March update #2

Last week we took the Welch family, visiting from Kansas, up to Kyoto for some first-hand culture intro.  We rarely go anywhere in Japan, so this was a real treat.  First stop was the Kodai Yuzen-en where we hand-made our own souvenirs.

Here we are, waiting to begin. It went rather quickly once we got started.  The artisans hand us each a brush with paint.  We fill in the holes on a stencil of the design.  Layer by layer we add color until the final one.

The foreground is a stencil awaiting color.  Mr. Welch is adding color to his stencil.

Sara and Emily are waiting for the final white color to be added by the artisan. They made inserts for a mug-cup.

I did this tiger on the back of a happi-coat (kimono style jacket) for Mr. Welch. 

Here's the finished product with black accent lines added--really good, huh?

Pastor Welch with his tiger coat. 

An artisan painting a design on kimono fabric which is 12 meters long by 18 inches wide set up on those rollers. 

We then visited Nijo Castle which was recently renovated.  This is the main gate--gorgeous colors and designs.

I think this is a plum in bloom.

Carp or koi fish in the moat.

The ever-present Engrish signs.  Self explanatory.

Not sure why we needed to, but there you have it.

The first sakura in bloom--a sure sign of spring in Japan.