Oura Catholic Church

I may have posted a photo of this before, but I found this church again on my walk around Nagasaki the other day. I'd looked forward to going to Mass there, but I don't think they do that any more....

Something that this church makes me think about is how lucky I am to have the freedom to practice my Catholic religion. It's hard to believe that here, right here, in Nagasaki, 26 people were brutally murdered - actually crucified - because of their faith. Catholics had to go underground for a long time, and I think it's amazing that they survived at all. Some were banished to the islands (the very ones I was going to go to last weekend), and I've seen how these Christians cleverly disguised their Catholic symbols in the Shinto and Bhuddist imagery, as a matter of survival. When the Nagasaki Foreign Settlement was established in the mid-1800s, the foreigners brought their faith with them, and though the ban on Christianity still existed, the Japanese government apparently couldn't prevent the newcomers from building churches in the settlement. The road still wasn't easy for Japanese Christians (their religion being outlawed and all!) - but it seems like this church was a beacon of hope for the people.

It is the oldest wooden church in Japan, and I think it is the only artifact of Western origin that has been designated a Japanese National Treasure.

Link to more information about Oura Catholic Church

Movie of Oura Cathedral

Website for the 26 Martyrs

Inasayama

So...when life gives me lemons, I make... a bike trip? Certain key members of my Goto Island posse got sick, the forecast predicted RAIN ALL WEEKEND, so I saved my ferry & island bungalow money and I climbed Inasayama (Mt. Inasa, overlooking Nagasaki City)instead. I figured I'd chance being out on my bike for as long as the weather held. So far the only rain we've had today lasted about 20 minutes. Apparently, it's not really going to actually RAIN during rainy season this year.

January 26 was the Chinese New Year, and each year Nagasaki City puts on a Lantern Festival to celebrate.

I've seen and taken many photos of this before, but this time I was especially interested in the paintings on fabric (silk?), since they closely resemble the style of painting I currently study. Their ethereal quality makes them hard to resist. They're in such contrast to all the crashing color and vibrant noise that is so typical of a night at the festival.

I (heart) OBAMA

Who doesn't??? But just to be clear - I'm talking Obama City on Tachibana Bay in Nagasaki Prefecture, of course! As I've often mentioned in previous posts, Kyushu (the region in which I live in Japan) is well-known for its abundant onsens, or hot springs. Last Friday night some of the other ALTs and I went down to Obama city (about a half hour drive from Isahaya) for a hot bath at a rooftop onsen. And, in the winter, in the RAIN, that was a crazy idea.

Well, actually, once I was bathed and IN the hot tub, on the roof, looking out over the city and shore, it was worth it.

And, as shy you think Japanese people are, they certainly are not shy about jumping on the Obama bandwagon and using our political happenings to try to drum up business.

Although I'm happy that US-Japan relations seem - at least for the moment - more positive than not, I must admit, that as I walked around town seeing all those I (heart) OBAMA banners triumphantly waving in the wind, it was a comical sight to see our new president smiling and waving at everyone from a bathtub.

Okunchi

One recent Saturday I had to work, so I had the previous Thursday off. My painting teacher had sent me to Nagasaki to buy a stone and carving tool so I can make another inkan (seal to sign my paintings), but it was an exercise in futility. However, the trip wasn't a complete bust, as I was able to attend part of a festival called "Okunchi" in/around/for (?) Suwa Shrine in Nagasaki. It's held every year October 7-9, and since they don't change it to make sure it falls on a weekend, many people have to work and therefore miss out. Here are the torii (archway/gate/s) leading up to Suwa Shrine, where this dance took place. I think there were 2 other locations around the city where representatives from a select 7 machi (towns or sections inside the city).




Groups from the machi do a dance or perform with a large boat-like thing...
Here they are pushing it up the stairs to the very small! stage area in front of the temple.

















Here is a look at the crowd in the stands watching the performance. If you look closely, you can see many people have a cloth over their head to keep the sun off of them...it's still pretty hot in Nagasaki!








Here is a look at the performance - and behind that, a glimpse of downtown Nagasaki. At this part in the performance, the men work together to spin the boat - it really gets the crowd going wild (I think I must be missing something, but it DOES look pretty hard). There are also some guys holding poles with globes on top - I think a combination of percussive music and these pole guys help to direct the guys pushing/pulling the boat. I think this whole thing is a really interesting way to build community spirit :)

Feel free to comment if you've got any experience with the Okunchi festival!

竜頭泉 りゅうとうせん

(or for those of you having trouble reading that - "Ryutousen" (ryou-toe-sen).  

I can see why I had trouble remembering the right order of the name, because "ryu" means dragon, and I knew "sento" had something to do with bath/water/springs.  And, when I looked up "sentou" the first definition said "head"...

Well, I've got it now - 

"ryutou" = dragon head, "sen" = springs.  

And now your Japanese lesson is out of the way :)

Here's a picture of one of the "taki" (waterfall) and "sen" near the restaurant.  The surrounding area was gorgeous - good for hiking and camping I hear.  

After living here - with mountains so close, I can't imagine living without them now... 

Kujaku 孔雀

Here's a photo of one of the pieces I saw at the Lantern Festival. You'll be happy to know I chose not to post the picture of the scary pig heads (real - NOT lanterns) that were on display directly across from this peacock. ??? pigheads??? They were all around this shrine-looking thing. Almost like all the pigs were at a drive-in movie, but facing the wrong way... Never could get a straight answer/explanation about that one!

Drummer boy

I know I promised the Snow Festival pics (I'll get to them - honest), but I just had to post these from last night at the Nagasaki Lantern Festival. I was right up front for this performance of Okinawan drumming (drumming + crisp movements + excited whistling + exuberant faces!).
There was so much joy in the kids' expressions...I can still hear and feel the delightful beats inside me this morning!

The white sock-looking things they are wearing are called "tabi"

Can you see the large lanterns in the shape of people in the background?

Ry - I really think you should come over and try this!


***Don't foget to click on the photos to see the larger versions!