Leftovers

A couple of photographs you may enjoy. The packaging was in Kanji-san's workroom and I have no idea what it may have contained - I wish I had asked. The graphics are so clear and simple that I could not resist photographing the box. The picture of Mount Fuji was taken on a previous trip as last time it was too cloudy to see the mountain. It is mostly luck that gives a photograph like this, which was taken from the shinkanzen travelling at 300 km. per hour, without also getting a very blurred image of a power pole.

Last Days of My Trip

Although it was very wet Harumi-san and I were able to get to see the Bizen Gallery Aoyama which is a 'MUST VISIT' if you are in Tokyo. Also please visit their web site http://www.bizenpottery.com and a related blog "Shizen to Bizen" at http://japanesepottery.blog74.fc2.com/ They are lovely people and Taijiro Ito-san's photography is just wonderful.
The yukka flowers were near the Folk Craft Museum and made a lovely display. My friends made sure I was on the right train to the airport in plenty of time for my flight home - total waiting time was five hours but, fortunately I had a good book. I always find it sad leaving Japan and, every time, would like to stay longer.

Eating Places in Tokyo

My friend, Kanji-san, claims that the best noodle restaurants are in the Ebisu area of Tokyo. We had lunch at this one and took this photograph of the flower arrangement behind the reception desk. The luncheon consisted of three separate noodle dishes - first fine "somen" noodles, then a quite different tasting, medium sized noodle dish, and lastly, a dish of udon (buckwheat) noodles. Any one of the dishes would have made a satisfactory lunch. The evening before we all went to another restaurant for a fish meal. This meal was also large but so delicious that nothing remained when I had finished.

Looking Up and Looking Down in Tokyo

This partially built communications tower was already huge but, when finished, will be the tallest communications tower in the world - or so I was lead to believe. I could not resist photographing yet another enamelled man-hole cover on the street near-by.

In Response to Gaijin

The response of students to foreigners (gaijin, which means "barbarians") always amuses me for they always seem to be happy and polite. Especially to ones like myself with a beard. I think they may be given credits for the number of foreign people they speak to but, as always, they are much bolder when with their peers.

In the Grounds of Senso-ji

In Autumn in Japan there are often lovely floral displays. How it was possible to make this display and have all the flowers in full bloom at the same time I do not know. The Five Storied Pagoda was built in 942 but has, of course, been rebuilt since then. First in 1648 and then in 1973 as it had been burnt to the ground during the war in 1945.

Large Lanterns at Senso-ji

These very large lanterns are symbolic of the Senso-ji Temple in Tokyo. They really are magnificient.