 Most viewed - NAGANO 長野県 |
Oguchi Taro Statue and Biwako Shuko no Uta Song Monument. On the shore of Lake Suwa, Okaya, Nagano. 歌碑と小口太郎銅像670 viewsThis was where I first heard the song, "Biwako Shuko no Uta." In May 2004, I was in Suwa, Nagano Pref. to see and photograph the Onbashira Festival (held every 6 years). My hotel was in the neighboring city of Okaya on the shores of Lake Suwa.
I walked around the lake and came across this statue of Taro Oguchi and song monument. I was very surprised when I saw the word "Biwako" (Lake Biwa). This was Nagano, not Shiga, so it was most unexpected to see "Biwako" here. I read the song lyrics on the monument and was surprised and delighted to see the names of well-known places in Shiga.
The monument even had music box (seen on left) where you could hear three versions of the song. I immediately found it intriguing.
|
|
The following photos were taken by photographers from New Brunswick, Canada during a photo trip to Japan in March 2005. Led and guided by pro photographer Mark Hemmings, they were Kevin Halcrow, Jeff and Kim Matheson, and Ashley Hicks.622 views
|
|
Numerous azalea bushes541 views
|
|
508 views
|
|
Ahhh...483 views
|
|
470 views
|
|
440 views
|
|
Gate to Zenkoji433 views
|
|
But my camera captured the log going down, even though I could hardly see it. Onbashira Festival, Shimosuwa, Nagano. 木落とし坂 春宮一之柱384 views
|
|
349 views
|
|
Sculpture343 views
|
|
333 views
|
|
331 views
|
|
326 views
|
|
Takashima Castle325 views
|
|
319 views
|
|
At the bottom of the slope is a huge crowd watching the spectacle, Ki-otoshi or Log Drop, Onbashira-sai Festival.308 views
|
|
307 views
|
|
Wet monkey305 views
|
|
Scenic view of Lake Suwa from graveyard.304 views
|
|
Song monument with the entire lyrics of Biwako Shuko no Uta. On the shore of Lake Suwa in Okaya, Nagano. 琵琶湖周航の歌 全歌詞碑302 views
|
|
301 views
|
|
299 views
|
|
The Onbashira Festival's main event takes place at four different times in early April and early May, centering on Chino city and Shimosuwa town. It is the festival of Suwa Taisha Shrine consisting of the Kami-sha Shrine and Shimo-sha Shrine.297 views
|
|
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. Shimosuwa, Nagano. 春宮四之御柱297 views
|
|
Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.296 views
|
|
295 views
|
|
292 views
|
|
Mother and child sculpture288 views
|
|
279 views
|
|
About Taro Oguchi.279 viewsThe song was written as a collaboration among boatmates, but Taro Oguchi (小口太郎) (1897-1924) is credited as being the main song writer. He was born in 1897 (Meiji 30) in Minato-mura village, now part of Okaya city on the shores of Lake Suwa in Nagano Prefecture.
He grew up in a loving and respected family and demonstrated an early talent for writing, music (violin and shakuhachi), and sports (judo, skiing, skating). Since he was the eldest son expected to take over the family home, there was opposition for him to go away for college. However, his father was persuaded to allow Taro to apply for college at the elite No. 3 High School (later to become Kyoto University). It was one of nine college-level schools in Japan, the No. 3 school being one of the most elite.
Contrary to family expectations, Taro passed the entrance exam, went school in Kyoto in 1914 and joined the rowing and speech clubs. In 1917, he wrote the famous song about Lake Biwa which first went public in 1918.
|
|
Lake Suwa and mountains278 views
|
|
Snow monkeys277 views
|
|
276 views
|
|
273 views
|
|
Lake Suwa and mountains272 views
|
|
271 views
|
|
Lake Suwa271 views
|
|
Ducks271 views
|
|
JR Nagano Station festooned with Olympic logos.269 views
|
|
Smaller statue of Oguchi Taro inside Okaya City Hall, next to the entrance.265 views
|
|
Onbashira manhole in Okaya, Nagano.262 views
|
|
Music box. Three versions of the song can be heard through a speaker by pressing a button. Also see the video at YouTube to hear the song.262 viewsThe monument included a music box where you could listen to three versions of the song through a speaker. I was immediately fascinated by the song when I heard it (together with the wind and waves of Lake Suwa).
|
|
Area of the Oguchi Taro monument (seen on left), in winter.260 views
|
|
Onbashira Festival. They included one woman.259 views
|
|
Statue of Oguchi Taro 小口太郎銅像258 viewsShort walk from JR Okaya Station. Walk toward the shore of Lake Suwa. The monument is near the mouth of Tenryu River.
|
|
Closeup of Taro Oguchi statue256 viewsHe graduated in 1919 and furthered his studies at Tokyo Imperial University (now University of Tokyo) in the science department. In 1921, he invented the wired and wireless multiplex telegraph and telephone system which was patented in eight countries. He was an extremely bright young man with a promising future.
In 1922, he entered the university's aeronautical research institute as a researcher. However, his life soon took a downturn from 1923 when he received a military conscription notice. A love interest for marriage also did not work out as desired. His physical health deteriorated and he terminated his own life the following year in 1924 at age 26.
|
|
It's worth visiting Kamikochi, very scenic for Japan.249 views
|
|
Koka ninja greets visitors to Matsumoto Castle in Matsumoto, Nagano.248 views
|
|
244 views
|
|
242 views
|
|
241 views
|
|
Biography of Oguchi Taro. 小口太郎顕彰碑241 views
|
|
Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.238 views
|
|
Japan's goalie takes a break at Nagano Winter Olympics women's ice hockey match.237 viewsHer helmet is dotted with Print Club photo stickers.
|
|
Rear view, looking toward Lake Suwa.237 views
|
|
|
|
Onbashira-sai, Shimosuwa-machi, Nagano.236 views
|
|
Ducks fly away on Lake Suwa.235 views
|
|
232 views
|
|
Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in spring with azaleas.232 views
|
|
Matsumoto manhole231 views
|
|
Side view of Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter. 小口太郎顕彰碑230 views
|
|
JR Okaya Station. There is no tourist info office here.227 viewsSmall station, but close to Lake Suwa.
|
|
Kamikochi is accessible by bus from the Matsumoto Bus Terminal near JR Matsumoto Station.227 views
|
|
JR Kami-Suwa Station226 views
|
|
222 views
|
|
Shimosuwa Station on May 8, 2004. Here for the final three days of the Onbashira Matsuri's climax, the Satobiki when they haul the Onbashira logs to the Shimo-sha Shrines (Akimiya and Harumiya) and erect them.220 views
|
|
Postcard set (400 yen)219 views
|
|
Oguchi graves.218 views
|
|
Lake Suwa217 viewsYou can rent a bicycle at Kami-Suwa Station and ride along the lake shore.
|
|
Oguchi Taro song monument213 views
|
|
Kappabashi Bridge and the Hotaka mountains at Kamikochi, Nagano. 河童橋と穂高連峰212 views
|
|
Kamikochi, Nagano212 views
|
|
Castle tower209 views
|
|
Aqua Wing ice hockey rink209 viewsMost of the women's ice hockey matches were held at a stadium called Aqua Wing which is actually an indoor swimming pool with a sliding roof. It seemed like we were in a huge oil drum cut in half.
|
|
Map of lake shore area209 views
|
|
Matsumoto Castle203 views
|
|
Manhole in Shibu Onsen showing a snow monkey in a bath. Shibu Onsen is near the entrance to the trail to the monkey park.200 views
|
|
The red bridge provides a nice accent for the Matsumoto Castle tower.199 views
|
|
Mall to Zenkoji197 views
|
|
Lake Suwa195 views
|
|
|
This was Log No. 1 for Shimo-sha's Harunomiya Shrine.191 views
|
|
Yaesu underground mall: Speed skater outfits made by Mizuno190 viewsMizuno, an official sponsor, set up a nice Olympics exhibition in the Yaesu underground mall at Tokyo Station. There was a nice photo exhibit of past and current Winter Games and a souvenir shop as well. These three photos show part of Mizuno's exhibition.
A few speed skater outfits made by Mizuno. You may recognize the suits for China, Japan, and the USA.
|
|
Baby monkey. From generation to generation, these monkeys develop and pass down their habit of bathing in this hot spring.189 views
|
|
Snow monkeys taking a bath and showing relaxed faces. 188 views
|
|
Tenryu River at sunset187 views
|
|
Then came the log, and a lotta dust which made it difficult to see what was going on.187 views
|
|
The only woman on the log. After this log-raising, I had seen enough. This No. 1 log offered the best view of all the four Akimiya logs.187 views
|
|
Oguchi cemetary. This neighborhood is full of Oguchi families, not necessarily related to each other.186 views
|
|
It's not unusual to see wild monkeys in Japan. So to the Japanese, these monkeys are not exotic nor unusual, even if they are bathing in an onsen.186 views
|
|
Oguchi Taro's gravestone. He is buried together with his younger brother Sadao.185 views
|
|
My favorite shot. I'm not sure if he's exhibiting a derogatory gesture to us humans. 183 viewsThe calluses on the buttocks serve as a cushion for sitting. It seems that they don't have the cushy/fatty buttocks that we do, so they need to grow calluses instead.
|
|
Lakeside park177 views
|
|
Oguchi Taro's gravestone in foreground.176 views
|
|
Oguchi Taro's grave on right.176 views
|
|
Taro Oguchi Statue and Song Monument in winter.175 views
|
|
174 views
|
|
Lakeside park172 views
|
|
Entrance to Snowlets House at Olympic Plaza.171 viewsThe official store for Olympic souvenirs. There were a lot of ticket scalpers (all foreigners) hanging around the entrance. Inside, there was a ticket counter for events which still had seats.
|
|
Road sign pointing to the Oguchi Taro statue170 views
|
|
Neighborhood of Minato where Oguchi Taro lived.170 views
|
|
Behind this small shrine is a large graveyard full of Oguchi family gravestones.169 views
|
|
Nagano Shinkansen168 viewsThe Nagano shinkansen has a duckbill snout.
|
|
Statue of Oguchi Taro168 views
|
|
Oguchi Taro's house (red roof). He lived on the 2nd floor. On the left is a storehouse.167 views
|
|
Welcome sign at Nagano Station166 views
|
|
Carp caught from Lake Suwa166 views
|
|
Water fountain and azaleas in spring166 views
|
|
Lake Suwa and mountains165 views
|
|
Nagano Station, East Exit to Olympic Plaza164 viewsAt the East Exit of Nagano Station, this bridge, lined with advertising banners, led the way to the Olympic Plaza which featured ten tent pavilions made by official sponsors.
|
|
Bell tower164 views
|
|
164 views
|
|
163 views
|
|
Lakeside park162 views
|
|
Path to shrine162 views
|
|
Okaya map159 views
|
|
Jamaica's bobsled team in Kodak Pavilion158 viewsThey introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.
|
|
Kita Nagano Station158 viewsTo get to Aqua Wing, the ice hockey rink, we had to take a local train from Nagano Station for a short ride to the next stop at Kita Nagano Station. This Kita Nagano Station was a tiny little train station certainly not meant for large crowds. It was unbelievably small. It took some minutes before we could get out of the station which was not much larger than a normal living room. The door was also small, enough for only two people to get out at one time.
|
|
My Japanese and American flags158 viewsI tacked the flags onto the glass and proudly displayed them in front of my seat behind the goal. That's what you do when you love both countries. Since I was sitting at rinkside behind the goal, the flags (and my face and camera) could be seen on the TV broadcast.
On the left of the photo, you can see the goal referee who was sitting in a glass box. She wrapped herself in a blanket. As you can expect, the place was not warm like a coffee shop.
|
|
Aqua Wing157 views
|
|
The crowd behind me.157 views
|
|
Kamaguchi Floodgate157 views
|
|
Hot spring foot bath155 viewsThat's not me in the picture.
|
|
Cheering section for Yuiko Satomi155 viewsCollege cheering section for Yuiko Satomi, a defense player for Japan.
|
|
It was over after a few seconds. We walked for an hour from the train station and waited hours for just a few seconds of mostly dust.154 views
|
|
Kami Suwa Onsen (Spa)153 views
|
|
Dept. store153 views
|
|
A US player scores and celebrates to the dismay of Japan.153 views
|
|
153 views
|
|
Water fountain153 views
|
|
Olympic Plaza152 viewsSnowlets House and Kodak's pavilion behind it.
|
|
152 views
|
|
Olympics auction hosted by Emi Watanabe (left), a former Olympic figure skater.152 views
|
|
Lake Suwa and bridge152 views
|
|
Ducks fly to safety.152 views
|
|
|
Sheep sculpture151 views
|
|
Kodak's Kodak-yellow pavilion151 viewsOn the day I went in, they introduced Jamaica's bobsled team. They are very popular in Japan, largely due to the comedy movie "Cool Running" which was aired in Japan before the Nagano Games started.
|
|
151 views
|
|
151 views
|
|
The Ax Man. He cuts the rope which sets the log loose down the slope.151 views
|
|
Now they descend.151 views
|
|
Start of game150 views
|
|
The Nippon team huddles.150 viewsThe Nippon team huddle and psych themselves up before the start of the game.
|
|
150 views
|
|
Billboard depicting Ki-otoshi (Log Drop) at Shimosuwa Station.150 views
|
|
The log heading to the Shimekake resting place. If you don't like crowds, don't see this festival. Also see photos of Shimo-sha Satobiki.150 views
|
|
Water fountain and azaleas in spring149 views
|
|
Shibu Onsen manhole in Nagano. Snow monkey design.149 views
|
|
148 viewsDuring the Olympics, the morning trains from Tokyo were always crowded. However, the last trains from Nagano to Tokyo were almost empty.
|
|
Seat backs and ad stickers148 viewsThe train's seat backs had advertising stickers. When the Nagano Shinkansen reaches a terminal station (Tokyo and Nagano), the seats can turn around by itself? One thing less to do by the train's cleaning ladies.
|
|
Hot spring foot bath147 views
|
|
147 views
|
|
Lake Suwa147 views
|
|
Lake Suwa147 views
|
|
Everything is done with great fanfare, with these men riding on the log as it slowly rises by a system of cables and pulleys.147 views
|
|
Snowlets House146 viewsIt was packed. This is part of the checkout line. There were four checkout lines and each one was about 30 meters long. The line went pretty fast though. They had all kinds of souvenirs: T-shirts, sweatshirts, flags, postcards, pins, key chains, necklaces, stuffed Snowlets, mugs, and even jewelry. I went on the 6th day of the Games and it still had everything well in stock. But I later heard that the shelves were laid bare well before the Games ended.
|
|
145 views
|
|
川越し145 views
|
|
|
Aqua Wing ice hockey rink144 views
|
|
Lake Suwa during a warm winter.144 views
|
|
143 views
|
|
Kami-Suwa Station platform with hot spring foot bath143 views
|
|
Tokyo Station: Official posters143 viewsThese were painted by Koji Kinutani and plastered everywhere in Tokyo Station. These were being sold to the public for about Y5,000.
|
|
143 views
|
|
To Olympic Plaza142 views
|
|
142 views
|
|
Lakeside park142 views
|
|
Canora Hall, venue for the Okaya International Exchange Association's 15th anniversary festival.142 views
|
|
141 views
|
|
141 views
|
|
Locomotive from Ohio, USA used in the 1930s.141 views
|
|
141 views
|
|
141 views
|
|
141 views
|
|
Erecting Onbashira Log No. 4 for Harumiya Shrine on May 9, 2004. 春宮四之御柱141 views
|
|
A four-man bobsled.140 views
|
|
Matsumoto Station train platform140 views
|
|
139 viewsAn elderly couple are among a crowd of people who watched the men's hockey finals on the TV set.
|
|
139 views
|
|
Sculpture in lakeside park139 views
|
|
Lakeside park139 views
|
|
Lakeside park139 views
|
|
The log pullers split into two.139 views
|
|
This river crossing, called Kawa-koshi, is another highlight of the festival. 川越し139 views
|
|
139 views
|
|
Onbashira rope on train platform138 views
|
|
The road from Nagano Station to Zenkoji Temple.138 viewsLots of Olympics advertising.
|
|
138 views
|
|
Amway at Tokyo Station137 viewsAmway shows the way to the Nagano Shinkansen platform for people getting off the Narita Express train which comes from Narita Airport.
|
|
Dressed as Sanada at Ueda Castle, Nagano Prefecture.137 views
|
|
136 views
|
|
Banging the glass136 viewsI liked it when the puck slammed into the glass (BOOM!) in front of me. The protective glass, by the way, must have been at least an inch thick.
|
|
Total winners beat the total losers...136 viewsThe U.S. team went on undefeated to win the first Olympic gold medal in women's ice hockey. Japan lost all five of its matches (they scored a total of 2 goals) putting them in last place among the six women's hockey teams.
|
|
Olympics logo on official drinks136 viewsBesides Coke, Coca-Cola also makes Aquarius (sports drink) and Georgia canned coffee. The Olympics logo and "Nagano 1998" figure prominently on the limited-edition cans. On the Aquarius can, notice the image of a speed skater. On the back of the Georgia coffee can, see the image of the torch relay runner. Georgia coffee was prominently advertised during the nationwide Olympic torch relay to Nagano.
|
|
"Yoisa! Yoisa!"136 views
|
|
136 views
|
|
West Turret, Ueda Castle's only original structure.136 views
|
|
Birch tree plaque135 views
|
|
135 views
|
|
IBM billboard buses135 viewsThe decals covering the window portion of the decals have little holes in them and from the inside of the bus, the decals are transparent. IBM's Olympic pins and jacket were also based on these bus decal designs.
|
|
Bridge across Kamaguchi Floodgate135 views
|
|
135 views
|
|
135 views
|
|
134 views
|
|
Tokyo Station Olympics souvenir shop134 viewsThis little space (operated by official sponsor Mizuno) in the Yaesu underground mall at Tokyo Station used to have shelves full of Olympic souvenirs. On the day before the Olympics, I saw that they were selling towels, T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, mugs, postcards, Snowlets, key chains, and other things. I visited this place again on the last day of the Olympics (when I took this photo) and found a sign saying that they had sold out of Olympics souvenirs. According to the clerk, most were sold out about a week before.They only had a single rack selling expensive framed Olympic prints. The story was the same for the Snowlets House in Nagano and the Tokyo Branch at Mitsukoshi Dept. Store in Nihonbashi. I'm glad I bought my souvenirs early on.
|
|
134 views
|
|
Bridge across Kamaguchi Floodgate134 views
|
|
Log in Harumiya Shrine.134 views
|
|
134 views
|
|
About Matsumoto Castle town134 views
|
|
Hot spring foot bath (free)133 views
|
|
Onbashira rope on train platform133 views
|
|
Game ends with USA scoring 10 goals and Japan zero.133 viewsThe final score was 10-0. Japan went on to lose all five of their matches and the US team went undefeated for the gold medal. The US and Canadian men's hockey teams were not the only ones who were put to shame at Nagano.
Japan's women's ice hockey team must feel pretty rotten about their pitiful playing on their home turf.
|
|
More billboard buses133 viewsCoca-cola adorned some of the local city buses in Nagano.
|
|
133 views
|
|
Playground133 views
|
|
Thank goodness for telephoto lenses.133 views
|
|
Now we walked back together with hundreds of thousands of people...133 views
|
|
Matsumoto Castle is one of Japan's five castles with the main tenshu tower designated as a National Treasure. Near JR Matsumoto Station.133 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
133 views
|
|
Moon-viewing room being renovated.133 views
|
|
Matsumoto Station at night.133 views
|
|
North Turret of Ueda Castle.133 views
|
|
Snowlets House, ticket availability132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
Japan team mates try to comfort the goal keeper right after the US scores.132 views
|
|
Oguchi Taro monument132 views
|
|
Okaya City Hall 岡谷市役所132 views
|
|
I was forced to join this crowd.132 views
|
|
Both the Kami-sha Shrine (in Chino and Suwa cities) and Shimo-sha Shrine (in Shimosuwa town) consist of a pair of shrines. So there are actually a total of four shrines involved in the festival.132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
Matsumoto Castle132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
Top floor of Matsumoto Castle.132 views
|
|
132 views
|
|
Pavilion by Kirin Brewery.131 viewsNotice the "wrap" bus passing in front.
|
|
JR Okaya Station platform131 views
|
|
Taiko performance at Shimo-sha Akimiya Shrine's Kaguraden131 views
|
|
Banners unfurled.131 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
Inside Matsumoto Castle is a Gun Museum.131 views
|
|
131 views
|
|
Pin seller130 viewsThis American woman was selling pins in Nagano at her seventh Olympics. Olympic pins proved to be very popular among the Japanese.
Apparently there are pin sellers who travel to all the Olympics and major sports events making a living as a pin vendor.
|
|
| 815 files on 4 page(s) |
1 |
 |
|
