December 24, 2015

Autumn leaves: Kencho-ji



Beyond the Karamon (Chinese-style gate), autumnal colors are brightly blazing in the lucid sunlight peculiar to this crisp season.

The gilded ornaments of peony flowers and auspicious omens are softly glittering on the black lacquered gate and, together with the vivid autumn leaves, are producing a seasonal picturesque view just like a gold-sprinkled lacquer ware for an autumn tea ceremony.


 Best wishes for the new year!


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji



The flaming colors of autumn leaves are blending finely with the constant green of a bamboo grove to present an exquisite picture of this rapidly passing season.

The soft sunlight is descending through gaps between the trees and is accentuating the beautiful stillness which fills this thick green grove.


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji



Like a painting on a gold-leaf folding screen for this particular season, the golden yellow leaves of ginkgo are heightening the splendid colors of autumnal maple leaves.


Autumn leaves: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu




The sparkling autumn leaves are reflected on the surface of a narrow stream, where fallen leaves are floating down gently .


Autumn leaves: Tsurugaoka-hachimangu


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji



Fallen leaves: Kaizo-ji


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji


Autumn leaves: Tokei-ji


December 13, 2015

Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji



The flaming colors of the autumn leaves have appeared in the garden of this old temple to let us know the approaching of deep winter.

The leaves are rapidly changing color to fall and return to dust. The remained nutrients of the fallen leaves will enrich the soil for next spring.

Here the cycles of life are quietly turning to adorn the gate to the hall of Buddha's bones.


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji



A brilliantly colored mosaic made up of autumnal leaves is floating still in midair. The overcast skylight of late afternoon is giving it the deep nuances of colors.

Leaves are calmly flaming and this beautiful season is passing away fleetly as usual.

Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


November 30, 2015

Sunset: Yuigahama-beach



In less than a moment, the flying white clouds, the glowing sun and the deep blue sky have just unified together to instantaneously present the marvelous seascape of sunset.

Every beauty of nature emerges transiently, transforms itself in the twinkling of an eye and vanishes away without appearing once again.

The golden sunlight emitted by the setting sun is brilliantly reflected in the gently waving sea as if to enlighten us on the hidden secrets of this vast universe.


White heron: Yuigahama-beach



A white heron is gazing fixedly at the rippling water surface of a river which is reflecting the soft silver sunlight from the slanting sun.

Soon night will fall fast and this silvery heron will fly away to her nest to retire for her chilly quiet night.


Evening sky: Yuigahama-beach


Half-moon: Yuigahama-beach


Evening sky: Yuigahama-beach


Waves: Yuigahama_beach


Evening sky: Yuigahama-beach


Stone steps: Tokei-ji


Fallen leaves: Kaizo-ji


Garden: Kaizo-ji


Dahlia and bamboo: Jochi-ji


November 11, 2015

Reflection: Kaizo-ji



The transitory colors of autumn leaves are gently sparkling on the rippled surface of the quiet pond.

In the air which grows colder day by day, flowers are vanishing gradually from view in this garden.

Soon, like the magician of color, autumn will dazzle our eyes with numberless flaming leaves and then let us know the explicit arrival of winter by the fast fading of its splendid colors.


Maple leaves: Kaizo-ji


Rindo (Gentiana scabra) flowers: Kaizo-ji



In the crisp sunlight of autumn, the flowers of Rindo are blooming modestly above the ground, where other flowers have almost disappeared and fallen leaves have already lain about.

The ultramarine blue of this flower seems to be gifted by the azure autumnal sky to praise the noble sturdiness of this flower which blooms in the chilliness of this beautiful season.


Tea house: Kaizo-ji


Hototogisu (Tricyrtis hirta) flowers: Kaizo-ji


Yuigahama beach: Kamakura



Through the overlapping cloud layers, the afternoon sun is emitting silky sun beams into the iron-blue sky of autumn.

People standing at the water's edge are silently watching the waves endlessly break and retreat, waiting for the blazing red of the setting sun.


Yuigahama beach: Kamakura


Yuigahama beach: Kamakura


Rindo (Gentiana scabra) flowers: Kaizo-ji


Sion (Aster tataricus) flowers: Kaizo-ji


October 21, 2015

Ivy leaves: Kaizo-ji



Autumn is gradually deepening and leaves are changing their colors little by little. Trees sense the approaching of bitterly cold winter and begin to prepare for enduring this harsh season.

Because of the sharp drop in temperature, trees stop supplying water to their leaves. Due to dryness, chlorophyll in the leaves changes gradually into coloring matter, which causes the leaves to take on flaming autumnal tints before their falling.

This chemical change helps the rapid decomposition of dead leaves on the surface of the earth. The nutritious substances from the decomposed leaves fertilize the soil and are used for the rebirth and growth in next spring.


Karugamo (Anas poecilorhyncha) duck: Engaku-ji



As the harbinger of autumn, a pair of Karugamo ducks have returned to this small pond as in other years.

The female duck is dancingly gliding around on the calm surface of the pond, leaving countless sparkling ripples on the water.

The transparent sunlight from the crystal autumn sky will soon bring the most gorgeous colors to this quiet garden, where the trees have hurriedly begun to take on the splendid tints of this transient and beautiful season.


Autumn leaves: Engaku-ji


Autumnal garden: Kaizo-ji


Momiji (maple) leaves: Engaku-ji


Hototogisu (Japanese toadlily) flowers: Tokei-ji


Hagi (Bush clover) flowers: Kaizo-ji


Shumei-giku (Anemone hupehensis var. japonica) flowers: Engaku-ji


Autumnal flowers: Kaizoji