Japanese wr

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Yoshinogari

Yoshinogari

Yoshinogari 吉野ヶ里 遺跡 - A large and complex site from Yayoi period, in Saga Prefecture, Kyūshū, Japan – Exceptional by its massive size and the artifacts found there : bronze mirrors and daggers, coins, halberds, iron and wooden tools, bells, etc. It is composed of a settlement, a cemetery, and multiple ditch-and-palisade enclosed precincts.

Yoshinogari 吉野ヶ里 遺跡 - Un site vaste et complexe de la période Yayoi, dans la préfecture de Saga, Kyūshū, Japon - Exceptionnel par sa taille et les objets qu’on y a trouvé s: miroirs et dagues en bronze, monnaies, hallebardes, outils en fer et en bois, cloches, etc. Il est composé d'un établissement, d'un cimetière et de plusieurs enceintes fermées avec fossés et palissades.

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Yotaka festival

Yotaka festival

Tonami Yotaka Matsuri 砺波夜高祭り or Yotaka festival – An event held in June in Toyama Prefecture, Japan - Said to have started in the Taisho Period, asking for a bountiful harvest - At night, lamps using paper shades are lit.

Tonami Yotaka Matsuri 砺波夜高祭り ou festival Yotaka - Un événement organisé en juin dans la préfecture de Toyama au Japon - Il aurait commencé à l'époque de Taisho, en demande d’une abondante récolte - La nuit, des lampes en papier sont allumées.

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Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama

Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
Born on 22 March 1929 in Matsumoto
An art-world phenomenon
And the most diversified artist
Tackling sculpture and painting
Film and fashion
Poetry and installation

When she was a little girl
She had the hallucination of a field of flowers
Which started talking to her
Their heads were like dots going on as far as she could see
While she was disappearing into the field…
Yayoi Kusama 草間 彌生
'The princess of polka dots'

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Ukiyo-e Museum

Ukiyo-e Museum

In Matsumoto 松本are still living
The “picture[s] of the floating world”
Housed in the Ukiyo-e Museum日本浮世絵博物館
Witnesses of ordinary, banal, mundane
Or extraordinary life from Edo era 江戸時代
Fauna, flora, samurais and sumos
Courtesans, landscapes or cities
Katsushika Hokusai 葛飾 北斎, Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川 広重, among others
Masters of the art

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Tokyo Wan Kannon

Tokyo Wan Kannon

Tokyo Wan Kannon 東京湾観音 - A Kannon Statue located in Chiba - 56m high, it was built in 1961 for the world peace by Masae Usami. The statue face the entrance of Tokyo Bay that you can see at the observation stand.

Tokyo Wan Kannon 音 観 音 - Une statue de Kannon située à Chiba - Haute de 56 m, elle a été construite en 1961 pour la paix mondiale par Masae Usami. La statue fait face à l'entrée de la baie de Tokyo que l’on peut voir à partir du poste d'observation.

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Tomioka Silk Mill

Tomioka Silk Mill

Such a challenge after the Meiji Restoration
How to establish a model filature facility
With the most sophisticated machinery
To improve the quality of raw silk

With 150 silk reeling machines
400 female workers
Under the management of the French Paul Brunat
Tomioka Silk Mill 富岡製糸場, Tomioka Seishijō
Established in 1872
Japan's oldest modern silk reeling factory
Located in Gunma Prefecture

UNESCO World Heritage Site 2014

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Tsukuba Science City

Tsukuba Science City

Tsukuba Science City 筑波研究学園都市 - A planned science park, pionneer as a center for research and education, developed in the 1960s in Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan.

Cité des Sciences de Tsukuba筑波研究学園都市- Un parc scientifique exceptionnel, pionnier en tant que centre de recherche et d’éducation, créé dans les années 1960 dans la préfecture d’Ibaraki, au Japon.

Storiscopia

Traditional regions of Japan

The traditional regions of Japan are:
• Hokkaidō (largest city: Sapporo)
• Tōhoku region (northern Honshū, largest city: Sendai)
• Kantō region (eastern Honshū, largest city: Tokyo)
• Nanpō Islands: part of Tokyo Metropolis (largest town: Ōshima)
• Chūbu region (central Honshū, largest city: Nagoya / including Hokuriku region, largest city: Kanazawa, Kōshin'etsu region, largest city: Niigata and Tōkai region, largest city: Nagoya)
• Kansai (or Kinki) region (west-central Honshū, largest city: Osaka)
• Chūgoku region (western Honshū, largest city: Hiroshima)
• Shikoku (largest city: Matsuyama)
• Kyūshū (largest city: Fukuoka / including Northern Kyūshū, largest city: Fukuoka, Southern Kyūshū: largest city: Kagoshima and Okinawa, largest city: Naha)

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The Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu

The Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu

The Thirteen Buddhas of Chichibu 秩父十三仏霊場 - A group of 13 Buddhist sacred sites in Saitama Prefecture, Japan.

Les treize bouddhas de Chichibu 秩父十三仏霊場 - Un groupe de 13 sites sacrés bouddhistes dans la préfecture de Saitama, au Japon.

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The three wise monkeys

The three wise monkeys

"See no evil,
Hear no evil,
Speak no evil"

At the Tōshō-gū shrine in Nikkō日光東照宮
From the 17th century
Stand the three monkeys 三猿

Mizaru 見ざる, covering his eyes, seing no evil
Kikazaru聞かざる, covering his ears, hearing no evil
Iwazaru言わざる, covering his mouth, speaking no evil

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Teru teru bôzu

Teru teru bôzu

Teru teru bôzu てるてる坊主
"Shine shine monk"
A small traditional handmade doll
For bringing good weather or stopping the rain

There is a warabe uta 童歌 (1921)
A traditional Japanese song
Written by Kyoson Asahara
And composed by Shinpei Nakayama中山 晋平 (1887 – 1952)
Born in Nagano 中野市

てるてるぼうず、てるぼうず(Teru-teru-bōzu, teru bōzu)
明日天気にしておくれ (Ashita tenki ni shite o-kure)
いつかの夢の空のように(tsuka no yume no sora no yō ni)
晴れたら金の鈴あげよ (Haretara kin no suzu ageyo)

Teru teru bozu, teru bozu
Tomorrow, make a sunny day
Like the sky in a dream sometime
If it’s sunny I’ll give you a golden bell

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Tengu

Tengu

A Japanese legendary creature
Taking their name from a dog-like Chinese demon
And their form from birds of prey
Humanized with an unnaturally long nose

On the top of Ontakesan御嶽山
A Tengu’s statue of 12m
Said to be the greatest Tengu in Japan

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Tabei Junko

Tabei Junko

Born in Miharu三春町, Fukushima
Junko Tabei 田部井 淳子 (1939 –2016)
First woman to match Norgay and Hillary climbing the Everest
First woman to complete the Seven Summits
the highest mountains of each of the seven continents

In 1975, wind, snow
And avalanche
Did not stop her
On Mount Everest

"Do not give up. Keep on your quest."

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Susanoo

Susanoo

According to Kojiki
Susanoo スサノオ
Defeated Yamata no Orochi 八岐大蛇
A legendary eight-headed and eight-tailed serpent
And found a great sword in the fourth tail

Initially ‘Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds’
Ame-no-Murakumo-no-Tsurugi 天叢雲剣
Now ‘Grass-Cutting Sword’
Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi 草薙の剣
One of the three Imperial Regalia of Japan三種の神器
With the mirror and the jewel
Representing the virtue of valor

In Atsuta Shrine 熱田神宮 Atsuta-jingū in Nagoya

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Tale of the Heike

Tale of the Heike

Heike Monogatari 平家物語
An epic about the struggle between the Taira clan
And Minamoto clan
For control of Japan
In the Genpei War (1180–1185)

The sound of the Gion Shōja bells
Echoes the impermanence of all things

祇園精舎の鐘の聲、
諸行無常の響き有り。

Storiscopia

Takarazuka Revue

Takarazuka Revue (宝塚歌劇団, Takarazuka Kagekidan) - A Japanese musical theatre troupe founded in 1913 by Ichizō Kobayashi, president of Hankyu Railways, and located in Takarazuka, Hyōgo Prefecture in Japan. All members of the troupe are female.

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Shô Tai

Shô Tai

Shô Tai 尚泰 (1843 –1901) - The last king of the Ryukyu Kingdom before its annexation by Japan as Ryukyu Domain (later Okinawa Prefecture).

Shô Tai 尚泰 (1843 –1901) - Le dernier souverain du royaume de Ryukyu avant son annexion par le Japon (plus tard préfecture d'Okinawa).

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Shujo Onie Matsuri

Shujo Onie Matsuri

A devil dressed in black,
A second Oni in red
Dancing escorted by acolytes
Amid flaming torches

Here is Shujo Onie Matsuri 修正鬼会
In Tenen-ji temple 天念寺, Kunisaki Peninsula 国東半島
Warding off illnesses and promoting good health

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Shichi-go-san

Shichi-go-san

Shichi-go-san 七五三 "Seven-Five-Three" - Rite of passage in Shinto.

Shichi-go-san 七五三 "sept-cinq-trois" - Un rite de passage pour petits garçons et petites filles dans le Shintoïsme.

Storiscopia
Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe

Shinzo Abe 安倍 晋三 (1954-) – A Japanese politician known as a conservative, member of Nippon Kaigi, who was Prime Minister of Japan four terms and President of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) - The longest-serving Prime Minister in Japanese history. He resigned as Prime Minister twice due to ulcerative colitis, the last time in 2020. His economic policies were nicknamed Abenomics. He is the son of Shintaro Abe 安倍 晋太郎, (1924 – 1991) Japanese foreign minister, and grandson of Nobusuke Kishi 岸 信介 (1896 – 1987) known as the "Devil of Shōwa" who, after imprisonment, also became Prime Minister of Japan.

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Shiraito Falls

Shiraito Falls

Shiraito Falls 白糸の滝 – A waterfall in Shizuoka Prefecture, near Mount Fuji, Japan - Added to the World Heritage List as part of the Fujisan Cultural Site – 2013.

Chutes de Shiraito白糸の滝 - Dans la préfecture de Shizuoka, près du mont Fuji, au Japon - Ajouté à la Liste du patrimoine mondial comme partie du site culturel du Fujisan - 2013.

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Seven Lucky Gods

Seven Lucky Gods

Seven Lucky Gods or Seven Gods of Fortune 七福神 - Believed to grant good luck in Japanese mythology. Comprising: Ebisu 恵比寿, Daikokuten 大黒天, Bishamonten 毘沙門天, Benzaiten 弁才天, Juroujin寿老人, Hotei布袋 and Fukurokuju 福禄寿.

Sept dieux de la Fortune ou de la Chance 七福神 – Sont réputés apporter la chance dans la mythologie japonaise. Comprennnent : Ebisu 恵比寿, Daikokuten 大黒天, Bishamonten 毘沙門天, Benzaiten 弁才天, Juroujin寿老人, Hotei布袋 et Fukurokuju 福禄寿.

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Sanbutsu-ji

Sanbutsu-ji

Sanbutsu-ji 三仏寺 - A Buddhist temple in Tottori Prefecture, Japan - Founded by En no Gyōja (ca. 634–701) considered the founder of Shugendō.

Sanbutsu-ji 三 仏 寺 - Un temple bouddhiste dans la préfecture de Tottori au Japon - Fondé par En no Gyōja (environ 634–701), considéré comme le fondateur du Shugendô.

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Sakamoto Ryōma

Sakamoto Ryōma

Sakamoto Ryōma 坂本龍馬 (1836 –1867)
Alias Saitani Umetarō 才谷梅太郎
First low-ranking samurai from Tosa Domain 土佐藩
He opposed the Tokugawa Shogunate 徳川幕府
After the end of sakoku 鎖国

Uniting forces against the Bakufu.
Assassinated in 1867 with Nakaoka Shintarō 中岡 慎太郎
Just before the Boshin War 戊辰戦争 and the Meiji Restoration

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Rentarō Taki

Rentarō Taki

Rentarō Taki 滝 廉太郎 (1879 – 1903)
A pianist and composer

He wrote Kōjō no Tsuki 荒城の月
“The Moon over the Ruined Castle”
A song included in the songbook for Junior High School students
inspired by Oka Castle built in 1185 for Minamoto no Yoshitsune

In 1998 the asteroid 8957 was named after the song

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Ôuchi-juku

Ôuchi-juku

Ōuchi-juku 大 内 宿
Fukushima Prefecture 福島 県
Located on Aizu Nishi Kaidō 会 津 西 街道
Shukuba 宿 場 of Edo Period 江 戸 時代
Post mail which come and go
On its main street
Thatched shops and inns

Ôuchi-juku 大内宿 - Un village de relais postal durant la période Edo au Japon, situé dans la préfecture de Fukushima - Comprend des bâtiments traditionnels au toit de chaume.

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Nô Theatre

Nô Theatre

Nō (or Noh) 能 - A classical Japanese musical drama using masks, costumes and various props in a dance-based art performed at least since the 14th century. ETYM. 能, nō, means "skill" or "talent". Among its most famous performers are Kan'ami Kiyotsugu 観阿弥 清次 (1333 – 1384) and his son Zeami Motokiyo 世阿弥 元清 (c. 1363 – c. 1443).

Nō (ou Noh) 能 - Un Théâtre traditionnel japonais classique utilisant des masques, des costumes et divers accessoires dans un art basé sur la danse, joué au moins depuis le 14e siècle. ETYM. 能, nō signifie "compétence" ou "talent". Parmi ses interprètes les plus célèbres figurent Kan'ami Kiyotsugu 観阿弥 清次 (1333 - 1384) et son fils, Zeami Motokiyo 世阿弥 元清 (c. 1363 - c. 1443).

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Nikkō

Nikkō

Mausoleum of shōgun Tokugawa Ieyasu (Tōshō-gū 日光東照宮)
Mausoleum of his grandson Iemitsu 徳川 家光
Futarasan Shrine 二荒山神社 dating to the year 767
As well as famous hot springs,
Definitely
"Never say 'kekkō' 結構 (wonderful) until you've seen Nikkō 日光"
「日光を見ずして結構と言うなかれ」

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National Museum of Japanese History

National Museum of Japanese History

National Museum of Japanese History 国立歴史民俗博物館 – A history museum founded in 1981 focusing on the history, archaeology, and folk culture of Japan – Located in Chiba Prefecture – Commonly known as Rekihaku.

Musée national d’histoire japonaise 国立歴史民俗博物館 - Un musée d'histoire fondé en 1981 consacré à l'histoire, à l'archéologie et à la culture populaire du Japon - Situé dans la préfecture de Chiba - Communément appelé Rekihaku.

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Naruto whirlpools

Naruto whirlpools

Naruto whirlpools 鳴門の渦潮 Naruto no Uzushio
A strait between the Pacific Ocean and the Inland Sea
Separating Honshū and Shikoku
The fourth fastest current in the world
Such a view from the Naruto Bridge spanning the strait
As well from ships
Immortalized by the manga and anime Naruto “Uzumaki” うずまき

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Nakasendô

Nakasendô

Nakasendô 中山道
The central中 mountain山 route 道
Also named the Kisokaidō 木曾街道
One of the five roads during the Edo Period
Connecting Edo to Kyoto

Magome-juku 馬籠宿
forty-third of the sixty-nine stations
Birthplace of the author Shimazaki Tōson島崎 藤村

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Nakahama John Manjirô

Nakahama John Manjirô

Nakahama John Manjirō 中濱 万次郎 ( 1827 –1898)
A simple fisherman of Naka-no-hama
Rescued with four friends by an American whaleship in 1841
The first Japanese person to visit the United States

After studying English and navigation
He took the risk to get back to Japan
During the Sakoku 鎖国 "closed country, period of isolation

Reaching Okinawa on February 1851
And after being taken into a short custody
He was eventually summoned to Edo in 1853

Made a hatamoto 旗本
A samurai serving the shōgun
He soon became a famous translator in the next Meiji Era

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Nachi no hi matsuri

Nachi no hi matsuri

Nachi Fire Festival 那智の扇祭り Nachi no hi matsuri
Around Kumano Nachi Taisha Shrine 熊野那智大社
And the Great Waterfall (Nachi no Taki 那智滝), Japan’s highest

Twelve portable shrines mikoshi 神輿
Twelve enormous pine torches
Twelve gods living in the Kumano mountains 熊野三山