In the woods of Tokei-ji temple

The bright sunlight passing through trees was drawing a shadow picture of leaves on the trunk of a tree.

A stone pagoda in the woods of Tokei-ji temple

A small white stone pagoda stands still in the heart of the woods of Tokei-ji temple. This beautiful pagoda is the "Fudeduka" (i.e. "a grave of paintbrushes") of Seison Maeda (1885-1977). He is one of the most prominent painters of the modern "Nihonga" (Japanese paintings) movement. He lived in the neighborhood of this temple from 1945 to his death.

A "Fudeduka" is the Japanese traditional memorial-tower which is built to praise and memorialise a dead great teacher or artist by his or her students and persons concerned. The paintbrushes or writing-brushes ("Fude") which were used for a long time by such a teacher or artist are housed in this stone pagoda.

The paintbrushes used by Seison Maeda are housed in this beautiful 13-story white stone pagoda in the quiet woods for a tribute to his great achievement.

A bamboo woods in Chojyu-ji temple

During the summer, bamboo trees show especially beautiful shapes because of the abundance of their new green leaves.