Season's greetings from Nara

Nara is a laid-back city where glamorous winter illuminations are rarely seen but one place I like to stop by at this time of the year is 日本聖公会奈良基督教会, the Nara Episcopal Church, standing along the Higashimuki shopping mall close to the Kintetsu Nara Station. It might be better known for the Shin-ai (faith-love) Kindergarten attached to the church.  My last post this year is Christmas Light Pageant of the church.

Blues have been added to the typical reds and greens these years.

Right inside the gate, awaiting for the singers and organ player in the blue LED light.

Twinkle, twinkle,......

The long stairs leading to the chapel is adorned with not only usual winter camellias but also twinkling lights.

In front of the entrance to the chapel

The chapel (1930) is a National Cultural Property as a purely Japanese style of Christian church building. It is well fitted to the neighbouring Kofukuji Temple and the surroundings of Nara Park.

The chapel  would be mistaken for Buddhism Temple if there were no cross on the roof or the statue of Mother Maria in front.

In the chapel, there is a magnificent Pipe Organ which was built by the German organ builder Werner Bosch in 1987. The organ contains parallel pedal 18 stops and 1200 pipes.  Since a service was being held, I refrained from entering for photography.  The two photos below are from the website.

In the mild light through the paper sliding doors of the windows, people could pray and contemplate composedly.

Image via here. 

Openair Christmas concert

 

Christmas is not a holiday in Japan and the number of Christian is very small.  Some people celebrate the Christmas while many people enjoy secular Christmas as one of the important seasonal events.  Lots of commercialism, but good will toward each other, the warmth of family and friends together, these can be good for everyone regardless of religion and culture. By exchanging gifts, even a greedy child learns the joy of not only receiving but also sharing and giving.  I look forward to the reaction of my 4-year-old granddaughter  when she finds a present from Santa in the morning.

Feeling the excitement in the air with sparkling colors, twinkling lights, and ribons, various memories of the year conjured up in my mind .... and I thought "It's been a fast year."  As for blogging, I’ve enjoyed interaction with you all.  Thank you for your constant kindness, inspiration, and encouragement throughout the year.  See you in the year 2015!

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Slowdown in blogging for the time being



Early blooming cherry blossoms at To-ji, kyoto, March 10th

Dear Friends, 

About three days have passed since the record powerful earthquake (once in 1000 years) hit northern east Japan extensively on March 11th.   As time goes by, more and more damages and victims are revealed.   I have more and more sinking mood as I read and hear about high level of radiation at damaged nuclear reactor,  possibility of nuclear meltdown in another reactor, tens of thousands of missing people, ominous looking fire at a burning oil refinery in the pitch-dark,  people suffering in agony on TV coverage..... : everything is terrifying, heartrending and unbearable to see.  I'm thankful for being able to lead a normal life but I'm so sad at the bottom of my heart.

This is an unbelievable tough test of perseverance and courage for my country.  Human being is helplessly fragile in the huge energy of nature but at the same time I believe human being is resolute in getting together to stand up from the ashes.
  Your concern, prayers and wishes are really appreciated. I found John Donne’s “For Whom the Bell Tolls” (No man is an island)  as someone’s feeling for Japan on the Internet and I shed tears.  As a Japanese I must do something I can at this national emergency.  Kansai Electric Power Company in my area is calling us for conservation as it has started supplementing power to Tohoku and Tokyo Electric Power Company which suffer shortage of electricity.  Conservation of electric power is what I can do at least and I think I’ll refrain from using a computer for the time being. Very small quantity, but many drops make a shower. 

Stay safe, warm, and healthy.

Yoko alias stardust

PS:  
This post is a recall about another big earthquake which devastated Kobe in 1995. 

To keep memories alive - Kobe Luminarie, lights of hope -