Have you ever seen “Designed maintenance hole” in your town?
Yokkaichi has 3 types, all of them are referred their characteristic.
We can sometimes encounter them when we are walking street.
Tokaido
Yokkaichi was along Tokaido-way and the one of the post town in Edo period. “Tokaido maintenance hole” is drawn a picture of Yokkaichi of “53 Stations of the Tokaido”.
Salvia
Salvia is official “the city of flower” in this city. How impressive vivid red petal is! But we hardly see this flower..
Friendship cities
Yokkaichi has friendship cities, Long Beach, California, Tianjin, China and Sydney, Australia. So that panda and koala are shown. It’s the cutest one!
If you have a chance to notice “Designed maintenance holes”, it enables to make you gain knowledge about your home town!
Shikinen-sengu is the biggest event of Ise-shrine. It means rebuilt of the shrine in order to make deities move to new home, every 20 years.
Then, these woods from demolished buildings are “reused” for Torii gate or other shrines in the whole of Japan. And reused wood materials keep using for a long time.
海山道神社 Miyamado-shrine has built since 9th century, how old spot is!
This is type of Inari shrine, so that lots of reddish shrine gates continue. Every February, famous shrine ritual, “kitsune-no-yomeiri deity of fox’s wedding” as setsubun festival is held.
On the other hand, this location is interesting for me. Miyamado-shrine is in the middle of “Daiichi petrochemical(chemical) complexes area” of Yokkaichi city.
This shrine has remained even if Yokkaichi attracted many chemical factories and then be a big industrial city.
Now, deities of this shrine might be guardians for workers in such factories.
Suzuka circuit is an icon of Suzuka city and the most famous circuit in Japan. This is a place where F1 Japanese Grand Prix has held since 1976.
On May, I went to see the car racing for the first time. This race was “Super GT series, Round 3”, it was the highest category of Japanese car sports.
Regarding Super GT, it means that a general car which is re-modeled drastically for racing is utilized. So that we can see SUBARU, TOYOTA, HONDA and BMW with BRIDGESTONE, DUNLOP, Yokohama Rubber and MICHELIN, such names in this.
Watching car race was fantastic. I liked engine sounds, impressive speed, thrilling time trial, a play-by-play announcer and all of the atmosphere in the circuit!
What a great achievement is! About this blog, only topics of Mie prefecture, 100th episode is celebrated now.
This time introduces 伊賀組紐 Iga-Kumihimo which is one of the traditional crafts of Mie (by prefectural and national official). Kumihimo is a parts of like hand-scroll.
But now, a Kumihimo maker makes it “shoelace”.
I make it use for my running and trekking shoes. The design and color are very cool! It’s a new way for traditional craft.
赤福餅 Akafuku-mochi is white spheral rice-cake and sweet Anko on it. Their fame and popularity might be a top famous confectionery in whole of Japan.
On the other hand, Akafuku company makes “朔日餅 Tsuitachi-mochi” which is related to Ise-shrine and its pilgrimage. All 11 varieties of Tsuitachi-mochi are sold in only 1st months each (except Jan.) and only a few stores.
So, it must be difficult for tourists to get them.
Fortunately I got all 11 Tsuitachi-mochi due to Kintetsu department in Yokkaichi. I have booked it, gone there and bought it for a year.
At last I accomplished! All of them were yummy and made us fun.
Each month’s distinctive mochi respects the season and the month. Visual effect is also great!
I went to see a match of Japan Rugby League ONE, Division2, Mie Honda Heat vs Hanazono Kintetsu Liners.
My biggest purpose was to see Quade Cooper and Will Genia in Liners. Both are legendary Half backs combi for Wallabies, Australia. They are superstars!
So, when I confirmed No Cooper and No Genia name on the board was shown both starting and reserve members, I was so disappointed!
But the biggest luck was waiting for me. After the match, I encountered Will Genia in toilet! I followed him, out of toilet, addressed and asked to take a photo with me.
He was a gentle guy, very politely man. I was gratitude for him, “Thank you so much!” He replied “Arigatogozaimasu!”
I can still not believe a 2-shot selfy photo in my smartphone, Genia and me!