Picture of the Week Nio Guardians at Nandai-mon Todai-ji Nara

These two fierce looking guardian statues protect the main entrance to Todai-ji in Nara, which is the 13th century Nandai-mon. The statues were carved in 1203 by the sculptor Unkei, and are more than 8 meters tall. They are considered some of the finest wooden statues in all of Japan, if not the world. They are really impressive and look like they could spring to life at any moment.

Todai-ji in Nara is opened from

8:00am to 4:30pm (November to February)
8:00am to 5:00pm (March)
7:30am to 5:30pm (April to September)
7:30am to 5:00pm (October)

Admission is ¥500 for adults and ¥300 for children

Planning That Big Overseas Trip

Cheap flights have meant that more and more people are taking off and heading overseas.

Here is some great advice from the folks at Lonely Planet for planning that big trip.


Get Planning

Planning might sound boring but once you start buying guidebooks, imagining your itinerary and working out where to go, you’ll feel like you’re actually doing it.

Paperwork

Paperwork is important to avoid the horrors that you hear about travelers sent home because they didn’t have the right visa or their passport expired. Passports are your proof of nationality and act as your main form of ID overseas. For example, It is a requirement in Japan to carry your passport with you at all times. Your passport should have all your visas and entry stamps showing you have a legal right to be in a country. Remember that every country could potentially require a visa. It is best to check and the best place is usually the embassy site of your destination. A good portal to many of these is Project Visa www.projectvisa.com

Money and Costs

Start saving straight away as saving money will let you travel longer and enjoy the trip. The best way is to use a budget as a guide and give yourself a bit of room to enjoy your trip. Good budgets allow for new possibilities and give you the chance to enjoy the odd bit of serendipity.

Health and Safety

Before purchasing that all important ticket you should feel that your destination is safe. Research the destination and ask yourself are you OK with the level of risk. Once you book your ticket start to think about your pre-departure medical plans. At least 6 weeks before you go you’ll need to begin immunisations. Think also about bringing a medical kit even if you are going somewhere safe. It will come in handy for those unexpected colds and even hangovers.

Get Packing

Travelling light is usually the best policy.

Take-off

Make sure everything is organised before departure day. Check airline website for what you can and can’t take on the plane and confirm your flight.

Source: escape.com.au

Song of the Week Kono Chikyu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterundayo! by Morning Musume

This week’s Song of the Week is Kono Chikyu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterundayo! by Morning Musume which has debuted at number 2 on the Japanese Jpop Oricon chart.

Morning Musume (モーニング娘) also called Momusu (モー娘) for short is a Japanese idol girl group managed and produced by Tsunku. The groups name basically means Morning Girls and they are part of the Hello! Project stable. The group has gone through many line-up changes since first formed in 1997. It seems that every year there are new graduations from the group and new auditions bring in new members that it can be hard keeping track of the line-up.
The current line-up includes 9 members and this single is the groups 47th single.

Morning Musume generasia website

Watch the music video for the single Kono Chikyu no Heiwa wo Honki de Negatterundayo! by Morning Musume

Picture of Week Festival Floats in Takayama

This is one of the four famous yatai or festival floats, displayed at the Takayama Yatai Kaikan (Festival Floats Exhibition Hall).

The yatai, some of which date from the 17th century, are spectacular creations with flamboyant carvings, metalwork and lacquerwork.

The hall is 800 yen to enter and is open from 8am to 5pm.

Takayama Festival Float

The Secrets Of Speaking Japanese Fluently

Events in Japan - Obon

www.fotopedia.com

Obon (お盆) or just Bon (盆) is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honor the departed (deceased) spirits of one's ancestors. This Buddhist custom has evolved into a family reunion holiday during which people return to ancestral family places and visit and clean their ancestors' graves, and when the spirits of ancestors are supposed to revisit the household altars. It has been celebrated in Japan for more than 500 years and traditionally includes a dance, known as Bon-Odori.



The festival of Obon lasts for three days; however its starting date varies within different regions of Japan. "Shichigatsu Bon" (Bon in July) is based on the solar calendar and is celebrated around 15 July in areas such as Tokyo, Yokohama and the Tohoku region. "Hachigatsu Bon" (Bon in August) is based on the solar calendar, is celebrated around the 15th of August and is the most commonly celebrated time. Bon Odori (盆踊り, meaning simply Bon dance is an event held during Obon. It is celebrated as a reminder of the gratitude one should feel toward one's ancestors.

The way in which the dance is performed is also different in each region, though the typical Bon dance involves people lining up in a circle around a high wooden scaffold made especially for the festival called a 'yagura'. The yagura is usually also the bandstand for the musicians and singers of the Obon music. Some dances proceed clockwise, and some dances proceed counter-clockwise around the yagura. Some dances reverse during the dance, though most do not. At times, people face the yagura and move towards and away from it. Still some dances, such as the Kagoshima Ohara dance, and the Tokushima Awa Odori, simply proceed in a straight line through the streets of the town.

This is my submission to the September 2011 J-Festa Events in Japan