Tour of the Local Shinto Shrine

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Tenjinsama Shrine Tree Tour


I went by my local Shinto shrine to drop off some bags of sawdust,
the priest there composts all the leaves and such, and he like to get my sawdust,
as it adds some variety to his compost. While there he told me that he had a tree taken down,
and did I want the wood? The tree was a Shii tree, which is called Japanese Chinquapin in English.
It is related to Oak and Beech. The tree was in poor health, thus the wood will be good for making bowls on the lathe.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/shrine_wood3.jpg
Here is the pile of wood, and the stump to the right.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/shrine_wood2.jpg
You can see the ends, I guess there is some rot there, but I hope to be able to get some good bowl blanks out of it.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/shrine_wood1.jpg
Another view, I think there is a lot of waste here, but at least that waste will burn well.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/shrine_wood_stump.jpg
The stump, you can see the rot in the middle.
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/tenjinsama_ourhouse.jpg
Just to give you an idea of how close this place is to my house

While I was at the shrine, I did a bit of a walk around,
and I notice the most of the trees have signs on them the give the type of tree.
This is very interesting to me, as I know little about Japanese trees.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/enoki_tree.jpg
Eno Tree (Chinese Hackberry)

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/enoki_leaves.jpg
Eno tree Foliage.

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/hinoki_tree.jpg
Hino Tree (Also called False Cypress)

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/hinoki_leaves.jpg
Hino tree foliage.

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/100_year_plum_tree.jpg
This is a Plum tree, it is over 100 years old
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/100_year_plum_tree_close.jpg
The trunk of the tree is split and burned as well, this tree has been through a lot I guess.
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/old_sakura.jpg
Another very old tree, very twisted, this is a cherry tree.
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/ichou_tree.jpg
Ichou tree
This is called a "Ginko" tree in English, it is often referred to as a living fossil.
There are usually two trees, a male and a female, thought the female has fruit in the fall that,
well you will be wondering if you stepped in some dog do do..
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/ichou_leaves.jpg
Ichou trunk and leaves
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/keyaki_tree_warts.jpg
This is a Keyaki, I think blue, but this one has weird warts all over it.
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/keyaki_tree_warts_leaves.jpg
Same Keyaki for a few feet away
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/mukunoki_tree.jpg
Mukunoki Tree
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/mukunoki_leaves.jpg
Mukunoki Foliage

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/sudajii_tree.jpg
Sudajii
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/sudajii_tree_leaves.jpg
Sudajii tree, looks very much like the Akagashi I cut down in my Tokyo logging adventure
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/taisanboku_tree.jpg
Taisanboku Tree
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/taisanboku_leaves.jpg
Taisanboku leaves
This tree looks very tropical
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/urinoki_tree.jpg
Urinoki Tree
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/urinoki_leaves.jpg
Urinoki Leaves
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/tea_house.jpg
This is the old Tea House on the grounds.
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/trees_shrine.jpg
A view down the hill behind the Tea House
http://www.ablett.jp/workshop/images/lathe/shrine_tour/shrine.jpg
The main Shrine.
I very much like going to this Shrine, it is very peaceful,
and the priests who run it (Husband and wife) are VERY nice people,
and in the last 5 years or so, since taking the shrine over from her
family, they have really cleaned the place up, got rid of a lot of clutter, and
are spending money on taking care of the trees.
These pics were taken in the rain on a very bright day.
Hope you enjoyed the tour!
Cheers!

[Joe Pelonio]

Great pictures and info Stu, thanks for sharing. On the very first pic is that tree to the left also a Japanese Chinquapin? I love the roots, and would like to make sure before I start trying to find one for a bonsai.

[Jim Dunn]

Thanks Stu. What a wonderful and interesting life you lead.

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Great pictures and info Stu, thanks for sharing. On the very first pic is that tree to the left also a Japanese Chinquapin? I love the roots, and would like to make sure before I start trying to find one for a bonsai.

Yes Joe, I think it is, I'll make sure the next time I go, but if memory serves, it is.

Cheers!

[Jim Becker]

Thanks for the wonderful tour, Stu!

[Frank Chaffee]

Stu,
That tour has been wonderful and most refreshing for me today.

Thank you,
Frank

[Brett Baldwin]

That's was a refreshing tour Stu. I miss trees. Everything here in the desert is an overgrown shrub or transplanted from its natural habitat. I used to live in New Jersey and the change was dramatic to say the least. I have to drive better than 100 miles or so north to see trees in a natural state. I do admit that the cactus are strangely appealing to me though. I have a nice Sahuaro in the front yard that is three years into its first arms, making it somehwere around the 70-80 year old range.

[Jim Davenport]

Thanks for the tour Stu. Brings back memories of how beautiful Japan is.
I was stationed there in the sixties, and toured much of the country.

[Dennis Peacock]

Outstanding Stu!!!!! Loved the tour. Shoot, I didn't even take a sip of coffee during the entire tour...and THAT's saying something.;)
Thanks again and I'd love to see more about "your part of the world".

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Jim, I'd agree that Japan is quite nice, but on the whole, Tokyo sucks, it is a concrete jungle, that is one of the reasons I like this temple so much, it is just about a 5 minute walk from house, and it is a sea of tranquility in a bustling, busy, noisy city.

I've toured around Japan a lot on bikes, it is a very rugged and beautiful country...........

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/oct_9th_10_2005/misty_valley2.jpg
The view back down a little valley with a twisted piece of road running through it

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/nov6th_pics/brilliant_red_bikes.jpg
Nice fall shot in Nagano

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/gifu_trip/road_by_dam.jpg
Up in Gifu, along a lake that is formed by a large hydro-electric dam

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/gifu_trip/jeremy.jpg
Passing through a very small, old village

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/gifu_trip/scooter_boy_night_train.jpg
Tunnels, the Japanese love them...... (they are big make work projects)

http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/beach.jpg
A beach we had a swim and a BBQ at.


http://www.ablett.jp/bikes/images/gifu_trip/nick_makes_a_new_friend.jpg

.......and finally, one of my Fav shots, we were stopped at this traffic light, about 8 Gaijin all on bikes, it was HOT. We were in the countryside, really, really countryside, rice paddies all round. This little boy pops out and has the balls to come over and say Hi, he even said "Hi, how are you?" in English. the kid looked like he just got out of an old time movie.

[Jim O'Dell]

Those country shots are what my Dad talked about back when he was on leave during the Korean Conflict. Said he and some others would rent MG TD's or maybe TF's and go driving up in the mountains. He tried to find an MG TD here in the middle 60's to restore, ended up with a '57 MG A instead. Thanks for the pictures, Stu. I can imagine that riding your bike there is very enjoyable. Jim.

[Cliff Rohrabacher]

Really cool. It's good to see images that the media people don't show.

I've always wanted to visit Japan. Even studied traditional Japan iron & steel making and traditional sword smithing so much I wrote a short nonfiction book on the subject.

Maybe some year. The missus wants to do Spain first.

[Jerry Olexa]

Great shots....Thanks for sharing...

[Bill Sampson]

Stu,

Great pictures. Brought back memories of my visit to the Shinto Shrine in Tokyo several years ago. We observed a wedding the day at the Shrine and was impressed with the beauty of the porcelain face of the bride. However, no one smiled and she looked so sad. Is this typical of weddings there?

We were working on a project in Iwaki City and was overwhelmed by the reception of the people there. We were walking in a residential area one day and an older gentleman motioned for us to come into his back yard. He ushered us into the most beautiful manicured garden of trees I have ever seen. Without speaking, he was so proud of his paradise, and pleased to share it with us. The country is beautiful, but I agree, Tokyo is a mass of people with every available space taken by someone.

Thanks again for the wonderful pictures.

Bill Sampson, Richmond

[Stu Ablett in Tokyo Japan]

Hey Bill, if you ever get back here, drop by for the nickle tour of the Dungeon ;)

The brides don't smile during the Shinto ceremony, no one does, bad form, also the headdress they wear weighs about 25lbs, so they have not much to smile about!!! :eek:

They usually have a second party, which is more western style and fun, speeches, lots of drinking, then they ususally have a 3rd party, this is for the young friends of the couple and then we party hard. The couple usually does not got to the 3rd party for long.

Japanese weddings are expensive, in the 10K to 20K range, just to get in th door, my lovely wife and I just went to city hall and signed the papers.

Cheers!

[Mark Pruitt]

Beautiful place Stu! I particularly like the idea of a quiet and peaceful place within a bustling city like Tokyo. Holds very strong meaning for many many people I'm sure.

[Frank Fusco]

Thanks for the tour, Stu. That Google earth is great. I'll have to look up my cousin.
We have 'Chinky-pin' oak in Arkansas also. As I understand it, that is the only acorn that is palatable for human consumption.