Reunion 1: Brussels

And finally we managed to organize our first meeting in Brussels!!!!


We choose Brussels because it is in the middle of Europe - so supposed to be for more or less the same distance for everybody. Plus several people from the group is living in the city so we could have expected some guidance in Brussels...just like Santarosan and Michiyosan did in Japan...
It was so great to see each other again: although almost half a year has passed since our great tour in Japan, when we met again, we felt as if we had been in country of the rising sun only yesterday. Or the last week maximum...

Group picture with the Atomium:


Berlaymont, the HQ of the European Union:


back to playing again: but who is the werewolf???


and some "kulinaristik" experience of the Belgian cuisine (no French fries please - we can only tolerate the chocolate beer):





.

Welcome!

Dear Visitor!

welcome to our photo blog about the the Study Tour of Japan 2008!
The idea with this blog was to give some impressions what a fantastic 2 weeks we spent in Japan without revealing all the surprises for the next study tour participants!

Hhope you enjoy these snapshots, and if you are interested in applying for the next Study Tours of Japan, please have a look on the webpage of the Japanese Embassy in your home country or in case you are working for the EU, on the webpage of the Mission of Japan to the EU!


With warm regards,
the 2008 participants



.

Best of the group

Santarosan and Michiyosan
Karaoke I.
Karaoke II.
We used all free time for sleeping :)
In search of the werewolves


The Tofu master

.

Group pictures

.

Famous sights of Japan

The Imperial palace (in Tokyo) - the Emperor's castle.
Some background information:
The Emperors have utmost importance for Japan. Let's see some interesting facts about it:
- the current Emperor is His Imperial Majesty of the Emperor Akihito who has been on the Throne since his father Hirohito died in 1989.
- the family of the Japanese emperors is the longest reigning family of the world with a history of more than 2000 (!!!) years. During this time, the lineage was never broken, there was always a male heir in the family despite wars, epidemics, etc (although in the old times one Emperor could have more wives, which helped in the children blessing).
- for most of the history in Japan, the Emperors had only symbolic roles. However, also several strong Emperors marked their sign in the Japanese history. Probably the most well-known is Emperor Meiji, who in 1868 toppled the samurai government (so-called Meiji Restoration) and lead the modernization of Japan - in order to avoid the fate of China and the other Asian countries [this story was the basis of the film "the last samurai"].
- Since always the same family reigned in Japan - they do not have a family name (!). You cannot say that for instance, Anjou, Hunyadi or Habsburg family, this had never had importance. Emperors are called on their own name.
- Even calculating the time starts with the reign of the Emperor. The current Emperor, Akihito is the 125th Emperor and acceded to throne in 1989. His Japanese name is Heisei, hence in 2008 we are in Heisei 20 according to Japanese calculation.

The Diet [Parliament] of Japan in Tokyo. Construction of the current Diet Building began in 1920 and was completed nearly 17 years later, in November 1936. The Diet consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives, or lower house, and the House of Councilors, or upper house - and well, as we heard from a presentation many heridetary MEPs in the Parliaments - if the father was a politician it is almost sure that the son will be as well.

Hiroshima dome - Peace Memorial. The Atomic Bomb Dome is a skeletal domed building in Hiroshima City which still stands to commemorate the dropping of the atomic bomb. The atomic bomb, dropped for the first time in history, exploded some 580 meters above Hiroshima City. However, because the force of the blast came from almost directly above, part of the walls of the building and the steel frames of the dome on top survived and remained standing in the center of the burnt-out city area - basically that is the only building that survived the bomb in this area of hiroshime. 

Therefore the damaged building was intentionally preserved in the state immediately after the bombing and eventually came to be called "Genbaku Dome (Atomic Bomb Dome)”, and is designated as the World Cultural Heritage as a symbol of the bombed city.  

Nijo-jo Castle, Kyoto. Nijo-jo was originally built in 1603 as the official Kyoto residence of the first Tokugawa Shogun, Ieyasu, the founder of Edo Government (Edo period (1603-1868)).

The ostentatious style of construction was intended as a demonstration of Ieyasu’ prestige and to signal the demise of the emperor’s power. 

Kinkaku-ji - Golden Temple. 

Kinkaku-ji, formally named Rokuon-ji, was originally a villa of the Saionji family on the hills of Kitayama. In 1397, it was offered to the third Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshimitsu, but after his death, the villa was converted into a Buddhist temple.

The Temple is known as an epitome of Kitayama Culture. The Golden Pavilion, a gilded three-storied reliquary hall, is situated at the margin of a large pond named Kyokochi Pond. It is a typical architecture of the Muromachi Period (1333-1573). 

The beautiful and luxurious aspect of the golden building is one of the most popular attractions in Kyoto not only among foreigners but also Japanese. 

Ginkaku-ji, the Temple of Silver Pavilion. 

Ginkaku-ji was built in 1482 originally to serve as a villa for the eighth Ashikaga Shogun, Yoshimasa, who took example from the golden Kinkaku-ji laid down by his grand father Yoshimitsu. Unlike Kinkaku-ji, which literally has golden appearance, though Ginkaku-ji, or “The temple of the Silver Pavilion”, is not covered in silver, it is called Ginkaku-ji in comparison with his grandfather’s one.

.

Temples and shrines

Tokyo - shrineThe Hiroshima shrine


Entrance to the Meiji shrine in Tokyo -

Around Ginkaku-ji, Kyoto :)



A giant Buddha statue

Kofuku-ji in Nara.

Located in Nara-koen Park, Kofuku-ji is a temple built in the early 8th century by the Fujiwara clan, a powerful family of the time. Basically they took the power and called them regents who reigned instead of the Emperor. The approximately 50-meter-high five-story pagoda of Kofuku-ji Temple is the second tallest old tower in Japan, after the pagoda of To-ji Temple in Kyoto City. The pagoda is the landmark of the ancient capital, Nara and has been registered as a national treasure.

Todai-ji Temple, Nara.

Uneco Cultural Heritage it was built in 728, but was burned down and was rebuilt in the 9th century. they have rebuilt approx. 2/3 of the original size, still it is world's largest wooden building - and has been saved since then (!!).

Horyu-ji, Nara.

This beautiful temple is also a Unesco World Heritage. The temple was originally commissioned by Prince Shotoku; the almost mythical person who brought buddhism to Japan around the end of 6th century.

.

History of Japan

I was so impressed how similar was Japanese history to the European one. I think from the history of any country, Japan has the most similar one from the 5th cebtury.

Their culture is based on local culture heavily inspired by the Chinese influence - starting to develop from the 5th-6th century.

Europe: from the 5th century the (franc, goth, vandal, etc) tribes brought their own culture, but it was heavily influenced by the Roman culture (religion, laws, etc etc).

In the next phase, Japan (similarly to Europa) also progressed to feudalism (!) with many small warlords (samurais) and peasants who were not allowed to move, experienced massive (civil) wars, and tried to make wars on neighbouring countries (eg Korea).

However, the story becomes different from the 16th century. For Europe, the era of large discoveries, ongoing wars, etc provided a strong incentive to progress to the next phase of development, the capitalism. in Japan, there was no such incentive: the country was unified in the early 17th century, China was too weak to menace Japan, European were more interested in China and America, and Japan decided to isolate itself from the outside world (no discoveries). Hence Japan further developed peacefully its feudalism in the next century.

However, in the 19th century it turned out that Japan lags behind the rest of the world and will nto be able to protect itself, and with the lead of the Emperor (Meiji restoration, 1868) started a strong modernization program to catch up. Well, it was quite successful: in 1905 it defeated heavily Russia - first time in the modern times when a European power was defeated by a non-European one. 

Here is a famous warrior from the 14th century:

.

Japanese Gardens

According to the guide, Japanese gardens can be divided into 3 types:

- dry landscape gardens

- tea gardens and

- landscape gardens.

We  have seen many beautiful gardens for all types.

Let's see first a tea garden that we have seen at the tea house. These gardens are used for tea ceremonies. There is usually a tea house where the ceremonies occur, and the styles of both the hut and garden are based off the simple concepts of the sado (Japan Guide). Usually, there are stepping stones leading to the tea house, stone lanterns, and stone basins (tsukubai) where guests purify themselves before a ceremony(Japan Guide).

Landscape gardens in the Nijo-jo Castle. These gardens often try to copy famous landscapes.Ponds, streams, hills, stones, trees, flowers, bridges, and paths are also used frequently in this style (Japan Guide).

And finally let's see the famous dry landscape gardens from Ryoan-ji. The "dry landscape” gardens were influenced mainly by Zen Buddhism and can be found at Zen temples of meditation (Japan Guide). Unlike other traditional gardens, there is no water presents in Karesansui gardens. However, there is raked gravel or sand that simulates the feeling of water.

Well - and strictly speaking do not belong to this garden topic, but here are some lotus flowers - well. yes, not in a blossoming period..[place: Tokyo, outside the Imperial Palace]

.

Japanese traditions

The Kabuki theater.

Kabuki has been developed for about 400 years into an entertainment which agrees with the taste of the present-day spectator, without loosing its uniqueness as a traditional culture of Japan. The Kabuki-za Theater, opened in 1889, is now the most popular stage to perform Kabuki. it is a kind of theatre, but very specific. all roles are played by men, and they even have very strange voice to speak....

The stories of the theater plays were very interesting to see what are the roots of the Japanese myths..


Tea ceremony
Respect to the tea master

Taiko drum concert

This amateur group, Nagisa Taiko, has been performing Taiko (Japanese traditional drum) since 1990. The group began with just a few members. However, it has grown to the present size thanks to the support of the citizens of Nagisa New Town where the group members reside. The devotion of the group to this musical form has earned them the respect of the local townspeople and they have been invited to participate in many events, including the concert tour to NY to take part in a memorial ceremony of 9.11.


Kimonos

Sleeping in a Ryokan.

A Ryokan embodies the very essence of Japan and is surely the accommodation of choice if you wish to experience the uniqueness of Japan – the architecture, lifestyle, tradition and culture. Staying at a Ryokan offers a splendid opportunity to familiarize yourself with the spirit of Japanese hospitality and graceful customs that have been passed down over generations.

In a Ryokan you can experience the elements of Japanese culture and customs: living in a room with Tatami(straw mat) flooring, changing into Yukata(robe like Kimono) after taking Onsen(hot-spring bath), sleeping on a Futon(bedding) put down directly on the Tatami and so on.

Geishas


Rickshaw

.