Ajisai or Hydrangea flowers can be found almost anywhere in Tokyo and Japan, on street corners and even footpaths. Summer time flowers of Japan, Ajisai blossoms start in June and last until July. The flowers have a long history in these islands and many scholars assert that it is indigenous to Japan. The beauty of the flowers
UPDATE : NOVEMBER 30 2015 : At around 15:00 at JR Osaki Station, the first E235 will be officially flagged off and inducted into regular service. The new Yamanote Line was officially flagged off from JR Osaki Station today.The train was flooded with people, mostly fans who were busy taking snaps inside and outside the
Godzilla or Gojira as he is called in Japanese, was announced as an official resident of Japan by the Shinjuku Ward office in April. Godzilla also appeared on the terrace of the Gracery Hotel in the neighborhood. The ward decided to introduce some “gamification” and announced that 3000 limited print residency papers will be distributed free
My first trip to Japan was Mumbai – Osaka – Tokyo (Haneda) on an ANA flight. I remember taking the Tokyo Monorail from Haneda Airport to reach Hamamatsucho. The city view was fantastic dotted with various warehouses along the way of the bay area of Tokyo. Significant development has happened over the past 15 years
“Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot”, does this ring a bell? Well what was popular in the 1960’s in Japan as ジャイアントロボ (Giant Robot) and was a hit in the US in the 70’s as “Johnny Sokko and His Flying Robot” was on Indian television channel Doordarshan in the mid 1980’s when I was 12
The University of Tokyo decided to erect a bronze statue of Mr. Ueno and his pet dog to commemorate 90 years of his death with a reunion statue. The professor’s pet dog Hachiko touched the hearts of Japanese people across the nation due to his devotion of waiting every day in front of Tokyo’s Shibuya
Oriental styled gardens are aplenty in Tokyo with Rikugien, Hamarikyu a couple of the major attractions. Kyu Furukawa Gardens in the suburbs are famous for the roses which bloom in spring and autumn. I have visited this place 3 times until now, in year 2000, 2006 and this year during the night time illumination season usually
Panoramic views are my personal favorite and any new city or place I visit, I make it a point to visit all those interesting places from where you get a view from high above. It somehow gives me the feeling of “I’ve seen it all”, and Chiba Port Tower in particular. If you want to
In the busy commercial neighborhood of Kamiyacho in Tokyo I came across these long, steep, ancient stone staircase.. Wondered what it was and saw the sign board, Atago Shrine. Hmm interesting, lets check it out. The stairs are really steep and I found it later that a Samurai climbed the steps on horseback to deliver plum blossoms
In nature, everything has its place and a reason to exist. It is not chaotic. The human mind treats nature as disorderly and imposes culture in an attempt to bring order. Frightening “forests” are domesticated into “docile” gardens, rivers converted to canals. Ikebana is a cultural construct, popularly and “insufficiently” translated as flower arrangement an
Public toilets need to be clean but artistic? Well thats an experience which I bumped into at Meguro Gajoen recently. Built in 1935 and known as the Showa Era’s ‘Palace of the Dragon God,’ Meguro Gajoen is the first wedding complex to be built in Japan. The rest room is elegantly designed in an oriental theme right from the
The birth rate in Japan is said to be at a record low and the government, media, society frequently discuss this issue but with not much success. Economic difficulties, less societal support structures (day care etc.) etc. contribute to the problem… Japan has been historically celebrating Children’s day wishing healthy and strong growth for kids,
Cherry blossoms in March, Wisteria in May and Lotus flowers in Summer. The month of July in Japan is the start of the summer season and the time for beautiful lotus flowers. The Chiba Koen (Garden) which is walk-able distance from the JR Chiba Station and has a pond where lotus flowers bloom usually by
“Good artists copy, great artists steal” was Picasso’s saying which Steve Jobs used when asked if he copied the idea of mouse and a personal computer from Xerox. He explained that “Ultimately, it comes down to taste. It comes down to trying to expose yourself to the best things that humans have done and then
Forests are natural. Gardens are a human construct to bring order and structure which I experienced at Ashikaga Flower Park last year as an effort of human and nature’s collaboration. The Wisteria trees are creepers meaning they are usually not self supported like the regular trees, but can take support of surfaces to propagate and grow. One of