Hokkaido Shinkansen

Yesterday was the 1st anniversary of Hokkaido Shinkansen, super rapid train from Tokyo or Sendai to Hokkaido.

Now it is running only to Shin-Hakodate-Hokuto, but it is scheduled to arrive to Sapporo Terminal in 2031. We have to wait for 14 years to the completion.

Hokkaido was far for everybodies, but it is now easy to access by Shinkansen which connects from Tokyo to Hakodate in less than 4 hours, from Sendai 2.5 hours only.

Before Shinkansen, it was nostalgic ferry operating from Aomori to Hakodate. (ref. Wikipedia)

Entering into Seikan Tunnel 53.9km long.

Tsugaru Strait, border of Honshu island,.Shinkansen is running under the sea.

Hakodate Liner to connect Shinkansen Station to Hakodate downtown.

Hakodate Night View.

Nearest Shinkansen station from Kanyo is Kurikomakogen.
Hokkaido is not far now from Tohoku.
Enjoy both regions. Sergio

Ramen is loved very much by Japanese, you may find ramen shop everywhere from Hokkaido to Okinawa.
It is quick to serve ramen and eaten very quick, truly one of the typical fast foods of Japan. However the ramen shops need long time for preparation before opening the shops to make it more tasty.
Usually they top sliced pork, seaweed, fish paste, bamboo, egg and vegetables.
The origin of ramen is China towns of Yokohama, Kobe, Nagasaki and Hakodate where were open port at the end of Edo era.
Now the Japanese ramen is exported to China, Taiwan and to many countries world wide.

Hotel Kanyo offers original Sea foods ramen, lightly salted taste with scallop, octopus, clam, mussel and 3 kinds of seaweed.

In the season of green onion, you can try special version of sea foods ramen.

In Japan, somebody loves super hot spicy ramen, but I do not.

During the summer time, I suggest to try cold ramen with vinegar.

Please never miss ramen when you come to Japan.
Sergio

Hakama is a Japanese traditional wear to cover from the waist to the legs. It was born during Yayoi era thousands years ago as a primitive type, then it was weared by men during Edo era mostly by Samurai as formal dress. Now it is weared by women by "Miko" shrine maiden, "Kyudoka" Japanese archer, University students especially at the graduation ceremony.

Terunomiya, from Japanese Imperial Family

"Miko" Shrine Maiden

"Kyudoka" Japanese archer

This is Kimono, not Hakama.

This is Hakama, you see the difference.

You may borrow Hakama at the Hotel Kanyo as an option.
Please try Japanese tradition.
Sergio

This friday it will be taken place of Girls' Festival or Hinamatsuri in all over Japan.

Dolls displayed at Minami Sanriku Hotel KANYO.

It is a Japanese tradition to pray healthy growth of girls, by decorationg dolls with flowers of peach and donating tiny rice balls and rhombus-shaped colourful rice cakes.

Rice Balls

Rice Cake

It is 3rd March every year.
Origin of Himamatsuri may derive from Kyoto of about 1,000 years ago, but it is spread to all of Japan in Edo period 400 years ago.

In Tohoku it is a little bit different from other area of Japan. We hang dolls from the ceiling. This is "Kazaribina" or hanging dolls of Senmaya district of Ichinoseki City in Iwate.

They donate and decolate also Sake which is important for Senmaya area.

Only 1 hour drive to Senmaya from Shizugawa to experience authentic Japanese festival.
Sergio

Minami Sanriku Kira Kira Don or Kira Kira Bowl was created by the idea of Minami Sanriku Hotel Kanyo in 2008 in order to liven up the town of Minami Sanriku.
Then, it was diffused to several restaurants of the town in 2009.
There are 4 series of bowls according to the foods of four seasons, such as "Spring Coming Bowl", "Summer Sea Urchin Bowl", "Tasty Autumn Bowl" and "Winter Salmon Roe Bowl".
It was Awarded the prize of Food Action Nippon FAN Award 2014" by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.

"Spring Coming Bowl", collaboration with the local vegetables.

"Summer Sea Urchin Bowl", rich Sea Urchin with husk.

Completely covered by Sea Urchin.

"Tasty Autumn Bowl", seasonal Saury and Bonito.

Another version of "Tasty Autumn Bowl", with Conger Eel Tempura.

"Winter Salmon Roe Bowl", covered by shining Salmon Roe, Salmon Rose and Abalone.

Please come to enjoy yummy Minami Sanriku.
Sergio

It was taken place the first Star Party in Minami Sanriku on the roof top of Hotel Kanyo, inviting hotel guests, residents of Minami Sanriku including kids, astronomical lovers of Miyagi and from Kanto.
It was not good weather with clouds and snow, it was very cold or freezing.

Minami Sanriku is still under ricovery from Tsunami of 6 years ago, therefore there is only limited lights in the town, that is why we can observe beautiful stars.
We have set up telescopes anyhow the weather on the roof expecting clear sky under the heavy clouds.

Unfortunately the weather did not recover at the time to start, so we have started stars lecture in the meeting room.

Durung the lecture, the sky of Minami Sanriku was become clear completely.
We have immidiately suspended lecture and rushed to go upstairs to the roof of Hotel Kanyo
This is constellation Orion.

Then we have observed "Subaru", 6 new stars of M45 Pleiades.

You may know the logo of Subaru motors.

Next Star Party in Minami Sanriku will be around the end of March to observe constellations of spring time.
Sergio

Sharks are believed dengerous, but it is ferocious only 10% of sharks of the world. It means 90% of shark is calm and friendly to us.
Kesennuma is the biggest port to unload 90% of sharks in Japan.
The life of Kesennnuma is relied on the sharks.

Blue Shark

Heart of Salmon Shark

Great White Shark

Shark Fin

Whale Shark

Kesennuma Shark Museum

Wallet made of shark skin

Shark Jeans

Big mouth

Please come to Kesennuma to experience the culture of shark.
It is only 1 hour drive from Minami Sanriku to Kesennuma.
Sergio

Satohama Shell Mound is located between Ishinomaki and Matsushima where was lived by Jomon people, ancestors of Japanese, from 6,800 to 2,000 years ago for more than 4,000 years. Shell mound is long 600m and wide 200m thick 6m.

These faces are believed as typical Jomon people. The origin of Jomon people is considered as the Sundaland (former South East Asia) or the Siberia.

Jewelry of Jomon people, jadestone.

Arrowheads, for hunting.

House of Jomon people.

Excavation of Satohama started from Taisho Era, 100 years ago.

This is a replica of Jomon venus.

Sannai Maruyama ruins, the biggest Jomon village of Japan in Aomori, 40 hectare big.

New fashions of Jomon girl and Yayoi girl.

It is only 1 hour from Shizugawa to Satohama by Sanriku Motorway.
Please experience ancient Japan.
Sergio

Sergio again, this time as animal lover.
Please come to Miyagi if you want to see fox.
He is waiting for you. Fluffy.

Many foxes you see.

Relax. (=｀ェ´=)

Smile (=^･^=)

Fox is a symbolic animal of Japanese religion Shintoism.
Sometimes they deceive human as raccoon.
But, we love them and coexist with them.

We say "Kitsune" in Japanese.
If you love Udon noodle, I believe you know Kitsune-Udon, it may be called Fox noodle.

Arctic Fox also waiting for you.　Like a stuffed animal.

I suggest you to have a car to go there.
1 hour drive from Sendai.
Sergio

(In Japanese)
キツネ村
またまた動物好きのセルジョです。
キツネが見たければ是非宮城へ。
もふもふで待っています。
いっぱいいます。
リラックスしてます。
笑顔で。
キツネは日本の宗教神道では象徴的な動物なのです。
時々タヌキと一緒に人を欺きますが、それでも日本人はキツネが好きで共存しています。
Foxは日本語でキツネといいます。
うどん好きのあなたならきつねうどんを食べたことがあるでしょう。英語ではフォックスヌードルというのでしょうか。
北極ギツネも待っています。ぬいぐるみのように。
キツネ村へ行くには車をオススメします。
仙台から1時間の運転です。
セルジョ

Do you know Soroban? It is the Japanese abacus or a traditional handy computer.
The origin of Abacus is not clear according to the Wikipedia, but in Japan the oldest Soroban found may be of the year 1444, 572 years ago.
This is the laboratory of Soroban in Kagoshima, handicrafted.

Traditional type with 5 beads of earth and 2 beads of heaven, used until Meiji or Taisho era.

Abacus is absolutely good to develop your brain, it is exported from Japan and opening several schools abroad. This is a text book of soroban in english.

You can count million, billion, trillion, much more than calculator.

Do you want to try these calculations?

Now soroban competion also in English.

In Hotel Kanyo it is open a soroban class 3 times weekly.
14 kids from this scoool have got a place at the soroban national competion in Kesennuma!!!

Phew, very difficult.
Sergio.

(In Japanese)
ソロバン、日本の計算機
ソロバン知ってますか？ 日本の計算機で、伝統的なポータブルコンピューターのことです。
ウィキペディアによると、ソロバンの起源は良くわからないようですが、日本の最古のソロバンは572年前の1444年まで遡ることができるようです。
この写真は鹿児島のソロバン工房で、手作りです。
これは明治大正時代に使われた上2珠下5珠の古いタイプです。
ソロバンは脳の発達に良く、日本から海外にも出ていて、いくつかのソロバン学校がすでに進出しています。これは英語版のソロバン教科書です。
百万、億、兆でも計算でき、計算機よりも大きい数字が計算できるのです。
この計算やってみます？
今や英語ソロバン大会もあります。
南三陸ホテル観洋でもソロバン教室を週3回行っています。
先日14人の子供たちが、全国ソロバンコンクール気仙沼地区大会で入賞しました。
ふい～、難しい～
セルジョ