Cp in Japan: November 2008

It took me a whole review last year of all of Japan's distinct four season (particularly Yamagata's distinctly distinct seasons) to conclude that Autumn is my favorite season of all, in Japan at least.

I might have forgotten to mention that just before summer I found a fantastic piano teacher, just right for my level and is really helping my technical ability. I haven't seen her for a to often recently, because she warned me that in Japan, Autumn is often called 技術の秋 (gijutsu no aki) which means 'the Autumn of Art' - and it is often the busiest time for concerts, festivals, performances, competitions apparently.

But how could Autumn not be the perfect time for Art and culture when Japan turns into one of the most beautiful natural landscapes I've ever seen?! Slowly and at the same time suddenly, the trees explode in a variety of different colours ranging from green to yellow to red to brown. No matter where you turn to look, the view is always beautiful. Japan's many mountains are completely covered in trees, and so what once might have been a large lump of rich green protruding from the ground, transforms into what looks like a singed rock of reds and golds, or a giant multi-colored crystal. It's very amazing. My favorite moments are when I happen to see rich green, rich yellow, rich red, and rich orange in one view, under a clear blue sky (which also tends to happen a lot more in Autumn). And, just when you thought it couldn't get better - snow starts to tip the mountains tops (雪結晶) - beautiful from afar, a bloody pain when its all around you and shows no signs of stopping for 3 months.

So yes, Autumn is my favorite season, I love it. The food is delicious, the first weekend in November has a public holiday to celebrate 'Culture Day', the scenery is beautiful, the temperature (for the most part) is often 'just right' (not too hold, and not too cold)...

And I'm turning rather Japanese with it too! I find myself mentioning in conversation 'I'm going to see the leaves on Saturday' or asking 'Have you seen the leaves yet?'. In Autumn, leaf hunting is a pleasant pastime for the Japanese. They might travel to find the most beautiful Autumn scenes, or explore their local area to find places that are transformed in Autumn. Last year I went to Kyoto at the end of November - it was so beautiful at that time - incredibly busy, but I'm lucky I managed to go there at that time. This year, I would love to do the same, but I've been invited to a traditional Japanese wedding at the time of the long weekend at the end of November! I'm very excited - it's a lucky opportunity! I just hope the leaves will keep Autumnal until the end of November at least in Yamagata!

The Ginkgo trees in Autumn are amazing. They turn such a beautiful yellow/golden colour.

I caught these dragonflies having a cheeky sunbathe in the gentle Autumn sunshine!

I feel like I strike Autumn GOLD! when I catch a spot with a mix of Red, Yellow, Orange and Green all in one location.

Japan's mountains naturally break out into a spectrum of different colours

The Japanese maples are AMAZING! They become burning bushes - wild with vivid, bright, bold fiery leaves. I just can't comprehend how red those leaves can become!

So when I left England, I was 21, and still having not been back to England yet, I'll be coming back 23 years old! I guess it will be just a little bit weird to be a little bit older all of a sudden back in the country you originally came from.

Anyway, everybody was really busy that weekend - so ideas to travel somewhere wouldn't have been as good, but I had a great idea to have a bonfire party, like I used to have when I was little. The only problem was finding a location that people could get to, and wouldn't get in the way of Japanese residents. After much location hunting, I thought of a mountain in Nanyo called Jubuichiyama. It's where you can go to paraglide and has a really fantastic view of Nanyo from it. Nobody lives on it is was perfect.

So we took some firewood, a grill, and some people brought along a pack of fireworks and SPARKLERS too! The weather turned out great and we set up in an open car park, put some music on and a great time was had. I also made a Guy Fawkes and we BURNT him. So Yamagata was probably very lucky this year to have a Bonfire celebration this year! Perhaps the only one eh....?