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A traditional custom in Fukui “Tenjinko”　

2019.01.27

Life in Fukui

The “Tenjinko” is held only in the northern region of Fukui Prefecture and in some regions of several other prefectures on January 25th every year. The “Tenjinko” is the day when the people offer grilled flatfish in front of hanging scrolls depicting Tenjin-sama（Michizane Sugawara) , who is called “The God of learning”.　

 

First of all, women don’t have the hanging scrolls of their own Tenjin-sama.
Because only when baby boys were born, the mother’s parents present one to their grandson. So sometimes there are a couple of Tenjin-samas in a family.

 

The 25th day is derived from the deathday of Michizane. Generally, they hang up the scrolls on New Year's Eve and put them away after the January 25th. On the day, I felt that time flew that almost one month passed after the New Year's Day. Also, it is the coldest time of the year, I expect that the first day of spring according to the lunar calendar is approaching as well. (H.S)

 


There are two Tenjin-samas at my house.

 


It is said that flatfish was Michizane's favorite food.

Distant view of Mt. Hakusan from Mt. Yoshinogatake in Fukui

2019.01.16

Life in Fukui


Distant view of Mt. Hakusan from Mt. Yoshinogatake

 

Last weekend, the weather was fine, and I climbed Mt. Yoshinogatake in Eiheiji-cho, Fukui Prefecture. Although the altitude of the mountain is only 547 meters, it is good for me to be able to enjoy hiking relatively easily even in this season. Moreover, here is the short approach that it takes less than 30 minutes by car from the center of Fukui city. There was hardly any snow on the climbing road from Matsuoka Kamiyoshino village, and it was a comfortable hike about 1 hour climb and 40 minute descent.

 

Mt. Yoshinogatake is one of Echizen Gozan (The famous five mountains in Echizen). I think that the Echizen Gozan has a strange combination of a high mountain like Mt. Hakusan and low mountains like Mt. Yoshinogatake and Mt. Monjusan, but each of the mountains has a common legend that a famous monk of the Nara period "Taicho" opened the ways to climb them and founded shrines there.

 

Following the sign, from the top square, and I walked for a few more minutes, there was a place named "Hakusan Observatory", from which you can see the beautiful appearance of the shining white Mt. Hakusan. It has little snow this winter and the front mountains look like ones in late autumn, so the contrast between them is prominent.
*"Hakusan" means a white mountain.
T.S

 


The top of the Mt. Yoshinogatake

Imaginary Fukui City's subway

2018.12.26

Life in Fukui

It was introduced in the Fukui Shimbun newspaper the other day: A university student from Echizen City created an imaginary Fukui City Transportation Bureau and released its subway map. It "operates" the subway lines every day.

 

 

Of course, there are no subway lines in Fukui City now, and I have never heard that they would be constructed in the future. But I admire such an idea with dreams.

 

When I looked at the subway map, I was glad to find a station near my house. I think that Shinkansen is certainly necessary, but subways are closely related to the daily lives of the local people, so if there are, they help the people a lot. As well as during winter with much snow,
in the hot summer sun or the rain, you don't have to wait a bus outside. They also are useful for people who don't drive. And elderly people may not feel hesitant to return their driver licenses. (H.S)

 

Here is a video of the "Fukui City Transportation Bureau". (2'20")
Fukui City Subway Lines   Fukui Station   Owada Line

Scenery that could be used for samurai dramas

2018.08.27

Life in Fukui

 

I sometimes go to Hasugaura in Awara City to practice drone. The other day in Hasugaura,
I had a strange feeling as if I entered an air pocket to see the contrast of the strong sunlight and the grass that grows strongly on the roadside.

 

There are not any artifacts such as electric wires in the sky. The road looks like as if an old-time farmer is going to come with a horse-drawn cart. So it could be used as a set of a historical drama as it is.

 

It doesn't seem like there is a house nearby with running water and electricity as well as a high-speed Internet connection.
TS

Fukui City Central Park reopened fully for the first time in four years

2018.08.20

Life in Fukui


"Horiwari (canal) Plaza", which reproduces the stone wall of Fukui Castle Ninomaru moat. The prefectural office built in the Fukui Castle ruins can be seen in the background.

 


"Sannomaru Nishibori (west outer moat) Waterscape" completed two years ago.

 

The fence that covered the southern part of the Fukui City Central Park was removed, and the park was fully reopened for the first time in four years. The outlook is better and brighter than before.

 

On the west side of the park, there is "Sannomaru Nishibori Waterscape", which reproduced the scenery of the moat with a shallow pond two years ago, and in addition to that, "Horiwari Plaza", where the stone wall of the same height as in Edo era was reproduced by the same construction method at that time was completed a few days ago. And the whole park was reborn with history as the theme.

 

The remaining problem to be solved, I think, is where the prefectural office in the center of the Fukui Castle ruins will move.
TS

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