Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea

Hayao Miyazaki's newest movie, "Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea" (崖の上のポニョ Gake no ue no Ponyo) has begun showing in theaters on July 19.

The Governor of Miyazaki Prefecture

Hideo Higashikokubaru (東国原英夫) is one of the most famous governor in Japan. However, how do you think this product?

A hydrangea

This is a hydrangea (紫陽花 Ajisai) in Japan. We can see many hydrangeas especially in rainy season.

Kuro Denwa

This is an old Japanese telephone called "Kuro Denwa" (黒電話).

Nakagawa

The view at Nakagawa (那珂川).

Spirited Away

"Spirited Away" (千と千尋の神隠し Sen to Chihiro no Kami Kakushi)

Master animation director Hayao Miyazaki follows up on his record-breaking 1997 opus Princess Mononoke with this surreal Alice in Wonderland-like tale about a lost little girl. The film opens with ten-year-old Chihiro riding along during a family outing as her father races through remote country roads. When they come upon a blocked tunnel, her parents decide to have a look around -- even though Chihiro finds the place very creepy. When they pass through the tunnel, they discover an abandoned amusement park. As Chihiro's bad vibes continue, her parents discover an empty eatery that smells of fresh food. After her mother and father help themselves to some tasty purloined morsels, they turn into giant pigs. Chihiro understandably freaks out and flees. She learns that this very weird place, where all sorts of bizarre gods and monsters reside, is a holiday resort for the supernatural after their exhausting tour of duty in the human world. Soon after befriending a boy named Haku, Chihiro learns the rules of the land: one, she must work , as laziness of any kind is not tolerated; and two, she must take on the new moniker of Sen. If she forgets her real name, Haku tells her, then she will never be permitted to leave.

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Unganji

Unganji (雲厳寺) is a temple of Rinzai-shu Myoshinji-ha (臨済宗妙心寺派), built in 1283. This is one of the four major dojo of Zenshu (禅宗) in Japan. Matsuo Basho the most famous poet of the Edo period in Japan also visited here.



"Sanmon" (山門)



"Butsuden" (仏殿)



"Shoro" (鐘楼)



"Torii Gate of Kumano shrine" (鳥居)



Stone Steps at Unganji