Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Saturday July 31 2010
Maki_Maron
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Location: Yamagata, Japan

Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Maki_Maron »

Hi everyone!
Sketchcrawlers in Yamagata, Japan, visited Kaminoyama city in Yamagata pref this time.
Kaminoyama city is famous for its onsen (hot springs), some historical spots and sweet fruits.

First we visited Kaminoyama castle. This castle was reconstructed about thirty years ago as a local history museum.
The actual castle was first built there more than 600 years ago by a feudal lord, and it was protected and well maintained by successive lords. However, about 300 years ago, in samurai period, Japan's government ordered the castle lord to move out to other place and the castle was unfortunately destroyed then.

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Chihaya's work:

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Though this castle has a nice keep tower, I couldn't draw it all on my small sketchbook... Chihaya

Maki's work:

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I am not good at drawing buildings, so I tried to sketch the stone wall.
It seemed to be easy first, but actually it was like a puzzle and I kept wondering how they arranged those stones so perfectly and beautifully :crazy:

While I was sketching I was a bit hungry, so I bought this "tama-konnyaku," one of local specialties of Yamagata.
It's gelatin-like dumplings flavored with fish broth and soysauce, then skewered with a bamboo stick with hot mustard. Yummy...

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Then, we visited another historical place, Harusame-an.
This is a place where one of Japanese famous Zen monks was exiled by a shogun (the leader of a samurai clan) in the 17th century.
The lord of Kaminoyama castle presented him a grass hut and he named it Harusame-an (spring rain hermitage.) He loved this silent and peaceful place and spent here for three years. There are a small tea house and a Japanese garden.

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Small entrance to the garden

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Metal wind bells in the shape of cute fish

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Chihaya's work:
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While drawing, I enjoyed the sound of this water dripping.
The garden was old and small, but I loved the atmosphere.

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Maki's work:
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It was a bit cloudy and muggy day. After enjoying sketching, I took Chihaya to my favorite cafe, Creston Cafe.
We enjoyed cold drinks with some cakes.

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I would like to sketch some sweets next time... :roll:

It was a great sketch crawl, Chihaya!
I could discover again a new interesting place in my hometown, Yamagata. I think it is one of the pleasures of enjoying Sketch Crawl.
This is a great oppotunity to get to know our place better.
Thank you Chihaya!
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TETSU
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by TETSU »

Hi,Maki!
Great to see your work from Yamagata!
Thanks for sharing all your work and the photos!

TETSU from Kanagawa results
viewtopic.php?f=51&t=5478
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chihaya
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by chihaya »

Hi,Maki!
Thank you for a polite English translation :thumbup:
This SC was so happy. Every time, a new Yamagata charm is discovered. :P
Maki's picture is also cute good a lot of photographs.
let's enjoy next SC :wave:

Hi,TETSU!
Thank you for the comment :wave:
SC that can discover the charm that Yamagata doesn't know is wonderful.
So great!! kanagawaSC's rockets :clap:
chihaya(Yamagata/Japan)
http://www.chihaya-design
dave c
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by dave c »

nice work! I like the observation about the stone wall puzzle, it's when we draw things we really think about and appreciate them. Thanks for sharing the photos and information. :D
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bh yoo
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by bh yoo »

Nice photos and naive drawings! Enjoyed all. :clap: :thumbup:
Maki_Maron
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Location: Yamagata, Japan

Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Maki_Maron »

Hi Tetsu, thank you for your support and comments.
I wanted to sketch a lot more. It was so fun.
We will try to upload more sketches than photos next time :D

Hi Dave C,
Thank you for your comments.
Exactly! I had never had such an opportunity to observe the "stone wall" so closely.
While I was sketching it, I realized that there were some rules to arrange the stones and was very impressed by the technique.

Hi Yoo,
Thank you for your comments.
I am happy to be able to share with you what we enjoyed here :D
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Maestral
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Maestral »

Hope I would join you in some of the next Sketchcrawls.. wonderful images.
I`m so eager to see Japan and Kaminoyama city as close as you had, especially because I am a great admirer of Japanese culture.
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chihaya
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by chihaya »

Hi Maestral,
Thank you! We hope we can draw with you someday too. :D
We often rediscover some beautiful things about our hometown and our country while enjoying SC.
There are many such places around us. The children's sketches and the photos of your forum are excellent, too! :clap:
chihaya(Yamagata/Japan)
http://www.chihaya-design
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m9fred
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by m9fred »

Hi Maki!
Thank you for the very informative story with beautiful photos (much better than a guidebook) and the really fascinating drawings from yours and from Chihaya.
I appreciate your works.

Manfred
vogadosketx
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by vogadosketx »

The place is beautifull. Excelent choice for drawing. Keep on drawing the great places of Japan.

Henrique
Maki_Maron
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Location: Yamagata, Japan

Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Maki_Maron »

Hi Manfred,

Thank you for your compliments :D
I am very glad to hear that my story was informative! We wanted to sketch much more but didn't have enough time...
So, next time you'll see more sketches than photos...hopefully!

Hi Vogadosketx,

Thank you for your nice comments!
Yamagata is countryside and is not a famous place, but we do have a lot of interesting things and places here.
So, I am really happy to be able to show you some of them through SC.
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kumi matsukawa
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by kumi matsukawa »

Oh , I love the castle and stone wall. The elegant curve of the roof and puzzle like walls amaze us. Love Chihaya's castle and Maki's stone wall so much. Thanks for sharing these beautiful photos too. What lovely place you've been! "tama-konnyaku" and sweets also looks soooo good :D
Maki_Maron
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Location: Yamagata, Japan

Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Maki_Maron »

Hi Kumi,

Thank you :D
Tama-konnyaku is very popular not only among local people but sightseers. If you have any chance to visit here, try some!
enrico
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by enrico »

Beautiful!!! THanks for sharing ... wish I could visit Yamagata someday.

e
Lola
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Re: Yamagata, Japan [Results]

Post by Lola »

Good photos and paintings - thanks for the history. Yamagata looks lovely.

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