Mellow Monk's Green Tea Blog

Labels: green tea, Japan, sights to see in Japan, videos

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Folk tales and the Tale of Genji

Here is a smattering of Japanese folktales.

(And, for good measure my favorite Japanese ghost story.)

But the Tale of Genji (Genji Monogatari) is no mere folktale. Although written over a thousand years ago, it weighs in at one thousand pages and is considered one of the world's first novels.

(The book's protagonist, Hikaru Genji, is not to be confused with the '90s boy band of the same name.)

Many of the sites featured in the novel can still be visited today, although they may have changed a bit in the last millennium.

Kyoto's Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine, said to be the tutelary shrine of the Minamoto (Genji) clan, to which Hikaru Genji belonged.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, sights to see in Japan

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A tea ceremony in person, and temple gardens online

If you live in Saginaw, Michigan, you can experience an authentic Japanese tea ceremony right in town — at the Japanese Cultural Center and Tea House.

And now matter where you live, you can virtually visit some amazing Japanese gardens, courtesy of photographer John Lander (www.asiaimages.net).

PhotoShelter also has an automated slideshow of its blissful images.

A view at the amazing Shisendo Temple. (Photographer: John Lander www.asiaimages.net.)

—Mellow Monk

Labels: green tea, Japanese culture, sights to see in Japan, tea ceremony (sado)

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Nara's Todaiji

If you are ever in Nara, you should definitely pay a visit to the very old, very regal Todai Temple.

The underside of Todaiji's Nandaimon (Great Southern Gate).

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, sights to see in Japan

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More of mellow Usa

Yesterday's post didn't do the place justice, so here are more photos of Oita's Usa Shrine:

—Mellow Monk

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Japan-o-ramas

360cities has literally hundreds of panoramas of sights to see in Japan, but the closest the website gets to our teas' homeland of Kumamoto is Usa Jingu, a sprawling, beautiful shrine located one prefecture over in out-of-the-way Usa.

This is only one small area of the entrancingly large shrine complex. If you are ever in Oita or Beppu, I highly recommended making the drive — or train ride — to Usa.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, sights to see in Japan

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How to find Tokyo's best noodles

Start by checking out this slideshow and the accompanying article.

I am a huge fan of tonkotsu ramen. How about you?

Absolute heaven for a ramen aficionado: a "deep tonkotsu broth with its hint of bonito flavor . . . slices of pork, their edges caramel-sweet . . . the bite of the noodles [and] the egginess of the soft-cooked egg."

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese food, sights to see in Japan

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On location in Kumamoto and Kagoshima

Here are a couple of photos of the director and cameraman filming the green tea documentary — "Kyushu, Where Japan's Green Tea Grows" — that I helped out with and which featured a couple of our tea artisans.

To the see the beautiful scenery and lovely people filmed in this most mellow part of Japan, you can watch the finished documentary online.

In the Kuma district of Kumamoto.

In Chiran, in southern Kagoshima.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japan, Kumamoto, Mellow Monk green tea, photographs, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea

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Mellowing at Toji Temple

This photo of Kyoto's Toji Temple — part of an excellent collection — makes me feel as if I am there.

I imagine myself there, sitting on a nice cold rock at the pond's edge, sipping a cup of hot tea, taking in the sights, sounds, and smells of this magnificent place.

—Mellow Monk

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Walking on a bridge

Two of Velvet Escape's ten incredible bridge walks are on bridges in Japan — the Yokohama Bay Bridge and the wooden Kintai Bridge in the town of Iwakuni.

And of course what better song to listen to while walking one of these bridges than Keiko Matsui's "Walking On The Bridge."

The Kintai Bridge looking marvelous at cherry blossom time.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, sights to see in Japan

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Get close to geisha for five dollars (instead of five hundred)

In a move to promote tourism, the city of Kyoto has started offering visitors the chance to attend a tea ceremony with real-live maiko and geisha for only 500 yen (US$5).

Just take care, readers, that they don't try to upsell you to the five hundred dollar package.

Pretty classy for a tourist trap.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: geisha, Japan, sights to see in Japan

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Tokyo, off the beaten path

Purojitsu.com user John Hyperion has posted photos taken on a recent trip to Japan, including some places off the beaten path.

I am not sure where this is. If anyone does, please share your knowledge with us.

—Mellow Monk

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The green, mellow island

Located at the southern end of the Izu archipelago, Aogashima ("Green Island") is one of Japan's most remote inhabited islands. The fewer than 150 residents are watched over by a lone policeman, whose duties include welcoming—with a salute—the daily helicopter that begins its trip from the island chain's northern end.

The island administratively belongs to Tokyo, but life there is about as far removed from Tokyo as can be—and the islanders wouldn't have it any other way. Many of them have cellphones, but one mother is proud that her young children don't have one. "It's safe here, so they don't need one," she explains.

In addition to cellphones, the locals also have Internet access, allowing them to sell their wares directly to consumers. The most famous of them is potato shochu.

What keeps these people from leaving their island? A big reason is a sense of obligation to their ancestors. In 1785, a volcanic eruption forced the islanders to evacuate to Hachijo Island. Thirty-nine years later, a noble named Jiro Sasaki rallied his fellow Aogashima islanders and organized a move back to their beloved island. Even today, Sasaki is revered as the "Moses of Aogashima," and residents consider themselves his descendants and stewards of his legacy.

The volcano today.

"We wouldn't be here if it weren't for our ancestors," said two teenaged brothers. "They worked hard to protect this island, and that's why we have to, as well."

When asked why she stayed, the 86-year-old mother of a shochu distiller answered: "In the old days, life here was so difficult, and my parents went through a lot of hardship. That's why I have to continue [this way of life]."

[Source: Sankei]

Such words embody a spirit that is widespread in Japan—a sense of obligation to their land. This feeling of responsibility is strong among the country's farmers, too.

If you have a Google account, you can check out these pictures of a traveler who was stranded on Aogashima when rough seas stopped the ferry traffic for consecutive days.

I only half-seriously put this in the "sights to see in Japan" category, but if anyone ever does get to Aogashima, or has been there, I would love to hear about it.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: family farms, Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese history, mellowness, sights to see in Japan

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Two Tokyo time traps

Jeff Henig has taken some beautiful photos of Tokyo's historic Yanesen district, while HubPages user Japanlover has written a fascinating account of two station towns along the old Nakasendo roadway where time stands wonderfully still.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese history, sights to see in Japan

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Get "spirited away" to an otherworldly hot spring inn

If you think the Kanaguya hot spring ryokan has an otherworldly look and feel to it, then you are not alone: Hayao Miyazaki used it as his inspiration for the otherworldly animated inn in Spirited Away.

The inn's four-story wood-frame Saigetsu Tower is designated as Japanese tangible cultural asset No. 20-136.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese cinema, Japanese history, sights to see in Japan

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Aso's natural spring water drinking fountains

The people of Aso are proud of and particular about their tea and their abundant natural spring water. So much so that the area around Aso shrine has a dozen or so public drinking fountains that serve up naturally flowing natural spring water.

The video below showcases these beautifully designed fountains, including one I blogged about recently.

—Mellow Monk

blog feed, reviews, teas, videos

Labels: Aso, environment, Japan, Japanese culture, sights to see in Japan, videos

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Mt. Fuji time lapse

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, sights to see in Japan, videos

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Japan tea trip videos in high resolution and subtitled

I never tire of revisiting the spectacular scenery and the warm, wonderful people I encountered during the filming of "Kyushu, Where Japan's Green Tea Grows."

So posting the re-subtitled first and second segments to Vimeo was a more than adequate excuse to watch them again.

So let us brew up a hot, soothing cup of green tea, sit back, and enjoy the people and places together.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, family farms, Kumamoto, Mellow Monk green tea, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea, videos

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Green tea made with spring water

The residents of Aso (whence Mellow Monk tea hails) are so proud of their deliciously health natural spring water that the city installed public drinking fountains dispensing this natural spring water, free for locals and visitors alike.

In the picture below, we made some cold-brewed matcha using this water, an empty soda bottle, and some of our powdered green tea.

It was, needless to say, delectable . . . and so easy to make: Just add matcha powder and water, then put on the cap, shake vigorously and—voilà—a bottle of delicious, healthy, thirst-quenchingly cool matcha.

This fountain is named "Katarai no Shizuku," which can mean "murmuring drops" (a reference to the water's sound) but can also mean "water for talking" (referring to how a drinking fountain brings people together) or even "lover's vow water" (which would play well with honeymooners visiting the town).

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japan, Japanese language, Kumamoto, matcha, Mellow Monk green tea, sights to see in Japan

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Mellow Monk's tea-buying trip to Japan: grand finale

Here it is, the final segment of "Kyushu, Where Japan's Green Tea Grows," a European documentary in which a Mellow Monk tea procurer is prominently featured. (When watching the video, there will be no doubt as to which one is him.)

We have more videos at YouTube, too. You can also watch this video at Vimeo.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, green tea, Japan, Kumamoto, Mellow Monk announcements, Mellow Monk green tea, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea, videos

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Happy 1,300th, Nara

Japan is preparing to celebrate the 1,300th anniversary of the country's ancient capital in Nara City.

For 1,300 the old gal looks pretty good.

The deer of Nara Park, with the Kofukuji Temple pagoda in the background.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese history, sights to see in Japan

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Mt. Akagi in all its panoramic glory

In these panoramas, Mt. Akagi and Kiryu City in front of it look a lot like the Aso Valley, but with a lot more buildings.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japan, photographs, sights to see in Japan

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A day in Lake Toya

Ronald Tan documents what must have been a mellow day at Hokkaido's lovely Lake Toya.

—Mellow Monk

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Interviewing the monk

Here's a photo of the monk featured in Part 2 of our green tea documentary being interviewed by the film crew.

Helping the crew is our tea buyer (lower left), who served as interpreter, guide, travel agent, driver, and interviewer.

caption

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, Kumamoto, photographs, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea

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Mellow Monk's Tea-Buying Trip to Japan, Part 5

Following up on yesterday's post, here is Episode 5 of "Kyushu, Where Japan's Green Tea Grows," which features one of our tea buyers making his rounds in Kyushu.

You can also watch the Vimeo version and other videos of ours.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Kumamoto, Mellow Monk green tea, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea, videos

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Mellow Monk's Tea-Buying Trip to Japan, Part 4

Here it is: Part 4 of "Kyushu, Where Japan's Tea is Grown," a documentary filmed for European TV. The film crew followed one of our tea buyers on his rounds through the tea-growing regions of Aso and other Kyushu locales.

You can also watch a slightly higher-resolution version of this episode on Vimeo.

For more videos, please check out our video page.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japan, Kumamoto, sights to see in Japan, Stringing Tea, videos

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Little storm mountain

In Aso, not too far from where one of our grower's grows his tea, is Shoranzan ("Little Storm Mountain"), so called from its resemblance to a piece of scenery at Kyoto's Arashiyama (Storm Mountain).

Aso's smaller-scale version of Storm Mountain.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japan, Mellow Monk green tea, sights to see in Japan

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Harvard Women's Health Watch on the benefits of green tea

Harvard Medical School summarizes a recent article in Women's Health Watch that "recognizes the healthy power of tea while helping readers get the most out of their cups."

From a large gallery of beautiful photos of serene Kiyomizu Temple.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: benefits of green tea, cancer, Japan, sights to see in Japan

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Awa dance festival photos

Jeff Henig has taken some excellent photographs of the Awa-odori festival in Tokyo.

For the full festival effect, you need to hear the music, too.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, photographs, sights to see in Japan

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Hitchhiking in Japan: almost too easy

Trevor Mott observes that you almost never see hitchhikers in Japan. After an eventful journey starting in Oita, he offers an explanation for this phenomenon.

Lake Kinrin (Kinrinko) in Yufuin, Oita.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, Kumamoto, sights to see in Japan

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Sado island

Japan's Sado Island boasts beautiful scenery and a rich cultural heritage.

You can also visit the now-closed gold mines that financed the shogunate for hundreds of years. (Here is a page of panoramic photos of the island's sights.)

And if diving is your shtick, you can also frolic with the fishes.

Barrel boat rides are a popular attraction on the island.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Japanese culture, Japanese history, sights to see in Japan

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Tea grove on a hill

Taken in Kuma County in southern Kumamoto Prefecture.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Kumamoto, photographs, sights to see in Japan

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On the banks of the Kuma River

Here's a video we took recently in Hitoyoshi City, on the tranquil banks of the sometimes rapid Kuma River.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, Kumamoto, sights to see in Japan, videos

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Tokyo on two wheels

It's not only eco-friendly to get around Tokyo by bicycle; it's also convenient and relaxing, as you can leave your bike right next to your destination, which could be blocks away from the nearest subway station or parking spot (if there is parking, that is).

Of course it would be a bit of a challenge to explore the entire city on bike, unless you've got the thighs of samurai warrior. But a bicycle is perfect for getting intimate with one of Tokyo's neighborhoods—such as my favorite, Asakusa.

A "world away from the modern city."

—Mellow Monk

Labels: environment, sights to see in Japan

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Volcanic earthenware

Futoshi Yamashita is unique in the world of Japanese pottery. Located in the Aso area—where our tea is grown—he uses actual volcanic ash from Mt. Aso in his pieces.

He named his studio Aso Bougama, with the Bou from Bouchuu—the district in Aso where he's situated—and "gama" being the voiced-consonant version of kama, meaning "kiln."

Update: I forgot to mention another clever aspect of the potter's name: Together, Aso and Bou form asobou, which means "let's play."

The same volcano-enriched soil that makes for such exquisite tea also makes for exquisite works of art. But then, tea is a work of art, so it makes sense, no?

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Aso, Japanese culture, sights to see in Japan, tea accoutrements

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Hachinohe beach

Here is a photo of a beautiful beach in Hachinohe, Japan.

As you gaze at this photo—click for the larger version—imagine you are sitting on these rocks, enjoying a cup of green tea as you take in the sounds and smells of the ocean. Having an actual cup of green tea in your hands will help enhance this mellow-inducing mini-meditation.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japan, mellowness, photographs, sights to see in Japan

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Bentos and Lafcadio

My monkish instincts tell me that today is double feature Friday, so I present to you Homemade Bento Boxes and Visiting Lafcadio Hearn's Japan.

And as an added bonus, more about Lafcadio Hearn and the bento slideshow's accompanying article.

—Mellow Monk

Labels: Japanese culture, Japanese food, sights to see in Japan, videos

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Ride the rails through Aso's green valley

Japan Railway's Hohi Line passes through the heart of Kyushu, including a couple of stops in the majestic Aso Valley, where our green tea is grown.

A two-car Hohi Line train passing by Mt. Aso.

—Mellow Monk