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The Osaka clan At izakaya after Bunraku. The Bunraku plays were very complex. Afterward we needed to compare notes. Alas it was too early for dinner though this Izakaya had many tempting delicasies.
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| Nakamura dinner | Residence of Nakamura | Bunraku and performances | |
| Sumiyoshi Shrine | Sumiyoshi Lighthouse | Dotonbori area | |
| Mizukake Fudo | Shitennoji Temple and vicinity | ||
| At Osaka, we stayed with Noriko's cousin Mariko's condo and were also welcomed by other relatives. All of Norko's aunts and uncles reside in Kansai - Osaka and Kyoto. | |||
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It had been a long three years since we went to Japan and meet with relatives and friends. Noriko's brother, Koichi and his wife Shizuko, joined us to the trip to Osaka, Kyoto, and Shimane.
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_22nov05-b_1748b.jpg The first night in Osaka, a full spread of wonderful dishes awaited for us.  |
_22nov05-b_1746c.jpg Nakamura family, my cousin Mariko, her husband and their son Kaiho, hosted us.  |
_22nov04-1513_nn.jpg Cousins Yukako and Kaiho.  |
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_22nov04-1511_nn.jpg Aunt Toshiko and sister-in-law Shizuko  |
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_22oct05-ko_1812.jpg Admiring a favorite sake  |
_22nov04-1656_nn.jpg This lavish kitchen contains no automatic dishwasher. The women team to do the job.  |
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_22nov06-b_2038b.jpg Noriko enjoys Nakamua-sans's smoked fish and cheese with shochu.  |
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This was a co-op building Nakamura, an architect, designed across the street from Shitennoji. They live on the sixth floor.
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Bunraku, Japanese puppet theater, and other traditional performances
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_22nov06-b_1340.jpg Bunraku is a well known traditional puppet theater in Japan. An exhibit is off the lobby at the Bunraku theater.  |
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_aboutbunraku1.jpg Well executed guide to Bunraku, in English.  |
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_osakaperformartsflyerp1.jpg We also saw other traditional perfoming arts, Kamigata Dento Geino, at Yamamoto Noh Theater, thanks to Mariko getting tickets for us. Bruce has waited 40 years to see this sort of performance in person.  |
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_22nov06-b_1927.jpg Taiyaki stand. Doing without these for three years has been hard.  |
_22nov06-b_1934.jpg Staff preparies the taiyaki we ordered.  |
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It is said that Empress Jingu established a shrine in Sumiyoshi around 211 AD. It is a very popular shrine in Osaka and many people come to pray and wish for their good health and fortune, especially "Hattatsu mairi"
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_22nov06-b_1000.jpg Taking tram to the Shrine  |
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_sumiyoshitaishaguide.jpg "Found 211" makes it pretty old.  |
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_22nov05-0638_nn.jpg Scholars and priests were sent to China to study during Tang period  |
_22nov06-b_1105a.jpg It is famous for this arched bridge. Its span symbolizes world between the real world and gods world.  |
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_22nov06-b_1105b.jpg It is quite steep.  |
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_22nov06-b_1105.jpg It also coincided with Shichi-go-san chldrens' festival.  |
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_22nov06-b_1030.jpg At the entrance to the shrine, one purifies by washing hands and mouth.  |
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_22nov06-b_1040.jpg There is a long line for offering and praying at the shrine.  |
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_22nov05-0648_nn.jpg People here are doing "Shichi-go-san" (7-5-3).  |
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_22nov06-b_1048.jpg Looking for pebbles that have writings 'go', 'dai',and 'riki' for good luck offerings.  |
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_22nov05-0704_nn.jpg Hattatsu-mairi. It is believed that if one visits the shrine on the first day of dragon every month and pray, the business will prosper.  |
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_22nov06-b_1109.jpg Sumiyoshi Taisha has been written in many classical literature including The Tale of Genji.  |
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_22nov06-b_1145.jpg Taking a train into downtown.  |
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Sumiyoshi Lighthouse was known to be the oldest light house in Japan. It was a wooden structure built in the Kamakura period. At that time the sea came up to Sumiyoshi Shrine. The light house helped Osaka become the center of trade. However, the land was filled during Edo period and the sea farther. Even then, it remained popular as a historic site. The light house was destryoed by a typhoon in 1950 and was rebuilt in 1974 in concrete and moved to the present location.
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_22nov06-b_1117.jpg Sumiyoshi Lighthouse was reconstructed at this place. Before modern times, this was the sea's edge.  |
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Nanba and Dotonbori area are the center of shopping and eating in Osaka and very popular among the young and tourists.
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In the midst of all the activities is a small temple and a statue of Fudo. The temple was moved in 1637 from Kyoto to the present site. Then, during the Edo period, the area was a place of cremation and burial for the poor. The temple was burnt many times and after World War II bombing nothing stood but the statue. People came to pray and is now known to grant all wishes.
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_22nov06-b_1321.jpg Mizukake Fudo at Hozenji Yokocho. It is said that the Fudo diety will grant your wishes, especially when you ail, if you splash water on him where it ails.  |
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Shitennoji Temple is right next to Mariko's condo. the temple was established by Shotoku taishi in 593. The gates, pagoda, the main hall and lecture hall all line up in layout which was traditional design at that time influenced by China. It is uhique among present Japanese temples. The buildings have burnt many times over the years but they have succeeded in reconstructing the quite fathfully.
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_22nov05-0556_nn.jpg Shitennoji Temple South entrance  |
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_22nov05-0552_nn.jpg Sunday flea market  |
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_22nov07-b_0702.jpg The pagoda with the highest building in Japan in the background  |
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_22nov06-b_0955.jpg "Abeno Harukasu" in Osaka is the tallest building in Japan as of 2022.  |
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