NIPPON Kichi - 日本吉

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2007/2/12


大分 五百羅漢 Ooita Gohyaku-rakan The 500 Rakan of Oita

Jp En

Gyoku-ho-dorin, the 15th resident priest of Toko Temple (which has a history of 612 years), asked Yoshino Kakunojo, a Hide stone craftsman, to sculpt 521 statues of rakan. Starting from 1863, it took him 19 years to complete.

The sculpting of the rakan was to gain merit for the local people. Usually rakan do not appear to have human face, but these statues are carved to represent four different emotions, which make them peculiar. Also at this site behind the main building is a bussokuseki (a carved stone foot) called 16 Rakan. It is modeled on a similar one at Todaiji Temple in Nara. The size of this rare bussokuseki is about 48.5cm.

The rakan temple, standing in the harsh rocky mountains, was established in 645 by an Indian monk. Many visitors come here to pray for safety and good work.

Within the cave are over 3777 statues, of which the 500 rakan in the Murodo are the most famous. Standing in the entrance is a statue of the Zenkai monk, which contains his relics.
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2007/1/31


奈良公園 Nara-kouen Nara Park

Jp En

Nara Park is a city park in Nara Prefecture and the official name is ‘Nara Prefectural City Park Nara'. The park covers an area of 502 square meters and is one of the biggest city parks in Japan. If the area of the park were to include the surrounding temples and shrines, it would be over 660 hectares. Usually, the area including the temple and shrine is called Nara Park.

The area includes famous temples and shrines like Todaiji Temple, Kofukuji Temple and Kasuga Shrine.  In addition, there is a primeval forest on Mt Kasuga. These have been designated as World Heritage sites, as well as cultural assets of the ancient capital, Nara.

Many deer wander freely in Nara Park and they are supposed to be servants of Kasuga Shrine and are allowed.

In early August, the Nara Candle and Flower Festival is held and people place candles at every spot in the park as decoration. The festival is quite new but has proved popular among tourists.
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依水園 Isui-en Isui-en

Jp En

Isui-en is a garden in Nara City. It is separated into two parts: the former garden and the later garden, and the age of each garden is different according to when they were established.

The former garden is derived from a sub-house built by a Nara tradesman, Kiyosumi Michikiyo, in the Enpo period (1673~1681).

The later garden was built by a tradesman, Kanto Jiro, in Meiji 32. The garden has beautiful borrowed scenery such as Mt Wakakusa, Mt Kasuga and the big roof of nearby Todaiji Temple.

Sanshu-tei, a pavilion in the former garden, was built by the Zen monk Mokuan. It remains to this day, and you can have meals and tea there. Nara Art Museum annex has preserved ceramics and paintings from Japan, China and Korea.

This park is very rare because you can enjoy at the same time two parks that are different in age and taste.
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NIPPON Kichi - 日本吉 - 日本語に切り替える NIPPON Kichi - 日本吉 - to english

"Nippon-kichi" leads you to places, people and things that reveal a certain Japanese aesthetic.

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