Watanabe Diary

The Ujigami festival is held every year on Ocotober 14 and 15th.

We called local deity "Ujigami" and we all islanders are "Ujiko" protected by "Ujigami-sama". This is an event to show our great gratitude to "Ujigami-sama".

My children are looking for an event called "Tanomosan" every year. We spent two weeks making a "Tanomo ship".
Long ago, it was prohibited to cultivate the land because the Miyajima island itself was believed as a God. So once a year, people show thier gratitude to the mainland by sending beautifuly decorated small ship. 
Last night, there was a Shinto ritual at the Shinomiya shrine then we brought our ship to the beach of Mikasa and put it to sea. It is believed if the ship pass through the torii you will have a great luck. 
You know what!? Our ship "Akari Jyun maru" was the first to get there!My children are looking for an event called "Tanomosan" every year. We spent two weeks making a "Tanomo ship".

When I first came to Miyajima, I was deeply moved by the beautiful night view. I felt like I was in a movie or somewhere unknown. As I think of what happend then, now I know I was in a magic of the lights. 
There is a lantern festival at the Daisho-in temple this weekend from 6pm to 9pm. I strongly believe that the lights could bring people together.When I first came to Miyajima, I was deeply moved by the beautiful night view. I felt like I was in a movie or somewhere unknown. As I think of what happend then, now I know I was in a magic of the lights. 
There is a lantern festival at the Daisho-in temple this weekend from 6pm to 9pm. I strongly believe that the lights could bring people together.

Obon is a Buddhist event occurring from the 13th to 16th of August to hold a memorial service to the spirits of ancestors．
Bon odori is the dance for holding a memorial service for the dead during the Bon period.
It was so beautiful looking at people dancing together in a circle.Obon is a Buddhist event occurring from the 13th to 16th of August to hold a memorial service to the spirits of ancestors．
Bon odori is the dance for holding a memorial service for the dead during the Bon period.
It was so beautiful looking at people dancing together in a circle.

Having two months of construction work, we finally have a brand new room called "Rikyu". We named the room with our great respects to "Sen no Rikyu", a famous tea master during the azuchi-momoyama period. He introduced the rule of tea ceremony and its philosophy "Wa, Kei, Sei, Jyaku". "Wa" to open each other's heart, "Kei" to respect each other, "Sei" to purify your surrounding and your spirit, "Jyaku" to maintain the spirit of quietness. Through your experience in the room, we hope you would discover something new about our culture.Having two months of construction work, we finally have a brand new room called "Rikyu". We named the room with our great respects to "Sen no Rikyu", a famous tea master during the azuchi-momoyama period. He introduced the rule of tea ceremony and its philosophy "Wa, Kei, Sei, Jyaku". "Wa" to open each other's heart, "Kei" to respect each other, "Sei" to purify your surrounding and your spirit, "Jyaku" to maintain the spirit of quietness. Through your experience in the room, we hope you would discover something new about our culture.