Ume blossoms and light-up in the Toji Temple Garden

梅一輪　一輪ほどの　暖かさ

Ume ichirin, ichirin hodono, atatakasa

One Ume blossom

One blossom's

Worth of warmth

-　服部嵐雪　Hattori Ransetsu (1654-1707)  -

This haiku-poem has a preface that refers to the Ume blossom as a 寒梅 "winter Ume." 

寒梅 winter ume tree that blossoms in cold winter is a seasonal word for late winter, while 梅 Ume is for spring.

Ume, Japanese apricot, is the harbinger of spring in Japan.

When I was in the Toji Temple Garden with Ume trees in full bloom in the late February, 

it felt like that the weather was becoming warmer with each new bloom of 梅 Ume tree.

It was so warm that I could describe "full bloom worth of warmth" rather than

 "one blossom's worth of warmth".

河津桜 Kawazu-zakura, an early-flowering variety of cherry tree, were also almost in full bloom.

Numerous bamboo lanterns and bamboo balls are displayed for the light-up 東寺月回廊 To-ji Moon Corridor.

Multiple bamboo balls are suspended over Hyotan pond ....

.... and are hanging along the Moon Corridor.

When all the bamboo balls and lanterns are lit up, you're transformed into the ethereal world,

which is completely different from the daytime.

Despite the warmth of the daytime, the night was so chilly.

As usual, temporary warm spells will be interrupted by lingering, volatile winter conditions 

before the real spring is here.

- A little about Toji Temple -

Toji Temple (World Heritage) was built in 796 shortly after the capital was moved to Heian-kyo (Kyoto).

In 823, Kobo Daishi (Kukai) was entrusted by the reigning emperor, making it a key center for Shingon Buddhism.

The Five Storied Pagoda (National Treasure, reconstruction in 1644) is the tallest in Japan.

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Carried away from the woes of life in the floating world

The powerful winter pressure pattern over the weeks brought heavy snowfall across large parts of the country.

I've been chilled to the bone while the highest temperture has been hovering below 5 degrees C here in Nara.
One of the coldest days this season, I spent a pleasant time at the exhibition held at Grand Front Osaka,

UKIYOE IMMERSIVE ART - The floating world of Japan.

 

浮世絵 Ukiyo-e is paintings and woodblock prints that depict the daily life and entertainment of people 

during the Edo period (1603-1867).

"Ukiyo" is originally the word 憂き世 which means “the world to worry about”. 

Since the Heian period (794-1191), it has been used to express a pessimistic view of life based on 

the Buddhist concept of "impermanence".

People worry about hard, painful, sad, or unsettling situation in this earthly world.

During the Edo period, as townspeople gained economic power, their mindset ​​changed to a positive one

 to get through difficult reality with enjoyment.

The word “Ukiyo” got new Chinese Character “浮き世”.

浮かれる/Ukareru is a verb meaning "to get carried away" or "to get too excited."

浮き世 Ukiyo is a world where people pursue fleeting, yet exhilarating pleasure. 

Ukiyo-e was a representative pop culture that was deeply loved by the common people of the Edo period.

The vibrant, colorful prints were affordable to the general public.

It is said one print cost no more than a bowl of noodles. 

They were like “social media” or magazines in that time.

 I passed through Ukiyo-e Spaces to immerse myself in each theme, 藍, 跳, 麗, 彩, 豪, and 雅.

- 藍 AI, Indigo, or Japan Blue -

The contrast between nature's power and serene, quiet stability of Mt. Fuji from unexpected perspectives

 Shades of indigo is one of the representative colors of Ukiyoe, captured in the fleeting appearance 

of the sea water or rainy landscape.

- 眺 Chou, Great View -

Utagawa Hiroshige and Katshushika Hokusai, the masters of landscape prints, make us feel like that
we travel around Edo and along the Tokaido Road.

Katsushika Hokusai, 36views of Mt. Fuji

Utagawa Hiroshige

-  麗 Uruwashi, Beauty  -

Kitagawa Utamaro revolutionised the art of portraying beautiful women focusing on even the smallest strand of hair. 

 His works were overwhelmingly popular at the end of the Edo period. 

Beautiful women express detailed emotions from joy, anger, and sorrow. 

- 彩 Sai, Colors  -

The world of 花鳥風月 Kachofugetsu

Kachofugetsu represents the poetic, artistic, and traditional Japanese aesthetic of appreciating

the beauties of nature, flowers, birds, wind, and the moon in four seasons.

 

- 豪 Goh, Formidability -
Musha-e/Warrior paintings,  Dramatic moments of heroes

- 雅 Miyabi, Elegance -

Mount Fuji is an endearing symbol of elegance and beauty, known for its perfectly symmetrical, 

snow-capped cone shape.

In his 36 views of Mt. Fuji, Katsushika Hokusai portrayed Japan's highest peak elegantly in various seasons, 

in different weather, and from unexpected perspectives.

The print below captures a rare natural phenomenon; the early morning sun, typically in late summer

or early autumn, illuminates Mt. Fuji, truning its slopes a deep reddish-orange color.

凱風快晴 Gaifu Kaisei, Fine Wind, Clear Morning

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At the end of the year

I visited Van Gogh Exhibition at the Kobe City Museum late November.

"Cafe Terrace at Night" (1888) is my favorite of Van Gogh's masterpieces.

The contrast of the deep blues of the starry night sky and the warm, yellow light of the cafe's gaslight 

is said to be Van Goch's innovative night scene without using black colors.

(Photography was allowed for five pieces of art while it was prohibited throughout the exhibition.)

The composition of the Ukiyo-e print "Night View of Saruwaka Town" by 歌川重弘 Shigehiro Utagawa
evokes connection to Van Gogh's "Cafe Terrace at Night".
The indigo sky with the bright full moon and the moonlit main street of the town 
which is depicted with clear perspective lines vanishing into distance
are thought to have influenced Van Gogh, a big fan and collector of Ukiyo-e.

Saruwaka Town was a theater district of Edo, the former name of Tokyo.

As the last show of the day is over, people are streaming out from the theaters into 

the moonlit street.

Image from this site

I turned my photos of café terrace at night into watercolor paintings with an app.

Outdoor seats remain vacant in the cold weather.

Inside the Grand Front Osaka, the Winter Prism Tree stands 11 meters tall 
beneath a 70-meter “veil of light” inspired by the northern lights. 

Every 15 minutes, the space shines in a colorful light  with shifting hues.

I prefer starry night sky as I am reminded that I'm a part of that awe-inspring universe

when staring into the indigo sky,

In the colder and darker time of mid-December, however, I  like city streets with light-ups.

Ginkgo trees are illuminated from Umeda to Namba, 4.4 km of Midosuji Boulevard. 

At 5:00 p.m. all the lights are lit up.

As is called "Midosuji Sculpture Street", 29 sculptures by renowned artists like Auguste Rodin 

are displayed on the sidewalks around Yodoya-bashi.

Any bronze artwork hasn't been damaged or stolen on that busy places so far - it's so Japanese.

It feels like time is speeding up with the year-end approaching so quickly.

2023 post about Mido-suji Illumination 

Night scenes from Sannomiya, Kobe and Umeda, Osaka.

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