Nifty programming of NHK

People's attention has focused on the program list of New Year's Day of NHK. In Japan, there is a custom that divine fortune of the year by a dream to see the New Year's Day. NHK is scheduled to take up the "Mt. Fuji", "hawk", "eggplant" on the show. If any of these three elements appear in a dream, it is believed that the fortune of the year will be better.

NHK is a public broadcasting in Japan. NHK has announced the program table of dawn of New Year's Day. According to it, 4:30 later program is "my Mt. Fuji", "hawk populations hit a hornet's nest," "fresh water eggplant".

Dream to see the New Year's Day is called "Hatsuyume (HATSUYUME)". This means the "first dream of the year". The most auspicious good item is Mount Fuji. The following in the hawk, the next is the eggplant.

In Twitter, tweet by people who noticed this has overflowed.

Shrine to be protected by a pair of mouse

Normally, at the entrance of the shrine There are guardian dogs (KOMA-INU). They observe the shrine in pairs. But in Kyoto, there is a shrine that is guarded by a pair of rats.

Origin of guardian dogs is lion. Ancient, Japanese did not have seen the lion. So they have built it as a dog.

In general, the right side of the dog has open mouth. This symbolizes the birth. This figure comes from the fact that baby cry at the moment of birth. The left side of the dog should have closed its mouth. This is a symbol of death and the end. This combination can be seen also in Deva King who is in the temple of the gate.

Dafeng shrine (ŌTOYO Shrine) is located in the eastern part of Kyoto. It is a small shrine. The precincts of this shrine, there are "Komanezumi". The right side of the mouse has a scroll. The left side of the mouse is holding a acorn.

Japanese were agricultural people. They've been engaged in the rice from ancient times. So, human beings have been hostile to the rat. However, rats have been loved by the Japanese. Mouse lays a lot of children. So in Japan rats became prolific symbol.

Mouse helps God in mythology. It is a story about God's great power master's orders (ŌKUNINUSHI-NO-MIKOTO). He would be surrounded by a fire in the middle of the field. Rats came when he is in trouble. Mouse has guided him to the hole. Thus he was able to survive.

ŌTOYO Shrine is dedicated to ŌKUNINUSHI-NO-MIKOTO. Mouse has been a messenger of this God. So shrine has been protected by the rat.

Tourists do not visit much to this shrine. Precinct is very quiet. Near the shrine there is a promenade. It has been called the "Road of philosophy". This is around there lived philosopher. They were thinking while walking this road. This road is the attractions of autumn leaves and cherry.

Temple was built in the execution ground site "Ryūkō-ji"

Ryūkō-ji (RYUKOUJI Temple) is a temple in the vicinity of the Kanagawa Prefecture Enoshima. Enoshima island is known as the scenic area. This temple is located in the ruins of a medieval execution ground. Therefore, in the precincts there is prison. This prison is cave. Prison was built by excavating the rock.

RYUKOKUJI has a deep connection with the Nichiren (NICHIREN, 1222 ~ 1282). He was a Buddhist monk. NICHIREN has criticized the Kamakura shogunate. He also criticized other denominations. So, the shogunate was decided to executed him in there.

Execution officer was seated him on top of the big stone. Then, the light came from the direction of Enoshima. His eyes were lightheadedness. So NICHIREN was scrapes. His sentence has been changed to banishment.

After the death of NICHIREN, his disciples made a temple there in 1337. NICHIREN has been worshiped as the founder to people. His sect has continued today.

Mongolian emperor of messenger also killed in this execution ground. Kublai Khan (KHUBILAI KHAN) sent a five messengers to Japan in 1275. Part of the messenger was Arabic people.

But shogunate was executed them. Kublai Khan was anger. He sent troops to Japan in 1281. However, the fleet was destroyed by the typhoon. Japanese has called this typhoon as "kamikaze". KAMIKAZE now means "wind to save national crisis".

There is a splendid five-story pagoda in RYUKOUJI. This tower is wooden building. The Kanagawa Prefecture has three towers. However, two are made of new reinforced concrete.

Antiquary will hold a market on third Sunday of each month. People will be able to get the Japanese antiques at a low cost. On the back of the temple there is a mountain. We will be able to see the beautiful Enoshima from the mountain. There is also a white tower. The top of the white tower is gold. People will be able to see the beautiful this tower from Enoshima.

[Foreign in Japan. Japan in foreign] Japan and Poland

As a foreign country, how do you image the Republic of Poland? Country where Chopin was born? Or country where Chopin Competition will be held?  Japan and Poland share a variety of historical episode.

Do you know the Józef Pilsudski? . He is the first president of the second Republic of Poland.

Poland was the powerhouse of Central Europe. Part of the current Belarus and Ukraine have also been included in the country. But in the 18th century, Poland was occupied by Prussia, Austria, Russia. "Poland" was disappeared from the map. However, Poland became independent again after the first World War. This is the second Republic of Poland. Józef Pilsudski even now is the hero of Poland.

In fact, his brother Bronislaw Pilsudski was married to a Japanese. He was married to a woman of "Ainu", which is the indigenous people of Hokkaido. His children were moved to Hokkaido (northern Japan) after the Second World War.

***

Another episode is about Chiune Sugihara (SUGIHARA Chiune). He is famous as a humanist who issued the "life of the visa." He helped the Jews who tries to escape from Nazi persecution.

SUGIHARA was diplomat. However, he was also the intelligence officer. He collected the information in cooperation with the Polish people.

***

In most cases, the Japanese embassy in the capital of each country plays a role in promoting Japanese culture. However, we will be able to see a little different situation in Poland.

For example, activities to spread the Japanese culture is very popular in local city Lodz in Poland. Lodz is the third largest city of Poland in the population.

In Lodz, there is a Film Academy, which was founded after the Second World War. It has become the "face" of the city. Animation production company has also been founded in Lodz.

After the Second World War, in the cultural exchange between Japan and Poland, movies played an important role. Such a cultural exchange has been just done in Lodz. In Poland Akira Kurosawa of "Seven Samurai" is a legendary hero.

After political system conversion, Japanese pop culture began to be attention in Poland. At that time, Japanese-made animated film via Italy had been actively aired on TV. For example, really nostalgic "wolf boy Ken". In maniac works, "Cowboy Bebop", and so on.

However, such new trend does not become a majority. Even now, a major concern for the Japanese culture of Poland people are traditional items, kimono, sushi, ikebana, etc.. In the TV movie, "Shogun" and "Oshin" was the popular.

***

There are Yakomo-goto club (www.yakumo-goto.pl) as one of the active organization. It is run by Professor of Lodz University. Event called "Japan Days" by this organization has become annual. Also in 2015 and is scheduled to be held in April.

Gods continue the competition 1000 years. Festival called KOUNOMACHI

Ancient, the current Kanagawa Prefecture had been referred to as "Sagami". Office of "Sagami" was in Oiso. Kokufu-sai (KOUNOMACHI) is a traditional festival of Shinto that takes place May 5 in Kanagawa Prefecture Oiso-machi.

Ancient, the state has established as the most important shrine the Samukawa Shrine (SAMUKAWA Shrine) in the "Sagami" region. On the other hand, Kawawa shrine (KAWAWA Shurine) was positioned as the second shrine by nation.

But people had had complained to the decision by the state. People began ritual for determining the first shrine. People will make the altar. They will prepare two of tiger skin. And KOUNOMACHI is celebrated as a symbol of drama.

First, Shinto priest of SAMUKAWA puts reverently a tiger skin in front of the altar. Then, KAWAWA side puts a tiger skin in front of the altar. However, it will be placed near the altar than SAMUKAWA side. In this way, Shinto priest of SAMUKAWA and KAWAWA to move alternately the tiger skin towards the altar. Both shrine compete the proximity to the altar.

This operation is performed three times in silence. However, Shinto priest of the third shrine will declare that "until next year." Thus, this competition will be postponed.

People has been repeatedly "draw" or more in 1000. Nation was rating the shrine, but the gods are not convinced. People have to avoid the conflict in this way.

Shinto priest has cleansed himself from a few days ago. Shinto priest is pregnant with God in the body, Shinto priest performs a ritual as God. The Japanese have worshiped the emperor as a god because the Emperor was the highest of the Shinto priest.

After the ceremony, people will send the gods in the world of God. People will set the stage in the shape of a ship. The myth of "Kojiki" appeared God to die by tilting their own ship. Stage of boat figure seems to be derived from this myth. People will dance the "lion dance", "dragon dance", "heron of dance."

Volcano alert to Hokkaido Tokachi is issued

⭐︎ is Tokachidake (quote from the Japan Meteorological Agency site)

December 16, the Japan Meteorological Agency has announced the alarm about the Hokkaido Tokachi. JMA has warned that "there is an increasing possibility of a very small eruption occurs." Alert level was raised to 2 from 1 (normal) in five stages.

In Tokachidake, volcanic tremor and volcanic edifice expansion has been observed. Japan Meteorological Agency has called for away from the crater more than 1 km. The agency asked for restricted access to the volcano to Biei and Kamifurano.

Also in this month the 12th, JMA has issued a warning to the Fukushima Prefecture Azumayama. In the Japanese archipelago, in addition to the south (Kyushu) and the center (Kanto), volcanic activity has been activated even north (Tohoku and Hokkaido).

Absence of the leading opposition party indicated by the landslide victory of the ruling party

December 15, a result of the general election have been finalized. The ruling party won two thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives. Abe has said, "Abe administration was able to get the confidence from the people" in an interview on television.

The ruling party won. However, this result does not necessarily mean the popularity of the Abe administration. Before the election, support rate of the Abe administration had declining. "Absence of the leading opposition party" has led to the ruling party victory.

Democratic Party was the ruling party until December 2012. However, their administration management was amateurish. They had been expected to solve the pension problem. But they could not present a drastic solution. Corresponding to the nuclear accident also was not appropriate. Democratic Party has lost the public trust. And, even now it has not been recovered. Seats in the Democratic Party has been a slight increase. However, party leader was defeated.

In this election, the Communist Party of Japan has expanded the power. The seats has been increased from 8 to 21. The rate of increase of seats was the best. Many of criticism vote against the ruling party went to the Communist Party. However, this does not mean that the proponents of the Communist Party of Japan has doubled. One of the reasons is the low voter turnout (about 52%). It was advantageous to the Communist Party that has the organization vote. Low turnout also shows the reality that criticism vote to ruling party has lost the place to go.

Ruling party		Seats	Percentage (%)
	Liberal Democratic Party	291	61
	Komeito	35	7
Opposition
	Democratic Party	73	15
	Party Restoration	41	9
	Communist Party	Twenty one	4
	Other	14	3
	Total	475	100