Cherry blossoms are in full bloom in Yokohama-Sankei-en Garden

These are pictures taken at Sankei-en Garden in Yokohama. Sankei is a pseudonym of Tomitaro Hara who lived in this this garden after his marriage until he passed away. His grandfather -in-law Zenzaburo Hara was an entrepreneur who succeeded as an manufacturer and exporter of silk fabrics in the early Meiji Era(1868.9.8-1912-7.30). Zenzaburo had a son who passed away young and left his daughter- Zenzaburo's granddaughter- named Yasu. Yasu went to Atomi-gakuen High School where Tomitaro worked as a teacher. At that time his name was Tomitaro Aoki. They fell in love and Zenzaburo admitted their marriage. Zenzaburo adopted Tomitaro as his son who named himself as Tomitaro Hara since his marriage. The married couplle lived in this place which Zenzaburo had bought as his villa before their marriage.

Tomitaro loved haiku, Japanese poem, and named him as Sankei as a poet. This garden was named after his pseudonym Sankei. After World War ⅡHara family donated his garden to Yokohama City which has been maintaining this garden.

Chinese New Year in Yokohama

Yokohama China Town is the biggest China town in Japan. Thre are two mausoleums in this area. One is Kantei Mausoleum(below)

and the other is Maso Mausoleum(below).

 Kantei is deemed as God and Maso is deemed as Goddess. Today is the first day of Chinese New Year and Lion Dance show was held in this town.

 

Five lions are waiting for their appearances at a park nearby

 

 

 

 

And now the show started.

 

 

Tsurugaoka-hachimanngu Shrine

Today is the last day of winter according to the calender though it is very cold still now. In Japan we have a habit of scattering beans chanting ' Demons out, good luck in'.
Here in Kamakura some temples and shrines held 'Bean Scattering Ceremonies. I took some photos at Tsurugaoka-hachimangu Shrine