BYJ's Message at Jingu Gaien

I know..I will be signing off in a few moments. I have been waiting for this so would like to share this with you.

His video message - original : free from byjfan
Japanese to Chinese : 青衿女/baidu
Lifted from Zoom on Bae Yong Joon by Jaime

Congratulations on the 30th anniversary of Jingu-Gaien Hanabi. I heard that every year there is a large audience to view this hanabi. I also hope someday I can attend this with everyone.

At the present moment, I am writing a book introducing Korean traditional culture. In September, I plan to bring this book and the anime 'Winter Sonata' to visit Japan. I hope to meet everyone again with healthy image.

Please enjoy the hanabi today. Hope everyone will be as joyous as this hanabi, thank you very much!

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A bit of information on this fireworks display.

History

The origin of fireworks is said to be from signal fires in China. The history of fireworks of Japan started in 1549, when guns and gunpowder were introduced by Lusitanians.It was recorded that Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first Shogun of the Edo Government saw fireworks from the Edo castle.

As fireworks manufacturers had improved their skills during the Edo period (1604-1868),　fireworks became summer entertainment for the public by the 18th century. The Sumida River Fireworks Festival, one of the oldest fireworks shows in Japana was set up as annual summer event by the eighth shogun, Tokugwa Yoshimune in 1733. The event was prepared to dispel evil spirits and comfort the souls of the dead ,as the previous year saw epidemics in Edo (current Tokyo) and a nationwide famine which killed about one million people.

In the Meiji-period (1868 ～1912), Japanese fireworks makers used imported chemicals for creating fireworks and were constantly improving their technique. As a result, Japanese fireworks became as colorful and sparkling as they are now.

With 340-year history, Kagi-ya is the oldest fireworks factory in existence in Japan. Kagi-ya allowed the salesclerk early 19th century to set up his own firework factory called Tama-ya,but Tama-ya was forced to close its business because a big fire destroyed the factory. Even now the onlookers often shout “Tama-ya” as well as “Kagi-ya” in place of applause.

The Japanese and Hanabi

Why do the Japanese see and love the fireworks displays ?
National love for the events is quite understandable when you consider the character of the Japanese.
The mid-summer evening big fireworks shows suit the taste of the Japanese. We cherish short-lived beauty, such as that of cherry blossoms in spring, which are at their best for only a couple of days. The enjoyment of fireworks is along the same line. Source: NIC Japanese.com

Premium Days Revisited

I am officially off work for being just totally ill. I really have to work on getting enough rest on my days off as I think most of this is fatigue and stress. So being stuck in my bed ( I should really be resting) I came across some videos of the Premium event last year which I missed watching.



BYJ will be in Japan again this September for the launching of his book and the Winter Sonata Anime..Some of the Baesis I know already got tickets sob sob sob.. anyhow they will be there to support him like the ladies in MV. Fighting Yong Joon!
Thanks to Madonoyuki for the video.

Common Ground

It's BYJ's birthday this month and there are so many reasons to celebrate. I believe that being a BYJ fan, one has found a common ground with the other family wherever they may be in this world. Common ground speaks of culture, way of life, one heart, one goal, looking at the same perspective and understanding each other.

In Baeland we've shared one common ground and that is Bae Yong Joon. Among other things we have discovered together which reflects each other's vision and passion- BYJ still remains a strong bond that ties us all.

The month of July echoed the aspect of common ground in pictures. The Picture of the Month is Irislis'- 'Street Light' from Lara- Venezuela.

As twilight approaches what keeps us see our direction is a light which glows with no hesitation.

BYJ's effect is like this light which radiates without knowing. Life has been changed, feelings have been uplifted and passion has been born..

Prima

It has been a funny day today. I kept waking up just before the alarm clock went off about three times and finally decided I'd get up and order this book. I suspect it's the anticipation that kept me up this much. That's BYJ effect huh!

Anyhow I'd like to share this Italian restaurant in town which my friend and I visited after a stressful day. It's a cozy place but would have been better if there wasn't someone serenading when we just wanted to relax. There's only so much I could take and I would prefer a relaxing ambience instead.
Prima is a bar restaurant and it isn't big either. I'd say it has a capacity of less than a hundred. My friend preferred this over the New York style restaurant Alex and I go to but we didn't expect the Italian would be there. Don't get me wrong he had a lovely voice.

I really like the big vases they had in the window and the glass lanterns.

My friend liked these bottles in the windowsill. Some spices and olive oils I suppose.


I kept looking at these hanging candle holders opposite me. I think they were sweet.

This is an English summer drink Pimms and fruits which is a staple drink in Southern England including Wimbledon and other formal gatherings.

The size of this Vesuvio pizza made me think of all the children in Africa or just somewhere not eating a lot.. It's a shame really how much food is offered in this part of the world when there are those eating so little.

Anyhow, it's not a bad restaurant. I would perhaps come back when it's not too busy.

'Trip Following the Beauty of Korea'

Source: Nikkan Sports /Tomato 99-Quilt
August 4, 2009

BYJ will make appearance at Jingu- Gaien Hanabi (fireworks sponsored by Nikkan Sports) which is scheduled on nights August 6.

The title of the book which BYJ has been writing is fixed to '"Trip Following the Beauty of Korea". He is going to talk about his feelings for the book in relation to its sales from Nikan Sports from September 28. The video was recorded in Seoul. He seem relaxed and talked for a minute and smiled.

This book is not just an ordinary book to introduce sightseeing points but to introduce Korea further.

For about one year he experienced and searched about 40 spots such as temples and traditional culture points related to write the book.

From noon August 5, shopping sites of Nikkan Sports.com and BOFi will start accepting orders of the book.

Thanks Del for sharing and Makiko/ Daum BYJ Gallery for sharing the scanned article.

mad about sunsets

You must have heard of storm chasers, right?? How about sunsets chasers?? My husband and I believe that we belong to this group. We cant' just sit down and have dinner after a long day at work and just admire the sunset happening at the back of our house. So this is what happened this evening.

Scene 1: Drove back from work and I thought 'oh, that's a pretty one.' Got out of the car and ran to get my camera. This time I used the Lumix to test its performance and got this.

F5.6 1/50 ISO100

Scene 2. Drove back home and Alex thought he fancied pizza. When we arrived at the take away place we thought we'd go for Chinese. Default setting I call this.

F4.0 1/100 ISO80

Scene 3. Had Chinese and been looking out the conservatory and noticed the changing hues in the sky. Finished with my meal and saw the sky turning purple. Alex said, we'll come back tomorrow at a later time. Then I said, 'sunsets aren't the same everyday you know.' He shrugged but I insisted we have to get this one.
F5.6 1/80 ISO 100
Scene4. Drove back to the spot and guess what? I took the memory card off the camera. Just then we both realized the camera hasn't got a memory built in. Bummer!!! For what it's worth...

F5.6 1/100 ISO 100

Scene 5. We drove back home and I tried taking photos from the bathroom window and because this is a small camera I had some issues with shakes..grrrr.. I got so caught up dangling myself over the bathroom window that I slipped and bruised my shin. Ouch!!!!

F5.6 1/1.3 ISO 100
Scene 6. These are what I've got for you today. ;-) I hope they are good enough.

F 5.6 1/1.3 ISO 100

No photoshop used in these photos just normal cropping.

cute little creatures

I went out with my friend yesterday to see her new house. She will be moving later so I was helping out as much as I can. While waiting for the paperwork to get sorted, I was inspecting my new camera and really pleased on how handy it was. I took a photo in the garden and tried out the macro setting.

This was a zoom in photo of an admiral butterfly which I saw on the way while walking the dog. I was surprised by the zooming capacity considering the butterfly was about five meters away. There was hardly any noise.

I'll see if I could try it on taking photos of birds..