Japanese College Life – Page 3 – Real Reporter Online

Mysterious Floating Shrine

January 16, 2019

By Anna Nii, University of Shimane

Have you ever been to Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima? It is one of the world heritage sites and is a very famous place. It is also known as a sea shrine.

November seems to be the best time to see the autumn leaves in Miyajima. I wanted to see the autumn leaves based on this advice. Also, I wanted to see the Otorii of Itsukushima Shrine. So, I went on a trip there on 24th November 2018. To Itsukushima Shrine, we can go by ferry from Miyajimaguchi Station. A lot of tourists visit there every day. And it is also a beautiful place loved by many people. I felt that is a very nice place. So, I will tell you about the charm of Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima.

Itsukushima Shrine was built in 593 during the Heian period. After that, in 1168, Taira no Kiyomori built the main shrine and it became the current shrine. Afterwards the Mori family and Asano family kept the shrine. The red paint is very beautiful, and the appearance conveys the atmosphere of the Heian period. The mysterious appearance was evaluated, and it was registered as a World Heritage site in 1996.

The greatest charm of Itsukushima Shrine is the Otorii which seems to float in the sea. The red Otorii is 16m high and weighs about 60 tons. The feet of the pillars are not buried in the ocean floor, but stand alone with their own weight. The main pillar was made out of a camphor tree and is about 600 years old.

Also, because the Otorii is built in a place full of tides, at low tide you can walk up to it. The reason why it was built in a place where the tide comes in and out is to catch the entire Miyajima as a god and to cut the wood, shave of the soil so as not to hurt the “the object of worship”.

It is also attractive to have different ways of enjoying by changing the atmosphere due to autumn leaves, snow, lighting up at night.

Besides, there are many shops in Miyajima, and you can eat oysters, Momiji-manju and mackerel rice bowls which are special products of Hiroshima. You can also buy souvenirs. Everything is very tasty. But there are wild deer everywhere, so please be careful about your food.

There are many other good points. Please try visiting. And please see it with your own eyes.

School Festival – Brass Band Performance–

School Festival – Brass Band Performance–

January 16, 2019

By Motoki Yamada

The University of Shimane School Festival was held on October 8th. Our brass band played in the cafeteria.

The school festival is held on two days of the year. However, this year it was held on one day due to a typhoon. So, the performance of the brass band changed a little. We invite Hamada Commercial High School and Hamadian Brass as guests every year. But, unfortunately this year we could not because the schedule shifted. Also, we could not use the auditorium. So, the performance was held in the cafeteria.

We practiced from the end of August. The songs were difficult but everyone practiced. So, we were able to do a good performance with everyone.

I started brass band in my second year in high school. When I was in high school I was able to attend the Chugoku Competition. I feel good when I’m playing in the brass band. So, I can do my best. I will try hard in future.

I learned how to respond to unexpected situations when I had to deal with the typhoon disrupting our scheduled performance. I would like to make use of this experience in the future.

Being a college students by living alone

Being a college students by living alone

June 21, 2018

Two years ago, my parents dropped me off at the dorm of the University of Shimane in April. As I watched their car driven off, I felt really sad. My new life so far has been not easy, but my college life experiences helped me grow a lot.

First, I realized the difficulty of housework. I learned how hard it was to do housework because I live in an apartment alone. It took a long time to go shopping, doing laundry, and clean my apartment room. I am very grateful for my family.

Second, I learned how to cook. I had not cooked very much when I lived with my parents. My mother always cooked meals for everyone. But I now cook meals all by myself. My cooking skills improved a lot and I can cook many dishes now.

Third, I grew up to have a strong sense of responsibility. I can manage my life better. For example, I wake up by myself in the morning, because no one wakes me up. Also, I learned to fill out important documents like pension forms or tax forms, which I have never done before.

By Yurina Kuno

Posts published in “Japanese College Life”

Mysterious Floating Shrine

School Festival – Brass Band Performance–

Being a college students by living alone