CATASTROPHE

I dropped my camera and now the lens doesn't seem to be working properly. Maybe I can get it fixed but I would be out of action for a while. I am going to try and check on repair tomorrow. If it is going to take a while, I am buying a new one :-)

King Eagles Pachinko & Slot Parlor

I was out the other day without my camera and took this picture with my cell phone. It is a Pachinko Parlor and the young men lined up outside are waiting to get in early in the morning. When the door opens, they rush inside to get the "best" machine. According to reliable sources, there are professional pachinko players.

Now, I have never played pachinko. But I have seen it and for the life of me cannot figure how you can make a living playing pachinko. It doesn't even require skill - it is pure luck. But I am assured that somehow you can put the odds in your favor. I think it is something about if the machine sits there long enough without paying, it will eventuall pay off big.

When you win, you get little prizes (because it is illegal to get money). Then you take the prizes around back and trade them for money. Hmmm... The only people making money off pachinko are the owners of the parlor I think. I didn't see any of the young men dressed that nicely or driving expensive cars in the line outside. We can also throw our money at the lottery. Haven't I written about Pachinko before? I know I have written about cherry blossoms. I feel like Yogi Berra: "It's deja vu all over again".

Girls in Uniform

I saw this sign at the train station in Kawasaki. It is labeled to the side:

Kawori Manabe Working Costumes Collection

And the individual uniforms or "costumes" are: Policewoman, Bar Hostess, Car Mechanic, Carpenter, Kindergarten Teacher, Office Worker, Nurse, Gas Station Attendant, Flight Attendant, Maid, Sushi Chef, Hamburger Shop Girl, Elevator Attendant, White Collar Worker, Bartender, Sightseeing Bus Guide, Secretary, and Fishmonger.

And that is all I know about that.

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Sakura Starting to Bloom

The cherry trees are starting to bloom. This tree is just down the street from my apartment at the bridge that crosses the intersection to the school. It is the first cherry I remember seeing bloom when I first got to Japan. I can't miss it. When I cross the bridge it is just overhead.

Anyway, they look like they are going to bloom in the Tokyo area a little early. This one will probably be in full bloom by mid-week. We planned our office Hanami (Flower Viewing Party) for April 7th and chances are they will pretty much be gone by then. Accordingly, we have adjusted the plan to just having a walk in the park sans sakura no hana and then having a party.

Meanwhile, with my usual penchant for poor timing, I am going to Doha the week of the party and will fly back in on the 6th. So I will probably miss the main bloom this year but at least I'll be at the party.

In Japan, the cherry blossom represents the fragility and shortness of life as well as the beauty. Sometimes you miss out on a few things in life, so, missing the cherry blossom peak is just one of those things. You just have to capitalize on things when you get the chance...

The First Day of Spring

Yesterday was the first day of spring and a day off in Japan. Since I am quite fashion conscious, I was looking to see what people would be wearing today on the train.

Sure enough, the fashionable young men had changed to pastel shirts with matching ties. And women were wearing light colored coats and the boots, alas, are starting to disappear.

Yesterday it was warm but by this morning it had turned cold and rainy. But I saw the first cherry buds breaking open in the Tokyo area this morning on my way to train. One tree was even pretty much blooming. The seasons are changing…

Daibutsu at Kamakura

A plum blooms in front of the Daibutsu (Great Buddha) at Kamakura. It was cast in 1252 by the sculptors Ono-Goroemon and Tanj-Hisatomo at the request of Miss Idanonotsubone and Priest Joko according to the tribute at the site. In 1498 a tsunami swept away the temple that covered it leaving it in the open air. The buddha weighs about 121 tons and is 13.35 m tall.

Girls in the Park

This is Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens in Tokyo with the plums in bloom. The plum tree is not as showy as the cherry. There are fewer blossoms and perhaps not as much color depth. But the flower is very fragrant and they are among the first trees to bloom in Japan. A sure sign of spring.

Ume no Hana

A collage showing plum blossoms in Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens, ranging from white through dark pink...

The Great Buddha in Nara

The Todai-ji in Nara houses the Great Buddha. Cast in 752 by a Korean artist, it is made of bronze and weighs 100s of ton. It is the largest bronze image of the Buddha (see picture behind Yebisu) in the world. The building has been rebuilt several times. The current structure dates from 1709 and is only 2/3rds the size of the original. It is still the largest wooden building in the world.

The Golden Pavillion

The famous Golden Pavillion (Kinkagoji) in Kyoto is a Buddhist temple that was originally the home of a Shogun. Built around 1400, the original was unfortunately destroyed by arson in 1950. This exact replica is covered in gold leaf and topped by a bronze phoenix just like the original.

Look behind Ebisu for some more pictures of Ebisu and Nara...

Firenze

I have just returned from a trip to Firenze, Pisa, Paris, and Doha. I think I have published pictures of the last three before so I thought I'd show you something from Firenze (Florence).

Firenze is a nice small city and of course famous for it's contribution to the Renaissance. It is also famous for wine, food, and fashion - especially leather (think purses Megan). Here are 5 different views of the famous cathedral in Firenze, the Duomo, starting in the upper left and going clockwise.

1 The dome visible over buildings from my hotel window

2 Inside the cathedral looking up at the dome

3 The facade of the cathedral

4 The baptistry with cathedral and dome in back

5 The main entrance

On this trip Ikeda-san bought a $100 bottle of Tuscany wine in a restaurant that I was unable to fully appreciate but thought was very good indeed. Ikeda-san likes wine whereas Hatta-san likes sake. I have decided wine is more likely to give me a headache and I'm leaning towards Hatta-san.

This week my visitors show up and we are going to Kyoto and Nara. There should be more Japanese pictures in the next posting...

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