extracurricular activities

Dear Friends and Readers.

Few blogs ago, I wrote about rice harvest.
Today, Students from Tenkawa primary school visited Mr Morita.
Mr Morita has his own equipments from old time farmer's gears.
Some he bought, but he told us many of gear gave to him as presents.

Today, He shows to students whole different ways of "Threshing" from old time to today.

This is one of oldest style harvester. 

Detach rice and straw by pulling. Very simple method we have done for long time... 

Newer machine 20 century. This mechanism is like a pedal sewing machine. Roller movement separates them.   

Student excited. It's bit more fun to do because it's not only pulling, it requires bit a technique. 

This is separates dust and small straws, demonstration as old way (hand technique) with air flow system. 

This is blower by hand power. So classic. Letter said " Daughter in law - supporter Extra Deluxe" 

What a simple mechanic. but it works ok. 

Box of right is heavier which means rice, box of left lighter.  

Beautiful brown rice is ready to be white rice. I personally prefer sprouted brown rice. My wife made us everyday.

This is rice dehuller made in Japan. Price is around 700USD. So nice if you love white rice. you can make your own.

Fresh Fresh Fresh. Best of the best, I would imagine it's better eat sooner because oxidize.

i am so honor to see people like Mr Morita who understands growing culture. and history of farming in regional area. Best to experience from old master.

Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoy my blog !!

Mitarai George

Dear Friends and Readers

Today, i would love to share our main source of water in Tenkawa village.
As I wrote about Hakkyo mountain (Highest mountain around Kansai, Kii peninsula.)
and we have mountain range east side of Tenkawa. This is World Heritage site.
We have 5 different source of upper stream water come into Ten no kawa river.

Many area in Tenkawa is NOT for hiking at all. we have also many hiking places,
and during spring to fall season, there are many guest house on the top of ranges (it's require booking.)

Ten = Heavenly higher place.
Kawa = River

Just amazing, stunning color of water run through whole village of Tenkawa.
This Tenkawa river called KUMANO river where reaches to KUMANO HONGU.
As following images, our village is one of TOP water sources stream come out ground from these mountain ranges.

This images from Upstream conference in 2009. 1,500m - 1,915m ranges, Town is around 6-800m 

I would love to share more trekking information in near future in Tenkawalife blog. 

When you see left lower centre where steam meats, that is MITARAI keikoku (Gorge / Canyon).

This Gorge, you can walk from KAWAI (entrance of village by bus, also information centre.),

about 50min. 

This is my photo taken around end of Oct 2012. 

This is 2weeks before the best foliage time. we had really great time. Near Mitarai 

Sacred water with stunning view of foliage. This is from top of bridge. Mitarai.

Where is foliage ? This is like a zen photo... this is also from Mitarai. Pure water !

 It's coming golden time of Tenkawa life !

Also, please check this water footage. Just beautiful !!

Thank you for reading.

Hakkyo mountain. Tallest mountain in Kansai Area.

Dear Friends and Readers.

Today, I would love to write about one of tallest mountain in Tenkawa.
It's even higher than any mountains in Kansai Area (also called KINKI.)

Kansai region are 6 Prefectures,
NARA, WAKAYAMA, HYOGO, OSAKA, SHIGA. KYOTO.

Tenkawa is center of Kii peninsula.  

Best 100 mountains in Japan.

"Tenkawa" is only 2 hours from Osaka area, and has many reasonable accommodations. but there is only few places where they can welcome in English language,  however, most of places are welcome you as guests. Please visit sight seen center which is in enter of Tenkawa village (Place called Kawai area.) .

1915m mount Hakkyo "Hakkyo Ga Ta Ke" Best 100 mountain in Japan as well.

Hakkyo means, 8 buddhist scriptures. This is one of world heritage area by UNESCO.
Pilgrimage routes called " Omine Okugake Michi"
The sacred sites and pilgrimage route in Kii mountain range.

Here is my story I visited with my mates and mountain guide last June.
In first, We take a car to " Gyoja Gaeri Tunnel", if anyone would love to visit as day trip.
This is closest entrance of Hakkyo.  From bus stop (Kawai in Tenkawa) to Gyoja Gaeri would be appox 7,000Yen per trip.

From Gyoja Gaeri > Misen mountain > Gyoja gaeri > Misen > Gyoja Gaeri about 6-9hours.

We stayed Misen house in this trip..

All of us who hike a mountain must write application (free) and drop at police station (kawai) or entrance place has a box.. (following pic on the back has box.)

Most important, No mobile reception around mountain area. and very limited services.
So, Please make sure bring your own needs and do not litter. This is world heritage.

Living knowledge Mr Toshi, Matt and my mate, Mr Yama from Oh! Tree cafe in Tenkawa. 

Matt carried drum because he will stay and training.  BE AWARE : Please see Sign is only in JAPANESE !!

Path is sometime difficult to work out. So, please be aware it is not beginner's course.  

Even weather was fine at bottom, you can see weather can be change drastically. 

We relax and enjoy lunch. what a beautiful moment.

This is Tenkawa Benzaiten Okunoin. Sacred shrine and Gods.

This is accommodation at top of Misen mountain. 

From Misen mountain to Hakkyo mountain takes about 30-40min.

This is one of information site, so, please use this information as a part of your information.

Thank you for reading.

Harvest Moon in TENKAWA

Dear Friends and Readers.

How are you ?

I am enjoying wonderful time in place called Tenkawa, Yoshino, NARA.
Not far from Koyasan (KOYA SAN) where Japanese Buddhism started 1,200 years ago.

Vital energetic force reflected by full moon. here in Sep full moon.
High altitude make clear air. water brings energy into land that create environment.
But all these can not work without brother of our planet.

Moon.

It's so fascinating. The SUN gave light energy to moon, we get energy from MOON.
Perfect balance of gravity creates tide of ocean and effect to whole planet of earth.
Shrine master told us water came from space. and it relate with moon.

Love to stay in the night of full moon Tenkawa.

Fire ceremony. it always important. 

Gyoja 行者様 hold this fire control by swords and custom of tradition. 

Ladies step on fire logs for health and longevity.

Beautiful moon through forrest of God's shrine.

Perfect night for empty your mind and be spiritual being.

Candle night @ 1,300 years old temple.

Dear Friends and Readers.

We had beautiful night at "Dorogawa" area where hotspring town 820m high on the ground.
This area in Tenkawa has many histories and story left in this deep place,
and most beautiful water area in Tenkawa and "Gorogoro mizu ごろごろ水"
always most popular water collecting destination around this region of Nara.

龍泉寺 Ryusen Temple = Dragon, Spring fountain, Temple. What a cool name, 1,300 years old Temple.

Candle set up was simply fun. Nice local energy. Candle sit on top of water.

Beautiful candle view from hill of Temple. warm gentle light such a dream time.

In Japan, many places do candle night. lovely way to spend a time with friends. 

Beautiful voice singing old songs to audiences. 

Ogre paint. In this area, ancestors were ogres. very interesting.

Candle light. Love these out of focus...

These like a energy of lights just like living. some stronger than other... this is like a life of lights...

Genuine farmer, genuine harvest.

Dear Friends and Readers.

Rice farming started from March, harvest around late summer.

In Japan, Traditionally, Irrigated field. many older people told me that when they are young, house water run into house after irrigated field. It means, water is precious, rice field water is even more important. As you can imagine, if rice not grown well, life will become starvation.

Many of farmers gave up from irrigated rice field work, because of labor against cost performance. Mr Morita told me when he was young, all day he worked got 5kg of rice. This was enough for labor. today, he said it require 20kg. Since it is over capacity to grow 20kg per day, So, it's nonsense to keep tradition as farmer today. Mr Morita smiled to me tells me that he is not smart. although, I thought, sense of living might change, but quality of life will never change.

His hands, body, mind and spirit are down to ground and as well as highly connected to universe.

Mr Morita said drying on sun is best way for rice. lots of work, but he said it's worth it.

This year was hot summer, usually hot summer is good for rice farming. 

Dedicated farmer. great color rice.

Look how beautiful this rice is. 

Irrigated rice field already dried up when harvest time. Lady told me dragon fly eat insects for good. 

This is about 500kg of rice here...lots of lots of work into this.

I would love to keep post new story from Mr Morita. Farmer is where our future would be. Lots of love into foods.

Thank you for reading.

Tenkawa youtube video by Mr Tsuyoshi Takashiro

Dear Friends.

Today, We would love to share video footage of Tenkawa river and water.
Amazing quality if your media can handle 4K video footage, my mac book
can only handle 1080 HD.

Water is such a precious living external and internal material for us.
but not only precious, Water images teach us many things without using any words.
Sometime, words has limitation for our imagination. like a learning from water....

Anyway, I really hope you enjoy this images.

Tenkawa means " The River of heaven "

YOUTUBE ADDRESS