A few weekends ago I had the privilege of going to see the 18th Mino Washi Akari-Art Exhibition held every year in the old district of Mino City, Gifu, and I can tell you that it honestly surpassed all of my expectations in terms of the beauty of the town itself and the quality of the works of art made using Mino Washi Japanese paper and utilizing light.

On the way from Mino Station to the old, historic district, where the exhibition is held, I passed the old Mino Station, still intact and with a couple of train cars that people can enter and relax in for a bit. It was nice touch to see that kind of thing preserved.

...And here is the same scene an hour or so later, after it got dark and the exhibition got underway.

Aside from the works of art themselves, the town was very much a focus of the Mino Washi Akari-Art Exhibition, and this included spotlights drawing attention to the "udatsu," which you see in this photo. "Udatsu" are walls between houses that prevent the spread of fire from one house to another in the case of a large fire that would otherwise threaten the entire wooden town. They are one of the more famous features of the architecture in Mino. In fact, the historic district in Mino is named for the "udatsu," as is is called "udatsu no agaru machinami," or the "town where the udatsu rise."

And here are particularly memorable works of Mino Washi art that I was impressed by!

Even though this one with the flowers was towards the beginning of the neverending chain of works, I was convinced that it would be among the winners! (I was not correct.)

The design spells out "Mino Washi Akari-Art Exhibition!" Would be great as an advertisement for the exhibition!!

It may be somewhat difficult to tell from the photo, but this work featuring the cherry blossom tree was really exquisitely done.

And this one was probably one of the most colorful. It very much had the feeling of a traditional work of Japanese art.

Finally, a traditional Japanese Daruma (Dharma) doll.

And though there were still a bunch more fantastic works that I wanted to photograph...my camera died at this point! It had served me well, however...

The sheer number of Mino Washi pieces of art truly was impressive...it felt like an eternity had passed until I finally had seen every last one. I certainly not expected there to be that many, but I suppose that that speaks to the reknown of the festival.

In addition to several musical performances at several locations throughout the night, at the end, there was an awards ceremony where the winners of this year's contest were announced for the first time. The judges had been going around all night looking at all of the pieces, just as I had, and each chose one piece that he or she thought most deserved recognition.

None of the pieces that I had pegged as the best technically, most impressive, or most original made the cut, however. And yet, it was fascinating to hear the reasoning behind the judges' decisions, which they each elaborated on. How the piece made the best use of the qualities inherent to Japanese Mino Washi paper, how the piece could be taken as reactions to recent events such as the March 11th disaster, and the initial impressions that the works gave were all elements that the judges discussed. In the end, four works were honored out of the three hundred or so, and not all of them were made by Japanese artists, which again shows the international reach of this exhibition.

I was extremely impressed by what I saw and I can't wait to go back next year, and I hope that you will make an effort to be there too!!

Two weekends ago, I made my way to the annual Cutlery Festival held in Seki City in central Gifu Prefecture, so here are some of the highlights of what I saw there!

Dozens of ayu (sweetfish) being grilled greeted me as I arrived, the salt balancing their natural sweetness as is customary here in Gifu! I really regret not buying one of these...

There was also delicious yakitori, or grilled chicken on skewers, which comprised a part of my lunch! It was tender and tasty and as good as it looks here! It's hard not to love the food stalls at Japanese festivals!

These are the figures that greet you as you enter the Seki Sword Tradition Museum, a place that details the sword-making process, displays many gorgeous Japanese swords as well as other blades made in the famous city of Seki, and offers-during the Cutlery Festival as well as at other times-live demonstrations of the different stages of sword-forging.

Some of the raw materials that are eventually made into the hard, steel blade of the sword. "Iron sand" is combined with some copper and other metals to eventually form the final metal that is used in the forging process.

Learning to make fine charcoal flakes-used to cover the metal and allow for it to be uniformly molded-from burnt wood like this takes much skill and time to master, and this ability is one thing that is required before one can be licensed as a swordsmith.

Pieces of metal are melded together onto these rods, at which point they are tempered, elongated, and folded back against themselves, which results in what you see at the end of the bottom rod. This process is repeated over and over. And over. And this layering is what gives the steel much of its strength.

Two of the swords on display at the museum. Simply stunning works of art. Notice the pattern on the edge of the blade...this pattern can vary drastically depending on the swordsmith and the exact process he uses to temper the steel.

A tsuba, or sword guard, on display with beautiful decoration. This is located just above the sword's hilt, when attached.

Some swords have blades that are intricately designed, as you can see here under the magnifying glass.

More intricate blade designs...this one is actual writing, which is easily made-out at this magnification. This design runs up and down the entire blade!

Outside the museum, there was a metal forging demonstration, which involved four swordsmiths, each with his own specialized role. Seeing the sparks flying in all directions upon each hit of the hammer never fails to leave a deep impression.

Inside the museum, four craftsman were demonstrating different operations involved in the sword-making process. This first craftsman, called a "tsukamak-ishi" or "hilt maker," is expertly weaving the threads, making the standardized yet very distinctive pattern that adorns the handles of Japanese swords.

A close-up of the hilt maker at work.

Next is the "togi-shi," or "polisher," who drips a faint amount of water on the blade and then scrapes it against these blocks repeatedly. The edge is not yet sharp, so there's no need to worry about him injuring himself holding the blade this way!

Then we have the "saya-shi," or the sheath maker, who we see here shaving what will be the inside of the scabbard/sheath so that the blade fits perfectly like a figure into the mold from which it was made.

Lastly, there was the "shirogane-shi," or decorative part maker, who we see here making the "habaki," the piece of metal located above the guard that serves the dual function of preventing the guard from falling off and keeping the sword firmly in the scabbard when it is sheathed.

Reportedly the largest katana (Japanese sword) in the world!

Some of the other types of blades made in Seki that were on display at the museum included these unbelievably thick, multi-functional Swiss army knives! Which would certainly not fit in any kind of pocket...

Elsewhere, there were sword unsheathing and sword cutting demonstrations, as seen here. Just about to being his swing...

...And mid-swing as he slices the target cleanly in half!

The next demonstrator about to slice through a collection of targets as part of an "obstacle course" that he had set-up.

Then I finally arrived at the street buzzing with the stalls I expected to see at a Japanese festival!

While some stands were selling food, others, like this one, were selling blades of all kinds, shapes, and sizes! People came from around the country to buy the highest-quality kitchen knives at greatly reduced prices! ...And I personally came away from the festival with a (replica) katana in hand!

The Battle of Sekigahara, perhaps the most famous battle in all of Japanese history fought in 1600, determined the course of the nation for next several hundred years. It's significance is widely regarded, and it still captures the imaginations of many Japanese to this day.

This coming weekend, on October 15^th and 16^th, the annual Battle of Sekigahara Festival will be held in the town of Sekigahara itself, the sight of the climactic fight. As in previous years, a grand parade of soldiers, a gun firing ceremony, and a battle-reenactment that brings to life the historical picture scrolls depicting the actual battle are highlights of the festival. From all around the country, more than 200 armor-wearing, rifle-bearing people will be coming to participate in the above events!

...And as a special treat, this year's festival will be adding a brand new element; not only will the battle be recreated and celebrated on the field, it will also be recreated on the stage, through theater and music! The Qublic Theater troupe will be performing "The Gale of Shimazu," which honors the battle participants not through swordplay but through dance. And there will be several live performances by two singers/groups whose songs share the thematic element of Sekigahara. This multi-faceted tribute is sure to be entertaining and stirring, so you won't want to miss it!

In addition to all of the above events, there will be much more, including but not limited to discussions, social gatherings, and markets where you can find all sorts of historical goods and foods to enjoy!

Generally speaking, the theatrical and musical performances will be on the 15^th, while the battle reenactments, parades, and firing ceremonies will be on the 16^th.

Time: 10:00am - 4:00pm

Venue: Sekigahara Fureai Center and its surrounding areas and the Mt. Sasao Parking Lot, Sekigahara-cho, Fuwa-gun, Gifu

Access: Train from JR Gifu Station to JR Sekigahara Station on the Tokaido Main Line towards Maibara (transfer at Ogaki Station may be necessary)

To be held this Sunday on October 9, 2011, this annual festival held in Toki City, Gifu is said to have begun in 1623 when the lord of Tsumaki Castle offered a horse in exchange for good fortune in battle. To this day, horses still play a central role in the festival, as archery on horseback is the main attraction! Six elementary school boys, riding up the mountainside on horseback towards the shrine, each take 6 rounds of shooting as their horses whiz pass the targets-3 times in battle garb, battle helmets and all, and 3 times in the garb of ancient Japan. Aside from that event, the horses themselves are paraded for all to see, there is a matchlock rifle ceremonial firing, and finally there is a parade of school children fully equipped with samurai armor. It is a relatively unique event among Japanese festivals, so if you have time this weekend you should definitely check it out!

Location: Hachiman Shrine, Tsumaki-cho, Toki City

Time: 11am (horseback archery from 2:30pm)

Access: Train to JR Toki Station South Exit à Tohnoh Tetsudou Bus on the Toki Tsumaki Line à Get off at Tairaguchi à 10 minute walk to the Hachiman Shrine

Last weekend, I was able to attend the Gifu Nobunaga Festival 2011 in Gifu City, a festival that honors the great historical figure Nobunaga who did so much for both Japan and for Gifu (which he in fact named). Exiting the train station, this is the sight with which I was greeted: taiko drums! One of the three essential parts of any Japanese festival, taiko performances are pervasive, and yet...for me at least, their power to enchant never fades.

Along one of the main streets of Gifu City, the long parade began at around 1pm, and it was headed by this marching band.

Following them was this group led by Minamo, the official mascot for the upcoming National Sports Festival of Japan to be held in Gifu in 2012. "Minamo" literally means "water surface," and indeed, Minamo is supposed to be a fairy that lives on the surface of a beautiful river, evoking images of the pure rivers on which Gifu prides itself. You can make out the water surface around his torso area.

Next came the ceremonial firing of matchlock guns by this group of 16th century warriors. To be honest, I could not see very well with the crowd before me (the camera is way over my head here), and I was not expecting the incredibly loud firing shots when they came. I was quite startled, to put it mildly!

After firing off one round, the men in armor continued to parade...they would later fire off several more rounds at intersections farther down the road!

Standard bearers marching in front of the nobility.

And here is the man of the hour, Oda Nobunaga himself!

Following closely behind is Nohime, Nobunaga's wife.

And then Oichi-no-kata, Nobunaga's youngest sister.

And another noblewoman.

After the parade ended, the "festival" part of the day began, with crowds assembling around the food stalls and game booths, both elements that traditionally mark Japanese festivals. The above photo is of a man making what is known in Gifu as "pon-haze," which is similar to popcorn except that it is made with rice instead of corn kernels! On occasion, it made a "pop" just as loud as the matchlock guns and released just as much smoke...but with much sweeter results!

The finished "pon-haze" was shaped and packaged in different ways...like rice krispies treats, but also in bags in which all of the kernels remained unattached to each other. Either way...it was delicious!

A little further along at a hands-on pottery station, a ceramist was helping this girl and another boy shape clay on potter's wheels.

It turned out that the Gifu Nobunaga Festival was not the only festival in town this last weekend. There was also a festival promoting kimono, traditional Japanese garments. And here, at the end of one road, I spied a bunch of birds sitting along the rim of some portable swimming pool-like object. Lo and behold, they were cormorants! Again, something for which Gifu is well known...cormorant fishing on the Nagara River! This fellow on the left was the only one that would spread its wings, though.

And here's a closer look at the proud, impressive bird.

All in all, a successful day!

Also known as the Hachiman Festival, the Takayama Autumn Festival, along with its counterpart in the spring, is considered one of the three most beautiful festivals in all of Japan. During October 9^th and 10^th of every year, the usually quiet city of Takayama - referred to by many as the "mini-Kyoto" - erupts with a color, sound, and energy that is infectious and magical.

Thought to be around 400 years old, the festival is particularly beloved because of the fantastic floats that are displayed and pulled around the town during the festival. Elaborately decorated both inside and out, they show off magnificent carvings, masterfully crafted dolls, curtains, bamboo blinds, and the like. In the past, different communities that owned different floats used to compete with each other over who could make the most beautiful float, which is why Takayama is now home to 25 of these extremely high-level works of craftsmanship built by the famed "artisans of Hida." 11 of these are used during the Autumn Festival, though 10 will be used this year because of repairs to one of them.

On the night of the 9^th, the floats - each adorned with over 100 lamps - will be paraded through the town again on the way back to their storage houses, and this sight, mixed with the sounds of the traditional farewell song that is sung at that point, makes for a highlight of the festival. The marionette performance that takes place on the "Hotei-tai" float is another highlight of the event, as the puppet masters bring the marionette to life in a display that awes the crowd.

The processions featuring hundreds of people in traditional Japanese garb also transport you to the past, and as the most famous festival in the area, the Takayama Autumn Festival is one not to be missed!

This year's annual celebration of Mino Washi Japanese paper will be held this weekend, October 8^th and 9^th, in the city of Mino in central Gifu!  Mino Washi is the thinnest and yet one of the strongest types of traditional Japanese paper, and it has a history of over 1,300 years! In order to both celebrate that history as well as the viability of Mino Washi paper even in today's world, and in order to create a lasting connection between Mino City and the people who come to visit, the Mino Washi Akari-Art Exhibition is being held this year for the 18^th time.

The event features illuminated works of art made using this famed Mino Washi paper lining the streets of the darkened city, creating a fantastical sight that is dream-like and that transports spectators to an age long gone. There is one contest for general entrants and one for elementary and middle school children, so come check out all of the beautiful works of paper and light by people of all ages from all over the country!

Works will be exhibited 5pm - 9pm on both days.

The Exhibition will be held in the Udatsu no Agaru District of Mino City, easily accessible from Mino Station, which itself is reachable by bus or via the Nagaragawa Railway (transfer from JR at Mino-Ota Station).

This weekend, on October 8^th and 9^th, the annual Seki Cutlery Festival will be held in Seki City in central Gifu! Well-known internationally for its high-quality products, Seki has a history and tradition of excellence in blade-making that extends back over 700 years. Of course, in the past this blade-making tradition was focused on the production of Japanese swords and made Gifu the hub of that industry. With the coming of the modern age, those skills and that know-how were applied to products like kitchen knives, and resulted in comparably sparkling (and sharp!) results. The Cutlery Festival is not only meant to show off what the city has to offer in terms of modern-day blades; it is also a celebration of Seki's more traditional blade-forging history, and so at this event you can enjoy blades of both the past and the present!

At this event, you will find stall after stall selling Seki cutlery at lower prices than you will ever find anywhere else, sword forging and polishing demonstrations, sword cutting and unsheathing demonstrations, and many more such exhibitions that you will only find in the city of blades, Seki! Of course, as befits a Japanese festival, there will be taiko drum performances and others as well. Definitely an event not to be missed!

Seki can be accessed easily by bus from the Gifu Station Bus Terminal or by train via the Nagaragawa Railway.

While it is true that Gifu is considered the "countryside" of Japan, it has better access to one of Japan's metropolitan areas than most of the other prefectures. Indeed, parts of Gifu are not even twenty minutes outside of Japan's fourth largest city, Nagoya! While in Gifu, you have the opportunity to fully enjoy the pleasures, tastes and sights of the pure, beautiful rural areas brimming with nature on every side, you also have the opportunity to take advantage of everything that a major city has to offer. Thus, in Gifu, one truly has the best of both worlds.

I experienced this very profoundly this past weekend, when my adventures took me the short distance to Nagoya from Gifu. At the Nagoya Dome, home of the Chunichi Dragons baseball team, there was an incredible event that I felt like I would never be able to see again. Called the Rikuzentakata Zenkoku Taiko Festival, this event is a national taiko drum (a type of traditional Japanese drumming) celebration featuring performances by a dozen of the best taiko groups in the nation. Usually held in Iwate Prefecture, it was displaced because of the effects of the natural disasters that struck Japan earlier this year, and so it was decided that Nagoya would host it this time around.

I came out of the event feeling truly lucky to have had the chance to attend such a special performance, and lucky to be so close to a major hub.

It dawned on me again just how convenient it is being in Gifu; with all of the benefits and none of the hassle of living in a metropolis, I can come and go as I please, or just as easily retreat to the wonderful, healing natural environment for which Gifu is known!

...And, needless to say, the taiko performances were fantastic!!

Held annually in the old town of Hida Furukawa in northern Gifu, the "Kitsunebi Matsuri," or "Fox Fire Festival," is an event that celebrates tradition, mysticism, and one fairy tale in particular.

It is said in Japan that a line of lamplights in the dark of night are actually lights that foxes have lit as part of a marriage procession. In Furukawa, this procession is recreated, and it is said that any who look upon the fantastic and mysterious sight of the foxes' marriage will be blessed with good fortune and bountiful crops in the coming year.

Make your way to Furukawa, transform yourself into a fox with makeup that you can have done at any number of stalls throughout the town, and watch as the procession of fox brides and grooms marches towards the site of their marriage ceremony!

Date: September 24

Time:

              1:00pm: Sampling the autumn flavors and foods of Hida City

              2:00pm: Fox make-up stalls open throughout the town

              6:00pm: Marriage procession begins

              8:00pm-9:00pm: Wedding ceremony

Venue: Hida City, Furukawa Town residential and commercial districts

Website: http://www.city.hida.gifu.jp/kanko/matsuri/event/03kitsunebi_matsuri/index.html (Japanese)

Contact: 0577-74-1192