Cat Art By Hiroko Matsumoto

I can't get over just how cute this postcard i.e. art piece is 😻 Received thanks to the forum and offer tag - and Xia :)

Rainy View In Kyoto

A dash of refreshment during this heat wave we have, at least in a form of a postcard...Another one of those I-want-to-jump-right-in scenes.

Autumn Doe

I hardly even blinked and two weeks since my last post have already passed...after a long period of sweltering heat today has finally brought some fresh air over the Croatian coast, and reminded me of just how much I long for the autumn to arrive - appropriately here is a lovely card from my autumn collection :) Thanks to Waka from Japan :)

Kiyomizu-dera In Autumn, Japan

Kiyomizu-dera is an independent buddhist temple in eastern Kyoto, a part of the Historic Monuments of Ancient Kyoto UNESCO whs. The temple was founded in 788, and its present buildings were constructed in 1633 - there is not a single nail used in the entire structure. It was one of 21 finalists for the New Seven Wonders of the World in 2007.

I notice with perplexity that it has been over three years now that I have posted about Japan. Today I've chosen this card because of the Sunday Stamps theme: letter 'i'. Many Japanese stamps could be posted in relation as many are fabulous illustrations - but more specifically the top stamp was issued for the 61st Inter-Parliamentary Conference which was held in Tokyo in 1974 (I have to admit I'd never guess this stamp is that old). I don't really follow but the most prominent of the world's political issues, maybe I have heard of IPU (Inter-Parliamentary Union) before but I certainly didn't make a note of it. IPU was founded in 1889 and was the first permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.

I love the fact that the stamp matches the view's autumn colours (thank you Yuko), as does one of the cancellations (I do wonder why there are two). The artwork is Passion (1934) by Kawabata Ryushi. More interesting (!) ideas for the letter 'i' hide behind the link for Sunday Stamps :)

Maiko Girls In Kyoto In December

I have titled the postcard as written on the back, though I am curious if this view in any way specifically denotes December. I'd love to know what the tiles represent! There were times when I more actively collected Maiko postcards, now I don't spend that much time in the official forum...where quite a few swappers from Japan offer great cards such as this one. Many thanks to Yuka :)

Blue Pond, Japan

The Blue Pond, or Aoiike (青い池) is a small, artificial pond located outside the hot spring town, Shirogane Onsen in Biei, Hokkaido.  The pond’s name comes from the deep blue colour caused by the interplay of sunlight and natural minerals dissolved in the water. 

Thanks to Mika, and offers tag :)

UNESCO - Historic Monuments Of Ancient Nara, Japan

Nara was the capital of Japan from 710 to 784. During this period the framework of national government was consolidated and Nara enjoyed great prosperity, emerging as the fountainhead of Japanese culture. The property includes eight component parts composed of seventy-eight different buildings covering 617.0 ha, which is surrounded by a buffer zone (1,962.5 ha) and the “historic environment harmonization area (539.0 ha)”.

Because of this I am sure I'll never be able to collect the full list - 78 is a big number! - but I am very happy to have these beautiful postcards to represent Nara, received through different channels, showing two of the five Buddhist temples at the site.

First postcard is actually about the pagodas of the Yakushi-ji temple; whereas the main picture is of Saitō (West Pagoda) the stamp is of the East Pagoda which is the only original 8th-century structure at the temple, and is often called "Frozen music" for its beauty. Thank you for yet another great postcard Ai :)

Tōdai-ji is another Buddhist temple complex in Nara - this picture shows The Great Buddha Hall - the largest wooden building in the world. It houses the largest bronze Buddha statue - look down!

Thank you kyoto348! The stamps are really interesting, to say the least ;)

 JP-182958

This view came via official postcrossing, yay! The most famous Daibutsus (or giant Buddha sculptures) in Nara is actually the world's largest bronze statue of the Buddha Vairocana, with the hight of 14.98m. Thank you Yoko/conejo, and for the funny Hello Kitty stamp :)

Matsumoto Castle, Japan

Also known as the 'Crow Castle' due to its black exterior, Matsumoto-jō is situated in the Nagano Prefecture, and was the seat of the Matsumoto domain of the Edo period (from the 16th century). In 1872 it was sold at auction for redevelopment but the residents from Matsumoto started a campaign to save the building. It underwent "the great Meiji renovation" between 1903-1913.

What a lovely setting! Thank you usapon ;)

 

Red-Crowned Crane, Japan

This beautiful graceful bird is red-crowned or Japanese crane, known as a symbol of luck, longevity and fidelity. It is among the rarest cranes in the world, with the estimated total population of only 2750 in the wild. A resident population is found in eastern Hokkaidō in Japan, where this postcards was sent from - with a matching stamp, thanks Chami :))

 

UNESCO - Fujisan, Sacred Place And Source Of Artistic Inspiration

 

 

It is indeed amazing how picturesque Fujisan is, the solitary stratovolcano in unison with surrounding lakes or tea plantations. I could get a dozen more views and not get tired of it! Thank you so much Yuka I am really loving these, and the stamps that you used that in one way or another reflect the picture :))

UNESCO - Sacred Sites And Pilgrimage Routes In The Kii Mountain Range, Japan

I was overwhelmed with beauty when I received this card for the Japan RR...I immediately imagined how spiritual a place like this must be. Seiganto-ji is a Tendai Buddhist temple built near the picturesque Nachi Falls. The second view is of the Okumotorigoe pilgrimage path and the stone circles represent the spots where the gods of Kumano were sitting and chatting. Thank you Hama and Ai :) (notice the supercute stamp for Letter-Writing Day!)

 

In addition, a map showing all the routes. Wouldnt it be great to walk along them one day..?!

UNESCO - Shirakami-Sanchi, Japan

 

Situated in the mountains of northern Honshu, this trackless site includes the last virgin remains of the cool-temperate forest of Siebold Beech (commonly known as Japanese Beech) that once covered the hills of northern Japan. In this forest you can find the black bear and the serow - now this is the first time that I've heard of serow, an animal species with the looks between a goat and an antelope, and the Japanese species is supercute!

As Ai explains, these woods have been famous for their beautiful autumn leaves since ancient times - and she used a stamp which shows that scenery, gorgeous! I love trees and have fallen in love with this image at first glance. Thanky you once again Ai for this swap :))

UNESCO - Hiroshima Peace Memorial (Genbaku Dome), Japan

The Hiroshima Peace Memorial was the only structure left standing in the area where the first atomic bomb exploded in 1945. It has been preserved in the same state as immediately after the bombing. It is both a stark and powerful symbol of the most destructive force ever created by mankind, and expression of the hope for world peace and the ultimate elimination of all nuclear weapons - it is exactly this hope that is (I thought) finely represented by the spring blooms in the foreground of this image. Thank you very much Tamayo, and for truly great stamps :)

See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

 

A vintage take on 'See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil',  proverbial principle usually associated with the Three Wise Monkeys. The photo originates from ca.1930 but the author is yet unindentified...I may say I simply love it, thank you Michelle :)

Ginkaku-ji, Japan

 

Ginkaku-ji ("Temple of the Silver Pavilion"), officially named Jishō-ji ("Temple of Shining Mercy"), is a Zen temple in the Sakyo ward of Kyoto, Japan. It is one of the constructions that represent the Higashiyama Culture of Muromachi period. The two-storied Kannon-den is the main temple structure whose construction began in 1482 - the garden and temple complex are open to the public since 2008 and after extensive restoration.

The first time I set my eyes on this sight I thought 'wouldn't it be awesome to live in a place like this..?!'. Surrounded with water and lots of green :)  The back of the postcard  offers a great variety of stamps, what a way to start swapping again for my Japanese collection, thanks a bunch Manami! :))

Japanese Traditional Masks

 

I have won this one in one of the many Cockie's awesome lotteries, many thanks :))

Mount Kirishima, Japan

Kirishima-Yaku National Park is situated on Kyūshū island in Japan - this is a view of the 1700-m-high active volcano Mount Kirishima. Many thanks to Megumi for the nice view and lovely stamps :)

Kaori Wakamatsu

Kaori Wakamatsu is a Japanese Illustrator whose work spans from design goods to magazines, to advertising work. Some great illustrations have been published in form of postcards, and I have *ks12* to thank for this beautiful girl with a flower :)

Ukiyo-e - Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu

Tokugawa Ieyasu was one of the Great Military Lords of the Sengoku period (15th to 17th cent.), here depicted by Toyohara Chikanobu, a prolific woodblock artist of Japan's Meiji period.

Thank you Ayako :)

Tokushima Gotochi Card

My first Gotochi card! Gotochi cards are designed and released by the Japanese Postal System, and each one of them represents a place in Japan - hence the name 'gotochi', which means 'local'. They showcase Japanese symbols on a national and regional level - every prefecture has multiple cards, each card with a cartoon picture and the name of the place that is depicted. While they are super-cute they are also more expensive to send than normal postcards - and so it is hard for Japanese postcrossers to send a lot of them.

(info found on the official postcrossing site)

And the last sentence explains why it took me a while to receive one of these...I haven't even swapped for it but Heather, who is living in Tokushima, sent it as a surprise in an envelope :) And the card represents a dancer participating in yearly Awa Dance Festival held every August in Tokushima as part of the Obon Festival. Groups of choreographed dancers and musicians known as ren (連) dance through the streets, typically accompanied by the shamisen lute, taiko drums, shinobue flute and the kane bell. Performers wear traditional obon dance costumes, and chant and sing as they parade through the streets.

Awa is the old feudal administration name for Tokushima prefecture, and odori means dance.