Along with the heat of summer and rainy season, shrines all over Japan host rice-planting ceremonies to pray for a plentiful harvest. Called the Otaue Shinto Service, since ancient times, Sumiyoshi Taisha Shinto Grand Shrine here south of Osaka hosts the largest ceremony in the nation and has been designated as an Important Intangible Folk … Continue reading Otaue Shinto Rice Planting Ceremony at Sumiyoshi Taisha Shinto Shrine Celebrates Life and Farming
Sakura fever has struck. The falling petals of many cherry blossoms throughout the Kansai region have forced me outside to make pilgrimages on my bike around Osaka and else where to view these breathtaking beautiful trees. They remind me of how short life is. Most cherry blossoms have now faded and dropped their petals like snow. … Continue reading Sakura Fever at the Japan Mint in Osaka is a Transcendental Event
The awe of experiencing cherry blossoms in Japan during Sakura season is a spiritual experience.
Schizophrenics tend to live in cities, research shows. Grow up in a city and you are more likely to have psychosis, and urban life can lead to depression and anxiety. Anxiety and busy being etymologically the root word of "business," by the way. No doubt, the constant stimulation of the mind, the hurry, hurry, go-go-go … Continue reading Nature Enthralls at Osaka’s Sakuya Konohana Kan Botanical Garden
