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@ Cliff Path, Shikoku
Fresco de la Reye begins his journey through Shikoku!

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@ Cherry Blossoms in Bud

Blue And Gold Egg
The first painted eggs came from Mesopotamia, and because eggs were forbidden food during Lent, people painted eggs while Lent was being observed—after Lent, they would eat the eggs on Easter Day.

Beautifully decorated eggs “pysanka” are associated with Ukraine, and the oldest painted egg that was unearthed in northern Ukraine is dated to the end of the 17th century.

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@ Naruto Bridge, Shikoku
"As well as the castle, there are hot springs at Matsuyama, Fresco de la Reye!" announced Hoppy.
"Sounds good to me!"

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@ Ritsurin Garden, Shikoku
Entranceways of Japanese houses called genkan signal where you should take off your shoes by means of its raised floors. The lower area indicates where you should remove your shoes and the raised upper area, often in a different type of flooring, is considered indoor living space.

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@ Autumnal Ginkgo Leaves
“Let's practise some Japanese phrases, Fresco de la Reye!" said glowy. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Arigato!”
Clutching the postcard, she looked at her friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Dozo—which means ‛you're welcome!'”
Fresco de la Reye looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, glowy? If I've performed a very minor service and you've said 'Thank you', do I need to say anything back? It's not like I made you a cake or mowed your lawn. I just handed you a postcard. You said 'thank you'. Couldn't I just smile slightly or something?"
glowy mused for some minutes. "The English language lacks the exact equivalent of dozo or similar phrases in use in Continental Europe. Still, when in Rome ...!"
Autumnal Ginkgo Leaves
Soft focus golden/orange ginkgo leaves in autumnal sunshine make a soothing picture.

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@ Stone Lantern in Japan
"Remind me how to say 'good morning' to a Japanese pet, Choose a name?" queried Fresco de la Reye. "I know one of the US states comes into it!"
Choose a name grinned. "You mean ohayō gozaimasu! Yes, pronounced 'Ohio goz-eye-mass'!"
Stone Lantern in Japan
This type of Japanese stone lantern is typically found by a pond or lake. The "fire box" beneath the crowning stone umbrella is usually hexagonal. This traditional stonemasonry dates back to the Edo period.

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@ Samurai Warrior at Sunset
"Japan—the perfect choice for our travels this January, Fresco de la Reye!" enthused George.
"Yup. That Japanese Food & Cultural bazaar was incredible! I bought so many souvenirs I can't close my suitcase!"
"Oh! I was thinking more of its rich history, the Shoguns, Samurai, architecture and so on," said George.
Fresco de la Reye selected a glazed mochi donut for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the box to George. "Sure!" he said, a little indistinctly. "You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy."
Samurai Warrior at Sunset
Stylish artwork featuring silhouette of lone samurai warrior with sword against a setting sun.

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@ Pink Lotus Flower
"How are we getting across to Shikoku, Fresco de la Reye?" queried DILLIGAS. "Do we have to go by boat?"
"No, it's fine, there's a bridge from Honshu," responded Fresco de la Reye. "Or rather, a system of three bridges, which crosses several small islands on the way."
Pink Lotus Flower
Lotus flower; lnelumbo nucifera.

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@ Tiny Green Frogs
"Remind me how to say 'good morning' to a Japanese pet, Ariella?" queried Fresco de la Reye. "I know one of the US states comes into it!"
Ariella grinned. "You mean ohayō gozaimasu! Yes, pronounced 'Ohio goz-eye-mass'!"

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@ Traditional Japanese Dwelling
“Let's practise some Japanese phrases, Fresco de la Reye!" said Splodge. "Tell you what, hand me that postcard, will you? Arigato!”
Clutching the postcard, she looked at her friend expectantly. “That's your cue to say Dozo—which means ‛you're welcome!'”
Fresco de la Reye looked puzzled. "Why do I have to say anything at all, Splodge? If I've performed a very minor service and you've said 'Thank you', do I need to say anything back? It's not like I made you a cake or mowed your lawn. I just handed you a postcard. You said 'thank you'. Couldn't I just smile slightly or something?"
Splodge mused for some minutes. "The English language lacks the exact equivalent of dozo or similar phrases in use in Continental Europe. Still, when in Rome ...!"
Traditional Japanese Dwelling
Traditional wooden Japanese-style house.

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@ Japanese Hair Ornaments
"It says here that the 88 Temple Pilgrimage is a famous but difficult 1000 mile (1647 km) circle around the entire island of Shikoku. Some pets choose to do the trip entirely by paw! Other pets go on the bus," read out BERT from the brochure.
"I know how I'd do it, BERT!" replied Fresco de la Reye.
Japanese Hair Ornaments
"kanzashi" - hair ornaments

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@ Origami Sphere
"Let's learn a bit of Japanese from our brochure, Fresco de la Reye!" said Sugie. "So to say 'yes' is 'hai'—pronounced 'hi'."
"That seems simple enough! How do you say 'no'?"
"That's iie—two syllables, pronounced 'ee-eh' ".

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@ Rice Wine with Guinomi
"That was the most delicious orange juice I've ever tasted at breakfast this morning, Fresco de la Reye!"
"Well, Dai, did you know that mandarin oranges are a major product in Shikoku, and they're extra-delicious because of the amount of sunlight they get whilst growing!" responded his friend.

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@ Sea of Clouds, Japan
"As well as the castle, there are hot springs at Matsuyama, Fresco de la Reye!" announced Kai.
"Sounds good to me!"

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@ Japanese Calligraphy
Oh look ... you won a pet!

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@ Shikoku Mountain Range
From the 1630s to 1853, Japan exercised a strict isolationist policy known as Sakoku – or “closed country,” which is one of the most interesting facts about Japan.

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@ Shimanami Highway, Ehime
"Hey, you should have joined Foxy and me for lunch at that café, Fresco de la Reye!" said Mischief.
"Oh, I couldn't resist touring the shops! Anyway, what did you eat?"
"We had butternut squash miso soup, sprinkled with fresh coriander and with a slice of sourdough bread on the side. It was yummy!"

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@ Mt Tsurugi, Tokushima
Entranceways of Japanese houses called genkan signal where you should take off your shoes by means of its raised floors. The lower area indicates where you should remove your shoes and the raised upper area, often in a different type of flooring, is considered indoor living space.

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@ Mountain Road, Shikoku
"Japan—the perfect choice for our travels this January, Fresco de la Reye!" enthused bielzibub.
"Yup. That Japanese Food & Cultural bazaar was incredible! I bought so many souvenirs I can't close my suitcase!"
"Oh! I was thinking more of its rich history, the Shoguns, Samurai, architecture and so on," said bielzibub.
Fresco de la Reye selected a glazed mochi donut for himself, popped it in his mouth and offered the box to bielzibub. "Sure!" he said, a little indistinctly. "You know me, I love a bit of culture. As long as there's a nice gift shop at the end, I'm happy."

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@ Japan Sign
Sudoku was introduced in Japan in the paper Monthly Nikolist in 1984 as Sūji wa dokushin ni kagiru which can be translated as "the digits must be single", or as "the digits are limited to one occurrence" (In Japanese, dokushin means an "unmarried person"). The name was later abbreviated to Sudoku, taking only the first kanji of compound words to form a shorter version. "Sudoku" is a registered trademark in Japan and the puzzle is generally referred to as Number Place.
Japan Sign
In our January 2023 Travel Game we celebrate the amazing country of Japan, its culture, traditions and food. This symbolic sign, in the colours of the Japanese flag, evokes the vibrant nightlife of Tokyo, the Japanese capital.

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@ Japanese Sake Ochoko
"According to our itinerary, we'll be visiting Mt Ishizuchi today," remarked Asparagus.
"Gosh, will we be climbing it, Fresco de la Reye?"
Fresco de la Reye chuckled. "We'll leave you behind to do that if you wish. It's 6500 feet (1982 m) high! Now listen to the rest of it. It's one of Japan's seven sacred peaks. Named the 'Stone Hammer' because of its characteristic sharp and rocky summit, it is the highest peak in western Japan and is known not only for its beauty but also for the challenge it presents climbers."
Japanese Sake Ochoko
In Japan there are very precise traditions around eating and drinking. The ochoko pictured here is for the ceremonial drinking of cold saké, as compared to the guinomi.

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@ Onaruto Bridge, Naruto Strait
The Dutch were allowed to trade with Japan during its isolation between the 1630s and 1853. Foreign trade continued with the Netherlands for the 220 years of isolation. They were only allowed one tiny little port to live in, called Dejima, in modern-day Nagasaki.

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@ Shrine Purification Ritual
Why are melons in Japan VERY expensive? These fruit play a large part in the country’s gift-giving culture. Samurai would give tangerines or melons to their shogun as a mark of appreciation. Nowadays, fruit farmers tend to these fruits extremely carefully by hand, which adds to their attraction. Cantaloupe melons are one of the most famous varieties and can cost over $200 each.
Shrine Purification Ritual
Chozuya have historically been vital parts of Shinto shrines across Japan, acting as a purification gateway between worshippers and the sacred area of a shrine. Purifying yourself is a very important step to take before making any prayers or offerings at a temple or shrine in Japan. Chozu (cleansing yourself) is the customary way to clean or purify yourself before making any prayers at shrines or temples in Japan. The Chozuya is the large basin with special wooden dippers that is usually located at the entrance of shrines and temples. It is customary for visitors to purify themselves here by washing their hands before stepping on sacred grounds.

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@ Windmill, Kagawa
“I’m going to buy that origami kit from the gift shop, Fresco de la Reye,” announced Choose a name. “It will provide a lot of entertainment for the winter evenings ahead!”
“I think I’ll go for the inflatable red-crowned crane! It’s just the job for when you’re splashing about in the garden pool in the summer!” responded Fresco de la Reye.

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@ Rice Fields, Japan
Fresco de la Reye has now completed his journey through Shikoku! As he prepares to go home, he receives a wonderful gift!
Fox, Skating On The Pond
Hello, all my dear friends. Glad you could join me on this crisp winter day. I brought my skates, and I see you have yours too. Skating is a popular wintertime sport. Nowadays, with indoor rinks– can you imagine such a thing–you can skate all year round. But I prefer to be outside, and this pond is large enough and smooth enough to provide a lot of fun for all to skate.

I am going to warm up a bit— always a good idea—stretch those muscles and then do some pirouettes. I have been practicing some double axels I have a problem with the second one. After we have skated for a while, how about we play some hockey? Then we can enjoy some hot chocolate and cookies at my house.

Rice Fields, Japan
Nakayama rice fields, Shodoshima. Rice is a staple part of the Japanese diet, for example, in sushi, and it is felt more important in Japan to have a rice cooker than an oven.
Fresco de la Reye has enjoyed his journey through Shikoku, but it is time to go home now! Please select another pet as visitor, so it can also enjoy a journey through Japan!