Maron

This is 'Kuri' or Maron. The other English name is Japanese chestnut. The botanical name is Castanea crenata.







Recently I noticed that this is planted at the side of the car parking in my apartments.


The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Kuri : 栗

Japanese Mahonia

This is 'Hiiragi-Nanten' or Japanese mahonia. The botanical name is Mahonia japonica. The Japanese name comes from two plants: 'Hiiragi' which has similar leaves as this and 'Nanten' which has similar fruits as this.

FYI:
'Hiiragi' is holly olive, and 'Nanten' is doghobble.







Honestly speaking, these pictures were taken long time ago in June (^_^;;;


The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Hiiragi-Nanten : 柊南天

Bird's Foot Lotus

This is 'Seiyou-Miyako-gusa' or bird's foot lotus. The other English name is bird's foot trefoil. The botanical name is Lotus comiculatus var. corniculatus.







While the normal 'Miyako-gusa' contains two flowers in a stem, 'Seiyou-Miyako-gusa' have 1 to 5 flowers in a stem.

I found the normal one, though it is cloudy picture...



This was taken at Tojinbou in Fukui the other day (^_^)


The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Seiyou-Miyako-gusa : 西洋都草
* Miyako-gusa : 都草

Canna lily

This is 'Kanna' or canna lily. The other Japanese names are
'Hanakanna', 'Tandoku', 'Donge', etc. The other English names is
Indian shot. The botanical name is Canna generalis.







I saw it when I was in a train on the beginning of this month.
When the train stopped by signal, it was just in front of me.
So the pictures are taken through the window of the train, and the
distance is not so near m(_ _)m


The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Kanna : カンナ
* Hanakanna : 花カンナ
* Tandoku : 壇特
* Donge : 曇華

Trip (Osaka) [Sep.8-9]

In the morning on Sep. 9.... already more than 10 days ago...

The hotel I stayed served a free breakfast, and I woke up at 7 and ate it. Buffet style - rice balls, instant miso soup, boiled eggs, salad, yogurt, and coffee... very nice!

After that I checked out and hurried to Fukui station to get on the train which departed at 8 o'clock. The destination of this day was Osaka Umeda Geijyutsu Gekijyou.

Honestly speaking, I checked the time table for Hokuriku-honsen and Toukaidou-honsen, which run on the east side of Lake Biwako. But I found that it is faster to reach Osaka to take Kosei-sen, which run on the west side of Lake Biwako following the announcement in the train. So I could arrive at Osaka about 15 minutes earlier than the schedule.

After checking the place of Osaka Umeda Geijyutsu Gekijyou, I looked for the place to spend time until the opening of the hall, and found LOFT! LOFT is a famous big variety store in Japan, and very good place to spend time (^_^) Rubik's cubes having globe shape, goods against skimming of IC cards, diaries of Hobonichi (a famous web site in Japan), CD players having helicopter shape, and so on. We cannot buy these goods at the shops near my house, and I want some... But I endured, because I have to bring them to my house far away from the shop (^_^;;;

Then the main point of this day was this one:
http://www.monex.co.jp/AboutUs/0/guest/G800/new2007/news7084.htm
I cannot find English page... This is a seminar celebrating the comprehensive business partnership between e-Bank and Monex, online bank and broker in Japan. The capacity was 1800, but I've heared there were about 1200 participants, so not full. Anyway I have attended this kind of seminar for the first time, and I enjoyed.

At the entrance, I received some papers, booklets, and so on in a bag. This was also in it.

At first I cannot understand what this is, but probably this is a book cover.

Anyway the contents of the seminar is as follows.


* "How to remain in markets" by Masayuki Fujimoto
I am sorry, but I cannot translate the sub-part of the title...

Before starting the main part of this seminar, a sub-manager of Monex company gave a short talk. Probably many people have heard the basic rules to buy stocks:

1. The effect of decreasing the population in Japan is very large.
2. M&A: We should buy the merged company not the company which merges.
3. We should buy the 3rd company in a field.


* "Japan in 2017" by Taichi Sakaiya

Today's main talk presented by a former officer in the Ministry of International Trade and Industry, a former director general of the Economic Planning Agency, and a present writer, Taichi Sakaiya.

About ten years ago he published a book which describes the future of Japan in 2018, though I don't read it. In this book he also describes the situation of Japan in 2008 which is very similar to that of present, he said. I'll read it when I get it.

Anyway, Japan has aimed to become a disarmament economic country after the World War II, and now the social structure is suit for it: the bureaucratic control, the management of Japanese style, and the community among work fellows.

The beaucratic control is probably not necessary to explain. The management of Japanese style is the lifetime employment, the collective democracy, and the large reservation in companies. The community among work fellows means that in addition to the work, we Japanese do with the work fellows; drinking, traveling, playing sports, consulting many problems about children and/or sickness, and so on.

These features are very effective for making mass products which are good in objective view. But after about 1980 the world began to require more subjective materials rather than objective ones: personal, fetish, religious things are attracting attentions.

To adjust the change it is necessary to quit various regulations by government. But it is prevented by the beaucratic control... Then the position of Japan in the world is dropping suddenly in various fields including culture, economy, and information.

But now is the important turning point. Many people, who are baby boomer, starts to retire. This does not mean the rapid decrease of the working population. Many retired people is beginning to work again. But not small of these persons change the office. It means the chance to destroy the old Japanese social structure, the community among work fellows!

From now, companies which uses the retired persons well and properly will become large. The Japanese future is very brilliant if the change to the old person preferred society!?

... something like this was his talk.
This is the first time for me to hear his talk, and I felt his speech is very well, easy to understand. If you cannot understand well, that is because of the rack of my English ability, I am sorry.


* "The extreme online finance" by Takashi Inagaki and Masayuki Fujimoto

The advertisements by the manager of e-Bank and the sub-manager of Monex (^_^) I think the schedule was adjusted in this talk (^_^;;;


* "Talk between COEs" by Taiichi Matsuo and Ohki Matsumoto

The talk between two COEs (e-Bank and Monex) with a chair Satoko Mouri, an announcer. When applying to attend this seminar, we could write some questions. On behalf of the audience Ms. Mouri asked some of them, then two COEs answered.

The Japanese government official is overprotective.
I think so, too.

The zero interest policy in Japan is strange, should be stopped.
I also think so, but I cannot say other effective policy...

An asset allocation is very important.
The problem of sub-prime mortgage loans was one of the topic of this talk. We cannot forecast what would be happen in the financial world, so it is very important to think seriously about the asset allocation (AA). It is more important to think AA rather than considering individual brands to invest. Mr. Matsumoto exhibited his AA as an example.
Yen (40%), US dollar (30%), Euro (20%), other (10%)
stocks including properties (45%), bonds (50%), other (5%)

The talk continued like this... Oh, of course, also about the comprehensive business partnership, the future visions of e-Bank and Monex...


The end time is a little after 5 pm. Then I went back to my home without wondering the downtown in Osaka (^_^;;;

After this trip I could consume all the ticket 'Seisyun 18 kippu'! (^_^)


Today I wrote details rather than here, but please check it! (Sorry, but Japanese only.)

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Osaka Umeda Geijyutsu Gekijyou : 大阪梅田芸術劇場
* Hokuriku-honsen : 北陸本線
* Toukaidou-honsen : 東海道本線
* Lake Biwako : 琵琶湖
* Kosei-sen : 湖西線
* Rubik's cube : ルービックキューブ
* Hobonichi : ほぼ日
* "How to remain..." : 「相場の福の神の”半歩”先読みして、株式相場を生き残る方法」
* Masayuki Fujimoto : 藤本誠之 (Honestly speaking, I'm not so sure how to read his name...)
* "Japan in 2017" : 「２０１７年の日本」
* Taichi Sakaiya : 堺屋太一
* the Ministry of International Trade and Industry : 通産省
* the Economic Planning Agency : 経済企画庁
* "The extreme online finance" : 「最先端のオンライン金融」
* Takashi Inagaki : 稲垣高志
* "Talk between COEs" : 「社長対談」
* Taiichi Matsuo : 松尾泰一
* Ohki Matsumoto : 松本大
* Satoko Mouri : 毛利聡子

Trip (Inside the Fukui city) [Sep.8-9]

Getting on a bus from Toujinbou, I came to JR Ashihara Onsen station, then I came back to Fukui station by a local train a little after 17 o'clock. Thinking of something interesting, I went through the ticket gate, and found leaflets 'JR-de iku Machi-meguri'. These are maps around some JR stations, and indicate some walk routes for tourists. The Fukui station version contains two courses (3 hours for typical tourists):
* in memory of 1500th anniversary of the succession to the throne of Keitai daiou; a course to places remembered in connection with him
* a course to feel the history of the Fukui castle town
I decided to take the second one.

After departing from Fukui station, soon we can see the inner moat of Fukui castle. Now the place where Fukui castle was is Fukui prefectural office.



Walking along the moat, go across a street, then you can find an old house called 'Youkoukan-teien'. The 3rd master of the Fukui Clan, Tadamasa, got this place, the 7th master, Yoshinori, built this garden. The original house was destroyed by the air attack in the World War II, and the present one is reconstructed in 1993.



You can enter the building after taking off your shoes at the entrance. In the building, there are many things like Wakidana-no Raden-zaiku in Otsuki-mi-no ma (a side shelf decorated by mother-of-perl work in the moon viewing room),



Keimei-no Itado in Kusari-no ma (hen's cry on a board door in the chain room),



and so on.

I entered a little before the closing time (around 18 o'clock), so there were nobody except me, and I could freely walk around (^_^)

Next to the Youkoukan-teien, there is 'Kyoudo Rekishi Hakubutsukan', a museum for the local history of Fukui. I did not know that there are many ancient remains around here in Fukui... There is 'Toneri-mon Ikou-no Fukugen', a restoration of the ruin of Toneri gate.



These two places (Youkoukan-teien and the museum) open between 9:00 and 19:00. Most public museums in the country regions close before 17:00, I think. So I was very astonished! Due to this I could enter and see many things (^_^)

One more good information.
The leaflet I took at the station is very powerful! This contains some coupons and we can enter these two places with a discount price for parties. You can get the leaflet freely, so you should take one!

When I went out of the museum, it had been already dark. So I checked in the hotel I reserved and rest.

Here I cannot upload more than 5 pictures in an article. More detailed explanations can be found here. (Sorry, but Japanese only.)

The trip will continue a little more!

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* JR-de iku Machi-meguri: JRで行く街めぐり
* Keitai daiou : 継体大王
* moat : 内堀
* prefectural office : 県庁
* Youkoukan-teien : 養浩館庭園
* Fukui Clan : 福井藩
* Tadamasa : 忠昌
* Yoshinori : 吉品
* Wakidana-no Raden-zaiku : 脇棚の螺鈿細工
* Otsuki-mi-no ma : 御月見ノ間
* Keimei-no Itado : 鶏鳴ノ板戸
* Kusari-no ma : 鎖ノ御間
* Kyoudo Rekishi Hakubutsukan : 郷土歴史博物館
* Tonerimon Ikou-no Fukugen : 舎人門遺構の復原

I have to write down, before I forget the details... (^_^;;;

Taking a bus for about two hours from the Eihei-ji temple, we can reach Toujinbou. This time I bought a discount ticket "Toujinbou Eihei-ji temple 2 days' free ticket". In Japan most free tickets are discount ones; not free (^_^;;; It cost 2000 yen for an adult. Anyway we can ride any local buses running at
Fukui station <=> Eihei-ji temple <=> JR Ashihara Onsen station <=> Toujinbou
for two days (between 9:00 and 17:00). And some coupon for some stores etc. are also included. I bought this and saved some money, but I had to be on trains and buses for most part of this day (^_^;;;

After arriving at Toujinbou, I hurried to the coast, not beach but cliff!







The waves are like this:
Movie 1

Cabin cruisers are running between here and Ojima, small island located at the cape (third picture).



But this time was just after a strong Typhoon, and the cruisers departed from a place more than 1 km away, so I gave up to ride.

Near the cruiser stop (?) which was not used this day:
Movie 2

There is a tower here, 'Toujinbou tower'.



But I also gave it up, because I felt enough after I saw the cliff and the sea.

FYI: The coupon of the discount bus ticket contains those for cabin cruisers and tower entrance.

Here I cannot upload more than 5 pictures in an article. More detailed explanations can be found here. (Sorry, but Japanese only.)

The trip will continue!

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Toujinbou : 東尋坊
* free ticket : フリー乗車券
* Ashihara Onsen station : 芦原温泉駅
* coupon : 優待券
* Ojima : 雄島
* cabin cruisers : 遊覧船
* Typhoon : 台風
* tower : タワー

Pokeweed

This is 'Yousyu-Yamagobou' or Pokeweed. The other Japanese name is 'America-Yamagobou'. The botanical name is Phytolacca americana.







The root of this plant contains poison, so you must not eat it! Someone says that 'The root of Yousyu-Yamagobou' is sold. However, that is not the real root of this plant but the root of 'Azami'. Please be careful!!!

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Yousyu-Yamagobou : 洋種山牛蒡
* America-Yamagobou : 亜米利加山牛蒡

Star Sedum?

This is 'Tsuru-mannnen-gusa' or Star sedum... maybe... The other English names are Yellow moss and Star stonecrop. The botanical name is Sedum sarmentosum.







This probably is a kind of 'Mannen-gusa', but I cannot distinguish the details... (-_-;;;


The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Tsuru-mannen-gusa : 蔓万年草

Trip (Eihei-ji temple)

Last weekend I went on a trip to consume 'Seisyun 18 kippu' or a discount ticket with which we can take local JR (Japan Railway) trains within a day. They are sold as a pack of 5 tickets, and I have already used three tickets before this trip.

Anyway I got on the first train on Sep. 8 (Sat.) and arrived at Fukui terminal. Fukui is a prefecture in Japan, and it locates at the middle of Honshu, the largest island in Japan, and faces to the sea of Japan. Fukui is also the name of a captital city in Fukui prefecture.

On the way the train I took ran about 7 minutes behind the schedule, because the limited express which ran the same line was delayed. I scheduled to take a bus which departs at Fukui station after about 10 minutes of the train's scheduled arrival time. But fortunately I could take the bus! Probably the bus bus-driver adjusted the time schedule for the passengers from the train! Thank you! We can reach to the front of Eihei-ji temple after about 30 minutes' ride from Fukui station.

By the way, do you know Eihei-ji temple? I did not know about it before this trip (^_^;;;

Dougen-zenji, who was born on 1200, went to China, and studied the real Buddhism from Nyojyou-zenji at Tendou-zan mountain. After that he came back to Japan and make this Eihei-ji temple. Now this is the most important place for Soutou-syu, a kind of Buddhism. And there are about 200 monks are doing training.

At the entrance we have to take off the shoes, and take them while we go around in the temple. There is a guide course, but we can go and see everywhere freely except for some points. We cannot go in the courtyards, cannot ring bells and drums, etc. We can take pictures everywhere except for the monks. In a room we cannot use flashlight.

The central part of Eihei-ji consists of seven halls called 'Shitidou-garan', and we can mainly see these halls. They are Sanmon (main gate), Butsuden (the central idol is placed), Soudou (the main hall for monks), Daikuin (kitchen), Tousu (rest room), and Yokushitsu (bath room). The shape of the positions of these seven halls and the gallery seems to be a person who performs zazen or meditation in Zen Buddhism, which is the main training in Soutousyu.

[Schematic panoramic view of Eihei-ji temple]


[Soudou]


[Houon-tou from outside the temple]


[Waterfall of Reirou]


While I waited for the next bus, I took a lunch near the bus terminal. Eihei-ji soba is a famous meal around this place!

[Eihei-ji soba]


Here I cannot upload more than 5 pictures in an article. More detailed explanations can be found here. (Sorry, but Japanese only.)

The trip will continue!

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Eihei-ji : 永平寺
* Seisyun 18 kippu : 青春１８きっぷ
* Fukui : 福井
* Honshu : 本州
* Dougen-zenji : 道元禅師
* Nyojyou-zenji : 如浄禅師
* Tendou-zan : 天童山
* Soutou-syu : 曹洞宗
* Shitidou-garan : 七堂伽藍
* Sanmon : 山門
* Butsuden : 仏殿
* Soudou : 僧堂
* Daikuin : 大庫院
* Tousu : 東司
* Yokushitsu : 浴室
* zazen : 坐禅
* Houon-tou : 報恩塔
* Reirou : 玲瓏
* soba : そば, ソバ, 蕎麦

Southern rockbell

This is 'Hinagikyou' or Southern rockbell??? Honestly speaking, I am not so sure for today's plant. If so, the botanical name is Warlenbergia marginata.







One of my friends said 'The first and the second pictures are the same plant, but the third one shows a different plant!'... If anyone who knows the correct answer, please let me know the truth.

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Hinagikyou : 雛桔梗

Pulumbago

This is 'Rurimatsuri' or Pulumbago. The other Japanese name is
'Aomatsuri'. The botanical name is Pulumbago auriculata.







The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Rurimatsuri : 瑠璃茉莉
* Aomatsuri : 青茉莉

Fig marigold

This is 'Matsuba-giku' or Fig marigold. The other Japanese name is 'Saboten-giku'. The botanical name is Mesembryanthemum spectabilis.







The Japanese word 'Matsuba' means pine needles, and 'Saboten' means cactuses. Probably they are coming from the shape of leaves of this plant.

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Matsuba-giku : 松葉菊
* Saboten-giku : 仙人掌菊

Peppermint

This is 'Seiyou-hakka' or Peppermint. Sometimes we Japanese also use the word 'Peppermint'. The botanical name is Menthapiperita.







I think there are many kinds of mints, so honestly speaking I am not so sure this is really peppermint...

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese character(s) (kanji)
* Seiyou-hakka : 西洋薄荷

Satsuki azalea

This is 'Satsuki-tsutsuji' or Satsuki azalea. The other English name is southern indian azalea. The botanical name is Rhododendron indicum.







Yes, I know it's out of season of this flower! The pictures were taken at the beginning of this June (^_^;;; But recently I found some flowers are still open!

The Japanese version of this article is here!

Japanese characters (kanji)
* Satsuki-tsutsuji : 皐月躑躅, 五月躑躅, 皐躑躅 (I found three types of spellings. Tsutsuji corresponds to the last two characters, and they are very difficult to write even for Japanese! (^_^;;;))