Lovely card from Osaka, Japan!

We have received a card from Osaka, a metropolis located roughly in the centre of Japan. Thanks a million Miyoko for having chosen this postcard featuring an impressively beautiful kimono!

As you may know, the kimono (from ki "wear" and mono "thing")  is a Japanese traditional garment always used in important festival or formal moments, a mark of politeness and sophistication. As you can gather from the postcard, Kimono are T-shaped, straight-lined robes and they are wrapped around the body, always with the left side over the right and secured by a sash called an obi, which is tied at the back. Kimono are generally worn with traditional footwear (especially zōri or geta) and split-toe socks (tabi).

Two women wearing kimono. Wikipedia

Today, kimono are most often worn by women and on special occasions. A few older women and even fewer men still wear the kimono on a daily basis. Men wear the kimono most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions. Professional sumo wrestlers are often seen in the kimono because they are required to wear traditional Japanese dress whenever appearing in public.

Click here to learn more about kimono. And visit EXPLORING PLACES to know more about Miyoko’s hometown, Osaka.

有難う o ありがとう. Arigatou, Miyoko!

Exploring Places LXXI: Osaka, Japan

The 34th card received comes from a wonder of a city, Osaka.

Central Osaka. Wikipedia

WHERE IS OSAKA?

Situated at the mouth of the Yodo River on Osaka Bay, Japan, Osaka is the second largest city in Japan with a population of more than 2,500,000 and serves as a major economic hub for the country.

Location of Osaka. Wikipedia

OSAKA IS FAMOUS FOR…

… its cuisine; in fact, Osaka has also been known as the "nation's kitchen" (天下の台所 tenka no daidokoro). Author Michael Booth and food critic François Simon of Le Figaro have suggested that Osaka is the food capital of the world. Osakans' love for the culinary is made apparent in the old saying "Kyotoites are financially ruined by overspending on clothing, Osakans are ruined by spending on food." Regional cuisine includes okonomiyaki (お好み焼き, pan-fried batter cake), takoyaki (たこ焼き, octopus in fried batter), udon (うどん, a noodle dish), as well as the traditional oshizushi (押し寿司, pressed sushi), particularly battera (バッテラ, pressed mackerel sushi).

Okonomiyaki

Takoyaki

Oshizushi

PLACES TO VISIT

Shitennō-ji Temple

Shitenno-ji Temple

It is sometimes regarded as the first Buddhist and oldest officially administered temple in Japan, although the temple buildings have been rebuilt over the centuries.

Namba and Shinsaibashi districts

Namba district

These are two of the most lively districts in Osaka, offering shopping, restaurants, bars and nightclubs running 24/7.

Osaka Castle

Osaka Castle

Osaka castle is one of Japan's most famous landmarks and it played a major role in the unification of Japan during the sixteenth century. The castle grounds, which cover approximately 60,000 square metres contain thirteen structures that have been designated as important cultural assets by the Japanese government.

Osaka Aquarium

Osaka Aquarium

An aquarium located in Osaka Bay, containing 35,000 aquatic animals in 14 tanks, the largest of which holds 5,400 tons of water and houses a variety of sea animals including whale sharks. This tank is the world's second-largest aquarium tank, behind the Georgia Aquarium, whose largest tank holds approximately 29,000 tons of water.

Umeda Sky Building

Umeda Sky Building

This building consists of twin 173 m skyscrapers bridged by a rooftop "Floating Garden" observatory presenting a 360-degree panoramic view of Osaka. Popular for photographs, the structure also houses an underground mall with restaurants styled after the early Showa period of the 1920s.

Watch this video to get an idea of what to do in Osaka!

 Sources:

Wikipedia

Osaka for Beginners

Discover Osaka

Postcard 29 sent to Suzuka (Japan) by Our Very Young Postcrossers!

Third contribution to our project from our very young postcrossers! 

This time their postcard is travelling to Suzuka-shi Mie in Japan, more than 10,000 kilometres away!

Their English teacher Tamara told them that they were going to send a postcard to a faraway place, this is why our young postcrossers decided to show the world the beautiful Pantallas, a typical costume seen in Xinzo Limia during Carnival time which has already been featured in postcards 14 (Tambov, Russia), 24 (Hsinchu, Taiwan) and 26 (Hong Kong, China).

Tamara explained to the kids where Japan is located and told them some interesting things about this exotic country. She also invited Iván to their classroom, who very explained the secrets of this costume and its fascinating mask!

And here’s the final product. Hope Kurijin will like it!

Thank you Tamara and Iván for your help! If you want to find out more about Suzuka, visit our section EXPLORING PLACES.

Exploring Places XLVIII: Suzuka Shi Mie, Japan

This is the first time we send a postcard to Japan! Its destination: Suzuka Shi.

Aerial view of Suzuka-Shi. Attid.tumblr.com

WHERE IS SUZUKA-SHI?

Suzuka is a city located in Mie Prefecture, in the southern part of Japan. Suzuka at one point had more South Americans amongst its population (percentage-wise) than any other city in Japan and may still retain this distinction. 

Location of Japan. Wikipedia

Location of Suzuka in Japan, Wikipedia

You will see lots of people from South America, especially Brazil, around town and in its schools. There is a local law that all signs must be in Portuguese in addition to Japanese.

SUZUKA IS FAMOUS FOR...

...The Suzuka Circuit ,home of the Japanese Grand Prix from 1987 to 2006, and again from 2009.

Suzuka circuit map. Wikimedia commons

Suzuka Circuit. Wikimedia Commons

...its significant industrial market, having major factories for both Sharp and Honda within its bounds.

Sharp TV sets. Phys.org

Honda Logo. Car-brand-names.com

Honda cars. Honda.co.uk

PLACES TO VISIT

Chiyozaki Beach

Chiyozaki Beach. Suzuka21.com

It is one of the few beaches in northern Mie that isn't located near factories thus making it probably the best beach in the region.

Tsubaki Grand Shrine

Tsubaki Grand Shrine. Uua.org

Tsubaki is the principal shrine of the deity Sarutahiko-no-Ōkami and one of Japan's oldest shrines. Sarutahiko no Ōkami's wife Ame-no-Uzume is also enshrined at the jinja.

The shrine has been in the care of the Yamamoto family for 97 generations.

Suzuka Circuit and the Motopia Amusement Park

Suzukacirtuit.jp

Within this enormous 2,050,000m2 recreational area, there is the Motopia Amusement Park, an international racing course, hotels and natural hot springs.  Motopia is a place where even small children can drive on their own, and the array of vehicles the park offers makes it a great place for families to be together.

Sources

Wikipedia

Suzuka21

City Suzuka