にほん

まな

日本を学ぶにほん

まな

日本を学ぶ
NIHON

O

MANABU

When you study the Japanese language, youprobably also try to learn about the culture andhistory of Japan. In this installment of Nihon O
Manabu, we will explore places where you can study
and experience the cultural traditions of Japan.

Blow Molten Glass to
Make a Kuchidama

Blow a Globe

5Glass furnace is heated to 1300
degrees, Celsius.

Wrap more molten glass onkuchidama, blow slightly, anduse a needle to pierce a hole forthreading. Then blow harder toform a globe.
Once the globe is ready, cut
off the first kuchidama witha whetstone. Rough edges atthe opening, which comes into
contact with the tongue, will
make for a better soundingchime.

Scan the QR code for English translation.

https://www.ajalt.org/english/about/magazines.html

Cooling and Healing Sounds of Edo Fūrin
Shinohara Maruyoshi Fūrin

74-25-10 Higashi, Taito-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3832-0227(1 minute walk from Exit A2 at the Shin-Okachimachi Station on Oedo Line. 6 minute walk from NakaOkachimachi Station on Hibiya Line. 8 minute walk from Okachimachi Station on JR Yamanote Line.)

6

Edo fūrin are glass wind chimes that became popular during

at Shinohara

the Edo period. They feature beautiful artwork and cooling

Maruyoshi Fūrin.

sounds. Instead of using a mold, craftsmen blow each piece

You do not needof glass in the air and paint inside the blown globe. It takes

to worry about the difficult task of glass blowing, becausearound 10 years to perfect the skill of blowing great sounding

a craftsman will be standing by to help you. Sometimes,chimes and three years to paint on the inside. Typical artworks

elementary school students visit for school trips. Give thisfeature goldfish, fireworks, dragon flies, or maneki neko, which

traditional craft a try and create a one and only piece forare meant to bring good luck.

yourself. Costs (tax include): 2200 yen for glass blowing andYou can try your hands at glass blowing and fūrin painting

painting. 1650 yen for painting only. Reservation required.

Painting

Wrap a piece of molten glass around a thin rod
shaped-tool called tomozao and blow it to the sizeof a 500 yen coin. This piece is called kuchidama,and it will be cut off later to form an opening.

Now it is time to paint on the fūrin.
Ed-san painted
Mt. Fuji, while
Sinead-sanpainted cherryblossoms.

11

Hours available for fūrin making: 10:30am to 4:00pm. Closed on Mondays and on holidays. https://www.edo-fuurin.com/

129Ed-san and Sinead-san, who study Japanese at AJALT, tried making their own fūrin.
1

8

Pick a subject and place
paints on a paper palette.

13

It takes patienceto draw inside the10glass globe.

A special type of brush with split
tips is used for coloring.

2 Each traditional artwork is meant to bring aparticular type of good luck: goldfish for money,
dragon fly for winning streak, and fireworks thatdisappear in the night sky for making illnesses
disappear.

Finishing14

We asked Ed-san and Sinead-san how they liked their first fūrin making.
Sinead-sanFūrin making wasn’t easy, but I had a lot of fun!
I now understand it takes time to master thetechniques.

4
3

Ed-sanI enjoyed learning about the history of f fūrin. Iheard it takes 10 years to master glass blowing. I
guess I’ll give it another try in 10 years. (Yeah, I will

The first step is to listen to a craftsmand e s c rib e th e p ro c e s s of gl a s s b l o wing
and painting, as well as some history andbackground on Edo fūrin.

keep practicing during the next 10 years!) I want to

The next step is actual glass blowing!

Once the painting is done, thread the fūrin,and attach a tongue tube and a piece of paper
to complete your creation.

visit this place again with my friends from Australia.

Thank you, Ed-san and Sinead-san!

※ Due to the pandemic, everyone will wear a mask, except when blowing the glass.

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AJALT No.45

AJALT No.45

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にほん

まな

日本を学ぶ

A Place for Kite Lovers

Fabric Dying from the Edo Period

Tako no Hakubutsukan (Kite Museum)

Tokyo Somemonogatari Hakubutsukan

Muromachi NS Bldg 2F, 1-8-3 Muromachi, Nihonbashi, Chuo-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3275-2704

3-6-14 Nishiwaseda, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo Phone 03-3987-0701, Fax. 03-3980-2519(3 minute walk from Exit B6 at Mitukoshimae Station on Hanzomon and Ginza Lines, or 5 minute walk

(15 minute walk from Takadanobaba Station on JR Yamanote/Seibu Shinjuku /Tozai Lines, 10 minute walk fromfrom Nihonbashi Station on Tozai Line.)

Nishiwaseda Station on Fukutoshin Line, 2 minute walk from Omokagebashi Station on Toden Arakawa Line)

When it opened in 1977, Tako no Hakubutsukan was a tiny museum showcasing a private

Edo komon is a type of fabric patterns, originally used for kamishimo, worn by thecollection of Shingo Modeki, who founded Taimeiken yoshoku restaurant in Nihonbashi. Itsamurai in the Edo period, that became popular among regular people.

used to feature all things about kite, including Japanese and Western kites, ukiyoe artworks

At Tokyo Somemonogatari Hakubutsukan, you can watch expert artisans dyewith kites, and even tableware with kite patterns. The museum is currently in a temporary

traditional patterns and also try your hands at dying komon and Edo sarasa fabrics,

location, because its original location is going through major redevelopment. Its displays

which are the height of Edo chic. Tomita Sen Kougei, the company managing thishave been streamlined and are now focused on Edo dako or kites created during the Edoperiod. Before the pandemic, the museum drew visitors from all over Japan and from

Edo dako created in the Edo period

museum, has been producing Edo komon and Edo sarasa fabrics since the Meiji
period. In 1914, it opened a workshop near Kanda River to use the clean water

abroad, many of whom were participants in kite flying competitions.

essential for the dying. At the workshop, you will be able to observe various fabricIf you stand in the middle of Nihonbashi and look around, you will see a large banner for

printing processes and join a guided walk with detailed descriptions of dying work.

Tako no Hakubutsukan on the second floor of a building. Head straight toward this banner,and you will get there. You may be able to try your hands at making a kite (reservation
required). You will use markers for drawing, instead of paint. (Cost: 1000 yen for ahexagonal kite and 400 yen for a stingray kite for children. No kite making on Mondays.)

The display is now streamlined and easy tonavigate

Ticket forthe museum

Hours: 11:00 am to 5:00pm Closed on Sundays and national holidays. Admission: 220 yen for an adult and 110 yen for an elementary and middle school student.

Fun and Expansive World of Origami

have an option to get it made into a tote bag, a stole and so on.
Hours: 10:00am to noon; 1:00pm to 4:00pm (closed during lunch hour)

Closed on weekends, national holidays, year end and New Year, Golden Week, and Obon holidays

Admission: Free. Guided tour and workshop require reservation. Check with the museum on costs and time.

Nihon no Sake Johokan sits on a corner of Shinbashi, also known as theplayed with origami as kids. The world of origami is expansive and includes

A wide range oforigami works
in the museum

simple pieces made by children and elaborate works of art. You will learn agreat deal about origami, when you visit Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan. Onceyou pass through the entrance featuring seasonal origami works, you canHarajuku for ojisan (middle-aged men). Go through a chic noren curtain at thedoor, and you are in sake nirvana. You will see a selection of best sake andChic noren at the door

Sake available for tasting at thecountershochu at this hot spot, which used to draw 30,000 visitors every year (around10% from abroad) before the pandemic. There is an extensive display, as wellas brochures in both English and Japanese on the process of sake and shochu

Museum shop hasa huge offering ofJapanese papers
and origami

making, their history, and recommended tasting methods. There is also atasting area with tables and counters (fees apply). Take your time enjoying

kits with Japanese papers. If you are lucky, you may run into an origami
seminars (for a fee) throughout the year.

you decide to try dying your own fabric using the tools used by the artisans, you(3 minute walk from Toranomon Station on Ginza Line, 3 minute walk from Kasumigaseki Station onChiyoda Line, 3 minute walk from Uchisaiwaicho Station on Mita Line)The word origami is well known around the world, and many of you may havedemonstration by the head of the museum. There are all types of events andEdo sarasa dying work

Nihonshuzo Toranomon Building, 1-6-15 Nishi-shinbashi, Minato-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3519-2091(7 minute walk from Ochanomizu Station on JR Chuo/Sobu Lines, 5 minute walk from Ochanomizu
Station on Marunouchi Line, 10 minute walk from Shin-Ochanomizu Station on Chiyoda Line)origami papers in the museum shop, including beautiful chiyogami and dying

You can make thisEdo sarasa stole

Nihon no Sake Johokan（Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center）

1-7-14 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo Phone: 03-3811-4025

handmade origami papers in a workshop. You will find a huge range ofdeer-hair brushes used for dying

Great Sake from All Over JapanOchanomizu Origami Kaikan

explore a gallery of art pieces from all over the world and see artisans dying

You will also see Ise paper patterns that have been in production for 150 years. If

Workshop is full of long boards andrare brands of sake and shochu or bring your friends for group tasting. It
Workshop withpaper dying
demonstration

Hours: 9:30am to 4:30pm Closed on Sundays, national holidays, and summer and year-end holidays.
Admission: free https://www.origamikaikan.co.jp

could be a great first stop on a night out in Shinbashi.
Hours: 10:00am to 6:00pm Closed on weekends, national holidays, year end, and New Year.
Admission: freehttps://www.japansakekyo.com
Also check out the “SAKE ON AIR” podcast.

Display of sakebarrel, etc

Great selectionof best sake©️Ochanomizu Origami Kaikan

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AJALT No.45

Notes:
Information here is as of April, 2022. Please call each store/museum or check the web sites before visiting.

AJALT No.45

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