggest you to try Marusan chyuka-soba, if  you are useing a wheel  chire, becase  it's accesible all the way from the car park to a table, have a Western type toilet. On the other hand, Ide  shoten has poor accesibility. You have to be toough enough to try  there

How to get there.

Ide shoten Heading South West from Wakayama (和歌山) station.

more information on  http://tabelog.com/wakayama/A3001/A300101/30000031/

Marusan chuka-soba Heading North West from Kimiidera (紀三井寺) station

More information on http://tabelog.com/wakayama/A3001/A300101/30000014/

Wakayama ramen noodles are locally called "chuka-soba" (Chinese noodles) thus they are presented as so in the menu at the ramen restaurants in Wakayama. They cost you¥600-¥800. Haya-zushi costs you ¥100. A boiled egg costs you ¥50

Conclusion, a bowl of Wakayama ramen noodles reminds me when I was in Wakayama institute of medicin hospital. When it comes to the  weekends, I stoped  by Ide shoten to eat the taste of town on the way back home. I've been addicted since then.

 Tips.

 These two ramen noodle restaurants  can get very busy during  lunch and suupper time. You'be better to avoid those busy hours.