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Very loud bang.72 views
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Hakone geisha on rickshaw72 views
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Irwin's decorative saber.72 views
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The old Biwako Shuko no Uta Shiryokan (Lake Biwa Rowing Song Museum), dedicated to the Lake Biwa Rowing Song, Shiga's most famous song. 琵琶湖周航の歌資料館 MAP72 viewsThis old museum closed in March 2020, and moved to the Imazu-Higashi Community Center on April 1, 2020. Museum photos on this page show the old museum.
Photos of the new museum is here: https://shiga-ken.com/blog/2022/01/lake-biwa-rowing-song-museum/
In June 1917, a song called Biwako Shuko no Uta (Lake Biwa Rowing Song) was composed by college student Taro Oguchi during a boat rowing trip around Lake Biwa. He was a member of the rowing club at Dai-san High School (now Kyoto University). He composed it in Imazu, Shiga Prefecture during the second night of the trip.
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Near the shrine are potted flowers for sale.72 views
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Uchibori moat72 views
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Photo of the original Hommaru Palace before it was destroyed during World War II.72 views
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Elegant roof line72 views
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Thin pieces of wood are stacked on the roof.72 views
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Corridor between the smaller tower and main tower.72 views
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About the Palanquin for ladies72 views
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Behind the castle tower is this large woodshop where they cut and shape the wood for the palace.72 views
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Inside the woodshop, curved wooden beams for the palace.72 views
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Way back to East Entrance with a wisteria trellis on the right.72 views
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Judo72 views
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The sumo rikishi were from a college sumo club. I was hoping a Makunouchi wrestler would appear.72 views
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Kendo72 views
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Bon Dance Panel 8 - Iwakuni Ondo Aiko Kai and James Kunichika72 viewsIn the 1920s, an Iwakuni Ondo group was formed. They obtained a taiko drum and other implements and started practicing for public performances. Such a group played an important part in having the Iwakuni Ondo survive in Hawai’i.
In 1951, popular Honolulu bon dance singer James Kunichika (1915–2012) formed the Iwakuni Odori Aiko Kai fan club together with taiko drummer Goichi Fukunaga. (Kunichika was born on Kauai and moved to Honolulu. Iwakuni was his mother's hometown.) At the time, it was Oahu's only official fan club for the Iwakuni Ondo. It was composed only of Yamaguchi Prefecture immigrant descendants. From the 1980s, their membership increased dramatically. By 2000, they had over 200 members. The Honolulu mayor and Lieutenant Governor at the time were also members.
The Iwakuni Ondo's lead singer has to memorize long Japanese lyrics lasting 10 to 15 min. So it was important to train the younger generations. By the mid-1990s, Japanese-speaking nikkei in Hawai’i were almost gone and Kunichika was practically the only bon dance lead singer on Oahu who could sing in Japanese.
Kunichika made efforts to train the non-Japanese-speaking sansei as successor singers. He also worked hard to perpetuate and sustain the Iwakuni Ondo on the neighbor islands.
For his efforts and accomplishments, he received numerous awards including the Living Treasure Award from the Honpa Hongwanji Mission of Hawai’i and the 2003 Pan-Pacific Festival Silversword Award.
Panel photos: Top is Iwakuni Ondo Aikokai soon after it was formed. Bottom is Kunichika (second from left) at home teaching Iwakuni Ondo to a few younger people.
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Places on Kauai that hold a bon dance.72 views
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Tenugui hand towels often worn or used by bon dancers.72 views
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JR Sodegaura Station. By bus it takes 45 min. or longer to get to the German Village.72 views
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Video of Jamie and Megan Thompson singing "Lake Biwa Rowing Song" at Spo-Rec Shiga on Oct. 18, 2008 at Kibogaoka Park in Yasu, Shiga Prefecture.72 viewsThe performance was part of the side entertainment on the opening day of the sports festival. The MC is Chiho Ono, radio personality at e-radio (FM Shiga) which organized this stage entertainment.
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Inside the Tahoto is this altar for Dainichi Nyorai. 大日如来72 views
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Statue of Lady Murasaki writing Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari).72 views
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Retro style building on the way to the shrine.72 views
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Map of Izumo Taisha Shrine. Not as huge as Ise Jingu, but large enough.72 views
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The large roof of the Honden Hall (god's residence) can be seen in the center.72 views
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Lots of construction going on in jan. 2018.72 views
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Izumo Taisha's Kaguraden.72 views
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The museum's centerpiece exhibit is this scale model of Izumo Taisha's Honden Hall from the 10th-century Heian Period. 72 views
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High wooden pillars supporting the Honden Hall so that it is closer to the gods.72 views
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It is unknown exactly what Izumo Taisha's Honden Hall looked like during the 13th century Kamakura Period. Based on the evidence they could find, five researchers built their own scale models of what they thought the Honden Hall looked like.72 views
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Rear view of the shrine scale models.72 views
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Iwami kagura dance costumes72 views
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About the Izumo no Okuni dancer. Quite a mysterious historical figure.72 views
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Daibutsu Great Buddha, Kamakura72 views
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Priests throw wooden goma prayer tablets (written with people's wishes) into the fire.72 views
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Tokyo Tower with koinobori carp streamers in early May.72 views
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Posing with court ladies called Nyoju (女嬬) who serve in the inner palace (後宮) and take care of the Saio princess' daily living.72 views
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Posing with court ladies called the Uneme (釆女) chosen from an aristocratic family and who was in charge of food and drink.72 views
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Mt. Io is Kawayu Onsen's hot spring source. It was also a sulphur mine from 1877 to 1896. At the time, sulphur was widely used in cigarette matches and gunpowder. 72 views
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Boat dock71 viewsFirst we all donned orange life jackets.
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Tree growing on solid rock71 views
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Nagahama City Hall, Nishi-Azai Branch. An incredibly large and beautiful town hall for a small town (Later merged with Nagahama.)71 views
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View from Nishinomaru71 views
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Starting line71 views
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Turn-around point for another lap.71 views
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PIE 2006 ticket booth71 views
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Cherry blossom ceiling71 views
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Kyodai's 4-man crew try to keep up71 views
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Mikoshi portable shrine71 views
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Shakunage or rhododendron71 views
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Hinokawa Dam Park 日野川ダム公園71 viewsThe dam is right behind the castle ruins. These pictures were taken in early May when flowers were in bloom.
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Rice paddies near the castle71 views
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Hino Station on the Ohmi Tetsudo railway before the building was renovated in 2019. On the right was the tourist info office. 近江鉄道 日野駅71 views
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Shingyo-in Temple belongs to the Jodo-shu Buddhist Sect. It was the Gamou clan's family temple. 信楽院71 views
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Unkoji Temple, famous for satsuki azaleas. 雲迎寺（さつき寺）71 views
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Toda Park fence71 views
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Bridge to Yabase71 views
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Aoi-ren71 views
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Lantern71 views
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Gosha Shrine torii71 views
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Pile of straw to be lit. The fire is used to light all the torches.71 views
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Inside old Nagahama Station71 views
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Old train on Hokuriku Line.71 views
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Waiting room for 1st-class passengers71 views
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Toriimoto-juku is the sixty-third of the sixty-nine stations or shukuba post towns on the Nakasendo Road. It is the fourth Nakasendo station in Shiga (following Bamba-juku in Maibara), and one of ten Nakasendo stations in Shiga.71 views
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Omi-Shiotsu Station platform JR近江塩津駅71 views
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Daitsuji temple Hondo main hall and belfry71 views
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Daitsuji temple Hondo main hall 大通寺本堂71 views
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Large Hall 大広間. This is also one location where the film Idai Naru, Shurararabon (偉大なる、しゅららぼん The Great Shu Ra Ra Boom) was filmed. The sleepover scene.71 views
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Seta Castle garden71 views
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Seta Castle site71 views
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Hondo 本堂 地蔵堂71 views
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Tehara Station on the JR Kustatsu Line. 手原駅 MAP71 views
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Ohmi Railways Gokasho Station building as seen from the train platform.71 views
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Ohmi Railways Gokasho Station train platform.71 views
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Old Sprite sign71 views
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Corridor to rooms and garden.71 views
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Main guest room71 views
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Exterior view71 views
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Entrance to Itoh Chube'e Memorial House71 views
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View from station window. The area in front of the station is now lined with shops like Heiwado department store.71 views
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Hinohara Village Office has a coffee shop.71 views
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Winter-flowering cherry blossoms 寒桜71 views
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Ume plum blossoms71 views
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Sando path to temple from train station. 参道71 views
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Atsumi Kiyoshi who seems to have been born to play Tora-san. (Atsumi never seemed to age even after over 20 years in the role. Tora-san's carefree, happy-go-lucky lifestyle also appeals to many. Photo: Sculpture of Tora-san's famous hat and bag.71 views
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Kuruma-ya dumpling shop71 views
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Tora-san's passport71 views
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JR Kameari Station police box71 views
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Top of Mt. Hinode-yama71 views
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Log bridge71 views
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Kobo Daishi statue71 views
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Blowing a conch shell. One of the signals of battle.71 views
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View of the city71 views
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A suspension bridge over the river.71 views
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View from the observation deck71 views
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When I was walking here, I did not know there was a waterfall.71 views
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An observation deck is also provided.71 views
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Verse 4 photos (Chikubushima)71 views
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Edo-Tokyo Museum71 views
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Tatsunami-beya sumo stable.71 views
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Crossing the street.71 views
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Iwasaki Yataro, the founder of the Mitsubishi Zaibatsu, acquired the estate in 1878 and developed the garden with a pond and famous stones brought from all over Japan.71 views
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Irises71 views
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Third panel explaining Verses 5 and 6.71 views
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Hanging on to the strings...71 views
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Pit for offering white stones71 views
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Tied bamboo intersections. The rod-like bamboo are supported by larger pieces of bamboo.71 views
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Getting a free ride were these girls heading for Sugaura, a small town on the northern shore of Lake Biwa.71 views
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The bamboo grid was temporarily fixed with weights and some tape.71 views
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Main shrine hall71 views
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Kuhio Beach Torch Lighting & Hula Show71 views
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Swan71 views
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Inside Takaoka Station passage71 views
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Side of Kannon-do main worship hall and autumn leaves71 views
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Room with a irori hearth 茶の間71 views
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Haiden hall 拝殿71 views
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Almost departure time71 views
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Main stone of Yokozuna Rikishi Monument is inscribed with "Yokozuna Rikishi-hi" (横綱力士碑) which means Yokozuna Monument.71 views
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The right stone shows Yokozuna Jimmaku Kyugoro.71 views
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Names of yokozuna inscribed on the back of the centerpiece stone.71 views
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Mt. Mikami71 views
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Although the park is designed like a castle grounds with a castle wall and moat, it is not the site of any former castle.71 views
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The shrine has ties to Prince Shotoku Taishi who hid here from an enemy during a war. In appreciation, he donated rice paddies to the shrine.71 views
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Site of the Waki Honjin, used as a secondary Honjin when the Honjin was already occupied. If two daimyo lords were staying in town at the same time, the higher-ranked lord would stay at the Honjin. 脇本陣71 views
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Model of a Toiya-ba which was like a travel logistics office and lodging reservations agency. Staffed by one or more people, it handled horses, messengers, luggage, helpers, etc.71 views
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A toiya-ba staff person keeps records. He might have assigned luggage to fresh horses, gave work to pack-horse pullers, and received arriving travelers and luggage.71 views
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Inside Tokaido Tenmakan Museum. The first floor has a large display case showing a model of Tsuchiyama-juku.71 views
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Tokaido Road at Matsuo-zaka Slope. Travelers from Kyoto might have stood here gazing at the difficult Suzuka Mountains ahead. "It's sunny here, but cloudy at Suzuka. In-between, it's raining in Tsuchiyama." The origin of Suzuka Mago-uta?71 views
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All the dolls have different faces. Some of them are even smiling. They are probably happy to have arrived in Tsuchiyama. They must be tired after climbing the Suzuka mountains.71 views
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The music was a mixture of taiko drums, flutes, and a gong. They performed for about 30 min. 国指定無形文化財71 views
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Gate of the Honjin, the town's most exclusive lodge. The Honjin is gone, and only the gate remains.71 views
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"Ai no Tsuchiyama" is a phrase you will see most often. But no one knows for sure what it means. There are numerous theories. "Ai" could mean "in-between," "love," "koi fish," or "soon"...71 viewsPhoto of a display panel at the Tsuchiyama Tokaido Tenmakan Museum.
Entire lyrics of Suzuka Mago-uta song in Japanese:
○坂は照る照る 鈴鹿は曇る あいの土山 雨が降る
○馬がもの言うた 鈴鹿の坂で お参宮上﨟（おさん女郎）なら 乗しょと言うた
○坂の下では 大竹小竹 宿がとりたや 小竹屋に
○手綱片手の 浮雲ぐらし 馬の鼻唄 通り雨
○与作思えば 照る日も曇る 関の小万の 涙雨
○関の小万が 亀山通い 月に雪駄が 二十五足
○関の小万の 米かす音は 一里聞こえて 二里ひびく
○馬は戻（い）んだに お主は見えぬ 関の小万が とめたやら
○昔恋しい 鈴鹿を越えりゃ 関の小万の 声がする
○お伊勢七度 おたがわ八度 関の地蔵は 月参り
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Ema tablet71 views
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The stone marker on the right indicates where Emperor Meiji was when he visited here.71 views
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Samegai Museum in a former toiya-ba. 米原市醒井宿資料館 醒井宿問屋場（旧川口家住宅）71 views
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Jizogawa River was also noted for a freshwater fish called hariyo or stickleback. However, researchers have found that the hariyo seems to have become extinct here by May 2010.71 views
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Flute players71 views
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Damudan-ren has an easily-recognizable kimono design pattern. だむだん連71 views
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Finish line.71 views
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Fixed-seat boat race.71 views
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Hokkoku Kaido Road71 views
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How bamboo ribs for Japanese folding fans are made.71 views
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Monument for Adogawa's 300-year fan production.71 views
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The Kichijoji Autumn Festival is held annually in Sept. Around ten mikoshi portable shrines are paraded around the streets, mainly on the north side of Kichijoji Station.71 views
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On the first day, Sept. 13, 2008 (Sat.), there is a parade starting from Musashino Hachimangu Shrine at 11 am. It goes down toward the train station. Then later, all the portable shrines around around their own areas.71 views
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PR booth for Sento-kun and Nara.71 views
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Hiko-nyan did not walk around the road. He only appeared on stage as an "escort" for the mascots being introduced every 15 min. all day.71 views
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Mt. Ibuki's summit is easily accessible via this Ibukiyama Driveway toll road (3,000 yen for passenger cars) from Sekigahara, Gifu Pref. This road opened in 1965 and is open to traffic during April to Nov.71 views
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シシウド71 views
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Mt. Ibuki as seen from Hikone.71 views
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Tokyo Apache merchandise sold in the lobby. Named after the American Indian tribe, the team was established in June 2004 and was one of the inaugural teams of the bj league in Nov. 2005.71 views
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John flies up again.71 views
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Otsu Port and this area is reclaimed land.71 views
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Ogawa Shinya goes for a three-pointer.71 views
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On stage, the oni was rained upon with paper streamers.71 views
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The paper streamers seemed like demon repellant. 71 views
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Next, were 124 bean throwers who were born in the year of the bull. They wore a red cap.71 views
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There are three classes of spectator seats. At the bottom is open-air seating. Pay 500 yen for the glass-enclosed seating above, and a higher fee for suite rooms higher up.71 views
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Betting ticket counters inside the cycling stadium.71 views
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And they're off.71 views
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Two cyclists apparently collided and took a spill.71 views
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Wooden bathtub71 views
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Photo of an unusual ax.71 views
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Jun Iwasa71 views
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