Nipponcraft.com

Nipponcraft.com Japanese Traditional Craft & Art Shop - Nipponcraft.com All crafts are handmade by artisans in Japan. Please enjoy the craftsmanship. Thank you!

Tokyo based online gift shop providing Japanese traditional crafts such as noren curtains, tenugui hand towels, furoshiki wrapping cloth, origami papers, and so on. We help foreign customers reach Japanese traditional items easily. We try to make our web site easy to use and easy to understand. If you are looking for Japanese oriental tastes, our gift-shop is a good choice.

Three years after the pandemic, the bonsai free market was finally held in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture during the ‘Golden ...
08/05/2022

Three years after the pandemic, the bonsai free market was finally held in Omiya, Saitama Prefecture during the ‘Golden Week’ holidays in May. Some bonsai were for sale from 30.000JPY (US$230) to 200.000JPY (US$1.538). Very expensive! Not only expensive but you need to have a technique to nurture a bonsai. Elderly persons used to spend free time on nurturing bonsai, but now it is recognized as an art for younger people.
皆さん、こんにちは!ゴールデンウィークは如何がお過ごしでしたか?私は、大宮で開催された盆栽市(ぼんさい・いち:bonsai free market)へ行って来ました。盆栽は買いませんでしたけど、ちょっとどんな感じか見に行って来ました(just to take a look around)。盆栽は、松(まつ:pine tree)か楓(かえで:maple tree)が多いみたい(みたい:looks like)です。盆栽を育てるには手がかかる(lots of care)みたいですよ。盆栽は結構値段が張る(ねだんがはる:very expensive)みたいですけど、時間とお金に余裕があれば(can afford)挑戦(ちょうせん:challenge)してみては如何がでしょうか?

Through the Sakura season in Japan, we are curious about how much flowers are blooming. The levels we often say are 10%,...
03/04/2022

Through the Sakura season in Japan, we are curious about how much flowers are blooming. The levels we often say are 10%, 30%, 50%, and full bloom (80 – 100%). After the full bloom, flowers are starting to fall and after the few moments, the green leaves are coming out, when we recognize that the Sakura season is over. The duration from 10% to 50% is a bit long, but after the 50% it is very quick up to 100%., whose duration may be two or three days. You can only expect 100% for one or two days! The Sakura is ephemeral. Like the Sakura flower, an outcome by a short period and with one’s best effort and then fade-away is one way of living.

皆さん、こんにちは。日本では桜の開花のレベルを、咲き始め、三分(さんぶ)咲き、五分(ごぶ)咲き、満開と言います。満開の後、桜はすぐ散り始めてしまいます。桜の花が風に吹かれて散って行く様子は、桜吹雪(ふぶき: snowstorm)と言ったりします。そして花がどんどん散って行くと、葉桜(はざくら)と言って葉っぱが沢山出てきた状態(じょうたい:state/condition)になってしまいます。葉桜になるともう桜の季節は終わりです。
ところで、「パッと咲いてパッと散る。」と言う表現は知っていますか?これは桜の花の様に、短命だったけど充実した期間や人生だったということを言う時に使う言葉です。それでは、また(=See you)。

Hello, everyone! Spring is coming! Now in Japan, it is the Ume (plum flower) season. I took the photos around Goutoku-ji...
18/03/2022

Hello, everyone! Spring is coming! Now in Japan, it is the Ume (plum flower) season. I took the photos around Goutoku-ji (豪徳寺) temple, which is known for the birthplace of Maneki-Neko or lucky cats legend. People buy Maneki-Neko dolls for wishing, and when the wish comes true, they return the dolls to the temple.
After the Ume, Sakura season follows. We are looking forward to it!

皆さん、こんにちは!もうすぐ春ですね。日本では今、梅の季節です。梅は甘酸っぱい(あますっぱい:sweet and sour)香りがします。
梅は6月には実(み:fruit)になって、梅干しとか梅酒とかに使われます。皆さんは日本へ来られて梅干しを食べたことがありますか?すごく酸っぱいですよね。でも、体には良いそうです。
私はこれらの写真を豪徳寺(ごうとくじ)界隈(かいわい:around)で撮影しました。豪徳寺は招き猫の発祥(はっしょう:origin)として知られています。このお寺で招き猫を買って、願いごとが叶ったら(when your wish comes true)、また招き猫をこのお寺へ持って来て返納(へんのう:return/bring back)するそうです。でも、多くの人は願い事が叶わなくとも、とりあえず古くなった招き猫を持って来ているのかも知れません。そしてまた新しい招き猫を買っているのかも知れません。
それでは、次は桜の季節にお会いしましょう。

2022 A Happy New Year!Today, I am writing an article about the old school in Mito City (水戸市), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県). ...
03/01/2022

2022 A Happy New Year!
Today, I am writing an article about the old school in Mito City (水戸市), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県). This school was established in 1841 by the samurai who ruled the region. The school is called “KOUDOUKAN”. All floors in the school are covered by “Tatami” mats and the students at that time needed to take off their shoes to get into. Just as the houses in Japan! When receiving lectures, the students seemed to place small tables in front or put a small wooden board on their knees or reading and writing. The samurais and their children (the establishment) learnt at the school.
I hope you will enjoy the photos. See you again!

明けましておめでとうございます!
ここは、水戸市にある「こうどうかん(弘道館)」という古い学校です。1841年に建てられたそうです。至るところ(all over the place)、畳が敷かれていて、家みたいですね。この学校は、お城(おしろ:castle)の横にあって、お城の周りには深い堀(ほり:moat)がありました。今は、堀があったところに電車が走っています。(a railway train runs)
学校の庭には、梅とか桜とかが植えられていて、春になると沢山の花が咲いて綺麗(きれい:beautiful)になるでしょう。(でしょう:future tense “will”, “going to be”)
それでは、皆さん、お元気で!

Mae-Zawa Village, Fukushima Prefecture – In the late 1600’s, a man migrated to this remote area after his master was def...
08/11/2021

Mae-Zawa Village, Fukushima Prefecture – In the late 1600’s, a man migrated to this remote area after his master was defeated by a civil war and lost his land. This site was good for hiding from the opposition as it was perfectly enclosed by mountains and divided by the small river running in front.
Now this area is protected from any developments under a law to preserve the olden times scenery. Still now, people live in the village, but all of them are retired from agriculture.
Approx. 26 km winding mountain road drive from a major way.
By the way, in the last picture, the lyric on the scroll reads something like “Refreshing water sprung from the mountain and river, the autumn-colored village Maezawa”.
I hope you enjoy the photos!

皆さん、こんにちは。ここは、福島県の会津地方にある「前沢集落」という場所です。元々は、1590年頃に、戦国時代(せんごく・じだい: age of civil war)負けた城主(じょうしゅ:lord of a castle)の家人(かじん:retainer)が開村(かいそん:constructed the village)しました。
今は紅葉の季節で、山が綺麗(きれい)ですね。写真を撮った後は、目の前(めのまえ:
in front)を流れる川の音を聞きながら、お蕎麦を食べました。
ところで、よく思うんですけど(I often think)、写真を撮る時、電線が邪魔(じゃま:nuisance)ですね。日本はどんな辺鄙(へんぴ:remote)な場所でも電気が通っていて便利な反面、電線は景観を損ねます(ruins (spoils) the scenery)。
それでは、お元気で。See you.

Kappa folklore around Ushiku Lake (牛久沼), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県) – A kappa is a creature living in a lake and river. It...
29/09/2021

Kappa folklore around Ushiku Lake (牛久沼), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県) – A kappa is a creature living in a lake and river. It is like a mixture of a human, turtle and frog. A kappa is dangerous, as it takes people down to the bottom of the lake and river and will drown them. A kappa is naughty, as it surprise people suddenly and occasionally it drinks a lot. A kappa is very strong and you cannot defeat it. Please do not swim around the dangerous lake and stay away.
In olden times on a sunny day, a strong young man tried to get rid of a kappa from the lake. He looked for it and found it having a nap near the lake. He fought with it and tied it up to a pine tree. However, the kappa apologized many many times, so the young man forgave the kappa and let it go. Since then, no one in the village drowned in the lake.
河童(かっぱ)伝説(でんせつ)。こんにちは。皆さん、河童ってご存知(ご:polite suffix,ぞんじ:know)ですか?河童は、湖や川に住む伝説の生き物で、きゅうり(cucumber)が大好物(だいこうぶつ:favorite)です。お寿司で、きゅうりの海苔巻(のりまき)を「カッパ巻」と呼ぶのは、この伝説から来ています。河童はかわいい生き物というイメージもありますが、本当は怖いらしいですよ。河童に捕まると(つかまると:if being caught)、川底まで連れていかれてしまって(sentence break down:連れて・いかれて・しまって)、溺れちゃうらしいですよ。皆さん、気を付けましょうね。
河童は、日本全国(にほんぜんこく:all over Japan)にいますが、ここ茨城県・牛久沼のが(のが:the one of, at ~)有名です。晴れた日に散歩に行ってみて下さい。きっと、河童が湖畔(こはん:lakeside)で昼寝しているかも知れません。

Hello everyone! Ajisai (hydrangea) season now in Japan. I took these photos in so-called “Ajisai Temple” in Itako (潮来), ...
14/06/2021

Hello everyone!
Ajisai (hydrangea) season now in Japan.
I took these photos in so-called “Ajisai Temple” in Itako (潮来), Ibaraki Prefecture (茨城県). Various types of hydrangea are nurturing along a pathway beside rice fields. Let me say that the combination of rice fields and hydrangea is a typical Japanese countryside scenery. I hope you enjoy the photos! Arigatou.

皆さん、こんにちは。ここは、茨城県 潮来市にある「あじさい寺」という場所(ばしょ:place)です。田んぼの側(そば:close to)にあじさいが咲いていてきれいですね。ゆっくり見て回ると(to fully enjoy strolling)、一時間くらいかかります。今の季節は暑いので、帽子と水筒(すいとう:water bottle)は忘れずに持って行きましょう。あじさいは、日本では身近な(みぢかな:familiar, often seen)花なので、皆さんも街(まち: street, town)の中で見つけてみて下さい。

Mitsuike Park, Yokohama – I would like to share the photos of 2021 sakura. We can enjoy the sakura by walking around the...
29/03/2021

Mitsuike Park, Yokohama – I would like to share the photos of 2021 sakura. We can enjoy the sakura by walking around the reservoir. Year to year, the sakura season are getting early. This year, almost 2 weeks earlier than usual. Maybe from the global warming? The last weekend was the best timing around Tokyo and Yokohama, but the sakura seasons in mountains and northern parts are coming in April.
By the way, I would say that Yokohama is a better place to live for foreigners than Tokyo. Yokohama is liberal, and has lots more space and parks. I saw many foreigners’ families enjoying in the park.
皆さん、こんにちは。いよいよ桜の季節がやって来ました。桜の開花時期は毎年早くなってきています。地球温暖化(ちきゅうおんだんか:global warming)の影響でしょうか?ここは、横浜市にある三ツ池公園です。鶴見駅からバスで行けます。池の周りに沢山の桜があって、沢山の人が花見に来ていました。太陽の日を浴びながら花見をすると、健康増進(けんこうぞうしん:Health Promotion)になりそうですね。それでは、皆さんもコロナに気を付けて桜を楽しんで下さい。

Ume (Plum) flower garden up on a hill – The “Ume” flowers are blooming gradually in the still cold climate. When I visit...
25/02/2021

Ume (Plum) flower garden up on a hill – The “Ume” flowers are blooming gradually in the still cold climate. When I visited there, it was a little warmer though. Most of the flowers are off-white, but some are pink to dark-red. Fresh mountain air, lots of sunshine! This garden is located close to “Shikishima” athletic park in Kai City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
皆さん、こんにちは。(Note:「こんにちわ」is written by「こんにちは」)2月の下旬(げじゅん:end of)から3月の上旬(じょうじゅん:beginning of)は、梅の季節(きせつ:season)です。梅は、まだ寒いのに少しずつ咲き始めます(blooming)。そして、桜が咲くらい暖かくなると(warm enough for the sakura blooming)、散ってしまいます(will fall)。梅の花は、甘酸っぱい(あまずっぱい: sweet and sour)匂い(におい:scent)がします。晴れた日は、早起き(はやおき:get up early)して梅の花を見に来ましょう。きっといいことがあるかもね。
ここは、山梨県の甲斐(かい)市にある「梅の里(さと)」という場所(ばしょ:location)です。山々(やまやま:many mountains)に囲まれ(かこまれて:surrounded by)ていて、遠くに富士山も見えて、いいところです。機会(きかい:chance or time)があれば行ってみては如何でしょうか(いかがでしょうか:how about going to)。ではまた(see you!)。

A Happy New Year !The first three days of a new year are called “O-shougatsu” (お正月) or “Sanganichi” (三が日) and are specia...
04/01/2021

A Happy New Year !
The first three days of a new year are called “O-shougatsu” (お正月) or “Sanganichi” (三が日) and are special holidays in Japan. Here in Choshi (銚子) fishing port in Chiba Prefecture (千葉県), the fishing boats are having holidays as well and celebrate O-shougatsu with raising “Tairyō-bata” (大漁旗) flags. The colorful uniquely designed flags are used to be flown to show the big catch of fish when fishing boats are returning to a port. Today, the flags are more for decorations.
By the way, Japanese boats are “Maru” (丸) ships – boats names are suffixed with “Maru” (丸) as shown in the photos. This custom dates back more than 1,000 years. The character 丸 means a circle or round, but nobody can exactly explain how 丸 started with a boat naming.

明けましておめでとうございます!
皆さんはお正月をどの様に過ごしましたか? (過(す)ごす:spend) 私は、千葉県の銚子漁港(ぎょこう:fishing port)まで行って、大漁旗を掲げている(掲(か)げる:raise/display)漁船(ぎょせん:fishing boats)の写真を撮って来ました。銚子では、船に大漁旗を飾って(飾(か)ざる:decorate)、お正月をお祝いします。(祝(いわ)う:celebrate)ところで、日本の船の名前には、「丸」という文字が付いているのをご存知(ぞんじ:know)ですか?正確(せいかく:exact)な由来(ゆらい:origin/derivation)はわかりませんが、1,000年以上も前からだそうです。不思議(ふしぎ:mysterious)ですね。

Mt. Fuji and autumn color - views from the lakeside of Kawaguchiko (河口湖), Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県). Mt. Fuji reflected...
17/11/2020

Mt. Fuji and autumn color - views from the lakeside of Kawaguchiko (河口湖), Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県).
Mt. Fuji reflected the morning sun light and looked red. It was chilly in the early morning but it got warmer in the daytime. Maple leaves were red and beautiful. Probably, the big difference in temperature makes the autumn colors more beautiful. I hope you enjoy the photos!

日本は紅葉(こうよう: autumn color)の季節です。この写真は、河口湖の湖畔(こはん:lakeside)で撮りました。朝の富士山は、朝日を反射(はんしゃ:reflect)して赤く見えますね。朝は寒かったのですが、昼ごろには暖かくなりました。紅葉はあざやかに赤く染まり(そまり:became red color)、すごくきれいでした。多分、寒暖の差(かんだんのさ: big difference in temperature)で、きれいな紅葉になるのだと思います。皆さんも機会があれば、紅葉を見に行ってみて下さい。

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