Kobe Harborland

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

May Flowers In Japan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Making Mochi During A Festival

Mochi is a type of Japanese rice, very chewy, and traditional sweets are made of it. It takes some effort to make it and it implies “team work” – at least two persons participating to the process of transforming the mochi rice into a paste. A large mortar is used. The rice is pounded with wooden mallets called kine in the traditional mortar, called usu. One person pounds the cooked rice and the other turns and wets it. The rhythm is steady and they must pay attention to avoid potential injury. These photos were taken in the precinct of the temple presented in yesterday's post.

 

 

 

 

 

Kyushaku Fuji Flowers In Byakugoji Temple, Tanba City

The flowers, up to 1.2 m long, have a hypnotic effect from some angles. Superb, indeed. This is a continuation of yesterday's post, though a completely different location.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sennen Fuji Flowers - Wisteria In Shiso City, Hyogo

In Shiso City, Hyogo Prefecture, there is Sennen Fuji – 1000 year-old wisteria flowers. Wisteria is called Fuji no hana. The kanji 藤 is different from Mount Fuji, of course. The flowers grow even more than 1m long, and the smell is superb. It became my favourite flower. Wisteria can be white as well. I have heard of yellow flowers, too.

Sennen Fuji is located at Dazai Jinja Shrine in Shiso City. It is said that the wisteria was planted in 960. I was ravished by its splendour.