Atsui desu ne (It's hot, isn't it)

In the Summer, in Tokyo, Japan, it get's hot.  It's pretty much hot everyday from the end of rainy season (June) through to September.  "Hot" means a daily high of somewhere around the low 30s and can, in August, get into the high 30s.  Plus there's humidity - usually that's quite high. So... it's hot.  This is normal.  But its normality doesn't stop the phrase "Atsui desu ne" being said a lot... really a lot. Yes, it's hot (atsui), it's not even really said as a question but a statement and the correct response is something like "Hai, atsui desu" or "Yes, it's hot".  I don't think it's possible to go out in the summer and not hear this phrase at some point.

So what do Tokyoites do in the Summer heat?  Go to the park (Yoyogi Park in this case)

Atsui desu ne

 

Atsui desu ne

 

Atsui desu ne

 

 

 

So, I think those photos give you idea of the fact it was rather atsui (hot) and the park proved a popular place, amongst the men at least, to strip down and catch some rays.

 

But not everyone was just lying around, despite the heat there was some activity in the park.

 

Again, a man with some soapy water and a way to make big bubbles was proving a hit with the kids.

 

 

This couple were cooling off by the pond and fountains under the shade of the trees.

Art in the park - these mums and their kids were being sketched.

Some hoopers get their hoop on

 

 

And finally, despite the heat, this very eye-catching and very energetic group were practicing a dance routine, I am not sure what for but they were certainly putting everything into this rehearsal.

 

 

 And so if you are ever here in the summer, listen for it: "Atsui desu ne"

Akasaka to Ginza... a Saturday evening's walkabout

In the late afternoon and into the evening of Saturday 20 July, the usual roasting heat of a Tokyo summer dropped enough to make it pleasant for stroll and take in some sights.  The streets were alive with the sound of politically campaigning, as it was the eve of Upper House elections.

Starting in Akasaka, I visited Hie Shrine, I'm not sure how this beautiful Shinto Shrine had escaped my attention before.

According to the Shrine's website (http://www.hiejinja.net/jinja/english/index.html) it has a long history and since the 1600's has been an important place of worship for the people of Edo (former name of Tokyo) and now Tokyo.  It has been reconstructed and moved and burnt down and rebuilt on a number of occasions and its most recent rebuilding being in 1958 after being destroyed during the air raids on Tokyo during World War II.

One of its noteable features is the pathway of Torii (gates). Not quite as famous as the pathway you will see in guidebooks of Japan which is in Kyoto but noteworthy nonetheless.  It was challenge to photograph not least because at the time I was being feasted upon by the local mosquitoes.

After visiting the Shrine, a quick visit to Hibiya Park where fellow Tokyoites were taking advantages of the pleasant temperature.

These two guys caught my eye, as is often the case, anywhere you go in Tokyo you will find someone managing to nap.  Although I think these guys have found a lovely spot in the bustling capital to get their rest.

As I mentioned earlier, the eve of the election had brought politicians and their supporters out in (noisy) force.  And here is one such group of campaigners with their election hopeful, Kyouko Nakayama, getting a group photo taken in Ginza.

Each summer, outside the Sony Building in Ginza (http://www.sonybuilding.jp/e/index.html) you will find a temporary aquarium with an additional tank just inside the entrance.  It is certainly eye-catching and slightly mesmerizing to watch, but then I love aquarium anyway.  I caught this guy being reflected as he looked for the perfect shot of the outside tank's inhabitants.

And inside the building, everyone wanted to get a shot of the beautiful parrot fish.

After leaving the Sony Building, a stroll along the road running alongside the elevated expressway from Yurakucho to Shimbashi found many restaurants nestling under the expressway.  The variety of countries and cuisines covered was amazing but the Japanese izakaya (pub) always catch my eye as they are often festooned with lanterns.

Outside another izakaya you could peruse the fishy ingredients offered up on the menu

Freshness is important with fish and the head is often retained, not only because it can be cooked up, but because the clearness of the eye is an important indicator of how old the fish is.  This tuna head was rather impressive, I assume the middle has already been served up.

Sometime when wandering Tokyo, I'll often come across lines of people waiting to get into something or perhaps to get a glimpse of someone coming out a stage door.  Such a line was found on this occasion with about 30 or so women, perhaps in their 30s and upwards waiting for J-pop "boy band" the Diamond Dogs (http://www.jpopasia.com/group/diamonddogs/)  to exit the stage door after a performance.  When the boys exited the building the waiting ladies were so quiet and reverential with the only brave ones managing to catch a word with some of the group members whilst the other held back and looked on in awe.  If I am not mistaken, this is Kohei Nakatsuka (中塚 皓平) meeting some of his fans in Ginza.

























And lastly, I found a countdown display in the International Forumwhich is showing the number of days until September 7, 2013.This is the date that the IOC will announce the successful city for the 2020 Summer Olympics. 

Competing for the honour is Tokyo, Madrid and Istanbul.  Tokyo's last bid was heavily critcised for a lack of public support and much more is being this time to get the public behind the bid.

 

Hopefully this time Tokyo will be successful!

The Kurihama Perry Festival

Kurihama Perry Festival - marking 160 years since the arrival of the Black Ships

Today I saw the parade in  Kurihama which is part of the Kurihama Perry Festival. It re-enacts by way of parade floats the arrival of the black ships (kurofune in Japanese).

 

 

According to Wikipedia "Kurofune refers to Mississippi, Plymouth, Saratoga, and Susquehanna, that arrived on July 14, 1853 at Uraga Harbor (part of present-day Yokosuka) in Kanagawa Prefecture, Japan under the command of United States Commodore Matthew Perry. Black refers to the black color of the older sailing vessels, and the black smoke from the coal-fired power plants of the American ships. In this sense, the Kurofune became a symbol of the ending of isolation.

The parade was very enjoyable to watch, the mix of bands, floats to represent the ships, baton twirlers and various other dance teams reminded me of the annual carnival parades back in my hometown in the UK that I used to participate in as a child.

Leading the parade these very earnest flag twirling girls...

 

 

There were some representatives of the Navy, ok I have no idea who the people are but they seemed to be enjoying the day...

 

A group from one of the local schools playing, of all things "When the saints go marching in" or at least that's what I know it as.  The boy on the cymbols didn't look very happy to be there.

 

Then came the floats representing the Black Ships

 

The next band were leading the float representing Commodore Perry's Black Ship.  For some reason they were playing Abba's "Dancing Queen".

 

 

I'm sure this is exactly how the first meeting looked in July 1853...

Conch-shell playing seemed to be an important part of the parade

 

 

I loved this young boy who was doing an impressive job wielding his sword.  And bearing in mind the temperature was in the low 30s, this made it even more impressive...

 

And in the heat, the cool composure of this lady caught my eye.

Coming of the Black Ships, if they met this guy when they landed, I imagine that would have been a bit scary although I suppose they did have their military ships with them.

 

I love the groups of younger children performing in bands and dance groups. Some participants like the young lady at the front of the band pictured below seemed to be enjoying herself, but I'm not so sure about the boy with the orange on his hat to the right behind her, he seems a bit grumpy about it all.

For the very young ones, it all seemed to be too much... but they are very kawaii (cute)

This group had perhaps the best baton twirlers, and their leader was definitely in show mode

 

My three favourite groups came towards the end of the parade with more traditional Japanese dance styles and dress. 

 

Doesn't matter about age, this lady keeping up with the best of them was eye-catching to me.

 

And as they passed, I caught this lady, as her ribbons were flying and she looks great.

Again, showing age is no barrier to enthusiasm, this group's costume was very vibrant and they performed with gusto!

The final group in the parade were very beautiful, in identical kimono with bright yellow headscarfs and very nicely synchronised movement.

Although it was a hot day, it was great to observe this renactment of the time when Japan, after a period of self imposed isolation, re-joined the world stage and to see young and old participating in the parade.