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Nagano Zenkoji temple
| Zenkouji temple-
Nagano city, 1 hour drive or 1 hour and 10 min
by bus and on foot. |
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Long ago, peole visited
Zenkoji pulled by cows from everywhere in Japan.
They could see the buddha there only in a limited
period every 6 years.(*note) We call that period
GOKAICHO. It's the gokaicho time this year
2003. From 6th April through 31st May. Along the
path from Nagano station to Zenkoji, there are
many survenir shops that sell a lot special survenirs
you can buy.
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Note : In most Japanese guide books, they explain
Gokaicho is held every 7 year, BUT this every
7 year bases on what Japanese call KAZOE-DOSHI.
Exactly it is held every 6 year. Please don't
get confused.
What's Kazoe-doshi, then?
When we count how many years have passed, usually
we don't count the year now we are in. In Kazoe-doshi
way, people count the year now we are in as
1, then next year as 2. So, if people try to
get to know next Gokaicho year in this Kazoe-doshi
way, they have to count this year - 2003 - as
1. So the 7th year for next Gokaicho would be
2009, not 2010.
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| 4LH 4L !& 3L!0 4L !&&@ |
2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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| Usual way |
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1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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| Kazoe-doshi |
1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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| Strange? - This kazoe-doshi way
is often used to count the year or age for some
buddhist or shinto ceremonies. We Japanese usually
don't use this way in our daily life - otherwise
we get confused. I think sometimes people think
about this way for example to think about something
like how many years have passed for a pro sport
player since s/he got the licence, qualification
or whatever and which seson (- 1st , second, third
, forth.....) for his/her pro tour. Probably people
think 1 year has passed when 1 year has passed
since s/he got the pro licence etc. How about
seasons? The second season for him/her is recognized
as the second season, but 2 year have not passed
yet since s/he got the pro licence etc. If I could
explain, when people think about his/her pro tour
season, perhaps the way to count it is kind of
similar with Kazoe-doshi way. - web master. |
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2003
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2004
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2005
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2006
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2007
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2008
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2009
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2010
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| Years have
passed. |
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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| *th season |
1
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2
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3
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4
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5
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6
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7
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8
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