Going to the Movies

Movie tickets are sold at some convenience stores and department stores. This is what movie tickets look like. As you can see, we went to see Ratatouille or remi no oishii restoran in Japanese (Remy's Delicious Restaurant.) The one on the right was Little Brother's (he's 11). Big Sister is 15 and had to pay adult admission.

When you go to the theater, you still have to stand in line to reserve a seat even if you have bought a ticket. You can choose your seats if you get there early. The white ticket stub is taken from you, and you are given another ticket with your seat number on it. You get to keep the part with the scene from the movie.

Years ago there were fewer theaters than there are now. You had to stand in line for hours. They even sold standing room only tickets. Some people had to stand during the whole movie!

The Sunflowers Were Bowing Today

The temperatures have been very high yesterday and today. Over 40 degrees Celsius! (Can you calculate that?) Usually sunflowers track the sun by turning to face it. It was even too hot for them! Click to enlarge.

 

Sunflowers are planted along this road every year.

Anniversary of the Japanese Surrender in WWII

August 15th is the anniversary of the Japanese surrender in World War II. It was the end of World War II in the Pacific. This year marks the 62nd anniversary.

There is always a controversy about the Prime Minister visiting Yasukuni Shrine, the war shrine, to pay respect for deceased soldiers. The current Prime Minister, Shinzo Abe, chose not to visit it. Instead, he paid respect for the war dead at Chidorigafuchi Senbotsusha Boen (千鳥ヶ淵戦没者墓苑), a cemetery near the Imperial Palace.

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Ninja Park

We went to a ninja park. There were buildings with secret passageways and training grounds for building ninja stamina and skills. There were also ninja performances. We got there late and weren't able to see any of them.



We had fun anyway. It was out in the woods so mamas and papas had a good view. There were many benches for us to rest!

Japanese Monopoly

The English version of Monopoly can be found at Toys "R" Us and a department store named Isetan. We decided to buy the Japanese version in case neighborhood friends want to play. This is called the designer version. There have been other versions available here. (Check the link below.)



This is what the center of the board looks like.




"Go" is "Go" on the Japanese board. The spot with the "thumbs up" is called "Challenge". The spot with the heart is "Chance".

All of the money came in a stack that was glued on one side. The picture was taken at night under a "warm" light (not fluorescent) so it's yellow.




Different colors of ink were used instead of different colors of paper.




These are the tokens. As I remember, they are the same in the United States version of the game.

Monopoly Japan

Saving Paper and Plastic

The game was wrapped in a plastic shrink package. The salesclerk saw that I was carrying my own shopping bag and asked if she could just put a seal over the price tag. I said "yes".

When I first came to Japan, salesclerks wrapped each purchase in paper with the store's design. They put the parcels in a paper shopping bag for you. It was a formal presentation and you felt like you had presents to open even though you had bought them yourself. Recycling was done back then, too, but over the years some stores have been cutting down on paper and plastic waste.

Lavender Soft Cream and Lavender Fields in Nagano Prefecture

Lavender soft cream. It was really good.



Most of the lavender had already bloomed. A small patch was still in bloom.

Summer Bobsledding in Nagano Prefecture

To get to the lavender field, we had to cross the bobsledding track or chute.



A man pushed the bobsledders up to a conveyor belt. If you were on your way to the lavender field, you'd have to wait.



The conveyor belt took them up the hill and then let go of them. Little Brother and his friend said it was really fun.



This is the bobsled track (or chute) next to the lavender field.

Moth at Nojiri Lake

Ninja Clothes and Armor at the Ninja Museum, Nagano Prefecture

These pictures are not very good, sorry. There was a lot of glare in Nagano!! On the lake, but especially in here.






armor


Note the pink slippers reflected in the glass. The slippers were at the door for visitors. We had to take off our shoes and leave them on a shelf outside. We chose not to wear the slippers.

Ninja Weapons

Outside the restrooms, there were shuriken in the concrete. That's a young Japanese woman standing there in the corner. The metal grate covers a drain.








This is a lighter. It has a flint inside that could be spun. A twig would be placed in the center hole to be ignited.

These decanters were used to carry poison.

The Mammoth Museum, Nagano Prefecture

This statue was at a rest stop in Nagano Prefecture. A mammoth was found near here.



This is the rest stop. There were only restrooms here.


This sign points to the Mammoth museum. We didn't have time to go to the museum.

Mammoth Manhole Covers

The manhole covers had mammoths on them. (Nojiri area)

In Memoriam

1000 cranes are made and placed at the peace memorials in Nagasaki (August 9) and Hiroshima ( August 6) to commemorate the loss of life there. Today was the 62nd anniversary.

Nojiri Lake in Nagano Prefecture

Sailing, boating, canoeing, windsurfing, and swimming are some of the activities available at Nojiri Lake.

This is the shoreline of Nojiri Lake. The water was very clear near the shoreline. It was a very hazy day, but still there is glare in the pictures.

Walking, cycling, and hiking are also possible.

Here is the path to the cabin we visited.

Here are some steps behind the cabin.

In Memoriam

1000 cranes are made and placed at the peace memorials in Hiroshima (August 6) and Nagasaki (August 9) to commemorate the loss of life there. This year marks the 62nd anniversary.

Through Tokyo On Our Way to the Highway to Nagano Prefecture

This used car lot has curtains that are closed at night.

See the small square sign in the middle of the picture? Click to enlarge. Do you know what those are? They are gyouza, pot stickers.

Street scene.

Field fan. Any idea why a field would need a fan?