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Yesterday I joined a shooting tour. We went to a harbor and a seashore park in Ibaragi prefecture by bus. Japanese eat a lot of sea food; there are a lot of fishery harbors along the shoreline. A fishery harbor is said to be a good photographic subject. The fish market near the harbor was lively and crowded with families. When I found a lot of fresh crabs, they reminded me some event. Several years ago we visited Hakodate in Hokkaido and at the early-morning market I bought a live crab as a brisk voice recommended it for me. Our children like crabs. After we returned home, I boiled a crab in a large pan. Our children saw the crab struggling out of the pan and said that it was cruel to a crab. Then I thought I would never boil a crab again.
But yesterday there was a message saying “steam crabs.” I asked which is more delicious, boiling or steaming. He answered steaming is more delicious. Steam them in salty water. It will not be watery. If so, it is unnecessary to see a crab dying. Anyway it is delicious to eat crabs just after boiling or steaming.
Then, tulips at the seashore park were colorful and in full bloom.
The photo below is a kimoto I wore at my wedding party. My mother also wore it at her wedding and furthermore so did my grandmother. There are a lot of kimonos that have such a story. Expensive kimonos descend to daughters generation by generation.
My mother liked kimono and usually used to wear kimono. When I got married, she prepared several kimonos for me. But I could not have the chance to wear a kimono so frequently, because I have been busy working. It was only in some wedding parties and funerals, and children’s celebratory occasions, etc. that I used kimono. There are a few kimonos that are never worn. I could not wear kimono by myself. I started to learn wearing kimono a couple of months ago, and now I think I can do it by myself, though it takes much time. “By the time you wish to be a good daughter, your parents are long gone.”
I made my business card by myself for the promotion of my web site. In order to buy the heavy paper I went to the nearest bookstore, but they don’t have such paper. So, I went to a stationery store by bus. Bingo! They have the paper only for business cards, and furthermore many types of paper. I did well if I say so myself. But important thing is what is inside......
I have wanted to visit here for a long time. Tama Forest Science Garden is a 10-minute walk from Takao Station. They say the forest has about 2,000 cherry trees of around 250 different types. The preservation forest was built to leave the DNA of the cherry trees well known nationwide. We can enjoy cherry blossom viewing from the end of February to the beginning of May. Admission fee is 4oo yen in April, higher than usual 300 yen, but it’s worth the money to view cherry blossoms.
Access the URL below for more photos:
http://www.realjapan.org/
It was windy today. I was at home, planning where to go tomorrow.
The following photo is my best shot among last year’s cherry blossoms:
(Ookagawa River, Yokohama)
Today’s course was too hard, because I knew it’s a little late for its full bloom.
Engakuji Temple ====> Tokeiji Temple ====> Kenchoji Temple ====> Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine ====> Dankazura Avenue ====> Kamakurayama
Cherry blossoms began to fall, but many people including foreign tourists were enjoying cherry viewing. Dankazura Avenue is a path leading to Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and is like a tunnel of cherry trees. In Kamakura era the Shogunate, Yoritomo Minamoto commanded to build it for wishing his wife, Masako a safe delivery.
Do not trust the magazine or Internet information completely. Some magazines recommended Kamakurayama as a nice cherry viewing spot. It says a tunnel of cherry trees extends about 3 km. I visited there for the first time with great expectations. Expectations are disappointed. Cherry trees were arranged sparsely and some of them seemed to be private trees. We cannot complain because the tree owners leave us to view the trees free of charge.
Access the URL below for more photos:
http://www.realjapan.org/
Ueno Park is the most famous cherry blossom viewing spot in Japan, I think. There were a lot of foreign tourists visiting there today. Ueno Park is suitable for the cherry viewing party. As the Internet information of the cherry blossoms provided, those at Ueno Park have begun to fall. But there were many people viewing cherry blossoms. There is a big pond called Shinobazu-no-ike in the park. The pond is famous for lotus flowers in early summer. There are many ducks swimming in the pond. The other day TV news said some ducks were found to be shot by arrow. That is an unforgivable act.
After Ueno Park, I went to Sumida Park. A cherry boulevard lines at both sides along the Sumida River. Some people are viewing cherry blossoms on a barge.
Access the URL below for more photos:
http://www.realjapan.org/
(Ueno Park)
(Sumida River)
