#National Treasure of Japan

[arthistoryanimalia]

To celebrate #WorldWetlandsDay, here is "Insects and Reptiles in a Pond" by Itō Jakuchū (Japanese, 1716-1800). It's one of 30 hanging silk scrolls of the Dōshoku sai-e (Colorful Realm of Living Beings) c. 1757-66, declared a National Treasure of Japan and held by the Museum of the Imperial Collections,

[moment-japan]

京都・願徳寺 如意輪観世音菩薩半跏像（国宝）

京都の洛西、ホテルエミナースを真っすぐ西に進んだ京都・大原野の山の麓にある天台宗寺院「願徳寺」。

そこに佇むのは観音菩薩の変化身の一つで六観音の一尊である国宝の如意輪観音菩薩。

如意輪観音菩薩は六道すべての衆生の苦しみを取り除き、世間に利益を与えることを本位とする仏です。

世間（せけん）と��、もともとインド発祥の仏教用語で、サンスクリ��ト語で「ローカ（砕く）」という意味を持ち、移り変りや破壊を免れられない迷いの世界の事を世間といいます。

こちら願徳寺の如意輪観世音菩薩は、無彩色のカヤの木一木造りで日本の仏像彫刻史上最高傑作といわれる滋賀・向源寺の十一面観音菩薩と並び、見たほとんどの人が、ため息を漏らすといわれる美しい造形美で鎮座しています。

如意輪観音は一般的に六臂ですが、こちらの腕は2本で、衆生の願いを聞く「与願印」と煩悩や畏れを取り去る「施無畏印」を結び輪王座で鎮座しています。

頭のてっぺんから指先、衣の襞に至るまで繊細な彫刻で表現されており、菩薩の髪型では比較的珍しい単髻を七条の山型に形づけた「七山髻」の宝髻が特徴的です。

1200年前の平安時代に彫られた仏像で制作者は不明ですが、何処から見ても造形に破綻する箇所が見当たらないので、相当な腕前の彫刻師であったことは間違いないと個人的に思います。

[japan-minka]

Hotokegaura - Mutsu Bay Aomori

After driving around the west coast of Aomori, we took a ferry to the Shimokita Peninsula at the entrance of Mutsu Bay which is on the northeastern side of the prefecture. The peninsula is the most northern point of Honshu and is full of amazing places and scenery.

Along the western coast of the peninsula is Hotokegura, a two kilometre stretch of coastline filled with crazy-shaped, 100 meter tall white rocks and cliffs that have been eaten away by the rough coastal waves and winds. Hotoke means Buddha, and gaura, bay so the area is known as the Buddha Bay as many of the formations are said to resemble Buddhist disciples.

The beach is a steep one-kilometer climb from the car park, going down isn't too bad, but on a hot day it was a slow climb with several stops before we reached our car, but worth every step!

The color of the water and the height of the rock formations were truly magnificent, and unlike any other place in Japan, we have visited.

[declanisms]

ohtani shohei haters exist??????? for what?????? he’s cute he’s tall he makes tens of millions a year he respects women he’s probably the greatest baseball player ever like. literally what do u not like abt him

[happy-pix-jpn]

【空舞う鳳凰たち】

ご縁頂いて数々の国宝が安置されている本堂内で 奈良国立博物館美術院国宝修理所の方の作業を拝見。 とても佳き時間を過ごさせて頂きました。 休憩時間、上空に鳳凰が舞ってました♬ 新薬師寺にて撮影 2023年10月11日

ご本尊・薬師如来さま（国宝/天平時代）の光背取り付けの際 6体の化仏がどうやって光背と繋がってるのか…とか 女性が両手で軽々と持たれてる様子から重さを推測したり 美術院の方の大判カメラによる仏像撮影を拝見出来たり 十二神将像で一体だけ国宝でない仏像の制作話や 国宝本堂正面入口などにある盃状穴の話を聞かせて頂いたり… レンズを通してではなく、しっかり目に焼き付けました。 貴重な機会にお声掛けて頂き有難うございました🙏

[the-cricket-chirps]

Womb Realm (garbhakosa-dhatu or taizokai) mandala

Hanging scroll, colors on silk, Shingon tantric buddhist school, Heian period (794-1185), To-ji, Kyoto, Japan. Japanese National Treasure.

9th century

[blueiscoool]

National Treasure 2.3-Meter Sword and Mirror Discovered in Japan

The largest bronze mirror and the largest “dako” iron sword in Japan were discovered at the Tomio Maruyama burial mound in Nara.

Experts say the twin discoveries from the Tomio Maruyama Tumulus last November can be classified as national treasures, with the shield-shaped mirror being the first of its kind.

The Nara Municipal Buried Cultural Properties Research Center, which excavates and researches Tomiomaruyama kofun, and the Nara Prefectural Archaeological Institute of Kashihara, which assists in the excavation, announced the discoveries on Jan. 25.

The 2.3-meter sword with a meandering blade is also the largest iron sword made in that period in East Asia.

The patterned surface of the mirror carries the designs of two more common “daryu” mirrors, distinctive with its designs based on imaginative creatures, which have been found mainly in western Japan.

The shield-shaped mirror is 64 cm in length, 31 cm in width at most, and weighs 5.7 kilograms. Typically, bronze mirrors that are found at archaeological sites are rounded, but this one is shield-shaped.

The sword is the oldest of the dako swords, distinguished by their wavy, snake-like shapes, which give rise to their name. As burial goods, more than 80 other dako swords have been discovered throughout Japan.

The latest sword has markings of a sheath and handle, and together, its length measures 2.6 meters, more than dominating the last longest dako sword discovered at around 85 cm.

“(These discoveries) indicate that the technology of the Kofun period (300-710 AD) are beyond what had been imagined, and they are masterpieces in metalwork from that period,” said Kosaku Okabayashi, the deputy director for Nara Prefecture’s Archaeological Institute of Kashihara.

Mirror and shields are considered to be tools to protect the dead from evil spirits. The sword is thought to have been enlarged to increase its power, and the possibility of its use as a battle tool is low, researchers said.

The 109-m-diameter Tomio Maruyama burial mound, the largest in Japan and dating to the late 4th century, is believed to have belonged to a significant person who supported the Yamato rulers at the time.

The burial chamber where the discoveries were made is thought to have belonged to someone close to that person, according to Naohiro Toyoshima, an archaeology professor at Nara University. He also said that the ritualistic sword and the shield-shaped mirror may indicate that the individual was involved in military and ritualistic matters.

By Leman Altuntaş.

[ealabo]

厳島神社 / Itsukushima Shinto Shrine

[bonguri]

20230604 Eihoji 4 by Bong Grit Via Flickr: 国宝の開山堂。軒の反り具合がたまりません。 @Eihoji temple, Tajimi city, Gifu pref. （岐阜県多治見市 虎渓山永保寺）

[teal-eyedronin378]

Ō-yoroi, Kamakura period, 13th-14th century, National Treasure, Kasuga Grand Shrine.

[moment-japan]

興福寺・安底羅大将（国宝）

明治の廃仏毀釈を逃れた、法相宗大本山・興福寺の貴重な木造十二神将立像のうちの一体「安底羅大将」。

安底羅（あんてら）大将は、他の神将と同じく、もともと夜叉（鬼）でしたが、仏と仏法の真理に降伏し善神となって、配下に持つ七千の鬼と共に申の方角と時刻を守備しながら、他の神将が従える鬼と合わせて総勢八万四千の夜叉部隊と共に薬師如来と薬師経を信仰する者を守護する天部の仏尊です。

神将は天部の武将であるため他の仏とは違い、重厚な甲冑に身を包んでいます。

こちらの安底羅大将は申の刻の守護神らしく頭の上には猿の彫刻が彫られ、怒髪に憤怒の表情で手には宝鎚（ほうつい）を持ち、他の神将と共に日夜仏敵に目を光らせています。

「ほうつい」には「宝槌」と「宝鎚」がありますが、「宝槌」は木製のハンマー「打出の小槌」のことで、「宝鎚」は武器として使う金属製のハンマーのことをいいます。

興福寺の安底羅大将を含む十二神将は、鎌倉時代に阿弥陀仏の教えを信仰する男性信徒集団である「阿弥衆」によって造られたといわれており、ご利益は、心の中の余計な感情を取り去り、健全な精神を得るための助けをするとされています。

[evertomorrowart]

Best of YouTube 2023

Yes, I did spend the first week and change of January on this. I wish I could have had it done for New Years, but too many people came out with incredible work in December, so waiting turned out for the best.

What these creators do are a huge influence on my life, I would honestly have difficulty doing what I do without them. That isn't to say that my favorites of the year are *only* on this image--It was almost impossible to narrow down my favorites. Many creators I wanted to include couldn't fit on a single page, and too many of them made more than one video I wished I could draw too!

But, to all of you, thank you for what you do. You're an inspiration.

For those who don't know, further is an explanation.

At the bottom center is an artistic masterpiece by Defunctland: "Journey to EPCOT Center: A Symphonic History." Over the last several years, Defunctland has risen from delightfully-entertaining commentary on decommissioned theme park attractions to occasionally dropping profound statements on the creation of art itself. "Journey to EPCOT Center: A Symphonic History" is worth treating like the cinematic experience it is: No second screen, you sit your ass down in front of a TV, set down the phone, and then you *watch it.* Any Disney, theme park, or independent film fan needs to pay attention to this one.

Bottom left is Caelan Conrad with their piece "Drop the T - The Deadly Consequences of Gay Respectability Politics." While I do think they've done more visually or artistically-daring pieces before, "Drop the T" is one of the most important videos released on YouTube in today's current climate of hate. We as queer folk (and our allies) need to understand how integral every identity of the queer experience has been since the start of the Civil Rights movement (and before!). While we are not identical, we *are* inseparable, and we deserve having our real history easily accessible.

TERFs and other conservative mouthpieces need not reply. Your opinions are trash. 😘

I cannot stop watching and rewatching this video by @patricia-taxxon, "On the Ethics of Boinking Animal People." It's not just a defense of furry fandom and its eccentricities, it's a thoughtful and passionate analysis of what the artform achieves that purely human representation can't. Patricia goes outside of her usual essay format to directly speak to the viewer about the elements that define furry media (the most succinct definition I've ever heard) and just how *human* an act loving animal cartoons really is.

As an artist who can draw furry characters, but never really got into erotic furry art, this video is a treasure. Why did I choose to have her drawn as a Ghibli character, hanging out with one of the tanukis from "Pom Poko?" Guess you'll have to watch, bruh.

Philosophy Tube continuously puts out videos that I would put on this list--I'm not even sure that "A Man Plagiarised my Work: Women, Money, and the Nation" is the best work she released in 2023. However, this video got many conversations going between myself and my partner, and the twist on the tail end of the video shocked us both to such a degree that I had no choice.

At the very tail end of the year, Big Joel released "Fear of Death." On his Little Joel channel, he described it as the singularly best video he's ever done, and I'm inclined to agree. However, for this illustration, I ended up repeatedly going back to a mini-series he did earlier in the year: "Three Stories at the End of the World." All three videos are deeply moving and haunting, and I was brought to tears by "We Must Destroy What the Bomb Cannot." While it may be relatively-common knowledge that the original Gojira (Godzilla) film is horror grappling with the devastation America's rush to atomic dominance inflicted on Japan, Big Joel still manages to bring new words to the discussion. Please watch all three of the videos, but if, for some reason, you must have only one, let it be "We Must Destroy What the Bomb Cannot."

Y'all. Let me confess something. I hate football. I hate watching it, I associate seeing it from the stadiums with some of my worst childhood experiences, I despise collegiate and professional football (as institutions that destroy bodies and offer up children at the feet of its alter as a pillar of American culture)--

I. L o a t h e. Football.

But.

F.D. Signifier could get me to watch an entire hour-plus essay on why I should at least give a passing care. AND HE DID IT. I might think "F*ck the Police," the two-parter on Black conservatism, or his essay on Black men's connection to anime might be "better" videos, but this writer did the impossible and held my limited attention span towards football long enough to make a sincere case for NFL players--and reminds us that millionaires can *in fact* be workers. That alone is testament to his skill.

Sit down and watch "The REAL Reason NFL Running Backs Aren't Getting Paid." Any good anti-capitalist owes it to themselves.

CJ the X continuously puts out stunning, emotional videos, and can do it with the most seemingly-inconsequential starting points. A 30 second song? An incestuous commercial? Five minutes of Tangled? Sure, why not. Go destroy yourself emotionally by watching them. I'm serious. Do it.

Their video Stranger Things and the Meaning of Life manages to to remind us all why the way we react to media does, in fact, matter. Yes, even nostalgia-driven, mass-media schlock. Yes, how we interact with media matters, what it says about us matters, and we all deserve to seek out the whys.

Folding Ideas has spent the last few years articulating exactly why so much of our modern world feels broken, and because of that his voice continuously lives rent-free in my brain. While the tricks that scam artists and grifters use to try to swindle us are never new, the advancement of technology changes the aesthetics of their performances. Portions of Folding Ideas' explanations might seem dry when going into detail of how stocks work in This is Financial Advice, but every bit of it is necessary to peel back the layers of techno-babble and jargon and make sense of the results of "Meme Stocks."

Jessie Gender puts out nothing but bangers, her absolute unit of a video about Star Wars might be my new favorite thing ever, but none of her work hit so profoundly in 2023 than the two-parter "The Myth of 'Male Socialization'" and "The Trauma of Masculinity." There's so much about modern life that isolates and traumatizes us, and so much of it is just shrugged off as "normal." We owe it to ourselves to see the world in more vivid a color palette than we're initially given.

Panels drawn after Kate Beaton and "Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands."

"This is Not a Video Essay" is one of the most intense and beautiful pieces of art I've ever put into my eyeballs. Why do we create? What drives us to connect?

I don't even know what else to say about the Leftist Cooks' work, it repeatedly transcends the medium and platform. Watch every single one of their videos, but especially this one.

The likelihood you are terminally online and yet haven't heard of Hbomberguy's yearly forrays into destroying the careers of awful people is pretty slim. Just because it has millions of views doesn't mean that Hbomberguy's "Plagiarism and You(Tube)" isn't worth the hype. Too long? Shut up, it has chapters and YouTube holds your place, anyway. You think a deep dive into a handful of creators is only meaningless drama? Well, you're wrong, you wrong-opinion-haver. Plagiarism is an *everyone* problem because of the actual harm it creates--the history it erases, the labor it devalues, the art it marginalizes--which you would know if you watched "Plagiarism and You(Tube)".

Watch. The damn. Video.

In fact, watch all of them!

Thanks for reading this if you did.

[aers-radio]

Reply to @todayintokyo's tags: I think it is Echizen Ôno.

Gujô Hachiman's keep has more storeys, plus the gate on the side checks out.

Castle in the sky.

[chrollogy]

LIMELIGHT | short series masterlist (on hiatus)

ft. miya atsumu x f!reader

synopsis: An inebriated one night stand in the City of Love with a mystery man loops you into the shackles of a chaotic scandal after finding out that he’s a professional volleyball player for the MSBY Black Jackals, and also a part of the men’s national olympic volleyball team. This wouldn’t be a huge problem if the tabloids didn’t stir up rumours about your relationship with a co-artist months prior. Now, the media thinks you’re a cheater.

With your reputation on the line as Japan’s treasured artist, you’re forced to navigate through the ropes of publicity stunts with Miya Atsumu—acting like a make-believe sugary couple under the watchful gaze of newshounds, and observant fans until the scandal dies down. It’s all strictly business until feelings get involved.

content warning: fake dating au, pop artist!reader, fluff, smut (first chap; mdni), drunken ONS, consensual s*x, messy scandal, implied alcohol use, angst, mutual pining, slow burn, strangers to lovers, requited unrequited love, miscommunication, implied cheating (falsely accused), suggestive themes + more tags tba!

CHAPTERS:

teaser. Exercise routine

i. Mystery man in Paris

ii. His name? Miya Atsumu

iii. A meeting

iv. tba

v. tba

vi. tba

want to be updated? fill in the taglist form! 37/50 slots (open)

notes: divider: cafekitsune. ehehehee a new tsumu series?? as usual, this will be a slow update so yeeee!!! hope u all enjoy this journey with me <3

—

© chrollogy 2024 | don't plagiarise, repost or steal my video.

[owlobservation]

Itoshi Sae Profile from Egoist Bible Vol.2 (2024)

"Only the idiots who can keep up will get to see what comes next."

Team: Japan U-20 National Team

Position: Offensive Midfielder (OMF)

Weapons: World class kicking accuracy, world class technique, world class tactical vision, and world class physical ability.

Birthdate: October 10th.

Age: 18 (Third year high school)

Zodiac sign: Libra.

Birthplace: Kanagawa Prefecture (Kamakura City)

Family structure: Father, mother, himself, younger brother.

Height: 180 cm.

Foot size: 26.5 cm.

Blood type: A.

Previous team before he returned to Japan: Re Ale Youth FC.

Dominant foot: Left.

Favorite Soccer Player: Álvaro Recoba. "The left-footed player who creates a rainbow on the pitch."*

Age started playing soccer: 1 years old. "Before I knew it, I was already playing soccer."

Nickname: Treasure of Japan.

Strengths: Being able to see things objectively. "I'm often told that I'm a dry person but who cares."

Weaknesses: I don't know anything except about soccer. "Don't live like this, you guys."

Favorite food: Salted kombucha. "Because I can return back to zero."**

Disliked food: French fries. "It's so delicious that I could die, but it's also so unhealthy that I could die."

Best rice accompaniment: Salted kelp. "They don't have it in Spain so I got it sent from my parents' home."

Hobby: Analyzing data of soccer players and teams. "It's nice to see things visualized as numbers."

Favorite season: The end of summer. "I feel like the whole world has become lonely."

Favorite show: Chibi Maruko-chan. "It reminds me of my parents' home."

Favorite music: Suisei by Tofubeats feat. Seira Kariya. "I listen it to cool down."

Favorite movie: Taxi Driver. "This De Niro guy is the coolest."

Favorite manga: Gegege no Kitaro.

Character color: Azuki Red.

Favorite animal: Seagull. "I like migratory birds that don't stay in one place."

Favorite brands: All the brands that sponsor me. "They have good eyes for betting on me."

Best subjects: No idea because I didn't really pay attention in class and only focused on soccer. "I've never seen my report card."

Fetish: Butt. "You can tell an athlete's ability by the shape of their butt."

What makes you happy: A play beyond my imagination.

What makes you sad: Being forced to carry the weight of Japanese soccer on my shoulders. "Yes, I'm talking about you guys."

The first time someone confessed to you: I don't even remember which one was the first time, dumbass.

Last year's valentine day chocolates: Around 2.000. "My manager told me."

Sleep time: 8 hours. (7 hours+1 hour nap)

Where do you wash first in the bath?: Bangs' hairline.

Mushroom or Bamboo shoots?: Depending on the mood.

What made you cry recently?: Why would I tell you, idiot.

At what age did you stop receiving presents from Santa?: 10 years old.***

What did you ask for a Christmas present from Santa?: My undiscovered talent.

What would you do on your last day on earth?: Give the world's best striker the world's best pass.

What would you do if you received 100 million yen?: I'm not interested. It's just a small change.

What do you do on your days off?: Gazing at the sea.

What would you be doing if you hadn’t discovered soccer?: Living a normal, happy life. Maybe my personality wouldn't have turned out like this.

Who is your favorite historical figure?: Copernicus. He was the man who overturned the world’s common knowledge.

If you could only bring one thing to a deserted island, what would it be?: No need. I’d live the way I wanted without any rules.

Where would you go if you had a time machine, to the past or the future?: Not interested in either. I have no pointless expectations or regrets for my future or my past. Just live in the moment. You guys are so tepid. 

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

World-class Offensive Midfielder With Boundless Parameters

Aiming to become the best midfielder in the world, Sae is a super player with the complete package of mind, technique, and physique. Isagi’s best play which he pulled off with “reflex” was stopped with just a light tackle. He killed The Direct Shot flawlessly, showing the big difference between the two.****

He’s Only Interested In Blue Lock! The One He Chose Was Shidou?

Sae was only interested in Blue Lock and paid no attention to his younger brother Rin or the U-20 Japan National Team. The world he sees and the place he aims for are clearly different from those of the U-20 National Team. Sae chose Shidou from Blue Lock as his teammate. With a series of super plays, they managed to corner Blue Lock.

The reason for Sae's sudden change... What on earth happened in Spain!?

Sae went to Spain and promised his younger brother Rin that he’d become “The Best Striker In The World”. However, when he returned home four years later, his attitude had changed completely . He declared that he would become “The Best Midfielder In The World” instead and pushed Rin away, calling him "tepid".*****

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sae's Ranking on "Best 3 of Everything: Players seriously voted each!"

1. Ranked #1 The Best at Crossing (Centering)

Hiori’s commentary: "Well, all of Itoshi Sae’s kicks are perfectly designed. I admire him."

2. Ranked #2 The Most Likely To Succeed As Coach

3. Ranked #1 Who Doesn't Cry Easily

Aryu’s commentary: "If Itoshi Sae were to cry, it would be when he became the world’s best. That would be the moment of ultimate styl."******

4. Ranked #1 The Least Family-oriented person

Isagi’s commentary: "If you look at those two, you would assume so. But if they really hate each other… It means that they also think about each other."

5. Ranked #2 The Most Likely To Thrive In The Sengoku Period

6. Ranked #2 The Most Leader-like (or has the qualities of a leader)

7. Ranked #3 Longest Eyelashes

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

Notes:

*Álvaro Recoba (El Chino) is a midfielder from Uruguay known for his "rainbow-like" curved kicks.

**Return back to zero=being refreshed.

***In early 2021 twitter Q&A, he said he stopped getting Christmas presents when Rin stopped believing in Santa. His answer is revised in Egoist Bible to just "10 years old."

****The original sentence is “...a super player who possesses everything– mind, technique and physique (心技体)”. 心技体 or Shingitai refers to the three qualities an athlete must have: 心 is heart/mind, 技 is technique/skill, 体 is body/physique/strength. It is said that an athlete needs 3 of them to succeed. If they only have the right mind and skills but not the body to support them… well you’ll know what will happen!  So from our understanding Shingitai is an ‘inseparable set’. We translated it as a “complete package” to let you know that those 3 qualities are inseparable!

*****Here the word used is 突き放す (tsukihanasu). Tsukihanasu is 'to push away', to push someone (or something) away and make them leave. It can also refer to an attitude of  treating someone without love, sympathy, or emotions. Please check my notes on Rin’s profile page, because there is a connection!

******What Aryu originally said isファ イナリーオシャ final osha. "The moment where Itoshi Sae finally cried would be the moment of ultimate/final styl.” is most likely what he meant! We personally think ‘ultimate styl’ had more feel than ‘final styl’ (?), that’s why we went with ultimate osha!

Check Sae's profile from the first volume of Egoist Bible here!

[the-cricket-chirps]

Detail: Taizokai (womb realm) Mandala, silk hanging scroll, Shingon tantric buddhist school, Heian period (794-1185), Tō-ji, Kyōto, Japan. Japanese National Treasure

9th century