Wall and Fence

Most garden walls in our neighborhood are made of concrete. There are exceptions like these.

These fences let air pass through. Click to here to see some vents in concrete garden walls.

The Littlest Sakura Tree

I took photos of this little sakura tree in the spring when it was in full bloom. I pointed out the mark on the wall. It was made from a dirt speck on my camera lens. I took these photos with a different camera.

Look! There is a mark on the wall now! Sakura trees are spectacular any time of the year, aren't they? Click to enlarge the photos. Click here for the old post.

At the Entrance of a Family Restaurant

It's not unusual to see sinks at the entrances of restaurants. Some convenience stores have them, too. This was at a family restaurant in our neighborhood called Royal Host.

Emergency Number for Children

Children are on their own a lot here. They walk to and from school and after-school activities. If they run into trouble they should call 110. This was posted at a family restaurant entrance in our area. It could be seen from the inside and outside of the restaurant.

Late Afternoon at Nogawa Koen

Fall colors continue into December in Tokyo.

Maple leaves,

mostly gingko leaves,

and sunlight in evergreens.

More sunlight.

Click on the photos to enlarge them. Click here for information about Nogawa Koen (Park).

The Lunar Eclipse from Our Rooftop

The moon's light moving across our rooftop.

The earth's shadow moving across the moon.

Click on the photos to enlarge them. The first photo was taken with a small Panasonic Lumix. The second and third photos were taken with the Canon SLR. A stronger lens and a better light adjustment would have given more detail of the moon.

This was taken with the Panasonic Lumix. The shadow was moving away from the moon.

Neighborhood Trees

Sakura tree in the park.

Maple tree in a field.

Not sure what this tree is.

A Big Production

A crane was used to install

this big heater vent. This photo was taken two days after it was installed. Someone was still working on it.

Polynesian Sunset is blooming at Jindai Botanical Gardens. As of today, there are still lots of buds of other roses, too, ready to open. I took this photo with my iphone.

Click here to see the photo of the JFK rose I took on November 23, 2005. It was one of the first photos I had taken with the big Canon camera.

Dragons in the Sky

Lots of dragons in the sky yesterday at sunset. Look at the shape of some of the clouds. This is the view from our roof garden toward the northeast. Looks like fire in the clouds. (Click on the photos to enlarge them.)

This is southeast. The skies were clear above our house! I had a rooftop view of other people's weather.

Frank Lloyd Wright in Japan

I was in the Ikebukuro area today to go to the hospital to see my asthma doctor. I was breathing a lot easier afterward so I stopped by here. Recognize the style?

This is Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and Arata Endo. It was built in 1921 in Meijiro, Tokyo. One stop from Ikebukuro on the Yamanote line. It was once a girl's school. This building and others on the site are now used for events such as weddings and concerts. Visitors are welcomed when no events are being held inside.

Check this site Wright in Japan for more information and for photos of other buildings in Japan that were influenced by the Wright style.

Also check Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan for more information.

Detail of the main building of Jiyu Gakuen Myonichikan.

Another building across the street from the main building.

On the corner.

Look at the detail of the windows!

Next time I go to the doctor, I want to go back to see inside.

Click here to see a post about a past visit to the asthma doctor. (They've remodeled the hospital since those photos were taken. The staff doesn't appreciate taking photos inside the lobby and halls of the hospital.)

Connie Francis Sang in Japanese

Japan and the United States has had many things in common. Like the love for the American singer, Connie Francis. My father and father-in-law were big fans.

She was very popular here and all over the world in the 1960s. She sang in 15 languages! Here is the cover of her greatest hits CD in Japanese. I am not sure if this is the original album cover.

I just learned that another American singer, Peggy March, known for her hit "I Will Follow Him" sang in Japanese, too.

A Cultural Icon

November 3 is Culture Day and a national holiday. I thought I would write a post about a national icon, Hibari Misora. She made her stage debut at the age of 8 in 1945. She became a very popular singer and actress. The last song she recorded was kawa no nagare no you ni. It means "like the flow of the river." It is a well loved song in Japan.

Kids Web Japan Culture Day

Anniversary of Bob Hayes' Gold Medal Win

On this day in 1964, Bob Hayes won the Gold Medal in the 100 meter race in the Olympic Games here in Tokyo. He was drafted as a wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys after the Olympics. He won a Super Bowl ring and was later elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Running like Bob Hayes is mentioned in J-Boys: Kazuo's World, Tokyo, 1965, the middle grade novel written by Shogo Oketani and translated into English by Avery Fischer Udagawa. I read it this summer and really enjoyed it!

The story takes place in 1965. You might be surprised to find American TV shows and products mentioned in daily life here back then. It is a great look into the world of Japanese boys and Japanese culture of the time. I highly recommend it. For all ages.

For more information about the book go to the website, J-Boys.
To buy the book go here.

To watch a clip of the race from Kon Ichikawa's documentary, Tokyo Olympiad 1964, click here.

Sports Day

The 1964 Olympics opened on October 10th in Tokyo. That date became Sports Day all over Japan. In our area, schools have their undokai (sports competitions) either in October or May. Announcements, cheers and music ring out through the neighborhood. Today was quiet so maybe the undokai was in May. We don't have anyone in school in the neighborhood anymore and I don't remember last May (two months after the earthquake and tsunami!)

This photo is from Little Brother's last year in junior high. Only the guys in his grade did this. They had to keep in sync to keep from falling. At least one in every group had a bandaged knee from practice. During the event, no one fell.

Little Brother is now in high school downtown. His Sports Day competition was last May and was held in the gym. (Taking good photos in a gym is hard so I don't have any to share.) For old posts about Sports Day click here or on the labels and links below.

Kids Web Japan Sports Day
general
manga
activities

e.m. HAPPY PROJECT

Before Big Sister left Japan in June for university, she and I had teatime at "Afternoon Tea", a place that serves lunch and tea with cakes or scones. An adjoining shop sells tea and a variety of things. This display for e.m. HAPPY PROJECT was at the register. These delicate bracelets are being sold to raise money for the East Japan tsunami and earthquake relief efforts. There are five choices. (I didn't get a photo of the diamond one for some reason.)

I chose this one. Click to enlarge the photos.

Though this one was very nice too,

Big Sister chose this one.