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Nemophila (baby blue eyes). There's more on a large slope elsewhere in the park.May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Bouquet Garden's poppies and other flowers at Showa Kinen Park.May 19, 2023
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.May 19, 2023
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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More red poppies.May 19, 2023
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Pretty flowers.May 19, 2023
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Bouquet Garden has poppies mixed in with other flowers blooming in May. Perfect to make a bouquet, but we're not allowed to pick the flowers. シャーレーポピーMay 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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The field of red Shirley poppies at Showa Kinen Park. シャーレーポピーMay 19, 2023
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The field of red poppies at Showa Kinen Park.May 19, 2023
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Red poppy field on the western fringe of the large field. Called the Bouquet Garden. ブーケガーデンMay 19, 2023
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The field of red poppies has a walking path in the middle. Poppy field is much bigger than it looks.May 19, 2023
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Showa Kinen Park's Japanese garden.May 19, 2023
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Showa Kinen Park's Japanese garden.May 19, 2023
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Showa Kinen Park's Japanese garden.May 19, 2023
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Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park.May 19, 2023
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PeoniesMay 19, 2023
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PeonyMay 19, 2023
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Map of Japanese garden at Showa Kinen Park. The Japanese garden is a 20-min. walk from the Nishi Tachikawa park entrance. That's how big the park is.May 19, 2023
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Entrance to the Japanese Garden.May 19, 2023
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Train-shaped bus to get around the park.May 19, 2023
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Rental bicycles are popular to get around the large park.May 19, 2023
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Directional signs in English.May 19, 2023
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Pleasant place to be with all the trees and greenery. Wise decision to convert the former Tachikawa US Air Force Base into this park.May 19, 2023
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The park is fringed with a tree-lined walking path.May 19, 2023
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May 19, 2023
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Center of the park is this large lawn where people can play. Called "Minna no Harappa" or Field for All. みんなの原っぱMay 19, 2023
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The large field is lined with shady trees along the fringe. Most must be cherry blossoms.May 19, 2023
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More large trees.May 19, 2023
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Oka Cafe built with wood from the Tama Region of Tokyo. オカカフェMay 19, 2023
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Long line to rent a bicycle at Nishi-Tachikawa Cycle Center. Only ¥600 for 3 hours. 西立川口サイクルセンターMay 19, 2023
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Types of bicycles available for rent. But all gone. Long wait.May 19, 2023
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Lots of large trees for shade.May 19, 2023
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The park has multiple ponds, but this Waterfowl Pond is the largest one.May 19, 2023
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Waterfowl Pond.May 19, 2023
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Waterfowl Pond.May 19, 2023
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Another long line to get on the boat.May 19, 2023
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Long line to buy tickets for the pedal boats. This was during Golden Week in early May 2023.May 19, 2023
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After entering the park through the Nishi-Tachikawa Entrance, you see this scene of the Waterfowl Pond and pedal boats. 水鳥の池May 19, 2023
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Pedal boats are very popular. This is the boat dock.May 19, 2023
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Strawberry Candle flowers. Pretty name. People were allowed to pick these flowers and take it home.May 16, 2023
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May 16, 2023
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Rapeseed blossoms (nanohana) were made into a maze.May 16, 2023
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Rapeseed blossoms (nanohana) in late April.May 16, 2023
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Nemophila (baby blue eyes) in late April.May 16, 2023
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Nemophila (baby blue eyes).May 16, 2023
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The dairy farm's backyard has Arakawa River.May 16, 2023
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Behind Enomoto Dairy Farm is Arakawa River and this cycling road lined with spring flowers.May 16, 2023
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Way to the riverside flowers blooming in April to May.May 16, 2023
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Cows and hay.May 16, 2023
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Rolls of hay wrapped in vinyl.May 16, 2023
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This machine quickly spins the hay roll as it wraps it with vinyl.May 16, 2023
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May 16, 2023
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Rolls of hay. ロール置き場May 16, 2023
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Hay for cows.May 16, 2023
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Calf in the pasture. 放牧場May 16, 2023
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Barbecue area on the left.May 16, 2023
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Chickens and other birds.May 16, 2023
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Marmot that you can pet. Be sure to wash or disinfect your hands afterward.May 16, 2023
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Rabbit with drooping ears.May 16, 2023
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Posters explaining the work done at the dairy farm, anatomy of a cow, and the life cycle of cows. At the dairy farm, cows are fed, cow shed is cleaned, hay is made, and cows are milked.May 16, 2023
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Types of cows. The cow's excrement and urine are converted into fertilizer for growing vegetables, etc.May 16, 2023
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How milk is produced. 1. The cow's udders are disinfected. 2. The milking machine sucks out the milk to a pipe going to a tank. 3. The milk is cooled. 4. The milk is transported by tanker truck to the factory where it is processed and packaged into mMay 16, 2023
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Explanation of the work done at a dairy farm. On weekends, you can pay a fee (¥2200) to try and milk a cow manually and feed some hay. Reservations required. at least two days in advance.May 16, 2023
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However, I noticed that the cow kept moving and couldn't stand still, so the machine had to keep trying until it attached to the nipples.May 16, 2023
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The milking machine uses red light beams and sensors to detect the nipples and attach the milking tubes. May 16, 2023
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Milking machine is a robot operating 24/7. Each cow produces 20 to 30 kg of milk per day. 授乳所May 16, 2023
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The adult cow she has this milking station where the cows are automatically directed to the milking machine. 授乳所May 16, 2023
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May 16, 2023
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Adult male cows. 成牛舎May 16, 2023
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On the left is the shed for adult cows. 成牛舎May 16, 2023
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Kids' play area with donated tricycles, etc.May 16, 2023
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This big cow just stared at me without blinking. May 16, 2023
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Cow feed.May 16, 2023
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Each cow/calf has an electronic tag for management purposes.May 16, 2023
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These adult cows will give birth soon. Do not feed any of the cows or animals. They are already well fed.May 16, 2023
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These cows are 6 to 14 months old. At 14 months, they move to the adult cow shed for artificial insemination. The farm has 60 to 70 Holstein cows for milk.May 16, 2023
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Newborn calves. They have tags indicating their birthdate.May 16, 2023
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The cow shed also has many calves born recently. They first weigh 40 to 50 kg and reach adulthood in 2.5 years when they weigh up to 700 kg.May 16, 2023
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The shed also has pigs. These are mini pigs, not baby piglets. You can touch them. The fur is stiff like a hard brush. After touching, wash your hands.May 16, 2023
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The calf shed is where calves and cows are raised until they reach adulthood.May 16, 2023
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The calf shed is where newborn calves are raised. 育成舎May 16, 2023
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Enomoto Dairy Farm yogurt is made of real milk. No preservatives. Website: http://www.enoboku.com/From Ageo Station west exit, take the local bus to the Azeyoshi bus stop. Takes 30 min. Most people come by car or bicycle. Address: 736-1 Azeyoshi, Ageo, Saitama
埼玉県上尾市畔吉736-1May 16, 2023
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Milk-flavored gelato. So yummy! Eat it quickly because it melts super fast. Other flavors include matcha, strawberry, and chocolate. Comes in a cone or cup.May 16, 2023
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Gelato flavors and pricing. ¥400 for single scoop. Get the double and try two different flavors.May 16, 2023
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This is the gelato stand. Long line of people on weekends and holidays. There are a few chairs inside, but most people eat outside. Open 9:30 am to 5 pm. Closed Jan. 1st–3rd. アイス売店Enomoto Dairy Farm (Enomoto Bokujo) is nicknamed "Enoboku."
Website: http://www.enoboku.com/May 16, 2023
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Enomoto Dairy Farm is a real dairy farm with cows and calves to produce dairy products. Their gelato is super popular and really good. Educational for kids to see live cows, what they eat, how they are milked (by machine), and where milk comes from. May 16, 2023
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Map of Enomoto Dairy Farm. Free admission. Parking available. There's a small pasture for cows, cow shed, milking machine, and gelato stand. Being next to Arakawa River, it's a popular rest stop among cyclists riding along the river. Nicknamed "Little Hokkaido."May 16, 2023
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Cherry trees all finished blooming by mid-April.May 04, 2023
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Main shrine straight ahead. The outdoor sumo arena is on the right of the main shrine.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Base of the black torii. Pretty new paint job.May 04, 2023
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Main torii when entering Yasukuni Shrine.May 04, 2023
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They immediately dismantled the sumo ring's dressing.May 04, 2023
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Spectators exiting the sumo arena. Before, spectators had to bring their own picnic mats to sit on. Now they provided a mat over the entire ground May 04, 2023
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Ritual ending the day's sumo at around 3 pm.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji returns to his dressing room.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji wins his match.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji getting ready for his match. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Empty water ladle, and no spitting.May 04, 2023
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Hoshoryu 豊昇龍May 04, 2023
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Smiling Kotonowaka.May 04, 2023
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Kotonowaka vs. Daieisho 大栄翔May 04, 2023
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Kotonowaka. His father and stable master was also a sumo wrestler named Kotonowaka. 琴ノ若 傑太May 04, 2023
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Tobizaru (翔猿) means "Flying Monkey."May 04, 2023
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Daieisho 大栄翔May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Mitakeumi, a former Ozeki. 御嶽海May 04, 2023
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Since this isn't a real sumo tournament, the wrestlers often wrestle while smiling and doing antics they don't normally do.May 04, 2023
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Endo, one of the most popular wrestlers. 遠藤May 04, 2023
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Takayasu 高安May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama 碧山May 04, 2023
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Aoiyama is from Bulgaria. He once reached Sekiwake. 碧山May 04, 2023
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Ura 宇良May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama. They went through the motions of receiving the water. but there was no water. Not a real tournament.May 04, 2023
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Matches between top division wrestlers started at 2 pm. All the wrestlers had one match.May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama who has been climbing back up the ranks. 朝乃山May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Terunofuji has the shiranui-style yokozuna rope with double loops on the back. 不知火型May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the shiranui-style dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. 照ノ富士May 04, 2023
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Good to see Terunofuji after four tournament absences. He plans to compete in the May 2023 summer tournament in Tokyo.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji performing the dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony. He was absent in the last four tournaments. Finally back in the ring.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji approaching the sumo ring.May 04, 2023
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Yokozuna Terunofuji heads to the sumo ring to perform his dohyo-iri ring-entering ceremony.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Endo has a kabuki kesho mawashi ceremonial apron.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Hiradoumi has a nice kesho mawashi. 平戸海May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Makunouchi Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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Juryo wrestler Kitanowaka facing frontward. 北の若May 04, 2023
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Takayasu, former Ozeki. 高安May 04, 2023
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AsanoyamaMay 04, 2023
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Makunouchi Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Asanoyama at the end.May 04, 2023
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The ring-entering ceremony is when you can see the designs on the wrestlers' colorful ceremonial aprons.May 04, 2023
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Enho 炎鵬May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Juryo Division ring-entering ceremony or dohyo-iri.May 04, 2023
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Enho is popular. 炎鵬May 04, 2023
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May 04, 2023
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Calling the wrestler.May 04, 2023
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This is shokkiri or comedic sumo. Two lower ranking wrestlers do things normally not allowed in sumo. Spitting at each other, kicking, fighting with the referee, etc. 初切りMay 04, 2023
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Sumo jinku singing. 相撲甚句May 04, 2023
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When I arrived, they were performing the sumo jinku folk singing. 相撲甚句May 04, 2023
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The hanamichi path where the sumo wrestlers go to/from the sumo ring. Fortunately, it never rained this day. The sumo matches can still be held in light rain.May 04, 2023
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It's rare to see an outdoor sumo arena in Japan. In Nov. 1918 when the Kokugikan sumo arena was destroyed by fire, the sumo tournaments were held here for two years.May 04, 2023
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Walked around the sumo ring to see where I could sit. It was quite full, but I managed to find a space to sit. If you want the best views, should get there by 10 am or so.May 04, 2023
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The sumo exhibition started at 8:30 am and ended at around 3 pm. It included demonstrations of comical sumo, sumo taiko drum beating, and ring-entering ceremonies by Juryo and Makunouchi Division wrestlers including Yokozuna Terunofuji. Free admission.May 04, 2023
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On April 17, 2023, sumo exhibition matches with professional sumo wrestlers was held for the first time since 2019 after a four-year absence due to the pandemic. Free admission.May 04, 2023
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Statue of sumo wrestlers at the entrance of Yasukuni Shrine's sumo arena. The shrine has a large outdoor sumo arena with a capacity of 6,000. May 04, 2023
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Shrine building used by the sumo wrestlers as their dressing room.May 04, 2023
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Yasukuni Shrine.May 04, 2023
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Entrance to Yasukuni Shrine's outdoor sumo arena.May 04, 2023
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Yasukuni Shrine is dedicated to Japan's war dead. Another vertical sign promoting the sumo exhibition.May 04, 2023
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At Yasukuni Shrine, sign indicating that sumo will be held on April 17, 2023. Sumo has been held at Yasukuni Shrine annually since 1869 to console the spirits at the shrine. It's part of the shrine's religious ceremonies and festival in spring. May 04, 2023
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Manhole in Akiruno, Tokyo showing river fish.Mar 29, 2023
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Manhole in Akiruno, Tokyo showing a portable shrine and mascots.Mar 29, 2023
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From 2017, they started lighting up the cherry trees when in bloom in front of JR Musashi-Masuko Station.Mar 29, 2023
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station with the third cherry tree visible.Mar 29, 2023
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station turnstile. Trains go to Tachikawa and Haijima Stations.Mar 29, 2023
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The third cherry tree is already entangled with power lines. This one has to go, sadly.Mar 29, 2023
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station with the third cherry tree visible.Mar 29, 2023
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The third cherry tree at JR Musashi-Masuko Station is right next to the train platform. Too close.Mar 29, 2023
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The third cherry tree at JR Musashi-Masuko Station.Mar 29, 2023
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The third cherry tree is the largest, seen here over the train station building.Mar 29, 2023
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We'll miss you much.Mar 29, 2023
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Leftmost Yasube'e cherry blossom tree is the smallest.Mar 29, 2023
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In front of Musashi-Masuko Station are these two Yasube'e cherry blossom trees. The third one is further toward the right.Mar 29, 2023
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Tree trunk has this sign explaining its background about who planted it and when.Mar 29, 2023
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Mar 29, 2023
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Sorry to see you go...Mar 29, 2023
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Closeup of cherry blossoms in front of JR Musashi-Masuko Station.Mar 29, 2023
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This sakura tree bloomed for the last time in March 2023 when these pictures were taken. Mar 29, 2023
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Yasube'e used his own money to plant the cherry trees. Sadly, the cherry trees in front of JR Musashi-Masuko Station are slated to be cut down because they have been infested with longhorn beetles and can fall over on the train station. Mar 29, 2023
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This is how it looks when you get out of the station.Mar 29, 2023
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Musashi-Masuko Station has three Yasube'e cherry trees. This is the main one. They were planted in 1925 by local resident and landscape gardener Sakamoto Yasube'e who planted cherry blossoms at all the train stations along the Itsukaichi Line toMar 29, 2023
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Yasube'e cherry blossoms have been welcoming local residents returning home by train for almost 100 years at JR Musashi-Masuko Station.Mar 29, 2023
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Yasube'e Sakura cherry blossom tree in front of JR Musashi-Masuko Station. The station building was rebuilt in March 2011.Mar 29, 2023
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JR Musashi-Masuko StationMar 29, 2023
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JR Musashi-Masuko Station platform. From central Tokyo, the train ride took about 1 hr. 20 min. JR武蔵増戸駅Mar 29, 2023
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"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. This was in late March.Mar 25, 2023
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ID tag for "America" Somei-Yoshino cherry tree from America at the park. It now has a QR code linking to a Japanese webpage explaining the species.Mar 25, 2023
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"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. They are planted for a few hundred meters along Shin-Shibakawa River behind the Visitors Center. This was in late March.Mar 25, 2023
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"America" Somei-Yoshino cherry trees from America at the park when in bloom. This was in late March.Mar 25, 2023
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About Adachi Ward's Japan-US Cherry Blossom connection and centennial in 2012.Mar 24, 2023
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The park also has this Reagan Sakura cherry tree planted here in April 2012 to mark the centennial of Tokyo gifting cherry trees from Adachi Ward to the US in 1912.This tree came from the original "Reagan Sakura" cherry tree planted in Nov. 1982 from a sapling given to Japan by Nancy Reagan in 1981. The sapling came from the original cherry tree planted in Washington, DC's Tidal Basin by Mrs. Helen Taft, the wife of President Willian Taft, in 1912.Mar 24, 2023
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This is the end of the "America" Somei-Yoshino cherry blossoms.Mar 24, 2023
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