Blog#3: The National Museum of Western Art (Miyuki)

Hi, this is Miyuki. On June 2,  I went to The National Museum of Western Art, Tokyo (国立西洋美術館) at Ueno to visit the exhibition of Raffaello. If it says from a conclusion, this exhibision was very interesting for me.

the Nationl Museum of Western Art 

 

 In this exhibision, I watched many pictures painted by Raffaello Santi(1483-1520) and his apprentices. And I like some pictures among these exhibision.

 First, this is "the figure of saint's mother and child (聖母子像)". This visits to Japan for the first time. It was painted in 1505-1506 and owned by Palatina Museum now. It seems to be fill with the affection. I'm not a Christian, but I feel pious.

 

 



the figure of saint's mother and child 

 

Second, this is"Saint Georgius and a dragon". It was painted in 1504-1505 and owned by Louvre Museum now. Saint Georgius(Saint George in English?) was born in Cappadocia and killed the dragon to rescue the princess. I'm interested in the legends of dragon-killer, so I enjoyed watching this.

 

Saint Georgius and a dragon

 

 After watching the exhibision, I went to the standing exhibision. The  exhibision of Raffaero is called "the special exhibision(特別展)" and has time limit. On the other hands, the standing exhibision has no limit and has few exchanges of the exhibits. In the standing exhibision, I'm very much pleased with this picture, "Self-Portrait". This picture was painted by Marie-Gabrielle Capet(1761-1818) around 1783.I like this picture because the blue of this dress is very vivid and she is so charming.

 

Self-Portrait

 

 Actually, this is first time that I visited here. However, I'm pleased with this museum. So I will recommend you to visit here!

Blog#3: Museum of light(Yuka)

Hi, this is Yuka. Today, I want to introduce about my favorite museum. The name of the museum is Museum of light（光の美術館）. I visited the museum in the autumn two years ago with my family. This museum is located in the north of Yamanashi prefecture. I could see beautiful red and yellow leaves there.

　　　Museum of light（光の美術館）

This museum is designed by Tadao Ando（安藤忠雄）. Tadao Ando is famous architect in Japan. In addition, He designed Church of light（光の教会） at Osaka prefecture. 

 Church of light（光の教会）, Cross of light（光の十字架）

I am very fond of this architecture! I'm going to visit this church sometime. But, I have to go there sunny day then. Because, I want to see this Cross of light(光の十字架）. This cross is made by the sun. By the way, do you know Antoni Clave（アントニ・クラーベ）? He is artist at Spain. His paintings are exhibited at Museum of light（光の美術館）. He was affected by Picasso. His pictures are abstract painting. But for some reason,  I am fascinated by his pictures.  

Picture of Antoni Clave（アントニ・クラーベ）

Blog#3: Utsunomiya Museum (Kyoka)

Hi, I'm Kyoka. I visited Utsunomiya Museum in Tochigi this sturday. It has so large park. And it is rich green.

The theme of this exhibition is "the love on heaven".The oil painting from the 17th century to the 19th century was exhibited. I saw a painting of Cecilia. It was so beautiful and soft image.

Cecilia

 

I like this museum and visiting museum. Because It is quiet, and I can concentrate thoroughly and it see a picture.Please go to this museum. Probably, you will be satisfied.

 

blog#3: the Ueno Royal Museum (Kohei)

Hi, I'm Kohei. At first, I finally visited a museum 7 years ago. So I don't remember much well the museum I visited,  the Ueno Royal Museum(上野の森美術館), but  I try to introduce it.

I'm not so interested in art. So I don't go to museum to see pictures at all. Maybe I visited this museum when it held an exhibition about postwar art. This museum is located near the Ueno station. It takes only 3 minutes on foot. Now it holds an exhibition. Please check here. In this exhibition, we can see traditional craftworks of two royal families like cups, Japanese dolls, kimono and so on. I would like to go to there if I have a time.

I like this museum but I think the inside of museum is plain. So I would like to visit the museum where we can enjoy seeing also the museum itself. Finally, until now I haven't been to museums at all, but I would like to go to where blog members recommend.

Blog#3: Vatican Museums(Kumi)

Hi, this is Kumi. Last summer, I took a trip to Italy with my mother. It was a fantastic trip! In this trip, I visited two museums: Uffizi Gallery(ウフィッツィ美術館, "Galleria degli Uffizi") and Vatican Museums(ヴァチカン美術館, "Musei Vaticani").  There were a lot of impressive exhibits, so I love both of them and want to recommend both. However, today, I'd like to introduce Vatican Museums.

Vatican Palace(ヴァチカン宮殿, "Palazzi Vaticani")

Vatican Museums are in the Vatican at Rome. They are in Vatican Palace and connected with St. Peter's Basilica(サンピエトロ大聖堂, "Basilica di San Pietro in Vaticano"). Vatican Museums are the complex of various kinds of art museums. There are a sculpture museum, an Egyptian art museum, and a modern art museum, etc. These museums are very very large, so I was able to see only really famous works! I wanted to see more! I am still disappointed about this thing.

Photo in Vatican Museums.

This ceiling is beautiful, isn't it? I think it's an art work, too.

Pietà(ピエタ像)

Especially, I like this sculpture made by Michelangelo,"Pietà". I think this Maria 's look is full of affection. It's in St. Peter's Basilica, but we can see this in  museum visiting course.

The Last Judgment(最後の審判,"Giudizio Universale")

And  we could see this famous picture, "The Last Judgment". This work is made by Michelangelo, too. This is on Sistine Chapel(システィーナ礼拝堂, "Cappella Sistina")'s wall, but this work is in museum visiting course,too. When I see this picture, I was moved deeply too much and couldn't say anything. In only Sistine Chapel,  we couldn't take a photo, so this photo is the replica's photo.

If you're a Christian or don't have religion prejudice, please visit these museums!
You must be moved by Vatican Museums.

 Do you like visiting museums?

-Yes, of course! I think art makes our hearts rich.

blog#2: mushroom(Miyuki)

 I have been enjoying application of smart-phone recently. Its name is "The kit of  nameko growing".("nameko" is mushroom's name in Japan.)
 In this game, we feed mushrooms and find rare types of them to get more nameko-point. Then, we can exchange nameko-point for wall picture like this.

nameko with frogs

 

 If you want to get information of this application, click here.

 

Blog#2 Udon!(Kohei Morita)

Hi! I like udon very much, so I eat it least 3 times in a week. When I was studying for college admission, I went to Hanamaru Udon for every lunch.In this blog, I would like to introduce my favorite udons.

This is Kamatamaudon (釜玉うどん). It needs only eggs and soy sauce. It tastes symple as you  imagine. But I think everyone may like it! The price of normal size is 399 yen. It is reasonable, isn't it?

My most favorite udon of Hanamaru is Kakeudon (かけうどん). You have to eat it when you go Hanamaru. It is also most famous udon in Kagawa prefecture. I eat it with some tempuras. There are three size. The each praice of kakeudon are 105 yen, 210 yen and 315 yen. You could eat it easily.

Here is website. Why don't you go to Hanamaruudon?
 

Blog#2: Indian curry (Yuka)

Recently, I have been eating Indian curry at atre Kichijoji. This shop's name is SITAARA Deli. I can't eat well these days. Maybe, I have lost my appetite due to summer lethargy. Then, I want to eat spicy foods! Because, I have an impression that spicy foods move my stomach.

Butter chicken curry. This curry is on the sweet side.

Do you like spicy foods? I love spicy foods very much! If it possible, I want to eat spicy foods every day. Anyway, I ate vegetable Indian curry at SITAARA Deli. It is great! I want to eat vegetable because I can't eat vegetable recently. And then, this curry is light and refreshing. So, when you suffer from summer heat fatigue, you had better eat vegetable Indian curry.

Vegetable Indian curry is my favorite!

BLOG #2:Animal Crossing (Kyoka)

Hi! Recently, I have been playing a game of 3DS. It is Animal Crossing (どうぶつの森）. I can enjoy slow life in a village in this game. For example, fishing, talking to animals, collecting furniture... A player becomes a village mayor, and activates the village. There is no subject, I only enjoy a life fully in this game.

the four seasons in Animal Crossing

Especially, I have a pleasant design of the room. But it is serious to pay the loan of a house! By such reason, I do fishing and insect collecting to earn. It can also be connected with my friends in communication. There are many people in Gakushuin University who playing this game. This is so fun! Play, if you feel like it.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　     image for the English-speaking world

Blog #2: Twitter (Kumi)

Hi! Recently, I have been writing on twitter. It's one of the kinds of SNS. SNS means "Social Networking Service", and its examples are "facebook" or "mixi" . Twitter is used all over the world. For example, the Pope, Mr.Obama, and Lady Gaga. I think twitter is used better in USA and Asia than Europe. Maybe twitter is popular in Japan, too.

twitter bird

 

One of twitter's interesting point is that we can write only 140 letters. In the blog, it is possible to tell that you want to say without having to worry about the number of letters. However if we do the same thing on twitter, we must write it in only 140 letters! But I think this thing is very very interesting. Don't you think it's like "Haiku" or "Tanka" in Japan? 

twitter log in picture

 

If you haven't use twitter yet, you should start twitter!

If you're already twitter's user, I wish your nice twitter life!