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Monday, April 25, 2011

Awaji Hana-sajiki




At Awaji Hana-sajiki in Awaji-shima Island, kobe, the dream of spring unfolds with yellow rape blossoms, mauve murasaki-hanana, and linaria.  The flower fields stretch over rolling hills with vertical difference of 50-60 meters.  Under the sunlight, yellow flowers all turn into gold.



Yellow blossoms are common in the countryside of Japan.   They are “na-no-hana” in Japanese which do not always mean rape blossoms for seed oil but all the yellow flowers of mustard or cabage family like potherb mustard "mizuna."



"After the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, sunflowers and rape blossoms were used to decontaminate soil in Ukraine. Radioactive cesium is similar to kalium, a commonly used fertilizer. If kalium is not present, sunflowers will absorb cesium instead."  "......the researchers are considering using hyperthermophilic aerobic bacteria--used to produce compost--to decompose the plants. The decomposing process will reduce the sunflowers to about 1 percent of their previous volume, which will slash the amount of radioactive waste that needs to be dealt with."

Above is excerpts from Daily Yomiuri Online introduced by my English teacher.  I think it's a good idea to depend on nature's way when nature can make up for human blunders.

紫花菜,  murasaki-hanana,  orychophragmus violaceus



  

“Hana-sajiki” literally means "flower-first balcony of a theater": flowers are overlooking the sea like "sajiki" overlooking the stage, and flowers are viewed from higher "sajiki", observatory at the summit as well.  On a sunny day, Seto Inland Sea is clearly visible, but unfortuntately the sea was dim, very weakly shining due to typical spring haze in that direction on that day.   Can you see dim harbor in the distance?

 linaria




Poppies had just started blooming for the next stage.  Cows were grazing nearby, fresh breeze was blowing so softly against me...., I felt peace, free and comfortable.  Talking of "free", both admission and parking are free of charge.


Within 10 minutes’ drive, there is Nojima Danso Hozonkan (Fault Preservation Museum) in Hokudancho where was the epicenter of Great Hanshin Earthqukae (1995).   Dislocation caused by the Earthquake is preserved in the building.  In a simulator, visitors can experience the shaking of the same intensity and duration which hit the island.  Sudden very strong vertical jolt and then violent horizontal shaking for about 4 minutes was quite scary.  The museum staffs hope it will remain not as just a memorial of the past but as a constant reminder that people must stay prepared without fading memory.

Find your favorite place on "sajiki" and  relax!

Awaji-shima Island connected with Kobe City by Akashi Straits Bridge is full of beautiful nature.   For more posts related to Awaji-shima, click “Awaji-shima Island” in the “Labels.”

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31 comments:

  1. Wow - what an amazing sight! So inspiring. Lovely shots too.

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  2. The gold and mauve fields look like a gorgeous blanket spread out over the fields. And the cattle seem not to have a care in the world. It is interesting to hear about the earthquake simulator as an option to experience. It is good to know what a similar situation could feel like and to understand that many people can survive the rumbling and jolts when proper steps are taken. Thanks as always for sharing your beautiful world!

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  3. The colors of the flowers are amazing! So beautiful. :D
    We are still waiting for Spring to arrive around here.

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  4. Absolutely gorgeous when they bloom in such large patches as these do!

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  5. Beautiful and very interesting discussion of a natural radioactive decontaminate. Boom & gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  6. oh, I would love to find a spot on the hill and just drink in the view!

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  7. Breathtaking captures and how I would love to be able to drink in the view as well. I also agree with Gary, very interesting of a natural radioactive decontaminate. Yes, we could certainly use nature as way to heal the blunders we have created for the universe. Terrific post and superb captures, Yoko! Have a great week!

    Sylvia

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  8. Pictures like poetry.
    Amazing.

    Please have a good Tuesday.

    daily athens

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  9. Simply gorgeous photos and I love the fields of flowers.

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  10. Beautiful fields of flowers! I can imagine myself running and rolling there. It's an amazing sight.


    Inside Cambodia

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  11. So beautiful, stardust! I really hope "nanohana" will be of help!! "hana-sajiki" is a lovely word and your photos with pretty flowers truly represent it! Thanks for sharing.

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  12. These are beautiful flowers and the golden color brings a ray of sunshine to dark days.

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  13. Breathtaking foto's here of your country/ Beautiful coloured flowers

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  14. What a colorful countryside you have-the yellows, purples, and greens are all so beautiful! Beautiful photos of a beautiful area. Interesting article--it is always good to use natural things to solve our problems. Glad you liked my flower photos--they are from our Botanical Gardens here in Wichita. It is a lovely place to walk through this time of year.
    Mickie :)

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  15. what a very beautiful place!! your photos are so stunning! I would love to visit that place.

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  16. The lavender and the gold are absolutely beautiful. I cannot imagine being able to see so many fields of flowers at one time. Amazing. Your pictures are awesome. Lovely photography.

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  17. beautiful fields of purple, yellow and red
    as tapestries embroidered between heaven and earth

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  18. Lovely colors, indeed like gold!! The fresh flowers make our day, they just cheer up our lives...
    Amazing place, magnificient...
    Have a lovely day:)

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  19. Hi, Stardust.
    You took many beautiful photos, and you are progressing photograph!
    Radiation contamination is still a major concern in Japan, but beautiful season comes always. The contrast of the colors,purple yellow and green,is bright. Your spring photo makes me pleasant! Let’s enjoy our spring.

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  20. Always impressive photos and story.
    断層保存館なんて知りませんでした。とても勉強になりました。
    将来の地震の研究に役立つことを祈ります。

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  21. Beautiful hordes of linaria and rape blossoms remind me of flower fields in Hokkaido.
    I've read "sunflower project" as an eco-friendly farming already started several years ago in some places, making the fields bright landscapes. In harvest, edible oil is extracted and then oil for fuel of diesel engine of tractors. This time an important role is added to them. I wish it will turn out to be successful.

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  22. The spring scene composition is especially bright.
    It is the best encouragement for a heart.

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  23. The linaria and poppies are just beautiful and it was interesting to read of the use of sunflowers and rape blossoms to decontaminate the soil. Lovely post once again!

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  24. Wonderful pictures and I really enjoyed this blog...
    Thank you for sharing...
    Thank you so much for visiting me
    ...and your sweet comment.

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  25. I like this post a lot, it is so informative.

    I had to look up linaria to find more about it, it is so beautiful, and the other flowers are gorgeous!

    Thanks for showing your world!

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  26. these pictures are gorgeous!!! i really enjoed your blog, a wonderful fit for me....going to follow along!!!

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  27. Your photos are GREAT !!!Ag

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  28. What magnificent countryside! And that is very interesting about using plants to get rid of radioactivity. I hope Japan finds ways to make the area around the nuclear plants usable again.

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  29. This is heavenly! You have captured the scenery beautifully! I have to keep scrolling up and down. Can't get enough of your photos! :)

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  30. MUY HERMOSO
    los colores magníficos.
    SALUDOS.

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