<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?><rss version="0.92">
<channel>
	<title>Japanesque Accents</title>
	<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com</link>
	<description></description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sun, 01 Aug 2010 16:34:13 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<docs>http://backend.userland.com/rss092</docs>
	<language>en</language>
	<!-- generator="WordPress/3.0" -->

	<item>
		<title>Twelve Animal Signs of the Japanese/Chinese Oriental Zodiac</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The twelve animal signs of the Japanese/Chinese Oriental Zodiac are considered lucky and it is said that ones character and personality can be predicted by one's sign.]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=48</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Dragonfly (Tombo) as a Motif in Japanese Art</title>
		<description><![CDATA[Tombo are known as Kachimushi or the 'victory insect.'  The fact that they are quick to attack and catch other small insects in mid air and have such a fierce name, the tombo motif was a favorite among the warrior classes who used it on military implements such as helmets and especially arrow quivers--for both sword and arrow should fly straight and fast like the dragonfly.  Tombo were often combined in designs using arrows as well as the iris motif with its straight sword-like leaves.]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=39</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>Hoozuki Ichi Festival Asakusa, Japan</title>
		<description><![CDATA[The hoozuki (aka "Demon's Lantern) plant is the main draw of the Hoozuki Ichi  held at the Sensouji Temple in Asakusa, Japan  the 9th and 10th of July.  In spring small pale yellow green flowers bloom on the hoozuki plant and in summer red seed pods appear that are shaped like tiny lanterns which makes this a favorite plant to celebrate the season.  In addition the orange color brings with it good luck. The seed pods are hollow with a small opening on one end which when blown into produces a noise, a favorite pastime of children.]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=30</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Hare &quot;Usagi&quot; as a motif in Japanese art</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is an old Chinese/Taoist tale of a hare that resides in the moon and pounds the magic herbs to make the elixir of eternal life. The hare was considered sacred and was believed to live a thousand years--becoming white only when it had reached the end of the first five hundred years. This belief was assimilated by the Japanese who see the hare in the moon pounding mochi or rice cakes instead of magic herbs.]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=6</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Iris as a Japanese Motif</title>
		<description><![CDATA[It was once believed that iris gave protection from the evil spirits that were abroad on the fifth day of the fifth month, and traditionally boys would bathe with its sword-like leaves on this day.  The iris also symbolizes the warrior spirit, and along with the koinobori (flying koi pennants), is displayed on May 5th as part of what was once Tango no Sekku but has now become known as Children's Day.]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=5</link>
			</item>
	<item>
		<title>The Koi in Japanese Art</title>
		<description><![CDATA[There is a well-known legend dating back to ancient China about one koi that traveled the long distance upstream against the strong Yellow River current and successfully made it over the infamous Dragon Gate Falls, a seemingly overwhelming barrier.  It was such an impossible task that the koi was rewarded by being transformed into a dragon.  ]]></description>
		<link>http://japanesqueaccents.com/?p=4</link>
			</item>
</channel>
</rss>
