Hanami - 2011
Hanami, or flower viewing parties, are part of Japanese tradition that even after the horrible events of 11 March were still being held by a number of people even in the less than ideal conditions. I went to the Ueno park area last weekend to view some cherry blossoms and the first thing you notice is the sign at the beginning of the park noting that the usual activities surrounding hanami would not be occurring this year due to the earthquake and tsunami (and ongoing nuclear issues).

The Japanese meteorological agency actually provides a “blossom forecast” to allow people in the different areas of Japan to plan their hanami. Hanami is believed to be hundreds of years old with people first celebrating hanami around the 7th century. At that time the parties were also used as celebration with the aim of ensuring that the rice harvest would be good as traditionally rice planting occurred when cherry blossoms appear.

While official hanami activities were not provided people did take the opportunity to partake in hanamai just not with the usual enthusiasm. At Ueno park people had obviously come the night before to lay out their blue tarp to mark their spot with many tarps having the names of people who had “reserved” the spot, their phone numbers and the time people were expected.




Up close the cherry blossoms were spectacular looking lighter than air.


At the base of Ueno park there is a large pond and at this time of year the cherry blossoms hanging over the water made for an impressive sight.



As the event was a party there was food to be had and pizza hut did not miss the opportunity with some of their takeaway staff circulating through the crowd phone ordering pizza’s for customers.



If that didn’t appeal there were always vending machines. This photo captured a lot of Japan – people looking at the cherry blossoms but still the ever present vending machines were ready even under the cherry blossom tree.


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Sea Bass
As the weather warmed up I felt it was time for another fishing trip in Tokyo. Speaking to those in the know I was given some advice about timings, tides and moon phases (all very interesting and I must admit I was a little pessimistic). Once I arrived at the canal the water was dead calm and I was just beginning to wonder if there were people watching me and laughing. As the tide turned the surface of the water changed as millions and millions of worms began to work their way across the surface. Unfortunately as the water was still a little cool there was no activity from the fish but I’ll be back to see if I can land a sea bass.



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First weekend of cherry blossoms 2011
After an interesting March spring has sprung with the cherry blossoms starting to show themselves. While next weekend will probably be the better weekend for viewing cherry blossoms I went to Aoyama cemetery over the weekend to see how many blossoms had come out. It was also the first damage I had seen from the earthquake in Tokyo with grave stones toppled. While the cherry blossoms weren’t fully out people had still taken the opportunity to have their cherry blossom parties (or hanami) with blue tarps and ice buckets full of beer.





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Spring time 2011
The weather has started to warm up and the tree’s are starting sprout. It’s good to be able to walk outside and start looking around again.



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Some strange “rationing”
As a result of the 11 March 2011 earthquake most of the supermarkets and conbini (convenient stores) in the local area are low on stock (mainly due to delivery and servicing difficulties).


While some of the standard items you would expect to be in short supply, like bread and milk, are being “voluntarily” rationed (that is, supermarkets only have limited stock and are restricting peoples access). Some unexpected items, like toilet paper, are also being rationed with most of my local stores limiting people to one packet of toilet paper per transaction. Good thing I'm not eating anything.

Following the detection of radioactive contamination in the Tokyo water supply local media reported this evening that supermarkets are now limiting the amount of water that shoppers can purchase.
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11 March 2011
On 11 March 2011 a magnitude 8.9 earthquake shook the main island of Japan (Honshu) generating a huge tsunami of, reportedly, over 14 metres in height at locations along the Pacific ocean coast.

In the week and a half since the major quake there have been numerous aftershocks and ongoing concerns over nuclear contamination from the Fukushima nuclear power plant.


Recent reports indicate that over 25,000 people died in the earthquake and subsequent tsunami (though that figure is expected to rise). Tokyo is amazingly quiet with many people having left the city and now that radiation has been detected in food, milk and drinking water it is likely that Japanese people (and those in Tokyo) will be further on edge.

Details from the Japanese meteorological agency regarding the earthquake are below.

 
Date and Time: 11 March 2011 14:46 JST (05:46 UTC)



Magnitude: 9.0 (interim value; the largest earthquake recorded in Japan)


Hypocenter: N38.1, E142.9 (130km ESE off Ojika Peninsula) Depth 24km (interim value)


Mechanism: Reverse fault type with WNW-ESE compressional axis (by CMT analysis)


JMA Seismic Intensity: 7 (Max) Kurihara City of Miyagi Prefecture


6+ 28 cities and towns (including Wakuya Town, Tome City, Osaki City, Natori City) in Miyagi, Fukushima, Ibaraki, and Tochigi Prefectures


6- or weaker Observed nationwide from Hokkaido to Kyushu

Tsunami Warnings and Advisories: Issued 11 March 2011 14:49 JST (05:49 UTC)


Lifted 13 March 2011 17:58 JST (08:49 UTC)

Observed Tsunami: 7.3m or higher at Soma (Fukushima Pref.), 4.2m at Oarai (Ibaraki Pref.), etc
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Ueno Toshogu shrine
Just beside the Ueno zoo is the Ueno Toshogu Shrine. This shrine was built in the early 16th century and is one of a number of shrines across the Japan dedicated to Tokugawa Ieyasu, the founder of the Edo Shogunate.

 A pathway with 256 bronze and stone lanterns on either side leads up to the temple with the copper lanterns being gifts of various Daimyos.


The grounds of the temple also contain a Hiroshima flame that was said to have been lit originally by a relative of victims of the Hiroshima atomic bombing from the flames at their home.

Part of the folklore surrounding the temple is that the two dragons carved on the front gate are said to be so lifelike they go drink at the temple pond every night.


There is also a wall containing wooden pallets where people have inscribed their best wishes and hopes.




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Best Ramen?
Located just a short walk from home is this Ramen restaurant. I walk past this building a couple of times a week and there is always a queue out the front. One day I’m going to have to get there early and try it out.

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Tokyo National Museum
On a wonderful spring day (well the last days of winter) we visited the Tokyo National Museum. Located in Ueno park the museum houses a number of different collections in several building including the Japanese gallery, the Asian gallery and the gallery of treasures.



 After having a coffee in the sun and soaking up the warmth we visited the Japanese gallery. The gallery includes displays of pottery, lacquer ware and samurai artefacts.

Samurai saddle and stirrups

Samurai armour

Lacquer ware writing tray

   Plum blossums



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2011 Tokyo snow fall
It has snowed in Tokyo on a couple of days over the last week. Snow fell for most of last Friday though it was too warm for the snow to sit on the ground but then on Monday night it started to snow around 10 pm and snowed for most of the night. Tuesday morning revealed a couple of inches of snow on the ground to go and play in.

I know that some of the people from North America who read this blog will comment on the fact that the snow that fell in Tokyo this year is nothing. In fact a Canadian I know has commented that he’s always amazed by how Australia’s react to a little bit of snow). Give us a break, for us this is something unique and special.




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Odaiba monkey business
What makes a good busker? I don’t know if this answers that question but on a recent trip to a shopping centre we walked out the back door into a little walkway and came across this woman and her performing monkey. The monkey managed to keep the kids amused for 20 minutes jumping from step to step, walking and jumping on stilts and acrobatics.


Though at the end of the performance the monkey wasn’t too keen on having its photo taken though the “trainer” managed to convince it that it was a good idea (the monkey looks happy about it, doesn't it?).


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Is there any better restaurant?
While out walking the other day I came across a sight to warm the heart of even the most weary quasi salary man, a beer restaurant. Sensational, now to work through the menu…


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