Crepuscular Rays (God Rays) in Solitude 薄明光線

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It was a chilly morning, and it had been a while since I'd last seen such beautiful God rays. 

About 6 a.m. 朝６時くらい

Ageratum Houstonianum (Flossflower) オオカッコウアザミ

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is ageratum houstonianum, flossflower or bluemink. 

Ageratum Houstonianum and bee アゲラタムと蜂

Mateo Falcone マテオ・ファルコーネ

英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Books that still remain in your memory tell what you are. "Mateo Falcone" is one such book for me.

"Mateo Falcone" is a short story by Prosper Merimee about Mateo Falcone, a respected landlord in Corsica. Mateo killed his 10-year-old son Fortunato because Fortunato was a "traitor." Fortunato had told a soldier in exchange for a silver watch the whereabout of a fugitive coming to Mateo for help while Mateo had been away. Fortunato had first concealed the bandit in exchange for a silver coin, but afterwards, sold out him in exchange for the watch. (See this Wikipedia website for details.)

White Dahlia Means "Gratitude" 白いダリアの花言葉は「感謝」

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

This is dahlia in my neighborhood. I first thought it was a chrysanthemum and that was close. Dahlia is a member of the Asteraceae family and related to chrysanthemum. The only conspicuous difference between them is the shape of leaves. 

Dahlia ダリア

Gaillardia Pulchella (Indian Blanket) is Kamikaze Flower 天人菊（ガイラルディア）は「特攻花」

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

It took more than a month to find out what this flower is. This is Gaillardia pulchella, Indian blanket or sundance.

Gaillardia pulchella 天人菊

Chrysanthemums Are Cursed😱? 菊の呪い😱

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Chrysanthemums are special in Japan. The Imperial Seal of Japan is called the Chrysanthemum Seal and used by the Emperor of Japan and members of the Imperial Family. But for me, chrysanthemums are special in a different way, i.e., they always remind me of "The Inugami Clan" by Seishi Yokomizo (1902-1981), one of the most famous crime authors in Japan who created the private detective character Kosuke Kindaichi. 

 

Chrysanthemum 菊

Leopard Plant 石蕗（ツワブキ）

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are Farfugium japonicum or leopard plants at Hibiya Park and in my neighborhood. Most flowers die in autumn, so finding these bright yellow flowers made me happy.

  

Farfugium japonicum 石蕗

Netsuke - Daruma and Tengu 根付 - だるまちゃんとてんぐちゃん

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

These are little Daruma and Tengu netsuke sculptures at Tokyo National Museum. The Daruma netsuke was carved by Hoshu Yamagata from ivory and the Tengu netsuke by Omu Yoshida from also ivory. (For a definition of netsuke, see this post.)

"Daruma" by Hoshu Yamagata, ivory
「達磨」山形芳朱、象牙

Do It Now! - My Regret About Onigiri Action😭.... 終わってました😭 - おにぎりアクション

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

An Instagram friend of mine often posted photos of onigiris or rice balls on Instagram to support Onigiri Action 2020. Onigiri Action 2020 is a campaign run by Table for Two in which one post of onigiri photo(s) provides five school meals. I agreed with their intent, but had done nothing until November 1 when I finally made my special onigiri, i.e., brown rice balls with sardine, ginger and mushroom, and took the pictures of them below...  

Brown rice onigiri of sardine, ginger, and mushroom 
鰯とショウガの玄米おにぎり

Netsuke - Halloween 根付 - ハロウィン

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

I am so busy that I completely forgot about the photo of this seasonal netsuke, "Halloween" by Toun Shishido.

"Halloween," Toun Shishido, macadamia nut and amber
「ハロウィン」宍戸濤雲、マカデミアナッツ、琥珀

White and Pink Camellia Sasanqua 白とピンクの山茶花

Japanese follows English.　英語の後に日本語が続きます。

Flowers tell us a change in season, and these white and pink Camellia sasanqua told me that autumn would soon be over...

   

White Camellia sasanqua 白い山茶花