Animation

 Animation is one of the Japanese cultures. To tell you a truth, I love animation very much. I can say it is one of the my hobbies. So, I watch animation frequently, and I know fairly well about Animation Company. One of the most famous Animation Company that I know would be Kyoto Animation. You may say, ” I do not know the relevance of the anime and the Kyoto ”, but It is deeply connected Kyoto and animation through Kyoto Animation as Kyoto animation is expected to hit if you search Kyoto on Google. Then what would be thing that the reality of Kyoto Animation?

Kyoto animation established in 1981 by Yoko Yada who had been staff in Mushi Animation Company(It is established by Osamu Teduka who is one of the most famous cartoonists in Japan). There is building in Uji Kyoto prefecture, so It is called " Kyoto animation ". In beginning, it did finishing touches of other animation company, but it began to make a original works since about 1986. The characteristic of Kyoto animation is the highest expressive power in Japan. The below movie is Kyoto animation's commercial.

Also, Kyoto animation staffs love own works. In Kyoto animation, Making works it is not original frequently, there is a tendency that all staffs read the original work.(It is rare tendency. Generally speaking, All painters have to do is paint, and All representatives of voice have to do is caring voice). 

Then, what are the masterpieces of Kyoto Animation?  First, I  want to raised Suzumiya Haruhi no yuuutsu. 

 The story follows the narrator and protagonist Kyon, a cynical and incredulous student entering high school, who is dragged along by the title character, his classmate Haruhi Suzumiya. She is an eccentric girl seeking supernatural phenomena and figures such as aliens, time travelers and espers. (In Wikipedia)

It is based on novels " Suzumiya Haruhi series "  At the time of broadcast on television in 2006, it was broadcast in a different order as the order in the original work. Tatsuya Ishihara said that reason of it is both "original surprise for fans" and "faithful to the original".  To satisfy the condition of both, It is only way of broadcast. 

Second, K-On!  

K-On!'s story revolves around four Japanese high school girls who join Sakuragaoka Girl's High School's light music club to try to save it from being disbanded, however, they are the only members of the club.(In Wikipedia)

 The characteristic of this work is description of the everyday. By taking the number of many video depiction, you can judge the subtleties of the mind from the movement of Looking and casual gesture.  In addition, collaborating with various companies, It has caused a social phenomenon.




　I learned this company through the work  "clannad"(It is masterpiece no less than above two works )　

I remember when I saw this film the first time, I was surprised at the height of its power of expression.  I think these works which was born in Kyoto is, representing Kyoto culture, one of the art which name is animation.

cite http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haruhi_Suzumiya

       http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K-On!

Samurai

 Samurai is one of the Japanese cultures as you know. But, the history of samurai is concerned with Kyoto. Samurai has long sword, and wears Kimono.

"Samurai" is a relatively new word that emerged in the 16th century. It had been pronounced "Saburai" during the Muromachi period. (It is verb "saburau" in origin) The begining of samurai was in Heian period. Until manor was made, the court had the all of land in Japan. But since Taika revolution has took palce, the rule was made that court rent farmland for people. Then, people began to increase their land in competition with other. For these reasons, in this period, there were many people who conflict for border. So people began to arm to defend their farmland. This is the beginning of the samurai. In end of Heian period, samurai began to have a power comparale to the court. The Genji and Heishi was particularly influential in these.(Genzi and Heishi are group of samurai) First, Taira Kiyomori who was in group of Heishi has got highest position ”seiitaisyougun" for the first time as asamurai. So, During this time, Heishi had wielded power, but Yoshitune Minamoto and Yoritomo minamoto member of Genzi destroys Heishi immediately, so Genzi became the highest power in the end.(the war in which Genzi destroys heishi is called battle of dan no ura, is known as good battle.) But soon after this, Genji disappear in the infighting, so both of Genzi and Heishi disappear. However Taira and Genji, had perished in, it is needless to say they affected samurai after this era. 
   
 After this, quiet period is followed  for a while, but in Sengoku which is followed this quiet period, many war had took place.One of the most famous samurai in this period was Nobunaga oda.

  Oda Nobunaga hold on innovations in the area of organization and war tactics, developed commerce and industry. The most famous feat Nobunaga did would be using the gun for the first time in the war. It takes some time to launch first gun in those days. And, to shot every time, user had to repack the next bullet from the tip of the gun each time. So, people think that gun is not so useful as it costs much money. But Nobunaga devised a revolutionary tactics that divided gun crews into three rows, each rows attack different time. Using this tactic, Nobunaga finally became one of the extremely famous samurai. After sengoku period end, because samurai declined, samurai return to the court the power again. (It is called taiseihoukan) In this time,court prohibited to possess the sword by low. This is the end of the samurai. 

 Samurai culture is still very popular. In japan Rekizyo (That of women who love the brave samurai) appear because current man is so week... Of course, samurai who dress Japanese original costume, and battle desperately every time is loved not only Japanese man but also all over the world people. You can say that It is great culture in Kyoto.

 

 cite  http://kb6400.blog38.fc2.com/blog-entry-508.html

         http://www.geocities.co.jp/CollegeLife/3776/bushido.html

Maiko

 This week, I want write about maiko It is culture began in Kyoto. Maiko is a Japanese traditional appearance.A maiko's hairstyle is called nihongami (hairstyle between showa era to kohun era) There is kanzashi and flower on maiko's hair. (kanzashi is one of the Japanese hair accessory) Maikos wear kimono which is called tekomnai with the train trailing on the floor. They wear darari-no-obi (the special obi for maiko) over the train. It is about five meters long and it hangs from their waist to their ankles. Also they make up their teeth black. It is called ohaguro. (Oh my God!!) This is pectureof maiko. 

  I'm Japanese but I don't think this make-up is beautiful... . This idea is probably not only mine. Then, why maiko is so popular?

 There was a cafe sailing tea and Japanese sweets for people who taking a trip and making a pilgrimage to the shrines and temples (This cafe was called tyaya in those days). In this cafe, form of dishes change gradually, sailing alcohol and food, as a result, salesladies began to dancing, singing and playing the shamisen.(The shamisen or samisen is a Japanese musical instrument) It is beginning of maiko. Currently To become maiko is so difficult,   Maiko needs to  overcome a lot of training and class society. In addition, later becoming maiko, maiko must spend a lot of schedule. In the morning, maiko take lessons to polish their performances. At night, they go out to work. They are usually given the opportunity to eat at high-class Japanese-style restaurants or stay in Japanese-style hotels. They perform dances, songs, play the shamisen, and serve visitors with sake. Recently, their jobs have expanded to include visiting nursing institutions or hospitals. Some maiko are also dispatched overseas. (In Wikipedia) 

  As I write "class society", Maiko respect the conventions and rules. For example there is also "rule" in dance which is Inoue flow, shinozuki flow and Wakabayashi flow. In Inoue flow, maiko try to portray the rich image using simple moving. So maiko use only upper body in this dance. On the other hand, in Shinozaki flow, maiko dance using exaggerated, histrionic expressions. Also, in wakayanagi flow dance is characterized by a lot of hand gestures and movement of good. 　  This way, there are a lot of flows take only in the dance, maiko must dance depending on the time and situation. There is also a rule that ichigensanokotowari.(If you are a beginner you cannot enter the shop) It is intended to avoid the problem by creating a system that can not enter without introduction. This is a very unusual system in Japan, Customer is also required to protect the rule.

 Then, let's go back to the question "why the maiko is so popular?" I think the Japanese people feel a sense of value from the difficulty of becoming a maiko and hard convention.
Japanese cherish the rules. So Japanese respect Maiko who are living in strict rule, and think maiko is holy exist. Think so, you would say maiko is one of the proud culture in Kyoto culture
 

cite http://www.beauty-co.jp/point_program/detail/?exchange_id=EXI028&course=C20&area=&pointmin=&pointmax=&sort=&page= 

        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiko

Matsuri

 Matsuri means Japanese festival. In 1441, it began to hold on to thanks God. When Matsuri hold on, some events is took place. First, as people shoulder mikoshi which is the box to carry the God, step on over the temple.

 Second, people play Japanese music (It is called bayashi or kagura). And sisimai which doll of lion dance on that music.  

 It is picture of miko. It is said that miko serves on God. Miko does work of temple in matsuri. 

 Matsuri takes place many places all over the Japan. Matsuri takes place not only to thank god, but also to enjoy. There are many booths in many places, so people come to life. I also have enjoyed matsuri as a Japanese. Matsuri was so interesting that I satisfied that people had celebrated rich harvest in matsuri. Then, in Kyoto which has many temples, what does maturi took place? 

  Jidai matsuri is one of the matsuri takes place in Kyoto. Jidai matsuri began to because of  memory of building the heianjingu 1868. It takes place October 22, with mikoshi. In this case, mikoshi carries the ghost of emperor Kanmu and kome. The characteristic of jidai matsuri is disguise. People make raw and, each raw people dress up as each era people.

The work of disguise is covered by around college student in common. (University of Kyoto, doushisha ritsumeikan etc)  And, the content of disguise is decided by the university. Jidai matsuri is so interesting because it is one example people and Kyoto culture are connected by matsuri.

 Gion matsuri, In Wikipedia in English:

This festival originated as part of a purification ritual to appease the gods thought to cause fire, floods and earthquakes. In 869, the people were suffering from plague and pestilence which was attributed to the rampaging deity Gozu Tennō. Emperor Seiwa ordered that the people pray to the god of the Yasaka Shrine, Susanoo-no-mikoto. Sixty-six stylized and decorated halberds, one for each province in old Japan, were prepared and erected at Shinsen-en, a garden, along with the portable shrines from Yasaka Shrine.
　
But, the main event of gion matsuri is yamabokozyunko. This event has stopped sometimes but it resumes each time. In this event people draw big and beauty mikoshi and walk the city.

 Aoi masturi began to pray god for rich harvest 567. In 567, Kyoto was in lean year. So people had begun Aoi matsuri and, there were good crop next year. The main event of aoi matsuri is saio dai. The saio dai is a woman who is chosen from the relative of the Emperor to sacrifice herself to shrine. The role of the saio dai is nowadays played by an unmarried woman in Kyoto .She is  dressed in the traditional style of the clothes.

 Matsuri I am introducing is called Kyoto Sandai matsuri and, it is famous for scale, tradition and characteristic to many people. Matsuri was born in Kyoto and, needless to say, it is one of the representative culture of Kyoto.



cite http://www2.wbs.ne.jp/~gionsai/saitenn.htm
      http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E7%8D%85%E5%AD%90%E8%88%9E
      http://rekishi-roman.jp/mikosi-jiten/page-72.html
      http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gion_Matsuri