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In 2007, we did a four week trip to China in October
followed by a two week trip to Japan at the beginning of November. It
was interesting to compare the two cultures so close together and we'll do the same on this web site by having both countries
at the same time. We
started out in Osaka and in this first installment we make it to Ise.
You can contact Rex or Barbara at
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Located at the mouth of the Yodo
River on Osaka Bay, Osaka is the third largest city by population (2,688,133 people) after Tokyo and Yokohama.
Osaka used to be referred to as the "nation's kitchen"in feudal Edo period because it was the centre of trading
for rice, creating the first modern future exchange market in the world. We visited Osaka Castle, built in 1583, destroyed
in 1868, and rebuilt in 1931. The castle played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century.
Osaka Castle is situated on a plot of land roughly one kilometer square. Today it is a popular spot during festival
seasons and we got to enjoy the chrysanthemum festival.
We also went to the Bunraku Theater, a form of traditional Japanese puppet theater, founded in Osaka in 1684.
Three kinds of performers take part in a bunraku performance: puppeteers, chanters, and Shamisen players.
Occasionally other instruments such as taiko drums will be used. The main puppeteer, the omozukai, uses
his or her right hand to control the right hand of the puppet. The left puppeteer, known as the hidarizukai or sashizukai,
depending of the tradition of the troupe, manipulates the left hand of the puppet with his or her own right hand by means
of a control rod that extends back from the elbow of the puppet. A third puppeteer, the ashizukai, operates the feet
and legs. Puppeteers begin their training by operating the feet, then move onto the left hand, before being able to train
as the main puppeteer. This process can take 30 years to progress.
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Our next stop was
the Ise Grand Shrine, a Shinto shrine dedicated to goddess Amaterasu-omikami. It's located in the city of Ise and
is officially known simply as Jingu. It's comprised of a large number of Shinto shrines that are located on the site
and in the nearby region. Jingu is arguably one of Shinto's holiest and most important sites. and Japanese try to make
a pilgrimage here at least once in their life. The high priest or priestess of Ise Shrine must come from the Japanes
imperial family and is responsible for watching over the Shrine.
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CONTENTS COPYRIGHT 2015 © BARBARA BENTLEY