Author: tetsu7017

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Paper Lanterns (Chochin) – Usage Classification

Religious/Spiritual Purposes:Paper lanterns may be used in Buddhist temples and festivals to illuminate sacred spaces and honor divine entities.

Festivals and Events:In many Japanese festivals and events, paper lanterns are used to light the streets and enhance the festive ambiance.

Decorative Purposes:Paper lanterns are used for decoration in homes, restaurants, izakayas (Japanese pubs), and gardens. Particularly, red lanterns are widely recognized as a mark of izakayas.

japanese cafes on empty narrow street in evening
Photo by Ryutaro Tsukata on Pexels.com

Advertising/Commercial Purposes:Lanterns with printed store names or logos are sometimes used for business promotion and branding.

Illumination:Traditionally, paper lanterns serve as a form of indoor and outdoor lighting, providing a warm glow and creating a relaxed atmosphere.

Souvenirs/Memorabilia:Traditional Japanese paper lanterns are popular as souvenirs or memorabilia, symbolizing Japanese culture.

Expression of Traditional Art:The crafting of paper lanterns is respected as a traditional art in Japan, with intricate designs or paintings sometimes being featured on them.

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Harugeshiki Chikushigata Nashima-moude

One feudal lord (“Daimyo”  in Japanese) who believed in Benzaiten visited Nashima Shrine in Chikuzen (former Fukuoka prefecture) with his followers. A soft and warm wind was blowing through the Chikushigata (former sea of Ariake), and small boats were coming and going peacefully. It was spring (“Haru” in Japanese).
At a tea house in front of  shrine, they started to drink Sake enjoying the beautiful spring view.(“Harugeshiki” in Japanese) They got drunk and then felt into a doze.
They ware dreaming a dream….
Benzaiten in a kimono appeared with her Konzai-douji. They flew over Atado Miya, Miyazaki-Hachiman, and Chiyo-no-matsubara which was pine tree grove in front of Hakata bay in ancient time. They fell down to Nashima Shrine finally. In the shower of cherry blossom petals, Benzaiten and Konzai-douji enjoyed dancing ever and ever.


Note: Benzaiten: She is Indian beautiful goddess who controls speech, music, fortune, and wisdom. She plays Biwa very well. Benzaiten has come to Japan from India though China in ancient time .and was worshipped as a deity of fortune. Benzaiten is one of the Seven Lucky Gods in Japan.

Note: Konzai-douji: He is one of the sixteen (or fifteen) god children who serve Benzaiten. He has a balance with his hand and he is in charge of judging people’s virtue and vice and measure the value of people’s fortunes.

This story sounds not unique because it has no excitement. We would like to watch the Chapponpon puppet show based on this story. If we could, we understand why this story selected for this puppet show. Even though a certain story of four stories is held once four years. we might wait it for at least 2 or 3 years from now.

We checked the some information regarding this story in web site. Please visit this web site. Sorry for in Japanese but you can find the picture of puppet show.

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Fukushima Yame puppet show “Chapponpon”

The story of the lantern puppets show called “Chapponpon” is held in Fukushima, Yame city, Fukuoka Prefecture during 3 consecutive holidays at the end of September.
This is based on a famous piece of Japanese history. There are 4 stories as below.

1.Tamamo-no-Mae
2.Yoshinoyama kitsune tadanobu hatsune-no-tsuzumi
3.Satsuma-hayato Kuniwakamaru Itsukushimajinja-moude
4.Harugeshiki Chikushigata Nashima-moude

This puppet show is performed based on the other story by every 4years as rotation.
We would like to show you each 4 stories on this homepage as posting.

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Tamamo-no-Mae

In the late Heian Period, there was a so beautiful and talented woman in Japan. Her name is “Tamamo-no-Mae”.She served Toba ex-emperor and got the favor of him, but she was really the incarnation of a white fox with nine tails. In one day, an orchestra concert was held in a cool palace and a mysterious event occurred there. Tamamo-no-Mae was found out what she really was by fortune-teller Yasunari Abe, and she ran far away and hid in Nasuno field. But finally she was caught and killed by Sousuke Miuragami. Afterwards, the vengeful gohst of the fox became a cursed stone and harmed people and animals passing by it. A century passed, a monk Genkou-wazou asked helf of Buddha and hit the cursed stone with a stick tree times, then the evil rested in peace and faised to the heaven.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tamamo-no-Mae

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Yoshinoyama kitsune tadanobu hatsune-no-tsuzumi

Yoshinoyama kitsune tadanobu hatsune-no-tsuzumi

The day is in Heian Period. Military commander Samurai Minamoto no Yoshitsune gained a great fame on the destruction of the Heike clan in Dannoura in Yamaguchi prefecture. He got the order from the Imperial court to pursue and kill his brother Mianmoto no Yoshitomo, and received a mysterious drum “Hatsune-no-tsuzumi” Yoshitsune took this drum unwillingly and decided never to beat it throughout his life. However, suspicious Yoritomo sent soldiers to Yoshitsune to pursue and catch him. Yoshitsune ran away from the soldiers and hid in Mount Yoshino in Nara prefecture. Yoshitsune’s lover Shizukagozen came to Mount Yoshino to meet him, guarded by Yoshitsune’s vassal Sato Tadamobu on the way. Surprisingly, Shizukagozen found another Tadamobu there! Yoshitsune asked her to tell which is the real Yoshinobu. Shizuka gozen received the drum from Yoshitsune and beat it. Then, her body guard Tadanobu heard the sound of the drum and turned into a little fox, because the drum is made by the little fox’s mother’s leather. Shizukagozen found out that the fox took the shape of Tadanobu and protected her Yoshitsune got deeply impressed by the mother and child’s love and gave the “Hatsune drum” to the fox.

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The traditional craft of japan

Regarding “chochin” Japan paper lantern, famous producing area are Gifu and Yame.
The chochins made in only those two city are registered as Traditional Crafts of Japan by Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry.

The 3 characteristics of Yame chochin are based on traditional craft approval.
1.Single sipral wire frameworks method, called “Ichijo rasen shiki”
2.Rapid drawing, called “Hayagaki”
3.Using bamboo wire

Please refer more information to the below web site.
kougeijapan
kougeihin.jp
Fukuoka pref. informing web site


1.Single spiral wire framework method, called “Ichijo rasen shiki” (一条らせん式）
Before 1850 Edo era, craftsmen make one ring by one wire and threads combinate a ring and other rings. This method is called “Ippongake”(一本掛け)
After that, the single spiral wire frameworks method which was originated by a craftsman in Yame.
This method got to make production easy and production ability increase , and became popular all over Japan in Edo era.
Now a day almost Japanese chochin are made by this method originated in Yame.
It is not too much to say that Yame is contemporary chochin birth place.

How to make the chochin wire framework, please watch Youtube which we uploaded.

2.Rapid drawing, called “Hayagaki”
The craftsmen paint the follower directly onto chochin without no draft and they can draw very fast.
Their special technique is called “Hayagaki”, meaning “consecutive paint method without no changing the paint brush.”

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New Years day

This photo was taken in the center of Yame city at 2017 New Year’s day. On this street along  traditional white wall residences, nobody can be seen from this photo.  On this street  the Chochin festival “Chapponpon(ちゃっぽんぽん)” is held on the end of  November. But These 2 years it was suspended due to COVID-19. We hope Yame city will hold this festival in 2022.


classic_residence_in_Yame

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Chochin festival

We would like to talk about a traditional festival of Yame.This festival is called “Akari-to-Chachaponpon (あかりとちゃっぽんぽん)” “Akari(あかり)” means the light of Chochin. “to” means “and”.  “Cha(ちゃっ) “means the sound of Shamisen（a kind of Japanese guitar）.”Ponpon” means  the sound of Taiko (a kind of drums). In this temporary traditional theater building a traditional puppet show is performed.
This festival is held in Yame during 3 consecutive days at the bottom of every September, which is comfortable season.
Continue reading “Chochin festival”
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