2012年3月 のアーカイブ

Sweeping the streambed of Kenrokuen garden

2012年3月27日 火曜日

I encountered a rare scene at Kenrokuen garden when guiding tourists overseas. Gardeners were  sweeping a streambed on March 26, 2012. They used bamboo brooms. Administrative office of the garden says it’s for removing algae and dirt on pebbles. Stream water comes 11 km upstream of the Saigawa river through tunnel and open canal. That’s why Alga grows thich within two to three days. If you let alga grow freely, it will stick to a pebble and become very difficult to remove. So, sweeping work is carried out separate two days every week.

Pottery Shaping Demonstration

2012年3月24日 土曜日

The fifth generation of Kutani Kosen-Gama pottery kiln workshop demonstrated how to shape porcelain to visitors overseas. He throwed a rice bowl and a Sake bottle on an electric powered potter’s wheel. He made them less than ten minutes. We admired his skillfull technique with hand clapping. This Kutani pottery kiln was founded in 1870.