The 辻堂 (tsujidou), or Wayside Shrine

I am quite fond of such unassuming shrines, which are common in rural areas, particularly. They typically house statues of Jizo-sama, about whom much has been written in this blog. This particular tsujidou does not show figures of the bodhisattva guardian of travellers or childbearing women but of a deity I do not recognize. The characters refer to streets, roadsides (辻 tsuji) and temple, shrine (堂 dou). Regarding the initial character, my kanji guide lists 辻番人 (tsujibannin, or guard) which has been replaced by the unattractive ガードマン. A perfectly fine Japanese term usurped by an import that is merely a sound, devoid of essential meaning. Then there is 辻自動車、tsujidousha, which is so preferable to the pedestrian 'taxi', or タクシー. This second photo of a 辻堂 along my commute contains a figure of Jizo-sama.

October 27 Ride Videos

Negi Transport : Sawayama Dango Shop: Samurai: Low Ride

A Nice Waterfall, Niigata

Cod: Putin, North Korea, and Stupid Policy

Japan has imposed bans on certain Russian imports (lumber, LNG) but not on the fish. Why? Don't know. But what I do know is it's boneheaded: cod is caught in Japanese waters. Support of Russia means support of NK, which is clearly against Japan's interest. Not to mention Ukraine.

Yahiko Shrine Ride Video: Big Red Gate

To Yahiko and back today, 80K. The torii gate is most impressive.

New Japan by Bike Videos

Here Here And Here

Weekend Cycling: Niigata, Yamagata, Fukushima

Nobel Peace Prize, 2024: Hidankyo, Japan

The Japanese association Hidankyo, which represents atomic bomb victims of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki A-Bomb attacks and currently numbers 106, 825 survivors (average age 85) of the indiscriminate targeting of Japanese civilians in those cities in 1945, has been awarded the 2024 Nobel Peace Prize. Congratulations. So, what did Hiroshima look like after the bombing?

Crickets

One of the things I like most about this time of year is the crickets, who make their appearance in late August or early September and hang around until October. There are numerous species, and autumn evenings offer a symphony of cricket chorus, as the following files record.

Grannie Chops Wood To Heat Water for180+- year-old Public Bath

I watched a TV program this evening about unique people and places in Japan. From Iwate Prefecture comes the story of Hiryusan no Yuu (飛龍山の湯) a 180+-year-old bath (not onsen) located in the mountains 40 minutes by car from the nearest city. Tsubuhari Kimi, who gave her age as 88, is the 7th- generation caretaker of the bath. Every day she cleans the bath and chops wood to heat the water. The bath is free, by the way. She explained that she does this out of a sense of loyalty and responsibility as well as a wish that the medicinal properties of the water heal the sick. I couldn't find a YouTube video, but there's this.

Cycling Video: North by Niigata (and a monkey, briefly)

The plan was to ride to ramen town Hakata, Fukushima, via Niigata and Yamagata, but the weather didn't cooperate. No worries, saw some nice scenery. And a monkey.