Vernal Equinox Day.

 Today is Vernal Equinox Day. 

I went for a walk around the neighborhood.

OTARU SNOW LIGHT PATH 2024 - Festival with small illuminated snow statue...

I uploaded a new video "OTARU SNOW LIGHT PATH 2024" on my YouTube channel.🙂

The Otaru Snow Light Path Festival is a winter festival held every February in Otaru, during which the city becomes decorated in lights and small snow statues for ten days. 

The combination of the snowy town and the glittering lanterns creates a very pleasant atmosphere. 

Video shooting date: February 17, 2024

Video shooting lens: Carl Zeiss Planar T* 50mm/F1.4

#festival 

#winter 

#snow

"Romanesque / James Swearingen" - Tomakomai Directors Band // Tomakoma...

I uploaded a new video "Romanesque / James Swearingen - Tomakomai Directors Band // Tomakomai Autumn Band Festival 2021" on my YouTube channel.

#Romanesque #JamesSwearingen #WindInstrumentMusic #Japanese #festival #BrassBand #Japan

https://youtu.be/mWQvf8STySI

James Swearingen is an American composer and arranger. He was born in 1947. He holds a Master’s Degree from the Ohio State University and a Bachelor's degree from Bowling Green State University and is Professor of Music Emeritus, Department Chair of Music Education at Capital University, Columbus, Ohio. The music he writes is part of a small genre played in American high school band classes as Concert Literature, generally two- to six-minute-long pieces played for high school band concerts. He is a recipient of several ASCAP awards. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] November 3, 2021 #Romanesque #JamesSwearingen #WindInstrumentMusic

Dondo-Yaki (Dondo bonfire) Hokkaidō Shrine 2022 (Sapporo, Hokkaido, J...

I uploaded a new video "Dondo-Yaki (Dondo bonfire) Hokkaidō Shrine 2022 (Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

#Hokkaido #shrine #DondoYaki #bonfire #Sapporo #Japan #culture #festival #life

https://youtu.be/9vuBcjr8MdU

Dondo-Yaki is a fire festival which is usually held on January 15th. People gather New Year's ornaments of the neighborhood in order to burn them in a big Dondo bonfire. It is believed that spirits of the new year are supposed to go home with the smoke of this fire. Burning of New Year’s decorations is a traditional festival to pray for sound health by bringing together and burning New Year’s decorations, such as pine decorations, in the grounds of a shrine or in public spaces. It is held on or around January 15. The Hokkaidō Shrine (北海道神宮, Hokkaidō Jingū) is a Shinto shrine located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Sited in Maruyama Park, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Shrine enshrines four kami including the soul of the Emperor Meiji. A number of early explorers of Hokkaidō such as Mamiya Rinzō are also enshrined. The area of the Hokkaido Shrine is 180,000 m², and is adjacent to Maruyama Park. During the season which cherry blossoms in the area bloom, the shrine is crowded with people enjoying Hanami. Many people also visit the shrine during Japanese New Year to go Hatsumōde. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Shinto (Japanese: 神道, romanized: Shintō) is a religion which originated in Japan. Classified as an East Asian religion by scholars of religion, its practitioners often regard it as Japan's indigenous religion and as a nature religion. Scholars sometimes call its practitioners Shintoists, although adherents rarely use that term themselves. There is no central authority in control of Shinto and much diversity exists among practitioners. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Shooting : 2022-1-14 #Japan #culture #life

Otaru Inari Shrine (in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan)

I uploaded a new video "Otaru Inari Shrine (in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

#shrine #fox #dog #culture #architecture #Otaru #Hokkaido #Japan

Inari shrine is a tutelary shrine guarding the local people. It is dedicated to the gods of the harvest and industry. A pair of foxes , messengers of the gods, stand at the gate of the shrine. Otaru (小樽市, Otaru-shi) is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tourist destination. Because it is a 25-minute drive from Sapporo, it has recently grown as a bedroom community. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Nagahashi Naebo park (in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan)

I uploaded a new video "Nagahashi Naebo park (in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

Otaru (小樽市, Otaru-shi) is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tourist destination. Because it is a 25-minute drive from Sapporo, it has recently grown as a bedroom community. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Beautifully contrasting sea and cherry blossoms at Temiya Park (in Otaru...

I uploaded a new video "Beautifully contrasting sea and cherry blossoms at Temiya Park (in Otaru, Hokkaido, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

#flower #tree #CherryBlossoms #spring #park #Otaru #Hokkaido #Japan

https://youtu.be/s3PM3ORefI0

Temiya Park

Many people visit the park during cherry blossom season when the view overlooking Otaru Port and the blooming cherry blossoms are spectacular.

Otaru (小樽市, Otaru-shi) is a city and port in Shiribeshi Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan, northwest of Sapporo. The city faces Ishikari Bay and the Sea of Japan, and has long served as the main port of the bay. With its many historical buildings, Otaru is a popular tourist destination. Because it is a 25-minute drive from Sapporo, it has recently grown as a bedroom community.

[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Prunus 'Kanzan' (Double cherry blossoms) in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan

I uploaded a new video "Prunus 'Kanzan'　(Double cherry blossoms)　in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan" on my YouTube channel.

#flower #tree #CherryBlossoms #spring #Sapporo #Hokkaido #Japan

Prunus 'Kanzan' (Prunus serrulata 'Kanzan'. syn. Prunus lannesiana 'Kanzan', Cerasus Sato-zakura Group 'Sekiyama' Koidz, Kwanzan or Sekiyama, Japanese 関山) is a flowering cherry cultivar. It was developed in the Edo period in Japan as a result of multiple interspecific hybrids based on the Oshima cherry. It is a deciduous tree that grows to between 1 and 9 meters (3 ft 3 in and 29 ft 6 in) high with an 8-metre (25 ft) spread. Young trees have a vase-shaped habit that becomes more spreading into maturity. In winter they produce red buds, opening to 5-centimetre (2 in) diameter deep-pink double flowers. The trees, which are usually propagated by chip budding or grafting, prefer a well-drained location in full sun. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Double cherry blossoms

 The double cherry blossoms in full bloom were gorgeous.

#CherryBlossms #flowers #blooms

Jozankei hot springs resort (Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan)

I uploaded a new video "Jozankei hot springs resort" on my YouTube channel.

#Jozankei #HotSprings #Sapporo #Hokkaido #Japan #TheSights

Jozankei hot springs resort - a number of hotels and resorts with hot springs. HOKKAIDO SAPPORO JOZANKEI Opened in 1866. It is the hot spring discovered by an ascetic monk, Miizumi Jozan.

Fire fighting in Japan.

I uploaded a new video "Fire fighting in Japan." on my YouTube channel.

Hokkaidō Shrine (Sapporo, Japan)

I uploaded a new video "Hokkaidō Shrine (Sapporo, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

The Hokkaidō Shrine (北海道神宮, Hokkaidō Jingū) is a Shinto shrine located in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Sited in Maruyama Park, Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido, the Hokkaido Shrine enshrines four kami including the soul of the Emperor Meiji. A number of early explorers of Hokkaidō such as Mamiya Rinzō are also enshrined. In 1869, by an order of the Emperor Meiji, a ceremony to enshrine three kami (Shinto deities); Ōkunitama, Ōkuninushi, and Sukunahikona, was held in Tokyo. They were enshrined as the three deities of the Hokkaido reclamation (開拓三神, Kaitaku Sanjin), and they were later moved to Sapporo by officers in the Kaitakushi, the previous government of Hokkaidō prefecture. An interim building of the shrine for three kami was constructed in 1870 in Sapporo, although its location was different from the current point where the Hokkaidō Shrine stands. In 1871, the shrine was erected in its current place and named "Sapporo Shrine" (Sapporo Jinja), and on September 14 an inaugural ceremony was held. From 1889 through 1946, Sapporo-jinja was officially designated one of the Kanpei-taisha (官幣大社), meaning that it stood in the first rank of government supported shrines. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Shiraoi (Hokkaido, Japan)

I uploaded a new video "Shiraoi (Hokkaido, Japan)" on my YouTube channel.

Shiraoi (白老町, Shiraoi-chō) is a town located in Iburi, Hokkaido, Japan. As of September 2016, the town had a population of 17,759. It was established in 1867 by the feudal lords of Sendai. Most of the area of the town is forested and parts lie within the Shikotsu-Tōya National Park. Shiraoi, like the rest of Hokkaido, was populated by the Ainu. According to the town's official website, the name, Shiraoi, means Rainbows in the Ainu language. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Shiraoi Station (白老駅, Shiraoi-eki) is a train station in Shiraoi, Shiraoi District, Hokkaidō, Japan. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] The Ainu Museum, commonly known as Poroto Kotan – A natural history museum depicting a traditional Ainu village. Performers show traditional crafts and dances like the iomante rimse. The Ainu Museum (アイヌ民族博物館, Ainu Minzoku Hakubutsukan), also known as Porotokotan, is a former museum in Shiraoi, Hokkaidō, Japan. The facility began its existence in 1976 as the Shiraoi Foundation for the Preservation of Ainu Culture. In 1984 this was extended to include the Ainu Folk Museum. In 1990 it reopened under the auspices of The Ainu Museum Foundation. The collection included some five thousand folk materials relating to the Ainu and a further approximately two hundred objects relating to minority groups of the north, including the Nivkh, Uilta, Sami, and Inuit. The institution was also involved in the recording and transmission of Ainu-related intangible cultural heritage. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] The Ainu or the Aynu (Ainu: アィヌ, Aynu, Айну; Japanese: アイヌ, Ainu; Russian: Áйны, Áĭny), also known as the Ezo (蝦夷) in historical Japanese texts, are an East Asian ethnic group indigenous to Japan, the original inhabitants of Hokkaido (and formerly North-Eastern Honshū) and some of its nearby Russian territories (Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, Khabarovsk Krai and the Kamchatka Peninsula). [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Hakodate (Hokkaido, JAPAN)

I uploaded a new video "Hakodate (Hokkaido, JAPAN)" on my YouTube channel.

#Hakodate #Japan #Hokkaido #sightseeing #TheSights

Hakodate (函館市, Hakodate-shi) is a city and port located in Oshima Subprefecture, Hokkaido, Japan. It is the capital city of Oshima Subprefecture. The city is the third biggest in Hokkaido after Sapporo and Asahikawa. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Goryōkaku (五稜郭) (literally, "five-point fort") is a star fort in the Japanese city of Hakodate on the island of Hokkaido. The fortress was completed in 1866. It was the main fortress of the short-lived Republic of Ezo. Today, Goryōkaku is a park declared as a Special Historical Site, being a part of the Hakodate city museum and a citizens' favorite spot for cherry-blossom viewing in spring. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Takadaya Kahei (高田屋嘉兵衛) was a Japanese merchant credited with transforming the trading outpost of Hakodate in Japan's northern island of Hokkaidō into a thriving city. He is also recognised for opening the northern Etorofu sea route to the Kuril island fisheries and helping settle territorial disputes with Russia over the islands. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] Takuboku Ishikawa (石川 啄木, Ishikawa Takuboku, February 20, 1886 – April 13, 1912) was a Japanese poet. He died of tuberculosis. Well known as both a tanka and "modern-style" (新体詩, shintaishi) or "free-style" (自由詩, jiyūshi) poet, he began as a member of the Myōjō group of naturalist poets but later joined the "socialistic" group of Japanese poets and renounced naturalism. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Animals of Asahiyama Zoo

I uploaded a new video "Animals of Asahiyama Zoo" on my YouTube channel.

The Asahiyama Zoo (旭山動物園, Asahiyama dōbutsuen) is a municipal zoo opened in July 1967 in Asahikawa, Hokkaidō, Japan, and is the northernmost zoo in the country. In August 2004, over 320,000 people visited the zoo, the second highest number of visitors among all the zoos in Japan. Located in Higashi Asahikawa, on the outskirts of Asahikawa, the Asahiyama Zoo is accredited by the Japanese Association of Zoos and Aquariums (JAZA). [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

SAPPORO WHITE ILLUMINATION (One Color Version)

I uploaded a new video "SAPPORO WHITE ILLUMINATION (One Color Version)"" on my YouTube channel.

Sapporo (札幌市, Sapporo-shi) is the fifth largest city in Japan, and the largest city on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. It is the capital city of Hokkaido Prefecture and Ishikari Subprefecture. Sapporo lies in the southwest of Hokkaido, within the alluvial fan of the Toyohira River, which is a tributary stream of the Ishikari. Sapporo is considered the cultural, economical, and political center of Hokkaido.

As with most of Hokkaido, the Sapporo area was settled by the indigenous Ainu people, beginning over 15,000 years ago. Starting in the late 19th century, Sapporo saw increasing settlement by Japanese migrants. Sapporo hosted the 1972 Winter Olympics, the first Winter Olympics ever held in Asia, and the second Olympic games held in Japan after the 1964 Summer Olympics. The Sapporo Dome hosted three games during the 2002 FIFA World Cup and two games during the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The annual Sapporo Snow Festival draws more than 2 million tourists from abroad. Other notable sites include the Sapporo Beer Museum, which is the only beer museum in Japan, and the Sapporo TV Tower located in Odori Park. It is home to Hokkaido University, just north of Sapporo Station. The city is served by Okadama Airport, and New Chitose Airport in nearby Chitose.

[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Odori Park (大通公園, Ōdōri Kōen) is a park located in the heart of Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Ōdōri (大通) means "large street" in Japanese. It stretches east to west through Nishi 1 chōme, Ōdōri to Nishi 12 chōme, Ōdōri ("Nishi" means west, and "chōme" is a block in Japanese), and divides the city into north and south sections. Odori Park spans about 1.5 km and covers 78,901 m². During the urban planning of Sapporo, it was originally designated as the main street but it eventually became a park. Throughout the year, many events and ceremonies such as the Sapporo Lilac Festival and the Sapporo Snow Festival are held in the park, and local landmarks including the Sapporo TV Tower and the Sapporo City Archive Museum are located within its boundaries.

[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

SIT Band Halloween Parade at Rera 2020. "Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no G...

I uploaded a new video "SIT Band Halloween Parade at Rera 2020　"Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushū)" "Monster"" on my YouTube channel.

“SIT Band” (Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School Band) Their style is "Dancing & Playing". SIT Band often plays rock-style music. website http://sitband.web.fc2.com/Hokkaido_SIT_Band/26th_top.html Facebook http://www.facebook.com/SIT.Band/ "Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushū)" (Crazy Party Night ～ぱんぷきんの逆襲～, Kureijī Pātī Naito ~ Panpukin no Gyakushū ~, lit. "Crazy Party Night ~Pumpkin's Counterattack~") is the 11th single by Japanese model-singer Kyary Pamyu Pamyu, released on September 2, 2015. "Crazy Party Night (Pumpkin no Gyakushū)" is the trademark song used for Kyary's live nationwide tour, Crazy Party Night Tour. In 2017, she embarked a world tour titled "The Spooky Obakeyashiki: Pumpkins Strike Back". It is possible that the Crazy Party Night Tour acted as a precursor for the latter. [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] "Monster" is a song recorded by Japanese boy band Arashi. It was released on May 19, 2010 by their record label J Storm, as part of the CD single of the same name. On April 5, 2010, it was announced that Arashi would provide the theme song "Monster" for Ohno's fantasy comedy drama based on Fujiko Fujio's manga series Kaibutsu-kun (怪物くん, Little Monster). [From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia] #Halloween #CrazyPartyNight #Monster

SIT Band Halloween Parade at Rera 2018. "Koi Suru Fortune Cookie. The Fa...

I uploaded a new video "SIT Band Halloween Parade at Rera 2018.　"Koi Suru Fortune Cookie. The Fall-in-Love Fortune Cookie"" on my YouTube channel.



“SIT Band” (Hokkaido Sapporo Intercultural and Technological High School Band)
Their style is "Dancing & Playing".
SIT Band often plays rock-style music.

website
http://sitband.web.fc2.com/Hokkaido_SIT_Band/26th_top.html

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/SIT.Band/

"Koi Suru Fortune Cookie" (恋するフォーチュンクッキー, Koisuru Fōchunkukkī, "The Fall-in-Love Fortune Cookie") is the 32nd single by the Japanese idol girl group AKB48. It was released in Japan on August 21, 2013. The lineup for the title track and supporting B-sides was determined by the results from the 2013 AKB48 general election, of which the winner was Rino Sashihara of AKB48 sister group HKT48. The single contains graduation songs for Mariko Shinoda and Tomomi Itano.
The song has been redone by AKB48's international sister groups in their respective local languages, including the Indonesian version by JKT48, released on the same date as the original Japanese version; the Chinese Mandarin version by SNH48, released in 2013; the Thai version by BNK48, released in 2017; and the Filipino version by MNL48, released in 2018; and the Vietnamese version by SGO48, released in December 2019.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Susukino Night Fever 2019 (Susukino Festival)

I uploaded a new video "Susukino Night Fever 2019 (Susukino Festival)" on my YouTube channel.

Susukino (すすきの) is a red-light district in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is one of the major red-light districts in Japan along with Kabukichō, Tokyo, and Nakasu, Fukuoka. Currently, the district is congested with many restaurants, bars, hotels, and adult-entertainment establishments. Susukino is often noted as "薄野" in kanji, and "ススキノ" in katakana, and directly translated as "zebra grass field".
Every August, the Susukino Festival is also held, and the line of people bearing Mikoshi parades down the street.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Susukino Samba Carnival 2019 (Susukino Festival)

I uploaded a new video "Susukino Samba Carnival 2019 (Susukino Festival)" on my YouTube channel.

Susukino (すすきの) is a red-light district in Chūō-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan. It is one of the major red-light districts in Japan along with Kabukichō, Tokyo, and Nakasu, Fukuoka. Currently, the district is congested with many restaurants, bars, hotels, and adult-entertainment establishments. Susukino is often noted as "薄野" in kanji, and "ススキノ" in katakana, and directly translated as "zebra grass field".
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]

Samba is a lively dance of Afro-Brazilian origin in 2/4(2 by 4) time danced to samba music whose origins include the Maxixe.
4 female samba dancers are shown posing for a picture during the 2008 Rio Carnival.
Samba dancers at Rio Carnival in 2008.
Samba was created by African people in Brazil from the music and dance culture they brought from Africa. Samba music is very similar to and has been influenced by many music genres, as well as many other Latin American music genres and dances. The term "samba" originally referred to any of several Latin duet dances with origins from the Congo and Angola. Today Samba is the most prevalent dance form in Brazil, and reaches the height of its importance during the festival of Carnival.
[From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia]