Tenjin-sama 1

Soon this year will finish, and it becomes the New Year! In the New Year, people decollate shime-kazari, kagami-mochi and kado-matsu, but in Toyama people decollate other things in addition to these. It is “Tenjin-sama.” Tenjinsama is the name of Sugawara-no-michizane . He is a famous historical person. He is also famous for a god of study.

In Toyama, in the New Year people decollate his wooden doll and his hanging scroll. Surprisingly, there is this custom in only Toyama(and a few area in Fukui.)
We call this doll and this hanging scroll “Tenjin-sama.” Tenjin-sama generally is given for the eldest son by grandparents of the mother’s side. So, for example, there are three “Tenjin-sama”s in my house. These are my brother’s, my father’s and my grandfather’s.

I will talk about situation at next my article! See you again.

Today, I tell you about Mt.Tate. Mt Tate is a mountain range. This is a generic name of the west side of Kurobe River of the Northern Alps
These mountains are in Toyama and Gihu.

Mt.Tate is famous in Toyama. This is a sightseeing spot in Toyama. The Height is 3015m. We can see it everywhere in Toyama. It is very beautiful.

I have climbed Mt.Tate when I was 12 years old. In Toyama, almost elementary school students climb Mt.Tate. Climbing Mt.Tate is one of school events. Old days, people climbed it as a rite of an adult.
If you lucky, you can see a snow grouse (Rai-cho) when you climb Mt.Tate. This is a symbolic bard of Toyama. They live in t.Tate. This bard is beautiful bard. It is write in winter, but brown in summer.

When it is fine day, we often say “ Oh, today Mt.Tate is beautiful!” Mt.Tate is loved by all people in Toyama. (^ ^)/

Masu-zushi

　Today,　I introduce “Masu-zushi” to you. Masu-zushi is Toyama’s local cuisine. “Masu” is a trout. “Zushi” is sushi. Maybe you know, this is a very popular local food as a gift in Japan, and this is known as “Ekiben.”(Ekiben mean a box lunch sold at the station.) This is very delicious. I also like it!

Masu-zushi is wrapped a bamboo grass leaf in the box. It is round. In the box,there are a masu-zushi and a plastic knife. We cut it and eat.

Masu-zushi is used a cherry salmon.(Sakura-masu) A cherry salmon of Toyama had been used before, but now this of Hokkaido or a foreign sea is used. Masu-zushi is Toyama’s local food, but its salmon isn’t Toyama’s salmon.

Masu-zushi is sold at many places in Toyama. You can buy stations ,Toyama airport, supermarkets and convenience stores. If you go to Toyama, you should eat it!!

Hi**Today I talk about famous(?) industry. This is a medicine!! Do you know it? Perhaps there are some people know it. (If you know it, I’m glad. )

The industry of medicine in Toyama began from over 300 years. It is a fundamental of various industries in Toyama. It is a representative traditional industry!

In the rank of output of medicines ,Toyama is No.4, and the number of workers in medicine industry and medicine factories is No.1 in Japan!!

The buyers of medicine in Toyama are famous . They walk and visit home, and buy medicines for families. So, a family in Toyama have at least one medicine chest.(Look picture.) The buyers give paper balloons as gifts after they buy medicine.

Like this, medicine of Toyama have interesting. There is a kity-chan of a medicine buyer! Please remember “Kusuri-no- Toyama.”

Fourth, the symbol fish are a yellowtail(Buri), a Japanese glass shrimp(Shira-ebi) and a firefly squid(Hotaru-ika).

A yellowtail is fish that are given different Japanese names. In Japanese, fish like this are called “shusse-uo.” A yellowtail is called “the king of sea.”
A Japanese glass shrimp is called “the jewel of sea.” They are light pink. It’s beautiful. They are caught in only Toyama Bay.

A firefly squid is called “the shining mystery.” They have luminous organ. So, they shine in the sea! The light is blue and white. It’s very beautiful sight!

Symbol of Toyama

Hi , today I talk about symbolic things Toyama.
First, the symbol flower of Toyama is a tulip. In spring, we can see the carpet of many tulips. It’s very beautiful! In Tonami city, there is a park of a tulip.
Second, the symbol bard is a snow grouse(Raicho:雷鳥). In Mt.Tate, you can see them if you are lucky. I have seen them one time. They are white in winter,but in summer they are brown.
Third, the symbol animal is a Japanese serow(Nihon-kamoshika). They live in Mt.Tate and Kurobe cayon. I have watched it entering into town library near mountains on TV news!!

Hi! Today I talk about Toyama’s emblem. Look at the picture! This is it.
This emblem indicates “To” and “Yama.” Yama mean a mountain in Japanese. This mountain is “Tate Mountain.”
In Toyama, there is Mt.Tate. This is symbol of Toyama. This mountain is the sightseeing spot of Toyama. So, I will introduce it at my blog after this.
Look at the symbol. At the center of this, there is “と”. This is “To” of Toyama in hiragana!
This symbol also indicates feeling of jumping to sky!

＊Hello＊

　Hello , I’m Roka Shimada. I’m from Toyama.So I want to talk about my native place.
　Do you know where Toyama is ? I ‘m always asked “Where is Toyama??” when I say “I’m from Toyama.” I’m very sad.(-_- ;)
Look the picture ! Toyama is in the Hokuriku area which is the middle of Japan.
　Toyama faces the Japan Sea(Nihonkai). The prefectural capital is Toyamashi.


　The size of Toyama is about 4,247.55 km² .Toyama has a population of 1,095,616.The size of Hokkaido is 83,456.20km²,the population is 5,627,424.
Toyama’s size is No.33 ,the population is No.38 in Japan. ・・・So, you know,Toyama is a province.(> _<)

　I’ll talk about Toyama at my blog after this. Then, I want you to say “ I know where Toyama is!”