Lift up the bamboo blind, and Looking at the Snow on the Mt. Kourohou .

Heavy snow from last night but as it finally ceased.
Because the snow had piled up about 50 cm,
Pepe was the corridor could not pee in the snow.
Snow on the branches of a large tree fell on the roof,
It has raised the big sound.

Because I do not want to damage the new snow,
While watching the snow through the window to go anywhere without,
In high school, a famous Chinese poem learned in Chinese classics,
Muttered the "Snow peak Mt. Kourohou" in "Bai Juyi" poet of the Tang Dynasty.

　　日高睡足猶慵起

　　小閣重衾不怕寒

　　遺愛寺鐘欹枕聽

　　香爐峰雪撥簾看

　　匡廬便是逃名地

　　司馬仍爲送老官

　　心泰身寧是歸處

　　故郷何獨在長安

　　　　　　

　　　　　　白居易

The sun climbed high, and enough sleep, but wake up still troublesome.
I do not mind the cold because they overlap Futon but a small house.
Temple bell is heard by tilting the pillow,
Lift up the bamboo blind, and looking up the Snow on the Mt. Kourohou .
Only here is a place to escape the honor.
Here as a place to send the old age is sufficient.
What body and mind a restful place, where I should go home.
Is not it may not be home in Chang'an.

It is said and meanings.

And  this might be a "enlightenment" of old China.

There are also the roots of "Zen" in Japan.

Will call me good luck, "owl" in Rene Lalique?

Glass in the picture above is not a shot glass.
It is empty of cup for cup cheese cake.
In this cup, I'm drinking straight whiskey at night.
Currently, it is my shot glass.

In a cigar bar that uses only Baccarat and Bohemian Glass,
I asked with a shot glass to the master of the bar.
He said, "Riedel sommeliers whisky tasting glass is the best".
And I find the empty glass of this cheesecake.
Glass top narrowed like a tulip does not release the fragrance.
I thought that smell would rise up and shake a little.
However, the drink is too lonely in this empty glass.
Right now. I'm looking for and want whiskey decanter set.


Childish, Porsche marks are located.
But, when the Porsche lovers have visited can be used joke.

Designed by Gorham "Lady Anne".
Modeling is full of elegance reminiscent of the perfume bottle.
However, the glass has not been set.
There is a need to adjust the cut glass of the same kind.

Czech Bohemian Art Deco decanter set is very rare.
Antique 1930s. Is this a collectible item?

After all, England is the home of whiskey.
Indeed, mannish decanter is full.
Lion symbol of the United Kingdom. Celtic design of sacred stag.
Then, the pattern of wild horses that ran the field.
Classic atmosphere is good. And there is an oriental atmosphere.

Lalique masterpiece. Baccarat made ​​by mouse blow technique.
Rene Lalique's favorite motif is the "Owl Woods" good luck.
It is a legend that has been handed down through the ages in France.
Art Nouveau. It is a excellent piece that I was fascinated.
But, this soft modeling may be not perfect match to the whiskey.

Havana and Manila cigar boxes of half a century old.

This is the old boxes I got from my uncle was the ship’s doctor of N.Y.K.
It is the empty box of cigars in the early 1960s.
My uncle told me often the story of the pre-war era was a brilliant luxury liner.
When I saw the movie "The Legend of 1900"(link),
That way of life of the ship's doctor uncle who continued to die without getting off the ship,
I was able to understand to me also overlap with the pianist of the movie.

When I look in the eyes of these boxes as cigar lovers,
His dandy appearance comes through from my uncle's favorite cigar ...

H.UPMANN 25 Paneters Box

Currently, there is no panetelas the range of H.Upmann​​.
It's a little like a long cigar than Corona Junior (114 x 14.29mm).
The length of the cigar can be  deduced from 126mm inside of the box.
Dimensions of the outer box is 135 x 187mm.

I have investigated Panetelas of H.UPMANN,
Not only record very rare El Prado(1960 ~ 1980).
However, does not match the internal dimensions of the box 126mm in length.
Cuban Revolution. Break diplomatic relations with the United States.
Cuba was a tumultuous time.
Because It may not have been left to record.
H.Upmann Peti Coronas that President Kennedy has been smokers,
Perhaps had entered the box, just like this one.
If so, this is an empty box and say invaluable.
"Belvederes" More and size (39 x 125mm) machine made,
Is considered "Petit Palatinos" as well (36 x 115mm) hand made,

In any case, I think it was a daily cigar my uncle.

The difference between the current box, oval seal with the side attached.
Warranty Seal pale green without perforations (182mm x 62.9mm).
This seal is around 1962 I think. Box Stamp: length is 69mm. 
The wear of the stamp, E / A of HECHO have collapsed.
COLORADO CELLOPHANE character rubber stamp,
Wrapper Shade mean Colorado Claro, the cellophane wrapping.

La Flor de la ISABERA Extra Mild

This is a very rare box of Isabera by Tabacalera in the 1950s. 

Now, there are no cigars this ISABERLA name called. 

"ISABERA" is the original brand La Flor de la Isabera company has released. 

Tabakarera is the parent company.
Perhaps. Tabakarera of the time when Prime Minister Churchill 

and General MacArthur had been smoked. 

It would be the same box of those days.
Outline of the box 160 x 210 x 38 mm. Corona is a box of 25.
The size is different from the box of the current Corona.

The sound is referred to as the Manila Cigar those days,
To the far tropical romanticism was drifting ...

Portugal wine "HERDADE do PESO", this label invited to my nostalgia.

Always, I would choose the wine in the label design.
Wine fanatics called "etiquette" in French smugly.
Photo, the label of Portugal wine "HERDADE do PESO".
I liked at one view.
Because I remembered the cinema title back to 
Francoise Sagan’s novel "Bonjuour Tristesse"(link)
designed by great Saul Bass (link). 
He was my teacher in graphic design.

When I was young, I live in a fishing village in Portugal was my dream.
So, but I like Portuguese fado and wine.
Now, Portuguese wine has attracted attention in Japan.
Was originally, Europeans who first set foot in Japan were Portuguese.
Ancestral Tanegashima gun in 1543. 

Jesuit missionaries came to Japan in 1549.
In addition, the wine was introduced by them.

To me, Herddade this wine was too dry.

And it is high price that I bought ten drink wine usually.
However, this “Bonjuour Tristesse" label invited me to nostalgia.

Definitely this dry wine would be the highest level in the world.

It is very spicy wine made ​​from grapes that were exposed 
to the full light of the sun in the south of Portugal.
But, the alcohol content from drinking too much attention to me 
and a very high 14.5%.

Will hear plaintive sound of the Portuguese guitar...

Flor del Todo #4 Especial Maduro. Even now, I remember like my first love.

Flor del Todo no.4 especial maduro

Size: 5.5 x 45  shape: Corona  Strength: Medium
This is a classic "Cuban sandwich" cigar
by Rolando Reyes Sr. (link)

Famous brand. High rating. High prices. High popularity.
Good or bad cigar is not decided by these things.
It's decided by the emotions of like when a fall in love.

When I started smoking cigars on daily basis,
I had to smoke the corona size cigars of five per day.
Want cheap cigar Cuba or Dominican men have smoked daily,
I had been imported from the US and from Spain.

And, I met cheap cigar "Flor del Todo" of Honduras.
"Flor del Todo" means flowers in full bloom.
I was fascinated by "Flor del Todo #4 Especial Maduro".
Although it has been sophisticated looks,
was filled with sweet aroma and creamy taste that will captivate.
It was like the honey of blooming Cattleya in Honduras.

Even now, I remember like my first love.

Once again, I'm thinking of buying it to see her.

I tried to buy around the same time as
"Cu-Avana Belicoso" and "Morro Castle Corona".
I felt interested in Morro Castle lighthouse in Havana.
Only the ring and box of them, not in my memory.

Best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

Portrait of my ​​Pepe.

Pepe is 10 years old Irish Setter.

In human years is equivalent to 70 years old.

Pepe mom is 14 years old.

I hope that Pepe will be as graceful mother (link). 

Mother of Pepe : "Ailu"

The photos below:

When recently was met at the mountain park to Irish Setter owner (link),

he had taking pictures Pepe.

Pepe scared to my camera, so I can not shoot good photo.

But in another camera show the natural look like these.

Samurai class decorated the flat-cut. Because they knew emptiness of the fight.

In Japan, it is customary to decorate the "Kadomatsu" (link)
like Christmas tree in the New Year.
About this Kadomatsu, there is interesting story 
do not even know Japanese. 

Kadomatsu must decorate before December 28.
The reason for this is that:
"9" on the 29th, which means "Ku (Suffer)" in Japanese sound.
"Pine" is"Matsu (Wait)" in Japanese sound.
Because it means "Ku o Matsu" (Waiting for the suffering).

There are two types of tip shape of bamboo. Sharp cut and Flat cut.
The original was flat. But when the "battle of Mikatagahara",
Ieyasu Tokugawa was defeated Shingen Takeda.
He do not forget the insult was cut diagonally like the tip of a bamboo spear.
It is said that it's the beginning of the sharp cut.

Samurai class decorated the traditional flat-cut.
But the merchant class would like a sharp-cut showy. 
Currently, a sharp cut has become majority.

The origin of Kadomatsu, was decorating the pine symbolizes long life 
in front of the gate of the time of Tang (618-907) in China.
In Japan was introduced from China the Heian period (794-1192). 
Became the current style along with a bamboo pine, 
from becoming the Muromachi period (1336-1573).
It is said the fact that bamboo symbolizes long life as well, 
so it was a style like this.

In this way, most of the old Japanese culture was introduced 
from China and Korea. And it is the culture that was arranged in Japan.
The Japanese only did arrange them.
Since the Meiji period has been indiscriminate imitation Western culture.
Artist Taro Okamoto said, "There is only the original Jomon culture of Jpan."
It is the Stone Age of the 10th century BC.
Japanese people are too conceited.

Flat-cut of Samurai house.
Simple and strong image is the thought of Zen.

Sharp-cut of Traditional sweets shop:
Directed the prestigious merchant.

This year go away along with the beautiful moon

Shining moon began to climb to the forest of larch.
Tonight is the full moon.
Night air is below freezing. But winter moonlight is beautiful.

Let's look at the moon on the terrace to withstand the cold.
Beautiful cold night like this,
Partagas Serie D Especial EL 2010 that has been aged,
and Single malt whiskey Strathisla 12 aged.

Will hear the howling of wolves.