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Neko chigura (nekochigura) or Neko tsugura (nekotsugura) is a kind of cat house made of straw in Japan. [2] [3] It is a folk craft of Sekikawa-mura, Niigata-ken, or Akiyamago (the area of Tsunan-machi, Niigata-ken and Sakae-mura, Nagano-ken). It is called "Nekochigura" in Sekikawa, and "Nekotsugura" in Akiyamago (ja).
Chigura or tsugura is written as "稚座" in kanji, and means bassinet in the Niigata dialect where there is the custom to use rice straw baskets for babies. Niigata constitutes, in fact, a rice granary and the basket industry is a side business in the winter season when the prefecture becomes snowbound. [4]
Presently, chigura for cats vary in shape according to the originality of the producer. There are two common types: Pillbox type and pot-shaped type; there are also some basket types. As cats seem to prefer small enclosed spaces, they like neko chigura to sleep in.
Straw is an agricultural byproduct consisting of the dry stalks of cereal plants after the grain and chaff have been removed. It makes up about half of the yield by weight of cereal crops such as barley, oats, rice, rye and wheat. It has a number of different uses, including fuel, livestock bedding and fodder, thatching and basket making.
Niigata Prefecture is a prefecture in the Chūbu region of Honshu of Japan. Niigata Prefecture has a population of 2,131,009 and is the fifth-largest prefecture of Japan by geographic area at 12,584.18 km2 (4,858.78 sq mi). Niigata Prefecture borders Toyama Prefecture and Nagano Prefecture to the southwest, Gunma Prefecture to the south, Fukushima Prefecture to the east, and Yamagata Prefecture to the northeast.
The E4 series (E4系) was a high-speed Shinkansen electric multiple unit train type operated by East Japan Railway Company in Japan. They were the second series of completely bi-level Shinkansen trainsets to be built in Japan. They previously operated on the Tōhoku and Jōetsu Shinkansen, and occasionally on the Nagano Shinkansen. E4 series trains feature double-decker cars to accommodate additional commuter traffic around Tokyo and other urban areas. They were often coupled to 400 series trains on the Tōhoku Shinkansen between Tokyo and Fukushima before the latter retired in April 2010 along with the E3 series trains until September 2012. The last trains of the E4 series were withdrawn from regular service on 1 October 2021.
Tōkamachi is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the city had an estimated population of 28,728 in 19,823 households, and a population density of 86.3 persons per km². The total area of the city was 590.39 square kilometres (227.95 sq mi), although some borders of the city are not well defined. Tōkamachi derives its name from the fact that a market was held every tenth day of the month. Similarly, the nearby former town of Muikamachi had its own local market held on days ending in six each month.
Murakami is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 December 2020, the city had an estimated population of 58,300 in 22,594 households, and a population density of 50 persons per km². The total area of the city was 1,174.26 square kilometres (453.38 sq mi).
Zori, also rendered as zōri, are thonged Japanese sandals made of rice straw, cloth, lacquered wood, leather, rubber, or—most commonly and informally—synthetic materials. They are a slip-on descendant of the tied-on waraji sandal.
Waraji are light tie-on sandals, made from ropemaking fibers, that were the standard footwear of the common people in Japan.
Yuzawa is a town located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 1 July 2019, the town had an estimated population of 7,926, and a population density of 22.2 persons per km2. The total area of the town was 357.29 square kilometres (137.95 sq mi). The town is famous for its hot springs.
Yamakoshi was a village located in Koshi District, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Matsudai was a town located in Higashikubiki District, Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Iwafune is a district located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.
Shigeru Muroi is a Japanese actress. She won the award for Best Supporting Actress at the 19th Hochi Film Awards for Izakaya Yūrei. She is known for her role as Reiko Onda on Yappari Neko ga Suki series. she also starred in two television drama series Shinryounaikai Ryoko and Koritsuku Natsu in late 90's.
Tainai is a city located in Niigata Prefecture, Japan. As of 31 December 2020, the city had an estimated population of 28,495 in 10,821 households, and a population density of 110 persons per km2. The total area of the city was 264.89 square kilometres (102.27 sq mi).
Ocha-Ken (お茶犬) means in Japanese "tea puppy" or "tea dog". They are colorful puppies, most of them with leaves for ears, representing "tea leaves". They were first introduced as toys released by Sega Toys. Later, due to the popularity, an animated series was made based on the Ocha-Ken.
The 115 series is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type developed by Japanese National Railways (JNR) and now operated by West Japan Railway Company (JR-West), and the Shinano Railway.
The KiHa E120 (キハE120形) is a single-car diesel multiple unit (DMU) train type operated by East Japan Railway Company since November 2008.
The E127 series (E127系) is a DC electric multiple unit (EMU) train type operated on local services by East Japan Railway Company in Japan since 1995, and also by the third-sector railway operator Echigo Tokimeki Railway since March 2015 as the ET127 series. The design is derived from the 209 series commuter EMU.
Kasa Jizō (笠地蔵) is a Japanese folk tale about an old couple whose generosity is rewarded by Jizō, the Japanese name for the bodhisattva Kṣitigarbha. The story is commonly handed down by parents to their children in order to instill moral values, as it is grounded in Buddhist thought.
Wara art is the Japanese art of making large sculptures from rice straw.
Momiji is a female oni (kijo) in Japanese folklore, whose story is known as The Legend of Momiji (紅葉伝説). The legend has been handed down in Kinasa, Togakushi, and Bessho Onsen in Nagano prefecture. In the story, the hero, Taira no Koremochi, fights and defeats the kijo named Momiji.