Yaegaki and Kamosu Shrines

Yaegaki shrine is known as the Gods of Marriage. Kamosu shrine was designated National Treasure in 1952.

Yaegaki shrine's Omikuji is quite unique. It is a flat piece of paper not folded. You buy the Omikuji and bring it to Kagaminoike pond in the forest near the shrine. Then put the Omikuji with a coin on the surface of the pond. At the same time putting the Omikuji, fortune message appears on it. It's said that the sooner the Omikuji sinks in the pond, the sooner you will marry.

Omikuji is a traditional form of Japanese fortune telling in which a person's fortune is written on piece of folded paper and is typically sold at Shinto Shrines.

My translation of the lyrics of the song may not be perfect.

-----Princess Mononoke Theme Song----
Your heart quivers
like the string of the bow
in the moonlight.
I associate your face
with the beautiful
and sharp blade of the sword.
Those who understand
your true feelings of sorrow, grief and pain
are only the spirit of the forest, Mononoke.
Only Mononoke know your true feelings.

はりつめた弓の　ふるえる弦よ
月の光りにざわめく　おまえの心

砥(ﾄ)ぎすまされた　刃(ﾔｲﾊﾞ)の美しい
その切っ先によく似た　そなたの横顔

悲しみと怒りに　ひそむまことの心を知るは
森の精　もののけ達だけ
もののけ達だけ

Drum Festival in Matsue, Japan

The construction of Matsue Castle began in 1607, under the local lord Horio Yoshiharu. In this year 2007, the local government celebrates four hundred year anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Matsue Castle. Those are pictures of Dou Gyoretsu drum festival commemorating the anniversary.

In the very last picture, you can find a Haiku or Japanese poetry.
It says, "にこにこと　笑うあなたが　好きだから"
My translation of this Haiku follows.
"Your twinkling smile / makes me love you / this much."
I like this Haiku very much. Do you?

'Water City', Matsue

I was able to spend a wonderful autumn vacation in Shimane prefecture for the first time in 25 years. I met my family members, visited historic places and autumn festivals.
I've uploaded pictures I took in Matsue city during my trip, from Oct. 17 to Oct. 23.
In the picture follows, a construction workers' boat and a pleasure boat in which several travelers are on board are cruising slowly on the castle moat.

About an hour pleasure boat trip takes you around Matsue Castle. As you float along the canal, you can see beautiful sights of Matsue Castle, old Samurai Residence and pine tree Streets. You will also travel under 16 famous bridges that span the castle moat.


Matsue Castle is nicknamed the "plover castle", it is one of the few remaining medieval castles remaining in their original wooden form, and not a modern reconstruction in concrete.

Most Japanese castles have been damaged or destroyed by war, earthquakes, or other causes. Since a large part of their construction was wooden, fire was a major hazard. Matsue castle was built after the last great war of feudal Japan, so it never saw a battle.

The construction of Matsue Castle began in 1607 and finished in 1611, under the local lord Horio Yoshiharu. In this year 2007, the local government celebrates four hundred year anniversary of the beginning of the construction of Matsue Castle. Next weekend, I'll upload pictures of Dou Gyoretsu drum festival commemorating the anniversary.

Can you find a bird in the photo?

To think about a combination of Japanese culture and its nature, Matuse is one of the best cities in Japan. Matsue Castle built in 1611 is very famous and beautiful. Of course I love the castle and houses around its area. Scene of Lake Shinji and bridges over River Oh-hashi connecting between Lake Shinji and Nakaumi beautifully stands out in sun set. I took the picture from Naniwa Honten restaurant facing River Oh-hashi. Can you find a bird in the photo?

Success Enjoyer's Principles

■1st
Remember this Principle. Just write it down. Just pass it to your subconscious and make it happen. Just do it now. Make your move.Write it down is very powerful. Just believe, do it, and get the best results. From today. From just now.
■2nd
Let's make our move!　Just do it NOW! Action is life. Life is action.
■3rd
Gratitude ∞　　Each day starts with 'Thank you.', and ends also with 'Thank you.'
It's OK to say 'Dan Dan' instead of 'Thank you' in Matsue.
■4th
Every defeat, every disappointment and every adversity carry seeds of success. Coming back is a seed of bucks. Open your notebook now, please.
■5th
Any time is never right. We ourselves have to make it right. Enough never comes to us. We come over to enough.
■6th
Failures are NEVER bad. The most important thing to success is to recover from setbacks quickly and keep going.
■7th
Always tell everybody, You did a good job!
If you want to have a good working environment, if you want to let people know that they're appreciated, I think the first rule is if they are doing a good job, tell them.
■8th
Power of written words. Promises to yourself, not to others. Taking action. Commitment. Thoughts are simple. Thoughts are deep. Thoughts go all the way.

Ways To "SATORI"

• 1st; patience
• 2nd; imagination
• 3rd; sensitivity
• 4th; ego strength
• 5th; aggressiveness
• 6th; embracing change
• 7th; being very generous
• 8th; being energetic
• 9th; constant learning
• 10th; liking people
• 11th; maintaining focus
• 12th; taking action

Visiting A College Campus

"YOUTH"
Youth is not a time of life，it is a state of mind.
It is a temper of the will，a quality of the imagination，a vigor of the emotions，a predominance of courage over timidity，of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.
Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; people grow old only by deserting their ideals.
Years wrinkle the skin，but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul.
Worry，doubt，self-distrust，fear and despair-these are the long，long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.
Whether seventy or sixteen，there is in every being’s heart love of wonder，the sweet amazement at the starts and the starlike things and thoughts，the undaunted challenge of events，the unfailing childlike appetite for what next，and the joy and the game of life.
You are as young as your faith，as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence，as old as your fear, as young as your hope，as old as your despair.
So long as your heart receives message of beauty，cheer，courage，grandeur and power from the earth，from man and from the infinite so long as you are young.
When the wires are all down and all the central place of your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism，then you are grown old indeed and may God have mercy on your soul.
------Samuel Ullman------