A Happy New Year from far east / This year's Buddha

A Happy New Year from Japan! The year 2012 is DRAGON at the twelve zodiacal signs (below)

And this year's Buddha is FUGEN-BOSATSU (Samantabhadra). FUGEN-BOSATSU is one of Bodhisattva. FUGEN means perfectly wise person. FUGEN rides on White Elephant normally. According to Buddhism sutra, Fugen-Bosatsu relieves women from suffering. So Fugen is popular Bodhisttva among women. Generally, Fugen exists next to Shaka-Nyorai (Gautama Siddhartha).

Make your cell phone be unique!

The design of this cell phone is "Fu-jin and Rai-jin".
At low cost, you can make it as you like...



...with this MAKIE stickers.
This Makie sticker makes your cell phone be Makie-like design.
Makie, one of Japanese traditional handcrafts, is drawn pictures with Urushi lacquer and sprinkled with gold or silver powder.
This sticker is not authentic Makie, it's Makie-like.


How to attach it.



this sticker is triple.


wipe your cell phone or case.
remove A, and attach B&C to phone.


rub it with nails or coin


remove C (B remains)


Finish

Extremely Eco Clock

(Can bottle type (made of plastic))

These clocks move powered solely on water.
These clocks show hours for three months (approx.) at one water supply.


Mechanism is very easy.
Electron occur by chemical reaction between carbon bar and metal plate inside vessels.
The life of these items are approximately three years, but these items don't break out toxic substance and heavy metal.

(Bottle type)


(These type have alarm function)

iPhone case with Eco-leather (printed Ukiyoe)

These iPhone case are made of Japanese high quality Eco-leather (pig skin) attached on plastic body.
(inside : plastic, outside : eco-leather)


Fu-jin Raijin zu (by Tawaraya Soutatsu)

ECO POSITIVE!!
1. Pig skin which processed special technique to reduce environmental pollution.
2. Tanned with vegetable tannin from Mimosa's bark (No soil pollution).
3. Keeping low standard against formaldehyde, heavy metal, hazardous dyes and carcinogen.
4. No outbreak of dioxin, even if you burn it (so-called Eco leather).

AND!!
These items are made by the craftsman who has more than 50 years careers.
And we can't overlook the special printing technique (on genuine leather).

We will wholesale these items. minimum lots : 10 (no combination with other designs) . wholesale price : unsettled yet / 1 item.

* These items are trial pieces. so the price is unsettled.
If you have interest on this, please contact us.


Nami (by Katsushika Hokusai)


Akafuji (by Katsushika Hokusai)


Fujikoshi Ryuzu (by Katsushika Hokusai)


(Sansei Ohtani) Onijino-Yakko Edobei (by Toshusai Sharaku)


Poppin wo Fuku Onna (by Toshusai Sharaku)

I made a pilgrimage to the Seven Deities of Good Fortune

On 4th of January, I made a pilgrimage to the Seven Deities of Good Fortune.
This habit has been began since Edo period. Pilgrims go to seven (or more) places (Incl. Shintoism shrine and Buddhism temples).

There are two religions mainly in Japan. One is Buddhism, another is Shinto.
Shinto have existed before Buddhism came from foreign. Shinto is polytheism.

Buddhism have no God, and Shinto is polytheism. But a part of both religions were mixed peacefully. Because both are tolerant religions.

Thus ancient people had idea like below.
"Japanese gods and goddesses are incarnation of Buddha."
For that reason, they accepted both religions naturally. This idea is also living among present Japanese people. I mean, it's natural thing that believing two religions as Japanese people.

The Seven Deities of Good Fortune is seven gods of good fortune in Japanese myth and folklore.
It is the set of Buddhsim, Japanese myth, Chinese Taoism and Hinduism.

Seven Gods are;

1. Hotei, the fat and happy god of abundance and good health
2. Jurojin, god of longevity
3. Fukurokuju, god of happiness, wealth and longevity
4. Bishamonten, god of warriors
5. Benzaiten, goddess of knowledge, art and beauty, especially music
6. Daikokuten, god of wealth, commerce and trade.
7. Ebisu, god of fishers or merchants.

(See also this web page)

1. Asakusa shrine (Shintoism) - Ebisu

This shrine's Sanja matsuri festival is the most famous.

2. Senso-ji temple (Buddhism) - Daikokuten

The oldest temple in Tokyo.

3. Yasaki shrine (Shintoism) - Fukurokuju

Many Samurai believed in him.

4. Otori shrine (Shintoism) - Jurojin

In every winter, this shrine hold Tori-no-ichi Festival.

5. Yoshiwara shrine (Shintoism) - Benzaiten

This shrine is enshrined near ex-licensed quarters (during Edo period), and this Goddess Benzaiten was believed among prostitutes (the licensed quarters doesn't exist now).

6. Ishihama shrine (Shintoism) - Jurojin

Good landscape, Sumida river flows near there.

7. Hashiba Fudo-in temple (Buddhism) - Hotei

The principal Buddhism image is Fudo Myo-oh

8. Imado shrine (Shintoism) - Fukurokuju

The most popular shrine among young girls as the God of marriage.

9. Matsuchiyama Shoden (Buddhism) - Bishamonten

The principal Buddhism image is Kangiten (also known as Hinduism Ganesha)

Goshuin of each shrines and temples

Though it's one of each temples' and shrines' sign, it have the same effect as ofuda (label).

A Happy New Year from far east / This year's Buhhda

Japan is already meeting new year, 2011.
The year 2011 is RABBIT at the twelve zodiacal signs (below)

I wish we have a good year!!


And this year's Buddha is Monju Bosatsu (Manjusri) - please see below
This bodhisattva associated with wisdom, doctrine and awareness. He rides on Blue Lion normally.
Japanese proverb says "Sannin Yoreba Monju no Chie" (Monju's wisdom is equal to three human being's.)
which means "without by oneself, give ideas off with everybody."

2010 is passing by

Christmas was gone, Japanese town is turning to Buddhism decoration, suddenly.

Dec. 31st reach the peak.
In Buddhism temple, JOYA-no-KANE, Buddhism rites, will be carried out.
JOYA... is the rites that banging the bell 108 times.
Buddhism is saying that human being have 108 desires.
JOYA... blows these desires off on the last day.
And we're gonna meet the new year.

Generally, we are allowed to bang the bell till around 100 times.
And the rest is banged by Buddhism priest.

At Chi-On-IN temple in Kyoto, as the bell is too much big,
Buddhism priests bang 108 times like an acrobat (the most famous Joya-no-Kane)