Kindergarten Rice Harvest Day in Ogawamachi, Japan – 日本、小川町での保育園の稲刈りの日
Posted on October 3, 2017
Rice in Japan is a symbol for many things. Food, life, nature, community, hard work, laughing and crying together, sunshine and rain. It is also a symbol of growing up. From childhood on, at least on Japan’s country side, kids learn the meaning of rice very quickly.
日本では米はあらゆることの象徴になっています。食料、生活、自然、地域、重労働、共に泣いたり笑ったり、太陽と雨など。米は成長の象徴でもあります。幼少期から、少なくとも日本の田舎では子供は米（ごはん）という意味をすぐに覚えます。
Here are some of photos of last week’s Ogawamachi kindergarten rice harvesting event. Explanations are not necessary since the photos talk for themselves. As for me, still a kid at heart, it was a welcome learning experience. There were so many new impressions and things to see that it was hard to put the camera down and finally get on with the harvest. Its just that I will treasure this amazing experience forever, working with tough and no-BS type people, harvesting valuable rice side-by-side together with my daughter. It really meant a lot to me.
Thank you for this day.
こちらは先週の小川町保育園の稲刈りのイベントの写真です。写真それ自体が物語っているので、説明は必要ないでしょう。私はと言えば、まだ心が子供なので、歓迎すべき勉強になる経験でした。とても多くの新しい印象や見るべきものがあって、カメラを置くのがためらわれ、結局稲刈りを続けるのが難しくなってしまいました。タフで誤魔化しなど一切ない人々と共に、娘と並んで稲刈りをしたこの素晴らしい経験をずっと大事な思い出としてとっておくことでしょう。私にとってはとてもためになる経験でした。
この日を過ごすことが出来て、感謝しています。
Comments or questions are very much appreciated. Please click below.
コメントや質問大歓迎です。下をクリックして下さい.
Your message has been sent
Indonesian Gamelan vibes resonating through Ogawamachi, Saitama
Posted on September 28, 2017
3週間前のガムランコンサートも私たちのいつもの場所、やしきぼっこという埼玉小川町の古民家で行われました。2人の日本人のミュージシャンがガムラン、という伝統的なインドネシアの楽器をやしきぼっこの一部である古い蔵のくらぼっこで演奏しました。
This Gamelan Concert happened about 3 weeks ago at our usual place, a historic farmhouse in Ogawamachi, Saitama called Yashikibokko. Two Japanese musicians played the gangsa, a traditional Indonesian instrument, at an ancient warehouse – Kurabokko, attached to Yashikibokko.
もう少しで間に合わないところでしたが、人々はすでにこの狭くて居心地の良い空間に集まっており、私が二階に上るのにスペースを開けてくれました。間もなく、コンサートが始まりました。この古い蔵を優しく包み込む素晴らしい音楽のバイブレーションは筆舌にしがたく、まきとゆりの二人は素晴らしいインドネシアの風景を雨や太陽などとともに音で描いてくれました。とても癒されて心が落ち着きました。また小川町のくらぼっこでこの二人のアーティストの音楽を聞けたらと思います。
Almost did not make it on time, however, people already gathered in this tight, cosy space kindly made room allowing me to climb the narrow stair to the second floor. Shortly after this the concert started. At this point words would not do justice to the wonderful musical vibrations which gently engulfed this old warehouse. Maki and Yuri, the two musicians, actually painted wonderful Indonesian landscapes including rain and sunshine with their sounds. It was very healing and calming. Hopefully I would be able to hear these two artists again at Kurabokko in Ogawamachi.
素敵な夜を本当にありがとうございました。
Thank you so much for this evening.
Please leave any comments here:
Your message has been sent
日本の小さな町のたてもの史
Posted on September 26, 2017
少し前に、私たちの家族は東京から60キロメートル離れた東上線の終点にある埼玉の小川町という町にやって来ました。幾つかの低山の連なる山脈の麓にあり、時には見過ごされてしまう宝物に満ちた町です。これはすでに世界的に有名なオーガニックの田畑あるいは信じられないくらいの数の野生の動植物のことを言っているのではありません。小川町産の和紙と呼ばれる丈夫で美しいことで知られる紙のことでもありません。
私がお話ししたいのは、昔の歴史的建造物のことで、時には1860年代後半の明治維新の頃まで遡るものもあります。保存状態が良いものもあります。そのような歴史的建造物を見ると、この町がいかにかつては賑わっていたかを感じる事が出来るでしょう。この町は絹の製造の中心地であっただけではありません。小川町は魅力的な過去も持っているのですが目立つことがちょっと苦手で、でも、とてもハッピーなお祭りごとが好きな町です。小川町は芸者文化の伝統でも知られていました。
今ではこの素晴らしい時代はとっくに過ぎ去ってしまいました。しかし、想像を膨らませて白昼夢に浸れば、酒の杯を合わせるカチンという音や、カラ、コロ、という下駄の音に混じって、琴の音が聞こえてくるでしょう。約束の時間に間に合うよう急ぐ着物の影、そしてもし幸運なら、美しい芸者の秘密の恥らうような微笑も見られるかもしれません。過ぎ去りし一時の夢。夢はまだ触れます、その魂は生きています。しかし、次第に図書館や書簡や写真という形で書物になって、姿を消していっています。
写真の面から言えば、建物の歴史的なシチュエーションを捉えるのに、時には何度か建物を見ないといけないこともあります。もしかしたら、何回か興味深い家を通り過ぎてしまったかもしれないことも。屋根に面白い特徴のあるものとか、玄関の影に何か隠れてたかな、とか。壁が朽ち果てて、あまりにもボロボロなので、その建物に隠された宝物に気づかなかったり。
下の写真は埼玉、小川町周辺の建造物のものです。これらの写真は保存という点でリアルな状態を示しています。その美しさだけを指摘するのは、何の助けにもなりません。これらの建造物が｢さよなら｣とこの世に別れを告げ、うなだれ、助けを求めて静かに泣いているのを誰も耳にする人が誰もいないのなら。
しかし、良い知らせもあります。建物の幾つかは状態も良く、きちんと手入れがされています。そういう建物は他の建物にどうすれば良いのかを示す例として使えます。
このようなタイプの写真、ノイズがあまり入らない低光撮影が出来るカメラの他に、私のスタンダードのレンズは15－20mmくらいのワイドアングルレンズや70－200mmくらいの中型のテレレンズです。ワイドアングルレンズは周辺とともに狭い建物や、狭い通りをカメラから近距離で対象を静止画撮影するのに必要です。テレレンズはカメラから比較的遠くにある、届かないところにある対象を撮るのに使われます。一脚は通常役に立ちます。対象を照らすのに、フラッシュよりも強い手持ちのライトをむしろ使います。フラッシュは影を明るくするのに使います。
私のページに来てくれてありがとう。コメントもご自由に、または質問があればEmailを送ってください。このブログはじっくり時間をかけて更新するかもしれません。この美しい町の目に見える変化を記録できたらと思います。
ココメントや質問大歓迎です。下をクリックして下さい.
Your message has been sent
Sleeping history in a small Japanese town
Posted on September 20, 2017
日本語
Not too long ago our family arrived in the town of Ogawamachi, Saitama (map here) located about 75 minutes away from Tokyo/Ikebukuro at the end of the Tobu Tojo line. (about 80 kilometers by car from central Tokyo). Nestled within some smaller mountain ranges it contains a number of sometimes overlooked treasures. With this I don’t mean the already world famous organic rice fields, vegetable gardens, or, unbelievable amount of wildlife. I am also not thinking about the Ogawamachi produced paper, called washi in Japanese, known for its toughness and beauty.
What I would like to describe is the large number of ancient, and, historic buildings occasionally dating back to a time around the Meiji Restoration in the late 1860s. Some of them are well preserved. Looking at them you can almost feel how lively this town once must have been. It was not only a center of silk production. Ogawamachi also has a charming past, somewhat shy, however very happy and full of celebrations. It was a town known for its traditions around geisha culture.
Now, this wonderful time is long gone. However, allowing for a little daydreaming and imagination, maybe the sound of a koto mixed with the clanking of sake cups and clack-clacks of wooden geta sandals can still be heard. Shadows of kimono rushing by ready for an appointment, and, if lucky enough, maybe there is even a secret, embarrassed smile of a beautiful artist geisha. A dream of a time long gone. A dream still touchable, its soul alive, however, slowly disappearing into libraries and books in form of letters and pictures.
From a photography perspective capturing an architectural historic situation sometimes takes looking at building several times. I might have walk passed interesting houses several times not realizing an interesting feature on a roof, or, something hidden in the shade of an entrance. Maybe a falling apart building with rotten walls stands out so much that some hidden treasures behind it are ignored.
Below is a collection of photos of buildings and structures in and around Ogawamachi in Saitama. They portrait their real status in terms of preservation. It does not help pointing out only their beauty if, on the other hand, nobody really hears these buildings silently weep waiting for help while gradually bowing out from this World saying: “Sayonara…”
The good news, however, is that some buildings are in great shape and well taken care off. They should function as an example to others what could be done.
For this type of photography, besides a camera which is capable of low light photography without two much noise my standard lenses are a wide angle lens around 15-20 mm and a mid-range tele lens around 70 – 200 mm. The wide angle lens is necessary for tight buildings, or, narrow streets to still capture an object very near to the camera together with its surrounding. The tele lens is used for objects relatively distant from the camera and unreachable. A monopod is usually helpful. I’d rather use a strong hand held light than a flash to illuminate objects. A flash is used to brighten up shadows.
Thank you for visiting my page. Please feel free to comment, or, send me an email if you should have any questions. I might update this blog over time, hopefully documenting visible changes to the appearance of this beautiful town.
Comments or questions are very much appreciated. Please click below.
Your message has been sent
蝴蝶、電車、桜 ー Butterflies, Trains and Cherry Blossoms –
Posted on April 10, 2017
小川町埼玉 ー八高線 Watching Train of JR Hachiko-line make it through Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – It goes from Hachioji to Kuragano over a distance of 93 Kilometers. ©Hans Nagl
Here are some of photos of a cherry blossom viewing filled weekend. It included, sake tasting, and plenty of photo opportunities around Ogawamachi’s surrounding nature. The town is located in Saitama, little more than aone hour away from Tokyo’s Ikebukuro via Tobu Tojo Line.
Please feel free to send me your comments at the end of this blog. I am always happy about feedback.
Thank you very much,
Hans
小川町埼玉- 槻川 – 蝴蝶 – Small Butterfly, about the size of a finger nail is making its way through flowers along the Tsuki River in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 槻川 – 蝴蝶 – These two small fingernail size butterflies are dancing in the sunlight between flowers along the Tsuki River in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 槻川 – 蝴蝶 – Small butterfly enjoying a nice, warm spring day along the Tsuki River in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 槻川 – きじ ー Pheasant spotted along the Tsuki River running through Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 槻川 – Beautiful Tsuki River running through Ogawamachi, Saitama offers many scenes like this one. The water is very clear home to many species of water animals – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 仙元山ハイキング – everything is blooming this spring along a hiking path towards Mount Sengen in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 槻川 – 桜 - Cherry Blossoms along the Tsuki River in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ー八高線 Watching Train of JR Hachiko-line make it through Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 仙元山ハイキング – Mountain view seen from Mount Sengen in Ogawamachi, Saitama towards Chichibu. The weather could not decide if it should be sunny or rainy. ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 仙元山ハイキング - Observation Tower on Mount Sengen offers beautiful views ofOgawamachi, Saitama. This time it was better to make its way back the mountain because weather was unpredictable. ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 仙元山ハイキング - Wonderful patchwork of pinks, greens and whites with Ogawamachi, Saitama in the background. ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – 酒 – Sake tasting event in Ogawamachi Saitama. This sake is based on locally grown, organic ingredients. Sake master is watching his customers’ reactions to this year’s sake. The one I tasted was crisp, clear and perfect. ©Hans Nagl
Photo Opportunities – Hiking in Ogawamachi, Saitama – 小川町埼玉ハイキング
Posted on April 6, 2017
Just moved to Ogawamachi, Saitama prefecture in Japan a couple of weeks ago and immediately started to explore the area with my usual partner, my camera.
仙元山見晴らしの丘公園 ー小川町埼玉Sengenyamamiharashinooka Park – View of Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan
Ogawamachi, in Saitama Prefecture close to Tokyo, offers many opportunities to explore nature, especially with a camera of any kind. It is also kids friendly with a mountain rollercoaster, observatory and playground located at Mount Sengen Park relatively close to the station (also reachable via taxi if the walk from the station is too long). Various hiking paths lead to nearby mountain tops of Mount Sengen (~280m) accessible within few hours round trip from Ogawamachi Station. This place is at the end of the Tobu Tojo Train line from Ikebukuro, Tokyo, (~1 hour 15 mins express train), or, Hajiko Line starting at Hachioji.
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Almost at Ogawamachi Station at the end of Tobu Tojo Line, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
Hikes feature many kinds of flowers, insects, wildlife, a mountain roller coaster, playgrounds, shrines, historic sites and much more. Best of all, Ogawamachi has 2 Hot Springs, 3 Sake Breweries, One Winery and one Micro Brewery just in case if a hike calls for a food or drink break. It also has a supermarket close to the station including various stores such as a wonderful bakery, (going there almost every day), groceries, and a Dollar (100yen) store. The area is also not overrun by hikers such as more popular areas around Tokyo offering an opportunity to discover a more unseen Japan. Best of all everybody here is friendly and helpful.
For sure try some of the local foods in one of the restaurants in town. Ogawamachi is known for growing food organically including rice. Macrobiotic food is a common goal of people living here. This is one of the reasons why I moved here, besides the kids friendly environment. What is not available here, fortunately, are common fast-food chain stores. Food here is an important matter and gets prepared very carefully on an individual basis in most restaurants. There are Chinese ramen, Indian curry, and, of course, Japanese restaurants of many kinds, and, Izakaya peppered throughout town.
If biking then Ogawamachi is a good place to take a break before moving on to Chichibu close by.
Here are some photos from my most recent outings mostly at Mount Sengen and the town of Ogawamachi.
Thank you for visiting my web site. Please feel free to comment at the end of this post.
Views From Above
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Ogawamachi town center with the train station, Hajiko and Tobu Tojo Lines, Yaoko Supermarket featuring a wonderful bakery, 100en (Dollar) Store and Groceries – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ー八高線 Watching Train of JR Hachiko-line make it through Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – It goes from Hachioji to Kuragano over a distance of 93 Kilometers. ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – River running through Ogawamachi with playground. River is a popular bass fishing spot also including Carp and other fish. ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – View of the Japanese Paper Factory – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Ogawamachi’s wonderful jumble of houses ©Hans Nagl
仙元山 小川町埼玉 – View of Ogawamachi from the hiking path to Mount Sengen (~280m)
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – View Towards Kawagoe and Tokyo from Mount Sengen, Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
Along hiking paths on Mount Sengen
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Forest along hiking path to Mount Sengen in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング- Taking a break underneath some mighty cedar trees – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ー Violets along a hiking path in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ーThis bird seems to enjoy spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ー Cherry Blossoms in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ーThe first butterfly of the season who almost escaped my lens in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – Taking a break at a shrine – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Mysterious place on Mount Sengen in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Mysterious place on Mount Sengen in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, dense bamboo forests, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – One of the many butterflies along the hiking path to Mount Sengen ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – Bird enjoying spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 – If you are lucky you might even see a real tanuki in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ーCarp enjoying warm sunshine in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ーPlum blossoms in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 ーThis bird seems to enjoy spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
Evening in Ogawamachi
小川町埼玉 ー Evening along the River in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉 - catching fish in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉, Spring in Ogawamachi, Saitama, Japan – ©Hans Nagl
Mountain Rollercoaster and fun
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – ©Hans Nagl
小川町埼玉仙元山ハイキング – Rollercoaster at Mount Sengen ©Hans Nagl
Autumn, Seagulls, Sand and Stars
Posted on October 4, 2014
Thank you for visiting my blog.
Summer came and went so quickly. Now, and I still really can’t believe it, fall arrived. To adequately welcome this season with all its colors and changes in weather, I decided to take my camera and spend an afternoon in Onset, Massachusetts, near Cape Cod. The place I usually visit is the perfect spot to forget the day, enjoying the events the shore has to offer. This could be rain, fog, wind, or the mellow, warm glow of the setting autumn sun. Seagulls and other shorebirds seemed to be having a good time watching a guy with a tripod and a camera, mesmerized by the early autumn spectacle performed by the many shorebirds. Not with words, however, with this entire scenery, the owner of this season clearly made a statement. Fall is surely here.
As usual, without too many words, here are some of my photos. Hopefully, you will enjoy these.
Where did these birds learn how to fly? Nobody got hurt, and everybody kept on flying. – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Seagulls decorating the sky, moving together and very quickly – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Staying together, flying high – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
The first couple of cold days still made this afternoon’s visit near Onset in Massachusetts a rewarding experience. Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Beach Flowers – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Just beyond the Horizon, this light tower and houses can be seen. – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
This was a fortunate photo of this Long-billed Curlew preparing for landing – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Watching all kinds of birds enjoy these fall days – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
The first couple of cold days still made this afternoon’s visit near Onset in Massachusetts a rewarding experience. Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
I dream while watching these seagulls playing in the sky. It – Onset Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Long-billed Curlew – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
The first couple of cold days still made this afternoon’s visit near Onset in Massachusetts a rewarding experience. Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Wondering if this could be Jonathan Livingston Seagull – Onset Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Silently flying together, listening to the wind and the sea – Onset, Massachusetts – ©HansNagl.com
Wind, Sand and Stars. A reminder of what one of my favorite authors, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, enjoyed and frequently wrote about. The Little Prince also does not seem to be too far away. Evenings are becoming cooler. ©HansNagl.com
I would appreciate any comments that you could enter here:
Your message has been sent
Cafe Gute Katze & GoodTimes English 