Many people don’t realize that there are over 40 different species of seahorses, ranging in size from half an inch to almost a foot in length. I keep Hippocampus erectus, the lined seahorse, which averages 6-8 inches in length at maturity and tends to be one of the hardier (read: easier to keep) seahorse species. H. erectus can also be bred entirely in captivity, meaning my seahorses don’t reduce or threaten wild populations in any way.
Read moreMonth: July 2016
Stopping for Lunch on a Sacred Mountain (Fushimi Inari Shrine)
The climb up Mount Inari takes 1-3 hours, depending how quickly you take the stairs and whether or not you stop for lunch at one of the 19 “stations” interspersed along the roughly circular route.
Read moreThe Cats of Fushimi Inari Shrine
In Japanese culture, cats are frequently seen as “lucky,” (in fact, the popular “waving cat” or maneki-neko is sometimes mistakenly referred to as the “lucky cat”). Their presence at shrines is often considered lucky, too, and it’s common to see a cat or kitten strolling around at quite a few of Japan’s sacred sites. In this, Fushimi Inari Taisha (shrine), located south of Kyoto, is no exception. While climbing Fushimi Inari a couple of years ago, my son encountered an adult cat that appeared from the forest and paused in front of him on the path, considering him for a moment before continuing calmly on its
Read moreA Dragon Surprise at Fushimi Inari
Many Japanese shrines have sub-shrines dedicated to kami (gods or divinities) other than the shrine’s primary patron. Fushimi Inari is no exception. Partway up the mountain, a narrow path branches off the primary trail–if you’re not paying attention, it’s easy to miss. If you follow the path a little way through the bamboo forest, you reach a shrine dedicated to Japan’s guardian dragons (ryu), where I saw this lovely statue:
Read moreWhy Male Seahorses Seem More Shy
Over the years, I’ve discovered that my male seahorses tend to be more shy, and more likely to hide, than the females. Or hiding under a kenya tree coral in the upper left corner of the reef, near the back of the tank:
Read moreClimbing the Lower Slopes of Mount Inari
As the god of rice, merchants, swordsmiths, fertility, foxes, and many other things, Inari Okami’s presence is ubiquitous in Shinto worship. Over ten thousand Japanese shrines have altars dedicated to Inari, but Fushimi Inari Taisha, south of Kyoto, is Japan’s largest and most important Inari shrine. For the last few weeks, I’ve been blogging an extended “visit” to Fushimi Inari, starting at the shrine’s main entrance, proceeding past the main altar, and finally (today) starting the climb up Mount Inari itself. Fushimi Inari is famous for its thousands of bright red torii – gates that traditionally mark the entrance to a Shinto sacred space. The entrance
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