Please Enjoy A Virtual-Reality Tour Of An Autumn Hunting!

Now it is the season of colored leaves. As I mentioned several times previously, Japanese always love seasonal things. The same way people go out for "Hanami (Seasonal Flowers Viewing)", people rush to see beautiful colored leaves in this season. However, we don't use the word "Viewing" for the colored leaves in fall. Somehow we use "Hunting" for the colored leaves, such as "Let's go to colored-leaves hunting this weekend!"

The pure red color of Japanese maple leaves is one of the most popular colors of autumnal foliage same as ginkgo's golden color. Then, this temple in the photo-slideshow above, Heirin-ji Temple in Niiza City, Saitama prefecture, would be a great spot to enjoy it in fall. 

The temple has a long history and is said that it was originally established in 1375. Unfortunately during the Japanese Warring States Period most of the buildings were burned down, but it was restored under the protection of the very first Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa, of Tokugawa-shogunate era (Samurai era). 

Actually this temple has a historical relation with Hachioji City. There is a grave of a Samurai princess born during the Japanese Warring States Period. She is an older sister of Princess Matsu, whom I introduced as "Refugee Samurai Princess" in my previous post in last April 10th and April 28th. (Please click the date to read the previous posts).

This older sister is known as "Kenshoin", and she also played an important role in Japanese history, although it was very different from her sister, Princess Matsu's contribution. Kenshoin was entrusted a hidden illegitimate child of the second Tokugawa-Shogun to raise. It was a request from the first Shogun, Ieyasu Tokugawa. Thus she was buried a major temple under the protection of Tokugawa-Shogunate government. 

It is interesting to hear that the sister, whose family was defeated and went to ruin, survived by themselves and played important roles in history. Anyway, please enjoy the beautiful autumn view!

Photos of Mt.Takao Momiji Festival in November

"Mt.Takao Momiji Festival" has begun! Every year this seasonal event for colored leaves is held at Mt.Takao in Tokyo in November. However the forecast says after the 15th would be the best timing for viewing the foliage this year. The photos are from last year around the end of November.

"Momiji" means Japanese Maple trees which will turn to beautiful red in fall, but the word also can mean just "Colored Leaves". It is confusing since Chinese characters used for writing, are ideographic where each character can have multiple meanings. The Chinese characters for Momiji, "紅葉", is a combination of Chinese character "Red" and "Leaves" which can be also pronounced as "Kouyou" meaning literally "Colored Leaves (in fall)". In fact Momiji tree is one of the major trees for the "Colored-Leaves Hunting" which I wrote previously a week ago. Thus the word "Momiji" is used for "colored leaves", as well.

You may think that colored leaves are not only in red color. Yes, actually the Japanese word "Kouyou", which I introduced in the previous paragraph, can be written using different Chinese characters "黄葉". This combination characters have the meaning of "Yellow" and "Leaves". In short, Japanese word for colored leaves, "Kouyou" can be written in both Chinese-character combinations of "Red Leaves" and "Yellow Leaves".

It is like playing with words. I think it would be one of the fun aspects of using ideographic characters for writing. However there is no Chinese-character combination for "Orange Colored-Leaves". Perhaps we should create that one, too.

Colored Leaves Season Has Just Started in Tokyo Area

Beautiful fall season has started in Tokyo area. Lots of leaves are turning red, orange or yellow, and now we can see the gradual change from green to the fall color.

As I mentioned several times previously, Japanese always love seasonal things. The same way people go out for "Hanami (Seasonal Flowers Viewing)", people rush to see beautiful colored leaves in this season. 

However, we don't use the word "Viewing" for the colored leaves in fall. Somehow we use "Hunting" for the colored leaves, such as "Let's go to Momiji-Gari (Colored Leaves Hunting) this weekend!"

Perhaps it is the gentlest hunt, people hunt beautiful leaves with their eyes or cameras. 

The photo was taken in Tama-City, Tokyo.