Yanaka Town in Tokyo

 I went to Yanaka town in Tokyo with my wife a couple weeks ago.

Yanaka is famous for having traditional Japanese streets, shops, temples and buildings.

The brown ball in the picture on the left is called 'sugi dama' or 'Sakabayashi.'

Sugitama is used to inform people that new sake has been made.
A sugitama is made from fresh pine leaves, and as the sugitama dries and changes color, it lets people know how much the sake has been matured.

Daughter Emi Comes Back Home on Summer Vacation

Daughter Emi came back home and stayed for a week on her summer vacation.

She works at sales department of a major telecom company in Japan.

She was so busy on her work that she kept working even at home or at a restaurant.

Anyway, we managed to spare half a day and went to Cafe TOKO for lunch together during her stay.


 

The star shaped sliced cucumber seems to have eyes and a mouth, doesn't it?

3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Masters

'3x3 World Tour Utsunomiya Masters' was held at Futa-ara-yama Shrine last month.

The games were so exciting that even Gods at the shrine might have been surprised.

TV monitors were set outside the main basketball court and people who could not enter the venue enjoyed watching games through the mointors.

People were dancing at the music festival held one day before the 3x3 World Tour.

I Go to Nissan Tochigi Plant

I went to Nissan Tochigi Plant to join a guided tour of car assembling lines with my wife the other day.

Since photo taking was prohibited in the tour, I cannot upload any pictures of the automated state-of-the-art  factory.

Photos here were taken at the entrance waiting hall. They displayed three cars, toy cars, engines and so forth.

We dropped by a Sushi Restaurant called Hourai-zushi on our way back home.

I Go to Tokyo on Business

I made a business trip to 'Tokyo Institute of Technology' a few weeks ago.

The Institute is the most prestigious engineering college in Japan.
I attended a new generation lithography conference there.

The college is located near the company I once worked for.

I wanted to go to see an old Japanese style public bath near the company to know if it still is running.

Yes, it was. I took some snap shots of it.

I Go to a Cafe, Tomotina

In the middle of rainy season, I paid a visit to a river side cafe 'Tomotina' with my wife.

The cafe is located near Ohya Stone Park and a local quarry.

The walls of the cafe were apparently made from the stone dug out of the quarry.

They served us delicious vegetable dishes and good smell coffee.

Bell Peppers, Tomatoes and Eggplants Grow on My Balcony

My wife and I have been taking care of vegetables on our home balcony since this year's spring.

The three bell peppers in front of the rabbit figurine were the first ones harvested there.

Though, the size of vegetables cropped home is smaller than that of selling at greengrocers, I want to believe that their taste are better.

Rock-and-Roll Generation Guys Gather at Orion Square

Rock and roll musicians had a live concert at Orion Square the other day.

Many rock 'n' roll fans came to see them.

Some fans were dancing together to the music, and others were drinking and yelling.

They really seemed enjoying the atmosphere of good old days.

The staff of the concert displayed several classic cars next to the venue.

I Go to 'NEPAL KITCHEN'

My wife and I went to a restaurant called 'NEPAL KITCHEN' the other day.

The restaurant's owner and its staff came from Nepal and were living in my city.

The owner spoke fluent Japanese and served delicious Nepalese food.　Especially, the taste of Naan was excellent.

Hibiscus Flowers Are Blooming at Home

I have several flower pots and take care of them at home.

Currently, hibiscus flowers are blooming.

We are having both rainy days and sunny days, almost half and half, now in Japan.

After several weeks, the plant will enjoy their top season, scorching summer, here in Tochigi prefecture.

I Step in a Forest Trail up Mt. Kuroto

After having lunch at the cafe "9 KYOYA CHAHO", my wife and I walked to the starting point of a trail to the mountain, then strolled around for several minutes and took some photos.

Flowers of hydrangea were a little bit different from that of blooming in the town.