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| Nara-machi Museum |
Nara-machi, a quaint, nostalgic, and charming town close to Nara Park,
is a town of Koshin faith.
Monkeys made of red cloth are hanged from the eaves of each house
as substitute monkeys for protecting families inside from diseases and disasters.
Since the ancient times, red color is believed to be a lucky color to ward off evil spirits.
The number of the red monkeys show how many people inside they protect.
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| An old townhouse, renovated and re-purposed into a gallery cafe |
Apart from the scapegoat monkeys.....,
red is eye-catching.
Kafka in Nara-machi?
I like it when red color is used as an accent.
I chose some unpublished photos in which red spices up the landscape.
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| The town was getting busier toward the holiday season. |
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| Kobe-ohashi Bridge connecting downtown Kobe and man-made Port Island |
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So many countries have stepped up fight against the epidemic of the novel coronavirus.
Knowing the fact that about 10000 people dying of influenza in Japan,
I have to be more cautious as unknown disease is frightening.
But what I've been doing is my habitual preventive measures
when flu and colds are going around.
Personally, flu and noro-virus are more threats in reality so far.
In addition to what is written at Healthy Habits to Help Prevent Flu,
I keep handy packs of alcohol-based sterilized cotton in my bag
in case soap and water are not available.
Inside the house, I use humidifying air cleaner.
About 50% humidity is thought to make viruses much less active.
More importantly, enough sleep, balanced diet, and exercises
would be necessary not to lower one's immunity.
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| The first torii gate to the Kasuga Grand Shrine This photo was published in A snow day in Nara Park, 2011. No snow yet in this winter. |
Be safe and take care of yourself, everybody worldwide.
Linked to Mosaic Monday
