Andy Heather
Shiga residents will tell you it never snows in Kyoto. It has snowed every year I've been here. I must surmise that Shiga residents never come to Kyoto.
From the World Heritage inscription:
Built in A.D. 794 on the model of the capitals of ancient China, Kyoto was the imperial capital of Japan from its foundation until the middle of the 19th century. As the centre of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years, Kyoto illustrates the development of Japanese wooden architecture, particularly [...]
I recently had the privilege of “meeting” a fellow global warming skeptic known as “Tony from Oz”. Tony is a regular contributor over at the PA Pundits blog and his specialty certainly seems to be...
** Visit SkepticsGlobalWarming.com for the full story, this week's video, and news updates weekdays! **
京都の紅葉Kyoto's famed fall colors are now out in all their glory.Over the three-day weekend, we took in the maples at Tenryuji in Arashiyama.The area was packed with tourists; however, walking was pleasant since the main (only) street was closed to cars, buses, and scooters. Only pedestrians--lots of pedestrians--and the occasional cyclist was on the road.We spent time wandering around the
京都の寺社 ライトアップTo accompany the fall colors, Kyoto city is sponsoring special night time lighting at many of its most famous temples and shrines.Here is the schedule at the major temples and shrines:Manshuin: until November 25th; 5 pm - 8 pm; 600 yen for adultsEikando: until November 30th; 5:30 pm - 9 pm; 600 yen for adultsChionin: until November 30th; 5:30 pm - 9 pm; 800 yen
From 794, Tokyo was the capital of Japan for over 1000 years.
Today, Kyoto is still the cultural center of Japan, with its abundant traditional cultural industries.
Kyoto Dolls
Kiyomizu Ware (Kiyomizu-yaki)
Shopping Guide: Top 10 Best Souvenirs Of Kyoto
1. Kiyomizu Ware (Kiyomizu-yaki)
As a typical ware of Kyoto, Kiyomizu-yaki already has over 1,200 years history. Kiyomizu-yaki are made with spe
ビデオ試写室「キャッツ」京都店As a result of an early October arson at the Cats Video Parlor in Osaka, which left 16 dead, the Kyoto branch and all branches nation wide have been ordered closed.In a nutshell, what Cats offers is tiny rooms where you can watch DVDs--adult or non-adult--for pre-set periods of time. The room consists of a lazy-boy type reclining chair, the video player
OverviewKyoto is the cultural and historical capital of Japan, with its proliferation of shrines and temples that lie hidden between the concrete constructions of the urban sprawl.Although archaeological evidence places the first human settlement on the islands of Japan to approximately 10,000 BC, relatively little is known about human activity in the area before the 6th century AD. During the
京都市宇多野ユースホステルJust off the winding road that heads out of western Kyoto, from the Golden Pavilion past Ryoanji Temple and Ninnaji Temple, is the recently renovated Kyoto Utano Youth Hostel.It was until recently a forlorn, beat-up, pre-fab structure. Now it is Japanese modern at its very best.It is all beautiful wood flooring, a sloped tile roof, understated landscaping, ta
船岡温泉京都Built in 1923, Kyoto's Funaoka Onsen is one of a few remaining public baths that have not changed in a significant way or been knocked down.In spite of the spread of home bathrooms in the 1970s and 1980s, Japanese public baths have held on. Their numbers have declined considerably, but for many the nearly scalding water, the many types of baths (hot baths, medicinal baths, electr
In un periodo di vacche magre l' ecologia ed il rispetto ambientale devono, purtroppo, fare un passo indietro rispetto all' economia ed al mercato e tanti saluti alle belle parole ed alle firme sui trattati internazionali.
Cosi Kyoto è stato messo da parte, affossato già alla nascita dalla...
Leggi il resto dell' articolo
Reuters, Oct 15, 2008 BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Nearly all carbon emissions trading registries in the European Union and under the Kyoto Protocol will link on Oct. 16, the European Commission said on Tuesday. The link will allow European companies participating in the EU's Emissions Trading Scheme (EU ETS) to import cheaper carbon offsets issued to clean energy projects registered under Kyoto's Cle
By staff writers, News.com.au, October 14, 2008 12:01am Almost half of Australians believe the signing of the Kyoto Protocol - a cornerstone of Kevin Rudd’s election campaign - was a waste of time. A whopping 73 per cent of respondents to a news.com.au survey, conducted by CoreData, also said the Rudd Government was not doing enough or could be doing more to combat climate change. Mr Rudd
無印良品"Muji ryohin," or just Muji as it is more commonly known, is a department store that sells items of generally good quality for reasonable prices.The name literally means "No brand, good quality."Thus, unlike almost all other Japanese stores, you will not come away with clothing with someone's name on it, wrapped in boxes and paper and string and plastic that will be tossed out as soon
京都タワーThe iconic symbol of Kyoto's "modernity," Kyoto Tower is seen here from the 15th floor of the Granvia Hotel.This is the luxury hotel in the Kyoto Station building, and has restaurants open to the public on the top floors. We are looking towards the center of the city and beyond to the north.The white tower, recently refurbished, rises above all but the station building.In the distan
LET’S BEGIN WITH WHAT WE CAN DO!小倉山百人一集の会 P.T.O. (PEOPLE TOGETHER FOR MT. OGURA), a new citizens’ environmental and cultural action group, founded in Kyoto, March 2008Ogurayama, the beautiful dome-shaped mountain rising on the northern side of the Hozu Gorge as viewed from Arashiyama. A mountain quite unique in its literary associations – from the courtier poets and poetess
Kyoto Station was a spectacular and controversial building upon its release, but Of Rice and Zen asks, is it still worth seeing today? Is it still an exciting and futuristic design statement? Has it aged like wine or bad TV sci-fi? Will architect Hiroshi Hara be remembered as a Kyoto hero or villain?
First, lets get [...]
It's been thursday and I'm still waiting for my 50mm f1.8 lens - can't wait to play around with it!Over the last week, I've been spending alot of time in TripAdvisor, reading reviews, asking questions in the forum and reading travelers' feedback and stories. I don't know if my other half knows that planning for a family vacation is not such an easy task! This year, we have a strict budget to keep
The Onion has a great story today titled, "Bush Told to Sign Birthday Treaty for Someone Named Kyoto."
WASHINGTON—Enlisted by members of the House and Senate, presidential aide Rebecca Tandy brought a copy of the international climate-change treaty to President Bush's desk Monday and asked him to sign a birthday document for a Japanese dignitary named "Kyoto Protocol." "
京都KYOUENThe Kyoto Kyouen development at Sanjo Keihan Station in downtown Kyoto is a pleasant shopping and dining development that has replaced the site where east bound trams were once turned around, and the old bus station.The low-rise development has a traditional theme and incorporates traditional wooden buildings, dry stone Zen gardens and water features.There are a number of shops selling
京都のお店の前のシャッターWhile wandering around Kyoto one recent evening, I found two steel shutters that caught my eye. On the left is the universally recognized Coke bottle, on the right an ad for a local tea drink.In my hometown, Philadelphia, both would be covered in graffiti. And filthy. And multi-padlocked.These shutters were clean, in every sense of the word. The rendering of
An absolutely amazing card!
This is the Kinkaku-Ji Temple in Kyoto, Japan (also known as Rokuon-Ji) which is as well a UNESCO whs.
Translated, Kinkaku-Ji means "The Golden Pavilion Temple".
This has got to be one of the most serene cards ive ever seen....you can even feel the stillness floating in the air and dont want to utter a sound or make a move in order not to disrupt the perfectio
A electric car project developing by Kyoto University Venture Business Laboratory. Their aims, according to their website, is to"studying development of new and sophisticated devices using nano-technology, under the theme of “the approach at the atomic or molecular level to develop advanced electronic materials”. Today, environmental and energy fields are expected for much more improvement in
京都府庁The Kyoto Prefectural Office, west of the Imperial Palace, is a fine European-style building constructed on a large scale in 1904.The building is situated on the pretty, tree-lined Kamanza Street and is designatedan Important Cultural Property. Nearby are the Kyoto Prefectural Police Headquarters and Kyoto Second Red Cross Hospital.Enjoy the cherry trees in the grounds in season.Access
護王神社Go'o Shrine in Kyoto on the western side of the Imperial Palace is dedicated to all things pig.The shrine enshrines Wake no Kinomaru (733–799), an adviser to the Heian Period Emperor Kammu (737–806), and the courtier's sister Hiromushi.Instead of the usual komainu (mythical lion-like beasts) standing guard outside the shrine, a pair of wild boar do the job instead.Legend has it tha
Kyoto is the former capital city of Japan and it's a city full of temples. We went to the Golden Palace and the Zen Garden, which was beautifull (like last year :-p ). After that we went to Inari (about 15 minutes from Kyoto) and visited Fushimi Inari which is an area full of temples and shrines. We walked to the top and enjoyed the beautifull skyline of Kyoto city.
01 - Dawn Introduction (Vanessa Freeman)02 - Brightness of These Days (Vanessa Freeman)03 - Mind Expansions (Maiya James)04 - Deep in Your Mind (Victor Davies)05 - Stargazer06 - Eclipse07 - Between the Lights08 - Shine (Guida de Palma, Chris Franck)09 - Substream10 - Behind the Shadow11 - M.E. Outroduction 85,83 MB + 69,40 MB
宵山For the three nights prior to Gion Matsuri, Kyoto's best known festival, the streets of downtown Kyoto are closed to vehicular traffic. Instead of the usual traffic and noise, outdoor stalls are set up, and neighbors display their ancient byobu, fans, and priceless works of art.And hundreds of thousands of Kyotoites, in their finest yukata robes, take to the streets in a sublime street party
京都弁As today is Gion Matsuri we thought we would focus this week's quick Japanese lesson on the Kyoto dialect or "Kyo-kotoba."Admittedly not much use unless you are actually living in or passing through the ancient capital here are a few phrases of Kyotoben (Kyoto dialect).The first thing you might hear is "oideyasu", which is "irasshaimase" (welcome!) in standard Japanese, used in shops and
祇園祭Listen to the sound of Gion MatsuriKyoto's Gion Matsuri is the city's most important festival and there are related events taking place throughout the month of July.The main event is the yamaboko junko, a procession of 32 giant, decorated floats (23 yama and 9 hoko) through the streets on July 17th. On the preceding evenings of July 14-16th, the floats are illuminated by lanterns and near
From KyotoThanks to its perch in the relatively high latitudes, northeast Asia is the only part of the region that enjoys four distinct seasons-a climatic oddity that makes it curiously familiar for Westerners traveling in Japan, Korea, and parts of northern China. Cherry-blossom time is perhaps the best season to visit Japan (though beware of the crowds), and fall the best for Korea (where the co
ランダムウｵークOne of Kyoto's best outlets for English-language books on Japan is Random Walk on Teramachi in the arcade section of the street. The shop has a wide selection of English translations of Japanese literature, Japan history, guide books and books on Japanese culture. Upstairs are magazines and manga.Random WalkTeramachi Takoyakushi-sagaru 273Empukuji-choNakagyo-ku 604-8045Tel:
The Center for Southeast Asian Studies of Kyoto University is now accepting applications from visiting scholars and researchers who work on Southeast Asia, or on any one of the countries in that region, in order to conduct research, write, or pursue other scholarly interests in connection with their field of study.Five fellowships will be awarded for the first half of 2009 on a competitive basis.
圓光寺Located at the foot of Mt. Hiei, in eastern Kyoto, Enkoji Temple is one of many temples that dot this part of town. It is a short walk from either Manshuin or Shisendo.Enkoji was founded in 1601 by Tokugawa Ieyasu in Fushimi, in the southern part of the city. Its stated mission was to promote learning and scholarship in Japan.Thus, both monks and laymen were allowed as students.The temple
寺町Teramachi is one of Kyoto's most distinctive and historic streets. On any visit to Kyoto try to find time to wander this north-south boulevard especially along the stretch between the Imperial Palace and Shijo Street.Teramachi actually continues north from Marutamachi, running alongside the Imperial Palace on its east side, intersects with Imadegawa Street and then continues following the di
冷泉家Already in decline, Japan's aristocracy met its end when American forces formally abolished it following World War II.Prior to that, in the 1860s, the Kyoto aristocracy was badly wounded by the relocation of the Imperial Family from Kyoto to Tokyo.Without its privileges and perquisites, the remaining and now former aristocratic families struggled to maintain their grand homes in the decad
京都の舞子On a sultry spring day in Kyoto, there was a large crowd gathered outside of the Kaburenjo Theater (pictured below) on Pontocho. This is the narrow street on which there are many bars, restaurants, and tea houses.That could mean only one thing: Maiko were nearby.Sure enough, under a makeshift tent two were sitting surrounded by a camera-toting mob.Middle-aged Japanese men jostled fo
The climate change crowd keeps telling us that signing the Kyoto Treaty would solve our problems.
Here's a chart illustrating the global increase in emission grouped by those who signed Kyoto and those who didn't.
So countries that signed Kyoto have increased their gas emissions 3 times as fast as the United States. So when they claim that they were prevented from solving a problem by somebody...
Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Giusto qualche giorno fa parlavamo dell'iniziativa, promossa dal Wwf, MyBabeTree, ovvero della possibilità di piantare un albero e guardarlo crescere con google Earth. Oggi voglio parlarvi di Parchi per Kyoto, la onlus creata da Federparchi e Kyoto Club, in collaborazione con AzzeroCo2 e Legambiente, al fine di fornire un contributo concreto alla tutela e alla valorizzazione dellambiente. Nello specifico l'organizzazione si propone l'obiettivo di realizzare interventi di forestazione e piantumazione di alberi in apposite aree del territorio italiano ed in alcuni parchi all'estero. 250000 e 175000 sono rispettivamente il numero di alberi che Parchi per Kyoto si è ripromessa di piantare, nel suo primo anno di vita e la quantità di Co2 che questi alberi assorbiranno. Ovviamente a questo
京都市雲ヶ畑In the mountains of far north Kyoto, a small village lies at the end of a narrow road that snakes its way up from the Kamo River: Kumogahata.Hard as it is to believe, you are still within the city limits of Kyoto.For a tourist, there is little to see. It is however a step back in time, and the area is popular with hikers, cyclists, and campers.The road follows a narrow, fast-flowing river that feeds into the larger Kamo River. In spite of recent road work, in many places only one car can pass at a time.The buildings in the village have tiled roofs, white plaster walls, and an engawa porch.Our purpose was to clean my wife's family's ancestral grave. My father-in-law brought flowers, incense, and matches. We cleaned the sticks and leaves that had fallen on the plot. Then he
Since PA Pundits is a recent addition to my blog reads this is part 5 of this blog series. Be sure to check out the previous posts below.
************
Note the subtle change in the sub heading, from carbon footprint to carbon tax.
In the previous piece I mentioned the psychology aspect in distracting you from the real [...]
Pakar cuaca PBB mahu perjanjian babit semua negara, bukan negara kaya sajaBANGKOK: Isu pemanasan global dibincang oleh 163 negara di seluruh dunia pada satu persidangan yang berlangsung di sini semalam bagi menggantikan perjanjian perubahan cuaca Kyoto."Dunia sedang menantikan satu penyelesaian jangka panjang dan lebih sesuai dari segi ekonomi," kata Setiausaha Agung Pertubuhan Bangsa-Bangsa Bersatu (PBB), Ban Ki Moon menerusi persidangan video kepada 1,100 perwakilan dari 163 negara yang menghadiri perbincangan itu semalam.Mesyuarat sepanjang minggu itu adalah susulan kepada persetujuan di Bali tahun lalu bagi negara terbabit memulakan perbincangan untuk menggantikan perjanjian Kyoto.Antara lain, Perjanjian Kyoto yang dipersetujui 37 negara kaya sebelum ini bertujuan mengurangkan pengelua
Mounting your plasma on the wall is nice - we equate it to leaving your mark on the household. The phrase “I am a man, this is my domain,” actually comes to mind. The Kyoto Entertainment Center is made of eco-conscious bamboo (Ed: yes we agree, the term eco is thrown around far too easily) [...]
This is a selection of recent popular blog articles aggregated on Greenedia.com, where you will find the best blogs from the world of green media, as well as video uploads, podcasts, and blog authoring.
EU Releases Environment Scorecard
Treehugger blogged this week on the self-scoring the EU released on their progress toward Kyoto emissions and energy goals. The outlook was not that great, altogether, though progress has been made in the appropriate direction, unlike the US and Japan, which also received scores, and seem to be heading in the wrong direction. Unfortunately, according to the scorecard, the EU is still not on track to meet those goals.
They reproduced a chart from the report in the post, giving a clear indication of how the various initiatives are doing, as percentage cha
京都タワーTowering above nearby buildings, Kyoto Tower is a striking landmark that over the years has become something of a tourist attraction in the ancient capital. It is just north of Kyoto Station, and because of restrictions on building height in Kyoto, it dominates the skyline in a way that towers in other cities could only dream of.Built in 1964 in tandem with the Olympic Games held in Tokyo that year, it was opposed by the majority of Kyotoites. The city government however forced through its construction in the name of appearing "modern."For younger residents of Kyoto, it is just one part of the modern cityscape; for older people, and many foreigners, it remains a symbol of a construction industry gone wild--and terrible taste. Noted critic Alex Kerr famously called it a "stak
百万遍Every month, there are three major flea markets held at Kyoto temples: Hyakumanben on the 15th at Chion-ji, Kobo-san on the 20th at Toji Temple, and Tenjin-san on the 25th at Kita no Tenmangu.Hyakumanben is the smallest of the three but offers a wide variety of handmade jewelry, bags, clothing, and wonderful homemade breads and other food. Chion Temple is located just across the street from Kyoto University on Imadegawa Dori.The temple grounds teems with visitors and bargaining on the non-food items is half of the fun.Pictured above are handmade pouches that can be used for cell phones, a wallet, or more traditional items. Below are beads that can be strung together to create a necklace or bracelet.Most of the prices ranged from 300 - 2,000 yen. The sellers/artists tended to be yo
Japan. The name evokes images of cherry blossoms and temples, of Samurai and Kimono clad Geisha. The contemporary Japan of today is a diverse conglomeration of history and tradition merging with a future that often struggles to understand itself. A country vibrantly alive and awaiting the traveler who seeks to experience a culture replete with skyscrapers and bullet trains, of castles and paddy fields lined with rustic wooden homes. What better place to begin your journey within this exotic land than the city of Kyoto. This extraordinarily beautiful city with its abundance of shrines, temples, palaces, gardens, and historically priceless buildings, exemplifies the essence of Japanese culture and history. With over 2,000 Buddhist temples and Shinto shrines architecturally still intact, it i
The Kyoto Protocol is a protocol to the international Framework Convention on Climate Change with the objective of reducing Greenhouse gases that cause climate change. It was agreed on 11 December 1997 at the 3rd Conference of the Parties to the treaty when they met in Kyoto, and entered into force on 16 February 2005.As of November 2007, 174 parties have ratified the protocol. Of these, 36 developed countries (plus the EU as a party in its own right) are required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to the levels specified for each of them in the treaty (representing over 61.6% of emissions from Annex I countries) [1] [2], with three more countries intending to participate[3]. One hundred and thirty-seven (137) developing countries have ratified the protocol, including Brazil, China and Ind
When people first consider the idea of a holiday in Japan, their thoughts usually turn to Tokyo. Now, there's nothing wrong with Tokyo - its soaring skyscrapers perfectly contrasting with its sombre temples - but there is a lot more to Japan than the bright lights of its world famous capital. That's why at Inside Japan Tours we try to encourage people to look beyond the country's magnificent capital, and to explore the other culturally and historically significant cities.Take Kyoto, for example. The city is the historical and cultural capital of Japan - a fine mix of urban sprawl and cultural gems. Indeed, Kyoto was home to the Japanese Imperial family from 794 all the way up to 1868 when the Emperor decided to relocate to Tokyo. Kyoto is one of the few major Japanese cities to avoid the d
If litigious attorneys backed by environmentalist wackos can sue oil companies for causing hurricane Katrina, then we can sue Carbon Credit companies, Al Gore and bureaucrats who supported the Kyoto treaty for causing this week's ice storm. In fact, suing these people will finally prove that Al Gore is lying about everything. Follow my logic.
The bureaucrats who support carbon credits,...
Click the Headline Link to Visit Copious Dissent and Read the Full Story.
Kyoto has proved troublesome enough. Many said that its ambitions were too limited and that its 'mechanisms,' that allowed countries to offset their carbon emissions by actions elsewhere, created loopholes around even these weak targets. Even so, the Protocol was only just ratified and several major countries, including of course the United States, have still not done so.The European Union, with Britain for once in the van, prides itself on taking an enlightened position. It was largely as a result of EU efforts that Kyoto was ratified at all. Now the European Commission want Bali to produce a roadmap to a new agreement whose purpose – quite literally – will be to save the planet. It is widely recognised that the twin questions of world energy supply and energy security are now becoming as important, indeed possibly more important, than the simple question of emission reduction on its own. Certainly we should try to save energy. The consultants, McKinsey, are reported as saying
After the collapse of Nova you lost a lot of good friends who were forced to return home. You were left with a lot of memories of good times. You decide to put a bunch of your keitai videos together to give your friends something to remember it by.It's a montage of the laughs, songs and dances you shared. You hope, it will stay with you forever to commemorate your time with Nova from January 2006 to October 2007. You had the time of your life. You hope your friends did too. Technorati Tags: aeon, ALT, anders lundqvist, baka gaijin, chain, chain school, drunk, eigo no sensei, English teacher, engrish, gaijin, gaijin memoirs, ganbatte, geos, izakaya, Japan, Japanese, JET, job, Kansai, Kyoto, mac, memoirs of a gaijin, meta, Misasagi, monkeybridge, nihon, Nova, nova closure, Nova teach
Futons are both fun and functional. The Kyoto New York Futon is available in a plethora of shades and Cool Bed Shop is selling it fro £249.00 including delivery. Manufactured in wood and finished in a subtle honey colour, the futon is ideal for those having space issues.
livingroom, sofas and futons
Bunk Beds for children are always a good idea. The Kyoto Harvard Bunk Bed is retailing for £299.00 and if it catches your fancy, order it from here. The 92cm White-Colored Rubber Wood Bunk Set has been constructed from Rubber Wood Frame with Hard Wood Slats.
bed humor, bunk bed, bunk beds, Loft Bed and Bunk bed
İKLİM DEĞİŞİMİ KONUSUNDA BİRLEŞMİŞ MİLLETLER ÇERÇEVE KONVENSİYON'UNA İLİŞKİN KYOTO PROTOKOLÜİklim değişikliğine yönelik Birleşmiş Milletler Çerçeve Kongresi'nin Tarafları olarak (bundan böyle "Kongre" olarak anılacaktır), Bu Sözleşme'nin Tarafları, Madde 2'de açıklanan Kongre'ye ilişkin gerçek amaca ulaşmak için, Kongre'ye ilişkin hükümler göz önünde bulundurularak, Kongre'ye ilişkin Madde 3'ün rehberliğinde olmak üzere, Kongre'nin birinci oturumda taraflarca alınan 1/CP.1 kararı ile kabul edilen Berlin antlaşması gereğince aşağıdaki hükümler üzerinde antlaşmaya varmışlardır :MADDE 1Bu protokolün amaçlarını gerçekleştirmek üzere Kongre'ye ilişkin Madde 1'de yapılan tanımlamalar dikkate alınacaktır. Ayrıca:1. "Taraflar Toplantısı" burada Kongre ile ilişkili olarak TaraflarToplantısı anlamına gelecektir.2. "Kongre" burada 9 Mayıs 1992 tarihinde New York şehrinde akdedilen İklim değişikli
UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGEThe Parties to this Protocol,Being Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention",In pursuit of the ultimate objective of the Convention as stated in its Article 2,Recalling the provisions of the Convention,Being guided by Article 3 of the Convention,Pursuant to the Berlin Mandate adopted by decision 1/CP.1 of theConference of the Parties to the Convention at its first session,Have agreed as follows:Article 1 For the purposes of this Protocol, the definitions contained in Article 1 of the Convention shall apply. In addition:1. "Conference of the Parties" means the Conference of the Parties to the Convention.2. "Convention" means the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted in New York on 9 May 1992.3. "Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change" means the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change established in 1988 jointly by the World Meteorolog
Apart from this world-wide influence on the Japanese food, there have been numerous local factors to give variety to it. Thus there are such names in Japanese cuisine as Kwantō cuisine, Kwansai cuisine, Kyoto cuisine, Nagoya cuisine, etc., just as in Chinese they speak of the Peking, Shanghai, Canton, Szechwan, Yunnan cuisines. Besides, there were numerous provincial factors to influence the Japanese cuisine, contributed by the three hundred daimyō domains. These were attributable to their peculiar local products as well as to their respective native geniuses. There can be no cooking without food materials to be cooked. Thus the Tokyo cuisine means largely the food made of products of Tokyo and adjacent districts. As the culinary art improved the food materials, so did the materials fashion this art. In these years of improved transportation facilities, when the products of one prefecture are almost the same as the products of the whole nation, the demarcation between this and that c
The Center for Southeast Asian Studies of Kyoto University is now
accepting applications from scholars and researchers who work on
Southeast Asia, or on any one of the countries in that region, and are
interested in spending time in Kyoto, Japan, in order to conduct
research, write, or pursue other scholarly interests in connection
with their field of study.
Since 1963, more than two hundreds distinguished scholars have visited
the Center for periods ranging from six months to one year. They have
availed themselves of the Center’s considerable scholarly resources
and the invigorating atmosphere of scenic Kyoto, the ancient capital
of Japan and the main repository of the country’s cultural treasures,
to pursue their interests in Southeast Asian area studies. The
Center’s multi-disciplinary character and the diverse research
interests of its faculty offer visiting scholars an ideal opportunity
for the exchange of ideas and the cultivation of comparative
perspectives.
Ceci n’est pas un étonnement pour personne : le gouvernement conservateur de Stephen Harper souhaiterait abandonner le protocole de Kyoto. Raisons ? Il y a évidemment ses liens avec l’industrie pétrolière albertaine, l’impossibilité selon lui d’atteindre le 1/60 du chemin à parcourir pour les changements climatiques et aussi porter un coup bas contre l’opposition libérale et Stéphane Dion, celui qui nomma son chien Kyoto et qui est connu comme étant un défenseur de valeurs environnementales.
Harper n’est pas un imbécile, il sait pertinemment que si il fait voter une abolition des objectifs du protocole de Kyoto au parlement, cela forcerait les libéraux à voter pour lui, entraînant du même coup une série de moqueries venant de tout les côtés (dont le nôtre) et une sauvegarde du gouvernement conservateur car les libéraux sont très mal placés en ce moment pour des élections, surtout avec ce «chef». L’opposition officiell
京都の秋Fall has finally arrived in Kyoto. After a blistering September, temperatures finally dipped following a downpour two weekends ago. Kyoto, which is known for its brutal steamy summers, endured a particularly long hot summer.In addition to cool evenings and the festival season, fall also brings a new crop of flowers.Close to the Keifuku rail line in western Kyoto, an explosion of color has replaced what was a dull brown patch of weeds only weeks ago.Behind these flowers, the trains run in front of the wall that separates the train tracks from a local elementary school. The mountains that ring Kyoto can be seen in the distance.Below left are perhaps the most common fall flower: cosmos. They grow like weeds, and can reach six or seven feet.In addition, the cooler fall air is scented with kinmokusei (osmanthus). This plant blossoms in October and truly gives off a smell like a perfume.Days are punctuated by deep blue skies, a cornucopia of color, and the scent of osmanthus. Fo
The two taxies are same company and just look at the labels on side.You know there is the three-leaf label and the four-leaf label on side of their body.This company " Yasaka taxi " have about 1200 taxies having a three-leaf lavel on side of the body and four taxies having a four-label on side of the body.When you visit Kyoto and can luckily find and get in a taxi having a four-leaf on side in the city, a driver gives you a commemorative ticket. However, be careful that you can't make a reservation to use a four-leaf taxi.
The Federal Government is facing a lawsuit for its failure to take action on global warming and address Canada's commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.
The lawsuit is a direct follow up to the...
Earth-centred news for the health of air, water, habitat and the fight against global warming
Opposition parties are ramping up talk of bringing down the minority government after the Conservatives opportunistically posted their comprehensive climate change plan online while political...
Earth-centred news for the health of air, water, habitat and the fight against global warming
Angela Merkel, leader of the German government visited Greenland which she examined thinning glaciers and learned that temperatures had risen 2.7 degrees Farenheit. She urged the United States and China to join a new world wide agreement that was necessary to replace Kyoto which expires in 2012. Merkel pointed out without cooperation of the United [...]
京都夜想曲優雅な居殺者JapanVisitor.com recently spoke with photographer and filmmaker John Foster. His film “Kyoto Nocturnes, Part 1: Elegant Slaughter” will be playing at the upcoming Kansai International Film Festival. The film is, in the words of KyotoNoir, about a "psychotic yakuza boss [that] hires an alluring American hit woman to end a gang war in the geisha district of Japan’s ancient capital."Can we begin with a bit about you? I’m from New York and I originally came to Japan in 1991 on the JET program. I was back in the US in ’92-’93. I came back to Japan in 1993 and was here for four years. I saved money to pursue my interest in film. Back in the US, I took part in the International Film and TV Workshops program. These programs are short, intense, hands-on sessions with working professionals. By 1998, I was in pre-production for a short film.Let’s move on to your film that will be screened at the Kansai International Film Festival. First, how in the w
七夕Tanabata is the Japanese star festival, which takes place once a year on July 7th. It is the celebration of the "meeting" of two stars: Vega and Altair. Normally separated by the Milky Way, once a year these two lovers come together and meet on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month.According to the Japanese folktale, Orihime (Vega), the weaving princess, worked so hard at making beautiful clothes for her father that she never had time to fall in love. Her father, the sky king Tenko, therefore arranged for her to meet Hikoboshi (Altair), who was a cow herder. It was love at first sight and marriage followed shortly thereafter.After getting married, however, the besotted Orihime refused to weave, and Hikoboshi let his cows wander all over the Heavens. In fury, Tenko placed the two lovers on opposite sides of the Amanogawa River--the Milky Way--thus preventing them from meeting. Orihime beseeched her father, he relented, and the young lovers were allowed to cross and meet one d
京の落書きIn the sections of Kyoto that still have traditional walls lining the street, you will often find one of the most ancient and most modern forms of art: tagging.On the eastern slope of the city, near Shisendo and Enkoji Temple, "Satoshi Kiyomizu" scrawled his name into the wall in front of a minor temple on the narrow road between the two aforementioned (and better known) temples.His level of skill has nothing on modern bombers, who have tagged many of the walls of Tokyo and Osaka, some quite artistically. His technique perhaps has more in common with the scrawl to be found on the grates that protect stores in Nara.Still, his work is somehow less objectionable. Whether he pulled out his penknife last week or in 1907, the end result is timeless. Perhaps I am being naive, but there is none of the anger and anti-social taint that is associated with spray-can wielding young men in hoodies.Rackgaki "Satoshi" is merely asserting his own small existence; modern "writers" on the
E' queSto il NomE dell'iniziATiva di Legambiente per chiEdere al GoverNo e al ParlaMento di fare in moDo che la LiberaLizZazionE del MerCato EnergEtico sia una buonA occasione per avere boLLette TrasParenTi che premino il Risparmio e l'Energia prodotta da fonti rinNovabili.
Qui pOteTE FirMare la peTizioNE (il link è inserito anche nella sezione "Petizioni").
本能寺京都Honnoji Temple is where the great daimyo Oda Nobunaga died in 1582. The shogun was attacked at the temple and then forced by one of his trusted generals, Akechi Mitsuhide, to commit ritual suicide. This all took place during an attempted coup d’etat. While Nobunaga was dying, local farmers murdered Mitsuhide.The temple itself was founded in 1415, and is a part of the Nichiren sect. It was once located a short distance south at the intersection of Shijo and Nishinotoin streets. Like much of Kyoto, though, it was destroyed by fire many times. It was moved to its current location in 1589. There is now a memorial to Oda Nobunaga inside the grounds of the temple.This is not the most elegant temple in Kyoto. There are two reasons however tourists visit: its historical significance as the temple where the great general Nobunaga died; and, second, its location. It is just across from City Hall, and backs onto Teramachi Street, which has many great shops. A walk up Teramachi fr
The Kyoto National Museum is one of the three formerly imperially-mandated art museums in Japan. The museum is located in Higashiyama Ward in Kyoto. The collections of the Kyoto National Museum focus on pre-modern Japanese and Asian art.
京都サンガFCOn a blustery pre-rainy season Saturday in June, Kyoto Purple Sanga took on Montideo Yamagata in a second division (J2) match in Japan's professional soccer league.It had poured rain only a few hours before kickoff, with great thunder and lightning. Perhaps as a result, only 5,600 fans made it to the match.We bought seats in the home supporters section behind the south goal. Ominous clouds scudded across the sky, the dark purple Hankyu Line trains rolled by in the distance in 5-minute intervals, and Kyoto supporters chanted and sang (to listen, click on #5-8) for the entire 90 minutes of the match.At home, it was a must win for Kyoto. Sanga was in fourth place going into the match, the visitors third. In order to have a shot at promotion to the top division of Japanese soccer, J1, at the end of the season in November a J2 club must finish in one of the top three spots.Kyoto looked sharp in the first half and went up thanks to two early goals courtesy of Kuronuki and t
Let me begin by saying that I care about the environment. I really, with all sincerity, do. I keep, next to my garbage can, a cardboard box designated for paper to be recycled. About 87% of this paper is from credit card offers which I receive everyday. Anyway, the point is, I keep this box and add paper for about a month and I then drop it off at a nearby recycling center. I drive away convinced that I saved the world and applaud myself. (more…)
半額コンドーム京都People in Kansai, or western Japan, are known for their business prowess. Osaka was the center of business in Japan for centuries until Tokyo usurped that role in the 1960s. Kyoto too is full of creative entrepreneurs. The ancient city has spawned Nintendo, Kyocera, Wacoal, Rohm, Omron and many other companies and brands known worldwide.In spite of a reputation for being a bit aloof--and the city itself being better known for temples and geisha--Kyotoites are very practical and down to earth when it comes to making a buck.Cycling through downtown the other day, I passed a large metal sign advertising "half price condoms." The same sign has been in front of a mom-and-pop drug store for the 8 years that I have been riding in the neighborhood.The sign is bolted to a metal stand that sits in front of a neighborhood drug store on a narrow downtown street. The red and blue combination is quite eye-catching, and I have always wanted to go in and ask the ancient man
The Conservatives are facing the first global warming lawsuit every launched in Canada following the failure of their revised, and widely criticized, climate change plan showed that they planned to...
Earth-centred news for the health of air, water, habitat and the fight against global warming
川床、京都Kyoto is unique among Japanese cities in that it has embraced its rivers. It has not avoided the Ministry of Construction-sponsored concreting of its waterways; however, unlike Tokyo and Osaka and other cities, Kyoto never turned away from its waters.The Kamogawa River, which flows through central Kyoto, is where Kyotoites go to play and enjoy, romance and dine. From just south of the downtown area all the way north of Imadegawa Street, the river banks are thronged with people.Lovers sit at intervals a stone's throw from the bars and nightlife of Shijo and Sanjo. Young mothers bring their children to play in the shallow waters near Imadegawa. Medical students relax and play tennis behind the Kyoto Prefectural Hospital.And, from early May until September, residents and tourists eat and drink on decks set up overlooking the river.Restaurants along Pontocho and, farther north and south, Kiyamachi face the Kamogawa River. From about Gojo (fifth street) up until Oike, all re
角屋もてなしの文化美術館Sumiya is a two-story building that served as a very high-end restaurant/brothel during the Edo Period; its history dates from more than 350 years ago. Located in a former red-light district known as Shimabara, in central Kyoto, Sumiya is now a museum open to the public.Officially known as The Sumiya Motenashi Art Museum, Sumiya is the only remaining “ageya” in Kyoto. Ageya were elegant restaurants where Geisha and Taiyu performed and lived. In 1952 the building was designated as an Important Cultural Property.Sumiya was a place for well-heeled to come to be entertained—but to label it to a "brothel" is to limit its significance and function. It was a meeting place and salon where elite and powerful men gathered. It was for example the meeting place of Shimabara Haidan, a well-known haiku group. It was also a showcase for some of the most talented artists and artisans of the era.There are no other comparable buildings surviving in Tokyo or Osak
葵祭、京都Kyoto’s Aoi Matsuri, or Hollyhock Festival, is an annual festival that climaxes on May 15th with a procession that moves from the Gosho Imperial Palace via Shimogamo Shrine to Kamigamo Shrine.Aoi Matsuri is thought to be one of the world's oldest festivals. It dates to the sixth century following the destruction of one year's fall harvest. In order to appease the ever angry gods, then Emperor Kinmei ordered that special religious rites take place at Shimogamo and Kamigamo Shrines. According to legend, it worked.In the year 807, Aoi Matsuri was then annointed as an official imperial event, and, but for a two century interruption beginning with the Onin War, has continued to this day.The festival consists of the imperial messenger's court and Saio-Dai, a young princess from the imperial family who was the head of the two shrines.All of the shrines, costumes, and horses taking part are decorated with hollyhock leaves and branches. Because it w
