Japan Through Mara’s Lenses
A great travel mate and a sensitive soul. Mara has captured moments and places in a astounding way. Here some pictures from her that I have posted on Instagram. I will be adding more in new posts as I add them to the social network.
An interesting thing about Japan is that some emblematic buildings have been burned down at some point in their history. Many times what we see are replicas or new versions with additions, even 3rd reconstruction and up. It could have happened few hundred years ago or even in the current century. This doesn’t diminishes at all their cultural or historical value, but it doesn’t stop for being curious that the situation repeats on different locations.
In the picture above, the Temple of the Golden Pavilion (Kinkaku-ji). This version is from 1955, when it was reconstructed as a consequence of a fire produced in 1950 by a novice monk, that seemed to be suffering from mental illnesses. The original construction was dated to 1397.
When arriving to Japan the last I expected was to find that one of the most popular discount stores is named Don Quijote, also known by the shortened name Donki. It is in more than 160 locations and you can buy from candy to electronics, to clothing and all kind of foods. This is the one in Asakusa, my favorite district between the ones I have visited in Tokyo.
The Japanese pagodas come from the Chinese pagodas, which in turn are related to the Indian stupas. Their original use is as reliquaries and normally they are part of Japanese Buddhist temples. The wooden pagodas are normally big buildings of two stories or odd numbers if they are bigger. The one from the picture has five, which are quite common in emblematic temples. It was built in 1426, is National Treasure of Japan and it’s part of the Kofukuji temple in Nara.
When I see a country like Japan that has risen after living the horror of war to be what it is today, I feel the hope of a better tomorrow. But this will not happen until we understand that we are one, it will not happen until we don’t understand the need of union above borders and beliefs.
In moments like this one in which my country Venezuela goes through a frightening situation as a consequence of the political turmoil, there is no other option than to take a deep breath and to know that it is possible, that if some countries have thrived, all countries can, but we can’t accomplish that without work and empathy for the others.
In the 2 pics above, the Hiroshima Prefectural Commercial Exhibition Hall, preserved on the way it was it after the nuclear bomb “little boy” exploded in 1945 just 600 meters over the building.
27,268 kilometers of train tracks along Japan, managed by more than 100 companies, accounting for 46 of the 50 busiest train stations worldwide.
For me travelling on train has an almost romantic feeling. Among the many things I like about Japan, this is for sure between my favorites.
There is a big variety of tracks and train models, it is part of the culture of the country, given its geography is is the most popular way of moving around. One time I traveled over two thousand kilometers in only two weeks and it wasn’t the only time I was around there hitting the tracks.
We had the luck to see what if I am not wrong is part of a traditional Japanese wedding. The obvious fact that we were on the premises of the Shinto shrine of Itsukushima and what I researched on the Internet, seems to point that this clothes are the customary ones for a wedding from that religion.
The Itsukushima shrine and the “floating” torii gate, located in the namesake island. This is another of the most emblematic locations in Japan. In a matter of hours the the tide can go up and down to the point of being completely receded, letting you walk to the structure. As you can see, because of the deer that walks around, the water is not so deep.
As a curious fact, the place is so sacred, that since 1878 births and deaths in the surroundings are not allowed. Women about to give birth, terminally ill and elder people close to their deaths should move to mainland.
In the surroundings of the Shinto shrines in Japan you will normally see piles of sake barrels, given that drinking it in those places bring humans closer to the gods. The decoration of those containers is called kazaridaru in Japanese.
One of my favourite pics. The Japanese “gates” known as Torii serve as passage to the sacred world. They are normally located in the entrance of the Shinto shrines. The origin of this type of structure is unknown — although there are few theories- and the oldest written record about their existence in Japan dates from the year 922. They are a symbol recognized worldwide and used frequently to reflect the exoticism of the Japanese culture.
Originally published at https://en.asiestalavaina.com. This story has been moved here permanently.
