Plenty of Nothing

The Patriotic Deed of Lee Bong-Chang

On this day in 1932 Korean nationalist Lee Bong-Chang threw a hand grenade at Emperor Hirohito. Source.

Snow-Bleaching

The making of Ojita-chijimi cloth includes laying it out in the snow to bleach. Read about it. Source.

40th Empress's Cup Final

The Empress Michiko in 1990.

Match No. 47: Nippon TV Beleza [4 - 2] INAC Kobe Leonessa

Beleza have won the cup eight times, Leonessa six. Between them they have taken the last eleven cups. But they have met in the final only once before, in 2008 when Beleza triumphed 4 - 1.

There are eight Beleza players on the Japanese women's national squad, and five from Leonessa.

Beleza are affiliated with Tokyo Verdy. Leonessa share digs with Vissel Kobe.

Follow the link for all your 2018 INAC Kobe Leonessa trading cards.

The Empress's Cup women's football championship began in 1979 and is now in its 40th year. So the Empress Michiko has been the Empress for thirty cups, counting this one. This will be her final one as Empress, as her husband is scheduled to retire in April; though if she were to show up to the game as Retired Empress, I'm sure she'd get a good seat. Next season Crown Princess Masako will be the Empress behind the Empress's Cup.

Japanese Empress stats:

Five most recent Empresses:

1989-2019    Michiko

1926-89        Nagako

1912-26        Sadako

1869-1912    Masako

1846-67        Asako

Five most recent ruling Empresses:

1762-71        Go-Sakuramachi

1629-43        Meishō

  764-70        Shōtoku

  749-58        Kōken

  715-24        Genshō

(Kōken and Shōtoku are the same person.)

Three most recent retired Empresses:

1817-40        Yoshiko

1771-1813    Go-Sakuramachi

1464-71        Ōinomikado (Fujiwara) Nobuko

Five most recent dowager Empresses:

1989-2000    Nagako, widow of Emperor Shōwa

1926-51        Sadako, widow of Emperor Taishō

1912-14        Masako, widow of Emperor Meiji

1867-97        Asako, consort of Emperor Kōmei

1840-46        Yoshiko, widow of Emperor Kōkaku

(Note: these titles are approximations of the Japanese terms, and in some cases are probably just wrong.)

86th All Japan Ice Hockey Championship

President's Cup winners Dynax. Source.

The 86th All Japan Ice Hockey Championship goes today, tomorrow and the next day. Again, the eight entrants are Japan's four Asia League clubs, two Kanto university league teams, one Kansai university league team, and the President's Cup winner.

The Asia League clubs are: Tohoku Free Blades, Nikko Ice Bucks, Nippon Paper Cranes and Oji Eagles. The other four are: Waseda University, Meiji University, Kansai University, and Dynax.

Dynax are the company team for Dynax Corporation, makers of gears. Their headquarters are in Chitose, Hokkaido.

Dec 14:    1. Meiji University [1 - 3] Nikko Ice Bucks

                2. Tohoku Free Blades [8 - 3] Dynax

                3. Kansai University [1 - 7] Oji Eagles

                4. Nippon Paper Cranes [4 - 1] Waseda University

Dec 15    5.  [Tohoku Free Blades 1 - 3 Nikko Ice Bucks]

                6.  [Nippon Paper Cranes 1 - 4 Oji Eagles]

Dec 16    7.  [Tohoku Free Blades 2 - 3 Nippon Paper Cranes] (for 3rd place)

                8.  [Nikko Ice Bucks 2 - 4 Oji Eagles]

JIHF.

Keibun Ibu

The official seal of the Tokugawa shogunate turned up when a Tokugawa family storehouse was cleared out recently. Source.

Ikadon

Ikadon is mascot of the Hachinohe morning market. He is a squid and his eyebrows spell Hachinohe. Source.

By Appointment to the Taisho Emperor

Although Crown Prince Yoshihito became Emperor in 1912, his enthronement did not occur until November 1915, on which occasion Gekkeikan supplied the sake. Source.

Horse Archery

Today is Health and Sports Day in Japan. There's a lot of track and field going on, but also horse archery if you look carefully. This man found some in an Aomori park in 2014.

Autumn Leaves by Yokoyama Taikan

Source.

Rice Field Osamu Tezuka Fan Art

Somewhre near Hirosaki. Source.