Got some sad news about one of Japan's national historic sites, the Yubikan at Iwadeyama Osaki, collapsed by the earthquake. On July 12 of 2007 I did visit here... This historic building was from 1692 and it was the oldest place for academic activity in Japan. I call myself very fortunate for having been to this place as a chaperon and team leader, during our cultural exchange trip to our Sister-City of Osaki in JAPAN. See my previous blog with {News from Our Sister-City Osaki in JAPAN}.
Squatting down as to not obstruct the view of this ancient building...
The Japanese garden has trees that are over 300 years of age. Together with the big pond it was a beautiful site to visit and that's what we did, we walked and also entered the building. You can see the Osaki City Official Website by clicking on the hyperlink.
This is the image that I got today from our International Association of Osaki City's chairman in Japan via Facebook. He got the tap water coming to his house on Saturday so he could take a bath. They still have difficulty buying gasoline though.
The Japanese photographers made us squatt down slightly as to not obstruct the beautiful building; rightly so!
Now let's enter this special place for family education, after first removing our shoes...
That day I was wearing my barrett with sunflower for a purpose, as the town of Sanbongi, where we lived with our host families, does sunflower farming and has about 420,000 sunflowers on Sunflower hill during the summer. Read more here: Sunflower Hill.
Okay, let's get on the bus and visit the Bamboo Arts Workshop before lunch. In the afternoon we did go into the mountains where the hot springs are. Beautiful scenery all over.
We all got our apron and a sharp knife to cut some bamboo, in order to make a kind of a propeller on a stick that you rub between your hands and it takes off...
Learning the tricks of the trade; the sad part was that we moved on and thus my skills lasted only very briefly.
Almost done...
It yielded me two bamboo propellers and they ended up with our family in Germany, in the Eifel...
Liefs ....fijne dag Ria...xxx...
ReplyDeleteOh how very sad that it's gone now. Those pictures are wonderful! I saw a man on the news yesterday who was here in the U.S. and couldn't get in touch with his wife, he was so distraught thinking she was dead...he said what am I going to do without my wife? Then 48 hours later she called him and she's ok! So tragic what they're going through.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your gorgeous pictures Mariette!
Hi Mariette .. gosh that is sad - but as you say .. you did see the 1692 building .. and it does look special - those are wonderful photos - though the FB one is extremely sad.
ReplyDeleteWith thoughts - Hilary
Great pictures and interesting post!
ReplyDeleteBig kisses and hugs.
Hi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteThank you for taking us on a trip to Japan ! I am sure the Japananese will find this such an important building that they will try to restore this, come what may, so I am convinced it will rise again.
You look like a young girl with grey hair on the photo's by the way!!! :-))
Have a great rest of the week and try to be not tooo distraught by the devastation and worry,as I am sure you are, my friend.
Big hug from across the pond
Bea
Hi Mariette,
ReplyDeleteI just left you a note and I don't think it went through, oh no...
I wanted to thank you for visiting me at "Home is Where the Heart is".
Your photo's of your trip to Osaki are so special and full of memories for you..We use to host young Japanese students when our girls were young.
We have donated to the American Red Cross, our hearts and prayers go out to all of Japan.
I have become a follower and look forward to visiting you again soon.
Have a sweet day, Elizabeth
Bedankt Mariette, ik vind dit een zeer interessante post en dan komt het verdriet van zoveel mensen uit Japan wel even heel dicht bij hier in Nederland.Wij doneren via onze serviceclub (Lions) en starten verschillende acties op voor de slachtoffers van de aardbeving, een goede zaak toch!!!
ReplyDeleteLieve groet van Elly.
Oh vielen dank für die schönen Bilder liebe Mariette.da kommen Erinnerungen an Japan.Ich habe sehr gerne Tempel besucht und habe mich dort aufgehalten.Ich vermisse die Stille die ich dort fand.Liebe Grüße,und verzeih ich habe vergessen dir zu deinen Award zu gratuliern,du hast in verdient weil du dir immer soviel Mühe gibst,auf deinen Blog.Edith.
ReplyDeleteWat een indrukwekkende post!
ReplyDeleteSchoenen uit is niet alleen in Japan. In Noorwegen doen ze ook allemaal de schoenen uit voordat ze het huis binnen gaan of op de gang in de winter.
Nogmaals het was een mooi post, bedankt!
Groetjes Sandy
My Dear new friend, Mariette!
ReplyDeleteOh, you are SO generous to post this and let us know the damage Japanese people had through your experience.
My husband and I has been tracking the news every day how the revival work is going in the area. People in the shelter(like gym of the school) are having under serious torments.
Well, feeling really sad losing all these beautiful historic places.
Actually, I have never been to Tohoku area. God Bless People there!!!
Hello Mariette. I stumbled across your blog while I was searching for images of Iwadeyama. My name is Michael Blodgett and I lived and worked in Iwadeyama from 2005-2007. From your post it appears your group visited a couple of weeks before I left Iwadeyama. Thanks for sharing about your experience there. BTW, I recently returned to Iwadeyama on an exchange program. I created a short video of the experience. I though you and those who follow your blog may be inteerested. Please have a look.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nwHSR45wUaQ
Thanks!