WHat are things that you have brought back from Japan that you really like alot
 

I am digging this CD of okoto music that I bought in Osaka. 20 songs, some very traditional and sad, some have "dueling okotos", some almost sound like Japanese bluegrass w/very upbeat and catchy tunes.
I think it is my favorite thing that I brought back. It has alot of "life" to it.

So what things that you've brought back do you particularly like, things that bring back the memories or just get you going thinking about Japan?

my favorite keep-sake is my copy of emd"s trip report of 2005...

oh, you are sweet, but tell us the truth.

Is it that empty sake bottle you keep in the kitchen window (or is that kuranosuke?)

Do tell.

The big (2 square meters) festive banners I bought at Kitano fleamarket in Kyoto. They represent fishes, "takarabune" (fortune ship) and announce either a festival or the return of fishing vessels with a good catch. You can see them in front of foodstalls in local festivals. Bright colors, sturdy cotton, I use them as an awning in front of the house, bed covers or garden tent for the kids, etc.

Your banners sound great. I am trying to visualize them, but unfortunately I was so taken w/the food and chefs at the Toji stalls that I don't recall the flags, if they were there. But I did see many flags and wonder if I saw any of those. Do they have fish or ships on them?
Kitano is one of many things that were "the one that got away" for me. I can't wait to go there. Next trip will include the 25th.

a piece of calligraphy that I got after spending 3 hours in the artist's home and studio; a piece of old fabric and some Japanese woodblock prints that I bought from a wonderful old man in kyoto.

You can see it on the www. Please go to www.billk.org and click on "Japan, Bali, Hong". See the top-left picture labelled "Meiji Shrine, Tokyo". That image is my favorite thing. It was my first photo ever in Japan. And I have a Hakata doll, a geisha that I have named Yuki after a kind girl on the Osaka subway.

Re. Banners. I knew most people would have a hard time finding out what I was talking about so I looked for something on the web (note to self: have to find time and way to post some of my pictures somewhere).

http://www.city.choshi.chiba.jp/engl...g/winter06.jpg
http://www.easterwood.org/japan97/photos/IMG0040.jpg


Mine look more like the ones in the first picture. I bought about 10 in all, price ranging from Y 1000 (slighly dirty at To-Ji) to Y 2500.

There were also very big, narrow ones (about 40 cm wide and 3 m long) depicting samourais in battle, but they were rather expensive (about Y 10'000 at least) and I wouldn't have been able to use them without cutting them, which would have been a shame.

Florence, I couldn't get the first site to open, but I did see the 2nd ones w/the characters. I saw some of those. Very colorful, and perhaps you know what your say if they have characters on them (I am not there- yet.)

mrw: The first time I went to your site and saw that little beauty I thought "wow", and I can see why anyone would be smitten w/her (shrine, what shrine?) I wonder what she looks like now, and if she has retained the amazing innocence in that face.

glorialf, I am interested in your calligraphy experience. Was that from a personal invitation or is it open to those who want to do it? We so enjoyed our Yuzen textile painting experience, and I am looking into other artistic experiences w/art, handicrafts, and the artists in Kyoto for my next trip. There is such amazing art of all forms there, old and new. Right down the street from the Westin was a small independent "art space" and I saw a woman changing the exhibits one day. I wish I would have gone in and talked to her.

Florence, yours is probably what is called tairyo-ki (tairyo - big fishing & ki - flag. as you said "the return of fishing vessels with a good catch"). You see on your first photo, the flags are attched to boats. The 2nd ones are called Nobori (like Koi Nobori) that is also a kind of flags.

How about the following images? Looking like those you described.
http://homepage3.nifty.com/tairyouki/
(then, clikk on the 3rd fish on the left)
http://www.joaf.co.jp/hata/tairyo-ba...iryoubata-.htm

Whoa, kappa! I can only get the 1st one to open but those are just phenomenal! They would really liven up my patio garden. If they are anything like that, no wonder florence bought so many (and let me guess, a new suitcase to bring them home?)

Kappa,

Doomo sumimasen. I did not know the name of those flags, but have now been able to find lots of them, even shops making them (although I cannot display kanji on my browser). Most of mine are not as spectacular, although I like them much, and have to fight friends and relative who would like to have them.

Emd, look a those! http://www.ok-flag.co.jp/products/flag/tairyouki.html

(you can access more by googling "tairyouki")

Guess I'll make the luggage industry in Japan happy for the foreseeable future ;-)

and those ! http://hanten.jp/renewal/flame/tairyouki.htm

Wow! I like the one of Fujisan and the turtle, but the huge fish are cool also- what a catch! I never would have caught on to these if you hadn't posted on them, I had no idea you could buy them.

Maybe we should look into investing together in a luggage co. in Japan.

I do have an idea of something that might be a viable product in Japan, a need that I observed while I was there and a niche that might be waiting to be filled. I wonder what the process is to get a simple product market tested there and if it flies, get it to market. Could be interesting.

I just remembered I had a big pillow case with such motif that I bought in Kiddy Land, Omote-sando longtime ago.

Florence, in case you are interested, on the last web page you gave, you will notice on each flag, there is a group of 3-4 kanji caracters (the biggest ones - the other smaller ones are a company or shop's name) which ends always with the same kanji(3 strokes). That reads "maru" and traditionally ships are named in such way, always ending with MARU. Only on the photos, they are not real boats'names as I see there are names as Nakamise (asakusa) - Maru. In samurai periode, boys (and often male dogs) were named like this too such as Jiro-maru.

kappa, you probably have so many things you like from Japan, but anything really special to you? BTW, I am looking at my little samurai here in my office as I write.

Thanks for the interesting info on the flags. Boys and male dogs, hmmm. They didn't name girls like ships I guess.

emd; you just about hit it on the head. i don't have the empty bottle, but i have the label so i can buy it again during my next visit, i have a tape of kitajima saburo(enka singer, and actor who protrayed the edo fire chief during shogun yoshimune's era), and a noren, which i have yet to hang up over the dining room entry way.

once in a while, i will put on kitajima, sip a sake, close my eyes, and reminisce about the sights, sounds, and smell of the aka-chochin in hiroo.

emd, here is my last buy. Usually I don't buy ukiyoe and especially I don't look for typical ukiyoe ("beautiful"women or kabuki caracters, etc) but this is the closest I ever bought. A girl in kimono looking down a man in a coverned boat on a snowy day. Or actually she may be getting on the boat for the secret meeting with the man (if you know what I mean.). This is a Utamaro who is more universally known for "beautiful"women or kabuki caracters" but was handprinted by today's carftman by tradtional method. That's why it costed only 6000yen. The original if existed should cost 100 times or more? That was a spur of a moment buy. I was walking on the "old book store street" in Kanda Jinbo-cho and saw this one displayed in the window of Hara Art Book store whose 2nd floor is specialized in ukiyoe prints. This looked so nice that I found the price rather low. The kimono on the woman is so fine.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v214/n...ukiyoe0001.jpg

The followings may also not be typical ukiyoes we know. "A black bird in the rain " and "Dreams of Jigoku-Dayu (Hell - High Class prostitute)". Both hand printed by a master craftman Mr Iwai in Asakusa. He has an gallery-workshop and last time I was there 3 years ago, he was still printing in the back. A man of almost 80 years old in kimono.

http://photobucket.com/albums/v214/n...ukiyoe0002.jpg

http://photobucket.com/albums/v214/n...anga%20Japan/?
action=view&current=2005_0406jigokudayu0001.jp g

And this one is a head of a "bunraku" doll theater caracter, a woman in scarf. This is a tenugui hand-towel with which I obviously never dry my hands. http://photobucket.com/albums/v214/n...ukiyoe0007.jpg

kuranosuke, you should really buy one of those cool old men's robes that they have in the temple markets, and wear that while you sip, listen, reminisce, and wax nostalgically.

kappa, I know of Utamaro, and was pleasantly surprised at how much exposure his work has all over the places I went. I'm going to check out all of those sites. This is the same "photobucket" where you directed me to look for your samurai, so I suppose this is your personal photo collection?

ooishi-san, thanks for clarifying.

emd, yes, they are the photos taken by me in recent years. If you can find the way, you can take a look at some of my miyajima photos under "Japan 2005".

..including my night encounter with 2 deers and a racoon in Miyajima.

kappa, I couldn't get the handtowel to open. But the one above that, the 3rd one you listed, is very unusual. A woman resting (and what is that mask doing where it is?), and are those skeletons in her dreams? One of them is making tea!

kappa: I can't get to the other pics, I think it requires signing in unless you have the particular page address to go to (like the ones you provided above).

kappa, thanks for all of the wonderful imagery. The woman in red is a prostitute dreaming of hell. Is that her obi above the skeleton with the teapot? I think the ukiyoe woman is not a professional because it looks like her obi is tied in back. Would be a heck of a feat to get into a boat wearing those very high geta.

I found your Japan 2005 images. I had all but decided that I would not go back to Miyajima on my trip in May, but I will have to reconsider. The little girl with the pinwheel is adorable (there is a deer in her photo).

mrw: how did you get to the japan 2005 pics? please let me in on it, I want to see them.

If it is hell (and I have no doubt you are right) those skeletons sure look like they are having a good time to me. Making tea in hell, a very Japanaese thing to do-- one would not be left without one's tea, even there.

My favorite Japanese things would have to be a sword (real) and a samurai helmet (reproduction)that were given to me on a trip in 1985.

The helmet weighs a ton, and the Narita security guards had a fit over the katana, but they let us carry them into the airport!

I also have noren that I love. My favorite is indigo with a white character and hangs at the window in my closet. Funny how I forgot it was even there until you asked this...and I look at it every day!

lcuy: So they let you check the katana as baggage onto the plane? I wonder if that would happen now. I know someone raised this question in the last few months, and the person was encouraged to ship the sword back. My son wanted to buy one but I didn't want to deal w/it. But I may next time.

It must have been a nice person to give you a katana and a repro. samarai helmet. Those are very nice gifts.

These are great special items that everyone has. They are all so different.

If you go back to <i>Dreams of Jigoku-Dayu</i> and click on the album name &quot;norimasuko&quot; it is a hyperlink,

Pink sake which looks and tastes great and the most adorable pair of porcalain clowns - painted faces, glittery outfits, one dresssed in pink/purple and the other in black/gold/silver. Their hands and feet and face are porcelain so can be placed in any position - currently sit cross legged facing each other adorning the glass top of my coffee table and elicit comment from everyone!

&gt; the ukiyoe woman is not a professional because it looks like her obi is tied in back.

mrwundrfl, good observation, Sherlock! Must be a meeting of secret lovers then.

&gt; Is that her obi above the skeleton with the teapot?

I suppose not. That's the (real) title of this hanga, put in the way the title is usually put on every hanga. But here it does look like a continuation of her kimono or obi.
Jigoku-dayu is sort of her nick name but the title of this hanga is different that I really can't read. I forgot to ask Mr Iwai. maybe I will go back to his shop next time.

&gt; A woman resting (and what is that mask doing where it is?).

Jigoku (hell)-Dayu
Dayu (Tayu) is the title given to the highest ranked prostitutes in prostitute houses (e.g.in Yoshiwara, a well known such area in Edo era). From what Mr Iwai explained to me and I reserached afterwards myself, she was a girl from a noble (or rich?) family kidnapped and sold to a prostitute house. She considers her fate is because of her karma and named herself Jigoku-dayu. And my interpretations of this particular hanga is, ranked as Tayu, to the others she seems to live a glamourous life, but the world is a hell for her yet she accepts it as karma thing. The skeltons are the people around her. The clients, house staff, people just outside the house (all those playing shogi-japanese chess, having tea etc, playing musical instruments.). Perhaps this is more like &quot;Contemplating&quot; than &quot;Dreams of ..&quot; yet with such a bosatsu like calm face. The mask is the head of Enma (the king of the hell) and looks like on one of the layers of her kimono. The little girl sitting beside her is one of her servants. Tayu's are often acompanied by a few girls like this.

This and the bird (actually a heron)in the rain are both by Gyosai, a non-main stream artist of his time unlike Utamaro or Kuniyoshi. Neverthless, there are fans of Gyosai today.

Gyosai, seems like it should read Kyousai and he was not as off main stream as I thought.

No, they would definitely not let you bring a sword thru nowdays! We actually carried it onto the plane as the case wouldn't fit in our suitcase. Placed it in the overhead bin.

At that time, the Japanese were worried about their airport (Narita's contruction made a lot of enemies), not any fear of airborne trouble.

How times have changed...

Referring to the posts above between me and Florence regarding banners &amp; flags( &gt; The 2nd ones are called Nobori (like Koi Nobori), I found this photot on today's Yahoo news. This is a photo of Koi(carp) Noboris that you can see all over Japan around May 5th (the Children's Day = specifically boys' day as May 3rd is the girls' day). This photos is taken in Nara with 400 koi-noboris over Yoshino river.

http://headlines.yahoo.co.jp/hl?a=20...a-l29.view-000

Koi-nobori originates as far as I understand in the Chinese (maybe somewhat modified in Japan) mythology that a carp that climbs back the waterfall will change into a dragon, symbolizing a succes in life. (Nobori &lt; noboru=Climb).

I love my 'Shrine Book' that I purchased at a temple in Nikko. You take it to any shrine or temple and go to the right window and the monk will write the name of the buddha in calligraphy and stamp it with the shrine stamp. I took mine to about 11 shrines and got it stamped. Beautiful!

Florence or anyone else who knows:
I really want to get some of the flags you spoke of on my next trip to Japan. I also have a garden and would like to hang some on the inside of the fence around it. Unfortunately I will be leaving Kyoto the 22nd, so won't be able to go to Kitano market. I did arrange to be in Kyoto on the 21st for Toji, but I don't recall seeing these flags there. And other ideas on where to purchase them? Have people who have been to Toji market recently seen these flags there- I could have missed them...

Do you mean the koi nobori (carp)? If so, you'll likely have to wait until next year. I've only ever seen them for sale in the few weeks leading up to Childrens's Day. Perhaps you could order them from somewhere?

My magnificent silk owl (stuffed with perfumed herbs) bought from a lovely little shop right opposite the Kyoto Museum. And my owl curtain purchased at Toji temple market. And my lovely yukata purchased in Asakusa.

Oh I forgot my glorious second hand rust silk obi sash with sakura print purchased at Toji temple market for 1000 yen.