Beez Neez now Chy Whella - Otaru Ski Museum

Otaru Ski Museum

Beez Neez now Chy Whella

Big Bear and Pepe Millard

Wed 18 Oct 2017 22:17

Otaru Ski Museum

We have a cup of tea at the top station of the Otaru Ropeway and next door is the Ski Museum, a first for both of us, so in we went. I hope that woman is careful where she shoves her spear and horns when she falls over. Oh, it’s going to be one of those visits is it ???. Just saying. Yes dear.

An old pair but no English subtitles.

A newer pair won by someone who looks impressive in 1988.

Hans Koller (former lecturer at Hokkaido University is regarded as the first person to introduce skiing to Japan. Theodor Edler von Lerch taught skiing techniques in Japan for the first time. With this chap Bear creased over and got wet-eyed laughing. Why ??? A man called Lerch teaching Japanese people how to balance. I move on.

It’s fun looking at stuff and not having to read anything.

This is a collection of skis. I think it may be a very long day though......

These are old attachments and these are newer. You know when I said it was fun not having to read anything, that wasn’t a queue for you to put in a commentary. Just helping. Thank you.

Now, these are old. Mmmm.

Somebody important wore these clothes and that’s him at the back. Let’s move into the next room. OK (I wish he didn’t sound so bright and cheery sometimes).

These are not skis, I think you’ll find.

You better pose, he’s called Tengu. Oh dear. That’s a face that will frighten old ladies and small children, the trigger finger.........

Perhaps it was easier when we didn’t have something to read.

Tengu’s origins and history is complex. Since ancient times Tengu have been conceived as gods (kami), goblins, ghost, or yokai (supernatural beings). In Japanese mythology, the grandson of Amaterasu, the Sun goddess, named Ninigi-no-Mikoto, descended to Earth from Takama-ga-hara, a place known as home of the kami. Then, Sarutahiko-no-kami, the leader of the earthly god, greeted Ninigi-no-Mikoto and led the way as a guide. Sarutahiko-no-kami is described as a tall man with a red face and a long nose, which is covered with a large beard. Bear, they are describing you. Huh, I guess this is called payback.

The appearance of Tengu is also influenced by Buddhism and Japanese mountain worship. During the middle ages, Tengu came to be associated, in particular, with the mountain ascetic hermits, the Yamabushi. Yamabushi are typically dressed inn linen robes, with tokin (a small black cap) and kesa (monk’s stole). They also carry a conch-shell trumpet called a horagai and a distinct staff used by Buddhist monks known as a shakujo. A human-like figure with a red face and a long nose dressed in the Yamabushi’s costume has become the most typical representation of Tengu. In Japanese folklore, people also feared Tengu as the god of the mountains. People attributed any supernatural phenomena to the work of Tengu.

Tengu are believed to have derived from Sarutahiko-no-kami. Sarutahiko is regarded as the god of guidance due to the legend above. It is believed Sarutahiko will give blessing to those who pray for safe travel. It is also believed that the god will answer your prayers for business and academic success as well as many others, because this is considered as ‘paving a new path’. The god has been worshipped for more than 800 years in Japan. On the top of Mount Tengu there is a shrine, are we going to look. No it’s too cold.