Japanese companies, Yodobashi Camera

With 23 stores, Yodobashi Camera is one of the largest Japanese retail chains, specialized in electronics. Originally started as a small shop named Fujisawa Shashin Shokai (after the name of the owner, Fujisawa Terukazu), in 1974 the company opened the first camera store in Shinjuku, Tokyo, and during the 1970’s managed to sell about a third of all the SLR cameras in Japan!

At the same time the company changed its name to Yodobashi Camera, Yodobashi being the name of a former ward which, together with Yotsuya and Ushigome, formed in 1947 the today’s Shinjuku city.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/japanese-companies-yodobashi-camera


Ise Oharai-machi, traditional Japanese architecture street

Oharai-machi is a one kilometer long street originally built for the hundred thousand pilgrims which are visiting Ise Jingu every year. The area preserved its original purpose until today, and although the buildings were reconstructed, the traditional architecture was maintained.

In 1993 the entire area was restored to the old-style look, the electric poles were removed and the stone pavement was also reconstructed to make the area look as it was during the Edo period.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/ise-oharai-machi-traditional-japanese-architecture-street

Sukashi tsuba

Initially designed to protect the hand and to balance the blade, tsuba, the hand guard of the Japanese sword is also one of the main decorative elements. Some tsuba are decorated by using a technique called sukashi ("openwork"), by which large parts are cut out to create an aesthetic design.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/sukashi-tsuba

Tokyo International Forum night view

One of the most beautiful buildings in Japan is the Tokyo International Forum. Inaugurated in 1996, the Forum impresses through its Glass Hall, a 60 meters tall, quarter kilometer long glass and steel hall that looks mesmerizing, especially by nighttime.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/tokyo-international-forum-night-view

Matsumoto Castle legend, the elongated beams

One legend of the Matsumoto castle says that during the construction works the builders discovered that one of the main beams was cut about 15 centimeters too short. Then, one of the carpenters came with a very odd proposal, telling the workers that he knows how to… elongate the beam.

He tied the beam with ropes on both sides and asked the workers, about one hundred men, to form two teams and to pull the ropes. He remained in the middle, and at one moment he hit the beam with a large mallet. After repeating the procedure a couple of times, they measured the beam again, and… it was exactly 15 centimeters longer than before!

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/matsumoto-castle-legend-the-elongated-beams

Traditional Japanese house in Uchiko

In a traditional Japanese house, the wealth is manifested only through the use of good quality materials and by the careful finishing of the architectural elements. The room remains as minimalistic as possible, as you can see in this photo, taken inside the Kamihaga Residence in Uchiko, the house of a wealthy merchant and producer of Japanese wax.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/traditional-japanese-house-in-uchiko

Saruhashi boat cruise

For the thousands of tourists visiting every year the Saruhashi bridge, a new attraction was created this year, a boat cruise on the Katsuragawa River, passing under Saruhashi, and under an old aqueduct, visible in today’s photo.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/saruhashi-boat-cruise

Matsushima Bay Oshima island

One of the islands in the Matsushima Bay, Oshima (the name means “big island") was, since ancient times, a meditation place for Buddhist monks. It is the easiest accessible of the Matsushima islands, being connected to the land by a bridge. Covered by pines, it is an enchanting place, well worth a visit by foot…

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/matsushima-bay-oshima-island

Kyoto Yata-dera bell

According to a popular belief, the sound of a bell transcends the physical world, making a connection to the divine world. About the sound of some bells, there are specific traditions and that’s the case of the bell of the Kyoto Yata-dera temple, photographed here. The local tradition says that when this bell is ringed, it guides the spirits of the dead towards the afterlife.

http://muza-chan.net/japan/index.php/blog/kyoto-yata-dera-bell