White & Orange Osmanthus

They are in full bloom now.

An old Chinese legend says there is a big osmunthus tree on the moon. 

It is said osmanthus was imported from China. The time is not clear. It would be in the 17th or 18th century.

Two kinds are open almost at the same time this year. Usually white ones open 1 to 2 weeks earlier than orange ones. I don't know whether you can see both kinds in your area. The fragrance of orange is deeper than withe. 金木犀和銀木犀同時開花

In China, they make tea, wine and cake with osmanthus flowers. I have never seen Japanese products using them.

Osmanthus is called Mokusei (木犀 woody rhinoceros）in Japanese, because its bark looks like rhinoceros's skin.

 

Chinese Restaurant

When I was young, Chinese culture was admired by a lot of people. It was not easy to go and enjoy its culture then like now.

Last month I visited this restaurant and was surprised at its designs.

You can see some typical symbols of good fortune such as dragon, 囍 (double happiness) and red color.

A pair of dragons has been welcoming guests. 

Dragons, clouds and wish-fulfilling jewels are above the powerful waves.

 

Unaju 鰻魚盒飯

Unaju means grilled eel and rice served in a box. In old days, people seldom had a chance to eat meat because of a religious reason and limited supply routes. To beat the heat in summer, eel was the most typical animal protein. 

Eel is grilled with special soy sauce. Main ingredients are soy sauce, sugar, sake (Japanese rice wine) and sweet cooking rice wine. Every eel specialty restaurant has its own sauce. Do not forget to sprinkle ground Japanese pepper.

 

Lilies In The Bush (Lilium auratum)

July is the month to enjoy the beautiful wild lily. As it has a very strong fragrance, people of today seldom bring it into the house.  
 
I just smiled at you like a lily in the pathside bush,

Why can you jump to a conclusion

I have agreed to be your wife?

-A poem in the 8th century-

 

I found a wild chestnut. People in those days would eat them.

People In The Same Zone

I went to see the sea in the rainy season.  Standing on the beach, I just wanted to know cities at the same or a similar latitude to this beach, around 36 to 37 degrees north.

They are:

Qingdao(36.07), Jinan(36.7) China

Las Vegas(36.17), Nashville(36.16), Santa Fe(35.69)

Seoul(37.57)

Tehran(35.69)

Algiers(36.75)

Granada(37.18)

Athens(37.98) 

山川異域　風月同天

Mountains and rivers in different lands

Winds and the moon in the same sky

Reed Ring 茅輪

July, or June by the lunar calendar, is a month to carry out a Shinto ritual. People walk through a large ring made of reeds to clean and renew their minds and bodies.

Wishing you health and happiness.

 

Pink And White Lotus Flowers

It's just the time to enjoy lotus flowers and its scent.

You have to get up early and get to lotus ponds before 10 at latest, otherwise almost all the flowers will close and sleep. Or you should check weather forecast before you go to bed. If it says the next morning will be cloudy and the temperature will not be high, you can reach the site around noon.

Chinese soup spoons are called 'lotus petals' in Japan　as the shapes are similar.

I love Chinese moon cakes made with lotus seed paste. It's very creamy.

 

June

The sound of water is refreshing.

Enjoy early summer days.

 

Colorful Peonies 牡丹花

In this spring, soon after the cherry blossoms, peony flowers opened. 

Petals are large, soft and very thin.

This looks like a lotus flower.

These petals are typical. You can see them designed in many art works such as pictures, porcelain and clothes.

 A pretty one. The edge of the petal is round.