Rush hour

Would you like to see real RUSH HOUR ?
Here is one at a station in TOKYO.
This is the scene at near the ticket gate.
Trains are more packed than this.
Come and enjoy the life !

World PC Expo

At World PC Expo held in TOKYO, there were many charming women like this, working busily, attracting many business men.

What this woman was showing was demo CD of a game.
Behind her were PC chassis, LCD, etc.

This is typical scene at exhibitions here.
It is good to see but sometimes it can be embarrassment.

Gift from a friend living in Highland

When I tried to drink a single molt whiskey in UK, my colleague advised me not to drink this mixing with water and this whiskey.
Although this drinking style (mixing whiskey with water) is popular in Japan, you could lose good flavor of good whiskey by doing so.

This whiskey of photo is the gift from my friend living in Highland.
Should I drink this Japanese way or not ?

The sign of autumn

The dragonflies with red tail are the sign of autumn in Japan.
After cicadas, you can see this insects flying in a grass field.

Buddha in Kamakura

Kamakura is the city located in an hour train trip from Tokyo.
This big buddha made of bronze is in this city.
The height is 12.38m, made in 1243.
Then current, this buddha was made of woods.
Strong wind, several typhoons destroyed this budda since then.
Now rebuilt in 1495, sitting like photo.

Cicada

This cicada I found at lesure park is the famous insect singin in the mid of summer.
We feel the hot summer when this cicadas start singing loudly.
This is very peaceful insect with no sting, just sucking juice from tree.

Earthquake again

When the strong earthquake hit northeatern Japan (Sendai), I was on 10th floor of a office building.

I felt slight vibration followed by strong holizontal force of earthquake at that time.
It caused me a bit dizzy and made me lots of scared.

Attached is the newspaper article of Kyodo.

◆ Powerful quake strikes northeastern Japan, tsunami warning issued.
A powerful earthquake, registering a preliminary magnitude of 6.8, struck northeastern Japan just before noon Tuesday and a tsunami alert has been issued for the coastal region of Miyagi Prefecture, the Japan Meteorological Agency said.

Many in the city of Sendai, the capital of Miyagi, were reported injured, according to the local fire department. The Japanese government has set up a task force at the crisis management center of the prime minister's office.

The quake, also felt in Tokyo, originated off the coast of the prefecture, the agency said.
JR Shinkansen bullet train services from Tokyo have been suspended temporarily, the train operator said.

The town of Kawasaki in Miyagi registered lower 6 on the Japanese seismic intensity scale of seven, the meteorological agency said.

The Summer in Japan

Popular events/things in the summer of Japan are,to my memory, big summer festivals such as "Nebuta matsuri", "Kanto matsuri".
But you might be able to find more interesting thing.
That is "many cicadas singing" in a park, forest wherever they can find to sing.
Without this pepole might be unable to feel that real summer has come.
I will try to take a photo of a cicada next time if I can catch it.

My dog called "Baron" now is bone tired of too humidity.

Finally I am in Japan

To be honest, when our plain took off Heathrow airport and saw the land around airport underneath,I felt some melancholy.
Possibly it was caused by those friends (English buddies,Irish,Welsh guy and a Highlander,etc).
But life goes on without me !

On the contrary,when I got out of airport to the bus station, that muggy air came to me,made me dizzy. What awful temperature (more than 30 degree,high humidity)!
So it is strange to say but what I am missing now is UK WEATHER !!!

Returning to Japan

Wow,my D-day is coming.
I am returning to Japan after three years single life in UK away from my family.
8 days to go !

(^o^)/~~ see you ~~~

My colleague got signed book (Terry Prachett, Hat full of Sky) for me !

Oh Haggis !

Edinburgh Castle

Look at this beautifil castle !
Although my friend,Gavin, said, Edinbugh is too sightseeing city, to me, this city is still enchanting city.

The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy, Marvin

Left photo is Mr.Marvin in the movie, "The Hitchhiker's Guide To the Galaxy".
He always seems to be depressed !
His head, eyes give you this impression.
Well, then, appearance can speak more, I would say.
Cheer up, Marvin !

The map for site walk around Ironbridge.

Ironbridge in Shropshire

Sankan Shion

This kanji character gives you the idea that three days are cold but the rest of a week is warm in spring season.
In March, April, the weather is not stable but changing cold season to warm or hot season. Old knowledge says in this transition period, typically this old sayings can apply correctly.

Earthquake

Big earthquake hit Japan again.
This time it is island of Kyusyu, southmost island of Japan.

Peaceful Sunday morning became nightmare for the residents there.
TSUNAMI warning was issued but canceled at noon.
Newspaper said, one died, 400 people was injured.

Keichitsu - a signal for Spring -

This kanji character,"Keichitsu", is pronounced like "Kay Ti Two", which imply a signal for spring coming.
During winter, all worms, insects sleep under ground but once they catch the hint of becoming warm, they will get up and out from underneath.
As a human being, yes, you can see many plants flowering around your home and know spring is coming. Amazingly, small worms can know it coming as well.

Even if there is more cold weather hanging around, spring certainly is coming near you.
When I hear this word on TV news program in Japan, I used to feel the season changing.

Today, 5th of March, is "Keichitsu" in Japan.

Now I see snowdrops flowering and crocus has started flowering around my home in UK.
Spring is coming in England, too.
Yes as worms do, you sense it and need to get up and out for --- holidays!!!

Highland, Wild but fascinating country

Highland
I have just flown back from Inverness, where I have enjoyed very much seeing wild life, wonderful but severe nature. And I can never forget to have met friendly people who are struggling to live there.

Why this season ?
You might see lots of people going around there when it is warm or milder than now.
This is not my intention of visiting and seeing there.
In this season, of course, the weather was NOT nice but you have lots of view which you can NOT in good season in stead. Deer with big antlers, Highland cows, deserted loch with mountains. No visitors except us. Completely isolated but calm and quiet land.
My friend said the weather in Highland will change every 5 minutes and did indeed like what he said.
He said he likes the gradation of remote view of mountainous area, with which I was fascinated soon.

Friendly friend
My Scottish friend having moved from England invited me to Inverness.
He had been telling of Scotland, Scottish, Nature, Rivers,etc for about, yes, 2 years. So I was there in order to check what he said was the real before my imagination exploded inside my mind.

Gaelic information
My friend spotted at the street name, said if I can pronounce it. Of course not, it is very difficult to speak. Gaelic sounds like Russian to me. But this could add coziness to the scenes. Although there are NOT so many Gaelic info comparing to Wales, you could enjoy more if you got some knowledge of them in advance. Thanks to my Scottish friend I did not need it this time.

Good season or bad season
I wanted to see salmons jumping from low to high at small water fall but no chance this time. If you could choose the season to go around, then of course you could see it but with a plenty of sightseers from around the world.
I have never regretted to choose this bad season even if I could not see any salmons jumping. I hope people from other countries don't destroy good nature in Scotland.

Bad Scottish
Finally I need to write this.
My friend said that he found about bad Scottish manner. I remember he said three but only two I remember now.
- Chewing gums
In Inverness at some streets, you shall find many chewing gums spit and made stains on the pedestrian way. This is very bad.
- Bad Scottish drivers
I could not see many bad Scottish drivers but he insisted there are plenty of.
Bumper to bumper or drive fast or NOT change the lane are what he said I think.
Of course this is a bit of laughing things which you shall have the same in your own country.

At this moment they are living there under wild and severe weather in deserted area.
Nature is wild but people are friendly and tough.
I hope I could share this with people in Japan. Scotland ,where you need to visit.

Snow Festival in Sapporo, Hokkaido

Sapporo Snow Festival
The Sapporo Snow Festival, the biggest winter event in Sapporo, began on 7th Feb 2005 up to 13th Feb, 2005.
This festival is dated back to 1950. Then current, students of local junior schools and high schools built 6 big miniature models made from snow on high street in the city.
Since then, building such models became favourite event for citizens in Sapporo in Hokkaido and also one of big attractions across Japan in Winter.

This year is the 56th Festival.
During this period, you can see over 100 snow models varied from small crab of ice to big scale castle of ice.

In Winter, the temperature in Sapporo usually remains less than zero but this festival surely can make you warm.