Oya Tour with the Host Family

I thought this information was interesting since I am an American.

The American architect Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959) took an immediate liking to Oya stone, famously electing — against the advice of Japanese architects — to incorporate it into his design for the main building of the Imperial Hotel in the Hibiya district of Tokyo. Wright planned to use it extensively for the lobby and facing of the hotel and the architect sent his assistant to Oya-machi to arrange for the terms of purchase and how to transport the rock. He was told that, given the large quantity of material required, it would be better for the American to buy the entire “mountain.” Wright visited the village and the arrangements were made.

Regretfully, the hotel did not survive Tokyo’s postwar development, falling victim, like so much else in the capital, to the vulgar, money-driven pragmatism of city planners. Wright must have liked the stone though, he went on to use it very effectively for the outside base facing of the Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan, a private girl’s school that has been sensitively preserved in its original location in Tokyo’s Higashi-Ikebukuro district.
A 27 meter high Heiwa Kannon-zo Kannon Peace Statue cast of Oya stone in 1956.
There is a viewing platform where Marlon and climbed up and waved down at me.

 We also walked from here to the Oyaji temple.  We entered the main hall which is enclosed in a cave.  When we walked in I saw the 1000 armed Oya Kannon goddess of mercy statue.  The goddess is carved out of the Oyaishi rock which is thought to be the oldest stone cavern Buddha in Japan.  She stands 4m in height.  The Oyaji Temple was an amazing place to visit.  Outside the cave was a beautiful Japanese garden.

 Did a little shopping at the Oya gift shop.

Keiko and Yuji's family.

 I want to thank Yuji and Keiko and their oldest daughter for  a wonderful fun filled day.

Kimono Day at Tea Ceremony

Wore my yakata to tea ceremony today.  Thank goodness the tea sensei specializes in kimono and I didn't have to pay her.  Look how she tied my obi.  I feel very beautiful in my kimono now that it has been fixed correctly.  

Waiting for Marlon to have his kimono put on by tea sensei.  Sensei Onagowa is a great teacher and has many students. 

Marlon 's turn to get help getting his kimono on.

My man Marlon is looking so good.  So happy he came to tea today. 

Teresa doing tea ceremony and we are special guest today.  She is making our tea for us.

I am being served green tea Teresa made and this nice lady is also serving me a sweet that has been sprinkled with gold.

Marlon and I all dressed up in our kimono's.

My BFF Teresa and I

Lunch at Onagowa's house was delicious.  What a wonderful afternoon we have shared with friends.

Tagesan Fudouson Temple in Kanuma With Host Family

Keiko's daughter and grandson came from Tokyo to meet us.  Plans were to go out and eat and then to some temples and Oya.  We stopped at a nice place to eat halfway up Mount Tagesan.  The outdoor seating area was beautiful with all the cherry blossom trees in full bloom.  After eating we ventured up Mount Tagesan.  

The view from the top of the mountain was spectacular.  As we walked up the mountain we came upon a little village.   Everything was closed so I wish some shops would have been open.  It's nice to shop around and see what the little unique shops have for sale.

As we walked from the little shopping area there was a small group of people in kimonos enjoying food and good times together.  I could hear the laughter of them as we got closer.

We now have reached the area that has lots of steps to climb to reach the Fudouson Temple.  Fudouson is known for preventing fires and ensuring prosperous sales.  The natural forest around the main hall is designated as a city's natural treasure.  This place is famous for viewing the cherry trees so we are here at the perfect timing.

We are now at the top and can see the temples.  Each person in Keiko's family lit incense and fan the smoke towards yourself as the smoke is believed to have healing power.

  At the purification fountain, you are supposed to take one of the ladles.  Fill ladle and rinse both hands.  Then, transfer some water into your cupped hand rinse your mouth and then spit the water beside the fountain.  Today, most people skip this part.

Many statues are sitting around.

Before ringing the bell, bow and put money in the offering box.  Grab the rope and ring the bell.  Clap both hands twice and drop hands to the side, then put hands together and pray then return the same way you came up.

From what I was told the statues are to represent children that have died.  This gives all a place to go to grieve over their loss.

Hotel Higashi-Nihon restaurant

So nice meeting my lady friends at Hotel Higashi-Nihon restaurant. Sitting outside enjoying the nice breeze felt good for my soul. So nice chatting with Mirko Imai, Teresa Annette Lehman, Valerie Ng Kokubu and Holly. Now let me say a very special thanks to Yoko Mohri who put this luncheon together. The food was delicious, the place was fabulous and the friendship we all share is so special. I am still smiling about some of our conversations during our coffee time together.

Tea with Kozue, Teresa & Marlon

Ladies Luncheon at Tanaka

Japan Race Association ~Walking Trail with Keiko

Keiko got up this morning and wanted to take a walk.  Marlon and I agreed to go with her to explore the neighborhood.  We walked down the street and saw the cafe called Penny Lane.  The Beatles paraphilia is everywhere inside and outside.  This place has good food and a great place to sit in the shade outside.  Ugie and Keiko have taken us here before.

 we take off down a side street and come upon a big hill to walk up.  At the top is a temple that is located in such a peaceful setting.  I don't remember the name of the shrine but I did enjoy the peaceful setting and all the trees and flowers and old stairways that led to nowhere now. When we got to the top of the stairs Keiko said a little prayer to herself threw in some money and rang the bell.  God bless her in every way as she is such a wonderful friend to Marlon and

I found 3 sets of stairs, loved how old this location seemed to be and I'm sure there is lots of history behind this location.  I walked around this temple and admired all the things I can see.  Oh, yeah, the location had lots of bamboo trees that surrounded the temple also.  

Time to leave the temple and now we are on to a special place Keiko enjoys walking.  It's an area that is taken care of by the JRA.  The JRA Equine Research Institute was founded in 1959 to conduct research on how to preserve good health and to prevent disorders for a racehorse.  The organization is comprised of the Sports Science Research center in Utsunomiya.  From what I could see this place has been abandoned and all the races and horse care is in Tokyo, Japan.  The scenery here was wooded and had walking paths that were mostly mud.  

As we journeyed down the walking paths we had been walking for a while so we sat down to take a break.  Keiko told us about a pheasant she often sees here.  She started making a sound and a pheasant came out and started looking around.  The next thing we hear is other pheasants calling back.  We started looking around and spotted this guy with all its color out in the open.  Wow Keiko, really impressed us that she knew how to draw them out of the woods.

Rest is over and time to continue on with our walk.  We came upon a tunnel that had been carved out to walk through.  Wow, this is a pretty cool tunnel.

This is a neat area with lots of interesting things to look at. 

The paths in some of the areas were graveled.  This did make it nicer then walking in mud.

While walking we met a lady who Keiko happened to know.  This lady went to school with Keiko in Jr. High school.  So nice to see these 2 meets and look at the beautiful happy smiles on their faces.

Utsunomiya Tour with Keiko

Marlon and I really enjoyed Keiko's invitation to explore Utsunomiya, Japan.  The first stop was Tochigiken Sougoubunnka Center.  Keiko's friend told her about the display at the center of her friend Miyatake.  I am very impressed with Miyatakes' work.  Miyatake started off using wire then covering with clay.  She told us that doing this style made her work very fragile so she went back to only using clay.  I loved how all her the figurines were smiling.  The faces tell a story as if they are talking to us without saying any words.  While we were looking at Miyatake's amazing work, a TV station NHK was filming her work.  NHK came up to me and I swallowed hard when they started asking me questions.  I answered them the best I could, it made me a little nervous, but since I liked the work it was easy to talk about.  That evening I was on TV news that started at 6;40pm.  My interview was on TV around 7pm.  Keiko had sent me an email telling me about seeing me on TV.  I still can't believe that I was on TV........:-)  Here are a few pictures of her work. Including this one which is my favorite.

After the TV interview, we were ready to leave.  Since we could not take photos in the exhibition we bought a book of her clay figure photos.  We also asked Miyatake if she would autograph our book.  She not only gave us an autograph she let me take her picture with our group.

 Now down to the 2nd floor to see an art exhibit on watercolor paintings of flowers in Tochigi Prefecture.  One artist was on location and I got his photo by his paintings.  I was hoping to see some paintings in the exhibit of Yoko.

Now Keiko is taking us to the Tochigi City Building where we will go to the top floor and take a view of Utsunomiya.  It was a nice view of the city.  I could see for miles and miles.  Thanks Keiko for the great tour of Utsunomiya, Japan.

 On the top floor, there was also a display of all the items that are made in Utsunomiya.

Its time to take a break so we went across the street and sat on some benches in the shade.  So peaceful as there was also a big water fountain.  There were some soda machines so we each bought something to drink and sat down and talked.  Keiko had brought supplies to teach me how to make 9 monkeys on a boat.  We drank our beverages and I learned how to make the craft.  I am happy that Keiko also gave me extra special seeds that are used for monkey's head and all the supplies to finish making the monkeys and boat.  Wow, what a great time Marlon and I have had today.